Philip stood in the middle of the floor, expostulating. A sleek valet
was kneeling before him, coaxing his gold-clocked stockings over the
knee of his small-clothes, and a middle-aged exquisite was arranging
his Mechlin cravat for the seventh time, a frown crinkling his
forehead, and French oaths proceeding from his tinted lips. Mr. Thomas
Jettan was giving the nails of Philip's right hand a last, lingering
polish. And Philip, supremely miserable, expostulated in vain.
François sat back on his heels and eyed Philip's legs adoringly.
"But of an excellence, m'sieur! So perfect a calf, m'sieur! So vairy
fine a laig," he explained in English.
Philip tried to squint down at them, and was rewarded by an impatient
exclamation from the gentleman who was wrestling with his cravat.
"_Tais--toi, imbécile!_ 'Ow is it zat I shall arrange your cravat if
you tweest and turn like zis? Lift your chin, Philippe!"
"_Mais, monsieur, je--je--cela me donne--mal au cou._"
"_Il faut souffrir pour être bel_," replied the Marquis severely.
"So it seems," said Philip irritably. "Tom, for God's sake, have done!"
His uncle chuckled.
"I've finished, never fear. Jean, that is wonderful!"
Le Marquis de Château-Banvau stepped back to view his handiwork.
"I am not altogether satisfied," he said musingly.
Philip warded him off.
"No, no, m'sieur! I am sure it is perfection!"
The Marquis disregarded him. Once more his nimble fingers busied
themselves amongst the folds of soft lace. His eyes gleamed suddenly.
"It is well! François, the sapphire pin! Quickly!"
The valet held it out. He and Tom watched anxiously as the Marquis'
hand hovered, uncertain. Philip felt that this was a supreme moment; he
held his breath. Then the pin was fixed with one unerring movement, and
the two onlookers drew deep breaths of relief.
The Marquis nodded.
"Yes, Tom, you are right. It is a triumph. Sit down, Philippe."
Philip sank into a chair by the dressing-table.
"What now? Have you nearly finished?"
"Now the rouge. François, haste!"
Philip tried to rebel.
"I will not be painted and powdered!"
The Marquis fixed him with a cold eye.
"_Plaît--il?_"
"M'sieur--I--I will not!"
"Philippe--if it were not for the love I bear your papa, I would leave
you zis minute. You will do as I say, _hein_?"
"But, m'sieur, can I not go without paint?"
"You can not."
Philip smiled ruefully.
"Then do your worst!"
"It is not my worst, _ingrat_. It is my best!"
"Your best, then. I am really very grateful, sir."
The Marquis' lips twitched. He signed to François.
Under his deft hands Philip squirmed and screwed up his face. He
complained that the haresfoot tickled him, and he winced when the
Marquis pressed two patches on his face. When François dusted his
cheeks with powder he sneezed, and when a single sapphire ear-ring was
placed in his left ear he scowled and muttered direfully.
But the supreme torture was to come. He discovered that it required the
united energies of the three men to coax him into his coat. When at
last it was on he assured them it would split across the shoulders if
he so much as moved a finger.
The Marquis found him _fort amusant_, but troublesome.
"Forget it, little fool!"
"Forget it?" cried Philip. "How can I forget it when it prevents my
moving?"
"_Quelle absurdité!_ The sword, Tom!"
"How can I dance in a sword?" protested Philip.
"It is _de rigueur_," said the Marquis.
Philip fingered the jewelled hilt.
"A pretty plaything," he said. "I have never spent so much money on
fripperies before."
François arranged the full skirts of his coat about the sword, and Tom
slipped rings on to Philip's fingers. A point-edged hat was put into
his hand, an enamelled snuff-box, and a handkerchief.
Thomas looked at the Marquis, the Marquis nodded complacently. He led
Philip to a long glass.
"Well, my friend?"
But Philip said never a word. He stared and stared again at his
reflection. He could not believe that it was himself. He saw a
tall, slight figure dressed in a pale blue satin coat, and white
small-clothes, flowered waistcoat, and gold-clocked stockings. High
red-heeled shoes, diamond-buckled, were on his feet, lace foamed over
his hands and at his neck, while a white wig, marvellously curled and
powdered, replaced his shorn locks. Unconsciously he drew himself up,
tilting his chin a little, and shook out his handkerchief.
"Well!" The Marquis grew impatient. "You have nothing to say?"
Philip turned.
"_C'est merveilleux!_" he breathed.
The Marquis beamed, but he shook his head.
"In time, yes. At present, a thousand times no! _C'est gauche, c'est
impossible!_"
Unwontedly humble, Philip begged to be made less _gauche_.
"It is my intention," said the Marquis. "A month or so and I shall be
proud of my pupil."
"Faith, I'm proud of ye now!" cried Tom. "Why, lad, you'll be more
modish than ever Maurice was!"
Philip flushed beneath his powder. A ruby on his finger caught his eye.
He regarded it for a moment, frowning, then he took it off.
"Oh?" queried the Marquis. "Why?"
"I don't like it."
"You don't like it? Why not?"
"I don't know. I'll only wear sapphires and diamonds."
"By heaven, the boy's right!" exclaimed Tom. "He should be all blue!"
"In a month--two months--I shall present you at Versailles," decided
the Marquis. "François, remove that abominable ruby. And now--_en
avant_!"
And so went Philip to his first ball.
* * * * *
At the end of the month Tom went home to London, having set his
nephew's feet on the path he was to tread. He left him in charge of M.
de Château-Banvau, who had by now developed a lively interest in him.
After that first ball Philip threw off the last shreds of rebellion; he
played his part well, and he became very busy. Every morning he fenced
with an expert until he had acquired some skill with a small-sword;
he spoke nothing but French from morn to night; he permitted the
Marquis to introduce him into society; he strove to loosen his tongue,
and he paid flippant court to several damsels who ogled him for his
fine appearance, until his light conversation grew less forced and
uncomfortable. For a while he took no interest in his tailoring,
allowing Tom or François to garb him as they pleased. But one day, when
François extended a pair of cream stockings to his gaze, he eyed them
through his quizzing-glass for a long moment. Then he waved them aside.
François was hurt; he liked those stockings. Would not M'sieur consider
them? M'sieur most emphatically would not. If François admired pink
clocks on a cream ground, let him take the stockings. M'sieur would not
wear them; they offended him.
Before very long "le jeune Anglais" was looked for and welcomed. Ladies
liked him for his firm chin, and his palpable manliness; men liked
him for his modesty and his money. He was invited to routs and _bals
masqués_, and to card-parties and _soirées_. Philip began to enjoy
himself; he was tasting the delights of popularity. Bit by bit he grew
to expect invitations from these new acquaintances. But still M. le
Marquis was dissatisfied. It was all very well, but not well enough for
him.
However, it was quite well enough for Thomas, and he departed,
chuckling and elated. He left Philip debating over two wigs and the
arrangement of his jewels.
* * * * *
Hardly a fortnight later Philip made secure his position in Polite
Society by fighting a duel with a jealous husband. Lest you should be
shocked at this sudden depravity, I will tell you that there was little
enough cause for fighting, as Philip considered the lady as he might
consider an aunt. Happily she was unaware of this. Philip's friends
did not hold back; he had no difficulty in finding seconds, and the
_affaire_ ended in a neat thrust which pinked the husband, and a fresh
wave of popularity for Philip.
The Marquis told his pupil that he was a gay dog, and was met by a
chilling stare.
"I--beg--your pardon?" said Philip stiffly.
"But what a modesty!" cried the Marquis, much amused.
"Is it conceivable that you think me attracted by the smiles of Madame
de Foli-Martin?"
"But yes! Of course I think it!"
"Permit me to enlighten you," said Philip. "My affections are with a
lady--at home."
"Oh, la, la!" deplored the Marquis. "A lady of the country? A simple
country wench?"
"I thank God, yes," said Philip. He depressed his friend, who had hoped
for better things of him. But he thought it wiser to change the subject.
"Philip, I will take you to Court."
Philip crossed one elegantly breeched leg over the other. He was, if
anything, a little bored.
"Yes? Next week, perhaps? I am very much engaged until then."
The shrewd eyes twinkled.
"The manner is excellent, my friend. You will like to make your bow to
the King."
Philip shrugged.
"Certainly. I trust the King will consider himself sufficiently
honoured."
"_Sans doute_," bowed the Marquis. "But I counsel you, slayer of
hearts, to cast your eyes away from la Pompadour."
"M'sieur, I have already told you--"
"Oh, yes. But you have now the name for--slaying of hearts."
Philip dropped his affectation.
"Good gad! Do you say so, sir? I?"
"It is very fashionable," said the Marquis mischievously. "You become a
figure."
"But I--" He checked himself, and relapsed into languor. "They fatigue
me." And he yawned.
"What! Even la Salévier?"
"The woman with the enormous wig--oh--ah! She is well enough, but
_passée, mon cher Marquis, passée_!"
"_Sangdieu_, you are fastidious of a sudden! Is the little country chit
so lovely?"
"Your pardon, Marquis, but I prefer to leave that lady's name out of
this or any discussion."
"Or I shall have a small-sword through my heart, _hein_?"
Philip smiled.
"That is absurd, sir."
* * * * *
That night he gave a card-party. The play was high and the bottles
numerous. He lost some money, won a little, and was put to bed by his
valet long after dawn. He awoke later with a splitting headache, but he
considered himself a man. That was in September.