So saying, Eugene inclined his head to the duke, and, paying no attention whatever to his double, passed on.
With a saddened heart he returned to his barracks. He was met by the Prince de Commercy, holding aloft a huge placard. "The bulletin! The bulletin!" cried he. "The crisis is past, and the duke is safe."
"We, however, my friend, are in great danger. We are not driven from French territory by our enemies, but by our pretended friends. Ah! Victor Amadeus has this day inflicted upon me a wound more painful than that of the Janizary's arrow at Belgrade. He has withered my laurels at the very moment when my hand was extended to pluck them."
"Then he abandons us, and declares himself for France?" asked De
Commerey.
"If that were all, we could bear his defection, for we would have one enemy more—that is all. Instead of which, we have a double- faced friend who will have far more power to injure us by his treachery in our own camp, than by his hostility in that of the enemy. I will warn the emperor, as it is my duty to do; but he will be dazzled by the fine promises of the duke, and disregard my warning. [Footnote: Every thing happened exactly as Eugene predicted. The Duke of Savoy retained command of the imperial army for three years, during which he played into the hands of Louis XIV., condemning the allied forces to total inaction, until France had complied with all his exactions, when he declared himself for Louis, and accepted the rank of a general in the French army. The Prince de Commercy was so exasperated that he challenged the duke, but the challenge was refused.] Meanwhile, as long as Victor Amadeus wears his mask, should we even wrest a victory in spite of his intrigues, he will manage to deprive us of all its advantages. He will sell us to France, of that you may be sure."
CHAPTER V.
THE MARQUIS STROZZI.
"Then you think that Strozzi will not recognize me?" asked
Barbesieur de Louvois.
"I know it," replied Carlotta. "His memory is a blank from which every image, except that of his wife, has been effaced."
"Does he love her still?"