The Cat and the King by Louis Auchincloss Read Free Book Online Page A

to marry into the families of cardinals,” I replied tactfully. “In Italy it has always been a badge of honor.”
    â€œWell, at least Mazarin’s nieces were legitimate. They were not like ‘papal nieces.’ And basically I agree with you about our sovereign’s bastards. I cannot but feel how we must look to the eyes of Europe when the ‘most Christian king’ makes princes and princesses out of the issue of his adulteries.” Here, quite suddenly, he winked at me. “Charming as those princesses may be.”
    â€œLet us concede that one of them at least is the most charming woman in France,” I said with a bow to acknowledge his liaison. “Excepting of course our spouses.”
    â€œExcepting them, of course. But has it never occurred to you, my friend, that the whole business may be a scheme? Not just the elevation of the bastards, but all the games we play here at court?”
    â€œGames?”
    â€œWell, take this question of the alms bag. You think you’re defending an important right of the dukes, do you not?”
    â€œOnly because it’s a question of persistent encroachment. The particular issue must always seem trivial. But each bit of territory lost is lost forever.”
    â€œAh, but is there any territory really left? Isn’t
that
the basic question? Isn’t the fuss over the alms bag really designed to make
both
the Lorrainers and the dukes think they have something to fight over?”
    I stared. “You mean the king
designed
it that way?”
    He laughed. “Oh, I don’t say he’s that clever. It’s simply the way the system works. It keeps us all here, chained up in this great gilded palace, like children playing with dolls.”
    â€œYou mean our cause is lost? Hopelessly lost? Is that what you’re trying to tell me?”
    â€œLet’s put it that I merely face the possibility.”
    â€œSo there’s no point in my offering the smallest resistance? Let the king satisfy his bastards with other peoples’ honors?”
    â€œThey will find he is playing the same game with them that he has with others. He takes a privilege; he yields a bauble.”
    â€œAnd what will be the end of it all?”
    â€œAn absolute monarch looming grimly through a cloud of butterflies. Lovely butterflies!” Conti laughed as he flicked the lace on his cuffs. “Or has it happened already?”
    I was desperate. Images rushed through my mind. I thought of my father’s wise, sad countenance. I remembered his story of how the saintly Louis XIII had rallied our forces against the Spanish invaders when even his iron cardinal had crumpled in panic. I saw our cavalry at Neerwinden. I saw the writhing, the dying. I turned now to face the mocking despair in Conti’s eyes.
    â€œI said that every issue had to be trivial!” I cried. “It’s not so. There
is
one great one before us. Will you stand by and allow your cousin Chartres to be married to Mademoiselle de Blois? Will you see a grandson of France wed to the king’s bantling?”
    â€œMy dear fellow, what can I do?”
    â€œYou can talk to Chartres. I’ll go with you. He looks up to you. He admires you greatly. Oh, he’s told me so! We can stiffen him!”
    Conti seemed to consider this. A shadow passed across his face. “Poor Chartres, he doesn’t deserve it. He’s really a fine young fellow, you know. People don’t understand him, because he’s shy and blunt. Well, what can we lose?” He shrugged his shoulders. “The king hates me, anyway.”
    â€œBecause you showed up what a coward Maine is!”
    â€œPerhaps just a bit, by contrast. But who wouldn’t be a hero compared to poor Maine?” Here he burst into his high laugh. “But I never intended it, so help me!”
    I returned stubbornly to my point. “Will you go with me and talk to Chartres?”
    â€œYou really