Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1913-07-18
CHAPTER n.
THE OF DE
RICHELTEII

W00 ~ vCxkH kVVu AN x2S N6U me
ished supper and his digestion was
behaving itself: he had got rid Of his
half-yearly accounts with the assist.
ance Of Raffe, examined infinitely his
financial position and found himself
with 1000 louis more in hand than he
shaping favorably. De Choiseul. not
destined to fall for another sever
months, seemed on the point Of falling
and the fall OF De Choiseul as minis
ter meant, every one said. the eleva-
ton of Monsieur de Richelieu.
He had supped alone, and after sup-
per. followed by RATE. he returned to
his library.
Ma foil" said the marechal. as he
entered the room, 81 have had over
20 years experience OF life, only to
learn that he who sups alone sups
best. In company we eat to much. to
cover u boredom, M drink too
much, to ltven u wits"
Raffe laughed the little noiseless
laugh peculiar to him. Monsieur de
Richelieu's philosophy always left him
quite cynical.
pursue politics. he must expect what
he finds"
And what do you think he may ex-
pect to find-grumbler?
"Oh, ma fol! what else but dull din.
ner parties and indigestions. not to
speak Of headaches. pitfalls. traps and
rogues."
ITS true" said De Richelieu, TAX
ing his eat at the bureau. EVERY
politician is a rogue, with this differ
ence, that whereas most rogues arc
amusing. all politicians are dull"
And since monsieur is q poll
tician-"
I am not. 4 IL true that yester-
day, when De Choiseul seemed on the
point of falling, as he will fall some
day, l a prepared for the good OF
France. and not for n personal rea-
son-l say I was prepared"
ITO take his portfolio"
Yes, for the good: OF France"
"Ay, ay," said Raffe, with another
silent little laugh. For the good Of
France. the old motto OF the politi-
"silence!" said De Richeiieu. FOR
what other reason would 1 mix my
self up in affairs OF state? What am
billions ave I, who possess every
thing. An old man"
True" said Raffe.
Yet not too old to. strike a blow"
For the good Of France"
For the good OF. France. All the
same, there are younger men. Why
should l waste the last years OF my
life struggling against ogues avoid
Ing pitfalls. laboring under the weight
OF q portfolio heavy with the mistakes
- lily PICOSCc66OE s. mo, luOTUleU! give
me , peace, my hawks and hounds,
quietude and the friends I care for;
all better thar a dozen portfolios"
True" said RATE, but it seems to
me, monsieur. that there is someone at
the door,
Someone, in fact, had knocked at
the door. 1t was q servant, bearing In
his hand a heavy gold salver. upon
which lay a letter with a yellow seal.
The king alone sealed his letters with
yellow wax, and De Richelieu's eyes
lighted up as he stretched out his hand
and took the letter.
He broke the seal! hndtread:
Dear M~arechal: Our friend De G..
is very i'll; so hold yourself in readiness
should the worst occur. l."
The note was addressed from Luz
fciennes. His majesty. who had>been
patched it by special messenger. It
had no Significance at all; the position
OF De Choiseul had not altered q whit
since yesterday, but It amused the
mischief-loving king to excite hopes
doomed to destruction. and certainly 1t
little comedy that followed.
De Riichelieu. having read the note,
turned to Raffe.
de Choiseul has fallen"
"Oho!" said Raffe.
HE is not quite overturned, but .
ASW IN Ndy ~ w lie
well, monsieur replied RATE, II
do not see how that affects us who
have declared for a quiet life, who
care nothing for portfolios. who would
avoid the struggle against rogues-"
II am asked to hold myself In read.
regarding the Others words. THE
kings mind is made up"
"Of ~contrarieties."
He has chosen me az De Choiseul's
successor. Well. grunbler. what do
in France I am chosen = $50
ITO follow Monsieur de Choiseul."
"No-to precede him."
"Well. monsieur" replied Rafe, II
congratulate you on the compliment
his majesty has paid you. Your knowl-
edge of men will. doubtless, stand you
in good stead when the heavy portfolio
comes under your arm; and your
knowledge of women, and II I may say
so, the fascination you still exercise
over them.
Raffe was De Richelieu's bitter tonic;
unpleasant as his raillery and cynicism
might be, II was at least always sim
cere; 1t helped De Rfchelieu to digest
all the poisoned sugar OF the court, the
falsfties n the absurdttles. But there
was one subject on which even Raffa
privileged as he was, dared scarcely to
touch, and that was the love affairs OF
his master.
When a man IL nearly 90, his amours
form q target that even q blind man
can hit, and Rafce, to do him Justice,
rarely expended his ammunition on 80
easy q mark.
II have sonne knowledge of women
said De Richelieu stiffly, ..and what il
better than that. though I have some
influence over them, they have none
over me. It II q power, that-though,
mordieu: n pays for II by growing old.
Had De Choiseul made study OF wo-
men as I have done, he would not now