Letters From My Windmill Alphonse Daudet (top 10 ebook reader .txt) 📖

to the Camargue screaming,"It's cold … it's cold … it's cold."

I

DEATH OF THE DAUPHIN

The little Dauphin is sick; the truth is he's dying…. In every churchin the Kingdom, the blessèd Sacrament is displayed night and day, andhuge candles burn all the time for the recovery of the royal Child. Theroads around the old residence are miserable and silent, the clocksdon't chime, and the coaches go at walking pace…. Around the palace,through the railings, the curious bourgeoisie are watching somegold-draped, potbellied Swiss who are talking, self-importantly, in thecourtyards.

The whole castle is troubled…. Chamberlains, and major-domos, scurryup and down the marble stairways…. The galleries are filled withsilk-clad pages, and courtesans flitting from group to group seekingsome whisper of news…. On the grand stairs, the weepingladies-in-waiting hold themselves respectfully, and delicately wipetheir eyes with finely embroidered handkerchiefs.

In the orangery, there were numerous gatherings of enrobed doctors.They can be seen through the windows adjusting their long, blacksleeves and carefully rearranging their wigs…. The Dauphin's governorand his equerry are pacing about in front of the door, awaiting thedoctors' prognostications. Some kitchen boys walk past them, withoutbowing. The equerry swears like a trooper; while the governor recitessome verses by Horace…. Meanwhile, a long, plaintive whinny was heardfrom down in the stables. It was the young Dauphin's chestnut, nowforgotten by its grooms, calling mournfully over its empty manger.

And the King? Where is His Majesty the King?… The King is all alonein a room, at the far side of the castle…. Royal Highnesses don'tlike to be seen crying…. It is another thing altogether with theQueen…. Sitting by the bedside of the little Dauphin, her beautifulface is bathed in tears, as she sobs out loud, in front of everybody,just as any commoner would.

In his lace-covered sick-bed, the little Dauphin, whiter than thecushions he lies on, has his eyes closed and looks fast asleep. But heis not. The little Dauphin turns towards his mother and seeing her intears, says:

—Madame, why are you crying? Do you really think that I am dying?

The queen tries to answer, but the sobbing chokes her words.

—Don't upset yourself, madame. You are forgetting that I am the

Dauphin and Dauphins can't die just like that….

The Queen's sobs intensify and the little Dauphin begins to feel afraid.

—Hang on, he says, I don't want death to come and take me, and I knowjust how to stop him from getting to me…. Have forty very strongsoldiers mount guard around my bed!… Have a hundred big cannons readyunder our window, tapers lit and fuses primed, day and night! And it'shard luck death if he dares to come near me!…

To please the Royal child, the Queen gives the order. Soon, big cannonsare heard rolling in the courtyard, and forty tall German mercenaries,halberds at the ready, come and position themselves around the bedchamber. The little Dauphin claps his hands when he sees the oldsoldiers and their grey moustaches. He recognises one of them and callsout:

—Lorrain! Lorrain!

The soldier steps forward towards the bed:

—I really do like you, my dear Lorrain…. Have you brought your bigsword…. If death comes for me, you will be sure to kill him, won'tyou?

Lorrain replied:

—Yes, Sire….

And two big tears run slowly down his tanned cheeks.

Just then, the Chaplain comes towards the young Dauphin and whispers tohim for some time, showing him a crucifix. The little Dauphin listens,and looks astounded, and then, suddenly stops him:

—I can understand what you are telling me, Monsieur priest, butcouldn't my little friend, Beppo die in my place, for which service wecould give him a lot of money?…

The Chaplain continues the whispering and the little Dauphin looks moreand more astonished.

As soon as the Chaplain finishes, the little Dauphin gives a huge sighand says:

—Everything you tell me is so sad, Monsieur Priest, but if there's onething that consoles me, it's that up there amongst the stars inparadise, I will still be the Dauphin…. I am sure that the Good Lordis my cousin and won't forget to treat me according to my rank.

Then, turning towards his mother, he adds:

—Have my best clothes brought to me; my white ermine doublet and myvelvet court shoes. I want to make myself nice for the angels and enterparadise dressed as a Dauphin should.

For a third time, the Chaplain leans towards the little Dauphin andwhispers to him for some time…. In the middle of his discourse, theRoyal child interrupts him angrily:

—Well then, he cries, it's completely pointless being the Dauphin!

The little Dauphin has heard enough, and he turns towards the wallsobbing bitterly.

II

THE SUB-PREFECT TAKES A DAY OFF.

The Sub-Prefect was on his rounds. He was being carried majestically inthe official barouche, complete with coachman and lackey, to theCombe-aux-Fée's Regional selection meeting. The Sub-Prefect had put onhis best embroidered clothes; his opera hat, his skin-tight silverstriped breeches, and his dress-sword with mother of pearl handle forthis important day…. He was looking ruefully down at his knees, onwhich lies a large, embossed-leather, briefcase.

The Sub-Prefect was thinking about the speech which he must soon givebefore the residents of Combe-aux-Fées:

—Gentlemen and constituents….

But he might just as well have twiddled with his blond whiskers andrepeated it twenty times for all the good it did:

—Gentlemen and constituents…. But nothing more of the speech wouldcome.

Nothing more of the speech would come…. It was getting really warm inthe barouche!… Under the Midi sun, the road to Combe-aux-Féesshimmers until it fades into the distance…. The very air burns you… and, at the roadside, thousands of cicadas are calling to eachother, from one white, dust-covered elm to another…. Suddenly, theSub-Prefect started. Down at the foot of a hill, he noticed a smallwood of green oaks which seemed to beckon him.

The small wood of green oaks which seemed to beckon him:

—Come over here, Sub-Prefect, you will find composing your speech mucheasier in the shade of my trees….

The Sub-Prefect was captivated; he jumped down from the barouche andtold his men to wait there for him, as he was going to compose hisspeech over in the small wood of green oaks.

In the small wood of green oaks, there