“I condole with you,” he replied; “and it is a lesson for me. I was going to make a request to-morrow for myself.”
“Send for Madame de la Motte,” said the queen, when she returned to her room.
CHAPTER LIX.
MARIE ANTOINETTE AS QUEEN, AND MADAME DE LA MOTTE AS WOMAN.
The courier despatched for Madame de la Motte, not finding her at home, went to the hotel of the Cardinal de Rohan to inquire if she were there.
The well-tutored Swiss replied that she was not, but that he could get any message transmitted to her.
The courier, therefore, left word for her to come to the queen as soon as possible. The man had hardly left the door before the message was delivered to Jeanne as she sat at supper with the cardinal. She set off immediately, and was at once introduced into the queen’s chamber.
“Oh!” cried the queen on seeing her, “I have something to tell you. The king has refused me 500,000 francs.”
“Mon Dieu!” murmured the countess.
“Incredible, is it not? He struck through the item; but it is useless to talk of it; you must return to Paris, and tell the cardinal that since he is so kind I accept the 500,000 francs he offered me. It is selfish, I know, but what can I do?”
“Oh! madame!” cried Jeanne, “we are lost—the cardinal no longer has the money.”