The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, August 01, 1907, Image 4
^Monsieur BemcadeI!
By BOOTH TARKINGTON, I j1
I Author of "The Gentleman From Indiana" and "The J
Conquest of Canaan// *
) Copyright, 1900, by M cClure, Phillips & Co. I j J
?
CHAPTER L 11
I
IIE young Frenchman did very well what he had i
| * I planned to do. His guess that the duke would cheat 5
proved good. As the unshod half dozen figures that 1
bad been standing noiselessly in the entry-way stole 1
|P55eR3S^|HS| ' 9oftly into the shadows of the chamber he leaned QQ|5qB
across the table and smilingly plucked a card out v
^ of the big Englishman's sleeve.
"Merci, M. le Due!" he laughed, rising and stepping back from '
the table.
The Englishman cried out, "It means the dirty work of silencing 1
you with my bare hands!" and came at him. ^
"Do not move," said M. Beaucaire, so sharply that the other c
paused. "Observe behind you." *' c
The Englishman turned and saw what trap he had blundered into, 11
then stood transfixed, impotent, alternately scarlet with rage and
white with the vital shame of discovery. M. Beaucaire remarked, in- t
dicating the silent figures by a polite wave of the hand, "Is it not a
compliment to monsieur that I procure six large men to subdue him ? i
They are quite devote' to me, and monsieur is alone. Could it be that c
be did not wish even his lackeys to know he play with the yo'ng s
Frenchman who Meestaire Nash does not like in the pomp room?
Monsieur is unfortunate to have come on foot and alone to my apartment."
e
The duke's mouth foamed over with chaotic revilement His cap- I
Jmiled brightly and made a slight gesture, as one who brushes
a boisterous insect With the same motion he quelled to stony
a resentful impetus of his servants toward the Englishman.
It's murder, is it, you carrion 1" finished the duke.
L Beaucaire lifted his shoulders in a mock shiver. "What words! p
io, no! No killing! A such word to a Bush boat! No, no; not C
?UM-der; only disgrace!" He laughed a clear, light laugh with a
siting inflection, seeming to launch himself upon an adventurous quest v
\for sympathy. b
"You little devilish scullion!" spat out the duke.
? ?. ? - . ? i _ j a. _
"Tut, tut I .But 1 lorget Jklonsieur nas pursue nil studies 01 ae- g
a portment amongB' his felloe countrymen."
"Do vou dream a soul in Bath will take your word that I?
*
that r- 1
"That M. le Due de Winterset had a card up his sleeve f" s<
I "You pitiful stroller, you stable boy, born in a stable"?
"Is it not an honor to be born where monsieur must have been a
fcwdr y
"You scurvy footboy, you greasy barber, you cutthroat groom"? a:
"MERCI, M. LE DOCr HE LAUGHED.
- g
"Overwhelm'!" The young man bowed with imperturbable ela- ^
tion. "M. le Due appoint' me to all the offioe' of his houaehol'." **
"You mustachioed fool, there are not five people of quality in ^
Bath will speak to you"? 0
"No, monsieur, not on the parade; but how many come to pity b
with me here ? Because I will play always, night or day, for what
one will, for any long and al-wayB fair, monsieur." ^
"You outrageous varlet! Every one knows you came to England
as the French ambassador's barber. What man of fashion will listen
to you ? Who will believe you!"
"All neoDle. monsieur. Do you think I have not calculate', thai I *
I ?-r?
ahaD make a failure of my little enterprise V*
"Bah !w
"Will monsieur not reseat himself V' M. Beaucaire made a low >'
bow. "So. We must not be too tire' for lady Malbourne'i rout ^
Ha, ba! And you, Jean, Victor, and you others, retire. Go in the '
hallway. Attend at the entrance, Franoois. So. Now we ahall talk.
Monsieur. I wish you to think eery cool. Then listen; I will be
3riefly. It is that I am well known to be all, entire' hones'. Gam)list
? Ah, yes, true and mos' profitable, but fair?al-ways fair. Every
me say that. Is it not so? Think of it. And?is there never a w'isper
jo me to M. le Due that not all people belief him to play al-wavs'
loncs'? 11a, ha! Did it almos' be said to him las' year, after when
le play* with Milor' Tappin'ford at the chocolate house"?
"You dirty scandal monger!" the duke burst out. "I'll"?
"Monsieur, monsieur!" said the Frenchman. "It is a poor valor
o ir.-ult n helplesg captor. Can he retort upon his own victim? But
t is for you to think of what I say. True, I am not reco'nize on the
>srade; that my frien's who come here go not present me to their
adies: that Meestaire Nash has rol olf' me in the pomp room. Still.
lci I not known for being hones' and fair in my play, and will I not be
oven I. when I lif mv voice and chanre vou aloud with what
7 ~ * ?1 . O
s already w'i*per' ? Tliink of it! You are a noble, and there will be
ome hangdogs who might not fall away from you. Only such would
>e lef to you. Do you want it tol* ? And vpu can keep out of France,
nonsieur ? I have lef' his service, but T have still the ear of M. de
ilircpoix, and he know' I never lie. Not a gentleman will play you
''hen you come to Paris."
The Englishman's white lip showed a row of scarlet dots upon it.
'How much do you want?" he said.
The room rang with the gay laughter of Beaucaire. "I hoi' your
iote' for , seven hunder' pound'. You can have them, monsieur.
Yfc#doea a such great man come to play M. Beaucaire 1 Because no
me else wiilin' to play M. le Due?he cannot pay. Ha, ha! So he
ome' to good M. Beaucaire. Money?ha, ha! What I want with
noney ?"
His grace of Winterset's features were set awry to a sinister pat- j
ern. He sat glaring at his companion in a snarling silence.
"Money? Pouf!" snapped the little gambler. "No, no, no! It
3 that M. le Due, impoverish', somewhat in a bad odor as he is, yet
ommand the entree any-where?onless I? Ha, ha! Eh, monieur?"
I
"Ha! You dare think to force me"?
M. Beaucaire twirled the tip of his slender mustache around the
nd of his white .forefinger. Then he said, "Monsieur and me goin' to
<ady Malbourne's ball tonight?M le Due and me !'"*
The Englishman*roarcd, "Curse your impudence!"
"Sit quiet. Oh, yes, that's all. We goin together."
"No!"
"Certain. I make all my little plan'. Tis all arrange'." He
aused and then said gravely, "You goin' present me to Lady Mary
Carlisle." v *
The other laughed in utter scorn. "Lady Mary Carlisle, of all
romen alive, would be the first to prefer the devil to a man of no '
irth, barber." ]
" 'Tis all arrange'; have no fear. Nobody question monsieur's
nest. You goin' take me tomgnt"?
"No!"
"Yes. And after?then I have the entree. Is it much I ask?
Yiis one little favor, and I never w'isper, never breathe that?it ia to
iv, I am always forever Silent of monsieur's misfortune."
"You have the entree !" sneered the other. "Go to a lackeys' rout ^
nd dance with the kitchen mai^s. If .T would, I oould not present '
ou to Bath society. I should have cartels from the fathers, brothers
nd lovers of every wench and madam in the place, even I. Yon *
'ould be thrust from Lady Melbourne's door five minutes after you
"Half the geiraemen in Bath have been here to play. They '
'ould know you, wouldn't they, fool? You've had thousands out of
tantison, Rakell, Guilford and Townbrake. They would have you
ished by the grooms as your ugly deserts are. You to speak to Lady
[ary Carlisle! 'Od's blood 1 You! Also, dolt, she would know you
' you escaped the others. She stood within a yard of you when Nash
spelled you the pump room."
M. Beaucaire flushed slightly. "You think I did not see P' he
iked.
"Do you dream that because Win terse t introduces a low fellow he
ill he tolerated?that Bath will receive a barber f'
"I have the distinction to call monsieur's attention," replied the
oung man gayly, "I have renounce' that profession."
"I am'now a man of honor!"
"Faugh!"
"A man of the parts," continued the young Frenchman, "and of
eportment Is it not so? Have you seen me of a fluster or gross
eer or, what 6hall I say?bourgeois ? Shall you be shame' for your
uest' manner? No, no! And my appearance, is it of the people!
Hearly no. Do I not compare in taste of apparel with your yo'ng
)nglishman ? Ha, ha! To be hope'. Ha, ha! So I am goin' talk
dth Lady Mary Carlisle."
"Bah!" The duke made a savage burlesque. " 'Lady Mary Car,sle,
may I assume the honori of presenting the barber of the Marquis
e Mirepoix V So, is it F'
"No, monsieur," smiled the young man. "Quite not so. You
hall have nothing to worry you, nothing in the worl'. I am goin' to
ssassinate my poor mustachio?also remove this horrible black
eruke and emerge in my own hair. Behol'!" He srwept the heavy,
urled mass from his head as he spoke, and his hair, coiled under the
Teat wig, fell to his shoulders and sparkled yellow in the candle light
le tossed his head to shake the hair back from his cheeks. "When it
j dress', I am transform'. Nobody can know me. Yon shall observe,
ee how little I ask of you?how very lifde bit No one shall reo'nize
'M. Beancaire' or 'Victor.' Ha, ha I 'Us all arrange'. You
ave nothing to fear."
"Curse you," said the duke, "do you think I'm going to be sadled
with you wherever I go as long as you chooee F'
"A mistake. No. All I requir'?all I beg?is this one evening.
Hs all shall be necessary. After, I shall not need monsieur.''
? - - - ?? " ? v_ I
"Take heed to yourself?after V vouchsafed the JUignanman oeween
his teeth.
"Conquered!" cried M. Beaucaire and clapped his hands gleefully.
Conquered for the night! Aha, it is riz'nable! I shall meet what
ou send?after. One cannot hope too much of your patience. It is
mt natural you should attemp' a little avengement for the rascal trap
was such a wicked fellow as to set for you. I shall meat some
tra^.gp frien's of yours after tonight Not sof I must try to he not
( Continned on seventh page. )
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