Part 5 (1/2)
Robespierre was pawing at the pock-marked one's coat, and finally succeeded in yanking him around. The broad back of the giant being turned to her, our little sparrow of a Henriette noiselessly departed--to the evident disappointment of the big man who looked yet again and found her place empty!
The big man had run across Chevalier de Vaudrey also, and the two had struck up a friends.h.i.+p. Moved by the pitiful sight of a starveling crowd gazing into a bakery, Maurice had rushed in and bought an armful of loaves which he distributed, adding gold louis for the wretched mothers of families. The pock-marked one had been a spectator. He stopped the Chevalier, shook his hand warmly, and remarked: ”If more of the aristocrats were like _you_, things would be different!”
From these scenes of low life, let the reader pa.s.s for a few moments to the Salon de la Paix at Versailles, where King Louis XVI received pet.i.tioners.
We in America who have no awe of royalty perceive that the luckless King was simply a square peg in a round hole. He loved locksmithy, hunting, and home; would have been a successful inventor, pioneer, or bourgeois parent. In the chair of State, on this day of pet.i.tions, his head and hand busied themselves with a wonderful new doorlock he had devised.
”Sire,” said the suppliant de Linieres, ”in the matter of the grand alliance betwixt my nephew Chevalier de Vaudrey and your ward Princesse de Acquitaine--”
The monarch nodded absentmindedly.
”Oh, yes, yes! Of course. As you say--” With a courtly wave of the hand, the monarch indicated the waiting heiress on his right. She curtsied low in acceptance of the royal command.
”Let the young man marry her, and accept a place in my royal entourage--But now that this little matter is settled,” continued the King with a return to his former animation, ”I invite you to examine my latest invention, an unpickable lock, which I have here!”
The grave comedy of eulogy on the royal locksmithing was played by the delighted suppliant according to all the rules.
CHAPTER VIII
THE HONOR OF THE FAMILY
Daily the young Chevalier developed a warmer interest in the sweet and pure young girl at the faubourg lodgings. Always his visits brought a little delicious heart-flutter to Henriette, though not unmixed with mourning o'er lost sister. And as a result of these idyllic meetings, ambitious plans appeared to him abhorrent.
About this time the Countess de Linieres, calling one day at her husband's ministerial offices, learned of his purposes.
”I was about to come to you,” said the Count, ”but you have antic.i.p.ated me. I desire to speak with you on the subject of your nephew, the Chevalier de Vaudrey, and to ask you to prepare him for the marriage which the King--”
”Wishes to impose on him,” interrupted the Countess bitterly.
”Impose on him?” repeated de Linieres. ”It is a magnificent alliance, which will complete the measure of the distinguished honors with which His Majesty deigns to favor us.”
”Have you spoken to the Chevalier yet?”
”No, but I am expecting him every moment, and I wished to talk with him in your presence.”
As if this conversation had some influence over him, de Vaudrey entered at this moment.
”Ah, Chevalier!” exclaimed the Count. ”I am glad to see you. The Countess and myself have an important communication to make to you.”
De Vaudrey looked at his uncle in surprise. The latter was positively beaming. Big with the prospective grandeur of his house, he hesitated momentarily over the manner of delivering it.
”My dear Maurice,” said the Count finally, ”the King did me the honor to receive me yesterday, and he spoke of you.”
”Of me?” asked de Vaudrey in surprise.
”He takes a great interest in you,” continued de Linieres, now speaking quickly. ”He wishes you to accept a position at court, and desires at the same time that you should marry.”