The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-06-04
ESCLAIRM MONDE.
A Thrilling Romance Of the Reign Of
Henry iii.
CHAPTER XIII.
TIE REZOAR.

te-lys Of gold. that served In lieu Of folding
doors to separate the chief banaueting hall from
the grand saloon. had meanwhile. at u signal
from the major -domo. been drawn aside aud
the long and gittering board. arrayed with all
the costly appliances Of the royal feast was sud
denly exhibited 70 the view Of The assembage
The coup d'Til was charming, Far rs the eye
could reach appeared walls STONED with
flowers fragrant and blooming as u the season
he'd been latest spring. Mirrors. wrcathed with
4 Proyencal roses. reflected tho lustre of q thou
sand ilamI@aux. and multiplied tho cleaning
plate ana star-liko crystal with which the p"atu
was loaded. But tho obIeet which the eye
chiefly rested not merely because It was the
principal feature Uf attraction To the eSperthnt
guests. but hy rrqsqn n q " proud pre,eIi ,Iao
for tho celebration Of the combined rites ~
Ceres and Baochus. Reared upnn }, massive
preached by Il triple flight of steps-eoNefed
both az t2 rs mimic stairs ,hil and 4nm nny T
extending the whole length Of the vast hall.
looked like mountain ot snow.
A nearer approach to the table showed mat
the surface was according 70 the insllion ot IN"
court. ribbed in fanciiu aud waving plalls ~
as to rescmui the current 81 stfoam erlspn1
A. by a passin b. -. This stream bore upon ltS
bosom u pruui array Of gold and silver vases,
-stal eohicts, and cups. all Of rarest work kmah
!, aud many wrought by the hand OF the
Sjless Heryonuto tellini during his visit t.
Js the FIRST at tontainehehu. In the
II of brave Ben Johnson there were
Ies at agate set in gold. and studded
= emernlds, sapphitos hyaclnths anu
in rubie-."
.,g could exceed tho magnfoonoc Of the
u and there might be seen the usheIa nud
,bcrlaus with their tleur -lys covered
ds ot oillee- buffers with on bossed ilaguns
,l salvers-tro0ps of Wallets aud pages ana
distributed NJ certain stations pt the board set.
sitors. each With napkin OF his shoulder nnd
an enormous knife in hand, seemingly itnpa
tent for the signal OF attack.
Amid loud taniaros Of trumpets, blended WITH
the gentler notes Of the hauthoy and yt"l Henri.
accompanied 10y tsclairmonde. lod the way to
the banquet The monarch, however. tarrrd
MOI within thn hall wc have described His
rein Nvnr httlI In n ann "A
sale a Manager, opening from tho grand festal
chamber. and separated from Il by an arehed
doorway. within which WIS placed u line pt
hleh eIded faillngi ah uhesuafocm eNld',hfn ~
exelusivrne on the part Of the monarch. that
called forth much sarcastic remnfk from his
subjects. ~ the kings private table his iayor-
ties only. ana their favores. were admitted.
Ushers Of The feast were stationed at the doer
with list II the guests expected 20 others
were allowed e. pass Towards this room Henri
now repaired, followed - Jee4nd troop N
danes and reyellers. He was in the most
buoyant spirits, aud doscantcd with tho
greatest animation on all that passed.
been wrought in The dcmcnnur of Fsclairmoudo
She replied t0 iienris loyer-lik ke assidaites with
vivaoity bordering almost upon leyity. which |
nicer observer might have imputed to diatrac I
tion and despair. but froni which llrnri drew 2
favorable augury. Her check was flushed. aud /
Ms she entered the oval chamber, ut which some /
rumors had reached even her ears. she started, I
and slight ShiVer ran through her frame Eut
she instantly recovered herself.
The oval chamber was retreat iit"d For T
yoluptuary. Heavy with perfume. the atmos- \
phere struck upon the senses Of the guests as h
they entered, producing soft inebratlng effect T
Pages. equipped In iancifnl attire, sustained /
torches, the oaorous wax Of which shed warm I
ligbt upon the richly painted arraS. charged .
with the glowapg legends of antiquity in which
in the guise dAnymphs and goddesses ST od
were rcprpselfssd tho chief beauties who had F
blpomed Wthinaae atmosphere Of the Louvre.
The supperto which Henri sat down was the
triumph Of his chef-the inimitahle i srini-a
cook. whose name deserves to- be associated with
that of Luther Calvin. Knox and other great re
formers OF the sixteenth century. the spirit VI
which stirring aEo he represents as strongly as
the great ude stamped the character Of eur own
time.
Berini is. that he was an instrument of Catherine
de Medcis-in other words, that no occasionally
mingled other compounds With his sauces than
were prescribed by the recipes of his art. For
the sake of 50 great professor Of 80 great
science we hope this is mere scandal. No won 4.
der, with dishes 50 exquisite placed before him.
that great man should occasionally die from
indigestion: but surely the cook is not To he
blamed for an occurrence very natural.
Rather let us look q the goblet rs the origin of
ill., We have mentioned that the wines were |
at this time generally drunk muled and spicpd-
a practice which, while il presented abundant
facilities for the insduous admiNturo Of poison
OF, drugs. completely baf1ied all precautions Of
the drnker. Leaning. thereioro. 10 tho side Of
genius, We arc inclined TO diseredit This charge
against the gifted Berini. and imputo tho Grim
inaty OF the scransactions 90 GATHERINGS cup
bearer. whose name is deservedly buried in
oblivion.
The repast we have said was Berni's triumph
In conception, in execution. il was perfect
Tho earousc now began in earnest. Tho
guests were few in number, consisting merely of
some half dozen Of Henri's fayorites. the DANES
of honor oi Marguerite dc Naois. one or two OF ,
Catherines prettiest attendants Tho Ahhe ID
Brantome aud the poet Ronsard. The latter {
who was 10y no means indifferent 10 good ehcer as
his gout testified was transported into n seventh ,
with which the eonsderate Able had loaded Ill
plate; yillequier had allon to with equal indus !
Try and zeal. Esclairmond0 placed at his
majesty's right hand. On his left two seats ~
manod unoc'upcd. NJ
rcmiting in his attentions 70 Fsrlairmonir 7
who. though she could not bn prevailed upon by ,
all his importuaites 60 partake of The banquet,
maintained IN exterior of perfect calmncs9 and Il
composurc. Beneath that mask Of smiles was !
hidden acute suffering The demoiselle was.
the party who attributed her Indifference 70 the
monarchs gallant regard to mere coquetry
BY my faith. monsieur le vcomte." said the
gay TOriEni TO Joyeuse, who was placed on her
right hand. the Demoselle Eselairmondc is
finished coquette. Her coyness is admirably
arts cannot imagine, But some people are
born with genius for their vocation-and con
quest i hers, 1 suppose. She would have tho
freedoms | need not tell you that have had
some experience in the art of entanglemcnt. and
declare upon my reputation. | could not have
played the part better myself.
- am quite, sure of it,. replied Joyeuso
SO perfectly To her taste as you might conceive
hey would be TO yours. Her thoughts. | sus
pI, peet q are Z, wandering upon Qrlehton
:, phl itJpRu'u lplisHt, no Sucn lning.
She Is not such simpleton. Why should her
owe for Irichton prevent her bestowing an
occasional smile elsewhere? II is not a mirror
Of constancy. whatever be may bo of chyalry
nor wholly insensible, you know to the
supreme attractions OF our royal mistress, The
thing Is quite natural"
Your reasoning is perfectly convincing,
aemoiselle.
The Cheyalier Crchton is very well in his
~ay-bHt king you know"
Z, Is Irresistible. You have found it so
demoisee?"
You are impertinent, monsieur le vienmte"
"A Ia bonne heure. You have prodgously
hne eyes, demoiselle Italy boasts the darkest
eyes in the world-Florence the darkest eyes of |
Italy. and the lovely Torigni the darkest eyes Of
Florence. pledge them in bumper of Cyprus"
Your France Is nation of courtiers replied
La Torigni, laughing and the Yicomte De
Joyeuse the most finished courtcr in France |
p.surn your pledge. monsegneur"
At this moment Marguerite de Valos entered
the room. Some slight ceremony was observed