CHAPTER IX.
THE HUNT.
A long rank of carriages filled the Forest at Marly where the King wascarrying on what was called an afternoon hunt. The Master of theBuckhounds had deer so selected that he could let the one out whichwould run before the hounds just as long as suited the sovereign.
On this occasion, his Majesty had stated that he would hunt till four P.M.
Countess Dubarry, who had her own game in view, promised herself thatshe would hunt the King as steadfastly as he would the deer.
But huntsmen propose and chance disposes. Chance upset the favorite'sproject, and was almost as fickle as she was herself.
While talking politics with the Duke of Richelieu, who wanted by herhelp or otherwise to be First Minister instead of Choiseul, thecountess--while chasing the King, who was chasing the roebuck--perceivedall of a sudden, fifty paces off the road, in a shady grove, a brokendown carriage. With its shattered wheels pointing to the sky, its horseswere browsing on the moss and beech bark.
Countess Dubarry's magnificent team, a royal gift, had out-stripped allthe others and were first to reach the scene of the breakdown.
"Dear me, an accident," said the lady, tranquilly.
"Just so, and pretty bad smash-up," replied Richelieu, with the samecoolness, for sensitiveness is unknown at court.
"Is that somebody killed on the grass?" she went on.
"It makes a bow, so I guess _it_ lives."
And at a venture Richelieu raised his own three-cocked hat.
"Hold! it strikes me it is the Cardinal Prince Louis de Rohan. What thedeuce is he doing there?"
"Better go and see. Champagne, drive up to the upset carriage."
The countess's coachman quitted the road and drove to the grove. Thecardinal was a handsome gentleman of thirty years of age, of graciousmanners and elegant. He was waiting for help to come, with the utmostunconcern.
"A thousand respects to your ladyship," he said. "My brute of a coachmanwhom I hired from England, for my punishment, has spilled me in taking ashort cut through the woods to join the hunt, and smashed my bestcarriage."
"Think yourself lucky--a French Jehu would have smashed the passenger!be comforted."
"Oh, I am philosophic, countess; but it is death to have to wait."
"Who ever heard of a Rohan waiting?"
"The present representative of the family is compelled to do it; butPrince Soubise will happen along soon to give me a lift."
"Suppose he goes another way?
"You must step into my carriage; if you were to refuse, I should give itup to you, and with a footman to carry my train, walk in the woods likea tree nymph."
The cardinal smiled, and seeing that longer resistance might be badlyinterpreted by the lady, he took the place at the back which the oldduke gave up to him. The prince wanted to dispute for the lesser placebut the marshal was inflexible.
The countess's team soon regained the lost time.
"May I ask your Eminence if you are fond of the chase again," began thelady, "for this is the first time I have seen you out with the hounds."
"I have been out before; but this time I come to Versailles to see theKing on pressing business; and I went after him as he was in the woods,but thanks to my confounded driver, I shall lose the royal audience aswell as an apartment in Paris."
"The cardinal is pretty blunt--he means a love appointment," remarkedRichelieu.
"Oh, no, it is with a man--but he is not an ordinary man--he is amagician and works miracles."
"The very one we are seeking, the duke and I," said Jeanne Dubarry. "Iam glad we have a churchman here to ask him if he believes in miracles?"
"Madam, I have seen things done by this wizard which may not bemiraculous though they are almost incredible."
"The prince has the reputation of dealing with spirits."
"What has your Eminence seen?"
"I have pledged myself to secresy."
"This is growing dark. At least you can name the wizard?"
"Yes, the Count of Fenix---- "
"That won't do--all good magicians have names ending in the round O."
"The cap fits--his other name is Joseph Balsamo."
The countess clasped her hands while looking at Richelieu, who wore apuzzled look.
"And was the devil very black? did he come up in green fire and stir asaucepan with a horrid stench?"
"Why, no! my magician has excellent manners; he is quite a gentleman andentertains one capitally."
"Would you not like him to tell your fortune, countess?" inquired theduke, well knowing that Lady Dubarry had asserted that when she was apoor girl on the Paris streets, a man had prophesied she would be aqueen. This man she maintained was Balsamo. "Where does he dwell?"
"Saint Claude Street, I remember, in the Swamp."
The countess repeated the clew so emphatically that the marshal, alwaysafraid his secrets would leak out, especially when he was conspiring toobtain the government, interrupted the lady by these words:
"Hist, there is the King!"
"In the walnut copse, yes. Let us stay here while the prince goes tohim. You will have him all to yourself."
"Your kindness overwhelms me," said the prelate who gallantly kissed thelady's hand.
"But the King will be worried at not seeing you."
"I want to tease him!"
The duke alighted with the countess, as light as a schoolgirl, and thecarriage rolled swiftly away to set down the cardinal on the knoll wherethe King was looking all about him to see his darling.
But she, drawing the duke into the covert, said:
"Heaven sent the cardinal to put us on the track of that magician whotold my fortune so true."
"I met one--at Vienna, where I was run through the body by a jealoushusband. I was all but dead when my magician came up and cured my woundwith three drops of an elixir, and brought me to life with three moreimbibed."
"Mine was a young man---- "
"Mine old as Mathusaleh, and adorned with a sounding Greek name,Althotas."
The carriage was coming back.
"I should like to go, if only to vex the King who will not dismissChoiseul in your favor; but I shall be laughed at."
"In good company, then, for I will go with you."
At full speed the horses drew the carriage to Paris, containing theyoung and the old plotter.