Joseph Balsamo (20 page)
” A despatch from Versailles, madame,” said the count, in a low voice, and presenting a letter which he had kept concealed under his plumed hat.
The dauphiness took it, and read the address. “It is for you, sir, not for me,” she said ; ” open it and read it, if it contains anything that concerns me.”
” The letter is addressed to me,” he replied, ” but in the corner is a mark agreed on between my brother, Madame Choiseul, and myself, indicating that the letter is for your royal highness.”
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“True ; I did not observe it.”
She opened the letter, and read the following lines :
” The presentation of Madame Dubarry is decided on, if she can only procure some noble lady to present her. We still hope she may not find one ; but the only sure means to prevent the presentation will be for her royal highness the dauphinessto make all speed. Her royal highness once at Versailles, no one will dare to offer such an insult to the court.”
” Very well,” said the dauphiness, folding up the letter, without the slightest symptom of emotion, or even of interest.
” Will your royal highness now retire to repose a little ? ” asked Andre, timidly.
” No, I thank you, mademoiselle ; the air has revived me ; I have quite recovered ; ” and abandoning the arm of her lady of honor, she walked forward firmly and rapidly. ” My horses immediately ! ” said she.
The cardinal looked with inquisitive surprise at the count.
” The dauphin is becoming impatient,” whispered the latter ; and this falsehood appearing a secret confided to him alone, his eminence was satisfied. As to Andre, her father had taught her to respect the whims of crowned heads, and she was not at all surprised at the change in Marie Antoinette’s intentions. The latter, therefore, turning, and seeing no alteration in the sweet expression of her countenance, said :
” Thanks, mademoiselle ; your hospitable reception has made a deep impression on me.”
Then, turning to the baron, she continued :
” Sir, you must know that, on leaving Vienna, I made a vow to advance the fortune of the first Frenchman whom I should meet on the frontiers of France. That Frenchman was your son. But I do not intend to stop there ; your daughter shall not be forgotten either.”
” Oh, your highness ! ” murmured Andre.
” Yes, I mean to make you one of my maids of honor.
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You are noble, are yon not ? ” she added again, addressing the baron.
” Oh, your highness ! ” cried the baron, with delight, for all his dreams seemed realized by what he heard ; ” although poor, our descent is unblemished ; yet so high an honor “
“It is only due to you. Your son will defend the king as you have done ; your daughter will serve the dauphiness the one you will inspire with every loyal sentiment, the other with every virtuous one. Shall I not be faithfully served, sir ? ” she said, now turning to Philip, who knelt in gratitude at her feet, without words to express his emotion.
” But,” murmured the baron for his feelings did not prevent him from reflecting.
“Yes, I understand,” said the dauphiness , “you have preparations to make, yet they cannot take long.”
A sad smile passed over the lips of Andre and Philip, a bitter one over those of the baron, and Marie Antoinette stopped, for she felt that she might unintentionally have wounded their pride.
” At least,” she resumed, ” if I may judge by your daughter’s desire to please me. Besides I shall leave you one of my carriages ; it will bring you after us. I must call the Count de Stainville to my aid.”
The count approached.
” I shall leave one of my carriages for the Baron de Taverney, whom I. wish to accompany me to Paris with his daughter. Appoint some one to accompany their carriage, and to cause it to be recognized as belonging to my suite.’
” Come forward, Monsieur de Beausire.”
” This very moment, madame,” answered the count.
A young man of about five-and- twenty years of age, with an easy and graceful carriage, and a lively and intelligent eye, advanced, hat in hand, from the ranks of the escort of the dauphiness.
” Let one of the carriages remain behind,” said the count, ” for the Baron de Taverney ; you will accompany the carriage yourself.”
” And, sir,” said the dauphiness, ” join us again as soon
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as possible. I authorize you to have double relays of horses, if necessary.”
The baron and his children were profuse in their acknowledgments.
” This sudden departure will not put you to much inconvenience, I hope, sir,” said the dauphiness.
” We are too happy to obey your royal highness’s orders,” replied the baron.
” Adieu ! adieu! ” said she, with a smile. ” Gentlemen, conduct me to my carriage. Chevalier de Taverney, to horse ! “
Philip kissed his father’s hand, embraced his sister, and leaped lightly into his saddle.
The glittering train swept on, and in a quarter of an hour had disappeared like an evening vapor ; there remained no human being in the avenue of Taverney but a young man, who, sitting on one of the lower pillars of the gate, pale and sorrowful, followed with a longing eye the last cloud of dust which was raised by the horses’ feet, and which served to show the road they had taken. This young man was Gilbert.
Meanwhile, the saloon of Taverney presented a singular scene. Andre, with clasped hands, reflected on the unexpected and extraordinary event which had so suddenly interrupted the course of her calm life, and she believed herself in a dream. The baron was pulling some hairs, which were rather too long, out of his gray eyebrows, and settling the bosom of his shirt. Nicole, leaning against the door, looked at her master and mistress, and La Brie with his arms hanging down and his mouth open, looked at Nicole.
The baron was the first to rouse himself from his reverie.
” Scoundrel ! ” cried he to La Brie, ” are you standing there like a statue, and that gentleman, one of the king’s body-guard, waiting without ? “
La Brie made a bound toward the door, got one leg hooked in the other, staggered to his feet, and disappeared. In a short time he returned.
” What is the gentleman doing? ” asked the baron.
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” Making his horses eat the pimpernels.’ 1
” Leave him alone, then. And the carriage ?”
” It is in the avenue.”
” The horses harnessed ?”
” Yes, sir four horses ; such beautiful animals ! they are eating the pomegranates. “
” The king’s horses have a right to eat whatever they like. By the bye, the sorcerer ? “
” He is gone, sir. ‘
” And has left all the plate on the table ! It is not possible. He will return, or will send some one for it.”
“I don’t think he will, sir. Gilbert saw him set out with his wagon.”
” Gilbert saw him. set out with his wagon?” the baron repeated, in a thoughtful tone.
” Yes, sir.”
” That wretch Gilbert sees everything. Go and pack my trunk.”
“It is packed, sir.”
“What it is packed?”
” Yes ; as soon as I heard what her royal highness the dauphiness said, I went into your room and packed your clothes and linen.”
“Who told you to do so, you officious rascal?”
“Dame! sir, I thought I was only anticipating your orders.”
“Fool ! Go, then, and help my daughter.”
” Thank you, father ; but I have Nicole.”
The baron began to reflect again.
” But, zounds ! scoundrel ? it is impossible.”
” What is impossible, sir ? “
“What you have not thought of, for you think of nothing.”
” But what is it, sir ? “
” That her royal highness would go without leaving something with Monsieur de Beausire, or the sorcerer without leaving a message with Gilbert.”
At this moment a low whistle was heard from the courtyard.
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‘What is that?”
‘ It is a call for me, sir,” replied La Brie.
‘ And who calls, pray ? “
‘The gentleman, sir.”
‘ The gentleman left by the dauphiness ? “
‘ Yes, sir. And here is Gilbert coming as if he had got something to say to you.” ” Go, then, stupid animal.” La Brie obeyed, with his usual alacrity.
“Father,” said Andre approaching him, “I know what troubles you. Eecollect, I have thirty louis d’ors, and that beautiful watch set with diamonds, which Queen Marie Lezinska gave my mother. “
” Yes, my dear, yes ! ” replied the baron ; ” but keep them, keep them. You must have a handsome dress for your presentation. I may discover some means hush ! here is La Brie.”
” Sir,” cried La Brie, as he came in, holding in one hand aletter, and in the other some money, “see what the dauphiness left for me ten louis d’ors, sir ten louis d’ors ! “
‘ And that letter, rascal ? “
‘ Oh, the letter is for yon, sir from the sorcerer.”
1 From the sorcerer ? Who gave it you? “
‘Gilbert, sir.”
‘ I told you so, stupid animal ! Give it me give it me ! ” He snatched the letter, tore it open, and read these words :
” SIR, Since a hand so august has touched the plate I left with you, it belongs to you ; keep it as a relic, and remember sometimes your grateful guest,
’” JOSEPH BALSAMO.”
” La Brie ! ” cried the baron, after a moment’s reflection, ” is there not a good goldsmith at Bar-le-Duc ? “
” Oh, yes, sir ; the one who soldered Mademoiselle Andre’s silver brooch ! “
” Very well. Andre, lay aside the goblet out of which her royal highness drank, and let the rest of the service be put up in the carriage with us. And you, beast that
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you are, help the gentleman outside to a glass of what remains of our good wine.”
” One bottle, sir ‘ said La Brie, with deep melancholy.
” That’s enough.”
“Now, Andre,” said the baron, taking both his daughter’s hands, ” courage, my child. We are going to Court ; there are plenty of titles to be given away there rich abbeys, regiments without colonels, pensions going to waste. It is a fine country, the Court ! The sun shines brightly there. Put yourself always in its rays, my child, for you are worthy to be seen. Go, my love, go !”
Andre went out, followed by Nicole.
” Hallo ! La Brie, you monster ! ” cried the baron. ” attend to the gentleman, I tell you.”
” Yes, sir,” answered La Brie, from a distant part of the cellar.
“I,” continued the baron, going toward his room, ” must go and arrange my papers. We must be out of this hole in an hour. Do you hear, Andre ? And we are leaving it in good style, too. What a capital fellow that sorcerer is ! I am becoming as superstitious as the devil. But make haste, La Brie, you wretch !”
” I was obliged to go feeling about, sir, in the cellar ; there is not a candle in the house.”
” It was time to leave it, it appears,” said the baron.
CHAPTER XVII.
NICOLE’S TWENTY-FIVE LOUIS D’ORS.
IN the meantime, Andre made active preparations for her departure, and Nicole assisted her with an ardor which quickly dissipated the little cloud that had arisen between them in the morning.
” She is a good girl,” said Andre to herself, ” devoted and grateful ; she has faults, but what human creature has not ? Let me forget them.”
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Nicole was not a girl who was slow to observe the expression of her mistress’s face. ” Fool that I was !” said she to herself; “I was nearly quarreling with my young lady, and all about that young good-for-nothing Gilbert ! and she going to Paris, and will take me with her ! One is sure of making one’s fortune in Paris.”
Andre was the first to speak.
” Put my lace in a bandbox,” said she.
“AVhat bandbox, mademoiselle ?”
” Really, I don’t know. Have we one at all ? “
” Oh, yes ; the one you gave me ; it is in my room.”
And Xicole ran to bring it with an obliging air which disposed Andre still more in her favor.
” But this bandbox is your own,” said Andre, when she reappeared with the article in her hand, ” and you may want it yourself, my poor Xicole.”
” Oh, you have more need of it, mademoiselle ; and, besides, it ought to be yours you lent it me.”
“When people get married and set up housekeeping, they require many little things ; so just now you have most need of the box. Keep it to put your bridal finery in.”
” Oh, mademoiselle ! ” said Xicole, gaily, shaking her head, ” my finery will not take up much room.”
” But if you marry, Xicole, I should wish you to be happy and rich.”
“Rich?”
” Yes, rich, according to your rank.”
” Then you have found some fermier-general for me, mademoiselle ?”
” Xo ; but I have found a dowry.”
” Indeed, mademoiselle ? “
” You know what is in my purse ? “
” Yes, madaiae ; twenty-five shining louis d’ors.”
“They are yours, Xicole.”
‘ ‘ Twenty-five lonis d’ors ! ” cried Xicole, with rapture, it is indeed a fortune ! “
” My poor girl, I am glad you think so ! “
” And you really give them to me, madame ? “
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” I wish I could give you more.”
Nicole felt surprised moved ; the tears came to her eyes ; she seized her young lady’s hand and kissed it.
” Do you think your husband will be satisfied ? “
“Oh, quite satisfied 1” said Nicole. “At least, I hope so.”
She reflected that Gilbert had doubtless refused her hand through fear of poverty, and that now, when she was rich, matters would turn out differently. Then she determined immediately to offer him a share of her young lady’s generous gift, and to attach him to her by gratitude. Such was Nicole’s generous plan. Andre looked at her as she reflected. “Poor girl ! ” sighed she, “may she be happy in her simple life ! “
Nicole heard the words, and started from her reverie. They opened to her fancy a whole Eldorado of silks, diamonds, lace, and love things of which Andre had not thought. But Nicole turned away her eyes from the gold-and-pnrple cloud brightening her horizon, and resisted the temptation. ” After all, madame,” said she, ” I shall be happy here in an humble way.”