A CONSPIRACY.
Certainly Madame la Princesse de Fleury kept her school with a sort of
easy nonchalance, which was much appreciated by the girls. In especial,
these girls liked their half-holidays, when they could wander about
pretty much as they pleased. It is true that the boarders had to submit
to a certain amount of restraint, but as quite half the school were
day girls they had only to say that they were going home to visit
their dear relations, absolutely to satisfy that very innocent lady la
Princesse.
Now, Louise lived at Arles. Her father's restaurant was not far from
the great school, and not far away again was the mansion where Louise
slept each night, and at times, half-holidays and such like, enjoyed
the pleasure of her friends' company. The day following that on which
she met M'selle Close and M'selle Blanc was a half-holiday, and as
her father supplied her freely with cash, she had whispered to one or
two companions of a fete, ah, _très ravissant_, where certain of her
dearest friends could join her and eat _chocolats_ and cakes to their
hearts' delight. But Louise did not dare to lose this most precious
half-holiday. She accordingly announced to her friends, Marcella and
Berthe, that they must put off their time of _ravissement_ until the
next half-holiday, for behold! consider! she, Louise, had work of the
most particular to do. It was urgent, it was immediate--it had to come
at once, at once.
The girls, of course, had to submit, and Louise, dressing herself as
gracefully as she could, appeared at the _Cabinet de Beauté_ at the
hour named.
She was received at once by the two ladies, was shown into a private
room, and while one manicured her finger-nails, and the other made of
her hair an arrangement the most perfect, she told her story. She said
what she required. She also declared that when the deed was done, ah,
_riche, très riche_ would be the reward.
"_Mon père_, he has much _d'argent_," said Louise. "He will pay well.
Now listen, M'selle Blanc and M'selle Close. You went as _gouvernantes_
to _la petite_ Comtesse."
"Ah, _oui, oui_," said the ladies, "and badly, horribly were we
treated. It was the doing of _l'enfant_; there is no doubt she is a
snake in the grass."
"I would say she was a green lizard on the sunny wall," said Louise.
"Ah, make me not to shudder, M'selle Grognan."
"Now, I want to tell you about _la petite_ Comtesse," continued Louise.
"She is the daughter, it is true, of the late Comte Henri St. Juste,
and her grandfather is the Comte St. Juste. She has, therefore, a right
to her title of _la petite_ Comtesse, but behold, do you think she
keeps to that which we desire? Ah, _non, non_, far from that. Would you
suppose that _la petite_ sold me this chapeau?" for Louise was wearing
the grass-green chapeau on purpose.
"_Non, non_," exclaimed both ladies. "It is perfect, assuredly, but
_la petite_, she does not sell--to sell is to belong to us. We sell,
thy father, M'selle, _he_ sells; but _la petite_ she belongs to the
nobility. I hate them, _pour moi_, still they exist."
"Now will you listen, M'selle Blanc," exclaimed Louise. "It is
true, what I tell you--it is true what I tell you both. M'selle has
a grand'père, and also _la belle_ grand'mère employs her in her
_magasin_--kept it is _supposed_ by Madame Marcelle, but really it
flourishes because of the rare taste of _la petite_ Comtesse Margot.
She goes there daily for two hours a day, and behold! the chapeaux
they vanish; the robes they disappear; the dainty ribbons and sashes
and gloves, they are not; the embroidered stockings they are not; the
shoes they are not; and all because of the taste of _la petite_. Think
you that the _établissement_ would flourish without _la petite_? Well,
now, M. le Comte St. Juste, he knows nothing of this, but I want you
both to enlighten him. I have my reasons which I need not disclose;
will you both, _chères M'selles_, dress as the youngest do--ah, so
beautifully; make the variety of the _toilette_, the change that
pleases, that enchants? Wear a _chapeau noir_, M'selle Blanc, garnished
with roses _la reine_; and you, M'selle Close, wear _le petit chapeau
avec une plume noire et sans_ roses. Oh, la, la, you will both look but
eighteen; then go straight to see M'sieur the Comte St. Juste, wearing
the touch of rouge--only the mere touch--and that tone of darkness
under the eyes which gives the expression so _nouvelle et si jeune_.
You will know what to do. Do not allude to the fact that you came as
_gouvernantes_ alternate days to the little snake in the grass and the
little green lizard basking in the sun. Speak to him as strangers. Have
you got any friends whose names you could assume for the purpose?"
The ladies knew many of the noblesse. They could, ah, _oui,
certainement_, choose the names.
"Ah, well, go, my good friends, and fascinate the ancient Comte. He
will admire, he will adore. He is susceptible to the charms of beauty.
When you have won his confidence he will talk of your chapeau, M'selle
Blanc, and yours, M'selle Close; and then you must raise the hands
in rapture, and talk and talk and talk, and when you have roused his
enthusiasm, you must tell him that these things were chosen and sold to
you by one _très jeune_ and _très belle_. Excite his interest; tell him
that there never was one with quite such taste as that _jeune petite_.
He will offer to go with you to see that young _marvel_, and behold!
you will take him. You will go in my car, and you will take him with
you into the town and into the _établissement_; and he will see _la
petite_ Comtesse; he will know for himself what his granddaughter does.
The little green lizard will shine no longer in the sun; the little
green snake in the grass must from henceforth conceal herself; and I,
see! I will reward you both."
"How much?" asked M'selle Blanc, who felt considerably afraid of M. le
Comte.
"I will ask _mon père_; I will tell him all. What do you say to being
robed from head to foot by _la petite_ Comtesse in the _établissement_
Marcelle? Think what a joy that will be! Such a perfect reward. Then
listen again--I know mothers and elder sisters of M'selles in my
school; they shall come to you--oh! in numbers, to have their youth
renewed. Is not that enough?"
M'selle Close and M'selle Blanc thought that the terms were sufficient
and arranged to go on the following morning to visit M. le Comte.
Meanwhile M'selle was to send them _les chapeaux ravissants_,
admirable, which they were to wear for the occasion. They must look
truly _jeunes_ demoiselles.
"Now then, I must go, but I will send the chapeaux, rest assured."
Louise departed, and M'selle Blanc and M'selle Close consulted together
how they were to turn themselves into _jeunes_ demoiselles. They
had, it is true, many patrons, and after consulting for a short time
together, they decided to adopt the names of two young ladies who had
come to the _Cabinet de Beauté_ to have their hands manicured, and who
belonged to the _noblesse_.
These young ladies, they were assured, were absent from home at
present. They might with safety take their names. They were the
daughters of the Marquis Odile. They had only lately taken a house at
Arles, where they lived with their father and mother, and were called
the Marquise Clotilde and the Marquise Rose.
"Ah," exclaimed M'selle Blanc, "that name will suit my _chapeau noir_,
garnished with roses _la reine_."
The Marquise Clotilde would look very sweet indeed in her _très petit
chapeau_.
The chapeaux arrived, all in good time. The ladies arranged themselves
in fear and trembling; saw that they could appear with perfect ease
as _les jeunes_ demoiselles; and went to bed that night with hearts
beating high with excitement. Ah, but the revenge was good, and the
adventure of the whole thing was exciting.
They scarcely slept that night for thinking of their triumph. Early
the next morning, by the explicit directions of Louise, they attired
themselves in dresses of pure white with little sashes of blue. The
ravishing hats were perched on their heads, the slight touch of rouge
was delicately applied to each faded cheek, and then large veils were
put on to cover any possible defects.
They were naturally slight in figure. Sharp at ten in the morning, at
the very hour when Louise told them it would be right for them to go,
they started on their mission to the Château St. Juste. Louise had sent
one of her father's cars for them. This was to wait to bring them back
again.
Madame la Comtesse was always out at that hour. She was in reality
occupied in the back premises of the _établissement_; for Madame
Marcelle was little better than a figurehead. The old Comte was alone.
He felt well and happy--the day was a mild one. He thought he would
enjoy the outside air. He would even go in the direction of the peach
garden.
Suddenly, as he was approaching it, he raised his delicate old hand to
protect his sunken, dark eyes, and to watch in surprise an automobile
which was coming quickly down the avenue. He wanted to fly; but a check
string was applied, the chauffeur stopped _à l'instant_, and two pretty
girls approached--the Marquises Odile, connections of his. Ah, yes,
assuredly. They introduced themselves, they talked, they chatted.
One Marquise, the Marquise Clotilde, insisted on his taking her arm;
the Marquise Rose walked at his other side. He forgot his peach garden
in the pleasure of talking to them. He called them _très douce et très
belle_. He had not the faintest suspicion that they were the withered
and ugly _gouvernantes_ whom he had turned away with scorn a little
while ago.
"Ah, but I must call on your esteemed father, Marquise Clotilde. He is
younger than I am, alas, but I will call, _certainement_; and for you,
_ma belle_ Rose, let me see if I can give you something as ravishing
out of my garden as those roses which you wear in your chapeau."
"Did you ever see a chapeau more _très belle_?" said the Marquise Rose.
"It is of the most perfect," said the old Comte.
"There is a wondrous lady who sells these things," said Marquise
Clotilde. "She sells them at an _établissement_ kept by a certain
Madame Marcelle. We buy our things there. We have reconstructed
ourselves since we came to Arles. The young m'selle, _si jeune et si
belle_, does better for us than any of the Parisian _magasins_."
"I can scarcely believe that," said le Comte.
"Will you not come with us, M. le Comte, and see for yourself? Our
car waits your orders. The air is of the spring, reviving with its
mildness. Get in, M'sieur, get in. We will take you in a flash to the
_établissement_, and you will see _la belle petite_ with the taste so
superb. Afterwards we will go and visit _mon père_."
The old Comte felt in a mood for adventure. These demoiselles were very
charming, and he would like himself to see _la petite_ who had the
taste so rare and simple.
Accordingly he went as far as the house, leaning now on the arm of
the Marquise Rose, but holding the hand of the Marquise Clotilde. He
desired his valet to clothe him in his coat of fur and to place at
his feet a hot bottle. The automobile was closed by his desire. _Les
jeunes_ demoiselles nearly fainted with the heat, but their task would
soon be over; their revenge would be complete and their reward would be
in their hands.
They chattered all the way with the gay prattle of young birds. The
very old Comte thought how delightful was youth; he was glad, very
glad, to meet his own relations.
At last they stopped at the _établissement_. The old Comte got out,
and the les Marquises accompanied him--all seemed going well, of the
best. The assistants bowed; the shopwalkers were ready to take these
distinguished strangers to whatever department they pleased.
The Comte felt his cheeks flush with eagerness. This was really a
very gay adventure. He liked gay adventures; but at that moment there
was standing, just behind the Marquises and the Comte, _la petite_
Comtesse. She had gone herself to fetch a certain lace for a certain
customer. One glance served to pierce the disguise of the ugly
_gouvernantes_; one glance told to her horror-stricken eyes that _mon_
grandpère le Comte was in the _établissement_.
Quickly, like a flash, she entered that part of the _magasin_ which
was kept for underclothing, and with which she had nothing to do. From
there she got into the back premises, where she beheld _la belle_
grand'mère.
"Oh, hide me, hide me," cried little Margot; "I will tell thee what has
occurred. Those _gouvernantes_ so ignorant are in the _établissement_
with grandpère. They are powdered and rouged and wearing our
_chapeaux_--they are pretending the youth. Ah, but if he knows, if he
sees, it will break his heart."
"Fret not thyself, _ma petite_," said _la belle_ grand'mère. "Stay
quietly with me. Thou wilt be asked for of necessity, but I will say
that thou hast _mal à la tête_."
"But _non_, grand'mère," cried little Margot, "behold, it is not _mal à
la tête_; it is sorrow at the heart."
"Well, that suffices, _mon enfant_."
The Comte, his cheeks growing pinker, his eyes brighter, accompanied by
those charming demoiselles, the young Marquises, asked everywhere for
_la petite_, _la petite_, the lady who had the taste so ravishing; but
although many were waiting for her, there was no sign of _la petite_.
A message came at last to say that she was indisposed for that one
morning and could not appear.
The ladies felt a keen and unaccountable sense of disappointment.
The old Comte knew that the adventure was over, but he would occupy
himself by buying a brooch of the very finest sapphires for his little
Margot.
The Ladies Odile stood behind him. It was just at that moment that two
very beautiful, dark young girls, accompanied by a stately gentleman
in middle life, entered the _établissement_. The girls were tall;
they were really very young; they had a glow of health, not rouge on
their cheeks. The eldest called herself Rose, the other was Clotilde.
Suddenly the father of these fair young girls made a graceful plunge
forward. It was rapid, and only a Frenchman could do it without
awkwardness.
He seized the hand of M. le Comte.
"Ah, behold, behold, _mon ami_," he said, "what joy is here. I came to
get some pretty trifles for my daughters, Rose and Clotilde; but I will
present them first to thee, _mon ami_. I have heard wonderful stories
of this _établissement_. We are anxious to see _the little wonder_, as
she is called. Ah, we see her not! Clotilde, make thy curtsey to M. le
Comte St. Juste; Rose, do thou likewise."
"But--but----" said the astonished and amazed old Comte. "But--but----"
mimicked the father of Rose and Clotilde. "I am the Marquis Odile. Thy
cousin and thy friend, _mon ami_."
"I am bewildered," said the poor old Comte. "All day Rose and Clotilde
have been with me. They brought me here; I thought them _charmantes_;
but I see them not. What does all this mean?"
The trembling, terrified ladies who kept the _Cabinet de Beauté_
knew only too well what it all meant. The real Marquis and the real
Marquises had appeared in the flesh. As fast as their trembling legs
could carry them, they reached the door. They got into the automobile
and drove to the _Cabinet de Beauté_.
"We have had a terrible escape," murmured M'selle Blanc. "Never, never
will I undertake such work again," said M'selle Close.
Tremblingly they got off their hats and appeared in their usual dress.
The Marquis brought the Comte back to his château in his own
automobile. The young Marquises Rose and Clotilde made him lie down,
and petted him and talked to him as though they were his daughters.
When _la pauvre_ grand'mère entered, an hour or so later, she found her
beloved one calm and easy in his mind. It was only after M. le Marquis
and his beautiful young daughters had gone that he told her of his very
great adventure.
"It was the biggest of all my life," he said. "Two ladies, _très
belles_ and _très jeunes_, appeared and introduced themselves as
_mes cousines_, _les_ Marquises Rose _et_ Clotilde. Ah, but they were
_charmantes_. Then behold, they spoke to me of a wonder, a _très
petite_ wonder in the _établissement_ of Madame Marcelle. They asked me
to go with them to see her, and I went."
"Ah, but thou naughty one; thou adorable naughty one," said la Comtesse.
"But behold, listen," continued the old man. "I enjoyed myself; they
were so gay, so young, so brilliant in the cheeks, so dainty in the
chapeaux. Then I arrived. They took me in their own car; but I could
not see that _petite_ wonder, who seems to rule the _établissement_;
and suddenly, behold, the real Marquis Odile appeared with his
beautiful daughters, Rose and Clotilde. Ah, but it was an adventure;
it was wonderful. Thinkest thou, Madame beloved, that the others
were--were spirits? I looked to right, I looked to left, and nowhere
could I see them after the Marquis appeared. Thinkest thou they were
spirits, Madame la Comtesse?"
"They were wicked women," said Madame. "They thought to take thee in,
but they failed."
"Ah, but indeed they were not wicked," said M. le Comte. "They looked
young and elegant. How gently did the one who called herself Clotilde
support my feeble steps; and how admirable were the manners of the one
called Rose. I will amuse myself well this afternoon in telling the
story of this queer adventure to _la petite_ Comtesse."
"Please thyself, _mon_ Alphonse; but now lie quietly and rest, while I
prepare the bouillon which will nourish thee after those adventures,
which only ought to happen to the young."
The entire story was repeated to Margot when she appeared on the scene;
but the old man seemed now dull and drowsy and stupid. Perhaps he was
too old for adventures--he could not say. As the evening advanced, he
talked in a puzzled way of two Marquises called Rose, and two Marquises
called Clotilde, and of a "little wonder" in a certain _établissement_.
He was decidedly feverish, and Margot held his hand and soothed him as
only _she_ knew how.
"Oh the wicked, wicked women," sobbed _la belle_ grand'mère, after the
doctor had come and gone. "The wicked, wicked women, to injure _mon_
Alphonse."
When Margot had a minute of time to attend to _la belle_ grand'mère,
she told her that the false Marquises were only her hideous old
_gouvernantes_ dressed up to look young, and that she herself meant to
give them a piece of her mind.
"I mean to spend the entire night with grandpère," she said. "Weep
not, _ma belle_ grand'mère. He got a shock, and only _I_ can keep him
from being puzzled by the two names--the two names twice over. I will
go to him, _ma belle_ grand'mère."
"Yes, go, my blessed child," said the little Madame; and she felt at
that moment that even the _dot_ for Margot, and her _établissement_,
were as nothing compared to _mon_ Alphonse--_mon_ Alphonse the
adorable, the love of her life.