Page:Hoffmann's Strange Stories - Hoffman - 1855.djvu/380

 jealousy or vexation, by which the king might easily be led astray from all his good intentions. From de Maintenon, therefore, she could not for the future entertain any hopes of assistance.

At last, with the help of D'Andilly, she was able to discover, that Louis had had a conference with the Count de Miossen; farther, that Bontems, the monarch's confidential chamberlain, had been sent to the Conciergerie, and had spoken with Brusson; afterwards, that private examinations had been carried on at the house of Cardillac, where the old gentleman Claude Patru deponed, that, through the whole night on which Cardillac was murdered, he had heard an extraordinary noise over his head, and that Olivier must certainly have been there, for he had distinctly heard his voice, &c. So much at least was certain, that the king had ordered the most accurate inquiries to be made into the evidence for and against Brusson; but it was inconceivable how the matter was so long of coming to any termination. La Regnie would no doubt try every method to hold fast within his own power the victim who thus threatened to escape from him; and, when de Scuderi reflected on this man's chararcter [sic], she almost lost hope. Nearly a month had passed away, when a message was brought to the lady, that the king wished to see her, the same evening, at the chambers of de Maintenon. De Scuderi's heart beat violently, for she knew that Brusson's trial must by this time be decided. She mentioned this to the poor Madelon, who prayed zealously to the blessed Virgin and all the saints, that whatever the judge's sentence might have been, the king at least might be inspired with a conviction of her lover's innocence.

For some time, however, after de Scuderi's appearance in the Marchioness's rooms, his Majesty seemed to have forgotten the whole affair, for, as on former occasions, occupying himself in lively discourse with the ladies, he did not allude, by a single syllable, to the unhappy prisoner. At last, however, Bontems appeared, went up to the monarch, and said a few