Part 6 (2/2)
”She will be the prettiest person there, no matter how she dresses,”
replied Countess Vitzthum. ”Teschen cannot be compared to her--she is withered. There is not another woman at court that can be compared to Anna. In my opinion, the more modest the gown is, the more becoming it will be to her; let others have recourse to artifices.”
The conversation about silk and stuff that followed became both animated and polemical. At first Countess Hoym took no part in it, but sat listening to the two friends, who, however, were very careful not to arouse her suspicions. But little by little, she was drawn by that magnetic attraction that dress always exercises over the mind of every woman. She said a word or two, and soon their conversation, mingled with laughter, flowed on smoothly and swiftly.
Countess Reuss listened attentively to every word her hostess uttered, regarding her all the time with a strange uneasiness; from time to time she questioned her, hoping to discover some hidden meaning in her replies. Countess Hoym soon forgot her irritation, and becoming animated, laughed, uttered witticisms suited to her age, and kept up an easy flow of conversation that sparkled with intelligence. Countess Reuss laughed.
”Anna!” she exclaimed, ”you are charming! Enchanting! Incomparable!
To-morrow evening you will have the whole court at your feet. Hoym will have to see that his pistols are in readiness. Teschen will be taken ill; she will faint--she has a penchant for fainting, it is such an opportunity for displaying her charms!”
Countess Vitzthum laughed. Then Countess Reuss went on to relate how the Princess Lubomirska had captivated the King's heart by fainting when he fell from his horse. They both fainted, for the King, having been severely wounded, lost consciousness. Her awakening was charming, for when she opened her eyes, Augustus was kneeling at her feet.
”But alas!” added Countess Reuss, ”to-day, even though she should faint, the King would no longer be pleased with her. His first rapture is over. At Leipzic fair, he amused himself with some French actresses.
But worse than that, they say he fell madly in love with the Princess Anhalt-Dessau, but that he was disappointed by her coldness. He has told Furstenberg that his heart is free, and that he is ready to offer it to some other beauty.”
”I hope, my dear Countess,” said Anna proudly, ”that you do not compare me with French actresses. The King's heart is not a very attractive present, and mine is of more value than to be satisfied with the remnants of a heart formerly the property of the Princess Teschen.”
Countess Reuss blushed.
”Be quiet, child,” said she, looking round; ”who has said anything of the kind? We prattle about everything, and it will do you no harm to be prepared for any emergency. We will send you our dressmaker, and if you have not brought your diamonds, or should you require others, Mayer will lend you, secretly, anything you want.”
With this both ladies rose, and began to take leave of their hostess, who conducted them, in silence, to the door. Hoym was already busy in his office.
After entering the Countess Reuss's carriage, both ladies remained for a time silent and thoughtful. The Countess Vitzthum was the first to speak.
”What do you prophesy?” she asked.
”Hoym can consider himself a widower,” replied her companion, in a whisper. ”She is proud, and for a long while will resist the good fortune offered her, but there is nothing that makes the King more enthusiastic than resistance. She is beautiful, daring, witty, and quaint; and all these are qualities that not only attract, they also bind. We must manage to be on the best of terms with her now; later, when she has taken hold of the reins, it will be too late. I will help you, and you must help me. Through her we shall hold the King, the secretaries, everybody, and everything. Teschen is lost, and I am glad of it, for I could never get anything from that tedious, sentimental Princess. Besides she has got quite enough; her son is recognized, she has obtained a t.i.tle; she is enormously rich; she has ruled us too long already. The King is tired of her, and now, more than ever, he requires consolation and distraction. Furstenberg, you and I must overthrow that stranger. Only we must be wary, for Anna will not allow herself to be taken by storm--she is too proud.”
”Poor Hoym!” laughed Countess Vitzthum. ”But if only he had some sense--”
”He would profit by her,” interposed Countess Reuss. ”He did not love her any longer, the old libertine, and he himself prepared the drama of which he will be the victim.”
”I distrust Furstenberg.”
Countess Reuss looked at her inquisitively, and a spark of irony glittered in her eyes; she shrugged her shoulders.
”There are some people who are predestined!” said she sneeringly.
Suddenly she began to laugh.
”Do you know,” she continued, ”she should wear an orange dress, and coral ornaments. She has black hair, and the fresh complexion of a child. Such a costume would be most becoming to her. Did you notice what fire she has in her eyes?”
”And how proud she unfortunately is!” said Countess Vitzthum.
”Let her once see the King,” rejoined Countess Reuss; ”let Augustus once wish to please her, and I warrant she will soon lose her pride.”
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