In Guards we trust by Siegfried Walther - Now Free at iBooks, Smashwords.com, Kobo & other fine eBooks stores worldwide for a limited period only.
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‘May I join you, your majesty?’ a familiar voice enquired
from behind him.
‘Indeed you may, your grace,’ the king replied before
turning to face Duke Emile Le Riche. The latter, as commander of the royal
guard, enjoyed special leave to enter the king’s presence without announcement
and at will. The duke’s shiny new boots squeaked as he stepped onto the
balcony. The duke removed his hat and waved it before the king as he bowed. He
replaced his hat, which completed his immaculate uniform. Both men were silent
for a while as they surveyed the unfolding events. Years of experience had
taught the king that even when his old friend had something pressing on his
mind, he would always wait for royalty to open the discussion.
‘You have news?’ the king probed eventually as he considered
the shadows cast by the two of them on the marble tiles. It was a splendid
Mediterranean morning in the summer of 1792.
It piqued him to detect that one shadow reflected a man in good shape
for his advanced years whilst the expanded circumference of the other stood in
stark contrast to it. At sixty-six, the duke was fourteen years older than the
king. Unlike the king, however, the duke still had most of his hair albeit that
the ravages of time had turned it white.
‘I regret, bad news, your majesty. The protests in France
have become even more violent. Aristocrats have apparently been dragged from
their estates in certain areas. It pains me to mention that some of them have
even been executed in the streets. Looting is said to be widespread.’
‘And what of Paris?’ the king inquired while fingering a
pouch in his robe. He produced his pipe and a sachet containing tobacco.
‘The situation there is tense but apparently still under
control. Sporadic riots have been subdued. But King Louis’ position remains
perilous. A few nobles are reputed to have joined the rebels. There is even
talk that the loyalty of the French army is now divided between the king and
the revolutionaries. No-one is certain who has majority support. The rebels
have convened a national assembly. King Louis is under pressure to recognise
it.’
‘They will end up like the English. With a prime minister,’
king Julien observed glumly. ‘I warned Louis that it would only be a matter of
time before his support for the Americans and their appalling revolution would
backfire on him. However, there is no reasoning with the French if they sense
an opportunity for a war with the English.’
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