Twenty Years After, Volume 2

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1897. Excerpt: ... TWENTY YEARS AFTER. CHAPTER I. THE TE DEUM FOR THE VICTORY OF LENS. All the bustle that Madame Henrietta had remarked, and the reason for which she had vainly sought, was occasioned by the victory of Lens, of the news of which Monsieur the Prince had made the Due de Chatillon the bearer, who had taken a noble part in it. He was besides charged with the duty of hanging from the arches of NotreDame twenty-two flags taken both from Lorrainers and Spaniards. This news was decisive. It ended the dispute begun with the parliament in favor of the court. All the imposts summarily enregistered, to which parliament made opposition, were at once passed, from the necessity of sustaining the honor of France, and the hazardous hope of beating the enemy. Since Nordlingen, only reverses had been experienced, and the parliament had had full play to question M. de Mazarin on victories always promised and always postponed; but this time there had been a complete triumph, so every one felt that this was a double victory for the court, -- victory abroad, victory at home, -- so much so that there was no one, even to the VOL. II. -- 1 young king, who on learning this news had not exclaimed, "Ah, Messieurs of the parliament, we are going to see what you will say." The queen pressed to her heart the royal child, whose haughty and untamed feelings harmonized so well with her own. A council was held the same evening, to which had been summoned Marechal de la Meilleraie and M. de Villeroy, because they were partisans of Mazarin; Chavigny and Seguier, because they hated the parliament; and Guitaut and Comminges, because they were devoted to the queen. Nothing transpired of what had been decided in that council. It was known only that on the Sunday following there would be a Te Deum sung at Notre-Dame in honor o...