“You will do well,” he said; “and I assure you your likeness to Louis XIV
is so striking that only to see you is to be convinced.”
It would not be easy to describe my surprise when, three days later, I
received my packet, accompanied, for all apology, by the following brief
communication—
“MADAME LA BARONNE,
“I have the honour of returning you the papers you committed to
my care.
“I have had an opportunity of tracing the truth to its source,
and have ascertained that M. le Duc and Mme. la Duchesse
d’Orléans did not quit Paris or the Court in the year 1773.”[16]
“Therefore I cannot permit the _Quotidienne_ to print a single
line concerning the extraordinary and mysterious event spoken
of in these papers.
“I have the honour to be, Madame la Baronne,
“Your very humble and obedient servant,
“LAURENTIE.”
To astonishment succeeded just indignation when in the numbers for the
2nd and 3rd of November I read what follows—
“The public may have remarked, some time ago, a notice in
the _Quotidienne_ in which there was mention of a Comte and
Comtesse de Joinville, who, in 1773, when in Italy, had a child
of the female sex for which a male child was substituted, and
information was asked as to this mysterious substitution.
“Whatever may have been the purpose of the person who sent
us this notice, it is our duty to declare that we take no
responsibility for it.
“We have even been able to ascertain that its publication masks
an intrigue in which we could not be expected to meddle, and
we retract the notice sent to our office, and which, at first
sight, might seem to be simply an announcement relating to
family matters.”
At first I wanted to force the audacious editor to insert in his journal
an answer which would have let every one know of his criminal abuse of
confidence, and ask him how he dared brand with the odious name of
_intrigue_ a claim which, from my papers so trustfully given over to him,
he knew to be based on the depositions of numerous witnesses, and on an
episcopal judgment given with the most imposing formalities.
But on consideration I decided that my complete Memoirs being about to
appear, France and the whole of Europe would do me enough justice after
reading them.
I wanted some one to correct the many mistakes which my pen, so unskilled
in the French language, had made without taking from my story its
original simplicity.
M. Lafont d’Aussonne, author of the _Mémoires universels de la Reine de
France_, called on me, discoursed on his literary talents, offered me his
services, and succeeded in getting me to give him a copy of my notes.
Here is his letter of the next day—
“MADAME,
“I have spent part of the night in reading your papers. I find
them convincing, and am astonished only at one thing—that you
have been so long in attacking the unlawful possessor. I shall
have the honour of seeing you this evening at the same hour as
yesterday.
“Your very respectful and devoted servant,
“LAFONT D’AUSSONNE.”
I was much pleased with his way of looking at it, and with all the
arguments with which he supported my interesting affair; but with a swift
change of front he wrote to me a few days later—
“However long the time I have devoted to the papers you
committed to me, madame, I grudge neither the time nor the work
if I may keep your confidence and your esteem. From things I
know of and approaching events, I am convinced that your cause
has its dangers, and that you must be prepared for oppositions,
humiliations, delays and troubles innumerable.
“Your last years will be years of grief and affliction; I am
not exaggerating.
“An opportunity is now offered me of rendering you the greatest
of services by giving you rest and peace of mind.
“You are a good wife and tender mother; you might, at the same
time, give delight to your family and to the excellent persons
who have given such proof of their constancy and their devotion
by combining with you.
“As for myself, madame, I have no thought but to repeat the
assurance of my respectful and sincere devotion.
“LAFONT D’AUSSONNE.”
At once I saw through the plot, and wishing to find out what offers would
be made me, I replied in such a fashion as to let it be believed that I
was quite willing to make concessions.
[Illustration: MARIA STELLA, LADY NEWBOROUGH, BARONNE DE STERNBERG]
My friend fell into the trap, loudly applauded my quite futile letter and
sent me a curious composition, of which M. d’Aussonne declared he had
secretly sent a copy to my adversary.
“MONSEIGNEUR,
“As M. de Broval’s illness or sufferings may last some long
time, I take the respectful liberty of addressing you directly.
“I have not forgotten that, five years ago, your Royal Highness
did me the honour to send for me to your gallery that I might
give my opinion on some wrongly-named or doubtful portraits,
and that you received me with marked affability.
“Something has now happened, monseigneur, which, in a fashion,
brings me again to your notice.
“Lady Newborough, Baronne de Sternberg, having read with great
interest at Nice, where she was then living, my _Mémoires
universels de la Reine de France_, wished to know its author;
and this lady, pleased with my eagerness, has entrusted me with
the revision of her own Memoirs written entirely in her own
hand, that I may put them into shape and give them a literary
style.
“Devoted as my whole life has been to the defence of the
greatly unfortunate, I did not hesitate to accept this
commission; and I think I have made some improvements in a book
good society seems to me to be eagerly expecting, here and
elsewhere.
“With my mind full of the strange details contained in these
Memoirs, I cannot help looking upon the prodigious noise such
revelations will make in the world as _a great political
event_; and I ask myself if I should not be doing a good
action in endeavouring to find some means for bringing about
conciliation and peace.
“There is no room for doubt, monseigneur, that milady, by the
advice of her lawyers, will find herself obliged to prove,
by numberless traits, character and conduct that the inhuman
father, by whom she was forsaken, made the criminal exchange
for his _own immoral ends_. After this, we shall see this
father, already so notorious, handed over to the judgment
of all Europe. As to the gist of the principal question,
monseigneur, you must already know everything. You know of
Lorenzo Chiappini’s clear statement, made but a few moments
before his death; you know of the numerous depositions of so
many candid and unexceptionable witnesses; you know of the
solemn decree of the august Tribunal which restored to Maria
Stella her original position, and as a consequence, her rights.
“From the moment that striking judgment was pronounced, milady
was enabled fearlessly to sign herself _née de Joinville_; and
we have no other Joinvilles but the Princes of the House of
Orleans.
“The documents obtained in Italy are already very
considerable; those discovered in France are not less so; and
the two journeys in Italy are proved.
“To these remarkable details I beg your Highness to be pleased
to add the following facts.
“Milady’s profile is extraordinarily like that of Madame la
Dauphine; seen at three-quarters her face is the image of that
of Mademoiselle d’Orléans, etc. Lord Newborough, her eldest
son, bears so strong a resemblance to Louis XIV, and her second
son, M. Chevalier Wins (_sic_) to the late Comte de Beaujolais,
that the artists are amazed.
“And now, monseigneur, I will add, by your gracious permission,
a fact which is as extraordinary and seems miraculous; the
two brothers Chiappini, each the image of his father, have
the honour of resembling you. The inhabitants of Florence and
Modigliana are all agreed on this point.
“I have given you but a short summary of this important
affair, known to no one better than to myself since I have had
everything under my own eyes.
“My great respect for the name of Bourbon leads me to hope
that confidential matter of this kind may not be told in
the market-place, to become the fable or the romance of all
parties. With all my heart I desire that the life of our
beloved Duc de Bordeaux may be spared; but if, by a stroke of
fate, that fragile olive-branch were snatched from France, the
Salic Law would call your children to the throne, and it might
be painful, perhaps dangerous, for them not to have public
opinion with them.
“You anticipate, monseigneur, what would be my respectful
advice, and I beg you to see in my action no motives but those
dictated by kindness, wisdom and prudence.
“The excellent milady, who admires my works, has favoured their
author with her partial confidence; but I have the honour of
writing to you without her knowledge.
“I wish to help her to the ease of mind so astounding a trial
could not fail to destroy; and, if you have sufficient trust in
me to accept me as intermediary, I feel a secret presentiment
that I shall be able to induce her to make peace.
“I am a daily witness of her respect and admiration for Louis
XIV, Henri IV, etc., whom she looks upon as her ancestors; but
I know, too, that she adores her beloved Edward, her youngest
son, from whom she has been cruelly separated; and by this very
natural way I think I may reach her heart.
“If so, I shall rejoice at having restored her to life and
peace, and to have spared you, monseigneur, an unpleasant
dispute through which your children, sooner or later, must have
suffered.
“Allow me with the greatest respect to sign myself your Royal
Highness’s very humble and obedient servant,
“LAFONT D’AUSSONNE.”
All this inspired me with invincible dread of a man who, like so many
others, thus played me false. To escape his snares I began by politely
refusing to see him; then, under various pretexts, I asked him to
send back my books and papers, and tried to make him understand my
very natural apprehensions. His letters will prove the accuracy of my
statements—
1st. “Madame, I have the honour to return you the books
relating to the great affair. I will also collect the papers
you ask for and this evening you shall receive them in a sealed
parcel. I like to take back such important things myself.
“For God’s sake don’t allow yourself to have any doubt of me or
my doings. I am doing what is for the best, and for your sole
and veritable benefit.
“If I asked to see you for a moment, it was to tell you of
a most important matter which has to do with what you were
told in Italy—that a _French ecclesiastic knew a great secret
concerning all this_.
“While I write to you, a person in my confidence is taking the
necessary steps for discovering what the Duke wishes to do as
to the matter about which I wrote to him.
“Rest assured, milady, that God decreed your acquaintance with
me, and that you will never find another with a heart so good
and large as mine, or so noble a probity.
“But your misfortunes have naturally made you timid and
suspicious, and you may feel quite certain that I am too
reasonable to take offence. Your most respectful and devoted
servant,” etc.
2nd.—“Madame, What I told you in my letter of yesterday rests
on the evidence of two persons, of whom one, aged and infirm,
and of a timid and nervous disposition, has told me what she
knows, and by her explanations has enabled me to explain to
myself things which formerly did not sufficiently influence me,
for I was the best friend and vindicator of _him who knew all_.
“The other person, who is still alive, will play no part
whatever in all this, so greatly does she dread the vengeance
of the Duke of Orleans.
“But I, who do not fear him, promise you that, if _we go on
acting in unison_, I will state and proclaim everything.
“How could you, madame, suppose for one moment that my actions
concealed any plot—actions as clear as day?
“After making a thorough examination of your case, I perceived
many probabilities, but, unfortunately, not enough proofs; and
that is why, as an honourable and kindly man, I advised you to
consent to a compromise, supposing your wealthy adversary able
to make up his mind to a sacrifice.
“In this way you would have gained an increase of fortune
to the benefit of your son, while the Prince, _real_ or
_supposed_, would have retained the votes and the respect of
the common people which your Memoirs and the noise of the trial
must inevitably have lost for him.
“No, milady, Mme. Fleury and I have not joined in any plot
against you; since that wicked Irishwoman wanted the Duke to
crush you by his power without giving you anything out of his
riches; while what I desire is that if he and you come to some
arrangement, he shall make over to you a considerable sum.
“The letter I sent him is surely proof enough of that.
“Is that letter, wherein I made such outspoken and humiliating
statements, nothing in your eyes? Is that possible? And what
can I do, Madame, to prove to you my sincerity and integrity?
“Oh! what a lesson for me!
“I must end here a letter I did not think to make so long.
“I have served you zealously, milady; and I don’t regret it,
for I believe your cause to be a just one in the sight of God
and of nature.
“I withdraw without resentment, although I am much hurt by the
insult offered to me.
“If the Duke comes to know what has taken place, he will be
much rejoiced, for he dreads my pen and the strength of my
writings.
“With all respect, madame,” etc.
In spite of all these protestations, he could not win back my confidence,
and I would have nothing more to do with him.
Mills’s sister-in-law was still with me; but for the last few days I had
noticed a complete change in her for which I could not account and which
she would explain to me only by pleading indisposition.
One morning her younger sister made her appearance and told me she wished
to take her sister back with her to stay while the carnival lasted, as
while she was with me she had no chance of enjoying the entertainments
connected with it.