The young guardsman had scarce ever exchanged a word with this powerful lady, for it was her taste to isolate22 herself, and to appear with the court only at the hours of devotion. It was therefore with some feelings both of nervousness and of curiosity that he followed his guide down the gorgeous corridors, where art and wealth had been strewn with so lavish23 a hand. The lady paused in front of the chamber7 door, and turned to her companion.
“Madame wishes to speak to you of what occurred this morning,” said she. “I should advise you to say nothing to madame about your creed, for it is the only thing upon which her heart can be hard.” She raised her finger to emphasise24 the warning, and tapping at the door, she pushed it open. “I have brought Captain de Catinat, madame,” said she.
“Then let the captain step in.” The voice was firm, and yet sweetly musical.
Obeying the command, De Catinat found himself in a room which was no larger and but little better furnished than that which was allotted to his own use. Yet, though simple, everything in the chamber was scrupulously25 neat and clean, betraying the dainty taste of a refined woman. The stamped-leather furniture, the La Savonniere carpet, the pictures of sacred subjects, exquisite26 from an artist’s point of view, the plain but tasteful curtains, all left an impression half religious and half feminine but wholly soothing27. Indeed, the soft light, the high white statue of the Virgin28 in a canopied29 niche30, with a perfumed red lamp burning before it, and the wooden prie-dieu with the red-edged prayer-book upon the top of it, made the apartment look more like a private chapel31 than a fair lady’s boudoir.
On each side of the empty fireplace was a little green-covered arm-chair, the one for madame and the other reserved for the use of the king. A small three-legged stool between them was heaped with her work-basket and her tapestry32. On the chair which was furthest from the door, with her back turned to the light, madame was sitting as the young officer entered. It was her favourite position, and yet there were few women of her years who had so little reason to fear the sun, for a healthy life and active habits had left her with a clear skin and delicate bloom which any young beauty of the court might have envied. Her figure was graceful33 and queenly, her gestures and pose full of a natural dignity, and her voice, as he had already remarked, most sweet and melodious34. Her face was handsome rather than beautiful, set in a statuesque classical mould, with broad white forehead, firm, delicately sensitive mouth, and a pair of large serene35 gray eyes, earnest and placid36 in repose37, but capable of reflecting the whole play of her soul, from the merry gleam of humour to the quick flash of righteous anger. An elevating serenity38 was, however, the leading expression of her features, and in that she presented the strongest contrast to her rival, whose beautiful face was ever swept by the emotion of the moment, and who gleamed one hour and shadowed over the next like a corn-field in the wind. In wit and quickness of tongue it is true that De Montespan had the advantage, but the strong common-sense and the deeper nature of the elder woman might prove in the end to be the better weapon. De Catinat, at the moment, without having time to notice details, was simply conscious that he was in the presence of a very handsome woman, and that her large pensive39 eyes were fixed critically upon him, and seemed to be reading his thoughts as they had never been read before.
“I think that I have already seen you, sir, have I not?”
“Yes, madame, I have once or twice had the honour of attending upon you though it may not have been my good fortune to address you.”
“My life is so quiet and retired40 that I fear that much of what is best and worthiest41 at the court is unknown to me. It is the curse of such places that evil flaunts42 itself before the eye and cannot be overlooked, while the good retires in its modesty43, so that at times we scarce dare hope that it is there. You have served, monsieur?”
“Yes, madame. In the Lowlands, on the Rhine, and in Canada.”
“In Canada! Ah! What nobler ambition could woman have than to be a member of that sweet sisterhood which was founded by the holy Marie de l’Incarnation and the sainted Jeanne le Ber at Montreal? It was but the other day that I had an account of them from Father Godet des Marais. What joy to be one of such a body, and to turn from the blessed work of converting the heathen to the even more precious task of nursing back health and strength into those of God’s warriors44 who have been struck down in the fight with Satan!”
It was strange to De Catinat, who knew well the sordid45 and dreadful existence led by these same sisters, threatened ever with misery46, hunger, and the scalping-knife, to hear this lady at whose feet lay all the good things of this earth speaking enviously47 of their lot.
“They are very good women,” said he shortly, remembering Mademoiselle Nanon’s warning, and fearing to trench48 upon the dangerous subject.
“And doubtless you have had the privilege also of seeing the holy Bishop49 Laval?”
“Yes, madame, I have seen Bishop Laval.”
“And I trust that the Sulpitians still hold their own against the Jesuits?”
“I have heard, madame, that the Jesuits are the stronger at Quebec, and the others at Montreal.”
“And who is your own director, monsieur?”
De Catinat felt that the worst had come upon him. “I have none, madame.”
“Ah, it is too common to dispense50 with a director, and yet I know not how I could guide my steps in the difficult path which I tread if it were not for mine. Who is your confessor, then?”
“I have none. I am of the Reformed Church, madame.”
The lady gave a gesture of horror, and a sudden hardening showed itself in mouth and eye. “What, in the court itself,” she cried, “and in the neighbourhood of the king’s own person!”
De Catinat was lax enough in matters of faith, and held his creed rather as a family tradition than from any strong conviction, but it hurt his self-esteem to see himself regarded as though he had confessed to something that was loathsome51 and unclean. “You will find, madame,” said he sternly, “that members of my faith have not only stood around the throne of France, but have even seated themselves upon it.”
“God has for His own all-wise purposes permitted it, and none should know it better than I, whose grandsire, Theodore d’Aubigny, did so much to place a crown upon the head of the great Henry. But Henry’s eyes were opened ere his end came, and I pray—oh, from my heart I pray—that yours may be also.”
She rose, and throwing herself down upon the prie-dieu sunk her face in her hands for some few minutes, during which the object of her devotions stood in some perplexity in the middle of the room, hardly knowing whether such an attention should be regarded as an insult or as a favour. A tap at the door brought the lady back to this world again, and her devoted attendant answered her summons to enter.
“The king is in the Hall of Victories, madame,” said she. “He will be here in five minutes.”
“Very well. Stand outside, and let me know when he comes. Now, sir,” she continued, when they were alone once more, “you gave a note of mine to the king this morning?”
“I did, madame.”
“And, as I understand, Madame de Montespan was refused admittance to the grand lever?”
“She was, madame.”
“But she waited for the king in the passage?”
“She did.”
“And wrung52 from him a promise that he would see her today?”
“Yes, madame.”
“I would not have you tell me that which it may seem to you a breach53 of your duty to tell. But I am fighting now against a terrible foe54, and for a great stake. Do you understand me?”
De Catinat bowed.
“Then what do I mean?”
“I presume that what madame means is that she is fighting for the king’s favour with the lady you mentioned.”
“As heaven is my judge, I have no thought of myself. I am fighting with the devil for the king’s soul.”
“’Tis the same thing, madame.”
The lady smiled. “If the king’s body were in peril55, I could call on the aid of his faithful guards, and not less so now, surely, when so much more is at stake. Tell me, then, at what hour was the king to meet the marquise in her room?”
“At four, madame.”
“I thank you. You have done me a service, and I shall not forget it.”
“The king comes, madame,” said Mademoiselle Nanon, again protruding56 her head.
“Then you must go, captain. Pass through the other room, and so into the outer passage. And take this. It is Bossuet’s statement of the Catholic faith. It has softened57 the hearts of others, and may yours. Now, adieu!”
De Catinat passed out through another door, and as he did so he glanced back. The lady had her back to him, and her hand was raised to the mantel-piece. At the instant that he looked she moved her neck, and he could see what she was doing. She was pushing back the long hand of the clock.
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1
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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allotted
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| 分配，拨给，摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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tact
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| n.机敏，圆滑，得体 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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salons
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| n.（营业性质的）店( salon的名词复数 )；厅；沙龙（旧时在上流社会女主人家的例行聚会或聚会场所）；（大宅中的）客厅 | |
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7
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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chambers
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| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
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9
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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destitute
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| adj.缺乏的；穷困的 | |
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maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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12
virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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13
professed
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| 公开声称的，伪称的，已立誓信教的 | |
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14
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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creed
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| n.信条；信念，纲领 | |
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pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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17
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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18
followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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19
woe
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| n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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20
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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21
wary
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| adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的 | |
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22
isolate
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| vt.使孤立，隔离 | |
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23
lavish
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| adj.无节制的；浪费的；vt.慷慨地给予，挥霍 | |
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24
emphasise
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| vt.加强...的语气，强调，着重 | |
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25
scrupulously
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| adv.一丝不苟地；小心翼翼地，多顾虑地 | |
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26
exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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27
soothing
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| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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28
virgin
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| n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的 | |
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29
canopied
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| adj. 遮有天篷的 | |
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30
niche
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| n.壁龛；合适的职务(环境、位置等) | |
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31
chapel
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| n.小教堂，殡仪馆 | |
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32
tapestry
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| n.挂毯，丰富多采的画面 | |
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33
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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34
melodious
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| adj.旋律美妙的，调子优美的，音乐性的 | |
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35
serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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36
placid
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| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
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37
repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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38
serenity
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| n.宁静，沉着，晴朗 | |
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39
pensive
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| a.沉思的,哀思的,忧沉的 | |
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40
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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41
worthiest
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| 应得某事物( worthy的最高级 )； 值得做某事； 可尊敬的； 有（某人或事物）的典型特征 | |
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42
flaunts
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| v.炫耀，夸耀( flaunt的第三人称单数 )；有什么能耐就施展出来 | |
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43
modesty
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| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
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44
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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45
sordid
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| adj.肮脏的，不干净的，卑鄙的，暗淡的 | |
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46
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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47
enviously
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| adv.满怀嫉妒地 | |
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48
trench
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| n./v.(挖)沟，(挖)战壕 | |
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49
bishop
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| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
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50
dispense
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| vt.分配，分发；配(药)，发(药)；实施 | |
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51
loathsome
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| adj.讨厌的，令人厌恶的 | |
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52
wrung
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| 绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
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53
breach
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| n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破 | |
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54
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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55
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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56
protruding
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| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的现在分词 )；凸 | |
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57
softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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