The Hero of the People
Copyright© 2024 by Alexandre Dumas
Chapter 17: The King Attends to Private Matters.
LOUIS the King displayed the usual irresolution in dealing with Favras’ proposition, approved by the Queen, to make a rush out of the kingdom. He reflected all the night and at breakfast called for Count Charny.
He was still at table when the officer walked in.
“Won’t you take breakfast with me, count?”
Charny was obliged to excuse himself from the honor as he had broken his fast.
“I must ask you to wait a while as I never care to speak of important matters while at meals and I have something to talk over with your lordship. Let us speak of other matters for the moment. Of yourself, for instance. I hear that you are badly lodged here; somewhere in the garret, my lord, while the countess is lodging in Paris.”
“Sire, I am in a room of my own choice: the countess is dwelling in her own house in Coq-Heron Street.”
“I must confess my ignorance; is it near the palace?”
“Tolerably, Sire.”
“What does this mean that after only three years of married life, you have separate establishments?”
“Sire, I have no answer to make than that my lady wishes to live alone. I have not had the pleasure of seeing her since your Majesty sent me for news. That is, better than a week ago.”
The King understood grief more readily than melancholy and noticed the difference in the tone.
“Count, there is some of your fault in this estrangement,” said the monarch, with the familiarity of the family man, as he called himself.
“The man must be to blame when so charming a woman keeps aloof from him. Do not tell me that this is none of my business: for a king can do a great deal by speaking a word. You must treat the lady ungratefully, for she loves you dearly—or did when Lady Taverney.”
“Sire, you know that one must not dispute with a king.”
“I do not know that the signs were visible to me alone; but this I know very well that on that dreadful October night, when she came to join us, she did not lose sight of you throughout, and her eyes expressed all her soul’s anguish, so much so that I saw her make a movement to fling herself between you and danger when the Bullseye Saloon door was beaten down.”
To read the complete story you need to be logged in:
Log In or
Register for a Free account
(Why register?)
* Allows you 3 stories to read in 24 hours.