THE MONEY-CHANGER OF FRANKFORT. BY GEORGE J. O. ALLMANN. "Please you read." CYMBELINE. CHAP. III. - "Let it be a quarrel between us if you live." SHAKSPERE.-King Henry V. The first words that fell on his master's ears were those of his favourite attendant Dominique, who was loudly exclaiming in his native language, "But I tell you, Monsieur le Comte, my master is most particularly engaged, and has given orders on no account to be disturbed." “Au diable !” was heard in reply, and with a voice in a still louder pitch, "au diable with your excuses! I comprehend what you mean by the Marquis being particularly engaged. By the bones of my ancestors, he has some fair demoiselle with him, I will be bound!" Dominique was proceeding to deny this stoutly, when the stranger, in spite of Dominique's opposition and interposition of his body before the door, deliberately put him aside with all the nonchalance of a superior, to which the former felt compelled to submit with all the nonchalance of an inferior, and, opening the door, presented himself boldly to the astonished De Tourville. miserable; I am a victim to ennui! How, then, can you wonder at my visit? But really," he continued, looking at Dominique, as he still stood respectfully at the door, awaiting the orders of the Marquis, who immediately made a mute sign for him to retire, "you are somewhat difficult of access; besides your valet de place had the kindness to assure me you were engaged-particularly engaged, though (looking curiously through the suite) I perceive no sign of the fact, save this chair vis-à-vis to your own. Come, confess, now, you have some charmant ange concealed near-some sweet enslaver !" "And if I have," returned De Tourville, who did not much relish this badinage, but was yet willing to humour it, "will M. le Comte be so ungallant as to penetrate a lady's secret, or seek a revelation which would, perhaps, compromise another, and that other a charmant ange, as he so prettily terms her?" "No; on my faith, no!" responded De Beaupré, with apparent sincerity, though the wandering of his eyes contradicted his assertion. "So say no more on the subject, mon cher Marquis." just before vacated, and exclaimed with vivacity, "Now let us have a little social chat, mon cher de Tourville. I have many things to say to you!" He then with the most consummate sang froid divested himself of his handsome outer coat, and throwing it carelessly on a chair, at the same All this, long as we have taken to describe it, time placing his hat and cane upon it, he withoccupied scarcely a minute, so rapid is the ut-out further apology took the seat Martin had terance and action of the mercurial Frenchmen, who so often innocently and devoutly flatter their own vanity by thinking they set the initiative to other worlds; and during that time the Marquis had barely time to dismiss Martin, as we have seen, and turn himself rapidly towards the scene of action; he was therefore standing looking thitherward, when the stranger on entering advanced eagerly towards him, at the same time offering his hand. By the bones of my ancestors, I am delighted to see you, M. le Marquis!" The latter took the proffered hand, at the same time his surprise subsiding, while he invested his manner with a polished cordiality, as he replied "You do me honour, Count Eugène de Beaupré; but to what am I indebted for the honour of this sudden visit? It is scarce two hours since I parted from you!" "What of that!" returned the Count, gaily. By the bones of my ancestors, I cannot exist but in your society! I am wretched, I am "De bon cœur!" returned his host, yielding to what he found it impossible to oppose, and, to do him justice, yielding frankly, although he was in reality exceedingly vexed by the Count's inopportune arrival-" but excuse me for an instant: I have but to write a few lines to a friend, and give orders to my servant respecting it; it is a letter of some importance, or-" "Pray say nothing further; I can not only amuse myself, but shall be delighted by inspecting the many valuable paintings I perceive you possess. I am told I am a connoisseur; but be that as it may, I can at once behold that most of them are gems; in truth, these must be worth a pretty little sum!" "Why, to speak the truth, they have cost me something worth naming, independently of the time I have sacrificed in collecting them;" and as he spoke, and while the Count de Beaupré traversed the suite of apartments, viewing the various superb specimens of the ancient masters, and expressing his approbation and rapture at every one he beheld, the Marquis proceeded to his écritoire, and began to write his letter, and also his instructions to Dominique as to its delivery. While he is thus engaged, we may, we think, give some passing description of the person whom De Tourville called Le Comte Eugène de Beaupré. out of the house without noise. Let him then knock loudly, so as, if possible, to be heard in this room; you will then announce him as Monsieur le Baron von Beute!" The Marquis watched the face of Dominique while he read these commands, and perceived from its expression that he comprehended their import. He held out the missive therein referred to, which the valet, bowing, took, at the same time saying, "Monsieur le Marquis shall be obeyed." | "Never trust too much to the memory of domestics," said the Marquis at length, courteously inviting his guest to sit, at the same time falling with graceful ease into his own fauteuil; "they either wilfully forget a message, or fail to deliver it according to your desires. In matters of importance I scarcely ever fail to write my instructions. I wait while they read, and see that they comprehend them. By doing this they are fully impressed on their understanding, and since I have followed this plan I never knew my intelligent Dominique commit an error in He was of slight proportions, but robust for his size; somewhat near the medium height, and between twenty and thirty years of age. It would be almost impossible to be more definitive as to this latter point, for he possessed that varying expression that renders it exceedingly difficult to decide with accuracy to which of the two periods of life we have named his age more nearly approached. A man displeased with the world is never satisfied with himself, and opposed to this is its contrariety: so that when gaiety illumined the Count de Beaupré's face, he looked considerably younger than he really was; and when he relapsed into the sudden fits of contemplative thought which so frequently occurred when he was not observed, it imparted an appearance of premature care, that reflected itself in deep lines on his forehead, and in shadows on his cheeks. A becoming perruque replaced the natural tegument of the head; though why he substituted the false for the real, De Tourville, whose keenness discovered the fact, was at a loss to imagine. Added to this, his features were strongly marked and impressive, but conveyed a peculiar feeling of un-executing them." easiness on whomsoever he gazed, communi- "I am surprised you take so much trouble cating to some the sort of nameless fear which with them," returned De Beaupré, with an air of the look of the basilisk creates, when it fills the languor. "Heavens! only think-to be perheart of its victim with the stupor of its impend-petually a victim to caligraphy! The idea is ing doom. His eyes were grey; small, brilliant, | and of piercing lustre-eyes that seem to penetrate the very soul, and the secrets hidden there, though their gaze is riveted on you only for an instant. To record that his nose was aquiline, and his mouth firm and decisive, will complete the summary of the personal description of M. le Comte de Beaupré. When De Tourville had finished his despatches, which scarcely occupied him ten minutes, he applied to his mouth a small silver whistle, which hung suspended by a ribbon round his neck, and in a few seconds Dominique made his appearance. "Take this letter according to its direction," said his master, meaningly; "and for fear of committing any error, behold, I have written on this paper your instructions; read." The valet took the offered paper, and hastily perused- "In the small cabinet to the south of madame's room, and which you can reach by the east corridor, you will find the person whom you admitted an hour ago proceed thither, and deliver to him the note I shall give you. Afterwards assist him to dress in one of my best suits; then descend with him terrible!” "You must remember, however," explained the Marquis-"you must remember, my dear Count, that it is only when the matter is important that I write down my instructions, and I have seldom need to do that; for they all pass through Dominique as a medium of communication between me and the inferior domestics." "Ah!" interposed his visitor, "that Dominique, as you call him, seems an invaluable fellow-quite a pattern of a confidential valet de place. He recommends himself more particularly to me by his silence than by anything else. I myself am worried to death by a talkative servant, who, like a meddling jackanapes of a barbier, gabbles on every topic, retailing all the petty news and scandal of the city with a loquacity and self-enjoyment that is sometimes, though rarely, amusing-more frequently oppressive and disagreeable. What would I not give," he added, with an indolent sigh, "for a Dominique like yours appears to be! You would not part with him, mon cher Marquis, would you?" He looked into his host's face while he spoke, with a peculiar expression, which the latter, well versed as he deemed himself in human nature, could not well comprehend; he attributed it, however, only to a cynical disbelief that he would be induced to assent to the Count's wish: the sneer, however, dwelt upon the latter's lip only for an instant, and the conversation immediately afterwards took such an unexpected turn, that he entirely forgot it, and was compelled to resort to every art he possessed, and to call into action all his hypocrisy and cunning in order to conceal his confusion from the searching looks of De Beaupré. "Apropos of talkative domestics," began De Beaupré; "my own garrulous valet was this morning exercising his loquacity as usual; but as I seldom or never pay any attention to his on dits-for they only consist of petites réchauffes-he would have been permitted to retire without my addressing him, when your name, mon cher De Tourville, accidentally caught my ear, and arrested my attention. I questioned him upon the subject; he replied that a report was current that, instead of your being a French noble, you were a wealthy and successful sharper !" "The rumour is false," retorted the Marquis, with animation, and with such wonderfully disguised earnestness, as to apparently convince the other: "but with whom did it originate?" "I have traced it to M. Glouglou, who has lost such large sums to you!" "By heaven I will be avenged on the fat old bourgeoise!" exclaimed the Marquis, with assumed anger, his injured feelings yielding to a just resentment. "I will sacrifice him to my wrath! He shall pay dearly for the aspersion he has thrown upon an exiled noble !" "Tut! tut! my dear De Tourville; by the bones of my ancestors, you take it too much to heart; and besides, you have a friend in me. Although I never had the honour of meeting you in Paris amid my own circle of acquaintances, I nevertheless am well acquainted with your family and connections!" Consummate actor as he was, and often as he was compelled to resort to every artifice and subterfuge to allay suspicion, and support the character he was playing, the Marquis was vanquished by this, and made an involuntary gesture of intense astonishment, which the other did not, or would not perceive: he rallied, however, in an instant, and his scheming brain uniting all circumstances together, while it placed them in a favourable light, he assented boldly, really imagining that it was quite probable De Beaupré discovered in him a family likeness to the De Tourvilles, though he himself was utterly unconscious that there was such a family in existence, more especially in Paris, where he had passed by that name, and indeed mixed in fashionable circles, to which his appearance and the art of cultivating acquaintance he possessed, coupled with an expensive establishment which he maintained, easily admitted him. Yet it was singular, he thought, that the De Tourvilles had not discovered him to be an impostor! But with the ready excuse with which the most wary as readily flatter themselves as the less cautious, the Chevalier thought the force of circumstances favoured him. There were many reasons why his assumed character was not penetrated-the family of De Tourville might have been absent at the time from Paristhey were, perhaps, a family of no very great importance; in short, he was only too rejoiced to yield to the pleasurable sensation which the claim of acquaintanceship put forth by his guest created. While he thus mused, the face of De Beaupré wore a peculiar smile. "Indeed!" returned the Marquis, anxious to know more, and hazarding by a bold stroke a communication of his wish" indeed! I was really not aware that my father had ever numbered among our guests at the Chateau de Tourville M. de Beaupré." "Nor was it at the Chateau de Tourville," returned the latter with a slight laugh, which might be taken in different ways. It might have been one of self-enjoyment; or it might have been-and in this light De Tourville beheld it— merely because the Count wondered at his assumed innocence, in imagining that the latter could only have been acquainted with his parents at their chateau. He was still more convinced that this was its cause, when his visitor explained, "Nor was it at the Chateau de Beaupré, which is some leagues from Paris; but at the house of a mutual acquaintance in that city; and I am only too happy to meet their son in a position to render him some assistance!" "How, Monsieur le Comte," interposed De Tourville, rising, and drawing himself up haughtily-he was acting superbly his assumed character-" in what manner do I need your aid? I have a sword, with which I have punished my enemies!" and he drew the glittering weapon from its sheath with an air of pride; "and I shall not be found backward now to redress my wrongs." The sword was thrust back again into its sheath with vigour, as he ended. 66 A thousand pardons, mon cher De Tourville! If I have wounded you by any thoughtless expression, I ask your pardon a thousand times! By the bones of my ancestors, I spoke in sincerity when I said I was your friend; and I have proved it." "Par exemple-how?" questioned the latter, sceptically. How, De Tourville?" responded the Count, slightly laughing; "I will tell you. I finished dressing; I made my déjeuner, and after one or two calls en passant, I proceeded to our favourite place of resort, the Spielhaus in Strasse. There, you are aware, I met you: you rose from the table a winner to a large amount, I among the rest losing a trifle to you. Scarcely had you quitted the house, when the same assertion that had emanated from Glouglou was made by one of those who were present. I unhesitatingly contradicted it, and told them I had been intimate with your family in Paris, and could vouch for your identity as the chief of the house of De Tourville. All appeared satisfied save one, and to him I said, if he doubted my word or my honour, I was not only ready with my sword to, minique had executed his commission so pergive him satisfaction, but should require it myself. He then declared himself perfectly convinced of the fallacy of the rumour, and even mentioned that it had been communicated to him by Glouglou. Upon that I said I would accompany you thither this evening, and that if the wretched lump of obesity did not retract his observation, I would run him through!" "You have done me a great service," said De Tourville, though his gratitude did not explode; "and I am indebted to you for it; but you shall not embroil yourself with so needless and ridiculous a quarrel on my account; it is somewhat contemptible to punish such a creature as this Glouglou; but if it needs to be done, myself shall be the instrument." "Nay! nay!" ejaculated his visitor, with warmth; "the quarrel, if it deserves such an epithet, is mine; and by the bones of my ancestors, mine it shall be. I have taken it upon myself, so you must let me have my way. I foresee an immensity of enjoyment when I pull Monsieur Glouglou by that prominent nose of his-ha! ha! ha! The idea is so ludicrous that I shall not be ennuyé for another century.' And he burst into a hearty laugh, in which De Tourville perforce joined. "Well, let it be so, then," at length said the latter, after the laugh was over. "I the more readily acquiesce, as it is accompanied by no danger to you." Danger!" echoed De Beaupré, ironically, while the same risible vision appeared before his eyes, and he yielded to a second and heartier fit of laughter. "Ha! ha! ha!" he exclaimed, the tears running down his cheeks, "'tis too absurd-too delightful! By the bones of my ancestors, I shall perform the office of barber to him. I shall tweak his nose, avant que je le savonner!" * And the mercurial count laughed loudly at his own pun, and with as much zest as if it had not been heightened by the mood in which he had been previously indulging. At this moment a loud and continuous knocking at the outer door of the mansion could be heard by them, even in the room where they sat. "Who can this be?" exclaimed De Tourville, with a well-dissembled air of surprise. "It cannot be a visitor; it would be too kind of Fortune to bestow two on me in one evening!" His doubts, however, were soon solved, as Dominique opened the door, while he announced "M. le Baron von Beute." And Martin Natter entered the room; but so changed, that it would have been impossible to have recognized him. Instead of the rough, common-place, and unprepossessing appearance which he generally presented, he was now dressed with extreme care, his hair arranged with taste, and fashionably; and altogether Do * That our English readers should not lose this attempt at wit on the part of De Beaupré, we may as well state that savonner admits of a double meaning" to lather" and "to bully." fectly and admirably, that, had he not exercised a powerful command over himself, the Marquis would have betrayed his astonishment: as it was, however, he welcomed the new comer cordially. "I am delighted to see you," he said. "I did not anticipate this evening the pleasure I now feel in welcoming you, my dear Baron. You know M. le Comte de Beaupré, I believe?" The latter had narrowly and shrewdly observed the Baron on his entrance, in order to discover if there passed between him and De Tourville any signs of recognition; but nothing tended to awaken his suspicion that such was the case; on the contrary, he could easily perceive that the latter was really taken by surprise by the unexpected visit of the Baron. He therefore bowed courteously to that personage, who gravely, and perhaps a little awkwardly, returned the salutation. How frequently do circumstances so tally as to entirely mislead us. In this instance the astonishment depicted on De Tourville's countenance arose from an entirely different cause from that which the Count suspected; and the former little imagined that it materially served his cause for a time. So greatly are we the creatures of what we denominate Circumstance, and so easily are we led and deceived by it. "What say you, Messieurs," exclaimed their host, addressing his two visitors-" shall we to my billiard-room? we can manage to pass a pleasant hour together over a game, and enjoy the flavour of my cigars, and some café au lait, superior to which, I will venture to affirm, you will not find even in Paris-my cuisinier is a real artiste. His guests accepted his invitation with alacrity; and they forthwith left the Salon de Compagnie, attended by their host. |