Count Bruhl Part 59

'Ah! hearts! hearts!' interrupted his wife, 'neither you nor I have any right to speak about hearts. We have fancies, but not hearts; we have senses, but not sentiments, but--it is better so.'

She turned from him.

'One word,' said Bruhl, 'later the guests will arrive and I shall not have a chance of talking to you.'

'What is it?'

Bruhl bent close to her ear.

'You are compromising yourself.'

'The idea!'

'That young employe from my office--'

She blushed and said angrily:

'I have my fancies! n.o.body can stop them. Pray do not mix yourself up in my affairs, as I do not mix in yours.'

'Madam!'

Here the Countess Moszynski entered: she was beaming with animation.

She put out her hands to Frau Bruhl and said:

'There is victory _sur tout la ligne!_ In town they speak of nothing else; they wonder, they tremble--'

'They rejoice,' added Bruhl.

'I am not certain of that,' the Countess interrupted, 'but we are pleased at the downfall of that proconsul. Once and for all we are _en famille_ and are not required to bow to that proud lord.'

'What news? What does he intend to do?' asked Bruhl.

'If you know him,' the Countess said, 'you should readily guess.

Naturally he will go to Nebigan, where he will shake his head as he used to do and try to see the King, and to intrigue in order to regain his favour.'

Bruhl laughed.

'Yes, it is very probable; but, dear Countess--from Nebigan it is not far to Dresden, neither is it far from Konigstein--I doubt--'

At that moment a new-comer, Countess Hernberg, the wife of the Austrian envoy, entered. She was a beautiful, black-eyed Viennese, with aristocratic features, who was also Bruhl's Egeria, and said without any greeting:

'I make a wager that they go to Vienna.'

Bruhl made a grimace.

The two ladies began to converse together and the Countess Moszynski took Bruhl aside.

'You make a mistake,' she said. 'Never do anything by halves; you ought to have shut him--'

'The King would never consent,' said Bruhl, 'by asking too much, we might make him resist, and Sulkowski would have our heads cut off.

Then, I know the Count too well, and that is why I do not fear him, he is a weak-minded man, he cannot make a plot. Before he leaves Nebigan I shall find proofs that he appropriated two million thalers and then Konigstein will be justified--'

'Bruhl!' laughed the Countess, 'two million thalers--and you--'

'I do not have one single penny for myself,' exclaimed Bruhl, 'only for the receptions, by which I endeavour to do honour to my King. I am in debt.'

Then he whispered:

'Do not think that I am so stupid as to let the prey go before it is killed; but I was obliged to do it with two blows. I shall get him away from Nebigan as soon as I wish. In the meanwhile I gather proofs. In a few weeks' time the King will consent to anything.'

He laughed strangely, when the Grand Minister of Ceremonies, entering, obliged him to leave the Countess, who joined the ladies.

'How did he receive the news?' asked Bruhl.

'At first he was dismayed, but after a time, bravely and proudly.'

'But the Chamberlain Frisen told me,' hissed Bruhl, 'that having surprised the King in the castle, he crawled to his feet.'

'It is possible,' said Lowendhal, 'But--'

He did not have time to finish the sentence, for the butler made signs to Bruhl from the door, and he was obliged to leave his guest and go and find out why he had been called. He pa.s.sed through the drawing-room with some uneasiness, for although the King was carefully watched, he feared that the former favourite had succeeded in stealing into the castle.

Henniche was waiting in the study, sitting comfortably in an armchair.

Although he made some movement as the minister entered, one could see that he played with him, knowing that he was more necessary to Bruhl, than Bruhl to him.

'What is this urgent business you have to communicate?' said Bruhl reproachfully. 'The people will think that something has happened.'

'Let them think,' said Henniche impatiently. 'Your Excellency amuses himself and I work; I cannot satisfy your fancies.'

'Are you mad?'

'I?' asked Henniche quickly.

'You forget yourself,' said Bruhl.

Henniche laughed.

'Let us drop that; to others you may be a great man, but not to me.'

He waved his hand.

'To what would you amount without me?'

'And what about you, without me?' cried Bruhl vehemently.

'I am a fork, with which every minister must eat; it's quite different.'

Bruhl quieted down.