CHAPTER X. THE HOTEL DE CLICHY
Duchesne was correct in all his calculations. I had scarcely reached theLuxembourg when a valet brought me a card for the comtesse's soireefor that evening. It was accordingly agreed upon that we were to gotogether; I as the invited, he as my friend.
"All your finery, Burke, remember that," said he, as we separated todress. "The uniform of the _compagnie d'elite_ is as much a decorationin a _salon_ as a camellia or a geranium."
When he re-entered my room half an hour later, I was struck by the blazeof orders and decorations with which his jacket was covered; while athis side there hung a magnificent _sabre d'honneur_, such as the Emperorwas accustomed to confer on his most distinguished officers.
"You smile at all this bravery," said he, wilfully misinterpretingmy look of admiration; "but remember where we are going."
"On the contrary," interrupted I; "but it is the first time I knew youhad the cross of the Legion."
"_Parbleu!_" said he, with an insolent shrug of his shoulders, "I hadlent it to my hairdresser for a ball at the 'Cirque.' But here comes thecarriage."
While we drove along towards the Faubourg I had time to learn somefurther particulars of the people to whose house we were proceeding;and for my reader's information may as well impart them here, with suchother facts as I subsequently collected myself.
Like most of the _salons_ of the new aristocracy, Madame Lacostelleriereceived people of every section of party and every class of politicalopinion. Standing equally aloof from the old regime and the membersof the Jacobin party, her receptions were a kind of neutral territory,where each could come without compromise of dignity: for already, exceptamong the most starched adherents of the Bourbons, few of whom remainedin France, there was a growing spirit to side with the Napoleonistsin preference to the revolutionary section; while the latter, with alltheir pretensions to simplicity and primitive tastes, felt no littlepride in mixing with the very aristocracy they so loudly inveighedagainst. Besides all this, wealth had its prestige. Never, in thepalmiest days of the royalty, were entertainments of greater splendor;and the Legitimists, however disposed to be critical on the company,could afford to be just regarding the cuisine,--the luxury of thesemodern dinners eclipsing the most costly displays of former times, wherehereditary rank and ancient nobility contributed to adorn the scene.And, lastly, the admixture of every grade and class extended the fieldof conversational agreeability, throwing in new elements and elicitingnew features in a society where peers, actors, poets, bankers, painters,soldiers, speculators, journalists, and adventurers were confusedlymixed together; making, as it were, a common fund of their principlesand their prejudices, and starting anew in life with what they couldseize in the scramble.
After following the long line of carriages for above an hour, we at lastturned into a large courtyard, lit up almost to the brightness of day.Here the equipages of many of the ministers were standing,--a privilegeaccorded to them above the other guests. I recognized among the numberthe splendid liveries of Decres; and the stately carriage of Talleyrand,whose household always proclaimed itself as belonging to a "seigneur"of the oldest blood of France,--the most perfect type of a highbredgentleman. Our progress from the vestibule to the stairs was a slow one.The double current of those pressing upwards and downwards delayed uslong; and at last we reached a spacious antechamber, where even greaternumbers stood awaiting their turn, if happily it should come, to moveforward.
While here, the names of those announced conveyed tous a fair impressionof the whole company. Among the first was Le General Junot, Berthollet(the celebrated chemist), Lafayette, Monges, Daru, Comte de Mailles (aLegitimist noble), David (the regicide), the Ambassador of Prussia,M. Pasquier, Talma. Such were the names we heard following in quicksuccession; when suddenly an avenue was opened by a master of theceremonies before me, who read from my card the words, "Le CapitaineBurke, officier d'elite; le Chevalier Duchesne, presente par lui." Andadvancing within the doorway, I found myself opposite a very handsomewoman, whose brilliant dress and blaze of diamonds concealed any ravagestime might have made upon her beauty.
She was conversing with the Arch-Chancellor, Cambaceres, when my namewas announced; and turning rapidly round, touched my arm with herbouquet, as she said, with a most gracious smile,--
"I am but too much flattered to see you on so short an invitation; butM. de Tascher's note led me to hope I might presume so far. Your friend,I believe?"
"I have taken the great liberty--"
"Indeed, Madame la Comtesse," said Duchesne, interrupting, "I mustexculpate my friend here. This intrusion rests on my own head, and hasno other apology than my long cherished wish to pay my homage to themost distinguished ornament of the Parisian world."
As he spoke, the quiet flow of his words, and the low deferential bowwith which he accompanied them, completely divested his speech of itstone of gross flattery, and merely made it seem a very fitting andappropriate expression.
"This would be a very high compliment, indeed," replied Madame deLacostellerie, with a flush of evident pleasure on her cheek, "had iteven come from one less known than the Chevalier Duchesne. I hope theDuchesse de Montserrat is well,--your aunt, if I mistake not?" "Yes,Madame," said he, "in excellent health; it will afford her greatpleasure when I inform her of your polite inquiry."
Another announcement now compelled us to follow the current in front,which I was well content to do, and escape from an interchange of finespeeches, of whose sincerity, on one side at least, I had very strongmisgivings.
"So, then, the comtesse is acquainted with your family?" said I, in awhisper.
"Who said so?" replied he, laughing.
"Did she not ask after the Duchesse de Montserrat?"
"And then?"
"And didn't you promise to convey her very kind message?"
"To be sure I did. But are you simple enough to think that either of uswere serious in what we said? Why, my dear friend, she never saw myaunt in her life; nor, if I were to hint at her inquiry for her tothe duchesse, am I certain it would not cost me something like a halfmillion of francs the old lady has left me in her will,--on my word, Ifirmly believe she'd never forgive it. You know little what these peopleof the _vieille roche_, as they call themselves, are like. Do you seethat handsome fellow yonder, with a star on a blue cordon?"
"I don't know him; but I see he's a Marshal of France."
"Well, I saw that same aunt of mine rise up and leave the room because_he_ sat down in her presence!"
"Oh! that was intolerable."
"So she deemed his insolence. Come, move on; they 're dancing in thenext _salon_." And without saying more, we pushed through the crowd inthe direction of the music.
It is only by referring to the sensations experienced by those who seea ballet at the Opera for the first time that I can at all convey my ownon entering the _salle de danse_. My first feeling was that of absoluteshame. Never before had I seen that affectation of stage costume whichthen was the rage in society. The short and floating jupe--formed ofsome light and gauzy texture, which, even where it covered the figure,betrayed the form and proportions of the wearer--was worn low on thebosom and shoulders, and attached at the waist by a ribbon, whose knothung negligently down in seeming disorder. The hair fell in long andfloating masses loose upon the neck, waving in free tresses with everymotion of the figure, and adding to that air of abandon which seemed sostudiously aimed at. But more than anything in mere costume was thelook and expression, in which a character of languid voluptuousnesswas written, and made to harmonize with the easy grace of floatingmovements, and sympathize with gestures full of passionate fascination.
The Dance 134]
"Now, Burke," said Duchesne, as he threw his eyes over the room, "shallI find a partner for you? for I believe I know most of the people here.That pretty blonde yonder, with the diamond buckles in her shoes, isMademoiselle de Rancy, with a dowry of some millions of francs; what sayyou to pushing your fortune there? Don't forget the _offic
ier d'elite_is a trump card just now; and there's no time to lose, for there willsoon be a new deal."
"Not if she had the throne of France in reversion," said I; turning awayin disgust from a figure which, though perfectly beautiful, outraged atevery movement that greatest charm of womanhood,--her inborn modesty.
"Ah, then, you don't fancy a blonde!" said he, carelessly, whetherwilfully misunderstanding me or not I could not say. "Nor I either,"added he. "There, now, is something far more to my taste; is she not alovely girl?"
She to whom he now directed my attention was standing at the side ofthe room, and leaning on her partner's arm; her head slightly turned,so that we could not see her features, but her figure was actuallyfaultless. Hers was not one of those gossamer shapes which flittedaround and about us, balancing on tiptoe, or gracefully floating withextending arms. Rather strongly built than otherwise, she stood withthe firm foot and the straight ankle of a marble statue; her arms, wellrounded, hung easily from her full, wide shoulders; while her head,slightly thrown back, was balanced on her neck with an air at oncedignified and easy. Her dress well suited the character of her figure:it was entirely of black, covered with a profusion of deep lace,--thejupe looped up in Andalusian fashion to display the leg, whose symmetrywas perfect. Even her costume, however, had something about it tootheatrical for my taste; but there was a stamp of firmness, _fierte_even, in her carriage and her attitude, that at once showed hers wasno vulgar desire of being remarkable, but the womanly consciousness ofbeing dressed as became her. She suddenly turned her head around, andwe both exclaimed in the same breath, "How lovely!" Her features were ofthat brilliant character only seen in Southern blood: eyes large, black,and lustrous, fringed with lashes that threw their shadow on the verycheek; full lips, curled with an air of almost saucy expression; whilethe rich olive tint of her transparent skin was scarce colored with thepink flush of exercise, and harmonized perfectly with the proud reposeof her countenance.
"She must be Spanish,--that's certain," said Duchesne. "No one ever sawsuch an instep come from this side the Pyrenees; and those eyes have gottheir look of sleepy wickedness from Moorish blood. But here comes onewill tell us all about her."
This was the Baron de Treve,--a withered-looking, dried-up old man,rouged to the eyes, and dressed in the extravagance of the last fashion;the high collar of his coat rising nearly to the back of his head, ashis deep cravat in front entirely concealed his mouth, and formed a kindof barrier around his features.
As Duchesne addressed him, he stopped short, and assuming an attitudeof great intended grace, raised his glass slowly to his eye, and lookedtowards the lady.
"Ah! the senorina. Don't you know _her?_ Why, where have you been, mydear chevalier? Oh! I forgot. You've been in Austria, or Russia, or somebarbarous place or other. She is the belle, _par excellence_; nothingelse is talked of in Paris."
"But her name? Who is she?" said Duchesne, impatiently.
"Mademoiselle de Lacostellerie, the daughter of the house," said thebaron, completely overcome with astonishment at our ignorance. "And younot to know this!--you, of all men living! Why," he continued, droppinghis voice to a lower key, "there never was such a fortune. Mines ofrubies and emeralds; continents of coffee, rice, and sandal-wood; spiceislands and sugar plantations, to make one's mouth water."
"By Jove, Baron! you seem somewhat susceptible yourself."
"I had my thoughts on the subject," said he, with a half sigh. "But,_helas!_ there are so many ties to be broken! so many tender chains onemust snap asunder!"
"I understand," said Duchesne, with an air of well-assumed seriousness;"the thing was impossible. Now, then, what say you to assist a friend?"
"You,--yourself, do you mean?"
"Of course, Baron; no other."
"Come this way," said the old man, taking him by the arm, and leadinghim along to another part of the room, while Duchesne, with a sly lookat me, followed.
While I stood awaiting his return, my thoughts became fixed on Duchesnehimself, of whose character I never felt free from my misgivings. Thecold indifference he manifested on ordinary occasions to everything andeverybody, I now saw could give way to strong impetuosity; but even thismight be assumed also. As I pondered thus, I had not remarked that thedance was concluded; and already the dancers were proceeding towardstheir seats, when I heard my name uttered beside me,--"CapitaineBurke." I turned; it was the countess herself, leaning on the arm of herdaughter.
"I wish to present you to my daughter," said she, with a courteoussmile. "The college friend and brother officer of your cousin Tascher,Pauline."
The young lady courtesied with an air of cold reserve; I bowed deeplybefore her; while the countess continued,--
"We hope to have the pleasure of seeing you frequently during yourstay in Paris, when we shall have a better opportunity of making youracquaintance."
As I expressed my sense of this politeness, I turned to address a fewwords to mademoiselle; and requesting to have the honor of dancingwith her, she looked at me with an air of surprise, as though notunderstanding my words, when suddenly the countess interposed,--
"I fear that my daughter's engagements have been made long since; butanother night--"
"I will hope--"
But before I could say more, the countess addressed another person nearher, and mademoiselle, turning her head superciliously away, did notdeign me any further attention; so that, abashed and awkward at sounfavorable a _debut_ in the gay world, I fell back, and mixed with thecrowd.
As I did so, I found myself among a group of officers, one of whom wasrelating an anecdote just then current in Paris, and which I mentionmerely as illustrating in some measure the habits of the period.
At the levee of the Emperor on the morning before, an old general ofbrigade advanced to pay his respects, when Napoleon observed some dropsof rain glistening on the embroidery of his uniform. He immediatelyturned towards one of his suite, and gave orders to ascertain by whatcarriage the general had arrived. The answer was, that he had come ina _fiacre_,--a hired vehicle, which by the rules of the Court was notadmitted within the court of the Tuileries, and thus he was obliged towalk above one hundred yards before he could obtain shelter. The oldofficer, who knew nothing of the tender solicitude of the Emperor, wasconfounded with astonishment to observe at his departure a handsome_caleche_ and two splendid horses at his service.
"Whose carriage is this?" said he.
"Yours, Monsieur le General."
"And the servant, and the horses?"
"Yours, also. His Majesty has graciously been pleased to order them foryou; and desires you will remember that the sum of six thousand francswill be deducted from your pay to meet the cost of the equipage whichthe Emperor deems befitting your rank in the service."
"It is thus," said the narrator, "the Emperor would enforce thatliberality on others he so eminently displays himself. The spoils ofItaly and Austria are destined, not to found a new _noblesse_, but toenrich the _bourgeoisie_ of this good city of Paris. I say, Edward,is not that Duchesne yonder? I thought he was above patronizing the_salons_ of a mere commissary-general."
"You don't know the chevalier," replied the other; "no game fliestoo high or too low for his mark. Depend upon it, he's not here fornothing."
"If mademoiselle be the object," said a third, "I'll swear he shall haveno rivalry on my side. By Jove I I 'd rather face a charge of Hulansthan speak to her."
"If thou wert a Marshal of France, Claude, thou wouldst thinkdifferently."
"If I were a Marshal of France," repeated he, with energy, "I'd rathermarry Minette, the vivandiere of ours."
"And no bad choice either," broke in a large! heavy-looking officer."There is but one objection to such an arrangement."
"And that, if I might ask--"
"Simple enough. She would n't have you."
The young man endeavored to join in the laugh this speech excited amongthe rest, though it was evident he felt ill at ease from the ridicule.
"A
thousand pardons, my dear Burke," said Duchesne, at this moment, ashe slipped his arm through mine; "but I thought I should have been inneed of your services a few minutes ago."
"Ah! how?"
"Move a little aside, and I 'll tell you. I wished to ask mademoiselleto dance, and approached her for the purpose. She was standing witha number of people, all strangers to me, at the doorwayyonder,--Dobretski, that Russian prince, the only man I knew amongstthem. A very chilling 'Engaged, sir,' was the answer of the lady to myfirst request. The same reply met my second and third; when the Russian,as if desirous to increase the awkwardness of my position, interposedwith, 'And the fourth set mademoiselle dances with me.'
"'In that case,' said I, 'I may fairly claim the fifth.'
"'On what grounds, sir?' said she, with a look of easy impertinence.
"'The Emperor's orders, Mademoiselle,' said I, proudly.
"'Indeed, sir! May I ask how and when?'
"'Austerlitz, December 2. The order of four o'clock, dated from Reygern,says, "The Imperial Guard will follow closely on the track of theRussians." (Signed) "Napoleon."'
"'In that case, sir,' said she, 'I cannot dispute his Majesty's orders.I shall dance the fifth with you.'"
"And the Russian,--what said he?"
"_Ma foi!_ I paid no attention to him; for as mademoiselle moved offwith her partner, I strolled away in search of you."
If I was amused at this recital of the chevalier, I could not avoidfeeling piqued at the greater success he had than myself; for still thechilling reception I had met with was rankling in my mind.
"Let us move away from this quarter," said Duchesne. "Here we have gotourselves among a knot of old campaigners, with their stupid storiesof Cairo and Acre, Alexandria and the Adige. By Jove! if anything wouldmake me a Legitimist, it is my disgust at those confounded narrativesabout Kleber and Desaix; the Emperor himself does not despise the timeof the Revolution more heartily than I do. Come, there's _bouillotte_yonder; let us go and win some pieces. I feel I'm in vein; and evento lose would be better than listen to these people. It was only a fewminutes ago I was hunted, away from Madame de Muraire by old Berthollet,who is persuading her that her diamonds are but charcoal, and that anecklace is only fit to roast an ortolan. This comes of letting savantsinto society; decidedly, they had much better taste in the time of theMonarchy."
It was with some difficulty we succeeded in approaching the _bouillotte_table, where, to judge from the stakes, very high play was goingforward. Duchesne was quickly recognized among the players, who madeplace for him among them. I soon saw that he was not mistaken insupposing he was in luck; every _coup_ was successful, and, while hecontinued to win time after time, the heap of gold grew greater, till itcovered the part of the table before him.
"Most certainly, Burke," said he, in a whisper, "this is a strong turnof Fortune, who, being a woman, won't long be of the same mind. Fivethousand francs," cried he, throwing the _billet de banque_ carelesslybefore him, while he turned to resume what he was saying to me. "Were Iin action now, I 'd win the _baton de marechal_. I feel it; there's aninnate sense of luck when it means to be steady."
"The Chevalier Duchesne! the Chevalier Duchesne!" was repeated fromvoice to voice, outside the circle; "Mademoiselle de Lacostellerie iswaiting to waltz with you."
"A thousand pardons," said he, rising. "Burke, continue my game, whileI try if I can't push fortune the whole way." So saying, and withoutlistening to my excuses about ignorance of play, he pressed me into hisseat, and pushed his way through the crowd to join the dancers.
It was only when the players asked me if I intended to go on that I wasaware of the position in which I found myself. I knew little more of thegame than I had learned in looking over the table; but I was aware ofthe strict etiquette in all the play of society, which enjoins a revengeto every loser, so that I continued to bet and stake for Duchesne asI had seen him do already,--not, however, with such fortune. He hadscarcely left the table when luck changed; and now I saw his richesdecreasing even more rapidly than they had been accumulated. At last,after a long run of ill fortune, when I had staked a very large sum onthe board, just as the banker was about to begin, I changed my mind andwithdrew half of it.
"No, no,--let it stay," whispered a voice in my ear; "the sooner this isover the better."
I turned. It was Duchesne himself, who for some time had been seatedbehind my chair and looking on at the game.
Fleeting as was the glance I had of his features, I fancied they weresomewhat paler than usual. Could this be from the turn of fortune? Butno. I watched him now, and I perceived that he never even looked at thegame. At last, I staked all that remained in one _coup_, and lost; when,drawing forth my own purse, I was about to make another bet,--
"No, no, Burke," whispered he in my ear; "I was only waiting for thismoment. Let us come away now. I rise as I sat down, Messieurs," he said,gayly; while he added, in a lower tone, "Sauf l'honneur."
"Have you had enough of gayety for one night?" said he, as he drew myarm within his. "Shall we turn home wards?"
"Willingly," said I; for somehow I felt chagrined and vexed at myill-luck, and was angry with myself for playing.
"Come along, then; this door will bring us to the stairs."
As we passed along hastily through the crowd, I saw that a young officerin a hussar uniform whispered something in Duchesne's ear; to whichhe quickly replied, "Certainly." And as he spoke again in the same lowtone, Duchesne answered, "Agreed, sir," with a courteous smile, and alook of much pleasure.
"Well, Burke," said he, turning to me, "these are about the mostsplendid _salons_ in Paris; I think I never saw more perfect taste. Icertainly must thank you for being my chaperon here."
"You forget, Duchesne, the Duchesse de Montserrat, it seems," said I,laughing.
"By Jove, and so I had!" said he. "Yet the initiative lay with you;how the termination may be is another matter," added he, in a mumblingvoice, not intended to be heard.
"At all events," said I, puzzled what to say, and feeling I shouldsay something, "I am happy your Russian friend took no notice of yourspeech."
"And why?" said he, with a peculiar smile,--"and why?"
"I abhor a duel, in the first place."
"But, my dear boy, that speech smacks much more of the Ecole de Jesuitesthan of St. Cyr. Don't let any one less your friend than I am hear yousay so."
"I care not who may hear it. Necessity may make me meet an adversary insingle combat; but as to acting the cold-blooded part of a bystander--asto being the witness of my friend's crime, or his own death--"
"Come, come; when you exchange the dolman for an alb I 'll listen tothis from you, if I can listen to it from any one. But happily, now wehave no time for more morality, for here comes the carriage."
Chatting pleasantly about the soiree and its company, we rolled alongtowards our quarters, and parted with a cordial shake of the hand forthe night.