The young King of France sat in a small room dressed in a gown of
black velvet, with a bonnet or toque upon his head, for the winters
were now cold, and, to tell the truth, Roman houses were then, as now,
better fitted for the summer than the winter months of the year.
Beside him stood Lorenzo Visconti, listening rather than speaking; for
although, when he craved through the chamberlain a private audience,
he had said that he had matters of great moment to communicate to the
monarch, Charles, as was not unusual with him, had begun the
conversation with tales of his own griefs and annoyances.
"Upon my life, Visconti," he said, "I am of the mind to trust old men
no more, for what they have in wisdom and experience is drowned in
selfishness and ambition. A very young man may be a fool, but he is
rarely a scoundrel; and it is a sad thing, cousin, to be always
doubting whether a man in a grey beard is advising you for your
interest or his own. Look you now! they promised me that if I but
entered Rome, the pope would be brought to terms at once; and now
there he sits up in the castle there, looking down upon us like an
eagle from his eyrie, without showing one sign of a desire to treat. I
have ordered ten bombards to be brought to the bridge and pointed at
the gates, and, on my life, they shall fire unless he shows signs of
life before noon."
"I think, sire," replied Lorenzo, "you will not have to give the
order. His Holiness may have shown no open signs of a desire to treat,
but he seems of your Majesty's opinion, that young men are the best
counsellors. In a word, sire, I have had a long interview, unsought
and unexpected, with Cardinal Borgia this morning, and it is on that
account I have intruded on you thus early."
Charles's attention was now fully aroused. "What!" he exclaimed, "have
you been admitted to the castle?"
"No, sire," answered Lorenzo; "I last night received a note from
Signor Ramiro d'Orco, appointing a place of meeting, and, judging that
his object had reference solely to his daughter, I went. We had not
conversed five minutes when we were joined by the Cardinal Don Cæsar
Borgia, and he gave me, expressly for your Majesty's hearing, his
views of the state of affairs in Italy, and hinted very distinctly
what are the terms which his Holiness is inclined to concede."
"Speak! speak! tell me all!" cried the king. "By heaven, I hope we
shall not be interrupted. Call in the chamberlain or his page. That
bishop comes here about this hour; he should, indeed, be here now; but
he is somewhat negligent and unpunctual. He shall have to wait,
however, for I will not admit him till your tale is done."
The chamberlain was called in, the king's orders given not to admit
even his council, and Lorenzo went on to tell his tale. His memory was
good, the words of Cæsar Borgia had impressed themselves deeply on his
mind, and Charles lost hardly anything by hearing from another mouth.
The monarch was evidently much struck with the new view of his own
situation now presented to him. The old adage that "one story is good
till another is told," is constantly applicable to every view we take
of ourselves, our fate, our circumstances. Whoever told the other
story, it would always be found very different from our own. Charles
paused long and meditated in silence. His was neither a quick nor a
comprehensive mind: and when the golden visions of glory and ambition
have once entered into the brain, it is difficult to displace them;
but yet he saw obstacles he had never dreamed of, impediments which
had been suggested neither by his own judgment nor by the sagacity of
his counsellors, dangers which were more than probable, imminent and
menacing. His courage was too great, his ambition too deeply engaged,
his honour too much implicated for him to recede from his enterprise
against Naples. But he saw strong good sense in the plan suggested and
the advice given by Cardinal Borgia, and he concluded that they would
not be furnished by an enemy, or that if they were, they could not be
furnished in an inimical spirit.
He pondered these matters more at length, and perhaps more profoundly
than he had ever considered anything before. Steps were heard in the
adjoining chamber, a hand was placed upon the latch, words were
spoken, some in a tone of remonstrance, and some almost in that of
anger, but they did not rouse the young king from his reverie.
At length the king woke, as if he had suddenly come to some
resolution. "I will demand only what must absolutely be granted," he
said, looking up--"only what is absolutely needful. We must not, by
asking too much, risk the loss of all. Now tell me, cousin--you
alluded to certain conditions to which the cardinal said his uncle, or
rather his father, would agree. Let me know them distinctly, and be
sure that you remember them aright."
Lorenzo repeated as closely as possible the words of Cæsar Borgia,
giving something even of his manner and intonation. The king listened
with fixed attention; but when Lorenzo came to that part of the offer
by which it was promised that Zizim should be given into Charles's
hands, the words did not produce the effect which the young knight had
expected. The monarch remained almost entirely unmoved; the vision of
Constantinople had passed away. In showing him his real situation at
that actual moment, Borgia had taught the young king the vanity of his
schemes for the future.
"Well, then," said Charles, when Lorenzo had concluded, "almost all is
offered which I could reasonably demand. There is only one thing left
vague, and that is the security to be given that the Roman territory
shall be kept open when it either suits me to return or when I see fit
to bring reinforcements from France; but the details of that question
can be settled by negotiators on both parts. It may give my ministers
an opportunity of making something for themselves, and when it can be
done with honour, my good cousin, I do not object to advance the
interests of those who serve me well."
"Perhaps this little packet, sire, may serve to smooth the way with
your Majesty's ministers," said Lorenzo; "I promised to give it to my
reverend lord the Bishop of St. Malo some time when he was alone if I
could, but I did not engage not to ask your Majesty's permission."
"Oh, give it to him, give it to him," said the good-humoured king;
"but he should have been here long ere this. He is becoming sadly
tardy."
"I think, sire, he has already come, but your Majesty ordered no one
to be admitted."
"True! true!" replied Charles. "Well, then, go, good cousin, take him
aside, and give him the packet; then send him in to speak with me."
Lorenzo, as he expected, found the king's minister in the antechamber;
but the good bishop was in no very placable mood. He eyed the young
cavalier, as he came forth from the king's closet, with a glance that
can only be given by a courtier who sees another receive high honour
from his sovereign, and he had almost turned on his heel when Lorenzo
approached him.
"I wish to speak with you alone for a moment, my lord bishop," said
the young man, respectfully.
"I cannot imagine what you can have to say to me, Signor Visconti, nor
with the king either," said the minister, tartly; "but, as I have been
kept long enough among pages, I may as well gratify you. This way,
sir."
Lorenzo followed him with a smile, and the bishop led him to a vacant
chamber, saying, as soon as they entered, "Now, sir?"
"I have the honour, my lord," said Lorenzo, "of delivering this into
your hands from Cardinal Borgia--"
"Who! what!" exclaimed the prelate, interrupting him, in a tone
greatly altered.
"He directed me, reverend sir," continued the young man, not noticing
his exclamations, "to place the packet in your hands when you were
alone. This must plead my excuse for so venturing to occupy your time
and detaining you from the king."
But before Lorenzo had finished the sentence the bishop had torn open
the packet, and was gazing in admiration at what it contained. Lorenzo
did not wonder at the surprise and satisfaction which had shown
themselves on the prelate's face when he saw in his hands the largest
and most beautiful diamond he had ever beheld, except among the jewels
of the King of France. But there was something more; for the bishop
gazed at some words written in the cover, and he murmured, loud enough
to be heard, "And a cardinal's hat!" Apparently that was all that was
written, for he repeated the words again, "And a cardinal's hat! I
understand."
Those few words were quite sufficient, however, for Cæsar Borgia knew
his man, and was aware that no long explanations were needed.
Lorenzo was then about to retire, but the bishop stopped him with a
very gracious look, saying, "Stay, Signor Visconti, stay! Then you
know his Eminence, and have seen him lately."
"My lord, I must not detain you with explanations," said Lorenzo, "for
I know his Majesty wishes to consult you on matters of deep
importance."
"At all events, I trust, from your bringing me this little token,"
said the bishop, moving toward the door, "that, notwithstanding your
intimacy with the Cardinal of St. Peter's, you are not one of those
who will counsel the king to deal hardly with the Holy See."
"My counsel will never be asked, my lord bishop," replied the young
nobleman, walking by his side; "but if it were, I should undoubtedly
advise his Majesty to come to an accommodation with his Holiness as
speedily as possible, and upon as generous terms as may be compatible
with his own dignity and security."
"That is well! that is well!" said the bishop, with a gratified smile.
"My son, you have my benediction. Blessed be the peace-makers!"
Thus ended their interview; but the following day, to his great
surprise, Lorenzo found that the bishop had requested to have his
presence at a conference with some negotiators on the part of the
pope, alleging that it would be better to have the assistance of some
Italian gentleman.
In truth, several military men had been joined with him in the
commission, and the good prelate feared that counsels opposite to his
own wishes might prevail unless he had the support of some one of
whose opinions he had made sure.
The negotiations were not so soon or so easily terminated as either
Lorenzo or the king had expected. Though Cæsar Borgia for once acted
in good faith, the pope vacillated and delayed, and the subject of the
military guarantees was attended with great difficulties.
At length, however, it was agreed that Civita Vecchia, Terracina, and
Spoleto, together with Ostia, which would seem to have been already in
his possession, should be placed in Charles's hands as security; that
the solemn investiture of the kingdom of Naples should be given; that
Zizim should be delivered to him; and that Cardinal Borgia should
accompany the royal army as a hostage.
On his part, Charles promised to show every outward sign of obedience
and submission to the Holy See; and Alexander returned to the Vatican
to receive the homage of the King of France for the kingdom of Naples,
and to enjoy an apparent triumph over him who had invaded his
dominions, set at nought his authority, and driven him from his
palace.