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The officer bowed in token of his unconditional obedience； and drew
out the wooden gag； which he showed the countess； going straight to
her chair。
〃I will comply with your wish；〃 said the president； turning to the
living portrait of the queen。 〃I will call you madame； if you will
promise me in return to answer all my questions faithfully。〃
〃I promise you that； by my child；〃 answered Mademoiselle Oliva；
bowing slightly。
〃Tell me； then； do you know the person who sits in that chair？〃
Mademoiselle Oliva cast a quick look at Lamotte； who glared at her
from her seat。
〃Oh； yes； I know her；〃 she said。 〃That is； I do not know her name； I
only know that she lives in a splendid palace； that she is very
rich； and has everything nice。〃
〃How do you know this lady？ Tell us that。〃
〃I will tell you； gentlemen； and I swear to you that so sure as I
want to be an honorable wife； I will tell you the whole truth。 I was
walking one day in the Palais Royal； when a tall； slim； gentlemanly
man； who had passed me several times； came up to me； said some soft
things； and asked permission to visit me。 I answered him； smiling；
that he could visit me at once if he would take me into one of the
eating…houses and dine with me。 He accepted my proposition； and we
dined together； and were merry and jolly enough for a new
acquaintance。 When we parted we promised to meet there again on the
morrow； and so we did。 After the second dinner； the amiable
gentleman conducted me home； and there told me that he was very
distinguished and influential； that he had friends at court； and was
very well acquainted with the king and queen。 He told me that he
would procure for me powerful patrons； and told me that a very
distinguished lady； who had interested herself in my behalf through
his description； would visit me and make my acquaintance。 On the
next day he really came in company with a lady； who greeted me very
friendly； and was astonished at her first glimpse of me。〃
〃Who was that lady？〃 asked the president。
Mademoiselle pointed with her thumb over her shoulder。 〃The lady
yonder；〃 said she。
〃Are you sure of it？〃
〃As of my own life； Mr。 President。〃
〃Good。 Good。 You saw the lady quite frequently？〃
〃Yes； she visited me twice more； and told me about the queen； and
the splendid way they lived at the court； she promised me that she
would bring me to the court and make a great lady out of me； if I
would do what she wanted me to do。 I promised it gladly； and
declared myself ready to do every thing that she should order me； if
she would keep her promise and bring me to the court； that I might
speak with the king and the queen。〃
〃But why were you so curious to go to the court and speak with the
king and the queen？〃
〃Why？ Good Lord！ that is very simple and natural。 It is a very easy
thing for the king to make a captain out of a sergeant； and as the
king； so people say； does nothing but what the queen tells him to； I
wanted of course before every thing to have a good word from the
queen。 I should have liked to see my dear George wearing epaulets；
and it must have tremendously pleased my boy to have come into the
world the child of a captain。〃
〃Did you tell that to the lady？〃
〃Certainly I told her； and she promised me that the queen would
undoubtedly do me the favor； provided that I would do every thing
that she bade me do in the name of the queen。 She told me； then；
that the queen had ordered her to seek a person suitable to play a
part in a little comedy； which she was privately preparing； that I
was just the person to play this part； and if I would do it well and
tell nobody in the world； not even George； when he should come home
from Brussels； she would not only give me her help in the future；
but pay me fifteen thousand francs for my assistance。 I consented
with great joy； of course； for fifteen thousand francs was a
magnificent dowry for a marriage； and I was very happy in being able
to earn so much without having to work very hard for it。〃
〃But did it not occur to you that that was a dangerous game that
they wanted yon to play； and for which they were going to pay such a
high sum？〃
〃I did have such thoughts once in a while； but I suppressed them
soon； so as not to be troubled about my good fortune； and besides
that； the countess assured me that every thing was done at the
command of the queen； and that it was the queen who was going to pay
the fifteen thousand francs。 That quieted me completely； for as an
obedient and true subject it was my duty to obey the queen； and show
devotion to her in all things； more particularly when she was going
to pay so magnificently。 Meantime； I comforted myself that it could
be nothing bad and criminal that the queen could order done； and the
countess assured me that too； and told me that every thing I had to
do was to represent another person； and to make a lover believe that
he was with his love； which would； of course； please him immensely；
and make him very happy。 Besides； I did not think it any sin to do
my part toward making an unfortunate lover have happy thoughts。 I
was very much pleased with this part； and made my plan to speak to
him in very tender and loving tones。〃
〃But were you not curious to know for whom you were playing this
part； and what lady you had to represent？〃
〃I should certainly have liked very much to know； but the countess
forbade me to ask； and told me that I must suppress my curiosity；
and； on the other hand； make an effort to notice nothing at all；
else I should receive only half of the money； and； besides； if they
noticed that I knew what I was doing； I might be sent to the
Bastile。 I was still upon that； and did not trouble myself about any
thing further； and asked nothing more； and only thought of learning
my lesson well； that I might get the fifteen thousand francs for my
marriage portion。〃
〃So they gave you a lesson to learn？〃
〃Yes； the countess； and the gentleman who brought her to me； came
twice to me； and taught me how I ought to walk； how to hold my head；
to nod； and reach my hand to kiss。 After teaching me this； they came
one day and carried me in a splendid coach to the house of the
countess。 There I dined with them； and then we drove to Versailles。
They walked with me in the park； and at a place near the pavilion
they stood still； and said to me： 'Here is where you will play your
little comedy to…morrow； this is the spot which the queen has
herself appointed； and every thing which takes place is at the
express command of her majesty。' That entirely quieted me； arid I
turned back to Paris overjoyed； in company with the countess and her
companion。 They kept me that night in their beautiful home； and on
the next day we drove again to Versailles； where the countess had a
small suite of apartments。 She herself dressed me； and condescended
to help me like a waiting…maid。〃
〃What kind of a suit did she put upon you？〃
〃Exactly such a one as I am wearing to…day； only when we were ready；
and it had begun to grow dark； the countess laid a white mantle over
me； and covered my head with a cap。 Then she drove me into the park；
gave me a letter； and said： 'You