RICHELIEU,
A TALE OF FRANCE.
The Cardinal’s malice and his potency
Together: to consider further, that
What his high hatred would effect, wants not
A minister in his power.
SHAKSPEARE.
IN THREE VOLUMES.
VOL. II.
LONDON:
HENRY COLBURN, NEW BURLINGTON STREET.
1829.
LONDON:
PRINTED BY S. AND R. BENTLEY,
Dorset Street, Fleet Street.
CHAPTER I., II., III., IV., V., VI., VII., VIII., IX., X., XI., XII.
RICHELIEU.
CHAPTER I.
The motto of which should be “Out of the frying-pan into the fire.”
THE jingle of Claude de Blenau’s spurs, as he descended with a quickstep the staircase of the Palais Cardinal, told as plainly as a pair ofFrench spurs could tell, that his heart was lightened of a heavy loadsince he had last tried their ascent; and the spring of his foot, as heleaped upon his horse, spoke much of renewed hope, and banishedapprehension.
But the Devil of it is—(for I must use that homely but happyexpression)—the Devil of it is, that the rebound of hope raises us asmuch above the level of truth, as the depression of fear sinks us belowit: and De Blenau, striking his spurs into the sides of his horse,cantered off towards St. Germain as gaily as if all doubt and dangerwere over, and began to look upon bastilles, tortures, and racks, withall the other et-cetera of Richelieu’s government, as little better thanchimeras of the imagination, with which he had nothing farther to do.
Hope sets off at a hand gallop, Consideration soon contents herself witha more moderate pace, and Doubt is reduced, at best, to a slow trot.Thus, as De Blenau began to reflect, he unconsciously drew in the bridleof his horse; and before he had proceeded one league on the way to St.Germain’s, the marks of deep thought were evident both in the pace ofthe courser and the countenance of the rider; De Blenau knitting hisbrow and biting his lip, as the various dangers that surrounded himcrossed his mind; and the gentle barb, seemingly animated by the samespirit as his master, bending his arched neck and throwing out his feetwith as much consideration as if the firm Chemin de St. Germain hadbeen no better than a quagmire.
De Blenau well knew that even in France a man might smile, and smile,and be a villain; and that the fair words of Richelieu too oftenpreceded his most remorseless actions. He remembered also the warning ofMademoiselle de Bourbon, and felt too str