The Chaplet of Pearls | Page 5

with steps up to a vestibule paved in black and white lozenges,
and with three endless corridors diverging from it. So much for show;
for use, this palace was a bewildering complication of secret drawers
and pigeon- holes, all depending indeed upon one tiny gold key; but
unless the use of that key were well understood, all it led to was certain
outer receptacles of fragrant Spanish gloves, knots of ribbon, and
kerchiefs strewn over with rose leaves and lavender. However,
Eustacie had secured the key, and was now far beyond these mere
superficial matters. Her youthful lord had just discovered her mounted
on a chair, her small person decked out with a profusion of necklaces,
jewels, bracelets, chains, and rings; and her fingers, as well as they
could under their stiffening load, were opening the very penetralia of
the cabinet, the inner chamber of the hall, where lay a case adorned
with the Ribaumont arms and containing the far-famed chaplet of
pearls. It was almost beyond her reach, but she had risen on tip-toe,
and was stretching out her hand for it, when he, springing behind her
on the chair, availed himself of his superior height and strength to shut
the door of this Arcanum and turn the key. His mortifying permission to
his wife to absent herself arose from pure love of teasing, but the next
moment he added, still holding his hand on the key--'As to telling what
my father reads, that would be treason. How shouldst thou know what
it is?'
'Does thou think every one is an infant but thyself?'
'But who told thee that to talk of my father's books would get him into
trouble?' continued the boy, as they still stood together on the high

heavy wooden chair.
She tossed her pretty head, and pretended to pout.
'Was it Diane? I will know. Didst thou tell Diane?'
Instead of answering, now that his attention to the key was relaxed,
Eustacie made a sudden dart, like a little wild cat, at the back of the
chair and at the key. They chair over-balanced; Beranger caught at the
front drawer of the cabinet, which, unlocked by Eustacie, came out in
his hand, and chair, children, drawer, and curiosities all went rolling
over together on the floor with a hubbub that brought all the household
together, exclaiming and scolding. Madame de Ribaumont's
displeasure at the rifling of her hoards knew no bounds; Eustacie, by
way of defence, shrieked 'like twenty demons;' Beranger, too
honourable to accuse her, underwent the same tempest; and at last
both were soundly rapped over the knuckles with the long handle of
Madame's fan, and consigned to two separate closets, to be dealt with
on the return of M. le Baron, while Madame returned to her
embroidery, lamenting the absence of that dear little Diane, whose late
visit at the chateau had been marked by such unusual tranquility
between the children.
Beranger, in his dark closet, comforted himself with the shrewd
suspicion that his father was so employed as not to be expected at home
till supper-time, and that his mother's wrath was by no means likely to
be so enduring as to lead her to make complaints of the prisoners; and
when he heard a trampling of horses in the court, he anticipated a
speedy release and summons to show himself to the visitors. He waited
long, however, before he heard the pattering of little feet; then a stool
scraped along the floor, the button of his door was undone, the stool
pushed back, and as he emerged, Eustacie stood before him with her
finger to her lip. 'CHUT, Beranger! It is my father and uncle, and
Narcisse, and, oh! so many gens d'armes. They are come to summon M.
le Baron to go with them to disperse the preche by the Bac de l'Oie.
And oh, Beranger, is he not there?'
'I do not know. He went out with his hawk, and I do not think he could

have gone anywhere else. Did they say so to my mother?'
'Yes; but she never knows. And oh, Beranger, Narcisse told me--ah,
was it to tease me?--that Diane has told them all they wanted to know,
for that they sent her here on purpose to see if we were not all
Huguenots.
'Very likely, the little viper! Le me pass, Eustacie. I must go and tell my
father.'
'Thou canst not get out that way; the court is full of men-at-arms. Hark,
there's Narcisse calling me. He will come after me.'
There was not a moment to lose. Berenger flew along a corridor, and
down a narrow winding stair, and across the kitchen; then snatching at
the arm of a boy of his own age whom he met at the door, he gasped
out,