This etext was produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net>
[NOTE: There is a short list of bookmarks, or pointers, at the end of thefile for those who may wish to sample the author's ideas before making anentire meal of them. D.W.]
By ALFRED DE VIGNY
De Thou had reached home with his friend; his doors were carefully shut,and orders given to admit no one, and to excuse him to the refugees forallowing them to depart without seeing them again; and as yet the twofriends had not spoken to each other.
The counsellor had thrown himself into his armchair in deep meditation.Cinq-Mars, leaning against the lofty chimneypiece, awaited with a seriousand sorrowful air the termination of this silence. At length De Thou,looking fixedly at him and crossing his arms, said in a hollow andmelancholy voice:
"This, then, is the goal you have reached! These, the consequences ofyour ambition! You are are about to banish, perhaps slay, a man, and tobring then, a foreign army into France; I am, then, to see you anassassin and a traitor to your country! By what tortuous paths have youarrived thus far? By what stages have you descended so low?"
"Any other than yourself would not speak thus to me twice," said Cinq-Mars, coldly; "but I know you, and I like this explanation. I desiredit, and sought it. You shall see my entire soul. I had at first anotherthought, a better one perhaps, more worthy of our friendship, more worthyof friendship—friendship, the second thing upon earth."
He raised his eyes to heaven as he spoke, as if he there sought thedivinity.
"Yes, it would have been better. I intended to have said nothing to youon the subject. It was a painful task to keep silence; but hitherto Ihave succeeded. I wished to have conducted the whole enterprise withoutyou; to show you only the finished work. I wished to keep you beyond thecircle of my danger; but shall I confess my weakness? I feared to die,if I have to die, misjudged by you. I can well sustain the idea of theworld's malediction, but not of yours; but this has decided me uponavowing all to you."
"What! and but for this thought, you would have had the courage toconceal yourself forever from me? Ah, dear Henri, what have I done thatyou should take this care of my life? By what fault have I deserved tosurvive you, if you die? You have had the strength of mind to hoodwinkme for two whole years; you have never shown me aught of your life butits flowers; you have never entered my solitude but with a joyouscountenance, and each time with a fresh favor. Ah, you must be veryguilty or very virtuous!"
"Do not seek in my soul more than therein lies. Yes, I have deceivedyou; and that fact was the only peace and joy I had in the world.Forgive me for having stolen these moments from my destiny, so brilliant,alas! I was happy in the happiness you supposed me to enjoy; I made youhappy in that dream, and I am only guilty in that I am now about todestroy it, and to show myself as I was and am. Listen: I shall notdetain you long; the story of an impassioned heart is ever simple. Oncebefore, I remember, in my tent when I was wounded, my secret nearlyescaped me; it would have been happy, perhaps, had it done so. Yet whatwould counsel have availed me? I should not have followed it. In aword, 'tis Marie de Mantua whom I love."
"How! she who is to be Queen of Poland?"
"If she is eve