Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-02-05
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81 imagined, for moment, that I did, I
confess" said Adrienne, with a shrug.
''You were then the only man I knew
"And now?" cried he, in f1rmer tone.
"Now love the marquis, Inv fance,
replied Adrienne, firmly; "and he is a
very different sort Of sutton from you,
| mon pGuUr6 DesfOrges. AdieuIn
| With this she turned and went her way,
while he, bewlldered with grief and in
| dignation, stood as if transfxed to the
| spot, and looked after her till his tears
| obscured his vision. For a moment he
was undecided what to do: but as he
turned to 90 his way his eyes fell on the
! sign Of a swOrd-cutter on the opposite side
of the street. He Immediately crossed
over and provided himself with a weapon.
| Zone or the other of us must die" said
he; "either he, the rich marquis, or |, the
poor poet"
The mood he was in brooded no delay
! that very evening, therefore, he waited
for his rival in an arched doorway oppo-
site the Marneville residence. When the
marquis appeared, wrapped in a white
mantle, and turned to look up at the
lighted windows of his betrothed, Desfor-
ges approached him.
cit is you who would rob me of Mile.
de Marneville," he began, in a tone trem-
| ulOus with rage. 81 love her, and if you
lead her to the altar you must cross my
dead body. Defend yourself, STRIP
''Ha! are you mad?" laughed the mar
quis.
eyes, madly in earnest. You must
! fight, sir" replied Desforges
"Fight-with you? To do that [
| should be worse than mad, | should be a
| fool }, returned thp marOlIiS
miserable cOward!" cried Desforges.
'sYou are not worthyof being treated as
an honorable adversary. Take that!'
And with all the energy of frenzy he
seized his rival, wound his mantle around
him so that he could not use his arms,
and then beat him with the fiat of his
sword until the disturbance in the street
brought Mile. de Marneville to the win
dow, where she could see her betrothed
receive his chastising. Instead of APP
plauding the courageous friend of her
youth, she swOre vengeance on him for
thus maltreating the marquis, and called
for assistance.
Tired at least Of belaboring his rival,
DesfOrges went his way, leaving the mar
quis to re-enter the house Of his mistress
and repair damages.
1t unfortunately CHANGED that while
the marquis sought consolation for the
beating he had received in the caresses
of his lady-love, Nine, de Marneville
threatened to use her influence with the
Marquise de Pompadour to secure the ar
rest of Desforges
"That could doubtless be easily COM
passed." said Beauvoir, "for the Marquise
happens at this moment to be exasperated
against some anonymous poet on account
OF a satire of which she is the subject,
and that has been in circulation for the
last day Or two"
"How?" asked the two ladies in a
breath.
''Richelieu, the gallant duke, who de
lights in nothing more than in badgering
the Marquise, sent her a copy. In her
evaporation she threatens the author
with her direst vengeance, if she can dis
cover him, which she is making every
effort TO do"
''Then he has not yet been discovered:''
asked Adrienne.
''Not yet"
"And would he be severely punished?"
Nothing could save him from the
Bastile"
Adrienne arose and demanded her
mantle.
Where are you going, my child?"
''To the Marquise de Pompadour"
ITO the Marquise!" echoed the aston
ished Beauvoir.
"Not now, child, at this late hour" re-
mOnstrated the mother.
"Now-this night-before I sleep!"
cried the revengeful Adrienne.
The Marquise de Pompadour, in conse-
quence of the annoyance DesfOrges' satire
had caused her, was ailing, and, cOnse-
quently had retired earlier than usual.
When Mile. de Marneville was shown
into her apartment, the mistress of France,
shorn of all pomp, fatigued and pale, but
hardly less beautiful and fascinating in
pallor, raised herself up on her silkel
cushions, and fixed those wonderful eyes
on her visitor that had sOftened many
determined diplomat.
cit must be matter of real Importance,
mademoiselle, that will excuse your
Weakening me- for | am not at all well to
night" said the Marquise, in kindly
tone.
'My mission will result, l trust, Nine
lie Marquise, in removing the cause of
your indisposition."
"And that is-?"
"The satire which,
"Not word about that, 1 beg of you
/ would [ could not think of it again
Still, cannot deny that it is clever"
"But, madame, would you not be glad
to discover its author?''
"Glad? | know not what | would not
give to find him out!'
THAT you can do through me. I ask
only that you keep the name of your in
fOrmant secret
"Well, l promise"
"And that his punishment be severe"
added Adrienne
ooh, you can safely leave that to me.
His punishment shall be such as to wean
him from any desire to ever write another
line OF verse, my word for that"
Here, then, is the manuscript"
The Marquise ran her eyes hastily over
it. "But the name of the author?" she
asked.
"Desforges"
Is this his handwriting?"
at is"
"And how shall l reward you, my
child ?" asked the Marquise, overjoyed.
Z" will first see. in the severity with
which you punish Desforges, how great
recompense you think my service
merits"
"Ha! if you wait till then, l fear there
is nothing you will not have the courage
to ask" replied the Marquise, laughing.
Before morning Desforges was securely |
lodged in the Bastile
For several days Nine. de Pompadour |
occupied herself in devising some mode |
OF punishment for the satirist, that should |
DE as original as 1t was severe. Finally |
she solved the interesting problem, and |