The Duke's Motto: A Melodrama
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XXI
THE PRINCESS DE GONZAGUE
When Lagardere was left alone he placed himself at the table whereGonzague had been sitting so short a time before, and, taking pen andpaper, wrote rapidly a short letter. When he had folded and sealed this,he rose, and, crossing the room, went to the door which opened on theantechamber to the princess's apartments. Here he found a servantwaiting, wearing the mourning livery of Nevers, to whom he gave theletter, telling him that it was urgent, and that it should be deliveredto the princess at once. When he had done this he returned to the greatroom and walked slowly up and down it, surveying in turn each of thethree pictures of the three friends who had been called the Three Louis.He paused for a moment before the picture of Louis de Nevers. "Louis deNevers," he said, softly, "you shall be avenged to-night."
He moved a little away, and paused again before the portrait of the king."Louis of France," he said, "you shall be convinced to-night."
A third time he resumed his walk, and a third time he paused, this timebefore the portrait of the Prince de Gonzague. Here he stood a littlewhile longer in silence, studying curiously the striking lineaments ofhis enemy, that enemy who, through all the change of years, had retainedthe grace and beauty represented on the canvas. "Louis de Gonzague," hemurmured, "you shall be judged to-night."
Then he resumed his steady pacing up and down the room, with his handsclasped lightly behind his humped shoulders, busy in thought. For,indeed, he had much to think of, much to plan, much to execute, and butlittle time in which to do what he had to do. Fortune had greatly favoredhim so far. The friends he had summoned had come at his call. One more ofhis enemies had been swept from his path, and by the destruction of thatenemy he had been able, thanks to his old training as a play-actor, toenter unsuspected into the household and the councils of the man who mosthated him, of the man whom he most hated. But, though much was done,there was yet much to do, and it needed all his fortitude, all hiscourage, and all his humor to face without hesitation or alarm theproblems that faced him.
His reflections were interrupted by the opening of a door, and, turningrapidly, he found himself in the presence of a woman clad entirely inblack, whom he knew at once, in spite of the ravages that time and anunchanging grief had wrought upon her beauty, to be the Princess deGonzague, the widow of Nevers. The princess was accompanied by alady-in-waiting, a woman older than herself, and, like herself, cladwholly in black, on whose arm she leaned for support. Lagardere bowedrespectfully to the woman he had last seen so many years before in theshort and terrible interview in the moat at Caylus.
"You requested to see me," the princess said, gravely and sternly.
"I requested permission to wait upon you," Lagardere answered,deferentially.
"You are," the princess continued, "I presume, in the service of thePrince de Gonzague?"
Lagardere bowed in silence.
"It is not my custom," the princess said, "to receive messengers from hishighness, but it is my custom daily to visit these rooms for a fewmoments at this time to look at one of the pictures they contain, and atthis time his highness leaves the room at my disposal. From theearnestness of your letter, I have, therefore, consented to see you herein the course of this, my daily pilgrimage. What have you got to say tome?"
"Your highness," said Lagardere, "I am, as you imagine, in the service ofhis highness the Prince de Gonzague, but I have been out of France formany years, and know little or nothing of the events which have takenplace in my absence. I understand, however, that there is to be a familycouncil held in the palace to-day, and that it is my master's earnestwish that you should be present at that council."
The princess drew herself up and surveyed the hunchback coldly. "Thereis no need," she said, "for any such council nor any need for mypresence. I have told your master so already, and do not see why I shouldbe importuned to repeat my words."
Lagardere bowed again, and made as if to retire. Then, as if suddenlyrecollecting something, he drew from his breast a small, sealed package."As I was coming to the Hotel de Gonzague this morning," he said, "a manwhom I do not know stopped me in the street and gave me this package,with the request that I should deliver it to your highness. I explainedto the man that I was in the service of his highness the Prince deGonzague, and had not the honor of being included among your highness'sservants. But the man still pressed me to take charge of this packet,asking me to deliver it to the care of one of your highness's women, andI should have done so but that I thought upon reflection it might bebetter, if possible, to deliver it into your own hands."
As he spoke he extended the package, which the princess received insilence and scrutinized carefully. It was addressed to her in ahandwriting that was wholly unfamiliar, and carefully sealed with sealsin black wax, that bore the impression of the word "Adsum." The princesslooked keenly at the hunchback, who stood quietly before her with benthead in an attitude of respectful attention.
"Do you know anything further respecting this package?" the princessasked.
Lagardere shook his head. "I have told your highness," he said, "all Iknow of the matter. I never saw the man who gave it to me. I do not thinkI should know him again."
The princess again examined the packet closely, and then, advancing tothe table, seated herself for a moment and broke the seals. The contentsof the packet seemed to startle her, for she suddenly turned to herwaiting-woman and beckoned her to her side. Then, with a gesture, shemotioned to Lagardere to stand farther apart. Lagardere withdrew to theremotest corner of the apartment, and seemed lost in contemplation of theportrait of Louis de Gonzague.
The princess spoke to her companion in low, hurried tones. "Brigitte,"she said, "here is something strange." And she showed her a little bookwhich she had taken from the packet. "This is the prayer-book which Igave to my husband at Caylus seventeen years ago, and see what is writtenin it." And she pointed to some words which were written on the blankpage inside the cover in the same handwriting as that in which the packetwas addressed. These words the princess read over to her companion:
"'God will have pity if you have faith. Your child lives and shall berestored to you to-day. Distrust Gonzague more than ever. Remember themotto of Louis de Nevers. During the council sit near his picture, and atthe right time, for you and for you alone, the dead shall speak.'" Thesewords were signed, "Henri de Lagardere."
The princess turned and beckoned to the hunch-back, who immediatelyapproached her. "You are my husband's servant," she said. "Are you muchin his confidence?"
"Madame," Lagardere replied, "I am too new to Paris to consider myself inany sense the confidential servant of his highness, but I can assure youthat I hope to serve him as he deserves to be served."
The princess seemed thoughtful, then she asked again: "Did you ever hearof a man named Henri de Lagardere?"
The hunchback appeared agitated. "Madame," he replied, "Henri deLagardere is the enemy of my master, and he is my enemy. I have beenseeking him unsuccessfully for many years, both in my master's interestsand in my own."
The princess rose. "Enough, sir," she said. "I will consider hishighness's wishes. Come, Brigitte."
Holding the packet in her hand and leaning on her companion's arm, shewent towards the picture of Louis de Nevers and knelt for a moment inprayer. Then she rose and silently quitted the room, still leaning onBrigitte's arm.