The Bath Keepers Volume Ii Part 28

"It is plain that you spend all your time in wine shops, Monclair; otherwise, you would know that the Marquis de Santoval married Mademoiselle Valentine de Mongarcin, the daughter of an ill.u.s.trious family."

"Oh, yes! I remember now.--And it is this young woman who is so beautiful, you say?"

"Montrevert does not exaggerate," said La Valteline. "A few days ago, I was at a ball at Madame de Beaumont's, and the young Marquise de Santoval was there. Her entrance caused a sensation; the whole salon joined in a cry of admiration!--That young woman turned everybody's head. In addition to her beauty, there is an expression on her face which it is impossible to describe--coquetry, pride, languor, irony--and the combination is simply ravis.h.i.+ng!"

"Well, well! it would seem that this Santoval is a very lucky man!"

"He is far too much so, messieurs! He is in great danger!"

"The devil! we must take precautions, then. For this husband is a veritable wild boar, supplied with nasty tusks."

"Let us go to supper, messieurs."

"Let us go to supper."

The young men walked away; but Leodgard, who had overheard them, remained seated on a bench under the trees, saying thoughtfully to himself:

"Ah! this Marquise de Santoval, who is said to be so beautiful, is Valentine--the woman whom I was to marry! I hardly noticed her, then! I am curious to know if they tell the truth.--And then, it will distract me, and I need distraction."

And the count walked slowly toward the place where the company was a.s.sembled.

As for Jarnonville, he had long since left the courtesan's abode, sorely depressed because his attempt to arouse Leodgard's interest had proved fruitless.

XLI

A GLANCE

A few weeks later, a splendid ball was given by the Prince de Valdimer, a wealthy and luxury-loving foreigner, amba.s.sador of one of the Northern powers.

Every person who imparted any ray of brilliancy to the somewhat dismal court of Louis XIII, every bearer of an ill.u.s.trious name in France, was bidden to this festivity. The Comte de Marvejols had not been forgotten.

It was hardly possible to move in the salons of the vast mansion which the Prince de Valdimer had hired, and which he had caused to be decorated and illuminated on a most magnificent scale.

The ladies, dressed in rich gowns, were covered with diamonds, pearls, and jewels. The men, who were more coquettish in those days than we are to-day, also wore laces, plumes, and precious stones on their garments.

Then there were the newly rich merchants, the financiers, the farmers-general, who sought to disguise their origin by arraying themselves in sumptuous vestments of gold and silver brocade.

A fact that gave additional importance to this function in the eyes of many persons was that it was said that the Cardinal de Richelieu had promised to attend.

The crowd was therefore so great that one sometimes had to wait a long while before going from one room to another, if one did not wish to be suffocated.

A young woman of rare beauty, holding her elegant figure gracefully erect, and leaning on the arm of a man of forty, whose face wore a severe but n.o.ble expression, led her escort into a window recess as if in search of air, saying:

"In heaven's name, monsieur le marquis, let us not mingle with that crowd; let us wait here a moment, where we may perhaps be able to breathe! Mon Dieu! what a mult.i.tude of people! the whole court and the whole city are at this fete!"

"If you dread the heat, if this crowded hall has no charms for you, Valentine, we will go away."

"Oh, no! I wish to stay; it is a very brilliant affair; but I would like to rest a moment here."

"As you please."

"Why, here is Monsieur le Marquis de Santoval!" cried a little hunchbacked old man, who held his head erect, however, and whose eyes were instinct with cunning and good humor, addressing the escort of the lady who had taken refuge in the window recess; "have I the honor of saluting madame la marquise?"

"Yes, my dear De Noirteuil," replied Monsieur de Santoval, shaking hands with the little old man.

"Ah! present me, I pray you."

"Madame, allow me to present Monsieur de Noirteuil, a gentleman from the South--like myself; moreover, a clever diplomatist who has often placed his talents at the service of his country, and always with success."

"What would you have--I had nothing else to offer my country; it would have none of my person!--But allow me to congratulate you, Santoval! You are a lucky mortal, 'pon my honor! I have heard your wife's beauty extolled, but I see that what I have heard is far below the truth!"

"You are gallant, as always, De Noirteuil!"

"At this moment I am simply the echo of what is said on every side.--What think you of this fete, _belle dame_? a little crowded, is it not?"

"Why, monsieur, it seems to me to be very brilliant, very splendid!"

"Humph! too many people! That is the way with these foreigners; when they want to give a fete, they invite and invite! they would do much better to make a selection, to sort people out."

"What! do you mean to say that you have seen anybody who is out of place here?"

"I do not say that; still, after all, he might well have invited a smaller number."

"They say that the cardinal is coming."

"That is possible; but it is all the same to me--I don't care about seeing him, I have no request to make of him. He has just organized two companies of _mousquetaires_, but I fancy that he will not appoint me to a captaincy. Ha! ha!"

"Still fond of your laugh, my dear De Noirteuil!"

"Ah! I must have something, you know, marquis! Now, you possess an enchanting wife, and I, my gayety! I never had any other companion; but it has its good points.--Mon Dieu! what do I see? What miracle is this?

Is it really he? Yes, it is himself, on my word!"

"Of whom are you speaking, De Noirteuil?"

"Of that young cavalier whom I see yonder, at the entrance of the gallery; dressed in the extreme of fas.h.i.+on, with princely magnificence!

But he carries it well, vrai Dieu! He is a very pretty fellow, that Leodgard de Marvejols!"

"Ah! you are speaking of the Comte de Marvejols?--What is the matter, Valentine? do you feel ill?"

"I, monsieur? not in the least. Why do you ask me that?"

"Because it seemed to me that your arm suddenly rested very heavily on mine.--I am happy that my alarm was unfounded."

"I uttered that exclamation of surprise," continued the hunchback, "because it is a long while since young Marvejols has been seen at any ball or party; he has ceased entirely to go to court; in short, between us, he is looked upon as a regular _mauvais sujet_, who frequents only courtesans and low gambling h.e.l.ls!"