Maurice de L'Hopital
Apr 29, 2021 17:19:55 GMT
Ymbert Montgomery, Father William Souris, and 2 more like this
Post by jacques on Apr 29, 2021 17:19:55 GMT
"Excusez-moi s’il vous plaît Monsieur Maurice, le Maréchal requires you to attend him in The Drawing Room."
"Of course." Placing his book upon the table Maurice rose, adjusted his tunic, inspected his appearance and decided that it would pass le Maréchal's inspection. He then proceeded to The Drawing Room where he knocked on the door an exact sum of twice, once would not do, thrice would be presumptuous; or so had decreed le Maréchal. From inside a distant voice said "You may enter".
Immediately Maurice opened the door and, walking with purpose (neither too slow nor too fast), proceeded to a spot at least twelve feet in front of his father's desk, where he stood straight and tall while looking directly at the painting above his father's head. Any closer and the man behind the desk would not be 'able to regard the entire man'; or so had decreed le Maréchal.
Waiting for several minutes was not unusual for an audience with le Maréchal. Maurice knew what this was about. It was time for his father Nicolas de L'Hôpital, Duc de Vitry, to instruct him as to precisely how his future would unfold. As with every military campaign it was important for one's subordinates to fully comprehend their orders. Several minutes passed in silence as his father worked his way through numerous pieces of paperwork. It was also important for great focus to be applied to every scrap of paperwork for ambiguity would cause even the most precisely planned stratagem to fail in an ignoble fashion.
Finally his father put down his quill and addressed Maurice. "This coming Monday you will depart for Paris at 2:00PM, travelling in a family coach with a manservant of your choice. Once you have arrived you will obtain suitable lodging. Once this has been accomplished the manservant will be dismissed to return to this Chateau. You may find that not having a manservant to attend upon you to be troublesome. That is fully intended. Fending for yourself will foster self-reliance and character. See to it that both increase with abundance. For funds I have prepared a bank draft for you to draw upon the L'Hopital account. You will be permitted to do so on a monthly basis. As to your activities you shall procure an officer's position in a cavalry regiment. Infantry regiments are to be avoided. Guards regiments afford too little opportunity to obtain glory and recognition upon the battlefield. You will perform your duties in a manner consistent with your family's reputation. I do not have to remind you that your Great Grandfather and I were both Marshals. You are to be the next L'Hopital Marshall. If there is anything you dislike about your instructions you may make whatever changes you would like once I have died and you become this family's Pater Familia. Until then you will comply. That is all, you are dismissed."
Without voicing any response Maurice turned on his heel and, walking with purpose, left the room.
"Of course." Placing his book upon the table Maurice rose, adjusted his tunic, inspected his appearance and decided that it would pass le Maréchal's inspection. He then proceeded to The Drawing Room where he knocked on the door an exact sum of twice, once would not do, thrice would be presumptuous; or so had decreed le Maréchal. From inside a distant voice said "You may enter".
Immediately Maurice opened the door and, walking with purpose (neither too slow nor too fast), proceeded to a spot at least twelve feet in front of his father's desk, where he stood straight and tall while looking directly at the painting above his father's head. Any closer and the man behind the desk would not be 'able to regard the entire man'; or so had decreed le Maréchal.
Waiting for several minutes was not unusual for an audience with le Maréchal. Maurice knew what this was about. It was time for his father Nicolas de L'Hôpital, Duc de Vitry, to instruct him as to precisely how his future would unfold. As with every military campaign it was important for one's subordinates to fully comprehend their orders. Several minutes passed in silence as his father worked his way through numerous pieces of paperwork. It was also important for great focus to be applied to every scrap of paperwork for ambiguity would cause even the most precisely planned stratagem to fail in an ignoble fashion.
Finally his father put down his quill and addressed Maurice. "This coming Monday you will depart for Paris at 2:00PM, travelling in a family coach with a manservant of your choice. Once you have arrived you will obtain suitable lodging. Once this has been accomplished the manservant will be dismissed to return to this Chateau. You may find that not having a manservant to attend upon you to be troublesome. That is fully intended. Fending for yourself will foster self-reliance and character. See to it that both increase with abundance. For funds I have prepared a bank draft for you to draw upon the L'Hopital account. You will be permitted to do so on a monthly basis. As to your activities you shall procure an officer's position in a cavalry regiment. Infantry regiments are to be avoided. Guards regiments afford too little opportunity to obtain glory and recognition upon the battlefield. You will perform your duties in a manner consistent with your family's reputation. I do not have to remind you that your Great Grandfather and I were both Marshals. You are to be the next L'Hopital Marshall. If there is anything you dislike about your instructions you may make whatever changes you would like once I have died and you become this family's Pater Familia. Until then you will comply. That is all, you are dismissed."
Without voicing any response Maurice turned on his heel and, walking with purpose, left the room.