CHAPTER XXXVI.
BALSAMO AT HOME.
The house in St. Claude Street, to which Joseph Balsamo invited theCardinal Prince of Rohan did not look strange in his day, but itresembled a fortress to such an extent that it would be remarkable atpresent. Strongly built, and with barred windows and grated doors, tosay nothing of the ditch in front and high balconies, it was in keepingwith this part of the town, pretty unsafe at this epoch after dark.
There were scarcely a dozen houses on the quarter of a league to theBastille, and the municipal authorities did not think it worth while tosupply lamps. Along this deserted and unlighted highway a carriage wasdriven after nine one evening, which stopped at the low, deep doorwaywhere gleamed the brazen griffin for a knocker which Count Fenix haddescribed.
The arms of the nobleman were on the carriage panels. He preceded it bysome yards, riding Djerid, who whisked his long tail till it whistledin the dust of the dirty pavement.
Behind the closed blinds slumbered Lorenza on the cushions.
At the rolling of the wheels, the door opened as by enchantment, andthe carriage vanished in the black gulf of the mansion courtyard.
There was no need of any mystery, for nobody was about to see the countcome home or mark what he brought, even if it were the treasure-chestof St. Denis Abbey.
A skillful calculator, given the size of the building lot and that ofthe house on street, would be surprised how so small a one covered somuch ground. The fact of the matter was that there stood a house behindthe outer house, known only to the tenant.
A German servant, aged about thirty; closed the coachway door andbolted it. Opening the coach door while the emotionless driverunharnessed the team, he drew from within the senseless Lorenza, whomhe carried indoors to an antechamber. He laid her on a table anddiscreetly wrapped her in her long veil to the feet.
He went out to light at the coach lamps a seven-candle chandelier, withwhich he came back.
During that short space, Lorenza had disappeared.
In fact Count Fenix had entered after the valet went out. He had takenup the girl in his arms, and carried her out by a secret passage intoa room furnished with trophies of outlandish weapons.
With his foot he pressed the spring of the backplate of the highfireplace, which turned on well-oiled hinges, so that the count couldgo forth, as he did, while the secret panel slid to behind him.
On the other side of the chimney was another flight of steps. Mountinga dozen, covered with Utrecht velvet carpet, he reached the sill of aroom elegantly tapestried with satin, so wonderfully embroidered inhigh relief with flowers in their natural colors that they seemed real.
The extremely rich furniture was of a boudoir and toilet chamberleading to a parlor.
Curtains hid two windows, but as it was night, they were not wanted togive light. Lamps burning perfumed oil burnt here night and day, forthe room had no external openings. They were drawn up through aperturesin the ceiling by unseen hands when they needed replenishing.
Not a sound penetrated here, and one might feel as a thousand milesout of the world. But gilding flashed on all sides and Bohemian glassmirrors sparkled as, dissatisfied with the light, after having placedLorenza on a sofa, the count struck a fire with the silver phosphorusmatchbox so startling to Gilbert, and kindled two pink candledchandeliers on the mantel-piece.
Returning to Lorenza, and kneeling with one knee on a pile of cushionsbeside her, he called her by name. Though her eyes remained closed, sherose on one elbow, but without replying.
"Are you sleeping naturally or through the magnetic spell?"
"Lorenza sleeps in the magnetic sleep," she replied.
"Then you can answer my questions. Look into the room of the PrincessLouise which we have just quitted, and tell me if the Cardinal of Rohanis there."
"No; the abbess is praying before going to rest."
"Look through the house for the cardinal. Is his carriage at the door?Is it on the road? Come along nearer to Paris, as we drove. Nearer!"
"Ah, I see it! It has stopped at the tollbar. A footman gets down tospeak with his master."
"List to him, Lorenza, for it is important that I should know what thecardinal says to this man."
"You did not order me to listen in time, for he has done speaking tothe man. But the man speaks to the coachman, who is told to drive toSt. Claude Street, in the swamp, by the rampart road."
"Thank you, Lorenza."
The count went to the wall, pulled aside an ornament which disclosed anivory mouthpiece and spoke some words in a tube of unknown length anddirection; it was his way of corresponding here with his man of trust,Fritz.
"Are you content with me?" asked the medium.
"Yes, dear Lorenza, and here is your reward," he said, giving her afond caress.
"Oh, Joseph, how I love you!" she said with an almost painful sigh.
Her arms opened to enfold Balsamo on her heart.
Balsamo, the Magician; or, The Memoirs of a Physician Page 36