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This time Coppenole bowed in company with Guillaume Rym。 The hosier's patriotism was tickled。
The last despatch made Louis XI。 frown。
〃What is this？〃 be said； 〃Complaints and fault finding against our garrisons in Picardy！ Olivier； write with diligence to M。 the Marshal de Rouault：That discipline is relaxed。 That the gendarmes of the unattached troops； the feudal nobles； the free archers； and the Swiss inflict infinite evils on the rustics。That the military； not content with what they find in the houses of the rustics； constrain them with violent blows of cudgel or of lash to go and get wine； spices； and other unreasonable things in the town。That monsieur the king knows this。 That we undertake to guard our people against inconveniences； larcenies and pillage。That such is our will； by our Lady！That in addition； it suits us not that any fiddler； barber； or any soldier varlet should be clad like a prince； in velvet； cloth of silk； and rings of gold。That these vanities are hateful to God。That we； who are gentlemen； content ourselves with a doublet of cloth at sixteen sols the ell； of Paris。That messieurs the camp…followers can very well come down to that； also。Command and ordain。To Monsieur de Rouault； our friend。Good。〃
He dictated this letter aloud； in a firm tone； and in jerks。 At the moment when he finished it； the door opened and gave passage to a new personage； who precipitated himself into the chamber； crying in affright；
〃Sire！ sire！ there is a sedition of the populace in Paris！〃 Louis XI。's grave face contracted； but all that was visible of his emotion passed away like a flash of lightning。 He controlled himself and said with tranquil severity；
〃Gossip Jacques； you enter very abruptly！〃
〃Sire！ sire！ there is a revolt！〃 repeated Gossip Jacques breathlessly。
The king； who had risen； grasped him roughly by the arm； and said in his ear； in such a manner as to be heard by him alone； with concentrated rage and a sidelong glance at the Flemings；
〃Hold your tongue！ or speak low！〃
The new comer understood； and began in a low tone to give a very terrified account； to which the king listened calmly； while Guillaume Rym called Coppenole's attention to the face and dress of the new arrival； to his furred cowl； （~caputia fourrata~）； his short cape； （~epitogia curta~）； his robe of black velvet； which bespoke a president of the court of accounts。
Hardly had this personage given the king some explanations； when Louis XI。 exclaimed； bursting into a laugh；
〃In truth？ Speak aloud； Gossip Coictier！ What call is there for you to talk so low？ Our Lady knoweth that we conceal nothing from our good friends the Flemings。〃
〃But sire。。。〃
〃Speak loud！〃
Gossip Coictier was struck dumb with surprise。
〃So；〃 resumed the king；〃speak sir；there is a commotion among the louts in our good city of Paris？〃
〃Yes； sire。〃
〃And which is moving you say； against monsieur the bailiff of the Palais…de…Justice？〃
〃So it appears；〃 said the gossip； who still stammered； utterly astounded by the abrupt and inexplicable change which had just taken place in the king's thoughts。
Louis XI。 continued： 〃Where did the watch meet the rabble？〃
〃Marching from the Grand Truanderie； towards the Pont…aux… Changeurs。 I met it myself as I was on my way hither to obey your majesty's commands。 I heard some of them shouting： 'Down with the bailiff of the palace！'〃
〃And what complaints have they against the bailiff？〃
〃Ah！〃 said Gossip Jacques； 〃because he is their lord。〃
〃Really？〃
〃Yes； sire。 They are knaves from the Cour…des…Miracles。 They have been complaining this long while； of the bailiff； whose vassals they are。 They do not wish to recognize him either as judge or as voyer？〃*
* One in charge of the highways。
〃Yes； certainly！〃 retorted the king with a smile of satis… faction which he strove in vain to disguise。
〃In all their petitions to the Parliament； they claim to have but two masters。 Your majesty and their God； who is the devil； I believe。〃
〃Eh！ eh！〃 said the king。
He rubbed his hands； he laughed with that inward mirth which makes the countenance beam； he was unable to dissimulate his joy； although he endeavored at moments to compose himself。 No one understood it in the least； not even Master Olivier。 He remained silent for a moment； with a thoughtful but contented air。
〃Are they in force？〃 he suddenly inquired。
〃Yes； assuredly； sire；〃 replied Gossip Jacques。
〃How many？〃
〃Six thousand at the least。〃
The king could not refrain from saying： 〃Good！〃 he went on；
〃Are they armed？〃
〃With scythes； pikes； hackbuts； pickaxes。 All sorts of very violent weapons。〃
The king did not appear in the least disturbed by this list。 Jacques considered it his duty to add；
〃If your majesty does not send prompt succor to the bailiff； he is lost。〃
〃We will send；〃 said the king with an air of false seriousness。 〃It is well。 Assuredly we will send。 Monsieur the bailiff is our friend。 Six thousand！ They are desperate scamps！ Their audacity is marvellous； and we are greatly enraged at it。 But we have only a few people about us to…night。 To…morrow morning will be time enough。〃
Gossip Jacques exclaimed； 〃Instantly； sire！ there will be time to sack the bailiwick a score of times； to violate the seignory； to hang the bailiff。 For God's sake； sire！ send before to…morrow morning。〃
The king looked him full in the face。 〃I have told you to…morrow morning。〃
It was one Of those looks to which one does not reply。 After a silence； Louis XI。 raised his voice once more；
〃You should know that； Gossip Jacques。 What was〃
He corrected himself。 〃What is the bailiff's feudal jurisdiction？〃
〃Sire； the bailiff of the palace has the Rue Calendre as far as the Rue de l'Herberie； the Place Saint…Michel； and the localities vulgarly known as the Mureaux； situated near the church of Notre…Dame des Champs （here Louis XI。 raised the brim of his hat）； which hotels number thirteen； plus the Cour des Miracles； plus the Maladerie； called the Banlieue； plus the whole highway which begins at that Maladerie and ends at the Porte Sainte…Jacques。 Of these divers places he is voyer； high； middle； and low； justiciary； full seigneur。〃
〃Bless me！〃 said the king； scratching his left ear with his right hand； 〃that makes a goodly bit of my city！ Ah！ monsieur the bailiff was king of all that。〃
This time he did not correct himself。 He continued dreamily； and as though speaking to himself；
〃Very fine； monsieur the bailiff！ You had there between your teeth a pretty slice of our Paris。〃
All at once he broke out explosively； 〃~Pasque…Dieu~！〃 What people are those who claim to be voyers； justiciaries； lords and masters in our domains？ who have their tollgates at the end of every field？ their gallows and their hangman at every cross…road among our people？ So that as the Greek believed that he had as many gods as there were fountains； and the Persian as many as he beheld stars； the Frenchman counts as many kings as he sees gibbets！ Pardieu！ 'tis an evil thing； and the confusion of it displeases me。 I should greatly like to know whether it be the mercy of God that there should be in Pari