Memoirs of a Physician (18 page)
” It is never too late,” said he.
” Oh, my dear count ! ” said
Mme.
Dubarry clasping her hands.
” Yon want a letter, then ? “
“Yes.”
” From Madame de Grammont ?
” If it is possible.”-
” Which shall compromise Monsieur de Choiseul on the three points which I have mentioned ? “
“I would give one of my eyes to see it.”
” Oh ! countess, that would be too dear ; inasmuch as this letter I will give it you for nothing.”
And Balsamo drew a folded paper from his pocket.
MEMOIRS OF A PHYSICIAN. 133
” What is that ? ” asked the countess, devouring the paper with her eyes.
” Yes, what is that ? ” repeated the duke.
” The letter you wished for.”
And the count, amid the most profound silence, read the letter, with which our readers are already acquainted, to his two astonished auditors.
As he read, the countess opened her eyes to their ut-most width, and began to lose countenance.
“It is a forgery,” said Eichelieu, when the letter had been read. ” Diable ! we must take care.”
” Monsieur, it is the simple and literal copy of a letter from the Duchess de Grammont, which a courier, des-patched this morning from Rouen, is now carrying to the Duke de Choiseul at Versailles.”
” Oh, heavens !” cried the marshal, ” do you speak truly, Count Balsamo ? “
I always speak the truth, marshal.”
The duchess has written such a letter ? “
Yes, marshal.”
She could not be so imprudent ‘
It is incredible, I confess ; but HO it is.”
The old duke looked at the countess, who had not the power to utter a single word.
” Well,” said she, at last, ” I am like the duke, I can scarcely believe excuse me, count that Madame de Grammont, a woman of sense, should compromise her own position, and that of her brother, by a letter so strongly expressed. Besides, to know of such a letter, one must have read it “
” And then,” said the marshal, quickly, ” if the count had read this letter, he would have kept it ; it is a precious treasure.”
Balsamo gently shook his head.
” Oh,” said he, “such a plan might suit thoee who have to break open letters in order to ascertain their contents ; but not those who, like myself, can read through the envelopes. Fie upon you ! Besides, what interest could I have in ruining Monsieur de Choiseul and Madame de
134 MEMOIRS OF A PHYSICIAN.
Grammont ? You come to consult me as friends, I presume, and I answer you in the same manner. You wish me to render you a service ; I do so. You do not mean, I suppose, to ask me the price of my consultation, as you would the fortune-tellers of the Quai de la Ferraille ? “
“Oh, count I ” said
Mme.
Dubarry.
“Well, I give you this advice, and you seem not to comprehend it. You express a wish to overthrow Monsieur de Choiseul, and you seek the means. I tell you one. You approve of it, I put it into your hands, and you do not believe it.”
” Because because count I “
” The letter exists,.! tell you, for I have the copy.”
” But who told you of its existence, count ? ” cried Richelieu.
” Ah ! that is a great word who told me ! You wish to know, in one moment, as much as I know I, the worker, the adept, who has lived three thousand seven hundred years.”
” Oh ! oh !“said Richelieu, discouraged ; ” you are go-ing to alte* the good opinion I had formed of you, count.”
” I do not ask you to believe me, my lord duke ; it is not I who brought you hither from the chase.”
” Duke, he is right,” said the countess. ” Monsieur de Balsamo, pray do not be hasty.”
“He who has time never gets impatient, madame.”
” Will you be so good as to add another favor to those you have already conferred upon me, and tell me how these secrets are revealed to you ? “
” I shall not hesitate, madame,” said Balsamo, speaking as if he was searching for each word separately. ” The revelation is made to me by a voice.”
” By a voice ! ” cried the duke and the countess simultaneously, ” a voice tells you all ? “
” Everything I wish to know.”
” Was it a voice that told you what Madame de Grammont has written to her brother ? “
” I repeat, madame, it is a voice which tells me.” .
” Miraculous ! “
MEMOIRS OF A PHYSICIAN. 135
” Why, do you not believe it ? “
” Well ; no, count,” said the duke ; ” how do you imagine I can believe such things ? “
” Would you believe it if I told you what the courier who carries the letter to Monsieur de Choiseul is doing at this moment ? “
” Dame ! ” exclaimed the countess.
” I would believe it, “cried the duke, ” if I heard the voice ; but messieurs, the necromancers and magicians have the sole privilege of seeing and hearing the supernatural.”
Balsamo looked at Richelieu with a singular expression, which made a shudder pass though the veins of the countess, and even sent a slight chill to the heart of the selfish skeptic, called the Duke de Richelieu.
” Yes,” said he, after a long silence, ” I alone see and hear supernatural objects and sounds, but when I am in the society of people of rank of your talent, duke, and of your beauty, countess, I display my treasures, and share them. Would you wish greatly to hear the mysterious voice which speaks to me ? “
” Yes,” said the duke, clinching his hands tightly that he might not tremble.
” Yes,” stammered the countess, trembling.
” Well, duke well, countess, you shall hear it. What language shall it speak ? “
” French, if you please,” said the countess. ” I know no other any other would frighten me.”
” And you, duke ?”
” As madame said, French ; for then, I shall be able to repeat what the devil says, and to discover if he speak the the language of my friend, Monsieur de Voltaire, correctly. “
Balsamo, his head drooping on his breast, crossed over to the door leading into the little saloon, which opened, as we are aware, on the stairs.
” Permit me,” said he, “to conceal you here, in order not to expose you to the risk of discovery. “
The countess turned pale, approached the duke, and took his arm.
136 MEMOIRS OF A PHYSICIAN.
Balsamo, almost touching the door leading to the stairs, made a step toward that part of the house in which Lorenza was, and pronounced in a low voice the following words, in the Arabic tongue, which we translate :
” My friend do you hear me ? If so, pull the cord of the bell twice.”
Balsamo waited to see the effect of these words, and looked at the duke and countess, who opened their eyes and ears, and the more so that they could understand what the count said.
The bell sounded twice distinctly.
The countess started from her sofa, and the duke wiped his forehead with his handkerchief. *
” Since you hear me,” continued Balsamo, in the same language, ” press the marble button which forms the right eye of the sculptured figure on the chimney-piece ; the back will open ; pass out by this opening, cross my room, descend the stairs, and enter the apartment adjoining the one in which I am.”
Immediately a faint noise, like a scarcely audible breath, told Balsamo that his order had been understood and obeyed.
” What language is that ?” asked the duke, pretending assurance. ” The cabalistic language ?”
” Yes, duke ; the language used for the summoning of spirits.”
” You said we should understand it.”
” What the voice said, but not what I say.”
” Has the devil appeared yet ? “
” Who spoke of the devil, duke ? “
” Whom do you evoke but the devil ? “
” Every superior spirit, every supernatural being can be evoked.”
” And the superior spirit, the supernatural being “
Balsamo extended his hand toward the tapestry, which closed the door of the next apartment.
“Is in direct communication with me, my lord.”
” I am afraid,” said the countess ; ” are you, duke ? “
” Faith ! countess, I confess to you that I would almost as soon be at Mahonor at Phillipsbourg.”
MEMOIRS OF A PHYSICIAN. 137
” Madame la Comtesse, and yon, my lord duke, listen, since you wish to hear ‘ said Balsamo, severely, and he turned toward the door.
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE VOICE.
THERE was a moment of solemn silence ; then Balsamo asked in French :
“Are you there ?”
” I am,” replied a clear, silvery voice, which, penetrating through the hangings and the doors, seemed to those present rather like a metallic sound than a human voice.
” Peste ! it is becoming interesting,” said the duke ; ” and all without torches, magic, or Bengal lights. “
” It is fearful,” whispered the countess.
” Listen attentively to my questions,” continued Balsamo.
“I listen with my whole being.”
” First tell me how many persons are with me at this moment ? “
“Two.”
“Of what sex?”
” A man and a woman ‘
“Read the man’s name in my thoughts.”
” The Duke de Richelieu.”
” And the woman’s.”
” Madame the Countess Dubarry.”
“Ha ! ” said the duke, ” this is becoming serious.”
“I never saw anything like it,” murmured the trembling countess.
” Good ! ” said Balsamo. ” Now read the first sentence of the letter I hold in my hand.”
The voice obeyed.
The duke and the countess looked at each other with astonishment bordering upon admiration.
” What has become of the letter I wrote at your dicta-tion ?”
138 MEMOIRS OF A PHYSICIAN.
” It” is hastening on.”
” In what direction ? “
” Toward the east.”
“Is it far.”
” Yes, very far.*
“Who is carrying it?”
“A man dressed in a green yest, leathern cap, and large boots ‘
“On foot or on horseback ? “
” On horseback.”
” What kind of a horse ? “
” A piebald horse.”
” Where do you see him ? “
There was a moment’s silence.
11 Look,” said Balsamo, imperatively.
” On a wide road, planted with trees.”
(i But on which road ? “
” I do not know ; all the roads are alike.”
” What ! does nothing indicate what road it is no post, no inscription ? “
” Stay ! stay ! A carriage is passing near the man on horseback ; it crosses his course, coming toward me.”
” What kind of a carriage ? “
“A heavy carriage, full of abbes and soldiers.”
” A stage-coach,” said Kichelieu.
” Is there no inscription upon the carriage ? ” asked Balsamo.
” Yes,” said the voice.
“Bead it.”
” Versailles is written in yellow letters upon the carriage, but the word is nearly effaced.”
” Leave the carriage and follow the courier.”
” I do not see him now.”
” Why do you not see him ? “
” Because the road turns.”
” Turn the corner, and follow him.”
” Oh ! he gallops as quickly as his horse can fly ; he looks at his watch.”
” What do you see in front of the horse ? “
MEMOIRS OF A PHYSICIAN. 139
11 A long avenue, splendid buildings, a large town.” ” Follow him still.” ” I follow.” ” Well ? “
” The courier redoubles his blows, the animal is bathed in perspiration ; its iron-shod hoofs strike the pavement so loudly that all the passers-by look round. Ah ! the courier dashes into a long street which descends. He turns to the right. He slackens his horse’s speed. He stops at the door of a large hotel.”
‘ Now you must follow him attentively, do you hear ? ” The voice heaved a sigh.
You are tired. I understand.” Oh ! crushed with weariness.” Cease to be fatigued, I will it.” Ah ! Thanks.” Are you still fatigued ? ” No.”
Do you still see the courier ? “
Yes, yes ; he ascends a large stone staircase. He is preceded by a valet in blue and gold livery. He crosses large saloons full of splendid gilt ornaments. He stops at a small lighted closet. The valet opens the door, and retires.”
” What do you see ?” ” The courier bows.” ” To whom does he bow ? “
” He bows to a man seated at a desk with his back to-ward the door.”
” How is the man dressed?”
” Oh, in full dress, as if he were going to a ball ‘
” Has he any decoration ?”
” He wears a broad blue ribbon crosswise on his breast.”
” His face ? “
” I cannot see it ah “,
“What?”
” He turns.”
” What sort of features has he ? “
” A keen glance, irregular features, beautiful teeth.”
140 MEMOIRS OF A PHYSICIAN.
” What age ? “
” From fifty-five to fifty-eight years of age.”
” The duke,” whispered the countess to the marshal ; ” it is the duke.”
The marshal made a sign as if to say, ” Yes, it is he but listen.”
“Well? “asked Balsamo,
” The courier gives a letter to the man with the blue ribbon “
” You may say to the duke ; lie is a dnke.”
” The courier,” repeated the obedient voice, ” takes a letter from the leathern bag behind him, and gives it to the duke. The duke breaks the seal, and reads it attentively.”
” Well ?”
” He takes a pen and a sheet of paper and writes.”
” He writes,” said Eichelieu ; ” Diable ! if we could only know what he writes.”
” Tell me what he writes,“commanded Balsamo.
” I cannot.”
” Because you are too far. Enter the room. Are you there?”
” Yes.”
” Look over his shoulder.”
” I am doing so.”
” Now read.”
” The writing is bad, small, irregular.”
” Eead it I will it.”
The countess and Richelieu held their breath.
” Read,” repeated ‘Balsamo, more imperatively still.
” My sister,” said the voice, trembling and hesitating.
” It is the reply,” said the duchess and Richelieu in the same breath.
” My sister,” continued the voice, ” do not be uneasy. The crisis took place, it is true ; it was a dangerous one ; that is true also ; but it is over. I am anxiously awaiting to-morrow, for to-morrow it will be my turn to act on the offensive, and everything leads me to expect a decisive triumph. The parliament of Rouen, Milord X , the
