第50章

favourwaswithhim；and，inordertocontestit，itrequiredall

theinfluenceofawoman，andthatwomantobenolessthanthe

belovedmistressofthekingofFrance。

Hepresentedhimselfbeforemetastefullyandmagnificentlydressed，

bothlookandvoicewearingthestampofhigh-bornprideand

haughtiness。

Nevertheless，amidstallthispomp，itwasevident

thathedidnotentirelyfeeltheeaseheassumed，andthata

speciesofremorserankledathisheart，spiteofthecourtier-like

gallantrywithwhichhehadinvestedhimself。

“Madam，“saidhe，bowingtwicemostprofoundly，“themomenthas

arrivedwhichIhavelongmostardentlydesired。“

“Thefaulthasnotbeenmine，mylord，“saidI，“thatithasbeen

delayeduntilnow。

Mydoorhasneverbeenshutagainstany

visityoumighthavehonouredmewith。“

“Ah，madam！

whyhaveInotknownthissooner？

Someevilplanet

ruledmythoughtswhenitoccurredtomethatImightnotbeso

happyastomeetwithafavourablereception。“

“There，mylord，youwereindeedinerror；forthoughImightnot

feelaverytenderfriendshiptowardsyouwhilstsupposingIhad

manycausesforcomplaint，Icouldnotrefuseyouthosemarksof

respectyourrankandstationentitleyoutoreceive。“

“Then，madam，ImayflattermyselfthatIshouldhavebeen

kindlyreceived？“

“Yes，sir，youwouldeverhavebeenwelcome，butnotthose

belongingtoyou，forIwillbeperfectlycandid；alwaysexcepting

theduchessedeChoiseul，forwhomIentertainthegreatest

venerationandrespect。“

“Sheisindeedwellworthytheexaltedopinionyouexpressofher；

andhadIfollowedheradvice，Ishouldnothavebeenfound

amongsttheranksofyourenemies。“

“Youconfessthefactthen，monsieurleduc？“

saidI。

“Itrust，madam，youwillnottakeadvantageofaninadvertent

expressiontoturnitagainstmyself。

WhatIfearis，thatwithout

everhavingbeenyourenemy，Imayhavepassedforsuchinyour

estimation；andsuchindeedisthecruelpositioninwhichI

amplaced。“

“Stay，mylordduke，“criedI；“becandid，andacknowledgethat

youaremyenemyasyouhaveeverbeen；andthatitisonly

becausetherehasbeenwarbetweenusthatyouarenowcometo

concludeatreatyofpeace——“

“Peaceorwar，madam，“repliedhe，“asyoupleasetowillit；all

Iwilladmitis，thatthingshaveturnedoutmostunfavourablyfor

mywishes。

YourarrivalatVersailles，yourgrace，beauty，and

wit，exciteduniversaljealousy；and，amidstthegeneralpanic

causedbyyourall-excellingmerit，wasitnotnecessaryItoo

shouldkeepmyselfonmyguard？

Forthefirsttimeinmylife

abeautifulwomanbecameanobjectofalarmtome；youmay

furtherbelieveme，whenIprotestthat，attheoutset，Iwarmly

defendedyou；buthowcouldIwagewaragainstsomany——how

opposethegeneraltorrent？

Itboremedown。“

“Andyoufearlestitshouldcarryyoubeyondyourdepth，and

wouldfainreturnto；isitnotso，mylordduke？“

Atthisironicalspeechanexpressionofheavydispleasurerose

tothecountenanceofM。deChoiseul，andheremain