The Ghost of Monsieur Scarron

Ten

140 Ten on the day that nicolas left for rouen, Monsieur robert, Procureur du roi au Châtelet, paid his usual Monday visit to Monsieur de la reynie. he passed la reynie’s barber in the antechamber and found la reynie himself freshly shaven but still in his dressing gown, writing a letter. “to Monsieur le Commissaire de la Marre,” the letter began, “the 26th of april, 1694. “Send me today, early, a note upon what you have found concerning the last booklet, and what proof we may hope to obtain against those who printed it; because the King desires this offense to be punished at all costs. this is only the beginning of the requests made by the King concerning which i write you. let me know if any peddler has been arrested, or any declaration taken from among the peddlers, which gives any information regarding the printer, or even if this piece was printed in Paris.” he interrupted himself long enough to greet his visitor and pray him to be seated. then he concluded his letter, and sealed it, and gave it to the hand of a servant to be delivered. robert was an old friend, the Monday visit a long-established custom, since the courts of the Châtelet held their first sessions of the week on tuesday. the son of robert, a rising young lawyer, also served the King as conseiller du Roi au 141 T H E G H O S T O F M O N S I E U R S C A R R O N Châtelet. it was of him that the two older men exchanged their first remarks. after this they proceeded to the problems of bread for the city. it struck robert, as la reynie outlined his plans, that his friend had aged greatly within the last months. the room was full of morning sunlight. Perhaps it was because of the brightness which illuminated every line in the face of his friend, or because he himself had been questioned recently concerning the number of his years, which closely paralleled those of la reynie, that he made a conscious observation of the familiar face, and inescapably noted there the marks of advancing age. there was a deep vertical line between the heavy eyebrows. the eyes were sad, and about the full, equable lips were other lines which indicated a long-continued strain. Monsieur robert had made a resolution to quit the service whenever la reynie should tender his resignation to the King. the day might be soon; he would be glad of it, although he did not feel it suitable for him to urge the resignation. la reynie spoke without emotion, summing up the problem, and discussing the practical means taken to cope with it. the conference drew to its end, and Monsieur robert bent to take up his hat, which he had placed on the floor beside his chair. “one thing more,” said la reynie. “you have certain prisoners at the Châtelet who were arrested during the bread riots. your son understands my reluctance to have them punished severely.” “i will remind him,” said Monsieur robert. “i agree with you. it’s not the time to make an example of them before the people. another matter, which i almost forgot. a week ago Saturday last, our men broke up a fight among some water rats. one of them was taken, being hurt, and unable to run 142 Janet Lewis away. i don’t wish to trouble you with trifles. the brawl was like any other brawl along the quais, except for one thing. they were fighting for the possession of a bundle of pamphlets . Something about the ghost of Scarron appearing to Madame de Maintenon.” “ah,” said la reynie. “when i learned this,” continued Monsieur robert, “i advised my son to have the men questioned more thoroughly. it was an extremely insolent libel.” “we have been conducting a search for it,” said la reynie dryly. “My son had not been informed of your search.” “the King makes an issue of this libel,” said la reynie. “what did you learn?” “only that the pamphlets were thrown into the Seine between the Pont au Change and the Pont notre Dame from the Cité, and nearer to the Pont au Change. one lot of men saw the package fall and retrieved it. the others tried to rob them...