Thus passed the night in Count Herbert's Tower, in the Castle of Peronne. When the first light of dawn penetrated the ancient Gothic chamber, the King summoned Oliver to his presence, who found the Monarch sitting in his nightgown, and was astonished at the alteration which one night of mortal anxiety had made in his looks. He would have expressed some anxiety on the subject, but the King silenced him by entering into a statement of the various modes by which he had previously endeavoured to form friends at the Court of Burgundy, and which Oliver was charged to prosecute so soon as he should be permitted to stir abroad.
And never was that wily minister more struck with the clearness of the King's intellect, and his intimate knowledge of all the springs which influence human actions, than he was during that memorable consultation.
About two hours afterwards, Oliver accordingly obtained permission from the Count of Crevecoeur to go out and execute the commissions which his master had intrusted him with, and Louis, sending for the Astrologer, in whom he seemed to have renewed his faith, held with him, in like manner, a long consultation, the issue of which appeared to give him more spirits and confidence than he had at first exhibited; so that he dressed himself, and received the morning compliments of Crevecoeur with a calmness at which the Burgundian Lord could not help Wondering, the rather that he had already heard that the Duke had passed several hours in a state of mind which seemed to render the King's safety very precarious.
你的末日尚未来临——你所侍奉的魔鬼尚未把你抛
弃。对于为他效劳的朋友他还会给以支援，正如一个恶
人让瞎子扶着他的肩头走路，要领着他走到悬岩的边
沿——才把他推下深渊。
《古老的戏剧》
那弄臣按照路易王的命令，更恰当地说是请求（因为尽管路易是国王，但在当前的处境下他也只能请求勒格洛里尔去寻找伽利奥提）前去办事，倒也不觉困难。他立刻来到佩隆城最好的一家酒店。由于他自己很欣赏那能使所有人的心智都变得和他同样痴恩的饮料，所以他也是这个酒店的常客。
他在酒店——在根据里面的主要陈设，其德语和弗兰德语的别称应为“火炉”的一个角落里看到，或者说观察到，这位占星术家正在和一个女人进行亲密的谈话。那女人装束奇特，既像个摩尔人又像个亚洲人。当勒格洛里尔走到马蒂阿斯跟前时，她站起来像要走开。
“这些消息完全可靠，可以确信无疑。”那陌生女人说道，接着便消失在散坐在桌边的满堂宾客之中。
“我的哲学家哥哥也，”那弄臣对他说道，“老天爷刚拆走一个站岗的，又派另一个来顶替。一个傻瓜刚走，我这个傻瓜又来了，为的是领你去法国路易王的卧室。”
“是派你来传口讯的吗？”马蒂阿斯赶忙恐慌地用眼睛盯着他问道，他立刻看出这个人是个弄臣，尽管我们先前提到过的，其外表并不像一般弄臣那样表明他具有这种身份。
“是的，先生。”勒格洛里尔回答道，“当一位权力大的君主竟派遣愚人求智者去见他，这肯定表明他处境不妙。”
“这么晚的时候派这么一个使者来叫我，我不去又怎么样呢？”伽利奥提问道。
“要是不去，我们就得照顾您的方便，把您抬去，”勒格洛里尔说道，“现在门口站着十来个精壮的勃艮第步兵，是克雷维格伯爵派给我，准备抬着您去见路易王的。您要知道，虽然我们的亲戚路易王愚蠢地把王冠交给我们支配，但我的朋友勃艮第•查尔斯和我并没有把它拿掉，而只是把它搞脏，弄坏了一点。尽管这皇冠已经缩得很小，但毕竟还是纯金做的，简而言之，他仍然统治着他的人民（包括你在内），仍然在当着佩隆城堡古老的大厅里最守基督之道的国王。而你作为他的臣属，有义务马上去见他。”
“先生，我跟你去好了。”马蒂阿斯•伽利奥提说道，接着便跟随勒格洛里尔前去城堡——也许是看到无法逃避吧。
“好的，先生，”那弄臣在途中对他说，“您正合适。说实话，我们对待这位亲戚，也正像人们对待关在笼子里挨饿的老狮子一样，不时往笼子里塞进一头小牛犊，好让他的老牙巴有东西可嚼。”
“你是说，”马蒂阿斯讲道，“国王有意伤害我吗？”
“这你可比我更有本事猜测，”那弄臣说，“因为今晚虽然有云，我相信你还是可以透过云翳看到星星。我对此事毫无所知——不过，我妈过去经常告诉我，在走近一只被逮住的大老鼠时要十分小心，因为这老鼠最喜欢咬人。”
占星术家不再问他问题。勒格洛里尔便按照他们这类人的习惯继续胡乱地说着一些混杂着嘲讽的傻话。一来到佩隆城堡的大门跟前，他便把哲学家交给了卫兵。在一个个卫兵的护送下，哲学家终于被带到了赫伯特塔楼。
这弄臣的暗示在马蒂阿斯身上还是产生了作用。他通过特里斯顿的表情和态度看出了问题，因为它们在某种程度上肯定了这些暗示的正确性。特里斯顿领他去国王卧室时和他讲话的态度显得愠怒、阴沉和凶狠。作为一个细察人间现象和天体现象的大师，那滑轮和绳索自然没有逃脱这位占星术家的眼睛。他看到绳子还在摆动，便推想一定是有人原先正忙着调整绳子，看见他突然出现便马上停了下来。他把这一切都看在眼里，立刻加强了警觉，以防备即将到来的危险。他下定决心，万一无法回避，便和任何来犯之敌决一死战。
下定决心之后，马蒂阿斯便迈着坚定的步伐，带着坚定而从容的表情来到路易王跟前，对自己预言失误既不感觉羞愧，对国王的愤怒及其可能的后果也不感觉畏惧。
“愿天上的星宿都保佑陛下吉祥如意！”伽利奥提以近乎东方人的方式向国王鞠躬说道，“愿国王陛下免遭不祥星象的邪恶影响！”
“我想，”国王对答说，“只要看看这间卧室，只要想想这里是什么地方、守护的情况如何，你这聪明人就能看出，我的‘吉星’已经对我不忠不义，而每种不祥的星象也都在对我竭尽其作恶的能事。马蒂阿斯•伽利奥提，你想想，正是你的保证引诱我到这儿来的。我已身陷囹圄，成了囚徒，难道你一点都不觉得害臊吗？”
“陛下，难道您自己不害臊吗？”哲学家对答说，“您在科学上取得了长足进步，您有敏捷的头脑和持久的毅力——而您却像胆小鬼一听到刀剑碰击声便吓得四处躲藏，一看到命运之神皱皱眉头便想打退堂鼓。难道您不害羞吗？您过去一心想占有玄秘知识，好使自己超脱人世的感情以及人世的不幸和忧虑——而这是谁有表现出类似古代斯多葛派哲人的坚韧才能达到的境界。您为什么一遇到边境的压力便想退缩，从而失去您原来想要获取的光荣的奖赏，就像一匹受惊的赛马那样，一看见虚幻的凶兆便被惊得逃离了跑道呢？”
“虚幻的凶兆！你真是恬不知耻！”国王大声说道，“难道这个地牢是虚幻的吗？我的仇敌勃艮第的卫队在大门口磨刀霍霍，难道这也是虚幻的吗？我倒想问问你这个奸贼，要是囚禁、废黜和丧命的危险还算不上真正的不幸，那么，什么才算得上真正的不幸？”
“无知，我的兄弟，”那贤哲坚定地回答说，“无知加偏见才算得上惟一的真正不幸。请相信我，强大无比的国王要是浸透着无知的偏见，就会比身处地牢、手戴镣铐的哲人更不自由。我将十分荣幸地引您进入哲人的真正幸福境界——但您也应当以听从我的指导为荣。”
“难道你的教导就是为了指引我去尝尝这种哲学家的自由？”国王极其痛心地说道，“你干吗在普莱西宫时不早对我说，你一再保证我会享有的主权只是控制自己感情的主权，你一再保证我会取得的成就只是哲学方面的进步，好让我变得像意大利的江湖骗子那样聪明，那样有学问？要是你早说，我就满可以用低得多的代价来达到这种精神境界，而不必失去基督世界最美好的王冠，并成为佩隆地牢里的囚徒！你走吧，别妄想你能逃脱应有的惩罚——皇天在上！”
“我不会离开你，让你去自生自灭，”马蒂阿斯对答说，“尽管你的眼睛被无知所蔽，我也要为我的荣誉进行辩护。要知道，我的荣誉要比你王冠上最明亮的宝石更为灿烂，即使整个卡普特家族都在圣•丹尼斯教堂的墓穴中化为骨灰，千秋万代还将赞美它的光辉。”
“你就说吧，”路易讲道，“反正你这厚颜无耻的话改变不了我的主意或看法——不过，也许我以后再也不能作为国王作出我的判决，所以，在给你定罪之后我倒想听听你的申诉。你就说吧——不过你最好讲真话。你就坦白说，我是个受骗上当的傻子，你是个骗子，你那所谓的科学只不过是痴人说梦，我们头上的星星无法影响我们的命运，就像星光映在河里无法改变河水的进程。”
“你怎么能了解那些圣洁的星光具有的神秘影响力呢？”那占星术家斗胆说道，“你说它们不能影响河水，然而你明明知道，哪怕是其中最微弱的月亮——它之所以微弱，正因为它距离我们这倒霉的地球最近——所能支配的不仅限于像索姆河这种区区小河，而是视其盈亏而涨落的潮汐。大海随时都在注视月亮的影响，犹如奴才战战兢兢地听命于女皇的颔首示意。好了，瓦卢瓦•路易，现在该轮到你来回答我一个比喻了。你坦白地说吧，你像不像一个愚蠢的旅客怒斥海船的舵手，责怪他把大船驶进港口的途中碰到了逆流和逆风呢？我当初指出你的冒险有可能获得圆满的结果，的确是有根据的，但只有上帝才有这个能力引领你来到这里。如果说天意要叫你的路途崎岖危险，我有什么能力使它平坦、安全呢？你不是昨天还很聪明，说你的智慧使你认识到，命运的安排虽然与我们的本意相违，却往往给我们带来有利的结局吗？”
“你这话使我想起——”国王匆忙说道，“想起你说过的一个谎话。你曾预言说，那苏格兰人完成任务的情况幸好会符合我的利益，维护我的荣誉。但你知道，正是这事情的结局对那头被激怒的‘勃艮第狂牛’产生的印象将给我带来莫大的伤害。这彻头彻尾都是谎言——这回你再也找不出任何适辞——找不出什么潮水涨落的虚无飘渺的吉兆叫我像个白痴坐在河边老等河水过完似的安心等下去了。这下你可叫你自己的奸黠揭了你的老底——你愚蠢地作出了一个已证明完全虚假的预言。”
“它将证明完全真实可靠，”占星术家大着胆子回答道，“我能指望以学术战胜愚昧来获得的最大的喜悦莫过于这个预言的实现。我对你说过，他将忠实地执行任何体面的任务。他不是这样做了吗？我对你说过，他不愿助纣为虐——他不是证明自己正是这样的吗？如果你怀疑这个，你去问那个波希米亚人海拉丁•毛格拉宾好了。”
路易王这时又羞又怒，脸红到了耳根。
“我对你说过，”那占星术家继续说道，“他出发时的星象预兆他将有生命危险——他一路上不正是布满了危险么？我对你说过，根据星象的预兆，派遣他的人将因他而得到好处——我想这个好处很快就会使你受益匪浅。”
“很快就会受益匪浅！”国王大声说道，“我受的益不明摆着就是耻辱和监禁吗？”
“不，”那占星术家回答道，“事情还没完哩——你很快就得亲口承认，这位使者执行你的任务的方式已经使你得到了好处。”
“这简直太——太无礼了，”国王说道，“你是既想欺骗我，又想侮辱我——滚吧！别以为我会轻易受屈，不加报复——皇天在上！”
伽利奥提转过身来想走。“你等等，”路易说道，“你胆敢不承认你耍骗术——那你回答我一个问题。你先好好考虑考虑——你敢说你的骗术能预报你自己的死期吗？”
“我只能根据别人的死期来定我的死期。”伽利奥提说道。
“我不懂你是什么意思。”路易说道。
“那我就对你说吧，国王陛下，”马蒂阿斯讲道，“关于我的死期，我只能肯定地说这么一句：它将正好在陛下死期之前二十四小时。”
“哼！你敢这么讲吗？”路易脸色突变地说道，“等一等——等一等——你先别走——你说我的死期和你的死期会隔得这么近？”
“只隔二十四小时，”伽利奥提坚定地重复说道，“如果明亮而神秘的智慧之星在其各自的轨道上无须语言真能道出一点真实预言的话。祝陛下晚安！”
“等一等——等一等——你别走，”国王说道，一边抓住他的手臂把他从门口拖了回来，“马蒂阿斯•伽利奥提，我一直奉你为上宾——给过你许多钱财——把你视作我的朋友、伴侣和老师——我求你坦白地告诉我——你的方术真有点道理吗？这苏格兰人的使命真会使我吉祥如意吗？我们两人的天数真十分——十分接近吗？好马蒂阿斯，你坦白说吧，你是按你们的行道那哄人的一套来讲的——我求你坦白告诉我，只要你坦白地说，我不会跟你过不去的。我年纪大了——又遭到软禁——很有可能会失去我的江山——对我这种处境的人来说，讲真话真是价值连城。最亲爱的马蒂阿斯，我还是指望从你身上获得这个无价之宝。”
“我已经把这个无价之宝奉献给陛下了，”伽利奥提说道，“甚至冒着陛下狂怒之下向我扑来将我撕裂的危险。”
“伽利奥提，我会这样吗？”路易王温和地问道，“唉呀，你真冤枉我了！难道我不是一个囚徒？难道我眼见自己的愤怒只能表明自己无能，还不该表示出特别的耐心？请你实说吧——你在骗我，还是你真有学识，作了真实的预言？”
“陛下请原谅，”马蒂阿斯•伽利奥提说道，“我想回答的是，只有时间——只有时间和事实能使怀疑者确信自己的错误。我曾在那举世闻名的征服者——匈牙利的马提埃斯•科维纳斯的议事桌上——甚至在皇帝本人的密室中，参与枢密大事的咨议，但要把我曾提出过的、证明是正确的一些预言和保证再讲出来，就辜负了皇帝对我的信任。要是您不相信我，我只能让事实的进程来说话。您只消耐心等待一两天，就能证明或否定我针对那个年轻的苏格兰人作出的论断。要是陛下不能从昆丁•达威特英勇的表现中受益，而且受益匪浅，那么我甘愿被处以车刑。陛下最好尽快找一个神父，因为从我发出最后的呻吟那一刻算起，就只剩下二十四小时的光阴能供您进行忏悔。”
路易仍然拉着伽利奥提的长袍，带他到门口，一边开门一边大声说道：“明天我们再谈。有学问的老爹，请您慢走——慢走——慢走！”
他把“慢走”这两个字重复说了三遍，但仍然担心那军法总监会误解他的意图。于是他亲自领着这位占星术家走进大厅，同时紧紧拉着他的长袍不放，仿佛害怕刽子手会从他手里把他夺走，当他的面把这人处死。他不但紧拉着他，而且一再重复着“慢走”。“慢走”这个化险为夷的符咒，甚至向军法总监暗暗打了个手势，严令他停止对这占星术家将采取的任何行动。
这样，伽利奥提就因为掌握了一点秘密情报，加上临危不惧，应付自如，使自己摆脱了迫在眉睫的生命危险。可是路易这位当代最聪明、报复心最强的君主却由于迷信的习惯对意识到自己作恶多端而特别害怕死亡的自私心灵具有强烈的影响，终于受骗而失去了复仇的机会。
他虽然被迫放弃复仇的企图，但还是感到十分懊恼。受命行刑的几个帮凶也似乎和他一样失望。只有巴拉弗雷对这事完全漠然处之。一当他听到国王收回成命的暗号，就离开了他站岗放哨的大门，几分种之内便酣然睡去。
看到国王已回到卧室，大伙都在大厅里躺下来就寝。军法总监仍然紧盯着轻松愉快的占星术家的背影，样子很像眼见一大块肉即将到口，却硬被厨师夺走而显出悻悻然表情的猛大。他的两个手下人则用简单的几句话表达他们彼此的特殊心情。
“这可怜而盲目的关亡术者，”特罗瓦—艾歇尔像神父似的用虚假的怜悯口气对小安德烈说道，“他失去了通过得福的圣方济绞索去见上帝，从而赎掉他一些邪恶的巫术罪的大好机会！我本想把那舒适的绞索套在他脖子上，好通过恐吓把恶魔从他那倒霉的躯体里赶出来。”
“而我哩，”小安德烈说道，“我也失去了一个少有的机会，好了解一根三股的绳子要承受一个重达十七英石的人，究竟会经得住多久！本来这是我们这个行业一个了不起的实验——而那开心的老家伙也本会轻轻松松地去进地狱！”
这几个人都围着壁炉躺着，马蒂阿斯则睡在壁炉的对面。在他们耳语正在进行的当中，他斜着眼，带着怀疑的表情望着他们。他首先把手伸进他的背心，使他放心的是，他发现随身携带的一把锐利的双刃刀的刀柄摆的位置很便于随时拿出来使用。正如我们指出过的，尽管他现在身体有点不灵便，但他原是个强壮的大力士，耍起刀来生龙活虎。在他确信这可靠的武器已放稳妥，随时可用之后，便从胸口掏出一张写有希腊文，标着许多神秘符号的羊皮纸卷，并把壁炉里的烧柴拨拢来，燃起一团较大的火焰，这样便能看清周围坐着或躺着的人的面貌和姿态：那酣睡着的苏格兰人静静地躺着，其粗犷的面部表情就像青铜铸造的一样毫无变化；奥利弗面孔苍白，露出焦虑不安的神色，他好像是睡着了，但不时会急忙睁开眼睛，抬起头，仿佛有一种内心的痛楚把他猛然刺醒，或远处某个声音把他从梦中突然惊醒——再就是那军法总监悻悻然的猛犬般的凶狠面孔，看上去就像——“欲望受阻，企图未逞，仍想杀人”。在他背后则是两眼朝天像在作祷告的特罗瓦—艾歇尔那可怕的虚伪面孔，以及临睡前还在模仿他同伴的姿态和歪脸以自娱的小安德烈那张滑稽得怕人的面孔。
与这几张卑贱而鄙俗的面孔相对照而显得更为突出的是占星术家那魁梧的身材、英俊的面孔以及严峻而高傲的面部表情。他的样子颇像是“东方三贤”误陷匪穴，正在祈求精灵将他救出牢笼。的确，要是使得他容貌突出的仅仅是那飘落在玄秘的羊皮纸卷上的美丽长须，那么看到这样一个高贵的装饰品竟赠给了一个以其天才和学识，以及威武的身躯和善辩的口才进行卑鄙欺诈的骗子，人们也完全有理由对此感到遗憾。
住宿在佩隆城堡“赫伯特伯爵塔楼”里的客人们就这样度过了一夜。第二天一清早，当晨曦刚一透进那古老的哥特式的卧室，国王便把奥利弗召了进来。他看见国王穿着睡衣坐着。使他惊奇的是，一夜的忧心如焚，使得国王面容十分憔悴。他本想对此表示一点不安，但国王一上来便讲个滔滔不绝，使他无法开口。国王向他介绍他从前在勃艮第宫廷寻求盟友时采用过的种种方式，并要他一有可能外出时便立即照此相机行事。在这次难忘的商谈中，国王表现出思维清晰，对支配人类行为的种种动机了如指掌。这位狡黠的臣仆对此产生的印象远比以往来得深刻。
大约两小时以后，奥利弗便从克雷维格伯爵那里获得了外出的许可，以办理国王托付给他的重任。路易王似乎又恢复了对占星术家的信赖，把他召来，同样和他进行了长时间的商量。其结果似乎使得他比先前精神更好了一些，信心更足了一些。因此，当他穿好衣服，克雷维格走来向他问候早安时，他显得十分镇静，不能不使这位勃艮第贵族大为惊奇，特别是因为他听说公爵近几个小时的心情极不平静，国王的安全已发发可危。
Chapter 30 Uncertainty
Our counsels waver like the unsteady bark, That reels amid the strife of meeting currents.
OLD PLAY
If the night passed by Louis was carefully anxious and agitated, that spent by the Duke of Burgundy, who had at no time the same mastery over his passions, and, indeed, who permitted them almost a free and uncontrolled dominion over his actions, was still more disturbed.
According to the custom of the period, two of his principal and most favoured counsellors, D'Hymbercourt and De Comines, shared his bedchamber, couches being prepared for them near the bed of the prince. Their attendance was never more necessary than upon this night, when, distracted by sorrow, by passion, by the desire of revenge, and by the sense of honour, which forbade him to exercise it upon Louis in his present condition, the Duke's mind resembled a volcano in eruption, which throws forth all the different contents of the mountain, mingled and molten into one burning mass.
He refused to throw off his clothes, or to make any preparation for sleep; but spent the night in a succession of the most violent bursts of passion. In some paroxysms he talked incessantly to his attendants so thick and so rapidly, that they were really afraid his senses would give way, choosing for his theme the merits and the kindness of heart of the murdered Bishop of Liege, and recalling all the instances of mutual kindness, affection, and confidence which had passed between them, until he had worked himself into such a transport of grief, that he threw himself upon his face in the bed, and seemed ready to choke with the sobs and tears which he endeavoured to stifle. Then starting from the couch, he gave vent at once to another and more furious mood, and traversed the room hastily, uttering incoherent threats, and still more incoherent oaths of vengeance, while stamping with his foot, according to his customary action, he invoked Saint George, Saint Andrew, and whomsoever else he held most holy, to bear witness that he would take bloody vengeance on De la Marck, on the people of Liege, and on him who was the author of the whole. -- These last threats, uttered more obscurely than the others, obviously concerned the person of the King, and at one time the Duke expressed his determination to send for the Duke of Normandy, the brother of the King, and with whom Louis was on the worst terms, in order to compel the captive monarch to surrender either the Crown itself, or some of its most valuable rights and appanages.
Another day and night passed in the same stormy and fitful deliberations, or rather rapid transitions of passion, for the Duke scarcely ate or drank, never changed his dress, and, altogether, demeaned himself like one in whom rage might terminate in utter insanity. By degrees he became more composed, and began to hold, from time to time, consultations with his ministers, in which much was proposed, but nothing resolved on. Comines assures us that at one time a courier was mounted in readiness to depart for the purpose of summoning the Duke of Normandy, and in that event, the prison of the French Monarch would probably have been found, as in similar cases, a brief road to his grave.
At other times, when Charles had exhausted his fury, he sat with his features fixed in stern and rigid immobility, like one who broods over some desperate deed, to which he is as yet unable to work up his resolution. And unquestionably it would have needed little more than an insidious hint from any of the counsellors who attended his person to have pushed the Duke to some very desperate action. But the nobles of Burgundy, from the sacred character attached to the person of a King, and a Lord Paramount, and from a regard to the public faith, as well as that of their Duke, which had been pledged when Louis threw himself into their power, were almost unanimously inclined to recommend moderate measures; and the arguments which D'Hymbercourt and De Comines had now and then ventured to insinuate during the night, were, in the cooler hours of the next morning, advanced and urged by Crevecoeur and others. Possibly their zeal in behalf of the King might not be entirely disinterested.
Many, as we have mentioned, had already experienced the bounty of the King; others had either estates or pretensions in France, which placed them a little under his influence; and it is certain that the treasure which had loaded four mules when the King entered Peronne, became much lighter in the course of these negotiations.
In the course of the third day, the Count of Campobasso brought his Italian wit to assist the counsels of Charles; and well was it for Louis that he had not arrived when the Duke was in his first fury. Immediately on his arrival, a regular meeting of the Duke's counsellors was convened for considering the measures to be adopted in this singular crisis.
On this occasion, Campobasso gave his opinion, couched in the apologue of the Traveller, the Adder, and the Fox; and reminded the Duke of the advice which Reynard gave to the man, that he should crush his mortal enemy, now that chance had placed his fate at his disposal. (The fox advised the man who had found a snake by the roadside to kill it. He, however, placed it in his bosom, and was afterwards bitten.) De Comines, who saw the Duke's eyes sparkle at a proposal which his own violence of temper had already repeatedly suggested, hastened to state the possibility that Louis might not be, in fact, so directly accessory to the sanguinary action which had been committed at Schonwaldt; that he might be able to clear himself of the imputation laid to his charge, and perhaps to make other atonement for the distractions which his intrigues had occasioned in the Duke's dominions, and those of his allies; and that an act of violence perpetrated on the King was sure to bring both on France and Burgundy a train of the most unhappy consequences, among which not the least to be feared was that the English might avail themselves of the commotions and civil discord which must needs ensue, to repossess themselves of Normandy and Guyenne, and renew those dreadful wars which had only, and with difficulty, been terminated by the union of both France and Burgundy against the common enemy. Finally, he confessed that he did not mean to urge the absolute and free dismissal of Louis; but only that the Duke should avail himself no farther of his present condition than merely to establish a fair and equitable treaty between the countries, with such security on the King's part as should make it difficult for him to break his faith, or disturb the internal peace of Burgundy in the future. D'Hymbercourt, Crevecoeur, and others signified their reprobation of the violent measures proposed by Campobasso, and their opinion, that in the way of treaty more permanent advantages could be obtained, and in a manner more honourable for Burgundy, than by an action which would stain her with a breach of faith and hospitality.
