The Queens Necklace | Page 3

time: on what day did I have my
orders for the dinner?"
"Why, three days ago, I believe."
"It takes a courier, at his utmost speed, twenty-four hours to go, and the
same to return."
"There still remain twenty-four hours," said the marshal; "how have
they been employed?"
"Alas, your grace, they were lost. The idea only came to me the day
after I received the list of your guests. Now calculate the time necessary
for the negotiation, and you will perceive that in asking you to wait till
five I am only doing what I am absolutely obliged to do."
"The bottle is not yet arrived, then?"
"No, your grace."

"Ah, sir, if your colleague at Saverne be as devoted to the Prince de
Rohan as you are to me, and should refuse the bottle, as you would do
in his place----"
"I? your grace----"
"Yes; you would not, I suppose, have given away such a bottle, had it
belonged to me?"
"I beg your pardon, humbly, your grace; but had a friend, having a king
to provide for, asked me for your best bottle of wine, he should have
had it immediately."
"Oh!" said the marshal, with a grimace.
"It is only by helping others that we can expect help in our own need,
your grace."
"Well, then, I suppose we may calculate that it will be given, but there
is still another risk--if the bottle should be broken?"
"Oh! your grace, who would break a bottle of wine of that value?"
"Well, I trust not; what time, then, do you expect your courier?"
"At four o'clock precisely."
"Then why not dine at four?" replied the marshal.
"Your grace, the wine must rest for an hour; and had it not been for an
invention of my own, it would have required three days to recover
itself."
Beaten at all points, the marshal gave way.
"Besides," continued the old servant, "be sure, your grace, that your
guests will not arrive before half-past four."
"And why not?"

"Consider, your grace: to begin with M. de Launay; he comes from the
Bastile, and with the ice at present covering the streets of Paris----"
"No; but he will leave after the prisoners' dinner, at twelve o'clock."
"Pardon me, your grace, but the dinner hour at the Bastile has been
changed since your grace was there; it is now one."
"Sir, you are learned on all points; pray go on."
"Madame Dubarry comes from the Luciennes, one continued descent,
and in this frost."
"That would not prevent her being punctual, since she is no longer a
duke's favorite; she plays the queen only among barons; but let me tell
you, sir, that I desire to have dinner early on account of M. de la
Pérouse, who sets off to-night, and would not wish to be late."
"But, your grace, M. de la Pérouse is with the king, discussing
geography and cosmography; he will not get away too early."
"It is possible."
"It is certain, your grace, and it will be the same with M. de Favras,
who is with the Count de Provence, talking, no doubt, of the new play
by the Canon de Beaumarchais."
"You mean the 'Marriage of Figaro'?"
"Yes, your grace."
"Why, you are quite literary also, it seems."
"In my leisure moments I read, your grace."
"We have, however, M. de Condorcet, who, being a geometrician,
should at least be punctual."
"Yes; but he will be deep in some calculation, from which, when he

rouses himself, it will probably be at least half an hour too late. As for
the Count Cagliostro, as he is a stranger, and not well acquainted with
the customs of Versailles, he will, in all probability, make us wait for
him."
"Well," said the marshal, "you have disposed of all my guests, except
M. de Taverney, in a manner worthy of Homer, or of my poor Raffè."
The maître-d'hôtel bowed. "I have not," said he, "named M. de
Taverney, because, being an old friend, he will probably be punctual."
"Good; and where do we dine?"
"In the great dining-room, your grace."
"But we shall freeze there."
"It has been warmed for three days, your grace; and I believe you will
find it perfectly comfortable."
"Very well; but there is a clock striking! Why, it is half-past four!"
cried the marshal.
"Yes, your grace; and there is the courier entering the courtyard with
my bottle of tokay."
"May I continue for another twenty years to be served in this manner!"
said the marshal, turning again to his looking-glass, while the
maître-d'hôtel ran down-stairs.
"Twenty years!" said a laughing voice, interrupting the marshal in his
survey of himself; "twenty years, my dear duke! I wish them you; but
then I shall be sixty--I shall be very old."
"You, countess!"