Part 32 (1/2)
Eugene bowed his head, and entered. The ”person” was certainly within; but in lieu of announcing the prince, he stared at him in speechless astonishment.
Eugene paid no attention to him, but moved toward the door leading to the prime minister's cabinet. When the valet saw this, he flew across the room to stop the intruder, and, placing himself directly in his way, he bowed and said, ”Pardon me, your highness. You must have been misinformed. His excellency regrets that he cannot receive your highness's visit to-day. He is particularly engaged.”
”I have no visit to make to his excellency,” replied the prince without embarra.s.sment. ”I am the envoy of her royal highness the d.u.c.h.ess of Orleans. Announce me as such.”
The valet soon returned, and, holding up the portiere so as to admit Eugene, he said, ”His excellency will receive the envoy of her royal highness the d.u.c.h.ess of Orleans.”
Louvois was standing near a writing-table, from which he appeared at that moment to have risen. His right hand rested on a book, and he stood stiff and erect, awaiting an inclination from Eugene, to bend his head in return. But the prince advanced so proudly that Louvois involuntarily made a step toward him, and then recollecting himself, stood still and frowned visibly.
”You came under false colors to claim an audience from me, prince,”
said he. ”As you found (indeed, you should have known) that I would not receive you in your own name, you borrowed that of her royal highness; taking advantage of the respect due madame, to force yourself into my presence. What is your business?”
”In supposing that I have used her royal highness's name to force myself upon you, you are mistaken,” replied Eugene, calmly. ”If you will take the trouble to look out of yonder window, you will see that I came hither in her highness's own coach.”
Louvois stepped to the window, looked out, and, affecting astonishment, exclaimed, ”True enough; there are the royal liveries, and you have told the truth. You really must excuse me.”
”I do excuse you; for I do not consider that one bearing the name of Louvois is in a position to affront me by doubting my word.”
”Lucky for you,” returned Louvois, with his sinister laugh; ”for there is not likely to be much harmony between the two families. And now to business. What message do you bear from madame?”
”Her royal highness informs Monsieur de Louvois that on yesterday night, the Marchioness de Bonaletta disappeared from her pavilion in the Palais Royal. As Monsieur de Louvois is well posted in all that takes place in or about Paris, her royal highness is convinced that he is no stranger to this occurrence, and she requires that her lady of the bedchamber be returned to her, or she be directed where to find her.”
”Is that all?” asked Louvois, after a pause.
”That is all that I have to say for the d.u.c.h.ess of Orleans.”
”You are so very emphatic that I infer you have something else to say, after all. Am I right?”
”You are.”
”Well, you may speak. But first, allow me to ask how you happen to be her highness's messenger? Was it by way of sympathizing with the Marchioness de Bonaletta, that you took service with her mistress?”
”My lord prime minister,” returned Eugene, proudly, ”I serve myself and the requirements of my honor only.”
”Ah, indeed! And does this respectable lady pay you well?”
”She bestows upon me wherewith to pay those who venture to attack her name.”
”Ha! ha! Then you must have heavy payments to make, not for yourself only, but for your mother.”
Eugene clinched his fist, and made a motion toward his cruel enemy, but Louvois calmly raised his hand.
”Peace, young man,” said he; ”the hour for reckoning has not arrived. I respect, in you, the representative of madame, and you shall depart from my house uninjured, today. Take advantage, then, of your opportunity; say all that you have to say, and spare yourself the trouble of sending me your pet.i.tions by writing.”
”I have no pet.i.tions to make to you, oral or written. I came hither to claim for her royal mistress the Marchioness de Bonaletta, your daughter.”
”And I repeat my question. How came you to be the chosen amba.s.sador of her royal highness, on this strictly private affair between herself and me?”
”I was chosen,” replied Eugene, breathing hard and growing pale, ”because I love the marchioness.”
Louvois laughed aloud. ”You love my daughter, do you? I admire the sagacity which directs your love toward the daughter of the prime minister of France, and the richest heiress within its boundaries. I congratulate you upon your choice.”