The Mysteries of Paris, Volume 3 of 6

"I assure you that Madame de Lucenay is mistaken, as well as all the rest of the world."

"She told you, in my presence, that it was a folly."

"How many have I committed in my life?"

"Yes, elegant, charming follies, true; – such as people said would ruin you in your Sardanapalian magnificences, – that I admit. But to go and bury yourself alive in such a court, – at Gerolstein! What an idea! Psha! It is a folly, an absurdity; and you have too much good sense to commit absurdities."

"Take care, my dear Lucenay. When you abuse this German court, you will get up a quarrel with D'Harville, the intimate friend of the grand duke regnant, who, moreover, received me with the best possible grace at the embassy, where I was presented to him."

"Really, my dear Henry," said M. d'Harville, "if you knew the grand duke as I know him, you would understand that Saint-Remy could have no repugnance to passing some time at Gerolstein."

"I believe you, marquis, although they do say that he is very haughty and very peculiar, your grand duke; but that will not hinder a don like Saint-Remy, the finest sifting of the finest flour, from being unable to live anywhere but in Paris. It is in Paris only that he is duly appreciated."

The other guests of M. d'Harville now arrived, when Joseph entered, and said a few words in a low voice to his master.

"Gentlemen," said the marquis, "will you allow me? – it is my wife's jeweller, who has brought some diamonds to select for her, – a surprise. You understand that, Lucenay? We are husbands of the old sort, you and I."

"Ah, pardieu! If it is a surprise you mean," shouted the duke, "my wife gave me one yesterday, and a famous one too!"

"Some magnificent present?"

"She asked me for a hundred thousand francs (4,000l.)."

"And you are such a magnifico – you – "

"Lent them to her; they are advanced as mortgage on her Arnouville estate. Right reckonings make good friends, – but that's by the by. To lend in two hours a hundred thousand francs to a friend who requires that sum is what I call pretty, but rare. Is it not prodigal, you who are a connoisseur in loans?" said the duke, laughingly, to Saint-Remy, little thinking of the cutting purport of his words.

In spite of his effrontery, the viscount blushed slightly, and then replied, with composure:

"A hundred thousand francs? – that is immense! What could a woman ever want with such a sum as a hundred thousand francs? As for us men, that is quite a different matter."

"Ma foi! I really do not know what she could want with such a sum as that. But that's not my affair. Some arrears for the toilet, probably? The tradespeople hungry and annoying, – that's her affair. And, as you know very well, my dear Saint-Remy, that, as it was I who lent my wife the money, it would have been in the worst possible taste in me to have inquired the purpose for which she required it."

"Yet," said the viscount, with a laugh, "there is usually a singular curiosity on the part of those who lend money to know what is done with it."

"Parbleu! Saint-Remy," said M. d'Harville, "you have such exquisite taste, that you must help me to choose the ornament I intend for my wife. Your approbation will consecrate my choice; your decisions are sovereign in all that concerns the fashion."

The jeweller entered, bringing with him several caskets of gems in a large leather bag.

"Ah, it is M. Baudoin!" said M. de Lucenay.

"At your grace's service."

"I am sure that it is you who ruined my wife with your dazzling and infernal temptations," said M. de Lucenay.

"Madame la Duchesse has only had her diamonds reset this winter," said the jeweller, slightly embarrassed; "and now, as I came to M. le Marquis, I left them with her grace."

M. de Saint-Remy knew that Madame de Lucenay, to aid him, had changed her jewels for false stones. He was disagreeably embarrassed at this rencontre, but said, boldly:

"How curious these husbands are! – don't answer any inquisitive interrogatories, M. Baudoin."

"Curious; ma foi! no," said the duke; "it is my wife who pays. She can afford all her whims, for she is much richer than I am."

During this conversation, M. Baudoin had displayed on a table several superb necklaces of rubies and diamonds.

"What a fine water, and how exquisitely those stones are cut!" said Lord Douglas.

"Alas, sir!" said the jeweller, "I employed in this work one of the most skilful lapidaries in Paris, named Morel; but, unfortunately, he has become insane, and I shall never find such another workman. My matcher of stones says that, in all probability, it was his wretched condition that deprived the man of his senses, poor fellow!"

"Wretched condition! What! do you trust diamonds to people in distress?"

"Certainly, sir; and there is no instance of a lapidary having ever pilfered anything, however miserable and destitute his condition."

"How much for this necklace?" inquired M. d'Harville.

"M. le Marquis will observe that the stones are of a splendid water and cut, and nearly all of a size."

"These oratorical prefaces threaten your purse," said M. de Saint-Remy, with a laugh. "Now, my dear D'Harville, look out for a high price."

"Come, M. Baudoin, have a conscience, and ask the price you mean to take!" said M. d'Harville.

"I will not haggle with your lordship. The lowest price is forty-two thousand francs (11,680l.)."

"Gentlemen," exclaimed M. de Lucenay, "let us who are married admire D'Harville in silence. A man who contrives a surprise for his wife to the amount of forty-two thousand francs! Diable! we must not noise that abroad, or it would be a detestable precedent."

"Laugh on, gentlemen, as much as you please," said the marquis, gaily. "I love my wife, and am not ashamed to confess it; on the contrary, I boast of it."

"It is plain enough to be seen," said M. de Saint-Remy; "such a present speaks more eloquently than all the protestation in the world."

"I will take this necklace, then," said M. d'Harville, "if the setting of black enamel seems to you in good taste, Saint-Remy."

"Oh, it sets off the brilliancy of the stones; it is exquisitely devised."

"Then this it shall be," said M. d'Harville. "You will settle, M. Baudoin, with M. Doublet, my man of business."

"M. Doublet told me as much, my lord marquis," said the jeweller, who quitted the apartment, after having packed up his bag without counting the jewels which he had brought (such was his confidence), and notwithstanding M. de Saint-Remy had for a long time and curiously handled and examined them during the interview.

M. d'Harville gave the necklace to Joseph, who was waiting, and said to him, in a low tone:

"Mlle. Juliette must put these diamonds cleverly away with those of her mistress, so that la marquise may not suspect; and then her surprise will be the greater."

At this moment the maître d'hôtel announced that the breakfast was ready; and the guests, passing into the dining-room, seated themselves.

"Do you know, my dear D'Harville," said M. de Lucenay, "that this house is one of the most elegant and best arranged in Paris?"

"It is very convenient, certainly, but we want room; I have a plan to add a gallery on the garden. Madame d'Harville wishes to give some grand balls, and our salons are not large enough. Then, I think, nothing is more inconvenient than the encroachments of fêtes on the apartments one usually occupies, and from which, on such occasions, you are necessarily driven."

"I am quite of D'Harville's opinion," said M. de Saint-Remy; "nothing is more wretched, more tradesmanlike, than these movings, compelled by the coming of balls and concerts. To give fêtes, really of the first class, without inconveniencing oneself, there must be devoted to their uses peculiar and special suites of apartments; and then vast and splendid rooms, devoted to a magnificent ball, ought to assume an appearance wholly distinct from that of ordinary salons. There is the same difference between these two sets of apartments as between a monumental fresco-painting and a sketch on a painter's easel."