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of led horses； I had such an affection for the sorrel that I
preferred to wait until it was shod； rather than accommodate myself
to a nag of less easy paces； and would allow my household to
precede me； staying behind myself with at most a guard or two； my
valet； and a page。
The forge at Aubergenville was kept by a smith of some skill； a
cheerful fellow； whom I always remembered to reward； considering my
own position rather than his services； with a gold livre。 His joy
at receiving what was to him the income of a year was great； and
never failed to reimburse me； in addition to which I took some
pleasure in unbending； and learning from this simple peasant and
loyal man； what the taxpayers were saying of me and my reformsa
duty I always felt I owed to the king my master。
As a man of breeding it would ill become me to set down the homely
truths I thus learned。 The conversations of the vulgar are little
suited to a nobleman's memoirs； but in this I distinguish between
the Duke of Sully and the king's minister； and it is in the latter
capacity that I relate what passed on these diverting occasions。
〃Ho； Simon；〃 I would say； encouraging the poor man as he came
bowing and trembling before me； 〃how goes it； my friend？〃
〃Badly；〃 he would answer； 〃very badly until your lordship came this
way。〃
〃And how is that； little man？〃
〃Oh； it is the roads；〃 he always replied； shaking his bald head as
he began to set about his business。 〃The roads since your lordship
became surveyor…general are so good that not one horse in a hundred
casts a shoe； and then there are so few highwaymen now that not one
robber's plates do I replace in a twelvemonth。 There is where it
is。〃
At this I was highly delighted。
〃Still； since I began to pass this way times have not been so bad
with you； Simon；〃 I would answer。
Thereto he had one invariable reply。
〃No； thanks to Ste。 Genevieve and your lordship； whom we call in
this village the poor man's friend； I have a fowl in the pot。〃
This phrase so pleased me that I repeated it to the king。 It
tickled his fancy also； and for some years it was a very common
remark of that good and great ruler； that he hoped to live to see
every peasant with a fowl in his pot。
〃But why；〃 I remember I once asked this honest fellowit was on
the last occasion of the sorrel falling lame there〃do you thank
Ste。 Genevieve？〃
〃She is my patron saint；〃 he answered。
〃Then you are a Parisian？〃
〃Your lordship is always right。〃
〃But does her saintship do you any good？〃 I asked curiously。
〃Certainly； by your lordship's leave。 My wife prays to her and she
loosens the nails in the sorrel's shoes。〃
〃In fact she pays off an old grudge；〃 I answered； 〃for there was a
time when Paris liked me little； but hark ye； master smith； I am
not sure that this is not an act of treason to conspire with Madame
Genevieve against the comfort of the king's minister。 What think
you； you rascal； can you pass the justice elm without a shiver？〃
This threw the simple fellow into a great fear； which the sight of
the livre of gold speedily converted into joy as stupendous。
Leaving him still staring at his fortune I rode away； but when we
had gone some little distance； the aspect of his face； when I
charged him with treason； or my own unassisted discrimination
suggested a clew to the phenomenon。
〃La Trape；〃 I said to my valetthe same who was with me at Cahors
〃what is the name of the innkeeper at Poissy； at whose house we
are accustomed to dine？〃
〃Andrew； may it please your lordship。〃
〃Andrew！ I thought so！〃 I exclaimed； smiting my thigh。 〃Simon and
Andrew his brother！ Answer； knave； and； if you have permitted me
to be robbed these many times； tremble for your ears。 Is he not
brother to the smith at Aubergenville who has just shod my horse？〃
La Trape professed to be ignorant on this point； but a groom who
had stayed behind with me； having sought my permission to speak；
said it was so； adding that Master Andrew had risen in the world
through large dealings in hay； which he was wont to take daily into
Paris and sell； and that he did not now acknowledge or see anything
of his brother the smith； though it was believed that he retained a
sneaking liking for him。
On receiving this confirmation of my suspicions； my vanity as well
as my sense of justice led me to act with the promptitude which I
have exhibited in greater emergencies。 I rated La Trape for his
carelessness of my interests in permitting this deception to be
practiced on me； and the main body of my attendants being now in
sight； I ordered him to take two Swiss and arrest both brothers
without delay。 It wanted yet three hours of sunset； and I judged
that； by hard riding； they might reach Rosny with their prisoners
before bedtime。
I spent some time while still on the road in considering what
punishment I should inflict on the culprits； and finally laid aside
the purpose I had at first conceived of putting them to deathan
infliction they had richly deservedin favor of a plan which I
thought might offer me some amusement。 For the execution of this I
depended upon Maignan； my equerry； who was a man of lively
imagination； being the same who had of his own motion arranged and
carried out the triumphal procession； in which I was borne to Rosny
after the battle of Ivry。 Before I sat down to supper I gave him
his directions； and as I had expected； news was brought to me while
I was at table that the prisoners had arrived。
Thereupon I informed the duchess and the company generally； for； as
was usual； a number of my country neighbors had come to compliment
me on my return； that there was some sport of a rare kind on foot；
and we adjourned； Maignan； followed by four pages bearing lights；
leading the way to that end of the terrace which abuts on the
linden avenue。 Here； a score of grooms holding torches aloft had
been arranged in a circle so that the impromptu theater thus
formed； which Maignan had ordered with much taste； was as light as
in the day。 On a sloping bank at one end seats had been placed for
those who had supped at my table； while the rest of the company
found such places of vantage as they could； their number； indeed；
amounting； with my household； to two hundred persons。 In the
center of the open space a small forge fire had been kindled； the
red glow of which added much to the strangeness of the scene； and
on the anvil beside it were ranged a number of horses' and donkeys'
shoes； with a full complement of the tools used by smiths。 All
being ready I gave the word to bring in the prisoners； and escorted
by La Trape and six of my guards； they were marched into the arena。
In their pale and terrified faces； and the shaking limbs which
could scarce support them to their appointed stations； I read both
the consciousness of guilt and the apprehension of immediate death；
it was plain