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Authors: Maurice Druon
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not moments like this in life. Even the body of the wife with whom we sleep remains a stranger to us; even the children we have conceived are strangers. Doubtless the Creator has willed it thus so that we may each of us have no communion but with Him and with each other but through Him. There is no help but in compassion and in the knowledge that others, suffer as we do."
The Hutin shrugged his shoulders. Had Uncle Evreux never anything to offer as consolation but God, and as remedy but charity?
"Yes, yes, you are doubtless right, Uncle," he said. "But that is no answer to the cares that oppress me."
Then, turning to Artois who, his backside to the fire, was steaming like a soup-tureen, he said, "So you're certain, Robert, that she will not yield?"
Artois shook his head.
"Sire, Cousin, as I told you last night, I pressed Madame Marguerite in every way in my power: I, gave her the most convincing, arguments, replied Artois, with an irony which was valid only for himself. "I ran up against such, a hard core of refusal that I can assure you with certainty there is nothing to be got from her. Do you know what she's counting on?" he added perfidiously. "She' is hoping that you will die before her."
Instinc tively- Louis X touched through his shirt the little reliquary he wore about his neck, and for a moment turned away, wild of eye, his hair in disorder. Then, speaking; to the Count of Valois, he said, " Well, Uncle, you see it's not all as simple as you promised, and it seems that my annulment is not to be had tomorrow! ''
"I know, Nephew, I am thinking of nothing else," replied Valois, his brow wrinkled in thought.
Art ois, standing face to face with The Hut in, whose forehead came up only to his shoulder, said to him in a whisper that could have been heard twenty yards away, "If you are afraid of a celi bate life, Cousin, I can always furnish your bed with charming young females, whom the promise of a purse of gold and the vanity of pleasuring the King would render most agreeable to you."
He spoke with a certain relish, as if of a fine roast or a dish with an exquisite sauce.
Monseigneur of Valois spread out his ring-laden hands.
"Of what use is an annulment to you, Louis," he said, "so long as you have not chosen the new woman you wish to marry? Don't be so anxious about your annulment; a Sovereign can always obtain one in the end. What you need to do at once is to set about finding the `wife who will make' a suitable figure as queen beside you and give you a fine posterity."
Monseigneur of Valois had' the habit, when an obstacle presented itself, of glancing at it contemptuously and of immediately leaping forward to the next step; in war he disregarded islands of resistance, by-passed them and went on to attack the next, fortress.
"Brother," said the prudent Count of Evreux, " the matter is not as easy as all that, considering the position our nephew occupies, if he does not wish the wife he chooses to be of inferior rank."
"Nonsense! I know ten princesses in Europe who would overlook a great many things to wear the crown of, France. For instance - without having to look further, there's my niece Clemence of Hungary," said Valois, as if the idea, had only just occurred to him, when in fact he had been considering it for the last three days.
He waited for the effect of his suggestion. No one uttered a word. But The Hutin raised his head in interest.
"She is of our blood, since she is an Anjou," went on Valois. "Her father, Carlo-Martello, who renounced the throne of Naples-Sicily to lay claim to that of Hungary, is dead long ago; that, no doubt, is why she has not yet made a match. But her brother, Caroberto, is now reigning in Hungary and her uncle is King of Naples. Of course, she is a litt le past the age of marriage'
"How old is she?" asked Louis X anxiously.
"Twenty-two. But is not that better than these little girls who are brought to wed when they are still playing with their dolls, and when they grow
The Hutin shrugged his shoulders. Had Uncle Evreux never anything to offer as consolation but God, and as remedy but charity?
"Yes, yes, you are doubtless right, Uncle," he said. "But that is no answer to the cares that oppress me."
Then, turning to Artois who, his backside to the fire, was steaming like a soup-tureen, he said, "So you're certain, Robert, that she will not yield?"
Artois shook his head.
"Sire, Cousin, as I told you last night, I pressed Madame Marguerite in every way in my power: I, gave her the most convincing, arguments, replied Artois, with an irony which was valid only for himself. "I ran up against such, a hard core of refusal that I can assure you with certainty there is nothing to be got from her. Do you know what she's counting on?" he added perfidiously. "She' is hoping that you will die before her."
Instinc tively- Louis X touched through his shirt the little reliquary he wore about his neck, and for a moment turned away, wild of eye, his hair in disorder. Then, speaking; to the Count of Valois, he said, " Well, Uncle, you see it's not all as simple as you promised, and it seems that my annulment is not to be had tomorrow! ''
"I know, Nephew, I am thinking of nothing else," replied Valois, his brow wrinkled in thought.
Art ois, standing face to face with The Hut in, whose forehead came up only to his shoulder, said to him in a whisper that could have been heard twenty yards away, "If you are afraid of a celi bate life, Cousin, I can always furnish your bed with charming young females, whom the promise of a purse of gold and the vanity of pleasuring the King would render most agreeable to you."
He spoke with a certain relish, as if of a fine roast or a dish with an exquisite sauce.
Monseigneur of Valois spread out his ring-laden hands.
"Of what use is an annulment to you, Louis," he said, "so long as you have not chosen the new woman you wish to marry? Don't be so anxious about your annulment; a Sovereign can always obtain one in the end. What you need to do at once is to set about finding the `wife who will make' a suitable figure as queen beside you and give you a fine posterity."
Monseigneur of Valois had' the habit, when an obstacle presented itself, of glancing at it contemptuously and of immediately leaping forward to the next step; in war he disregarded islands of resistance, by-passed them and went on to attack the next, fortress.
"Brother," said the prudent Count of Evreux, " the matter is not as easy as all that, considering the position our nephew occupies, if he does not wish the wife he chooses to be of inferior rank."
"Nonsense! I know ten princesses in Europe who would overlook a great many things to wear the crown of, France. For instance - without having to look further, there's my niece Clemence of Hungary," said Valois, as if the idea, had only just occurred to him, when in fact he had been considering it for the last three days.
He waited for the effect of his suggestion. No one uttered a word. But The Hutin raised his head in interest.
"She is of our blood, since she is an Anjou," went on Valois. "Her father, Carlo-Martello, who renounced the throne of Naples-Sicily to lay claim to that of Hungary, is dead long ago; that, no doubt, is why she has not yet made a match. But her brother, Caroberto, is now reigning in Hungary and her uncle is King of Naples. Of course, she is a litt le past the age of marriage'
"How old is she?" asked Louis X anxiously.
"Twenty-two. But is not that better than these little girls who are brought to wed when they are still playing with their dolls, and when they grow
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