A murmur of applause and of astonishment rose at these words from
the spectators, comprising some of the greatest noble families of
France, the Rohans, the Guemenes, the Count de Vergennes, and all
the most powerful enemies of the queen, who had taken advantage of
this occasion in order to avenge themselves on the Austrian, who had
dared to choose her friends and select her society, not in
accordance with lineage, but as her own pleasure dictated.
The president of the court did not consider this murmur of applause
marked enough to be reprimanded, and let it be continued.
"And did the Countess Lamotte-Valois procure for you this audience?"
he then asked.
Prince Rohan was silent a moment, his face grew pale, his features
assumed for the first time a troubled expression, and the painful
struggles which disturbed his soul could be seen working within him.
"May it please this noble court," he replied, after a pause, with
feeling, trembling voice, "I feel at this moment that, beneath the
robe of the priest, the heart of the man beats yet. It is, however,
for every man a wrong, an unpardonable wrong, to disclose the
confidence of a lady, and to reveal to the open light of day the
favors which have been granted by her. But I must take this crime
upon myself, because I have to defend the honor of a priest, even of
a dignitary in the Church, and also because I do not dare to suffer
my purple to be soiled with even the suspicion of a lie, or an act
of falsehood.
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