CHAPTER XLII.
THE KING'S NEW AMOUR.
This same long night had been employed by Countess Dubarry in trying tomold the king's mind to a new policy according to her views.
Above all she had dwelt upon the necessity of not letting the Choiseulparty win possession of the dauphiness. The king had answeredcarelessly that the princess was a girl and Choiseul an old statesman,so that there was no danger, since one only wanted to sport and theother to labor. Enchanted at what he thought a witticism, he cut shortfurther dry talk.
But Jeanne did not stay stopped, for she fancied the royal lover wasthinking of another.
He was fickle. His great pleasure was in making his lady-loves jealous,as long as they did not sulk too long or become too riotous in theirjealous fits.
Jeanne Dubarry was jealous naturally, and from fear of a fall. Herposition had cost her too much pains to conquer and was too far fromthe starting-point for her to tolerate rivals as Lady Pompadour haddone.
Hence she wanted to know what was on the royal mind.
He answered by these memorable words, of which he did not mean a jot:
"I intend to make my daughter-in-law very happy and I am afraid that myson will not make her so."
"Why not, sire?"
"Because he looks at other women a good deal, and very seldom at her."
"If any but your majesty said that, I should disbelieve them, for thearchduchess is sweetly pretty."
"She might be rounded out more; that Mademoiselle de Taverney is thesame age and she has a finer figure. She is perfectly lovely."
Fire flashed in the favorite's eyes and warned the speaker of hisblunder.
"Why, I wager that you were plump as Watteau's shepherdesses atsixteen," said he quickly, which adulation improved matters a little,but the mischief was done.
"Humph," said she, bridling up under the pleased smile, "is the younglady of the Taverney family so very, very fair?"
"I only noticed that she was not a bag of bones. You know I amshort-sighted and the general outline alone strikes me. I saw that thenew-comer from Austria was not plump, that is all."
"Yes, you must only see generally, for the Austrian is a stylishbeauty, and the provincial lady a vulgar one."
"According to this, Jeanne, you would be the vulgar kind," said themonarch. "You are joking, I think."
"That is a compliment, but it is wrapped up in a compliment toanother," thought the favorite, and aloud she said: "Faith, I shouldlike the dauphiness to choose a bevy of beauties for maids of honor. Acourt of old tabbies is frightful."
"You are talking over one won to your side, for I was saying the samething to the dauphin; but he is indifferent."
"However, she begins well, you think, to take this Taverney girl. Shehas no money?"
"No, but she has blood. The Taverney Redcastles are a good old houseand long-time servants of the realm."
"Who is backing them?"
"Not the Choiseuls, for they would be overfeasted with pensions in thatcase."
"I beg you not to bring in politics, countess!"
"Is it bringing in politics to say the Choiseuls are blood-sucking therealm?"
"Certainly." And he arose.
An hour after he regained the Grand Trianon palace, happy at havinginspired jealousy, though he said to himself, as a Richelieu might doat thirty:
"What a bother these jealous women are!"
Dubarry went into her boudoir, where Chon was impatiently waiting forthe news.
"You are having fine success," she exclaimed; "day before yesterdaypresented to the dauphiness, you dined at her table yesterday."
"That's so--but much good in such nonsense."
"Nonsense, when a hundred fashionable carriages are racing to bring youcourtiers?"
"I am vexed, sorry for them, as they will not have any smiles from methis morning. Let me have my chocolate."
"Stormy weather, eh?"
Chon rang and Zamore came in to get the order. He started off soslowly, and humping up his back, that the mistress cried:
"Is that slowcoach going to make me perish of hunger? If he plays thecamel and does not hurry, he'll get a hundred lashes on his back."
"Me no hurry--me gubbernor," replied the black boy, majestically.
"You a governor?" screamed the lady, flourishing a fancy riding whipkept to maintain order among the spaniels. "I'll give you a lesson ingoverning."
But the negro ran out yelling.
"You are quite ferocious, Jeanne," remarked her sister.
"Surely I have the right to be ferocious in my own house?"
"Certainly; but I am going to elope, for fear I may be devoured alive."
Three knocks on the door came to interrupt the outbreak.
"Hang it all--who is bothering now?" cried the countess, stamping herfoot.
"He is in for a nice welcome," muttered Chon.
"It will be a good thing if I am badly received," said Jean, as hepushed open the door as widely as though he were a king, "for then Ishould take myself off and not come again. And you would be the greaterloser of the two."
"Saucebox----"
"Because I am not a flatterer. What is the matter with the girl thismorning, Chon?"
"She is not safe to go near."
"Oh, here comes the chocolate! Good-morning, Chocolate," said thefavorite's brother, taking the platter and putting it on a small table,at which he seated himself. "Come and tuck it in, Chon! those who aretoo proud won't get any, that's all."
"You are a nice pair," said Jeanne, "gobbling up the bread and butterinstead of wondering what worries me."
"Out of cash, I suppose?" said Chon.
"Pooh, the king will run out before I do."
"Then lend me a thousand--I can do with it," said the man.
"You will get a thousand _fillips_ on the nose sooner than a thousand_Louis_."
"Is the king going to keep that abominable Choiseul?" questioned Chon.
"That is no novelty--you know that they are sticks-in-the-mud."
"Has the old boy fallen in love with the dauphiness?"
"You are getting warm; but look at the glutton, ready to burst withswilling chocolate and will not lift a finger to help me out of myquandary."
"You never mean to say the king has another fancy?" cried Chon,clasping her hands, and turning pale.
"If I did not say so your brother would, for he will either choke withthe chocolate or get it out."
Thus adjured, Jean managed to gasp the name:
"Andrea of Taverney!"
"The baron's daughter--oh, mercy!" groaned Chon.
"I do not know what keeps me from tearing his eyes out, the lazybones,to go puffing them up with sleep when our fortunes stagger."
"With want of sleep you mean," returned Jean. "I am sleepy, as I amhungry, for the same reason--I have been running about the streets allnight."
"Just like you."
"And all the morning."
"You might have run to some purpose, and found out where thatintriguing jade is housed."
"The very thing--I questioned the driver of the carriage lent to them,and he took them to Coq Heron street. They are living in a little houseat the back, next door to Armenonville House."
"Jean, Jean, we are good friends again," said the countess. "Gorgeas you like. But we must have all the particulars about her, how shelives, who calls on her, and what she is about. Does she get any loveletters--these are important to know."
"I have got us started on the right road anyway," said Jean; "supposeyou do a little now."
"Well," suggested Chon, "there must be rooms to let in that street."
"Excellent idea," said the countess. "You must be off quickly to theplace, Jean, and hire a flat there, where a watcher can mark down allher doings."
"No use; there are no rooms to hire there; I inquired; but I can getwhat we want in the street at the back, overlooking their place,Plastriere Street."
"Well, quick! get a room there."
"I have done that," answered Jean.
"Admirable fellow--come, let me buss thee!" exclaimed the royalfavorite.
Jean wiped his mouth, received the caress and made a ceremonious bow toshow that he was duly grateful for the honor.
"I took the little suite for a young widow. Young widow, you, Chon."
"Capital! it shall be Chon who will take the lodgings and keep an eyeon what goes on. But you must not lose any time. The coach," criedDubarry, ringing the bell so loudly that she would have roused all thespellbound servants of the palace of the Sleeping Beauty.
The three knew how highly to rate Andrea, for at her first sight shehad excited the king's attention; hence she was dangerous.
"This girl," said the countess while the carriage was being got ready;"cannot be a true country wench if she has not made some sweetheartfollow her to Paris. Let us hunt up this chap and get her marriedto him offhand. Nothing would so **** off the king as rustic loversgetting wedded."
"I do not know so much about that," said Jean. "Let us be distrustful.His most Christian majesty is greedy for what is another's property."
Chon departed in the coach, with Jean's promise that he would be herfirst visitor in the new lodgings. She was in luck, for she had hardlymore than taken possession of the rooms, and gone to look out of thewindow commanding a view of the rear gardens than a young lady came tosit at the summer-house window, with embroidery in her hand.
It was Andrea.
Balsamo, the Magician; or, The Memoirs of a Physician Page 42