Louise de la Valliere

  Chapter XI. Montalais and Malicorne.

  Montalais was right. M. de Guiche, thus summoned in every direction, wasvery much exposed, from such a multiplication of business, to therisk of not attending to any. It so happened that, considering theawkwardness of the interruption, Madame, notwithstanding her woundedpride, and secret anger, could not, for the moment at least, reproachMontalais for having violated, in so bold a manner, the semi-royal orderwith which she had been dismissed on De Guiche's entrance. De Guiche,also, lost his presence of mind, or, it would be more correct to say,had already lost it, before Montalais's arrival, for, scarcely had heheard the young girl's voice, than, without taking leave of Madame, asthe most ordinary politeness required, even between persons equal inrank and station, he fled from her presence, his heart tumultuouslythrobbing, and his brain on fire, leaving the princess with one handraised, as though to bid him adieu. Montalais was at no loss, therefore,to perceive the agitation of the two lovers--the one who fled wasagitated, and the one who remained was equally so.

  "Well," murmured the young girl, as she glanced inquisitively round her,"this time, at least, I think I know as much as the most curiouswoman could possibly wish to know." Madame felt so embarrassed by thisinquisitorial look, that, as if she heard Montalais's muttered sideremark, she did not speak a word to her maid of honor, but, casting downher eyes, retired at once to her bedroom. Montalais, observing this,stood listening for a moment, and then heard Madame lock and bolt herdoor. By this she knew that the rest of the evening was at her owndisposal; and making, behind the door which had just been closed, agesture which indicated but little real respect for the princess, shewent down the staircase in search of Malicorne, who was very busilyengaged at that moment in watching a courier, who, covered with dust,had just left the Comte de Guiche's apartments. Montalais knew thatMalicorne was engaged in a matter of some importance; she thereforeallowed him to look and stretch out his neck as much as he pleased; andit was only when Malicorne had resumed his natural position, that shetouched him on the shoulder. "Well," said Montalais, "what is the latestintelligence you have?"

  "M. de Guiche is in love with Madame."

  "Fine news, truly! I know something more recent than that."

  "Well, what do you know?"

  "That Madame is in love with M. de Guiche."

  "The one is the consequence of the other."

  "Not always, my good monsieur."

  "Is that remark intended for me?"

  "Present company always excepted."

  "Thank you," said Malicorne. "Well, and in the other direction, what isstirring?"

  "The king wished, this evening, after the lottery, to see Mademoisellede la Valliere."

  "Well, and he has seen her?"

  "No, indeed!"

  "What do you mean by that?"

  "The door was shut and locked."

  "So that--"

  "So that the king was obliged to go back again, looking very sheepish,like a thief who has forgotten his crowbar."

  "Good."

  "And in the third place?" inquired Montalais.

  "The courier who has just arrived for De Guiche came from M. deBragelonne."

  "Excellent," said Montalais, clapping her hands together.

  "Why so?"

  "Because we have work to do. If we get weary now, something unlucky willbe sure to happen."

  "We must divide the work, then," said Malicorne, "in order to avoidconfusion."

  "Nothing easier," replied Montalais. "Three intrigues, carefully nursed,and carefully encouraged, will produce, one with another, and taking alow average, three love letters a day."

  "Oh!" exclaimed Malicorne, shrugging his shoulders, "you cannot meanwhat you say, darling; three letters a day, that may do for sentimentalcommon people. A musketeer on duty, a young girl in a convent, mayexchange letters with their lovers once a day, perhaps, from the topof a ladder, or through a hole in the wall. A letter contains all thepoetry their poor little hearts have to boast of. But the cases we havein hand require to be dealt with very differently."

  "Well, finish," said Montalais, out of patience with him. "Some one maycome."

  "Finish! Why, I am only at the beginning. I have still three points asyet untouched."

  "Upon my word, he will be the death of me, with his Flemishindifference," exclaimed Montalais.

  "And you will drive me mad with your Italian vivacity. I was going tosay that our lovers here will be writing volumes to each other. But whatare you driving at?"

  "At this. Not one of our lady correspondents will be able to keep theletters they may receive."

  "Very likely."

  "M. de Guiche will not be able to keep his either."

  "That is probable."

  "Very well, then; I will take care of all that."

  "That is the very thing that is impossible," said Malicorne.

  "Why so?"

  "Because you are not your own mistress; your room is as much LaValliere's as yours; and there are certain persons who will thinknothing of visiting and searching a maid of honor's room; so that I amterribly afraid of the queen, who is as jealous as a Spaniard; of thequeen-mother, who is as jealous as a couple of Spaniards; and, last ofall, of Madame herself, who has jealousy enough for ten Spaniards."

  "You forgot some one else."

  "Who?"

  "Monsieur."

  "I was only speaking of the women. Let us add them up, then: we willcall Monsieur, No. 1."

  "De Guiche?"

  "No. 2."

  "The Vicomte de Bragelonne?"

  "No. 3."

  "And the king, the king?"

  "No. 4. Of course the king, who not only will be more jealous, but morepowerful than all the rest put together. Ah, my dear!"

  "Well?"

  "Into what a wasp's nest you have thrust yourself!"

  "And as yet not quite far enough, if you will follow me into it."

  "Most certainly I will follow you where you like. Yet--"

  "Well, yet--"

  "While we have time, I think it will be prudent to turn back."

  "But I, on the contrary, think the wisest course to take is to putourselves at once at the head of all these intrigues."

  "You will never be able to do it."

  "With you, I could superintend ten of them. I am in my element, you mustknow. I was born to live at the court, as the salamander is made to livein the fire."

  "Your comparison does not reassure me in the slightest degree in theworld, my dear Montalais. I have heard it said, and by learned men too,that, in the first place, there are no salamanders at all, and that, ifthere had been any, they would have been infallibly baked or roasted onleaving the fire."

  "Your learned men may be very wise as far as salamanders are concerned,but they would never tell you what I can tell you; namely, that Aurede Montalais is destined, before a month is over, to become the firstdiplomatist in the court of France."

  "Be it so, but on condition that I shall be the second."

  "Agreed; an offensive and defensive alliance, of course."

  "Only be very careful of any letters."

  "I will hand them to you as I receive them."

  "What shall we tell the king about Madame?"

  "That Madame is still in love with his majesty."

  "What shall we tell Madame about the king?"

  "That she would be exceedingly wrong not to humor him."

  "What shall we tell La Valliere about Madame?"

  "Whatever we choose, for La Valliere is in our power."

  "How so?"

  "Every way."

  "What do you mean?"

  "In the first place, through the Vicomte de Bragelonne."

  "Explain yourself."

  "You do not forget, I hope, that Monsieur de Bragelonne has written manyletters to Mademoiselle de la Valliere."

  "I forget nothing."

  "Well, then, it was I who received, and I who intercepted thoseletters."

  "And, consequently, it is
you who have them still?"

  "Yes."

  "Where,--here?"

  "Oh, no; I have them safe at Blois, in the little room you know wellenough."

  "That dear little room,--that darling little room, the ante-chamber ofthe palace I intend you to live in one of these days. But, I beg yourpardon, you said that all those letters are in that little room?"

  "Yes."

  "Did you not put them in a box?"

  "Of course; in the same box where I put all the letters I received fromyou, and where I put mine also when your business or your amusementsprevented you from coming to our rendezvous."

  "Ah, very good," said Malicorne.

  "Why are you satisfied?"

  "Because I see there is a possibility of not having to run to Bloisafter the letters, for I have them here."

  "You have brought the box away?"

  "It was very dear to me, because it belonged to you."

  "Be sure and take care of it, for it contains original documents thatwill be of priceless value by and by."

  "I am perfectly well aware of that indeed, and that is the very reasonwhy I laugh as I do, and with all my heart, too."

  "And now, one last word."

  "Why _last?_"

  "Do we need any one to assist us?"

  "No one."

  "Valets or maid-servants?"

  "Bad policy. You will give the letters,--you will receive them. Oh!we must have no pride in this affair, otherwise M. Malicorne andMademoiselle Aure, not transacting their own affairs themselves, willhave to make up their minds to see them done by others."

  "You are quite right; but what is going on yonder in M. de Guiche'sroom?"

  "Nothing; he is only opening his window."

  "Let us be gone." And they both immediately disappeared, all the termsof the contract being agreed on.

  The window just opened was, in fact, that of the Comte de Guiche. Itwas not alone with the hope of catching a glimpse of Madame through hercurtains that he seated himself by the open window for his preoccupationof mind had at that time a different origin. He had just received, aswe have already stated, the courier who had been dispatched to him byBragelonne, the latter having written to De Guiche a letter which hadmade the deepest impression upon him, and which he had read over andover again. "Strange, strange!" he murmured. "How irresponsible are themeans by which destiny hurries men onward to their fate!" Leaving thewindow in order to approach nearer to the light, he once more read theletter he had just received:--

  "CALAIS.

  "MY DEAR COUNT,--I found M. de Wardes at Calais; he has beenseriously wounded in an affair with the Duke of Buckingham. De Wardesis, as you know, unquestionably brave, but full of malevolent and wickedfeelings. He conversed with me about yourself, for whom, he says, hehas a warm regard, also about Madame, whom he considers a beautiful andamiable woman. He has guessed your affection for a certain person. Healso talked to me about the lady for whom I have so ardent a regard, andshowed the greatest interest on my behalf in expressing a deep pity forme, accompanied, however, by dark hints which alarmed me at first, butwhich I at last looked upon as the result of his usual love of mystery.These are the facts: he had received news of the court; you willunderstand, however, that it was only through M. de Lorraine. The reportgoes, so says the news, that a change has taken place in the king'saffections. You know whom that concerns. Afterwards, the news continues,people are talking about one of the maids of honor, respecting whomvarious slanderous reports are being circulated. These vague phraseshave not allowed me to sleep. I have been deploring, eversince yesterday, that my diffidence and vacillation of purpose,notwithstanding a certain obstinacy of character I may possess, haveleft me unable to reply to these insinuations. In a word, M. de Wardeswas setting off for Paris, and I did not delay his departure withexplanations; for it seemed rather hard, I confess, to cross-examine aman whose wounds are hardly yet closed. In short, he travelled by shortstages, as he was anxious to leave, he said, in order to be present at acurious spectacle the court cannot fail to offer within a short time.He added a few congratulatory words accompanied by vague sympathizingexpressions. I could not understand the one any more than the other. Iwas bewildered by my own thoughts, and tormented by a mistrust of thisman,--a mistrust which, you know better than any one else, I have neverbeen able to overcome. As soon as he left, my perceptions seemedto become clearer. It is hardly possible that a man of De Wardes'scharacter should not have communicated something of his own maliciousnature to the statements he made to me. It is not unlikely, therefore,that in the strange hints De Wardes threw out in my presence, there maybe a mysterious signification, which I might have some difficulty inapplying either to myself or to some one with whom you are acquainted.Being compelled to leave as soon as possible, in obedience to the king'scommands, the idea did not occur to me of running after De Wardes inorder to ask him to explain his reserve; but I have dispatched a courierto you with this letter, which will explain in detail my various doubts.I regard you as myself; you have reflected and observed; it will be foryou to act. M. de Wardes will arrive very shortly; endeavor to learnwhat he meant, if you do not already know. M. de Wardes, moreover,pretended that the Duke of Buckingham left Paris on the very best ofterms with Madame. This was an affair which would have unhesitatinglymade me draw my sword, had I not felt that I was under the necessityof dispatching the king's mission before undertaking any quarrelwhatsoever. Burn this letter, which Olivain will hand you. WhateverOlivain says, you may confidently rely on. Will you have the goodness,my dear comte, to recall me to the remembrance of Mademoiselle de laValliere, whose hands I kiss with the greatest respect.

  "Your devoted

  "DE BRAGELONNE.

  "P. S.--If anything serious should happen--we should be prepared foreverything, dispatch a courier to me with this one single word, 'come,'and I will be in Paris within six and thirty hours after the receipt ofyour letter."

  De Guiche sighed, folded up the letter a third time, and, instead ofburning it, as Raoul had recommended him to do, placed it in his pocket.He felt it needed reading over and over again.

  "How much distress of mind, yet what sublime confidence, he shows!"murmured the comte; "he has poured out his whole soul in this letter.He says nothing of the Comte de la Fere, and speaks of his respect forLouise. He cautions me on my own account, and entreats me on his. Ah!"continued De Guiche, with a threatening gesture, "you interfere in myaffairs, Monsieur de Wardes, do you? Very well, then; I will shortlyoccupy myself with yours. As for you, poor Raoul,--you who intrust yourheart to my keeping, be assured I will watch over it."

  With this promise, De Guiche begged Malicorne to come immediately to hisapartments, if possible. Malicorne acknowledged the invitation with anactivity which was the first result of his conversation with Montalais.And while De Guiche, who thought that his motive was undiscovered,cross-examined Malicorne, the latter, who appeared to be working in thedark, soon guessed his questioner's motives. The consequence was,that, after a quarter of an hour's conversation, during which De Guichethought he had ascertained the whole truth with regard to La Valliereand the king, he had learned absolutely nothing more than his own eyeshad already acquainted him with, while Malicorne learned, or guessed,that Raoul, who was absent, was fast becoming suspicious, and that DeGuiche intended to watch over the treasure of the Hesperides. Malicorneaccepted the office of dragon. De Guiche fancied he had done everythingfor his friend, and soon began to think of nothing but his personalaffairs. The next evening, De Wardes's return and first appearance atthe king's reception were announced. When that visit had been paid, theconvalescent waited on Monsieur; De Guiche taking care, however, to beat Monsieur's apartments before the visit took place.