The Baroque Cycle - The Confusion Part 12

"Only name it, mademoiselle."

"The name of a physician who is good down here." She let her hand slide down a few inches and patted him. She did it with exquisite caution. But nonetheless Jean Bart yelped and jumped, his face split open in agony. Eliza gasped and jumped back in horror; but his grimace relaxed into a smile, and he lunged after her and snared her back, for he was only joking.

"I have already been to see such a physician."

"That is good," said Eliza, still laughing, "for I would see you sit down before you go home."

"Fifty-two hours of rowing did its damage, this is true; but this physician has been at my a.r.s.e with all manner of poultices, and unmentionable procedures, and I am healing well. And this is the best bandage of all!" brus.h.i.+ng some lint from the epaulet of his new red coat.

"If only all wounds could be healed by putting on new clothes, monsieur!"

"Don't all women believe this to be true?"

"Sometimes they behave as if they did, Captain Bart. Perhaps I simply have not picked out the right dress yet."

"Then you should go shopping tomorrow!"

"It is a fine thought, Captain. But first I need some money. And as there is none in France, you must go out to sea and capture some gold for me."

"Consider it done! I owe it to you!"

"Try to keep that in mind tomorrow, Jean Bart."

Letter from Daniel Waterhouse to Eliza.

JANUARYFEBUARY 1690.

Mademoiselle de la Zeur, Thank you for yours of December '89. It took some time crossing the Channel, and I daresay this shall fare no better. I was touched by your expression of concern, and amused by the narrative of the timber. I had not appreciated how fortunate England is in this respect, for if we want timber in London, we need only denude some part of Scotland or Ireland where a few trees still stand. Thank you for yours of December '89. It took some time crossing the Channel, and I daresay this shall fare no better. I was touched by your expression of concern, and amused by the narrative of the timber. I had not appreciated how fortunate England is in this respect, for if we want timber in London, we need only denude some part of Scotland or Ireland where a few trees still stand.I would be of help to you in your quest to understand money, if for no other reason than that I would understand it myself. But I am perfectly useless. Our money has been wretched for as long as I have been alive. When it is so bad, it is no easy matter to discern when it is getting worse; but hard as it might be to believe, this seems to be occurring. I was bedridden for some months following the removal of my Stone, and did not have to go out and buy things. But when I had recovered sufficiently that I could venture out once again, I found it clearly worse. Or perhaps the long time spent not having to haggle over daily purchases, lifted the scales from my eyes, so that the absurdity of the situation was made clear to me.I keep running accounts at several coffee-houses, pubs, and a bottle-ale house in my street, so that every small purchase need not be attended by a tedious and irksome transfer of coin. Many who go out more often than I do have formed together into societies, called Clubbs, which facilitate purchase of food, drink, snuff, pipe-tobacco, &c., on credit. When, through some miracle, one comes into possession of coins recognizable as such, one runs out and tries to settle one's more important accounts. The system staggers along. People do not know any better.Here we have Whigs and Tories now. In essence these are, respectively, Roundheads and Cavaliers, under new guises, and less heavily armed. Tories get their money from the land that they own. To simplify matters greatly, one might say that France is a country consisting entirely of Tories; for all of the money there derives ultimately from the land. You might have had Whigs too, if you'd not expelled the Huguenots. And some of your Atlantic seaports are said to be a bit Whiggish. But as I said, I am over-simplifying to make a point: If you understand how money works in France, then you know everything about our Tories. And if you understand how it works in Amsterdam, then you know our Whigs.The Royal Society dwindles, and may not last to the end of the century. It no longer enjoys the favor of the King as it did under Charles II. In those days it was a force for revolution, revolution, in the new meaning of that word; but it succeeded so well that it has become conventional. The sorts of men who, having no other outlet for their ideas, would have devoted their lives to it, had they come of age when I did, may now make careers in the City, the Colonies, or in foreign adventures. We of the Royal Society are generally identified as Whigs. Our President is the Marquis of Ravenscar, a very powerful Whig, and he has been a.s.siduous in finding ways to harness the ingenuity of the Fellows of the Royal Society for practical ends. Some of these, I gad, have to do with money, revenue, banks, stocks, and other subjects that fascinate you. But I must confess I have fallen quite out of touch with such matters. in the new meaning of that word; but it succeeded so well that it has become conventional. The sorts of men who, having no other outlet for their ideas, would have devoted their lives to it, had they come of age when I did, may now make careers in the City, the Colonies, or in foreign adventures. We of the Royal Society are generally identified as Whigs. Our President is the Marquis of Ravenscar, a very powerful Whig, and he has been a.s.siduous in finding ways to harness the ingenuity of the Fellows of the Royal Society for practical ends. Some of these, I gad, have to do with money, revenue, banks, stocks, and other subjects that fascinate you. But I must confess I have fallen quite out of touch with such matters.Isaac Newton was elected to Parliament a year ago, in the wake of our Revolution. He had made a name for himself in Cambridge opposing the former King's efforts to salt the University with Jesuits. He spent much of the last year in London, to the dismay of those of us who would prefer to see him turn out more work in the vein of Principia Mathematica. Principia Mathematica. He and your friend Fatio have become the closest of companions, and share lodgings here. He and your friend Fatio have become the closest of companions, and share lodgings here.POST-SCRIPT-FEB. 1690 After I wrote the above, but before I could post this, King William and Queen Mary prorogued and dissolved Parliament. There have been new elections and the Tories have won. Isaac Newton is no longer M.P. He divides his time between Cambridge, where he toils on Alchemy, and London, where he and Fatio are reading After I wrote the above, but before I could post this, King William and Queen Mary prorogued and dissolved Parliament. There have been new elections and the Tories have won. Isaac Newton is no longer M.P. He divides his time between Cambridge, where he toils on Alchemy, and London, where he and Fatio are reading Treatise on Light Treatise on Light by our friend and erstwhile dinner-companion Huygens. All of which is to say that I am now even more useless to you than I was a month ago; for I am in a failing Society linked to a Party that has lost power and that has no money, there being none in the kingdom to be had. Our most brilliant Fellow devotes himself to other matters. It were by our friend and erstwhile dinner-companion Huygens. All of which is to say that I am now even more useless to you than I was a month ago; for I am in a failing Society linked to a Party that has lost power and that has no money, there being none in the kingdom to be had. Our most brilliant Fellow devotes himself to other matters. It were presumptuous presumptuous of me to expect a reply to a letter as devoid of useful content as this one; but it would have been of me to expect a reply to a letter as devoid of useful content as this one; but it would have been insolent insolent of me to have failed to respond to yours; for I am, as always, your humble and obedient servant- of me to have failed to respond to yours; for I am, as always, your humble and obedient servant-Daniel Waterhouse

Letter from Eliza to Daniel.

APRIL 1690.

NEWTON would have us believe that Time is stepped out by the ticking of G.o.d's pocket-watch, steady, immutable, an absolute measure of all sensible movements. LEIBNIZ inclines toward the view that Time is nothing more nor less than the change of objects' relations.h.i.+ps to one another-that movements, observed, enable us to detect Time, and not the other way round. NEWTON has laid out his system to the satisfaction, nay, amazement of the world, and I can find no fault in it; yet the system of LEIBNIZ, though not yet written out, more aptly describes my own subjective experience of Time. Which is to say that during the autumn of last year, when I and all around me were in continual motion, I had the impression that much Time was pa.s.sing. But once I reached Versailles, and settled into lodgings at my cottage on the domain of La Dunette, on the hill of Satory above Versailles, and got my household affairs in order, and established a routine, suddenly four months flew by.The purpose for which I was sent to Versailles, early in December, was accomplished before Christmas, and all since then has been tending to details. I should probably return to Dunkerque, where I could be more useful. But I am held here by various ties which only grow stronger with time. Every morning I ride down the hill through a little belt of woods, just to the south of the Piece d'eau des Suisses, Piece d'eau des Suisses, that separates the land of the Lavardacs from the royal domain of Versailles. This takes me down into the old hamlet of Versailles, outside the walls of the palace, which is growing up into a village. Diverse monasteries, nunneries, and a parish church have taken root there since the King moved his court to this place some eight years ago, and in one of them, the Convent of Sainte-Genevieve, my little "orphan" boy makes his home. If weather is good, I take him for a perambulation around the King's vegetable-garden: a limb of the gardens of Versailles that is thrust forth into the middle of the town. Being a working garden, whose purpose is to produce food, this is not as formal or as fas.h.i.+onable as the parterres west of the Chateau. But there is more here for little eyes to see and little hands to grasp, especially now that spring is coming. The gardeners are forever mending their trellises in expectation that peas and beans will climb up them in a few months; and to judge by the thoughtful way that little Jean-Jacques gazes upon these structures, he will be clambering up them like a little squirrel even before he has learned how to walk. Sometimes too we will go a little farther, into the Orangerie, which is an immense vaulted gallery wrapped around three sides of a rectangular garden, and open to the south so that its glazed walls can capture the warmth of the winter sun, and store it in stone. Tiny orange trees grow here in wooden boxes, waiting for summer to come so that the gardeners can move them out of doors, and Jean-Jacques is fascinated by the green globes that are to be found among their dark leaves. that separates the land of the Lavardacs from the royal domain of Versailles. This takes me down into the old hamlet of Versailles, outside the walls of the palace, which is growing up into a village. Diverse monasteries, nunneries, and a parish church have taken root there since the King moved his court to this place some eight years ago, and in one of them, the Convent of Sainte-Genevieve, my little "orphan" boy makes his home. If weather is good, I take him for a perambulation around the King's vegetable-garden: a limb of the gardens of Versailles that is thrust forth into the middle of the town. Being a working garden, whose purpose is to produce food, this is not as formal or as fas.h.i.+onable as the parterres west of the Chateau. But there is more here for little eyes to see and little hands to grasp, especially now that spring is coming. The gardeners are forever mending their trellises in expectation that peas and beans will climb up them in a few months; and to judge by the thoughtful way that little Jean-Jacques gazes upon these structures, he will be clambering up them like a little squirrel even before he has learned how to walk. Sometimes too we will go a little farther, into the Orangerie, which is an immense vaulted gallery wrapped around three sides of a rectangular garden, and open to the south so that its glazed walls can capture the warmth of the winter sun, and store it in stone. Tiny orange trees grow here in wooden boxes, waiting for summer to come so that the gardeners can move them out of doors, and Jean-Jacques is fascinated by the green globes that are to be found among their dark leaves.In due time I bring him back to Ste.-Genevieve's for an appointment with a wet-nurse. You might think that I would then go directly to the Chateau to immerse myself in Court doings. But more often than not I turn around and ride back up through the Bois de Satory to La Dunette, where I tend to various affairs. In my early months here, these were of a financial, but now they are more of a social, nature. Note, however, that La Dunette is no farther away from the King's great Chateau than is the Trianon Palace or many other parts of the royal domain, and so it does not feel like a separate place from Versailles, but more of an out-building of the King's estate. This illusion is strengthened by the architecture, which was done by the same fellow who designed the King's Chateau.The grounds of La Dunette spread across the Plateau of Satory, a hilltop that extends southwards from the wooded brow of a rise that overlooks the Piece d'eau des Suisses Piece d'eau des Suisses and the south wing of the King's Chateau. This land is hidden by the woods from direct view of the Dauphin, the Dauphine, and other royals who dwell in the palace's south wing. But once that screen of trees has been penetrated, the domain of the de Lavardacs resembles in every way the much larger Royal gardens down the hill. This means that it is divided up, here and there, by great pompous stone walls, with ma.s.sive iron grilles set into them from place to place; and those walls terminate in brick cottages, which I suppose are meant to recall guardhouses. In fact they have no practical purpose whatever that I can discern. They are there because they look good, like the k.n.o.bs on the ends of a banister. The domaine of La Dunette contains four such cottages. Two are unfinished on the inside, and one is having its roof replaced. I live in the fourth. There is just enough room in it for my little household. It is tucked in under the eave of the woods of Satory so that I can duck out the back door and ride down into Versailles whenever I please without having to traverse any of the gravel paths that radiate from the main chateau of La Dunette. I do so frequently, going down to the palace for a dinner-party or to attend the couchee of some d.u.c.h.ess or Princess. And so my existence here is independent of the de Lavardacs for the most part. However, at least once a week I go to the main residence to have dinner with etienne under the supervision of Madame la d.u.c.h.esse d'Arcachon. and the south wing of the King's Chateau. This land is hidden by the woods from direct view of the Dauphin, the Dauphine, and other royals who dwell in the palace's south wing. But once that screen of trees has been penetrated, the domain of the de Lavardacs resembles in every way the much larger Royal gardens down the hill. This means that it is divided up, here and there, by great pompous stone walls, with ma.s.sive iron grilles set into them from place to place; and those walls terminate in brick cottages, which I suppose are meant to recall guardhouses. In fact they have no practical purpose whatever that I can discern. They are there because they look good, like the k.n.o.bs on the ends of a banister. The domaine of La Dunette contains four such cottages. Two are unfinished on the inside, and one is having its roof replaced. I live in the fourth. There is just enough room in it for my little household. It is tucked in under the eave of the woods of Satory so that I can duck out the back door and ride down into Versailles whenever I please without having to traverse any of the gravel paths that radiate from the main chateau of La Dunette. I do so frequently, going down to the palace for a dinner-party or to attend the couchee of some d.u.c.h.ess or Princess. And so my existence here is independent of the de Lavardacs for the most part. However, at least once a week I go to the main residence to have dinner with etienne under the supervision of Madame la d.u.c.h.esse d'Arcachon.M. le duc d'Arcachon I have never met. During my earlier life at Versailles, as a governess, I saw him from a distance a few times, surrounded by other big-wigs, but my social standing was so mean that there was no circ.u.mstance under which I could have met him. Later my status was elevated; but he was in "the South" tending to business of some nature. He was at Versailles through much of 1689, while I was absent; then he went back into "the South" a few weeks before I came there in December. He was supposed to be back for Christmas; but one thing and then another has kept him away. A few times a week Madame la d.u.c.h.esse receives a letter from Ma.r.s.eille, where M. le duc is looking after the galleys of the Mediterranean fleet; or Lyon, where he is meeting with the King's money-men, and acquiring victuals, powder, &c; or Arcachon, where he is looking after Lavardac family affairs; or Brest, where he is responsible for s.h.i.+pment of men and materiel to the forces in Ireland. Madame la d.u.c.h.esse always replies on the same day, hoping her letter shall catch him before he has moved on to some other port. This has happened often enough that M. le duc has learned a little bit about me and my activities, or lack thereof, here; and lately he has begun writing to me personally at the cottage. It seems that I am to be useful to this family in some way other than as an eligible belle for etienne. The Duc has recently become involved in some sort of momentous transaction that is in the offing down south, and that he expects to yield a large quant.i.ty of hard money when it comes off, which is expected to occur late in the summer. To report any more than this would be indiscreet, but if I am reading his most recent letter correctly, he wishes me to look after certain of the details: a large transfer of metal through Lyon.So at last I shall have something to do, and can expect the pa.s.sage of time to slow down again, as I go into violent movement, and change my relations with all around me.Eliza, Countess de la Zeur

La Dunette.

MID-JULY 1690.

LA D DUNETTE MEANT "p.o.o.p DECK," MEANT "p.o.o.p DECK," the high place on a s.h.i.+p's stern-castle from which the captain could see everything. The name had come to Louis-Francois de Lavardac, duc d'Arcachon, some twelve years earlier, as he had stood upon the brow of the hill, peering, between two denuded trees, across the frozen bog that would later become the the high place on a s.h.i.+p's stern-castle from which the captain could see everything. The name had come to Louis-Francois de Lavardac, duc d'Arcachon, some twelve years earlier, as he had stood upon the brow of the hill, peering, between two denuded trees, across the frozen bog that would later become the Piece d'eau des Suisses, Piece d'eau des Suisses, at the southern flanks of the stupendous construction site that would shortly become the royal palace of Louis XIV. at the southern flanks of the stupendous construction site that would shortly become the royal palace of Louis XIV.

The King got things built more quickly than anyone else, partly because he had the Army to help him and partly because he hired all of the qualified builders. And so La Dunette La Dunette was still nothing more than an empty stretch of high ground with a clever name when was still nothing more than an empty stretch of high ground with a clever name when le Roi le Roi had given his cousin, the duc d'Arcachon, a personal tour of the palace. They had lingered particularly in the Queen's Apartments: a row of bedchambers, antechambers, and salons that stretched between the Peace drawing-room and the King's guardroom on the upper storey of the palace's southern wing. The King and the Duke had strolled up and down the length of those apartments once, twice, thrice, pausing before each of the high windows to enjoy the view across the had given his cousin, the duc d'Arcachon, a personal tour of the palace. They had lingered particularly in the Queen's Apartments: a row of bedchambers, antechambers, and salons that stretched between the Peace drawing-room and the King's guardroom on the upper storey of the palace's southern wing. The King and the Duke had strolled up and down the length of those apartments once, twice, thrice, pausing before each of the high windows to enjoy the view across the Parterre Sud, Parterre Sud, and the Orangerie below it to the rise of the Bois de Satory a mile away. The duc d'Arcachon had, in the fullness of time, perceived what the King had wished him to perceive, which was that any buildings erected on or near the crest of the hill would spoil the Queen's view, and give her the feeling that the de Lavardacs were peering down into her bedroom windows. And so a great pile of expensive architectural drawings had been used to start fires in the Hotel d'Arcachon in Paris, and the duc had hired the great Hardouin-Mansart and implored him to design a chateau altogether magnificent-but invisible from the Queen's windows. Mansart had situated it well back from the crest of the hill. Consequently, from the windows of the chateau of La Dunette proper, the view was limited. But Mansart had laid out a promenade that swung out along a lobe of the garden and led to a gazebo, perched demurely on the brink of the hill, and camouflaged with climbing vines. From there the prospect was superb. and the Orangerie below it to the rise of the Bois de Satory a mile away. The duc d'Arcachon had, in the fullness of time, perceived what the King had wished him to perceive, which was that any buildings erected on or near the crest of the hill would spoil the Queen's view, and give her the feeling that the de Lavardacs were peering down into her bedroom windows. And so a great pile of expensive architectural drawings had been used to start fires in the Hotel d'Arcachon in Paris, and the duc had hired the great Hardouin-Mansart and implored him to design a chateau altogether magnificent-but invisible from the Queen's windows. Mansart had situated it well back from the crest of the hill. Consequently, from the windows of the chateau of La Dunette proper, the view was limited. But Mansart had laid out a promenade that swung out along a lobe of the garden and led to a gazebo, perched demurely on the brink of the hill, and camouflaged with climbing vines. From there the prospect was superb.

Before dinner was served, the Duke and d.u.c.h.ess of Arcachon invited their guests-twenty-six in all-to stroll out to the gazebo, enjoy the breeze (for the day was warm), and take in the view of the Royal Chateau of Versailles, its gardens, and its waterways. From this distance it was difficult to make out individuals and impossible to hear voices, but large groups were obvious. Out in the town, beyond the Place d'Armes, Place d'Armes, the Franciscans had lit a bonfire before their monastery and were dancing around it in a circle; from time to time, a few notes of their song would blow past on a slip of breeze. Another revel was underway along the Grand Ca.n.a.l, a mile-long slot of water stretching away from the Chateau along the central axis of the King's garden. From here, it was a milling mob of wigs. Even the stable-hands out in the the Franciscans had lit a bonfire before their monastery and were dancing around it in a circle; from time to time, a few notes of their song would blow past on a slip of breeze. Another revel was underway along the Grand Ca.n.a.l, a mile-long slot of water stretching away from the Chateau along the central axis of the King's garden. From here, it was a milling mob of wigs. Even the stable-hands out in the Place d'Armes Place d'Armes had got a bonfire going, which had attracted hundreds of commoners: townspeople, servants of Versailles and nearby villas, and country folk who had seen the pillars of smoke and heard the pealing of bells, and come in to find out what all the excitement was about. Many of these probably had only the haziest of ideas as to who William of Orange was and why it was good that he was dead; but this did not hold them back from l.u.s.ty celebration. had got a bonfire going, which had attracted hundreds of commoners: townspeople, servants of Versailles and nearby villas, and country folk who had seen the pillars of smoke and heard the pealing of bells, and come in to find out what all the excitement was about. Many of these probably had only the haziest of ideas as to who William of Orange was and why it was good that he was dead; but this did not hold them back from l.u.s.ty celebration.

etienne d'Arcachon raised his gla.s.s, and silenced the little crowd around the gazebo. "To toast the death of the Prince of Orange* would be uncouth, even though he was a perfidious and heretickal would be uncouth, even though he was a perfidious and heretickal usurper usurper and an enemy of France," he said. This oration, being ambiguous, only threw the guests-who were all standing on tiptoe with gla.s.ses poised-into utter confusion. They froze long enough for etienne to dig himself out of his own rhetorical hole: "But to toast the victory of the French, the free English, and the Irish at the Battle of the Boyne is honorable." and an enemy of France," he said. This oration, being ambiguous, only threw the guests-who were all standing on tiptoe with gla.s.ses poised-into utter confusion. They froze long enough for etienne to dig himself out of his own rhetorical hole: "But to toast the victory of the French, the free English, and the Irish at the Battle of the Boyne is honorable."

They did so.

"The only event," etienne continued, "that could make the day more glorious would be a victory at sea, to match the one on land; and voila, voila, G.o.d has answered our prayers accordingly. The French Navy, of which my father has the high honor of being Grand Admiral, has routed the English and the Dutch off Beachy Head, and even now menaces the mouth of the River Thames. France is victorious on all fronts: on the sea, in Ireland, in Flanders, and in Savoy. To France!" G.o.d has answered our prayers accordingly. The French Navy, of which my father has the high honor of being Grand Admiral, has routed the English and the Dutch off Beachy Head, and even now menaces the mouth of the River Thames. France is victorious on all fronts: on the sea, in Ireland, in Flanders, and in Savoy. To France!"

Now that that was a toast. Everyone drank. Then it was "to the King!" and then "to the King of England!" meaning James Stuart, then "to Monsieur le duc!" which le duc had to sit out, since it was bad form to toast oneself. Servants scurried about cradling swaddled magnums and refilled gla.s.ses for the next round. Then M. le duc raised his gla.s.s: "To the Countess de la Zeur, who has done so much to give the Navy its sinews." Which obliged Eliza to say, "To Captain Jean Bart who, they say, distinguished himself yet again off Beachy Head on his s.h.i.+p was a toast. Everyone drank. Then it was "to the King!" and then "to the King of England!" meaning James Stuart, then "to Monsieur le duc!" which le duc had to sit out, since it was bad form to toast oneself. Servants scurried about cradling swaddled magnums and refilled gla.s.ses for the next round. Then M. le duc raised his gla.s.s: "To the Countess de la Zeur, who has done so much to give the Navy its sinews." Which obliged Eliza to say, "To Captain Jean Bart who, they say, distinguished himself yet again off Beachy Head on his s.h.i.+p Alcyon Alcyon!"

Madame la d.u.c.h.esse, peering down at Versailles through a spectacular Instrument, now initiated a controversy, as follows: "Louis-Francois, those revelers along the Ca.n.a.l do not celebrate the death of the Prince of Orange, they celebrate you you!" and she handed her husband a gold and silver caduceus (emblem of Mercury, bringer of information) with lenses cleverly mounted in the eyes of the two snakes that were wound about its central pole. The duc brought it to his face as if expecting the serpents to drive their fangs into his cheeks, and blinked fiercely into the optics. But anyone who had good eyes could see that a few gilded barques had taken to the wavelets of the Grand Ca.n.a.l, and were jerking about in an extemporaneous reenactment of the Battle of Beachy Head. As combatants swung boat-paddles to dash up barrages of spray, blooms of white water appeared here and there, looking from this range much like cannon-smoke. From time to time the musket-like report of an ivory-inlaid paddle smacking the water, or a gilded oar-shaft snapping, would echo up from the vale of Galie. A drunken boarding-party, perhaps still fired by the memory of Jean Bart's visit of a few months past, sprang from one boat to another, swinging like pirates on silken ropes, cras.h.i.+ng into the brocade awnings, bucking the ebony and boxwood poles of the pavilions, smas.h.i.+ng the velvet furniture. They must have been royal b.a.s.t.a.r.ds, or Princes of the Blood, to behave so. A smaller boat was capsized; conversation lulled around the gazebo as rescuers paddled to the scene, then welled up into laughter and witticisms as combatants were dragged out of the ca.n.a.l and their bobbing periwigs fished out on the tips of swords.

"Ah, it is a great day," announced the Duke, who looked, in his formal Grand Admiral uniform, like a galleon on legs. He was saying it to his wife; but something occurred to him, and he added, "and it will only get better, for France, and for us. G.o.d willing." His eyes turned in their sockets towards Eliza. As his head was covered in a wig, and the wig had an admiral's hat planted athwart it, he did not like to turn his head from side to side if he could avoid it; such complicated maneuvers demanded as much prudent premeditation as tacking a three-masted s.h.i.+p.

Eliza, recognizing as much, sidestepped into the Duke's field of view. "I cannot imagine why you look to me me when you say this, Monsieur le duc," she said. when you say this, Monsieur le duc," she said.

"Soon, if I have my way, you shall hear from etienne a certain proposition proposition that shall make it all perfectly clear." that shall make it all perfectly clear."

"Is it anything like the proposition you have spoken of in your letters to me?"

The very mention of this made the Duke nervous, and his eyes flicked left and right to see if anyone had heard; but soon enough they returned to Eliza, who was smiling in a way that let him know she had been discreet. The Duke stepped forward in the cautious bent-kneed stride of an African matron with a basket of bananas on her head. "Don't be coy, etienne's proposal will be of an entirely different nature! entirely different nature! Though it's true I should like to see Though it's true I should like to see both both of them come together at the same time, in the autumn-say, October. My birthday. What do you say to it?" of them come together at the same time, in the autumn-say, October. My birthday. What do you say to it?"

Eliza shrugged. "I cannot answer, monseigneur, until I know more of both propositions."

"We'll get that sorted out! The boy is still young in many ways, you know-not too old to benefit from some fatherly advice, especially where affairs of the heart are concerned. I have been away too much, you know? Now that I am back-for a little while, at least-I shall talk to him, guide him, give him some backbone."

"Well, it is good to have you back, even briefly," said Eliza. "It is odd, I feel as if I have met you before. I suppose it comes from seeing your busts and portraits everywhere, and your handsome features echoed in the face of etienne."

By now the Duke had drawn close to Eliza. He had put on cologne recently, something Levantine, with a lot of citrus. It did not quite mask another odor which put Eliza in mind of rotting flesh. A bird, or some little scurrying creature, must have given up the ghost some days ago under the gazebo, and gone foul in the heat.

"Time for dinner soon," said the Duke. "My time here is short. Meetings with the King, and the Council. Then to the Channel coast to greet the victorious Fleet. But after that I go south. I have already despatched orders to my jacht. jacht. You and I must talk. After dinner, I think. In the library, while the guests are strolling in the garden." You and I must talk. After dinner, I think. In the library, while the guests are strolling in the garden."

"The library is where I shall be," said Eliza, "at your service, and waiting for you to explain all of these cryptic statements."

"Ah, I shall not explain all!" said the Duke, amused. "Only enough-just enough. That will suffice."

Eliza's head snapped around to a new azimuth, and her attention settled on a group of guests, mostly men, who had migrated off the marble floor of the gazebo and gathered on the gravel path to smoke. It was rude to break off her conversation with the Duke in such a way. But her movement had not been voluntary. It had been occasioned by a word, spoken loudly, by one of these men. The word was une esclave, une esclave, which signified, a slave-a which signified, a slave-a female female slave. The speaker was Louis Anglesey, the Earl of Upnor. He was nominally an Englishman. But he had spent so much of his life in France that he was indistinguishable, in his speech, dress, and mannerisms, from a French n.o.ble. He had come over with James Stuart following the Revolution in England, and become an important man in the exiled King's court at St.-Germain-en-Laye. This was not the first time Eliza had seen him socially. slave. The speaker was Louis Anglesey, the Earl of Upnor. He was nominally an Englishman. But he had spent so much of his life in France that he was indistinguishable, in his speech, dress, and mannerisms, from a French n.o.ble. He had come over with James Stuart following the Revolution in England, and become an important man in the exiled King's court at St.-Germain-en-Laye. This was not the first time Eliza had seen him socially.

It was not unusual to hear the word esclave esclave in such company. Many at Versailles made money from the slave trade. But normally the word was used in masculine, plural form, to denote a s.h.i.+p-full of cargo bound for some plantation in the Caribbean. The singular, feminine form was rare enough to have turned Eliza's head. in such company. Many at Versailles made money from the slave trade. But normally the word was used in masculine, plural form, to denote a s.h.i.+p-full of cargo bound for some plantation in the Caribbean. The singular, feminine form was rare enough to have turned Eliza's head.

In the corner of her eye, she saw the pale oval of some woman's face turn around to stare at her. Eliza had reacted so sharply that someone else had taken notice of it. She needed to control her reactions better. She wondered who it was; but to look over and find out would be obvious. She forced herself not to, and tried instead to memorize a few things about this lady who was giving her the eye: tall, and dressed in pink silk.

She looked back at the Duke, ready to apologize to him for having been distracted. But it seemed that he considered his chat with Eliza to be finished. He had caught someone's eye and wanted to go talk to him. He most civilly took his leave from Eliza, and glided away. Eliza tracked him with her eyes for a few moments. As he pa.s.sed in front of the tall woman in pink silk, Eliza glanced up, just for an instant, to see who it was. The answer was, the d.u.c.h.ess of Oyonnax.

Having settled that, Eliza turned her attention back to Upnor and his circle of admirers.

James Stuart and his French advisors phant'sied that, once they had retaken Ireland, they might move thence to Qwghlm, which could be used as a sort of outlying demilune-work from which to mount an invasion of northern England. This had at least something to do with Eliza's popularity at the two Courts: the French one at Versailles, and the exile-English one at St.-Germain. Consequently she had seen and heard enough of Upnor, in the last half-year, to know the first parts of this story by heart. It was the tale of the day he had made his escape from England.

He had sent his household ahead of him to Castle Upnor, where they had made ready to board s.h.i.+p and sail to France as soon as he arrived. For he had stayed behind in London, supposedly at great risk, to attend to certain matters of stupendous importance. These matters were, however, far too deep and mystical for Upnor to say anything about them in mixed company. This suggested that they had something to do with Alchemy, or at least that he wished as many people as possible to believe so. "I could not allow certain information to fall into the hands of the usurper and those of his lackeys who pretend to know of matters that are, in truth, beyond their ken."

At any rate, after completing his affairs in London, Upnor had mounted a stallion (he was a horse-fancier, and so this part of the anecdote was never related without many details concerning this horse's ancestry, which was more distinguished than that of most human beings) and set off a-gallop for Castle Upnor, accompanied by a pair of squires and a string of spare mounts. They had departed from London around dawn and ridden hard all morning along the south bank of the Thames. From place to place, the river road would cross some tributary of the great river, and there would be a bridge or ford that all traffic must use.

In the middle of one such bridge, out in the countryside, they had spied a lone man on horseback, wearing common clothes, but armed; and it had appeared from his posture that he was waiting.

For the sorts of people the Earl was apt to tell this story to, this last detail sufficed to cla.s.sify cla.s.sify the anecdote as if it had been a new botanical sample presented to the Royal Society. It belonged to the genus "Persons of Quality beset by varlets on the road." No type was more popular round French dinner tables, because France was so large and so infested with Vagabonds and highwaymen. The n.o.bles who came together at Versailles must occasionally travel to and fro their fiefdoms, and the perils and tribulations of such journeys were one of the few experiences they shared in common, and so that was what they talked about. Such tales were, in fact, told so frequently that everyone was tired of them; but any new variations were, in consequence, appreciated that much more. Upnor's had two distinctions: It took place in England, and it was embroidered, as it were, on the back-cloth of the Revolution. the anecdote as if it had been a new botanical sample presented to the Royal Society. It belonged to the genus "Persons of Quality beset by varlets on the road." No type was more popular round French dinner tables, because France was so large and so infested with Vagabonds and highwaymen. The n.o.bles who came together at Versailles must occasionally travel to and fro their fiefdoms, and the perils and tribulations of such journeys were one of the few experiences they shared in common, and so that was what they talked about. Such tales were, in fact, told so frequently that everyone was tired of them; but any new variations were, in consequence, appreciated that much more. Upnor's had two distinctions: It took place in England, and it was embroidered, as it were, on the back-cloth of the Revolution.

"I knew this stretch of road well," Upnor was saying, "and so I dispatched one of my squires-a young chap name of Fenleigh-to ride down a side-track that angled away from the main road and led to a ford half a mile upstream of the bridge." He was scratching out a crude map on the gravel path with the tip of his walking-stick.

"With my other companion, I proceeded deliberately up the main road, keeping a sharp eye for any confederates who might be lurking in hedges near the approaches to the bridge. But there were none-the horseman was alone!" This puzzled or fascinated the listeners. It was another odd twist on the usual rustic-ruffian tale; normally, the shrubs would be infested with club-wielding knaves.

"The horseman must have noted the way in which we were peering about, for he called out: 'Do not waste time, my lord, 'tis not an ambuscado. ambuscado. I am alone. You are not. Accordingly, I challenge you to a duel, my blade 'gainst yours, no seconds.' And he drew out a spadroon, which is an abominable sort of implement, just the sort of thing you would expect commoners to invent if you make the mistake of suffering them to bear arms. More brush-cutter than weapon really. Sharpened on one side like a cutla.s.s." I am alone. You are not. Accordingly, I challenge you to a duel, my blade 'gainst yours, no seconds.' And he drew out a spadroon, which is an abominable sort of implement, just the sort of thing you would expect commoners to invent if you make the mistake of suffering them to bear arms. More brush-cutter than weapon really. Sharpened on one side like a cutla.s.s."

Upnor, of course, was telling the story in French. He gave the ruffian the most vulgar rural accent he could manage. He devoted a minute or two to dilating on the pathetic condition of the knave's horse, which was one step away from the knacker and exhausted to boot.

Upnor was rated one of the finest swordsmen of the Anglo-French n.o.bility. He had slain many men in duels when he had been younger. He did not fight so much any more, as his style was one that relied upon speed and acute vision. Nevertheless, the very notion that such a rustic fellow would challenge Upnor to a duel practically had the French n.o.bles falling down onto the path with tears running down their cheeks.

Upnor was clever enough to tell the story in a deadpan style. "I was...more...befuddled than anything else. I answered: 'You have me at a disadvantage, sirrah-perhaps if you tell me who you are, I'll at least know why you want to kill me.' than anything else. I answered: 'You have me at a disadvantage, sirrah-perhaps if you tell me who you are, I'll at least know why you want to kill me.'

" 'I am Bob Shaftoe,' he answered."

This, as it always did, caused a hush to descend over Upnor's listeners.

" 'Any relation to Jacques?' I asked him." (For the same question was on the minds of those who were gathered around Upnor listening.) "He answered, 'His brother.' To which I said, 'Come away with me to France, Bob Shaftoe, and I shall put you on a galley in the sunny Mediterranean-perhaps you may cross paths with your brother there!' "

Upnor's audience loved to hear this. For they all knew of Jacques Shaftoe, or L'Emmerdeur L'Emmerdeur as he was called in these parts. The name did not come up in conversation as frequently as it had a couple of years ago, for nothing had been heard from as he was called in these parts. The name did not come up in conversation as frequently as it had a couple of years ago, for nothing had been heard from L'Emmerdeur L'Emmerdeur since he had crashed a party at the Hotel Arcachon and made a disgraceful scene there, in the presence of the King, in the spring of 1685. Precisely what had taken place there on that night was rarely spoken of, at least when members of the de Lavardac family were within earshot. From this, Eliza gathered that it was dreadfully embarra.s.sing to them all. Because Eliza was now linked, in most people's minds, to the family de Lavardac, they extended her the same courtesy of never talking about the events of that evening. Eliza had given up on ever finding out what had really happened there. Jack Shaftoe, who for a time had been a sort of hobgoblin of the French Court, a name to make people jump out of their skins, had dwindled to quasi-legendary status and was rapidly being forgotten altogether. From time to time he would appear as a figure in a picaresque since he had crashed a party at the Hotel Arcachon and made a disgraceful scene there, in the presence of the King, in the spring of 1685. Precisely what had taken place there on that night was rarely spoken of, at least when members of the de Lavardac family were within earshot. From this, Eliza gathered that it was dreadfully embarra.s.sing to them all. Because Eliza was now linked, in most people's minds, to the family de Lavardac, they extended her the same courtesy of never talking about the events of that evening. Eliza had given up on ever finding out what had really happened there. Jack Shaftoe, who for a time had been a sort of hobgoblin of the French Court, a name to make people jump out of their skins, had dwindled to quasi-legendary status and was rapidly being forgotten altogether. From time to time he would appear as a figure in a picaresque roman. roman.

Nevertheless, for Upnor even to mention the name of Shaftoe around La Dunette was more than daring. It was probably a faux pas. faux pas. This might have explained why the Duke had suddenly terminated his conversation with Eliza, and gone off in the opposite direction. It was the sort of thing that led to duels. Some of Upnor's listeners were conspicuously nervous. It was, therefore, quite deft of Upnor to have turned the story around in this manner, by implying that Jack Shaftoe, if he was indeed still alive, was a slave on one of the duc d'Arcachon's galleys. Eliza now risked a glance over at the duc, and saw him red-faced, but grinning at Upnor; he favored Upnor with the tiniest suggestion of a nod (anything more would have undermined the Admiral-hat) and Upnor responded with a deeper bow. The listeners who, a few seconds earlier, had worried about a duel, laughed all the louder. This might have explained why the Duke had suddenly terminated his conversation with Eliza, and gone off in the opposite direction. It was the sort of thing that led to duels. Some of Upnor's listeners were conspicuously nervous. It was, therefore, quite deft of Upnor to have turned the story around in this manner, by implying that Jack Shaftoe, if he was indeed still alive, was a slave on one of the duc d'Arcachon's galleys. Eliza now risked a glance over at the duc, and saw him red-faced, but grinning at Upnor; he favored Upnor with the tiniest suggestion of a nod (anything more would have undermined the Admiral-hat) and Upnor responded with a deeper bow. The listeners who, a few seconds earlier, had worried about a duel, laughed all the louder.

Upnor continued with the narration. "This Robert Shaftoe said, 'Jack and I have long been estranged, and my errand has naught to do with him.'

"I asked him, 'Why do you bar my progress, then?'

"He said, 'I say that you are about to take out of this country something that does not rightfully belong to you.'

"I said, 'Are you accusing me of being a thief, sirrah?'

"He said, 'Worse. I say you pretend to own a slave: an English girl named Abigail Frome.'

"I said, 'There's no pretense in that, Bob Shaftoe. I own her as absolutely as you own that wretched pair of boots on your feet, and I've the papers to prove it, signed and sealed by my lord Jeffreys.'

"He said, 'Jeffreys is in Tower. Your King is in flight. And if you do not give me Abigail, you shall be in the grave.'

Now Upnor had his audience rapt; not only because it was a good story, but because he had managed to connect the half-forgotten, but still powerful name of Jack Shaftoe to the late upheavals in England. Of course the French n.o.bility were fascinated by the recent tendency of the English to chop off their kings' heads and chase them out of the country. They were helpless in their fascination at the thought that William of Orange and his English allies must somehow be in conspiracy with all the world's Vagabonds.

Dinner had already been announced, and the Earl of Upnor knew that his time was short, and so he put the anecdote to a quick and merciful end as he and the other dinner-guests trooped down the garden path to the big house. In the story, Upnor delivered a sort of homily to Bob Shaftoe, putting him in his place and expounding on the glories of the cla.s.s system, and then Fenleigh, who had by that time forded the river and come round behind, galloped toward Bob and tried to take him with a sword-thrust from behind. Bob heard him coming at the last instant and whipped his spadroon around to parry the blow. Fenleigh's rapier was deflected into the croup of Bob's miserable horse, which reared up. Bob could not manage his horse because he was busy fending off a second blow from Fenleigh (though also, it was clearly implied, because men of his status did not really belong on horseback in the first place). Bob won the exchange nevertheless by almost severing Fenleigh's right arm above the elbow, but he payed for it by being obliged to fall off his horse (extremely funny to the polished equestrians here). He landed balanced "like a sack of oats" on the stone parapet of the bridge. Upnor and his other companion were galloping toward him with pistols drawn. Shaftoe was so terrified he lost his balance and fell into the river, where (and here the story became suspiciously vague, for they had reached the house, and were deploying to their places at the long dinner-table) he either drowned or was slain by a volley of pistol-b.a.l.l.s from Upnor, who stood on the bridge using him for target practice as he floundered along in the current of the river. "And what is a river but a lake that has failed to stay within its ordained limits, and now tumbles helplessly toward the Abyss?"

DINNER WAS DINNER. Dead things cooked, and sauced so that one could not guess how long they had been dead. A few early vegetables; but the winter had run long and the growing season had started late, so not much was ripe yet. Some very heavy and sweet delicacies that the Duke had imported from Egypt. Dead things cooked, and sauced so that one could not guess how long they had been dead. A few early vegetables; but the winter had run long and the growing season had started late, so not much was ripe yet. Some very heavy and sweet delicacies that the Duke had imported from Egypt.

Eliza was seated across from the d.u.c.h.esse d'Oyonnax and tried to avoid meeting her eye. She was a big woman, but not fat, though middle-aged. She wore a lot of jewels, which was risque in these times (she really ought to p.a.w.n them for the War, or, barring that, hide them), but she carried it off well; in this her size helped. Eliza was irked by this woman: by her physical presence, her wealth, what she had done, but most of all by her confidence. Other women, she knew, disliked Eliza because they envied her her confidence, and so Eliza was startled to observe a similar reaction in herself to Madame la d.u.c.h.esse d'Oyonnax. confidence, and so Eliza was startled to observe a similar reaction in herself to Madame la d.u.c.h.esse d'Oyonnax.

"How is your little orphan?" the d.u.c.h.ess asked Eliza, at one point. To bring this up was either naive, or rude, and it caused a few heads to twitch their way-like housecats alert to faint fidgeting.

"Oh, I do not think of him as mine mine any more, but any more, but G.o.d's, G.o.d's," Eliza returned, "and anyway he is not so little now: a year old-or so we think, as there is no way to be sure precisely when he was born-and walking around already. Creating no end of trouble for the nurses."

This elicited a few chuckles from those who had small children. It was a well-crafted reply on Eliza's part, calculated to place defenses athwart all possible axes of attack from Oyonnax; but the d.u.c.h.ess responded only with an unreadable gaze, seeming almost nonplussed, and dropped the topic.

A young officer-Eliza recognized him as one Pierre de Jonzac, an aide to the Duke-sidestepped into the room carrying a dispatch. The Duke accepted it gratefully, for he was bored. People around him had poked fun at him for not eating any of his food; but the Duke had silenced them with the information that he was on a special diet, "for my digestion," and had eaten previously by himself. He opened the dispatch, glanced at it, slapped the table, and shook for a few moments with suppressed laughter; but all the while he was shaking his head back and forth, as if to deny that there was anything funny.

"What is it?" asked Madame la d.u.c.h.esse d'Arcachon.

"The report was false," he said. "The Franciscans will have to douse their bonfire. William of Orange is not dead."

"But we had reliable news that he was struck from the saddle by a cannonball, struck from the saddle by a cannonball," said the Earl of Upnor-who, being a man of some importance in James Stuart's army, got all the latest intelligence.

"And so he was. But he is not dead."

"How is that possible?" And the table went into an uproar over it, which did not die down for twenty minutes. Eliza found herself thinking of Bob Shaftoe, who must be there at this battle on the Boyne, if he had not died of disease over the winter. Then she happened to glance up, and once again saw the green eyes of the d.u.c.h.ess of Oyonnax gazing at her interestedly.

"NOW, AS TO THE TRANSACTION," said the Duke, once he had got his pipe lit. The fragrance of the smoke was welcome, for the dead-animal smell Eliza had noticed out at the gazebo seemed to have followed them into the drawing-room. She was of a mind to go and throw the doors open, to admit some rose-scented air from the gardens; but that would have defeated the purpose of a private meeting in this place. said the Duke, once he had got his pipe lit. The fragrance of the smoke was welcome, for the dead-animal smell Eliza had noticed out at the gazebo seemed to have followed them into the drawing-room. She was of a mind to go and throw the doors open, to admit some rose-scented air from the gardens; but that would have defeated the purpose of a private meeting in this place.

"It's going to involve moving a lot of silver. I want you to go to Lyon and make the arrangements."

"Will the silver actually be pa.s.sing through Lyon, then, or-"

"Oh yes. You shall see it. This is not just a Depot Depot sort of manipulation." sort of manipulation."

"Then why Lyon? It is not the best place."

"I know. But you see, it will come off of my jacht jacht at Ma.r.s.eille. From there, Lyon is easy to reach-right up the Rhone, of course." at Ma.r.s.eille. From there, Lyon is easy to reach-right up the Rhone, of course."

"It makes sense, then. It is safer than any alternative. Tell me, is it coined?"

"No, mademoiselle."

"Oh. I had a.s.sumed it would be pieces of eight."

"No. It is pigs. Good metal, mind you, but not coined."

"It makes more sense to me as we go along. You do not wish to be moving uncoined silver around, any more than you must. You want instead a Bill of Exchange, payable in Paris."

"Yes, that is it precisely."