United States or Fiji ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"Pardon me, sire," replied Louvois, "I am no gossip; nor do the successes of the Emperor of Austria interest me sufficiently for me to deem them worthy of announcement here." "Nevertheless, they are for you a cause of no little humiliation; for they remind the world that you were once guilty of a blunder in your statesmanship.
At first his pride revolted from the thought. But in no other way could he secure Madame de Maintenon. Rumors of the approaching marriage were circulated through the court. The dauphin expostulated with his father most earnestly against it, and succeeded in inducing the king to consult the Abbé Fenelon and Louvois.
Ha! the king catches sight of him, and Louvois beckons to him to advance. By my faith, he is one who would be more at his ease in a tent than under a painted ceiling."
Every one had witnessed old Philip's manoeuvre, and everybody knew that the point of attack was the carriage of Barbesieur Louvois, for the footmen of the Countess de Soissons had been seen to seize the horses' reins, and force them out of the way. And now the coaches were all emptied of their occupants, who crowded around the spot which Eugene, with his two cousins, was seen approaching.
Eugene answered with a faint smile. "My worth is small, beloved; but no human being has ever divined the secrets of my ambitious heart. But ah! how changed is life to me to-night! I went to that ball to throw down the gauntlet of my hate before Louvois and his son. I was rebuked by the king, slighted by his nobles; but I had no eyes to see, no pride to resent their insults.
Thus wrote Madame do Sevigne to her daughter Madame de Grignan. Louis XIV., in whose service Louvois had spent his life, was less troubled at his death. "Tell the King of England that I have lost a good minister," was the answer he sent to the complimentary condolence of King James, "but that his affairs and mine will go on none the worse."
Then, when the deed was done, and not until then, he dispatched a courier to Paris, to inform you of what had taken place." "That is true, dear Francoise," said Louis, mildly; "but, after all, Louvois had no alternative. Had he consulted me, I might have felt myself bound to temporize; whereas, by his assumption of the act, he renders apology on my part possible.
Louis took up the pen from the table, and drew the paper towards him. "I have the same counsel, then, from all of you," said he, "from you, bishop; from you, father; from you, madame; from you, abbe; and from you, Louvois. Well, if ill come from it, may it not be visited upon me! But what is this?" De Catinat had taken a step forward with his hand outstretched.
He was condemned to three years' imprisonment, and was obliged to sell his shop and retire to the provinces. I once heard M. de Louvois tell this tale, and use it as a means of silencing those who regretted the absence of the exiled Cardinal-archbishop.
Was it not a beautiful letter, Louvois?" "Madame is a very clever woman," said the minister evasively. "And such a reader of hearts! Has she not seen my character aright?" "At least she has not read mine, sire." There was a tap at the door, and Bontems peeped in. "The archbishop has arrived, sire." "Very well, Bontems. Ask madame to be so good as to step this way.
Word Of The Day