Georgette Heyer - Powder and Patch

Mr Bancroft was not elated at being classed as Philip’s friend, but he bowed over Mademoiselle’s hand with good grace.

“I had no notion of finding him here, mademoiselle. The last time we met was in a wood.” “Tell,” besought the lady. Philip threw out his hands.

“Ah, no, chérie! That meeting was so disastrous to my-vanity!” “Raison de plus,” decided Mademoiselle. “Tell me about it!”

“Mr Bancroft and I had some slight difference in opinion which we settled in a wood. I was very easily worsted.”

“You?” cried Mademoiselle. “Impossible!”

“On the contrary, bien aimée; I was, in those days, a very sorry spectacle, was I not, sir?” “Not so long since,” said Mr Bancroft.

“Six months,” nodded Philip, and turned to speak to the Comte de Saint-Dantin. Mademoiselle was still incredulous.

“A sorry spectacle? Philippe?”

“I scent an intrigue,” said a little Vicomte, “Clothilde, make him tell!” “Of course,” she said. “Philippe!”

Philip swung neatly round to face her. “Chére Clothilde?”

“Come here! I want you to tell me what you mean by a sorry spectacle. If you refuse-bien! I shall ask Mr Bancroft!”

“Oh, I’ll give away no man’s secrets!” simpered Bancroft.

Philip raised his eyeglass. He observed Mr Bancroft dispassionately. Then he shrugged, and turned back to Clothilde.

“Petite ange, it’s a sad tale. Six months ago I lived in the country, and I was a very churlish bumpkin. Then I was made to see the folly of my ways, and now-me voici!” “I said that I scented an intrigue,” said the Vicomte tranquilly. “But wait, wait! You in the country, Philippe? You jest!”

“On my honour, no, chérie! I came to Paris to learn the ways of Polite Society.” “Six months ago?” De Bergeret was astonished. “It is your first visit? You learned all this in so short a time?”

“I have a natural aptitude,” smiled Philip. “Now are you satisfied?”

“Je n’en reviendrai jamais!” Mademoiselle spoke emphatically. “Jamais, jamais, jamais!” “I am not at all satisfied.”

Philip cocked one eyebrow at the dainty Vicomte. “What more would you have?”

“I would know of what like she is.” “She?”

“The lady to whom your heart is lost.”

“That’s an hundred she’s,” replied Philip airily. “And they are all different!” “I dare swear I could enlighten M. de Ravel,” drawled Bancroft.

All eyes turned his way. Philip seated himself beside Mademoiselle. He was smiling faintly. “Proceed, mon ami. Who is this lady that I have forgotten?”

“Forgotten? Oh, come now, Jettan!”

Philip played with Clothilde’s fan; he was still smiling, but the bright grey eyes that met Bancroft’s held a challenge.

“If it transpired, m’sieur, that I had not forgotten it is possible that I might resent any liberties you or others thought to take with that lady’s name,” he said softly.

There was a sudden silence. No one could mistake the menacing note in Philip’s smooth voice. Saint-Dantin made haste to fill the breach.

“The little Philippe is ready to fight us all, but it cannot be permitted. We’ll not plague him, for he is very devilish when he is roused, I assure you!” He laughed easily and offered Bancroft snuff.

“He is very fastidious,” sneered Bancroft.

M. le Comte closed his snuffbox and stepped back. He became politely bored. “The subject grows somewhat tedious, I think. Mademoiselle, will you dance?” Bancroft flushed. Mademoiselle sprang up.

“I am promised to Jules!” she nodded, smiling, to De Bergeret. Together they walked away

from the little group.

Saint-Dantin linked arms with Philip.

“Come with me to the card-room, Philippe. Unless you wish to lead out la Salévier?” He nodded to where an opulent beauty stood.

“It’s too fatiguing,” said Philip. “I’ll come.”

“Who is he, the ill-disposed gentleman in pink?” inquired the Comte, when they were out of earshot.

“A creature of no importance,” shrugged Philip. “So I see. Yet he contrives to arouse your anger? “Yes,” admitted Philip. “I do not like the colour of his coat.”

“You may call upon me,” said Saint-Dantin at once. “I do not like anything about him. He was here before-last year. His conversation lacks finesse. He is tolerated in London, hein?” “I don’t know. I trust not.”

“He, he! So he interfered between you and the lady?” Philip withdrew his arm.

“Saint-Dantin!”

“Oh, yes, yes, I know! We all know that in the background lurks-a lady! Else why your so chaste and cold demeanour?”

“Am I cold?”

“At the bottom, yes. Is it not so?”

“Certainly it is so. It’s unfashionable to possess a heart.” “Oh, Philippe, thou art a rogue.”

“So I have been told. Presumably because I am innocent of the slightest indiscretion. Curious. No one dubs you rogue who so fully merit the title. But I, whose reputation is spotless, am necessarily a wicked one and a deceiver. I shall write a sonnet on the subject.” “Ah, no!” begged Saint-Dantin in alarm. “Your sonnets are vile, Philippe! So let us have no more verse from you, I pray!! All else you can do, but sacré nom de Dieu, your verse-!” “Alas!” sighed Philip, “’tis my only ambition. I shall persevere.”

Saint-Dantin paused, a hand on the curtain that shut off the cardroom. “Your only ambition, Philippe?”

“For the moment,” answered Philip sweetly. “All things pall on one after a time.” “Save the greatest ambition?” Saint-Dantin’s eyes were purely mischievous. “You are as inquisitive as a monkey,” said Philip, and propelled him into the card-room. * * * * * * *

“For how long has that fellow lorded it here?” asked Bancroft of his friend. M. de Chambert flicked one great cuff with his handkerchief, “Oh, some months! He is refreshing, is it not so? So young, so lovable.” “Lovable be damned!” said Bancroft.

De Chambert looked at him in surprise. “You don’t like our little Philippe?” “No, I do not. Conceited young upstart!”

“Con-ah, but no! You misunderstand him! He pretends, and it is very amusing, but he is not conceited; he is just a bébé”

“Damn it, is he everyone’s pet?”

“C’est le dernier cri de Paris. There are some who are jealous, naturally, but all who know him like him too much to be jealous.”

“Jealous,” Bancroft snorted. “Jealous of that sprig!” De Chambert cast him a shrewd glance.

“A word is your ear, m’sieur! Do not speak your dislike too widely. Le petit Philippe has powerful friends. You will be frowned upon if you sneer at him.”

Bancroft struggled for words.

“I’ll-not conceal from you, De Chambert, that I’ve a grudge against your little Philippe. I punished him once before for impudence.”

“Aha? I don’t think you were well advised to do so again. He would have no lack of friends, and with a smallsword he is a veritable devil. It would not be wise to show your enmity, for you will meet him everywhere, and he is the ladies’ darling. That says much, hein?” “And when I saw him last,” spluttered Bancroft, “he was clad in a coat I’d not give a lackey, and had as much conversation as a scarecrow!”

“Yes? I heard some talk of that. He is a marvel, our Philippe.” “Curse all marvels!” said Bancroft fervently.

M. le Comte de Saint-Dantin gave a select dinner and card party some few weeks after the coming of Mr Bancroft. Only his chosen intimates were invited, and amongst them was Philip. At half past five all the guests, save one, were assembled in the library, and Saint-Dantin was comparing his chronometer with the clock on the mantelpiece. “Now what comes to Philippe?” he inquired of no one in particular. “Where is the child?” “He was at the ball last night,” said M. de Chatelin smoothing his ruffles. “He left early and in great haste.” He raised his eyes and they were twinkling. “The pearl that hung from Madame de Marcherand’s right ear inspired him and he fled.”

“Fled? Why?”

“I believe, to compose a ballade in its honour.” Saint-Dantin flung up his hands.

“May the devil fly away with Philippe and his verse! I dare swear it’s that that keeps him now.”

Paul de Vangrisse turned his head.

“Do you speak of Philippe? I thought I heard his name?”

“But yes! Henri declares he is possessed of an inspiration for a ballade to Julie de Marcherand’s pearl.”

De Vangrisse came towards them, stiff silks rustling.

“Alas, it is too true. I visited him this morning and found him en déshabillé, clasping his brow. He seized on me and demanded a rhyme to some word which I have forgot. So I left him.” “Can no one convince Philippe that he is not a poet?” asked De Bergeret plaintively. De Vangrisse shook his head.

“One may tell him that he is no swordsman, and no true cavalier; one may decry all his graces and he will laugh with one; but one may not say that he will never be a poet. He will not believe it.”

“Oh, he believes it, au fond,” answered Saint-Dantin. “It amuses him to pretend. Ah, here he is!”

Into the room came Philip, a vision in shades of yellow. He carried a rolled sheet of parchment, tied with an amber ribbon. He walked with a spring, and his eyes sparkled with pure merriment. He waved the parchment roll triumphantly.

Saint-Dantin went forward to greet him.

“But of a lateness, Philippe,” he cried, holding out his hands. “A thousand pardons, Louis! I was consumed of a rondeau until an hour ago.” “A rondeau?” said De Vangrisse. “This morning it was a ballade!” “This morning? Bah! That was a year ago. Since then it has been a sonnet!” “A Dieu ne plaise!” exclaimed Saint-Dantin devoutly.

“Of course,” agreed Philip. “The theme demanded a rondeau. At three this afternoon I discovered that it was so. Did you come to see me this morning, Paul?” “You asked me for a rhyme,” De Vangrisse reminded him. “So I did! A rhyme for tout and fou, and you gave me … chou!” “Whereupon you threw your wig at me, and I fled,” “Chou!” repeated Philip with awful scorn. “Chou!” Gently but firmly Saint-Dantin took the parchment from him. “You shall read it to us later,” he promised. “But now you will dine.” “It goes well before meat,” pleaded Philip.