The Quest of Glory by Marjorie Bowen (epub e reader txt) đź“–
- Author: Marjorie Bowen
- Performer: -
Book online «The Quest of Glory by Marjorie Bowen (epub e reader txt) 📖». Author Marjorie Bowen
distasteful that the wretched magician’s last words should have been
these; doubtless they referred to some intrigue of his patron, but to
Luc they recalled the Countess Carola, and he did not care to think of
her in any such connexion.
Her dark, gorgeous image, resolute among the snows, against the sombre,
pure background of silver firs and frozen skies, came before him
suddenly. He felt swiftly heartened as he pondered upon her; she was a
vision of mingled fire and ice that passed the allurement of the senses
and exquisitely attracted the spirit.
Luc shook off the depression of yesterday’s sordid adventure, and his
dreams all rushed back to his heart. His modest confidence that
something would come of his interview with the Governor occupied him
anew; he even allowed himself to picture his father’s pleasure at his
return with news of success.
Early in the afternoon Jean reappeared with a courteous note from M. de
Richelieu’s secretary: His Highness was departing for Versailles
to-morrow, but would M. le Marquis wait on him to-night at eight of the
clock?
Luc sent the servant back with his answering thanks for the appointment,
and went upstairs to unpack his finest suit; it was plain enough, and
the work of a country tailor, but Luc attired himself gravely, with no
thought for the fashion, and went out to find a barber to powder and
dress his hair. When this was done, it was already dusk.
He could scarcely eat any dinner, and reluctantly admitted to himself
that he was nervous. His natural reserve made him shrink from waiting on
the great, and inherited pride made him shrink from asking a favour;
neither had his long soldier’s training fitted him for dealing with a
courtier like M. de Richelieu.
He felt he would be at a disadvantage with such a man, and the old
powerful longing for the army, for the career on which he had set his
heart, and to which he had devoted his best energies and earliest youth,
assailed him; but he angrily controlled this weakness, and broke his
thoughts by opening a little volume of Pascal he always carried in his
pocket.
At the appointed time he rode up to the Governor’s residence and gave
his name. He was at once ushered into a great painted antechamber with a
domed ceiling and white walls covered with a confusion of cupids,
wreaths of flowers, tambourines, flutes, masks, and garlands all very
elegantly drawn and coloured.
In each panel of the wall hung an oval mirror which had above it a gilt
sconce of perfumed wax candles; the chairs were of delicate ash-wood and
Aubusson tapestry. On a low green marble-topped table by one of the
windows was a portfolio of prints and a book bound in calf; the name of
the author caught Luc’s eye—it was M. de Voltaire.
Luc was not insensible to the charm and elegance of the apartment; he
was keenly sensitive to all beauty. The taste that he had never been
able to cultivate was accurate; he knew that paintings, furniture, and
every detail of the chamber were the most exquisite possible, and his
spirit expanded in the atmosphere; he did not even notice that he was
being kept waiting longer than was courteous.
Turning presently, thinking that he heard some one approach, Luc caught
sight of himself nearly full length in one of the oval mirrors. He saw a
slight, pale young man, with a serene and delicate face, thoughtful
hazel eyes, and a clear complexion, precise grey curls, and a plain suit
of violet cloth trimmed with silver, a rich lace cravat tied very
carefully, a simple sword, and a black ribbon round his throat.
The strange surroundings made his own person appear strange; he looked
at himself as he might have looked at a mere acquaintance, critically,
yet almost disinterestedly.
He was still searching his own face when the folding-doors at the end of
the room opened, and a black page wearing a scarlet tunic and turban
silently motioned him to advance.
The Marquis followed him into the next room, and the beauty of the
little apartment was such as he had never seen; it steeped his soul in
sudden pleasurable languor. The page disappeared, and Luc looked about
him eagerly.
The walls were of pale ash-wood, smooth and watered like satin; the
carpet was of the same hue, but scattered with a design of dull pink
roses; the chairs were gilt and violet velvet; and the window was hung
with curtains of pale mauve and pink heavily fringed with gold, and
looped so as to show the ivory satin lining. One entire side of the wall
was covered by an exquisite piece of tapestry in a hundred melting hues,
showing the legend of Europa and the Bull; on the pale carved wood
mantelpiece stood a clock and candlesticks of rock crystal and enamel,
and a fine china bowl of lilacs, camellias, tuberoses, and white
syringa.
The whole was faintly lit by a silver and crystal lamp that hung by
slender chains from the ceiling, which was covered by drawn grey silk.
A cabinet of beautiful workmanship inlaid with painted china plaques, a
desk of marquetry and ormolu covered with rich articles, and an
exquisite lute of ivory and ebony tied with jade green ribbons completed
the furniture.
In one corner a white, violet, and gold brocade curtain was half drawn
away from a low couch that stood in an alcove; as Luc glanced at this he
saw with a start that a man was lying there, asleep or dozing, with his
head turned towards the wall.
He wore a soft blue satin dressing-gown and a cravat of flimsy lace that
hung in a cloud to the ground; his hair, which was curling and
unpowdered, flowed over his bosom and shoulders; his breeches,
waistcoat, and stockings were white; his feet thrust into gold slippers.
His whole figure was considerably in shadow, but by his even breathing
he was certainly asleep.
Luc was first amused and then vexed; he made no doubt that this was the
Governor.
“M. de Richelieu,” he said, in a firm voice. “Your Highness—”
The sleeper stirred lightly, raised his head, and sat up. Luc was
looking at the “Monsieur Armand” of last night’s sordid happenings.
Despite the different light, surroundings, and dress, the recognition
was instantaneous on each side. For a breathless instant the two men
gazed at each other. M. de Richelieu was the first to speak.
“So you are M. de Vauvenargues!” he said, and put his gold-slippered
feet to the ground and threw his head back with a cold haughtiness.
“I am M. de Vauvenargues,” answered Luc.
“You were introduced unceremoniously” returned the Duke. “I did not
expect you so soon. Be seated, Monsieur le Marquis.”
Luc took one of the delicate chairs and fixed his eyes on the pale
carpet; he was conscious of a wretched feeling of disappointment, of
disgust, of a sense of personal failure.
“You look rather pale, Monsieur,” remarked the Governor, in those same
gentle tones that Luc had heard last night. “I trust you have had an
easy journey from Aix?”
The Marquis bowed in silence.
M. de Richelieu supported himself on his elbow on the pile of cushions
at the head of his couch.
“You bring the best of introductions,” he said. “M. de Caumont speaks
of you warmly—you were Hippolyte’s friend, and with him in Prague, were
you not?”
Luc was impressed, almost bewildered, by his composure, his quick
assumption of the courtly, gracious manner. Last night this calm had
surprised him; now he found it astounding. M. de Richelieu had not
changed colour, and was regarding him with unfaltering eyes.
But it was not in Luc to take up the matter on these terms; he revolted
against the situation, against the part he was evidently expected to
play. The slim, gorgeous young Governor, the sumptuous little room
became hateful to him. He rose.
“Monseigneur,” he said coldly, “I came here on a misunderstanding.”
M. de Richelieu interrupted.
“You came, I think, Monsieur, because you are desirous of entering
Government service—M. de Caumont asks my influence on your behalf.”
“I will not put you to that trouble, Highness,” answered Luc wearily.
The Duke laughed in his princely way, as if he was too great to be
easily offended; yet Luc thought he was vexed too, perhaps a little
confused.
“I shall be able to give you a position, Monsieur, immediately.”
Luc flushed almost as painfully as if some one had offered him money.
“You mistake me,” he said gravely.
“No, I think I estimate you fairly well,” answered the Governor
decidedly.
“In this you mistake me,” replied Luc, with a sudden flash in his voice.
“There is nothing in your gift, Monseigneur, that I would accept.”
A look of wrathful amaze glimmered for an instant in the Duke’s brown
eyes, but he smiled, though coldly.
“For one who hopes to succeed in diplomacy,” he said, “you are
singularly simple.”
“Not so simple, Monseigneur, that I do not see the attempt of your
Highness to bribe a man who holds an unpleasant secret.”
M. de Richelieu did not alter the regal ease of his attitude, but he
suddenly changed his tone.
“Forgive me, my dear Marquis,” he said pleasantly, “but we evidently do
fail to understand each other, and that is a pity—”
Luc interrupted.
“Highness, this is the truth. I know that the wretched Italian was
murdered last night, and I know whose sword struck him down. You
deceived me easily,” he added simply, “and I know you are a great man,
who can amuse himself as he pleases—you have the law in your own hands.
But there is no employ under the Governor of Languedoc that I would
take.”
With the effort of saying these words the colour flooded his face; he
did not speak them with any grandeur, but with a frowning distaste.
M. de Richelieu flashed into fierce haughtiness.
“Do you imagine that you will better yourself by taking this story to
Versailles? You think you can ruin me, perhaps—”
“Monsieur!” cried Luc, raising his head.
M. de Richelieu was on his feet, a glittering, winning figure, difficult
to associate with the miserable scene in the barn.
“Well, if you think, Monsieur,” he said quietly, “that you would gain a
hearing against me, remember I am Armand du Plessis,” and Luc realized
suddenly what a great man, what a notable person he was defying. He
thought of his future career, and his heart sank; what could he hope to
achieve commencing with such a powerful enemy?
Something of this thought showed in his sensitive face, and the Governor
was quick to perceive and follow up his advantage.
“I have used lettres de cachet on less occasion,” he said gently.
Luc turned so as to face him.
“Scarcely on men of my position, M. de Richelieu,” he answered
haughtily. “I am not of the bourgeois, to be threatened.”
He was stung now out of his shyness and reserve; he faced the Governor
as an equal and unabashed.
“As to last night, my own wish is to forget it,” he said sternly. “I
shall not speak for the sake of speaking—you know that. I should not be
silent for any threat’s sake if honour bade me speak—you know that
also, Monseigneur.”
M. de Richelieu was clearly puzzled; if at the same time vexed,
Comments (0)