Pierre Pevel - By The Alchemist in the Shadows Page 0,39
that forces us to give her allegations serious consideration. For even if it were the duch-esse de Chevreuse herself claiming to denounce a plot against the king . . .' At these words, Rochefort raised an eyebrow, but the captain was not deterred. 'Even if La Donna were La Chevreuse, I say, we would have to lend her an attentive ear.'
'The cardinal is of the same mind as you. Moreover, there is this . . .'
Rochefort discreetly pushed something across the table to La Fargue, an object which looked very much like a jewel case made of precious wood. The captain took it, opened it, and saw a black wax seal inside, still attached to the torn corner of a sheet of parchment.
'That was in the packet La Donna gave you, not long ago, to deliver to His Eminence. Do you know what it is?'
La Fargue sat up in his chair.
'Yes. This is a Black Seal. Each of them contains a drop of dragon's blood, used by the Black Claw to seal its most precious documents . . .' He returned the case, and Rochefort pocketed it immediately. 'So the Black Claw is a player in this game.'
'In one fashion or another, yes.'
'What does La Donna say on this matter?'
The cardinal's man grimaced.
'Not much . . . neither on this matter nor, indeed, on any other. According to Laffemas she has no equal when it comes to answering a question without saying anything . . .'
For several days now, the beautiful Alessandra di Santi had been transported in secret to a room in Le Chatelet and interrogated, also in the greatest secrecy, all morning. Monsieur de Laffemas conducted these sessions. Beginning his career as an advocate in Parlement, then a master of petitions, he had since been appointed a state councillor. He enjoyed the confidence and esteem of Richelieu, to whom he owed a great deal. Now, at the age of fifty, he was the lieutenant of civil affairs at Le Chatelet, that is to say, one of the two magistrates - the other being the lieutenant of criminal affairs - who worked as deputies to the provost of Paris. An honest, rigorous and devoted man, Isaac de Laffemas was in charge of State prosecutions and therefore the object of enduring hatred due to his role in the great trials ordered by the cardinal.
Thinking about the man's difficulties with La Donna, La Fargue couldn't prevent himself from letting a smile show. Rochefort saw it and also smiled, adding:
'To top it all, without a doubt, is the fact that Laffemas always comes out feeling quite pleased with himself. It is only when he reads the minutes of his interrogation that he realises how, every time, La Donna has not answered the question, or only very partially, or she has merely repeated information she has already given him, and which wasn't worth very much to begin with. She mixes truth and falsehood, all the while cleverly wielding allusion, innuendo, digression, hollow phrases and misleading revelations. She knows how to play at being nai've, foolish, forgetful and charming by turn. Poor Laffemas is losing his wits as well as his sleep over her. And yet, he still returns each morning determined not to let her get the best of him—'
Rochefort was interrupted by the skittles players, applauding an able bowler.
'Very well,' said La Fargue. 'La Donna is leading Laffemas around by the nose. But it's only fair . . .
After all, she promised to tell us what she knows of this plot on the condition that she is protected. That means a pardon, without which she will always be persecuted in France. In accordance with the sentences passed by the Parlement, her proper place, right now, is in prison.
She knows this full well and, unless she is subjected to torture, she will remain silent on the essential question until she receives her guarantees.'
'The cardinal is not in a position to offer her such guarantees right now. And time is running out.
Not simply because we believe the date of execution of the plot against His Majesty is fast approaching. But also because each day that goes by increases the chances that La Donna's presence will be discovered. And when it reaches the ears of the members of the Parlement—'
'The king can annul a ruling by the Parlement, in his Council. He has that power.'