登陆注册
5240200000051

第51章 CHAPTER XXXVI.(2)

"Lord Hyde, the Chancellor?" exclaimed the King. "I have never seen him, and have always been desirous to make his acquaintance. The opportunity is an easy and favourable one.""But that is not all, Sire; I have other guests to meet you," said I.

"And who may they be?" inquired the King, smiling. "Just because I have come in rough-and-ready plight, your house is full of people.""But they are in rough-and-ready plight as well," I answered; "so your Majesties must mutually excuse each other.""Are you in fun or in earnest?" asked his Majesty. "Have you really got some king stowed away in one of your rooms?""Not a king, Sire, but an emperor,--the Emperor of Constantinople and Trebizond, accompanied by the Prince Imperial, his son. You shall see two Greek profiles of the best sort, two finely cut noses, albeit hooked, and almond-shaped eyes, like those of Achilles and Agamemnon."Then the King said, "Send for your groom of the chambers at once, and tell him to give orders that my incognito be strictly observed. You must introduce me to these dignitaries as your brother, M. de Vivonne. Under these conditions, I will join your party at table; otherwise, I should be obliged to leave the castle immediately."The King's wishes were promptly complied with; the footmen were let into the secret, and I introduced "Monsieur de Vivonne " to my guests.

The talk, without being sparkling, was pleasant enough until dessert.

When the men-servants left us, it assumed a very different character.

The King induced the Chancellor to converse, and asked him if his exile were owing to the English monarch personally, or to some parliamentary intrigue.

"King Charles," replied his lordship, "is a prince to gauge whose character requires long study. Apparently, he is the very soul of candour, but no one is more deceitful than he. He fawns and smiles upon you when in his heart of hearts he despises and loathe you. When the Duke of York, unfortunately, became violently enamoured of my daughter, he did not conceal his attachment from his brother, the King, and at last asked for his approval to join his fortunes to my daughter's, when the King, without offering opposition, contented himself by pointing out the relative distance between their rank and position; to which the Duke replied, 'But at one time you did everything you possibly could to get Olympia Mancini, who was merely Mazarin's niece!' And King Charles, who could not deny this, left his brother complete liberty of action.

"As my daughter was far dearer and more precious to me than social grandeur, I begged the Duke of York to find for himself a partner of exalted rank. He gave way to despair, and spoke of putting an end to his existence; in fact, he behaved as all lovers do whom passion touches to madness; so this baleful marriage took place. God is my witness that Iopposed it, urged thereto by wisdom, by modesty, and by foresight. Now, as you see, from that cruel moment I have been exiled to alien lands, robbed of the sight of my beloved child, who has been raised to the rank of a princess, and whom I shall never see again. Why did my sovereign not say to me frankly, I do not like this marriage; you must oppose it, Chancellor, to please me?

"How different was his conduct from that of his cousin, the French King!

Mademoiselle d'Orleans wanted to make an unsuitable match; the King opposed it, as he had a right to do, and the marriage did not take place."My "brother," the King, smiled as he told his lordship he was right.

Prince Comnenus was of the same opinion, and, being expressly invited to do so, he briefly recounted his adventures, and stated the object of his journey to Paris.

同类推荐
  • 西麓堂琴统摘录

    西麓堂琴统摘录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 见闻琐录

    见闻琐录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 吴江雪

    吴江雪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 丹阳记

    丹阳记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 周易集注

    周易集注

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 活成自己喜欢的样子

    活成自己喜欢的样子

    《活成自己喜欢的样子》是作者易小宛的温暖文集。从前车马慢,书信远,一生只够爱一人。如今世界匆忙,只愿你眼中有光,活成自己喜欢的样子。或许我们所期待的明天,看起来遥不可及,而我们当下的每一个小努力,似乎都不值一提。但执着的人,注定会在岁月的淘洗下,雕琢内核,茁壮筋骨,将生活磨砺出微光。
  • 千手千眼观世音菩萨治病合药经

    千手千眼观世音菩萨治病合药经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 自治官书

    自治官书

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 影月主宰

    影月主宰

    你见过声音吗?那道划破夜空中的宁静,超乎想象的身影,将天际照亮。你认识死灵术士吗?死灵术作为一门神秘而令人恐惧的学问,但这并不妨碍它成为足以与刺杀术抗衡的强大力量。一个带着dnf的暗夜使者的技能穿越,并成为尼古拉斯的唐白。他开始缔造属于他自己的传奇。
  • 魔妃狂妻

    魔妃狂妻

    嚣张!这个女人只能用嚣张至极来形容。*一场活体试验让她拥有穿越异世的能力,脚才踏出,竟然被人当作公主抬了回去,没事,她闲着无聊。没事虐虐找抽的妃嫔,闲着就去作弄作弄暴戾的太子哥哥,哦哦,还有学院里那帮欠改造的孩子,不过规则有一条,只能她玩别人,别人若敢打她主意,不好意思,请自行选择要怎么样的死法。*都说没能力的人要低调,可这个人偏偏做啥都高调!而且很嚣张!强国祭司要来巡视,皇帝要她去准备节目,结果这个女人竟然在皇城门口开起了个人演唱会,抢光了人家风头不说竟然还调戏人家!!学院里的老师拿着某个大祭司送的此时已经碎得稀巴烂的东西,在课堂上大吼:“谁弄的?”“我。”一个柔美的声音响起。“…为什么?”老头被这么坦白的学生弄得一愣。“我看它不顺眼。”依旧柔美。于是,这个嚣张的女人把学院第一老师给气进了太医院!
  • 全球美食之旅

    全球美食之旅

    清新版:唯有美食和风景不容错过,小资文。大众版:获得【全球美食之旅大抽奖】系统后,主角张枫走上了一条人人羡慕的路,多次成为《时代》年度人物,写下的旅游自传被全球六分之一的人阅读,粉丝也突破极限,达到十亿人!而且世界顶尖人物皆出高价请他规划旅游方案,各国政要都接见过这位旅游神人,获得各国和国际大奖无数。高配版:我只是喜欢走在路上的感觉,它比在原地幸福。ps:群202296639
  • 至公

    至公

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 蜜宠甜妻,老公请自重

    蜜宠甜妻,老公请自重

    苏瑾嫁给秦以墨,是蓄谋已久。秦以墨娶她为妻,是百般算计。结婚后,秦大总裁变相宠妻。奈何婆婆刁难,小三小四齐找上门,苏瑾递出离婚协议书:这日子没法过了!再相遇,秦以墨将堵在墙角,捏着她的下巴问:苏瑾,还逃吗?我以为你爱的人是我,未曾想只是你做戏一场。苏瑾,你逃不掉!——秦以墨我时常觉得,秦以墨身上有故人的味道,下意识的接近,再靠近,没想到却惹上了一头吃人不吐骨头的狼。——苏瑾
  • 斗罗大陆之苍天之神

    斗罗大陆之苍天之神

    一级神祇苍天之神,因为系统的一个任务,来到斗罗大陆,开启了他传奇般的一生。一句话,这是段小飞装逼的故事。群号:921572337
  • 飞龙执剑录

    飞龙执剑录

    沁园春凝望远山,遥望鹤归,仰望星汉。看一腔热血,两袖红尘,三尺长剑,不负流年。纵横天地,自在逍遥,哪堪生死弹指间。望山巅,虽游云密布,飞龙在天。前尘亦如诗篇,何不执笔龙蛇汗青间?观五冬六夏,七星北斗,六合八荒,一如从前。江边孤雨,陌上清云,惹得行人引流连。合书卷,仍心中莫忘,飞龙执剑。