THE RENDEZVOUS.
When Charny arrived at his estates, the doctor ordered him to keep
within doors, and not receive visitors; orders which he rigorously
obeyed, to the great disappointment of all the young ladies in the
neighborhood, who were most anxious to see this young man, reputed to
be at once so brave and so handsome. His malady, however, was more
mental than bodily; he was devoured by regrets, by longings, and by
ennui; so, after a week, he set off one night on horseback, and, before
the morning, was at Versailles. He found a little house there, outside
the park, which had been empty for some time; it had been inhabited by
one of the king’s huntsmen, who had cut his throat, and since then the
place had been deserted. There Charny lived in profound solitude; but
he could see the queen from afar when she walked in the park with her
ladies, and when she went in again he could see her windows from his
own, and watch her lights every evening until they disappeared; and he
even fancied he could see her shadow pass before the window. One
evening he had watched all this as usual, and after sitting two hours
longer at his window, was preparing to go to bed, for midnight was
striking from a neighboring clock, when the sound of a key turning in a
lock arrested his attention. It was that of a little door leading into
the park, only twenty paces from his cottage, and which was never used,
except sometimes on hunting-days. Whoever it was that entered did not
speak, but closed it again quietly, and entered an avenue under his
windows. At first Charny could not distinguish them through the thick
wood, though he could hear the rustling of dresses; but as they emerged
into an open space, and bright moonlight, he almost uttered a cry of
joy in recognizing the tournure of Marie Antoinette, and a glimpse of
her face; she held in her hand a beautiful rose. Stifling his emotion,
he stepped down as quietly as possible into the park, and hid behind a
clump of trees, where he could see her better. “Oh!” thought he, “were
she but alone, I would brave tortures, or death itself, that I might
once fall on my knees before her, and tell her, ‘I love you!’” Oh, were
she but menaced by some danger, how gladly would he have risked his
life to save hers. Suddenly the two ladies stopped, and the shortest,
after saying a few words to her companion in a low voice, left her. The
queen, therefore, remained alone, and Charny felt inclined to run
towards her; but he reflected that the moment she saw him she would
take fright, and call out, and that her cries would first bring back
her companion, and then the guards; that his retreat would be
discovered, and he should be forced to leave it. In a few minutes the
other lady reappeared, but not alone. Behind her came a man muffled up
in a large cloak, and whose face was concealed by a slouch hat.
This man advanced with an uncertain and hesitating step to where the
queen stood, when he took off his hat and made a low bow. The surprise
which Charny felt at first soon changed into a more painful feeling.
Why was the queen in the park at this time of night? Who was this man
who was waiting for her, and whom she had sent her companion to fetch?
Then he remembered that the queen often occupied herself with foreign
politics, much to the annoyance of the king. Was this a secret
messenger from Schoenbrunn, or from Berlin? This idea restored him to
some degree of composure. The queen’s companion stood a few steps off,
anxiously watching lest they should be seen; but it was as necessary to
guard against spies in a secret political rendezvous as in one of love.
After a short time Charny saw the gentleman bow to the ground, and turn
to leave, when the companion of the queen said to him, “Stop.” He
stopped, and the two ladies passed close to Charny, who could even
recognize the queen’s favorite scent, vervain, mixed with mignonette.
They passed on, and disappeared. A few moments after the gentleman
passed; he held in his hand a rose, which he pressed passionately to
his lips. Did this look political? Charny’s head turned; he felt a
strong impulse to rush on this man and tear the flower from him, when
the queen’s companion reappeared, and said, “Come, monseigneur.” He
joined her quickly, and they went away. Charny remained in a distracted
state, leaning against the tree.