It was his
worst fault that he was always tired, and through that everlasting
weariness he came to entrust the determining of most affairs to
His Eminence. Hence has it resulted that the censure for many
questionable acts of his reign, which were the work of my Lord
Cardinal, has recoiled upon my august master's head.
But to me, with all the faults that may be assigned him, he was ever
Louis the Just, and wherever his name be mentioned in my hearing, I
bare my head.
CHAPTER XIV
EAVESDROPPING
I turned it over in my mind, after I had left the King's presence,
whether or not I should visit with my own hands upon Chatellerault
the punishment he had so fully earned. That I would have gone about
the task rejoicing you may readily imagine; but there was that
accursed wager, and - to restrain me - the thought of how such an
action might be construed into an evasion of its consequences.
Better a thousand times that His Majesty should order his arrest and
deal with him for his attempted perversion of justice to the service
of his own vile ends. The charge of having abused his trust as
King's commissioner to the extent of seeking to do murder through
the channels of the Tribunal was one that could not fail to have
fatal results for him - as, indeed, the King had sworn.
That was the position of affairs as it concerned Chatellerault, the
world, and me. But the position must also be considered as it
concerned Roxalanne, and deeply, indeed, did I so consider it.
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