Thussetasidefrompubliclife，thissuperiorwomanpassedhertimeinobservingtheself-interestsofthecourtpeopleandofthevariouspartieswhichwereformedabouther。AlltheItalianswhohadfollowedherwereobjectsofviolentsuspicion。AftertheexecutionofMontecuculitheConnetabledeMontmorency，Diane，andmanyofthekeenestpoliticiansofthecourtwerefilledwithsuspicionoftheMedici；thoughFrancoisI。alwaysrepelledit。Consequently，theGondi，Strozzi，Ruggieri，Sardini，etc。，——inshort，allthosewhowerecalleddistinctively”theItalians，”——werecompelledtoemploygreaterresourcesofmind，shrewdpolicy，andcourage，tomaintainthemselvesatcourtagainsttheweightofdisfavorwhichpresseduponthem。
Duringherhusband’sreignCatherine’samiabilitytoDianedePoitierswenttosuchgreatlengthsthatintelligentpersonsmustregarditasproofofthatprofounddissimulationwhichmen，events，andtheconductofHenriII。compelledCatherinede’Medicitoemploy。Buttheygotoofarwhentheydeclarethatsheneverclaimedherrightsaswifeandqueen。Inthefirstplace，thesenseofdignitywhichCatherinepossessedinthehighestdegreeforbadeherclaimingwhathistorianscallherrightsasawife。ThetenchildrenofthemarriageexplainHenri’sconduct；andhiswife’smaternaloccupationslefthimfreetopasshistimewithDianedePoitiers。Butthekingwasneverlackinginanythingthatwasduetohimself；andhegaveCatherinean”entry”intoParis，tobecrownedasqueen，whichwasworthyofallsuchpageantsthathadevertakenplace。ThearchivesoftheParliament，andthoseoftheCourdesComptes，showthatthosetwogreatbodieswenttomeetheroutsideofParisasfarasSaintLazare。
HereisanextractfromduTillet’saccountofit:——”AplatformhadbeenerectedatSaint-Lazare，onwhichwasathrone(duTilletcallsita/chairdeparement/)。Catherinetookherseatuponit，wearingasurcoat，orspeciesofermineshort-
cloakcoveredwithpreciousstones，abodicebeneathitwiththeroyalmantle，andonherheadacrownenrichedwithpearlsanddiamonds，andheldinplacebytheMarechaledelaMark，herladyofhonor。Aroundher/stood/theprincesoftheblood，andotherprincesandseigneurs，richlyapparelled，alsothechancellorofFranceinarobeofgolddamaskonabackgroundofcrimson-red。
Beforethequeen，andonthesameplatform，wereseated，intworows，twelveduchessesorcountesses，wearingerminesurcoats，bodices，robes，andcirclets，——thatistosay，thecoronetsofduchessesandcountesses。TheseweretheDuchessesd’Estouteville，Montpensier(elderandyounger)；thePrincessesdelaRoche-sur-
Yon；theDuchessesdeGuise，deNivernois，d’Aumale，deValentinois(DianedePoitiers)，MademoisellelabatardelegitimeedeFrance(thetitleoftheking’sdaughter，Diane，whowasDuchessedeCastro-FarneseandafterwardsDuchessedeMontmorency-
Damville)，MadamelaConnetable，andMademoiselledeNemours；
withoutmentioningotherdemoiselleswhowerenotseated。Thefourpresidentsofthecourtsofjustice，wearingtheircaps，severalothermembersofthecourt，andtheclerkduTillet，mountedtheplatform，madereverentbows，andthechiefjudge，Lizet，kneelingdown，haranguedthequeen。Thechancellorthenkneltdownandanswered。Thequeenmadeherentryathalf-pastthreeo’clockinanopenlitter，havingMadameMargueritedeFrancesittingoppositetoher，andoneithersideofthelittertheCardinalsofAmboise，Chatillon，Boulogne，anddeLenoncourtintheirepiscopalrobes。SheleftherlitteratthechurchofNotre-Dame，whereshewasreceivedbytheclergy。Afterofferingherprayer，shewasconductedbytheruedelaCalandretothepalace，wheretheroyalsupperwasservedinthegreathall。Shethereappeared，seatedatthemiddleofthemarbletable，beneathavelvetdaisstrewnwithgoldenfleur-de-lis。”
WemayhereputanendtooneofthosepopularbeliefswhicharerepeatedinmanywritersfromSauvaldown。IthasbeensaidthatHenriII。pushedhisneglectoftheproprietiessofarastoputtheinitialsofhismistressonthebuildingswhichCatherineadvisedhimtocontinueortobeginwithsomuchmagnificence。ButthedoublemonogramwhichcanbeseenattheLouvreoffersadailydenialtothosewhoaresolittleclear-sightedastobelieveinsillynonsensewhichgratuitouslyinsultsourkingsandqueens。TheHorHenriandthetwoC’sofCatherinewhichbackit，appeartorepresentthetwoD’sofDiane。ThecoincidencemayhavepleasedHenriII。，butitisnonethelesstruethattheroyalmonogramcontainedofficiallytheinitialofthekingandthatofthequeen。ThisissotruethatthemonogramcanstillbeseenonthecolumnoftheHalleauBle，whichwasbuiltbyCatherinealone。ItcanalsobeseeninthecryptofSaint-Denis，onthetombwhichCatherineerectedforherselfinherlifetimebesidethatofHenriII。，whereherfigureismodelledfromnaturebythesculptortowhomshesatforit。
Onasolemnoccasion，whenhewasstarting，March25，1552，forhisexpeditionintoGermany，HenriII。declaredCatherineregentduringhisabsence，andalsoincaseofhisdeath。Catherine’smostcruelenemy，theauthorof”MarvellousDiscoursesonCatherinetheSecond’sBehavior”admitsthatshecarriedonthegovernmentwithuniversalapprovalandthatthekingwassatisfiedwithheradministration。
Henrireceivedbothmoneyandmenatthetimehewantedthem；andfinally，afterthefataldayofSaint-Quentin，CatherineobtainedconsiderablesumsofmoneyfromthepeopleofParis，whichshesenttoCompiegne，wherethekingthenwas。
Inpolitics，Catherinemadeimmenseeffortstoobtainalittleinfluence。ShewascleverenoughtobringtheConnetabledeMontmorency，all-powerfulunderHenriII。，toherinterests。Weallknowtheterribleanswerthatthekingmade，onbeingharassedbyMontmorencyinherfavor。ThisanswerwastheresultofanattemptbyCatherinetogivethekinggoodadvice，inthefewmomentsshewaseveralonewithhim，whensheexplainedtheFlorentinepolicyofpittingthegrandeesofthekingdomoneagainstanotherandestablishingtheroyalauthorityontheirruins。ButHenriII。，whosawthingsonlythroughtheeyesofDianeandtheConnetable，wasatrulyfeudalkingandthefriendofallthegreatfamiliesofhiskingdom。
AfterthefutileattemptoftheConnetableinherfavor，whichmusthavebeenmadeintheyear1556，CatherinebegantocajoletheGuisesforthepurposeofdetachingthemfromDianeandopposingthemtotheConnetable。Unfortunately，DianeandMontmorencywereasvehementagainsttheProtestantsastheGuises。Therewasthereforenotthesameanimosityintheirstruggleastheremighthavebeenhadthereligiousquestionenteredit。Moreover，Dianeboldlyenteredthelistsagainstthequeen’sprojectbycoquettingwiththeGuisesandgivingherdaughtertotheDucd’Aumale。Sheevenwentsofarthatcertainauthorsdeclaredshegavemorethanmeregood-willtothegallantCardinaldeLorraine；andthelampoonersofthetimemadethefollowingquatrainonHenriII:”Sire，ifyou’reweakandletyourwillrelaxTillDianeandLorrainedogovernyou，Pound，kneadandmould，re-meltandmodelyou，Sire，youarenothing——nothingelsethanwax。”
ItisimpossibletoregardassincerethesignsofgriefandtheostentationofmourningwhichCatherineshowedonthedeathofHenriII。ThefactthatthekingwasattachedbyanunalterablepassiontoDianedePoitiersnaturallymadeCatherineplaythepartofaneglectedwifewhoadoresherhusband；but，likeallwomenwhoactbytheirhead，shepersistedinthisdissimulationandneverceasedtospeaktenderlyofHenriII。InlikemannerDiane，asweknow，woremourningallherlifeforherhusbandtheSenechaldeBreze。Hercolorswereblackandwhite，andthekingwaswearingthematthetournamentwhenhewaskilled。Catherine，nodoubtinimitationofherrival，woremourningforHenriII。fortherestofherlife。SheshowedaconsummateperfidytowardDianedePoitiers，towhichhistorianshavenotgivendueattention。Attheking’sdeaththeDuchessedeValentinoiswascompletelydisgracedandshamefullyabandonedbytheConnetable，amanwhowasalwaysbelowhisreputation。DianeofferedherestateandchateauofChenonceauxtothequeen。Catherinethensaid，inpresenceofwitnesses:——”IcanneverforgetthatshemadethehappinessofmydearHenri。Iamashamedtoaccepthergift；Iwishtogiveheradomaininplaceofit，andIshallofferherthatofChaumont-sur-Loire。”
Accordingly，thedeedofexchangewassignedatBloisin1559。Diane，whosesons-in-lawweretheDucd’AumaleandtheDucdeBouillon(thenasovereignprince)，keptherwealth，anddiedin1566agedsixty-six。
ShewasthereforenineteenyearsolderthanHenriII。Thesedates，takenfromherepitaphwhichwascopiedfromhertombbythehistorianwhoconcernedhimselfsomuchaboutheratthecloseofthelastcentury，clearupquiteanumberofhistoricaldifficulties。Somehistorianshavedeclaredshewasforty，othersthatshewassixteenatthetimeofherfather’scondemnationin1523；inpointoffactshewasthentwenty-four。AfterreadingeverythingforandagainstherconducttowardsFrancoisI。weareunabletoaffirmortodenyanything。Thisisoneofthepassagesofhistorythatwilleverremainobscure。Wemayseebywhathappensinourowndayhowhistoryisfalsifiedattheverymomentwheneventshappen。
Catherine，whohadfoundedgreathopesontheageofherrival，triedmorethanoncetooverthrowher。Itwasadumb，underhand，terriblestruggle。ThedaycamewhenCatherinebelievedherselfforamomentonthevergeofsuccess。In1554，Diane，whowasill，beggedthekingtogotoSaint-Germainandleaveherforashorttimeuntilsherecovered。Thisstatelycoquettedidnotchoosetobeseeninthemidstofmedicalappliancesandwithoutthesplendorsofapparel。
Catherinearranged，asawelcometoherhusband，amagnificentballet，inwhichsixbeautifulyounggirlsweretoreciteapoeminhishonor。
ShechoseforthisfunctionMissFleming，arelationofheruncletheDukeofAlbany，thehandsomestyoungwoman，somesay，thatwaseverseen，whiteandveryfair；alsooneofherownrelations，ClariceStrozzi，amagnificentItalianwithsuperbblackhair，andhandsthatwereofrarebeauty；MissLewiston，maidofhonortoMaryStuart；MaryStuartherself；MadameElizabethofFrance(whowasafterwardsthatunfortunateQueenofSpain)；andMadameClaude。ElizabethandClaudewereeightandnineyearsold，MaryStuarttwelve；evidentlythequeenintendedtobringforwardMissFlemingandClariceStrozziandpresentthemwithoutrivalstotheking。ThekingfellinlovewithMissFleming，bywhomhehadanaturalson，HenrideValois，Comted’Angouleme，grand-priorofFrance。ButthepowerandinfluenceofDianewerenotshaken。LikeMadamedePompadourwithLouisXV。，theDuchessedeValentinoisforgaveall。ButwhatsortoflovedidthisattemptshowinCatherine？Wasitlovetoherhusbandorloveofpower？Womenmaydecide。
Agreatdealissaidinthesedaysofthelicenseofthepress；butitisdifficulttoimaginethelengthstowhichitwentwhenprintingwasfirstinvented。WeknowthatAretino，theVoltaireofhistime，madekingsandemperorstremble，moreespeciallyCharlesV。；buttheworlddoesnotknowsowelltheaudacityandlicenseofpamphlets。ThechateaudeChenonceaux，whichwehavejustmentioned，wasgiventoDiane，orrathernotgiven，shewasimploredtoacceptittomakeherforgetoneofthemosthorriblepublicationseverlevelledagainstawoman，andwhichshowstheviolenceofthewarfarebetweenherselfandMadamed’Etampes。In1537，whenshewasthirty-eightyearsofage，arhymesterofChampagnenamedJeanVoute，publishedacollectionofLatinversesinwhichwerethreeepigramsuponher。Itistobesupposedthatthepoetwassureofprotectioninhighplaces，forthepamphlethasaprefaceinpraiseofitself，signedbySalmonMacrin，firstvalet-de-chambretotheking。Onlyonepassageisquotablefromtheseepigrams，whichareentitled:INPICTAVIAM，ANAMAULIGAM。”Apaintedtrapcatchesnogame，”saysthepoet，aftertellingDianethatshepaintedherfaceandboughtherteethandhair。”Youmaybuyallthatsuperficiallymakesawoman，butyoucan’tbuythatyourloverwants；forhewantslife，andyouaredead。”
Thiscollection，printedbySimondeColines，isdedicatedtoabishop！——toFrancoisBohier，thebrotherofthemanwho，tosavehiscreditatcourtandredeemhisoffence，offeredtoDiane，ontheaccessionofHenriII。，thechateaudeChenonceaux，builtbyhisfather，ThomasBohier，acouncillorofstateunderfourkings:LouisXI。，CharlesVIII。，LouisXII。，andFrancoisI。WhatwerethepamphletspublishedagainstMadamedePompadourandagainstMarie-
Antoinettecomparedtotheseverses，whichmighthavebeenwrittenbyMartial？Voutemusthavemadeabadend。TheestateandchateaucostDianenothingmorethantheforgivenessenjoinedbythegospel。Afterall，thepenaltiesinflictedonthepress，thoughnotdecreedbyjuries，weresomewhatmoreseverethanthoseofto-day。
ThequeensofFrance，onbecomingwidows，wererequiredtoremainintheking’schamberfortydayswithoutotherlightthanthatofwaxtapers；theydidnotleavetheroomuntilaftertheburialoftheking。ThisinviolablecustomwasagreatannoyancetoCatherine，whofearedcabals；and，bychance，shefoundameanstoevadeit，thus:
CardinaldeLorraine，leaving，veryearlyinthemorning，thehouseofthe/belleRomaine/，acelebratedcourtesanoftheperiod，wholivedintherueCulture-Sainte-Catherine，wassetuponandmaltreatedbyapartyoflibertines。”Onwhichhisholiness，beingmuchastonished”
(saysHenriEstienne)，”gaveoutthatthehereticswerepreparingambushesagainsthim。”ThecourtatonceremovedfromParistoSaint-
Germain，andthequeen-mother，declaringthatshewouldnotabandonthekingherson，wentwithhim。
TheaccessionofFrancoisII。，theperiodatwhichCatherineconfidentlybelievedshecouldgetpossessionoftheregalpower，wasamomentofcrueldisappointment，afterthetwenty-sixyearsofmiseryshehadlivedthroughatthecourtofFrance。TheGuiseslaidhandsonpowerwithincredibleaudacity。TheDucdeGuisewasplacedincommandofthearmy；theConnetablewasdismissed；thecardinaltookchargeofthetreasuryandtheclergy。
Catherinenowbeganherpoliticalcareerbyadramawhich，thoughitdidnothavethedreadfulfameofthoseoflateryears，was，nevertheless，mosthorrible；anditmust，undoubtedly，haveaccustomedhertotheterribleafteremotionsofherlife。WhileappearingtobeinharmonywiththeGuises，sheendeavoredtopavethewayforherultimatetriumphbyseekingasupportinthehouseofBourbon，andthemeansshetookwereasfollows:Whetheritwasthat(beforethedeathofHenriII。)，andafterfruitlesslyattemptingviolentmeasures，shewishedtoawakenjealousyinordertobringthekingbacktoher；orwhetherassheapproachedmiddle-ageitseemedtohercruelthatshehadneverknownlove，certainitisthatsheshowedastronginterestinaseigneuroftheroyalblood，FrancoisdeVendome，sonofLouisdeVendome(thehousefromwhichthatoftheBourbonssprang)，andVidamedeChartres，thenameunderwhichheisknowninhistory。ThesecrethatredwhichCatherineboretoDianewasrevealedinmanyways，towhichhistorians，preoccupiedbypoliticalinterests，havepaidnoattention。Catherine’sattachmenttothevidameproceededfromthefactthattheyoungmanhadofferedaninsulttothefavorite。Diane’sgreatestambitionwasforthehonorofanalliancewiththeroyalfamilyofFrance。Thehandofherseconddaughter(afterwardsDuchessed’Aumale)wasofferedonherbehalftotheVidamedeChartres，whowaskeptpoorbythefar-sightedpolicyofFrancoisI。Infact，whentheVidamedeChartresandthePrincedeCondefirstcametocourt，FrancoisI。gavethem——what？Theofficeofchamberlain，withapaltrysalaryoftwelvehundredcrownsayear，thesamethathegavetothesimplestgentlemen。ThoughDianedePoitiersofferedanimmensedowry，afineofficeunderthecrown，andthefavoroftheking，thevidamerefused。Afterwhich，thisBourbon，alreadyfactious，marriedJeanne，daughteroftheBarond’Estissac，bywhomhehadnochildren。ThisactofpridenaturallycommendedhimtoCatherine，whogreetedhimafterthatwithmarkedfavorandmadeadevotedfriendofhim。
HistorianshavecomparedthelastDucdeMontmorency，beheadedatToulouse，totheVidamedeChartres，intheartofpleasing，inattainments，accomplishments，andtalent。HenriII。showednojealousy；heseemednoteventosupposethataqueenofFrancecouldfailinherduty，oraMediciforgetthehonordonetoherbyaValois。Butduringthistimewhenthequeenwas，itissaid，coquettingwiththeVidamedeChartres，theking，afterthebirthofherlastchild，hadvirtuallyabandonedher。Thisattemptatmakinghimjealouswastonopurpose，forHenridiedwearingthecolorsofDianedePoitiers。
Atthetimeoftheking’sdeathCatherinewas，therefore，ontermsofgallantrywiththevidame，——asituationwhichwasquiteinconformitywiththemannersandmoralsofatimewhenlovewasbothsochivalrousandsolicentiousthatthenoblestactionswereasnaturalasthemostblamable；althoughhistorians，asusual，havecommittedthemistakeinthiscaseoftakingtheexceptionfortherule。
ThefoursonsofHenriII。ofcourserenderednullthepositionoftheBourbons，whowereallextremelypoorandwerenowcrusheddownbythecontemptwhichtheConnetabledeMontmorency’streacherybroughtuponthem，inspiteofthefactthatthelatterhadthoughtbesttoflythekingdom。
TheVidamedeChartres——whowastothefirstPrincedeCondewhatRichelieuwastoMazarin，hisfatherinpolicy，hismodel，and，aboveall，hismasteringallantry——concealedtheexcessiveambitionofhishousebeneathanexternalappearanceoflight-heartedgaiety。UnableduringthereignofHenriII。tomakeheadagainsttheGuises，theMontmorencys，theScottishprinces，thecardinals，andtheBouillons，hedistinguishedhimselfbyhisgracefulbearing，hismanners，hiswit，whichwonhimthefavorofmanycharmingwomenandtheheartofsomeforwhomhecarednothing。Hewasoneofthoseprivilegedbeingswhoseseductionsareirresistible，andwhoowetolovethepowerofmaintainingthemselvesaccordingtotheirrank。TheBourbonswouldnothaveresented，asdidJarnac，theslanderoflaChataigneraie；theywerewillingenoughtoacceptthelandsandcastlesoftheirmistresses，——witnessthePrincedeConde，whoacceptedtheestateofSaint-ValeryfromMadamelaMarechaledeSaint-Andre。
DuringthefirsttwentydaysofmourningafterthedeathofHenriII。
thesituationofthevidamesuddenlychanged。Astheobjectofthequeenmother’sregard，andpermittedtopayhiscourttoherascourtispaidtoaqueen，verysecretly，heseemeddestinedtoplayanimportantrole，andCatherinedid，infact，resolvetousehim。ThevidamereceivedlettersfromherforthePrincedeConde，inwhichshepointedouttothelatterthenecessityofanallianceagainsttheGuises。Informedofthisintrigue，theGuisesenteredthequeen’schamberforthepurposeofcompellinghertoissueanorderconsigningthevidametotheBastille，andCatherine，tosaveherself，wasunderthehardnecessityofobeyingthem。Afteracaptivityofsomemonths，thevidamediedontheverydayheleftprison，whichwasshortlybeforetheconspiracyofAmboise。SuchwastheconclusionofthefirstandonlyamourofCatherinede’Medici。Protestanthistorianshavesaidthatthequeencausedthevidametobepoisoned，tolaythesecretofhergallantriesinatomb！
Wehavenowshownwhatwastheapprenticeshipofthiswomanfortheexerciseofherroyalpower。
PARTI
THECALVINISTMARTYR
I
AHOUSEWHICHNOLONGEREXISTSATTHECORNEROFASTREET
WHICHNOLONGEREXISTSINAPARISWHICHNOLONGEREXISTS
FewpersonsinthepresentdayknowhowplainandunpretentiouswerethedwellingsoftheburghersofParisinthesixteenthcentury，andhowsimpletheirlives。Perhapsthissimplicityofhabitsandofthoughtwasthecauseofthegrandeurofthatoldbourgeoisiewhichwascertainlygrand，free，andnoble，——moreso，perhaps，thanthebourgeoisieofthepresentday。Itshistoryisstilltobewritten；itrequiresanditawaitsamanofgenius。ThisreflectionwilldoubtlessrisetothelipsofeveryoneafterreadingthealmostunknownincidentwhichformsthebasisofthisStudyandisoneofthemostremarkablefactsinthehistoryofthatbourgeoisie。Itwillnotbethefirsttimeinhistorythatconclusionhasprecededfacts。
In1560，thehousesoftheruedelaVieille-PelleterieskirtedtheleftbankoftheSeine，betweenthepontNotre-DameandthepontauChange。Apublicfootpathandthehousesthenoccupiedthespacecoveredbythepresentroadway。Eachhouse，standingalmostintheriver，alloweditsdwellerstogetdowntothewaterbystoneorwoodenstairways，closedandprotectedbystrongironrailingsorwoodengates，clampedwithiron。Thehouses，likethoseinVenice，hadanentranceon/terrafirma/andawaterentrance。Atthemomentwhenthepresentsketchispublished，onlyoneofthesehousesremainstorecalltheoldParisofwhichwespeak，andthatissoontodisappear；
itstandsatthecornerofthePetit-Pont，directlyoppositetotheguard-houseoftheHotel-Dieu。
Formerlyeachdwellingpresentedontheriver-sidethefantasticappearancegiveneitherbythetradeofitsoccupantandhishabits，orbytheoriginalityoftheexteriorconstructionsinventedbytheproprietorstouseorabusetheSeine。Thebridgesbeingencumberedwithmoremillsthanthenecessitiesofnavigationcouldallow，theSeineformedasmanyenclosedbasinsastherewerebridges。SomeofthesebasinsintheheartofoldPariswouldhaveofferedpreciousscenesandtonesofcolortopainters。Whataforestofcrossbeamssupportedthemillswiththeirhugesailsandtheirwheels！Whatstrangeeffectswereproducedbythepilesorpropsdrivenintothewatertoprojecttheupperfloorsofthehousesabovethestream！
Unfortunately，theartofgenrepaintingdidnotexistinthosedays，andthatofengravingwasinitsinfancy。Wehavethereforelostthatcuriousspectacle，stilloffered，thoughinminiature，bycertainprovincialtowns，wheretheriversareoverhungwithwoodenhouses，andwhere，asatVendome，thebasins，fullofwatergrasses，areenclosedbyimmenseironrailings，toisolateeachproprietor’sshareofthestream，whichextendsfrombanktobank。
Thenameofthisstreet，whichhasnowdisappearedfromthemap，sufficientlyindicatesthetradethatwascarriedoninit。Inthosedaysthemerchantsofeachclassofcommerce，insteadofdispersingthemselvesaboutthecity，kepttogetherinthesameneighborhoodandprotectedthemselvesmutually。Associatedincorporationswhichlimitedtheirnumber，theywerestillfurtherunitedintoguildsbytheChurch。Inthiswaypricesweremaintained。Also，themasterswerenotatthemercyoftheirworkmen，anddidnotobeytheirwhimsastheydoto-day；onthecontrary，theymadethemtheirchildren，theirapprentices，tookcareofthem，andtaughtthemtheintricaciesofthetrade。Inordertobecomeamaster，aworkmanhadtoproduceamasterpiece，whichwasalwaysdedicatedtothesaintofhisguild。
Willanyonedaretosaythattheabsenceofcompetitiondestroyedthedesireforperfection，orlessenedthebeautyofproducts？Whatsayyou，youwhoseadmirationforthemasterpiecesofpastageshascreatedthemoderntradeofthesellersofbric-a-brac？
Inthefifteenthandsixteenthcenturiesthetradeofthefurrierwasoneofthemostflourishingindustries。Thedifficultyofobtainingfurs，which，beingallbroughtfromthenorth，requiredlongandperilousjourneys，gaveaveryhighpriceandvaluetothoseproducts。
Then，asnow，highpricesledtoconsumption；forvanitylikestooverrideobstacles。InFrance，asinotherkingdoms，notonlydidroyalordinancesrestricttheuseoffurstothenobility(provedbythepartwhichermineplaysintheoldblazons)，butalsocertainrarefurs，suchas/vair/(whichwasundoubtedlySiberiansable)，couldnotbewornbyanybutkings，dukes，andcertainlordsclothedwithofficialpowers。Adistinctionwasmadebetweenthegreaterandlesser/vair/。Theverynamehasbeensolongdisused，thatinavastnumberofeditionsofPerrault’sfamoustale，Cinderella’sslipper，whichwasnodoubtof/vair/(thefur)，issaidtohavebeenmadeof/verre/
(glass)。Latelyoneofourmostdistinguishedpoetswasobligedtoestablishthetrueorthographyofthewordfortheinstructionofhisbrother-feuilletonistsingivinganaccountoftheoperaofthe”Cenerentola，”wherethesymbolicslipperhasbeenreplacedbyaring，whichsymbolizesnothingatall。
Naturallythesumptuarylawsaboutthewearingoffurwereperpetuallyinfringedupon，tothegreatsatisfactionofthefurriers。Thecostlinessofstuffsandfursmadeagarmentinthosedaysadurablething，——aslastingasthefurniture，thearmor，andotheritemsofthatstronglifeofthefifteenthcentury。Awomanofrank，aseigneur，allrichmen，alsoalltheburghers，possessedatthemosttwogarmentsforeachseason，whichlastedtheirlifetimeandbeyondit。Thesegarmentswerebequeathedtotheirchildren。Consequentlytheclauseinthemarriage-contractrelatingtoarmsandclothes，whichinthesedaysisalmostadeadletterbecauseofthesmallvalueofwardrobesthatneedconstantrenewing，wasthenofmuchimportance。
Greatcostsbroughtwiththemsolidity。Thetoiletofawomanconstitutedalargecapital；itwasreckonedamongthefamilypossessions，andwaskeptinthoseenormouschestswhichthreatentobreakthroughthefloorsofourmodernhouses。Thejewelsofawomanof1840wouldhavebeenthe/undress/ornamentsofagreatladyin1540。
To-day，thediscoveryofAmerica，thefacilitiesoftransportation，theruinofsocialdistinctionswhichhaspavedthewayfortheruinofapparentdistinctions，hasreducedthetradeofthefurriertowhatitnowis，——nexttonothing。Thearticlewhichafurriersellsto-day，asinformerdays，fortwenty/livres/hasfollowedthedepreciationofmoney:formerlythe/livre/，whichisnowworthonefrancandisusuallysocalled，wasworthtwentyfrancs。To-day，thelesserbourgeoisieandthecourtesanswhoedgetheircapeswithsable，areignorantthanin1440anill-disposedpolice-officerwouldhaveincontinentlyarrestedthemandmarchedthembeforethejusticeattheChatelet。Englishwomen，whoaresofondofermine，donotknowthatinformertimesnonebutqueens，duchesses，andchancellorswereallowedtowearthatroyalfur。Thereareto-dayinFranceseveralennobledfamilieswhosetruenameisPelletierorLepelletier，theoriginofwhichisevidentlyderivedfromsomerichfurrier’scounter，formostofourburgher’snamesbeganinsomesuchway。
Thisdigressionwillexplain，notonlythelongfeudastoprecedencewhichtheguildofdrapersmaintainedfortwocenturiesagainsttheguildoffurriersandalsoofmercers(eachclaimingtherighttowalkfirst，asbeingthemostimportantguildinParis)，butitwillalsoservetoexplaintheimportanceoftheSieurLecamus，afurrierhonoredwiththecustomoftwoqueens，Catherinede’MediciandMaryStuart，alsothecustomoftheparliament，——amanwhofortwentyyearswasthesyndicofhiscorporation，andwholivedinthestreetwehavejustdescribed。
ThehouseofLecamuswasoneofthreewhichformedthethreeanglesoftheopenspaceattheendofthepontauChange，wherenothingnowremainsbutthetowerofthePalaisdeJustice，whichmadethefourthangle。Onthecornerofthishouse，whichstoodattheangleofthepontauChangeandthequainowcalledthequaiauxFleurs，thearchitecthadconstructedalittleshrineforaMadonna，whichwasalwayslightedbywax-tapersanddeckedwithrealflowersinsummerandartificialonesinwinter。OnthesideofthehousetowardtherueduPont，asonthesidetowardtheruedelaVieille-Pelleterie，theupperstoryofthehousewassupportedbywoodenpillars。Allthehousesinthismercantilequarterhadanarcadebehindthesepillars，wherethepassersinthestreetwalkedundercoveronagroundoftroddenmudwhichkepttheplacealwaysdirty。InallFrenchtownsthesearcadesorgalleriesarecalled/lespiliers/，ageneraltermtowhichwasaddedthenameofthebusinesstransactedunderthem，——as”piliersdesHalles”(markets)，”piliersdelaBoucherie”(butchers)。
Thesegalleries，anecessityintheParisianclimate，whichissochangeableandsorainy，gavethispartofthecityapeculiarcharacterofitsown；buttheyhavenowdisappeared。Notasinglehouseintheriverbankremains，andnotmorethanaboutahundredfeetoftheold”piliersdesHalles，”thelastthathaveresistedtheactionoftime，areleft；andbeforelongeventhatrelicofthesombrelabyrinthofoldPariswillbedemolished。Certainly，theexistenceofsucholdruinsofthemiddle-agesisincompatiblewiththegrandeursofmodernParis。Theseobservationsaremeantnotsomuchtoregretthedestructionoftheoldtown，astopreserveinwords，andbythehistoryofthosewholivedthere，thememoryofaplacenowturnedtodust，andtoexcusethefollowingdescription，whichmaybeprecioustoafutureagenowtreadingontheheelsofourown。
Thewallsofthishousewereofwoodcoveredwithslate。Thespacesbetweentheuprightshadbeenfilledin，aswemaystillseeinsomeprovincialtowns，withbrick，soplaced，byreversingtheirthickness，astomakeapatterncalled”Hungarianpoint。”Thewindow-casingsandlintels，alsoinwood，wererichlycarved，andsowasthecornerpillarwhereitroseabovetheshrineoftheMadonna，andalltheotherpillarsinfrontofthehouse。Eachwindow，andeachmainbeamwhichseparatedthedifferentstoreys，wascoveredwitharabesquesoffantasticpersonagesandanimalswreathedwithconventionalfoliage。
Onthestreetside，asontheriverside，thehousewascappedwitharooflookingasiftwocardsweresetuponeagainsttheother，——thuspresentingagabletothestreetandagabletothewater。Thisroof，liketheroofofaSwisschalet，overhungthebuildingsofarthatonthesecondfloortherewasanoutsidegallerywithabalustrade，onwhichtheownersofthehousecouldwalkundercoverandsurveythestreet，alsotheriverbasinbetweenthebridgesandthetwolinesofhouses。
Thesehousesontheriverbankwereveryvaluable。Inthosedaysasystemofdrainsandfountainswasstilltobeinvented；nothingofthekindasyetexistedexceptthecircuitsewer，constructedbyAubriot，provostofParisunderCharlestheWise，whoalsobuilttheBastille，thepontSaint-Michelandotherbridges，andwasthefirstmanofgeniuswhoeverthoughtofthesanitaryimprovementofParis。
ThehousessituatedlikethatofLecamustookfromtheriverthewaternecessaryforthepurposesoflife，andalsomadetheriverserveasanaturaldrainforrain-waterandhouseholdrefuse。Thegreatworksthatthe”merchants’provosts”didinthisdirectionarefastdisappearing。Middle-agedpersonsalonecanremembertohaveseenthegreatholesintherueMontmartre，rueduTemple，etc。，downwhichthewaterspoured。ThoseterribleopenjawswereintheoldentimeofimmensebenefittoParis。Theirplacewillprobablybeforevermarkedbythesuddenriseofthepavedroadwaysatthespotswheretheyopened，——anotherarchaeologicaldetailwhichwillbequiteinexplicabletothehistoriantwocenturieshence。Oneday，about1816，alittlegirlwhowascarryingacaseofdiamondstoanactressattheAmbigu，forherpartasqueen，wasovertakenbyashowerandsonearlywasheddownthegreatdrainholeintherueduTemplethatshewouldhavedisappearedhaditnotbeenforapasserwhoheardhercries。
Unluckily，shehadletgothediamonds，whichwere，however，recoveredlaterataman-hole。Thiseventmadeagreatnoise，andgaverisetomanypetitionsagainsttheseengulfersofwaterandlittlegirls。Theyweresingularconstructionsaboutfivefeethigh，furnishedwithironrailings，moreorlessmovable，whichoftencausedtheinundationoftheneighboringcellars，whenevertheartificialriverproducedbysuddenrainswasarrestedinitscoursebythefilthandrefusecollectedabouttheserailings，whichtheownersoftheabuttinghousessometimesforgottoopen。
ThefrontofthisshopoftheSieurLecamuswasallwindow，formedofsashesofleadedpanes，whichmadetheinteriorverydark。Thefursweretakenforselectiontothehousesofrichcustomers。Asforthosewhocametotheshoptobuy，thegoodswereshowntothemoutside，betweenthepillars，——thearcadebeing，letusremark，encumberedduringtheday-timewithtables，andclerkssittingonstools，suchasweallrememberseeingsomefifteenyearsagounderthe”piliersdesHalles。”Fromtheseoutposts，theclerksandapprenticestalked，questioned，answeredeachother，andcalledtothepassers，——customswhichthegreatWalterScotthasmadeuseofinhis”FortunesofNigel。”
Thesign，whichrepresentedanermine，hungoutside，aswestillseeinsomevillagehostelries，fromarichbracketofgildedironfilagree。Abovetheermine，ononesideofthesign，werethewords:——
LECAMVS
FURRIER
TOMADAMELAROYNEETDUROYNOSTRESIRE。
Ontheothersideofthesignwerethewords:——
TOMADAMELAROYNE-MERE
ANDMESSIEURSDVPARLEMENT。
Thewords”MadamelaRoyne-mere”hadbeenlatelyadded。Thegildingwasfresh。ThisadditionshowedtherecentchangesproducedbythesuddenandviolentdeathofHenriII。，whichoverturnedmanyfortunesatcourtandbeganthatoftheGuises。
Theback-shopopenedontheriver。InthisroomusuallysattherespectableproprietorhimselfandMademoiselleLecamus。Inthosedaysthewifeofamanwhowasnotnoblehadnorighttothetitleofdame，”madame”；butthewivesoftheburghersofPariswereallowedtousethatof”mademoiselle，”invirtueofprivilegesgrantedandconfirmedtotheirhusbandsbytheseveralkingstowhomtheyhaddoneservice。
Betweenthisback-shopandthemainshopwasthewellofacorkscrew-
staircasewhichgaveaccesstotheupperstory，wherewerethegreatware-roomandthedwelling-roomsoftheoldcouple，andthegarretslightedbyskylights，wheresleptthechildren，theservant-woman，theapprentices，andtheclerks。
Thiscrowdingoffamilies，servants，andapprentices，thelittlespacewhicheachtookupinthebuildingwheretheapprenticesallsleptinonelargechamberundertheroof，explainstheenormouspopulationofParisthenagglomeratedonone-tenthofthesurfaceofthepresentcity；alsothequeerdetailsofprivatelifeinthemiddleages；also，thecontrivancesoflovewhich，withallduedeferencetohistorians，arefoundonlyinthepagesoftheromance-writers，withoutwhomtheywouldbelosttotheworld。Atthisperiodverygreat/seigneurs/，such，forinstance，asAdmiraldeColigny，occupiedthreerooms，andtheirsuiteslivedatsomeneighboringinn。Therewerenot，inthosedays，morethanfiftyprivatemansionsinParis，andthosewerefiftypalacesbelongingtosovereignprinces，ortogreatvassals，whosewayoflivingwassuperiortothatofthegreatestGermanrulers，suchastheDukeofBavariaandtheElectorofSaxony。
ThekitchenoftheLecamusfamilywasbeneaththeback-shopandlookedoutupontheriver。Ithadaglassdooropeninguponasortofironbalcony，fromwhichthecookdrewupwaterinabucket，andwherethehouseholdwashingwasdone。Theback-shopwasmadethedining-room，office，andsalonofthemerchant。Inthisimportantroom(inallsuchhousesrichlypanelledandadornedwithsomespecialworkofart，andalsoacarvedchest)thelifeofthemerchantwaspassed；therethejoyoussuppersaftertheworkofthedaywasover，therethesecretconferencesonthepoliticalinterestsoftheburghersandofroyaltytookplace。TheformidablecorporationsofPariswereatthattimeabletoarmahundredthousandmen。Thereforetheopinionsofthemerchantswerebackedbytheirservants，theirclerks，theirapprentices，theirworkmen。Theburghershadachiefinthe”provostofthemerchants”whocommandedthem，andintheHoteldeVille，apalacewheretheypossessedtherighttoassemble。Inthefamous”burghers’parlor”theirsolemndeliberationstookplace。Haditnotbeenforthecontinualsacrificeswhichbythattimemadewarintolerabletothecorporations，whowerewearyoftheirlossesandofthefamine，HenriIV。，thatfactionistwhobecameking，mightneverperhapshaveenteredParis。
EveryonecannowpicturetohimselftheappearanceofthiscornerofoldParis，wherethebridgeandquaistillare，wherethetreesofthequaiauxFleursnowstand，butwherenotraceremainsoftheperiodofwhichwewriteexceptthetallandfamoustowerofthePalaisdeJustice，fromwhichthesignalwasgivenfortheSaintBartholomew。
Strangecircumstance！oneofthehousesstandingatthefootofthattowerthensurroundedbywoodenshops，that，namely，ofLecamus，wasabouttowitnessthebirthoffactswhichweredestinedtoprepareforthatnightofmassacre，whichwas，unhappily，morefavorablethanfataltoCalvinism。
Atthemomentwhenourhistorybegins，theaudacityofthenewreligiousdoctrineswasputtingallParisinaferment。AScotchmannamedStuarthadjustassassinatedPresidentMinard，thememberoftheParliamenttowhompublicopinionattributedthelargestshareintheexecutionofCouncillorAnneduBourg；whowasburnedontheplacedeGreveaftertheking’stailor——towhomHenriII。andDianedePoitiershadcausedthetortureofthe”question”tobeappliedintheirverypresence。PariswassocloselywatchedthatthearcherscompelledallpassersalongthestreettopraybeforetheshrinesoftheMadonnasoastodiscoverhereticsbytheirunwillingnessorevenrefusaltodoanactcontrarytotheirbeliefs。
ThetwoarcherswhowerestationedatthecorneroftheLecamushousehaddeparted，andCristophe，sonofthefurrier，vehementlysuspectedofdesertingCatholicism，wasabletoleavetheshopwithoutfearofbeingmadetoadoretheVirgin。Bysevenintheevening，inApril，1560，darknesswasalreadyfalling，andtheapprentices，seeingnosignsofcustomersoneithersideofthearcade，werebeginningtotakeinthemerchandiseexposedassamplesbeneaththepillars，inordertoclosetheshop。ChristopheLecamus，anardentyoungmanabouttwenty-twoyearsold，wasstandingonthesilloftheshop-door，apparentlywatchingtheapprentices。”Monsieur，”saidoneofthem，addressingChristopheandpointingtoamanwhowaswalkingtoandfrounderthegallerywithanairofindecision，”perhapsthat’sathieforaspy；anyhow，theshabbywretchcan’tbeanhonestman；ifhewantedtospeaktoushewouldcomeoverfrankly，insteadofsidlingalongashedoes——andwhataface！”continuedtheapprentice，mimickingtheman，”withhisnoseinhiscloak，hisyelloweyes，andthatfamishedlook！”
WhenthestrangerthusdescribedcaughtsightofChristophealoneonthedoor-sill，hesuddenlylefttheoppositegallerywherehewasthenwalking，crossedthestreetrapidly，andcameunderthearcadeinfrontoftheLecamushouse。Therehepassedslowlyalonginfrontoftheshop，andbeforetheapprenticesreturnedtoclosetheoutershuttershesaidtoChristopheinalowvoice:——”IamChaudieu。”
Hearingthenameofoneofthemostillustriousministersanddevotedactorsintheterribledramacalled”TheReformation，”Christophequiveredasafaithfulpeasantmighthavequiveredonrecognizinghisdisguisedking。”Perhapsyouwouldliketoseesomefurs？ThoughitisalmostdarkI
willshowyousomemyself，”saidChristophe，wishingtothrowtheapprentices，whomheheardbehindhim，offthescent。
Withawaveofhishandheinvitedtheministertoentertheshop，butthelatterrepliedthathepreferredtoconverseoutside。ChristophethenfetchedhiscapandfollowedthediscipleofCalvin。
Thoughbanishedbyanedict，Chaudieu，thesecretenvoyofTheodoredeBezeandCalvin(whoweredirectingtheFrenchReformationfromGeneva)，wentandcame，riskingthecruelpunishmenttowhichtheParliament，inunisonwiththeChurchandRoyalty，hadcondemnedoneoftheirnumber，thecelebratedAnneduBourg，inordertomakeaterribleexample。Chaudieu，whosebrotherwasacaptainandoneofAdmiralColigny’sbestsoldiers，wasapowerfulauxiliarybywhosearmCalvinshookFranceatthebeginningofthetwentytwoyearsofreligiouswarfarenowonthepointofbreakingout。Thisministerwasoneofthehiddenwheelswhosemovementscanbestexhibitthewide-
spreadactionoftheReform。
ChaudieuledChristophetothewater’sedgethroughanundergroundpassage，whichwaslikethatoftheMariontunnelfilledupbytheauthoritiesabouttenyearsago。Thispassage，whichwassituatedbetweentheLecamushouseandtheoneadjoiningit，ranundertheruedelaVieille-Pelleterie，andwascalledthePont-aux-Fourreurs。ItwasusedbythedyersoftheCitytogototheriverandwashtheirflaxandsilks，andotherstuffs。Alittleboatwasattheentranceofit，rowedbyasinglesailor。InthebowwasamanunknowntoChristophe，amanoflowstatureandverysimplydressed。ChaudieuandChristopheenteredtheboat，whichinamomentwasinthemiddleoftheSeine；thesailorthendirecteditscoursebeneathoneofthewoodenarchesofthepontauChange，wherehetiedupquicklytoanironring。Asyet，noonehadsaidaword。”Herewecanspeakwithoutfear；therearenotraitorsorspieshere，”
saidChaudieu，lookingatthetwoasyetunnamedmen。Then，turninganardentfacetoChristophe，”Areyou，”hesaid，”fullofthatdevotionthatshouldanimateamartyr？Areyoureadytoendureallforoursacredcause？DoyoufearthetorturesappliedtotheCouncillorduBourg，totheking’stailor，——tortureswhichawaitthemajorityofus？””Ishallconfessthegospel，”repliedLecamus，simply，lookingatthewindowsofhisfather’sback-shop。
Thefamilylamp，standingonthetablewherehisfatherwasmakinguphisbooksfortheday，spoketohim，nodoubt，ofthejoysoffamilyandthepeacefulexistencewhichhenowrenounced。Thevisionwasrapid，butcomplete。Hismindtookin，ataglance，theburgherquarterfullofitsownharmonies，wherehishappychildhoodhadbeenspent，wherelivedhispromisedbride，BabetteLallier，whereallthingspromisedhimasweetandfullexistence；hesawthepast；hesawthefuture，andhesacrificedit，or，atanyrate，hestakeditall。Suchwerethemenofthatday。”Weneedasknomore，”saidtheimpetuoussailor；”weknowhimforoneofour/saints/。IftheScotchmanhadnotdonethedeedhewouldkillusthatinfamousMinard。””Yes，”saidLecamus，”mylifebelongstothechurch；IshallgiveitwithjoyforthetriumphoftheReformation，onwhichIhaveseriouslyreflected。Iknowthatwhatwedoisforthehappinessofthepeoples。
Intwowords:Poperydrivestocelibacy，theReformationestablishesthefamily。ItistimetoridFranceofhermonks，torestoretheirlandstotheCrown，whowill，soonerorlater，sellthemtotheburghers。Letuslearntodieforourchildren，andmakeourfamiliessomedayfreeandprosperous。”
Thefaceoftheyoungenthusiast，thatofChaudieu，thatofthesailor，thatofthestrangerseatedinthebow，lightedbythelastgleamsofthetwilight，formedapicturewhichoughtthemoretobedescribedbecausethedescriptioncontainsinitselfthewholehistoryofthetimes——ifitis，indeed，truethattocertainmenitisgiventosumupintheirownpersonsthespiritoftheirage。
ThereligiousreformundertakenbyLutherinGermany，JohnKnoxinScotland，CalvininFrance，tookholdespeciallyofthosemindsinthelowerclassesintowhichthoughthadpenetrated。Thegreatlordssustainedthemovementonlytoserveintereststhatwereforeigntothereligiouscause。Tothesetwoclasseswereaddedadventurers，ruinednoblemen，youngersons，towhomalltroubleswereequallyacceptable。Butamongtheartisanandmerchantclassesthenewfaithwassincereandbasedoncalculation。ThemassesofthepoorerpeopleadheredatoncetoareligionwhichgavetheecclesiasticalpropertytotheState，anddeprivedthedignitariesoftheChurchoftheirenormousrevenues。Commerceeverywherereckoneduptheprofitsofthisreligiousoperation，anddevoteditselfbody，soul，andpurse，tothecause。
ButamongtheyoungmenoftheFrenchbourgeoisietheProtestantmovementfoundthatnobleinclinationtosacrificesofallkindswhichinspiresyouth，towhichselfishnessis，asyet，unknown。Eminentmen，sagaciousminds，discernedtheRepublicintheReformation；theydesiredtoestablishthroughoutEuropethegovernmentoftheUnitedProvinces，whichendedbytriumphingoverthegreatestPowerofthosetimes，——Spain，underPhiliptheSecond，representedintheLowCountriesbytheDukeofAlba。JeanHotomanwasthenmeditatinghisfamousbook，inwhichthisprojectisputforth，——abookwhichspreadthroughoutFrancetheleavenoftheseideas，whichwerestirredupanewbytheLigue，repressedbyRichelieu，thenbyLouisXIV。，alwaysprotectedbytheyoungerbranches，bythehouseofOrleansin1789，asbythehouseofBourbonin1589。Whososays”Investigate”says”Revolt。”Allrevoltiseitherthecloakthathidesaprince，ortheswaddling-clothesofanewmastery。ThehouseofBourbon，theyoungersonsoftheValois，wereatworkbeneaththesurfaceoftheReformation。
AtthemomentwhenthelittleboatfloatedbeneaththearchofthepontauChangethequestionwasstrangelycomplicatedbytheambitionsoftheGuises，whowererivallingtheBourbons。ThustheCrown，representedbyCatherinede’Medici，wasabletosustainthestruggleforthirtyyearsbypittingtheonehouseagainsttheotherhouse；
whereaslater，theCrown，insteadofstandingbetweenvariousjealousambitions，founditselfwithoutabarrier，facetofacewiththepeople:RichelieuandLouisXIV。hadbrokendownthebarrieroftheNobility；LouisXV。hadbrokendownthatoftheParliaments。Alonebeforethepeople，asLouisXVI。was，akingmustinevitablysuccumb。
ChristopheLecamuswasafinerepresentativeoftheardentanddevotedportionofthepeople。Hiswanfacehadthesharphectictoneswhichdistinguishcertainfaircomplexions；hishairwasyellow，ofacopperyshade；hisgray-blueeyesweresparkling。Inthemalonewashisfinesoulvisible；forhisill-proportionedfacedidnotatoneforitstriangularshapebythenoblemienofanelevatedmind，andhislowforeheadindicatedonlyextremeenergy。Lifeseemedtocentreinhischest，whichwasratherhollow。Morenervousthansanguine，Cristophe’sbodilyappearancewasthinandthreadlike，butwiry。Hispointednoiseexpressedtheshrewdnessofthepeople，andhiscountenancerevealedanintelligencecapableofconductingitselfwellonasinglepointofthecircumference，withouthavingthefacultyofseeingallaroundit。Hiseyes，thearchingbrowsofwhich，scarcelycoveredwithawhitishdown，projectedlikeanawning，werestronglycircledbyapale-blueband，theskinbeingwhiteandshiningatthespringofthenose，——asignwhichalmostalwaysdenotesexcessiveenthusiasm。Christophewasofthepeople，——thepeoplewhodevotethemselves，whofightfortheirdevotions，wholetthemselvesbeinveigledandbetrayed；intelligentenoughtocomprehendandserveanidea，toouprighttoturnittohisownaccount，toonobletosellhimself。
ContrastingwiththissonofLecamus，Chaudieu，theardentminister，withbrownhairthinnedbyvigils，ayellowskin，aneloquentmouth，amilitantbrow，withflamingbrowneyes，andashortandprominentchin，embodiedwelltheChristianfaithwhichbroughttotheReformationsomanysincereandfanaticalpastors，whosecourageandspiritarousedthepopulations。Theaide-de-campofCalvinandTheodoredeBezecontrastedadmirablywiththesonofthefurrier。HerepresentedthefierycauseofwhichtheeffectwasseeninChristophe。
Thesailor，animpetuousbeing，tannedbytheopenair，accustomedtodewynightsandburningdays，withclosedlips，hastygestures，orangeeyes，ravenousasthoseofavulture，andblack，frizzledhair，wastheembodimentofanadventurerwhorisksallinaventure，asagamblerstakesallonacard。Hiswholeappearancerevealedterrificpassions，andanaudacitythatflinchedatnothing。Hisvigorousmusclesweremadetobequiescentaswellastoact。Hismannerwasmoreaudaciousthannoble。Hisnose，thoughthin，turnedupandsnuffedbattle。Heseemedagileandcapable。Youwouldhaveknownhiminallagesfortheleaderofaparty。IfhewerenotoftheReformation，hemighthavebeenPizarro，FernandoCortez，orMorgantheExterminator，——amanofviolentactionofsomekind。
Thefourthman，sittingonathwartwrappedinhiscloak，belonged，evidently，tothehighestportionofsociety。Thefinenessofhislinen，itscut，thematerialandscentofhisclothing，thestyleandskinofhisgloves，showedhimtobeamanofcourts，justashisbearing，hishaughtiness，hiscomposureandhisall-embracingglanceprovedhimtobeamanofwar。Theaspectofthispersonagemadeaspectatoruneasyinthefirstplace，andtheninclinedhimtorespect。
Werespectamanwhorespectshimself。Thoughshortanddeformed，hismannersinstantlyredeemedthedisadvantagesofhisfigure。Theiceoncebroken，heshowedalivelyrapidityofdecision，withanindefinabledashandfirewhichmadehimseemaffableandwinning。HehadtheblueeyesandthecurvednoseofthehouseofNavarre，andtheSpanishcutofthemarkedfeatureswhichwereinafterdaysthetypeoftheBourbonkings。
Inaword，thescenenowassumedastartlinginterest。”Well，”saidChaudieu，asyoungLecamusendedhisspeech，”thisboatmanisLaRenaudie。AndhereisMonsiegneurthePrincedeConde，”
headded，motioningtothedeformedlittleman。
Thusthesefourmenrepresentedthefaithofthepeople，thespiritoftheScriptures，themailedhandofthesoldier，androyaltyitselfhiddeninthatdarkshadowofthebridge。”Youshallnowknowwhatweexpectofyou，”resumedtheminister，afterallowingashortpauseforChristophe’sastonishment。”Inorderthatyoumaymakenomistake，wefeelobligedtoinitiateyouintothemostimportantsecretsoftheReformation。”
TheprinceandLaRenaudieemphasizedtheminister’sspeechbyagesture，thelatterhavingpausedtoallowtheprincetospeak，ifhesowished。Likeallgreatmenengagedinplotting，whosesystemitistoconcealtheirhanduntilthedecisivemoment，theprincekeptsilence——butnotfromcowardice。Inthesecriseshewasalwaysthesouloftheconspiracy；recoilingfromnodangerandreadytoriskhisownhead；butfromasortofroyaldignityhelefttheexplanationoftheenterprisetohisminister，andcontentedhimselfwithstudyingthenewinstrumenthewasabouttouse。”Mychild，”saidChaudieu，intheHuguenotstyleofaddress，”weareabouttodobattleforthefirsttimewiththeRomanprostitute。Inafewdayseitherourlegionswillbedyingonthescaffold，ortheGuiseswillbedead。ThisisthefirstcalltoarmsonbehalfofourreligioninFrance，andFrancewillnotlaydownthosearmstilltheyhaveconquered。Thequestion，markyouthis，concernsthenation，notthekingdom。ThemajorityofthenoblesofthekingdomseeplainlywhattheCardinaldeLorraineandhisbrotherareseeking。UnderpretextofdefendingtheCatholicreligion，thehouseofLorrainemeanstoclaimthecrownofFranceasitspatrimony。RelyingontheChurch，ithasmadetheChurchaformidableally；themonksareitssupport，itsacolytes，itsspies。Ithasassumedthepostofguardiantothethroneitisseekingtousurp；itprotectsthehouseofValoiswhichitmeanstodestroy。Wehavedecidedtotakeuparmsbecausethelibertiesofthepeopleandtheinterestsofthenoblesareequallythreatened。LetussmotheratitsbirthafactionasodiousasthatoftheBurgundianswhoformerlyputParisandallFrancetofireandsword。ItrequiredaLouisXI。toputastoptothequarrelbetweentheBurgundiansandtheCrown；andto-dayaprincedeCondeisneededtopreventthehouseofLorrainefromre-attemptingthatstruggle。
Thisisnotacivilwar；itisaduelbetweentheGuisesandtheReformation，——adueltothedeath！Wewillmaketheirheadsfall，ortheyshallhaveours。””Wellsaid！”criedtheprince。”Inthiscrisis，Christophe，”saidLaRenaudie，”wemeantoneglectnothingwhichshallstrengthenourparty，——forthereisapartyintheReformation，thepartyofthwartedinterests，ofnoblessacrificedtotheLorrains，ofoldcaptainsshamefullytreatedatFontainebleau，fromwhichthecardinalhasbanishedthembysettingupgibbetsonwhichtohangthosewhoaskthekingforthecostoftheirequipmentandtheirback-pay。””This，mychild，”resumedChaudieu，observingasortofterrorinChristophe，”thisitiswhichcompelsustoconquerbyarmsinsteadofconqueringbyconvictionandbymartyrdom。Thequeen-motherisonthepointofenteringintoourviews。Notthatshemeanstoabjure；shehasnotreachedthatdecisionasyet；butshemaybeforcedtoitbyourtriumph。Howeverthatmaybe，QueenCatherine，humiliatedandindespairatseeingthepowersheexpectedtowieldonthedeathofthekingpassingintothehandsoftheGuises，alarmedattheempireoftheyoungqueen，Mary，nieceoftheLorrainsandtheirauxiliary，QueenCatherineisdoubtlessinclinedtolendhersupporttotheprincesandlordswhoarenowabouttomakeanattemptwhichwilldeliverherfromtheGuises。Atthismoment，devotedasshemayseemtothem，shehatesthem；shedesirestheiroverthrow，andwilltrytomakeuseofusagainstthem；butMonseigneurthePrincedeCondeintendstomakeuseofheragainstall。Thequeen-motherwill，undoubtedly，consenttoallourplans。WeshallhavetheConnetableonourside；MonseigneurhasjustbeentoseehimatChantilly；buthedoesnotwishtomovewithoutanorderfromhismasters。BeingtheuncleofMonseigneur，hewillnotleavehiminthelurch；andthisgenerousprincedoesnothesitatetoflinghimselfintodangertoforceAnnedeMontmorencytoadecision。Allisprepared，andwehavecastoureyesonyouasthemeansofcommunicatingtoQueenCatherineourtreatyofalliance，thedraftsofedicts，andthebasesofthenewgovernment。ThecourtisatBlois。Manyofourfriendsarewithit；
buttheyaretobeourfuturechiefs，and，likeMonseigneur，”headded，motioningtotheprince，”theymustnotbesuspected。Thequeen-motherandourfriendsaresocloselywatchedthatitisimpossibletoemployasintermediaryanyknownpersonofimportance；
theywouldinstantlybesuspectedandkeptfromcommunicatingwithMadameCatherine。GodsendsusatthiscrisistheshepherdDavidandhisslingtodobattlewithGoliathofGuise。Yourfather，unfortunatelyforhimagoodCatholic，isfurriertothetwoqueens。
Heisconstantlysupplyingthemwithgarments。Gethimtosendyouonsomeerrandtothecourt。Youwillexcitenosuspicion，andyoucannotcompromiseQueenCatherineinanyway。Allourleaderswouldlosetheirheadsifasingleimprudentactallowedtheirconnivancewiththequeen-mothertobeseen。Whereagreatlord，ifdiscovered，wouldgivethealarmanddestroyourchances，aninsignificantmanlikeyouwillpassunnoticed。See！TheGuiseskeepthetownsofullofspiesthatwehaveonlytheriverwherewecantalkwithoutfear。Youarenow，myson，likeasentinelwhomustdieathispost。Rememberthis:
ifyouarediscovered，weshallallabandonyou；weshallevencast，ifnecessary，opprobriumandinfamyuponyou。WeshallsaythatyouareacreatureoftheGuises，madetoplaythisparttoruinus。Youseethereforethatweaskofyouatotalsacrifice。””Ifyouperish，”saidthePrincedeConde，”IpledgemyhonorasanoblethatyourfamilyshallbesacredforthehouseofNavarre；I
willbearitonmyheartandserveitinallthings。””Thosewords，myprince，suffice，”repliedChristophe，withoutreflectingthattheconspiratorwasaGascon。”Weliveintimeswheneachman，princeorburgher，mustdohisduty。””TherespeaksthetrueHuguenot。Ifallourmenwerelikethat，”saidLaRenaudie，layinghishandonChristophe’sshoulder，”weshouldbeconquerorsto-morrow。””Youngman，”resumedtheprince，”IdesiretoshowyouthatifChaudieupreaches，ifthenoblemangoesarmed，theprincefights。
Therefore，inthishotgameallstakesareplayed。””Nowlistentome，”saidLaRenaudie。”IwillnotgiveyouthepapersuntilyoureachBeaugency；fortheymustnotberiskedduringthewholeofyourjourney。Youwillfindmewaitingforyouthereonthewharf；myface，voice，andclotheswillbesochangedyoucannotrecognizeme，butIshallsaytoyou，’Areyoua/guepin/？’andyouwillanswer，’Readytoserve。’Astotheperformanceofyourmission，thesearethemeans:Youwillfindahorseatthe’PinteFleurie，”
closetoSaint-Germainl’Auxerrois。YouwillthereaskforJeanleBreton，whowilltakeyoutothestableandgiveyouoneofmyponieswhichisknowntodothirtyleaguesineighthours。LeavebythegateofBussy。Bretonhasapassforme；useityourself，andmakeyourwaybyskirtingthetowns。YoucanthusreachOrleansbydaybreak。””Butthehorse？”saidyoungLecamus。”HewillnotgiveouttillyoureachOrleans，”repliedLaRenaudie。”LeavehimattheentranceofthefaubourgBannier；forthegatesarewellguarded，andyoumustnotexcitesuspicion。Itisforyou，friend，toplayyourpartintelligently。YoumustinventwhateverfableseemstoyoubesttoreachthethirdhousetotheleftonenteringOrleans；itbelongstoacertainTourillon，glove-maker。
Strikethreeblowsonthedoor，andcallout:’OnservicefromMessieursdeGuise！’ThemanwillappeartobearabidGuisist；nooneknowsbutourfourselvesthatheisoneofus。Hewillgiveyouafaithfulboatman，——anotherGuisistofhisowncut。Godownatoncetothewharf，andembarkinaboatpaintedgreenandedgedwithwhite。
YouwilldoubtlesslandatBeaugencyto-morrowaboutmid-day。ThereI
willarrangetofindyouaboatwhichwilltakeyoutoBloiswithoutrunninganyrisk。OurenemiestheGuisesdonotwatchtherivers，onlythelandings。Thusyouwillbeabletoseethequeen-motherto-morroworthedayafter。””Yourwordsarewrittenthere，”saidChristophe，touchinghisforehead。
Chaudieuembracedhischildwithsingularreligiouseffusion；hewasproudofhim。”Godkeepthee！”hesaid，pointingtotheruddylightofthesinkingsun，whichwastouchingtheoldroofscoveredwithshinglesandsendingitsgleamsslantwisethroughtheforestofpilesamongwhichthewaterwasrippling。”YoubelongtotheraceoftheJacquesBonhomme，”saidLaRenaudie，pressingChristophe’shand。”Weshallmeetagain，/monsieur/，”saidtheprince，withagestureofinfinitegrace，inwhichtherewassomethingthatseemedalmostfriendship。
WithastrokeofhisoarsLaRenaudieputtheboatatthelowerstepofthestairwaywhichledtothehouse。Christophelanded，andtheboatdisappearedinstantlybeneaththearchesofthepontauChange。
II
THEBURGHERS
Christopheshooktheironrailingwhichclosedthestairwayontheriver，andcalled。Hismotherheardhim，openedoneofthewindowsofthebackshop，andaskedwhathewasdoingthere。Christopheansweredthathewascoldandwantedtogetin。”Ha！mymaster，”saidtheBurgundianmaid，”youwentoutbythestreet-door，andyoureturnbythewater-gate。Yourfatherwillbefineandangry。”
Christophe，bewilderedbyaconfidencewhichhadjustbroughthimintocommunicationwiththePrincedeConde，LaRenaudie，andChaudieu，andstillmoremovedattheprospectofimpendingcivilwar，madenoanswer；heranhastilyupfromthekitchentothebackshop；buthismother，arabidCatholic，couldnotcontrolheranger。”I’llwagerthosethreemenIsawyoutalkingwithareRef——””Holdyourtongue，wife！”saidthecautiousoldmanwithwhitehairwhowasturningoverathickledger。”Youdawdlingfellows，”hewenton，addressingthreejourneymen，whohadlongfinishedtheirsuppers，”whydon’tyougotobed？Itiseighto’clock，andyouhavetobeupatfive；besides，youmustcarryhometo-nightPresidentdeThou’scapandmantle。Allthreeofyouhadbettergo，andtakeyoursticksandrapiers；andthen，ifyoumeetscampslikeyourselves，atleastyou’llbeinforce。””ArewegoingtotaketheerminesurcoattheyoungqueenhasorderedtobesenttothehoteldesSoissons？there’sanexpressgoingfromtheretoBloisforthequeen-mother，”saidoneoftheclerks。”No，”saidhismaster，”thequeen-mother’sbillamountstothreethousandcrowns；itistimetogetthemoney，andIamgoingtoBloismyselfverysoon。””Father，Idonotthinkitrightatyourageandinthesedangeroustimestoexposeyourselfonthehigh-roads。Iamtwenty-twoyearsold，andyououghttoemploymeonsucherrands，”saidChristophe，eyeingtheboxwhichhesupposedcontainedthesurcoat。”Areyougluedtoyourseats？”criedtheoldmantohisapprentices，whoatoncejumpedupandseizedtheirrapiers，cloaks，andMonsieurdeThou’sfurs。
ThenextdaytheParliamentwastoreceiveinstate，asitspresident，thisillustriousjudge，who，aftersigningthedeathwarrantofCouncillorduBourg，wasdestinedbeforethecloseoftheyeartositinjudgmentonthePrincedeConde！”Here！”saidtheoldman，callingtothemaid，”goandaskfriendLallierifhewillcomeandsupwithusandbringthewine；we’llfurnishthevictuals。Tellhim，aboveall，tobringhisdaughter。”
Lecamus，thesyndicoftheguildoffurriers，wasahandsomeoldmanofsixty，withwhitehair，andabroad，openbrow。Ascourtfurrierforthelastfortyyears，hehadwitnessedalltherevolutionsofthereignofFrancoisI。HehadseenthearrivalattheFrenchcourtoftheyounggirlCatherinede’Medici，thenscarcelyfifteenyearsofage。HehadobservedhergivingwaybeforetheDuchessed’Etampes，herfather-in-law’smistress；givingwaybeforetheDuchessedeValentinois，themistressofherhusbandthelateking。Butthefurrierhadbroughthimselfsafelythroughallthechancesandchangesbywhichcourtmerchantswereofteninvolvedinthedisgraceandoverthrowofmistresses。Hiscautionledtohisgoodluck。Hemaintainedanattitudeofextremehumility。Pridehadnevercaughthiminitstoils。Hemadehimselfsosmall，sogentle，socompliant，ofsolittleaccountatcourtandbeforethequeensandprincessesandfavorites，thatthismodesty，combinedwithgood-humor，hadkepttheroyalsignabovehisdoor。
Suchapolicywas，ofcourse，indicativeofashrewdandperspicaciousmind。HumbleasLecamusseemedtotheouterworld，hewasdespoticinhisownhome；therehewasanautocrat。Mostrespectedandhonoredbyhisbrothercraftsmen，heowedtohislongpossessionofthefirstplaceinthetrademuchoftheconsiderationthatwasshowntohim。Hewas，besides，verywillingtodokindnessestoothers，andamongthemanyserviceshehadrendered，nonewasmorestrikingthantheassistancehehadlonggiventothegreatestsurgeonofthesixteenthcentury，AmbroisePare，whoowedtohimthepossibilityofstudyingforhisprofession。InallthedifficultieswhichcameupamongthemerchantsLecamuswasalwaysconciliating。Thusageneralgoodopinionofhimconsolidatedhispositionamonghisequals；whilehisborrowedcharacteristicskepthimsteadilyinfavorwiththecourt。
Notonlythis，buthavingintriguedforthehonorofbeingonthevestryofhisparishchurch，hedidwhatwasnecessarytobringhimintotheodorofsanctitywiththerectorofSaint-PierreauxBoeufs，wholookeduponhimasoneofthemenmostdevotedtotheCatholicreligioninParis。Consequently，atthetimeoftheconvocationoftheStates-Generalhewasunanimouslyelectedtorepresentthe/tiersetat/throughtheinfluenceoftheclergyofParis，——aninfluencewhichatthatperiodwasimmense。Thisoldmanwas，inshort，oneofthosesecretlyambitioussoulswhowillbendforfiftyyearsbeforealltheworld，glidingfromofficetooffice，nooneexactlyknowinghowitcameaboutthathewasfoundsecurelyandpeacefullyseatedatlastwherenoman，eventheboldest，wouldhavehadtheambitionatthebeginningoflifetofancyhimself；sogreatwasthedistance，somanythegulfsandtheprecipicestocross！Lecamus，whohadimmenseconcealedwealth，wouldnotrunanyrisks，andwassilentlypreparingabrilliantfutureforhisson。Insteadofhavingthepersonalambitionwhichsacrificesthefuturetothepresent，hehadfamilyambition，——alostsentimentinourtime，asentimentsuppressedbythefollyofourlawsofinheritance。LecamussawhimselffirstpresidentoftheParliamentofParisinthepersonofhisgrandson。
Christophe，godsonofthefamoushistoriandeThou，wasgivenamostsolideducation；butithadledhimtodoubtandtothespiritofexaminationwhichwasthenaffectingboththeFacultiesandthestudentsoftheuniversities。Christophewas，attheperiodofwhichwearenowwriting，pursuinghisstudiesforthebar，thatfirststeptowardthemagistracy。Theoldfurrierwaspretendingtosomehesitationastohisson。SometimesheseemedtowishtomakeChristophehissuccessor；thenagainhespokeofhimasalawyer；butinhishearthewasambitiousofaplaceforthissonasCouncilloroftheParliament。HewantedtoputtheLecamusfamilyonalevelwiththoseoldandcelebratedburgherfamiliesfromwhichcamethePasquiers，theMoles，theMirons，theSeguiers，Lamoignon，duTillet，Lecoigneux，Lescalopier，Goix，Arnauld，thosefamoussheriffsandgrand-provostsofthemerchants，amongwhomthethronefoundsuchstrongdefenders。
Therefore，inorderthatChristophemightinduecourseoftimemaintainhisrank，hewishedtomarryhimtothedaughteroftherichestjewellerinthecity，hisfriendLallier，whosenephewwasdestinedtopresenttoHenriIV。thekeysofParis。Thestrongestdesirerootedintheheartoftheworthyburgherwastousehalfofhisfortuneandhalfofthatofthejewellerinthepurchaseofalargeandbeautifulseignorialestate，which，inthosedays，wasalongandverydifficultaffair。Buthisshrewdmindknewtheageinwhichhelivedtoowelltobeignorantofthegreatmovementswhichwerenowinpreparation。Hesawclearly，andhesawjustly，andknewthatthekingdomwasabouttobedividedintotwocamps。TheuselessexecutionsinthePlacedel’Estrapade，thatoftheking’stailorandthemorerecentoneoftheCouncillorAnneduBourg，theactualconnivanceofthegreatlords，andthatofthefavoriteofFrancoisI。
withtheReformers，wereterribleindications。Thefurrierresolvedtoremain，whateverhappened，Catholic，royalist，andparliamentarian；
butitsuitedhim，privately，thatChristopheshouldbelongtotheReformation。HeknewhewasrichenoughtoransomhissonifChristophewastoomuchcompromised；andontheotherhandifFrancebecameCalvinisthissoncouldsavethefamilyintheeventofoneofthosefuriousParisianriots，thememoryofwhichwasever-livingwiththebourgeoisie，——riotstheyweredestinedtoseerenewedthroughfourreigns。
Butthesethoughtstheoldfurrier，likeLouisXI。，didnotevensaytohimself；hiswarinesswentsofarastodeceivehiswifeandson。
ThisgravepersonagehadlongbeenthechiefmanoftherichestandmostpopulousquarterofParis，thatofthecentre，underthetitleof/quartenier/，——thetitleandofficewhichbecamesocelebratedsomefifteenmonthslater。Clothedinclothlikealltheprudentburgherswhoobeyedthesumptuarylaws，SieurLecamus(hewastenaciousofthattitlewhichCharlesV。grantedtotheburghersofParis，permittingthemalsotobuybaronialestatesandcalltheirwivesbythefinenameof/demoiselle/，butnotbythatofmadame)woreneithergoldchainsnorsilk，butalwaysagooddoubletwithlargetarnishedsilverbuttons，clothgaitersmountingtotheknee，andleathershoeswithclasps。Hisshirt，offinelinen，showed，accordingtothefashionofthetime，ingreatpuffsbetweenhishalf-openedjacketandhisbreeches。Thoughhislargeandhandsomefacereceivedthefulllightofthelampstandingonthetable，ChristophehadnoconceptionofthethoughtswhichlayburiedbeneaththerichandfloridDutchskinoftheoldman；butheunderstoodwellenoughtheadvantagehehimselfhadexpectedtoobtainfromhisaffectionforprettyBabetteLallier。
SoChristophe，withtheairofamanwhohadcometoadecision，smiledbitterlyasheheardoftheinvitationtohispromisedbride。
WhentheBurgundiancookandtheapprenticeshaddepartedontheirseveralerrands，oldLecamuslookedathiswifewithaglancewhichshowedthefirmnessandresolutionofhischaracter。”Youwillnotbesatisfiedtillyouhavegotthatboyhangedwithyourdamnedtongue，”hesaid，inasternvoice。”IwouldratherseehimhangedandsavedthanlivingandaHuguenot，”
sheanswered，gloomily。”TothinkthatachildwhomIcarriedninemonthsinmywombshouldbeabadCatholic，andbedoomedtohellforalleternity！”
Shebegantoweep。
