



Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by the
Web Archive (New York Public Library)











Transcriber's Notes:

   1. Page scan source:
      http://www.archive.org/details/snowball00weymgoog
      (New York Public Library)






[Illustration: FLUNG A SNOWBALL AT ME. _Page 11_.]






                             THE SNOWBALL




                                  BY

                          STANLEY J. WEYMAN

              AUTHOR OF "A GENTLEMAN OF FRANCE," "UNDER
                   THE RED ROBE," "MY LADY ROTHA,"
                              ETC. ETC.




                             ILLUSTRATED






                               NEW YORK
                         THE MERRIAM COMPANY
                           67 Fifth Avenue






                         Copyright, 1895, by
                         THE MERRIAM COMPANY






                        LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

                              *   *   *


   Flung a snowball at me. _Frontispiece_.

   He dropped his napkin.

   "Your scribe might do for me."

   She sprang forward.

   It was the king.

   "Are you coming out there?"






                              MERRIAM'S

                            VIOLET SERIES.

                              *   *   *

                Illustrated, Square 32mo, Cloth, 40c.

                              *   *   *


     No. 6

      I.--A Man and His Model. By Anthony Hope.

     II.--The Body-Snatcher. By Robert Louis Stevenson.

    III.--The Silence of the Maharajah. By Marie Corelli.

     IV.--Some Good Intentions and a Blunder.

      V.--After To-Morrow. By the Author of "The Green Carnation."

     VI.--The Snowball. By Stanley J. Weyman.


                              *   *   *
                    OTHER VOLUMES IN PREPARATION.
                              *   *   *

       _For sale by all booksellers, or will be sent post-paid
                      upon receipt of price by_

                         THE MERRIAM COMPANY

                     _Publishers and Booksellers_

              67 FIFTH AVENUE                   NEW YORK






                            THE SNOWBALL.


The slight indisposition from which the Queen suffered in the spring
of 1602, and which was occasioned by a cold caught during her
lying-in, by diverting the King's attention from matters of State, had
the effect of doubling the burden cast on my shoulders. Though the
main threads of M. de Biron's conspiracy were in our hands as early as
the month of November of the preceding year, and steps had been
immediately taken to sound the chief associates by summoning them to
court, an interval necessarily followed during which we had everything
to fear; and this not only from the despair of the guilty, but from
the timidity of the innocent who, in a court filled with cabals and
rumors of intrigues, might see no way to clear themselves. Even the
shows and interludes which followed the Dauphin's birth, and made that
Christmas remarkable, served only to amuse the idle; they could not
disperse the cloud which hung over the Louvre, nor divert those who,
on the one side or the other, had aught to fear.

In connection with this period of suspense I recall an episode, both
characteristic in itself, and worthy, I think, by reason of its
oddity, to be set down here; where it may serve for a preface to those
more serious events, attending the trial and execution of M. de Biron,
which I shall have presently to relate.

I had occasion, about the end of the month of January, to see M. du
Hallot. The weather was cold, and partly for that reason, partly from
a desire to keep my visit, which had to do with La Fin's disclosures,
from the general eye, I chose to go on foot. For the same reason I
took with me only two armed servants, and a confidential page, the son
of my friend Arnaud. M. du Hallot, who lived at this time in a house
in the Faubourg St. Germain, not far from the College of France,
detained me long, and when I rose to leave insisted that I should take
his coach, as snow had begun to fall and already lay an inch deep in
the streets. At first I was unwilling to do this, but reflecting that
such small services are highly appreciated by those who render them,
and attach men more surely and subtly than the greatest bribes, I
finally consented, and, taking my place with some becoming
expressions, bade young Ar