Part 55 (1/2)
Barbarina was wholly irresistible; her bearing was proud, her eyes sparkled, her face beamed with energy and enthusiasm. A less pa.s.sionate nature than that of Cocceji would have been kindled by her ardor, would have been carried away by her energy.
The fiery young Cocceji threw himself at her feet. ”Command me! my name, my life, my hand, are yours; only love me, Barbarina, and I will be proud to declare how much I love you; to say to the whole world this is my bride, and I am honored and happy that she has deigned to accept my hand!”
”Of this another time,” said Barbarina, smiling; ”first prove to the world that you love me. This evening in the theatre give some public evidence, give the Berliners something to talk about: then--then--”
said she, softly, ”the rest will come in time.”
CHAPTER XVI.
THE DISTURBANCE IN THE THEATRE.
Duke Algarotti and General Rothenberg returned to the castle much comforted by their interview with Barbarina.
”The Barbarina repents, and is ready to take the first step toward reconciliation,” said Rothenberg; ”I see the end; I will go at once and order my cook to prepare a splendid supper for the evening.”
”Do not be hasty,” said Algarotti, shaking his head; ”you may give your cook unnecessary trouble, and the rich feast might be cold before the arrival of the king.”
”Do you believe that?”
”I believe that for a summer cloud or an April shower the king would not withdraw himself to solitude and silence. It is no pa.s.sing mood, but a life question which agitates him.”
”The door has not been opened to-day; Fredersdorf has repeatedly begged for admittance.”
The two friends stood sad and irresolute in the anteroom, alarmed at the seclusion and silence of the king. Suddenly the door leading into the corridor was hastily opened, and a man of commanding and elegant appearance stood upon the threshold; you saw at a glance that he was a cavalier and a courtier, while his glowing cheek, his clear, bright eyes, and jovial smile betrayed the man of pleasure and the epicure. This remarkable man, in whom every one who looked upon him felt confidence; whose face, in spite of the thousand wrinkles which fifty years of an active, useful life had laid upon it, still retained an innocent, amiable, and childlike expression-- this man was the Marquis d'Argens, the true, unchangeable, never- faltering friend of the king. He had consecrated to him his heart, his soul, his whole being; so great was his reverence for his royal master, that the letters received from him were always read standing. The marquis had just returned from Paris; he entered the anteroom of the king with a gay and happy smile, impatient and eager to see his beloved master. Without looking around, he hastened to the door which led into the cabinet of the king. Rothenberg and Algarotti drew near to him, and greeted him joyously, then told him of the strange seclusion of the king. The countenance of the marquis was troubled, and his eyes filled with tears.
”We must not allow this,” he said decidedly; ”I will kneel before the door, and pray and plead till the n.o.ble heart of the king is reached, and he will have pity with our anxiety. Go, Fredersdorf, and announce me to his majesty.”
”Sire,” said Fredersdorf, knocking on the door, ”sire, the Marquis d'Argens is here and begs for admittance.”
No answer was given.
”Oh, sire,” said the marquis, ”be merciful; have consideration for my eagerness to see you after so long an absence; I have travelled day and night in order to enjoy that happiness a few hours sooner. I wish to warm and solace myself in the suns.h.i.+ne of your glance; be gracious, and allow me to enter.”
A breathless silence followed this earnest entreaty. At last the door was shaken, a bolt was drawn back, and the king appeared on the threshold. He was pale, but of that clear and transparent pallor which has nothing in common with the sallow hue of physical weakness; there was no trace of nervous excitement. Smiling, and with calm dignity, he approached his friends.
”Welcome, marquis, most welcome! may joy and happiness crown your return! No doubt you have much to relate to us of your wild and impudent countrymen, and I see that Rothenberg and Algarotti are burning with curiosity to hear an account of your love adventures and rendezvous with your new-baked and glowing d.u.c.h.esses and princesses.”
”Ah, your majesty, he approached me with the proud mien of a conqueror,” said Rothenberg, gladly entering into the jesting humor of the king. ”We are more than ready to believe in the triumphs of the marquis at the court of Louis the Fifteenth.”
”The marquis has done wisely if he has left his heart in Paris,”
said Algarotti. ”Your majesty knows that he suffers greatly with heart disease, and every girl whom he does not exactly know to be a rogue, he believes to be an angel of innocence.”
”You know,” said Rothenberg, ”that shortly before his journey, his house-keeper stole his service of silver. The marquis promised to give her the worth of the silver if she would discover the thief and restore it. She brought it back immediately, and the marquis not only paid her the promised sum, but gave her a handsome reward for her adroitness in discovering the robber. As D'Argens triumphantly related this affair to me, I dared to make the remark that the housekeeper was herself the rogue, the good marquis was as much exasperated with me as if I had dared to charge HIM with theft!
'Have more reverence for women,' said he to me, gravely; 'to complain of, or accuse a woman, is a crime against G.o.d and Nature.
Women are virtuous and n.o.ble when not misled, and I cannot see who could have tempted my good house-keeper; she is, therefore, innocent.'”
All laughed heartily, but D'Argens, who cast his eyes to the ground, looking somewhat ashamed. But the king advanced, and laying both hands upon the shoulders of the marquis, he looked into the kindly, genial face with an expression of indescribable love and confidence.