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deference； somewhat stately to the young bucks； greeting the wits with
gracous friendliness and a twinkle of raillery； inclining with fatherly
gallantry before the beauties； the degree of his inclination measured the
altitude of the recipient as accurately as a nicely calculated sand…glass
measures the hours。
The King of Bath was happy； for wit； beauty； fashion … to speak more
concretely： nobles； belles； gamesters； beaux； statesmen； and poets …
made fairyland （or opera bouffe； at least） in his dominions； play ran higher
and higher； and Mr。 Nash's coffers filled up with gold。 To crown his
pleasure； a prince of the French blood； the young Comte de Beaujolais；
just arrived from Paris； had reached Bath at noon in state； accompanied by
the Marquis de Mirepoix； the ambassador of Louis XV。 The Beau dearly
prized the society of the lofty； and the present visit was an honor to Bath：
hence to the Master of Ceremonies。 What was better； there would be some
profitable hours with the cards and dice。 So it was that Mr。 Nash smiled
never more benignly than on that bright evening。 The rooms rang with
the silvery voices of women and delightful laughter； while the fiddles went
merrily； their melodies chiming sweetly with the joyance of his mood。
The skill and brazen effrontery of the ambassador's scoundrelly
servant in passing himself off for a man of condition formed the point of
departure for every conversation。 It was discovered that there were but
three persons present who had not suspected him from the first； and； by a
singular paradox； the most astute of all proved to be old Mr。 Bicksit； the
traveler； once a visitor at Chateaurien； for he； according to report； had by a
coup of diplomacy entrapped the impostor into an admission that there
was no such place。 However； like poor Captain Badger； the worthy old
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Monsieur Beaucaire
man had held his peace out of regard for the Duke of Winterset。 This
nobleman； heretofore secretly disliked； suspected of irregular devices at
play； and never admired； had won admiration and popularity by his
remorse for the mistake； and by the modesty of his attitude in endeavoring
to atone for it； without presuming upon the privilege of his rank to laugh at
the indignation of society； an action the more praiseworthy because his
exposure of the impostor entailed the disclosure of his own culpability in
having stood the villain's sponsor。 To…night； the happy gentleman； with
Lady Mary Carlisle upon his arm； went grandly about the rooms； sowing
and reaping a harvest of smiles。 'Twas said work would be begun at once
to rebuild the Duke's country seat； while several ruined Jews might be paid
out of prison。 People gazing on the beauty and the stately but modest
hero by her side； said they would make a noble pair。 She had long been
distinguished by his attentions； and he had come brilliantly out of the
episode of the Frenchman； who had been his only real rival。 Wherever
they went； there arose a buzz of pleasing gossip and adulation。 Mr。 Nash；
seeing them near him； came forward with greetings。 A word on the side
passed between the nobleman and the exquisite。
〃I had news of the rascal tonight；〃 whispered Nash。 〃He lay at a farm
till yesterday； when he disappeared； his ruffians； too。〃
〃You have arranged？〃 asked the Duke。
〃Fourteen bailiffs are watching without。 He could not come within
gunshot。 If they clap eyes on him； they will hustle him to jail； and his
cutthroats shall not avail him a hair's weight。 The impertinent swore he'd
be here by nine； did he？〃
〃He said so； and 'tis a rash dog； sir。〃
〃It is just nine now。〃〃
〃Send out to see if they have taken him。〃
〃Gladly。〃
The Beau beckoned an attendant； and whispered in his ear。
Many of the crowd had edged up to the two gentlemen with apparent
carelessness； to overhear their conversation。 Those who did overhear
repeated it in covert asides； and this circulating undertone； confirming a
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Monsieur Beaucaire
vague rumor that Beaucaire would attempt the entrance that night； lent a
pleasurable color of excitement to the evening。 The French prince； the
ambassador； and their suites were announced。 Polite as the assembly was。
it was also curious； and there occurred a mannerly rush to see the
newcomers。 Lady Mary； already pale； grew whiter as the throng closed
round her； she looked up pathetically at the Duke； who lost no time in
extricating her from the pressure。
〃Wait here；〃 he said； 〃I will fetch you a glass of negus；〃 and
disappeared。 He had not thought to bring a chair； and she； looking about
with an increasing faintness and finding none； saw that she was standing
by the door of a small side…room。 The crowd swerved back for the
passage of the legate of France； and pressed upon her。 She opened the door；
and went in。
The room was empty save for two gentlemen； who were quietly
playing cards at a table。 They looked up as she entered。 They were M。
Beaucaire and Mr。 Molyneux。
She uttered a quick cry and leaned against the wall； her hand to her
breast。 Beaucaire； though white and weak； had brought her a chair
before Molyneux could stir。
〃Mademoiselle … 〃
〃Do not touch me！〃 she said； with such frozen abhorrence in her voice
that he stopped short。 〃Mr。 Molyneux； you seek strange company！〃
〃Madam；〃 replied Molyneux； bowing deeply； as much to Beaucaire as
to herself； 〃I am honored by the presence of both of you。
〃Oh； are you mad！〃 she exclaimed； contemptuously。
〃This gentleman has exalted me with his confidence； madam；〃 he
replied。
〃Will you add your ruin to the scandal of this fellow's presence here？
How he obtained entrance … 〃
〃Pardon； mademoiselle；〃 interrupted Beaucaire。 〃Did I not say I
should come？ M。 Molyneux was so obliging as to answer for me to the
fourteen frien's of M。 de Winterset and Meestaire Nash。〃
〃Do you not know；〃 she turned vehemently upon Molyneux； 〃that he
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Monsieur Beaucaire
will be removed the moment I leave this room？ Do you wish to be
dragged out with him？ For your sake； sir； because I have always thought
you a man of heart； I give you a chance to save yourself from disgrace …
and … your companion from jail。 Let him slip out by some retired way；
and you may give me your arm and we will enter the next room as if
nothing had happened。 Come； sir … 〃
〃Mademoiselle … 〃
〃Mr。 Molyneux； I desire to hear nothing from your companion。 Had I
not seen you at cards with him I should have supposed him in attendance
as your lackey。 Do you desire to take advantage of my offer； sir？〃
〃Mademoiselle； I could not tell you； on that night … 〃
〃You may inform your high…born friend； Mr。 Molyneux； that I heard
everything he had to say； that my pride once had the pleasure of listening
to his high…born confession！〃
〃Ah； it is gentle to taunt one with his birth； mademoiselle？ Ah； no！
There is a man in my country who say strange things of that … that a man
is not his father； but himself。〃
〃You may inform your friend； Mr。 Molyneux； that he had a chance to
defend himself against accusation； that he said all … 〃
〃That I did say all I could have strength to say。 Mademoiselle； you
did not see … as it was right … that I had been stung by a big wasp。 It was
nothing； a scratch； but； mademoiselle； the sky went round and the moon
dance' on the earth。 I could not wish that big wasp to see he had stung
me； so I mus' only say what I can have strength for； and