police, Tristan l'Hermite. .

Nor were Louis's sayings and actions in private or public of a kind
which could redeem such gross offences against the character of a
man of honour. His word, generally accounted the most sacred test
of a man's character, and the least impeachment of which is a capital
offence by the code of honour, was forfeited without scruple on
the slightest occasion, and often accompanied by the perpetration
of the most enormous crimes ... It is more than probable that, in
thus renouncing almost openly the ties of religion, honour, and
morality, by which mankind at large feel themselves influenced, Louis
sought to obtain great advantages in his negotiations with parties
who might esteem themselves bound, while he himself enjoyed liberty.
He started from the goal, he might suppose, like the racer who
has got rid of the weights with which his competitors are still
encumbered, and expects to succeed of course. But Providence
seems always to unite the existence of peculiar danger with some
circumstance which may put those exposed to the peril upon their
guard. The constant suspicion attached to any public person who
becomes badly eminent for breach of faith is to him what the rattle
is to the poisonous serpent: and men come at last to calculate
not so much on what their antagonist says as upon that which he
is likely to do; a degree of mistrust which tends to counteract
the intrigues of such a character, more than his freedom from
the scruples of conscientious men can afford him advantage. .

Indeed, although the reign of Louis had been as successful in
a political point of view as he himself could have desired, the
spectacle of his deathbed might of itself be a warning piece against
the seduction of his example. Jealous of every one, but chiefly of