Ten Years Later, Alexandre Dumas [win 10 ebook reader txt] 📗
- Author: Alexandre Dumas
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“Yes, the letter is finished, sealed, and her royal highness is ready to receive you.”
Raoul, at this remark, hardly gave himself time to salute Athenais, cast one look at Louise, bowed to Montalais, and withdrew in the direction of the chateau. As he withdrew he again turned round, but at last, at the end of the grand walk, it was useless to do so again, as he could no longer see them. The three young girls, on their side, had, with widely different feelings, watched him disappear.
“At last,” said Athenais, the first to interrupt the silence, “at last we are alone, free to talk of yesterday’s great affair, and to come to an understanding upon the conduct it is advisable for us to pursue. Besides, if you will listen to me,” she continued, looking round on all sides, “I will explain to you, as briefly as possible, in the first place, our own duty, such as I imagine it to be, and, if you do not understand a hint, what is Madame’s desire on the subject.” And Mademoiselle de Tonnay-Charente pronounced these words in such a tone as to leave no doubt, in her companion’s minds, upon the official character with which she was invested.
“Madame’s desire!” exclaimed Montalais and La Valliere together.
“Her ultimatum,” replied Mademoiselle de Tonnay-Charente, diplomatically.
“But,” murmured La Valliere, “does Madame know, then—”
“Madame knows more about the matter than we said, even,” said Athenais, in a formal, precise manner. “Therefore let us come to a proper understanding.”
“Yes, indeed,” said Montalais, “and I am listening in breathless attention.”
“Gracious heavens!” murmured Louise, trembling, “shall I ever survive this cruel evening?”
“Oh! do not frighten yourself in that manner,” said Athenais; “we have found a remedy.” So, seating herself between her two companions, and taking each of them by the hand, which she held in her own, she began. The first words were hardly spoke, when they heard a horse galloping away over the stones of the public high-road, outside the gates of the chateau.
Chapter LV. Happy as a Prince.
At the very moment he was about entering the chateau, Bragelonne met De Guiche. But before having been met by Raoul, De Guiche had met Manicamp, who had met Malicorne. How was it that Malicorne had met Manicamp? Nothing more simple, for he had awaited his return from mass, where he had accompanied M. de Saint-Aignan. When they met, they congratulated each other upon their good fortune, and Manicamp availed himself of the circumstance to ask his friend if he had not a few crowns still remaining at the bottom of his pocket. The latter, without expressing any surprise at the question, which he perhaps expected, answered that every pocket which is always being drawn upon without anything ever being put in it, resembles those wells which supply water during the winter, but which gardeners render useless by exhausting during the summer; that his, Malicorne’s, pocket certainly was deep, and that there would be a pleasure in drawing on it in times of plenty, but that, unhappily, abuse had produced barrenness. To this remark, Manicamp, deep in thought, had replied, “Quite true!”
“The question, then, is how to fill it?” Malicorne added.
“Of course; but in what way?”
“Nothing easier, my dear Monsieur Manicamp.”
“So much the better. How?”
“A post in Monsieur’s household, and the pocket is full again.”
“You have the post?”
“That is, I have the promise of being nominated.”
“Well!”
“Yes; but the promise of nomination, without the post itself, is like a purse with no money in it.”
“Quite true,” Manicamp replied a second time.
“Let us try for the post, then,” the candidate had persisted.
“My dear fellow,” sighed Manicamp, “an appointment in his royal highness’s household is one of the gravest difficulties of our position.”
“Oh! oh!”
“There is no question that, at the present moment, we cannot ask Monsieur for anything.”
“Why so?” “Because we are not on good terms with him.”
“A great absurdity, too,” said Malicorne, promptly.
“Bah! and if we were to show Madame any attention,” said Manicamp, “frankly speaking, do you think we should please Monsieur?”
“Precisely; if we show Madame any attention, and do it adroitly, Monsieur ought to adore us.”
“Hum!”
“Either that or we are great fools. Make haste, therefore, M. Manicamp, you who are so able a politician, and make M. de Guiche and his royal highness friendly again.”
“Tell me, what did M. de Saint-Aignan tell you, Malicorne?”
“Tell me? nothing; he asked me several questions, and that was all.”
“Well, was he less discreet, then, with me.”
“What did he tell you?”
“That the king is passionately in love with Mademoiselle de la Valliere.”
“We knew that already,” replied Malicorne, ironically; “and everybody talks about it loud enough for all to know it; but in the meantime, do what I advise you; speak to M. de Guiche, and endeavor to get him to make advances to Monsieur. Deuce take it! he owes his royal highness that, at least.”
“But we must see De Guiche, then?”
“There does not seem to be any great difficulty in that; try to see him in the same way I tried to see you; wait for him; you know that he is naturally very fond of walking.”
“Yes; but whereabouts does he walk?”
“What a question to ask! Do you not know that he is in love with Madame?”
“So it is said.”
“Very well; you will find him walking about on the side of the chateau where her apartments are.”
“Stay, my dear Malicorne, you were not mistaken, for here he is coming.”
“Why should I be mistaken? Have you ever noticed that I am in the habit of making a mistake? Come, we only need to understand each other. Are you in want of money?”
“Ah!” exclaimed Manicamp, mournfully.
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