Taking the Bastile; Or, Pitou the Peasant

by Alexandre Dumas

  CHAPTER XX.

  THE TRIO OF LOVE.

  Without knowing who was helping her, Andrea began to recoverconsciousness but instinctively she knew help had come. At length, withopen but ghostly eyes, she stared at Charny without yet recognizinghim. She pushed him away, with a scream, then.

  The Queen averted her eyes although she ought to have played thewoman's part of comforter. She cast off her sister instead ofsupporting her.

  "Pardon her, my lady," said Charny, again taking his wife in his strongarms, "but something out of the way causes this. My lady is not subjectto fainting fits and this is, I believe, the first time she has had onein your presence."

  "She must have felt much pain," returned the Queen, going back to herfirst impression that Andrea had overheard them.

  "No doubt," said the count, "and you might let me have her carried toher own rooms."

  The Queen rang a bell; but at the first tinkle Andrea stiffened in aculvulsion and screamed in delirium:

  "Oh, our Gilbert!"

  The Queen shuddered to hear the name and the astonished count placedhis wife on a sofa.

  The servant who ran at the call was dismissed.

  Queen and nobleman looked at each other as the sufferer seemed withclosed eyes to have another fit. Charny, kneeling by her, had hard workto keep her on the lounge.

  "I think I know this name," said Marie Antoinette, "from its not beingthe first time the countess has used it."

  But as though the recollection was a menace, Andrea opened her eyesand made an effort by which she stood up. Her first intelligent glancewas fondly upon Charny, who was now upright. As if this involuntarymanifestation of her mind was unworthy her Spartan soul, she turned hergaze only to meet the Queen's. She bowed at once.

  "Good heavens, what is the matter?" inquired the count: "you alarm me,for you are usually so brave and strong--to be prey to such a swoon."

  "Such dreadful things have happened at Paris where you were, that ifmen are trembling at them, women may be excused for fainting. I am soglad you came away from the city."

  "Is it on my account that you felt so ill?" queried the noble.

  "Why, certainly, count," said Marie Antoinette as the lady made nosound. "Why do you doubt it? The countess is not a Queen; she has aright to be afraid for those she loves."

  "Oh, madam," rejoined Charny, perceiving jealousy in the slur, "I amsure that the countess feels more fear for her sovereign than forherself."

  "Still, why do we find you in the swoon in the next room?" inquired theroyal lady.

  "I cannot tell, for I am ignorant, but in this life of fatigue andterror, led these three days, a woman's fainting is natural enough,meseems."

  "True," said the Queen, knowing that Andrea could not be driven out ofher defenses.

  "For that matter, your Majesty has weeping eyes," retorted thecountess, with that recovered calmness which was the more embarrassingas it was pure effort of her will and was felt to be a screen over herreal feelings.

  Charny thought he perceived the same ironical tone that had marked theQueen's speaking a while ago.

  "It is not astonishing," reproved he, with slight sternness to whichhis voice was unaccustomed, "that a queen should weep who loves herpeople and knows that their blood had flowed."

  "Happily God hath spared yours," said Andrea, as coldly andimpenetrably as ever.

  "But her Majesty is not in question. We are talking about you. You havebeen frightened?"

  "I, frightened?"

  "You cannot deny you were in pain; has some mishap befallen you?Is there anybody you want to complain of--this Gilbert, whom youmentioned, for example?"

  "Did I utter that name?" said Andrea with such a tone of dread thatthe count was more startled by the outcry than by the swoon. "Strange,for I did not know it, till the King mentioned it as that of a learnedphysician, freshly arrived from America, I believe, and who wasfriendly there with General Lafayette. They say he is a very honorableman," concluded Andrea with perfect simplicity.

  "Then why this emotion, my dear?" said the Queen; "you spoke thisGilbert's name as though it were wrung from you by torture."

  "Very likely. When I went into the royal study, I beheld a stern manclad in the grim black, who was narrating the most sombre and horridthings--with frightful realism, the murders of Flesselles and Launay.I was frightened and dropped insensible. I may have spoken in my spelland the name of Gilbert would be uttered."

  "It is likely," said Charny, evidently disposed to let the discussiondrop. "At least you are recovered now?"

  "Completely."

  "I have only one thing to entreat," said the Queen to herLifeguardsman. "Go and tell the generals to camp where their troops arestationed and the King will issue orders to-morrow."

  The count bowed but darted an affectionately anxious look on Andreawhich the Queen remarked.

  "Will you not return to the King with me?" inquired she of the countess.

  "Oh, no," replied the latter eagerly; "I beg leave to retire."

  "Oh, the King has been pleasant but you would rather not see him again?I understand. You may go, and let the count carry out his instructions."

  She glanced at the lord as much as to say: "Return soon!"

  And his look replied: "As soon as possible."

  Andrea, with a heaving and oppressed bosom, watched her husband'smovements, but as soon as he had disappeared, her forces failed her andthe Queen had to run to her with the smelling salts as she sank on astool, apologizing for the breach of etiquette in sitting in the royalpresence.

  The feeling between the pair was strange. The Queen seemed to haveaffection for her attendant and the latter respect for her mistress,but they were like enemies at times.

  "You know, dear countess, that etiquette is not made for you. But youhave nothing to say to me about this Dr. Gilbert, whose sight made soprofound an impression on you?"

  The woman had reflected in an instant. Whatever the relation betweenthe Queen, who was suspected of having paramours, and the King, perhapsnot so gullible as he looked, Marie Antoinette might draw from herroyal consort the particulars of the mesmeric trance in which Gilberthad thrown the Lady of Charny. Better her relation than the King's.

  With the energy of lunacy, she ran from one door to another, fastenedthem all, and when assured that nobody could hear or see, she flungherself on her knees before her mistress.

  "Save me, in heaven's name, save me!" she wailed: "and I will tell youeverything!"