Le collier de la reine. English

  CHAPTER LXXIX.

  THE LAST ACCUSATION.

  As soon as the king left the room, the queen ran towards the boudoir,and opened the door; then, as if her strength failed her, sank down on achair, waiting for the decision of M. de Charny, her last and mostformidable judge.

  He came out more sad and pale than ever.

  "Well?" said she.

  "Madame," replied he, "you see, everything opposes our friendship. Therecan be no peace for me while such scandalous reports circulate inpublic, putting my private convictions aside."

  "Then," said the queen, "all I have done, this perilous aggression, thispublic defiance of one of the greatest nobles in the kingdom, and myconduct being exposed to the test of public opinion, does not satisfyyou?"

  "Oh!" cried Charny, "you are noble and generous, I know----"

  "But you believe me guilty--you believe the cardinal. I command you totell me what you think."

  "I must say, then, madame, that he is neither mad nor wicked, as youcalled him, but a man thoroughly convinced of the truth of what hesaid--a man who loves you, and the victim of an error which will bringhim to ruin, and you----"

  "Well?"

  "To dishonor."

  "Mon Dieu!"

  "This odious woman, this Madame de la Motte, disappearing just when hertestimony might have restored you to repose and honor--she is the evilgenius, the curse, of your reign; she whom you have, unfortunately,admitted to partake of your intimacy and your secrets."

  "Oh, sir!"

  "Yes, madame, it is clear that you combined with her and the cardinal tobuy this necklace. Pardon if I offend you."

  "Stay, sir," replied the queen, with a pride not unmixed with anger;"what the king believes, others might believe, and my friends not beharder than my husband. It seems to me that it can give no pleasure toany man to see a woman whom he does not esteem. I do not speak of you,sir; to you I am not a woman, but a queen; as you are to me, not a man,but a subject. I had advised you to remain in the country, and it waswise; far from the court, you might have judged me more truly. Too readyto condescend, I have neglected to keep up, with those whom I thoughtloved me, the prestige of royalty. I should have been a queen, andcontent to govern, and not have wished to be loved."

  "I cannot express," replied Charny, "how much your severity wounds me. Imay have forgotten that you were a queen, but never that you were thewoman most in the world worthy of my respect and love."

  "Sir, I think your absence is necessary; something tells me that it willend by your name being mixed up in all this."

  "Impossible, madame!"

  "You say 'impossible'; reflect on the power of those who have for solong played with my reputation. You say that M. de Rohan is convinced ofwhat he asserts; those who cause such convictions would not be long inproving you a disloyal subject to the king, and a disgraceful friend forme. Those who invent so easily what is false will not be long indiscovering the truth. Lose no time, therefore; the peril is great.Retire, and fly from the scandal which will ensue from the approachingtrial; I do not wish that my destiny should involve yours, or yourfuture be ruined. I, who am, thank God, innocent, and without a stain onmy life--I, who would lay bare my heart to my enemies, could they thusread its purity, will resist to the last. For you might come ruin,defamation, and perhaps imprisonment. Take away the money you so noblyoffered me, and the assurance that not one movement of your generousheart has escaped me, and that your doubts, though they have wounded,have not estranged me. Go, I say, and seek elsewhere what the Queen ofFrance can no longer give you--hope and happiness. From this time to theconvocation of Parliament, and the production of witnesses must be afortnight; your uncle has vessels ready to sail--go and leave me; Ibring misfortunes on my friends." Saying this, the queen rose, andseemed to give Charny his conge.

  He approached quickly, but respectfully. "Your majesty," cried he, in amoved voice, "shows me my duty. It is here that danger awaits you, herethat you are to be judged, and, that you may have one loyal witness onyour side, I remain here. Perhaps we may still make your enemies tremblebefore the majesty of an innocent queen, and the courage of a devotedman. And if you wish it, madame, I will be equally hidden and unseen asthough I went. During a fortnight that I lived within a hundred yards ofyou, watching your every movement, counting your steps, living in yourlife, no one saw me; I can do so again, if it please you."

  "As you please," replied she; "I am no coquette, M. de Charny, and tosay what I please is the true privilege of a queen. One day, sir, Ichose you from every one. I do not know what drew my heart towards you,but I had need of a strong and pure friendship, and I allowed you toperceive that need; but now I see that your soul does not respond tomine, and I tell you so frankly."

  "Oh, madame," cried Charny, "I cannot let you take away your heart fromme! If you have once given it to me, I will keep it with my life; Icannot lose you. You reproached me with my doubts--oh, do not doubt me!"

  "Ah," said she, "but you are weak, and I, alas, am so also."

  "You are all I love you to be."

  "What!" cried she, passionately, "this abused queen, this woman about tobe publicly judged, that the world condemns, and that her king andhusband may, perhaps, also in turn condemn, has she found one heart tolove her?"

  "A slave, who venerates her, and offers her his heart's blood inexchange for every pang he has caused her!"

  "Then," cried she, "this woman is blessed and happy, and complains ofnothing!"

  Charny fell at her feet, and kissed her hands in transport. At thatmoment the door opened, and the king surprised, at the feet of his wife,the man whom he had just heard accused by the Comte de Provence.