"No, madame; the journalist was too well beaten to give M. de Charny the sword-thrust which made him faint here just now."
"Wounded!" cried the queen; "how and when? He was here just now."
"Oh!" said Andree, "I saw that he suffered."
"What do you say?" cried the queen, almost angrily; "you saw that he suffered, and did not mention it!"
Andree did not reply.
Jeanne, who wished to make a friend of her, came to her aid, saying, "I also, madame, saw that M. de Charny had difficulty in standing up while your majesty spoke to him."
"Monsieur," said the queen again to M. de Crosne, "with whom and why did M. de Charny fight?"
"With a gentleman who---- But really, madame, it is useless now. The two adversaries are friends again, for they spoke just now in your majesty"s presence."
"In my presence!"
"Yes, madame; the conqueror left about twenty minutes ago."
"M. de Taverney!" cried the queen.
"My brother!" murmured Andree.
"I believe," said M. de Crosne, "that it was he with whom M. de Charny fought."
The queen made an angry gesture. "It is not right," she said; "these are American manners brought to Versailles. It is not because one has fought under M. Lafayette and Washington that my court should be disgraced by such proceedings. Andree, did you know your brother had fought?"
"Not till this moment, madame."
"Why did he fight?"
"If my brother fought," said Andree, "it was in your majesty"s service."
"That is to say, that M. de Charny fought against me."
"Your majesty, I spoke only of my brother, and of no one else."
The queen tried hard to remain calm. She walked once or twice up and down the room, and then said, "M. de Crosne, you have convinced me: I was much disturbed by these rumors and accusations; your police is efficient, but I beg you not to forget to investigate this resemblance of which I have spoken. Adieu!" and she held out her hand to him with her own peculiar grace.
Andree made a movement to depart. The queen gave her a careless adieu.
Jeanne also prepared to leave, when Madame de Misery entered.
"Madame," said she to the queen, "did your majesty appoint this hour to receive MM. Boehmer and Bossange?"
"Oh, yes, it is true; let them come in. Remain a little longer, Madame de la Motte; I want the king to make a full peace with you." Perhaps she wished to pique Andree by this favor to a newcomer, but Andree did not seem to heed.
"All these Taverneys are made of iron," thought the queen. "Ah, gentlemen, what do you bring me now? you know I have no money."
CHAPTER x.x.xIX.
THE TEMPTRESS.
Madame de la Motte remained, therefore, as before.
"Madame," replied M. Boehmer, "we do not come to offer anything to your majesty, we should fear to be indiscreet; but we come to fulfil a duty, and that has emboldened us----"
"A duty?"
"Concerning the necklace which your majesty did not deign to take."
"Oh! then, the necklace has come again," said Marie Antoinette, laughing. "It was really beautiful, M. Boehmer."
"So beautiful," said Bossange, "that your majesty alone was worthy to wear it."
"My consolation is," said the queen, with a sigh which did not escape Jeanne, "that it cost a million and a half. Was not that the price, M.
Boehmer?"
"Yes, your majesty."
"And in these times," continued the queen, "there is no sovereign that can give such a sum for a necklace; so that although I cannot wear it, no one else can: and once broken up, I should care nothing about it."
"That is an error of your majesty"s; the necklace is sold."
"Sold!" cried the queen. "To whom?"
"Ah! madame, that is a state secret."
"Oh!" said the queen, "I think I am safe. A state secret means that there is nothing to tell."
"With your majesty," continued Boehmer, as gravely as ever, "we do not act as with others. The necklace is sold, but in the most secret manner, and an amba.s.sador----"
"I really think he believes it himself!" interrupted the queen, laughing again. "Come, M. Boehmer, tell me at least the country he comes from, or, at all events, the first letter of his name."
"Madame, it is the amba.s.sador from Portugal," said Boehmer, in a low voice, that Madame de la Motte might not hear.
"The amba.s.sador from Portugal!" said the queen. "There is none here, M.
Boehmer."
"He came expressly for this, madame."
"Do you imagine so?"
"Yes, madame."