THE SKETCHER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2813, 12 February 1908, Page 78

THE SKETCHER.

UNDER THE RED ROBE.*

Reading this biography of that curious figure in the days of Louis XIV — known au "La Grande- Mademoiselle" — I have been struck with a sense of the extraordinary romance of the period when France was nulcd by Grim Cardinal Richelieu. Every novel-reader and playgoer knows what fine material for romance Mr Stanley Weyman has found in the annals of uhat epoch ; it is only when one read 6 the real story that one begins, to realise how rich the material is in that period for every kind of dramatic and even melodramatic situation. Cardinal Biehel^ni was born in the year 1585, and died in the year 1642 ; it is, after all, not so very long ago, and yet when I find myself suiaying the acts and manners of fbe time it s^eiiis as remote as the ages when Richard Cceur de Lion went to the Crusades, and Europe still thought the ijuesT. of the Holy Sepulchre the chief duty of tiie warrior and the Christian. Or shall I say that Ihsse pages from the comparatively modern period of France seem as if they had been torn from the volume cf Cervantes in which he drew the pictures of the dying and' grotesque chivalry of mediaeval Spain? Throughout, the whole story— far more interesting than, more central figures in the book — the figure of

— The Great and Grim Cardinal — raises itself. Here, indeed, is one of the supreme figures of 'history, as great almost in his way and according to his means as Napoleon of a succeeding epoch, as Bismarik in our own, day. In reading again the story of his life amd adventures, I feel as if I were reading all the history of a court, for, after all, it was his misfortune and <his everlasting obstacle and peril — as later on it was of Bismarck — tliat in order to have the T>ower of carrying out his gigantic and magnificent policy of creating a new France Richelieu had ail ways to act through such a medium as a King like Louis XIII, and such a court as. that of the Paris of his times. The spectral and insignificant figure — Louis — is one of those enigmas of history, halt man, half woman, melancholy, yet fond of buffoonery, capricious, timid, and yet always in the end standing by th« Minister he hated, through either fear oi admiration ; he was a strange and it might even be eaid a terrible master for siren a genius as Richelieu to have to serve And one is almost driven sometimes io sympathy with Richelieu — in spite of his cruelty, his vindictiveness, his want of all scruple when he had a great political or personal purpose to serve — through the feeling that all his glory, his power, and his patriotic purpose was foiled by this effeminate King and all the wretched creatures which gather around — men little better than magpies ; women gossipy, envious, spiteful, intriguing for unworthy love or sordid mercenary prizes in the treasury of the kingdom. But again, one is reminded that Richelieu had other enemies besides these, and that sometimes a conflict with him brings one into touch with that old world of melodramatic possibilities, the atmosphere of which this story of his times gives forth at every turn. Take, for instance, the case of Madame de Ohevreuse. This lady — one of the most characteristic figures of the epoch— was a. Rohan — that is to say, a member of one of the most exalted families in France — had the head of a rebellious demon and the face of an angel ; she loved political intrigue so thoroughly that she was always ready to risk either her own of her friends' heads rather than abandon it. She became involved in one of the many conspiracies which had been formed to drive Richelieu from his (supreme position as First Minister of the King. Richelieu got rid of many of his enemies, and seemed to be satisfied ; but Madame de Chevreuse would not trust him. and then began one of — The Strangest Adventures Recorded Even in Those Romantic Times. — The story is worth telling as a revelation of -manners and customs as dead as Noah's Ark. Her friends had promised to send her a signal from Paris to the provinces "a'here she was living to tell her what the intentions of Richelieu were ; a Book of Hours was to come to her ; if bound in green it would wean safety ; if bound si red danger. It came bound in screen, but she 'was, so frightened and flurried t.hat she forgot about the prearranged Gignal. and piepa-red for flight. She determined on immediate flight into Spain, dressed herself up as a man, her li-cad bound up so thai she might paes for a gentleman who had -just been wounded in a duel — RicJielieu had prohibited duelling, and when two noblemen disobeyed his decree calmly cut off their heads. After she had ridden, for some hours without restyOr food, she found herself, close to the ' Castle of Marcillac, one of the noblemen who sighed at her feet ; sent him a letter, in which she spoke of herself as a gentleman, who had just killed another in a duel, and was in flijrlit from the vengeance of the Cardinal ; and begged the loan of a coach and a driver to guide her. The coach was sent, and the guide, whe found 'himself confronted by what he took to be a young gentleman who was dressed in black and had a fair wig; and the young gentleman jumped into the coach, apparently tired to death, and urged on horse and driver — ever going southward.

At 3 o'clock the next morning they founA themselves close to another chateau mhi^ted by a- family some Tnwnbers »f which the Duchess knew. M. Malbasty, the o"smer of the chateau, ssnl the eoaoh back, cave Lbe flying youth a lioras, off the two stai'ted, passing league after league, and fir.-din.or as many adventures on i-he roadside as that time could supply. The young geiitlema.n appeared to his companion singularly fastidious for a robust

*"A Princess of -'he Old WorM." By Eleanor C. Pfie«. (M«tbuan-*

youth. At one roadside inn the lad 1 refused to. go inside the somewhat filthy house, rejected with horror a smoking dish of roast goose, and preferred throwing himself on a heap of straw in a barn. And then came a scene, which Teally is almost like a pa.ge from the veracious history of Rosalind in the Forest of Arden : — A worthy woman of the village, paEsing by the open barn doors and seeing him there, cried out in pity and admiration, "That's the handsomest boy I ever saw.' I'm sorry for you, sir. Won't you come and rest at my house?" The traveller thanked her in a low, hoarse voice, but declined to move. The, good creature hurried home and canie back with half-a-dozen fresh eggs, which weTe gratefully accepted.

I had better let the pleasant writer of this volume finish the story after this point ; she tells it so well that it is impossible to improve upon it : — At the end of the first day Malbasty begged his mysterious chaTge to tell him his name. The unknown answered that he was the Due d'Engheim, obliged to leave France for a secret Teason. Whether Malbasty- believed | this, or whethei he was reassured by finding himself mixed am in the mad doings of a Prince of the blood, the story does not say. But a.t bhe end of the second day, when Malbasty was to return home, the Duchess suddenly and frankly declared herself, and told him she was escaping for political reasons, but without any ill-will against the King or the Cardinal. Malbasty was extremely distressed ; her charm never failed with man, or woman, grandee, single gesnt'eman, or lackey. He begged lier not to go on, pointing out the many dangers of the road, She would 'ose herself in the marshy, almost pathless lands, or among the rocks and forests and torrents, the wild, high valleys of / the Pyrenees. She would meet with robbers,\ bears, wolves, lynxes, and she had only one man to defend! her. There had already been a foretaste of adventures. She had turned off the road to avoid the Marquis d'Antin and a troop of horse. She had been accosted by a mysterious gentleman dressed in red, -who approached her with many bows, was angrily waved away, but dogged her steps as far as the next inn. Madame de Chevreuse would listen to no warnings. She entrusted Malbasty with a letter for her old friend the Archbishop,: and then, ever gay and courageous, she "rode on her way, attended by Potet, the trusty guide MaTcillac had sent her. She crossed the Pyrenees, a wild and dangerous ride, even at that time of the year. With every fresh league of distance from Paris, her spirits rose and her fears lessened. The women she met fell in love with her; the. men 'helped her on her way. In a certain valley, close to the Spanish frontier, she met a gentleman who was on guard tliere, and who might have detained her in the very sight of safety. He had seen her in Paris, and he told the handsome traveller that, but for his dress, he would have sworn Madame de Chevreuse was riding by. 'She answered him gaily that, being a near relation of the Duchees. the likeness was not to be marvelled at. They parted with all kinds of courtesies, and half an hour later her dangers were over for the time; she was safe on Spanish soil, where a friend of the Queen, an enemy of Richelieu, the most famous beauty of her day, was sure of welcome. No soonet had she reached the frontier than she wrote to the friendly gentleman on guard among the mountains, told him that he had not been mistaken, for she was indeed Madame de Chevreuse. thanked him for his "extraordinary civility," and begged him to send her a supply of clothes suitable to her sex 'and condition "avant de passer outre." So ended the famous ride which was v the great subject of talk in that day. and which has been the foundation of many romances. ' — Cinq Mars. — But, after all, the figure that fascinates you most in this gallery of strange, whimsical, old-world portraits is that of the great Cardinal himself. Of the many plots made against him, the one which has attracted the attention of posterity is that in which Cinq Mars is the leading figure. Henri d'Eff as Marquis de Ginq Mars was but 18 3'ears of age when he attracted the attention o£ Richelieu ; he was handsome, brave, lively, popular with men, fatal to the peace of v. omen's hearts : just the ideal and embodiment of the chivalrous voting; aristocrat of his time. Richeiieu had intended when he introduced the fascinating youth to the King — who alivavs had a number of both male and female favourites — that Cinq Mars ehould bo one of the large army of spies whose reports kept him guarded against the attacks of his innumerable enemies, and sometimes enabled him to collect the evidence which sent these enemies to the cell or the scaffold. The advancement of Cino Mars at court -ras rapid : from the Master of the Wardrobe he advanced to the position of Grand Equerry ; his head was turned : he dreamed of being a Constable of France — perhaps even of being First Minister. And then he began to Plot against Richelieu : and. of course, Richelieu soon lenrned the truth. He had a tongaie that could burn, and his outspoken reproofs to the boy he had heh>ed tc make did not improve matters. Cinq Mars, learning from these thin, fierce lips that he had been recommended as a 6py, resolved there and then to have vengeance ; he found plenty of others ready tf> enter into the plot again&t the hated Minister, and e&pacially in the court itself. Gaston d'Orleans— who always hated Richelieu, aiwl at once encouraged and betrayed everr conspirator — ha had already seen more tlnn one taken to the block or. his confession — was among the first to enter the plot ; ev«£ the; King

was supposed to be the tacit chief of fcfifc cabal against the Minister he feared and! obeyed ; and young Cinq Mars was justified in thinking that he had everybody on his side, and that the Cardinal could be» beaten and ruined. And in his infatuation Cinq Mars signed a treaty with Spscja t which was high treason to Franco. And then, of course, the- whole house of cards fell to the ground. His spies brought Richelieu the treaty? the great Cardinal was ill— indeed, wa6 within. sL few months of his death— and his yeHowy jaundiced complexion, his sunken cheeks, Ins lustreless eyes, spoke elocpoently of the fever of disease that was consuming: him. But the sick lion was still as fierce, vigilant, prompt, relentless as ever.At once he pounced; Gaston, like the poltroon he was, at once blabbed; them others followed hi* example; finally the> King gave up his weak defence of his favourite, and Cinq Mars and hie chief associate— Francois de Thoa— were surrendered to Richelieu.

The novelist, and still more the painter, have celebrated the strange, weird, appaJling scenes in which ibis tragedy culminated. And. first in grim interest and! terror among these scenes stands the last; great journey of (the dying, but still omnipotent and still vindictive Minister:

He was at this time seriansly ill, and had only a few mouths to live. It was

impossible for him to travel in any ordinary way, and when, he set out on his last long journey, a royal progress in •its dignity, from the south back to Paris, lie was carried by 24 nen ia an enormous litter made of wood and lined with crimson and gold. In this travelling-house there was Tootn for a. table and chair, besides the "magnificent bed" where the dying Cardinal lay : thus he gave audiences, or dictated to his secretary as. he- xns carried along. He was attended by a. snite of nobles, cardinalistes, and by a large escort of troops. Men went before conreying loads of planks, with which they- made an inclined way for carrying the litter into any house where his Eminence chose to stay. Gates of towns, not to mention doors and windows of houses, were generally far too small to admit the great structure ; in this case walls were pulled down to make the required entrance. It was out of the question that the Cardinal should be moved, shaken, or disturbed ia any way. He made all the first part of his journey by water, 'his travelling litter- being placed on board a gorgeous barge to be rowed up the Rhone, while the escort accompanied him, riding, on each bank of the river. On a smaller barge, following hi* own, his jovcas enemies wore toured to their trial at Lyons. It naff a dramatic and barbarous episode. ' The Cardinal's cruel arrogance, in maxing this public boaet of his triumph, made a great impression on society.

As a matter of fact, I believe there is a certain historical inaccuracy in the account of this tragic journey. M. de Thon was tli© only one of RkhelieH's enemies who was in the boat towed by 'his own splendid galley ; Cinq Mars did not arrive in Lyons till a few day* after Richelieu.. But 'Richelieu saw the two young conspirators executed before he left, and then, with a satisfied sigh, he resumed his journey to Paris, gave a wan smile of satisfaction when he saw himself once more in the familiar surroundings and with «Jl the proofs and symbols around him of fri* Btill 1 unbroken power, and, -»on after, died. Is there anything to econcile one to the spectacle of

— This Tiger-man? — How can you find in him anything which corresponds to the ordinary, th© normal, the 'human man, divided even in. his worst hours between hatred the most' bitter and the human heart's rnetinctive vacillations towards pity? Even Bichelieu was not all strength; his armour had its vulnerable and Qenetrable p*>int. And, of course, as with so many other strong men, it is woman who finds out his weak place, and takes foil advantage of it with that laugh of feminine triumph which seems to make such strange discord amid that world awed to silence and terror through which all the men of Richelieu's time seemed to steal. Anne of Austria, the wife of Louis XIU, is one of the Queens who turned ' a number of men's heads, and often allowed herself to bo swept along the tide of passion until she forgot her honour, her great dignity, her exalted station or a great throne. Our own Buckingham, the favourite of James I; afterwards that sly, cunning, avaricious, mighty Italian, Cardinal Mazarin, wh< ruled almost as omnipotently as Richelieu himself— and also Richelieu— were among those who adored her. But Richelieu was not one of the successful admirers. This is the story as told by the Comte de Brienne, one of the chroniclers of the times : — Ona day ... the Queen and a. friend of hers were talking together and 1 , laughing at the Cardinal. "He is passionately in love, madame," said the confidante. "There is nothing he would not do to please your Majesty. Shall I send him to you, some evening, dressed en baladin? Shall I make him 'dance a saraband? Would you like, it? He would come." "What nonsense!" said the Queen. But she was young, gay, and lively; the idea was diverting. She took tho lady at her word, and allowed her to go to the Cardinal. He accepted the singulai -rendezvous, • and came at the appointed time. Boccau, the famous violin-player, had oeen engaged, and sworn to seeifecy ; but- are; such secrets ever kept? The Queen, her friend, the musician, atfd two gentlemen were hidden behind a screen ; yetf nut so carefully that they could notl enjoy the spectacle. Richelieu was „. dre.sse<?. in green velvet ; he had silver belts at his knees and castanets in hia hands ; he 'danced the saraband to Boccau's music. The spectators laughed! till they. could laugh no more. "After. 50 years*" says the Comte de Brienue, "I lftugb/ myself when I think of itf*

But the Eminence rouge was a dangerous plaything ; his follies were froth on the surface, and the Queen's worst experience of his power was yet to come. Is it not a delightful picture, Richelieu in the role of Malvolio, and hiiman, after all— demigod, fop. grim and blocdy head man, and screaming and farcical buffoon? So does strangß cunning, unaccountable, capricious, and ironic Nature compound humanity of opposite and irreconcilable ingredients !— T.P.'s Weekly. I