meanwhile Philip 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. Philip did not expect much sensibility from his father, still he did not think he would be pleased. Andree had already left him, and it was one less to torment, and he must feel a blank when his son went also. Therefore Philip 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, Philip, well played!”
“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.”
“I go first to Taverney Maison-Rouge.”
“Very well, but be prudent. There are sharp eyes on you both, and she is so fiery and incautious, that you must be prudent for both. What is your address, in case I want to send you any pressing news?”
“Taverney, nonsense! I do not ask you for the address of your house in the park; but choose some third address near here. You, who have managed so well for your love, can easily manage this.”
“Sir, you play at enigmas, and I cannot find the solution.”
“Oh, you are discreet beyond all bounds. However, keep your secrets, tell me nothing of the huntsman's house, nor the nightly walks with two dear friends, nor the rose, nor the kisses.”
“Monsieur!” cried Philip, mad with jealousy and rage, “will you hold your tongue?”
“Well, I know it all—your intimacy with the queen, and your meetings in the baths of Apollo. Mon Dieu! our fortunes are assured forever.”
“Monsieur, you cause me horror!” cried poor Philip, hiding his face in his hands. And, indeed, he felt it, at hearing attributed to himself all the happiness of another. All the rumors that the father had heard, he had assigned to his son, and believed that it was he that the queen loved, and no one else; hence his perfect contentment and happiness.
“Yes,” he went on, “some said it was Rohan; others, that it was Charny; not one that it was Taverney. Oh, you have acted well.”
At this moment a carriage was heard to drive up, and a servant entering, said, “Here is mademoiselle.”
Then another servant appeared, and said that Mademoiselle de Taverney wished to speak to her brother in the boudoir. Another carriage now came to the door.
“Who the devil comes now?” muttered the baron; “it is an evening of adventures.”
“M. le Comte de Charny,” cried the powerful voice of the porter at the gate.
“Conduct M. le Comte to the drawing-room; my father will see him; and I will go to my sister — What can he want here?” thought Philip, as he went down.
