Chapter 16 Chapter Fourteen The Man in Merne Town

There were so many people there, not waiting to see a man who was about to be hanged, but to see a man who had already been hanged. The car stopped for a moment and started again, passed through the crowd, continued on its way, drove straight through the Rue Saint-Honoré, rounded the Rue Good Boy, and stopped in front of a low gate. The door opened and the two police officers opened their arms to catch Bonacier as the officer helped him out of the car.They wheeled him up a path, up a flight of steps, and finally left him in a vestibule. He completed this series of movements like a machine.

He walked as if he was sleepwalking, everything in front of him seemed to be shrouded in fog, and he couldn't distinguish the sounds from various sounds; if he was executed at this time, he would not take any action of self-defense, no Any cry for mercy will be uttered. He just sat on the bench like this, with his back against the wall, his hands hanging down, and the police kept sitting there wherever he was placed. However, looking around, he saw nothing threatening, nothing that suggested he was in actual danger, the bench was decently upholstered, the walls were covered with beautiful cordo The windows were covered with tiles and leather, and wide curtains of red brocade hung in front of the windows, fastened with golden ribbons on both sides.Then, gradually, he realized that his fear was too much, and his head began to move up and down, side to side.

No one prevented him from doing this, and as he grew bolder, he tried to bring one leg together, then the other, and finally, with the help of both hands, stood up from the bench, his body stood on two feet. At this moment, a good-looking officer raised a door curtain, and while continuing to talk to a person in the next room, turning to the prisoner, he asked: Is that you the one named Bonasseur? Yes, sir, replied the half-dead dresser, and I do my bidding. Come in.said the officer. The officer stepped aside to let the clothing dealer in.Without saying a word, the clothing supplier obediently entered the room, where someone seemed to be waiting for him.

This is a large office, the walls are decorated with offensive and self-defense weapons, the doors and windows are closed, the ventilation is poor, and the fire has already been lit at the end of September.A square table in the center of the room was piled with books and documents, and a large map of La Rochelle was spread out on it. A man of medium build stood in front of the fireplace.This man had a haughty and ferocious expression, sharp eyes, broad forehead, two mustaches around his mouth, and a short mustache under his lips, which made his thin face look elongated.Although he was only thirty-six or seventeen years old, his hair and mustache were already grizzled. He didn't wear a sword, but he looked like a soldier. His cowhide riding boots were slightly dusty, which showed that he had ridden a horse during the day.

This man is Cardinal Armand of Richelieu Jean Duplesy.He was not, as we are described to us, stooped like an old man, sickly like a victim, senile, voiced, huddled all day in a big armchair, as though alive in the grave, The strength of his genius is still alive, thanks to his incessant anxiety and anxiety in dealing with Europe.In fact, he was a completely different person at that time, that is, a nimble and romantic knight. One of the characters, who once assisted the Duke of Nevers in the territory of Mandu, conquered Nimes, Gast and Usses successively, and is now preparing to drive the British out of the Isle of Ray and besiege the city of La Rochelle.

At first glance, there was nothing to suggest that he was a cardinal.Therefore, people who don't know his appearance have no idea who the person in front of them is. The haberdasher stands pitifully at the door, and the character we have just described keeps his eyes fixed on him, as if trying to see through his past. Is this the same Bonasseur?he asked after a moment of silence. Exactly, my lord.The officer replied. All right, give me those papers and let me stay here with him. The officer took the document on the table he was referring to, handed it to the person who asked for it, bowed deeply to the ground, and then backed out.

Bonacieur recognized the documents as records of his interrogation in the Bastille.From time to time the man in front of the fire raised his eyes from the papers, and their piercing eyes pierced the poor haberdasher's heart like two daggers. After reading the document for ten minutes and analyzing it for ten seconds, the cardinal had already made up his mind. This brain has never conspired, he said to himself, but it doesn't matter, just ask. You are charged with treason.The cardinal said slowly. They have told me so, my lord.Bonacieur exclaimed that he had just heard the name of his interrogator from the officer, but I swear to you I don't know anything.

The cardinal suppressed the smile that had crept across his face. You have conspired with your wife, Mrs Chevreuse, and the Duke of Buckingham. My lord, replied the dresser, I have indeed heard her speak of those names. On what occasion? She had said that Cardinal Richelieu had lured the Duke of Buckingham to Paris with the intention of framing him, and the queen with him. She said such a thing?asked the cardinal loudly and exasperatedly. Yes, my lord, but I told her it was wrong for her to say such things, the Cardinal could not Shut up, you're an idiot.said the cardinal. That is exactly what my wife answered me, my lord.

Do you know who kidnapped your wife? I don't know, my lord. But you have some doubts, right? Yes, my lord, but these doubts displeased Mr Warden, so I have none now. Your wife ran away, you know that? I don't know, my lord.I only found out after I entered the jail, or the jailer told me, he is really an amiable person! The cardinal suppressed the smile that had crept across his face again. So, you don't know what happened after your wife ran away? Not at all, my lord, but she may be back at the Louvre. At one o'clock in the morning she had not returned to the palace.

ah!God!So what happened to her? I'll find out, don't worry, nothing can be hidden from the cardinal; the cardinal knows everything. In that case, my lord, do you think the Church of the Cardinal would like to tell me about my wife? Maybe.First, however, you should be completely frank about your wife's relationship with Mrs. Scheverus. But, my lord, I know nothing, I have never seen Mrs. Scheverus. Every time you pick up your wife from the Louvre, does she go straight home? Almost never directly home, she deals with some cloth merchants and I always send her to their house.

How many cloth merchants are there? Two, my lord. where do they live One lived in the Rue Vaugirard, the other in the Rue Harp. Did you go into their house with your wife? Never, my lord, I was always waiting for her at the door. What excuse does she use to always go in alone? She didn't make any excuses, she just told me to wait, and I waited. You are a very submissive husband, my dear Monsieur Bonacieur. He called me dear sir!The clothing store said to himself, success!Things have turned around. Do you recognize the doors of those two houses? recognize. Do you know the house number? Know. What number is it? 25 Rue Vaugirard, 75 Rue Harp. good.said the cardinal. After finishing speaking, he picked up a silver bell and rang it, and the officer heard the sound and came in. Get me Rochefort.whispered the cardinal, telling him to come at once, if he came back. The count was just outside the door, said the officer, and he was anxious to report something to your lordship. Report to Your Excellency!Bonacieur murmured that he knew people generally called His Excellency the Cardinal, to report to His Excellency! Then call him in, call him in!Richelieu said quickly. The officer ran out of the office as quickly as all the servants around the cardinal had heard his orders. Report to Your Excellency!Bonasseur rolled his eyeballs in a daze, and said to himself. Within five seconds of the officer leaving, the door opened and another person came in. It was him.Bonasseur cried. Who are you referring to?asked the cardinal. The man who kidnapped my wife. The cardinal rang the bell a second time, and the officer entered again. Hand this man over to two policemen and let him wait for me to pass him on. No, my lord!No, not him!Bonasseur exclaimed, I have misunderstood the man.It was someone else, not at all like him!This gentleman is a decent man. Take this fool down!said the cardinal. The officer seized Bonasseur and carried him back to the vestibule, where he was handed over to the two policemen who remained there. The newcomer watched Bonasseur out impatiently, and as soon as the door closed behind him, he hurried up to the cardinal and said: They have met. who?asked the cardinal. She and him. Queen and Duke?Richelieu asked loudly. Exactly. where? Louvre. You can be sure. Absolutely. who told you Mrs. Ranoir.She is completely loyal to Your Excellency, as you know. Why didn't she say it earlier? Whether by chance or on guard, the queen put Lady Farge to sleep in her room, and kept her all day. Well, we've lost another battle, and we've got to find some way to get our revenge. I will do my best to serve you, please rest assured, my lord. How did things go? At half past twelve, the queen is with her maids where? in her bedroom Um. At this time, someone handed the queen a handkerchief brought in by the maid in charge of underwear. and after? The queen was very excited at once, and her face was quite pale in spite of the rouge. and after?and after? At this time, the queen stood up and said in a changed voice: Ladies, please wait for me for ten minutes, and I will be back.After that, she pushed open the door next to the couch and went out. Why didn't Madame de la Noir come to report to you immediately? Nothing was certain at that time, and besides, the Queen said: Ladies, please wait for me.She dare not disobey the queen. How long did the Queen stay after she left her bedroom? Three quarters of an hour. None of those maids accompanied her out? Only Lady Estefania. Has the Queen ever returned? When I came back, I took a small fragrant wood box with her initials on it, and I went out immediately after taking it. When she came back later, did she bring this box with her? No. Does Madame de la Noir know what's in that box? Know: It contains a diamond pendant from His Majesty the King to the Queen. Didn't the queen come back with the casket? No. Madame de la Noir thought she was delivered to Buckingham? She sure is. How can it be so? Madame de la Noir, as a maid by the queen's side, looked for the box during the day, but couldn't find it. She seemed very disturbed, and finally asked the queen why the box was missing. So, Queen? The queen, very flushed, replied that a diamond had been broken the night before, and had been taken to a goldsmith's to be repaired. Should go to the jeweler's house and find out if the thing is real or not. I've been there. So what do jewelers say? He hadn't heard of it at all. good!good!Rochefort, who hasn't lost everything yet, may perhaps be in the best position now. In fact, I believe in Your Excellency's ingenuity Redeemed for the stupidity of his spies, couldn't he? That's exactly what I'm going to say, if Your Excellency will let me finish. Do you know where the Countess of Chevreuse and the Duke of Buckingham are hiding now? No, my lord, none of my men have told me anything definite about it. I do know. Sir, do you know? Yes, at least I guessed it: one of them was hiding at 25 Rue Vaugirard, the other at 75 Rue de la Harp. Your Excellency wants me to arrest them? It's too late, they're gone. In any case, you can always find out whether you have left or not. Choose ten of my guards and search the two houses. Rochefort ran out immediately. The cardinal thought for a moment alone, and rang the silver bell for the third time. It was the officer who heard the sound and came in. Bring in the prisoner.said the cardinal. M. Bonasseur was brought in again.With a wave from the cardinal, the officer stepped back. you cheated me.said the cardinal sternly. I, said Bonacieur, I have deceived your Excellency! Your wife goes to the Rue Vaugirard and the Rue de la Harpe, not to the cloth merchants. Then to whom is she, just God! She is home to the Countess of Upper Chevreuse and the Duke of Buckingham. Oh, Bonnacer remembered the past, oh yes.Your Excellency is right.I have told my wife several times that it is so strange that the draper lives in such a house without even a signboard. Every time my wife hears it, she always laughs.ah!My lord, Bonacieur said, kneeling before your honor with a plop, ah!You are the cardinal, the great cardinal, the genius admired by all peoples! Even though he had won a small victory over a commoner like Bonasseur, the cardinal was still beaming for a moment.Almost at once, however, a new idea seemed to flash through his mind, and with a slight grin he held out his hand to the dresser and said: Rise up, my friend, you are a man of integrity. The Cardinal touched my hand!I touched the hand of this great man!Bonasseur said with emotion, this great man calls me friend! Yes friend, yes!The cardinal spoke in a fatherly tone; he was good at speaking in that tone on certain occasions, but only those who did not know him were deceived by it.Suspecting you is wronging you, um, you should be compensated.Hello!There is a hundred pistoles in this purse, take it, and please forgive me. Please forgive me, my lord!Bonaser said that he was a little hesitant, afraid to accept the money bag, worried that this so-called reward would make him happy.In fact, you can arrest me, torture me, hang me if you want, because you are the master and I have nothing to say.Forgive you, my lord!If not, this will kill me! ah!Dear Monsieur Bonasseur!I see how generous you are, thank you very much.Wouldn't you be unhappy to let you take this pocket of money and leave like this? I shall go away gladly, my lord. So parted, or rather goodbye, because I hope we will meet some time later. That doesn't follow the wishes of the adults, the villains obey all orders. We'll see each other often, don't worry, because I've had a lot of fun talking to you. ah!grown ups! Good-bye, Monsieur Bonasseur, good-bye. The cardinal waved to Bonacieur, who responded with a bow and withdrew.As soon as he was back in the vestibule, the cardinal heard him exclaiming at the top of his voice, "Long live my lord!"Long live your lord, long live the great cardinal!The cardinal smiled at this splendid expression of M. Bonacier's affection, until Bonacier's shouts disappeared in the distance. good.He said to himself, from now on there will be another person willing to work hard for me. The cardinal began to devote himself to studying the map of La Rochelle.As we mentioned earlier, this map was spread out on his desk, and he drew a line on the map with a pencil. Eighteen months later, a long embankment will be built according to this line, and the blockade is besieged. The port city of La Rochelle. He was immersed in strategic thinking when the door opened again and Rochefort came in again. How about it?The cardinal quickly raised his head and asked hastily.It showed how seriously he attached the task to which the count had been entrusted. Yes, replied Rochefort, a woman of twenty-six to twenty-eight years of age and a man of thirty-five to forty years of age lived in the two houses your Excellency pointed out, and the other lived for four days, The other stayed for five days. The woman left last night, and the man left this morning. It is them!The cardinal glanced at the clock on the wall and said, it was too late to catch up now: the countess had arrived in Tours, and the duke had arrived in Blaunay.To find them you have to go to London. What are your orders? Keep silent about what has happened; keep the Queen absolutely safe, and let her know that we have learned her secrets; let her think that we are pursuing a common conspiracy; send the Lord Seal to me. What happened to that man, Your Excellency? who?asked the cardinal. That Bonasseur. I have arranged as best I can to install him as a spy beside his wife. Rochefort admitted that the master's methods were powerful and that he was far behind, so he bowed and retreated. After there was only one person left, the cardinal sat down again, picked up a pen to revise a letter, stamped his personal seal on the seal, then rang the bell and called the officer in for the fourth time. Call Vitley for me, he said, and tell him to get ready for the journey. After a while, the man he wanted stood in front of him, wearing riding boots and riding spurs. Vitley, said he, hurry to London without stopping for a moment.You give this letter to Milady.Here is a check for two hundred pistoles; go to my treasurer and have him pay you in cash.If you can come back here within six days and do a good job of the task I assigned, you can also get this much money. Without saying a word, the messenger bowed, took the letter and the check for two hundred pistoles, and withdrew. The contents of that letter are: Milady: To attend the ball that the Duke of Buckingham is going to be attending.He had twelve diamond pendants on his doublet, managed to get close to him and snipped two.Let me know as soon as you get the two pendants.