Joseph Balsamo (36 page)
” Yet we had Madame de Phalaris then, who tried to resign occasionally when the regent shut his eyes ; and we had, too, La Souris, who went about picking up what crumbs she could manage to gather.”
” Oh, my lord, but Madame de Phalaris was really a lady of rank, and La Souris was such a good-natured girl.”
JOSEPH BALSAMO. 269
” Yes ; so nothing was refused them ‘
” Or, rather, they could refuse no one.”
” Come, madame,” said the chancellor, laughing in a manner that astonished the old lady more and more, it was so open and natural, ” come, do not make me speak ill of my own administration, through affection for my youthful days.”
” But, my lord, when I think of those days, I must la-ment my lost fortune, my ruined family. “
” You see, countess, what it is not to go with the times, not to sacrifice to the idols of the day.”
” Alas ! my lord, those idols care not for worshipers who come with empty hands.”
* What can you know about them ? “
‘ Yes ; you have never tried them, I think.” ‘My lord, you speak to me really like a friend ‘ ‘Well, are we not about the same age, countess ?” ‘ Oh ! why arn I not twenty, and you, my lord, a simple advocate again ? you would plead for me, and I should gain my cause.”
” Unhappily, we are not twenty, countess,” said the vice-chancellor, with a gallant sigh ; ” we must only, therefore, beg those who are twenty to assist us, since you confess that that is the age to have influence. What, do you know no one at court ? “
” Some old noblemen who have left it now, I once knew, but they would blush for their old friend in her poverty. Stay, my lord, I have still the privilege of being received at court. I might go to Versailles ; yet of what use would it be ? Oh, had I again only my two hundred thousand crowns of income, people would come to visit me perform that miracle for me, my lord ! “
The chancellor pretended not to hear this last phrase. “In your place,” said he, “I should forget the old, as they have forgotten me. I should apply to the young, and beat up for recruits among them. Do you happen to know the princesses at all ? “
” They must have forgotten me.”
270 JOSEPH BALSAMO.
*’ And, besides, they have no influence. Do you know the dauphin ? “
“No.”
” And, after all, he is so busy about his archduchess, who is about to arrive, that he can think of nothing else. Let me see among the favorites is there any one “
“I don’t even know their names.”
“Monsieur d’Aiguillon ? “
” A cockscomb of whom such shameful things are said that he hid in a wall while others were fighting ! Fy ! fy!”
” Pooh ! we must not believe the half of what we hear. But stay, let me think “
” Do do, my lord ; think of some one ! “
” Yes ; why not ? Yes ha ! yes.”
” Who, my lord who ? “
“Why not apply to the countess herself ?”
” To the Countess Dubarry ? ” said the old lady, spreading out her fan.
” Yes ; she is really a kind creature.”
“Indeed!”
“And anxious to be useful.”
” I am of too ancient a family to please her, my lord.”
” You are mistaken, countess ; she tries to attach high families to her.”
” Do you think so ? ” asked the old countess, already beginning to waver in her opposition.
” Do you know her ? ” said the chancellor.
” Oh, good heavens ! no.*’
” Ah, there is the mischief ! She is the person who has real influence.”
” Yes, yes, she has influence ; but I never saw her.’*
” Nor her sister Chon ? “
“No.”
” Nor her sister Bischi ?”
“No.”
” Nor her brother Jean ?”
“No.”
” Nor her negro Zamore ? “
JOSEPH BALSAMO. 271
” What, her negro, my lord ?”
” Yes ; her negro is one of tlie governing powers.”
” What, that little fright whose picture is sold in the streets, which looks like that of a dressed-up pug-dog ?”
c< Yes, the same.”
” I know that African ! ” cried the countess, with offended dignity. ” How should I know him, my lord?”
” Well, well ! I see you do not wish to keep your estates, countess.”
” How is that ? “
” Because you speak contemptuously of Zamore.”
” But what has Zamore to do in the matter ? “
” He might have gained your suit for you that is all.”
” He ? That Moorthat Hottentot ! How could he gain it for me ? “
” By saying to his mistress that he wished you to gain it. You know what influence is ; lie makes his mistress do what he chooses, and she makes the king do what she chooses.”
” Then Zamore governs France, my lord ?”
” Hum ! ” replied the chancellor, nodding his head. ” He has a great deal of influence ; and I had rather quarrel with with the dauphiness, for instance than with Zamore.”
” Great Heaven ! ” exclaimed the countess, ” if it were not a grave person like your lordship who told me such things, I could not believe them.”
“Oh, I am not the only one who will tell them you. Everybody can tell them. Ask any of the dukes and peers if they ever forget, when going to Marly or Luciennes, to take comfits for Zamore to put in his mouth, or pearls for him to hang in his ears. I, who speak to you, am I not the Chancellor of France, or something very near it ? Well, what was I doing when you came in ? I was drawing up a governor’s commission for Zamore.”
” A governor’s commission ? “
“Yes ; Monsieur Zamore is appointed Governor of the Castle of Luciennes.”
272 JOSEPH BALSAMO.
” The very same title with which they rewarded the Count de Beam after twenty years’ service.”
” Yes ; he was made Governor of the Castle of Blois. I remember that.”
” But what a degradation ! Good heavens 1 the monarchy is dead.’
” It is very ill, at least ; and you know, countess, when an invalid draws near his end, people try to get all they can from him.”
” No doubt no doubt ; but the question is, how to get near this invalid.”
” Do you know what you must do to be well received by the Countess Dubarry ? “
“What?”
“You must get admitted by being the bearer of this commission for her negro.”
“I?”
” It will be an excellent beginning.”
” Do you think so, my lord ? ” said the poor countess, all alarmed.
” I am sure of it ; but “
“But what ?”
” Do you know any one acquainted with her ? “
“No one but yourself, my lord.”
” Oh, as for me, it would be difficult for me to introduce you.”
” Assuredly,” said the poor old lady, tossed to and fro by alternate hopes and fears, ” assuredly, fortune is hostile to me 1 Your lordship has received me in a manner quite unexpected, for indeed I did not expect to be admitted to an audience ; then, you have inclined me to pay my court to Madame Dubarry I, a Beam ! and I am ready to undertake the hateful task of delivering the commission for her wretch of a negro, and now I cannot even get an introduction to her !”
The chancellor began again to stroke his chin, and appeared very thoughtful, when suddenly the usher announced, ” Monsieur le Viscount Jean Dubarry.”
At this name the chancellor made a gesture of amaze-
JOSEPH BALSAMO. 273
ment, and the conutess sank back breathless in her chair.
“Now, say that fortune has abandoned you! Ah, countess, countess, Heaven is working in your favor !”
Then, turning to the usher, without giving the old lady time to recover, he desired that the viscount should be admitted instantly. The usher withdrew, and in a mo-ment after our old acquaintance, Jean Dubarry, entered, with his arm in a sling.
After the usual number of bows were made on both sides, and as the countess, trembling and undecided, was trying to rise in order to take leave for the chancellor, by a slight movement of the head, had indicated to her that her audience was ended “Pardon me, my lord,” said the viscount, ” pardon me, madame I interrupted you, I fear ; but I beg of you not to go away ; I have only two words to say to his lordship.”
The countess sat down again without requiring to be pressed, her heart full of joy and expectation.
” But, perhaps, sir, I shall be in your way ? ” she stammered.
” Oh, madame, not at all not at all. I merely wish to lodge a short complaint with his lordship.”
” A complaint ? Against whom ? ” exclaimed the chancellor.
” An attack upon me, my lord ! an assassination ! One cannot pass over such things as that. Let them abuse us, make ballads about us, blacken us ; we can survive all that ; but when it comes to cutting our throats mordieu 1 we die.”
” Explain the affair, I beg,” said the chancellor, pretending to be very much horrified.
“It is easily done ; but I fear I am interrupting this lady’s audience.”
” The Countess de Beam,” said the chancellor, introducing the old lady to the Viscount Jean Dubarry.
Dubarry retreated gracefully to make his bow, the countess to make her courtesy ; and both saluted as ceremoniously as if they had been at court.
274 JOSEPH BALSAMO.
” After you, sir,” said she.
” Madame, I would not be guilty of such treason against gallantry for the world.”
” Oh, .sir, my business only concerns money, in yours honor is concerned ; yours is, therefore, more urgent.”
” Then, madame,” said the viscount, “since it is your wish, I shall take advantage of your obliging permission.” And he related his tale to the chancellor, who listened very gravely.
” You will require witnesses,” said M. de Maupeou, after a moment’s reflection.
” Ah,” cried Dubarry, ” how easily one discovers even in those worlds the upright judge who can only be influenced by irrefutable truth ! Well, I can procure witnesses.”
” My lord,” said the counters, ” the viscount has found one already.”
” What witness ? ” they both asked.
11 1, myself,” the countess replied.
” You ? ” exclaimed the chancellor.
” Sir,” said she, addressing the viscount, “did not this affair happen at the village of Lachausse’e ? “
” Yes, madame.”
” At the post-house ? “
Yes.”
” Well, I shall be your witness. I passed through the place where the attack was made on you, two hours after it happened.”
” Eeally, madame ? ” said the chancellor.
“Yes,” continued the countess; “and everybody was talking of what had just taken place.”
” Take care 1” said the viscount, ” take care, madame ; if you consent to aid me in this matter, very likely the Choisenls will find some means of making you repent of it.”
“Ah,” said the chancellor, “and the more easily that the Countess de Beam is engaged in a lawsuit, her chance of gaining which is very doubtful, I am afraid.”
“Oh, my lord,” cried the old lady, putting her hand to her head. ” I sink from one difficulty to another 1 “
JOSEPH BALSAMO. 275
“Lean upon the viscount,” said the chancellor, in a half whisper ; “lie has a powerful arm to assist you.”
” Only one at present,” said Dubarry, with a simper. ” But I know a certain person who has two good arms they can reach far, and I offer you their aid.”
” Oh, Monsieur le Viscount, are you serious in making me such an offer ? “
” It is only service for service, madame. I accept your aid you accept mine. Is it agreed ? “
” Do I accept yours ? Oh, sir, you do me too much honor ! “
” Then, madame, will you take a seat in my carriage ? I am just going to pay a visit to my sister ‘
” Without any reason without any preparations ? Oh, sir, I dare not “
” You have a reason, madame,” said the chancellor, slipping into her hand Zamore’s commission.
” My lord, you are my tutelary genius ! ” cried the old lady, taking the document. ” Monsieur le Viscount, you are the flower of the French nobility.”
” At your service,” said the viscount, pointing the way to the countess, who was as quick as a bird to take it.
” Thanks for my sister,” whispered Jean in the chancellor’s ear ” thank you, cousin. But did I play my part well, eh?”
“Admirably,” said Maupeou ; “but pray make the countess laugh by telling her how I played mine. But take care ; the old lady is as sharp as a needle ! “
At that moment the countess turned ; the two gentlemen bowed formally to each other, as if taking a ceremonious adieu.
A splendid carriage, with attendants in the royal livery, waited at the door ; the old lady took her place in it quite elated, Jean seated himself beside her, and they departed.
After the king left
Mme.
Dubarry, as we have formerly related, after a very cold and constrained reception, the countess was left alone with Chon and her brother, who had not appeared at first, for fear of his wound being examined it being, in reality, very trifling. The result of this
276 JOSEPH BALSAMO.
family council was, that the countess, instead of going to Lucieuues, as she had told the king, set off for Paris. She had there, in the Rue de Valois, a snug little house which served as a place of rendezvous for all her family, every member of which was constantly running backward and forward, hither and thither, as business or pleasure led them.
The countess being installed in thic domicile of hers, took a book and waited. Meantime, the viscount prepared his battery.
It might be about half-past seven by the large dial of the Church of St. Eustache, when the Countess de Beam and Viscount Dubarry passed by on their way to his sister’s.
The conversation on her side expressed great reluctance to avail herself of the good fortune which had fallen in her way. On his, there was the assumption of a sort of dignity in being her patron, with repeated exclamations at the happy chance which enabled him to introduce her to the Countess Dubarry. In return, the old lady never ceased praising the politeness and affability of the chancellor. All these fits on both sides, however, did not prevent the horses from going as fast as they could, and they reached their place of destination a little before eight.