Anne of Geierstein; Or, The Maiden of the Mist. Volume 1 (of 2) Read online

  CHAPTER XIV.

  I will resist such entertainment, till My enemy has more power. _The Tempest._

  "That blast was but feebly blown," said De Hagenbach, ascending to theramparts, from which he could see what passed on the outside of thegate. "Who approaches, Kilian?"

  The trusty squire was hastening to meet him with the news.

  "Two men with a mule, an it please your excellency; and merchants, Ipresume them to be."

  "Merchants? 'Sdeath, villain! pedlars you mean. Heard ever man ofEnglish merchants tramping it on foot, with no more baggage than onemule can manage to carry? They must be beggarly Bohemians, or thosewhom the French people call Escossais. The knaves! they shall pay withthe pining of their paunches for the poverty of their purses."

  "Do not be too hasty, an please your excellency," quoth the squire;"small budgets hold rich goods. But, rich or poor, they are our men,at least they have all the marks--the elder, well-sized anddark-visaged, may write fifty and five years, a beard somewhatgrizzled;--the younger, some two-and-twenty, taller than the first,and a well-favoured lad, with a smooth chin and light-brownmustaches."

  "Let them be admitted," said the Governor, turning back in order againto descend to the street, "and bring them into the folter-kammer ofthe toll-house."

  So saying, he betook himself to the place appointed, which was anapartment in the large tower that protected the eastern gateway, inwhich were deposited the rack, with various other instruments oftorture, which the cruel and rapacious Governor was in the habit ofapplying to such prisoners from whom he was desirous of extortingeither booty or information. He entered the apartment, which was dimlylighted, and had a lofty Gothic roof which could be but imperfectlyseen, while nooses and cords hanging down from thence announced afearful connection with various implements of rusted iron that hunground the walls or lay scattered on the floor.

  A faint stream of light through one of the numerous and narrow slits,or shot-holes, with which the walls were garnished, fell directly uponthe person and visage of a tall swarthy man, seated in what, but forthe partial illumination, would have been an obscure corner of thisevil-boding apartment. His features were regular, and even handsome,but of a character peculiarly stern and sinister. This person's dresswas a cloak of scarlet; his head was bare, and surrounded by shaggylocks of black, which time had partly grizzled. He was busily employedin furbishing and burnishing a broad two-handed sword, of a peculiarshape, and considerably shorter than the weapons of that kind which wehave described as used by the Swiss. He was so deeply engaged in histask, that he started as the heavy door opened with a jarring noise,and the sword, escaping from his hold, rolled on the stone floor witha heavy clash.

  "Ha! Scharfgerichter," said the Knight, as he entered thefolter-kammer, "thou art preparing for thy duty?"

  "It would ill become your excellency's servant," answered the man, ina harsh deep tone, "to be found idle. But the prisoner is not far off,as I can judge by the fall of my sword, which infallibly announces thepresence of him who shall feel its edge."

  "The prisoners are at hand, Francis," replied the Governor; "but thyomen has deceived thee for once. They are fellows for whom a good ropewill suffice, and thy sword drinks only noble blood."

  "The worse for Francis Steinernherz," replied the official in scarlet:"I trusted that your excellency, who have ever been a bountifulpatron, should this day have made me noble."

  "Noble!" said the Governor; "thou art mad--Thou noble! The commonexecutioner!"

  "And wherefore not, Sir Archibald de Hagenbach? I think the name ofFrancis Steinernherz _von_ Blut-acker will suit nobility, being fairlyand legally won, as well as another. Nay, do not stare on me thus. Ifone of my profession shall do his grim office on nine men of noblebirth, with the same weapon, and with a single blow to each patient,hath he not a right to his freedom from taxes, and his nobility bypatent?"

  "So says the law," said Sir Archibald, after reflecting for amoment,--"but rather more in scorn than seriously, I should judge,since no one was ever known to claim the benefit of it."

  "The prouder boast for him," said the functionary, "that shall be thefirst to demand the honours due to a sharp sword and a clean stroke.I, Francis Steinernherz, will be the first noble of my profession,when I shall have despatched one more knight of the Empire."

  "Thou hast been ever in _my_ service, hast thou not?" demanded DeHagenbach.

  "Under what other master," replied the executioner, "could I haveenjoyed such constant practice? I have executed your decrees oncondemned sinners since I could swing a scourge, lift a crowbar, orwield this trusty weapon; and who can say I ever failed of my firstblow, or needed to deal a second? Tristrem of the Hospital, and hisfamous assistants, Petit Andre and Trois Eschelles, are novicescompared with me in the use of the noble and knightly sword. Marry, Ishould be ashamed to match myself with them in the field practice withbowstring and dagger; these are no feats worthy of a Christian man whowould rise to honour and nobility."

  "Thou art a fellow of excellent address, and I do not deny it,"replied De Hagenbach. "But it cannot be--I trust it cannot be--thatwhen noble blood is becoming scarce in the land, and proud churls arelording it over knights and barons, I myself should have caused somuch to be spilled?"

  "I will number the patients to your excellency by name and title,"said Francis, drawing out a scroll of parchment, and reading with acommentary as he went on,--"There was Count William of Elvershoe--hewas my assay-piece, a sweet youth, and died most like a Christian."

  "I remember--he was indeed a most smart youth, and courted mymistress," said Sir Archibald.

  "He died on St. Jude's, in the year of grace 1455," said theexecutioner.

  "Go on--but name no dates," said the Governor.

  "Sir Miles of Stockenborg"----

  "He drove off my cattle," observed his excellency.

  "Sir Louis of Riesenfeldt"--continued the executioner.

  "He made love to my wife," commented the Governor.

  "The three Yung-herren of Lammerbourg--you made their father, theCount, childless in one day."

  "And he made me landless," said Sir Archibald, "so that account issettled.--Thou needest read no further," he continued: "I admit thyrecord, though it is written in letters somewhat of the reddest. I hadcounted these three young gentlemen as one execution."

  "You did me the greater wrong," said Francis; "they cost three goodseparate blows of this good sword."

  "Be it so, and God be with their souls," said Hagenbach. "But thyambition must go to sleep for a while, Scharfgerichter, for the stuffthat came hither to-day is for dungeon and cord, or perhaps a touch ofthe rack or strappado--there is no honour to win on them."

  "The worse luck mine," said the executioner. "I had dreamed so surelythat your honour had made me noble;--and then the fall of my sword?"

  "Take a bowl of wine, and forget your auguries."

  "With your honour's permission, no," said the executioner; "to drinkbefore noon were to endanger the nicety of my hand."

  "Be silent, then, and mind your duty," said De Hagenbach.

  Francis took up his sheathless sword, wiped the dust reverently fromit, and withdrew into a corner of the chamber, where he stood leaningwith his hands on the pommel of the fatal weapon.

  Almost immediately afterwards, Kilian entered at the head of five orsix soldiers, conducting the two Philipsons, whose arms were tied downwith cords.

  "Approach me a chair," said the Governor, and took his place gravelybeside a table, on which stood writing-materials. "Who are these men,Kilian, and wherefore are they bound?"

  "So please your excellency," said Kilian, with a deep respect ofmanner, which entirely differed from the tone, approaching tofamiliarity, with which he communicated with his master in private,"we thought it well that these two strangers should not appear armedin your gracious presence; and when we required of them to surrendertheir weapons at the gate, as is the custom of the garrison, thisyoung gallant
must needs offer resistance. I admit he gave up hisweapon at his father's command."

  "It is false!" exclaimed young Philipson; but his father making a signto him to be silent, he obeyed instantly.

  "Noble sir," said the elder Philipson, "we are strangers, andunacquainted with the rules of this citadel; we are Englishmen, andunaccustomed to submit to personal mishandling; we trust you willhave excuse for us, when we found ourselves, without any explanationof the cause, rudely seized on by we knew not whom. My son, who isyoung and unthinking, did partly draw his weapon, but desisted at mycommand, without having altogether unsheathed his sword, far less madea blow. For myself, I am a merchant, accustomed to submit to the lawsand customs of the countries in which I traffic; I am in theterritories of the Duke of Burgundy, and I know his laws and customsmust be just and equitable. He is the powerful and faithful ally ofEngland, and I fear nothing while under his banner."

  "Hem! hem!" replied De Hagenbach, a little disconcerted by theEnglishman's composure, and perhaps recollecting, that, unless hispassions were awakened (as in the case of the Swiss, whom hedetested), Charles of Burgundy deserved the character of a just thoughsevere prince,--"Fair words are well, but hardly make amends for foulactions. You have drawn swords in riot, and opposition to the Duke'ssoldiers, when obeying the mandates which regulate their watch."

  "Surely, sir," answered Philipson, "this is a severe construction of amost natural action. But, in a word, if you are disposed to berigorous, the simple action of drawing, or attempting to draw a sword,in a garrison town, is only punishable by pecuniary fine, and such wemust pay, if it be your will."

  "Now, here is a silly sheep," said Kilian to the executioner, besidewhom he had stationed himself, somewhat apart from the group, "whovoluntarily offers his own fleece to the clipper."

  "It will scarcely serve as a ransom for his throat, Sir Squire,"answered Francis Steinernherz; "for, look you, I dreamed last nightthat our master made me noble, and I knew by the fall of my sword thatthis is the man by whom I am to mount to gentility. I must this veryday deal on him with my good sword."

  "Why, thou ambitious fool," said the esquire, "this is no noble, butan island pedlar--a mere English citizen."

  "Thou art deceived," said the executioner, "and hast never looked onmen when they are about to die."

  "Have I not?" said the squire. "Have I not looked on five pitchedfields, besides skirmishes and ambuscades innumerable?"

  "That tries not the courage," said the Scharfgerichter. "All men willfight when pitched against each other. So will the most paltrycurs--so will the dunghill fowls. But he is brave and noble who canlook on a scaffold and a block, a priest to give him absolution, andthe headsman and good sword which is to mow him down in his strength,as he would look upon things indifferent; and such a man is that whomwe now behold."

  "Yes," answered Kilian, "but that man looks not on such anapparatus--he only sees our illustrious patron, Sir Archibald deHagenbach."

  "And he who looks upon Sir Archibald," said the executioner, "being,as yonder man assuredly is, a person of sense and apprehension, lookshe not upon sword and headsman? Assuredly that prisoner apprehends asmuch, and being so composed as he is under such conviction, it showshim to be a nobleman by blood, or may I myself never win nobility!"

  "Our master will come to compromise with him, I judge," repliedKilian; "he looks smilingly on him."

  "Never trust to me, then," said the man in scarlet; "there is a glancein Sir Archibald's eye which betokens blood, as surely as the dog-starbodes pestilence."

  While these dependants of Sir Archibald de Hagenbach were thusconversing apart, their master had engaged the prisoners in a longtrain of captious interrogatories concerning their business inSwitzerland, their connection with the Landamman, and the cause oftheir travelling into Burgundy, to all which the senior Philipson gavedirect and plain answers, excepting to the last. He was going, hesaid, into Burgundy, for the purpose of his traffic--his wares were atthe disposal of the Governor, who might detain all, or any part ofthem, as he might be disposed to make himself answerable to hismaster. But his business with the Duke was of a private nature,respecting some particular matters of commerce, in which others aswell as he himself were interested. To the Duke alone, he declared,would he communicate the affair; and he pressed it strongly on theGovernor, that if he should sustain any damage in his own person orthat of his son, the Duke's severe displeasure would be the inevitableconsequence.

  De Hagenbach was evidently much embarrassed by the steady tone of hisprisoner, and more than once held counsel with the bottle, hisnever-failing oracle in cases of extreme difficulty. Philipson hadreadily surrendered to the Governor a list or invoice of hismerchandise, which was of so inviting a character that Sir Archibaldabsolutely gloated over it. After remaining in deep meditation forsome time, he raised his head and spoke thus:--

  "You must be well aware, Sir Merchant, that it is the Duke's pleasurethat no Swiss merchandise shall pass through his territories; andthat, nevertheless, you having been, by your own account, some time inthat country, and having also accompanied a body of men callingthemselves Swiss Deputies, I am authorised to believe that thesevaluable articles are rather the property of those persons, than of asingle individual of so poor an appearance as yourself, and that,should I demand pecuniary satisfaction, three hundred pieces of goldwould not be an extravagant fine for so bold a practice; and you mightwander where you will with the rest of your wares, so you bring themnot into Burgundy."

  "But it is to Burgundy, and to the Duke's presence, that I amexpressly bound," said the Englishman. "If I go not thither my journeyis wrecked, and the Duke's displeasure is certain to light on thosewho may molest me. For I make your excellency aware, that yourgracious Prince already knows of my journey, and will make strictinquiry where and by whom I have been intercepted."

  Again the Governor was silent, endeavouring to decide how he mightbest reconcile the gratification of his rapacity with precaution forhis safety. After a few minutes' consideration he again addressed hisprisoner.

  "Thou art very positive in thy tale, my good friend; but my orders areequally so to exclude merchandise coming from Switzerland. What if Iput thy mule and baggage under arrest?"

  "I cannot withstand your power, my lord, to do what you will. I willin that case go to the Duke's footstool, and do my errand there."

  "Ay, and my errand also," answered the Governor. "That is, thou wiltcarry thy complaint to the Duke against the Governor of La Ferette,for executing his orders too strictly?"

  "On my life and honest word," answered the Englishman, "I will make nocomplaint. Leave me but my ready money, without which I can hardlytravel to the Duke's court, and I will look no more after these goodsand wares than the stag looks after the antlers which he shed lastyear."

  Again the Governor of La Ferette looked doubtful, and shook his head.

  "Men in such a case as yours," he said, "cannot be trusted, nor, tosay truth, is it reasonable to expect they should be trustworthy.These same wares, designed for the Duke's private hand, in what dothey consist?"

  "They are under seal," replied the Englishman.

  "They are of rare value, doubtless?" continued the Governor.

  "I cannot tell," answered the elder Philipson; "I know the Duke setsgreat store by them. But your excellency knows, that great princessometimes place a high value on trifles."

  "Bear you them about you?" said the Governor. "Take heed how youanswer--Look around you on these engines, which can bring a dumb manto speak, and consider I have the power to employ them!"

  "And I the courage to support their worst infliction," answeredPhilipson, with the same impenetrable coolness which he had maintainedthroughout the whole conference.

  "Remember, also," said Hagenbach, "that I can have your personsearched as thoroughly as your mails and budgets."

  "I do remember that I am wholly in thy power; and that I may leavethee no excuse for employing force on a peaceful traveller, I will ownto you," said P
hilipson, "that I have the Duke's packet in the bosomof my doublet."

  "Bring it forth," answered the Governor.

  "My hands are tied, both in honour and literally," said theEnglishman.

  "Pluck it from his bosom, Kilian," said Sir Archibald; "let us seethis gear he talks of."

  "Could resistance avail," replied the stout merchant, "you shouldpluck forth my heart first. But I pray all who are present to observethat the seals are every one whole and unbroken at this moment when itis forcibly taken from my person."

  As he spoke thus he looked around on the soldiers, whose presence DeHagenbach had perhaps forgotten.

  "How, dog!" said Sir Archibald, giving way to his passion, "would youstir up mutiny among my men-at-arms?--Kilian, let the soldiers waitwithout."

  So saying, he hastily placed under cover of his own robe the small butremarkably well-secured packet which Kilian had taken from themerchant's person. The soldiers withdrew, lingering, however, andlooking back, like children brought away from a show before its finalconclusion.

  "So, fellow!" again began De Hagenbach, "we are now more private. Wiltthou deal more on the level with me, and tell me what this packet is,and whence it comes?"

  "Could all your garrison be crowded into this room, I can only answeras before.--The contents I do not precisely know--the person by whomit was sent I am determined not to name."

  "Perhaps your son," said the Governor, "may be more compliant."

  "He cannot tell you that of which he is himself ignorant," answeredthe merchant.

  "Perchance the rack may make you both find your tongues;--and we willtry it on the young fellow first, Kilian, since thou knowest we haveseen men shrink from beholding the wrenched joints of their children,that would have committed their own old sinews to the stretching withmuch endurance."

  "You may make the trial," said Arthur, "and Heaven will give mestrength to endure"----

  "And me courage to behold," added his father.

  All this while the Governor was turning and re-turning the littlepacket in his hand, curiously inspecting every fold, and regretting,doubtless, in secret, that a few patches of wax, placed under anenvelope of crimson satin, and ligatures of twisted silk cord, shouldprevent his eager eyes from ascertaining the nature of the treasurewhich he doubted not it concealed. At length he again called in thesoldiers, and delivered up the two prisoners to their charge,commanding that they should be kept safely, and in separate holds, andthat the father, in particular, should be most carefully lookedafter.

  "I take you all here to witness," exclaimed the elder Philipson,despising the menacing signs of De Hagenbach, "that the Governordetains from me a packet, addressed to his most gracious lord andmaster, the Duke of Burgundy."

  De Hagenbach actually foamed at the mouth with passion.

  "And should I _not_ detain it?" he exclaimed, in a voice inarticulatewith rage. "May there not be some foul practice against the life ofour most gracious sovereign, by poison or otherwise, in thissuspicious packet, brought by a most suspicious bearer? Have we neverheard of poisons which do their work by the smell? And shall we, whokeep the gate, as I may say, of his Grace of Burgundy's dominions,give access to what may rob Europe of its pride of chivalry, Burgundyof its prince, and Flanders of her father?--No! Away with thesemiscreants, soldiers--down to the lowest dungeons with them--keep themseparate, and watch them carefully. This treasonable practice has beenmeditated with the connivance of Berne and Soleure."

  Thus Sir Archibald de Hagenbach raved, with a raised voice andinflamed countenance, lashing himself as it were into passion, untilthe steps of the soldiers, and the clash of their arms, as theyretired with the prisoners, were no longer audible. His complexion,when these had ceased, waxed paler than was natural to him--his browwas furrowed with anxious wrinkles--and his voice became lower andmore hesitating than ordinary, as, turning to his esquire, he said,"Kilian, we stand upon a slippery plank, with a raging torrent beneathus--What is to be done?"

  THE EXAMINATION. Drawn and Etched by R. de Los Rios.]

  "Marry, to move forward with a resolved yet prudent step," answeredthe crafty Kilian. "It is unlucky that all these fellows should haveseen the packet, and heard the appeal of yonder iron-nerved trader.But this ill luck has befallen us, and the packet having been in yourexcellency's hands, you will have all the credit of having broken theseals; for, though you leave them as entire as the moment they wereimpressed, it will only be supposed they have been ingeniouslyreplaced. Let us see what are the contents, before we determine whatis to be done with them. They must be of rare value, since the churlmerchant was well contented to leave behind all his rich mule's-loadof merchandise, so that this precious packet might pass unexamined."

  "They may be papers on some political matter. Many such, and of highimportance, pass secretly between Edward of England and our boldDuke." Such was the reply of De Hagenbach.

  "If they be papers of consequence to the Duke," answered Kilian, "wecan forward them to Dijon.--Or they may be such as Louis of Francewould purchase with their weight of gold."

  "For shame, Kilian!" said the Knight. "Wouldst thou have me betray mymaster's secrets to the King of France? Sooner would I lay my head onthe block."

  "Indeed? And yet your excellency hesitates not to"----

  Here the squire stopped, apparently for fear of giving offence, byaffixing a name too broad and intelligible to the practices of hispatron.

  "To plunder the Duke, thou wouldst say, thou impudent slave? And,saying so, thou wouldst be as dull as thou art wont to be," answeredDe Hagenbach. "I partake, indeed, in the plunder which the Duke takesfrom aliens; and reason good. Even so the hound and the hawk havetheir share of the quarry they bring down--ay, and the lion's sharetoo, unless the huntsman or falconer be all the nearer to them. Suchare the perquisites of my rank; and the Duke, who placed me here forthe gratification of his resentment, and the bettering of my fortune,does not grudge them to a faithful servant. And, indeed, I may termmyself, in so far as this territory of La Ferette extends, the Duke'sfull representative, or, as it may be termed, ALTER EGO--and,thereupon, I will open this packet, which, being addressed to him, isthereby equally addressed to me."

  Having thus in a manner talked himself up to an idea of his own highauthority, he cut the strings of the packet which he had all thiswhile held in his hand, and, undoing the outer coverings, produced avery small case made of sandalwood.

  "The contents," he said, "had need to be valuable, as they lie in solittle compass."

  So saying he pressed the spring, and the casket, opening, displayed anecklace of diamonds, distinguished by brilliancy and size, andapparently of extraordinary value. The eyes of the avariciousGovernor, and his no less rapacious attendant, were so dazzled withthe unusual splendour, that for some time they could express nothingsave joy and surprise.

  "Ay, marry, sir," said Kilian, "the obstinate old knave had reasonsfor his hardihood. My own joints should have stood a strain or two ereI surrendered such sparklers as these.--And now, Sir Archibald, mayyour trusty follower ask you how this booty is to be divided betweenthe Duke and his Governor, according to the most approved rules ofgarrison towns?"

  "Faith, we will suppose the garrison stormed, Kilian; and in a storm,thou know'st, the first finder takes all--with due considerationalways of his trusty followers."

  "As myself, for example," said Kilian.

  "Ay, and myself, for example," answered a voice, which sounded likethe echo of the esquire's words, from the remote corner of the ancientapartment.

  "'Sdeath! we are overheard," exclaimed the Governor, starting andlaying his hand on his dagger.

  "Only by a faithful follower, as the worthy esquire observes," saidthe executioner, moving slowly forward.

  "Villain, how didst thou dare watch me?" said Sir Archibald deHagenbach.

  "Trouble not yourself for that, sir," said Kilian. "HonestSteinernherz has no tongue to speak, or ear to hear, save according toyour pleasure. Indeed, we must shortly have taken
him into ourcounsels, seeing these men must be dealt upon, and that speedily."

  "Indeed!" said De Hagenbach; "I had thought they might be spared."

  "To tell the Duke of Burgundy how the Governor of La Ferette accountsto his treasurer for the duties and forfeitures at his custom-house?"demanded Kilian.

  "'Tis true," said the Knight; "dead men have neither teeth nortongue--they bite not, and they tell no tales. Thou wilt take orderwith them, Scharfgerichter."

  "I will, my lord," answered the executioner, "on condition that, ifthis must be in the way of dungeon execution, which I call cellarpractice, my privilege to claim nobility shall be saved and reservedto me, and the execution shall be declared to be as effectual to myclaim, as it might have been if the blow had been dealt in broaddaylight, with my honourable blade of office."

  De Hagenbach stared at the executioner, as not understanding what hemeant; on which Kilian took occasion to explain, that theScharfgerichter was strongly impressed, from the free and dauntlessconduct of the elder prisoner, that he was a man of noble blood, fromwhose decapitation he would himself derive all the advantages proposedto the headsman who should execute his function on nine men ofillustrious extraction.

  "He may be right," said Sir Archibald, "for here is a slip ofparchment, commending the bearer of this carcanet to the Duke,desiring him to accept it as a true token from one well known to him,and to give the bearer full credence in all that he should say on thepart of those by whom he is sent."

  "By whom is the note signed, if I may make bold to ask?" said Kilian.

  "There is no name--the Duke must be supposed to collect thatinformation from the gems, or perhaps the handwriting."

  "On neither of which he is likely to have a speedy opportunity ofexercising his ingenuity," said Kilian.

  De Hagenbach looked at the diamonds, and smiled darkly. TheScharfgerichter, encouraged by the familiarity into which he had in amanner forced himself, returned to his plea, and insisted on thenobility of the supposed merchant. Such a trust, and such a letter ofunlimited credence, could never, he contended, be intrusted to a manmeanly born.[7]

  "Thou art deceived, thou fool," said the Knight; "kings now use thelowest tools to do their dearest offices. Louis has set the example ofputting his barber, and the valets of his chamber, to do the workformerly intrusted to dukes and peers; and other monarchs begin tothink that it is better, in choosing their agents for importantaffairs, to judge rather by the quality of men's brains than that oftheir blood. And as for the stately look and bold bearing whichdistinguish yonder fellow in the eyes of cravens like thee, it belongsto his country, not his rank. Thou think'st it is in England as inFlanders, where a city-bred burgher of Ghent, Liege, or Ypres is asdistinct an animal from a knight of Hainault as a Flanders wagon horsefrom a Spanish jennet. But thou art deceived. England has many amerchant as haughty of heart, and as prompt of hand, as any noble-bornson of her rich bosom. But be not dejected, thou foolish man; do thybusiness well on this merchant, and we shall presently have on ourhands the Landamman of Unterwalden, who, though a churl by his choice,is yet a nobleman by blood, and shall, by his well-deserved death,aid thee to get rid of the peasant slough which thou art so weary of."

  "Were not your excellency better adjourn these men's fate," saidKilian, "till you hear something of them from the Swiss prisoners whomwe shall presently have in our power?"

  "Be it as you will," said Hagenbach, waving his hand, as if puttingaside some disagreeable task. "But let all be finished ere I hear ofit again."

  The stern satellites bowed obedience, and the deadly conclave brokeup; their chief carefully securing the valuable gems, which he waswilling to purchase at the expense of treachery to the sovereign inwhose employment he had enlisted himself, as well as the blood of twoinnocent men. Yet, with a weakness of mind not uncommon to greatcriminals, he shrank from the thoughts of his own baseness andcruelty, and endeavoured to banish the feeling of dishonour from hismind, by devolving the immediate execution of his villany upon hissubordinate agents.

  FOOTNOTE:

  [7] Louis XI. was probably the first king of France who flung asideall affectation of choosing his ministers from among the nobility. Heoften placed men of mean birth in situations of the highest trust.