Monsieur Jonquelle Read Online Free PDF

third time in a villa in Baden, when the Count de Choiseul was banking a gentleman’s game at roulette. True again, the Count could have urged a very pretty defense upon the point that the German law contemplated games of
chance
only, and that this roulette was a game from which Monsieur le Comte had very deftly removed every element of chance. But Monsieur instead of depending on that nice distinction—wisely, I shall always believe—preferred to act upon my friendly suggestion.
    â€œMoreover”—and the Prefect of Police made a gracious gesture—“do I not always, in addressing Monsieur le Comte, accord to him the honors and distinctions of his title, a courtesy that theeditors of the
Almanack de Gotha
have denied him?”
    The face of the Count de Choiseul became sullen and ugly. The glaze of culture seemed to slip off.
    â€œWhat are you after, Monsieur?” he said through stiff jaws.
    â€œ
Ma foi
!” replied the Prefect; “does Monsieur le Comte ask me after this reminiscence? For what reason should I come here from Paris but out of my abiding interest in Monsieur’s career? After my congratulations upon the approach of the ambitions of a life I would venture upon a fourth suggestion to the Count de Choiseul.”
    He leaned forward and addressed the wounded man as though he were some envied darling of the gods.
    â€œIf this affair should, as the Americans say it, blow over, then the Count de Choiseul has won a way into the very lap of fortune. He will be able to wed a lady of noble birth and to enjoy all that this lady takes by will from Lord Landeau—this city house which Monsieur has so early occupied with so fine a courage; a deer forest in Argyle-shire; a yacht in the Mersey; a villa at Cannes, an apartment upon the Champs-Elysées, and the greatest landed estate in the English county of Dorset.”
    Monsieur Jonquelle paused and elevated his eyebrows.
    â€œI do not promise that the conservative Briton will permit the Count de Choiseul to occupy, with these benefits, the vacant seat of Lord Landeau in their House of Lords, but Monsieur should not set that loss at too high a value. We are told by the greatest English journalist now living that this noble body is composed of garrulous old gentlemen always obviously quite wrong.”
    The Frenchman went on, returning to his serious note.
    â€œThese are substantial benefits. If the Count de Choiseul can win to them he has substituted the reality for every fiction that he has so long pretended.
J’en suis bien aise
! But in order to win them a certain thing remains to be accomplished. A very great deal has been done. By what agencies?
Diable
, such queries run into the riddle of the universe! Nevertheless a final thing remains. And unless this thing is accomplished, Monsieur le Comte cannot enter his kingdom.”
    The Prefect spoke like one dealing firmly with the realities of life.
    â€œ
Tiens
! What would you have? Shall the Count de Choiseul hesitate then in the moment of victory? If chance has helped him mount up to the last step, shall he not take that step himself?Or if design has carried him thus far, shall he not courageously go on?”
    â€œMonsieur,” said the Count de Choiseul, “we shall get on better if you permit me to understand you.”
    He sat back in his chair, the pillow under his arm, his eyes narrowed and his big jaw protruding like a plowshare.
    â€œThe Count de Choiseul shall precisely understand me,” replied the Prefect. “The suggestion that I come all the way from Paris to make to him is this—Monsieur must give some explanation of this tragic affair.
    â€œAttend, Monsieur, if you please, and I will show you how pressing this necessity is. As this matter now stands it is a mystery—that is to say, a riddle, a problem. Now in France and among all Latin peoples a mystery, a riddle, a problem is forgotten like any other event if the answer is