“Now, M. de Crosne,” said the queen, “it is our turn for an explanation.”
“You ought to know the cause of all that has happened to me, sir.”
M. de Crosne looked round him rather frightened.
“Never mind these ladies,” said the queen; “you know them both; you know every one.”
“Nearly,” said the magistrate3; “and I know the effects, but not the cause, of what has happened to your majesty.”
“Then I must enlighten you, although it is a disagreeable task. I might tell you in private, but my thoughts and words are always open as the day; all the world may know them. I attribute the attacks that have been made upon me to the misconduct of some one who resembles me, and who goes everywhere; and thus your agents have made these mistakes.”
“A resemblance!” cried M. de Crosne, too much occupied with the idea to observe the unquiet look which Jeanne could not for a moment prevent appearing.
“Well, sir, do you think this impossible; or do you prefer to think that I am deceiving you?”
“Oh no, madame! but surely, however strong a resemblance may be, there must be some points of difference to prevent people being so deceived.”
“It seems not, sir; some are deceived.”
“Oh! and I remember,” said Andrée, “when we lived at Taverney Maison Rouge4, we had a servant who very strongly——”
“Resembled me?”
“Most wonderfully, your majesty.”
“And what became of her?”
“We did not then know the great generosity5 of your majesty’s mind, and my father feared that this resemblance might be disagreeable to you; and when we were at Trianon we kept her out of sight.”
“You see, M. de Crosne. Ah! this interests you.”
“Much, madame.”
“Afterwards, dear Andrée?”
“Madame, this girl, who was of an ambitious disposition6 and troublesome temper, grew tired of this quiet life, and had doubtless made bad acquaintances, for one night when I went to bed I was surprised not to see her; we sought her in vain, she had disappeared.”
“Did she steal anything?”
“Nothing, madame.”
“You did not know all this, M. de Crosne?”
“No, madame.”
“Thus, then, there is a woman whose resemblance to me is striking, and you do not know her. I fear your police is badly organized.”
“No, madame; a police magistrate is but a man, and though the vulgar may rate his power as something almost superhuman, your majesty is more reasonable.”
“Still, sir, when a man has secured all possible powers for penetrating7 secrets, when he pays agents and spies, and to such an extent as to know every movement I make, he might prevent this sort of thing.”
“Madame, when your majesty passed the night out, I knew it, the day you went to see madame at the Rue8 St. Claude; therefore my police is not bad. When you went to M. Mesmer’s, my agents saw you. When you went to the Opera——”
The queen started.
“Pardon me, madame, if I saw you; but if your own brother-in-law mistook you, surely an agent at a crown a day may be pardoned for having done so. They thought they saw you, and reported accordingly; therefore my police is not bad. They also knew this affair of the journalist, so well punished by M. de Charny.”
“M. de Charny!” cried the queen and Andrée in a breath.
“Yes, madame: his blows are yet fresh on the shoulders of the journalist.”
“M. de Charny committed himself with this fellow!”
“I know it by my calumniated9 police, madame; and also, which was more difficult, the duel10 which followed.”
“A duel! M. de Charny fought?”
“With the journalist?” asked Andrée.
“No, madame; the journalist was too well beaten to give M. de Charny the sword-thrust which made him faint here just now.”
“Wounded!” cried the queen; “how and when? He was here just now.”
“Oh!” said Andrée, “I saw that he suffered.”
“What do you say?” cried the queen, almost angrily; “you saw that he suffered, and did not mention it!”
Andrée did not reply.
Jeanne, who wished to make a friend of her, came to her aid, saying, “I also, madame, saw that M. de Charny had difficulty in standing11 up while your majesty spoke12 to him.”
“Monsieur,” said the queen again to M. de Crosne, “with whom and why did M. de Charny fight?”
“With a gentleman who—— But really, madame, it is useless now. The two adversaries13 are friends again, for they spoke just now in your majesty’s presence.”
“In my presence!”
“M. de Taverney!” cried the queen.
“My brother!” murmured Andrée.
“I believe,” said M. de Crosne, “that it was he with whom M. de Charny fought.”
The queen made an angry gesture. “It is not right,” she said; “these are American manners brought to Versailles. It is not because one has fought under M. Lafayette and Washington that my court should be disgraced by such proceedings15. Andrée, did you know your brother had fought?”
“Not till this moment, madame.”
“Why did he fight?”
“If my brother fought,” said Andrée, “it was in your majesty’s service.”
“That is to say, that M. de Charny fought against me.”
“Your majesty, I spoke only of my brother, and of no one else.”
The queen tried hard to remain calm. She walked once or twice up and down the room, and then said, “M. de Crosne, you have convinced me: I was much disturbed by these rumors16 and accusations17; your police is efficient, but I beg you not to forget to investigate this resemblance of which I have spoken. Adieu!” and she held out her hand to him with her own peculiar18 grace.
Andrée made a movement to depart. The queen gave her a careless adieu.
“Madame,” said she to the queen, “did your majesty appoint this hour to receive MM. Bœhmer and Bossange?”
“Oh, yes, it is true; let them come in. Remain a little longer, Madame de la Motte; I want the king to make a full peace with you.” Perhaps she wished to pique20 Andrée by this favor to a newcomer, but Andrée did not seem to heed21.
“All these Taverneys are made of iron,” thought the queen. “Ah, gentlemen, what do you bring me now? you know I have no money.”
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1
tranquilly
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| adv. 宁静地 | |
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2
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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3
magistrate
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| n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官 | |
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rouge
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| n.胭脂，口红唇膏；v.(在…上)擦口红 | |
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generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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7
penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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8
rue
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| n.懊悔，芸香，后悔；v.后悔，悲伤，懊悔 | |
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9
calumniated
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| v.诽谤，中伤( calumniate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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10
duel
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| n./v.决斗；(双方的)斗争 | |
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11
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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12
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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13
adversaries
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| n.对手，敌手( adversary的名词复数 ) | |
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conqueror
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| n.征服者，胜利者 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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16
rumors
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| n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷 | |
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17
accusations
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| n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名 | |
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18
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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20
pique
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| v.伤害…的自尊心，使生气 n.不满，生气 | |
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21
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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