Madame de Montespan had spent the evening stretched upon a sofa, in the worst possible humour with everyone around her. She had read, but had tossed aside the book. She had written, but had torn up the paper. A thousand fears and suspicions chased each other through her head. What had become of the king, then? He had seemed cold yesterday, and his eyes had been for ever sliding round to the clock. And today he had not come at all. Was it his gout, perhaps? Or was it possible that she was again losing her hold upon him? Surely it could not be that! She turned upon her couch and faced the mirror which flanked the door. The candles had just been lit in her chamber, two score of them, each with silver backs which reflected their light until the room was as bright as day. There in the mirror was the brilliant chamber, the deep red ottoman, and the single figure in its gauzy dress of white and silver. She leaned upon her elbow, admiring the deep tint13 of her own eyes with their long dark lashes14, the white curve of her throat, and the perfect oval of her face. She examined it all carefully, keenly, as though it were her rival that lay before her, but nowhere could she see a scratch of Time’s malicious15 nails. She still had her beauty, then. And if it had once won the king, why should it not suffice to hold him? Of course it would do so. She reproached herself for her fears. Doubtless he was indisposed, or perhaps he would come still. Ha! there was the sound of an opening door and of a quick step in her ante-room. Was it he, or at least his messenger with a note from him?
But no, it was her brother, with the haggard eyes and drawn face of a man who is weighed down with his own evil tidings. He turned as he entered, fastened the door, and then striding across the room, locked the other one which led to her boudoir.
“We are safe from interruption,” he panted. “I have hastened here, for every second may be invaluable16. Have you heard anything from the king?”
“Nothing.” She had sprung to her feet, and was gazing at him with a face which was as pale as his own.
“The hour has come for action, Francoise. It is the hour at which the Mortemarts have always shown at their best. Do not yield to the blow, then, but gather yourself to meet it.”
“What is it?” She tried to speak in her natural tone, but only a whisper came to her dry lips.
“The king is about to marry Madame de Maintenon.”
“The gouvernante! The widow Scarron! It is impossible!”
“It is certain.”
“To marry? Did you say to marry?”
“Yes, he will marry her.”
The woman flung out her hands in a gesture of contempt, and laughed loud and bitterly.
“You are easily frightened, brother,” said she. “Ah, you do not know your little sister. Perchance if you were not my brother you might rate my powers more highly. Give me a day, only one little day, and you will see Louis, the proud Louis, down at the hem3 of my dress to ask my pardon for this slight. I tell you that he cannot break the bonds that hold him. One day is all I ask to bring him back.”
“But you cannot have it.”
“What?”
“The marriage is to-night.”
“You are mad, Charles.”
“I am certain of it.” In a few broken sentences he shot out all that he had seen and heard. She listened with a grim face, and hands which closed ever tighter and tighter as he proceeded. But he had said the truth about the Mortemarts. They came of a contentious17 blood, and were ever at their best at a moment of action. Hate rather than dismay filled her heart as she listened, and the whole energy of her nature gathered and quickened to meet the crisis.
“I shall go and see him,” she cried, sweeping18 towards the door.
“No, no, Francoise. Believe me, you will ruin everything if you do. Strict orders have been given to the guard to admit no one to the king.”
“But I shall insist upon passing them.”
“Believe me, sister, it is worse than useless. I have spoken with the officer of the guard, and the command is a stringent19 one.”
“Ah, I shall manage.”
“No, you shall not.” He put his back against the door. “I know that it is useless, and I will not have my sister make herself the laughing-stock of the court, trying to force her way into the room of a man who repulses20 her.”
His sister’s cheeks flushed at the words, and she paused irresolute21.
“Had I only a day, Charles, I am sure that I could bring him back to me. There has been some other influence here, that meddlesome22 Jesuit or the pompous23 Bossuet, perhaps. Only one day to counteract24 their wiles25! Can I not see them waving hell-fire before his foolish eyes, as one swings a torch before a bull to turn it? Oh, if I could but baulk them to-night! That woman! that cursed woman! The foul26 viper27 which I nursed in my bosom28! Oh, I had rather see Louis in his grave than married to her! Charles, Charles, it must be stopped; I say it must be stopped! I will give anything, everything, to prevent it!”
“What will you give, my sister?”
She looked at him aghast. “What! you do not wish me to buy you?” she said.
“No; but I wish to buy others.”
“Ha! You see a chance, then?”
“One, and one only. But time presses. I want money.”
“How much?”
“I cannot have too much. All that you can spare.”
With hands which trembled with eagerness she unlocked a secret cupboard in the wall in which she concealed29 her valuables. A blaze of jewellery met her brother’s eyes as he peered over her shoulder. Great rubies30, costly31 emeralds, deep ruddy beryls, glimmering32 diamonds, were scattered33 there in one brilliant shimmering34 many-coloured heap, the harvest which she had reaped from the king’s generosity35 during more than fifteen years. At one side were three drawers, the one over the other. She drew out the lowest one. It was full to the brim of glittering louis d’ors.
“Take what you will!” she said. “And now your plan! Quick!”
He stuffed the money in handfuls into the side pockets of his coat. Coins slipped between his fingers and tinkled36 and wheeled over the floor, but neither cast a glance at them.
“Your plan?” she repeated.
“We must prevent the Archbishop from arriving here. Then the marriage would be postponed37 until tomorrow night, and you would have time to act.”
“But how prevent it?”
“There are a dozen good rapiers about the court which are to be bought for less than I carry in one pocket. There is De la Touche, young Turberville, old Major Despard, Raymond de Carnac, and the four Latours. I will gather them together, and wait on the road.”
“And waylay38 the archbishop?”
“No; the messengers.”
“Oh, excellent! You are a prince of brothers! If no message reaches Paris, we are saved. Go; go; do not lose a moment, my dear Charles.”
“It is very well, Francoise; but what are we to do with them when we get them? We may lose our heads over the matter, it seems to me. After all, they are the king’s messengers, and we can scarce pass our swords through them.”
“No?”
“There would be no forgiveness for that.”
“But consider that before the matter is looked into I shall have regained39 my influence with the king.”
“All very fine, my little sister, but how long is your influence to last? A pleasant life for us if at every change of favour we have to fly the country! No, no, Francoise; the most that we can do is to detain the messengers.”
“Where can you detain them?”
“I have an idea. There is the castle of the Marquis de Montespan at Portillac.”
“Of my husband!”
“Precisely.”
“Of my most bitter enemy! Oh, Charles, you are not serious.”
“On the contrary, I was never more so. The marquis was away in Paris yesterday, and has not yet returned. Where is the ring with his arms?”
She hunted among her jewels and picked out a gold ring with a broad engraved40 face.
“This will be our key. When good Marceau, the steward41, sees it, every dungeon42 in the castle will be at our disposal. It is that or nothing. There is no other place where we can hold them safe.”
“But when my husband returns?”
“Ah, he may be a little puzzled as to his captives. And the complaisant43 Marceau may have an evil quarter of an hour. But that may not be for a week, and by that time, my little sister, I have confidence enough in you to think that you really may have finished the campaign. Not another word, for every moment is of value. Adieu, Francoise! We shall not be conquered without a struggle. I will send a message to you to-night to let you know how fortune uses us.” He took her fondly in his arms, kissed her, and then hurried from the room.
For hours after his departure she paced up and down with noiseless steps upon the deep soft carpet, her hand still clenched44, her eyes flaming, her whole soul wrapped and consumed with jealousy45 and hatred46 of her rival. Ten struck, and eleven, and midnight, but still she waited, fierce and eager, straining her ears for every foot-fall which might be the herald47 of news. At last it came. She heard the quick step in the passage, the tap at the ante-room door, and the whispering of her black page. Quivering with impatience48, she rushed in and took the note herself from the dusty cavalier who had brought it. It was but six words scrawled49 roughly upon a wisp of dirty paper, but it brought the colour back to her cheeks and the smile to her lips. It was her brother’s writing, and it ran: “The archbishop will not come to-night.”
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1
disappearance
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| n.消失，消散，失踪 | |
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unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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hem
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| n.贴边，镶边；vt.缝贴边；(in)包围，限制 | |
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4
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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collapse
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| vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷 | |
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zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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7
yearned
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| 渴望，切盼，向往( yearn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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8
rumour
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| n.谣言，谣传，传闻 | |
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9
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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10
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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disconsolate
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| adj.忧郁的，不快的 | |
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12
bustle
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| v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹 | |
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13
tint
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| n.淡色，浅色；染发剂；vt.着以淡淡的颜色 | |
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14
lashes
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| n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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15
malicious
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| adj.有恶意的，心怀恶意的 | |
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16
invaluable
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| adj.无价的，非常宝贵的，极为贵重的 | |
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contentious
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| adj.好辩的，善争吵的 | |
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18
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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19
stringent
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| adj.严厉的；令人信服的；银根紧的 | |
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repulses
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| v.击退( repulse的第三人称单数 )；驳斥；拒绝 | |
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21
irresolute
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| adj.无决断的，优柔寡断的，踌躇不定的 | |
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22
meddlesome
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| adj.爱管闲事的 | |
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pompous
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| adj.傲慢的，自大的；夸大的；豪华的 | |
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24
counteract
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| vt.对…起反作用，对抗，抵消 | |
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25
wiles
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| n.（旨在欺骗或吸引人的）诡计，花招；欺骗，欺诈( wile的名词复数 ) | |
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26
foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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27
viper
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| n.毒蛇；危险的人 | |
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28
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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29
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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30
rubies
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| 红宝石( ruby的名词复数 )； 红宝石色，深红色 | |
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31
costly
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| adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的 | |
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32
glimmering
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| n.微光，隐约的一瞥adj.薄弱地发光的v.发闪光，发微光( glimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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33
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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34
shimmering
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| v.闪闪发光，发微光( shimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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35
generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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36
tinkled
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| （使）发出丁当声，（使）发铃铃声( tinkle的过去式和过去分词 )； 叮当响着发出，铃铃响着报出 | |
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37
postponed
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| vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发） | |
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38
waylay
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| v.埋伏，伏击 | |
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39
regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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40
engraved
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| v.在（硬物）上雕刻（字，画等）( engrave的过去式和过去分词 )；将某事物深深印在（记忆或头脑中） | |
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41
steward
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| n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员 | |
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42
dungeon
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| n.地牢，土牢 | |
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43
complaisant
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| adj.顺从的，讨好的 | |
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44
clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45
jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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46
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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47
herald
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| vt.预示...的来临，预告，宣布，欢迎 | |
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48
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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49
scrawled
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| 乱涂，潦草地写( scrawl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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