ADRIENNE'S ENEMIES.
The Princess de Saint-Dizier's valet soon returned, showing in a little, pale man, dressed in black, and wearing spectacles.He carried under his left arm a long black morocco writing-case.
The princess said to this man: "M.l'Abbe, I suppose, has already informed you of what is to be done?"
"Yes, your highness," said the man in a faint, shrill, piping voice, making at the same time a low bow.
"Shall you be conveniently placed in this room?" asked the princess, conducting him to the adjoining apartment, which was only separated from the other by a curtain hung before a doorway.
"I shall do nicely here, your highness," answered the man in spectacles, with a second and still lower bow.
"In that case, sir, please to step in here; I will let you know when it is time."
"I shall wait your highness's order."
"And pray remember my instructions," added the marquis, as he unfastened the loops of the curtain.
"You may be perfectly tranquil, M.l'Abbe." The heavy drapery, as it fell, completely concealed the man in spectacles.
The princess touched the bell; some moments after, the door opened, and the servant announced a very important personage in this work.
Dr.Baleinier was about fifty years of age, middling size, rather plump, with a full shining, ruddy countenance.His gray hair, very smooth and rather long, parted by a straight line in the middle, fell flat over his temples.He had retained the fashion of wearing short, black silk breeches, perhaps because he had a well-formed leg; his garters were fastened with small, golden buckles, as were his shoes of polished morocco leather; his coat, waistcoat, and cravat were black, which gave him rather a clerical appearance; his sleek, white hand was half hidden beneath a cambric ruffle, very closely plaited; on the whole, the gravity of his costume did not seem to exclude a shade of foppery.
His face was acute and smiling; his small gray eye announced rare penetration and sagacity.A man of the world and a man of pleasure, a delicate epicure, witty in conversation, polite to obsequiousness, supple, adroit, insinuating, Baleinier was one of the oldest favorites of the congregational set of the Princess de Saint-Dizier.Thanks to this powerful support, its cause unknown, the doctor, who had been long neglected, in spite of real skill and incontestable merit, found himself, under the Restoration, suddenly provided with two medical sinecures most valuable, and soon after with numerous patients.We must add, that, once under the patronage of the princess, the doctor began scrupulously to observe his religious duties; he communicated once a week, with great publicity, at the high mass in Saint Thomas Aquinas Church.
At the year's end, a certain class of patients, led by the example and enthusiasm of Madame de Saint-Dizier's followers, would have no other physician than Doctor Baleinier, and his practice was now increased to an extraordinary degree.It may be conceived how important it was for the order, to have amongst its "plain clothes members" one of the most popular practitioners of Paris.
A doctor has in some sort a priesthood of his own.Admitted at all hours to the most secret intimacy of families, he knows, guesses, and is able to effect much.Like the priest, in short, he has the ear of the sick and the dying.Now, when he who cares for the health of the body, and he who takes charge of the health of the soul, understands each other, and render mutual aid for the advancement of a common interest, there is nothing (with certain exceptions), which they may not extract from the weakness and fears of a sick man at the last gasp--not for themselves (the laws forbid it)--but for third parties belonging more or less to the very convenient class of men of straw.Doctor Baleinier was therefore one of the most active and valuable assistant members of the Paris Jesuits.
When he entered the room, he hastened to kiss the princess's hand with the most finished gallantry.
"Always punctual, my dear M.Baleinier."
"Always eager and happy to attend to your highness's orders." Then turning towards the marquis, whose hand he pressed cordially, he added:
"Here we have you then at last.Do you know, that three months' absence appears very long to your friends?"
"The time is as long to the absent as to those who remain, my dear doctor.Well! here is the great day.Mdlle.de Cardoville is coming."
"I am not quite easy," said the princess; "suppose she had any suspicion?
"
"That's impossible," said M.Baleinier; "we are the best friends in the world.You know, that Mdlle.Adrienne has always had great confidence in me.The day before yesterday, we laughed a good deal, and as I made some observations to her, as usual, on her eccentric mode of life, and on the singular state of excitement in which I sometimes found her--"
"M.Baleinier never fails to insist on these circumstances, in appearance so insignificant," said Madame de Saint-Dizier to the marquis with a meaning look.
"They are indeed very essential," replied the other.
"Mdlle.Adrienne answered my observations," resumed the doctor, "by laughing at me in the gayest and most witty manner; for I must confess, that this young lady has one of the aptest and most accomplished minds I know."
"Doctor, doctor!" said Madame de Saint-Dizier, "no weakness!"
Instead of answering immediately, M.Baleinier drew his gold snuff-box from his waistcoat pocket, opened it, and took slowly a pinch of snuff, looking all the time at the princess with so significant an air, that she appeared quite reassured."Weakness, madame?" observed he at last, brushing some grains of snuff from his shirt-front with his plump white hand; "did I not have the honor of volunteering to extricate you from this embarrassment?"
"And you are the only person in the world that could render us this important service," said D'Aigrigny.
