CHAPTER XV.
HIS EXCELLENCY THE DUC D'ORLEANS.
Dubois, on leaving the chevalier, contemplated the chance which hadagain placed in his hands the future of the regent and of France. Incrossing the hall he recognized L'Eveille, and signed to him to follow.It was L'Eveille who had undertaken to get the real La Jonquiere out ofthe way. Dubois became thoughtful: the easiest part of the affair wasdone; it now remained to persuade the regent to put himself in a kind ofaffair which he held in the utmost horror--the maneuvering of intrigue.
Dubois began by asking where the regent was, and how occupied? Theprince was in his studio, finishing an etching commenced by Hubert, thechemist, who, at an adjoining table, was occupied in embalming an ibis,by the Egyptian method, which he professed to have recovered.
A secretary was reading some letters to the regent.
All at once, to the regent's astonishment--for this was his sanctum--thedoor opened, and an usher announced Captain la Jonquiere.
The regent turned.
"La Jonquiere?" said he; "who is this?"
Hubert looked surprised that a stranger should be thus unceremoniouslyintruded on their privacy.
At this moment a long-pointed head appeared at the open door.
The regent did not, at first, recognize Dubois in his disguise: butshortly, the pointed nose, which had not its match in the kingdom,betrayed him.
A merry look took the place of the astonishment which the regent'sfeatures had at first displayed.
"Ah, it is you, abbe!" said his highness, laughing, "and what is themeaning of this disguise?"
"It means that I have changed my skin, and from a fox have turned into alion; and now Monsieur the Chemist and Monsieur the Secretary, do me thefavor to take your bird and letters elsewhere."
"Why so?" asked the regent.
"Because I have important business to speak of with you."
"Go to the devil with your important business; it is too late: cometo-morrow."
"Monseigneur," said Dubois, "do not force me to remain till to-morrow inthis villainous disguise."
"Do what you please, but I have decided that the rest of this day shallbe given to pleasure."
"Well, I come to propose a disguise to you also."
"A disguise! what do you mean, Dubois?" asked the regent, who thought itwas probably one of his ordinary masquerades.
"Ah, it makes your mouth water, Monsieur Alain."
"Speak; what do you want to do?"
"First send away your chemist and secretary."
"You still wish it?"----"Decidedly."
"Very well, then."
The regent signed to them to leave: they did so.
"And now," said he, "what is it?"
"I want to present to you, monseigneur, a young man, a very delightfulfellow, just arrived from Bretagne, and strongly recommended to me."
"His name?"
"The Chevalier Gaston de Chanlay."
"De Chanlay!" said the regent, "the name is not unknown to me."
"Indeed."
"Yes, I think I have heard it formerly; but I do not remember where orhow. What does your protege come to Paris for?"
"Monseigneur, I shall leave him to tell you that himself."
"Tell it to me."
"Yes; that is to say, to the Duc d'Olivares, whom you are about topersonate. Ah, my protege is a discreet conspirator, and I have had sometrouble to get at the truth of things. He was addressed to Paris, to acertain La Jonquiere, who was to present him to the Duc d'Olivares. Doyou understand now?"
"Not at all."
"Well, I have been Captain la Jonquiere, but I cannot be both LaJonquiere and his excellency."
"So, you reserve that part--"
"For you, monseigneur."
"Thank you. So you think that, under a false name, I will get at thesecrets--"
"Of your enemies, monseigneur," interrupted Dubois. "Pardieu! what adreadful crime, and how it would distress you, to change name and dress;you have never before learned secrets by such means. But remember,monseigneur, our many disguises, and after being called M. Alain andMaitre Jean, you may well, I think, without anything derogatory to yourdignity, be called Le Duc d'Olivares."
"I ask no better than a disguise for amusement, but--"
"But a disguise," continued Dubois, "to preserve the peace of France, toprevent traitors from overthrowing the kingdom, to prevent assassinsfrom murdering you--this, I suppose, is unworthy of you. I understand;ah, if it were only in pursuit of some little ironmongress in the PontNeuf, or the pretty widow of the Rue Saint Augustine, it might be worthyour while."
"If I do what you wish," said the regent, "what will be the result?"
"Probably, that you will own that I am no visionary, and that you willallow others to watch over you, since you will not watch over yourself."
"But, once for all, if the thing turns out not worth the trouble, shallI be freed from your worrying?"
"I promise you, on my honor."
"Abbe, if you have no objection, I should prefer another oath."
"Oh, monseigneur, you are too hard; but you consent?"
"Again this folly."
"You shall see if it be folly."
"I believe you make plots to frighten me."
"Then they are well made; you shall see."
"Are you certain?"
"Absolutely."
"If I am not frightened, look to yourself."
"Monseigneur exacts too much."
"You are not sure, Dubois."
"I swear to you, monsieur, that you will be moved, and will be glad tospeak with his excellency's tongue."
And Dubois went out before the regent had time to withdraw his consent.
Five minutes after, a courier entered the antechamber, and gave a letterto a page, who brought it to the regent.
"Madame Desroches," said he, looking at the writing, and, breaking theseal, read as follows:
"MONSEIGNEUR--The young lady you left in my charge does not appear to be in safety here."
"Bah," exclaimed the regent, and then read on--
"The residence in the town, which your highness feared for her, would be a hundred times better than isolation; and I do not feel strong enough to defend her as I would wish, and as I ought."
"Ouais," said the regent, "it seems something is the matter."
"A young man, who had written to Mademoiselle Helene shortly before your arrival yesterday, presented himself this morning at the pavilion; I wished to refuse him admittance, but mademoiselle so peremptorily ordered me to admit him, and to retire, that in her look and tone I recognized the blood which commands."
"Yes, yes," said the regent, "she is, indeed, my daughter; but who canthis young man be? Some coxcomb she must have seen in the conventparlor." Then he read on:
"I believe, monseigneur, that this young man and mademoiselle have met before. I did not think it wrong to listen, for your highness's service, and in spite of the double door I once heard him say, 'To see you as formerly.' Will your royal highness secure me against this danger, and send me a written order which I can use to shelter myself from the anger of mademoiselle."
"Diable!" exclaimed the regent, "it cannot be a love affair already;brought up in the only convent in France where men never pass theparlor. No, it is some foolish fear of Madame Desroches; but let us seewhat else she writes."
"P. S.--I have just been to the hotel Tigre-Royal for information. The young man arrived yesterday evening at seven o'clock, just three-quarters of an hour before mademoiselle; he came by the Bretagne road, that is, the road she also came. He travels under the name of M. de Livry."
"Oh!" said the regent, "this looks like a concerted plan. Pardieu!Dubois would laugh if he knew this; how he would talk! It is to be hopedhe knows nothing of it, in spite of his police. Hola! page."
The page who had brought the letter entered.
"Wh
ere is the messenger from Rambouillet?"
"He is waiting for an answer."
"Give him this, and tell him to start at once."
As to Dubois, while preparing the interview between Gaston and the falseduke, he made the following calculation.
"I hold the regent both by himself and his daughter. This intrigue ofhis is either serious or not; if it be not, I distress her inexaggerating it. If it be serious, I have the merit of having discoveredit; but I must not strike both blows at once. First, I must save theduke, then his daughter, and there will be two rewards.--Is that thebest?--Yes--the duke first--if a young girl falls, no one suffers, if aman falls, a kingdom is lost, let us begin with the duke." And Duboisdispatched a courier to M. de Montaran at Nantes.
M. de Montaran was, as we have said, the ancient governor of Bretagne.
As to Gaston, his plan was fixed. Ashamed of being associated with a manlike Jonquiere, he congratulated himself that he was now to communicatewith the chief of the enterprise, and resolved, if he also appeared baseand venial, to return and take counsel with his friends at Nantes. As toHelene, he doubted not; he knew her courage and her love, and that shewould die rather than have to blush before her dearest friend. He sawwith joy that the happiness of finding a father did not lead her toforget the past, but still he had his fears as to this mysteriouspaternity; even a king would own such a daughter, were there not somedisgraceful obstacle.
Gaston dressed himself carefully; there is a coquetry in danger as wellas in pleasure, and he embellished his youth with every advantage ofcostume.
The regent, by Dubois's advice, dressed in black velvet and half hidhis face in an immense cravat of Mechlin lace.
The interview was to take place in a house belonging to the regent, inthe Faubourg Saint Germain: he arrived there at five o'clock, as nightwas falling.
Une fille du régent. English Page 16