A Mutual Accord

Chapter 37

CHAPTER 37

V ersailles -1774

“ Jean-Frédéric Phélypeaux, Count of Maurepas, ” the page announced the King’s advisor to his private chambers.

Louis XVI allowed his hand to be kissed, and when Maurepas rose, asked in French, “ Where is the harlot ?”

“ Banished, sir.” answered Maurepas. “ She retires to the convent in Meaux. ”

“ And the charlatan? ” demanded Louis XV.

“ I was shocked, but they took him. He is in your dungeon, here, ” answered the advisor.

“ I want him interrogated, ” commanded the King. “ I have known since my boyhood that he used some enchantment on my grandfather to obtain his place here at court, and now I will know why! You will interrogate him thoroughly. ”

“ It will be as you say, ” promised Maurepas.

In a dark prison cell deep beneath the palace, water trickled down the stone walls from the dampness. A rat scurried from one corner to another, then burrowed under the straw upon the floor.

The Comte St Germain entertained three prison guards in this cell, behaving no differently than he might in a glittering drawing room. He regaled the men with tales of his travels, and the wonders of the world that he had seen. At this moment, he made them all howl with laughter at his description of the most astounding set of breasts he had ever encountered, on the person of a young maid in mediaeval Vienna.

The men roared with laughter, passing a flask of spirits around, and the comte pretended to drink when they offered it to him. Suddenly a shadow appeared at the door, and the new King’s advisor cast them all a glare as he entered. The guards sheepishly left the cell, and Maurepas closed and locked it, taking the only key with him.

The next morning, Maurepas made his way to the cell, followed by the palace torturer, and two French noblemen who would serve as witnesses to everything the Comte St Germain would say under interrogation.

Maurepas turned the key, and the heavy oak door swung open, to reveal a completely empty cell.

“ I believe that he allowed us to catch him, do you not? ” said one of the noblemen. “ I think he came just for the amusemen t.”