The Washington herald., 1912-11-17
CHAPTER I.
THE FIFTEENTH LOUIS.


draping themselves in the mus
lin Of the evening mist, the carriage o
Monsieur de Ssrtines passed the Swis'
on guard at the gates of his majesty!
palace of Versailles and entered thu
courtyard.
Then, as now, this courtyard, vast
paved with cobblestones big as one:
fst, looked on by rows and rows oi
windows; chill, almost repellent, gavt
one the impression of back premises
without any detraction from that othei
impression of nlagnihcence which thu
genius of Mansard mixed in the plans
ahe bricks and the very mortar OF his
work.
The carriage of the minister of po.
q lice, having crossed the courtyard
where other carriages were standing
an waiting, stopped at the main en-
trance of the palace, and Monsieur &c
Sartines descended.
A lackey i'll the royal livery came
down the steps and stood as the vehicle
drew up. and already the man at the
swing doors had passed the words
across his shoulder to the usher at
his desk. THE carriage of Monsieur
dc Sartines."
The carriages of the notabilities OF
France, of Monsieur de Coigny, the
Due de Richelieu, the Due de Choiseul,
and host of others were known indi-
vidually and almost by the sound OF
their wheels to the doorkeepers of Ver-
sailles. and none better than that of
the minister of police, who was now
ascending the steps walking heavily
"a magnificent figure of a man in a
coat of brocaded silk, with ruffles of
the finest Mechlin lace, bearing in his
hand a clouded cane, and at his side
that dress sword, an heirloom cf the
family of the Comics de Sartines, in
herited from the illustrious Marechal
d'Ancre.
The glass doors opening before him.
as though pushed aside by his reflection
on their polished surfaces, Monsieur
de Sartines passed into the warm and
flower-scented vestibule where the
lamps had just been lighted, and where
Joaquin, the usher on duty, advanced to
receive the hat and cane of the min
lister.
From beyond the Stairway of the
Ambassadors, somewhere in the dis
tance, faint. like the diffused murmur
OF bees. came the sound of voices, a
multitude of voices subdued and low
pitched. a nimbus of sound from the
Hall of Mirrors, where the eourtiers in
attendance were assembled. chatting,
criticising the life of the day. drawn
together by no special occasion, or rea-
son. save that which makes insects
1. II LII
There was no necessity for Monsieur
dc Sartines TO inquire whether the king
were present in his palace; the voices
from the Hall of Mirrors told him.
He was advancing up the great stair
case when from the corridor above, de-
scending. Monsieur lie Marechal Due
dc Richelieu made his appearance. COM
ing rapidly, seeming elated and well
pleased with himself. and followed by
a lackey of the palace bearing a dis
patch-boX
A marvellous figure was the Due dc
Richelieu. quite youthful still, despite
his seventy-four years, small in stature,
yet somehow great. a man with the
past of a conqueror and the present
appearancc-at a distance-of a youth
full fop.
At this moment the hero of Mahon
was at the zenith of his worldly hopes,
for the De Choiseul ministry, destined
TO fall on the following Christmas eve,
was crumbling, and the De Richelieu
to materialize-was in
the air.
''Ah, De Sartines," said the due,
pausing in his passage toward the door,
and, laying a finger on the brocaded
arm of the newcomer, you have come
to pay your respects to his majesty.
You will find him very we'll. l have
just left him, and he is expecting you"
Expecting me, Monsieur" replied
De Sartines. Then his majesty must
have been suddenly gifted with the
power of second sight"
Ma fol, who can tell? only know
he said to me, I feel in such good
spirits something surely is going to
happen; either some pamphleteer is
printing new pamphlet against me, or
Monsieur de Sartines is coming to bore
me with a portfolio
De Sartines bowed gravely. Hap
PLY for you, Monsieur, his majesty
said to me at our last meeting, What
ever happens, l shall never bore Mon
sieur de Richelieu in that way"
De Richelieu. almost assured, and al
ready feeling the portfolio of the Due
de Choiseul under his arm, laughed and
passed on, while De Sartines took
step upward, only to be stopped again,
this time by a figure just emerging
from the corridor.
1t was Monsieur de Joyeuse, a young
pentiernau who had Snuandered for
tune and was now squandering the for
tune of his wife, woman of fifty
eight whom he had married-openly
the fact-for her money.
He was bearing small bunch of
violets. why, If is Monsieur de Sar-
tines :" said De Joyeuse "How oppor-
tune! You have come just in time to
save the remains of your reputation.
which they are killing in the Hall of
Mirrors"
"Ah. Monsieur" replied De Sartines,
YOU are happier in that respect than
| am"
"And how"
you have left nothing for them to
kill"
He bowed, passed on, and moment
ater found himself in the throng
the great salon.
The lamps were lighted, but through
he long windows, as vet uncurtained,
he park, the lakes and the fountains
IF Versailles showed, dim and poetic
picture in the chioroscuro of evening.
The courtiers were formed in little
groups chatting together. laughing and
discussing tri1es as though they had