CHAPTER IV

THE FETE OF BEL-AIR

Henrietta had swooned in the vehicle which was being rapidly driven into open country.

Gradually color came back into wan cheeks. The blue orbs and Cupid lips fluttered and half opened; the dazed little brain tried vainly to sense what had happened.

Quickly the man La Fleur took out a small phial and poured some few drops of a dark liquid on the girl's tongue. Half consciously swallowing it, she sank back again--this time, into a deeper nirvana.

They were coming now to a large estate, the grounds of which were brightly illuminated. Outside the iron palings a crowd of beggars shrieked and gesticulated. Within, all was gayety. La Fleur and his fellows dismounted with their burden. They laid the inanimate form of the Norman girl on a litter and covered it with a white canopy. As this strange pallet awaits the Master's wishes in anteroom, let us take a peep at the celebrated Sunken Gardens.

Bel-Air had been beautified in the lovely exedra style for which Pet.i.t Trianon is noted. Art blended so cunningly with Nature one might almost mistake marble Venus for live G.o.ddess or flesh-and-blood naiads of the lake for carved caryatides. The very musicians seemed children of Pan as they tuned their lyres and fiddles in woodland nook.

Before the splashing fountain supported by little naked Loves in marble--flanked by bal.u.s.trades and bordered by screens of myriad crystalline gla.s.s drops--a cool white pavement invited the gay minuet.

Beyond, a huge banquet table groaned with delicacies and wines the cost of which would have gone far to rationing the thirty thousand hungry of the nearby City. Indeed, enough was wasted to have fed many.

With bizarre and often gross entertainment Marquis de Praille amused his guests who themselves presented a wanton and amorous scene that seemed itself a part of the elaborately staged revels.

What gallantry, what pa.s.sion, what low asides and s.n.a.t.c.hed kisses! as the squirming dancers intoxicated the spectators' sense or gauzily draped coryphees plunged in the pool now converted into a fountain of wine. The elegant gentlemen and the audacious women guests--themselves miracles of bold costuming and sixty-inch snow-white coiffures--knew the play foretold the coa.r.s.er revels that all would indulge in after midnight.

Around the banqueting tables a number of ladies and gentlemen were seated, some still toying with the savory viands and drinking rare vintages of Champagne, whilst others idly watched the dancers or discussed the latest court news and high life scandal.

"Well, what do you think of my retreat from the whirl and bustle of Paris?" asked Marquis de Praille of his vis-a-vis, who was a dashing sort of beauty.

"My dear Marquis," replied that lady, "I am delighted. It is a satisfaction to find a gentleman who maintains the customs of his rank."

"And yet there are fools who want to change them," exclaimed a young n.o.bleman from the opposite table.

"You are right--fools--fools," answered de Praille, as he motioned to the servants for more wine.

[Ill.u.s.tration: I WON'T GO ANNOUNCED LOUISE FIRMLY. YOU'LL MEET SOMEBODY, GET MARRIED AND I'LL BE LEFT ALL ALONE.]

"By the way," asked the lady who had first spoken, "you have heard the news?"

As no one had heard anything particularly new for the last two hours, she continued by saying:

"They say that the new minister of police is as hard as a stone, and cold as a fish. He is going to put a stop to all our amus.e.m.e.nts, and, Marquis, this may be the last entertainment you will give at Bel-Air."

"Nonsense!" exclaimed the host. "I'd like to see the minister of police who would dare to interfere with the pleasures of a French n.o.bleman. Who and what is he?"

"He is from Touraine; is called the Count de Linieres, and is the uncle of the Chevalier Maurice de Vaudrey."

"Where is the Chevalier?" suddenly asked one of the ladies, as she was thus reminded of one whom report had described as rather eccentric, and on whom she wished to exercise her charms. "You promised me I should see him, Marquis."

"So I did, and I expect him, as well as another guest. I warn you, ladies, that she will be the rival to you all."

"Who is the other guest?" was the question which a.s.sailed him from all quarters.

"A young lady," answered the Marquis as if enraptured at the thought.

"Sweet sixteen, beautiful as a rose, and innocent as an angel."

"Where did you find such a pearl?" asked one of the ladies banteringly.

"In Normandy."

This announcement was followed by a t.i.tter from the feminine members of the group.

"Yes, I know these Normandy beauties!" scorned one of the ladies, betraying in spite of herself a tinge of jealousy.

"Rustics! Quite unpolished and de trop," chimed in another fair one, cat-like in her verbal claws.

"Laugh away, ladies," said de Praille gayly. "You shall see a real Norman beauty, and then see how jealous you will all become at sight of her."

At this moment a noise was heard from the outside, and in the midst of some confusion a rather singular voice was heard saying:

"I tell you I must go in, and I will. I must speak to your master."

On hearing this the Marquis went toward the entrance, and demanded of the servants who this was who was so importunate.

"Picard," answered the owner of the singular voice. "Picard, valet to the Chevalier de Vaudrey."

The Marquis immediately gave orders that he be admitted, and a sharp, wiry-looking fellow, wearing the de Vaudrey livery, stood before the gay party.

"Most excellent Marquis and most beautiful ladies," he said to the general mirth as he curtsied low and executed a neat pas seul, "my master the Chevalier is very late, but he will surely appear."

"Late?" protested one of the young blades who knew the Prefect's nephew. "Why, he told me he expected to be here early."

"Alas, detained by business--" replied Picard in a melancholy tone.

"Business! A young n.o.bleman has no business!"

"It is so, gentlemen. Some nights, I grant you, he devotes to pleasure, as a young aristocrat should; but his days--how do you suppose he spends his days?"

"Sleeps, of course," said the Marquis, in a positive tone.

"Gentlemen, allow me to tell you confidentially," said the valet mysteriously as the gentlemen gathered around him, fully expecting to hear of some treason. "He works! actually works! He sits down and reads and writes as though he were an advocate."

CHAPTER V

BEL-AIR--(CONTINUED)

"Bah!" exclaimed one. "You don't expect us to believe that?"

"Yes, and more, too," answered Picard, who enjoyed immensely being able to impart some information to his superiors. "Why, how do you suppose he acts to the common people who want to see him? His creditors, for instance?"