Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-08-10

| Il
| Bacheller.l
On the 18th of August, 1GO1, return
ing from a mission to England | sailed
! from Dover, and crossing to Calais
| without mishap anticipated with
pleasure the kings satisfaction when he
| should hear the result of my embassy,
and learn from my mouth the just and
| friendly sentiments which Queen
Elizabeth entertained towards him.
Unfortuna tely was not able to i'm
| part these on the instant. During my
| absence trifling matter had carried
| the king to Dieppc, whence his anxiety
on the queens account, who was short
| ly to be brought to bed, led him to
| take the road to Paris. He sent word
to me to follow him, but necessarily
some days elapsed before we met; an
| opportunity of which his enemies and
mine were quick to take advantage,
and that SO insidiously and with SO
much success as to imperil not my
reputation only but his happiness.
The time at their disposal was in
| creased by the fact that when
| reached the arsenal found the Louvre
vacant, the queen, who lay at Fon-
tainebleau, having summoned the
| king thithcr. Ferret, his secretary,
however, awaited me with letter, in
which Henry, after expressing his
| desire to see me, babe me neverthe-
! less stay in Paris a day to
| ransact some business. '"Then," he
continued, come to me, my friend, and
| we will discuss the matter of which you
| know. In the meantime send me your
| papers by Ferret, who will give you a
receipt for them"
Snspecting no danger in a course
which was usual enough, fastened to
comply. Summoning Maignan, who,
| whenever travelled, carried my port
folio | unlocked it, and emptying the
| papers in a mass on the table, handed
| them in detail to Ferret. Presently, to
my establishment, found that one, and
| this the most important, was missing.
| went over the papers again, and again,
and yet again. Still it was not to be
| found.
Whenever travelled on a mission of
| Importance l wrote my dispatches in
| one of the three modes, according as
| they were of little, great, or the first
Importance; in ordinary characters that
| is. in q cipher to which the council pos
| sessed the key, or in cipher to which
| only the king and l held keys This
| last, as it was seldom used, was rarely
| changed; but it was my duty, on my re-
| turn from each mission, Immediately to
remit my key to the king, who de-
| posted it in a safe place until another
occasion for its use arose.
1t was this key which was missing.
had been accustomed to carry it in the
| portfolio with the other papers, but in
a sealed envelope which I broke and
| again sealed with my own signet when
ever had occasion to use the cipher.
had last seen the envelope at Calais,
| when handed the portfolio to Maignan
before beginning my journey to Paris;
! the portfolio had not since been opened,
yet the sealed packet was missing.
More than a little uneasy, recalled
| Maignan, who had withdrawn after de-
livering up his charge. You rascal!'
said with some heat. Has this been
| out of your custody?"
The bag?" he answered, looking at
it. Then his face changed. You
have cut your finger, my lord" he said
| had cut it slightly in unbuckling
the portfolio, and a drop or two of
| blood had fallen on the papers But
his reference to itat this moment, when
my mind was full of my loss, angered
me, and even awoke my suspicious.
''Silencc!" l said, "and answer me.
| Have you let this bag out of your pos
session."
This time he replied straightforward.
| ly that he had not.
Nor unlocked it?"
81 have no key, your excellcncy."
That was true; and as l had at bot
tom the utmost confidence in his fdcl-
ity, pursued the inquiry no farther in
that direction, but made third search
among the papers. This also failing
to bring the packet to light, and Ferret
being in haste to be gone, l was obliged
for the moment to put up with the
loss, and draw what comfort l could
from the reflection that no dispatch in
the missing cipher was eXtant. Who
ever had stolen it, therefore, another
could be substituted for it and no one the
! worse. Still | was unwilling that the
| king should hear of the mischance from
astranger, and be led to think me care
less; and babe Ferret be silent about
it unless Henry missed the packet,
which might not happen before my
| arrival.
When The secretary, who readily as
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