Calvert of Strathore

Calvert of Strathore, by Carter
Goodloe

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Title: Calvert of Strathore
Author: Carter Goodloe
Release Date: March 23, 2004 [EBook #11690]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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CALVERT OF STRATHORE
BY CARTER GOODLOE

1903

CONTENTS
I. The Legation at Paris II. The France Of 1789 III. "The Lass with the
Delicate Air" IV. At the Palais Royal V. The Private Secretary VI. Mr.
Calvert Meets Old and New Friends VII. An Afternoon on the Ice VIII.
The Americans are Made Welcome in Paris IX. In which Mr. Calvert's
Good Intentions Miscarry X. At Versailles XI. Mr. Calvert Attends the
King's Levee XII. The Fourth and the Fourteenth of July XIII.
Monsieur de Lafayette Brings Friends to a Dinner at the Legation XIV.
Mr. Calvert Rides Down into Touraine XV. Christmas Eve XVI. Mr.
Calvert Tries to Forget XVII. Mr. Calvert Meets an Old Enemy XVIII.
Mr. Calvert Fights a Duel XIX. In which an Unlooked-for Event Takes
Place XX. Mr. Calvert Sees a Short Campaign under Lafayette XXI.
Mr. Calvert Quits the Army and Engages in a Hazardous Enterprise
XXII. Mr. Calvert Starts on a Journey XXIII. Within the Palace XXIV.
The Tenth of August

CALVERT OF STRATHMORE
CHAPTER I
THE LEGATION AT PARIS
There seemed to be some unusual commotion, a suppressed excitement,
about the new and stately American Legation at Paris on the morning
of the 3d of February in the year of grace (but not for France--her days
and years of grace were over!) 1789. The handsome mansion at the
corner of the Grande Route des Champs Elysées and the rue Neuve de
Berry, which had lately belonged to Monsieur le Comte de l'Avongeac
and in which Mr. Jefferson had installed himself as accredited minister
to France after the return of Dr. Franklin to America, presented an
appearance different from its usual quiet.

Across the courtyard, covered with snow fallen during the might, which
glittered and sparkled in the brilliant wintry sunshine, grooms and
stable-boys hurried between écuries and remises, currying Mr.
Jefferson's horses and sponging off Mr. Jefferson's handsome carriage,
with which he had provided himself on setting up his establishment as
minister of the infant federation of States to the court of the sixteenth
Louis. At the porter's lodge that functionary frequently left his little
room, with its brazier of glowing coals, and walked up and down
beneath the porte-cochère, flapping his arms vigorously in the biting
wintry air, and glancing between the bars of the great outer gate up and
down the road as if on the lookout for some person or persons. In the
hotel itself, servants moved quickly and quietly about, setting
everything in the most perfect order.
At one of the windows which gave upon the extensive gardens, covered,
like all else, with the freshly fallen snow, Mr. Jefferson himself could
now and then be seen as he moved restlessly about the small, octagonal
room, lined with books and littered with papers, in which he conducted
most of his official business. A letter, just finished, lay upon his desk.
'Twas to his daughter in her convent of Panthemont, and full of that
good advice which no one ever knew how to give better than he. The
letter being folded and despatched by a servant, Mr. Jefferson was at
liberty to indulge his restless mood. This he did, walking up and down
with his hands clasped behind his back, as was his fashion; but, in spite
of the impatience of his manner, a smile, as of some secret contentment
or happy anticipation, played about his lips. At frequent intervals he
would station himself at one of the windows which commanded the
entrance of the hotel, and, looking anxiously out at the wintry scene,
would consult the splendid new watch just made for him, at great cost,
by Monsieur l'Epine.
It was on the stroke of twelve by Monsieur l'Epine's watch when Mr.
Jefferson, gazing out of the window for the twentieth time that morning
of February 3d, saw a large travelling berline turn in at the big grille
and draw up under the porte-cochère in front of the porter's lodge. In an
instant he was out of the room, down the great stairway, and at the
entrance of the rez-de-chaussée, just as the postilion, dismounting,

opened the door of the carriage from which emerged