Part 30 (1/2)
”Excellent!” And De Mouchy rubbed his hands together. ”I will light a fire on every square and on the parvis of every church in Paris, and the smell of the burning will be as incense to the holy saints.”
Diane, however, remained silent, her face still flushed, and a rebellious light in her sullen eyes, which refused to meet Simon's look; and after a moment he went on:
”To obtain this, madame, we look to you. After last night I feel sure his Majesty can refuse you nothing.”
His words stung her into speech. ”It is absurd,” she burst out, ”equal shares! Monsieur, am I to be sucked dry by your exactions? Never! If I get the grant it will be for myself, and you and De Mouchy will be paid as heretofore. So much and no more; and if you like it not there are others who will do my bidding.” She rose from her seat in magnificent anger, an evil, beautiful thing, and De Mouchy shrank from her look. Not so Simon. With an angry growl he reached forward and caught her wrist.
”Have you forgotten what there is between us?” he asked. She made no answer, and strove to free herself silently; but Simon's grip was firm, and there was a terrible meaning in his glance as he forced her back into her seat. ”Have you forgotten?” he asked again, ”or shall I call it from the house-tops to remind you? Fool! Do you not know there are a hundred as fair as you ready to supplant you? One whisper of the past, one whisper of the present--ay, the present--I have but to breathe De Ganache's name.”
”Enough!” she gasped, and Simon loosed his hold, and she sat for a moment, her face buried in her hands.
”Come, Diane,” and Simon changed his tone, ”you have too many enemies at your gate to quarrel with old friends. We need you and you need us.”
She put her hands down, her face now as white as marble, all the cruel lines of her features accentuated, and her eyes were those of a cowed tigress. Never will I forget the scene. In this wicked woman's heart there was not a regret, not a thought of the innocent blood she was planning to shed. It was defeated avarice, pride wounded to the quick, that struggled in her look, and made her, all beautiful as she was, for the moment hideous.
”Get her some wine,” said Simon shortly to De Mouchy--”and get it yourself.”
De Mouchy rose and left the room, and the two were alone together.
”Listen, Diane!” said Simon. ”You stand on the edge of a precipice.
It is said that the King has spoken of nothing this morning but the beauty of Mademoiselle de Paradis.”
She gasped; and he went on:
”I see you understand. Well, unless you agree to my terms mademoiselle is secure from harm; and I think you will find Anet a dull retreat.”
There was a little snapping sound, and she had broken her fan, and flung it from her on to the table. At this moment De Mouchy returned, bringing with him some wine and gla.s.ses. One he filled and handed to Diane, who drank it without a word, and then sat staring in front of her.
”I think,” said Simon, ”that madame now agrees to our proposal. Is it not so?'
”Yes,” she said in a low voice, ”I agree,” but her eyes were kept down to hide their expression.
”That, then, is settled. And remember, madame, that we cannot take action until we have the King's grant in writing. De Mouchy here will see that it is properly registered in the Chambre--and remember it must be within a week, or----” And he bent forward and whispered something in her ear.
”It shall be as you desire, Monsieur le Vidame.”
”In that case,” said Simon, filling himself a gla.s.s, ”I drink to the health of the Great Enterprise. To the unending radiance of the crescent moon, to your new estate of Chateaux Vieux de Mouchy, and to Simon, _Duc_ d'Orrain!”
With this he drank, and set the gla.s.s back on the table with a little click.
There was a silence, and then Diane rose.
”There is nothing further to discuss, I think?” she said.
”No,” replied Simon; ”except that Dom Antoine here would like to register a certain grant within a week.”
She made no answer; but, preceded by De Mouchy and followed by Simon, moved to the door, and all three left the room together. The stars had been with me, and two minutes later I stood beside La Marmotte.
”Well?” she asked.