Dumas, Alexandre – Ten Years Later
The chevalier shrugged his shoulders.
“Why, he pretends,” continued the prince, “that Mademoiselle
Henrietta is better looking as a woman than I am as a man.”
“Do not forget, my lord,” said De Guiche, frowning slightly,
“you require me to speak the truth?”
“Certainly,” said the prince, tremblingly.
“Well, and I shall tell it you.”
“Do not be in a hurry, Guiche,” exclaimed the prince, “you
have plenty of time; look at me attentively, and try to
recollect Madame. Besides, her portrait is here. Look at
it.” And he held out to him a miniature of the finest
possible execution. De Guiche took it, and looked at it for
a long time attentively.
“Upon my honor, my lord, this is indeed a most lovely face.”
“But look at me, count, look at me,” said the prince
endeavoring to direct upon himself the attention of the
count, who was completely absorbed in contemplation of the
portrait.
“It is wonderful,” murmured Guiche.
“Really one would almost imagine you had never seen the
young lady before.”
“It is true, my lord, I have seen her, but it was five years
ago; there is a great difference between a child twelve
years old and a girl of seventeen.”
“Well, what is your opinion?”
“My opinion is that the portrait must be flattering, my
lord.”
“Of that,” said the prince triumphantly, “there can be no
doubt, but let us suppose that it is not, what would your
opinion be?”
“My lord, that your highness is exceedingly happy to have so
charming a bride.”
“Very well, that is your opinion of her, but of me?”
“My opinion, my lord, is that you are too handsome for a
man.”
The Chevalier de Lorraine burst out laughing. The prince
understood how severe towards himself this opinion of the
Comte de Guiche was, and he looked somewhat displeased,
saying, “My friends are not over indulgent.” De Guiche
looked at the portrait again, and, after lengthened
contemplation, returned it with apparent unwillingness,
saying, “Most decidedly, my lord, I should rather prefer to
look ten times at your highness, than to look at Madame once
again.” It seemed as if the chevalier had detected some
mystery in these words, which were incomprehensible to the
prince, for he exclaimed: “Very well, get married yourself.”
Monsieur continued painting himself, and when he had
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Dumas, Alexandre – Ten Years Later
finished, looked at the portrait again once more, turned to
admire himself in the glass, and smiled, and no doubt was
satisfied with the comparison. “You are very kind to have
come,” he said to Guiche, “I feared you would leave without
bidding me adieu.”
“Your highness knows me too well to believe me capable of so
great a disrespect.”
“Besides, I suppose you have something to ask from me before
leaving Paris?”
“Your highness has indeed guessed correctly, for I have a
request to make.”
“Very good, what is it?”
The Chevalier de Lorraine immediately displayed the greatest
attention, for he regarded every favor conferred upon
another as a robbery committed against himself. And, as
Guiche hesitated, the prince said: “If it be money, nothing
could be more fortunate, for I am in funds; the
superintendent of the finances has sent me 500,000
pistoles.”
“I thank your highness; but it is not an affair of money.”
“What is it, then? Tell me.”
“The appointment of a maid of honor.”
“Oh! oh! Guiche, what a protector you have become of young
ladies,” said the prince, “you never speak of any one else
now!”
The Chevalier de Lorraine smiled, for he knew very well that
nothing displeased the prince more than to show any interest
in ladies. “My lord,” said the comte, “it is not I who am
directly interested in the lady of whom I have just spoken;
I am acting on behalf of one of my friends.”
“Ah! that is different; what is the name of the young lady
in whom your friend is interested?”
“Mlle. de la Baume le Blanc de la Valliere; she is already
maid of honor to the dowager princess.”
“Why, she is lame,” said the Chevalier de Lorraine,
stretching himself on his cushions.