"Just what brought you to France, fair cousin?"
The question was put by a beautiful girl scarcely yet verging on
womanhood to a fine intelligent youth, two or three years her senior, as
they paced slowly on together through the gardens of the Louvre on the
banks of the Seine, flowing at that period bright and clear amid fields
and groves. Before them rose the stately palace lately increased and
adorned by Henry the Second, the then reigning monarch of France, with
its lofty towers, richly carved columns, and numerous rows of windows
commanding a view over the city on one side, and across green fields and
extensive forests, and far up and down the river on the other.
The walk along which the young people were proceeding was shaded by tall
trees, the thick boughs of which kept off the rays of the sun, shining
brightly on the gay flowers and glittering fountains, seen in the open
space beyond them.
The young girl had the air and manner of a grown-up person, with that
perfect self-possession which seems natural to those brought up in the
atmosphere of a court.
Her companion's manner formed a contrast to hers; but though evidently
not at all at his ease, as a brave man does when called upon to
encounter danger, he had braced himself up to face those he might have
to meet, who would, he naturally felt, look down on him on account of
his travel-stained dress, his Scottish accent, and rustic appearance.
"In truth, Cousin Mary, I left Scotland as many of our countrymen are
compelled to do, to seek my fortune abroad, and have come with letters
of introduction to several noblemen and others; among them to Admiral
Coligny, my father's old comrade in arms. Our castle is well-nigh in
ruins, and my estate yields scarcely revenue sufficient to supply me
with clothes and arms, much less to restore it as I wished to have done.
I have already made two voyages to far-off lands, and come back no
richer than I went, and have at length resolved to take service in the
navy of France, in which I may hope to carve out my way to distinction,
with the help of the admiral."
"He may be ready enough to receive you and afford you his patronage; but
I warn you, Cousin Nigel, that he may be less able to forward your
interests than you may suppose. He is known to hold the principles of
the leaders of those dangerous people the Protestants, who are hated and
feared at court, where the Guises, the brothers of the Queen Regent of
Scotland, have of late gained the chief influence. Take my advice,
Cousin Nigel, seek some more profitable patron, and have nothing to do
with the Huguenots."
"I thank you for your advice, cousin. I must confess, however, that I
do not hold the opinion you express of the Protestants, but on the
contrary, am greatly inclined to agree with their principles. I lately
heard a wonderful preacher, one John Knox, who has appeared in Scotland,
and brought thousands to see the gross errors of the papal system. He
proves clearly that the Pope of Rome has no real ground for his
pretensions to be the head of Christ's Church on earth; that he cannot
be the successor of the apostle Peter, who never was Bishop of Rome; but
that he is rather the successor of the great heathen high priest, whose
idolatries he perpetuates and supports, and that therefore he and his
cardinals and priests are impostors, who should on no account be obeyed.
He clearly explains indeed that those who rule in the Seven-hilled city
represent no other than the Scarlet Woman spoken of in the Apocalypse,
their system being in truth the Mystery of Iniquity."
"Oh, dreadful!" exclaimed the young lady. "Why, Cousin Nigel, you are a
rank heretic, and were you to express such opinions as these in public,
your life would be in danger. Hundreds of Frenchmen have already been
burned for holding opinions not half as bad as those you have expressed.
I am almost afraid to listen to you; not that we trouble ourselves much
about such matters at court, where people are allowed to think what they
like, provided they do not utter their thoughts too loudly, or in the
hearing of the doctors of the Sarbonne (the theological college of
France), who have of late become rigidly orthodox, and are resolved to
put down the reformers. I must advise you, at all events, to keep your
own counsel; and if you are still determined to apply to Admiral
Coligny, as your views agree with his, they will be in your favour."
"Thank you for your advice, sweet cousin," answered Nigel. "I will
follow it so far as not to parade my opinions; but should they be
attacked, I shall be ready, if necessary, to defend them either with my
tongue or my sword."
"You are not likely to be called upon to use either of those formidable
weapons, provided you are discreet," said the young lady, laughing.
"You may occasionally at court hear the Protestants satirised, or made
subjects of lampoons; but it would be folly to take notice of such
trivialities, and you would be in continual hot water with worthy
people, perfectly ready otherwise to treat you as a friend. I will
speak to some I know, who will assist your object and forward you to the
admiral, should you determine to seek his patronage."
"I would rather trust to so great and good a man than to any one else I
have heard of in France," said Nigel; "and am anxious, as soon as
possible, to make myself known to him."
By this time the young people had got within a few paces of the
termination of the shady walk, when before them appeared a gay company
of ladies and gentlemen, most of the former being very young, while the
latter were, on the contrary, advanced in life, as their snowy locks and
white beards betokened, though they were richly dressed, and were doing
their utmost to assume a youthful and _debonair_ manner. Nigel on
seeing the gay company instinctively drew back into a recess by the side
of the walk, unwilling, if possible, to present himself before them.
His cousin being ready to humour him, placed herself on a garden seat,
and invited him to sit by her. Perhaps she was unwilling that the
interview with her near relative should be brought to an end sooner than
could be helped. They could from this spot observe what was going
forward without being seen. Merry laughter came from the party of gaily
dressed people who passed along the walks, several approaching near
enough to allow their features easily to be distinguished.
"Who are those?" asked Nigel, as several young people came slowly by,
following a fair girl, whose beautiful countenance and graceful figure
distinguished her from the rest, though many of her companions were
scarcely less lovely. So thought the young Scotchman, as he stood
watching them with admiring eyes.
"The first is our Lady Mary, about to wed the Dauphin of France,"
answered his cousin. "You must, as a loyal Scot, be introduced to her.
Perchance if you are inclined to take service at court you may obtain a
post, though his Majesty King Henry does not generally bestow such
without an ample equivalent."
[Note: Three Scottish young ladies were sent over to France to attend on
Queen Mary. They were Mary Seton, Mary Beaton, and Mary Carmichael, and
were named the Queen's Maries.]
"My taste does not lead me to covet such an honour," said Nigel. "I
should soon weary of having to dress in fine clothes and spend my time
in idleness, waiting in ante-chambers, or dangling after the lords and
ladies of the court. Pardon me, sweet cousin, for saying so. I came to
France to seek for more stirring employment than such a life could
afford. I will do my _devoir_ to our young queen, and must then proceed
on my journey to find the admiral. Had it not been for the packet of
letters with which I was entrusted, as also for the sake of seeing you,
I should not have come to Paris at all. But tell me, who are her
Majesty's attendants? There is one whose countenance, were I long to
gaze at it, would, I am sure, become indelibly fixed on my heart. What
a sweet face! How full of expression, and yet how modest and gentle!"
"They are my two sister Maries, Mary Beaton and Mary Carmichael; but it
is neither of them you speak of. I see now; the damsel you describe is
Constance de Tourville, whose father, by-the-by, is a friend of
Coligny's. The admiral, I am informed, is staying with the count at
this very time, and when I tell Constance who you are, she will, I am
sure, find an excuse for despatching an attendant with you to her
father. I can without difficulty make you known to her, as the
etiquette of the court is not very rigid, or I should not have been
allowed to wander about the gardens with a gallant young gentleman like
yourself, albeit you claim to be my cousin and an old playmate."
"I see several gentlemen among the fair damsels, so I conclude that my
presence is not altogether an irregularity," said Nigel.
"They are privileged persons, however," said Mary Seton. "That sickly
youth who has just joined the queen and is awkwardly endeavouring to
make himself agreeable is her affianced husband, the Dauphin. For my
part I would rather not be a queen than be compelled to wed so miserable
an object; but I am talking treason. Here comes one of the queen's
uncles, the Duke de Guise--that tall, dark, ill-favoured gentleman. He
is, notwithstanding, one of the most powerful men in France, and intends
to be more powerful still when his niece and her young husband ascend
the throne. But come; the party are moving on, and as Constance de
Tourville is lingering behind, we can quickly overtake her, and when I
have made you known to her, you can tell her of your wish to see the
admiral."
Nigel felt very unwilling to quit his hiding-place, but his cousin,
taking him by the hand, playfully led him forward. They quickly
overtook the interesting girl of whom they had been speaking. Nigel, as
he was introduced, made a bow which would not have disgraced the most
polished gentleman at court. The young lady smiled as she cast a glance
at his handsome, honest countenance, with the glow of health on it,
increased somewhat by the blush which rose on finding himself in
circumstances so unusual to him.
"My cousin Nigel Melvin has come with an introduction to the admiral,
who is, I understand, staying with your father, and he desires to set
out to the chateau, though I would fain persuade him to take service at
the court, instead of tempting the dangers of the sea, which he has the
extraordinary taste to desire."
"Our house steward, Maitre Leroux, is at present in Paris, and will
return to-morrow; and should your cousin desire his escort, I will
direct him to await his orders," said the young lady in a sweet voice.
"Where are you lodging, fair sir?"
"I arrived but this morning, and left my valise at L'Auberge de l'Ange,"
answered Nigel.
"I know not where that is; but Maitre Leroux will easily find it out,
and will call for you at any hour you may name."
"A thousand thanks, lady, for your kindness," answered Nigel. "I gladly
accept your offer, and shall be ready to set out at early dawn if the
landlord will permit me to depart at that hour."
"Maitre Leroux will be at the palace this evening to receive a letter I
am sending home, and I will direct him to call as you desire, though, as
he loves his ease, he perchance may not be ready to commence the journey
at quite so early an hour as you name."
While Constance was speaking, one of the ladies in attendance on the
young queen turned back and beckoned to Mary Seton, who, hurrying
forward, left Nigel with her friend.
"You will surely not take your cousin's advice, and seek for a post at
this frivolous court," said Constance hurriedly, again looking up at
Nigel's countenance. "Catholics alone are in favour, while the
Protestants are detested. To which party do you belong?"
"I might say to neither, as I am not a Frenchman," answered Nigel,
surprised at the young lady's question. "At the same time I have
heartily abjured the errors of Rome."
"I am glad to hear it; I thought so," said Constance. "I myself am a
Protestant. I am here on sufferance, or rather a hostage, and would
gladly return to my home if I had permission. Persevering efforts have
been made to pervert me, but I have had grace to remain firm to the true
faith, and now I am simply exposed to the shafts of ridicule, and the
wit and sneers of those who hold religious truth in contempt. You may
be astonished at my thus venturing to speak to you, a perfect stranger,
but I am sure that I may trust Mary Seton's cousin; and if you have the
opportunity, I will beg you to tell my father or the good admiral what I
say. I dare not write on the subject, nor can I venture to send a
verbal message by Maitre Leroux."
"I faithfully promise to convey your sentiments to either one or the
other," answered Nigel, casting a glance of admiration at the young
girl, who could thus stand alone in her innocence amid the follies of
that vicious and frivolous court. "As to accepting a place at court,
even should it be offered me, I would refuse it, for my tastes lead me
to seek my fortune on the wild ocean or in foreign lands; and it is with
this object that I am about to visit the admiral, who will, I have been
led to hope, forward my views."
"You cannot apply to a wiser or truer man in France," answered
Constance. She was about to say more, when they were rejoined by Mary
Seton, who came-to conduct Nigel into the presence of the queen.
"As a loyal Scot you are bound to pay your _devoir_ to her Majesty," she
said. "Though neither of us have much recollection of our native wilds,
we still regard our country with affection."
Nigel felt that there was no escaping, and mustering courage, went
boldly forward till he reached the spot where the young queen was
standing with several lords and ladies in attendance. Though
unaccustomed to courts, he had too much native dignity to be overawed,
and bending on his knee he lifted the hand of the young queen to his
lips and reverently kissed it. Mary bestowed on him one of those
fascinating smiles which in after years bound many a victim to her feet,
and bidding him rise, questioned him about the affairs of Scotland, and
various particulars regarding her lady mother the Regent, from whom he
had been the bearer of a package. Nigel, gaining courage, replied
discreetly to the young queen's questions. The Dauphin, however, made
some remark which induced her to dismiss her countryman, when Nigel fell
back to where he had left Constance, who had been rejoined by his
cousin.
"You comported yourself admirably, and I congratulate you," said the
latter. "You will, I am sure, after a little experience become a
perfect courtier."
"I would not advise him to make the experiment," said Constance.
"There is little fear of it," answered Nigel. "I hope ere long to find
myself on the wide ocean, where I may breathe the free air of heaven,
which I much prefer to the atmosphere of a court; but I must crave your
pardon, fair ladies, for showing a disinclination to live where I might
bask in the sunshine of your smiles."
"That speech is truly worthy of a courtier," said Mary Seton, laughing.
"Come, come, cousin, change your mind. Constance, you will help me to
bring this gentleman to reason?"
"I would not attempt to influence him, even if I could," answered the
young lady. "He has decided wisely. In your heart you know, Mary, that
he is right; you yourself despise the miserable butterflies who hover
round us with their sweet speeches, empty heads, and false hearts."
Constance de Tourville was continuing in the same strain, when the young
queen, with her attendants and the other ladies and gentlemen of the
court, was seen moving towards the palace, and she and Mary Seton were
compelled to follow them. While Nigel was paying his parting adieus to
the young ladies, a sigh escaped his cousin as he pressed her hand to
his lips, for she knew the probability that they might not meet again.
Her heart was still faithful to Scotland, and she loved her kith and
kindred.
"Remember," said Constance, as he paid her the same mark of respect.
"Be careful what you say to strangers; but you may trust Maitre Leroux;
he is honest."