News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1884-05-15
THE INN OF ROUELLE.
AN INCIDENT OF THE DAYsOF CARDI-
NAL RICHEIIEU.
How a Man Who was Summoned to His
Execution was Saved-AethOd of Dis
posing of Enemies.

On gloomy day in the month of No
vember, traveller on horseback stopped
at the door of an inn in the village of
Rouelle, which adjoins the park of NAL
maison.
The hostess went out to receive him,
and having given his horse to the stable
boy, he ordered dinner. He was shown
into the best room in the house. and the
busy hostess set about preparin g the re-
past. In a few minutes another traveller
on horseback stopped at the inn and also
ordered dinner.
81 am very sorry that I cannot accom-
modate you, sir, said the hostess; "but
everything we have in the house has
been bespoke by gentleman who ar
rived few minutes before you"
$50 up stairs" said the traveller,
''and tell your guest shall be obliged
to him if he will permit me to share
his dinner and [ will defray my portion
of the expense.
The hostess delivered the message to
the frat traveller, who politely replied:
''Tell the gentleman shall be glad of
his company, but that it is not nv prac-
tice to accept payment from persons
whom invite to dine with me.
The second traveller accordingly went
upstairs, and having expressed his ac-
acknowledgements for the kind reception
he had received, they both sat down to
the table
The dinner was as cheerful as could
be expected, considering the short ac-
quaintance of the parties; but during
dessert, when some excellent wine was
placed before them, the conversation be-
came more unrestrained, and the second
traveller yentured to ask his obhging
Amphitryon what had brought him to
that part of the country, where he ap-
peared to be a stranger.
81 have been ordered here" he re-
piled, "by the cardinal.
"By the cardinal p resumed his COM
panion. "Pardon my curiosity, sir, if 1
inquire whether you have given his emil
hence any offence"
"By no means, replied the first trav-
eler; 'and it is only to free myself from
any such imputation that I have come
here The fact is, there has been pub
lished at Rochelle, my native town,
virulent satire upon the public conduct
and personal character of the cardinal,
several copies of which have been adj
dressed to the king, and although 1
never in my life wrote single word that
has appeared in print, am unjustly &C
cused of being the author of this pam
phlet. Nothing obtains such ready be-
lief as the whisperings of folly and i'll
nature; and l have, therefore, lost no
time in obeying the summons of his emil
nence, in the hope Of effectually refut-
ing the charge that is brought against
me-"
''Sir," said his companion, with an
expression of marked anxiety, ''return
thanks to Providence for the fortunate
accident that introduced me to you to-
day. / also have been summoned hither |
by the cardinal, and for no other pur
pose, am convinced, than that of be-
heading YOU"
A thrill of horror passed through the |
frame of the person to whom these |
words were addressed.
eyes, sir, resumed the speaker, s'my |
task would have been to behead you. /
am the executioner of a neighboring
town, and whenever the cardinal has
any secret act of vengeance to perform,
[ receive orders to repair to the castle.
The particulars / have just heard you
relate, together with the hour of your
appointment here, all convince me be-
yond doubt, that you are marked out as
a victim. But fear nothing; / will Sc
cure your escape. Order your horse in
stantly, and go with me. I will acquit
myself of the debt of gratitude which
your courtesy has imposed upon me-"
The horror and alarm of the poor
traveller may be more easily conceived
than described. He instantly ordered
the horses to be saddled, and having
paid the bill. he and his companion set
out, taking a private way through the
wood of Bertrand.
'Do you see,'' said the guide, as they |
the castle, "that grated win
dow which almost reaches the crannies
of the central turret? In that dungeon
sentences against which there is no ap-
peal, are pronounced and executed, and
the mutilated bodies of the victims are
hurled into the moat below, where they
are speedily destroyed by quicklime.
Neglect not to observe my instructions.
Conceal yourself behind that hedge, and
if within the space of an hour you see a
light glimmering at the window which I
have pointed out, then you may conclude
that am ordered here to execute ven
geance upon another; but if, on the con-
trary, you see ne light, rely on il that
you yourself are the intended victim.
In that case lose not moment. Profit |
by the darkness of the night and the
swiftness of your horse. Gain the from
tier, and there plead your cause as you
think fit; but permit me to tell you that
it is absurd to think to Justify yourself |
against the imputation of an offense
which you have not committed; for,
where despotism reigns, truth and JUS
tice are powerless.
Having expressed unbounded graft
tude to his tutelar saint, the traveller
to his hiding place. The sus-
picions of the cardinals agent proved
well founded. No light appeared at the
window of the turret, and at the expira-
ton of an hour the traveller galloped off. |
He Immediately quilted France, and did |
not venture back until after the death of |
the cardinal.
On returning to his native country, |
his first business was to visit the inn of |
Rouelle, and to make inquiries concern
ing his benefactor, who, however, had |
not been heard of for several years. He |
then related his adventure, which has
since become a local tradition, and has |
conferred celebrity on the inn of Rouelle, |
known by the sign of the 'White
Horse" The room in which the two
travellers dined is shown to this day, and
is called the Room of the Good Help"