Petticoat Rule

by Baroness Emmuska Orczy Orczy

  CHAPTER XIV

  ROYAL FAVOURS

  Apparently there was to be no end to royal graciousness this morning,as every one who looked could see. Hardly was the coat on M. leControleur's shoulders than the King engaged him in conversation,whilst Mme. de Pompadour dropped into the armchair lately vacated byMonseigneur de Courtenai. The well-drilled circle of courtiers andladies, including la belle Irene herself, retired discreetly. Oncemore there was a barrier of emptiness and parquet flooring round theinner group, now composed of His Majesty, of M. le Controleur-General,and of Mme. de Pompadour. Into these sacred precincts no one wouldhave dared to step. Lydie, having paid her respects to His Majesty,had not joined that intimate circle, and it seemed as if Louis XV hadnoted her absence, and was duly relieved thereat.

  Anon M. le Duc d'Aumont approached the King, offering him a chair.Louis took it, and in the act of so doing he contrived to whisper fourquick words in his Prime Minister's ear.

  "Eh bien! Your daughter?"

  Lord Eglinton just then was busy trying to find a suitable placewhereon to deposit his own insignificant person, and blushingviolently because Mme. de Pompadour had laughingly waved her fan inthe direction of his monumental bed; M. le Duc, therefore, whilstadjusting a cushion behind the King's back, was able to replyhurriedly:

  "Impossible, Sire!"

  "And l'Anglais?"

  "I have not yet tried."

  "Ah! ah! ah!" laughed Pompadour merrily. "M. le Controleur-General desFinances, are all Englishmen as modest as you?"

  "I--I don't know, Madame. I don't know very many," he replied.

  "Here is M. le Controleur too bashful to sit on the edge of his ownbed in my presence," she continued, still laughing. "Nay, milor, I'llwager that you were reclining on those downy cushions when you wereflirting with Mme. de Stainville."

  "Only under the compulsion of my valet-de-chambre, Madame," heprotested, "or I'd have got up hours ago."

  "Is he such a tyrant, then?" asked Louis.

  "Terrible, your Majesty."

  "You are afraid of him?"

  "I tremble at his look."

  "Ah! it is well M. le Controleur-General des Finances should tremblesometimes, even if only before his valet-de-chambre," sighed Louis XVwith comic pathos.

  "But, Sire, I tremble very often!" protested Lord Eglinton.

  "I' faith he speaks truly," laughed Mme. de Pompadour, "since hetrembles before his wife."

  "And we tremble before M. le Controleur," concluded the King gaily.

  "Before me, Sire?"

  "Aye, indeed, since our Parliaments have made you our dragon."

  "A good-tempered, meek sort of dragon, Sire, you'll graciously admit."

  "That we will, milor, and gladly!" said Louis XV, now with somewhattoo exuberant good-humour; "and you'll not have cause to regret thatmeekness, for your King hath remained your friend."

  Then, as Lord Eglinton seemed either too much overcome by the amazingcondescension, or too bashful to respond, his Majesty continued moresedately:

  "We are about to prove our friendship, milor."

  "Your Majesty--finds me--er--quite unprepared--er----" stammeredmilor, who in verity appeared distinctly confused, for his eyes roamedround the room as if in search of help or support in this interestingcrisis.

  "Nay! nay!" rejoined the King benignly, "this we understand, milor. Itis not often the King of France chooses a friend amongst his subjects.For we look upon you as our subject now, M. le Controleur, since wehave accepted your oath of allegiance. You have only just enoughEnglish blood left in your veins to make you doubly loyal and true toyour King. Nay! nay! no thanks--we speak as our royal heart moves us.Just now we spoke of proofs of our friendship. Milor, tell us frankly,are you so very rich?"

  The question came so abruptly at the end of the sentimental perorationthat Lord Eglinton was completely thrown off his balance. He was notused to private and intimate conversations with King Louis; his wifesaw to all affairs of State, and the present emergency found himunprepared.

  "I--I believe so, Sire," he stammered.

  "But surely not _so_ rich," insisted the King, "that a million or solivres would come amiss? He!"?

  "I don't rightly know, Sire; it a little depends."

  "On what?"

  "On the provenance of the million."

  "More than one, good milor--two, mayhap," said the King exultantly.

  Then he drew his chair in somewhat closer. Lord Eglinton had takenMme. de Pompadour's advice and was sitting on the edge of the bed. Wemay presume that that edge was very hard and uncomfortable, for milorfidgeted and looked supremely unhappy. Anon the King's knees wereclose to his own, and Madame's brocaded skirt got entangled with hisfeet. The buzz of talk in the large room drowned the King's whisperseffectually, the wide barrier of empty floor was an effectual check oneavesdropping. Obviously no one would hear what Louis was about toconfide to his Minister; he leaned forward and dropped his voice sothat Eglinton himself could scarcely hear, and had to bend his head sothat he got Louis's hot, excited breath full on the cheek. BeingGeneral Comptroller of Finance and receiving the confidences of a Kinghad its drawbacks at times.

  "Milor," whispered his Majesty, "'tis a good affair we would propose,one which we could carry through without your help, but in which wewould wish to initiate you, seeing that you are our friend."

  "I listen, Sire."

  "The Duke of Cumberland--you know him?"

  "Yes."

  "He has quelled the rebellion and humbled the standard of thatarrogant Stuart Pretender."

  "Your Majesty's friend--yes," said Eglinton innocently.

  "Bah! our friend!" and Louis XV shrugged his shoulders, whilst Mme. dePompadour gave a short contemptuous laugh.

  "Oh! I am sorry! I thought----" said milor gently. "I pray yourMajesty to continue."

  "Charles Edward Stuart was no friend to us, milor," resumed Louisdecisively: "observe, I pray you, the trouble which he hath broughtabout our ears. We had had peace with England ere now, but for thataccursed adventurer and his pretensions; and now that he has come todisaster and ruin----"

  "I understand," said Eglinton, with a little sigh of sympathy. "It isindeed awkward for your Majesty; the solemn promise you gave him----"

  "Bah, man! prate not to me of promises," interrupted Louis irritably."I promised him nothing; he knows that well enough--the young fool!"

  "Do not let us think of him, Sire; it seems to upset your Majesty."

  "It does, milor, it does; for even my worst enemies concede that Louisthe Well-beloved is a creature of sympathy."

  "A heart of gold, Sire--a heart of gold--er--shall we join theladies?"

  "Milor," said the King abruptly, putting a firm hand on Eglinton'swrist, "we must not allow that young fool to thwart the externalpolitics of France any longer. The Duke of Cumberland, though our ownenemy on the field of battle, has shown that England trusts in ourhonour and loyalty even in the midst of war, but she wants a prooffrom us."

  "Oh, let us give it, Sire, by all means. Prince Charles EdwardStuart----"

  "Exactly, milor," said Louis XV quietly; "that is the proof whichEngland wants."

  "I am afraid I don't quite understand," said Lord Eglinton, a littlebewildered. "You see, I am very stupid; and--and perhaps my wife----"

  Then, as King Louis gave a sharp ejaculation of impatience, Mme. dePompadour broke in, in tones which she knew how to render velvety andsoothing to the ear, whilst her delicate fingers rested lightly on M.le Controleur's hand.

  "It is quite simple, milor," she whispered just as confidentially asthe King had done. "This Charles Edward Stuart is a perpetual worry toEngland. His Grace, the Duke of Cumberland has been accused ofunnecessary cruelty because he has been forced to take severe measuresfor the suppression of that spirit of rebellion, which is only beingfostered in Scotland because of that young Pretender's perpetualpresence there. He fans smouldering revolt into flame, he incitespassions, and creates misguided enthusiasms which lead to endless
trouble to all!"

  Then as she paused, somewhat breathless and eager, her brightmyosotis-coloured eyes anxiously scanning his face he said mildly:

  "How beautifully you put things, Mme. la Marquise. I vow I have neverheard such a perfect flood of eloquence."

  "'Tis not a matter of Madame's eloquence," interposed Louis, withimpatience, "though she hath grasped the subject with marvellousclearness of judgment."

  "Then 'tis a matter of what, Sire?"

  "The Duke of Cumberland has appealed to our loyalty. Though we are atwar with England we bear no animus toward her reigning house, and haveno wish to see King George's crown snatched from him by that beardlessyoung adventurer, who has no more right to the throne of England thanyou, milor, to that of France."

  "And his Grace of Cumberland has asked his Majesty's help," added Mme.de Pompadour.

  "How strange! Just as Prince Charles Edward himself hath done."

  "The Duke of Cumberland desires the person of the Pretender," shesaid, without heeding the interruption, "so that he may no longerincite misguided enthusiasts to rebellion, and cease to plungeScotland and England into the throes of civil war."

  "His Grace asks but little, methinks!" said Lord Eglinton slowly.

  "Oh, England is always ready to pay for what she wants," said theMarquise.

  "And on this occasion?" asked milor mildly.

  "His Grace hath offered us, as man to man, fifteen millions livres forthe person of the Pretender," said the King, with sudden decision, andlooking M. le Controleur straight in the face.

  "Ah! as man to man?"

  Louis XV and Mme. la Marquise de Pompadour both drew a quick sigh ofrelief. M. le Controleur had taken the proposal with perfect quietude.He had not seemed startled, and his kindly face expressed nothing butgentle amazement, very natural under the circumstances, whilst hisvoice--even and placid as usual--was not above a whisper.

  "As man to man," he repeated, and nodded his head several times, as ifpondering over the meaning of this phrase.

  How extremely fortunate! Milor had raised no objection! What a pity tohave wasted quite so much thought, anxiety, and a wealth of eloquenceover a matter which was so easily disposed of! Jeanne de Pompadourgave her royal patron an encouraging nod.

  There was a world of wisdom in that nod and in the look whichaccompanied it. "He takes it so easily," that look seemed to say; "hethinks it quite natural. We must have his help, since we do not knowwhere the fugitive Prince is in hiding. This little milor alone cantell us that, and give us a token by which Charles Edward wouldtrustingly fall into the little ambush which we have prepared for him.But he thinks the affair quite simple. We need not offer him quite solarge a share in the pleasant millions as we originally had intended."

  All this and more Mme. de Pompadour's nod conveyed to the mind ofLouis the Well-beloved, and he too nodded in response before hecontinued, speaking now more casually, in a calmer, more business-liketone.

  "'Tis a fair offer," he said at last; "though the affair will not bequite so easy to conduct as his Grace supposes. He suggests oursending a ship to the coast of Scotland to meet the young adventurerand his friends, take them on board and convey them to an Englishport, where they will be handed over to the proper authorities. 'Tisfairly simple, methinks."

  "Remarkably simple, your Majesty."

  "Of course, we need a little help from you, milor. Oh, nothingmuch--advice as to the spot where our good ship will be most like tofind Charles Edward Stuart--a token which if shown to that youngfirebrand will induce him to trust its bearer, and come on boardhimself with at least some of his friends. You follow me, milor?"

  The question seemed necessary, for Lord Eglinton's face wore such alook of indifference as to astonish even the King, who had beenprepared for some measure of protest, at any rate from this man whowas being asked to betray his friend. Although Louis was at thisperiod of his life quite deaf to every call of honour and loyaltythrough that constant, ever-present and exasperating want of money forthe satisfaction of his extravagant caprices, nevertheless, there wasBourbon blood in him, and this cried out loudly now, that he wassuggesting--nay, more, contemplating--a deed which would have put anyof his subjects to shame, and which would have caused some of his mostunscrupulous ancestors in mediaeval times to writhe with humiliation intheir graves. Therefore he had expected loud protest from LordEglinton, arguments more or less easy to combat, indignation ofcourse; but this ready acceptance of this ignoble bargain--so strangeis human nature!--for the moment quite horrified Louis. Milor took theselling of his friend as calmly as he would that of a horse.

  "You follow me, milor?" reiterated the King.

  "Yes, yes, Sire," replied Eglinton readily enough. "I follow you."

  "You understand the service we ask of you?"

  "Yes, yes, I understand."

  "For these services, milor, you shall be amply rewarded. We woulddeem one million livres a fair amount to fall to your share."

  "Your Majesty is generous," said Eglinton quite passively.

  "We are just, milor," said the King, with a sigh of satisfaction.

  M. le Controleur seemed satisfied, and there was little else to say.Louis XV began to regret that he had offered him quite so much.Apparently five hundred thousand would have been enough.

  "Then we'll call that settled," concluded his Majesty, pushing backhis chair preparatory to ending this conversation, which he had sodreaded and which had turned out so highly satisfactory. Pity aboutthat million livres, of course! five hundred thousand might have done,certainly seven! Nathless, M. le Controleur's private fortune was notso large as popular rumour had it, or did Mme. Lydie actually hold thepurse strings?

  "_C'est entendu_, milor," repeated Louis once more. "We will see tocommissioning the ship and to her secret orders. As you see, there isno risk--and we shall be glad to be in the good graces of M. le Duc deCumberland. To oblige an enemy, eh, milor? an act of peace andgood-will in the midst of war. Chivalry, what?--worthy of our ancestorHenri of Navarre! Methinks it will make history."

  "I think so, too, Sire," said Eglinton, with obvious conviction.

  "Ah! then we'll see to the completion of the affair; we--the King andM. le Duc d'Aumont. You are lucky, milor, your share of the work is sosimple; as soon as the ship is ready to sail we'll call on you for thenecessary instructions. Par ma foi! 'tis a fine business for us all,milor; one million in your pocket for a word and a token, the residueof the fifteen millions in our royal coffers, and the thanks of hisGrace of Cumberland to boot, not to mention the moral satisfaction ofhaving helped to quell an unpleasant rebellion, and of placing one'senemy under lasting obligation. All for the good of France!"

  Louis the Well-beloved had risen; he was more than contented; anunctuous smile, a beaming graciousness of expression pervaded hisentire countenance. He groped in the wide pocket of his coat, bringingforth a letter which bore a large red seal.

  "His Grace's letter, milor," he said with final supreme condescension,and holding the document out to M. le Controleur, who took it withouta word. "Do you glance through it, and see that we have not beenmistaken, that the whole thing is clear, straightforward and----"

  "And a damned, accursed, dirty piece of business, Sire!"

  It was undoubtedly Lord Eglinton who had spoken, for his right hand,as if in response to his thoughts, was even now crushing the paperwhich it held, whilst the left was raised preparatory to tearing theinfamous proposal to pieces. Yes, it had been milor's even, gentlevoice which had uttered this sudden decisive condemnation in the sameimpassive tones, and still scarce audible even to these two peoplenear him, without passion, without tremor, seemingly without emotion.Just a statement of an undisputable fact, a personal opinion in answerto a question put to him.

  Louis, completely thrown off his balance, stared at milor as if he hadbeen suddenly shaken out of a dream; for the moment he thought thathis ears must have played him a trick, that he must have misunderstoodthe words so calmly uttered; instinctively his hand
sought thesupport of the chair which he had just vacated. It seemed as if heneeded a solid, a materialistic prop, else his body would have reeledas his brain was doing now. Mme. de Pompadour, too, had jumped to herfeet, pushing her chair away with an angry, impatient movement. Thedisappointment was so keen and sudden, coming just at the moment whentriumph seemed so complete. But whilst Louis stared somewhat blankly,at M. le Controleur, she, the woman, flashed rage, contempt, vengeanceupon him.

  He had tricked and fooled her, her as well as the King, leading themon to believe that he approved, the better to laugh at them both inhis sleeve.

  The contemptible, arrogant wretch!

  He was still half sitting, half leaning against the edge of his bed,and staring straight out before him through the big bay window whichgave on to the park, passively, gently, as if the matter had ceased toconcern him, as if he were quite unconscious of the enormity of hisaction.

  "A--a damned--what?--accursed!--what?----" stammered the King; "but,milor----"

  "Nay, Sire, I pray you!" broke in a grave voice suddenly; "my lordseems to have angered your Majesty. Will you deign to explain?"