'
And when it was translated and paraphrased, he exclaimed, 'Ah! truly
Mademoiselle may trust me that such sentiments are the breath of life
to those who are both French and of the robe. May ONE at least live
to prove it to her!'
The times were threatening in France as well as in England, for if in
the latter realm, the thunderbolt had fallen, in the former, the
tempest seemed to be gathering. They say that it dispersed after a
few showers, but there are others who say that it is only stored up
to fall with greater fury in later times. Ah, well! if it be so, I
pray that none of mine may be living to see it, for I cannot conceal
from myself that there is much among us that may well call down the
vengeance of Heaven. Yet, if our good Duke of Burgundy fulfil the
promise of his youth, the evil may yet be averted.
The Parliament of Paris had made an attempt to check the reckless
exactions of the Court by refusing to register the recent edicts for
taxation, and it was this that made the Queen so angry with them.
Eustace began to explain that it had been the unfortunate endeavour
to raise money without the consent of Parliament that had been the
immediate cause of the troubles in England for which they were still
suffering. This implied censure of King Charles so displeased my
mother that she declared that she would listen to such treason no
longer, started up and quitted the room, calling Annora with her.
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