CHAPTER XXXIII.
THE BEGINNING OF THE END.
The same day, toward two o'clock in the afternoon, while D'Harmental,profiting by Buvat's absence, was repeating to Bathilde for thethousandth time that he loved her, Nanette entered, and announced thatsome one was waiting in his own room on important business. D'Harmental,anxious to know who this inopportune visitor could be, went to thewindow, and saw the Abbe Brigaud walking up and down his room.D'Harmental instantly took leave of Bathilde, and went up to his ownapartments.
"Well," said the abbe, "while you are quietly making love to yourneighbor, fine things are happening."
"What things?" asked D'Harmental.
"Do you not know?"
"I know absolutely nothing, except that--unless what you have to tell meis of the greatest importance--I should like to strangle you for havingdisturbed me; so take care, and if you have not any news worthy of theoccasion, invent some."
"Unfortunately," replied the abbe, "the reality leaves little to theimagination."
"Indeed, my dear abbe," said D'Harmental, "you look in a terriblefright. What has happened? Tell me."
"Oh, only that we have been betrayed by some one. That the Marshal deVilleroy was arrested this morning at Versailles, and that the twoletters from Philip V. are in the hands of the regent."
D'Harmental perfectly understood the gravity of the situation, but hisface exhibited the calmness which was habitual to him in moments ofdanger.
"Is that all?" he asked, quietly.
"All for the present; and, if you do not think it enough, you aredifficult to satisfy."
"My dear abbe," said D'Harmental, "when we entered on this conspiracy,it was with almost equal chances of success and failure. Yesterday, ourchances were ninety to a hundred; to-day they are only thirty; that isall."
"I am glad to see that you do not easily allow yourself to bediscouraged," said Brigaud.
"My dear abbe," said D'Harmental, "at this moment I am a happy man, andI see everything on the bright side. If you had taken me in a moment ofsadness, it would have been quite the reverse, and I should have replied'Amen' to your 'De Profundis.'"
"And your opinion?"
"Is that the game is becoming perplexed, but is not yet lost. TheMarshal de Villeroy is not of the conspiracy, does not even know thenames of the conspirators. Philip V.'s letters--as far as I rememberthem--do not name anybody; and the only person really compromised is thePrince de Cellamare. The inviolability of his character protects himfrom any real danger. Besides, if our plan has reached the CardinalAlberoni, Monsieur de Saint-Aignan must serve as hostage."
"There is truth in what you say."
"And from whom have you this news?" asked the chevalier.
"From Valef, who had it from Madame de Maine; who, on receipt of thenews, went to the Prince of Cellamare himself."
"We must see Valef."
"I have appointed him to meet me here, and on my way I stopped at theMarquis de Pompadour's. I am astonished that he is not here before me."
"Raoul," said a voice on the staircase.
"Stay, it is he," cried D'Harmental, running to the door and opening it.
"Thank you," said Valef, "for your assistance, which is very seasonable,for I was just going away, convinced that Brigaud must have made amistake, and that no Christian could live at such a height, and in sucha pigeon-hole. I must certainly bring Madame de Maine here, that she mayknow what she owes you."
"God grant," said the Abbe Brigaud, "that we may not all be worse lodgeda few days hence!"
"Ah! you mean the Bastille! It is possible, abbe; but at least one doesnot go to the Bastille of one's own accord; moreover, it is a royallodging, which raises it a little, and makes it a place where agentleman may live without degradation; but a place like this--fie,abbe!"
"If you knew what I have found here," said D'Harmental, a little piqued,"you would be as unwilling to leave it as I am."
"Ah, some little bourgeoise; some Madame Michelin, perhaps. Take care,D'Harmental; these things are only allowed to Richelieu. With you andme, who are perhaps worth as much as he is, but are unfortunately notquite so much in fashion, it will not do."
"Well," said the Abbe Brigaud, "although your conversation is somewhatfrivolous, I hear it with pleasure, since it assures me that our affairsare not so bad as I thought."
"On the contrary, the conspiracy is gone to the devil."
"How so?"
"I scarcely thought they would leave me time to bring you the news."
"Were you nearly arrested then, Valef?" asked D'Harmental.
"I only escaped by a hair's breadth."
"How did it happen, baron?"
"You remember, abbe, that I left you to go to the Prince de Cellamare?"
"Yes."
"Well, I was there when they came to seize his papers."
"Have they seized the prince's papers?"
"All except what we burned, which unfortunately were the smallernumber."
"Then we are all lost," said the abbe.
"Why, my dear abbe, how you throw the helve after the hatchet!"
"But, Valef, you have not told us how it happened," said D'Harmental.
"My dear chevalier, imagine the most ridiculous thing in the world. Iwish you had been there: we should have laughed fit to kill ourselves.It would have enraged that fellow Dubois."
"What! was Dubois himself at the ambassador's?"
"In person, abbe. Imagine the Prince de Cellamare and I quietly sittingby the corner of the fire, taking out letters from a little casket, andburning those which seemed to deserve the honors of an auto-da-fe, whenall at once his valet-de-chambre enters, and announces that the hotel ofthe embassy is invested by a body of musketeers, and that Dubois andLeblanc wish to speak to him. The object of this visit is not difficultto guess. The prince--without taking the trouble to choose--empties thecaskets into the fire, pushes me into a dressing closet, and orders thatthey shall be admitted. The order was useless. Dubois and Leblanc wereat the door. Fortunately, neither one nor the other had seen me."
"Well, I see nothing droll as yet," said Brigaud.
"This is just where it begins," replied Valef. "Remember that I was inthe closet, seeing and hearing everything. Dubois entered, andstretching out his weasel's head to watch the Prince de Cellamare, who,wrapped in his dressing-gown, stood before the fire to give the paperstime to burn.
"'Monsieur,' said the prince, in that phlegmatic manner you know he has,'may I know to what event I owe the honor of this visit?'
"'Oh, mon Dieu, monseigneur!' said Dubois, 'to a very simple thing--adesire which Monsieur Leblanc and I had to learn a little of yourpapers, of which,' added he, showing the letters of Philip V., 'thesetwo patterns have given us a foretaste.'"
"How!" said Brigaud, "these letters seized at ten o'clock at Versaillesare in Dubois's hands at one o'clock!"
"As you say, abbe. You see that they traveled faster than if they hadbeen put in the post."
"And what did the prince say then?" asked D'Harmental.
"Oh! the prince wished to carry it off with a high hand, by appealing tohis rights as an envoy; but Dubois, who is not wanting in a certainlogic, showed him that he had himself somewhat violated these rights, bycovering the conspiracy with his ambassador's cloak. In short, as he wasthe weakest, he was obliged to submit to what he could not prevent.Besides, Leblanc, without asking permission, had already opened thedesk, and examined its contents, while Dubois drew out the drawers of abureau and rummaged in them. All at once Cellamare left his place, andstopping Leblanc, who had just taken a packet of papers tied with redribbon--
"'Pardon, monsieur,' said he, 'to each one his prerogatives. These areladies' letters.'
"'Thanks for your confidence,' said Dubois, not in the leastdisconcerted, but rising and taking the papers from the hand of Leblanc,'I am accustomed to these sort of secrets, and yours shall be wellkept.'
BUVAT FOUND HIMSELF IN A SORT OF LABORATORY, SITUATED ONTHE GROUND-FL
OOR.--Page 406.]
"At this moment, looking toward the fire, he saw--in the midst of theburned letters--a paper still untouched, and darting toward it, heseized it just as the flames were reaching it. The movement was so rapidthat the ambassador could not prevent it, and the paper was in Dubois'shands.
"'Peste!' said the prince, seeing Dubois shaking his fingers, 'I knewthat the regent had skillful spies, but I did not know that they werebrave enough to go in the fire.'
"'Ma foi! prince,' said Dubois, unfolding the paper, 'they are wellrewarded for their bravery, see.'
"The prince cast his eyes over the paper; I do not know what itcontained, but I know that the prince turned pale as death; and that, asDubois burst out laughing, Cellamare broke in pieces a little marblestatue which was near his hand.
"'I am glad it was not I,' said Dubois, coldly, and putting the paper inhis pocket.
"'Every one in turn, monsieur; Heaven is just!' said the ambassador.
"'Meanwhile,' said Dubois, 'as we have got what we wanted, and have notmuch time to lose to-day, we will set about affixing the seals.'
"'The seals here!' cried the ambassador, exasperated.
"'With your permission,' replied Dubois; 'proceed, Monsieur Leblanc.'
"Leblanc drew out from a bag bands and wax, all ready prepared. Theybegan operations with the desk and the bureau, then they advanced towardthe door of my closet.
"'No,' cried the prince, 'I will not permit--'
"'Gentlemen,' said Dubois, opening the door, and introducing into theroom two officers of musketeers, 'the ambassador of Spain is accused ofhigh treason against the State. Have the kindness to accompany him tothe carriage which is waiting, and take him--you know where; if heresists, call eight men, and take him by force.'"
"Well, and what did the prince do then?" asked Brigaud.
"What you would have done in his place, I presume, my dear abbe. Hefollowed the two officers, and five minutes afterward your humbleservant found himself under seal."
"How the devil did you get out?" cried D'Harmental.
"That is the beauty of it. Hardly was the prince gone, when Duboiscalled the valet-de-chambre.
"'What are you called?' asked Dubois.
"'Lapierre, at your service, monseigneur.'
"'My dear Leblanc,' said Dubois, 'explain, if you please, to MonsieurLapierre, what are the penalties for breaking seals.'
"'The galleys,' replied Leblanc.
"'My dear Monsieur Lapierre,' continued Dubois, in a mild tone, 'youhear. If you like to spend a few years rowing on one of his majesty'svessels, touch one of these seals and the affair is done. If, on thecontrary, a hundred louis are agreeable to you, keep them faithfully,and in three days the money shall be given you.'
"'I prefer the hundred louis,' said the scoundrel.
"'Well, then, sign this paper. We constitute you guardian of theprince's cabinet.'
"'I am at your orders, monseigneur,' replied Lapierre; and he signed.
"'Now,' said Dubois, 'you understand all the responsibility you haveundertaken?'
"'Yes, monseigneur.'
"'And submit to it.'
"'I do.'
"'Now, Leblanc,' said Dubois, 'we have nothing further to do here, and,'added he, showing the paper which he had snatched from the fire, 'I haveall I wanted.'
"And at these words he left, followed by Leblanc.
"Lapierre, as soon as he had seen them off, ran to the cabinet, andexclaimed, 'Quick, baron, we must profit by our being alone for you toleave.'
"'Did you know I was here then, fellow?'
"'Pardieu! I should not have accepted the office of guardian if I hadnot. I saw you go in, and I thought you would not like to stay therefor three days.'
"'And you were right; a hundred louis for your good idea.'
"'Mon Dieu! what are you doing?' cried Lapierre.
"'I am trying to get out.'
"'Oh, not by the door! You would not send a poor fellow to the galleys;besides, they have taken the key with them.'
"'And where am I to get out, then?'
"'Raise your head.'
"'It is raised.'
"'Look in the air.'
"'I am looking.'
"'To your right. Do you not see anything?'
"'Yes, a little window.'
"'Well, get on a chair, on anything you find; it opens into the alcove,let yourself slip now, you will fall on the bed--that is it. You havenot hurt yourself, monsieur?'
"'No, I hope the prince will have as comfortable a bed where they aretaking him.'
"'And I hope monsieur will not forget the service I have rendered him.'
"'Oh, the hundred louis? Well, as I do not want to part with money atthis moment, take this ring, it is worth three hundred pistoles--yougain six hundred francs on the bargain.'
"'Monsieur is the most generous gentleman I know.'
"'Now, tell me how I must go.'
"'By this little staircase; you will find yourself in the pantry; youmust then go through the kitchen into the garden, and go out by thelittle door.'
"'Thanks for the itinerary.'
"I followed the instructions of Monsieur Lapierre exactly, and here Iam."
"And the prince; where is he?" asked the chevalier.
"How do I know? In prison probably."
"Diable! diable! diable!" said Brigaud.
"Well, what do you say to my Odyssey, abbe?"
"I say that it would be very droll if it was not for that cursed paperwhich Dubois picked out of the cinders."
"Yes," said Valef, "that spoils it."
"And you have not any idea what it could be?"
"Not the least; but never mind, it is not lost, we shall know some day."
At this moment they heard some one coming up the staircase. The dooropened, and Boniface appeared.
"Pardon, Monsieur Raoul," said he, "but it is not you I seek, it isFather Brigaud."
"Never mind, my dear Boniface, you are welcome. Baron, allow me topresent you to my predecessor in my room. The son of our worthylandlady, and godson of the Abbe Brigaud."
"Oh, you have friends barons, Monsieur Raoul! what an honor for ourhouse!"
"Well," said the abbe, "you were looking for me you said. What do youwant?"
"I want nothing. It was my mother who sent for you."
"What does she want? Do you know?"
"She wants to know why the parliament is to assemble to-morrow."
"The parliament assemble to-morrow!" cried Valef and D'Harmentaltogether.
"And how did your mother know?"
"I told her."
"And how did you know?"
"At the office. Maitre Joullu was with the president when the orderarrived."
"Well, tell your mother I will come to her directly."
"She will expect you. Adieu, Monsieur Raoul."
And Monsieur Boniface went out, far from suspecting the effect he hadproduced on his listeners.
"It is some coup-d'etat which is preparing," murmured D'Harmental.
"I will go to Madame de Maine to warn her," said Valef.
"And I to Pompadour for news," said Brigaud.
"And I," said D'Harmental, "remain here; if I am wanted, abbe, you knowwhere I am."
"But if you were not at home, chevalier?"
"Oh! I should not be far off. Open the window, clap your hands, and Ishould come."
Valef and Brigaud went away together, and D'Harmental went back toBathilde, whom he found very uneasy. It was five o'clock in theafternoon, and Buvat had not returned--it was the first time such athing had ever happened.