Chicot the Jester

Alexandre Dumas

Description

Dip into this titillating tale of court intrigue from Alexandre Dumas, the master of historical fiction. Chicot the Jester delves into the ill-fated romance of the Dame de Monsoreau and Count de Bussy, whose relationship is unable to withstand the tensions in the royal family that marked the reign of Henry III.

Sujets

• Historical fiction

Informations

• Publié par: The Floating Press
• Date de parution: 01 janvier 2011
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781775451143
• Langue: English

Extrait

CHICOT THE JESTER
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ALEXANDRE DUMAS
 
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Chicot the Jester First published in 1846 ISBN 978-1-775451-14-3 © 2011 The Floating Press While every effort has been used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in The Floating Press edition of this book, The Floating Press does not assume liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in this book. The Floating Press does not accept responsibility for loss suffered as a result of reliance upon the accuracy or currency of information contained in this book. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Many suitcases look alike. Visit www.thefloatingpress.com
Contents
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Chapter I - The Wedding of St. Luc Chapter II - How it is Not Always He Who Opens the Door, Who Enters the House Chapter III - How it is Sometimes Difficult to Distinguish a Dream from theReality Chapter IV - How Madame de St. Luc Had Passed the Night Chapter V - How Madame de St. Luc Passed the Second Night of Her Marriage Chapter VI - Le Petit Coucher of Henri III Chapter VII - How, Without Any One Knowing Why, the King was Converted Beforethe Next Day Chapter VIII - How the King was Afraid of Being Afraid Chapter IX - How the Angel Made a Mistake and Spoke to Chicot, Thinking itwas the King Chapter X - How Bussy Went to Seek for the Reality of His Dream Chapter XI - M. Bryan de Monsoreau Chapter XII - How Bussy Found Both the Portrait and the Original Chapter XIII - Who Diana Was Chapter XIV - The Treaty Chapter XV - The Marriage Chapter XVI - The Marriage Chapter XVII - How Henri III Traveled, and How Long it Took Him to Get fromParis to Fontainebleau Chapter XVIII - Brother Gorenflot Chapter XIX - How Chicot Found Out that it was Easier to Go in than Out of theAbbey Chapter XX - How Chicot, Forced to Remain in the Abbey, Saw and Heard ThingsVery Dangerous to See and Hear Chapter XXI - How Chicot Learned Genealogy Chapter XXII - How M. And Madame de St. Luc Met with a Traveling Companion Chapter XXIII - The Old Man Chapter XXIV - How Remy-Le-Haudouin Had, in Bussy's Absence, Established aCommunication with the Rue St. Antoine Chapter XXV - The Father and Daughter Chapter XXVI - How Brother Gorenflot Awoke, and the Reception He Met with atHis Convent Chapter XXVII - How Brother Gorenflot Remained Convinced that He was a Somnambulist,and Bitterly Deplored this Infirmity Chapter XXVIIL - How Brother Gorenflot Traveled Upon an Ass, Named Panurge, andLearned Many Things He Did Not Know Before Chapter XXIX - How Brother Gorenflot Changed His Ass for a Mule, and His Mulefor a Horse Chapter XXX - How Chicot and His Companion Installed Themselves at the Hotelof the Cross, and How They Were Received by the Host Chapter XXXI - How the Monk Confessed the Advocate, and the Advocate the Monk Chapter XXXII - How Chicot Used His Sword Chapter XXXIII - How the Duc D'Anjou Learned that Diana was Not Dead Chapter XXXIV - How Chicot Returned to the Louvre, and was Received by the KingHenri III Chapter XXXV - What Passed Between M. De Monsoreau and the Duke Chapter XXXVI - Chicot and the King Chapter XXXVII - What M. De Guise Came to Do at the Louvre Chapter XXXVIII - Castor and Pollux Chapter XXXIX - In Which it is Proved that Listening is the Best Way to Hear Chapter XL - The Evening of the League Chapter XLI - The Rue de la Ferronnerie Chapter XLII - The Prince and the Friend Chapter XLIII - Etymology of the Rue de la Jussienne Chapter XLIV - How D'Epernon Had His Doublet Torn, and How Chomberg was StainedBlue Chapter XLV - Chicot More than Ever King of France Chapter XLVI - How Chicot Paid a Visit to Bussy, and What Followed Chapter XLVII - The Chess of M. Chicot, and the Cup and Ball of M. Quelus Chapter XLVIII - The Reception of the Chiefs of the League Chapter XLIX - How the King N Axed a Chief Who was Neither the Duc de Guise norM. D'Anjou Chapter L - Eteocles and Polynices Chapter LI - How People Do Not Always Lose Their Time by Searching Empty Drawers Chapter LII - Ventre St. Gris Chapter LIII - The Friends Chapter LIV - Bussy and Diana Chapter LV - How Bussy was Offered Three Hundred Pistoles for His Horse, andParted with Him for Nothing Chapter LVI - The Diplomacy of the Duc D'Anjou Chapter LVII - The Ideas of the Duc D'Anjou Chapter LVIII - A Flight of Angevins Chapter LIX - Roland Chapter LX - What M. De Monsoreau Came to Announce Chapter LXI - How the King Learned the Flight of His Beloved Brother, and WhatFollowed Chapter LXII - How, as Chicot and the Queen Mother Were Agreed, the King Beganto Agree with Them Chapter LXIII - In Which it is Proved that Gratitude was One of St. Luc's Virtues Chapter LXIV - The Project of M. De St. Luc Chapter LXV - How M. De St. Luc Showed M. De Monsoreau the Thrust that the KingHad Taught Him Chapter LXVI - In Which We See the Queen-Mother Enter the Town of Angers, butNot Triumphantly Chapter LXVII - Little Causes and Great Effects Chapter LXVIII - How M. De Monsoreau Opened and Shut His Eyes, Which Proved thatHe was Not Dead Chapter LXIX - How M. Le Duc D'Anjou Went to Méridor to Congratulate Madamede Monsoreau on the Death of Her Husband, and Found Him thereBefore Him Chapter LXX - The Inconvenience of Large Litters and Narrow Doors Chapter LXXI - What Temper the King was in When St. Luc Reappeared at the Louvre Chapter LXXII - In Which We Meet Two Important Personages Whom We Have Lost Sightof for Some Time Chapter LXXIII - Diana's Second Journey to Paris Chapter LXXIV - How the Ambassador of the Duc D'Anjou Arrived at the Louvre, andthe Reception He Met With Chapter LXXV - Which is Only the End of the Preceding One Chapter LXXVI - How M. De St. Luc Acquitted Himself of the Commission Given toHim by Bussy Chapter LXXVII - In What Respect M. De St. Luc was More Civilized than M. De Bussy,the Lessons Which He Gave Him, and the Use Which M. De BussyMade of Them Chapter LXXVIII - The Precautions of M. De Monsoreau Chapter LXXIX - A Visit to the House at Les Tournelles Chapter LXXX - The Watchers Chapter LXXXI - How M. Le Duc D'Anjou Signed, and After Having Signed, Spoke Chapter LXXXII - A Promenade at the Tournelles Chapter LXXXIII - In Which Chicot Sleeps Chapter LXXXIV - Where Chicot Wakes Chapter LXXXV - The Fête Dieu Chapter LXXXVI - Which Will Elucidate the Previous Chapter Chapter LXXXVII - The Procession Chapter LXXXVIII - Chicot the First Chapter LXXXIX - Interest and Capital Chapter XC - What was Passing Near the Bastile While Chicot was Paying HisDebt to Y. De Mayenne Chapter XCI - The Assassination Chapter XCII - How Brother Gorenflot Found Himself More than Ever Between a Gallowsand an Abbey Chapter XCIII - Where Chicot Guesses Why D'Epernon Had Blood on His Feet and Nonein His Cheeks Chapter XCIV - The Morning of the Combat Chapter XCV - The Friends of Bussy Chapter XCVI - The Combat Chapter XCVII - The End Endnotes
Chapter I - The Wedding of St. Luc
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On the evening of a Sunday, in the year 1578, a splendid fête wasgiven in the magnificent hotel just built opposite the Louvre,on the other side of the water, by the family of Montmorency, who,allied to the royalty of France, held themselves equal to princes.This fête was to celebrate the wedding of François d'Epinay deSt. Luc, a great friend and favorite of the king, Henri III.,with Jeanne de Crossé-Brissac, daughter of the marshal of thatname.
The banquet had taken place at the Louvre, and the king, who hadbeen with much difficulty induced to consent to the marriage, hadappeared at it with a severe and grave countenance. His costumewas in harmony with his face; he wore that suit of deep chestnut,in which Clouet described him at the wedding of Joyeuse; andthis kind of royal specter, solemn and majestic, had chilledall the spectators, but above all the young bride, at whom hecast many angry glances. The reason of all this was known toeveryone, but was one of those court secrets of which no one likesto speak.
Scarcely was the repast finished, when the king had risen abruptly,thereby forcing everyone to do the same. Then St. Luc approachedhim, and said: "Sire, will your majesty do me the honor to acceptthe fête, which I wish to give to you this evening at the HôtelMontmorency?" This was said in an imploring tone, but Henri,with a voice betraying both vexation and anger, had replied:
"Yes, monsieur, we will go, although you certainly do not meritthis proof of friendship on our part."
Then Madame de St. Luc had humbly thanked the king, but he turnedhis back without replying.
"Is the king angry with you?" asked the young wife of her husband.
"I will explain it to you after, mon amie, when this anger shallhave passed away."
"And will it pass away?"
"It must."
Mademoiselle de Brissac was not yet sufficiently Madame de St.Luc to insist further; therefore she repressed her curiosity,promising herself to satisfy it at a more favorable time.
They were, therefore, expecting St. Luc at the Hôtel Montmorency,at the moment in which our story commences. St. Luc had invitedall the king's friends and all his own; the princes and theirfavorites, particularly those of the Duc d'Anjou. He was alwaysin opposition to the king, but in a hidden manner, pushing forwardthose of his friends whom the example of La Mole and Coconnashad not cured. Of course, his favorites and those of the kinglived in a state of antagonism, which brought on rencontres twoor three times a month, in which it was rare that some one wasnot killed or badly wounded.
As for Catherine, she was at the height of her wishes; her favoriteson was on the throne, and she reigned through him, while shepretended to care no more for the things of this world. St. Luc,very uneasy at the absence of all the royal family, tried toreassure his father-in-law, who was much distressed at this menacingabsence. Convinced, like all the world, of the friendship ofHenri for St. Luc, he had believed he was assuring the royalfavor, and now this looked like a disgrace. St. Luc tried hard