On Malicorne's arrival at Orleans, he was informed that the Comte deGuiche had just set out for Paris. Malicorne rested himself for a coupleof hours, and then prepared to continue his journey. He reached Parisduring the night, and alighted at a small hotel, where, in his previousjourneys to the capital, he had been accustomed to put up, and ateight o'clock the next morning presented himself at the Hotel Grammont.Malicorne arrived just in time, for the Comte de Guiche was on the pointof taking leave of Monsieur before setting out for Havre, where theprincipal members of the French nobility had gone to await Madame'sarrival from England. Malicorne pronounced the name of Manicamp and wasimmediately admitted. He found the Comte de Guiche in the courtyardof the Hotel Grammont, inspecting his horses, which his trainers andequerries were passing in review before him. The count, in the presenceof his tradespeople and of his servants, was engaged in praising orblaming, as the case seemed to deserve, the appointments, horses, andharness that were being submitted to him; when, in the midst of thisimportant occupation, the name of Manicamp was announced.
"Manicamp!" he exclaimed, "let him enter by all means." And he advanceda few steps toward the door.
Malicorne slipped through the half-open door, and looking at the Comtede Guiche, who was surprised to see a face he did not recognize, insteadof the one he expected, said: "Forgive me, monsieur le comte, but Ibelieve a mistake has been made. M. Manicamp himself was announced toyou, instead of which it is only an envoy from him."
"Ah!" exclaimed De Guiche, coldly, "and what do you bring me?"
"A letter, monsieur le comte." Malicorne handed him the first document,and narrowly watched the count's face, who, as he read it began tolaugh.
"What!" he exclaimed, "another maid of honor? Are all the maids of honorin France, then, under his protection?"
Malicorne bowed. "Why does he not come himself?" he inquired.
"He is confined to his bed."
"The deuce! he has no money then, I suppose," said De Guiche, shrugginghis shoulders. "What does he do with his money?"
Malicorne made a movement, to indicate that upon this subject he was asignorant as the count himself. "Why does he not make use of his credit,then?" continued De Guiche.
"With regard to that, I think----"
"What?"
"That Manicamp has credit with no one but yourself, monsieur le comte!"
"He will not be at Havre, then?" Whereupon Malicorne made anothermovement.
"But every one will be there."
"I trust, monsieur le comte, that he will not neglect so excellent anopportunity."
"He should be at Paris by this time."
"He will take the direct road perhaps to make up for lost time."
"Where is he now?"
"At Orleans."
"Monsieur," said De Guiche, "you seem to me a man of very good taste."
Malicorne was wearing some of Manicamp's old-new clothes. He bowed inreturn, saying, "You do me a very great honor, monsieur le comte."
"Whom have I the pleasure of addressing?"
"My name is Malicorne, monsieur."
"M. de Malicorne, what do you think of these pistol-holsters?"
Malicorne was a man of great readiness, and immediately understood theposition of affairs. Besides, the "de" which had been prefixed to hisname, raised him to the rank of the person with whom he was conversing.He looked at the holsters with the air of a connoisseur and said,without hesitation: "Somewhat heavy, monsieur."
"You see," said De Guiche to the saddler, "this gentleman, whounderstands these matters well, thinks the holsters heavy, a complaint Ihad already made." The saddler was full of excuses.
"What do you think," asked De Guiche, "of this horse, which I have justpurchased?"
"To look at it, it seems perfect, monsieur le comte; but I must mount itbefore I give you my opinion."
"Do so, M. de Malicorne, and ride him round the court two or threetimes."
The courtyard of the hotel was so arranged, that whenever there was anyoccasion for it, it could be used as a riding-school. Malicorne, withperfect ease, arranged the bridle and snaffle-reins, placed his lefthand on the horse's mane, and, with his foot in the stirrup, raisedhimself and seated himself in the saddle. At first, he made the horsewalk the whole circuit of the court-yard at a foot-pace; next at a trot;lastly at a gallop. He then drew up close to the count, dismounted, andthrew the bridle to a groom standing by. "Well," said the count, "whatdo you think of it, M. de Malicorne?"
"This horse, monsieur le comte, is of the Mecklenburg breed. In lookingwhether the bit suited his mouth, I saw that he was rising seven, thevery age when the training of a horse intended for a charger shouldcommence. The forehand is light. A horse which holds its head high, itis said, never tires his rider's hand. The withers are rather low. Thedrooping of the hindquarters would almost make me doubt the purity ofits German breed, and I think there is English blood in him. He standswell on his legs, but he trots high, and may cut himself, which requiresattention to be paid to his shoeing. He is tractable; and as I made himturn round and change his feet, I found him quick and ready in doingso."
"Well said, M. de Malicorne," exclaimed the comte; "you are a judge ofhorses, I perceive;" then, turning towards him again, he continued, "Youare most becomingly dressed, M. de Malicorne. That is not a provincialcut, I presume. Such a style of dress is not to be met with at Tours orOrleans."
"No, monsieur le comte; my clothes were made at Paris."
"There is no doubt about that. But let us resume our own affair.Manicamp wishes for the appointment of a second maid of honor."
"You perceive what he has written, monsieur le comte."
"For whom was the first appointment?"
Malicorne felt the color rise in his face as he answered hurriedly.
"A charming maid of honor, Mademoiselle de Montalais."
"Ah, ah! you are acquainted with her?"
"We are affianced, or nearly so."
"That is quite another thing, then; a thousand compliments," exclaimedDe Guiche, upon whose lips a courtier's jest was already fitting, butto whom the word "affianced," addressed by Malicorne with respect toMademoiselle de Montalais, recalled the respect due to women.
"And for whom is the second appointment destined?" asked De Guiche, "isit for anyone to whom Manicamp may happen to be affianced? In that caseI pity her, poor girl! for she will have a sad fellow for a husband."
"No, monsieur le comte, the second appointment is for Mademoiselle de laBaume le Blanc de la Valliere."
"Unknown," said De Guiche.
"Unknown? yes, monsieur," said Malicorne, smiling in his turn.
"Very good. I will speak to Monsieur about it. By the by, she is ofgentle birth?"
"She belongs to a very good family and is maid of honor to Madame."
"That's well. Will you accompany me to Monsieur?"
"Most certainly, if I may be permitted the honor."
"Have you your carriage?"
"No; I came here on horseback."
"Dressed as you are?"
"No, monsieur; I posted from Orleans, and I changed my traveling suitfor the one I have on, in order to present myself to you."
"True, you already told me you had come from Orleans;" saying which hecrumpled Manicamp's letter in his hand, and thrust it in his pocket.
"I beg your pardon," said Malicorne, timidly; "but I do not think youhave read all."
"Not read all, do you say?"
"No, there were two letters in the same envelope."
"Oh! are you sure?"
"Quite sure."
"Let us look, then," said the count, as he opened the letter again.
"Ah! you are right," he said, opening the paper which he had not yetread.
"I suspected it," he continued--"another application for an appointmentunder Monsieur. This Manicamp is a regular vampire:--he is carrying on atrade in it."
"No, monsieur le comte, he wishes to make a present of it."
"To whom?"
&
nbsp; "To myself, monsieur."
"Why did you not say so at once, my dear M. Mauvaisecorne?"
"Malicorne, monsieur le comte."
"Forgive me; it is the Latin that bothers me--that terrible mine ofetymologies. Why the deuce are young men of family taught Latin? Malaand mauvaise--you understand it is the same thing. You will forgive me,I trust, M. de Malicorne."
"Your kindness affects me much, monsieur: but it is a reason why Ishould make you acquainted with one circumstance without any delay."
"What is it?"
"That I was not born a gentleman. I am not without courage, and notaltogether deficient in ability; but my name is Malicorne simply."
"You appear to me, monsieur!" exclaimed the count, looking at the astuteface of his companion, "to be a most agreeable man. Your face pleasesme, M. Malicorne, and you must possess some indisputably excellentqualities to have pleased that egotistical Manicamp. Be candid, and tellme whether you are not some saint descended upon the earth."
"Why so?"
"For the simple reason that he makes you a present of anything. Did younot say that he intended to make you a present of some appointment inthe king's house
"I beg your pardon, count; but, if I succeed in obtaining theappointment, you, and not he, will have bestowed it on me."
"Besides, he will not have given it to you for nothing, I suppose. Stay,I have it;--there is a Malicorne at Orleans, who lends money to theprince."
"I think that must be my father, monsieur."
"Ah! the prince has the father, and that terrible dragon of a Manicamphas the son. Take care, monsieur, I know him. He will fleece youcompletely."
"The only difference is, that I lend without interest," said Malicorne,smiling.
"I was correct in saying you were either a saint or very much resembledone. M. Malicorne, you shall have the post you want, or I will forfeitmy name."
"Ah! monsieur le comte, what a debt of gratitude shall I not owe you?"said Malicorne, transported.
"Let us go to the prince, my dear M. Malicorne." And De Guiche proceededtoward the door, desiring Malicorne to follow him. At the very momentthey were about to cross the threshold, a young man appeared on theother side. He was from twenty-four to twenty-five years of age, of palecomplexion, bright eyes and brown hair and eyebrows.
"Good-day," he said, suddenly, almost pushing De Guiche back into thecourtyard again.
"Is that you, De Wardes?--What! and booted, spurred, and whip in hand,too?"
"The most befitting costume for a man about to set off for Havre.There will be no one left in Paris tomorrow." And hereupon he salutedMalicorne with great ceremony, whose handsome dress gave him theappearance of a prince.
"M. Malicorne," said De Guiche to his friend. De Wardes bowed.
"M. de Wardes," said Guiche to Malicorne, who bowed in return. "By theby, De Wardes," continued De Guiche, "you who are so well acquaintedwith these matters, can you tell us, probably, what appointments arestill vacant at the court; or rather in the prince's household?"
"In the prince's household," said De Wardes, looking up with an air ofconsideration, "let me see--the appointment of the master of the horseis vacant, I believe."
"Oh," said Malicorne, "there is no question of such a post as that,monsieur; my ambition is not nearly so exalted."
De Wardes had a more penetrating observation than De Guiche, andfathomed Malicorne immediately. "The fact is," he said, looking at himfrom head to foot, "a man must be either a duke or a peer to fill thatpost."
"All I solicit," said Malicorne, "is a very humble appointment; I am oflittle importance, and I do not rank myself above my position."
"M. Malicorne, whom you see here," said De Guiche to De Wardes, "is avery excellent fellow, whose only misfortune is that of not being ofgentle birth. As far as I am concerned, you know, I attach little valueto those who have but gentle birth to boast of."
"Assuredly," said De Wardes; "but will you allow me to remark, my dearcount, that, without rank of some sort, one can hardly hope to belong tohis royal highness's household?"
"You are right," said the count, "court etiquette is absolute. Thedevil!--we never so much as gave it a thought."
"Alas! a sad misfortune for me, monsieur le comte," said Malicorne,changing color.
"Yet not without remedy, I hope," returned De Guiche.
"The remedy is found easily enough," exclaimed De Wardes; "you can becreated a gentleman. His Eminence, the Cardinal Mazarin, did nothingelse from morning till night."
"Hush, hush, De Wardes," said the count; "no jests of that kind; it illbecomes us to turn such matters into ridicule. Letters of nobility, itis true, are purchasable; but that is a sufficient misfortune withoutthe nobles themselves laughing at it."
"Upon my word, De Guiche, you're quite a Puritan, as the English say."
At this moment the Vicomte de Bragelonne was announced by one of theservants in the courtyard, in precisely the same manner as he would havedone in a room.
"Come here, my dear Raoul. What! you, too, booted and spurred? You aresetting off, then?"
Bragelonne approached the group of young men, and saluted them with thatquiet and serious manner peculiar to him. His salutation was principallyaddressed to De Wardes, with whom he was unacquainted, and whosefeatures, on his perceiving Raoul, had assumed a strange sternnessof expression. "I have come, De Guiche," he said, "to ask yourcompanionship. We set off for Havre, I presume."
"This is admirable--delightful. We shall have a most enjoyable journey.M. Malicorne, M. Bragelonne--ah! M. de Wardes, let me present you." Theyoung men saluted each other in a restrained manner. Their very naturesseemed, from the beginning, disposed to take exception to each other. DeWardes was pliant, subtle, full of dissimulation; Raoul was calm, grave,and upright. "Decide between us--between De Wardes and myself, Raoul."
"Upon what subject?"
"Upon the subject of noble birth."
"Who can be better informed on that subject than a De Grammont?"
"No compliments; it is your opinion I ask."
"At least, inform me of the subject under discussion."
"De Wardes asserts that the distribution of titles is abused; I, onthe contrary, maintain that a title is useless to the man on whom it isbestowed."
"And you are correct," said Bragelonne, quietly.
"But, monsieur le vicomte," interrupted De Wardes, with a kind ofobstinacy, "I affirm that it is I who am correct."
"What was your opinion, monsieur?"
"I was saying that everything is done in France at the present moment tohumiliate men of family."
"And by whom?"
"By the king himself. He surrounds himself with people who cannot showfour quarterings."
"Nonsense," said De Guiche, "where could you possibly have seen that, DeWardes?"
"One example will suffice," he returned, directing his look fully uponRaoul.
"State it then."
"Do you know who has just been nominated captain-general of themusketeers?--an appointment more valuable than a peerage; for it givesprecedence over all the marechals of France."
Raoul's color mounted in his face; for he saw the object De Wardes hadin view. "No; who has been appointed? In any case it must have beenvery recently, for the appointment was vacant eight days ago; a proof ofwhich is, that the king refused Monsieur, who solicited the post for oneof his proteges."
"Well, the king refused it to Monsieur's protege, in order to bestow itupon the Chevalier d'Artagnan, a younger brother of some Gascon family,who has been trailing his sword in the ante-chambers during the lastthirty years."
"Forgive me if I interrupt you," said Raoul, darting a glance fullof severity at De Wardes; "but you give me the impression of beingunacquainted with the gentleman of whom you are speaking."
"I not acquainted with M. d'Artagnan? Can you tell me, monsieur, whodoes not know him?"
"Those who do know him, monsieur," replied Raoul with still greatercalmness and sternness of manner, "are in t
he habit of saying, that ifhe is not as good a gentleman as the king--which is not his fault--he isthe equal of all the kings of the earth in courage and loyalty. Such ismy opinion, monsieur, and I thank heaven I have known M. d'Artagnan frommy birth."
De Wardes was about to reply, when De Guiche interrupted him.
CHAPTER 82. The Portrait of Madame