CHAPTER XVII.
THE KING ATTENDS TO PRIVATE MATTERS.
Louis the King displayed the usual irresolution in dealing with Favras'proposition, approved by the Queen, to make a rush out of the kingdom.He reflected all the night and at breakfast called for Count Charny.
He was still at table when the officer walked in.
"Won't you take breakfast with me, count?"
Charny was obliged to excuse himself from the honor as he had broken hisfast.
"I must ask you to wait a while as I never care to speak of importantmatters while at meals and I have something to talk over with yourlordship. Let us speak of other matters for the moment. Of yourself, forinstance. I hear that you are badly lodged here; somewhere in thegarret, my lord, while the countess is lodging in Paris."
"Sire, I am in a room of my own choice: the countess is dwelling in herown house in Coq-Heron Street."
"I must confess my ignorance; is it near the palace?"
"Tolerably, Sire."
"What does this mean that after only three years of married life, youhave separate establishments?"
"Sire, I have no answer to make than that my lady wishes to live alone.I have not had the pleasure of seeing her since your Majesty sent me fornews. That is, better than a week ago."
The King understood grief more readily than melancholy and noticed thedifference in the tone.
"Count, there is some of your fault in this estrangement," said themonarch, with the familiarity of the family man, as he called himself.
"The man must be to blame when so charming a woman keeps aloof from him.Do not tell me that this is none of my business: for a king can do agreat deal by speaking a word. You must treat the lady ungratefully, forshe loves you dearly--or did when Lady Taverney."
"Sire, you know that one must not dispute with a king."
"I do not know that the signs were visible to me alone; but this I knowvery well that on that dreadful October night, when she came to join us,she did not lose sight of you throughout, and her eyes expressed all hersoul's anguish, so much so that I saw her make a movement to flingherself between you and danger when the Bullseye Saloon door was beatendown."
Count Charny was not softened; he believed he had seen something of thissort: but the details of his recent interview with his wife were toodistinct for him to have his opinion shaken.
"I was paying all the more attention to her," went on Louis, "from theQueen having said when you were sent to the City Hall while I was on myjourney to Paris, that she almost died of distress in your absence andof joy at your return."
"Sire," replied Charny with a sad smile, "God had allowed those who areborn above us to receive in birth as a privilege of their rank, the giftof seeing deeper into one's heart than oneself can do; the King and theQueen have perceived secrets unrevealed to me: but my limited visionprevents me seeing the same. Therefore I beg to be employed on anydangerous errand or one that would take me to a distance withoutconsidering the great love of the Countess of Charny. Absence or dangerwill be equally welcome, coming at least for my part."
"Nevertheless, a week ago, you appeared wishful to stay in town when theQueen desired to despatch you to Italy."
"I deemed my brother adequate for the position and reserved myself for amission more difficult or dangerous."
"Then count, this is the very time when I have a difficult task toentrust to you, that with danger to you in the future, that I spoke ofthe countess's isolation and wished her to have a lady friend's companywhile I took away her husband."
"I will write to the countess, yes, write: for from the way she lastreceived me, I ought in that manner acquaint her with my movements."
"Say no more on this head; I will talk it over with the Queen duringyour absence," said Louis, rising. "Faith, the medical lights are rightto say that things look differently as you handle them before or after ahearty meal. Come into my study, count; I feel in a mood to talkstraight out to you."
Charny followed, thinking how much Majesty lost by this material side,for which the proud Marie Antoinette was always carping at him.