登陆注册
7866600000169

第169章

A Quarter of an Hour's Delay.

Fouquet, on leaving his house for the second time that day, felt himself less heavy and less disturbed than might have been expected.He turned towards Pellisson, who was meditating in the corner of the carriage some good arguments against the violent proceedings of Colbert.

"My dear Pellisson," said Fouquet, "it is a great pity you are not a woman.""I think, on the contrary, it is very fortunate," replied Pellisson, "for, monseigneur, I am excessively ugly.""Pellisson! Pellisson!" said the superintendent, laughing:

"you repeat too often you are `ugly,' not to leave people to believe that it gives you much pain.""In fact it does, monseigneur, much pain; there is no man more unfortunate than I: I was handsome, the smallpox rendered me hideous; I am deprived of a great means of attraction; now, I am your principal clerk or something of that sort; I take great interest in your affairs, and if, at this moment, I were a pretty woman, I could render you an important service.""What?"

"I would go and find the concierge of the Palais.I would seduce him, for he is a gallant man, extravagantly partial to women; then I would get away our two prisoners.""I hope to be able to do so myself, although I am not a pretty woman," replied Fouquet.

"Granted, monseigneur; but you are compromising yourself very much.""Oh!" cried Fouquet, suddenly, with one of those secret transports which the generous blood of youth, or the remembrance of some sweet emotion, infuses into the heart.

"Oh! I know a woman who will enact the personage we stand in need of, with the lieutenant-governor of the conciergerie.""And, on my part, I know fifty, monseigneur; fifty trumpets, which will inform the universe of your generosity, of your devotion to your friends, and, consequently, will ruin you sooner or later in ruining themselves.""I do not speak of such women, Pellisson, I speak of a noble and beautiful creature who joins to the intelligence and wit of her *** the valor and coolness of ours; I speak of a woman, handsome enough to make the walls of a prison bow down to salute her, discreet enough to let no one suspect by whom she has been sent.""A treasure!" said Pellisson, "you would make a famous present to monsieur the governor of the conciergerie! Peste!

monseigneur, he might have his head cut off; but he would, before dying, have had such happiness as no man had enjoyed before him.""And I add," said Fouquet, "that the concierge of the Palais would not have his head cut off, for he would receive of me my horses to effect his escape, and five hundred thousand livres wherewith to live comfortably in England: I add, that this lady, my friend, would give him nothing but the horses and the money.Let us go and seek her, Pellisson."The superintendent reached forth his hand towards the gold and silken cord placed in the interior of his carriage, but Pellisson stopped him."Monseigneur," said he, "you are going to lose as much time in seeking this lady as Columbus took to discover the new world.Now, we have but two hours in which we can possibly succeed; the concierge once gone to bed, how shall we get at him without ****** a disturbance?

When daylight dawns, how can we conceal our proceedings? Go, go yourself, monseigneur, and do not seek either woman or angel to-night.""But, my dear Pellisson, here we are before her door.""What! before the angel's door?"

"Why, yes!"

"This is the hotel of Madame de Belliere!""Hush!"

"Ah! Good Lord!" exclaimed Pellisson.

"What have you to say against her?"

"Nothing, alas! and it is that which causes my despair.

Nothing, absolutely nothing.Why can I not, on the contrary, say ill enough of her to prevent your going to her?"But Fouquet had already given orders to stop, and the carriage was motionless."Prevent me!" cried Fouquet; "why, no power on earth should prevent my going to pay my compliments to Madame de Plessis-Belliere, besides, who knows that we shall not stand in need of her!""No, monseigneur no!"

"But I do not wish you to wait for me, Pellisson," replied Fouquet, sincerely courteous.

"The more reason I should, monseigneur; knowing that you are keeping me waiting, you will, perhaps, stay a shorter time.

Take care! You see there is a carriage in the courtyard: she has some one with her." Fouquet leant towards the steps of the carriage."One word more," cried Pellisson; "do not go to this lady till you have been to the concierge, for Heaven's sake!""Eh! five minutes, Pellisson," replied Fouquet, alighting at the steps of the hotel, leaving Pellisson in the carriage, in a very ill-humor.Fouquet ran upstairs, told his name to the footman, which excited an eagerness and a respect that showed the habit the mistress of the house had of honoring that name in her family."Monsieur le surintendant," cried the marquise, advancing, very pale, to meet him; "what an honor! what an unexpected pleasure!" said she.Then, in a low voice, "Take care!" added the marquise, "Marguerite Vanel is here!""Madame," replied Fouquet, rather agitated, "I came on business.One single word, and quickly, if you please!" And he entered the salon.Madame Vanel had risen, paler, more livid, than Envy herself.Fouquet in vain addressed her, with the most agreeable, most pacific salutation; she only replied by a terrible glance darted at the marquise and Fouquet.This keen glance of a jealous woman is a stiletto which pierces every cuirass; Marguerite Vanel plunged it straight into the hearts of the two confidants.She made a courtesy to her friend, a more profound one to Fouquet, and took leave, under pretense of having a number of visits to make, without the marquise trying to prevent her, or Fouquet, a prey to anxiety, thinking further about her.She was scarcely out of the room, and Fouquet left alone with the marquise, before he threw himself on his knees, without saying a word."I expected you," said the marquise, with a tender sigh.

同类推荐
  • 清史稿

    清史稿

    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。
  • 古列女传

    古列女传

    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。
  • 善慧大士语录

    善慧大士语录

    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。
  • HOW TO FAIL IN LITERATURE

    HOW TO FAIL IN LITERATURE

    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。
  • 茶录

    茶录

    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。
热门推荐
  • 星星的怦然心动

    星星的怦然心动

    本节目是由viai手机赞助播出,viai手机,唯爱永生,怦然心动。杨小渔这个大龄剩女闯入了鲜肉群。三个帅男都比她小,让她怎么选择。杨旸:不是吧,大姐,我和你一见如故,我拿你当哥们,你却想睡我。李易风:唉,别挨着我啊,耽误我进修了。白敬霆:“小渔姐,我可对你不感兴趣哦。”“我们是最默契的搭档嘛,朋友嘛”“如果这是你希望的,我会这样做的“"杨小渔,你选择别人,试试。”……这孩子精分啊。不知不觉,谁在触动谁的思绪,谁在撩拨谁的心弦,怦……怦……甜文,小虐,结局he
  • 叶罗丽精灵梦盼你无缘

    叶罗丽精灵梦盼你无缘

    人生有多远,爱你有多长,多希望我们之间的一切一直活在梦境了,永远不会醒来命运对待我们不公平我们就与命运作对(主角冰公主、思思、灵公主、文茜。黑默、黑默,默粉勿进)
  • 晴爱锁心冷魅少

    晴爱锁心冷魅少

    ‘我反对’三个字就打断了我的婚礼,会场的尽头背光站着一个修长的男人,浑身散发着淡淡的冷漠气息。凛冽桀骜的眼神,高挺的鼻梁下是两半噙着骄傲的嘴唇。“我反对!”这个男人是谁,为什么要反对。“因为她是我的女人!”他的语气好霸道,世界仿佛在一瞬间退回到遥远的洪荒时代。为了复仇我会不惜一切代价,包括利用我的爱情,利用我的婚姻,利用我的幸福。我要用我的方式揭开他的防伪面具。时间改变不了他是杀人犯的事实。
  • 幻天榜

    幻天榜

    他是一个抛弃的家族长子他是如何强势回归,面对爱人和亲人的背叛有是如何应对。他有一句属于他的话"我的东西永远都是我的任何人都那不走,包括我的亲人”
  • 降妖的表姐

    降妖的表姐

    他,如花妖男,总缠绕在她身边,她,心静如水,总以为爱情与她无关,生命原来寂寞,可是总有人围绕在你身边,冷清的人生变得热闹纷繁,他是幸福时可以离开的朋友,还是呵护在内心最柔软处的那个爱人?这会是怎样的情感?谁能告诉她这是爱吗?
  • 唯有前夫不可负

    唯有前夫不可负

    隐婚三年,相敬如冰,有名无实。当她幸福的为他披上婚纱,他和别人的婚讯却铺天盖地而来。她次次逃离,他步步紧逼。他为她做尽所有,披荆斩棘,不改初心。他的青梅,她的初恋,相继归来,一夜之间天翻地覆。真相一个个浮出水面,天定缘分,是谁的阴谋?痴心守候,是否真能换来天长地久?
  • 奈何王爷搞穿越

    奈何王爷搞穿越

    尽情期待,皇上和我的“爱恨情仇”“恩怨瓜葛……
  • 其实,还在

    其实,还在

    意外的相遇,恰好的时间,爱情遇上巧合,巧合衍变成了缘分。巧合与巧合,又会擦出怎样的火花。。。
  • 天行

    天行

    号称“北辰骑神”的天才玩家以自创的“牧马冲锋流”战术击败了国服第一弓手北冥雪,被誉为天纵战榜第一骑士的他,却受到小人排挤,最终离开了效力已久的银狐俱乐部。是沉沦,还是再次崛起?恰逢其时,月恒集团第四款游戏“天行”正式上线,虚拟世界再起风云!
  • 文公

    文公

    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。