Gallant Ladies Page #2

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ordered me to take

his son twice a week...

to Mme. de Sauve who would teach

and debauch him.

I don't want to go!

I'd rather play marbles or catapults.

I'm fed up of learning good manners!

Come on, don't be afraid.

You can have a cake after.

Mme. de Sauve was the mistress

of Charles IX...

Henri III and the King of Navarre.

She had earned the name "The

lady of 12 inventions".

Bussy, who frequented her...

claims there were only 6.

He's progressing but too hurried.

I must talk to you. I've made a decision.

Again?

Henceforward, I'll only live with women.

Men are boastful braggarts.

I can bear them no more.

Only women please me.

Good. So what?

I want to serve

the greatest of them again.

Our Queen Mother.

Only you can help me see her.

So you intend to live

more seriously, do you?

Have some grapes.

Sit down, Brantme.

The grapes are excellent.

We remember your past services.

And we'll gladly use you again.

You know that M. de la Frgouse

has turned Calvinist...

and had the nerve to kidnap the Gelosi...

Italian actors on their way to us.

Yes. He's asking for a ransom.

200,000 pounds!

It's too much! We're poor!

We spoke to him but he's stubborn.

I know M. de la Frgouse well.

I know.

You even travelled

to Scotland with him...

to take back poor Queen Mary.

I'm sick of being spied on, mother!

The king keeps me in the Louvre.

Last night...

Your brother is king. He has his reasons.

He's the one who decides.

He doesn't like the company you keep.

If a husband is flighty...

his wife sets a good example.

My private life...

is better than his.

It's no use speaking Italian.

I forgot that M. de Brantme

has fought in Italy.

Monsieur de Brantme?

M. de Bussy has many good words for you.

It's mutual. We're more than cousins.

Almost brothers.

Come to me after supper. We'll talk then.

I'm ready to negotiate with la Frgouse.

I'll make him lower his price.

Do you have a plan?

Could I possibly take two ladies

from your suite with me?

If you don't endanger their honour.

I'll see to it, ma'am.

Will two be enough?

Mlle. de Ngrepelisse!

Mlle. de Chteauneuf!

Do you know...

Mlle. de Ngrepelisse? Mlle.

de Chteauneuf?

I know them from court.

Now you've treated my lower lips...

the upper ones are jealous.

Ladies, you're to go with M. de Brantme.

Obey him willingly and respectfully.

It's in the country's interest.

These ladies livened up...

the negotiations so much...

that M. de la Frgouse...

was bowled over.

I simply talked of the ladies for 3 days.

That stirred his interest.

I want to ask you something.

How do you manage to be

with so many women at once?

You never leave them!

They form a whole.

Oh, I do hold you dear!

Yes, but she only pays 8,000 pounds!

And I saved the Royal Treasury 175,000!

I was hoping for money,

not just consideration!

When my cousin, the Duchess

of Retz, received...

her husband went away...

and her lover of the day,

her "favourite", arrived.

He was always a poet.

My cousin liked poetry in general...

and certain poets in particular.

She called them "chosen extracts".

Good day, cousin. So...

you're famous now.

Make the most of it.

Divine Artemis, I missed poetry.

Careful, Brantme. Too

many husbands hate you.

Beware of them.

You always say that.

One day it will be too late.

I've a surprise.

Would the Gelosi please come out now.

This is your liberator.

Good evening.

Good evening.

I haven't seen you for two weeks.

We're in the middle of Lent!

That redheaded goddess!

We met at Chenonceaux. What's her name?

Mme. de la Rivire.

Her husband has at last left her

to fight the rebels in Guyenne.

Here, I'm known as Astre.

Be silent!

I hear you're a real jester.

Only for some people.

Go on then, make me laugh.

Don't you like the Italian way?

Is it quite correct?

Tomorrow, in my rooms?

I'm not like modern women...

who want freedom and independence.

No, sir...

were I expecting, I'd be

tempted to accept.

But such is not the case now.

I only allow passengers

on board my ship...

when it is loaded and full.

Fair Calipante, I've written...

Later.

Good evening, sir.

I hear you dance wonderfully.

It depends on the partner.

You won't be disappointed.

Tomorrow, at seven, in my chambers.

If you know the volta, we'll try that.

Daughter, sister and wife of a king.

She looked at me at last.

What a conquest! The summit! The zenith!

The queen invited me to dance!

Let him in.

Someone tried to poison Mlle.

de Thorigny...

the queen's friend.

But she'll live.

My worst enemy did it.

Don't hesitate in taking revenge.

Good evening, M. de Brantme.

We'll talk tomorrow.

Someone is trying to hurt me, destroy me.

Gillonne de Thorigny, my only friend!

We had agreed to dance tonight.

Let's not change that.

Call my musicians.

Come, come, ladies!

Even though death is among us,

we should make merry.

A volta! For M. de Brantme and me!

When the volta was banned,

I had it imposed.

Another indecency.

What do you think of the Salic Law?

Are we right to stop women ruling?

The law dismays me, ma'am.

Elizabeth is England's greatest ruler.

In France, we're here to make children.

When we can't have any, we're rejected.

You must dance with someone to know him.

It's important to sound him.

To tell if he's healthy and odorous.

If his limbs are supple...

And if she talks worthily.

My mother has a new task for you.

You have to fetch my brother.

He left Paris.

Precisely.

She wants you to fetch him.

I wish to ask you a favour.

Take a message to my brother.

He must impose conditions on his return.

But above all...

my mother mustn't find out.

You can count on me.

Thank you, M. de Brantme.

Come to us when you return.

Let's go to bed.

I'll join you, ma'am.

My dear cousin...

she and I have travelled

some way on love's path...

but there's no reason why you

shouldn't skirmish with her.

Why do you say that, cousin?

Her boiling point is high.

One feels like unpeeling her.

If I were you...

You wouldn't say that.

That's the difference.

You keep your women. I pass through mine.

The next morning...

the Queen Mother officially

asked me to find Monsieur...

the king's brother,

who was in talks with the rebels.

The Virgin Mary sent me!

Holy images, crosses of Lorraine...

rosaries...

Give what you can. I only want charity.

Where are you going?

To carry the word of God...

the Lord Jesus and our beloved Pope...

to those infidels and renegades.

They'll slaughter you!

Our religion has seen other martyrs.

Go with him...

and protect him as you can.

My dear Brantme!

I've been here for weeks.

But they're wary.

So I make up for lost time.

My travelling and lusting companion.

He knows about Elizabeth Tudor.

Tell her how I kissed her!

I was her "toad".

Yes, Sire, you spent a good evening!

Your mother sent me to talk to you.

I have a message from your sister too.

Don't ever leave me!

I'll make you chamberlain!

Life away from Paris is a bore!

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