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which fancy can picture better than words can paint。 But at this
particular spot a deep silence reigned； because in these two houses
lived two passions which never rejoiced。 Beyond them stretched the
silent country。 Beneath the shadow of the steeples of Saint…Martin；
these two mute dwellings； separated from the others in the same street
and standing at the crooked end of it； seemed afflicted with leprosy。
The building opposite to them； the home of the criminals of the State；
was also under a ban。 A young man would be readily impressed by this
sudden contrast。 About to fling himself into an enterprise that was
horribly hazardous； it is no wonder that the daring young seigneur
stopped short before the house of the silversmith； and called to mind
the many tales furnished by the life of Maitre Cornelius；tales which
caused such singular horror to the countess。 At this period a man of
war； and even a lover； trembled at the mere word 〃magic。〃 Few indeed
were the minds and the imaginations which disbelieved in occult facts
and tales of the marvellous。 The lover of the Comtesse de Saint…
Vallier； one of the daughters whom Louis XI。 had in Dauphine by Madame
de Sassenage； however bold he might be in other respects； was likely
to think twice before he finally entered the house of a so…called
sorcerer。
The history of Maitre Cornelius Hoogworst will fully explain the
security which the silversmith inspired in the Comte de Saint…Vallier；
the terror of the countess； and the hesitation that now took
possession of the lover。 But； in order to make the readers of this
nineteenth century understand how such commonplace events could be
turned into anything supernatural； and to make them share the alarms
of that olden time； it is necessary to interrupt the course of this
narrative and cast a rapid glance on the preceding life and adventures
of Maitre Cornelius。
CHAPTER II
THE TORCONNIER
Cornelius Hoogworst； one of the richest merchants in Ghent； having
drawn upon himself the enmity of Charles； Duke of Burgundy； found
refuge and protection at the court of Louis XI。 The king was conscious
of the advantages he could gain from a man connected with all the
principal commercial houses of Flanders； Venice； and the Levant； he
naturalized； ennobled； and flattered Maitre Cornelius； all of which
was rarely done by Louis XI。 The monarch pleased the Fleming as much
as the Fleming pleased the monarch。 Wily； distrustful； and miserly；
equally politic； equally learned； superior； both of them； to their
epoch； understanding each other marvellously； they discarded and
resumed with equal facility； the one his conscience； the other his
religion； they loved the same Virgin； one by conviction； the other by
policy； in short； if we may believe the jealous tales of Olivier de
Daim and Tristan； the king went to the house of the Fleming for those
diversions with which King Louis XI。 diverted himself。 History has
taken care to transmit to our knowledge the licentious tastes of a
monarch who was not averse to debauchery。 The old Fleming found； no
doubt； both pleasure and profit in lending himself to the capricious
pleasures of his royal client。
Cornelius had now lived nine years in the city of Tours。 During those
years extraordinary events had happened in his house； which had made
him the object of general execration。 On his first arrival； he had
spent considerable sums in order to put the treasures he brought with
him in safety。 The strange inventions made for him secretly by the
locksmiths of the town； the curious precautions taken in bringing
those locksmiths to his house in a way to compel their silence； were
long the subject of countless tales which enlivened the evening
gatherings of the city。 These singular artifices on the part of the
old man made every one suppose him the possessor of Oriental riches。
Consequently the NARRATORS of that regionthe home of the tale in
Francebuilt rooms full of gold and precious tones in the Fleming's
house； not omitting to attribute all this fabulous wealth to compacts
with Magic。
Maitre Cornelius had brought with him from Ghent two Flemish valets；
an old woman； and a young apprentice； the latter； a youth with a
gentle； pleasing face； served him as secretary； cashier； factotum； and
courier。 During the first year of his settlement in Tours； a robbery
of considerable amount took place in his house； and judicial inquiry
showed that the crime must have been committed by one of its inmates。
The old miser had his two valets and the secretary put in prison。 The
young man was feeble and he died under the sufferings of the
〃question〃 protesting his innocence。 The valets confessed the crime to
escape torture； but when the judge required them to say where the
stolen property could be found； they kept silence； were again put to
the torture； judged； condemned； and hanged。 On their way to the
scaffold they declared themselves innocent； according to the custom
of all persons about to be executed。
The city of Tours talked much of this singular affair； but the
criminals were Flemish； and the interest felt in their unhappy fate
soon evaporated。 In those days wars and seditions furnished endless
excitements； and the drama of each day eclipsed that of the night
before。 More grieved by the loss he had met with than by the death of
his three servants； Maitre Cornelius lived alone in his house with the
old Flemish woman； his sister。 He obtained permission from the king to
use state couriers for his private affairs； sold his mules to a
muleteer of the neighborhood； and lived from that moment in the
deepest solitude； seeing no one but the king； doing his business by
means of Jews； who； shrewd calculators； served him well in order to
gain his all…powerful protection。
Some time after this affair； the king himself procured for his old
〃torconnier〃 a young orphan in whom he took an interest。 Louis XI。
called Maitre Cornelius familiarly by that obsolete term； which； under
the reign of Saint…Louis； meant a usurer； a collector of imposts； a
man who pressed others by violent means。 The epithet； 〃tortionnaire；〃
which remains to this day in our legal phraseology； explains the old
word torconnier； which we often find spelt 〃tortionneur。〃 The poor
young orphan devoted himself carefully to the affairs of the old
Fleming； pleased him much； and was soon high in his good graces。
During a winter's night； certain diamonds deposited with Maitre
Cornelius by the King of England as security for a sum of a hundred
thousand crowns were stolen； and suspicion； of course； fell on the
orphan。 Louis XI。 was all the more severe because he had answered for
the youth's fidelity。 After a very brief and summary examination by
the grand provost； the unfortunate secretary was hanged。 After that no
one dared for a long time to learn the arts of banking and exchange
from Maitre Cornelius。
In course of time； however； two young men of the town； Touraineans；
men of honor； and eager to make their fortunes；took service with the
silversmith。 Robberies coincided with the admission of the two young
men into the house。 The circumstances of these crimes； the manner in
which they were perpetrated； showed plainly that the robbers had
secret communication with its inmates。 Become by this time more than
ever suspicious and vindictive； the old Fleming laid the matter before
Louis XI。； who placed it in the hands of his grand provost。 A trial
was promptly had and promptly ended。 The inhabitants of Tours blamed
Tristan l'Hermite secretly for unseemly haste。 Guilty or not guilty；
the young Touraineans were looked upon as victims； and Cornelius as an
executioner。 The two families thus thrown into mourning were much
respected； their complaints obtained a hearing； and little by little
it came to be believed that all the victims whom the king's
silversmith had sent to the scaffold were innocent。 Some persons
declared that the cruel miser imitated the king； and sought to put
terror and gibbets between himself and his fellow…men； others said
that he had never been robbed at all；that these melancholy
executions were the result of cool calculations； and that their real
object was to relieve him of all fear for his treasure。
The first effect of these rumors was to isolate Maitre Cornelius。 The
Touraineans treated him like a leper； called him the 〃tortionnaire；〃
and named his house Malemaison。 If the Fleming had found strangers to
the town bold enough to enter it； the inhabitants would have warned
them against doing so。 The most favorable opinion of Maitre Cornelius
was that of persons who thought him merely baneful。 Some he inspired
with instinctive terror； others he impressed with the deep respect
that most men feel for limitless power and money； while to a few he
certainly possessed the attraction of mystery。 His way of life； his
countenance； and the favor of the king； justified all the t