"How so?" asked the queen, in some surprise.
"Because, madame, they have nothing to pay with."
He bowed and retired.
CHAPTER LVI.
THE CARDINAL DE ROHAN.
Hardly had M. de Calonne traversed the gallery, when Madame de la Motte was shown in to the queen.
"Madame," said she, "the cardinal is here." She then introduced him, and took her leave.
The cardinal, finding himself alone with the queen, bowed respectfully, without raising his eyes.
"Monsieur," said the queen, "I have heard of you what has effaced many wrongs."
"Permit me, madame," said he, trembling with real emotion, "to a.s.sure your majesty that these wrongs of which you speak I could explain in a few words."
"I do not forbid you to justify yourself," replied she, with dignity; "but if what you are about to say throws the smallest shade upon my family or country, you will only wound me still more. Let us leave this subject; and I will only see you under the fresh light, which shows you to me obliging, respectful, and devoted."
"Devoted until death," replied he.
"But," said Marie Antoinette, with a smile, "at present it is a question not of death, but of ruin; and I do not wish you devoted even so far.
You shall live, and not be ruined, at least, not by me; for they say you are ruining yourself."
"Madame!"
"Oh! that is your own business; only, as a friend, I would counsel you to be economical--the king would like you better."
"I would become a miser to please your majesty."
"Oh, the king," replied she, with an accent on the word, "does not love misers either."
"I will become whatever your majesty desires," replied he, with a hardly-disguised pa.s.sion.
"I said, then," continued she, "that you shall not be ruined for me.
You have advanced money on my account, and I have the means of meeting the calls; therefore, regard the affair for the future as in my hands."
"To finish it, then, it only remains for me to offer the necklace to your majesty;" and drawing out the case, he presented it to her.
She took it, but did not open it, and laid it down by her side. She received kindly all his polite speeches, but as she was longing to be left alone with her diamonds, she began to answer somewhat absently.
He thought she was embarra.s.sed, and was delighted, thinking it showed, at least, an absence of indifference. He then kissed her hand, and took leave, going away full of enthusiasm and hope.
Jeanne was waiting for him in the carriage, and received his ardent protestations with pleasure. "Well," said she, "shall you be Richelieu or Mazarin? Have her lips given you encouragement in ambition or love?
Are you launched in politics or intrigue?"
"Do not laugh, dear countess; I am full of happiness."
"Already!"
"a.s.sist me, and in three weeks I may be a minister."
"Peste! that is a long time; the next payment is in a fortnight."
"Ah! the queen has money, and will pay, and I shall have only the merit of the intention. It is too little; I would willingly have paid for this reconciliation with the whole sum."
"Make yourself easy," replied the countess; "you shall have this merit if you desire it."
"I should have preferred it; the queen would then have been under an obligation to me."
"Monseigneur, something tells me you will have this satisfaction. Are you prepared for it?"
"I have mortgaged all my revenue for the ensuing year."
"Then you have the money?"
"Certainly, for this payment; after that, I do not know what I shall do."
"Oh, this payment will give you three quiet months; who knows what may happen in three months?"
"That is true; but she said that the king wished me to incur no more debt."
"Two months in the ministry would set all straight."
"Countess!"
"Oh, do not be fastidious; if you do not a.s.sist yourself, others will."
"You are right. Where are you going now?"
"Back to the queen, to hear what she says of your interview."
"Good! I go to Paris."
"Why? You should go this evening to the "jeu du roi;" it is good policy to keep your ground."
"No, countess; I must attend a rendezvous, for which I received a note this morning."
"A rendezvous?"
"Yes, and a serious one, by the contents of the note. Look."
"A man"s writing," said the countess; and, opening the note, she read: