登陆注册
15323200000006

第6章

"Well, comtesse," said he, "behold the number of your slaves increased by an illustrious adorer. You have made a conquest of M. Lebel, and I am certain he has gone away deeply smitten.""I hope we shall see him again," said comte Jean.

"Do you doubt it?"

"Assure him," said I, "of the pleasure it will afford us to receive him as he merits."Several persons entered, and M. Morand, profiting by the bustle which their entrance occasioned, approached me, and said, in a low tone,"You are in possession of his heart, will you charge me with any message to him?""M. Morand," was my reply, "what are you thinking of? Awoman of my rank throw herself at any person's head?""No, certainly not; but you can send him a kind word, or some affectionate token.""I could not think of it; M. Lebel appeared to me a most agreeable man, and I shall be at all times delighted to see him."Morand asked nothing more than this, and there our conversation ended.

Two days elapsed without being marked by any event. Comte Jean had spent them with much anxiety. He was absent, when, on the third morning, Henriette came hastily into my room. "Madame," she said, "the <valet de chambre> of the king is in the drawing-room, and inquires if you will receive him."At this news I was surprised and vexed. M. Lebel took me unawares;my toilette was not begun. I gave a hasty glance at my mirror, "Let M. Lebel come in"; and M. Lebel, who was on the heels of my maid, entered instantly. After having saluted me, he said,"It is only you, Madame, whom one might thus surprise. Your beauty needs no ornament, your charms are decoration sufficient."I replied to this compliment with (of course) much modesty, according to custom. We entered into conversation, and I found that Lebel really thought me the sister-in-law of comte Jean; and I remarked the involuntary respect that attended even his familiarity.

I left him in his error, which was material to my interests. He talked to me some time of my attractions, of the part which a female like myself might assume in France. But fearing to compromise myself, I made no reply, but preserved the reserve which my character imposed upon me. I am not clever, my friend, I never could conduct an intrigue: I feared to speak or do wrong;and whilst I kept a tranquil appearance, I was internally agitated at the absence of comte Jean.

Fortune sent him to me. He was passing the street, when he saw at our door a carriage with the royal livery. Lebel always used it when his affairs did not demand a positive incognito. This equipage made him suspect a visit from Lebel, and he came in opportunely to extricate me from my embarrassment.

"Sir," said Lebel to him, when he entered, "here is the lady whose extreme modesty refuses to listen to what I dare not thus explain to her.""Is it anything I may hear for her?" said the comte, with a smiling air.

"Yes, I am the ambassador of a mighty power: you are the minister plenipotentiary of the lady, and with your leave, we will go into your private room to discuss the articles of the secret treaty which I have been charged to propose to you.

What says madame?"

"I consent to anything that may come from such an ambassador."Comte Jean instantly led him into another room, and when they were alone, Lebel said to him, "Do you know that your sister-in-law is a most fascinating creature? She has occupied my thoughts since I have known her, and in my enthusiasm I could not help speaking of her in a certain quarter. So highly have I eulogized her, that his majesty desires an interview with her, that he may judge with his own eyes if I am an appreciator of beauty."At these words comte Jean felt a momentary agitation, but soon recovering himself, he replied:

"I am exceedingly obliged to you, sir, for the favorable disposition you have evinced towards the comtesse du Barry. She and I have as much respect as love for his majesty; but my sister-in-law has not been presented, and, consequently, I can scarcely see how she can be allowed to pay her respects to his majesty.""Do not let that disturb you; it is not intended that she shall go and partake of the magnificence of Versailles, but be admitted to an intimacy much more flattering. Would you refuse to grant him that pleasure?""It would be a crime of <lese-majeste >," said the comte Jean, laughing, "and my family have too much respect for their monarch.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • Essays and Lectures

    Essays and Lectures

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 七彩糖风雪亭

    七彩糖风雪亭

    她从小不会魔法,却在有一天遇到了她,从而得到了无人能敌的魔法。还得到了惊人的事情,这一切有什么关联呢?他遇见了她,却没有想到自己的心已经伴随着她。为了查询真相,他们(她们)又要怎么做呢?
  • 未来年代记

    未来年代记

    如果找到可相信的事物一定要试着伸出手我要反复告诉你「即使分隔两地我依旧当你是深藏心底的朋友」晴天时仰望晴空雨天里践踏积水你将不断了悟诞生的理由存在的意义
  • 第一家族

    第一家族

    他是一个家世普通的学生,从小喜欢练武,在这个武道大普及的时代,他并不算突出。然而,因为他觉醒了神奇的“心眼”,从此风起云涌,抗权贵、护亲友、除外敌、振华夏、传武道,建立起庞大的第一家族。
  • 龙灵山奇侠之御灵瓶

    龙灵山奇侠之御灵瓶

    一百年前,魔界至尊御灵修为在三界已无人能比,仙尊速龙唯有用尽全力将御灵的魔性困于天母娘娘的净瓶之中。没有了魔性的御灵功力大减,她怕仙瓶镇不住自己的魔性,自己又无力销毁自己的魔性,以免再涂炭生灵,便自取元神附于净瓶之上镇压自己的魔性,而她自己也随之烟消云散。元气大伤的仙尊速龙自知即将圆寂,便用自己毕生修为化身为龙塔,将净瓶镇于龙塔之中。
  • 天幕遗存

    天幕遗存

    无数个纪元的沉沦,仙已灭,神已逝,轮回在何方?腐朽的躯体,残败的遗迹,流荡着怎样的旋律,看不清,看不透!再回眸,梦中依旧,却已无他!
  • 芊霂残

    芊霂残

    她三世经历,前两世他想保护她,却屡次伤害了她,第三世……第一世第二世天山之巅百年轮回与君相见因缘相见相盼千年与君定下百年之约相见却无言相对但不再是她黄泉路上容颜依旧彼岸花劳只在梦中可否与君相见她和君终于重逄刀剑无情却是同样刺骨瞬间相对无言人心已凉梦醒,以泪洗面忽觉似梦一场君愿,与她重逢
  • 灵术大陆

    灵术大陆

    神秘婴儿降生于神魔之渊,带着惊天身世的他必将称霸百族、向着皇者之路一步步走去。他天赋诡异,让世人望尘莫及。数年后,他弹一曲古筝天地变、山河碎,绘演着一部又一部令人向往的传奇。而这个故事,后世人称”琴魔纪“。
  • 倾世红颜:邪王肆宠妖娆妃

    倾世红颜:邪王肆宠妖娆妃

    前世,她是无奈不甘的特工;今生,她是逆天的废柴王妃。她说:“有些人,相濡以沫,却厌倦到老;有些人,相忘于江湖,却怀念到哭。若让你选,你选何者?”他邪魅一笑:“爱妃此话差异,本王不仅要与爱妃相濡以沫,还要一生一世一双人,何来厌倦?即使覆了这天下,又能如何?”她为他,脱胎换骨,颠覆天下;他为她,冷眸一抬,逆天而行!(ps:诸位读者若有什么好的情节、人名、地名、女子外貌描写等等都可以评论留言,小弯会认真查看斟酌的哦,感谢各位月亮的支持!)