bien des années fut celle de l'ouverture des lettres. Il est incroyabl

Si

e from Pontarlier to Paris, four men were busily employed in a small, neatly furnished cabinet at Ver

ng a costume of brown velvet-because already the days were very cold-was Louis the Fourteenth; the other, whose manner was extremely rough and coarse-indeed brutal, except when addressing the king himself-was Louvois, the Mi

he trumpet tones of many of his great commanders-"finissons. The morning wears away. What remains to be done?" Then

scription of its contents. On one was inscribed, in French of course, "Letters opened at the Post"; another "Conduct of Princes and Lords"; a third b

ast very likely at some period or other to come under his supervision. What he did not know, however, was that Louvois, who was the originator of the odious system of opening letters sent through the post, did

seen some threescore letters marked with the senders'

ts appeared to have lost, "the responsibility given to the masters of our royal post seems to me, my good Louvois, to be greater than their minds-provincial in most cases-appear able to sustain. They mark letters from the local seigneurs as worthy of perusal by us in Paris ere being forwarded to their destination, which, in truth, are barren of interest. To wit," he w

terest. But, I may with all deference suggest, perhaps, that it has one gratifying result. All these letters are from the most important persons among your Majesty's

nruffled voice, "it testifies to that.

sion, something. May I also suggest that Monsieu

the two "farmers," after profound obeisances, left the room, and the

jesty's remark about their being forwarded on. For, since the seals and thread had necessarily to be broken ere those contents could be perused, it would be impossible to send them on to those to whom they were addressed. But what became of them instead, probably

unt de Quincé has eloped with Mademoiselle le Brun, daughter of a rich mercer in Guise. Her brother, attempting to stop the carriage i

o enter Paris. He is to be arrested at the gate and ta

of Beauvais referred in a sermon, delivered three weeks ago, to the birth of

ted the king. "The bishop is indiscree

c entertains daily in Paris

he refuses, arrest him and bring him before me. A

ios scarcely needed his attention. Yet, since he knew that Louis would not be satisfied without himself seein

orts are meagre, and, in the latter cases, deal with persons better left to the magistrates. Now," as a c

signature," the minister said, "though none of gr

papers were placed before the king for

addressed to "Monsieur Georges St. Georges, Lieutenant des Chevaux-Légers de Nivernois, en garnison à Pontarlier," when he stopped and

eorges-I recall the name and that I ordered this lett

he late Duc de Vannes, and that you ordered me to watch his career, and, when the time

good Louvois, you have here given orders to Monsieur St. Georges to particularly quarter himself upon the Bishop of Lodève, now at Dijon, upon the Marquise de Roquemaure at Troyes, and, at Mel

from Phélypeaux-the bishop-whether the riots in Languedoc are to be feared or not; whether, indeed, it is necessary quietly to put into that neighbourhood any more regiments. St. Georges will bring the word, 'Yes,' or 'No.' Far better that, your Majesty, than any letter. Also we desire to know whether in Champagne, and esp

hought she loved him in those far-off days. And, ciel! Hortense de Foy was handsome enough to suit any man's taste. I see her now

must perform such an action before a superior-then he said with

xplain why Mademoiselle de Foy married one man, when the world, when

Well, perhaps his saying explains the caprices of Hortense. I have not seen her for years.

ave seen Mademoiselle de Roquemaure, and she is beautiful as ever her moth

hat seemed to the wily minister something like a sigh, "my own youth, too." Then changing his tone back to his

s father, he is the heir on arriving at his thirtieth year; and, secondly, of his horses and hounds. But when

door, which brought a smile to both their faces,

s velvet coat, he produced come crumbs of cake, which he presented to a little spaniel that rush

beautiful offshoot of so fair a woman as her mother was," and, bending his head, he advanced toward the door, followed by Malice. But as he was about to leave the room, Louvois observed with great humility that "doubtless his Majesty h

ses chiens toujours soi-meme."

eet, leaving room only for Louvois to undersign it. Then, with many bows from the minister and amid the salutes of t

s of France-working at this with two secretaries whom he summoned. But at last all his voluminous despatches were finished, closed up, and directed to the different persons for whom they were intended, some to go by the king's couriers and some by the royal post. And among all the correspondence which went forth that nig

the new one. He may take his child with him. He is ordered to re

ter containing neithe