Andrée left the room to prepare. Then Marie Antoinette cried, with bitter sobs, “Oh, mon Dieu! how can one heart bear so much suffering? and yet I should be thankful, for does it not save my children and myself from shame?”
CHAPTER LXXXIII.
IN WHICH IT IS EXPLAINED WHY THE BARON DE TAVERNEY GREW FAT.
Meanwhile Philippe was hastening the preparations for his departure. He did not wish to witness the dishonor of the queen, his first and only passion. When all was ready, he requested an interview with his father. For the last three months the baron had been growing fat; he seemed to feed on the scandals circulating at the court—they were meat and drink to him. When he received his son’s message, instead of sending for him, he went to seek him in his room, already full of the disorder consequent on packing. Philippe did not expect much sensibility from his father, still he did not think he would be pleased. Andrée had already left him, and it was one less to torment, and he must feel a blank when his son went also. Therefore Philippe was astonished to hear his father call out, with a burst of laughter, “Oh, mon Dieu! he is going away, I was sure of it, I would have bet upon it. Well played, Philippe, well played.”
“What is well played, sir?”
“Admirable!” repeated the old man.
“You give me praises, sir, which I neither understand nor merit, unless you are pleased at my departure, and glad to get rid of me.”
“Oh! oh!” laughed the old man again, “I am not your dupe. Do you think I believe in your departure?”
“You do not believe? really, sir, you surprise me.”
“Yes, it is surprising that I should have guessed. You are quite right to pretend to leave; without this ruse all, probably, would have been discovered.”
“Monsieur, I protest I do not understand one word of what you say to me.”