The Road to Compiegne Read Online Free PDF

comes you must continue to entertain your guest and not approach us unless I call you.’
    ‘Yes, Maman.’
    ‘Go now and play with him. I must go into the château . His Majesty is due to arrive at any moment now.’
    Alexandrine hurried back to the boy, who had been watching them with great interest. Lightly the Marquise wondered what gossip he had heard about her. He had no doubt been told that he must do all in his power to please her.
    Madame du Hausset was coming into the garden to call her.
    ‘The carriage will be here in a very few minutes, Madame. I have already heard it on the road.’
    Now she must compose herself; there must be no sign of anxiety. In Bellevue he must feel that he could throw aside all formality, that at any moment he could be plain Louis de Bourbon, and with the same speed become the King if he so desired.
    She was waiting, smiling, hands outstretched because she sensed at once that there was to be no formality. She saw that he had had a dreary morning and she guessed it was due to those stupid daughters of his. Therefore she would not refer to them during the few hours he was at Bellevue. Some would have sought to profit from his irritation towards them; not so the Marquise. She wanted him to feel that in Bellevue, away from the Court, he could relax completely; this afternoon she was not so much his mistress as the friend who never failed to amuse and entertain.
    ‘My dear,’ said the King, kissing her hand, ‘how enchanting is Bellevue. What peace there is in this house. Are you not delighted with your château ?’
    ‘Never so much as at this moment when clearly it provides Your Majesty with what you seek.’
    He continued to hold her hand. ‘I would we might stay here a week. Alas, I must return to Versailles this very day.’
    ‘Would Your Majesty like to take tea or coffee? Or would you prefer wine? Shall I get Hausset to make it, or would you like to do so? Or shall we do it together?’
    ‘I will prepare coffee myself,’ said the King.
    Madame du Hausset had already appeared to inquire the wishes of her mistress. She made a deep curtsy, and the King said to her: ‘Rise, my dear. We have escaped from ceremony this afternoon. I am now going to show you how to make coffee. Come, you shall watch me and taste my brew.’
    With a charming gesture he linked arms with both women. Madame du Hausset flushed slightly, and an expression of intense happiness crossed her face. It was not that she was overwhelmed by this sign of the King’s regard so much as that she could tell herself that this afternoon need not be too exhausting for her mistress.
    ‘You are gracious indeed, Sire,’ said she.
    ‘Nay,’ said the King, ‘you are the good friend of my very good friend. That is enough for me. Shall I tell you what the Marquise said to me the other day? “I have the utmost confidence in dear Hausset. I think of her as a cat or dog, and I often behave as though she is not there. Yet I know that, should I put out a hand to her, she will be immediately at my side to discover my need.” ’
    ‘The King repeats me word for word,’ said the Marquise, smiling across Louis at Madame du Hausset.
    ‘The Marquise,’ began Madame du Hausset emotionally, ‘is my very good friend.’
    ‘The King shares in her affection,’ murmured Louis. He decided that when he returned to Versailles he would arrange that Madame du Hausset should be given four thousand francs as a sign of that friendship, and he would see that she received a present every New Year’s Day.
    ‘You must show His Majesty the present I gave you,’ said the Marquise, reading his intentions.
    ‘An exquisite snuff box, Sire,’ said Madame du Hausset.
    ‘And what pleased her most, Louis,’ added the Marquise, ‘was the picture on the lid of the box.’
    ‘And the picture was?’
    ‘A portrait of Your Majesty,’ said Madame du Hausset.
    ‘Naturally,’ added the Marquise graciously.
    They had reached the kitchens and the