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the object of his pursuit。 It had been lately whispered in the court that the
king had seen and fallen in love with his mistress's younger sister； Susette
d'Entragues； whose home at Malesherbes lay but three leagues from
Fontainebleau； on the edge of the forest。 This placed the king's
imprudence in a stronger light； for he had scarcely in France a more
dangerous enemy than her brother Auvergne； nor had the immense sums
which he had settled on the elder sister satisfied the mean avarice or
conciliated the brutish hostility of her father。
Apprised of all this； I saw that Father Cotton had desired to
communicate it to me。 But his motive I found it less easy to divine。 It
might have been a wish to balk this new passion through my interference；
and at the same time to expose me to the risk of his Majesty's anger。 Or it
might simply have been a desire to avert danger from the king's person。 At
any rate； constant to my rule of ever preferring my master's interest to his
favour； I sent for Maignan； my equerry； and bade him have an equipage
ready at dawn。
Accordingly at that hour next morning； attended only by La Trape；
with a groom； a page； and four Swiss； I started； giving out that I was
bound for Sully to inspect that demesne； which had formerly been the
property of my family； and of which the refusal had just been offered to
me。 Under cover of this destination I was enabled to reach La Ferte Alais
unsuspected。 There； pretending that the motion of the coach fatigued me； I
mounted the led horse； without which I never travelled； and bidding La
Trape accompany me； gave orders to the others to follow at their leisure to
Pethiviers； where I proposed to stay the night。
La Ferte Alais； on the borders of the forest； is some five leagues
westward of Fontainebleau； and as far north of Malesherbes； with which
last it is connected by a highroad。 Having disclosed my intentions to La
Trape； however； I presently left this road and struck into a path which
promised to conduct us in the right direction。 But the denseness of the
undergrowth； and the huge piles of gray rocks which lie everywhere
strewn about the forest； made it difficult to keep for any time in a straight
line。 After being two hours in the saddle we concluded that we had lost our
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way； and were confirmed in this on reaching a clearing； and seeing before
us a small inn； which La Trape recognised as standing about a league and
a half on the forest side of Malesherbes。
We still had ample time to reach Fontainebleau by nightfall； but before
proceeding it was absolutely necessary that our horses should have rest。
Dismounting； therefore； I bade La Trape see the sorrel well baited。
Observing that the inn was a poor place； and no one coming to wait upon
me； I entered it of my own motion； and found myself at once in a large
room better furnished with company than accommodation。 Three men；
who had the appearance of such reckless swaggering blades as are
generally to be found drinking in the inns on the outskirts of Paris； and
who come not unfrequently to their ends at Montfaucon； were tippling and
playing cards at a table near the door。 They looked up sullenly at my
entrance； but refrained from saluting me； which； as I was plainly dressed
and much stained by travel； was in some degree pardonable。 By the fire；
partaking of a coarse meal； was a fourth man of so singular an appearance
that I must needs describe him。 He was of great height and extreme
leanness。 His face matched his form； for it was long and thin； terminating
in a small peaked beard which； like his hair and mustachios； was as white
as snow。 With all this； his eyes glowed with much of the fire of youth； and
his brown complexion and sinewy hands seemed still to indicate robust
health。 He was dressed in garments which had once been fashionable； but
now bore marks of long and rough usage； and I remarked that the point of
his sword； which； as he sat； trailed on the stones behind him； had worn its
way through the scabbard。 Notwithstanding these signs of poverty； he
saluted me with the ease and politeness of a gentleman； and bade me with
much courtesy to share his table and the fire。 Accordingly I drew up； and
called for a bottle of the best wine； being minded to divert myself with
him。
I was little prepared； however； for the turn his conversation took； and
the furious tirade into which he presently broke； the object of which
proved to be no other than myself！ I do not know that I have ever cut so
whimsical a figure as while hearing my name loaded with reproaches； but；
being certain that he did not know me； I waited patiently； and soon learned
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both who he was； and the grievance which he was on his way to lay before
the king。 His name was Boisrose； and he had been the leader in that gallant
capture of Fecamp； which took place while I was in Normandy as the
king's representative。 His grievance was that； notwithstanding promises in
my letters； he had been deprived of the government of the place。
〃He leads the king by the ear！〃 he declaimed loudly； in an accent
which marked him for a Gascon。 〃That villain of a De Rosny！ But I will
show him up！ I will trounce him！〃 With that he drew the hilt of his long
rapier to the front with a gesture so truculent that the three bullies； who
had stopped to laugh at him； resumed their game in disorder。
Notwithstanding his hatred for me； I was pleased to meet with a man
of so singular a temper； whom I also knew to be truly courageous； and I
was willing to amuse myself further with him。 〃But；〃 I said； modestly； 〃I
have had some affairs with M。 de Rosny； and I have never found him cheat
me。〃
〃Do not deceive yourself！〃 he roared； slapping the table。 〃He is a
rascal！〃
〃Yet；〃 I ventured to reply； 〃I have heard that in many respects he is not
a bad minister。〃
〃He is a villain！〃 he repeated； so loudly as to drown what I would have
added。 〃Do not tell me otherwise。 But rest assured！ be happy； sir！ I will
make the king see him in his true colours！ Rest content； sir！ I will trounce
him！ He has to do with Armand de Boisrose！〃
Seeing that he was not open to argument；for； indeed； being opposed；
he grew exceedingly warm；I asked him by what channel he intended to
approach the king； and learned that here he felt a difficulty； since he had
neither a friend at court nor money to buy one。 Being assured that he was
an honest fellow； and knowing that the narrative of our rencontre and its
sequel would vastly amuse his Majesty； who loved a jest of this kind； I
advised Boisrose to go boldly to the king； which； thanking me as profusely
as he had before reproached me； he agreed to do。 With that I rose to
depart。
At the last moment it occurred to me to try upon him the shibboleth
which in Father Cotton's mouth had so mystified me。
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〃This fire burns brightly；〃 I said； kicking the logs together with my
riding…boot。 〃It must be of boxwood。〃
〃Of what； sir？〃 quoth he； politely。
〃Of boxwood； to be sure；〃 I replied； in a louder tone。
〃My certes！〃 he exclaimed。 〃They do not burn boxwood in this
country。 Those are larch trimmingsneither more nor less！〃
While he wondered at my ignorance； I was pleased to discover his； and
so far I had lost my pains。 But it did not escape me that the three
gamesters had ceased to play and were listening intently to our
conversation。 Moreover； as I moved to the door； they followed me with
their eyes； and when I turned； after riding a hundred yards； I found that
they had come to the door and were still gazing after us。
This prevented me at once remarking