Memoirs of a Physician (47 page)

“I have translated that : ‘ Dismissing luxury and ef-feminacy to other times, he surprised the world by industriously applying himself to re-establish the glory of the empire “

” Wrong, Monsieur Rousseau, wrong ! In the first place, you iave run the three little phrases into one, which obliges you to translate dissimulatd luxurid badly. Then you made a blunder in the last portion of the phrase. Tacitus did not mean that the Emperor Otho applied himself to re-establishing the glory of the empire; he meant to say that, no longer gratifying his passions, and dissimulating his luxurious habits, Otho accommodated all, made all turn all, you understand, Monsieur Rousseau that is to say, even his passions and his vices to the glory of the empire. That is the sense it is rather com-plexj yours, however, is too restricted, is it not, Monsieur de la Vauguyon ? “

” Yes, my lord.”

Rousseau perspired and panted under this pitiless infliction.

The prince allowed him a moment’s breathing time, and then continued :

” You are much more in your element in philosophy, sir.”

Rousseau bowed.

” But your ( Emilius ‘ is a dangerous book.”

” Dangerous, my lord ? “

” Yes, from the quantity of false ideas it will put into the citizens’ heads ! “

” My lord, as soon as a man is a father, he can enter into the spirit of my book, whether he be the first or the last in the kingdom. To be a father is is “

” Tell me, Monsieur Rousseau,” asked the satirical prince, all at once, ” your * Confessions ‘ form a very amusing book. How many children have you had ? “

Rousseau turned pale, staggered, and raised an angry

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and stupefied glance to his young tormentor’s face, the expression of which only increased the malicious humor of the Count de Provenge.

It was only malice, for, without waiting for a reply, the prince moved away arm in arm with his preceptor, continuing his commentaries on the works of the man whom he had so cruelly crushed.

Rousseau, left alone, was gradually recovering from his stupefaction, when he heard the first bars of his overture executed by the orchestra.

He proceeded in that direction with a faltering step, and when he reached his seat, he said to himself. ” Fool ! coward ! stupid ass that I am ! Now only do I find the answer I should have made the cruel little pedant. * My lord I should have said, ‘ it is not charitable in a young person to torment a poor old man ! ‘ ‘

He had just reached this point, quite content with his phrase, when the dauphiness and M. de Coigny commenced their duet. The preoccupation of the philosopher was disturbed by the suffering of the musician the ear was to be tortured after the heart.

CHAPTER XLIV.

THE REHEARSAL.

THE rehearsal once fairly commenced, and the general attention drawn to the stage, Rousseau was no longer remarked, and it was he on the contrary who became the observer. He heard court lords who sung completely out of tune to their shepherds’ dresses, and saw ladies arrayed in their court dresses coqueting like shepherdesses.

The dauphiness sung correctly, but she was a bad actress; and her voice, moreover, was so weak that she could scarcely be heard. The king, not to intimidate any one, had retired to an obscure box, where he chatted with the ladies. The dauphin prompted the words of the opera, which went off royally badly.

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Rousseau determined not to listen, but he felt it very difficult to avoid overhearing what passed. He had one consolation, however, for he had just perceived a charming face among the illustrious figurantes, and the village maiden, who was the possessor of this charming face, had incomparably the most delightful voice of the entire company.

Rousseau’s attention became at once completely riveted, and from his position behind the desk, he gazed with his whole soul at the charming figurante, and listened with all his ears to drink in the enchanting melody of her voice.

When the dauphiness saw the author so deeply attentive, she felt persuaded, from his smile and his sentimental air, that he was pleased with the execution of his work, and, eager for a compliment for she was a woman she leaned forward to the desk, saying:

” Is our performance very bad, Monsieur Rousseavt ? “

But Rousseau, with lips apart and absent air, did not reply.

” Oh ! we have made some blunders,” said the dauphiness, ” and Monsieur Rousseau dares not tell us ! Pray do, Monsieur Rousseau.”

Rousseau’s gaze never left the beautiful personage, who on her side did not perceive in the least the attention which she excited.

” Ah ! ” said the dauphiness, following the direction of our philosopher’s eyes, ” it is Mademoiselle Taverney who has been in fault ! “

Andre blushed; she saw all eyes directed toward her.

” No ! no ! ” exclaimed Rousseau ; ” it was not mademoiselle, for mademoiselle sings like an angel.

Mme.
Dubarry darted at the philosopher a look keener than a javelin.

The Baron de Taverney, on the contrary, felt his heart bound with joy, and greeted Rousseau with a most enchanting smile.

” Do you think that young girl sings well ? ” said
Mme.
Dubarry to the king, who was evidently struck by Rousseau’s words.

“In a chorus I cannot hear her distinctly,” said

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Louis XV.; “it requires a musician to be able to distinguish ‘

Meanwhile, Eousseau was busy in the orchestra directing the chorus :

” Colin revient a sa bergere, Celebrons un re tour si beau.”

As he turned to resume his seat, he saw M. de Jussieu bowing graciously to him.

It was no slight pleasure for the Genevese to be seen thus giving laws to the court by a courtier who had wounded him a little by his superiority. He returned his bow most ceremoniously, and continued to gaze at Andre, who looked even more lovely for the praises she had received.

As the rehearsal proceeded,
Mme.
Dubarry became furious; twice had she surprised Louis XV.‘s attention, wandering distracted by the spectacle before him from the sweet speeches she whispered.

The spectacle in the eyes of the jealous favorite meant Andre alone, but this did not prevent the dauphiness from receiving many compliments and being in charmingly gay spirits. M. de Eichelieu fluttered around her with the agility of a young man, and succeeded in forming, at the extremity of the stage, a circle of laughers, of which the dauphiness was the center, and which rendered the Dubarry party extremely uneasy.

“It appears,” said he aloud, “that Mademoiselle de Taverney has a sweet voice.”

” Charming ! ” said the dauphiness ; ” and had I not been too selfish, I should have allowed her to play Colette ; but as it is my amusement that undertook the character, I will not give it up to no one.”

” Oh ! Mademoiselle de Taverney would not sing it bet-ter than your royal highness,” said Eichelieu, ” and

” Mademoiselle is an excellent musician,” said Eousseau, with enthusiasm.

” Excellent ! ” responded the dauphiness ; ” and to confess the truth, it is she who teaches me my part; besides, she dances enchantingly, and I dance very badly.”

The effect of this conversation upon the king, upon

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Mme.
Dubarry, and the whole crowd of curious news-mongers and envious intriguers, may be imagined. All either tasted the pleasure of inflicting a wound, or received a blow with shame and grief. There were no indifferent spectators, except perhaps Andre herself.

The dauphiness, incited by Kichelieu, ended by making Andre sing the air :

” I have lost my love Colin leaves me.”

The king’s head was seen to mark the time with such evident tokens of pleasure, that
Mme.
Dubarry’s rouge fell off, from her agitation, in little flakes, as paintings fall to pieces from damp.

Richelieu, more malicious than a woman, enjoyed his revenge. He had drawn near the elder Taverney, and the two old men formed a tableau which might have been taken for Hypocrisy and Corruption sealing a project of union.

Their joy increased the more as
Mme.
Dubarry’s features grew by degrees darker and darker. She added the finishing stroke to it by rising angrily, which was contrary to all etiquette, as the king was still seated.

The courtiers, like ants, felt the storm approach, and hastened to seek shelter with the strongest. The dauphiness was more closely surrounded by her own friends,
Mme.
‘Dubarry was more courted by hers.

By degrees the interest of the rehearsal was diverted from its natural course, and was turned in quite a different direction. Colin and Colette were no more thought of, and many spectators thought it would soon be
Mme.
Dubarry’s turn to sing:

” I have lost my love Colin leaves me.”

“Do you mark,” whispered Richelieu to Taverney, ” your daughter’s immense success ?”

And he drew him into the corridor, pushing open a glass door, and causing a looker-on, who had been cling-

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ing to the framework, in order to see into the hall, to fall backward.

” Plague take the wretch ! ” grumbled Eichelieu, dusting his sleeve, which the rebound of the door had brushed against, and seeming still more angry when he saw that the looker-on was dressed like a workman of the chateau.

It was in fact a workman with a basket of flowers under his arm, who had succeeded in climbing up behind the glass, from which position he commanded a view of the entire saloon.

He was pushed back into the corridor, and almost overturned; but, although he himself escaped falling, his bas-ket was upset.

” Ah ! I know the rascal ! ” said Taverney, angrily.

” Who is it ? ” asked the duke.

“What are you doing here, scoundrel?” asked Taverney.

Gilbert for the reader has doubtless already recognized him replied haughtily:

” You see I am looking.”

” Instead of being at your work ? ” said Eichelieu.

” My work is done,” said Gilbert, humbly addressing the duke, without deigning to look at Taverney.

” Am I fated to meet this lazy rascal everywhere ? ” said Taverney.

” Gently, sir,” interrupted a voice ; ” gently. My little Gilbert is a good workman and an industrious botanist.”

Taverney turned, and saw M. de Jussieu, who was patting Gilbert on the head. The baron reddened with anger and moved off.

” Valets here ! ” muttered he.

” Hush ! ” said Eichelieu, ” there is Nicole ! look up there, at the corner of the door. The little buxom witch ! she is not making bad use of her eyes, either.”

The marshal was correct. Partially concealed behind a score of the domestics of Trianon, Nicole raised her charming head above all the others, and her eyes, dilated with surprise and admiration, seemed to devour everything she saw.

Gilbert perceived her, and turned another way.

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” Come, come ! ” said the duke to Taverney ; ” I fancy the king wishes to speak with you. He is looking this way.”

And the two friends disappeared in the direction of the royal box.

Mme.
Dubarry was standing behind the king, and inter-changing signs with M. d’Aiguillon, who was also standing, and who did not lose one of his uncle’s movements.

Rousseau, now left alone, admired Andre; he was endeavoring, if we may use the expression, to fall in love with her.

The illustrious actors proceeded to disrobe in their boxes, which Gilbert had decorated with fresh flowers.

Taverney, left alone in the passage by M. de Richelieu, who had gone to rejoin the king, felt his heart alternately chilled and elated. At last the duke returned and placed his finger upon his lips. Tavernoy turned pale with joy, and advanced to meet his friend, who drew him beneath the royal box. There they overheard the following conversation, which was quite inaudible to the rest of the company.
Mme.
Dubarry was saying to the king:

” May I expect your majesty to supper this evening ? “

And the king replied:

” I feel fatigued, countess, excuse me.”

At the same moment the dauphin entered, treading almost on
Mme.
Dubarry’s toes without seeming to see her.

” Sire,” said he, ” will your majesty do us the honor of supping with us at Trianon ? “

” ISTo, my son ; I was just at this moment saying to the countess that I felt fatigued. Our young people have made me giddy; I shall sup alone.”

The dauphin bowed and retired.
Mme.
Dubarry courtesied almost to the ground, and, trembling with rage, left the box. When she was gone the king made a sign to the Duke de Richelieu.

” Duke,” said he, ” I wish to speak to you about an affair which concerns you.”

Sire “

shall

I am not satisfied. I wish you to explain stay, I 1 sup alone; you will keep me company.”

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And the king looked at Taverney. ‘ You know this gentleman, I think, duke ? “

1 Monsieur de Taverney ? Yes, sire ‘

( Ah ! the father of the charming singer ? “

‘ Yes, sire.”

e Listen, duke.”

And the king stooped to whisper in Eichelieu’s ear. Taverney clinched his hand till the nails entered the flesh, to avoid showing any emotion. Immediately afterward Richelieu brushed past Taverney, and said:

” Follow me without making any remark.”

” Whither ? ” asked Taverney, in the same tone.

” No matter ; follow me.”

The duke moved away. Taverney followed him at a little distance to the king’s apartment. The duke entered; Taverney waited in the anteroom.

CHAPTER XLV.

THE CASKET.

M. DE TAVERNEY had not to wait long. Richelieu, hav-ing asked the king’s valet for something his majesty had left upon his dressing-table, soon returned, carrying something the nature of which the baron could not distinguish on account of the covering of silk which enveloped it.