CHON SPOILS ALL.
After the king's departure from the short and unpleasant call, as he
termed it to the courtiers, the Countess Dubarry remained closeted with
Chon and her brother, who had kept in the background for fear that his
wound would be found to be but a scratch. The outcome of this family
council was that the countess, instead of going to Luciennes, went to a
private house of hers in Valois Street, Paris.
Jeanne read a book while Zamore, at the window, watched for the
carriage to return. When the viscount brought the old countess he left
her in the anteroom while he ran to tell his sister of his success.
"Where is Chon?" he asked.
"At Versailles, where I bade her keep close."
"Then go in, my princess."
Lady Dubarry opened the boudoir door and walked into her visitor's
presence.
"I have already thanked my brother," she said, "for having procured me
the honor of your ladyship's visit; but I must thank you at present for
making it."
"I cannot find expressions," said the delighted suitor, "to show my
gratitude for the kind reception granted me."
"Allow me," said Jean, as the ladies took seats; "the countess must not
seem to be applying to you for a favor. The chancellor has confided a
commission for you, that is all."
The visitor gave the speaker a thankful look, and handed the letters
patent from the chancellor which created Luciennes a royal castle and
intrusted Zamore with the governership.
"It is I who am obliged," said the younger countess, "and I shall
consider myself happy when the chance comes for me to do something in
my turn."
"That will be easy," cried the other with a quickness delighting the
pair of plotters. "You will not be ignorant of my name?"
"How could we? The name of the princess to whom we owe King Henry the
Fourth?"
"Then you may have heard of a lawsuit which ties up my property."
"Claimed by the Saluces? Yes, the king was talking of the matter with
Chancellor Maupeou, my cousin, the other evening."
"The king talked of my case? In what terms, pray?"
"Alas! he seemed to think that it ought to be the Saluces."
"Good heavens! then we would have to pay twice over a sum which morally
was paid. I have not the receipt, I grant, but I can prove payment
morally."
"I think moral proofs are accepted," said Jean gravely.
"The claim of two hundred thousand livres, with interest, now amounting
to a capital of over a million, dated 1406. It must have been settled
by Guy Gaston IV., Count of Bearn, because on his deathbed, in 1417, he
wrote in his will 'Owing no debts,' and so on."
"That settles it," said Jean.
"But your adversaries hold the note?" said the countess, pretending to
take an interest in the subject.
"Yes, that embroils it," said the old lady, who ought to have said,
"This clears it up."
"It terribly changes the position for the Saluces."
"Oh, my lady, I would that you were one of the judges!"
"In olden times, you might have claimed a champion to do battle for
you. I have such belief in your case that I would go into the lists for
you. Unfortunately we have not to do with knights but a gang of robbers
in black gowns, who will not understand so plain an expression as 'I
die owing no debts.'"
"Stay, though; as the words were spoken three hundred years ago they
would be outlawed, I think," ventured Countess Dubarry.
"But you would be convinced of the lady's rights, sister, if you were
to hear her, as I have heard coming along."
"Then do me the favor of coming out to my place at Luciennes, where, by
the way, the king drops in now and again."
"But I cannot rely on such a chance, for the case is called Monday, and
this is Friday."
"What the deuce can be done?" grumbled the viscount, appearing to
meditate profoundly.
"If I could have a royal hearing at Versailles through your
introduction?" suggested the old lady.
"Not to be thought of. The king does not like me to meddle with law or
politics. And at present he is worried about my presentation to the
court."
"Oh!" exclaimed the aged litigant.
"The king wants it to come off before the new dauphiness arrives,
so that my sister can go to the festivities at Compiegne, in spite
of Choiseul's opposition, Praslin's intrigues and Lady Grammont's
intervention."
"I understand. The countess has no introductress?" queried Lady Bearn,
timidly.
"Beg pardon, we have Baroness Alogny, only the king would prefer
somebody with a historical name."
"I cannot say that I ever heard of the Alognys," hissed the old
descendant of kings with incredible envy.
"It will be a grand thing for her, for the king is tired of the jades
who put on airs prouder than himself!" said Jean. "I could make Lady
Alogny draw off by telling her what the king said."
"It would be unfair," said the viscount.
"What a pity! for in that case, here is a lady of ancient lineage, and
regal. She would win her lawsuit, her son could have a lieutenancy in
the household troops, and as Lady Bearn must have gone to much outlay
in her trips to Paris, she would have compensation out of the privy
purse. Such luck does not rain down twice in a lifetime."
"Alas! no," said Lady Bearn, crushed in her chair by all things being
against her.
"An idea strikes me," said Jean. "All has been kept quiet, and so the
king does not know that we have a lady patroness to present my sister.
Suppose you were at Versailles and expressed your willingness to act
as social sponsor for my sister. Why, the king would accept one who is
his relative, and that would prevent the Alognys complaining. The king
could do no wrong."
"The king would do right about the suit," said Jeanne. "He would be
delighted and he would be sure to say to Chancellor Maupeou: 'I want
you to treat Lady Bearn properly, my lord!'"
"But this may look bad, when everybody thinks my case lost," objected
the old countess.
"Well, let it be lost," returned the other lady quickly: "What matter,
if you are compensated?"
"Two hundred thousand livres?" said the other with sorrow.
"Pooh, what if there be a royal present of a hundred thousand livres?"
"I have a son," remarked the victim, while the two eyed her greedily.
"So much the better, as he will be another servitor for the king; he
must not have less than a cornetcy in the army," said Jean. "Any other
kinsmen?"
"A nephew."
"We shall find a berth for him."
"We rely on your invention," said Countess Dubarry, rising. "You will
allow me to mention your ladyship to the king?"
"Do me the honor," said the old dame with a sigh.
"No later than this evening," said the royal favorite. "I trust I have
won your friendship?"
"Yes, though I believe I am in a dream."
But the dream only lasted to the foot of the stairs, where Countess
Bearn was conducted on Jean's hale arm, for there the irrepressible
Chon came bounding out of a sedan chair. Lady Bearn recognized the
pretended daughter of Lawyer Flageot.
"It is Mistress Chon," roared Zamore.
"Is that little fool Gilbert here?" asked Chon of the footmen, when she
suddenly looked up and saw Jean trying to hush her.
She followed the direction of his finger and perceived Lady Bearn. She
gave a scream, lowered her cap-veil, and plunged into the vestibule.
Appearing to notice nothing, the old lady got into the carriage and
gave her address to the coachman.