Part 78 (1/2)
”Sire! sire! there is a sedition of the populace in Paris!” Louis XI.'s grave face contracted; but all that was visible of his emotion pa.s.sed away like a flash of lightning. He controlled himself and said with tranquil severity,--
”Gossip Jacques, you enter very abruptly!”
”Sire! sire! there is a revolt!” repeated Gossip Jacques breathlessly.
The king, who had risen, grasped him roughly by the arm, and said in his ear, in such a manner as to be heard by him alone, with concentrated rage and a sidelong glance at the Flemings,--
”Hold your tongue! or speak low!”
The new comer understood, and began in a low tone to give a very terrified account, to which the king listened calmly, while Guillaume Rym called Coppenole's attention to the face and dress of the new arrival, to his furred cowl, (_caputia fourrata_), his short cape, (_epitogia curta_), his robe of black velvet, which bespoke a president of the court of accounts.
Hardly had this personage given the king some explanations, when Louis XI. exclaimed, bursting into a laugh,--
”In truth? Speak aloud, Gossip Coictier! What call is there for you to talk so low? Our Lady knoweth that we conceal nothing from our good friends the Flemings.”
”But sire...”
”Speak loud!”
Gossip Coictier was struck dumb with surprise.
”So,” resumed the king,--”speak sir,--there is a commotion among the louts in our good city of Paris?”
”Yes, sire.”
”And which is moving you say, against monsieur the bailiff of the Palais-de-Justice?”
”So it appears,” said the gossip, who still stammered, utterly astounded by the abrupt and inexplicable change which had just taken place in the king's thoughts.
Louis XI. continued: ”Where did the watch meet the rabble?”
”Marching from the Grand Truanderie, towards the Pont-aux-Changeurs. I met it myself as I was on my way hither to obey your majesty's commands.
I heard some of them shouting: 'Down with the bailiff of the palace!'”
”And what complaints have they against the bailiff?”
”Ah!” said Gossip Jacques, ”because he is their lord.”
”Really?”
”Yes, sire. They are knaves from the Cour-des-Miracles. They have been complaining this long while, of the bailiff, whose va.s.sals they are.
They do not wish to recognize him either as judge or as voyer?”*
* One in charge of the highways.
”Yes, certainly!” retorted the king with a smile of satis-faction which he strove in vain to disguise.
”In all their pet.i.tions to the Parliament, they claim to have but two masters. Your majesty and their G.o.d, who is the devil, I believe.”