Seated in his chair, advanced three feet from the brilliant circle that surrounded him, Le Roi Soleil witnessed the representation of _Cinna_, that superb tragedy which Corneille--stung by the criticisms on _Le Cid_ of those who were deemed his rivals, and doubly stung by the criticisms of those who could by no possibility whatever possess the right of deeming themselves his rivals--had determined should outvie the former masterpiece. By connivance with those who fondly hoped that this play--written immediately after a preceding Norman Rebellion had been crushed--might soften the King's heart towards his whilom companion, it had been selected by the chamberlains for that evening's representation. Never, perhaps, had a greater tribute been paid to genius than this now paid to the dramatist! Throughout the play, Louis had sat unmoved in his chair, though all present remarked that no word or action of the players was lost by him. But when, at the end, Augustus Cæsar, having, discovered the treachery of Cinna, resolved to pardon the latter and thus win back his fidelity, the King was observed to move restlessly. As Monvel, the actor who played the part of Cæsar, speaking with deep impressiveness uttered the superb speech commencing:-- Soyons amis, Cinna. Tu trahis mes bienfaits, je les veux redoubler. Je t'en avois comblé, je t'en veux accabler, Louis' hand was raised to his head and it seemed as though he swiftly brushed away some tears that had sprung to his eyes. While, a moment later, those seated next to him heard him, or thought they heard him, mutter the words:-- "For the treachery to myself I might have pardoned him. For that against France, for making a pact with her enemies, I can never pardon him." CHAPTER XXVI