“No need of a fresh promise, surely your Eminence knows me. Come, you have gone too far now to beat a retreat.”
“Voilá! It appears that last year the beautiful Princess, in admiring the beauties of the Hofburg, thought fit to cast longing eyes on the celebrated candlesticks of gold and vieux Vienne, that had belonged to Marie Antoinette.”
“Ah! yes I have heard of them, they are said to be most exquisite works of art, and I believe many a member of the Hapsburg family has longed in vain to possess them.”
“Until the said pair of Russian eyes were cast on them with a pleading look, and an Imperial heart was unable to resist,” assented the Cardinal.
“And his Majesty?”
“Has asked me to lay these same candlesticks, together with the Imperial and Royal homage, at the dainty feet of his chère amie.”
“And your Eminence has accepted the task?”
“With great reluctance, I assure you, chère madame; but what would you? His Majesty has the faculty of opening even an old diplomatist’s heart, as easily as he does the secret springs of his candlesticks.”
“The secret springs?”
“Yes! did you not know the candlesticks contained secret springs, with mysterious receptacles, that, according to history, contained many a time Marie Antoinette’s private missives to her brother in Vienna? Oh! they are most interesting heirlooms, most fascinating bibelots.”