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to know me； I throw off my black wig and become myself … and so I am
'Chateaurien；' Castle Nowhere。 Then this man I use'； this Winterset； he …
〃
〃I have great need to deny these accusations？〃 said the Duke。
〃Nay；〃 said Lady Mary weari1y。
〃Shall I tell you why I mus' be 'Victor' and 'Beaucaire' and
'Chateaurien；' and not myself？〃
〃To escape from the bailiffs for debts for razors and soap；〃 gibed Lord
Townbrake。
〃No； monsieur。 In France I have got a cousin who is a man with a
very bad temper at some time'； and he will never enjoy his relatives to do
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Monsieur Beaucaire
what he does not wish … 〃
He was interrupted by a loud commotion from without。 The door
was flung open； and the young Count of Beaujolais bounded in and threw
his arms about the neck of M。 Beaucaire。
〃Philippe！〃 he cried。 〃My brother； I have come to take you back with
me。〃
M。 de Mirepoix followed him； bowing as a courtier； in deference； but
M。 Beaucaire took both his hands heartily。 Molyneux came after； with
Mr。 Nash； and closed the door。
〃My warmest felicitations；〃 said the Marquis。 〃There is no longer
need for your incognito。〃
〃Thou best of masters！〃 said Beaucaire； touching him fondly on the
shoulder。 〃I know。 Your courier came safely。 And so I am forgiven！
But I forget。〃 He turned to the lady。 She had begun to tremble
exceedingly。 〃Faires' of all the English fair；〃 he said； as the gentlemen
bowed low to her deep courtesy； 〃I beg the honor to presen' to Lady Mary
Carlisle； M。 le Comte de Beaujolais。 M。 de Mirepoix has already the
honor。 Lady Mary has been very kind to me； my frien's； you mus' help
me make my acknowledgment。 Mademoiselle and gentlemen； will you
give me that favour to detain you one instan'？〃
〃Henri；〃 he turned to the young Beaujolais； 〃I wish you had shared my
masque … I have been so gay！〃 The surface of his tone was merry； but
there was an undercurrent； weary … sad； to speak of what was the mood；
not the manner。 He made the effect of addressing every one present； but
he looked steadily at Lady Mary。 Her eyes were fixed upon him； with a
silent and frightened fascination； and she trembled more and more。 〃I am
a great actor； Henri。 These gentlemen are yet scarce convince' I am not a
lackey！ And I mus' tell you that I was jus' now to be expelled for having
been a barber！〃
〃Oh； no！；； the ambassador cried out。 〃He would not be content with
me； he would wander over a strange country。〃
〃Ha； ha； my Mirepoix！ And what is better； one evening I am oblige'
to fight some frien's of M。 de Winterset there； and some ladies and
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Monsieur Beaucaire
cavaliers look on； and they still think me a servant。 Oh； I am a great
actor！ 'Tis true there is not a peasant in France who would not have then
known one 'born'； but they are wonderful； this English people； holding by
an idea once it is in their heads … a mos' worthy quality。 But my good
Molyneux here； he had speak to me with courtesy； jus' because I am a man
an' jus' because he is al … ways kind。 （I have learn' that his great…
grandfather was a Frenchman。） So I sen' to him and tell him ev'rything；
and he gain admittance for me here to…night to await my frien's。
〃I was speaking to messieurs about my cousin； who will meddle in the
affair' of his relatives。 Well； that gentleman； he make a marriage for me
with a good and accomplish' lady； very noble and very beautiful … and
amiable。〃 （The young count at his elbow started slightly at this； but
immediately appeared to wrap himself in a mantle of solemn thought。）
〃Unfortunately； when my cousin arrange' so； I was a dolt； a little
blockhead； I swear to marry for myself and when I please； or never if I
like。 That lady is all things charming and gentle； and； in truth； she is …
very much attach' to me … why should I not say it？ I am so proud of it。
She is very faithful and forgiving and sweet； she would be the same； I
think； if I … were even … a lackey。 But I？ I was a dolt； a little unsensible
brute； I did not value such thing' then； I was too yo'ng； las' June。 So I say
to my cousin； 'No； I make my own choosing！' 'Little fool；' he answer； 'she
is the one for you。 Am I not wiser than you？' And he was very angry；
and； as he has influence in France； word come' that he will get me put in
Vincennes； so I mus' run away quick till his anger is gone。 My good
frien' Mirepoix is jus' leaving for London； he take' many risk' for my sake；
his hairdresser die before he start'； so I travel as that poor barber。 But my
cousin is a man to be afraid of when he is angry； even in England； and I
mus' not get my Mirepoix in trouble。 I mus' not be discover' till my
cousin is ready to laugh about it all and make it a joke。 And there may be
spies； so I change my name again； and come to Bath to amuse my retreat
with a little gaming … I am al … ways fond of that。 But three day' ago M。
le Marquis send me a courier to say that my brother； who know where I
had run away； is come from France to say that my cousin is appease'； he
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Monsieur Beaucaire
need me for his little theatre； the play cannot go on。 I do not need to
espouse mademoiselle。 All shall be forgiven if I return； and my brother
and M。 de Mirepoix will meet me in Bath to felicitate。
〃There is one more thing to say； that is all。 I have said I learn' a
secret； and use it to make a man introduce me if I will not tell。 He has
absolve' me of that promise。 My frien's； I had not the wish to ruin that
man。 I was not receive'； Meestaire Nash had reboff me； I had no other
way excep' to use this fellow。 So I say； 'Take me to Lady Malbourne's
ball as 〃Chateaurien。〃' I throw off my wig； and shave； and behol'； I am
M。 le Duc de Castle Nowhere。 Ha； ha！ You see？〃
The young man's manner suddenly changed。 He became haughty；
menacing。 He stretched out his arm； and pointed at Winterset。 〃Now I
am no 'Beaucaire；' messieurs。 I am a French gentleman。 The man who
introduce' me at the price of his honor； and then betray' me to redeem it； is
that coward； that card…cheat there！〃
Winterset made a horrible effort to laugh。 The gentlemen who
surrounded him fell away as from pestilence。 〃A French gentleman！〃 he
sneered savagely； and yet fearfully。 〃I don't know who you are。 Hide
behind as many toys and ribbons as you like； I'll know the name of the
man who dares bring such a charge！〃
〃Sir！〃 cried de Mirepoix sharply； advancing a step towards him； but he
checked himself at once。 He made a low bow of state； first to the young
Frenchman； then to Lady Mary and the company。 〃Permit me； Lady
Mary and gentlemen；〃 he said。 〃to assume the honor of presenting you to
His Highness； Prince Louis…Philippe de Valois； Duke of Orleans； Duke of
Chartres； Duke of Nemours； Duke of Montpeti'sier； First Prince of the
Blood Royal； First Peer of France； Lieutenant…General of French Infantry；
Governor of Dauphine； Knight of the Golden Fleece； Grand Master of the
Order of Notre Dame； of Mount Carmel； and of St。 Lazarus in Jerusalem；
and cousin to His most Christian Majesty； Louis the Fifteenth； King of
France。〃
〃Those are a few of my brother's names；〃 whispered Henri of
Beaujolais to Molyneux。 〃Old Mirepoix has the long breath； but it take' a
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Monsieur Beaucaire
strong man two day' to say all of t