Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer. HTML version by Al Haines. Note: In this Etext, text in italics has been written in capital letters. Many French words in the text have accents, etc. which have been omitted. FROM THE MEMOIRS OF A MINISTER OF FRANCE BY STANLEY WEYMAN CONTENTS. I.--THE CLOCKMAKER OF POISSY II.--THE TENNIS BALLS III.--TWO MAYORS OF BOTTITORT IV.--LA TOUSSAINT V.--THE LOST CIPHER VI.--THE MAN OF MONCEAUX VII.--THE GOVERNOR OF GUERET VIII.--THE OPEN SHUTTER IX.--THE MAID OF HONOUR X.--FARMING THE TAXES XI.--THE CAT AND THE KING XII.--AT FONTAINEBLEAU I. THE CLOCKMAKER OF POISSY. Foreseeing that some who do not love me will be swift to allege that in the preparation of these memoirs I have set down only such things as redound to my credit, and have suppressed the many experiences not so propitious which fall to the lot of the most sagacious while in power, I take this opportunity of refuting that calumny. For the truth stands so far the other way that my respect for the King's person has led me to omit many things creditable to me; and some, it may be, that place me in a higher light than any I have set down. And not only that: but I propose in this very place to narrate the curious details of an adventure wherein I showed to less advantage than usual; and on which I should, were I moved by the petty feelings imputed to me by malice, be absolutely silent. One day, about a fortnight after the quarrel between the King and the Duchess of Beaufort, which I have described, and which arose, it will be remembered, out of my refusal to pay the christening expenses of her second son on the scale of a child of France, I was sitting in my lodgings at St. Germains when Maignan announced that M. de Perrot desired to see me. Knowing Perrot to be one of the most notorious beggars about the court, with an insatiable maw of his own and an endless train of nephews and nieces, I was at first for being employed; but, reflecting that in the crisis in the King's affairs which I saw approaching--and which must, if he pursued his expressed intention of marrying the Duchess, be fraught with infinite danger to the State and himself--the least help might be of the greatest moment, I bade them admit him; privately determining to throw the odium of any refusal upon the overweening influence of Madame de Sourdis, the Duchess's aunt. Accordingly I met him with civility, and was not surprised when, with his second speech, he brought out the word FAVOUR. But I was surprised--for, as I have said, I knew him to be the best practised beggar in the world--to note in his manner some indications of embarrassment and nervousness; which, when I did not immediately assent, increased to a sensible extent. "It is a very small thing, M. de Rosny," he said, breathing hard.