II.--M. DE LA PEROUSE.
At the same moment, the noise of carriages in the street warned themarshal that his guests were arriving; and soon after, thanks to thepunctuality of his maitre-d'hotel, nine persons were seated round theoval table in the dining-room. Nine lackeys, silent as shadows, quickwithout bustle, and attentive without importunity, glided over thecarpet, and passed among the guests, without ever touching their chairs,which were surrounded with furs, which were wrapped round the legs ofthe sitters. These furs, with the heat from the stoves, and the odorsfrom the wine and the dinner, diffused a degree of comfort, whichmanifested itself in the gaiety of the guests, who had just finishedtheir soup.
No sound was heard from without, and none within, save that made by theguests themselves; for the plates were changed, and the dishes movedround, with the most perfect quiet. Nor from the maitre d'hotel could awhisper be heard; he seemed to give his orders with his eyes.
The guests, therefore, began to feel as though they were alone. Itseemed to them that servants so silent must also be deaf.
M. de Richelieu was the first who broke the silence, by saying to theguest on his right hand, "But, count, you drink nothing."
This was addressed to a man about thirty-eight years of age, short,fair-haired, and with high shoulders; his eye a clear blue, now bright,but oftener with a pensive expression, and with nobility stampedunmistakably on his open and manly forehead.
"I only drink water, marshal," he replied.
"Excepting with Louis XV.," returned the marshal; "I had the honor ofdining at his table with you, and you deigned that day to drink wine."
"Ah! you recall a pleasing remembrance, marshal; that was in 1771. Itwas tokay, from the imperial cellar."
"It was like that with which my maitre-d'hotel will now have the honorto fill your glass," replied Richelieu, bowing.
Count Haga raised his glass, and looked through it. The wine sparkled inthe light like liquid rubies. "It is true," said he; "marshal, I thankyou."
These words were uttered in a manner so noble, that the guests, as if bya common impulse, rose, and cried,--
"Long live the king!"
"Yes," said Count Haga, "long live his majesty the King of France. Whatsay you, M. de la Perouse?"
"My lord," replied the captain, with that tone, at once flattering andrespectful, common to those accustomed to address crowned heads, "I havejust left the king, and his majesty has shown me so much kindness, thatno one will more willingly cry 'Long live the king' than I. Only, as inanother hour I must leave you to join the two ships which his majestyhas put at my disposal, once out of this house, I shall take the libertyof saying, 'Long life to another king, whom I should be proud to serve,had I not already so good a master.'"
"This health that you propose," said Madame Dubarry, who sat on themarshal's left hand, "we are all ready to drink, but the oldest of usshould take the lead."
"Is it you, that that concerns, or me, Taverney?" said the marshal,laughing.
"I do not believe," said another on the opposite side, "that M. deRichelieu is the senior of our party."
"Then it is you, Taverney," said the duke.
"No, I am eight years younger than you! I was born in 1704," returnedhe.
"How rude," said the marshal, "to expose my eighty-eight years."
"Impossible, duke! that you are eighty-eight," said M. de Condorcet.
"It is, however, but too true; it is a calculation easy to make, andtherefore unworthy of an algebraist like you, marquis. I am of the lastcentury--the great century, as we call it. My date is 1696."
"Impossible!" cried De Launay.
"Oh, if your father were here, he would not say impossible, he, who,when governor of the Bastile, had me for a lodger in 1714."
"The senior in age, here, however," said M. de Favras, "is the wineCount Haga is now drinking."
"You are right, M. de Favras; this wine is a hundred and twenty yearsold; to the wine, then, belongs the honor----"
"One moment, gentlemen," said Cagliostro, raising his eyes, beaming withintelligence and vivacity; "I claim the precedence."
"You claim precedence over the tokay!" exclaimed all the guests inchorus.
"Assuredly," returned Cagliostro, calmly; "since it was I who bottledit."
"You?"
"Yes, I; on the day of the victory won by Montecucully over the Turks in1664."
A burst of laughter followed these words, which Cagliostro hadpronounced with perfect gravity.
"By this calculation, you would be something like one hundred and thirtyyears old," said Madame Dubarry; "for you must have been at least tenyears old when you bottled the wine."
"I was more than ten when I performed that operation, madame, as on thefollowing day I had the honor of being deputed by his majesty theEmperor of Austria to congratulate Montecucully, who by the victory ofSt. Gothard had avenged the day at Especk, in Sclavonia, in which theinfidels treated the imperialists so roughly, who were my friends andcompanions in arms in 1536."
"Oh," said Count Haga, as coldly as Cagliostro himself, "you must havebeen at least ten years old, when you were at that memorable battle."
"A terrible defeat, count," returned Cagliostro.
"Less terrible than Cressy, however," said Condorcet, smiling.
"True, sir, for at the battle of Cressy, it was not only an army, butall France, that was beaten; but then this defeat was scarcely a fairvictory to the English; for King Edward had cannon, a circumstance ofwhich Philip de Valois was ignorant, or rather, which he would notbelieve, although I warned him that I had with my own eyes seen fourpieces of artillery which Edward had bought from the Venetians."
"Ah," said Madame Dubarry; "you knew Philip de Valois?"
"Madame, I had the honor to be one of the five lords who escorted himoff the field of battle; I came to France with the poor old King ofBohemia, who was blind, and who threw away his life when he heard thatthe battle was lost."
"Ah, sir," said M. de la Perouse, "how much I regret, that instead ofthe battle of Cressy, it was not that of Actium at which you assisted."
"Why so, sir?"
"Oh, because you might have given me some nautical details, which, inspite of Plutarch's fine narration, have ever been obscure to me."
"Which, sir? I should be happy to be of service to you."
"Oh, you were there, then, also?"
"No, sir; I was then in Egypt. I had been employed by Queen Cleopatra torestore the library at Alexandria--an office for which I was betterqualified than any one else, from having personally known the bestauthors of antiquity."
"And you have seen Queen Cleopatra?" said Madame Dubarry.
"As I now see you, madame."
"Was she as pretty as they say?"
"Madame, you know beauty is only comparative; a charming queen in Egypt,in Paris she would only have been a pretty grisette."
"Say no harm of grisettes, count."
"God forbid!"
"Then Cleopatra was----"
"Little, slender, lively, and intelligent; with large almond-shapedeyes, a Grecian nose, teeth like pearls, and a hand like your own,countess--a fit hand to hold a scepter. See, here is a diamond which shegave me, and which she had had from her brother Ptolemy; she wore it onher thumb."
"On her thumb?" cried Madame Dubarry.
"Yes; it was an Egyptian fashion; and I, you see, can hardly put it onmy little finger;" and taking off the ring, he handed it to MadameDubarry.
It was a magnificent diamond, of such fine water, and so beautifullycut, as to be worth thirty thousand or forty thousand francs.
The diamond was passed round the table, and returned to Cagliostro, who,putting it quietly on his finger again, said, "Ah, I see well you areall incredulous; this fatal incredulity I have had to contend againstall my life. Philip de Valois would not listen to me, when I told him toleave open a retreat to Edward; Cleopatra would not believe me when Iwarned her that Antony would be beaten: the Trojans would not credit me,when I
said to them, with reference to the wooden horse, 'Cassandra isinspired; listen to Cassandra.'"
"Oh! it is charming," said Madame Dubarry, shaking with laughter; "Ihave never met a man at once so serious and so diverting."
"I assure you," replied Cagliostro, "that Jonathan was much more so. Hewas really a charming companion; until he was killed by Saul, he nearlydrove me crazy with laughing."
"Do you know," said the Duke de Richelieu, "if you go on in this way youwill drive poor Taverney crazy; he is so afraid of death, that he isstaring at you with all his eyes, hoping you to be an immortal."
"Immortal I cannot say, but one thing I can affirm----"
"What?" cried Taverney, who was the most eager listener.
"That I have seen all the people and events of which I have beenspeaking to you."
"You have known Montecucully?"
"As well as I know you, M. de Favras; and, indeed, much better, for thisis but the second or third time I have had the honor of seeing you,while I lived nearly a year under the same tent with him of whom youspeak."
"You knew Philip de Valois?"
"As I have already had the honor of telling you, M. de Condorcet; butwhen he returned to Paris, I left France and returned to Bohemia."
"And Cleopatra."
"Yes, countess; Cleopatra, I can tell you, had eyes as black as yours,and shoulders almost as beautiful."
"But what do you know of my shoulders?"
"They are like what Cassandra's once were; and there is still a furtherresemblance,--she had like you, or rather, you have like her, a littleblack spot on your left side, just above the sixth rib."
"Oh, count, now you really are a sorcerer."
"No, no," cried the marshal, laughing; "it was I who told him."
"And pray how do you know?"
The marshal bit his lips, and replied, "Oh, it is a family secret."
"Well, really, marshal," said the countess, "one should put on a doublecoat of rouge before visiting you;" and turning again to Cagliostro,"then, sir, you have the art of renewing your youth? For although yousay you are three or four thousand years old, you scarcely look forty."
"Yes, madame, I do possess that secret."
"Oh, then, sir, impart it to me."
"To you, madame? It is useless; your youth is already renewed; your ageis only what it appears to be, and you do not look thirty."
"Ah! you flatter."
"No, madame, I speak only the truth, but it is easily explained: youhave already tried my receipt."
"How so?"
"You have taken my elixir."
"I?"
"You, countess. Oh! you cannot have forgotten it. Do you not remember acertain house in the Rue St. Claude, and coming there on some businessrespecting M. de Sartines? You remember rendering a service to one of myfriends, called Joseph Balsamo, and that this Joseph Balsamo gave you abottle of elixir, recommending you to take three drops every morning? Doyou not remember having done this regularly until the last year, whenthe bottle became exhausted? If you do not remember all this, countess,it is more than forgetfulness--it is ingratitude."
"Oh! M. Cagliostro, you are telling me things----"
"Which were only known to yourself, I am aware; but what would be theuse of being a sorcerer if one did not know one's neighbor's secrets?"
"Then Joseph Balsamo has, like you, the secret of this famous elixir?"
"No, madame, but he was one of my best friends, and I gave him three orfour bottles."
"And has he any left?"
"Oh! I know nothing of that; for the last two or three years, poorBalsamo has disappeared. The last time I saw him was in America, on thebanks of the Ohio: he was setting off on an expedition to the RockyMountains, and since then I have heard that he is dead."
"Come, come, count," cried the marshal; "let us have the secret, by allmeans."
"Are you speaking seriously, sir?" said Count Haga.
"Very seriously, sire,--I beg pardon, I mean count;" and Cagliostrobowed in such a way as to indicate that his error was a voluntary one.
"Then," said the marshal, "Madame Dubarry is not old enough to be madeyoung again?"
"No, on my conscience."
"Well, then, I will give you another subject: here is my friend, M.Taverney--what do you say to him? Does he not look like a contemporaryof Pontius Pilate? But perhaps, he, on the contrary, is too old."
Cagliostro looked at the baron. "No," said he.
"Ah! my dear count," exclaimed Richelieu; "if you will renew his youth,I will proclaim you a true pupil of Medea."
"You wish it?" asked Cagliostro of the host, and looking round at thesame time on all assembled.
Every one called out, "Yes."
"And you also, M. Taverney?"
"I more than any one," said the baron.
"Well, it is easy," returned Cagliostro; and he drew from his pocket asmall bottle, and poured into a glass some of the liquid it contained.Then, mixing these drops with half a glass of iced champagne, he passedit to the baron.
All eyes followed his movements eagerly.
The baron took the glass, but as he was about to drink he hesitated.
Every one began to laugh, but Cagliostro called out, "Drink, baron, oryou will lose a liquor of which each drop is worth a hundred louisd'ors."
"The devil," cried Richelieu; "that is even better than tokay."
"I must then drink?" said the baron, almost trembling.
"Or pass the glass to another, sir, that some one at least may profit byit."
"Pass it here," said Richelieu, holding out his hand.
The baron raised the glass, and decided, doubtless, by the delicioussmell and the beautiful rose color which those few drops had given tothe champagne, he swallowed the magic liquor. In an instant a kind ofshiver ran through him; he seemed to feel all his old and sluggish bloodrushing quickly through his veins, from his heart to his feet, hiswrinkled skin seemed to expand, his eyes, half covered by their lids,appeared to open without his will, and the pupils to grow and brighten,the trembling of his hands to cease, his voice to strengthen, and hislimbs to recover their former youthful elasticity. In fact, it seemed asif the liquid in its descent had regenerated his whole body.
A cry of surprise, wonder, and admiration rang through the room.
Taverney, who had been slowly eating with his gums, began to feelfamished; he seized a plate and helped himself largely to a ragout, andthen demolished a partridge, bones and all, calling out that his teethwere coming back to him. He ate, laughed, and cried for joy, for half anhour, while the others remained gazing at him in stupefied wonder; thenlittle by little he failed again, like a lamp whose oil is burning out,and all the former signs of old age returned upon him.
"Oh!" groaned he, "once more adieu to my youth," and he gave utteranceto a deep sigh, while two tears rolled over his cheeks.
Instinctively, at this mournful spectacle of the old man first madeyoung again, and then seeming to become yet older than before, from thecontrast, the sigh was echoed all round the table.
"It is easy to explain, gentlemen," said Cagliostro; "I gave the baronbut thirty-five drops of the elixir. He became young, therefore, foronly thirty-five minutes."
"Oh more, more, count!" cried the old man eagerly.
"No, sir, for perhaps the second trial would kill you."
Of all the guests, Madame Dubarry, who had already tested the virtue ofthe elixir, seemed most deeply interested while old Taverney's youthseemed thus to renew itself; she had watched him with delight andtriumph, and half fancied herself growing young again at the sight,while she could hardly refrain from endeavoring to snatch fromCagliostro the wonderful bottle; but now, seeing him resume his old ageeven quicker than he had lost it, "Alas!" she said sadly, "all is vanityand deception; the effects of this wonderful secret last for thirty-fiveminutes."
"That is to say," said Count Haga, "that in order to resume your youthfor two years, you would have to drink a perfect river."
Every one laughed.
"Oh!" said De Condorcet, "the calculation is simple; a mere nothing of3,153,000 drops for one year's youth."
"An inundation," said La Perouse.
"However, sir," continued Madame Dubarry; "according to you, I have notneeded so much, as a small bottle about four times the size of that youhold has been sufficient to arrest the march of time for ten years."
"Just so, madame. And you alone approach this mysterious truth. The manwho has already grown old needs this large quantity to produce animmediate and powerful effect; but a woman of thirty, as you were, or aman of forty, as I was, when I began to drink this elixir, still full oflife and youth, needs but ten drops at each period of decay; and withthese ten drops may eternally continue his life and youth at the samepoint."
"What do you call the periods of decay?" asked Count Haga.
"The natural periods, count. In a state of nature, man's strengthincreases until thirty-five years of age. It then remains stationaryuntil forty; and from that time forward, it begins to diminish, butalmost imperceptibly, until fifty; then the process becomes quicker andquicker to the day of his death. In our state of civilization, when thebody is weakened by excess, cares, and maladies, the failure begins atthirty-five. The time, then, to take nature, is when she is stationary,so as to forestall the beginning of decay. He who, possessor as I am ofthe secret of this elixir, knows how to seize the happy moment, willlive as I live; always young, or, at least, always young enough for whathe has to do in the world."
"Oh, M. Cagliostro," cried the countess; "why, if you could choose yourown age, did you not stop at twenty instead of at forty?"
"Because, madame," said Cagliostro, smiling, "it suits me better to be aman of forty, still healthy and vigorous, than a raw youth of twenty."
"Oh!" said the countess.
"Doubtless, madame," continued Cagliostro, "at twenty one pleases womenof thirty; at forty, we govern women of twenty, and men of sixty."
"I yield, sir," said the countess, "for you are a living proof of thetruth of your own words."
"Then I," said Taverney, piteously, "am condemned; it is too late forme."
"M. de Richelieu has been more skilful than you," said La Perousenaively, "and I have always heard that he had some secret."
"It is a report that the women have spread," laughed Count Haga.
"Is that a reason for disbelieving it, duke?" asked Madame Dubarry.
The old duke colored, a rare thing for him; but replied, "Do you wish,gentlemen, to have my receipt?"
"Oh, by all means."
"Well, then, it is simply to take care of yourself."
"Oh, oh!" cried all.
"But, M. Cagliostro," continued Madame Dubarry, "I must ask more aboutthe elixir."
"Well, madame?"
"You said you first used it at forty years of age----"
"Yes, madame."
"And that since that time, that is, since the siege of Troy----"
"A little before, madame."
"That you have always remained forty years old?"
"You see me now."
"But then, sir," said De Condorcet, "you argue, not only theperpetuation of youth, but the preservation of life; for if since thesiege of Troy you have been always forty, you have never died."
"True, marquis, I have never died."
"But are you, then, invulnerable, like Achilles, or still more so, forAchilles was killed by the arrow of Paris?"
"No. I am not invulnerable, and there is my great regret," saidCagliostro.
"Then, sir, you may be killed."
"Alas! yes."
"How, then, have you escaped all accidents for three thousand fivehundred years?"
"It is chance, marquis, but will you follow my reasoning?"
"Yes, yes," cried all, with eagerness.
Cagliostro continued: "What is the first requisite to life?" he asked,spreading out his white and beautiful hands covered with rings, amongwhich Cleopatra's shone conspicuously. "Is it not health!"
"Certainly."
"And the way to preserve health is?"
"Proper management," said Count Haga.
"Right, count. And why should not my elixir be the best possible methodof treatment? And this treatment I have adopted, and with it havepreserved my youth, and with youth, health, and life."
"But all things exhaust themselves; the finest constitution, as well asthe worst."
"The body of Paris, like that of Vulcan," said the countess. "Perhaps,you knew Paris, by the bye?"
"Perfectly, madame; he was a fine young man, but really did not deserveall that has been said of him. In the first place, he had red hair."
"Red hair, horrible!"
"Unluckily, madame, Helen was not of your opinion: but to return to oursubject. You say, M. de Taverney, that all things exhaust themselves;but you also know, that everything recovers again, regenerates, or isreplaced, whichever you please to call it. The famous knife of St.Hubert, which so often changed both blade and handle, is an example, forthrough every change it still remained the knife of St. Hubert. Thewines which the monks of Heidelberg preserve so carefully in theircellars, remain still the same wine, although each year they pour intoit a fresh supply; therefore, this wine always remains clear, bright,and delicious: while the wine which Opimus and I hid in the earthen jarswas, when I tried it a hundred years after, only a thick dirtysubstance, which might have been eaten, but certainly could not havebeen drunk. Well, I follow the example of the monks of Heidelberg, andpreserve my body by introducing into it every year new elements, whichregenerate the old. Every morning a new and fresh atom replaces in myblood, my flesh, and my bones, some particle which has perished. I staythat ruin which most men allow insensibly to invade their whole being,and I force into action all those powers which God has given to everyhuman being, but which most people allow to lie dormant. This is thegreat study of my life, and as, in all things, he who does one thingconstantly does that thing better than others, I am becoming moreskilful than others in avoiding danger. Thus, you would not get me toenter a tottering house; I have seen too many houses not to tell at aglance the safe from the unsafe. You would not see me go out huntingwith a man who managed his gun badly. From Cephalus, who killed hiswife, down to the regent, who shot the prince in the eye, I have seentoo many unskilful people. You could not make me accept in battle thepost which many a man would take without thinking, because I shouldcalculate in a moment the chances of danger at each point. You will tellme that one cannot foresee a stray bullet; but the man who has escaped athousand gun-shots will hardly fall a victim to one now. Ah, you lookincredulous, but am I not a living proof? I do not tell you that I amimmortal, only that I know better than others how to avoid danger; forinstance, I would not remain here now alone with M. de Launay, who isthinking that, if he had me in the Bastile, he would put my immortalityto the test of starvation; neither would I remain with M. de Condorcet,for he is thinking that he might just empty into my glass the contentsof that ring which he wears on his left hand, and which is full ofpoison--not with any evil intent, but just as a scientific experiment,to see if I should die."
The two people named looked at each other, and colored.
"Confess, M. de Launay, we are not in a court of justice; besides,thoughts are not punished. Did you not think what I said? And you, M. deCondorcet, would you not have liked to let me taste the poison in yourring, in the name of your beloved mistress, science?"
"Indeed," said M. de Launay, laughing, "I confess you are right; it wasfolly, but that folly did pass through my mind just before you accusedme."
"And I," said M. de Condorcet, "will not be less candid. I did thinkthat if you tasted the contents of my ring, I would not give much foryour life."
A cry of admiration burst from the rest of the party; these avowalsconfirming not the immortality, but the penetration, of CountCagliostro.
"You see," said Cagliostro, quietly, "that I divined these dangers;well, it is the same with other things. The experi
ence of a long lifereveals to me at a glance much of the past and of the future of thosewhom I meet. My capabilities in this way extend even to animals andinanimate objects. If I get into a carriage, I can tell from the look ofthe horses if they are likely to run away; and from that of thecoachman, if he will overturn me. If I go on board ship, I can see ifthe captain is ignorant or obstinate, and consequently likely toendanger me. I should then leave the coachman or captain, escape fromthose horses or that ship. I do not deny chance, I only lessen it, andinstead of incurring a hundred chances, like the rest of the world, Iprevent ninety-nine of them, and endeavor to guard against thehundredth. This is the good of having lived three thousand years."
"Then," said La Perouse, laughing, amidst the wonder and enthusiasmcreated by this speech of Cagliostro's, "you should come with me when Iembark to make the tour of the world; you would render me a signalservice."
Cagliostro did not reply.
"M. de Richelieu," continued La Perouse, "as the Count Cagliostro, whichis very intelligible, does not wish to quit such good company, you mustpermit me to do so without him. Excuse me, Count Haga, and you, madame,but it is seven o'clock, and I have promised his majesty to start at aquarter past. But since Count Cagliostro will not be tempted to comewith me, and see my ships, perhaps he can tell me what will happen to mebetween Versailles and Brest. From Brest to the Pole I ask nothing; thatis my own business."
Cagliostro looked at La Perouse with such a melancholy air, so full bothof pity and kindness, that the others were struck by it. The sailorhimself, however, did not remark it. He took leave of the company, puton his fur riding coat, into one of the pockets of which Madame Dubarrypushed a bottle of delicious cordial, welcome to a traveler, but whichhe would not have provided for himself, to recall to him, she said, hisabsent friends during the long nights of a journey in such bitter cold.
La Perouse, still full of gaiety, bowed respectfully to Count Haga, andheld out his hand to the old marshal.
"Adieu, dear La Perouse," said the latter.
"No, duke, au revoir," replied La Perouse, "one would think I was goingaway forever; now I have but to circumnavigate the globe--five or sixyears' absence; it is scarcely worth while to say 'adieu' for that."
"Five or six years," said the marshal; "you might almost as well sayfive or six centuries; days are years at my age, therefore I say,adieu."
"Bah! ask the sorcerer," returned La Perouse, still laughing; "he willpromise you twenty years' more life. Will you not, Count Cagliostro? Oh,count, why did I not hear sooner of those precious drops of yours?Whatever the price, I should have shipped a tun. Madame, another kiss ofthat beautiful hand, I shall certainly not see such another till Ireturn; au revoir," and he left the room.
Cagliostro still preserved the same mournful silence. They heard thesteps of the captain as he left the house, his gay voice in thecourtyard, and his farewells to the people assembled to see him depart.Then the horses shook their heads, covered with bells, the door of thecarriage shut with some noise, and the wheels were heard rolling alongthe street.
La Perouse had started on that voyage from which he was destined neverto return.
When they could no longer hear a sound, all looks were again turned toCagliostro; there seemed a kind of inspired light in his eyes.
Count Haga first broke the silence, which had lasted for some minutes."Why did you not reply to his question?" he inquired of Cagliostro.
Cagliostro started, as if the question had roused him from a reverie."Because," said he, "I must either have told a falsehood or a sadtruth."
"How so?"
"I must have said to him,--'M. de la Perouse, the duke is right insaying to you adieu, and not au revoir.'"
"Oh," said Richelieu, turning pale, "what do you mean?"
"Reassure yourself, marshal, this sad prediction does not concern you."
"What," cried Madame Dubarry, "this poor La Perouse, who has just kissedmy hand----"
"Not only, madame, will never kiss it again, but will never again seethose he has just left," said Cagliostro, looking attentively at theglass of water he was holding up.
A cry of astonishment burst from all. The interest of the conversationdeepened every moment, and you might have thought, from the solemn andanxious air with which all regarded Cagliostro, that it was some ancientand infallible oracle they were consulting.
"Pray then, count," said Madame Dubarry, "tell us what will befall poorLa Perouse."
Cagliostro shook his head.
"Oh, yes, let us hear!" cried all the rest.
"Well, then, M. de la Perouse intends, as you know, to make the tour ofthe globe, and continue the researches of poor Captain Cook, who waskilled in the Sandwich Islands."
"Yes, yes, we know."
"Everything should foretell a happy termination to this voyage; M. de laPerouse is a good seaman, and his route has been most skilfully tracedby the king."
"Yes," interrupted Count Haga, "the King of France is a clevergeographer; is he not, M. de Condorcet?"
"More skilful than is needful for a king," replied the marquis; "kingsought to know things only slightly, then they will let themselves beguided by those who know them thoroughly."
"Is this a lesson, marquis?" said Count Haga, smiling.
"Oh, no. Only a simple reflection, a general truth."
"Well, he is gone," said Madame Dubarry, anxious to bring theconversation back to La Perouse.
"Yes, he is gone," replied Cagliostro, "but don't believe, in spite ofhis haste, that he will soon embark. I foresee much time lost at Brest."
"That would be a pity," said De Condorcet; "this is the time to set out:it is even now rather late--February or March would have been better."
"Oh, do not grudge him these few months, M. de Condorcet, for, duringthem, he will at least live and hope."
"He has got good officers, I suppose?" said Richelieu.
"Yes, he who commands the second ship is a distinguished officer. I seehim--- young, adventurous, brave, unhappily."
"Why unhappily?"
"A year after I look for him, and see him no more," said Cagliostro,anxiously consulting his glass. "No one here is related to M. deLangle?"
"No."
"No one knows him?"
"No."
"Well, death will commence with him."
A murmur of affright escaped from all the guests.
"But he, La Perouse?" cried several voices.
"He sails, he lands, he reembarks; I see one, two years, of successfulnavigation; we hear news of him, and then----"
"Then?"
"Years pass----"
"But at last?"
"The sea is vast, the heavens are clouded, here and there appear unknownlands, and figures hideous as the monsters of the Grecian Archipelago.They watch the ship, which is being carried in a fog amongst thebreakers, by a tempest less fearful than themselves. Oh! La Perouse, LaPerouse, if you could hear me, I would cry to you. You set out, likeColumbus, to discover a world; beware of unknown isles!"
He ceased, and an icy shiver ran through the assembly.
"But why did you not warn him?" asked Count Haga, who, in spite ofhimself, had succumbed to the influence of this extraordinary man.
"Yes," cried Madame Dubarry, "why not send after him and bring him back?The life of a man like La Perouse is surely worth a courier, my dearmarshal."
The marshal rose to ring the bell.
Cagliostro extended his arm to stop him. "Alas!" said he, "All advicewould be useless. I can foretell destiny, but I cannot change it. M. dela Perouse would laugh if he heard my words, as the son of Priam laughedwhen Cassandra prophesied; and see, you begin to laugh yourself, CountHaga, and laughing is contagious: your companions are catching it. Donot restrain yourselves, gentlemen--I am accustomed to an incredulousaudience."
"Oh, we believe," said Madame Dubarry and the Duke de Richelieu; "and Ibelieve," murmured Taverney; "and I also," said Count Haga politely.
"Yes," replied Cagliostro, "yo
u believe, because it concerns LaPerouse; but, if I spoke of yourself, you would not believe."
"I confess that what would have made me believe, would have been, if youhad said to him, 'Beware of unknown isles;' then he would, at least,have had the chance of avoiding them."
"I assure you no, count; and, if he had believed me, it would only havebeen more horrible, for the unfortunate man would have seen himselfapproaching those isles destined to be fatal to him, without the powerto flee from them. Therefore he would have died, not one, but a hundreddeaths, for he would have gone through it all by anticipation. Hope, ofwhich I should have deprived him, is what best sustains a man under alltrials."
"Yes," said De Condorcet; "the veil which hides from us our future isthe only real good which God has vouchsafed to man."
"Nevertheless," said Count Haga, "did a man like you say to me, shun acertain man or a certain thing, I would beware, and I would thank youfor the counsel."
Cagliostro shook his head, with a faint smile.
"I mean it, M. de Cagliostro," continued Count Haga; "warn me, and Iwill thank you."
"You wish me to tell you what I would not tell La Perouse?"
"Yes, I wish it."
Cagliostro opened his mouth as if to begin, and then stopped, and said,"No, count, no!"
"I beg you."
Cagliostro still remained silent.
"Take care," said the count, "you are making me incredulous."
"Incredulity is better than misery."
"M. de Cagliostro," said the count, gravely, "you forget one thing,which is, that though there are men who had better remain ignorant oftheir destiny, there are others who should know it, as it concerns notthemselves alone, but millions of others."
"Then," said Cagliostro, "command me; if your majesty commands, I willobey."
"I command you to reveal to me my destiny, M. de Cagliostro," said theking, with an air at once courteous and dignified.
At this moment, as Count Haga had dropped his incognito in speaking toCagliostro, M. de Richelieu advanced towards him, and said, "Thanks,sire, for the honor you have done my house; will your majesty assume theplace of honor?"
"Let us remain as we are, marshal; I wish to hear what M. de Cagliostrois about to say."
"One does not speak the truth to kings, sire."
"Bah! I am not in my kingdom; take your place again, duke. Proceed, M.de Cagliostro, I beg."
Cagliostro looked again through his glass, and one might have imaginedthe particles agitated by this look, as they danced in, the light."Sire," said he, "tell me what you wish to know?"
"Tell me by what death I shall die."
"By a gun-shot, sire."
The eyes of Gustavus grew bright. "Ah, in a battle!" said he; "the deathof a soldier! Thanks, M. de Cagliostro, a thousand times thanks; oh, Iforesee battles, and Gustavus Adolphus and Charles XII. have shown mehow a King of Sweden should die."
Cagliostro drooped his head, without replying.
"Oh!" cried Count Haga, "will not my wound then be given in battle?"
"No, sire."
"In a sedition?--yes, that is possible."
"No, not in a sedition, sire."
"But, where then?"
"At a ball, sire."
The king remained silent, and Cagliostro buried his head in his hands.
Every one looked pale and frightened; then M. de Condorcet took theglass of water and examined it, as if there he could solve the problemof all that had been going on; but finding nothing to satisfy him,"Well, I also," said he, "will beg our illustrious prophet to consultfor me his magic mirror: unfortunately, I am not a powerful lord; Icannot command, and my obscure life concerns no millions of people."
"Sir," said Count Haga, "you command in the name of science, and yourlife belongs not only to a nation, but to all mankind."
"Thanks," said De Condorcet; "but, perhaps, your opinion on this subjectis not shared by M. de Cagliostro."
Cagliostro raised his head. "Yes, marquis," said he, in a manner whichbegan to be excited, "you are indeed a powerful lord in the kingdom ofintelligence; look me, then, in the face, and tell me, seriously, if youalso wish that I should prophesy to you."
"Seriously, count, upon my honor."
"Well, marquis," said Cagliostro, in a hoarse voice, "you will die ofthat poison which you carry in your ring; you will die----"
"Oh, but if I throw it away?"
"Throw it away!"
"You allow that that would be easy."
"Throw it away!"
"Oh, yes, marquis," cried Madame Dubarry; "throw away that horridpoison! Throw it away, if it be only to falsify this prophet of evil,who threatens us all with so many misfortunes. For if you throw it awayyou cannot die by it, as M. de Cagliostro predicts; so there at least hewill have been wrong."
"Madame la Comtesse is right," said Count Haga.
"Bravo, countess!" said Richelieu. "Come, marquis, throw away thatpoison, for now I know you carry it, I shall tremble every time we drinktogether; the ring might open of itself, and----"
"It is useless," said Cagliostro quietly; "M. de Condorcet will notthrow it away."
"No," returned De Condorcet, "I shall not throw it away; not that I wishto aid my destiny, but because this is a unique poison, prepared byCabanis, and which chance has completely hardened, and that chance mightnever occur again; therefore I will not throw it away. Triumph if youwill, M. de Cagliostro."
"Destiny," replied he, "ever finds some way to work out its own ends."
"Then I shall die by poison," said the marquis; "well, so be it. It isan admirable death, I think; a little poison on the tip of the tongue,and I am gone. It is scarcely dying: it is merely ceasing to live."
"It is not necessary for you to suffer, sir," said Cagliostro.
"Then, sir," said M. de Favras, "we have a shipwreck, a gun-shot, and apoisoning which makes my mouth water. Will you not do me the favor alsoto predict some little pleasure of the same kind for me?"
"Oh, marquis!" replied Cagliostro, beginning to grow warm under thisirony, "do not envy these gentlemen, you will have still better."
"Better!" said M. de Favras, laughing; "that is pledging yourself to agreat deal. It is difficult to beat the sea, fire, and poison!"
"There remains the cord, marquis," said Cagliostro, bowing.
"The cord! what do you mean?"
"I mean that you will be hanged," replied Cagliostro, seeming no morethe master of his prophetic rage.
"Hanged! the devil!" cried Richelieu.
"Monsieur forgets that I am a nobleman," said M. de Favras, coldly; "orif he means to speak of a suicide, I warn him that I shall respectmyself sufficiently, even in my last moments, not to use a cord while Ihave a sword."
"I do not speak of a suicide, sir."
"Then you speak of a punishment?"
"Yes."
"You are a foreigner, sir, and therefore I pardon you."
"What?"
"Your ignorance, sir. In France we decapitate noblemen."
"You may arrange this, if you can, with the executioner," repliedCagliostro.
M. de Favras said no more. There was a general silence and shrinking fora few minutes.
"Do you know that I tremble at last," said M. de Launay; "mypredecessors have come off so badly, that I fear for myself if I nowtake my turn."
"Then you are more reasonable than they; you are right. Do not seek toknow the future; good or bad, let it rest--it is in the hands of God."
"Oh! M. de Launay," said Madame Dubarry, "I hope you will not be lesscourageous than the others have been."
"I hope so, too, madame," said the governor. Then, turning toCagliostro, "Sir," he said, "favor me, in my turn, with my horoscope, ifyou please."
"It is easy," replied Cagliostro; "a blow on the head with a hatchet,and all will be over."
A look of dismay was once more general. Richelieu and Taverney beggedCagliostro to say no more, but female curiosity carried the day.
"To hear
you talk, count," said Madame Dubarry, "one would think thewhole universe must die a violent death. Here we were, eight of us, andfive are already condemned by you."
"Oh, you understand that it is all prearranged to frighten us, and weshall only laugh at it," said M. de Favras, trying to do so.
"Certainly we will laugh," said Count Haga, "be it true or false."
"Oh, I will laugh too, then," said Madame Dubarry. "I will not dishonorthe assembly by my cowardice; but, alas! I am only a woman, I cannotrank among you and be worthy of a tragical end; a woman dies in her bed.My death, a sorrowful old woman abandoned by every one, will be theworst of all. Will it not, M. de Cagliostro?"
She stopped, and seemed to wait for the prophet to reassure her.Cagliostro did not speak; so, her curiosity obtaining the mastery overher fears, she went on. "Well, M. de Cagliostro, will you not answerme?"
"What do you wish me to say, madame?"
She hesitated--then, rallying her courage, "Yes," she cried, "I will runthe risk. Tell me the fate of Jeanne de Vaubernier, Countess Dubarry."
"On the scaffold, madame," replied the prophet of evil.
"A jest, sir, is it not?" said she, looking at him with a supplicatingair.
Cagliostro seemed not to see it. "Why do you think I jest?" said he.
"Oh, because to die on the scaffold one must have committed somecrime--stolen, or committed murder, or done something dreadful; and itis not likely I shall do that. It was a jest, was it not?"
"Oh, mon Dieu, yes," said Cagliostro; "all I have said is but a jest."
The countess laughed, but scarcely in a natural manner. "Come, M. deFavras," said she, "let us order our funerals."
"Oh, that will be needless for you, madame," said Cagliostro.
"Why so, sir?"
"Because you will go to the scaffold in a car."
"Oh, how horrible! This dreadful man, marshal! for heaven's sake choosemore cheerful guests next time, or I will never visit you again."
"Excuse me, madame," said Cagliostro, "but you, like all the rest, wouldhave me speak."
"At least I hope you will grant me time to choose my confessor."
"It will be superfluous, countess."
"Why?"
"The last person who will mount the scaffold in France with a confessorwill be the King of France." And Cagliostro pronounced these words in sothrilling a voice that every one was struck with horror.
All were silent.
Cagliostro raised to his lips the glass of water in which he had readthese fearful prophecies, but scarcely had he touched it, when he set itdown with a movement of disgust. He turned his eyes to M. de Taverney.
"Oh," cried he, in terror, "do not tell me anything; I do not wish toknow!"
"Well, then, I will ask instead of him," said Richelieu.
"You, marshal, be happy; you are the only one of us all who will die inhis bed."
"Coffee, gentlemen, coffee," cried the marshal, enchanted with theprediction. Every one rose.
But before passing into the drawing-room, Count Haga, approachingCagliostro, said,--
"Tell me what to beware of."
"Of a muff, sir," replied Cagliostro.
"And I?" said Condorcet.
"Of an omelet."
"Good; I renounce eggs," and he left the room.
"And I?" said M. de Favras; "what must I fear?"
"A letter."
"And I?" said De Launay.
"The taking of the Bastile."
"Oh, you quite reassure me." And he went away laughing.
"Now for me, sir," said the countess, trembling.
"You, beautiful countess, shun the Place Louis XV."
"Alas," said the countess, "one day already I lost myself there; thatday I suffered much."
She left the room, and Cagliostro was about to follow her when Richelieustopped him.
"One moment," said he; "there remains only Taverney and I, my dearsorcerer."
"M. de Taverney begged me to say nothing, and you, marshal, have askedme nothing."
"Oh, I do not wish to hear," again cried Taverney.
"But come, to prove your power, tell us something that only Taverney andI know," said Richelieu.
"What?" asked Cagliostro, smiling.
"Tell us what makes Taverney come to Versailles, instead of livingquietly in his beautiful house at Maison-Rouge, which the king boughtfor him three years ago."
"Nothing more simple, marshal," said Cagliostro. "Ten years ago, M. deTaverney wished to give his daughter, Mademoiselle Andree, to the KingLouis XV., but he did not succeed."
"Oh!" growled Taverney.
"Now, monsieur wishes to give his son Philippe de Taverney, to the QueenMarie Antoinette; ask him if I speak the truth."
"On my word," said Taverney, trembling, "this man is a sorcerer; deviltake me if he is not!"
"Do not speak so cavalierly of the devil, my old comrade," said themarshal.
"It is frightful," murmured Taverney, and he turned to imploreCagliostro to be discreet, but he was gone.
"Come, Taverney, to the drawing-room," said the marshal; "or they willdrink their coffee without us."
But when they arrived there, the room was empty; no one had courage toface again the author of these terrible predictions.
The wax lights burned in the candelabra, the fire burned on the hearth,but all for nothing.
"Ma foi, old friend, it seems we must take our coffee tete-a-tete. Why,where the devil has he gone?" Richelieu looked all around him, butTaverney had vanished like the rest. "Never mind," said the marshal,chuckling as Voltaire might have done, and rubbing his withered thoughstill white hands; "I shall be the only one to die in my bed. Well,Count Cagliostro, at least I believe. In my bed! that was it; I shalldie in my bed, and I trust not for a long time. Hola! myvalet-de-chambre and my drops."
The valet entered with the bottle, and the marshal went with him intothe bedroom.
END OF THE PROLOGUE.