Volume II Part 36 (1/2)
D'Harville entered his cabinet, and wrote the following notes, without any other address than the name of the invited:--
”My Dear * * *--This is a circular; an impromptu affair is in agitation. Lucenay is to come and breakfast with me this morning; he counts only on a _tete-a-tete_; cause him a very agreeable surprise by joining me, and a few other of his friends, whom I have also advised.
”At noon precisely.
”A. D'HARVILLE.”
”Let some one mount a horse immediately,” said D'Harville, to a servant who answered the bell, ”and deliver these letters.” Then, turning to Joseph, he directed him to address them as follows: ”M. le Vicomte de Saint Remy. Lucenay cannot do without him,” said D'Harville to himself. ”M. de Monville--one of his traveling companions. Lord Douglas--his faithful partner at whist. Baron de Sezannes--the friend of his youth. Have you written?”
”Yes, my lord.”
”Send these letters without losing a moment,” said D'Harville.
”Ah, Philippe! ask M. Doublet to come to me.” The servant retired.
”Well! what is the matter?” asked D'Harville of Joseph, who looked at him with amazement.
”I cannot get over it, sir! I never saw you so gay; and, besides, you, who are commonly so pale, have a fine color--your eyes sparkle.”
”Happiness! old Joseph, happiness! Oh! now you must a.s.sist me in a scheme. You must go and find out from Juliette who has charge of her ladys.h.i.+p's diamonds.”
”Yes, it is Mademoiselle Juliette, my lord, who takes care of them; I helped her, not a week ago, to clean them.”
”You go and ask her the name and address of the jeweler of her mistress; but she must not say a word on the subject to my lady.”
”Ah! I understand! A surprise.”
”Go quickly. Here is M. Doublet. My dear M. Doublet, I am going to frighten you,” said he, laughing. ”I am going to make you utter cries of distress.”
”Me! my lord?”
”You!”
”I will do all in my power to satisfy your lords.h.i.+p.”
”I am going to spend a great deal of money, M. Doublet--an enormous amount of money.”
”What of that, my lord? We are able to do it--well able to do it.”
”For a long time I've been possessed with the notion of building. I have it in contemplation to add a gallery on the garden to the right wing of the hotel. After a long hesitation, I have quite decided. You must tell my architect to-day so that he can come and talk over the plans. Well, M. Doublet, you don't groan over this expense?”
”I can a.s.sure your lords.h.i.+p that I do not groan.”
”This gallery will be destined for _fetes_; I wish it to be built, as it were, by enchantment; now, enchantments being very dear, you must sell fifteen or twenty thousand livres of stock, to be ready to furnish the funds, for I wish the work commenced as soon as possible.” Joseph entered.
”Here is the address of the jeweler, my lord; his name is Baudoin.”
”My dear M. Doublet, you will go, I beg you, to this jeweler, and tell him to bring here, in an hour, a diamond necklace worth about two thousand louis. Women can never have too many jewels, now that dresses are trimmed with them. You will arrange with the jeweler for the payment.”
”Yes, my lord. It is on account of the surprise that I do not groan this time. Diamonds are like buildings, the value remains; and, besides, this surprise to the marchioness! It is as I had the honor to say the other day--there is not in the world a happier man than your lords.h.i.+p.”