His Excellency Duc Alain de Mylcandonai, His Majesty's Minister of State, to Vicomte Christophe-Armand Tournage, His Majesty's Governor of Hispaniola Greetings!
A CONFIDENTIAL REPLY Mon Cher Christophe, I agree that the situation is most perplexing. As you imply, to try Senior _in absentia_ when it would be so easy to try him in person would make a complete mockery of French Justice. Although his actions whilst in power made it clear that Senior had no qualms about how contemptible French Justice might become in the eyes of the rest of the world, it would ill behove my responsibilites to His Majesty were I to bring His government into such disrepute. The fact that an obvious traitor will escape the consequences of his crimes is nothing new, of course. The life of comfort which the Traitor Sapear enjoys at the Austrian court is legendary. Sapear was tried _in absentia_, however, so that his crimes were brought to light for all to see. The most disturbing aspect of the Senior case is that the issues which led to his treachery - the misguided notion that the Minister of State has authority even in those areas which His Majesty has personally appointed or promoted others to oversee - has sat like a carbuncle on the face of French politics ever since. Now it seems that it will never be cauterised by putting the issues on trial, but will instead lie ready to erupt and spread its poisons once again as soon as a Minister of State of Senior's sorry stamp is appointed in the future. You will recall, however, that this is by no means the first time that His Majesty has exerted himself to ensure that Senior stayed out of court. Indeed, Duc de Sevigny (when Commissioner) had Senior safely mewed up in the Bastille until His Majesty (at Senior's insistance) modified the rules governing eligibility for retaining the Commissioner's post. As a consequence, on that occasion Senior was released, the charges were dropped and Duc de Sevigny's appointment suspended. The only logical explanation for these bizarre events is that Senior holds information about His Majesty of such a damaging nature that, were it to become public, His Majesty would be deposed - and that Senior has threatened to make this information public should he ever come to trial. As to what this information is, however, we may only speculate. Bestial practices so frowned upon by the Church that, should they be found out, not even Kings are immune from their wrathful consequences, perhaps? Alternatively, perhaps Senior has stumbled across evidence which proves the rumour of His Majesty's bastardy (prevalent some years ago) to be true? It cannot be denied that the Queen His mother failed to conceive during all the years she lived as the wife of Louis XIII. They had been estranged for some considerable time when the rather unbelieveable circumstances arranged by Cardinal Richelieu resulted in them having to share a bed for one night - then, lo and behold, our beloved King is born nine months later! A similar, one-night meeting resulted in Monsieur being born a couple of years later of course. Although Louis XIII acknowledged them both to be His own, rumours of their actual paternity have ranged from Cardinal Mazarin to a handsome young Captain in the Cardinal's Guard (whose legitimate son is currently incarcerated with Fouquet and compelled to wear a silk mask, I believe). Should Senior somehow have gotten proof of His Majesty's illegitimacy, then He would be deposed in favour of the descendents of the Duc D'Enghien (a cousin of Henry IV whom he declared to be His Heir Presumtive until the birth of Louis XIII) should it ever came to light. Whatever information Senior has, the fact that His Majesty is so certain that he will use it if he ever comes to trial speaks volumes about Senior's degraded nature, wouldn't you say? Any loyal subject would gladly carry such secrets to the grave, whatever the circumstances. I will continue to petition His Majesty to allow the wheels of Justice to turn in Senior's case - but these efforts would be greatly aided if you could find what evidence Senior has against His Majesty (and oversee its removal). In the meantime, keep a close watch on any correspondence to and from the Senior plantation - especially between there and France. It cannot sit easily with Senior that he has fallen so low and I would not be surprised to learn that he is hatching further treasonous plots as a consequence. Apart from this, mon ami, we can do little but watch him rot in his tropical swamp. With any luck, if he continues to escape trial, from what you tell me he'll drink himself to death anyway. Amities, Alain _______________________________________________ Banana mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.humf.su.se/mailman/listinfo/banana
