CHAPTER XXXV.
The moment her son had left her, Madame de Chazeul rose and began todress herself in haste; but although she grumbled at her sleepy maidsfor their slowness, and called them by many an unpleasant name, whichindeed she was not a little accustomed to shower upon every one whoapproached her, when her eager impatience prompted; yet the strongspice of coquetry which remained with her, as a relic of formerpassions, did not suffer her to conclude the arrangement of her dresswithout the aid of the various cosmetics she was accustomed to employ,and many a touch of that pigment which had obscured the real colour ofher skin for years. Thus, from the dawn of day, what between herconversation with Chazeul, and her devotion to the toilet, at least anhour and a half had passed away before she was ready habited, in deepmourning, to appear in the hall of the castle.
"Now, call Martin to me," said the lady as soon as the whole structurewas complete; "be quick for once, jade. You will drive me mad thismorning, with your idle sloth."
"The boy Philip, Madam, is waiting in the ante-room," replied thesoubrette; "would you please to see him first, or Martin?"
"Why, in the name of Satan, did you not tell me he was here?" demandedMadame de Chazeul. "Call him in, hussy."
"He has just come, Madam," said the girl, willing to justify herself;"he put his head in as I went for the wimple."
But the Marchioness did not always confine the punishment of offencesto the tongue; and she pushed the girl rudely by the shoulder,exclaiming, "Call him in, I say!"
The maid ran to the door, and shouted, "Philip, Philip! my lady says,come in."
The boy instantly approached with the book in his hand, saying, "Here,Madam, are the Hours. I suppose they are the right ones, for the oldwoman would get them herself. I should have been back a long whileago, but she kept me waiting in the hall, and--"
Snatching the book from him as he came near, the Marchionessexclaimed, "Hold your tongue, little miscreant. How dare you go foranything without my orders?"
"Why, Madam, you sent me orders to go," replied the page; "at least,father Walter told me so."
"He is a liar, and you are another, I believe," cried the Marchioness,struggling with the clasps, which for a moment or two resisted all herefforts.
"Ah, Mathurine could not open it either," observed the page in anatural tone.
"Did she try?" demanded his mistress turning upon him vehemently.
"Yes, that she did," was his reply, "for at least five minutes; butshe could not get it open."
"Perhaps you can do it," said Madame de Chazeul holding out the bookto him, and fixing her eye upon his face.
The boy took it, laid down his hat upon the floor, and laboured toopen the clasps with all his might,--at least, in appearance;--and theMarchioness, satisfied with the trial to which she had put him, calledone of the maids, who, using less force and more skill, unclasped thelittle volume in a minute.
"Here, give it me!" cried Madame de Chazeul not withdrawing her eyesfrom the book for an instant; and as soon as the maid had delivered itinto her hand, she turned page after page, looking them all over, butwithout finding aught written on any leaf but the name of Helen de laTremblade, in the hand of her uncle.
"What could he want with it?" she murmured; "perhaps I have deceivedmyself.--Yet, no! The room she used to occupy!--so said the man. Here,boy, what did father Walter say, when he sent you?"
"I do not well remember, Madam," answered the page, "for I was halfasleep. But I know he told me, you said I was to go, and that I mustget the book from Mademoiselle Helen's room."
"Did he say the room _she used_ to occupy?" demanded Madame deChazeul. "Answer me exactly."
"I cannot recollect, Madam," replied the boy. "He said her room; but Idid not take much heed as to the words."
"Fool!" cried the Marchioness looking fiercely at him; "you shouldtake heed of everything;" and then falling into thought again, shemurmured, "Well, he is better where he is. If he be there, he may ragewhen the knot is tied, but cannot unloose it; if he were free he mightstop the tying. Get thee gone, boy; and remember, when any one tellsthee to go anywhere in my name, come to me and ask if they haveauthority."
"What, in the night?" asked the page.
"Ay, in the night," replied his mistress; "if I can give themdirections, I can give thee an answer.--Now, girl, call Martin;" andleaning on the table while the maid hastened to fulfil her orders, shefell into a fit of meditation.
Many minutes did not elapse before the man she had sent for made hisappearance. And still preserving that haughty tone of hands, which isso effectual with dependents, even when requiring evil actions attheir hands, until they find that all real power to injure ordisappoint is at an end, she demanded, "Well, is the priest safe?"
"Ay, Madam," answered the man; "I have done your will, though it beagainst my conscience."
"Conscience!" cried Madame de Chazeul; "what have you to do withconscience?--Is it not in a priest's keeping?" she added, seeing anunpleasant shade come over the man's brow; "and can he not give youabsolution? This may cost a score more crowns than any other offence.But it is purchasable, and I will pay the money. To kill a Cardinal isa ruinous thing; but it can be absolved on a fair calculation of hisweight in gold. These candlesticks of the church can always bereplaced; and this is but a trifle. Methinks you will become aHuguenot next, and fancy that the Pope has no power to absolve us. Itell you what, Martin, if such were the case, many a fair lady andgallant gentleman, in France, would be in a perilous case."
"I shall never turn Huguenot, Madam," replied the man gravely; "but,as father Walter said, 'to drag a priest from the altar is more likethe act of a heretic than of a Christian man.'"
"Ay, so he said," exclaimed the Marchioness, "because he was theperson dragged; but on my honour he would have told a different story,if he had ordered the thing to be done. But you shall have the money.Here, Madelaine, bring me the casket.--Where have you put him?"
The man paused till one of the maids had brought in a small ebony andivory box, and the Marchioness de Chazeul had counted out into hishand, a hundred small pieces of gold, upon which his fingers clenchedwith zealous eagerness.
"Where have you put him?" demanded the lady again. "In the sacristy,Madam," replied the servant. But at those words Madame de Chazeulstarted from her chair like one possessed.
"In the sacristy?" she cried; "then on my soul, he is free by thistime! Do you know, that there is a way out through the walls?"
"Yes, Madam," answered Martin; "but that door is locked."
"And that," exclaimed the Marchioness, "through the vestiary and outinto the court?"
The man looked confounded, and after a moment's musing he replied,"Ay, that is the way he got out."
"Out! out! Is he out?" screamed Madame de Chazeul. "He was out, but isin again," rejoined the man. "Ren? saw him, or his ghost, in thecourt, and drove it back with his partizan. But as soon as he told me,I went to the chapel and into the sacristy; and there I found the goodfather seated where I left him, with the book on his knees."
"He takes it very easily," replied the Marchioness. "There is some newplot afoot. He must be removed, Martin; no more wandering about thecastle till the marriage is over. On that marriage all depends. Youknow you are promised a command in my son's cornet of horse."
"I did not know it, Madam," replied the man.
"Well, then, I promise," answered the Marchioness, "for your goodservices this night. As soon as the marriage is over, Chazeul shallconfirm it. But the priest must be removed to the little chamber atthe foot of the great staircase. Have him away quick, before mybrother comes down,--the room where old Estoc slept, I mean.--How cameyou to put him in the sacristy?"
"It was his own wish," said Martin; "you told me I might put him whereI liked, and keep him under my own ward: so I gave him his choice; andhe preferred the sacristy."
"Because he could get out!" cried the Marchioness: "that was his onlyreason: and now, good Martin, hasten and remove him,--with allgentlene
ss, for he is a reverend man,--yet firmly too, for he is fullof arts and wiles, and will confound you with mere words. Listen notto him, Martin; but tell him to come on without speaking, and lodgehim safely where I have told you. What is to be done had better bedone completely. The offence is committed, and we may as well make ita secure one, as spoil the benefit by half doing. Go and remove himquickly; and then, keep yourself ready to bear witness to what you sawlast night."
"Oh, I am quite ready for that," answered the man; "there I have butto say what I saw, and that I can swear to. I took care to make allsure, by speaking to monsieur when I met him."
"That was right, that was right, good Martin," said the Marchioness."You always show yourself a man of resolution and discernment. Now bequick, and see that the door be fast locked."
It may be remarked, that she spoke to the man who now left her, in avery different tone from that which she used to most of the otherswhom she employed in the multifarious services required of herdomestics; but the truth is, that he was of a more bold, determined,and vigorous cast of mind than the others. She had less hold upon him;she feared him more; she doubted him more; and, from the minister whoholds the helm of state, down to the tradesman with his shopmen, weall show more courtesy and smooth compliance, to those on whom we haveno sure hold, than to those on whom we have. It is force of characterthat usually gains this reverence; and it is vain for any one to say,I will acquire it; for the very necessity of seeking such anascendancy, is an everlasting bar to its attainment. The only thingthat can ever supply the place of that force of character, inobtaining station and command over mankind's esteem, is the force ofprinciple. Every man can say, I will be virtuous and true, and, withGod's grace, he may be so. Then, sooner or later, honour must follow;but he must never dream of being so, for that end; for if he do, thetouchstone of the world will soon prove the metal, wear through theoutside gilding, and show the baser stuff below.
Madame de Chazeul was, with this man, a different being from with therest, because she feared he might resist, and knew if he did so, itwould be with no weak and poor resistance. She spoke him fair, luredhim with rewards, flattered him; but she loved him less; and themoment he had left her, she thought, "I must find some means todispose of him, after this affair is over. Yes, he shall have acommand in Chazeul's cornet. We will put him in the front of thebattle; and then a blow from before, or a shot from behind may finishthe affair.--Oh! David was a wise man."
After sitting before her table for a moment, to collect her thoughts,and call to mind all the particulars of the plan which she had alreadyarranged, and which, like every other dark intrigue had become, as wehave seen, more and more complicated at each step she took, theMarchioness rose and walked leisurely to the great hall. Her brother,whom she expected to find, was not there; and after waiting for amoment or two, her impatience persuaded her, that it would be betterto seek him in his own chamber, where they could not be interrupted.She accordingly turned her steps thither, and knocked at the door,though that ceremony was not perhaps necessary. It was a quick andhasty knock, however, as if she had come thither on urgent business;and the moment the Count's voice was heard, bidding her come in, sheentered with a countenance prepared for the occasion, bearing amingled expression of grief and bewilderment.
"Why, what is the matter, Jacqueline?" demanded the Count, as soon ashe saw her. "You look scared. What is the matter?"
"Nothing, nothing," she replied in a tone of affected indifference. "Ionly wanted to know if you were ready; for we have much to do to-day.I wished to inquire too, what Rose was saying to you last night, justbefore she went to bed--for something has happened very strange."
"I do not recollect her saying anything particular," replied theCount. "I said that, from what I saw during the day, I hoped she wasmore inclined to do her duty, and give her hand to Chazeul; and, asbefore, she replied, 'Never!'"
"Ay, but she must!" cried the Marchioness, "and that this the very daytoo. The girl is a rank coquette, Liancourt, and only wishes to bedriven."
"No, no!" cried Monsieur de Liancourt. "Not so, Jacqueline, not so!--Idare say she might be brought to love Chazeul in time; but now sheclearly does not like him, though yesterday she seemed to endure him,yet it was no very cordial companionship. It did not promise much."
"More than you think or I am inclined to say," replied theMarchioness. "But one thing I will add, that if you knew as much as Ido, you would be the first to force her without delay, into a marriagewhich is necessary for your own honour as well as hers. Ah, you do notknow woman's heart, my good brother.--I say no more; but if you haveany regard for her reputation and for your own good name, let noaffected resistance have any effect."
"What do you mean, Jacqueline?" cried the Count, hurriedly throwing onhis cloak, "what is the signification of all those mysterious nods andlooks? If there be anything affecting my honour, let me hear it."
"No, no! you would rage and storm," answered the Marchioness, "andperhaps do some rash act towards Chazeul or Rose. But you mustremember, women are strange perverse beings, brother, and you musttake them as you find them, forgive them all their little faults andfailings, and understand that a woman often refuses most vehemently,that which she most desires; and as to such errors as these I talk of,they are but too common."
"What is the meaning of all this?" cried the Count. "Come, Jacqueline,come.--No more turning and winding. I must and will know what youmean. No one has a right to speak of my honour being in danger,without telling me how."
"But it is not in danger, Liancourt," replied the Marchioness withapparent reluctance, "if the marriage takes place at once; and as forthe scandal, it can be hushed up. I will give the people money,--and,after all, Chazeul may have had no wrong intent, nor Rose either. Theymay only have wished to talk with each other for an hour or two inprivate, when every one was in bed. You saw there were secretconferences between them yesterday."
"Speak plain, woman; speak plain," exclaimed the Count, growingirritated: "Talk with each other in private, when every one was inbed! What do you mean?--where did they talk?"
"Why, if the truth must be told, in Rose's room," replied theMarchioness. "It was imprudent, and the people who saw him come out,and told me of it, were not sparing in what they said,--but I have nodoubt it was but imprudence."
"When did this happen?" cried the Count vehemently; "at what hour?"
"A little after two they saw him come out," answered the Marchioness,"and he went there about one."
The Count cast himself into a chair, and rested his head upon his handfor two or three minutes. Then starting up he exclaimed, "It is false!I will never believe it.--This is one of your tricks, Jacqueline."
"What do you mean, Monsieur de Liancourt?" cried the Marchioness witha frowning brow. "Do you mean to say, that I speak falsehood?--Nay,then the matter is easily proved, and shall be proved. The peoplewhom,--as I told you I should,--I placed to watch that there might beno more flights from the castle, must be called. I insist upon it,since you accuse me of falsehood. They know my son; they know Rosed'Albret's room.--Nay, more; we will have her maid. I have not seenthe girl myself, but you can question her. Perhaps she will notacknowledge the truth; but you must make her. I cannot tell thatit was not herself Chazeul went to see,--for men have strangefancies,--only she is as ugly as a sow. However, send for her first,and let us hear what she says. Shall I go away and let you questionher alone?"
"No, no!" replied the Count. "Stay and hear. I cannot believe it!There must be some mistake."
"Of that you can judge better than I can," answered the Marchioness,who well knew how to manage her brother. "I don't want to lead you. Iknow that's quite in vain, Anthony. You never would be led by any bodyin your life; but, see all the people, hear what they say, and thenact as you may think fit."
"I will speak first with the maid," said the Count de Liancourt; and,approaching a door which led down to one of his servant's rooms, hecalled to the man, bidding him send Blanchette to him with all speed.
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The girl made them wait for several minutes, during which time, Madamede Chazeul improved her opportunity, in guiding her brother's mindinto the exact course that she desired. She took occasion to plead forher son's pardon, in the tone of a supplicant, but was not at alldispleased to see, that Monsieur de Liancourt was highly indignant athis nephew; as she argued thence the success of her own plans.
When Blanchette at length appeared, the Count called her to him in asomewhat stern tone, saying, "Come hither, girl, and answer me truly.Was there any one in Mademoiselle d'Albret's chamber last night? Don'thesitate, but answer."
The girl did hesitate, however; for Madame de Chazeul had purposelyleft her in the dark regarding her views and purposes, knowing verywell, that the more she faltered, and prevaricated, the stronger wouldbe Monsieur de Liancourt's conviction, that the tale which had beentold him was true.
"Dear me, Sir," said Blanchette at length, "who could be there?"
"Girl you are making up a falsehood," cried the Count. "I insist uponyour answering straightforwardly. Was Monsieur de Chazeul, or was henot, with your mistress, between one and two o'clock this morning?"
Blanchette began to whimper; but at length, with many an excuse, andmany an explanation, she admitted that it was so.
"And how dare you, you base girl," exclaimed Madame de Chazeul,joining in, "how dare you give admittance to any man into yourmistress's chamber in the middle of the night?"
"Why you told me, yourself Madam," replied Blanchette somewhatsaucily, "that I was to admit Monsieur de Chazeul, at any time, and todo exactly what he told me."
"At any time during the day," replied Madame de Chazeul, in a tone ofindignation. "You could not suppose that I meant at night; and I neverexpected that he would ask you to do what was wrong, or I certainlyshould not have told you to obey him. However, for this very thing, Iwill take care you shall be discharged. There shall be no suchconvenient ladies about my son's wife."
The girl held down her head in sullen silence, very wellunderstanding, that she had done exactly what Madame de Chazeulwished, though it suited her now to condemn it, and that she,Blanchette, having been the tool, was destined to be the victim.
"Pray did Mademoiselle d'Albret direct you to admit Monsieur deChazeul?" asked the Count; and this time he got an eager and a rapidanswer, for Blanchette would have done a great deal at that moment, todamage Madame de Chazeul's scheme, which she began to suspect.
"Oh no, Sir!" answered the girl, "and I am very sure she would beexcessively angry if she knew that he was there at all. I only let himin, because Madame la Marquise told me to admit him at all times, andto do exactly as he ordered me; and he would have fain persuaded me,that mademoiselle had changed her mind and liked him; but I knowbetter than that, from what she said just as she was going to bed, andfrom the way she prayed to God to be delivered from him; so that shewould be angry enough if she knew that I had admitted him. But he keptmighty, still, and took care not to disturb her."
Madame de Chazeul's eyes had flashed fire while the girl spoke, andshe had given her many a threatening look to induce her to pause. ButBlanchette was not easily daunted by the lightning of the eyes; andshe went on to the end as fast as possible, without hesitation ordismay.
"Ay, girl," cried the Marchioness at length, "now you have committed ashameless and infamous act, and aided my son and your mistress insoiling her own reputation for ever, you would fain represent theculpability as not so great. But get thee gone; thou art unworthy ofmore words. Get thee gone, and send my man Martin here. Tell him tobring his comrade with him."
The girl, who was by nature saucy, as well as sullen, would willinglyhave answered the Marchioness by telling her, to call her man herself,if she wanted him; but she did not dare; and, in a few minutes aftershe had quitted the room, the servant Martin and a comrade, whom hehad had with him during the preceding night, made their appearance.The Count questioned them eagerly, and found that his nephew hadundoubtedly been in the chamber of Rose d'Albret for more than an hourthe preceding night. This was quite sufficient to work all the effectthat Madame de Chazeul desired. He gave way to bursts of furious rage,calling his nephew a base villain who had dishonoured his house andspeaking of Rose in terms of the utmost violence, without everinquiring whether she was to blame or not.
"Where is your son, Jacqueline?" he cried, "where is this youngscoundrel?"
"He quitted the castle early," replied Madame de Chazeul, "fearing, Ifancy, that this affair would be found out, and then that theconsequences between him and you might be serious."
"Most likely to avoid marrying her whose fair name he has blasted,"said Monsieur de Liancourt. "But he shall marry her! By the Lord thatlives, he shall marry her this very day!"
"There is no fear of him," replied Madame de Chazeul; "though theremay be, regarding your fair ward, brother; for depend upon it she willdeny the whole of this affair. The maid Blanchette will go and tellher, that it is discovered; and then they will get up some storybetween them, which they will expect us to believe. To make it looklike truth too, you may be very sure that Rose will affect to be moreopposed to the marriage than ever; and, if it were not necessary forher reputation, it would be amusing enough not to press her."
"She shall wed him before the clock strikes noon," replied the Count."But where is your son, Jacqueline? Has he gone to Chazeul?--He mustbe sent for."
"Oh, no," replied the Marchioness; "he has only gone down to thevillage, to keep out of your way till you are a little cooler. You hadbetter leave him there till the hour of marriage approaches, and thenbe as lenient with him as may be. I have already rated him severely."
"I _must_ speak to him, Jacqueline," replied her brother. "This is aninsult and an injury to me. What did he say, when you spoke to him?Did he deny it?"
"No, not absolutely deny it," replied the Marchioness; "but he did asall young men do under such circumstances. He said he had done noharm; but had only gone to Rose's chamber because he wished to speakwith her in peace and quietness, which he had not been able to doduring the day. It was very likely true," she added, in a tone of mockcandour; "I don't think it at all unnatural."
"At all events it is ruin to her fame," replied the Count; "and wemust heal the wound as speedily as possible by their marriage. I willgo to her and tell her, that there must be no more delay--that Iexpect her to be in the hall to sign the contract at eleven, and inthe chapel to take the vow immediately after. I will have no excuses;it shall be done. I will go to her this moment, before I hear mass."
"No, let me see her first," replied Madame de Chazeul; "you accused meof being harsh with her yesterday, I shall be more gentle than youwith her to-day. I will be firm with her, however, and let her knowthat you are so too. She may make up her mind to it--about which therewill be less difficulty than you think--while you and I are at thefuneral, which we must get over first, in order not to have the deadbody in the chapel at the wedding. Poor father Walter was taken illlast night while he was watching the corpse.--Did they tell you?"
"No," exclaimed the Count with a look of concern; "I will go and seehim."
"He is sleeping, and asked not to be disturbed," replied theMarchioness; "so I sent down to the village for the Cur? to attend tothe funeral; but I do hope that father Walter will be awake and wellenough to perform the marriage ceremony."
"I hope so too," replied the Count, "for if this girl makes anyresistance, we might have difficulties with the Cur?."
"Oh, she will be more easily persuaded than you imagine," repliedMadame de Chazeul; "though of course she will affect reluctance, theCur? will easily see that it is all pretence. The more furious it is,the more will the affectation be apparent. So stay for me here, and Iwill rejoin you directly." Thus saying, she left her weak brother,who, during her absence, which was longer than he expected, workedhimself into greater fury than ever, and prepared his own mind, as hissister could have wished, for any act of violence which might berequired.