Page:Hoffmann's Strange Stories - Hoffman - 1855.djvu/375

 law; but it may justify the interference of the king, who can show mercy even in cases where the judge is necessitated to condemn the prisoner."

D'Andilly's advice was accurately followed, and the consequences were such as he had expected, the torture being delayed, and a day appointed for a new hearing. Now the proper time had arrived for having recourse to the king; a point on which de Scuderi could not help feeling timid and anxious; for such was the abhorrence that Louis had conceived against Brusson, believing him to be one of the murderers by whom all Paris was kept in a state of terror and agitation, that, even on the slightest allusion to the delays that had taken place at the trial, he fell into a tremendous passion. The Marchioness de Maintenon, adhering firmly to her principles of never speaking to the monarch upon any subject that was disagreeable, refused to undertake the office of mediatrix, so that Brusson's fate was left entirely in the hands of de Scuderi. After long reflection, she came to a resolution which she did not lose a moment in carrying into effect; she dressed herself for the occasion, in a black robe of heavy massive silk, adorned herself with Cardillac's fine jewels, hung a lace veil over the whole, and in this attire made her entree into the chambers of de Maintenon, at the time when the king was there. In such a dress, the dignified figure, and placid countenance of the noble poetess, failed not to inspire respect, even among the mob of idle loungers, who, as usual, were collected in the ante-room. All made way for her with the greatest deference, and on her appearance in the audience chamber, even the king himself was forcibly struck, and came forward to meet her.

The valuable diamonds of the necklace and bracelets then flashed so brightly, that they could not escape his notice, and he exclaimed, by St. Dennis, that is jewelry of Cardillac's.—Look only, Madame la Marquise," added he, turning to de Maintenon, "how our beautiful bride mourns for the loss of her betrothed husband!"—"Nay, Sire," answered de