Louis the Well-Beloved Read Online Free PDF Page A

indelicate to satisfy you.’
    ‘I will tell you a secret, Maman ,’ he said gaily. ‘It is this: In the night all cats are grey.’
    Shortly afterwards, when she left him, she felt less disturbed because she was sure she had put him on guard against his enemies. Meanwhile one of them was paying a visit to the Palais Royal.
    Philippe received the Maréchal Duc de Villeroi with much less pleasure than he had his mother.
    He knew what Villeroi wanted He was an old man and he was afraid that he might die before he had an opportunity of performing the task which had been allotted to him. Let him wait, thought Philippe. Young Louis shall continue a baby for a little longer. Indeed, as far as Philippe was concerned, the longer Louis remained a baby, the better.
    ‘Ah, Monsieur de Villeroi,’ he murmured falsely, ‘this is indeed a pleasure.’
    His smile as he regarded the old nobleman was slightly cynical. The fellow belonged to the old school, and no doubt that was why Louis Quatorze had selected him to be the young King’s governor when the boy should be released from the Ventadour apron strings. Villeroi had many qualities which old Louis would have wished to see passed on to his great-grandson; and how impatient Villeroi was to pass them on!
    ‘You are disturbed by something?’ asked the Regent.
    ‘Disturbed? Yes, I confess it. Since the King’s death it would seem a new age of debauchery has come to France. The young people nowadays appear to be entirely devoid of morals.’
    Philippe smiled insolently. He knew that the old fellow was implying that the Regent set a bad example which the youth of the country followed.
    ‘The King grew pious in his old age,’ he murmured languidly. ‘Doubtless you have heard the adage: “When the Devil was sick, the Devil a monk would be”.’ Philippe’s fingers caressed the gold embroidery on his coat. ‘It is a state of mind which could affect any of us. Let the young enjoy themselves. Youth is brief.’
    Villeroi stared at the ceiling. ‘As you know, Monsieur le Duc, I have not lived the life of a saint, but the orgies of which one hears . . .’
    ‘Ah, you have made many conquests, I know,’ interrupted Philippe. ‘I remember what you have told us about them. They were worthy to be boasted of: I grant you that. Conquests in love are of greater consequence to some than conquests in war. I suspect you to be one of these.’
    Villeroi flinched before this sly reference to his tendency to boast of his love affairs and to his scarcely glorious military career.
    He changed the subject abruptly. ‘It would seem that a woman is not the person to bring up the King of France.’
    ‘I agree in that,’ said Philippe. ‘But even Kings must first be babies. As yet His Majesty is too young to leave his governess’ care.’
    ‘I maintain that it is time he was in that of his governor.’
    Philippe smiled. ‘We might ask His Majesty with whom he prefers to live – Maman Ventadour or Papa Villeroi.’
    ‘He is too young to make such decisions.’
    ‘I doubt not he will make them. He has a will of his own.’
    ‘But the King would soon grow accustomed to the change. He must learn to be a man, not the pet of the ladies.’
    ‘Why should he not be both?’ asked Philippe. ‘Many of us aspire to be.’
    ‘I fear, Monsieur le Duc, that you have misunderstood my meaning.’
    ‘Your meaning is perfectly clear to me, Monsieur le Maréchal. It is this: The King should be taken from the care of his governess and put into yours. Not yet, Monsieur. Not yet. He is but six. When he is seven that will be time enough.’
    ‘Another year!’
    ‘It will soon pass. Be patient. Your time will come.’
    Villeroi bit his lip in anger. His fingers were trembling to take his sword and drive it through the heart of the smiling Regent. Lecher, gambler, drunkard, Villeroi felt sure he was capable of anything. He was one of those who believed the stories concerning Orléans and his daughter –