The Rose of Old St. Louis

by Mary Dillon

  CHAPTER XIX

  CHECK TO THE ABBE!

  "When Greeks joined Greeks, then was the tug of war."

  I had been in Paris three weeks, and they had been weeks of unalloyeddelight. The life and gaiety of the brilliant capital, the streetslined with handsome houses and thronged with gay equipages, richlydressed people, soldiers wearing the tricolored cockade, students,artists, workmen, blanchisseuses, and nursery-maids in picturesquecostumes tending prettily dressed children, made a moving panorama Inever tired of. Even the great palaces and the wonderful works of artscarcely interested me as did this shifting kaleidoscopic picture, andI looked back at life in my native town on the banks of the Delawareas belonging to another world, incomparably tame and dull bycomparison.

  Every morning I accompanied my uncle, Monsieur Barbe Marbois, to theTreasury office, and left him at the door, to roam around the streetsand watch the life of the town. I was at home again in time for middaydejeuner, and then on Fatima's back (for I had brought Fatima with me;no persuasion of friends could induce me to leave her behind, sinceshe had twice rescued mademoiselle and so become my most trustedfriend)--on Fatima's back I dashed out the Avenue to the beautifulWood of Boulogne, sometimes racing with the young bloods to whom myuncle had introduced me, sometimes checking my horse to a gentlecanter beside a coachful of Faubourg St. Germain beauties, exchangingmerry compliments with the brilliant and witty mothers while I lookedat the pretty daughters, who, for aught I knew, were as stupid astheir mothers were brilliant, since they never opened their mouths.And so back to my aunt's in time to make a careful toilet for thefour-o'clock dinner, when there were sure to be guests, more or lessdistinguished, but always interesting.

  I had delivered my message and my note from the President to Mr.Livingston on the day of my arrival, and it seemed to me that it didnot please him overmuch that an envoy extraordinaire should be sent toattend to his affairs; but he said nothing, and received me mostgraciously, both as a messenger from the President and because I wasthe son of his old friend.

  Several times since my arrival at my uncle's house, both Mr.Livingston and his son the colonel had been guests there, and alwaysthe talk had turned on what most interested me, the purchase of NewOrleans and the Floridas. At one of these dinners, MonsieurTalleyrand, the Minister of Foreign Relations, was also guest, andwhile there was but little reference to Louisiana at table, I was,with no intention on my part, a listener later to a most interestingconversation between Monsieur Talleyrand and Mr. Livingston that wasno doubt intended to be strictly private.

  Thinking that it was very likely the three gentlemen--- the Ministerof Foreign Relations, my uncle the Secretary of the Treasury, and theUnited States minister--might have matters of importance to discusswhere my absence would be more desirable than my presence, I left thesalon immediately after dinner, and went out into the garden, takingwith me a Philadelphia paper that had arrived by that morning'sexpress and that I had not yet seen. I took my paper into the littlesummer-house at the farther end of the garden, and was soon engrossedreading the debates in Congress. I found there had been another ofgreat interest on the same Louisiana subject, and so deeply immersedwas I in my paper that I did not notice that any one had entered thegarden until the sound of voices quite close to me roused me. A smalltable with several garden-chairs surrounding it stood under aspreading horse-chestnut tree, and there we often took our morningcoffee, if the weather was fine, or smoked our evening cigars. At thistable Monsieur Talleyrand and Mr. Livingston had seated themselves,and how long they had been talking I did not know, so absorbed was Iin my paper, when Mr. Livingston's voice, a little raised above itsusual even tenor, roused me.

  I sprang to my feet, realizing that I must seem like an eavesdropper,should any one discover me there, even though I had not heard a word.Mr. Livingston was facing the door of the summer-house, and as he sawme he nodded pleasantly to me to come forward.

  "Here, Citizen Minister," he said to Mr. Talleyrand, "is a young manwhose father would like to train him for the profession of diplomacy.Perhaps he could not begin his apprenticeship better than by beingpresent at our interview, and, if you have no objections, I will askhim to remain. He can act as secretary and take notes for the futurereference of us both, if you like."

  I rather thought Mr. Talleyrand did _not_ quite like, though heassented to Mr. Livingston's proposal, but with such cold politenessas made me exceedingly uncomfortable, and I would have been very gladto make my escape to the house. But, for some reason, Mr. Livingstonseemed to especially desire me to remain, and I saw no help for it butto sit down at a respectful distance, take my memorandum-book out ofmy pocket, and prepare, ostensibly at least, to take notes.

  I was much concerned, also, at what Mr. Livingston had said about myfather desiring to train me for diplomacy. He had never said anythingto me about it, and I determined on the instant I would never be adiplomat. "The life of a soldier for me!" I said to myself, and thensuddenly realized that Mr. Livingston was talking, and it behooved meto listen carefully if I was to play the secretary.

  Mr. Livingston was saying:

  "Be assured, sir, that even were it possible that the government ofthe United States could be insensible to the sufferings of the Westernpeople, they would find it as easy to prevent the Mississippi fromrolling its waters into the ocean as to control the impulse of thepeople to do themselves justice. Sir, I will venture to say that werea fleet to shut up the mouths of the Chesapeake, the Delaware, and theHudson, it would create less sensation in the United States than thedenial of the right of deposit at New Orleans has done."

  I liked the ring in Mr. Livingston's voice, and his words sounded verystirring to me; but I could not see that they made any impression onthe impassive countenance of Monsieur Talleyrand. He was reclining inhis garden-chair, and I could see that as Mr. Livingston spoke he wasregarding him intently through half-shut eyes. His tones were of thesweetest and blandest as he replied:

  "The First Consul, Mr. Livingston, has asked me to say to you that heproposes to send General Bernadotte as envoy to the United States toacquire such information as he may deem necessary, previous to histaking any measure relative to the situation in which the acquisitionof Louisiana will place France with respect to the United States. Ihope, moreover, that this measure on the part of the First Consul willprove satisfactory both to you and to your government."

  Now I cannot but think that Mr. Talleyrand is too astute a man to havethought for an instant that this would prove satisfactory, and so, Ihave no doubt, he was quite prepared for Mr. Livingston's indignantoutburst:

  "Satisfactory, sir! If, sir, the question related to the forming of anew treaty, I should find no objection to this measure. On thecontrary, I should readily acquiesce in it as that which would bebest calculated to render the treaty mutually advantageous. But, sir,it is not a new treaty for which we now press, but the recognition ofan old one, by which the United States have acquired rights that nochange in the circumstances of the country obliges them to relinquish,and which they never will relinquish but with their politicalexistence!"

  It was hard for me to sit still under such ringing sentences. I wantedto clap my hands and cry "Bravo!" For a moment all the glories ofParis turned dull and insipid; I would have given them all to be inKentucky on Fatima's back, marching down the river to capture NewOrleans.

  But Mr. Livingston had not finished. Mr. Talleyrand made a slightmovement as if to speak, but, with uplifted hand to prevent him, Mr.Livingston hurried on:

  "In what situation, sir, are we now placed? An armament is aboutsailing for New Orleans. That port has been shut by the order ofSpain. The French commandant will find it shut. Will he think himselfauthorized to open it? If not, it must remain shut until the envoy ofFrance shall have arrived in America, made the necessary inquiries,and transmitted the result of those inquiries to the First Consul. Inthe meantime all the produce of five States is left to rot upon theirhands. There is only one season in which the navigation of theMi
ssissippi is practicable. This season must necessarily pass beforethe envoy of France can arrive and make his report. Is it supposable,sir, that the people of the United States will tranquilly await theprogress of negotiations, when the ruin of themselves and theirfamilies will be attendant on the delay? I can never bring myself tobelieve that the First Consul will, by deferring for a moment therecognition of a right that admits of no discussion, break all thoseties which bind the United States to France, obliterate the sense ofpast obligations, change every political relation that it has been,and still is, the earnest wish of the United States to preserve, andforce them to connect their interests with a rival power! And this,too, for an object of no real moment in itself. Louisiana is, and evermust be, from physical causes, a miserable country in the hands of anEuropean power."

  Mr. Talleyrand's eyes had not moved from Mr. Livingston's face duringthis long speech, but at his last words I saw a sudden spark leap intothem.

  "You no doubt think, sir," he said in his low, even tones, "thatLouisiana would be a much better country in the hands of the UnitedStates. Would your government like to buy it from us?"

  "You know, sir, and have known for some time," replied Mr. Livingston,"that we are ready to make an offer for New Orleans and the Floridasas soon as you are ready to listen to it."

  "But would you not rather have the whole of Louisiana? The rest of it,without New Orleans, would be of little value to us. What would yougive for the whole?"

  Mr. Livingston looked bewildered for an instant; it was almost morethan he could take in at once. But after a moment's thought hereplied:

  "It is a subject, sir, I have not considered; but I suppose we shallnot object to twenty million francs, provided our citizens are paid."

  "That is much too low an offer, my dear sir," responded Talleyrand,"but I see the idea is new to you. I would be glad if you wouldreflect upon it, and tell me to-morrow the result of yourreflections."

  "Mr. Monroe will be in town in a day or two." (My heart gave so greata thump when Mr. Livingston said that, I feared they might hearit--for would not the Comtesse de Baloit be with him?) "And I wouldlike to delay any further offer until I shall have the pleasure ofintroducing him."

  Mr. Talleyrand shrugged his shoulders slightly.

  "As you will, Monsieur; but do not give Mr. Monroe reason to thinkthat I speak with authority. The idea struck me that you might likethe whole of the colony quite as well as part of it."

  I thought this would have put an end to the conversation; but I soonsaw that Mr. Livingston had another card to play, and that heevidently did not believe the minister was speaking entirely on hisown authority.

  "Monsieur Talleyrand," he said, "I have this morning received a noticefrom my home government that Mr. Ross's resolution authorizing thePresident to seize New Orleans was lost by four votes. Another wasoffered by Mr. Breckinridge of Kentucky, which was unanimouslyadopted. Mr. Breckinridge's resolution was to the effect that thePresident of the United States be authorized to require of theexecutives of the several States, to arm and equip, and hold inreadiness to march at a moment's notice, eighty thousand militia; thatmoney be appropriated for paying and subsisting such troops; and alsothat money be appropriated for erecting on the Western border one ormore arsenals, as the President may judge proper. Monsieur Talleyrand,this means but one thing: that the United States is ready to act atonce if France does not recognize our right of deposit; and I beg youwill use your influence with the First Consul, that he will not sendGeneral Bernadotte until this question is determined."

  Mr. Talleyrand, with another shrug of his shoulders, seemed todisclaim any influence with the First Consul, though he said:

  "If you will make me an offer for the whole of Louisiana that I canconvey to him, I have no doubt it will carry great weight."

  "I must decline to do so, Monsieur, as I am expecting Mr. Monroe in aday or two."

  Suddenly Mr. Livingston changed his tone. It was no longer one of mildargument, but as of one who called another to account. I wasastonished that he dared so address the powerful Minister of ForeignRelations.

  "I have long been endeavoring to bring you to some point, Monsieur,but, unfortunately, without effect. I wish merely to have thenegotiation opened by any proposition on your part. It was with thatview I sent you a note a few days ago, to which, as yet, I havereceived no answer."

  The great man sounded to me surprisingly meek as he replied:

  "I would have answered your note earlier, Mr. Livingston, but I havebeen waiting, hoping I could give you some more satisfactory reply. Iwill delay no longer. I will answer it; but it will have to beevasively, for Louisiana is not ours."

  I caught a glimpse of Mr. Livingston's countenance; a more sardonicsmile I have never seen--a smile which said as plainly as words, "Youare lying." He spoke with frigid courtesy:

  "It seems strange that I should be better informed than the Ministerof Foreign Relations," he said, "but I have seen the treaty. Moreover,I know that the Consul has appointed officers to govern the colony,and he has himself told me that General Victor was to take possession.And, what seems to me most convincing proof--why does the First Consulsend General Bernadotte to the United States to treat in relation toLouisiana, if Louisiana does not belong to France?"

  I thought that would have floored even Talleyrand; but not at all.With another shrug of his shoulders, and putting together hisfinger-tips in a manner that gave him a most indifferent air, he onlypersisted in saying that they had it in contemplation, but had not yetsecured it. I wondered what Mr. Livingston would say next, but I neednot have feared for him. Quick as thought, and all smiles andamiability, he responded to the minister:

  "I am very well pleased to understand this from you, Monsieur,because, if so, we will not commit ourselves with you by taking itfrom Spain, to whom, by your account, it still belongs. And as we havejust cause of complaint against Spain, if Mr. Monroe concurs in myopinion, we will negotiate no further on the subject with you, butadvise our government to take possession."

  For the first time Mr. Talleyrand seemed moved. He sprang to his feetand spoke quickly:

  "I beg you will take no such measures at present, Mr. Livingston. Iwill answer your note, though I must still say, as I have said before,it will have to be evasively."

  Mr. Livingston, who had also risen to his feet, bowed formally.

  "I shall be glad to receive any communication from you, CitizenMinister, but we are not disposed to trifle. The times are critical,and though I do not know what instructions Mr. Monroe may bring, I amperfectly satisfied they will require a precise and prompt notice. Iam very fearful, from the little progress I have made, my governmentwill consider me as a very indolent negotiator."

  Mr. Talleyrand laughed, a high, rasping laugh, but evidently intendedto be of great good humor.

  "I will give you a certificate, Mr. Livingston, and you can send ithome to your government, that you are the most importunate negotiatorI have ever met with."

  Their conference seemed to be ended; they turned and walked toward thehouse, leaving me to ponder with wonder and amaze at what I hadlistened to, and with keen admiration for the part Mr. Livingston hadtaken in the matter. I had always been led to believe that no mancould hold his own against the shrewd and unfathomable Abbe; but, if Imistook not, this time Mr. Livingston had not only held his own, butgot much the better of him.

  Suddenly a thought flashed into my mind. What did Talleyrand mean byrepeating over and over, and in such significant phrase, that hisanswer must be "evasive"? Could it be possible that he was intimatingthat a consideration would be necessary to make it more decided? Ibelieved that he had so intimated, and that Mr. Livingston hadunderstood him, and had repelled the intimation with scorn.

  Then again there flashed into my mind the two million dollars that hadbeen voted the President to use "as he thought best" in adjusting thismatter. Was it intended to use in buying up "such creatures," I saidscornfully to myself, "as Talleyrand"? Vague insinuations in thoses
peeches in Congress I had listened to now seemed to me as clear asday.

  Hot with indignation and shame,--my indignation for Talleyrand, myshame that my country could stoop to such measures,--I rushed into thehouse to my uncle. He had been entertaining Colonel Livingston whilethe other two were holding their conference; but all three gentlemenwere gone now, and I found him sitting quietly in his library,reading. I had flung the door wide as I entered, and I stopped on thethreshold.

  "Monsieur, what does it mean?" I cried. "Does Monsieur Talleyrandwant Mr. Livingston to offer him a bribe? And were the two millions ofdollars given to Mr. Jefferson for such base purposes?"

  My uncle looked up, startled and amazed beyond measure. He did not atall take in my meaning, but he was very sensible of my rudeness. Myuncle was ever the most amiable of men and the most tolerant, but forcorrectness of deportment and elegance of manner he was a stickler,and so flagrant a breach of both was intolerable to him.

  "I think you forget yourself, sir," he said coldly; and that was allhe said, but his words cut like tempered steel in quivering flesh. Agreat wave of mortification rushed in a crimson flood to the veryroots of my hair.

  "I am most truly sorry, sir, to have been so rude," I stammered, "andI beg you will not think that we do not know good manners in America.I fear I am ever slow to think and headlong to act, and it has oftenbrought me to grief."

  My uncle, who, as I said, was all amiability, forgave me at once, andinvited me most cordially to enter his library. I was loath to intrudeafter my great rudeness, but he would not let me off.

  "Come in, come in," he said, "and I will answer your question byanother. What has led you to think that Mr. Talleyrand desires a bribefrom Mr. Livingston? Has any one been saying so to you?"

  Then was I in greater confusion than before. I did not know whetherMr. Livingston would desire me to say anything about the interview towhich I had been accidentally made a party, and I had intended to saynothing to any one until I had had a chance to find out his wishes;and now, in my indignation, I had entirely forgot my resolution andbetrayed myself. There was no way out but to make a clean breast of mypart in it.

  So I told my uncle how I had been caught in the summer-house, and beeninvited to become a listener to secrets of state. My uncle threw backhis head and laughed long and loud. But when he had calmed down alittle, he looked at me keenly.

  "So you think Mr. Talleyrand wanted a bribe from Mr. Livingston? Wouldyou mind telling me what he said that led you to think so?"

  Now was I greatly embarrassed, for I had fully resolved that not oneiota of information of which I had become the possessor so innocentlyshould pass my lips without Mr. Livingston's sanction. My unclenoticed my embarrassment, and spoke quickly:

  "Never mind, my boy. It is no doubt just as well that you should nottell me what you feel you have no right to repeat; but it would makeno real difference. I see that you are trustworthy, and I do not mindtelling you that the First Consul is of somewhat the same opinion. Hedoes not altogether trust the Minister of Foreign Relations, and it ismore than likely the negotiations will be taken out of his hands andput into mine. It is more than likely also that it was because Mr.Livingston does not trust him that he desired to have you present as awitness. Now you see how I trust you. These are matters of graveimport, my boy, and if you had been eager to tell me all you hadheard I would have been loath indeed to confide in you, as I have justdone."

  I glowed with pleasure at my uncle's words, and thanked him mostearnestly for his confidence, which I told him was not misplaced. Andthen, fearing I was intruding too long upon his hours of privacy (forthey were few indeed, and greatly prized, I knew), I bowed myself outof his library, and dashed for a ride on Fatima down the crowdedavenue. For it was upon Fatima's back I could ever think best, and Ihad much to think over: the amazing conversation I had listened to; myuncle's confidence to me; and last of all, and which set my pulsesthrobbing and the blood tingling to my finger-tips--Mr. Monroe wouldbe in Paris in a day or two!