第149章 'VIVE LE ROI!'(3)

'And besides,my friend,'he continued,his eyes twinkling,'You have made me richer by five hundred crowns.'

'How so?'I asked,wondering more and more.

'I wagered that sum with Turenne that he could not bribe you,'

he answered,smiling.'And see,'he continued,selecting from some on the table the same parchment I had seen before,'here is the bribe.Take it;it is yours.I have given a score to-day,but none with the same pleasure.Let me be the first to congratulate the Lieutenant-Governor of the Armagnac.'

For a while I could not believe that he was in earnest;which pleased him mightily,I remember.When I was brought at last to see that the king had meant this for me from the first,and had merely lent the patent to Turenne that the latter might make trial of me,my pleasure and gratification were such that I could no more express them then than I can now describe them.For they knew no bounds.I stood before Rosny silent and confused,with long-forgotten tears welling up to my eyes,and one regret only in my heart--that my dear mother had not lived to see the fond illusions with which I had so often amused her turned to sober fact.Not then,but afterwards,I remarked that the salary of my office amounted to the exact sum which I had been in the habit of naming to her;and I learned that Rosny had himself fixed it on information given him by Mademoiselle de la Vire.

As my transports grew more moderate,and I found voice to thank my benefactor,he had still an answer.'Do not deceive yourself,my friend,'he said gravely,'or think this an idle reward.My master is King of France,but he is a king without a kingdom,and a captain without money.To-day,to gain his rights,he has parted with half his powers.Before he win all back there will be blows--blows,my friend.And to that end I have bought your sword.'

I told him that if no other left its scabbard for the king,mine should be drawn.

'I believe you,'he answered kindly,laying his hand on my shoulder.'Not by reason of your words--Heaven knows I have heard vows enough to-day!--but because I have proved you.And now,'he continued,speaking in an altered tone and looking at me with a queer smile,'now I suppose you are perfectly satisfied?

You have nothing more to wish for,my friend?'

I looked aside in a guilty fashion,not daring to prefer on the top of all his kindness a further petition.Moreover,His Majesty might have other views;or on this point Turenne might have proved obstinate.In a word,there was nothing in what had happened,or on M.de Rosny's communication,to inform me whether the wish of my heart was to be gratified or not.

But I should have known that great man better than to suppose that he was one to promise without performing,or to wound a friend when he could not salve the hurt.After enjoying my confusion for a time he burst into a great shout of laughter,and taking me familiarly by the shoulders,turned me towards the door.'There,go!'he said.'Go up the passage.You will find a door on the right,and a door on the left.You will know which to open.'

Forbidding me to utter a syllable,he put me out.In the passage,where I fain would have stood awhile to collect my thoughts,I was affrighted by sounds which warned me that the king was returning that way.Fearing to be surprised by him in such a state of perturbation,I hurried to the end of the passage,where I discovered,as I had been told,two doors.

They were both closed,and there was nothing about either of them to direct my choice.But M.de Rosny was correct in supposing that I had not forgotten the advice he had offered me on the day when he gave me so fine a surprise in his own house--'When you want a good wife,M.de Marsac,turn to the right!'I remembered the words,and without a moment's hesitation--for the king and his suite were already entering the passage--I knocked boldly,and scarcely waiting for an invitation,went in.

Fanchette was by the door,but stood aside with a grim smile,which I was at liberty to accept as a welcome or not.

Mademoiselle,who had been seated on the farther side of the table,rose as I entered,and we stood looking at one another.