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the consciousness of guilt and the apprehension of immediate death；
it was plain that they expected nothing less。 I was very willing
to play with their fears； and for some time looked at them in
silence； while all wondered with lively curiosity what would ensue。
I then addressed them gravely； telling the innkeeper that I knew
well he had loosened each year a shoe of my horse； in order that
his brother might profit by the job of replacing it； and went on to
reprove the smith for the ingratitude which had led him to return
my bounty by the conception of so knavish a trick。
Upon this they confessed their guilt； and flinging themselves upon
their knees with many tears and prayers begged for mercy。 This；
after a decent interval； I permitted myself to grant。 〃Your lives；
which are forfeited； shall be spared；〃 I pronounced。 〃But punished
you must be。 I therefore ordain that Simon； the smith； at once
fit； nail； and properly secure a pair of iron shoes to Andrew's
heels； and that then Andrew； who by that time will have picked up
something of the smith's art； do the same to Simon。 So will you
both learn to avoid such shoeing tricks for the future。〃
It may well be imagined that a judgment so whimsical； and so justly
adapted to the offense； charmed all save the culprits； and in a
hundred ways the pleasure of those present was evinced； to such a
degree； indeed； that Maignan had some difficulty in restoring
silence and gravity to the assemblage。 This done； however； Master
Andrew was taken in hand and his wooden shoes removed。 The tools
of his trade were placed before the smith； who cast glances so
piteous； first at his brother's feet and then at the shoes on the
anvil； as again gave rise to a prodigious amount of merriment； my
pages in particular well…nigh forgetting my presence； and rolling
about in a manner unpardonable at another time。 However； I rebuked
them sharply； and was about to order the sentence to be carried
into effect； when the remembrance of the many pleasant simplicities
which the smith had uttered to me； acting upon a natural
disposition to mercy； which the most calumnious of my enemies have
never questioned； induced me to give the prisoners a chance of
escape。 〃Listen；〃 I said； 〃Simon and Andrew。 Your sentence has
been pronounced； and will certainly be executed unless you can
avail yourself of the condition I now offer。 You shall have three
minutes； if in that time either of you can make a good joke； he
shall go free。 If not； let a man attend to the bellows； La Trape！〃
This added a fresh satisfaction to my neighbors； who were well
assured now that I had not promised them a novel entertainment
without good grounds； for the grimaces of the two knaves thus
bidden to jest if they would save their skins； were so diverting
they would have made a nun laugh。 They looked at me with their
eyes as wide as plates； and for the whole of the time of grace
never a word could they utter save howls for mercy。 〃Simon；〃 I
said gravely； when the time was up； 〃have you a joke？ No。 Andrew；
my friend； have you a joke？ No。 Then〃
I was going on to order the sentence to be carried out； when the
innkeeper flung himself again upon his knees； and cried out loudly
as much to my astonishment as to the regret of the bystanders； who
were bent on seeing so strange a shoeing feat〃One word； my lord；
I can give you no joke； but I can do a service； an eminent service
to the king。 I can disclose a conspiracy！〃
I was somewhat taken aback by this sudden and public announcement。
But I had been too long in the king's employment not to have
remarked how strangely things are brought to light。 On hearing the
man's words thereforewhich were followed by a stricken silenceI
looked sharply at the faces of such of those present as it was
possible to suspect； but failed to observe any sign of confusion or
dismay； or anything more particular than so abrupt a statement was
calculated to produce。 Doubting much whether the man was not
playing with me； I addressed him sternly； warning him to beware；
lest in his anxiety to save his heels by falsely accusing others；
he should lose his head。 For that if his conspiracy should prove
to be an invention of his own； I should certainly consider it my
duty to hang him forthwith。
He heard me out； but nevertheless persisted in his story； adding
desperately； 〃It is a plot； my lord； to assassinate you and the
king on the same day。〃
This statement struck me a blow； for I had good reason to know that
at that time the king had alienated many by his infatuation for
Madame de Verneuil； while I had always to reckon firstly with all
who hated him； and secondly with all whom my pursuit of his
interests injured； either in reality or appearance。 I therefore
immediately directed that the prisoners should be led in close
custody to the chamber adjoining my private closet； and taking the
precaution to call my guards about me； since I knew not what
attempt despair might not breed； I withdrew myself； making such
apologies to the company as the nature of the case permitted。
I ordered Simon the smith to be first brought to me； and in the
presence of Maignan only； I severely examined him as to his
knowledge of any conspiracy。 He denied； however； that he had ever
heard of the matters referred to by his brother； and persisted so
firmly in the denial that I was inclined to believe him。 In the
end he was taken out and Andrew was brought in。 The innkeeper's
demeanor was such as I have often observed in intriguers brought
suddenly to book。 He averred the existence of the conspiracy； and
that its objects were those which he had stated。 He also offered
to give up his associates； but conditioned that he should do this
in his own way； undertaking to conduct me and one other personbut
no more； lest the alarm should be givento a place in Paris on the
following night； where we could hear the plotters state their plans
and designs。 In this way only； he urged； could proof positive be
obtained。
I was much startled by this proposal； and inclined to think it a
trap； but further consideration dispelled my fears。 The innkeeper
had held no parley with anyone save his guards and myself since his
arrest； and could neither have warned his accomplices； nor
acquainted them with any design the execution of which should
depend on his confession to me。 I therefore accepted his terms
with a private reservation that I should have help at handand
before daybreak next morning left Rosny； which I had only seen by
torchlight； with my prisoner and a select body of Swiss。 We
entered Paris in the afternoon in three parties； with as little
parade as possible； and went straight to the Arsenal； whence； as
soon as evening fell； I hurried with only two armed attendants to
the Louvre。
A return so sudden and unexpected was as great a surprise to the
court as to the king； and I was not slow to mark with an inward