Louis the Well-Beloved Read Online Free

Maman walked very close to the side of the Duc.
    At one end of the Grande Chambre was a throne, and on this had been placed a velvet cushion. The Duc de Tresmes set Louis on the cushion, and Madame de Ventadour said in loud ringing tones: ‘ Messieurs , the King has called you here to make his wishes known. His Chamberlain will explain them to you.’
    Louis looked intently at his governess. His wishes? He wondered what they were. Was it a surprise? Something he had told her he had wanted . . . as he did on fête days?
    But he could not understand what they were talking about and he was so tired of sitting on the velvet cushion, so he tried to catch his governess’ eye. ‘Let us go now,’ he wanted to whisper. But when he was about to speak she looked away quickly and he was afraid to shout.
    He stared at the blue velvet with the golden lilies embroidered on it. Then he noticed the wonderful red hat which was worn by the Archbishop of Paris. He had never before seen such a hat. He knew now what he wanted. He wanted that red hat because he hated his own black crêpe cap so much. He was the King and he could have what he wanted, for what was the use of being King if he could not?
    The Archbishop knelt at his feet and the hat was very near. Louis’ little hands darted out to seize it; and he would have had it had not the ever watchful Madame de Ventadour restrained him in time.
    ‘I want the red hat,’ he whispered urgently.
    ‘Hush, my darling.’
    Monsieur de Villeroi bent over him. ‘Sire, it is necessary that you attend to what is being said,’ he murmured.
    ‘I want the red hat,’ whispered Louis.
    Monsieur de Villeroi looked helpless and there was a faint ripple of laughter among those who stood near the throne.
    ‘You cannot have the red hat . . . now,’ said Madame de Ventadour out of the corner of her mouth.
    Louis was amused; ‘I am the King,’ he said out of the corner of his.
    ‘You must attend,’ hissed Monsieur de Villeroi, looking very fierce.
    Louis scowled at him. Under his breath he said: ‘You go away.’
    Immediately he was tired and feeling fretful, but he kept his eyes on the Archbishop’s hat.
    He was asked if he approved of the ceremony which had just taken place appointing the Duc d’Orléans Regent of the Kingdom. Louis stared blankly at the Duc de Villeroi.
    ‘Say yes,’ he was told.
    He put his lips tightly together and continued to stare at Monsieur de Villeroi, who looked helplessly at Madame de Ventadour.
    ‘Say yes,’ she urged. ‘Say it loudly; shout it . . . so that all may hear.’
    But no, thought Louis. He had been refused the red hat; he would refuse to say yes. On either side of him Madame de Ventadour and the Duc de Villeroi continued to urge him; he stared at them with those beautiful dark blue eyes with their fringe of long lashes, his lips pressed tightly together; he would not speak.
    ‘Take off your hat,’ said Madame de Ventadour.
    Louis smiled then. He was ready to take off the black crêpe thing; and still keeping his eyes on the red one of the Archbishop, he did so.
    ‘The King has given us the sign of his assent,’ said Villeroi; and the meeting was over.
    But outside the people were calling for him. They wished to have a sight of their little King. On the steps of the Sainte-Chapelle he was held high in the arms of the Grand Chamberlain, and the people shouted his name.
    He stared at them. Many of them were as ugly as those whom he had seen from his windows. He did not like them very much; they shouted too loudly and every eye in the crowd was fixed upon him.
    ‘He is tired,’ said Madame de Ventadour. ‘It would be well to go on our way.’
    So he was soon in the carriage, beside her, and when she was holding his hand he did not feel so disturbed by the faces of the people who lined the route and peered at him through the carriage windows.
    He heard the booming of guns.
    ‘They are firing from the Bastille because you are the King and they love