• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

Bi LIBRARY THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA BARBARA PRESENTED BY MRS. DONALD KELLOGG THE QUEEN'S NECKLACE; OR THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE COURT OF LOUIS XVI, BY ALEXANDRE DUMAS, TRANSLATED BY THOMAS WILLIAMS, ESQ, N E W - Y O R K : W. P. BURGESS, 22 ANN STREET. 1850. Entered according to un Act of Congress in the year 1850. BY W. F. BURGESS, In the Clerk's OflBce of the District Court for the Southern District of New York. THE QUEEN'S NECKLACE: OR, THE MYSTERIES OP THE COURT OF LOUIS Xl'I. PROLOGUE. * servation, but it was sure to be the fore- An old Nobleman and an old Major-dnmo runner of some gross stupidity.' IN the early pint of the month of Mou seigneur !' a First of all. at April 1734, and at about quarter piisf what o'clock am I to three o'clock in the afternoon, the aged dine ?' ' Marshnl <li- llirholi.'u, our old acquain- Citizens, my lord,- dine at two o'- tance, after having with his own hands clock, people connected with the law at ' dyed his eyebrows with a perfumed three, the nobility at four ' liquid, pushed from before him a hwnd- And I, sir?' las3 which was held up by his v.ilct de ' My lord will dine to-day at live o' chambre, the successor, but not the clock.' ' equnl of the faithful Rafe, and shaking Oh ! oh ! at five o'clock !' his head with that air which was pecu- ' Yes, my lord, as the King does.' liar to himself. And why as the King does ?' Come, come,' said he, -I look toler- ' Because, upon the list which my able well after all.' And he rose from lord did me the honor to transmit to his arm chair filliping off with a perfect- me, there is the name of a king.' tin; minute ' no sir are mis- ly juvenile gesture atoms of By means, ; you u.ii,- fallen his taken |)'i\v(!cr which had from ; among my guests to-day there peruke on to his light blue velvet ;ire but private gentlemen.' ' les. Then nfler taking two or My lord, is pleased doubtless to jest turns in his dressing closet with his humble .servant, and I thank stretching forth one foot and straighten- him for the honor he does me, but the ing his knee with a satisfied air. Count de Haga who is one of my lord's ' C.iil in, major-domo,' said he. guests I'ivr minutes afterwards, the major- Well ?' domo entered in grand costume. ' Well then, the Count de Haga is a .Marshal assumed iis serious an king.' 1 i avily of the case demanded. I do not know any king who is thus '.Sir,' sail li;-. I Mippose that you have named, sir.' ' provided ;\ good dinner.' My lord will be pleased to forgive ' Why, yes, Monseigneur.' me then, for I had supposed ' ut to you the list of my guests, Your mission is not to imagine, your did I not ?' duty is not to suppose ! What you And I have carefully noted the num- have to do is to execute the orders I ber of them, Monseigneur. Nine per- may give you without adding your com- sons in all, was it not .'' ments to them. When I wish a thing Yes but there are dinners and to be known I it I do sir, say ; when not say dinners.' it, h is my will that it should not be ' Of that I am well aware, Monseig- known.' ' neur, but The major-domo bowed a second lime The Marshal interrupted the major- and on this occasion perhaps more re- with a to domo slight gesture of impa- t'ully than had he been speaking tience, tempered however with dignity. ;i ivigning King. ' But, is no answer, sir, for every lime Therefore, sir,' continued the old I hear the word but, and I have heard Marshal, 'you will have the goodneaa it many times during the last eighty a-i I have only private gentlemen to dine years; well, sir, every time I have heard with me, to allow me to dine at my that word, I am sorry to make the ob- accustomed hour, four o'clock-' THJ 'II, TIJK , brow I de he still the On receiving these orders the Count Packenstein ; was of tbo major-domo became clouded over Emperor. To-day your lordship re- is if 6entence of death had been pro- ceives a guest who vainly calls himself him. turned the Count the Count is nounced against He pale de Haga ; not and trembled under the unexpected any the less King of Sweden. I wil blow. Then drawing himself up with leave the Hotel of your lordship this all the courage of despair : evening, but the Count de Haga shall be jipen what niny please heaven,' received as a king !' ' wiid he, resolutely, 'but my lord will And this is precisely what I am rack- five o'clock.' brain not this drfy dine before ing my to prevent, you wrong- ' How ! What does this mean ?' cri- headed, obstinate man,' cried the Mar- ed the Marshal drawing himself up shal. 'The Count de Haga insists on fiercely. Jhe strictest, the most opaque incognito. 1 Because, it ia materialy impossible JJy heavens ! I fully recognize in this that my lord can dine before that hour.' your stupid vanity, Sir Knight of the 4 Sir,' said the old Marshal, proudly Niipkin ! It is not a crowned head that shaking his head, which still appeared you wish to honor, it is your own sell- young and energetic, it is I believe Jove you wish to glorify, by spending a twenty years since you first entered my few extra crowns.' ' ervice.' I do not imagine,' repliod the major- 4 ' Twenty-one years, one month and domo, that your lordship is speaking two weeks over and above.' seriously when he talks of money.' 1 Well, sir, then let me tell you that to 'Surely not,' said the Marshal almosi 4 these twenty-one years, one month and humiliated, it is not with regard to fourteen days you shall not add a diiy, money. Who the deuse spoke to you of nay, not even an hour, do you hear inc.' money ? Do not avoid the real question said the old man pinching up his thiii in thin wny, if you please. I tell you lips and knitting his dyed eyebrows, again that I will not allow you even to 4 from this evening you may seek an- suppose that a king is to be here.' other master. I will not 'allow the ' But my lord Duke, who do you take 4 ' word impossible to be pronounced in me for '.' Do you believe that I could my houae. It is not at my age that I act thus blindly. Why not a word will will begin to serve an apprenticeship to be said about a king even for a mo- that word. I have no time to lose.' ment.' ' The major-domo bowed a third time. Come, come ! do not be obstinate 4 This evening I shall take leave of and let us have our dinner at four o'- lord but at least will have clock.' my ; my duty been decorously fulfilled up to the last ' No, my lord, no; because at four o'- ' moment. clock something that I am expecting And he took two steps backwards to- will not have arrived.' wards the door. 'What is it you are expecting? a What do you mean by decorously?' fish I suppose, as did Mr. Vatel.' 4 cried the Marshal; 'please to remember Mr. Vatel ! Mr. Vatel !* muttered sir, that tilings are to be done here ac- the major-domo. 4 Hn-ding to my will, that is the decorum How ! are you shocked at the com- I insist upon. I wish to dine at four parison ?' and it is that ' but for a miserable sword thrust o'clock, not decorous you No ; thould make me dine at five.' which Mr. Vatel gave himself through * My lord, Marshal,' said the major-do- the body, Mr, Vatel has become im- ' mo drily, I served the Prince de Sou- mortal.' liutier, the Prince de Rohan an 4 And you, sir, I suppose consider thai imciukmt. The King of France dined your brother artist paid too cheaply for once a year with the former. With his glory.' the second his Majesty the Emperor of 'No, my lord; but how mnny are Aueirin dined once a month. I there- there in our profession who suffer more fore know, my lord, how sovereigns than he did, and who ore compelled to should be treated. It was in viiin that endure sorrows and humiliations*! thou- JVin^ Louis XV. called himself the sand times more poignant than a sword Baron de Gonesse when at the house wound, but who nevertheless are not of the Prince de Soubise. In the immoitali/.euV houae of the second, that is to say the 4 But do you not know, sir, that in or- Prince de Rohan, it was in vain that the der to be immortalized you must either Juuueror of Austria styled himself the belong to the academy or be duud ?' MYSTERIES OF THE COURT OF LOUIS XVI. 4 it is 4 he it to Oh ! if that is the case, my lord, And gave you?' 4 much better to be alive, and to fulfil one's Most certainly, my lord ,' replied duty. I will not die, and my service shall the major-domo, drawing himself up be duly performed, as would have been proudly.

Load more

  228

Copy Link