MACHIAVELLI AND COMPANY
The Marquis of Fougereuse was sitting in his study, and Simon stood
beside him.
"So he has escaped from us again?" remarked the marquis frowning.
"God knows how it happened, my lord; my plans were all so well laid that
I cannot understand how the affair fell through?"
"Postponed is not given up," observed the nobleman; "and as Fanfaro does
not yet suspect who he really is, he can go on compromising himself.
Have you any further details with regard to the conspiracy?"
"Yes, my lord, we have trustworthy witnesses, who can swear, in case of
need, that Fanfaro planned an attempt upon the sacred person of the
king."
"Very good; but still the attempt must be really made, so that Fanfaro
could be convicted."
"I have attended to that. One of our agents will set the harmless
attempt in motion, and the individual selected--who, by the way, has
escaped the gallows more than once--will swear in court that Fanfaro is
the intellectual head of the assassination and chief conspirator."
Before the marquis could express his satisfaction, the Marquis of
Montferrand was announced.
"A visit at this hour!" cried Fougereuse, in amazement; "it is hardly
seven o'clock."
"The gentleman comes on important business, as he informed me," said the
servant.
"Bring the marquis in," ordered the nobleman; and as the servant went
away he hastily said to Simon: "Hide behind the curtain, and remain
there until the interview is over; perhaps you might hear something that
will further our plans." Simon nodded and disappeared, while the marquis
was led in.
Arthur's father was a man of imposing presence. He looked down upon the
beggar nobility which fawned about the court, to receive money or
favors.
The old man looked pale. He hastily approached the marquis and said:
"Marquis, you imagine you are a faithful adherent of the monarchy, but
scandals such as take place to-day are not calculated to raise the
Fougereuse and Talizacs in the estimation of the court."
"You are speaking in riddles, marquis!" exclaimed Fougereuse, in
amazement.
"So much the worse for you, if your son's conduct must be told you by
another party," said the old man, sternly.
"What is the matter with my son?"
"The Vicomte de Talizac has dishonored himself and the cause you serve."
"My son is young and wild. Has he again committed one of his stupid
follies?" asked the marquis, uneasily.
"If it only were a stupid folly! The vicomte had a quarrel last night
with my son, because my son wished to hinder him from committing a
dastardly act. My son boxed the vicomte's ears, upon which the latter
tried to stab him with a knife."
"Impossible!" cried Fougereuse, in a rage.
"I am speaking the truth," declared the old gentleman, calmly.
"What was the nature of this dastardly act?"
"The vicomte was drunk and employed people to abduct a respectable young
girl, a street-singer. My son was in the society of yours, in a
restaurant of a low order. When he heard what the affair was, he
energetically protested and tried to hinder the vicomte and his friend
Velletri from carrying out their plot. They quarrelled, the vicomte was
boxed on the ears and my son was stabbed. They both received what they
deserved. What brought me here is another matter. You are aware that I
consented to speak to my cousin the Comtesse of Salves in relation to
the marriage of her daughter with your son. From what happened last
night, I should regard it as a misfortune for Irene if she becomes the
vicomte's wife. I came here to tell you this."
Fougereuse became pale and clutched the back of a chair to keep from
falling. At this moment the rustle of a silk dress was heard, and
Madeleine, the marquis's wife, entered the room.
The marquis excitedly approached her.
"The vicomte is a scoundrel!" he cried, in a rage; "he has dragged the
old noble name in the mud, thanks to his mother's bringing up. You have
never refused him a wish."
Madeleine's blue eyes shot gleams of fire; she looked above her husband
as if he had been empty air, and turned to the Marquis of Montferrand.
"Monsieur le Marquis," she politely said, "my son desired me to offer
you his apologies."
"Apology?" repeated Montferrand, coldly, "for the box on the ear he
got?"
"No, my lord, but because he was so intoxicated as to raise the ire of
your son. He would not have gone so far if he had been sober. As to the
affair with the street-singer, it is not so serious as you imagine. My
son regrets very much that such a trivial affair has been the means of
causing a rupture between him and your son. He has already taken steps
to indemnify the girl for the wrong he did her, and I am positive the
little one will have her liberty restored to her before many hours have
passed. Is the word of the Marquise de Fougereuse sufficient for you, my
lord?"
"Perfectly sufficient," said Montferrand, gallantly kissing the
marquise's hand.
"Then we can count on seeing you to-night at our house?" asked
Madeleine. "I have a surprise in store for my friends."
"Can one find out in advance the nature of it?" asked Montferrand, while
Fougereuse looked anxiously at Madeleine.
"Oh, yes; his majesty has condescended to appoint the vicomte a captain
in the Life Guards with the decoration of St. Louis," said the marquise
proudly.
"Oh, I call that a surprise," cried Fougereuse, more freely, and
Montferrand hastened to extend his congratulations.
"The Countess of Salves and her daughter have signified their intention
of being present," continued Madeleine, "and as soon as my son receives
his commission, the engagement of the young couple will be announced."
"It is only what one might expect from the Marquise of Fougereuse," said
Montferrand politely, as he rose. "Good-by then, until this evening."
The marquis accompanied the old man to the door, then returned to his
wife and excitedly asked:
"Madeleine, is all this true?"
Instead of answering, the marquise contemptuously shrugged her shoulders
and left the room to hunt up her son.
"It is all settled," she said; "here are the twenty thousand francs you
need to silence the girl; and now try to bring honor to your new
position."
Madeleine placed a pocket-book on the table and went away. Talizac
laughed in his sleeve. He did not think he could obtain the money so
easily.