Arthur Conan Doyle

Name: The Refugees — Chapter XX
Author: Arthur Conan Doyle

Summary

“The Refugees — Chapter XX”, published in 1893, is a work by Arthur Conan Doyle. It explores elements such as velvet, archbishop and governess.

Quotes from The Refugees — Chapter XX (Arthur Conan Doyle)

Arthur Conan Doyle, The Refugees — Chapter XX (1893)

“ Here was the true Francoise de Montespan, a feline creature crouching for a spring, very far from that humble and soft-spoken Francoise who had won the king back by her gentle words. Madame de Maintenon's hand had been cut in the struggle, and the blood was dripping down from the end of her fingers, but neither woman had time to spare a thought upon that. Her firm gray eyes were fixed upon her former rival as one fixes them upon some weak and treacherous creature who may be dominated by a stronger will. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Arthur Conan Doyle, The Refugees — Chapter XX (1893)

“ A crime in one so high begets a thousand others in those who look to him for an example; and all, all are upon your soul. Take heed, madame, for God's sake take heed ere it be too late! For all your beauty, there can be for you, as for me, a few short years of life. Then, when that brown hair is white, when that white cheek is sunken, when that bright eye is dimmed--ah, then God pity the sin-stained soul of Francoise de Montespan!"
Her rival had sunk her head for the moment before the solemn words and the beautiful eyes. For an instant she stood silent, cowed for the first time in all her life ”

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Source: Wikisource

Arthur Conan Doyle, The Refugees — Chapter XX (1893)

“ Ah, and for the governess, what a blow! Great heaven, what a blow! No archbishop! No marriage! All the pretty plan gone wrong! Was it not cruel?"
Louis gazed at the beautiful furious face in bewilderment, and it flashed across his mind that perhaps her grief had turned her brain. What else could be the meaning of this wild talk of the archbishop and the disappointment? It would be unworthy of him to speak harshly to one who was so afflicted. He must soothe her, and, above all, he must get away from her. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Arthur Conan Doyle, The Refugees — Chapter XX (1893)

“ She dressed herself with care in the morning, putting on her powder, her little touch of rouge, her one patch near the dimple of her cheek, her loose robe of violet velvet, and her casconet of pearls with all the solicitude of a warrior, who is bracing on his arms for a life and death contest. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Arthur Conan Doyle, The Refugees — Chapter XX (1893)

“ The king's eyes had caught the angry gleam which shot from hers, and yet he strove hard to set a curb upon his temper. When such a matter had to be discussed between the proudest man and the haughtiest woman in all France, one or the other must yield a point. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Arthur Conan Doyle, The Refugees — Chapter XX (1893)

“ Then it was borne suddenly in upon her that her children as well as her lover were to be taken from her, that this other woman should see them and speak with them and win their love while she was far away. All that was evil and bitter in the woman flashed suddenly up in her, until for the instant she was what the king had thought her. If her son was not for her, then he should be for none. A jewelled knife lay among her treasures, ready to her hand. She caught it up and rushed at the cowering lad. Louis screamed and ran forward to stop her ”

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Source: Wikisource

Arthur Conan Doyle, The Refugees — Chapter XX (1893)

“ She knew Louis as few others knew him, and she was well aware of that obstinacy in trifles which was one of his characteristics. If he had said that he would be married by the archbishop, then the archbishop it must be; to-night, at least, there should be no marriage. To-morrow was a new day, and if it did not shake the king's plans, then indeed she must have lost her wit as well as her beauty. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Arthur Conan Doyle, The Refugees — Chapter XX (1893)

“ It may well be pleasant to you, who are released from the woman whom you ruined, who can turn now to another without any pale face to be seen within the _salons_ of your court to remind you of your perfidy. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Arthur Conan Doyle, The Refugees — Chapter XX (1893)

“ I need not say that I shall make your retirement a happy one as far as in me lies. Your allowance shall be fixed by yourself; a palace shall be erected for you in whatever part of France you may prefer, provided that it is twenty miles from Paris. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Arthur Conan Doyle, The Refugees — Chapter XX (1893)

“ It was not necessary for you to say it, for I had never for an instant forgotten it. Yet if the king has asked me what I thought, I will not deny to you that I have said that sin is sin, and that he would be a worthier man if he shook off the guilty bonds which held him."
"Or exchanged them for others."
"For those of duty."
"Pah! Your hypocrisy sickens me! If you pretend to be a nun, why are you not where the nuns are? You would have the best of two worlds-- would you not?--have all that the court can give, and yet ape the manners of the cloister. ”

Arthur Conan Doyle

Summary

Quotes from The Refugees — Chapter XX (Arthur Conan Doyle)

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