Count Bruhl Part 47

'I must have a word with your Excellency,' she said in Italian.

'Beautiful _diva_!' said the Count, 'if it is a question of some quarrel, Padre Guarini is for that; if about some favour, our gracious King never refuses you anything, but I have no time to listen to you!'

'Count! the question is not about myself, not about a favour, but about you and the King,' said Faustina boldly.

'I am at your service and I listen to you,' said the Count smiling.

'Ah! if you would also believe me!'

The Count was silent and tried to control his impatience.

'Count,' said Faustina, 'is it true that you are going away, that you leave the place to your foes?'

Sulkowski laughed.

'I have no foes,' he said quietly, 'and were I so fortunate as to have them, (for I should consider it an honour to gain enemies by serving the King), I should not be afraid of them.'

'Do not mistrust me,' rejoined Faustina. 'But from behind the stage one sees the world well and one knows people better than in the drawing-room.

Count, I am a friend of yours, for you love the King and you wish for the welfare of this country which I consider my second fatherland. You wish that others also loved the King but they think only of themselves and do not care about the country at all.'

Sulkowski frowned.

'But who? Who?'

'Are you blind then?' Faustina exclaimed. 'Do you not see anything?

Have I to open your eyes? The Queen is jealous of the King's favours towards you, the almighty Padre Guarini is your foe and Bruhl your rival. They made a plot secretly, they send you away in order to take from you the King's heart. And you do not see it! That man will take your place!'

Saying this she wrung her hands; Sulkowski listened; his pale face flushed.

'My dear Signora,' he said, 'these are dreams and visions. I am going, but I myself asked for leave of absence; I have no enemies and I am sure of the King's heart. Be a.s.sured it is gossip, flying round the court like mosquitoes about the marshes. Believe me, I am not blind and it is difficult to fool me and still more difficult to get rid of me.'

He began to laugh. He wished to withdraw when Faustina exclaimed:

'Count, is it possible that you are so blind? Your n.o.ble character does not admit of treachery which everybody sees.'

'Because all that has no sense. Bruhl would not dare, even had he such allies as the Queen and the venerable Padre.'

Faustina lowered her head and said slowly:

'Therefore that which is destined is unavoidable. _Chi a la morte e destinato, muore santo o disperato. Addio, signor conte_ and may Providence guide you and bring you back. Do not stay long away. You may recollect Faustina's warning, but it will be too late.'

The Count took hold of her hand.

'Beautiful and good-hearted signora,' he said, 'I am very grateful to you, for that which you have done is the proof of a good heart. I know how to appreciate it. But things are not as bad as you imagine. I can call the King my best friend; I trust him and shall not be disappointed! Be easy about me!'

Faustina said nothing more; the Count saluted her.

But he changed his plans and ordered his men to bear him to Bruhl's palace.

It was a time at which he had a good chance of finding him at home. He did not need to ask to be admitted, for before the almighty Sulkowski all doors were thrown open.

Bruhl was at home.

Sulkowski rushed upstairs and did not notice that a page preceded him through another door to tell his master about the visitor.

Bruhl was with Henniche whom he dismissed, and before Sulkowski, who was obliged to pa.s.s through several drawing-rooms, reached his study, he fell on his knees before a crucifix and began to pray.

The easy manner in which he a.s.sumed that position proved that it was not for the first time that he found it advisable that a visitor should come upon him unexpectedly praying.

The contemporary writers a.s.sure us that Bruhl was very often found praying.

Sulkowski entered the room without knocking at the door and stood there in surprise; it was the first time he had seen Bruhl praying and he could hardly believe his own eyes; he stood motionless, while Bruhl with his back turned, as though he had not heard the door open, knelt, sighing. At length he beat upon his breast, bending his head as low as a beggar in front of a church asking for alms.

Sulkowski could not have suspected that all this was a comedy, for he entered unannounced and in the dusk the _porte-chaise_ could not have been noticed.

The farce lasted quite a long time, and every time Bruhl lifted his hand Sulkowski could see a rosary-round his wrist. At length the Count coughed slightly.

Bruhl started as if frightened, and having perceived Sulkowski covered his eyes:

'Ah! dear Count! You must excuse me--I am ashamed--but sometimes one needs to pray--so much time do we give to the pleasures of life and it is only right that some should be given to prayer--'

'It is I that must beg your pardon,' said Sulkowski advancing slowly, 'and I am edified by your piety. Forgive me that I have interrupted you.'

'I was just finishing,' Bruhl said pointing to the sofa.

Two candles were burning on the table.

'A man who prays like that,' thought Sulkowski, 'cannot be bad and perverse; it is impossible.'

A heavy weight fell from his breast. He looked at Bruhl who seemed to be still in pious ecstasies.

'Well,' said Sulkowski, seating himself comfortably on the sofa, 'you know that I am going away.'

Bruhl's face became melancholy.

'You must do as you please,' he said slowly, 'as for me I neither approve your voyage, nor do I advise it. Speaking frankly, I was against it and I am still. In the first place n.o.body can be a subst.i.tute for you with the King. I can and I must be frank with you.

The Queen is a saint, but she is a woman. If you go her influence will increase and the King will fall under her and Guarini's influence. You know that I am a good Catholic but I should dislike to see the King's mind too much under the influence of the priests. Our gracious lord hearkens too much to them already and hurts the feelings of his Saxon subjects.'

Sulkowski listened very attentively.

'My dear Bruhl,' he said, 'you are right and I endorse your opinion.

All that you say is true. You blame me for going away, but I am a soldier. The King made me commander of his army. I expect a war and I persuaded the King that war is inevitable, that Saxony must take advantage of the situation of Austria. That is the reason why I wish to acquire military experience; I go, but not to satisfy my fancy--'

'I would prefer that you stayed,' Bruhl rejoined,

'And do you know what they say?' asked Sulkowski.

Bruhl's face expressed surprise.