The Man in the Iron Mask Page #4

PIERRE:

Your Majesty, I know it is a... a

festive time, but before --

KING LOUIS:

The blue sash. No, the burgundy!

PIERRE:

... before the party begins --

KING LOUIS:

The party has already begun -- so

why are you delaying me?

PIERRE:

We do not wish to delay you,

Majesty, but... as your advisors, we

feel it is our -- our --

CLAUDE:

... our duty.

PIERRE:

Yes! It is our duty to let you

know... there are riots in Paris.

LOUIS:

Riots? My people live in the

world's most beautiful city, their

king has the grandest palaces on

earth. Why should they feel

anything but pride and contentment?

PIERRE:

Well yes, of course, Majesty, and

I'm sure they are content... except

that... well, they are starving.

LOUIS:

Sometimes the poor do grow hungry.

But why would they riot about it?

As he says this, a replica of the Matterhorn made of fruits

and meringues is carried past the window by a team of chefs.

PIERRE:

Majesty... We have more than enough

food set aside for your birthday

celebration next week. If we

distributed some of that, we would

have time to gather more before --

LOUIS:

Aramis! I have been expecting you!

(to the tailors)

We are satisfied, that will do.

The tailors and advisors withdraw as Aramis -- still in his

simple priest's robe -- strides forward and bows to the kind.

ARAMIS:

Your birthday celebration, your

Majesty?

LOUIS:

Next week. This is a mere garden

party -- and I wish to join it, so I

will be brief. I am experiencing

resistance from the Jesuits.

ARAMIS:

Well... perhaps you should speak

with them, your Majesty.

LOUIS:

I have demanded it -- and common

priests present themselves! Can you

imagine the arrogance? Common

Jesuit priests try to act as my

equals, and they refuse to reveal

the names of anyone else in their

order! No one can keep secrets like

the Jesuits can, and the identity of

their leader is the darkest secret

they hold. Even the Pope himself

does not know who leads the Jesuit

Order in France! He suspects the

Governor General of Jesuits, whoever

he is, is angling to become Pope

himself.

ARAMIS:

How can I serve you in this?

LOUIS:

Perhaps you can find out who this

secret leader of the Jesuits is.

You are now a priest, but you were

once a Musketeer, serving the throne

of France, a throne ordained of God.

Can you accept this mission, and

keep it private?

ARAMIS:

If I find out the identity of this

Jesuit rebel. I will kill both him

and the man who told me.

LOUIS:

Once a Musketeer, always a

Musketeer, eh?

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