Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-02

Copyright 1885,, ~ Bacheler johnson Rachcllcr.(
ON the 18th of August 1G01. returning
from mission to England l sailed from
Dover. and crossing to Calais without mis-
hap anticipated with pleasure the kings
satisfaction when he should hear the
suit of my embassy. and learn from my
mouth the just and friendly sentiments
which Queen Elizabeth entertained toward
him
Unfortunately / was not able 10 impart
these on the instant During my absence
a trifing matter had carried the king to
Dieppe. whence his anxiety on the queens
account, who was shortly to be brought
10 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 increased
by the fact that when reached the arsenal
/ found the Louvre vacant. the queen, who
lay at Fon;ainebleau, having summoned
the king thither Ferret. his secretary,
however. awaited me with letter in
which Henry. after expressing his desire
Paris a day to transact 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 viii give
you receipt for them"
Suspecting no danger in a course which
was usual enough. L FASTENED to comply:
Summoning Maignan. who whenever
travelled. carried my portfolio, L unlocked
- twin rha a
the table. handed them in detail TO Ferret
Presently. to my establishment, FOUND
that one, and this the most important,
was missing L went over the papers again
and again, and Yet again. Still II was not
to he found.
Whenever 1 Travelled on mission of i'm
pCrtauce 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 a cipher
to which the council possessed the key, or
in a cipher 20 which only the king and 1
keld keys. This last. as ii seldom
used, was rarely changed; but il my
duty. on my return from each mission. i'm
mediately to remit my key to the king.
who deposited it in safe place until an
other occasion for its use arose.
Ii was this key which was missing. /
had been accustomed to carry it in the
portfolio with the other papers, but in
sealed envelope which L broke and again
sealed with my own signet whenever / had
occasion to use the cipher. L had last
seen the envelope at Calais, when l hand
ed the portfolio to NIaignan before begin
ming 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. L
said with some heat. Has this been cut
Of your custody"
THE bag?" he answered, looking at it.
Then his face changed. You have cut
your finger. my lord" he said.
l had cut it slightly in unbucklins the
portfolio. and a drop or two of blood had
fallen on the papers. But his reference
to II at this moment, when my mind was
full of my loss, anSered me, and even
awoke my suspicious silence" / said
'and answer me. Have you let this bag
out of your possession
This time he replied straightforwardly
that lie had not.
Nor unlocked it?'
81 have no key, your excellency.
That was true: and as | had at bottom
the utmost confidence in his fidelity. pur-
sued the inquiry no farther in that direc-
ticn, but made a third search among the
papers. This also failing to bring the
packet to light. and Ferret being in haste
to he gone | was obliged for the moment
to put up with the loss. and draw what
comfort I could from the reflection that no
dispatch in the missing cipher was extant