"Well, comtesse," said he, "behold the number of your slaves increased by an illustrious adorer. You have made a conquest of M. Lebel, and I am certain he has gone away deeply smitten.""I hope we shall see him again," said comte Jean.
"Do you doubt it?"
"Assure him," said I, "of the pleasure it will afford us to receive him as he merits."Several persons entered, and M. Morand, profiting by the bustle which their entrance occasioned, approached me, and said, in a low tone,"You are in possession of his heart, will you charge me with any message to him?""M. Morand," was my reply, "what are you thinking of? Awoman of my rank throw herself at any person's head?""No, certainly not; but you can send him a kind word, or some affectionate token.""I could not think of it; M. Lebel appeared to me a most agreeable man, and I shall be at all times delighted to see him."Morand asked nothing more than this, and there our conversation ended.
Two days elapsed without being marked by any event. Comte Jean had spent them with much anxiety. He was absent, when, on the third morning, Henriette came hastily into my room. "Madame," she said, "the <valet de chambre> of the king is in the drawing-room, and inquires if you will receive him."At this news I was surprised and vexed. M. Lebel took me unawares;my toilette was not begun. I gave a hasty glance at my mirror, "Let M. Lebel come in"; and M. Lebel, who was on the heels of my maid, entered instantly. After having saluted me, he said,"It is only you, Madame, whom one might thus surprise. Your beauty needs no ornament, your charms are decoration sufficient."I replied to this compliment with (of course) much modesty, according to custom. We entered into conversation, and I found that Lebel really thought me the sister-in-law of comte Jean; and I remarked the involuntary respect that attended even his familiarity.
I left him in his error, which was material to my interests. He talked to me some time of my attractions, of the part which a female like myself might assume in France. But fearing to compromise myself, I made no reply, but preserved the reserve which my character imposed upon me. I am not clever, my friend, I never could conduct an intrigue: I feared to speak or do wrong;and whilst I kept a tranquil appearance, I was internally agitated at the absence of comte Jean.
Fortune sent him to me. He was passing the street, when he saw at our door a carriage with the royal livery. Lebel always used it when his affairs did not demand a positive incognito. This equipage made him suspect a visit from Lebel, and he came in opportunely to extricate me from my embarrassment.
"Sir," said Lebel to him, when he entered, "here is the lady whose extreme modesty refuses to listen to what I dare not thus explain to her.""Is it anything I may hear for her?" said the comte, with a smiling air.
"Yes, I am the ambassador of a mighty power: you are the minister plenipotentiary of the lady, and with your leave, we will go into your private room to discuss the articles of the secret treaty which I have been charged to propose to you.
What says madame?"
"I consent to anything that may come from such an ambassador."Comte Jean instantly led him into another room, and when they were alone, Lebel said to him, "Do you know that your sister-in-law is a most fascinating creature? She has occupied my thoughts since I have known her, and in my enthusiasm I could not help speaking of her in a certain quarter. So highly have I eulogized her, that his majesty desires an interview with her, that he may judge with his own eyes if I am an appreciator of beauty."At these words comte Jean felt a momentary agitation, but soon recovering himself, he replied:
"I am exceedingly obliged to you, sir, for the favorable disposition you have evinced towards the comtesse du Barry. She and I have as much respect as love for his majesty; but my sister-in-law has not been presented, and, consequently, I can scarcely see how she can be allowed to pay her respects to his majesty.""Do not let that disturb you; it is not intended that she shall go and partake of the magnificence of Versailles, but be admitted to an intimacy much more flattering. Would you refuse to grant him that pleasure?""It would be a crime of <lese-majeste >," said the comte Jean, laughing, "and my family have too much respect for their monarch.