“Oh, madame, you overwhelm me with your kindness!”
“I wish to overwhelm you with proofs. Not a word, to any one, but this evening, at ten o’clock, wait alone at the door of the park. Now go, sir.”
Charny kneeled, and went away without a word.
Jeanne, who was waiting in the ante-chamber, examined him attentively as he came out. She was soon after summoned to the queen.
CHAPTER LXVII.
WOMAN AND DEMON.
Jeanne had remarked the trouble of Charny, the solicitude of the queen, and the eagerness of both for a conversation.
After what we have already told of the meetings between Jeanne and Oliva, our readers will have been at no loss to understand the scenes in the park. Jeanne, when she came in to the queen, watched her closely, hoping to gather something from her; but Marie Antoinette was beginning to learn caution, and she guarded herself carefully. Jeanne was, therefore, reduced to conjectures. She had already ordered one of her footmen to follow M. de Charny; the man reported that he had gone into a house at the end of the park.
“There is, then, no more doubt,” thought Jeanne; “it is a lover who has seen everything, it is clear. I should be a fool not to understand. I must undo what I have done.”
On leaving Versailles, she drove to the Rue St. Claude; there she found a superb present of plate, sent to her by the cardinal. She then drove to his house, and found him radiant with joy and pride. On her entrance he ran to meet her, calling her “Dear countess,” and full of protestations and gratitude.
“Thank you also, for your charming present. You are more than a happy man; you are a triumphant victor.”