The Last Vendée; or, the She-Wolves of Machecoul. Alexandre Dumas

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      "That's what he called it."

      "And the words exactly describe the thing," said the functionary. "Can you conceive of an expedition of that character for which the arrangements were so carelessly made that it only required a sub-lieutenant of the 13th regiment to arrest one of the leaders of the outbreak and knock the whole affair in the head at once?"

      "But don't you know, Monsieur le préfet," said the duchess, in a melancholy tone, "in all great events there is a moment, a supreme moment, when the destinies of princes and empires are shaken like leaves in the wind? For example, when Napoleon at La Mure advanced to meet the soldiers who were sent against him, if a sub-lieutenant of any kind had taken him by the collar the return from Elba would have been nothing more than a blundering affair."

      There was silence after that, Madame having said the words in a grieved tone. She herself re-opened the matter.

      "And the Duchesse de Berry?" she said; "is it known what became of her?"

      "She returned on board of the 'Carlo Alberto.'"

      "Ah!"

      "It was the only sensible thing she could do, it seems to me," said the prefect.

      "You are quite right, monsieur," said the old gentleman, who had accompanied Madame, and who had not before spoken; "and if I had had the honor to be near her Highness and she had granted me some authority, I should have given her that advice."

      "No one was addressing you, my good husband," said the duchess. "I am speaking to the prefect, and I want to know if he is quite sure her Royal Highness has re-embarked?"

      "Madame," said the prefect, with one of those administrative gestures which admit of no contradiction, "the government is officially informed of it."

      "Ah!" exclaimed the duchess, "if the government is officially informed of it, of course there is nothing to be said; but," she added, venturing on still more slippery ground, "I did hear differently."

      "Madame!" said the old gentleman, in a tone of slight reproach.

      "What did you hear, cousin?" asked M. de Vouillé, who was beginning to take the interest of a gambler in the game that was being played before him.

      "Yes, what have you heard, madame?" said the prefect.

      "Oh, you understand, Monsieur le préfet, that it is not for me to give you official news," said the duchess. "I am only telling you of rumors, which may be mere nonsense."

      "Madame de la Myre!" said the old man.

      "Well, Monsieur de la Myre?" said the duchess.

      "Do you know, madame," said the prefect, "that I think your husband is very interfering. I will wager it is he who does not want you to go to Paris?"

      "That is precisely true. But I hope to go there in spite of him. 'What woman wills, God wills.'"

      "Oh, women! women!" cried the public functionary.

      "What now?" asked the duchess.

      "Nothing," said the prefect. "I am waiting, Madame, to hear the rumors you mentioned just now about the Duchesse de Berry."

      "Oh! they are simple enough. I heard,--but pray remember I give them on no authority but common report,--I have heard that the Duchesse de Berry rejected the advice of all her friends, and obstinately refused to re-embark on the 'Carlo Alberto.'"

      "Then where is she now?" asked the prefect.

      "In France."

      "In France! What can she do in France?"

      "Why, you know very well, Monsieur le préfet," said the duchess, "that her Royal Highness's chief object is La Vendée."

      "No doubt; but having failed so signally at the South--"

      "All the more reason why she should try for success at the West."

      The prefect smiled disdainfully.

      "Then you really think she has re-embarked?" asked the duchess.

      "I can positively assure you," said the prefect, "that she is at this moment in the dominions of the king of Sardinia, from whom France is about to ask an explanation."

      "Poor king of Sardinia! He will give a very simple one."

      "What?"

      "He will say, 'I always knew Madame was a crazy creature; but I never thought her craziness would lead her quite as far as this--'"

      "Madame! madame!" said the old man.

      "Ah, ça! Monsieur de la Myre," said the duchess, "I do hope that although you interfere with my wishes, you will have the grace to respect my opinions,--all the more because I am sure they are those of Monsieur le préfet. Are they not, monsieur?"

      "The truth is," said that functionary, laughing, "that her Royal Highness has behaved in this whole affair with the utmost folly."

      "There! you see," said the duchess. "What would happen, Monsieur le préfet, if these rumors were true and Madame should really come to La Vendée?"

      "How can she get here?" asked the prefect.

      "Why, through the neighboring departments, or through yours. They tell me she was seen at Toulouse in an open carriage while changing horses."

      "Good heavens!" cried the prefect; "that would be a little too bold."

      "So bold that Monsieur le préfet doesn't believe it?"

      "Not one word of it," said the official emphasizing each monosyllable as he uttered it.

      At that moment the door opened, and one of the count's footmen announced that a clerk from the prefecture asked permission to deliver a telegraphic despatch just received from Paris for the prefect.

      "Will you permit him to enter?" said the prefect to the count.

      "Why, of course," said the latter.

      The clerk entered and gave a sealed package to the prefect, who bowed his excuses to the company for opening it.

      Absolute silence reigned. All eyes were fixed on the despatch. Madame exchanged signs with M. de Vouillé, who laughed under his breath, with M. de Lussac, who laughed aloud, and with her so-called husband who maintained his imperturbably grave manner.

      "Whew!" cried the public functionary suddenly, while his features were indiscreet enough to betray the utmost surprise.

      "What is the news?" asked M. de Vouillé.

      "The news is," exclaimed the prefect, "that Madame de la Myre was right in what she said about her Royal Highness. Her Royal Highness has not left France; her Royal Highness is on her way to La Vendée, through Toulouse, Libourne, and Poitiers."

      So saying, the prefect rose.

      "Where СКАЧАТЬ