Part 45 (1/2)

And it was as though a light broke on the Grand Duke. ”You planned all this beforehand?” he inquired.

”Why, precisely, your Highness.”

”And de Chateauroux helped you?”

”In effect, yes, your Highness.”

”And the Grand d.u.c.h.ess knew?”

”The Grand d.u.c.h.ess suggested it, your Highness, the moment that she knew you thought of eloping.”

”And I, who tricked Gaston--!”

”Louis,” said the Baroness von Altenburg, in a semi-whisper, ”your wife is one of those persons who cling to respectability like a tippler to his bottle. To her it is absolutely nothing how many women you may pursue--or conquer--so long as you remain here under her thumb, to be exhibited, in fair sobriety, upon the necessary public occasions. I pity you, my Louis.”

And she sighed with real compa.s.sion.

He took possession of one gloved hand. ”At the bottom of your heart,” his Highness said, irrelevantly, ”you like me better than you do Monsieur de Chateauroux.”

”I find you the more entertaining company, to be sure--But what a woman most wants is to be loved. If I touch Philippe's hand for, say, the millionth part of a second longer than necessity compels, he treads for the remainder of the day above meteors; if yours--why, you at most admire my fingers. No doubt you are a connoisseur of fingers and such-like trifles; but, then, a woman does not wish to be admired by a connoisseur so much as she hungers to be adored by a maniac. And accordingly, I prefer my stupid Philippe.”

”You are wise,” the Grand Duke estimated, ”I remember long ago ... in Poictesme yonder....”

”I loathe her,” the Bareness said, with emphasis. ”Nay, I am ignorant as to who she was--but O my Louis! had you accorded me a t.i.the of the love you squandered on that abominable dairymaid I would have followed you not only to Vienna--”

He raised his hand, ”There are persons yonder in whom the proper emotions are innate; let us not shock them. No, I never loved you, I suppose; I merely liked your way of talking, liked your big green eyes, liked your lithe young body.... He, and I like you still, Amalia. So I shall not play the twopenny despot. G.o.d be with you, my dear.”

He had seen tears in those admirable eyes before he turned his back to her.

”Monsieur de Chateauroux,” he called, ”I find the lady is adamant. I wish you a pleasant journey.” He held open the door of the carriage for de Chateauroux to enter.

”You will forgive us, your Highness?” asked the latter.

”You will forget?” murmured the Baroness.

”I shall do both,” said the Grand Duke. ”Bon voyage, mes enfants!”

And with a cracking of whips the carriage drove off.

”Victoria,” said the plump little Grand Duke, in admiration, ”you are a remarkable woman. I think that I will walk for a while in the gardens, and meditate upon the perfections of my wife.”

VIII

He strolled in the direction of the woods. As he reached the summit of a slight incline he turned and looked toward the road that leads from Breschau to Vienna. A cloud of dust showed where the carriage had disappeared.

”Ma foi!” said his Highness; ”my wife has very fully proven her executive ability. Beyond doubt, there is no person in Europe better qualified to rule Noumaria as Regent.”