Some told me I was a Frondeuse, and M. le Baron de Lamont
pretended to be consumed with jealousy. I had to explain publicly
that it was only from my sister, and then they pretended not to
believe me. It was in English, a tongue of which nobody knew a
single word, except that scandal declared that the Duke of Buckingham
had taught the Queen to say 'Ee lofe ou;' but it said only: 'We are
quite well, and not alarmed, since we know you are safe. We had
heard such strange rumors that my mother welcomed our friend as an
angel of consolation.'
I translated this to all whom it concerned; but M. de Lamont annoyed
me much with his curiosity and incredulity. However, when I found
that the unfortunate deputies were permitted to spend the night in
the guard-room I sent Nicolas to see whether he could be of any use
to the Darpents. Truly it was a night when, as the English say, one
would not turn out one's enemy's dog, and the road to Paris was far
from safe; but the ranger's house was a wretched place for elderly
men more used to comfort than even the noblesse, whose castles are
often bare enough, and who are crowded and ill accommodated when in
waiting at the palaces.
At that moment a bed was to ourselves a delightful luxury, which M.
de Fiesque and I were to share, so Nicolas could not do much for poor
old Darpent, whom he found wet through from having waited so long in
the snow, melting as it fell; but he did lend him his own dry cloak,
and got some hot drink for him.
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