Chicot the Jester
CONTENTS
On the evening of a Sunday, in the year 1578, a splendid fête was given in the magnificent hotel just built opposite the Louvre, on the other side of the water, by the family of Montmorency, who, allied to the royalty of France, held themselves equal to princes. This fête was to celebrate the wedding of François d’Epinay de St. Luc, a great friend and favorite of the king, Henri III., with Jeanne de Crossé-Brissac, daughter of the marshal of that name.
The banquet had taken place at the Louvre, and the king, who had been with much difficulty induced to consent to the marriage, had appeared at it with a severe and grave countenance. His costume was in harmony with his face; he wore that suit of deep chestnut, in which Clouet described him at the wedding of Joyeuse; and this kind of royal specter, solemn and majestic, had chilled all the spectators, but above all the young bride, at whom he cast many angry glances. The reason of all this was known to everyone, but was one of those court secrets of which no one likes to speak.
Scarcely was the repast finished, when the king had risen abruptly, thereby forcing everyone to do the same. Then St. Luc approached him, and said: “Sire, will your majesty do me the honor to accept the fête, which I wish to give to you this evening at the Hôtel Montmorency?” This was said in an imploring tone, but Henri, with a voice betraying both vexation and anger, had replied:
“Yes, monsieur, we will go, although you certainly do not merit this proof of friendship on our part.”
Then Madame de St. Luc had humbly thanked the king, but he turned his back without replying.
“Is the king angry with you?” asked the young wife of her husband.
“I will explain it to you after, mon amie, when this anger shall have passed away.”
“And will it pass away?”
“It must.”
Mademoiselle de Brissac was not yet sufficiently Madame de St. Luc to insist further; therefore she repressed her curiosity, promising herself to satisfy it at a more favorable time.
Alexandre Dumas
Auguste Maquet
CHICOT THE JESTER
Abridged translation of “La dame de Monsoreau”
CHAPTER I.
THE WEDDING OF ST. LUC.
CHAPTER II.
HOW IT IS NOT ALWAYS HE WHO OPENS THE DOOR, WHO ENTERS THE HOUSE.
CHAPTER III.
HOW IT IS SOMETIMES DIFFICULT TO DISTINGUISH A DREAM FROM THE REALITY.
CHAPTER IV.
HOW MADAME DE ST. LUC HAD PASSED THE NIGHT.
CHAPTER V.
HOW MADAME DE ST. LUC PASSED THE SECOND NIGHT OF HER MARRIAGE.
CHAPTER VI.
LE PETIT COUCHER OF HENRI III.
CHAPTER VII.
CHAPTER VIII.
HOW THE KING WAS AFRAID OF BEING AFRAID.
CHAPTER IX.
CHAPTER X.
HOW BUSSY WENT TO SEEK FOR THE REALITY OF HIS DREAM.
CHAPTER XI.
M. BRYAN DE MONSOREAU.
CHAPTER XII.
HOW BUSSY FOUND BOTH THE PORTRAIT AND THE ORIGINAL.
CHAPTER XIII.
WHO DIANA WAS.
CHAPTER XIV.
THE TREATY.
CHAPTER XV.
THE MARRIAGE.
CHAPTER XVI.
THE MARRIAGE.
CHAPTER XVII.
CHAPTER XVIII.
BROTHER GORENFLOT.
CHAPTER XIX.
HOW CHICOT FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS EASIER TO GO IN THAN OUT OF THE ABBEY.
CHAPTER XX.
CHAPTER XXI.
HOW CHICOT LEARNED GENEALOGY.
CHAPTER XXII.
HOW M. AND MADAME DE ST. LUC MET WITH A TRAVELING COMPANION.
CHAPTER XXIII.
THE OLD MAN.
CHAPTER XXIV.
CHAPTER XXV.
THE FATHER AND DAUGHTER.
CHAPTER XXVI.
HOW BROTHER GORENFLOT AWOKE, AND THE RECEPTION HE MET WITH AT HIS CONVENT.
CHAPTER XXVII.
“I?”
CHAPTER XXVIII.
CHAPTER XXIX.
CHAPTER XXX.
CHAPTER XXXI.
HOW THE MONK CONFESSED THE ADVOCATE, AND THE ADVOCATE THE MONK.
CHAPTER XXXII.
HOW CHICOT USED HIS SWORD.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
HOW THE DUC D’ANJOU LEARNED THAT DIANA WAS NOT DEAD.
“MONSEIGNEUR,
“BRYAN DE MONSOREAU.”
CHAPTER XXXIV.
HOW CHICOT RETURNED TO THE LOUVRE, AND WAS RECEIVED BY THE KING HENRI III.
CHAPTER XXXV.
WHAT PASSED BETWEEN M. DE MONSOREAU AND THE DUKE.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
CHICOT AND THE KING.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
WHAT M. DE GUISE CAME TO DO AT THE LOUVRE.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
CASTOR AND POLLUX.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
IN WHICH IT IS PROVED THAT LISTENING IS THE BEST WAY TO HEAR.
CHAPTER XI.
THE EVENING OF THE LEAGUE.
CHAPTER XLI.
THE RUE DE LA FERRONNERIE.
CHAPTER XLII.
THE PRINCE AND THE FRIEND.
CHAPTER XLIII.
ETYMOLOGY OF THE RUE DE LA JUSSIENNE.
CHAPTER XLIV.
HOW D’EPERNON HAD HIS DOUBLET TORN, AND HOW CHOMBERG WAS STAINED BLUE.
CHAPTER XLV.
CHICOT MORE THAN EVER KING OF FRANCE.
CHAPTER XLVI.
HOW CHICOT PAID A VISIT TO BUSSY, AND WHAT FOLLOWED.
CHAPTER XLVII.
THE CHESS OF M. CHICOT, AND THE CUP AND BALL OF M. QUELUS.
CHAPTER XLVIII.
THE RECEPTION OF THE CHIEFS OF THE LEAGUE.
CHAPTER XLIX.
HOW THE KING ANNEXED A CHIEF WHO WAS NEITHER THE DUC DE GUISE NOR M. D’ANJOU.
CHAPTER L.
ETEOCLES AND POLYNICES.
CHAPTER LI.
HOW PEOPLE DO NOT ALWAYS LOSE THEIR TIME BY SEARCHING EMPTY DRAWERS.
“A FRIEND.”
CHAPTER LII.
VENTRE ST. GRIS.
CHAPTER LIII.
THE FRIENDS.
CHAPTER LIV.
BUSSY AND DIANA.
CHAPTER LV.
CHAPTER LVI.
THE DIPLOMACY OF THE DUC D’ANJOU.
“I!”
CHAPTER LVII.
THE IDEAS OF THE DUC D’ANJOU.
CHAPTER LVIII.
A FLIGHT OF ANGEVINS.
CHAPTER LIX.
ROLAND.
CHAPTER LX.
WHAT M. DE MONSOREAU CAME TO ANNOUNCE.
CHAPTER LXI.
HOW THE KING LEARNED THE FLIGHT OF HIS BELOVED BROTHER, AND WHAT FOLLOWED.
CHAPTER LXII.
CHAPTER LXIII.
IN WHICH IT IS PROVED THAT GRATITUDE WAS ONE OF ST. LUC’S VIRTUES.
CHAPTER LXIV.
THE PROJECT OF M. DE ST. LUC.
CHAPTER LXV.
“DEAR FRIEND,
CHAPTER LXVI.
CHAPTER LXVII.
LITTLE CAUSES AND GREAT EFFECTS.
CHAPTER LXVIII.
CHAPTER LXIX.
CHAPTER LXX.
THE INCONVENIENCE OF LARGE LITTERS AND NARROW DOORS.
CHAPTER LXXI.
WHAT TEMPER THE KING WAS IN WHEN ST. LUC REAPPEARED AT THE LOUVRE.
CHAPTER LXXII.
CHAPTER LXXIII.
DIANA’S SECOND JOURNEY TO PARIS.
CHAPTER LXXIV.
“I?”
CHAPTER LXXV.
WHICH IS ONLY THE END OF THE PRECEDING ONE.
CHAPTER LXXVI.
CHAPTER LXXVII.
CHAPTER LXXVIII.
THE PRECAUTIONS OF M. DE MONSOREAU.
CHAPTER LXXIX.
A VISIT TO THE HOUSE AT LES TOURNELLES.
CHAPTER LXXX.
THE WATCHERS.
CHAPTER LXXXI.
HOW M. LE DUC D’ANJOU SIGNED, AND AFTER HAVING SIGNED, SPOKE.
“I.”
CHAPTER LXXXII.
A PROMENADE AT THE TOURNELLES.
CHAPTER LXXXIII.
IN WHICH CHICOT SLEEPS.
CHAPTER LXXXIV.
WHERE CHICOT WAKES.
CHAPTER LXXXV.
THE FÊTE DIEU.
CHAPTER LXXXVI.
WHICH WILL ELUCIDATE THE PREVIOUS CHAPTER.
CHAPTER LXXXVII.
THE PROCESSION.
CHAPTER LXXXVIII.
CHICOT THE FIRST.
“I! I!”
CHAPTER LXXXIX.
INTEREST AND CAPITAL.
CHAPTER XC.
CHAPTER XCI.
THE ASSASSINATION.
CHAPTER XCII.
CHAPTER XCIII.
CHAPTER XCIV.
THE MORNING OF THE COMBAT.
CHAPTER XCV.
THE FRIENDS OF BUSSY.
CHAPTER XCVI.
THE COMBAT.
CHAPTER XCVII.
THE END.
“DOM GORENFLOT,
THE END