Produced by Al Haines [Frontispiece: "'By God! d'Argenton, we win in the end,' he broke out, shaking his finger at me."] THE KING'S SCAPEGOAT BY HAMILTON DRUMMOND AUTHOR OF "THE SEVEN HOUSES," "A MAN'S FEAR," ETC., ETC. _FRONTISPIECE BY CYRUS CUNEO_ TORONTO THE COPP CLARK CO., LIMITED 1905 CONTENTS CHAP. I My Claim to be heard for Truth's Sake II The Bruisings of a Friend III Fire and Sack IV Babette V Paris in "Eighty-Three" VI The Muse in Draggled Skirts VII The Shrewdest Brain in France VIII The Doors of the Louvre only open Inwards IX How I met Mademoiselle the Second Time X Plessis-les-Tours XI The Plot of the Four Nations XII Monseigneur's Counterplot XIII His Most Christian Majesty XIV Monsieur de Commines Explains XX A Lesson in Diplomacy XXI A Mission of Peace XXII South from Plessis XVIII Count Gaston de Foix XIX Mademoiselle Suzanne, _Gouvernante_ XX What Happened at the Grey Leap XXI "I Trust You, Come what May" XXII The Message of a Foot of String XXIII A Rose of Promise XXIV Jean Volran, Tapster, and Translator of Latin XXV In What Way the King Sought the Peace of Navarre XXVI The Justice Hall in Morsigny XXVII "God Keep You, Now and Always" XXVIII A Lie for a Life XXIX How Martin won his Heart's Desire XXX Mademoiselle Speaks XXXI There is Hope--Till Dawn on Sunday XXXII The Mercy of Louis the Eleventh XXXIII "It is the Finger of God!" XXXIV A Race for a Life CHAPTER I MY CLAIM TO BE HEARD FOR TRUTH'S SAKE Of the many ways, worthy or vile, honourable or ignoble, whereby men, as my excellent friend the Prince de Talmont has shown in his history, may rise to court favour, few, I think, are more curious than that by which fate led me. Led me? The word is too soft, too gracious, too solicitous: fate kicked me, rather; for it was a vicious cuff of misfortune's contempt which made me a King's envoy; and a gentle stroke of the mercy of God which flung me back again to the humble obscurity of a simple gentleman. But not without reward. And it is of that misfortune, that mercy, and that reward this story treats. God be thanked! the last was greater than the first, for love is a salve that heals all wounds the world over.