Part 25 (2/2)
”And what do you know hness alarst events now passed and gone is one that would materially affect the public peace, if known”
”You must explain yourself,the matter with so much earnestness, that at last he said, in a low voice,
”Did you ever hear of the man ore the iron mask?”
”Yes, certainly,” replied I, ”as he?”
”A great prince, and a most unfortunate man”
”But as he really?”
”In the eyes of the law the crown of France should have been his; but in the conscientious view of things he certainly had no claim”
The comte de la Marche stopped here; and, as I was not very deeply read in history, I did not exactly comprehend the distinction he had just made I had frequently heard talk of the ”Iron Mask,” who from, the royal family; but all these particulars were confused in my memory However, I was much struck with the conversation I had had with the comte de la Marche; and when next the conversation fell on this e, I asked the duc de Richelieu what he thought of him
”Upon my honor,” replied he, ”I never could find out who he really was; not that I did not try,” added he, assureen old age ”I had a h birth,the princesses, her august sisters However, the former, known under the na to do soreeable to ent, her father, the solution of the secret relative to the 'Iron Mask' She used every possible device, but nothing could she obtain from her father, who protested that the mystery should never escape his lips; and he kept his word, he never did divulge it I even inorant of it, unless indeed the cardinal de Fleury inforht the opinion adopted by Voltaire the most probable, viz: that this unknown person was the son of the queen Anne of Austria, mother of Louis XIV These last words helped, in a ma which comte de la Marche had left me to unravel; and, with a view to satisfy myself more positively on the subject, I availed , to lead the conversation to this story
At the mention of the ”Iron Mask,” Louis XV started ”And do you really credit such a fable?” asked he
”Is it then entirely untrue?” inquired I
”Certainly not,” he replied; ”all that has been said on the matter is destitute of even common sense”
”Well,” cried I, ”what your majesty says only confirms what I heard from theyou?”
”Very little, sire; he told me only, that the secret of who the 'Iron Mask' really was had not been communicated to you”
”The marechal is a simpleton if he tells you so I know the whole affair, and ell acquainted with the unhappy business”
”Ah!” exclai norance; you knew nothing at all about it, and now-”
”You are a very dangerous wohter, ”and you are cunning enough even to surprise the secrets of the state”
”'Tis you, rather, who could not resist the inclination to let norant of Which of us two is the more to bla; ”for after all, you did but act with the candor and curiosity of your sex: it was forin atories”
”Well, but,” said I, ”since you really do know all about this man with the iron mask, you will tell it to ratified your curiosity,” said he; ”this is a point of history which must never be cleared up; state reasons require that it should for ever remain a matter of doubt”
”And I must have you tell me,” returned I; ”do pray tell, and I will love you with all my heart”
”It cannot be”
”And why not? This unfortunate person has been long dead without leaving any posterity”