[*] Camus, flat-nosed The old notary felt his heart dead within him, but he thought it none the less necessary to humor the Duchess, to laugh when she laughed, and shed tears when she wept; groaning in spirit, all the same, over the feminine frivolity which could find matter for a jest while setting about a matter so serious.What would he not have done to save the Count? While Chesnel dressed; Mme.de Maufrigneuse sipped the cup of coffee and cream which Brigitte brought her, and agreed with herself that provincial women cooks are superior to Parisian chefs, who despise the little details which make all the difference to an epicure.Thanks to Chesnel's taste for delicate fare, Brigitte was found prepared to set an excellent meal before the Duchess.
Chesnel and his charming companion set out for M.and Mme.Camusot's house.
"Ah! so there is a Mme.Camusot?" said the Duchess."Then the affair may be managed.""And so much the more readily, because the lady is visibly tired enough of living among us provincials; she comes from Paris," said Chesnel.
"Then we must have no secrets from her?"
"You will judge how much to tell or to conceal," Chesnel replied humbly."I am sure that she will be greatly flattered to be the Duchesse de Maufrigneuse's hostess; you will be obliged to stay in her house until nightfall, I expect, unless you find it inconvenient to remain.""Is this Mme.Camusot a good-looking woman?" asked the Duchess, with a coxcomb's air.
"She is a bit of a queen in her own house."
"Then she is sure to meddle in court-house affairs," returned the Duchess."Nowhere but in France, my dear M.Chesnel, do you see women so much wedded to their husbands that they are wedded to their husband's professions, work, or business as well.In Italy, England, and Germany, women make it a point of honor to leave men to fight their own battles; they shut their eyes to their husbands' work as perseveringly as our French citizens' wives do all that in them lies to understand the position of their joint-stock partnership; is not that what you call it in your legal language? Frenchwomen are so incredibly jealous in the conduct of their married life, that they insist on knowing everything; and that is how, in the least difficulty, you feel the wife's hand in the business; the Frenchwoman advises, guides, and warns her husband.And, truth to tell, the man is none the worse off.In England, if a married man is put in prison for debt for twenty-four hours, his wife will be jealous and make a scene when he comes back.""Here we are, without meeting a soul on the way," said Chesnel."You are the more sure of complete ascendency here, Mme.la Duchesse, since Mme.Camusot's father is one Thirion, usher of the royal cabinet.""And the King never thought of that!" exclaimed the Duchess."He thinks of nothing! Thirion introduced us, the Prince de Cadignan, M.
de Vandeness, and me! We shall have it all our own way in this house.
Settle everything with M.Camusot while I talk to his wife."The maid, who was washing and dressing the children, showed the visitors into the little fireless dining-room.
"Take that card to your mistress," said the Duchess, lowering her voice for the woman's ear; "nobody else is to see it.If you are discreet, child, you shall not lose by it."At the sound of a woman's voice, and the sight of the handsome young man's face, the maid looked thunderstruck.
"Wake M.Camusot," said Chesnel, "and tell him, that I am waiting to see him on important business," and she departed upstairs forthwith.
A few minutes later Mme.Camusot, in her dressing-gown, sprang downstairs and brought the handsome stranger into her room.She had pushed Camusot out of bed and into his study with all his clothes, bidding him dress himself at once and wait there.The transformation scene had been brought about by a bit of pasteboard with the words MADAME LA DUCHESSE DE MAUFRIGNEUSE engraved upon it.A daughter of the usher of the royal cabinet took in the whole situation at once.
"Well!" exclaimed the maid-servant, left with Chesnel in the dining-room, "Would not any one think that a thunderbolt had dropped in among us? The master is dressing in his study; you can go upstairs.""Not a word of all this, mind," said Chesnel.
Now that he was conscious of the support of a great lady who had the King's consent (by word of mouth) to the measures about to be taken for rescuing the Comte d'Esgrignon, he spoke with an air of authority, which served his cause much better with Camusot than the humility with which he would otherwise have approached him.
"Sir," said he, "the words let fall last evening may have surprised you, but they are serious.The house of d'Esgrignon counts upon you for the proper conduct of investigations from which it must issue without a spot.""I shall pass over anything in your remarks, sir, which must be offensive to me personally, and obnoxious to justice; for your position with regard to the d'Esgrignons excuses you up to a certain point, but----""Pardon me, sir, if I interrupt you," said Chesnel."I have just spoken aloud the things which your superiors are thinking and dare not avow; though what those things are any intelligent man can guess, and you are an intelligent man.--Grant that the young man had acted imprudently, can you suppose that the sight of a d'Esgrignon dragged into an Assize Court can be gratifying to the King, the Court, or the Ministry? Is it to the interest of the kingdom, or of the country, that historic houses should fall? Is not the existence of a great aristocracy, consecrated by time, a guarantee of that Equality which is the catchword of the Opposition at this moment? Well and good; now not only has there not been the slightest imprudence, but we are innocent victims caught in a trap.""I am curious to know how," said the examining magistrate.