Richelieu A Tale Of France Author:George Payne Rainsford James Volume: 2 General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1829 Original Publisher: Henry Colburn Subjects: Fiction / Classics Fiction / Historical Fiction / Literary Fiction / Biographical History / General History / Europe / France Literary Criticism / European / English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh Notes: This... more » is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free. Excerpt: CHAPTER II. Which gives an example of " The way to keep him." " Well, Sir," said De Blenau, smiling with feelings mingled of melancholy resignation to his fate and proud disdain for his enemies, " imprisonment is too common a lot, now-a- days, to be matter of surprise, even where it falls on the most innocent. Our poor country, France, seems to have become one great labyrinth, with the Bastille in the centre, and all the roads terminating there. I suppose that such is my destination/' " I am sorry to say it is," replied his companion. " My orders are to carry you thither direct; but I hope that your sojourn will not be long within its walls. Without doubt, you will soon be able to clear yourself." " I must first know of what I am accused," replied the Count. " If they cry in my case, as in that of poor Clement Marot, Prenez le, il a mange le lard, I shall certainly plead guilty; but I know of no state crime which I have committed, except eating meat on a Friday. -- It is as well, perhaps, Monsieur de Thiery," continued he, falling into a graver tone, " to take these things lightly. I cannot imagine that the Cardinal means me harm ; for he must well know that I have done nothing to deserve ill, either from my King or my country. Pray God his Eminence's breast be as clear as mine!" " Umph !" cried the old soldier, with a meaning shake of the head, " I s...« less