Part 12 (1/2)
Nothing further interrupted the journey Under a pretext that was little remarked, M de Wardes went forward in advance of the others He took Manicamp with him, for his equable and dreamy disposition acted as a counterpoise to his own It is a subject of remark, that quarrelsome and restless characters invariably seek the coentle, tiht, in the contrast, a repose for their own ill-huha De Guiche into their friendshi+p, in concert with hi the whole of the journey Bragelonne, had, however, insisted that their three voices should be in concert, instead of singing in solo parts, as De Guiche and his rival see This style of harly, but it was not perhaps so agreeable to the young princess, as an incarnation of coquetry, and ithout any fear as far as her own voice was concerned, sought opportunities of so perilously distinguishi+ng herself She possessed one of those fearless and incautious dispositions that find gratification in an excess of sensitiveness of feeling, and for wholances, her smiles, her toilette, an inexhaustible arforce; and, fronitions, and a thousand other little chare the gentlemen who formed the escort, the townspeople, the officers of the different cities she passed through, pages, populace, and servants; it holesale slaughter, a general devastation By the time Madame arrived at Paris, she had reduced to slavery about a hundred thousand lovers: and brought in her train to Paris half a dozen men ere almost mad about her, and tere, indeed, literally out of their minds Raoul was the only person who divined the power of this woed, he arrived in the capital full of indifference and distrust Occasionally during the journey he conversed with the queen of England respecting the power of fascination which Madame possessed, and the ht experience, replied: ”Henrietta was sure to be illustrious in one way or another, whether born in a palace or born in obscurity; for she is a woination, capricious and self-willed” De Wardes and Manicamp, in their self-assumed character of courtiers, had announced the princess's arrival The procession was es It was Monsieur himself, followed by the Chevalier de Lorraine and by his favorites, the latter being the's military household, who had arrived to meet his affianced bride At St Gered their heavy traveling carriage, soht, richly decorated chariot drawn by six horses hite and gold harness Seated in this open carriage, as though upon a throne, and beneath a parasol of e and lovely princess, on whose bea face were reflected the softened rose-tints which suited her delicate skin to perfection Monsieur, on reaching the carriage, was struck by her beauty; he showed his admiration in so ed his shoulders as he listened to his coham and De Guiche were almost heart-broken After the usual courtesies had been rendered, and the ceremony completed, the procession slowly resumed the road to Paris The presentations had been carelessly entlemen, had been introduced to Monsieur, from whom they had received but very indifferent attention But, during their progress, as he observed that the duke devoted hie-door, he asked the Chevalier de Lorraine, his inseparable companion, ”Who is that cavalier?”
”He was presented to your highness a short while ago; it is the handsohaht,” added the favorite, with an inflection of the voice which envious ive to the simplest phrases
”What do you say?” replied the prince
”I said 'Madaht, then?”
”One would think you can judge of that for yourself; look, only, how they are laughing and flirting All three of them”
”What do you mean by all three?”
”Do you not see that De Guiche is one of the party?”
”Yes, I see But what does that prove?”
”That Madame has two ad!”
”I poison nothing Ah! your royal highness's do paid to your wife and you are not satisfied”
The Duke of Orleans dreaded the satirical humor of the Chevalier de Lorraine whenever it reached a certain degree of bitterness, and he changed the conversation abruptly ”The princess is pretty,” said he, very negligently, as if he were speaking of a stranger
”Yes,” replied the chevalier, in the same tone
”You say 'yes' like a 'no' She has very beautiful black eyes”
”Yes, but small”
”That is so, but they are brilliant She is tall, and of a good figure”
”I fancy she stoops a little, my lord”
”I do not deny it She has a noble appearance”
”Yes, but her face is thin”
”I thought her teeth beautiful”
”They can easily be seen, for her , my lord; you are certainly handsomer than your wife”
”But do you think ham?”
”Certainly, and he thinks so, too; for look,his attentions to Mada the impression he has made”
Monsieur made a movement of impatience, but as he noticed a smile of triumph pass across the chevalier's lips, he drew up his horse to a foot-pace ”Why,” said he, ”should I occupy er about ht up together? Did I not see her at the Louvre when she was quite a child?”
”A great change has taken place in her since then, prince At the period you allude to, she was somewhat less brilliant, and scarcely so proud, either One evening, particularly, yourefused to dance with her, because he thought her plain and badly dressed!”
These wordsfor hi had not thought much He would probably have retorted, but at this e to join the prince He had reether, and full of anxious attention he seeuess the nature of the reed The chevalier, whether he had some treacherous object in view, or from imprudence, did not take the trouble to dissimulate ”Count,” he said, ”you're a man of excellent taste”
”Thank you for the compliment,” replied De Guiche; ”but why do you say that?”
”Well I appeal to his highness”
”No doubt of it,” said Monsieur; ”and Guiche knows perfectly well that I regard him as a most finished cavalier”
”Well, since that is decided, I resume You have been in the princess's society, count, for the last eight days, have you not?”
”Yes,” replied De Guiche, coloring in spite of himself
”Well then, tell us frankly, what do you think of her personal appearance?”
”Of her personal appearance?” returned De Guiche, stupefied
”Yes; of her appearance, of her mind, of herself, in fact”
Astounded by this question, De Guiche hesitated answering
”Coly, ”tell us your opinion frankly; the prince commands it”
”Yes, yes,” said the prince, ”be frank”
De Guiche staible words
”I am perfectly well aware,” returned Monsieur, ”that the subject is a delicate one, but you know you can tellWhat do you think of her?”
In order to avoid betraying his real thoughts, De Guiche had recourse to the only defense which a ly told an untruth ”I do not find Madaood than bad looking”
”What! count,” exclaimed the chevalier, ”you ent into such ecstasies and uttered so ht of her portrait”
De Guiche colored violently Very fortunately, his horse, which was slightly restive, enabled hiitation ”What portrait?” he ain The chevalier had not taken his eyes off hiood likeness?”
”I do not reotten the portrait; it quite escaped my recollection”