“Nothing; wait for me to act. I will go to Versailles.”
“When?”
“To-morrow.”
“And when shall I hear from you?”
“Immediately.”
“Then I abandon myself to your protection; au revoir, countess.”
CHAPTER XLVII.
JEANNE PROTECTED.
Mistress of such a secret, rich in such a future, and supported by such a friend, Jeanne felt herself strong against the world. To appear at court, no longer as a suppliant, as the poor mendicant, drawn from poverty by Madame de Boulainvilliers, but as a Valois, with an income of 100,000 francs; to be called the favorite of the queen, and consequently governing the king and state through her.—Such was the panorama that floated before the eyes of Jeanne.
She went to Versailles. She had no audience promised, but she trusted to her good fortune, and as the queen had received her so well before, all the officials were anxious to serve her. Therefore, one of the doorkeepers said aloud, as the queen came from chapel, to one of her gentlemen, “Monsieur, what am I to do? Here is Madame la Comtesse de la Motte Valois asking admission, and she has no letter of audience.”
The queen heard and turned round. “Did you say Madame de la Motte Valois was here?” she asked.