English
AtthesightofthisagitationLouisXVIII.pushedfromhimviolentlythetableatwhichhewassitting.
“Whatailsyou,baron?”heexclaimed.“Youappearquiteaghast.
HasyouruneasinessanythingtodowithwhatM.deBlacashastoldme,andM.deVilleforthasjustconfirmed?”
M.deBlacasmovedsuddenlytowardsthebaron,butthefrightofthecourtierpleadedfortheforbearanceofthestatesman;andbesides,asmatterswere,itwasmuchmoretohisadvantagethattheprefectofpoliceshouldtriumphoverhimthanthatheshouldhumiliatetheprefect.
“Sire”—stammeredthebaron.
“Well,whatisit?”askedLouisXVIII.Theministerofpolice,givingwaytoanimpulseofdespair,wasabouttothrowhimselfatthefeetofLouisXVIII.,whoretreatedastepandfrowned.
“Willyouspeak?”hesaid.
“Oh,sire,whatadreadfulmisfortune!Iam,indeed,tobepitied.Icanneverforgivemyself!”
“Monsieur,”saidLouisXVIII.,“Icommandyoutospeak.”
“Well,sire,theusurperleftElbaonthe26thFebruary,andlandedonthe1stofMarch.”
“Andwhere?InItaly?”askedthekingeagerly.
“InFrance,sire,—atasmallport,nearAntibes,intheGulfofJuan.”
“TheusurperlandedinFrance,nearAntibes,intheGulfofJuan,twohundredandfiftyleaguesfromParis,onthe1stofMarch,andyouonlyacquiredthisinformationto–day,the4thofMarch!
Well,sir,whatyoutellmeisimpossible.
Youmusthavereceivedafalsereport,oryouhavegonemad.”
“Alas,sire,itisbuttootrue!”Louismadeagestureofindescribableangerandalarm,andthendrewhimselfupasifthissuddenblowhadstruckhimatthesamemomentinheartandcountenance.
“InFrance!”hecried,“theusurperinFrance!Thentheydidnotwatchoverthisman.Whoknows?theywere,perhaps,inleaguewithhim.”
“Oh,sire,”exclaimedtheDucdeBlacas,“M.Dandreisnotamantobeaccusedoftreason!Sire,wehaveallbeenblind,andtheministerofpolicehassharedthegeneralblindness,thatisall.”
“But”—saidVillefort,andthensuddenlycheckinghimself,hewassilent;thenhecontinued,“Yourpardon,sire,”hesaid,bowing,“myzealcarriedmeaway.Willyourmajestydeigntoexcuseme?”
“Speak,sir,speakboldly,”repliedLouis.“Youaloneforewarnedusoftheevil;nowtryandaiduswiththeremedy.”
“Sire,”saidVillefort,“theusurperisdetestedinthesouth;anditseemstomethatifheventuredintothesouth,itwouldbeeasytoraiseLanguedocandProvenceagainsthim.”
“Yes,assuredly,”repliedtheminister;“butheisadvancingbyGapandSisteron.”
“Advancing—heisadvancing!”saidLouisXVIII.“IshethenadvancingonParis?”Theministerofpolicemaintainedasilencewhichwasequivalenttoacompleteavowal.
“AndDauphine,sir?”inquiredtheking,ofVillefort.“DoyouthinkitpossibletorousethataswellasProvence?”
“Sire,Iamsorrytotellyourmajestyacruelfact;butthefeelinginDauphineisquitethereverseofthatinProvenceorLanguedoc.ThemountaineersareBonapartists,sire.”
“Then,”murmuredLouis,“hewaswellinformed.Andhowmanymenhadhewithhim?”
“Idonotknow,sire,”answeredtheministerofpolice.
“What,youdonotknow!Haveyouneglectedtoobtaininformationonthatpoint?Ofcourseitisofnoconsequence,”headded,withawitheringsmile.
“Sire,itwasimpossibletolearn;thedespatchsimplystatedthefactofthelandingandtheroutetakenbytheusurper.”
“Andhowdidthisdespatchreachyou?”inquiredtheking.Theministerbowedhishead,andwhileadeepcoloroverspreadhischeeks,hestammeredout,—
“Bythetelegraph,sire.”—LouisXVIII.advancedastep,andfoldedhisarmsoverhischestasNapoleonwouldhavedone.
“Sothen,”heexclaimed,turningpalewithanger,“sevenconjoinedandalliedarmiesoverthrewthatman.
Amiracleofheavenreplacedmeonthethroneofmyfathersafterfive–and–twentyyearsofexile.
Ihave,duringthosefive–and–twentyyears,sparednopainstounderstandthepeopleofFranceandtheinterestswhichwereconfidedtome;andnow,whenIseethefruitionofmywishesalmostwithinreach,thepowerIholdinmyhandsbursts,andshattersmetoatoms!”
“Sire,itisfatality!”murmuredtheminister,feelingthatthepressureofcircumstances,howeverlightathingtodestiny,wastoomuchforanyhumanstrengthtoendure.
“Whatourenemiessayofusisthentrue.
Wehavelearntnothing,forgottennothing!
IfIwerebetrayedashewas,Iwouldconsolemyself;buttobeinthemidstofpersonselevatedbymyselftoplacesofhonor,whooughttowatchovermemorecarefullythanoverthemselves,—formyfortuneistheirs—beforemetheywerenothing—aftermetheywillbenothing,andperishmiserablyfromincapacity—ineptitude!
Oh,yes,sir,youareright—itisfatality!”
Theministerquailedbeforethisoutburstofsarcasm.M.deBlacaswipedthemoisturefromhisbrow.Villefortsmiledwithinhimself,forhefelthisincreasedimportance.
“Tofall,”continuedKingLouis,whoatthefirstglancehadsoundedtheabyssonwhichthemonarchyhungsuspended,—”tofall,andlearnofthatfallbytelegraph!
Oh,Iwouldrathermountthescaffoldofmybrother,LouisXVI.,thanthusdescendthestaircaseattheTuileriesdrivenawaybyridicule.
Ridicule,sir—why,youknownotitspowerinFrance,andyetyououghttoknowit!”
“Sire,sire,”murmuredtheminister,“forpity’s”—
“Approach,M.deVillefort,”resumedtheking,addressingtheyoungman,who,motionlessandbreathless,waslisteningtoaconversationonwhichdependedthedestinyofakingdom.
“Approach,andtellmonsieurthatitispossibletoknowbeforehandallthathehasnotknown.”
“Sire,itwasreallyimpossibletolearnsecretswhichthatmanconcealedfromalltheworld.”
“Reallyimpossible!Yes—thatisagreatword,sir.
Unfortunately,therearegreatwords,astherearegreatmen;Ihavemeasuredthem.
Reallyimpossibleforaministerwhohasanoffice,agents,spies,andfifteenhundredthousandfrancsforsecretservicemoney,toknowwhatisgoingonatsixtyleaguesfromthecoastofFrance!
Well,then,see,hereisagentlemanwhohadnoneoftheseresourcesathisdisposal—agentleman,onlyasimplemagistrate,wholearnedmorethanyouwithallyourpolice,andwhowouldhavesavedmycrown,if,likeyou,hehadthepowerofdirectingatelegraph.”
ThelookoftheministerofpolicewasturnedwithconcentratedspiteonVillefort,whobenthisheadinmodesttriumph.
“Idonotmeanthatforyou,Blacas,”continuedLouisXVIII.;“forifyouhavediscoverednothing,atleastyouhavehadthegoodsensetopersevereinyoursuspicions.
AnyotherthanyourselfwouldhaveconsideredthedisclosureofM.deVillefortinsignificant,orelsedictatedbyvenalambition,”Thesewordswereanallusiontothesentimentswhichtheministerofpolicehadutteredwithsomuchconfidenceanhourbefore.
Villefortunderstoodtheking’sintent.Anyotherpersonwould,perhaps,havebeenovercomebysuchanintoxicatingdraughtofpraise;buthefearedtomakeforhimselfamortalenemyofthepoliceminister,althoughhesawthatDandrewasirrevocablylost.
Infact,theminister,who,intheplenitudeofhispower,hadbeenunabletounearthNapoleon’ssecret,mightindespairathisowndownfallinterrogateDantesandsolaybarethemotivesofVillefort’splot.
Realizingthis,Villefortcametotherescueofthecrest–fallenminister,insteadofaidingtocrushhim.
“Sire,”saidVillefort,“thesuddennessofthiseventmustprovetoyourmajestythattheissueisinthehandsofProvidence;whatyourmajestyispleasedtoattributetomeasprofoundperspicacityissimplyowingtochance,andIhaveprofitedbythatchance,likeagoodanddevotedservant—that’sall.
DonotattributetomemorethanIdeserve,sire,thatyourmajestymayneverhaveoccasiontorecallthefirstopinionyouhavebeenpleasedtoformofme.”
Theministerofpolicethankedtheyoungmanbyaneloquentlook,andVillefortunderstoodthathehadsucceededinhisdesign;thatistosay,thatwithoutforfeitingthegratitudeoftheking,hehadmadeafriendofoneonwhom,incaseofnecessity,hemightrely.
”’Tiswell,”resumedtheking.“Andnow,gentlemen,”hecontinued,turningtowardsM.deBlacasandtheministerofpolice,“Ihavenofurtheroccasionforyou,andyoumayretire;whatnowremainstodoisinthedepartmentoftheministerofwar.”
“Fortunately,sire,”saidM.deBlacas,“wecanrelyonthearmy;yourmajestyknowshoweveryreportconfirmstheirloyaltyandattachment.”
“Donotmentionreports,duke,tome,forIknownowwhatconfidencetoplaceinthem.Yet,speakingofreports,baron,whathaveyoulearnedwithregardtotheaffairintheRueSaint–Jacques?”
“TheaffairintheRueSaint–Jacques!”exclaimedVillefort,unabletorepressanexclamation.
Then,suddenlypausing,headded,“Yourpardon,sire,butmydevotiontoyourmajestyhasmademeforget,nottherespectIhave,forthatistoodeeplyengravedinmyheart,buttherulesofetiquette.”
“Goon,goon,sir,”repliedtheking;“youhaveto–dayearnedtherighttomakeinquirieshere.”
“Sire,”interposedtheministerofpolice,“IcameamomentagotogiveyourmajestyfreshinformationwhichIhadobtainedonthishead,whenyourmajesty’sattentionwasattractedbytheterribleeventthathasoccurredinthegulf,andnowthesefactswillceasetointerestyourmajesty.”
“Onthecontrary,sir,—onthecontrary,”saidLouisXVIII.,“thisaffairseemstometohaveadecidedconnectionwiththatwhichoccupiesourattention,andthedeathofGeneralQuesnelwill,perhaps,putusonthedirecttrackofagreatinternalconspiracy.”
AtthenameofGeneralQuesnel,Villeforttrembled.
“Everythingpointstotheconclusion,sire,”saidtheministerofpolice,“thatdeathwasnottheresultofsuicide,aswefirstbelieved,butofassassination.
GeneralQuesnel,itappears,hadjustleftaBonapartistclubwhenhedisappeared.
Anunknownpersonhadbeenwithhimthatmorning,andmadeanappointmentwithhimintheRueSaint–Jacques;unfortunately,thegeneral’svalet,whowasdressinghishairatthemomentwhenthestrangerentered,heardthestreetmentioned,butdidnotcatchthenumber.”
Asthepoliceministerrelatedthistotheking,Villefort,wholookedasifhisverylifehungonthespeaker’slips,turnedalternatelyredandpale.Thekinglookedtowardshim.
“Doyounotthinkwithme,M.deVillefort,thatGeneralQuesnel,whomtheybelievedattachedtotheusurper,butwhowasreallyentirelydevotedtome,hasperishedthevictimofaBonapartistambush?”
“Itisprobable,sire,”repliedVillefort.“Butisthisallthatisknown?”
“Theyareonthetrackofthemanwhoappointedthemeetingwithhim.”
“Onhistrack?”saidVillefort.
“Yes,theservanthasgivenhisdescription.
Heisamanoffromfiftytofifty–twoyearsofage,dark,withblackeyescoveredwithshaggyeyebrows,andathickmustache.
Hewasdressedinabluefrock–coat,buttoneduptothechin,andworeathisbutton–holetherosetteofanofficeroftheLegionofHonor.
Yesterdayapersonexactlycorrespondingwiththisdescriptionwasfollowed,buthewaslostsightofatthecorneroftheRuedelaJussienneandtheRueCoq–Heron.”
Villefortleanedonthebackofanarm–chair,forastheministerofpolicewentonspeakinghefelthislegsbendunderhim;butwhenhelearnedthattheunknownhadescapedthevigilanceoftheagentwhofollowedhim,hebreathedagain.
“Continuetoseekforthisman,sir,”saidthekingtotheministerofpolice;“forif,asIamallbutconvinced,GeneralQuesnel,whowouldhavebeensousefultousatthismoment,hasbeenmurdered,hisassassins,Bonapartistsornot,shallbecruellypunished.”
ItrequiredallVillefort’scoolnessnottobetraytheterrorwithwhichthisdeclarationofthekinginspiredhim.
“Howstrange,”continuedtheking,withsomeasperity;“thepolicethinkthattheyhavedisposedofthewholematterwhentheysay,‘Amurderhasbeencommitted,’andespeciallysowhentheycanadd,‘Andweareonthetrackoftheguiltypersons.’”
“Sire,yourmajestywill,Itrust,beamplysatisfiedonthispointatleast.”
“Weshallsee.Iwillnolongerdetainyou,M.deVillefort,foryoumustbefatiguedaftersolongajourney;goandrest.
Ofcourseyoustoppedatyourfather’s?”
AfeelingoffaintnesscameoverVillefort.
“No,sire,”hereplied,“IalightedattheHoteldeMadrid,intheRuedeTournon.”
“Butyouhaveseenhim?”
“Sire,IwentstraighttotheDucdeBlacas.”
“Butyouwillseehim,then?”
“Ithinknot,sire.”
“Ah,Iforgot,”saidLouis,smilinginamannerwhichprovedthatallthesequestionswerenotmadewithoutamotive;“IforgotyouandM.Noirtierarenotonthebesttermspossible,andthatisanothersacrificemadetotheroyalcause,andforwhichyoushouldberecompensed.”
“Sire,thekindnessyourmajestydeignstoevincetowardsmeisarecompensewhichsofarsurpassesmyutmostambitionthatIhavenothingmoretoaskfor.”
“Nevermind,sir,wewillnotforgetyou;makeyourmindeasy.
Inthemeanwhile”(thekingheredetachedthecrossoftheLegionofHonorwhichheusuallyworeoverhisbluecoat,nearthecrossofSt.Louis,abovetheorderofNotre–Dame–du–Mont–CarmelandSt.Lazare,andgaveittoVillefort)—”inthemeanwhiletakethiscross.”
“Sire,”saidVillefort,“yourmajestymistakes;thisisanofficer’scross.”
“Mafoi,”saidLouisXVIII.,“takeit,suchasitis,forIhavenotthetimetoprocureyouanother.
Blacas,letitbeyourcaretoseethatthebrevetismadeoutandsenttoM.deVillefort.”
Villefort’seyeswerefilledwithtearsofjoyandpride;hetookthecrossandkissedit.
“Andnow,”hesaid,“mayIinquirewhataretheorderswithwhichyourmajestydeignstohonorme?”
“Takewhatrestyourequire,andrememberthatifyouarenotabletoservemehereinParis,youmaybeofthegreatestservicetomeatMarseilles.”
“Sire,”repliedVillefort,bowing,“inanhourIshallhavequittedParis.”
“Go,sir,”saidtheking;“andshouldIforgetyou(kings’memoriesareshort),donotbeafraidtobringyourselftomyrecollection.Baron,sendfortheministerofwar.Blacas,remain.”
“Ah,sir,”saidtheministerofpolicetoVillefort,astheylefttheTuileries,“youenteredbyluck’sdoor—yourfortuneismade.”
“Willitbelongfirst?”mutteredVillefort,salutingtheminister,whosecareerwasended,andlookingabouthimforahackney–coach.
Onepassedatthemoment,whichhehailed;hegavehisaddresstothedriver,andspringingin,threwhimselfontheseat,andgaveloosetodreamsofambition.
TenminutesafterwardsVillefortreachedhishotel,orderedhorsestobereadyintwohours,andaskedtohavehisbreakfastbroughttohim.
Hewasabouttobeginhisrepastwhenthesoundofthebellrangsharpandloud.
Thevaletopenedthedoor,andVillefortheardsomeonespeakhisname.
“WhocouldknowthatIwasherealready?”saidtheyoungman.Thevaletentered.
“Well,”saidVillefort,“whatisit?—Whorang?—Whoaskedforme?”
“Astrangerwhowillnotsendinhisname.”
“Astrangerwhowillnotsendinhisname!Whatcanhewantwithme?”
“Hewishestospeaktoyou.”
“Tome?”
“Yes.”
“Didhementionmyname?”
“Yes.”
“Whatsortofpersonishe?”
“Why,sir,amanofaboutfifty.”
“Shortortall?”
“Aboutyourownheight,sir.”
“Darkorfair?”
“Dark,—verydark;withblackeyes,blackhair,blackeyebrows.”
“Andhowdressed?”askedVillefortquickly.
“Inabluefrock–coat,buttonedupclose,decoratedwiththeLegionofHonor.”
“Itishe!”saidVillefort,turningpale.
“Eh,pardieu,”saidtheindividualwhosedescriptionwehavetwicegiven,enteringthedoor,“whatagreatdealofceremony!
IsitthecustominMarseillesforsonstokeeptheirfatherswaitingintheiranterooms?”
“Father!”criedVillefort,“thenIwasnotdeceived;Ifeltsureitmustbeyou.”
“Well,then,ifyoufeltsosure,”repliedthenew–comer,puttinghiscaneinacornerandhishatonachair,“allowmetosay,mydearGerard,thatitwasnotveryfilialofyoutokeepmewaitingatthedoor.”
“Leaveus,Germain,”saidVillefort.Theservantquittedtheapartmentwithevidentsignsofastonishment.
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