<h2><SPAN name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX.</SPAN><br/> <span class="chapterhead">CHON SPOILS ALL.</span></h2>
<p><span class="firstwords">After</span> the king's departure from the short and unpleasant
call, as he termed it to the courtiers, the Countess Dubarry
remained closeted with Chon and her brother, who had kept
in the background for fear that his wound would be found to
be but a scratch. The outcome of this family council was that
the countess, instead of going to Luciennes, went to a private
house of hers in Valois Street, Paris.</p>
<p>Jeanne read a book while Zamore, at the window, watched
for the carriage to return. When the viscount brought the<SPAN name="Page_87" id="Page_87"></SPAN>
old countess he left her in the anteroom while he ran to tell
his sister of his success.</p>
<p>"Where is <SPAN name="tn_png_89"></SPAN><!--TN: Exclamation mark changed to a question mark after "Chon" on Page 87-->Chon?" he asked.</p>
<p>"At Versailles, where I bade her keep close."</p>
<p>"Then go in, my princess."</p>
<p>Lady Dubarry opened the boudoir door and walked into
her visitor's presence.</p>
<p>"I have already thanked my brother," she said, "for having
procured me the honor of your ladyship's visit; but I
must thank you at present for making it."</p>
<p>"I cannot find expressions," said the delighted suitor, "to
show my gratitude for the kind reception granted me."</p>
<p>"Allow me," said Jean, as the ladies took seats; "the
countess must not seem to be applying to you for a favor. The
chancellor has confided a commission for you, that is all."</p>
<p>The visitor gave the speaker a thankful look, and handed
the letters patent from the chancellor which created Luciennes
a royal castle and intrusted Zamore with the governership.</p>
<p>"It is I who am obliged," said the younger countess, "and
I shall consider myself happy when the chance comes for me
to do something in my turn."</p>
<p>"That will be easy," cried the other with a quickness delighting
the pair of plotters. "You will not be ignorant of
my name?"</p>
<p>"How could we? The name of the princess to whom we
owe King Henry the Fourth?"</p>
<p>"Then you may have heard of a lawsuit which ties up my
property."</p>
<p>"Claimed by the Saluces? Yes, the king was talking of the
matter with Chancellor Maupeou, my cousin, the other evening."</p>
<p>"The king talked of my case? In what terms, pray?"</p>
<p>"Alas! he seemed to think that it ought to be the Saluces."</p>
<p>"Good heavens! then we would have to pay twice over a
sum which morally was paid. I have not the receipt, I grant,
but I can prove payment <SPAN name="tn_png_89a"></SPAN><!--TN: Quote added after "morally." on Page 87-->morally."</p>
<p>"I think moral proofs are accepted," said Jean gravely.</p>
<p>"The claim of two hundred thousand livres, with interest,
now amounting to a capital of over a million, dated 1406. It
must have been settled by Guy Gaston IV., Count of Bearn,
because on his deathbed, in 1417, he wrote in his will 'Owing
no debts,' and so on."</p>
<p>"That settles it," said Jean.</p>
<p>"But your adversaries hold the note?" said the countess,
pretending to take an interest in the subject.</p>
<p>"Yes, that embroils it," said the old lady, who ought to have
said, "This clears it up."</p>
<p>"It terribly changes the position for the Saluces."</p>
<SPAN name="Page_88" id="Page_88"></SPAN>
<p>"Oh, my lady, I would that you were one of the judges!"</p>
<p>"In olden times, you might have claimed a champion to do
battle for you. I have such belief in your case that I would
go into the lists for you. Unfortunately we have not to do
with knights but a gang of robbers in black gowns, who will
not understand so plain an expression as 'I die owing no
debts.'"</p>
<p>"Stay, though; as the words were spoken three hundred
years ago they would be outlawed, I think," ventured
Countess Dubarry.</p>
<p>"But you would be convinced of the lady's rights, sister,
if you were to hear her, as I have heard coming along."</p>
<p>"Then do me the favor of coming out to my place at
Luciennes, where, by the way, the king drops in now and
again."</p>
<p>"But I cannot rely on such a chance, for the case is called
Monday, and this is Friday."</p>
<p>"What the deuce can be done?" grumbled the viscount,
appearing to meditate profoundly.</p>
<p>"If I could have a royal hearing at Versailles through
your introduction?" suggested the old lady.</p>
<p>"Not to be thought of. The king does not like me to meddle
with law or politics. And at present he is worried about
my presentation to the court."</p>
<p>"Oh!" exclaimed the aged litigant.</p>
<p>"The king wants it to come off before the new dauphiness
arrives, so that my sister can go to the festivities at Compiegne,
in spite of Choiseul's opposition, Praslin's intrigues and Lady
Grammont's intervention."</p>
<p>"I understand. The countess has no introductress?" queried
Lady Bearn, timidly.</p>
<p>"Beg pardon, we have Baroness Alogny, only the king
would prefer somebody with a historical name."</p>
<p>"I cannot say that I ever heard of the Alognys," hissed
the old descendant of kings with incredible envy.</p>
<p>"It will be a grand thing for her, for the king is tired of
the jades who put on airs prouder than himself!" said Jean.
"I could make Lady Alogny draw off by telling her what
the king said."</p>
<p>"It would be unfair," <SPAN name="tn_png_90"></SPAN><!--TN: "said the" added before "viscount" on Page 88-->said the viscount.</p>
<p>"What a pity! for in that case, here is a lady of ancient
lineage, and regal. She would win her lawsuit, her son could
have a lieutenancy in the household troops, and as Lady
Bearn must have gone to much outlay in her trips to Paris,
she would have compensation out of the privy purse. Such
luck does not rain down twice in a lifetime."</p>
<p>"Alas! no," said Lady Bearn, crushed in her chair by all
things being against her.</p>
<p>"An idea strikes me," said Jean. "All has been kept quiet,<SPAN name="Page_89" id="Page_89"></SPAN>
and so the king does not know that we have a lady patroness to
present my sister. Suppose you were at Versailles and expressed
your willingness to act as social sponsor for my sister.
Why, the king would accept one who is his relative, and that
would prevent the Alognys complaining. The king could do
no wrong."</p>
<p>"The king would do right about the suit," said Jeanne.
"He would be delighted and he would be sure to say to Chancellor
Maupeou: <SPAN name="tn_png_91"></SPAN><!--TN: Double quote removed and single quotes placed around quotation within a quote on Page 89-->'I want you to treat Lady Bearn properly,
my lord!'"</p>
<p>"But this may look bad, when everybody thinks my case
lost," objected the old countess.</p>
<p>"Well, let it be lost," returned the other lady quickly:
"What matter, if you are compensated?"</p>
<p>"Two hundred thousand livres?" said the other with
sorrow.</p>
<p>"Pooh, what if there be a royal present of a hundred thousand
livres?"</p>
<p>"I have a son," remarked the victim, while the two eyed
her greedily.</p>
<p>"So much the better, as he will be another servitor for the
king; he must not have less than a cornetcy in the army,"
said Jean. "Any other kinsmen?"</p>
<p>"A nephew."</p>
<p>"We shall find a berth for him."</p>
<p>"We rely on your invention," said Countess Dubarry, rising.
"You will allow me to mention your ladyship to the
king?"</p>
<p>"Do me the honor," said the old dame with a sigh.</p>
<p>"No later than this evening," said the royal favorite. "I
trust I have won your friendship?"</p>
<p>"Yes, though I believe I am in a dream."</p>
<p>But the dream only lasted to the foot of the stairs, where
Countess Bearn was conducted on Jean's hale arm, for there
the irrepressible Chon came bounding out of a sedan chair.
Lady Bearn recognized the pretended daughter of Lawyer
Flageot.</p>
<p>"It is Mistress Chon," roared Zamore.</p>
<p>"Is that little fool Gilbert here?" asked Chon of the footmen,
when she suddenly looked up and saw Jean trying to
hush her.</p>
<p>She followed the direction of his finger and perceived Lady
Bearn. She gave a scream, lowered her cap-veil, and plunged
into the vestibule.</p>
<p>Appearing to notice nothing, the old lady got into the carriage
and gave her address to the coachman.</p>
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