“I shall refuse it,” said Cinq-Mars.
“We hope for nothing but the mercy of God,” added De Thou.
“Silence!” said Grandchamp, “the judges are returning.”
And the door opened again to admit the dismal procession, from which Joseph and Laubardemont were missing.
“Gentlemen,” exclaimed the good Abbe, addressing the commissioners, “I am happy to tell you that I have just arrived from Paris, and that no one doubts but that all the conspirators will be pardoned. I have had an interview at her Majesty’s apartments with Monsieur himself; and as to the Duc de Bouillon, his examination is not unfav—”
“Silence!” cried M. de Seyton, the lieutenant of the Scotch guards; and the commissioners entered and again arranged themselves in the apartment.
M. de Thou, hearing them summon the criminal recorder of the presidial of Lyons to pronounce the sentence, involuntarily launched out in one of those transports of religious joy which are never displayed but by the martyrs and saints at the approach of death; and, advancing toward this man, he exclaimed:
“Quam speciosi pedes evangelizantium pacem, evangelizantium bona!”
Then, taking the hand of Cinq-Mars, he knelt down bareheaded to receive the sentence, as was the custom. D’Effiat remained standing; and they dared not compel him to kneel. The sentence was pronounced in these words:
“The Attorney-General, prosecutor on the part of the State, on a
charge of high treason; and Messire Henri d’Effiat de Cinq-Mars,
master of the horse, aged twenty-two, and Francois Auguste de Thou,
aged thirty-five, of the King’s privy council, prisoners in the
chateau of Pierre-Encise, at Lyons, accused and defendants on the
other part:
“Considered, the special trial commenced by the aforesaid attorney-
general against the said D’Efiiat and De Thou; informations,
interrogations, confessions, denegations, and confrontations, and
authenticated copies of the treaty with Spain, it is considered in
the delegated chamber:
“That he who conspires against the person of the ministers of
princes is considered by the ancient laws and constitutions of the
emperors to be guilty of high treason; (2) that the third ordinance
of the King Louis XI renders any one liable to the punishment of
death who does not reveal a conspiracy against the State.
“The commissioners deputed by his Majesty have declared the said
D’Effiat and De Thou guilty and convicted of the crime of high
treason:
“The said D’Effiat, for the conspiracies and enterprises, league,
and treaties, formed by him with the foreigner against the State;
“And the said De Thou, for having a thorough knowledge of this
conspiracy.
“In reparation of which crimes they have deprived them of all honors
and dignities, and condemned them to be deprived of their heads on a
scaffold, which is for this purpose erected in the Place des
Terreaux, in this city.
“It is further declared that all and each of their possessions, real
and personal, be confiscated to the King, and that those which they
hold from the crown do pass immediately to it again of the aforesaid
goods, sixty thousand livres being devoted to pious uses.”