Memoirs of a Physician (62 page)
“And, therefore, I shall not employ the intervention of the subterranean powers. I shall be satisfied with that of the person who is just now knocking at the gate of your courtyard.”
And, in fact, jast at that moment, three blows, struck with an air of command, were heard outside.
“And whose carriage,” continued Balsamo, “is just now entering the court.”
” It seems, then, that it is some friend of yours who is coming to honor me with a visit ? “
” As you say a friend of mine.”
” And I shall hand this coffer to him ?”
” Yes, my dear Monsieur de Sartines, you will give it to him.”
The lieutenant of police had not finished his gesture of lofty disdain when a valet opened the door hastily, and announced that
Mme.
Dubarry wished for an interview.
M. de Sartines started, and looked in stupefied amaze-ment at Balsamo, who required all his self-command to avoid laughing in the face of the honorable magistrate.
Close behind the valet appeared a lady who seemed to have no need of permission to enter. It was the beautiful countess, whose flowing and perfumed skirts gently rustled as they brushed past the doorway of the cabinet.
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” You, madame, you ! ” exclaimed M. de Sar tines, who, in the instinct of terror, had seized the open coffer in both hands, and clasped it to his breast.
” Good day, Sartines,” said the countess, with her gay-est smile ; then, turning to Balsamo, ” good day, dear count,” added she ; and she gave her hand to the latter, who familiarly bent over the white fingers, and pressed his lips where the royal lips had so often rested.
In this movement Balsamo managed to whisper a few words aside to the countess, which Sartines could not hear.
“Ah! precisely,” exclaimed the countess; “there is my coffer.”
” Your coffer ! ” stammered M. de Sartines.
” Of course, my coffer oh ! you have opened it, I see you do not observe much ceremony.”
” But, madame “
” Oh, it is delightful ! The idea occurred to me at once that some one had stolen this coffer, and then I said to myself : ‘I must go to Sartines ; he will find it for me. J You did not wait till I asked you ; you found it beforehand a thousand thanks ! “
” And as you see,” said Balsamo, ” monsieur has even opened it.”
” Yes, really ! who could have thought of it. It is dubious conduct of you, Sartines.”
” Madame, notwithstanding all the respect I have for you,” said the lieutenant of police, “I fear that you are imposed upon.”
” Imposed, sir ! ” said Balsamo ; ” do you perchance mean that word for me ? “
” I know what I know,” replied M. de Sartines.
‘And I know nothing,” whispered
Mme.
Dubarry, in a low voice to Balsamo. ” Come, tell me what is the matter, my dear count ! You have claimed the fulfilment of the promise I made you, to grant the first favor you should ask. I keep my word like a woman of honor, and here I am. Tell me what must I do for you.”
” Madame,” replied Balsamo, aloud, ” you confided the
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care of this coffer and everything it contains to me, a few days ago.”
“Of course,” answered
Mme.
Dubarry, replying by a look to the count’s appealing glance.
“Of course!” exclaimed M. de Sartines, “you say of course, madame ? “
” Yes ; madame pronounced the words loud enough for you to hear them, I should think.”
“A box which contains perhaps ten conspiracies !”
” Ah ! Monsieur de Sartines, you are aware that that word is rather an unfortunate one for you ; do not repeat it. Madame asks for her box again ; give it her that is all.”
” Do you ask me for it, madame ? ” said M. de Sartines, trembling with anger.
“Yes, my dear magistrate.”
” But learn, at least “
Balsamo looked at the countess.
“You can tell me nothing I do not know,” said
Mme.
Dubarry ; ” give me the coffer ; you may believe I did not come for nothing ? “
” But in the name of Heaven, madame in the name of his majesty’s safety “
Balsamo made an impatient gesture.
” The coffer, sir ! ” said the countess, abruptly ; ” the coffer yes or no ! Keflect well before you refuse.”
” As you please, madame ! ” said M. de Sartiues, humbly.
And he handed the coffer, into which Balsamo had already replaced all the papers scattered over the desk, to the countess.
Mme.
Dubarry turned toward the latter with a charming smile.
” Count,” said she, ” will you carry this coffer to my carriage for ine, and give me your hand through all these antechambers thronged with villainous-looking faces which I do not like to confront alone ? -Thanks, Sartines.”
And Balsamo was already advancing toward the door with his protectress, when he saw M. de Sartines moving toward the bell.
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“Countess,” said Balsamo, stopping bis enemy with a look, ” be good enough to tell Monsieur de Sartines, who is quite enraged with me for having claimed this box be good enough to tell him how much grieved you would be if any misfortune were to happen to me through the agency of the lieutenant of police, and how displeased you would be with him.”
The countess smiled on Balsamo.
” You hear what the count says, my dear Sartines ? well ! it is the simple truth. The count is an excellent friend of mine, and I should be dreadfully angry with you if you displeased him in any way whatsoever. Adieu, Sartines!” And placing her hand in Balsamo’s, who carried the coffer,
Mme.
Dubarry left the study of the lieutenant of police.
M de. Sartines saw them depart without displaying that fury which Balsamo expected him to manifest.
” Go ! ” said the conquered magistrate ; ” go you have the box, but I have the woman ! “
And to compensate himself for his disappointment, he rang loud enough to break all the bells in the house.
CHAPTER LVIII.
SARTLffES BEGIXS TO THItfK BALSAMO A SORCERER.
AT the violent ringing of M. de Sartines’ bell an usher entered.
“Well !” asked the magistrate ; “this woman ?” ” What woman, my lord ? “
” The woman who fainted here just now, and whom I confided to your care.”
My lord, she is quite well,” replied the usher. Very good ; bring her to me.” Where shall I find her, my lord ? ” ‘ What do you mean ? In that room, of course.” But she is not there, my lord.” Not there. Then where is she ? “
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” I do not know.”
” She is gone ? “
a yes “
“Alone ?”
“Yes.”
” But she could not stand.”
” My lord, it is true that for some moments she remained in a swoon ; but five minutes after the Count de Fenix entered my lord’s study, she awoke from this strange fit, which neither essence nor salts affected in the least. Then she opened her eyes, rose, and breathed, seemingly with an air of satisfaction.”
“Well, what, then ?”
” She proceeded toward the door ; and, as my lord had not ordered that she should not be detained, she was allowed to depart.
“Gone!” cried M. de Surtines. “Ah! wretch that you are ! I shall send you all to rot at Bicetre ! Quick, quick ! send me my head-clerk ! “
The usher retired hastily to obey the order he had received.
” The wretch is a sorcerer ! ” muttered the unfortunate magistrate. ” I am a lieutenant of police to the king, but he is lieutenant of police to the devil ! v
The reader has, no doubt, understood what M. de Sartines could not explain to himself. Immediately after the incident of the pistol, and while the lieutenant of the police was endeavoring to regain his equanimity, Balsamo, profiting by the momentary respite, had turned successively to the four cardinal points, quite sure of finding Lorenza in one of them, and had ordered her to rise and go out, and to return, by the way she had come, to the Hue St. Claude.
The moment this wish had been formed in Balsamo’s mind, a magnetic current was established between him and the young woman, and the latter, obeying the order she had received by intuition, rose and retired, without any one opposing her departure.
M. de Sartines that same evening took to his bed, and
466 MEMOIRS OF A PHYSICIAN.
caused himself to be bled. The revulsion had been too strong for him to bear with impunity ; and the doctor assured him that a quarter of an hour more would have brought on an attack of apoplexy.
Meanwhile, Balsamo had accompanied the countess to her carriage, and had attempted to take his leave of her, but she was not a woman to let him go thus, without knowing, or at least without endeavoring to discover the solution of the strange event which had taken place before her. She begged the count to enter her carriage. The count obeyed, and a groom led Djerid behind.
” You see now, count,” said she, ” whether I am true or not, and whether, when I have called a man my friend, I spoke with the lips merely, or my heart. I was just setting out for Luciennes, where the king had said he would pay me a visit to-morrow morning ; but your letter arrived, and I left everything for you. Many Avould have been frightened at the words conspiracies and conspirators which Monsieur de Sartines threw in your teeth ; but I looked at your countenance before I acted and did as you wished me.”
” Madame,” replied Balsamo, ” you have amply repaid the slight service I was able to render you ; but with me nothing is lost you will find that I can be grateful. Do not imagine, however, that lam a criminal a conspirator, as Monsieur de Sartines said. That worthy magistrate had received, from some person who betrayed me, this coffer, containing some chemical and hermetical secrets which I shall share with you, that yon may preserve your immortal, your splendid beauty, and your dazzling youth. Now, seeing the ciphers of my recipe, this excellent Monsieur de Sartines called the chancery clerk to assist him, who in order not to be found wanting, interpreted them after his own fashion. I think I have already told you, madame, that the profession is not yet entirely freed from the dangers which were attendant on it in the Middle Ages. Only young and intelligent minds like yours favor it. In short, madame, you have saved me from a great embarrassment I thank you for it, and shall prove my gratitude.”
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” But what would he have done with you if I had not come to your assistance ? “
” To annoy King Frederick, whom his majesty hates, he would have imprisoned me in Vincennes or the Bastile. I should have escaped from it, I know thanks to my recipe for melting stone with a breath but I should have lost my coffer, which contains, as I have had the honor of telling you, many curious and invaluable secrets, wrested by a lucky chance from eternal darkness.”
” Ah, count ! you at once delight and reassure me. . Then you promise me a philter to make me young again ? “
” Yes.”
” And when will you give it me ? “
” Oh ! you need be in no hurry. You may ask for it twenty years hence, beautiful countess. In the meantime, I think you do not wish to become quite a child again.”
” You are, in truth, a charming man. One question more, and I will let you go, for you seem in haste.”
” Speak, countess.”
” You said that some one had betrayed you. Is it a man or a woman ? “
” A woman.”
” Ah ! ah ! count ! love affairs.”
” Alas ! yes ; prompted by an almost frantic jealousy, which has produced the pleasant effect you have seen. It is a woman who, not daring to stab me with a knife, because she knows I cannot be killed, wanted to imprison and ruin me.”
“What 1 ruin you ? “
” She endeavored to do so, at least.”
” Count, I will stop here,” said the countess, laughing. ” Is it the liquid silver which courses through your veins that gives you that immortality which makes people betray you instead of killing you ? Shall I set you down here, or drive you to your own house ? Come, choose !”
” No, madame, I cannot allow you to inconvenience yourself on my account. I have my horse, Djerid.”
” Ah ! that wonderful animal which, it is said, outstrips the wind ?”
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” He seems to please you, madame.”
” He is, in truth, a magnificent steed.”
” Allow me to offer him to you, on the condition that you alone ride him.”
” Oh ! no, thank you. I do not ride on horseback ; or, at least, I am a very timid horsewoman. I am as much obliged to you, however, as if I accepted your offer. Adieu ! my dear count ; do not forget my philter in ten years.”
” I said twenty.”
” Count, yon know the proverb : ‘ a bird in the hand,’ and if you could even give it me in five years there’s no knowing what may happen.”
“Whenever you please, countess ; are you not aware that I am entirely at your command ? “
” Only one word more, count.”
” I am all attention, madame.”
“It proves that I have great confidence in yon to speak of it.”
Balsamo, who had already alighted from the carriage, suppressed his impatience, and approached the countess.
” It is reported everywhere,” continued
Mme.
Dubarry, ” that the king is rather taken with this little Taverney.”
” Ah ! madame,” said Balsamo, ” is it possible ?”
” A very great partiality, it is said. You must tell me if it is true. Count, do not deceive me ; I beseech you to treat me as a friend. Tell me the truth, count.”
” Madame,” replied Balsamo, ” I will do more ; I will promise you that Mademoiselle Andre shall never be anything to the king.”
” And why not ? ” cried
Mme.
Dubarry.
” Because I will it so,” said Balsamo.
” Oh !” said
Mme.
Dnbarry, incredulously.
” Yon doubt ? “
” Is it not allowed ? “
” Never doubt the truths of science, madame. You have believed me when I said yes ; believe me when I say no.”
” But, in short, have vou the means “
” Well ? “
