Jeanne understood immediately that the queen had need of her, and knew that she could clear her in a moment by speaking the simple truth; but she felt inclined to keep her secret.
"Sire," said she, "I went to see M. Mesmer from curiosity, like the rest of the world. The spectacle appeared to me rather a coa.r.s.e one; I turned and suddenly saw her majesty entering, whom I had already had the honor of seeing, but without knowing her till her generosity revealed her rank. It seemed to me that her majesty was out of place in this room, where much suffering and many ridiculous exhibitions were going on. I beg pardon for having taken it on myself to judge; it was a woman"s instinct, but I humbly beg pardon if I pa.s.sed the bounds of proper respect." She seemed overcome with emotion as she concluded.
Every one but the king was pleased.
Madame de Lamballe thought her conduct delicate, and herself timid, intelligent, and good.
The queen thanked her by a look.
"Well," she said, "you have heard, sire."
He did not move, but said, "I did not need her testimony."
"I was told to speak," said Jeanne timidly, "and I obeyed."
"It is enough," answered he; "when the queen says a thing she needs no witnesses to confirm her; and when she has my approbation, and she has it, she need care for that of no one else."
He cast an overwhelming look on his brother, and kissing the hands of the queen and the princess, and begging pardon of the latter for having disturbed her for nothing, made a very slight bow to Jeanne.
The ladies then left the room.
"Brother," said Louis to the count, "now I will detain you no longer; I have work to do with M. de Crosne. You have heard your sister"s complete justification, and it is easy to see you are as pleased as myself. Pray sit down, M. de Crosne."
CHAPTER x.x.xVI.
THE QUEEN.
The queen, after leaving the king, felt deeply the danger she had been so nearly incurring. She was therefore pleased with Jeanne, who had been the means of preventing it, and said to her, with a gracious smile:
"It is really fortunate, madame, that you prevented my prolonging my stay at M. Mesmer"s, for only think, they have taken advantage of my being there to say that I was under the influence of the magnetism."
"But," said Madame de Lamballe, "it is very strange that the police should have been so deceived, and have affirmed that they saw the queen in the inner room."
"It is strange," said the queen; "and M. de Crosne is an honest man, and would not willingly injure me; but his agents may have been bought. I have enemies, dear Lamballe. Still there must have been some foundation for this tale. This infamous libel represents me as intoxicated, and overcome to such a degree by the magnetic fluid, that I lost all control over myself, and all womanly reserve. Did any such scene take place, Madame la Comtesse? Was there any one who behaved like this?"
Jeanne colored; the secret once told, she lost all the fatal influence which she could now exercise over the queen"s destiny; therefore she again resolved to keep silent on this point.
"Madame," said she, "there was a woman much agitated who attracted great attention by her contortions and cries."
"Probably some actress or loose character."
"Possibly, madame."
"Countess, you replied very well to the king, and I will not forget you.
How have you advanced in your own affairs?"
At this moment Madame de Misery came in, to say that Mademoiselle de Taverney wished to know if her majesty would receive her.
"a.s.suredly," said the queen. "How ceremonious you always are, Andree; why do you stand so much upon etiquette?"
"Your majesty is too good to me."
Madame de Lamballe now availed herself of Andree"s entrance to take leave.
"Well, Andree," the queen then said, "here is this lady whom we went to see the other day."
"I recognize madame," said Andree, bowing.
"Do you know what they have been saying of me?"
"Yes, madame; M. de Provence has been repeating the story."
"Oh! no doubt; therefore we will leave that subject. Countess, we were speaking of you--who protects you now?"
"You, madame," replied Jeanne, boldly, "since you permit me to come and kiss your hand. Few people," she continued, "dared to protect me when I was in obscurity; now that I have been seen with your majesty, every one will be anxious to do so."
"Then," said the queen, "no one has been either brave enough or corrupt enough to protect you for yourself?"
"I had first Madame de Boulainvilliers, a brave protector; then her husband, a corrupt one; but since my marriage no one. Oh yes, I forget one brave man--a generous prince."
"Prince, countess! who is it?"
"Monsieur the Cardinal de Rohan."
"My enemy," said the queen, smiling.
"Your enemy! Oh, madame!"
"It seems you are astonished that a queen should have an enemy. It is evident you have not lived at court."
"But, madame, he adores you. The devotion of the cardinal equals his respect for you."
"Oh, doubtless," said the queen, with a hearty laugh; "that is why he is my enemy."
Jeanne looked surprised.
"And you are his protegee," continued the queen; "tell me all about it."
"It is very simple; his eminence has a.s.sisted me in the most generous, yet the most considerate, manner."
"Good; Prince Louis is generous; no one can deny that. But do you not think, Andree, that M. le Cardinal also adores this pretty countess a little? Come, countess, tell us." And Marie Antoinette laughed again in her frank, joyous manner.
"All this gaiety must be put on," thought Jeanne. So she answered, in a grave tone, "Madame, I have the honor to affirm to your majesty that M.
de Rohan----"