The frown of majesty Author:Albert Lee Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER IV " I SHALL TELL THE KING " The remainder of the morning was spent in restless wandering. To settle down to any definite occupation was impossible. ... more »I went to my library, and sought for calmness among my books ; but whereas at other times they had such charm for me, I now read page after page without comprehending a single thought. I tried Auguste de Thou's " History of his Time," but the facts of one page were fugitive before I had turned over the leaf. Francis Malherbe had always interested me, but now I found him—what others, who had little love for true poetry and fine language, had called him—" A tyrant of words and syllables." Either he was no poet, or I was lacking in discrimination. The cultured of my time were enthusiastic over the songs of that prince of poets, Pierre de Rousard ; but while his verses had hitherto tripped to the music of my soul, now they were lifeless and uninspiring; for on every page I saw a picture of the priest holding that lying letter in his hand, and looking at me with the irritating smile on his face. I flung the book of this once poet-laureate across the room, breaking the costly covers away as the volume overturned the iron dogs of the fireplace, then hurried out of the apartment. Up and downthe corridors, through other chambers, into the kitchens, startling the cook and his helpers by this unusual visit; away to the terrace, to the stable, to the village—I went anywhere to get away from my thoughts! The news of the orgy of the Cure " had got abroad. Probably Broglie and Susanne—hand-and-glove in any mischief that was going—had passed it on assiduously, glad to have something out of the common run to report. Whoever was responsible, it effectually disturbed the usual serenity of the domestic life of the village. When I walked do...« less