第7章 CHAPTER II(1)

As soon as the obsequies were over,Andre's tutor hastily assembled the chief Hungarian lords,and it was decided in a council held in the presence of the prince and with his consent,to send letters to his mother,Elizabeth of Poland,and his brother,Louis of Hungary,to make known to them the purport of Robert's will,and at the same time to lodge a complaint at the court of Avignon against the conduct of the princes and people of Naples in that they had proclaimed Joan alone Queen of Naples,thus overlooking the rights of her husband,and further to demand for him the pope's order for Andre's coronation.Friar Robert,who had not only a profound knowledge of the court intrigues,but also the experience of a philosopher and all a monk's cunning,told his pupil that he ought to profit by the depression of spirit the king's death had produced in Joan,and ought not to suffer her favourites to use this time in influencing her by their seductive counsels.

But Joan's ability to receive consolation was quite as ready as her grief had at first been impetuous the sobs which seemed to be breaking her heart ceased all at once;new thoughts,more gentle,less lugubrious,took possession of the young queen's mind;the trace of tears vanished,and a smile lit up her liquid eyes like the sun's ray following on rain.This change,anxiously awaited,was soon observed by Joan's chamberwoman :she stole to the queen's room,and falling on her knees,in accents of flattery and affection,she offered her first congratulations to her lovely mistress.Joan opened her arms and held her in a long embrace;far Dona Cancha was far more to her than a lady-in-waiting;she was the companion of infancy,the depositary of all her secrets,the confidante of her most private thoughts.One had but to glance at this young girl to understand the fascination she could scarcely fail to exercise over the queen's mind.She had a frank and smiling countenance,such as inspires confidence and captivates the mind at first sight.Her face had an irresistible charm,with clear blue eyes,warm golden hair,mouth bewitchingly turned up at the corners,and delicate little chin.Wild,happy,light of heart,pleasure and love were the breath of her being;her dainty refinement,her charming inconstancies,all made her at sixteen as lovely as an angel,though at heart she was corrupt.The whole court was at her feet,and Joan felt more affection for her than for her own sister.

"Well,my dear Cancha,"she murmured,with a sigh,"you find me very sad and very unhappy!""And you find me,fair queen,"replied the confidante,fixing an admiring look on Joan,--"you find me just the opposite,very happy that I can lay at your feet before anyone else the proof of the joy that the people of Naples are at this moment feeling.Others perhaps may envy you the crown that shines upon your brow,the throne which is one of the noblest in the world,the shouts of this entire town that sound rather like worship than homage;but I,madam,I envy you your lovely black hair,your dazzling eyes,your more than mortal grace,which make every man adore you.""And yet you know,my Cancha,I am much to be pitied both as a queen and as a woman:when one is fifteen a crown is heavy to wear,and Ihave not the liberty of the meanest of my subjects--I mean in my affections;for before I reached an age when I could think I was sacrificed to a man whom I can never love.""Yet,madam,"replied Cancha in a more insinuating voice,"in this court there is a young cavalier who might by virtue of respect,love,and devotion have made you forget the claims of this foreigner,alike unworthy to be our king and to be your husband."The queen heaved a heavy sigh.

"When did you lose your skill to read my heart?"she cried."Must Iactually tell you that this love is making me wretched?True,at the very first this unsanctioned love was a keen joy:a new life seemed to wake within my heart;I was drawn on,fascinated by the prayers,the tears,and the despair of this man,by the opportunities that his mother so easily granted,she whom I had always looked upon as my own mother;I have loved him.O my God,I am still so young,and my past is so unhappy.At times strange thoughts come into my mind:Ifancy he no longer loves me,that he never did love me;I fancy he has been led on by ambition,by self-interest,by some ignoble motive,and has only feigned a feeling that he has never really felt.

I feel myself a coldness I cannot account for;in his presence I am constrained,I am troubled by his look,his voice makes me tremble:Ifear him;I would sacrifice a year of my life could I,never have listened to him."These words seemed to touch the young confidante to the very depths of her soul;a shade of sadness crossed her brow,her eyelids dropped,and for some time she answered nothing,showing sorrow rather than surprise.Then,lifting her head gently,she said,with visible embarrassment--"I should never have dared to pass so severe a judgment upon a man whom my sovereign lady has raised above other men by casting upon him a look of kindness;but if Robert of Cabane has deserved the reproach of inconstancy and ingratitude,if he has perjured himself like a coward,he must indeed be the basest of all miserable beings,despising a happiness which other men might have entreated of God the whole time of their life and paid for through eternity.One man Iknow,who weeps both night and day without hope or consolation,consumed by a slow and painful malady,when one word might yet avail to save him,did it come from the lips of my noble mistress.""I will not hear another word,"cried Joan,suddenly rising;"there shall be no new cause for remorse in my life.Trouble has come upon me through my loves,both lawful and criminal;alas!no longer will Itry to control my awful fate,I will bow my head without a murmur.