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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/38875-8.txt b/38875-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d8128ce --- /dev/null +++ b/38875-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4588 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Maid of Honour, Volume 2 (of 3), by Lewis Wingfield + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Maid of Honour, Volume 2 (of 3) + A Tale of the Dark Days of France + +Author: Lewis Wingfield + +Release Date: February 14, 2012 [EBook #38875] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MAID OF HONOUR, VOLUME 2 *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by Google Books + + + + + + + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + + 1. Page scan source: + http://books.google.com/books?oe=UTF-8&id=zxBLAAAAIAAJ + + 2. The diphthong oe is represented by [oe]. + + + + + + + + THE MAID OF HONOUR + + + + + + + THE MAID OF HONOUR + + + A Tale of the Dark Days of France + + + BY + + THE HON. LEWIS WINGFIELD + + AUTHOR OF + + "LADY GRIZEL," "THE LORDS OF STROGUE," "ABIGEL ROWE" + + ETC. + + + + + + _IN THREE VOLUMES_ + VOL. II. + + + + + LONDON + RICHARD BENTLEY AND SON + Publishers in Ordinary to Her Majesty the Queen. + + 1891 + + [_All Rights Reserved_] + + + + + + + TO + + WILLIAM HENRY WELDON. + + A TRIBUTE + + OF OLD FRIENDSHIP. + + + + + + + CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER XI. + + A Crisis. + + + CHAPTER XII. + + Diamond Cut Diamond. + + + CHAPTER XIII. + + Domestic Surgery. + + + CHAPTER XIV. + + Check. + + + CHAPTER XV. + + The Situation Changes. + + + CHAPTER XVI. + + The Abbé is Terribly Perplexed. + + + CHAPTER XVII. + + Gabrielle has an Idea. + + + CHAPTER XVIII. + + A Surprise. + + + CHAPTER XIX. + + A Council Of War. + + + + + + + THE MAID OF HONOUR. + + + + + CHAPTER XI. + + A CRISIS. + + + +The abbé's departure left a void in the household. He had grown to be +so conspicuous and necessary a feature in it that even Gabrielle +regretted his mercurial presence, while conscious of a feeling of +relief in that he no more pursued her. It was but a temporary respite, +she knew. He would return ere long, renew the siege, demand an answer. +What that answer was to be, she did not feel certain. Her interest in +herself had gone. She missed the readings, the soft declamation of the +musical voice; for, left more alone than ever, her mind brooded +without distraction on the past and the tangled possibilities of the +future. The chevalier's attentions were rather irksome than otherwise, +for his conversational powers were limited. His position was that of +watchdog, and, as all the world knows, watch-dogs are expected to +watch and not to talk. He was content to sit staring with vacant eyes +at his sister-in-law for an unlimited period, breathing very hard and +emitting strong fumes of spirits with a meaningless but complacent +expression of conscious rectitude. He was doing his duty, and knew it. +Since his rebuff on that moonlight night, now long ago, he had seemed +in his slow way to have become possessed by a fixed idea. The prize +was not for him. His brother had behaved magnanimously in permitting +him to try first for it. Having failed--as he might have known he +would--he must keep his promise, and assist him in the chase to the +best of his abilities. + +He was a remarkable man, his brother, of that he had been convinced +for years, who was destined to have his will in all things; and quite +right, too, for commanding genius should surely achieve success. + +Dreary fat Phebus! Lulled by the monotonous life at Lorge, the little +intellect he possessed had gone to sleep. Now and again he had sallied +forth to shoot with the gamekeeper, but could never hit it off with +him. His oracular remarks were met by silence. Jean Boulot treated him +with a sullen and enforced politeness, and it dawned on his sluggish +mind by slow degrees that the gamekeeper heartily despised him. He +despised by a common country peasant, who, instead of sneering, should +have been grateful to be noticed by a half-brother of the Marquis de +Gange! The position was so unsatisfactory that the chevalier gave up +the chase. He also gave up riding, for his horse would take the +direction of Montbazon, the welcome of whose inmates frightened him. +Angelique looked so wistful, and the old lady was so effusively +hospitable that he quite trembled in his shoes lest he should wake up +some morning and find that he was married. + +Moping about with no occupation either for mind or body, it was +natural that he should have fallen into the trap which is prepared for +the idle and empty-pated; that he should while away the laggard hours +in the company of the best cognac. + +Time hung very heavy on the hands of neglected Gabrielle. Toinon was a +sweet girl who strove by many little acts to comfort her stricken +heart; but the pride of the chatelaine stood between herself and +Toinon. It was bitter to expose her wrongs to the tender touch of a +loving foster-sister. Even when engaged on missions to the sick poor, +of whom, alack, there were far too many, she could not keep her mind +from brooding. "What was, and what might have been," formed a dismal +refrain that was for ever ringing in her ears. + +The abbé remained a long time absent. His letters were full of +interest, though not particularly cheerful. He appeared to have come +to the conclusion that affairs in the capital were not improving. "The +king is much to blame," he wrote, "while the queen is rash, and the +combination is not fortuitous." He told of the strange and aggressive +proceedings of that impudent body, the National Assembly, of the +treasonous language employed by some of its members. These impertinent +rascals babbled of the Rights of Man in a manner which, to one of +superior birth, was disgusting. He related that their majesties had +been forcibly taken from Versailles and bidden to dwell in the +metropolis, and told stories of Monsieur de Lafayette, whose conduct +was the more to be regretted in that he was himself a noble. He had +actually proclaimed in a public séance of the rabble who directed +affairs, that, "When oppression renders a revolution necessary, +insurrection is the most sacred of duties." Good heavens! what next? +Political societies had thrown off the mantle of secrecy and openly +paraded their abominable sentiments. The "Society of the Jacobins" +bade fair to be a dangerous element in the future, although a rival +club called the Feuillans had recently been established to +counterbalance its baleful influence. Altogether, Pharamond, who was +usually so lively, looked at events through darkened spectacles. + +The abbé had duly presented his credentials to the Maréchal de Brèze, +who had been effusively civil and had wearied him with endless +questions about his daughter's happiness. The life at Lorge must be +Arcadian, he had declared with satisfaction, or the lovely chatelaine +would have returned to the capital long since. + +Why, suggested the abbé, did he not make a pilgrimage to visit her? + +No, he had replied, shaking his venerable head; happiness was a +fragile thing that must not be disturbed. The advent of an old man and +an old woman would be like the throwing of a stone into a tarn. He was +content to know that Gabrielle was happy, and to write and receive +letters. Moreover, he did not wish his darling to return to Paris in +its present chaotic state. + +These letters of Pharamond's were mumbled out at breakfast by the +chevalier. + +Clovis had resumed his habit of breakfasting alone--moreover, politics +bored him; but mademoiselle made a point of being present, after +having given her dear charges their own meal in the distant wing; for +she liked to hear the news, indited by the abbé. + +Gabrielle seldom spoke. She seemed in a despondent daze which provoked +the observant governess. Was the silly creature going out of her mind? +Those who are unable to stand up for themselves deserve to be +subjected to the yoke. Aglaé's fingers itched to slap the marquise, +or give her a sound shaking. But she had been lectured by the abbé +before he left, was aware that the dog was watching, and knew that it +behoved her to be prudent; not to quarrel with her ally at present. As +to Gabrielle, she smiled sometimes a mysterious smile that was more +sad than tears. Happy! why, her heart was slowly breaking. Nobody +wanted her. Her only desire was to remain secluded--shielded by +distance from the searching glances of her father, who, with the eyes +of love, could not fail to read her misery. + +Autumn waned, the winter came and went, and spring came round, and +still the abbé was absent. The long evenings, when, try as she would +to exorcise them, the procession of her sorrows danced fandangoes in +the brain of Gabrielle to the accompaniment of the chevalier's +snoring, were becoming unendurable. How long was this martyrdom to +continue?--how long? + +The cold winds had softened their rigour; the air was growing balmy. +There were voices down below in half-whispered converse. Moving to the +open window, Gabrielle looked out. How calm and sweet an evening! How +placidly the river flowed past the feet of the gloomy castle! How +gently the boughs waved opposite beyond the stream to the rhythm of +the breeze! + +Under the windows of the grand saloon there was a sort of narrow +gangway which acted as penthouse to the grilled windows of the +dungeons on the water's edge. In old times it had been used as a +platform for embarkation in boats, but now it was trodden by few feet, +for its flags were slimy and treacherous. The voices were those of +Jean and Toinon, who were apparently indulging in a delightful +flirtation. They had been out rowing. The clumsy wherry used by the +family was moored to a ring a few yards distant. The lovers were +exchanging delicious confidences before parting for the night. + +Lovers billing and cooing in the moonlight, discoursing, doubtless, on +the happiness they should certainly enjoy when married. They believed +in human happiness, and looked forward to a future! Gabrielle laughed +a hoarse laugh that frightened her, and she retreated to the boudoir +in a feverish tingle. What was there to-night that made her feel more +desolate than usual? She must be unwell, for her nerves were twanging +so that she could not sit still a moment. The children were asleep by +this time, for mademoiselle was very careful of them. She deserved, at +least, that justice. Asleep and dreaming--not of her; for she rarely +saw them now at all, except gambolling like kids in the distance. She +felt suddenly impelled to be near the treasures over whom her soul +yearned so sorely. She could not see them, of course, for had not +mademoiselle made her understand long since that in the nursery she +held no authority? The dear ones. Thank God they were happy! She would +creep out in the spring air and kiss the wall behind which the +children lay! Almost guiltily she took up a silken wrap with trembling +fingers and stole forth. It was well the chevalier was in a boozy +sleep, or he would insist on following, and in his presence she would +have been ashamed to gratify her whim. Away, across the inner yard, +through the postern door, of which she wore a golden key upon a +bracelet, along the trim alleys of the moat garden to the extreme +right wing of the two floors of which mademoiselle had taken +possession. As we know, she established herself on arrival in the +rooms below the salon; but later, under pretext that it was damp, had +removed herself and her charges. In the chamber now used as nursery +she had caused a window to be pierced, so as to give access to the +garden moat It was so much better for the children, she had pleaded, +to be able to dance out at once upon the sunlit grass instead of +threading darksome corridors. How thoughtful! Of course she was right, +as usual. Clovis was enchanted with her attention to details, and the +window was made forthwith. + +A ray of light streamed across the sward. Strange. The casement was +open. How imprudent, and the dear ones in bed! In hot and anxious +wrath Gabrielle was about to rush forward and remonstrate, when her +steps were stayed. They were not in bed, for she could detect their +voices prattling with the marquis and their governess. Stealing +stealthily nearer she peeped in. Through her breast there shot a pain +so sharp that she almost hoped to die. An affecting family group, of +which _she_ should have been the centre--her legitimate place usurped +by that wicked cruel woman! while she, the mistress of the house, was +shivering without in the night air! A pariah--a leper--a loathsome +thing--cast without the gates. What had she done--what had she +done--to deserve this dreadful fate? The marquis was reclining in a +low chair, with the complacent calm that comfort brings, while Aglaé, +bending over, was carefully bandaging his hand. With what tenderness +she folded and tightened the linen. He had injured himself in some +slight way with a broken bottle, and was smilingly watching her work +whilst hearkening to the babble of the little ones who, in wadded +dressing-gowns, were toasting their pink toes before the fire. + +"You are so good to all of us," softly remarked Clovis. "Camille and +Victor, say, do you appreciate mademoiselle?" + +"I try to be a mother to them," was her calm response. + +A mother! Clovis sighed and frowned, while the children cried out with +blithe accord, "Aglaé? of course we love her." + +Camille, stealing up behind, passed her tiny arms about the portly +waist, while Aglaé said, quietly, "Be still, my pet, or you will make +me hurt your father." + +Victor--a wise boy--wagged his head sagely at the hissing hearth, and +announced his conviction, "That mademoiselle had come down from +heaven. But, never mind," he added, "when she gets back she'll have a +higher place than before, on such a nice and pearly cloud." + +"How's that?" asked the marquis, amused. + +"You'll have a nice place, too," continued the urchin. "Every evening +when I say my prayers, I ask heaven to be good to papa and +mademoiselle." + +The marquise staggered away with fingers tight clasped over dry and +burning eyes. "They are complete without me," she moaned, panting like +a hunted animal. "There is no place for me! no place in all the +world!" + +She tottered along the surrounding belt of green like one struck +blind, till she came to the end where the moat was closed against the +river. + +"No place for me! no place for me!" Gabrielle muttered, with teeth +that chattered as do those of one in an ague fit. Swaying to and fro +she looked into the water and discerned the black bulk of the wherry. +A luminous idea shot across her mind. If the boat were found drifting +down the stream with naught but a silken wrap in it, they would drag +the Loire for the missing chatelaine, and, at least, pretend to be +sorry for the accident. Yes! an accident--that was the solution of the +difficulty. Her father would deplore her death, but would never know +that she had brought it about herself. Why had this never occurred to +her before? The maréchal would grieve, but would get over it; for the +grief of the old is short-lived, and are not the dead at rest? Happy +dead to sleep so sound. She soon would be one of the shadowy +phalanx--at rest for evermore. + +Taking a hasty survey of the scene she stepped into the boat and +loosed the chain. There was none to look on her, save the blank eyes +of the dark chateau. In its history what was a life--an intolerably +weary life? Was not its memory green concerning the water-dungeon and +the torture-chamber? + +"For me there is no place in all the world," repeated the chattering +jaws as the boat shot into midstream. As it chanced there were four +human eyes watching that she wist not of. + +Jean and Toinon were not gone, though they had retreated into shadow. +At sound of the loosening chain the latter had shuddered and hidden +her face on the ample breast close by. + +"Dungeon ghosts--rattling their gyves," Jean observed, quietly. +"See--there's another yonder." + +Toinon looked up and held her breath. In the broad moonbeams a woman +stood erect in a boat! A woman, who slowly divested herself of a +drapery and arranged it carefully upon the seat. Then she placed a +foot upon the gunwale and deliberately plunged into the stream. + +It was all so unexpected--so sudden--that the two stood paralysed. +Both knew the slim figure well. They were startled from awe-stricken +stupor by shouts above. The chevalier was stamping on a balcony wildly +waving his arms. "It is Gabrielle! Gabrielle!" he shrieked. "Save her! +save her! save her!" And then, with a despairing yell, he dashed away +in the direction of the children's wing. + +Jean muttered with contempt: "The useless imbecile," and, disengaging +himself from Toinon's encircling arms, leapt from the platform into +the water. Breathless and proud of him, Toinon watched his strong +strokes as they clove the oily surface. He had hold of her--thank God! +and was bearing his burthen to the bank. + +There was a hubbub and an outcry in the house approaching nearer. +Clovis and the chevalier appeared at a window shouting madly: "Save +her!" The marquis disappeared from the balcony, and touching a spring, +vanished down a secret staircase which gave upon the slippery gangway, +accompanied by Mademoiselle Brunelle, who with a new care upon her +brow was swiftly following his lead. De Gange received the inanimate +burthen into his arms, while tears poured down his face. "God bless +you, Jean," he sobbed, "God bless you. I will never forget this deed. +She will live--she has but swooned. Jean, you have saved her from +death--me from a life-long remorse." + +Aglaé's clouded visage grew more perplexed as he took roughly from her +the mantle she had cast over her shoulders to wrap it round his +dripping burthen. + +"He takes my cloak," she muttered, "not caring if I feel cold!" + +"Aglaé, feel," he whispered anxiously. "Am I not right? Does not her +pulse still beat?" + +Mademoiselle Brunelle roused herself from astonished reverie to attend +to the exigencies of the moment. "Yes," she declared, with +authoritative promptitude. "The poor crazy lady lives. Toinon, warm a +bed without delay. Jean, take horse at once and fetch a doctor. We two +will see to her meanwhile." + +Moaning and shaking, the scared and palsied chevalier stood helpless +by, wringing his hands together. "She went in the boat alone, poor +thing," he whimpered, "because she could not trust me. Oh! that fatal +night--that fatal night! Of course she would not trust me." + +Meanwhile, the marquis and his affinity bore their burthen up the +winding stair. Neither spoke till they reached the saloon and laid the +unconscious marquise upon a couch. Then Aglaé, more perplexed than +ever, sighed. + +"Thank God, she's saved; thank God!" Clovis murmured, fervently. + +"Who would have ever thought," reflected the governess aloud, "that so +long-suffering and useless piece of goods could be goaded to take her +life?" + +"Hush!" shuddered the marquis. "Ever after I should have deemed myself +her murderer!" + +"A thousand pities," mused mademoiselle. "If he had only let her +drown, at this moment you would be free." + +Clovis looked up in horror, blanched to the pallor of a statue. + + + + + CHAPTER XII. + + DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND. + + +With a turn of the kaleidoscope is another pattern formed. Lying in +the great state bed with its ponderous carven canopy and heavy +curtains of deep blue velvet fringed with gold, Gabrielle wondered +whether she had awakened in a kinder world or whether she was dreaming +in the old rugose one. No. It was the same gorgeously gloomy chamber +in which she had so often wept, with its dim ancestors frowning from +the background of mouldering arras. + +Yonder, by the tall emblazoned mantel, was the familiar ebony cabinet +in which a long bygone De Brèze, who was an alchemist, had been wont +to lock his phials. To the left, was the mullioned window, with wide +sill, looking out upon the paved courtyard. On the sill was a row of +ponderous bronze pots of the Renaissance period, filled with gay +plants to hide out the blank wall opposite. Both Madame de Vaux and +Angelique had always shuddered when they crossed the threshold of this +room, vowing that the big bed, like a funereal catafalque, was a fit +resting-place for spectres, not for human beauty. When counselled to +move elsewhere, or do up the apartment in more cheerful fashion, the +chatelaine had smilingly shaken her head. The ladies of the castle had +always occupied this room, and she would follow their precedent, not +being afraid of ghosts. + +"The precedents of Lorge were pretty ones to follow," retorted her +neighbour. "Many of the chatelaines were murdered, poor things! and +the rest so wretched that murder, however atrocious, would have been +hailed as a release." + +Alas! The destiny of the present one was no brighter than that of the +others. She had been miserable enough in this tranquil chamber, and +had ofttimes prayed for death. But now, somehow, Fortune seemed to be +weary of persecution. Was it possible that out of the sinister tangle +content might yet be unwound? + +There were voices whispering in the antechamber which Gabrielle +recognized as those of Jean and Toinon, watchers. Now and again, +Toinon would gently open the door and reconnoitre, and seeing the +invalid apparently asleep would quietly close it again, but not before +the sick lady had caught a glimpse of the chevalier behind, still +wearing an expression of dismay. + +Wonder of wonders! Sometimes when she woke from fitful dozing, she +would see the figure of the marquis standing at the bed-foot anxiously +peering down at her. He looked haggard and careworn. Could it be on +her account? Hidden away somewhere in a remote recess could there be a +flame of affectionate esteem for her still flickering? + +Simulating slumber, she would scan him narrowly. He was evidently +unhappy, had something on his mind, was unpleasantly preoccupied. Her +heart leapt with the thought that it was on her account, perhaps, that +he was troubled. He certainly was thinking a good deal about her, for +though he did not stop long he often visited the chamber. Although +well-nigh beyond belief, Gabrielle could hardly doubt that he was +unhappy for her sake. His eyes had been opened! It had come home to +him how cruel his neglect had been, and he was sorry. It needed but a +kind word of encouragement from her to bring about a tardy +reconciliation. + +Choosing an opportunity, she gently put forth her hand and clasped +that of Clovis with a tender pressure, murmuring the while, "Husband! +I was driven to do that wicked thing by a mistake. God will forgive. +Can you, too, pardon?" + +At sound of her feeble voice, the marquis started guiltily and hung +his head; and as he remained silent, his hand inert in hers, she +proceeded slowly-- + +"It is not you who are to blame, dear. Occupied as your mind is, you +are unable to conceive what to a loving woman are isolation and +indifference. I teased and annoyed you with my jealousy; but then, as +a girl, I was so pampered--steeped to the lips in love! Give me +confidence and perfect trust and you shall be vexed no more. Obedient +in all things, assuming no right to counsel or rebuke, I will be your +faithful life-companion, the half of your very self!" + +Much more did she say in the same strain, without reproach, pleading +for a modest place within his heart. + +Ah me! What a mockery are these earthly unions for better or worse +till death do us part! The best are doomed to fling away their wealth +of tenderness upon recipients who do not crave for it. Is it a +punishment meted in subtle irony for the transgressions of a previous +life? For half a lifetime we persist in lavishing our love upon a +phantom, and, discovering by chance how evil is the wraith, lie down +despairing. A fool's paradise would be a charming residence, were we +not pretty certain, sooner or later, to be expelled from it with +violence. On this tiny dust grain of the universe--let us hope it is +not so in the more important worlds, wherein we hope to sojourn +later--we batter our pates at a tender age against the stone wall of +disillusion, become early familiar with broken promises. Fortunately, +the sustaining angel Hope has more lives than a cat. Pummelled, +stoned, and mangled beyond recognition, behold she sits up and rubs +herself, charming well again. + +What the hapless Gabrielle took for the stir of dormant affection was +no more than an ignoble mixture of shame, remorse, and anxiety. The +conscience of Clovis had dinned into him long since that he was +behaving very ill; that he had espoused a beautiful woman with a fresh +and ardent temperament and a well-lined purse; that, thanks to the +last, he lived in gilded ease, and gave to its owner in exchange +nothing for which she yearned. People are vastly provoking, who +clamorously demand that we have not to bestow. How wearisome are those +who go on repeating, "I want your love and nothing else," when they +ought to know that we have no love to give. Then is sure to follow the +phase of reproaches and tears which is more tiresome still. Clovis, +when conscience pricked, was very sorry for his helpmeet; and sorry +for himself, too, that she should be so worrying. From his point of +view, he was justified in withdrawing from the dining-hall the light +of his comely countenance. How can a man have any appetite with so +rueful a visage opposite? Talk of skeletons at feasts! Here was one at +every meal, because speechless no less eloquent. That which is +unpleasant and can't be helped, it behoves us in self-defence to put +away and forget as quickly as possible. Clovis had (metaphorically) +plunged into the magic tub with Aglaé in order to forget his skeleton. +He knew he was doing wrong, but was equally aware that it was not in +him to do right. Why could not Gabrielle be sensible? If people would +only cultivate that humble virtue common sense, how much more smoothly +life's wheels would run. Why could not she, realizing--perhaps with +pain--that Luna is not in the market as a purchaseable article, sit +quietly down with philosophy, and give up crying for the moon? + +When the poor lady was impelled to shuffle off her coil, the +completeness of the desolation revealed due to her husband's fault, +came home to him with a mighty twinge; and he felt angry with her in +that she should be capable of inflicting so severe a nip. The +estrangement was not his fault, he argued with conscience. It was his +misfortune and hers, which it was in the province of neither to +remedy. Of course, it was all a pity; but are there not numberless +things in this life that are "a pity," but which we are powerless to +alter? The brief period of _tête-à-tête_ when they first came to live +at Lorge had been ghastly dull, and he, like a sensible man, had +sought refuge from it in his books. Then merciful Providence had sent +a set of people to make his situation more bearable--his and hers +also. Why could she not let herself drift in calm content, as he had +done? It always came back to that, and every time he was the more +convinced of it. His wife was an unreasonable creature, who persisted +in pining for what she could not get instead of making the best of +what she had. Perhaps he had not behaved quite nicely in the matter of +the prodigies. Yet after all, was it not essential that they should +receive trained instruction, and had they not of their own accord +turned from their mother to the governess? He had never said, "My +dears, you must care no longer for mamma, and adore your governess." +Was it not evident that mamma wearied them as much as she did him, +while their instructress was the most delightful comrade that ever +breathed, as well as abnormally clever? + +With this course of argument conscience was convinced, or pretended to +be, and curled itself up and slept, and would have continued thus in +charmed repose, but for this new disturbance. There can be no denying +that there must be something radically wrong, when a woman who used to +be serene leaps with felonious intent out of a wherry. Though everyone +was told that the affair was an accident, nobody believed it. The +marquis was ashamed and dreaded a scandal. + +Of course, when the story reached them, the Montbazon party came +trundling over in the shanderydan, with goggling eyes and ears acock, +to inquire into the extraordinary tale. Clovis received them with +scant courtesy, but the old baroness was not to be put off with a cold +shoulder, and Angelique took little trouble to cloak her suspicions. +What could madame have been doing--navigating the Loire in the +middle of the night, and tumbling overboard? Why choose so strange an +hour for a solitary excursion, and why fall out of so clumsy and +broad-beamed a craft? Could the dear marquis explain? The dear marquis +became testy, and, shrugging his shoulders, advised the ladies to +visit madame who was in bed, but well enough to tell them all about +it. The ladies sat on either side of the great catafalque, under +shadow of the blue velvet curtains, and sniffed at one another with +meaning across the counterpane. Cross-questioned by the baron as they +drove home, the baroness pursed her lips in ominous silence, while +Angelique remarked, "If with those sad eyes welling with tears, she +persists that she is happy, and vows that on that night her foot +slipped, in courtesy we must pretend to believe her." To which the +baron pertinently replied, "Foot slipped, indeed! and in the middle of +the river, too. What was it doing on the gunwale?" + +Clovis knew that the de Vaux family would spread damaging reports, but +he had yet another cause for anxiety. A certain remark had been +dropped by Mademoiselle Brunelle as the two were carrying their +burthen to the salon, which was like a douche of icy water. "If he had +let her drown, you would be free!" What an atrociously cold-blooded +sentiment from the lips of the good-natured Aglaé! As to this the +marquis's conscience had no suggestion to make, for it had never +entered his head to desire his wife's demise. + +It is another unpleasing fact with regard to our little earth, that +nothing can remain stationary. We must always be on the move--backward +if not forward. Clovis, pleased with the situation as it had chosen to +develop itself, wished for naught but the continuance of the _status +quo_; and now it came rudely home to him that mademoiselle, instead of +being satisfied, as he was, had been raising shadowy edifices in +cloudland. The glance which accompanied her regretful words had been +full of significance. She could look so far forward as to welcome the +departure of Gabrielle in order that she might occupy her place. And a +governess too--without a shred of a pedigree--who had never heard the +name of her grandfather! That a person of low birth, however +admirable, should presume to aspire to the coronet of a Marquise de +Gange took the breath away! The idea was as wildly fantastic as it was +revolting. And yet she had so wormed herself into his life that he +knew he could not tear her thence without an awful struggle. If that +poor thing had died, could he in course of time have been persuaded to +take the governess? Who might prophesy? Most fortunately there was no +question of such a possibility, as the lady had been saved and was +recovering. Mademoiselle must be his affinity--nor hope for anything +more lofty. And yet the more he thought of it, all the more shocked +did Clovis feel at the absurdity of such aspirations in one so lowly, +and the cold-bloodedness of that remark. + +For her part the unlucky speech had been wrung from Aglaé by genuine +surprise, for the boating catastrophe had opened to her mind's eye a +dazzling vista of actual possibilities as new as they were +astonishing. It had certainly occurred to her before that it would be +nice some day to be Marquise de Gange, but it had not struck her that +the present marquise could be induced to open the door herself to her +successor. It was merely in a spirit of casual spite that Aglaé had +insolently invited Gabrielle, during their last interview, to retire +out of the world. + +How surprising are the vagaries of the human animal! No one would have +guessed that a quiet reserved woman, who was so feeble as to suppose +she could buy the enemy with a bracelet, could be driven to take her +life! The discovery suggested for the future a new series of tactics. +Owing to vexatious interference the tragedy had miscarried this time, +but surely with deft management a similar condition of mind to that +which had led up to it could be brought about again? And the second +time precautions might be taken to ensure a different termination. +There was no hurry about it. When matters of serious import are under +consideration it is a woeful thing to hurry. The mawkish creature was +in bed, being fondled and caressed. By and by when she grew better, a +progressive series of cunningly-masked attacks would have to be +organized which should finally and completely rout the insignificant +foe and leave her prone upon the field. + +Meanwhile there was something new that rather puzzled the governess. +Clovis was so thin-skinned that it was only by surpassing skill that +he could be managed. He was so beset with crotchets which required +coaxing. There was some bee worrying in his bonnet now, for instead of +frisking about the feet of his affinity, according to habit, he slunk +away from her approach with uneasy bashfulness, and bestowed his +attentions on the invalid. + +With regard to the latter there was nothing to dread for the +blandishments of the wife invariably had the effect in the long run of +alienating the husband. On this score the mind of the schemer was +easy. But what if she were indeed to die in a not too distant future? +Clovis had shudderingly declared on the fateful night that had she +been drowned he would have considered himself a murderer. What a +stupid old adage it is which says the dead do not return! How many, +when they have passed from sight, are more formidable than when alive! +Would it be so with Gabrielle? Is not remorse a more formidable +barrier than the imperial wall of China? As it was, mademoiselle could +not deny that the marquis had taken to avoiding her, that in his eyes +there was a sinister expression, in which fear and distrust were +blended. He must have caught a glimpse under her ample skirt of a +cloven hoof instead of a substantial foot, and have been alarmed by +the spectacle. This alarm must be lulled to rest, or the influence of +the affinity might stand in actual peril. It would be odd if in the +end he crawled out of her clutches--very odd. + +Pooh! She was strong, and he was weak. Had she not proved already that +she could bend him like a willow wand? And yet--in front there lay a +mist which even sharp-sighted Aglaé was unable to penetrate. She +laughed with quiet cynicism when she considered what Clovis's feelings +would be if he could read the dark thoughts of his affinity. He had +read too much already, and the effect had not been good. Now that she +knew what she wanted, it behoved her to consider the attitude which +the marquis must be made to assume, for his conduct, whatever it might +be, would, of course, be influenced by another will than his own. + +Gabrielle was to depart. + +That much was settled in the mind of the governess. With regard to the +husband, two courses were open. Was he to be lulled into forgetting +the untoward remark which had so shocked him, or was he to grow +accustomed by degrees to its implied suggestion, and be induced +tacitly to approve by skilful wheedling? Her bringing-up had led the +governess to hold a low opinion of human nature. No one ever lived, +she fully believed, so devoid of the leaven of wickedness as to be +proof against temptation to crime. It was merely a matter of +surroundings and the amount of temptation employed. But then in the +case of Clovis, the inertness and hesitancy of his character called +for consideration. Moreover, his recent behaviour had shown that he +did not care as yet sufficiently warmly for his Aglaé to go all +lengths with her. Alarmed for his own safety, he would shrink and run +off howling. It is wiser in dealing with some people to do a thing +without consulting them, and obtain consent to the act when it is +done--irrevocably and irremediably. Clearly, the first course was +the most judicious. Clovis must be amused and petted till the +temporary access of inconvenient remorse was past, the little speech +forgotten--and wake up some fine day in the not too far distant future +to find himself bereaved and a widower. + +All this was mighty well in theory, but what of the plaguey abbé? He +would hear of the water episode and be seriously annoyed. The +governess was angered to think of the length of time which must elapse +ere her scheme could be brought to a head--and all through the idiotic +passion of Pharamond for the marquise! It would be dangerous to make +an open enemy of Pharamond, for were he so minded, he could place many +spokes in her wheel; all the more easily at this precise juncture when +Clovis was so shocked. As a matter of policy, whereby she might +herself benefit, she was quite ready to push Gabrielle into his arms, +as quickly as possible, for she reckoned that he was a fickle man, +who would soon tire of a toy attained, and so soon as he had done with +it, would not care how soon it was broken. But then she was not +without grave doubts of his ever succeeding in his suit. Mawkish, +milk-and-water women, such as this pale-faced creature, have no +passions worthy of the name, but exhale themselves in sighs and +prayer. + +And here was another awkward point. Given that the abbé was rebuffed, +compelled to abandon the siege of the marquise, would he not lose all +motive for further assisting the governess? and that before she was +prepared to do without him? Of course, he would then cease to sing her +praises in the ears of Clovis; would even perhaps, to suit his own +interests, endeavour to divide those whom he had assisted in uniting? +If the abbé could only be got rid of! But there seemed, peer out into +the horizon as she would, no chance of getting rid of him. No. He must +be humoured--hoodwinked, if possible. The abbé for the present must be +endured, treated as a trusty ally, since it would not do to attack him +as an enemy. Mademoiselle guessed that the chevalier would report all +that had happened, so concealment was out of the question. When he +received tidings of the episode he would, of course, come home, and in +an evil mood. With a peevish sigh, she wrote an effusive letter to +Pharamond, begging him to return to Lorge, wishing the while that he +would break his neck upon the journey. In the letter she artfully +stated that she had been guilty of a little error. When you wish to +avert a scolding, it is well to be candid and confess; and rather make +the most of the peccadillo. + +Thus she came vaguely to the conclusion that the alliance must stand +good for the present, that she and the abbé must maintain their +friendship, outwardly at least, and that, with regard to the fate of +Gabrielle, she must wait and watch events. Perhaps destiny in a +generous mood would point out some means of clearing the thorn-strewn +path by sweeping away the abbé. If he were got rid of, the course of +Aglaé would be quite plain; the shrift of the marquise would be a +short one. + +Pharamond received two letters by the same courier, and boiled +with displeasure at the contents of both. With what a culpable +stupidity had all of them been behaving in his absence! That the +chevalier--useless lump of carrion--should proclaim himself a fool was +only to be expected. It had been the height of folly to trust to the +discretion of a zany. By his own showing, Phebus had failed to watch +properly over the marquise, and the malignant Aglaé had wreaked on +her, with impunity, the full venom of her spite. For that when the +chance arrived she should be punished, for he had plainly given his +instructions before he started, to the effect that the marquise must +be made to feel her lonely position so acutely, that she would be +inclined to look kindly on a lover. It was not at all a portion of his +programme that she should be hunted into a grave. Moreover, was she +not the golden goose that fed them? The regrettable catastrophe was +due to the governess's disobedience and malignity. Feminine spite is +unreasoning, as all the world knows. + +"Not guessing that she was so sensitive, I went too far and am deeply +distressed," Aglaé mendaciously wrote; "not but what the story you +will probably hear is much exaggerated. You have impressed on me more +than once that you are my friend. By an artful imposture of sham +suicide, the marquise has succeeded in frightening her husband back to +her side again. They bill and coo all day, which will not please you +any more that it does me. For your own sake, as well as mine, prove +that you are my friend, and come." + +Yes. Both letters assured him that his presence at Lorge was urgently +needed to give form again to chaos; and Pharamond saw that he must +leave the capital, although occurrences in Paris were of daily +increasing interest. It was dawning on himself and others at last that +they stood on the threshold of an entirely new epoch, which was to +shatter and blot out the old; that what they had chosen to +contemptuously take for harmless effervescence was the commencement of +convulsion, from which a newly-cast society would spring. The daring +of the lower lieges grew as fast as did the fabled bean-stalk. A timid +contingent of the assailed upper class had already abandoned France, +dreading they knew not what, and the remainder were like sheep without +a shepherd. What if, though really the notion was too preposterous, +the bubbling scum should actually suffocate the elect in its foul and +fetid waters? In the world's story there have been many cataclysms. +Though the peasants of Touraine had done little damage as yet, they +would surely hear of the excesses of the south, and would probably be +urged to emulation. + +Lorge was a strong place, but precautionary measures of defence must +be taken in view of prospective difficulties. For many reasons, then, +the return of the abbé to the country might no longer be delayed. It +would be a wise measure to summon a meeting of the rural seigneurie, +and form a league for mutual protection. + +"Her friend!" the abbé laughed with a malevolent twitch of his thin +lips as he folded and pocketed his letters. "So long as she is useful, +yes--a dear trusty loyal friend--but not an instant longer! If she +cannot behave with decency and common prudence, we must unite and +sweep her into space." + +Everyone was glad to see Pharamond home again, or affected to be so. +He assumed the highest spirits, although his news was little +reassuring, and he was privately much vexed at the changed positions +of his puppets. + +The chevalier, when rated for his drunken incapacity, excused himself +by swearing that but for his timely outcry, Gabrielle would have +perished. He wept alcoholic tears and babbled incoherent nonsense, in +which he deplored his numerous transgressions. "If only she could have +loved me," he whimpered with clasped hands more aspen than of yore, +"she would have been made so happy, and now she is plunged in misery, +and I can do nothing to prevent it. Console her, brother, since you +are the favoured one; make her smile again and I will be your slave +for life!" and so on, with trickling jeremiads and idle expressions of +penitence. + +As for mademoiselle, she expressed herself so full of contrition, and +so anxious to promote the abbé's suit, and altogether made herself so +agreeable, that he pretended loftily to pardon her, registering a +private vow that she must be ousted at the earliest moment. A woman +who could act so foolishly as to frighten the admirer she intended to +cajole, was but a contemptible enemy to battle with in a game of +diamond cut diamond. For the achievement of his own plans he must put +up with her just now, and make good the incipient breach. Aglaé must +be washed clean in the eyes of the remorseful marquis of having caused +his wife's rash act. Whatever might happen by-and-by, the neophyte and +his affinity must be brought close together again for a while, and to +that end Pharamond loyally exerted all his influence. He fairly +laughed his brother into the belief that he was a deluded simpleton; +that the suicide was a stage device got up by Phebus and the victim. +"What a ninny to be taken in!" He said, "A bit of jealous temper, +nothing more, for which she is sorry now, for she has gained naught by +the dramatic ducking except an attack of illness." + +Aglaé was gushing in her gratitude, which served only to increase the +contempt of Pharamond, who, like her, heartily despised the virtues. +She was a tool to be used and blunted, then carelessly thrown away. +Meanwhile, she was laughing in her sleeve in that he should so easily +be hoodwinked by her comedy. He never guessed what a new and +portentous idea was surging in her brain, and she was careful to drop +no hint of it. + +We will not endeavour to excuse the error in judgment of so +accomplished a manipulator of marionnettes as the Abbé Pharamond, in +that he should have esteemed so lightly the talents of Mademoiselle +Brunelle. Perhaps he was led astray by the crafty display of +helplessness shown in her last epistle. You are not inclined to +suspect, when a lady candidly confesses weakness and craves help, that +she has a private set of schemes in the background, of which she tells +you nothing. As Aglaé was prepared (since she could not help it) to +put up with Pharamond for a period, so was the abbé prepared to endure +Aglaé until he had quite done with her, feeling less and less doubt +that when she was no longer useful he could administer the final push. + +Thus schemed the schemers, labouring each for self, masking their +batteries one from the other till the propitious moment should come +for rupture. If the muse of history had not intervened as Marplot at +this moment, there is no telling which way the scale would have +turned, for it was nicely balanced. If Pharamond was being deceived, +so was Aglaé, for she failed to gauge the extent of the shock she had +inflicted on the marquis. He was too timid to express his feelings +openly, to confess that he had become genuinely afraid of his +affinity, perceiving that on occasion she could be more unscrupulous +than his feeble soul was prepared to contemplate. Even strong-minded +men do not care to have a Lady Macbeth in the _mènage_ who "lays the +daggers ready." He clung to Aglaé because he could not do without her; +but at the same time he leaned heavily on Pharamond. But for that muse +of history this tale might have had a different ending. The schemes of +both conspirators required time. As it was, something happened which +awoke them with a start, and entirely changed the face of affairs, for +they became aware that what they intended to do must be done quickly +or be left undone. The shuttle of the muse flew apace across the loom. +An event occurred which came upon the country like a thunder-clap, +spreading terror and dismay in one camp, causing the wildest +exultation in the other. Rumour brought the news that their majesties +had fled from France. + +The situation was so grave that it behoved the country seigneurie to +look to themselves in earnest and at once. Perforce dismissing for the +moment arrangements of a private nature, Pharamond galloped hither and +thither, vastly busy, suggesting, advising, arranging. The Marquis de +Gange, much as he disliked politics, was compelled to rouse himself +from his ease and his remorse. He became quite energetic; ceased to +worry about his wife, and even forgot the tub. Old de Vaux came +cantering over on his pony, followed by a multitude of booby squires, +who, grouped in solemn conclave in the banquet-hall of Lorge, sat dumb +before the wisdom of the governess. In important deliberations sage +counsellors of either sex are to be courted, and Aglaé in all +emergencies shone forth with special brilliancy. Her mind worked so +nimbly and practically, that the eyes of the enraptured gentry were +round with awe. They vowed in chorus that the marquis was a lucky man +to have captured this pearl of price. All were agreed, and impressed +the fact on him. As there was no dissentient voice, his uneasy terrors +waned; suspicion gave place to a renewal of admiration, in which fear +was tempered with respect. + +It never occurred to anyone to consult Gabrielle, and she had no +desire to be consulted. The white chatelaine knew too well that as a +leader she was a failure. It was enough to feel quite assured at last +with numbing, wearing pain, that Clovis cared no jot for her. + +That illusion had been put to flight for ever, for she had perceived +that his courtesy was awkward and unreal, a mask assumed by sluggish +duty to conceal ennui. Well, however evil the fate which should pursue +her in the future, she deserved it all, and would accept it meekly as +a penance. It was wicked to have made a deliberate attempt upon the +life which was not her own to destroy. Each night and morning she +fervently prayed for pardon, vowing that she would try to endure all +henceforth by aid of such support as was vouchsafed. + +Of a sudden there came a second thunder-clap, and the booby squires +shut themselves up, each in his own domain, unable to comprehend its +meaning. + +Rumour had brought a second budget more disquieting in effect than the +first. Their majesties had not succeeded in escaping. They had been +caught at Varennes, to be conducted back to Paris by Barnave and +Pétion, deputies. The King and Queen of France were prisoners! +Actually they were in custody of King Mob--a more powerful potentate +than they--who had locked them up in a gilded jail, yclept the Palace +of the Tuileries. For a moment all sections of society paused and held +their breath. + +If Louis and Marie Antoinette had crossed the frontier it would have +been to return at the head of an avenging army, which would by force +have replaced their diadems. But prisoners!--for though not dubbed so +openly as yet, their power of free action had departed. The innocent +king, the unfortunate queen, the saintly Madame Elizabeth, had been +drawn through the streets of the capital, a helpless raree-show, for +the delectation of the populace, like the Parisian "B[oe]uf Gras" or +the London Guido Fawkes! The scum themselves were so taken aback by +the prodigious spectacle that many burst into tears, while others +stood dumbfoundered. Then, the shock of surprise over, there followed +inevitably excess, the boisterous stretching of untried limbs, for the +first time free. In some parts of the country this took the form of a +meaningless upheaval, just to test the new-found liberty. Chateaux of +unpopular proprietors were sacked and burnt. The dwelling of the de +Vaux family was somewhat injured, and its inmates alarmed for their +property; but, at a critical moment, Jean Boulot appeared upon the +scene and scornfully rated the rioters for their cowardice. "Shame!" +he cried, "ye are indeed worthy of liberty if your first use of it is +to slay or insult old men and women! Next, I suppose, you will pay us +a visit, and repay with brand and pitchfork the debt you all owe to +the marquise?" The crowd desisted from the work of destruction and +shamefacedly dispersed. No, no--they grumbled. Jean Boulot was a fine +fellow, to whose harangues they all liked to listen, but his tongue +sometimes was sharp, his sayings bitter. Attack Lorge? Never. What! +the home of the white chatelaine, whose hands were ever stretched +forth to do good, at sight of whose beautiful sad face everyone sighed +with pity? + +People are naturally so perverse that they are ever apt to plume +themselves upon results that are due to others. The abbé and +Mademoiselle Brunelle, and with them the Marquis de Gange, were quite +assured that the impunity from attack enjoyed by Lorge was due to the +strength of its walls and the ingenuity of their tactics. Jean's +speech at Montbazon was not reported to them--he was not one to boast +of his own deeds, and they were too infatuated to realize that the +pale, weak, fragile woman, whose reserve and resignation daily +exasperated Aglaé, was the real author of their safety. + + + + + CHAPTER XIII. + + DOMESTIC SURGERY. + + +These were exciting times--no doubt of it--even to humdrum +provincials, remote from the madding crowd. The web on the muse's loom +grew so rapidly that the eye could not follow the shuttle. Were the +dogs of war to be unloosed upon the land? Was fair France to be +invaded and torn by the enemy from without as well as by one within? +On the 6th of July the Emperor of Austria appealed to the sovereigns +to unite for the delivery of Louis. On the 11th a formal demand was +made in the Constituant Assembly for his dethronement. His majesty's +brothers, after having solemnly sworn that they would not leave their +native soil, were gone; and the stream of emigration increased in +volume daily. The Minister of War announced that no less than nineteen +hundred officers had abandoned their regiments and fled. It was +decreed that the property of emigrants should be confiscated for the +public good. Meanwhile, the upheaval of the peasantry continued to be +intermittent. Sometimes they merely growled; sometimes they rushed +about like madmen, leaving, as locusts do, a trail of destruction in +their wake. + +Then the question of money, or rather of no money, became a burning +one. In October there was a famine and a deadlock. Farmers refused to +take paper in payment for corn, and somehow there was naught else to +pay them with. The occupants of Lorge watched vigilantly, awaiting a +crisis which they could not but feel was imminent; and the two +conspirators considered their broken plans with the palpitating woe of +ants when somebody treads upon their hill. The abbé and the governess +consulted frequently, each assuming the ingenuousness of infancy, +whilst reconnoitring with wary eye the position of the other. Though +they made believe to sit in one boat and caulk it, the attention of +either was directed to a private craft (cunningly concealed from +sight) in which the other was to find no seat, and which must be +rendered taut and trim to face the coming storm. + +A conviction that leaks were numerous, and that there was no time for +elaborate operations, oppressed them both; a prophetic instinct +whispered that such materials as were at hand must serve, or, when the +wind rose presently, their frail coracles would founder and go to the +bottom. + +The Marquise de Gange was the pivot upon which the schemes of both +plotters turned--the listless lady who took no further interest in the +world's doings; who, excluded alike from family councils and domestic +interests, gave herself up to devotions and to almsgiving. + +Time being just now so precious an article, it seemed to both schemers +that the victim had been brought into as auspicious a state for +operation as was likely to be attained without long waiting. It would, +in all probability, become necessary ere long to follow the stream of +emigration, and abandon France till the Saturnalia which convulsed the +motherland should have passed away. Now it was clear to Pharamond that +prudent persons are bound to prepare themselves for any fate. If +Gabrielle accepted his terms, as reflection would doubtless lead her +to do, it was obvious that he and she would, some of these days, +quietly elope, leaving the husband and his affinity to discover, too +late, with teeth-gnashing, that the golden goose was gone. An adroit +display of sympathy combined, perhaps, with a gentle and artistic +touch of coercion, would bring this about. When the moment for +departure came she would follow him, and from a safe point of vantage +overtures could be made to the maréchal with regard to the question of +finance. Of course, after what she had suffered there, she would be +only too glad to turn her back upon the dismal chateau, which must be +as odious to her as to him. What happened to the besotted Clovis and +the impudent Aglaé would concern neither any more. + +Mademoiselle Brunelle, on the other hand, saw in Gabrielle's condition +of indifference the stony numbness of a despair which a trifling +amount of pressure would lead to the desired denouement. She would +find the hateful world too unbearable, and leave it. The obstacle +removed, Aglaé resolved to work with cunning touch on the fears of the +timid widower. She would cause him to understand that jeremiads over +what was done were useless, or that, at any rate, they might with +propriety be postponed until his skin was safe beyond the frontier. It +is a first duty to look after one's skin. Gabrielle out of the way, +there was nothing to prevent her successor from taking possession of +Clovis with a strong hand, and carrying him off to join the other +nobles. This must be accomplished with despatch and secrecy and +diplomatic skill. An exactly propitious moment must be chosen. The +fate of the abbé and the chevalier, left behind, would concern in no +wise the future Marquise de Gange. + +Many a clever criminal, when plaiting a rope for his deliverance will +leave a strand unsound, and break his leg in a ditch. The pride and +delicacy of the marquise had always shrunk from upbraiding Clovis with +ingratitude, or of using her wealth as a weapon of self-defence. With +misery comes indifference to pelf. What was money to her, save what +she needed for her poor? Since Clovis and the dear ones were complete +without her, and clearly did not want her, wherein would she be +bettered by twitching at the purse-strings? Hence, as the subject, +being rather unpleasant, was never broached, the governess had never +learned that the source of affluence was Gabrielle, and that if the +wife were, before the death of old de Brèze, to sink into the grave, +the husband would lose all hope of himself fingering the revenues. + +Seeing how urgent it was to hit upon a plan of action which should +avert impending chaos, both Pharamond and Aglaé secretly and +independently resolved to seek a private interview with the marquise +which should further prepare the way to a desirable result from their +own point of view, or, if destiny proved kindly, clinch the matter of +the future. + +The first in the field was Pharamond, who, suddenly solicitous for the +welfare of his sister-in-law, tapped at her boudoir door. + +"My blessed Gabrielle!" he cried, archly shaking a finger. "You are +very very naughty, and I have come to scold you! At a time when we +ought all to hang together you avoid us as if we had the plague, and +shun the family councils. Do you not know what is happening; that we +are all tinkering with might and main to prepare our ark for the +Deluge? I am sure the Noah family must have been an united one, or +they would never have achieved the task of heralding all those beasts. +Just think what a genius for organization some of them must have had! +A pair of each after their kind! I declare that the beetles and flies +alone would have reduced me to a state of madness!" + +Gabrielle had no smile now for the abbé's persiflage. + +"You should know," she quietly observed, looking up from her book with +a serious wrapt expression which seemed as if reflected from beyond +the gates, "that the world and I have parted company. Grief is a slow +and painful death which absorbs our stock of endurance." + +This was not quite the desirable frame of mind which Pharamond had +reckoned on. The screw had been turned too far and must be loosened. + +"This mopish place affects your nerves, and no wonder," he said. +"Change of air and scene will set you up again." + +She glanced at the abbé in quick surprise. "Change of air and scene!" +She feared lest he had come to demand her ultimatum. + +"What would you say," he suggested, "to a tour in Switzerland, with +one who would make you happy?" + +"No one will ever make me happy," she returned, composedly, "and yet I +have desired a change--should like to go away from here----" + +"A la bonheur," muttered the abbé to himself. + +"Where I contemplated going I might achieve content; but then, much as +I yearn for it, there are earth-born ties which detain me within these +walls, despite my judgment." + +"A fig for such ties!" cried Pharamond with conviction. "Clovis has +behaved in a disgraceful way, and you will be fully justified in +considering him no more. Another woman occupies your place. Unless I +am mistaken one so proud as you would not deign to thrust her thence +by the moving of a finger. Clovis, by his own acts has placed himself +beyond the pale. He is out of court. The nobles are leaving France in +droves. Common prudence bids you follow." + +"I never thought of leaving France," the marquise said, coldly. + +"Does Clovis want to go? I have more than once contemplated asking him +to permit me to retire to a convent. I know too well," she added, +wearily, "that he would not be sorry to be relieved of my presence. +But I have not the strength to bid farewell to the children. Though +they have been alienated from me by base arts, they have all my +single-minded love, and it is my duty to watch over their well-being." + +A convent! Pshaw! How many babble of the cloistered life, chilled by +dreariness and disappointment! The poor thing was very lonely--ripe +for judicious comforting. + +"Their governess is devoted to the little ones and loves them," mused +Gabrielle, sadly sighing. "Were I not assured of that I should do +something desperate. It would be too much--I could not bear it!" + +"Excuse my disrespectful merriment," laughed Pharamond, "but your +project is too funny. What! A convent! A mouse trap! My dear, you need +rousing to revive your mental tone, which has dropped too low. A +commingling of new pleasures and fresh interests is vastly beneficial. +In your despondent state you would, within the living tomb of the +cloister, become in a month a hysterical _convulsionaire_--fit subject +for Mesmer's tub! No, no, The world shall not lose its fairest +ornament, hidden away out of reach too long. I am here now as your +true friend to administer timely counsel. Residence in France is, for +the time being, fraught with peril. I propose to escort you to a place +of security where you will be free from molestation. There will be no +one to worry or torment you as those two have done. Your father +learning that you have been induced to fly from an impossible +existence, will doubtless join us, and I pledge my honour that the +little ones shall follow." + +Gabrielle had been listening drearily, her head supported on her hand, +as one listens to a tale too often told. But at mention of the +children she started, and the abbé flattered himself that he had hit +the bull's-eye. How to secure the infants he had not considered, but +if their presence was essential as a tempting bait, why, they could +easily be kidnapped. + +"You see, dear Gabrielle," the abbé whispered drawing his chair close +and laying a persuasive hand upon her arm, "that I have thought of +everything. We will make for Switzerland, where you and I and the +angels will dwell in paradise. The maréchal is not strait-laced, +heaven save the mark, how should he be? and seeing you quite happy, +will be satisfied. You are too mopish to act for yourself. Say the +delicious word and I will see it all settled in a twinkling." + +He awaited a reply, but it came not. The marquise, engrossed in his +word-picture, was gently smiling. She was out of sorts--too much +depressed for decision. This was the instant for a tiny twist of the +screw, like a microscopic prick from a spur. + +"I see that you have reflected, and that you have made the best +selection. That is well. You recall my words before I went away? I +meant them then, and mean them still. My will is iron, Gabrielle. A +resolve once taken hardens into adamant. Mine you are to be, and mine +you will be; so further struggling is useless." + +Still no answer; yet she had had time enough in all conscience to see +that there was no escape. The abbé, quite certain of his prey, edged +nearer yet till he could inhale the perfume on her hair. + +"It is indeed I, and no other, who am to teach you love, my +Gabrielle," he whispered tenderly. "It is written! Mine too shall be +the privilege to return the children to your keeping. You bear me no +malice in that I parted you from them for awhile? You know right well +that what I have done I can undo. Ha! Your bosom heaves! You yield at +last! Was ever woman so strangely wooed----and won!" + +It was a favourite theory of the abbé's (which, like many plausible +theories, had a crack in it) that in a tussle of two, the weaker must +inevitably go under. A female heart, he argued, must perforce be +flattered when it finds its citadel besieged with unflagging +perseverance. The abbé was radiant, for he had no doubt that his sharp +attack must tell on ramparts undermined by prolonged strategy, and +that he would reap the reward of his efforts. + +Gabrielle rose slowly from her seat, with flushed cheeks and eyes that +sparkled; but not to fall into his outstretched and expectant arms. + +"Abbé," she said, clasping her bosom with her hands, "you admit that +it was you who parted us. What your ingenious cruelty will invent next +I dread to think. You did well to name my dear ones. But for them you +might have had your way, perhaps, since I care not what becomes of me. +You would persuade me to fly with you, and hold them out as a lure? A +grievous error, abbé; they are my buckler! They will grow up, a +blooming youth and maiden, will learn by degrees to gauge this sordid +world. What would their opinion be, think you, of a mother who +abandoned her home and her honour to gratify a son of the Church?" + +The beacon of green-gray light, which the chevalier knew so well, +shone out for an instant and was gone. It began to strike the abbé, +with a surge of impotent rage, that he might have been wrong in his +calculations; that some long-suffering and apparently defenceless +women possess an occult strength against which a will of tempered +steel may beat in vain; and a suspicion of defeat at the moment of +expected victory sent a fume of wrath into his brain that made him +dizzy. + +"Take care!" he muttered, hoarsely. "That I have already done is +nothing! I have wooed you long, and in the end you shall give way--I +swear it!" + +"Wickedness and conceit disturb your reason," Gabrielle replied, with +a calm which increased his fury. "The crafty and unscrupulous often +over-reach themselves. Therein lies the salvation of those who have +naught but innocence for armour." + +She looked him in the face with such steady scorn, that his shifty +eyes lowered before hers. It came upon Pharamond with a shock, that +she whom he had thought to dominate by a skilful mixture of the bitter +and the sweet was not the least afraid of him, although she realised +too well that to gratify his passions he would stick at nothing. One +by one he had cut off from her the joys of life, and the slow cruel +process had turned his sword edge. He was nettled and humiliated by +the conviction that his boasted knowledge of the feminine organism was +moonshine, and that the error into which he had fallen--and which must +lie at his own door--was possibly irremediable. To be baffled now, +when he had deemed all secure; to be shown with withering contempt, +that he would never have his way! It was too late to turn a new leaf +and commence again at the beginning. And the immediate future so +ominously dark! A resistance so cool and deliberate and unexpected, +shivered his plans at a blow. Well. Baffled he might be, but she +should rue the day. If in the duel, she was to prove victorious, with +a bitterness as of gall would he execrate this woman! Is it possible +to love and hate at the same time? As Pharamond glanced at the tall +figure and defiant bearing of the marquise, his desire for her tingled +along each nerve, and yet he hated her for that mien of stubborn +scorn. She should rue that day--oh, yes, she should rue it! Some +excruciatingly ingenious retaliation should be devised. The proud +beauty should be whipped till each limb quivered. She had confessed to +apprehension of his inventive powers; she should feel their effect, +and speedily. + +Gabrielle was able apparently to read his white and vindictive visage. +Without blenching, she observed, mournfully, "I spoke at random, when +I said I dreaded you; what is there left for me to dread? I have +passed along the stony path of the black valley of the shadow, and, +thanks to you, nothing can affect me now. I defy you to do your worst. +Having bereft me of children and husband, what is there left for me to +bear? Whatever you may devise, I shall thank heaven for the burthen as +a merciful atonement for my sin." + +"You scoff at my love and brave my hate!" returned the abbé, striving +hard to control his voice. "You have finally refused the one, and for +the first time shall know the other." + +"I despise both. To me you are more vile a reptile than the bloated +hideous toad from which by instinct we recoil. Your poisonous breath +infects the air; your vampire face insults God's image. In place of +the abject thing which you call love, and which I rightly spurned, you +offer hate? So much the better. As the more honest I accept it." + +"You have spoken your own sentence. A day will come when you shall sue +for mercy and find none!" + +"Never! Go!" + +With a frown and a superb motion of her matchless arm, Gabrielle +pointed at the door. In the excitement of indignation and defiance, +the marquise was more beautiful than ever. Pharamond fairly writhed in +his desire and his rage. She should be his--by force, if need be; but +his--his! And after that, to revenge this scorn, he would fling her in +the gutter to rot there! Stung to the quick--torn by ravening +passions, evil both--the abbé bowed mechanically, and, scowling, left +the room. + +If he had seen how swiftly she collapsed when the door closed, he +might have hoped again, for she was a fragile creature, borne up by +pride and a pure love that was beyond his sordid ken. + +"What will he do? What will he do?" she moaned, trembling, as she +crouched down upon a seat. "What hideous form will his revenge take? +Shall I implore the protection of my husband?" + +And then she reflected moodily about that said husband, as she +had at last learned to know him. Selfish and self-indulgent to the +core--heartless, too, or he could not survey his wife's sufferings +with such perfect equanimity. True, he knew little about her, and +troubled less. If he had not again dismissed her from his mind he +could not but perceive her suffering. He was infatuated by that +dreadful woman, and further beguiled astray by his insidious brother. +No help was to be expected from him, or, indeed, from any one. She had +boldly defied the abbé. Would she be given strength to fight? Alas, +alas! Did she not know too well that she was not made for fighting? +Where, then, to look for assistance? Rising, she slowly paced the +room, and thought Heaven was cruel. Why not have let her die? Sure +'tis a venial sin to put off what one cannot bear? We can feel for +ourselves with the instinct with which we are endowed, that the +burthen is too great. Heaven is busy with other things--too +indifferent to know or care what we poor pigmies feel. She paused in +her walk before a mirror and shook her head at the pale and drawn +reflexion. "Oh! fatal gift of beauty," she murmured, "which men +pretend to worship, swearing that 'tis a glimpse of paradise. It is a +devil's gift; for its province is to stir the foulest lees of the base +human soul and set them festering." + +What was she to do--what to expect? Perhaps he had already invented +and set going some new plan to torture her. Would she have done +better, being but a helpless, tempest-tossed sport of destiny, to have +surrendered, pleading her weakness and his strength? Had he not +touched on the cherubs, she might have given way for very weariness; +but they, as she had declared, were her buckler. They wist not of her, +nor cared, being transferred to other hands, and yet they stood 'twixt +her and the precipice. Then she fell a thinking of Victor and pretty +Camille. When they grew up they would seek their mother. Would they +not? If not, why live? Better--better far--to die. Yes: Heaven had +been cruel--very, very cruel! + +Suspecting nothing of the abbé's move, Mademoiselle Brunelle resolved +on that very self-same morning to operate on her own account. She made +her way boldly to the boudoir, and without knocking, entered. +Gabrielle started, and dried her eyes. The woman dared to invade her +sanctuary. For what purpose? In her highly-strung condition of +despairing nervousness, it seemed to Gabrielle that the governess +looked as wicked and as menacing as the abbé. + +In truth there was a sour curl about her lips that was not becoming. +The marquise, as white as a sheet, in tears? Crying her eyes out in +solitude--the whining idiot! That so weak and contemptible an obstacle +should be allowed to stand between herself and her ambition was +preposterous. Well, the victim should be given the wrench which should +impel her to retire from the scene. + +"I want to talk to you about affairs," Aglaé began. "Since you do not +ask me to sit, I will choose a chair myself." + +So saying, she subsided into the most inviting fauteuil and assumed a +pose of studied insolence. + +"I congratulate madame on her humility," observed the governess, in +her rolling bass, with a condescending headshake. "The Christian +virtues are rare, alas, just now in persons of your birth and +breeding." + +"To what do I owe this visit?" demanded the marquise, stretching her +hand towards the bell-rope. + +"Do not ring; you will regret it," returned the other. "For all our +sakes, I would not have you despised by the domestics, if I can help +it. You are so apathetic to the stirring history which is being made +under your very nose that I am compelled to enlighten your lamentably +darkened mind. It is quite on the cards that we may find it convenient +to leave Lorge until the storm that threatens is past. By the dear +marquis's wish I and the sweet children will accompany him into +temporary banishment, and it becomes necessary to know what madame +will do in that contingency. Of course she is a free agent to go +where she pleases, and the marquis is too good and generous not +to see that she is well provided for. It is best for madame to +know that her presence with us would, for various reasons, be +inconvenient--calculated, indeed, to produce scandal, which, for the +sake of monsieur and the little ones, madame will desire to avoid." + +What snake was there rustling beneath the leaves? + +"Is this an ambassage from the Marquis de Gange?" enquired Gabrielle. + +"His interests and mine have become identical," drawled mademoiselle, +"as madame is no doubt aware, and when I speak it is for both." + +"I will go to him myself!" exclaimed the outraged marquise with +trembling lips, "He should know that betwixt himself and his wife no +ambassador is needed." + +Aglaé raised her bushy brows and critically contemplating the aspen +figure before her, laughed. + +"How lamentable that madame should take no interest in what is +passing," she exclaimed. "She knows so little of her husband as to be +unaware that he has gone to Blois on business and will not return +until to-morrow." + +Could Clovis really have been base enough to confide such a mission as +this to the governess, running off meanwhile himself like a coward? +Was he bent on withering every leaf of her true love that still +struggled for existence? She could scarce believe it even now. + +"Madame had better listen and be calm," suggested Aglaé. "It is always +better to be calm." + +"Wherever they may go, my place is with my husband and my children," +the marquise replied with dignity. + +"Cannot madame perceive a troublesome _nuance_, which, in another +place, might make her position uncomfortable?" + +"Enough of this impertinence," returned the other, sternly. "You +forget that you are my servant, to be dismissed at pleasure. Speak +plainly and briefly, or I will have you ejected by the valets." + +"Impertinent, am I?" cried mademoiselle, losing her temper. "Since you +wish it, I will speak plainly. Here, within these gaunt grey walls, +what passes within concerns nobody without; but if we should have to +fly--which may or may not prove expedient--we shall be dwelling in a +public place, where others will criticise our acts. It will be said +that the Marquise de Gange is a mean-spirited creature to eat her +bread on sufferance at the table of a man who hates her, and of his +mistress who treats her with contumely. That is what will be said of +the pretty, empty-headed doll who was too stupid to hold her place as +the reigning belle of Paris. They will also say that she is bad, as +well as mean, to have abandoned her own offspring to the mistress to +mould according to her fancy. Madame will probably now perceive that +her presence with us anywhere except in the privacy of Lorge, will be +an abiding source of scandal." + +His mistress! The brazen wretch!--confessed--nay, gloried--in her +shame; and the unhappy wife had striven so hard to believe that there +was nothing but _camaraderie_ between them. + +"You wicked, wicked woman!" Gabrielle gasped, choking. "I have never +wittingly done you aught but kindness. You are a fiend." + +"A fiend!" echoed Aglaé, amused, stretching herself luxuriously with +loose limbs as the tigress does, while she proceeded. + +"Every female envelope contains an angel and a devil combating; which +gains the mastery depends upon the men, who, I regret to say, are +usually guided by the lowest motives. That is an elementary lesson +which I think I shall teach Camille. I shall teach the darling many +curious things before I've done with her." + +A hit--a palpable hit, which went straight to the quivering goal. It +was a fact that the future of the dear ones was in this monster's +keeping. She was as evil as the abbé. If it suited her she would not +scruple to sow in their white souls the seeds of vice. How appalling! +Forgetful always of herself, the mother had striven to be comforted +with the assurance that though she was thrust forth from Eden, those +she adored were well guarded. The woman's conduct, as far as concerned +the children, had been irreproachable: she had treated them with +affection; but knowing her now as she really was, Gabrielle could see +with a thrill of dismay that she was unencumbered by such scruples as +keep ordinary mortals in check; was governed by expediency alone. + +The marquise sat for awhile without movement, but her rival was not +slow to mark with satisfaction the exceeding pallor of her lips and +the horror in her distended eyes. That the sword-thrust had pierced +too deep escaped her ken: she failed to see that the whole being of +the victim had undergone so violent a convulsion as to produce quite a +different result from that which she expected. The courage she lacked +for her own succour could be aroused in behalf of others, whom she +loved better than herself. It was as by a miracle a naked and +defenceless combatant were of a sudden sheathed in armour. + +Aglaé sat waiting, fully aware that having made an effective point, +you should allow it to take effect. She waited, and beguiled the time +by considering what she would do when married. It would be pleasant to +play chatelaine for a month or so each year, even at gloomy Lorge, so +soon as the country should be quieted. The puling thing on the sofa +yonder was stricken under the fifth rib, would totter into a thicket +presently and perish, as was intended. What a cleverly imagined stroke +it had been to hint at the depraving of the prodigies--a stroke as of +a sledgehammer, to batter in the apology for brains vouchsafed to such +despicable objects. + +Gabrielle remained so long in apparent torpor, while the Medusan +horror on her face permanently hardened there, that the enemy waxed +impatient. It is indecent for the stricken stag to lie down where +shot. Decorum bids him conceal himself in the bracken--make a move of +some sort to veil his agonies. Gabrielle being too crushed to make a +motion must be stirred up with an eleemosynary stab. + +"We will come to an arrangement," mademoiselle suggested cheerfully, +"without troubling our dear marquis on the subject. Go away +somewhere--to some nice place which we will engage never to visit, and +I will promise never to teach anything naughty either to Victor or +Camille. Refuse, and--well--h-m!" + +"Oh! the wicked, wicked woman!" the marquise ejaculated, inwardly. +"There must be a hell somewhere for the punishing of such villanous +dastards." But in her new-born strength, the possession of which was +unaccountable and amazing, she found herself enabled to smile sadly, +and remark, without a tremor in her voice, "You will leave me now, if +you please, and give me time to think." + +That was reasonable, and desirable to boot. The more she thought, the +better would she comprehend that she was hemmed in, undone; that a +certain wherry was swinging on the tide, under which was a soft bed +preparing. + +"By all means," returned the enemy, with bonhomie. "Take time, my +dear; but you must not be too long deciding. A little friendly counsel +before I go: when _our_ Clovis comes back to-morrow--for, oddly +enough, he is for the present _ours_--better say nothing, you have +disgusted him enough already." + +With that she waved a light adieu, and ere long her bass voice was to +be heard in the corridor, accompanying the joyous treble of her +shouting charges engaged in a game of romps. + +What a day's experience--a day to sear the brain and blanch the hair +with silver. Gabrielle, her hands tight clasped behind her back, +strode up and down the long saloon deeply immersed in thought, quite +calm and self-possessed. The time for impulsive moaning and mad frenzy +was gone by. Drowsy reason stood upright and alert upon her throne. At +any cost of pain to herself or others duty must be done--the little +ones rescued from the ogress. Even the dear father must for their +sakes bear his share of the burthen. It was decreed. He must learn the +truth, which she had hoped would lie buried in her grave. Victor, +Camille; their blythe merriment in the corridor was an eloquent +sermon. Up to now--all thanks to Heaven for it--they were unsmirched +by aught of evil, their sky sunny and unclouded. Instinct told their +mother that the ogress, by some paradox, was capable of some measure +of wholesome affection, and would do them no injury unless it were +necessary to strike through them at her. The new fledged diplomate +must temporize--gain time. A power of dissimulation, to which hitherto +she had been a stranger, was developing itself in Gabrielle. The dear +father--he would be terribly concerned--would arrive posthaste, wreak +vengeance on those who had so nearly slain his child, bear away her +and his grandchildren to safety. + +Gabrielle locked herself in her bedroom, and wrote with feverish +energy. The pen flew over the sheets and covered them with close +writing that told a piteous tale. Toinon, who knew that in the absence +of my lord, both abbé and governess had been persecuting her mistress, +tried the door once or twice, and, receiving no response to her +knocks, grew so seriously alarmed, that she dashed off in search of +Jean Boulot, dreading some new catastrophe. Just as the latter +appeared with a hatchet in his grasp, and anxious lines upon his brow, +the door opened, and the chatelaine herself stood on the threshold +holding a letter. + +She was flushed with fever, but quite self-possessed. With a strange +smile she beckoned them both in, and again turned the key in the lock. + +"Something has happened, dear good friends, whom I can trust," she +explained, rapidly. "Something so terrible, that I cannot tell it you. +I am still scared and horrified, but Heaven permits me to retain my +senses. Jean, for love of me and mine, you will saddle your horse and +ride leisurely to Onzain, as though bent on ordinary business; and +there engage with the Maître de Poste to send this letter by special +courier. He must take no rest till he reaches Paris. Two precious +souls--three--depend on punctual obedience. I may trust you, Jean? Let +none suspect your mission." + +Honest Jean sank on one knee and pressed the hot hand of the +chatelaine to his lips with reverence. "My life is madame's," he said +simply, and went. + +"Embrace me, my Toinon," Gabrielle cried, falling on the neck of her +foster-sister in a paroxysm of hysterical weeping. "I have been for +years in a foolish day-dream. I am awake now to sleep no more." + +Toinon was mystified, but could gather that the terrible emotion of +the marquise relieved her pent feelings, and was as salutary as timely +bleeding to the apoplectic. After a brief space she grew better, and +could smile like a ghost of her old self. The die was cast. She would +be relieved of nightmare. Her affection for her husband was burned +quite away, and, as its ashes paled, her love for the little ones shot +up the purer. + + + + + CHAPTER XIV. + + CHECK. + + +Gabrielle learned to practise her new art so well that day followed +day in usual routine without suspicion being aroused of the bold thing +she had done. It occurred to none of the party that under the same +exterior she was another woman. She went her ways as before, +displaying, perhaps, an increased activity, visiting the distressed, +administering to the sick. Mademoiselle Brunelle was puzzled, and +watched her in idle surprise, marvelling that the squeeze, so +carefully calculated, should so signally have failed in its effect. +What a low mania the mawkish creature was displaying for dirty +wretches clad in rags! That thing a marquise! To crush one who was so +unworthy of her place would be quite a virtuous action, as virtue was +understood by Aglaé. The squeeze having proved insufficient for the +purpose, another must be applied. It was difficult to determine what +form the pressure was to take, since the lady was so craven and mean +spirited. Aglaé had declared to her face that the marquis was her +lover--which was not true; had spoken of corrupting little Camille, +whose mother, shocked for the moment, had, as it appeared, got used to +the abominable idea with singular rapidity. The ever-increasing scorn +of the governess was mingled now with disdain of a more positive kind +for the pusillanimity of the destined victim. + +The family councils had resulted in abdication of authority on the +part of Clovis, who loved his ease, and was only too glad to escape +from politics. How should he cope with two such clever heads as those +of Aglaé and Pharamond? The clever pair was in perfect accord as to +what should be done under given circumstances. The governess gently +lured him back to his accustomed pursuits and studies, and his +conscience ceased by degrees to pinch him. + +Unknown to each other, the private scheme of each of the conspirators +had miscarried, and both felt that the next move must be made with +exceeding caution. Hence they were to outward seeming extremely +friendly, whilst hating each other with a healthy loathing; making +believe to have all ideas in common, carefully concealing any desire +suddenly to depart from Lorge. + +By suggestion of the affinity, they had taken to breakfasting in the +study, where the morning sun shone in, a cosy party of four, in which +Gabrielle was not included. During the meal the abbé would discuss the +latest rumour with the lady at the head of the table in amicable +fashion, or join with her in arguing some point arising out of +Mesmer's letters. The sage was as dissatisfied as his pupil at the +nonappreciation of his discovery. For the miraculous cure of the +baron's sciatic nerve had found no favour with the peasantry of +Touraine, who vowed it was a perilous thing to allow the devil to +tamper with scourges sent from Heaven. That party requires little +encouragement, as all the world knows, and that it was he who had +worked the cure was evident, since the musicians, ere they ran away, +had counted the hairs in his tail. Could there be any doubt that +without witchcraft or direct aid from the evil one, no tubful of +bottles could affect a gentleman's rheumatism? If there had been a +sprinkling of holy water by the good priest, as Madame la Baronne had +piously wished, it would have been quite another affair. But iron +filings and a violoncello! had not the curé preached on the very next +Sunday on the subject of Satanic miracles? + +Clovis was heartily disgusted with the crassness of the bucolic +ignorance and the pig-headedness of its obstinacy, and gave a willing +ear to Aglaé's secret hints that it might be well, some of these days, +to transplant the magic tub to some more enlightened centre. + +She was always right--clear-headed, far-seeing Aglaé! He understood +now that the suggestion which had affrighted him on the night of the +attempted suicide had merely been an ebullition of overboiling zeal. +She, had felt a genuine interest in him; had perceived that the +marquise was no fitting helpmeet for a _savant_, and had been unable +to conceal regret that he should not have been freed from a weight +which clogged his scientific usefulness. Over-zeal, as Richelieu +remarked, is productive of more harm than good, but it should be +treated with indulgence in that it springs from laudable intentions. +It was wrong to have said that the chatelaine should have been left to +drown. But in his heart of hearts, Clovis began to confess to himself +that the caresses of the patient during convalescence had been +well-nigh unbearable, and that if Heaven thought well to take her in a +natural way, it would be a relief rather than otherwise. + +The even tenour of _déjeuner_ was disturbed one morning by the +announcement that a travelling berline was coming up the road, and +that an old gentleman was looking from its window. A travelling +berline, covered thick with dust, too! Not a neighbour, then. Who +could it be that presumed to invade their monastic privacy? A +messenger from Paris, perhaps. Had something awful happened? The abbé +and the governess glanced at each other suspiciously, the same +unspoken thought occurring to both. Was the crisis come before they +were prepared? If so, the idea of ousting the other one must be +abandoned, and a yet closer alliance formed. + +"Monsieur Galland," announced a servant. None of those present had +ever heard the name. Who was he? Whence and from whom had he come? + +The gentleman entered, and bowed gravely to the company. A spare, tall +old man, who, despite the march of fashion, wore his hair curled and +powdered. He was clad in plain black cloth, with woollen stockings and +black buckles. A most respectable person, evidently. Would he be good +enough to state his business? He took a chair, accepted a cup of +coffee, and, fixing his eyes on the portly Aglaé, in what she +considered an offensive and marked manner, explained that he was a +solicitor. A solicitor? There was no law suit pending that anyone was +aware. What? The confidential man of business of Monsieur le Maréchal +de Brèze, who was, unfortunately, ill in bed. The grave Gentleman +trusted that the maréchal's daughter was not also indisposed. To his +regret he perceived that she was absent from the morning meal of the +family. + +Again Pharamond and Aglaé glanced at each other. What could the old +man have to say which could not be communicated by letter? + +Clovis blushed, and looked for assistance to the abbé. It came upon +him suddenly that what had grown to be quite natural to him, would be +rather difficult to explain to a stranger. + +"Madame la Marquise is an angel of charity," demurely remarked the +abbé, "who repudiates the innocent comforts of this life to give the +more time to others. She grudges the hour we waste in dallying, and +prefers to breakfast alone." + +"We all know that madame is an angel," agreed the grave stranger; +"much too good for this world." + +The company looked one at another in growing uneasiness. There was +something unpleasant coming. It was odd that the announcement of +Gabrielle's being an angel should make them all feel guilty. The +chevalier sighed and wheezed. Clovis's colour deepened. The abbé +drummed his fingers on the cloth, annoyed. The governess scrutinised +the stranger with lowering brow, for instinct whispered that something +had been kept back from her, and that it was on her account he had +come. + +"Will monsieur kindly explain his business?" enquired the abbé, with +his sweetest smile. "Of course, any emissary from one who has all our +respect and affection is most welcome at his chateau of Lorge. Yet we +cannot expect that our poor attractions should lure anyone to so quiet +a retreat." + +"His chateau of Lorge?" thought the governess, surprised. "Surely it +belongs to the marquis?" + +"I hope M. de Brèze is not seriously ill?" asked Clovis, with an +effort. It was incumbent on him to say something. + +"Too indisposed, unfortunately, to travel, even on important business. +You are aware that Madame la Marquise has made a communication to her +father?" + +If a cannon ball had dropped through the ceiling, the company could +not have looked more startled. The solicitor smiled, and then grew +graver than before. There was consternation on every face. The +position of the marquise was evidently more serious even than she had +said. The letter had been sent clandestinely, or it would have been +suppressed. + +"The communication was a sad blow to the maréchal," the solicitor +continued quietly, "and increased the fever under which he suffered. +Nevertheless, he would be here himself had not the doctors and Madame +la Maréchale almost employed force. It is as well that the marquise +should happen to be absent, for it makes my task the easier. Plainly, +marquis, M. de Brèze demands the instant dismissal of a person in your +employ who has seriously offended his daughter." + +Aglaé's massive jaw dropped in dumb amazement, while the abbé shot at +her a covert glance of white hot malevolence. She had been up to some +nefarious prank on her own account, unknown to him: had spoiled his +game as well as her own. His frail fingers writhed like adders under +the table. How he would have liked to strangle her. + +"I--offend madame?" faltered the governess, dumbfoundered. + +The ground was slipping from beneath her. By what right could the old +gentleman in Paris send so peremptory a demand to his son-in-law? The +sly minx was not so mean-spirited after all. Who could have supposed +her capable of turning the tables, by secretly sending for her father? +Aglaé looked at the marquis, whose face was dark as a thundercloud. +Gaining courage from a certainty of his support, she added, toying +carelessly with a coffee-spoon-- + +"I have always done my duty by madame's children, whom she never +looked after herself. I was engaged by M. le Marquis, who has +expressed himself satisfied with my efforts." + +"Do I understand that mademoiselle declines to go?" enquired the +solicitor. "M. le Marquis is strangely silent. Shall I, to my infinite +regret, be compelled to carry out my instructions in full?" + +The stranger dared to threaten the Marquis de Gange! + +Mademoiselle Brunelle glanced furtively at the abbé, who glared at +her. She was bewildered, possessing no key to the puzzle. + +"My instructions are," pursued the solicitor, "to see the dismissed +person off the premises, within two hours. In the event of her +refusing to go, M. le Marquis is to be informed, that I am to remove +Madame la Marquise at once, and that, if she is detained it will be +the painful duty of the Maréchal de Brèze to prosecute certain +individuals, whom I need not designate, for conspiracy and cruelty. +The officers of law at Blois have their instructions. If the dismissed +person does not present herself there within a given time to receive +her wages, or if I do not arrive in the company of Madame la Marquise, +the officers will come here and demand admittance to the premises +belonging to the maréchal. I am glad to be informed that madame is +universally beloved. A whisper that she received cruel treatment would +rouse the province, and this I need scarcely observe, is not the +moment for a collision with the _tiers état_." + +Excellently planned. The abbé, a good critic of such matters, was +filled with appreciative admiration, although he was to be one of the +sufferers. Aglaé had been guilty of some prodigious blunder for which +she was to be justly punished. That was well, for in acting +independently of him, she had broken a solemn promise. He also, he +admitted inwardly, had not displayed his usual astuteness. Doubtless +her intense horror of him had helped to goad the victim to that which +he had falsely judged she would never do. Then a sense that she had +shaken herself free of him, aroused a new access of impotent fury in +his breast. She had defied his hate as well as his love, and he +shivered with malignant spite at the idea, that by claiming her +father's protection she had baffled him. + +Clovis felt more angry than ever in his life before. It was a +revelation of an unpleasant kind to find himself in leading strings; +the state of dependence of which the abbé hinted long ago, to be +ordered like a lacquey, to be threatened and browbeaten in the +presence of others--he, Marquis de Gange, above all, under the eyes of +the affinity, and to be powerless to return blow for blow. To be so +degraded and humiliated, and at the instance of his own wife! It was +some moments ere he could control the whirlwind of emotions +sufficiently to command his voice. + +"Am I to gather," he at length said, huskily, "that Madame la Marquise +requires a separation? I am surprised, for she has never spoken on the +subject. What if I refuse, and claim my marital rights?" + +"It is always such angels as she," the solicitor observed sternly, +"who are doomed to earthly martyrdom at the hands of wicked men. Your +rights! And what of hers? You have compelled her to dwell under one +roof with a designing wanton. You have deprived her of access to her +children. After that mere neglect may count for nothing. I am sorry to +say that all madame demands is the dismissal of that woman, free +access to the children, and a show of respect from you. So much being +conceded, bygones are to be bygones. Her terms refused, she will leave +your roof, her father will withdraw supplies from you, and give you +notice to quit his property." + +Then the money was the old man's, and not the marquis's. Aglaé hated +everybody, herself included, at thought of how she had been duped. + +"I will go when you will," she said, preparing to withdraw, with a +whimsical attempt to don a martyr's chaplet. "I thank the marquis for +his many kindnesses. May I have a moment to embrace the cherubs? I am +glad to think that they will miss me more than anyone. As for madame, +I can only pity her delusions, knowing that she will be sorry some day +when she comes to know me better." + +At this juncture the door opened, and Gabrielle entered in her riding +habit, pale but composed. Without noticing the others, she advanced +quickly to the new-comer and held forth her hand. + +"Dear M. Galland," she said. "My father!----" + +"Was sorely troubled by what you wrote to him." + +"I feared it," she replied dejectedly. "But there were reasons." + +"Reasons!" cried the old gentleman with warmth. "I can read the +reasons in your saddened face. I am sorry to be unable to congratulate +madame upon her blooming looks. She was wrong not to have spoken +sooner." + +"I could not," pleaded Gabrielle. "It takes long for a loyal love to +smoulder out of life. I could have borne all, if she there had not +threatened to instil poison into a child's mind. Just think of it! My +God! How monstrous!" + +"She never did that," Clovis put in hotly. "Never, never! You may see +the children yourself, sir, and question them. Such a calumny is +atrocious!" + +"Thanks! Oh--thanks for that!" murmured the deep tones of +mademoiselle, as with theatrical gesture she hastily knelt and kissed +his hand. "When I have been chased away, it will be a comfort to +remember that I never lost your confidence." + +"In this affair, I play a pretty part!" exclaimed the marquis, +bitterly. + +"Between us," Gabrielle said mournfully, gazing at her husband's +averted back as he crouched in his fauteuil, "all is over. We are +hopelessly divided. And yet, take comfort. In years to come, maybe, +when Victor and Camille are man and woman, we may be joined again by +them. Mademoiselle, I wish no harm to you--only that after this day we +may never come face to face." + +Unaccustomed tears stood on the seamed cheeks of M. Galland. It was +well that fiery old de Brèze had not arrived in person. The visage of +the white chatelaine told such a tale that bloodshed might have ensued +which all would have deplored. The interview was painful, and it +behoved him to cut it short. + +"If the person intends to obey orders," the solicitor said curtly, +looking at his watch, "she had better waste no time. Such clothes as +she cannot pack quickly will be sent after her. I have messages from +your father, marquise, that must not be delivered here. Might I ask +the favour of being conducted to the nursery, that I may make faithful +reports to my employer?" + +Aglaé bit her lips. This was a cunning stroke to present a theatrical +display, _à la Medea_. Gabrielle consented gratefully, and led the +way, leaving the marquis tingling with humbled vanity, and a +reawakened remorse that would not be quieted. + +His face was buried in his hands, and he was too absorbed in the +contemplation of his own outraged self to attend to the woes of +others. + +Aglaé sidled up to the abbé timidly. Her usual masterful confidence +had melted into air. + +"Is there no hope?" she whispered. + +"None!" was the blunt rejoinder. "You must submit to instant +banishment, which serves you right. So it was you who, by your +besotted folly drove her to this? I hope you will die in penury. +Idiot! Not to know that the vilest animal will turn if threatened in +its offspring." + +Of course, the abbé was just the man to jump upon the fallen! Was it +her fault that she had been kept in the dark with regard to +circumstances, which, if known, would have changed her tactics? All +was not lost. It was but a temporary defeat such as the most skilful +generals must submit to sometimes. It would not do to quarrel openly +with the abbé, though, in her trouble he was behaving like a brute. +Therefore, while wreathing her face in smiles, she registered an +inward vow to remember, and be bitterly revenged some day. + +"_Sans rancune!_" she said lightly, holding out her large brown hand. +"You are not merciful, but I forgive you: am I not admirably generous? +You think I am cast out for ever. A grievous mistake; so we had best +still be friends. Look at him. He is chafing now, wincing under the +whip thong. In the distractions of the capital he might forget me. +Here he will miss me and be sorry." + +It was likely that in that much she was right. The house of cards had +been kicked over by her clumsy foot, and must be recommenced from the +foundations. Who could foretell what the stormy future might bring +forth? It was politic to keep on civil terms with one who might yet +prove formidable--or useful. + +The chevalier, who could read things hazily, as in the dark with a +horn lantern, wondered why his brother was so civil to the routed one. +He led her to the carriage with a ceremony suited to an archduchess, +and stood under the archway where the portcullis used to hang, airily +kissing his finger-tips till the berline was out of sight. + + + + + CHAPTER XV. + + THE SITUATION CHANGES. + + +Gabrielle's injunctions to Monsieur Galland were concise. The maréchal +must not be told too much. The good solicitor must keep to himself her +worn and haggard aspect. Nor must he relate aught of the eloquent +meeting between the mother and her dear ones. The children looked on +her with a vague alarm as on one of whom they had learned to be +suspicious from hearing unpleasant things. He had been obliged to wipe +away another tear--it was a wonder that there remained so much liquid +in one so dry and shrunken--ere he stole from the room on tiptoe, +leaving the yearning heart to recover its lost sway. + +And now began for Madame de Gange a lull of peace, and as her troubled +soul regained its equilibrium she marvelled that she should have been +patient for so long. The dear father's mandate had been a wand of +harlequin transforming with a touch the Cave of the Black Gnome into +the Calm Retreat of the Serene Spirit. For several months nothing +occurred that was of import to the recluses. By a seeming paradox, the +remnants of the affection she had once borne her husband being +destroyed, she found that she could get on better with him. There were +no more throes of jealousy, no irritating scenes, no midnight weepings +with the morning reproach of swollen eyelids--simply because she had +renounced a desire for the moon, as he had so often wished she might. +That he should shut himself up in his study and pore over the secrets +of science, avoiding his better half, was no longer a cause for grief; +she cared no more how this time was passed. Had she not got back the +stolen treasures in whose interest alone she prayed for a span of +life? For many weary months she had been bereaved, and it was an +intense delight--a dazzling peep into heaven--to have them once again +all to herself with no shadow to fall between. What a joy to mark how +the minds of Victor and Camille had expanded in the interval; how the +young plants had shot up, putting out fresh leaves of tender green and +fragrant blossoms of rich intelligence. The mother thanked God that, +search as anxiously as she might, she could find no trace of evil in +the children's minds. The singular specimen of womanhood, who happily +was gone for ever, had been a real mother to them, had tended them as +if they were her own, had packed in the little heads a store of +information that to Gabrielle was a source of awe. A very curious +mixture was Mademoiselle Brunelle. What she had herself remarked as to +the conflicting elements in the female bosom was more true than the +conclusion which followed. Whether the angel or the devil obtains +mastery does not always depend upon a man. In this case it depended on +a woman--Gabrielle. If she had been drowned, Aglaé would, no doubt, +have been a model stepmother, and have done everything in her power +for the advantage of the young ones. It was her hatred of the +chatelaine, due to the misreading of her character, that had put the +thought into her head of hurting them in order to inflict pain on her. +Perhaps, it was no more than an idle threat to instil terror. When the +moment came she would perchance have held her hand and spared them. +Perhaps too rough a contact with the sharp edges of the jagged world +in early life had warped a nature that was intended to be genial. As +she considered these things the forgiving Gabrielle freely pardoned +her tormentor for the many stabs she had inflicted. Fear and horror +gave place to holy pity, and she resolved to use her influence to +procure for her another situation. With suitable surroundings she +might succeed in banishing the devil. Those surroundings she had not +found at Lorge. That short volume of its sinister history was closed, +and must never be re-opened. Whatever else might happen Mademoiselle +Aglaé Brunelle must never revisit Lorge. + +The magic wand of the old maréchal had even produced an effect upon +the abbé. Either he had been frightened into good behaviour, or he had +been induced to smother his unholy passion and forego his campaign of +menaces. A few days after Aglaé's defeat, during which time he had +been ostentatiously humble and obliging, he paid another visit to the +chatelaine in her boudoir. For a moment she held her breath. Was the +persecution to recommence? As he had never threatened harm to the dear +ones, she had spared him in her letter to her father. Must she again +cause him sorrow by seeking protection against her husband's brother? + +No; heaven was very merciful, and had quite withdrawn its galling +hand. The abbé presented himself before her in a new light. His sweet +voice was pitched in its most melodious key. His intellectual visage +was scored with furrows of anxiety and contrition. He frankly +confessed his sins, and humbly craved forgiveness, while tears poured +down his cheeks. + +"I was mad--driven quite out of myself by your marvellous beauty, +Gabrielle," he murmured, in broken accents. "Believe me if you can, +after the past, that I am not altogether bad. Forgiveness is a divine +attribute which will well become your angelic nature. Like him from +whom the unclean spirit was cast, I no longer shriek, and howl, and +tear my flesh, but am subdued, clothed, and in my right mind again. I +look upon my other self with horror, and praise God for the miracle +whereby I am saved. Pardon, Gabrielle; without it I shall never know +another instant's peace." + +The marquise was much moved by the appeal. She had liked the man and +enjoyed his society until, as he explained, he had gone mad. Who was +she, who had erred in so many things--had even been so wicked as to +try to take her life--that she should punish one who repented? + +He had muttered something about going away, removing from her path his +execrated presence; had even said with thrilling sadness that he +firmly purposed to seek the cloister, and commence a life of penance. +She, too, had once thought of the cloister. Indeed, it was upon that +hint that Pharamond was acting now; for, alas, alas, the astute one +was but playing a new rôle, preparing new foundations for his tumbled +house of cards. + +It is grievous for the historian to relate that this brilliant son of +the Church was altogether heartless. He, who could prate so prettily +about forgiveness, had not a grain of pity in his composition. Can a +man love and hate at the same time? he had asked himself. No; but he +had mistaken a vile grovelling feeling born of ignoble sensuality for +love, and that feeling could run in harness in perfect accord side by +side with hatred. His beautiful sister-in-law had flouted him, had +foiled him, had, with sublime disdain, flung his threats in his face. +She had plainly shown him how high above his foul and leprous baseness +soared her own simple purity. We may be aware that we are grovelling +and vile, and deserve to be held up to the contempt of our fellows in +our native ugliness. We may know this, and may endure the knowledge +with equanimity, even cynically enjoy and relish it; but to have our +vileness tossed in our face by another is quite another thing. The +abbé was not one to be baffled and submit to the beating calmly. He +was more than ever steadfastly resolved some day to conquer; and being +endowed with indomitable patience, washed the slate with plodding care +in order to commence afresh. + +As his craft had calculated, the marquise was too simple in her +goodness and too generous to bear malice. With feelings of intense +gratitude that the stony path should grow so smooth, she forgave the +suppliant freely, and even gently jested as to the proposed retreat. +No, no; he must wear his hair shirt at Gange, she said, and having +been granted full absolution, must, together with her, obliterate the +past. She explained that it was her intention to have masters from +Blois, frankly confessing that the education of the dear ones had +soared far beyond her reach. "They shall come twice a week," the +marquise explained, "and I will take lessons also. It will be +delightful for us all to help each other and prepare our various tasks +during the other days. You, Pharamond," she added cheerily, bent on +helping him to forget, "may be of the greatest service to us, for you +are clever and learned in books. You shall hold the post of assistant +usher and explain what we cannot understand. Leave us? Never! What +would Clovis do without you? I am afraid that you will have to study +Mesmer's doctrines, so that he may not miss that woman. I am resolved +that if it is essential to provide for him an affinity, that +mysterious object, in the future, shall be of the other sex." + +The new foundations were progressing prosperously. Pharamond had never +contemplated abandoning the flesh-pots. Since the plan of an elopement +with the heiress was doomed to failure through the interference of the +dictatorial old maréchal, they must all be content to stop where they +were, and, for the time being, dwell together. There was a lull in the +political situation, so emigration might not prove necessary. Within +the boundaries of France there was no safer refuge than Touraine. +Rustic effervescence was subsiding. News arrived from time to time of +massacres and burnings, but these were chiefly in the south, in +districts surrounding cities. + +With grateful reverence and many eloquent protestations, the abbé +received the olive branch and set himself with alacrity to show how +exceedingly clean he was washed. He impressed on Victor and Camille +the angelic attributes of their mamma, strained every nerve to tighten +the bonds that had grown slack, laid stress on the fact that though +the beloved governess was, of course, one of the best of women, it was +necessary for their sakes to provide teachers more advanced than she. +The best side of the mercurial gentleman quite glittered with snowy +rectitude, and mother and children were agreed that no one could do +without the abbé. + +A thorn in the flesh was the chevalier. A man who, too thirsty, +babbles in his cups, is provoking; but when he becomes maudlin and is +scarcely ever sober, he is a grievous trial to his comrades. Having +turned over the new leaf it was exasperating to Pharamond to be +constantly reminded of the old one at inconvenient seasons by a +hiccuping sot; to be implored between vinous sobs "to make her happy." +It was urgently necessary to take poor shaky Phebus in tow and treat +him with strict severity. Once or twice, in disgust, he thought of +getting rid of the sodden creature, and even mentioned the subject to +Clovis. But the latter would not hear of his banishment. + +"Where should we send him to alone?" he asked. "He would get into +trouble and disgrace us. It was you who saddled us with him, so you +must help us to bear the burthen." + +The abbé gave up the point without further discussion, for in dealing +with the weak it is wise to let them have their way in small matters +in order to get your own in large ones. Moreover, if kept under +surveillance, Phebus might be improved, and it is not well to throw +wilfully aside a man, however helpless, over whom we have obtained +complete ascendency. + +Matters being arranged to his satisfaction so far, the astute and busy +one bestirred himself about the marquis. Now that she was gone, Clovis +had cause every hour, as she had foreseen, to regret Aglaé. Who so +ingenious as she in disentangling knotty problems; who so clear of +head in deciphering a theorem? Without her help, what was the use of +the tub, or its precious contents? The evenings were interminable to +him without his favourite music. The blessed violoncello reposed now +in its box, for grunting on it all alone brought melancholy instead of +solace to the musician. Before the cannon ball fell, neophyte and +affinity had been concerting plans for removing the tub from a +benighted neighbourhood to some more congenial sphere. Its blessings +were wasted on rustic swine. Clovis longed to escape from the scene of +his humiliation; burned to turn his back on Lorge; but there was a new +and galling dread within, which kept him tongue-tied: a fear, that if +he took too much upon himself the douche of an evil precedent would be +turned on again; that the odious old rascal in Paris would warn him to +obey his wife. + +If you are ill-advised enough to espouse an heiress, you are pretty +sure, sooner or later, to have her money flung in your face. Gabrielle +had been so full of delicate tact with regard to the dangerous point, +that Clovis had never been troubled about it until urgency had +impelled de Brèze to twist the screw, and under the wrench he +continued to wince and writhe. Calm and dreamy as he was, he had never +overtly done anything to vex his wife--had drifted, and then been +towed into troubled waters, whose turbidness, now that attention was +called to them, was a matter for surprise. He had struggled in his +feeble way with conscience, and, the governess assisting, had +succeeded in lulling it to rest; and it was very distressing to his +vanity that the sleeper should be so roughly wakened. Is it not always +humiliating to be treated like a peccant school-boy? + +I regret to state that the abbé, when in conference with the marquis, +adroitly added to the chafing, by covert scratches and the insertion +of little pins. "To a man of spirit," he would remark, deprecatingly, +"it is painful to be led by the nose; none the less so, when the +holder of the tongs happens to be the one whose duty is obedience." On +such occasions, Clovis would turn to his brother with puzzled +wrinklings of the brow that were piteous and yet ludicrous. "What am I +to do?" he would groan. "The situation, as you say, is horrible; but I +don't see a way out of the difficulty." Then the abbé would tap his +shoulder and murmur, sighing, "Poor fellow. I pity you with all my +being, but for all our sakes must exhort you to be civil to madame. +Her wish is law to her papa. If she chose to ask the old scamp to +eject us into the road, what else could we do but go?" + +Thus it will be seen that Gabrielle's sanguine expressions of +gratitude were somewhat premature. The disease of an importunate love +for her spouse had submitted to surgical treatment, which was an +advantageous change for both; but she guessed nothing of the Nessus +shirt, that under the fine linen excoriated the tender skin of the +lymphatic sensualist, or dreamed of the effect on his tissues of the +abbé's little pins. + +Affairs stood thus, when the marquis's _bête noire_ appeared again to +stir the wound in his vanity which never ceased to fester. Actually, +under the spring sunshine, the dusty berline was again visible, +crawling down the road with its load of dust, and M. Galland peering +from the window. Clovis shot at his wife a look of angry suspicion, +but did not fail to mark by her face, that this time the apparition +was unexpected. He could see plainly that if there was to be another +screw turn, it was not at her instance or suggestion. So much was +evident, and the hot and hasty words which rose died upon his lips. +The old rascal had determined to do something disagreeable on his own +account. What? + +M. Galland, sphynx-like as usual, bowed to the assembled company with +respectful deference; but the marquise turned faint, foreboding some +fresh sorrow. The calm eyes of the solicitor rested on her with deep +compassion; for she was looking so much better, that it was a grievous +thing to be bearer of evil tidings. For fear of distressing his +idolized child, the maréchal had strictly forbidden her mother to +alarm her in the weekly bulletins. She was not informed that the old +gentleman's malady had grown on him, that he grew worse instead of +better, and it came now upon her like an avalanche, that she would +never see him more. + +The Maréchal de Brèze was dead; had died blessing his daughter. It was +necessary for his heiress to proceed instantly to Paris, to comfort +her distracted mother and attend to business of import. + +The irruption of the new cannon ball affected the party of listeners +differently. Gabrielle, overwhelmed with grief, retired to pray in her +chamber. Oh! Why had she not been more patient--more brave--less +selfish! She had inflicted her own troubles on the good father when he +was sick, perchance had been the innocent cause of precipitating his +demise. Why not have continued the loving deceit, whereby she had +veiled her wounds so long from him? + +That wicked woman had only played upon her terrors, she was now +convinced of it; would never have carried out her threats. Now that it +was too late, Gabrielle perceived with abortive beatings of the breast +and idle wringings of the hands, that she had acted wrongly. By +playing the craven, she had killed her father! Had she been possessed +of a grain of independent courage, instead of seeking succour from +without, she would have marched like a steadfast heroine straight into +her husband's presence--have detailed her grievances and claimed her +rights, and with her own bow and spear, have driven the enemy away. +Alas! She was made to cling and not to fight. In her desolation she +prayed long and earnestly ere tears came to her relief. Vainly Toinon +upbraided her, declaring that such thoughts were morbid, whilst +hastily packing for the journey. + +To Clovis, the unexpected news brought ineffable relief. Just as he +had learnt to believe himself saddled with a demon, who would be +constantly driving spurs into his flanks. Lo! The incubus vanished +into air! The old rascal could no longer threaten. His hand was +stilled. His voice was dumb for ever. From that quarter there would be +no more humiliation; he would not be bidden to obey his wife. + +The abbé was so taken aback, that his nimble mind wandered in a maze +of possibilities, ere it settled down seriously to consider the +effects of the change. The protector of the marquise was gone--her +only protector--for Madame la Maréchale was a colourless, somewhat +weak-minded lady, who need not be considered at all. The newly-laid +foundations of the house of cards were just what they should be, but +as circumstances alter cases, new plans must be drawn for the +structure. How true is it that the unexpected is always happening to +disarrange the most elaborate schemes. The first thing was to go to +Paris, there to learn what dispositions had been made by the deceased +as to his property. It was highly improbable that the marshal should +have placed confidence in his unpractical consort. Was everything left +to Gabrielle? Probably. The abbé was content with his survey. By the +death of de Brèze, the situation was totally altered. He, Pharamond, +must by skilful management, lead the marquise to lean more and more on +him. Influence must be exerted, too, over the marquis, who in sudden +freedom from irksome restraint might be impelled to do something +imprudent. Yes, the horizon was rosy--clouds of difficulty were +rolling away. Holding in his supple fingers both the husband and the +wife, and exercising due dominion over the bibulous chevalier, it +would be curious if, by and by, the abbé did not attain his ends. + + + + + CHAPTER XVI. + + THE ABBÉ IS TERRIBLY PERPLEXED. + + +Further surprises of a bewildering kind awaited our abbé in the +capital, which blurred the growing clearness of his sky. The temporary +tranquillity of Touraine had deceived him, for events had been passing +in other parts of France of gravest import, of which hitherto he was +unaware. The scum of the earth had in the general upheaval risen, as +he feared, to the surface, and emitted nauseous savours. + +Names new to him were in every mouth, and, the last doubts swept away, +he saw with concern for his own safety that the ship of state, guided +by such agitators as he saw around, was predestined to disaster. Urged +by curiosity, he attended the meetings of new-fangled clubs, and was +amazed at the language used there--words which a couple of years ago +would have jeopardized the heads of the speakers. He read the _Ami du +Peuple_, a popular journal edited by one, Marat, which openly +advocated regicide; and became acquainted with a forbidding person of +greenish complexion and smooth aspect whom men called Robespierre. +Were these ever to obtain mastery in the confusion, there were dark +days in store for France, much tribulation for scions of nobility. +Their majesties were still residing at the Tuileries, but how draggled +was the royal ermine! The queen dared not to look out of a window for +fear of insult. Stepping, on one occasion, into an inner court to +breathe some air, the soldier on guard shook his fist at her and +courteously declared how pleased he would be to have her head upon his +bayonet. Anarchy and crime marched hand in hand, no longer keeping in +the shadow; and the worst of all was that the movement Pharamond had +been watching showed signs--as by this time the blindest of moles +might perceive--of being no transient one, which interference from +without might quell. A mighty nation had risen in its strength to +protest against intolerable abuses, and so many villains and madmen +had risen in wild crusade against things established, that no wonder +it lost its senses. True, a good proportion of villains and madmen had +already gone under in the conflict, having devoured each other +piecemeal; but as these disappeared others, every bit as vile, arose +to fill their places. + +The long threatened collision with other nations was by this time a +fact. The country was formally declared to be in danger. All the +remaining property of those who had fled was seized in obedience to an +edict promulgated some time since, to defray the expenses of the +conflict. + +The first act, and one of marked significance, dictated to the abbé by +caution, was a change of garb, for in April, when religious +communities were suppressed, the wearing of ecclesiastical costumes +was prohibited. When religion topples, chaos shows its face. + +Seeing what he saw on all sides, Pharamond might well be anxious, and +look forward with interest to the reading of de Brèze's will. Within +its parchment folds lay the key of the future, for upon the conditions +expressed in the document hung the fortune of the party, and he could +not but feel serious misgivings with regard to inconvenient +stipulations. He had been wrong in supposing that the storm could be +weathered at Lorge; of that all he beheld in Paris spoke with +eloquence. Sooner or later, every noble in the land would be compelled +to emigrate, or gravely risk his life. It was merely a question of how +much the sooner or the later their party must join the exodus. + +It was a fortunate thing that de Brèze long ago should have deposited +the bulk of the money bags in Necker's bank at Geneva. The Chateau of +Lorge must be left to its fate. It really mattered little, since when +provided with means, palaces will spring up at our bidding on eligible +spots. It was essential to learn without delay whether he had left his +fortune to the marquise absolutely, or vested it, under care of +trustees, for her benefit. In the latter case she was safe, for it +would be necessary to be civil to her always, which would be +fatiguing; in the former, she must be cajoled to leave the country +with the brothers, for some quiet place, where she could be skilfully +moulded to their wishes. But what if, for some whimsy, she refused, or +if there were special stipulations which would interfere with a +flitting? After that artful trick of the clandestine letter there was +no trusting her apparent openness. Well, well, there was no use in +idle speculation. It was a most lucky circumstance, in any case, that +her only protector should be dead. + +M. Galland read the will to the brothers in the absence of the +heiress, for she was too much overcome by her loss to care about the +provisions of the testament; and Clovis raged inwardly the while, for +the solicitor had a dubious way of glancing from one to the other of +the three, which could hardly be called respectful. The effect of the +reading on the auditors was curiously different. The chevalier blinked +and smiled, as if he scarcely understood; the abbé, not displeased, +nodded politely from time to time, and purred out his satisfaction; +Clovis had much ado to conceal his disappointment. + +The property was left to the marquise absolutely, the will being a new +one, signed a few hours before death. It was worded with extreme care, +so that the entire inheritance should be at her own disposal, out of +reach of Clovis as of others. This to clever Pharamond seemed a small +matter, for had not the lady shown in the past that she was +indifferent to dross, and would it not be an amusing bit of diplomacy +to direct her as to its disposal? There were no vexatious +stipulations: so far, well; and the nimble mind of the abbé began +straightway to erect new card-castles for the housing of the coveted +money bags. Clovis was exasperated, which was a good point that might +be played on with advantage later. It was evident that his vanity was +touched on the raw, for, filled as he was with deep resentment, it +smouldered all the more fiercely in that he was ashamed to show it. + +Was his spouse to nip his nose with the tongs for the rest of his +natural life? Was he to be an obedient serf who could not touch a +stiver without her express consent? At the time of his marriage he was +not troubled on the subject, because the money being the maréchal's it +was necessary, for the time being, to submit to his crotchety but not +illiberal ways. But now that he was dead? The husband was to bend +beneath the yoke, to be under the thumb of this wife of his, who had +shown recently that she could assert herself, and who would, of +course, now that she knew her power and disliked her spouse, use it to +oppress and injure him. + +As the trio walked home from M. Galland's office, the usually dreamy +marquis was roused to a pitch of ire which Pharamond fanned into a +flame. + +"My poor fellow," he said, "I bleed for you, but we must make the best +of a bad job. Be civil to her, always civil, and she will let you dip +into her purse." + +"Let me, indeed!" growled Clovis, in dudgeon. + +This was just where the tongs pinched most painfully. His olfactory +organ still tingled with the tweaking which it received in the matter +of the affinity's expulsion, and now he was exhorted to sit down +meekly and extend his nose to the torturer. + +"I suppose," he cried, in his vexation, "that each time I require a +new pair of breeches I must beg her, on my bare knees, to sign the +order." + +Splendid! The abbé was delighted, for this was quite the mental +condition in which he wished to see his brother. If the fortune had +been left in the hands of the husband, as would have been proper, the +tactics of the astute one would have been mapped out with simple +clearness. He would have exerted his power over the marquis to obtain +his share of the spoil. But with one to whom intrigue was as the +breath of life, so humdrum a way of settling business could not find +favour. If we would break up a bundle of sticks, we untie the string +that binds them and operate separately upon each. Was it not possible +finally to stop personal communication between the husband and the +wife, and establish himself as go-between, availing himself of +opportunities? The further he kept them apart the greater his own +influence would be, and, as things were, it might soon be of the +greatest importance to establish a firm authority. To this end, +therefore, he patted his fuming brother on the shoulder with +affectionate familiarity. + +"Come, come!" he laughed. "It is only silly children who quarrel with +their bread and butter. The proceedings of the maréchal were malignant +and preposterous. Curb your feelings, and bury your chagrin deep down, +and never let her guess your most righteous indignation. You shall not +be so far degraded if I can help it, as to have to sue in person for +money. She likes and trusts me. Let me be your _homme d'affaires_, and +act as mediator between you." + +Clovis was grateful for being thus saved from a humiliating position, +and Gabrielle tacitly agreed to the arrangement without reflecting +much upon the subject. She naturally shrank from too frequent converse +with the man whom she had ceased to love. + +"What he wants for his pleasures, he can have, and welcome," she said, +with a sad smile; "but he must not be unduly extravagant. I am going +to blossom out into a terrible woman of business for the sake of +Victor and Camille. When they come of age they shall have cause to +bless me for my thrift." + +A woman of business? That would never do. But there was no danger of +it. The charming lady was not endowed with business capacities. This +infant-worship of hers was rather tiresome. Would it lead to +mortifying complications? _Not_ if the sensitive instrument of +her character was played upon with caution. To think that that +never-sufficiently-to-be-execrated Aglaé should have been such a fool +as to try and strike at her through the adored cherubs--apples of the +maternal eyes! + +Well, that Marplot was well out of the road, and the abbé was pleased +to be quit of so deceitful a coadjutor. He took the earliest +opportunity to sound the marquise as to future plans. To his way of +thinking it behoved the family to make quietly for Geneva, there to +rejoin the money bags, and it would be well to find out, if, in her +new capacity, she proposed to put down her foot. He accordingly +remarked one day that Paris was a seething caldron, out of which it +would be prudent to escape. + +"No," replied Gabrielle, quietly, "I have no intention of leaving at +present; my place is here, and I am no poltroon. My mother wants me, +and so does the queen; and there is much business to arrange with M. +Galland. The little ones are happy at Lorge with Toinon, where we will +go and see them later." + +"But Lorge may be burnt over our heads," objected Pharamond. "Excuse +me; but you fail to grasp the situation, which is much more serious +than you suppose." + +"I shall certainly not leave France," returned Gabrielle, with +decision. "No one will hurt us in Touraine, for we are beloved and +respected, and the hearts of the people shall be our bulwarks." + +This was rather a bad beginning to the newly-inaugurated régime. It +was unwelcomely manifest that the foot was down. She had never +mentioned her husband or referred to his possible desires. That was +significant. Pshaw! she was a woman who was made to lean on others, +and just now she was supported by the queen, the family solicitor, and +other meddlesome advisers, and was thereby induced to assume an +independence which was foreign to her nature. So she was bent on +returning to Lorge? Well and good, the sojourn must be brief. +The temporary props being left behind, others would have to be +supplied--by him. Pressure could be brought to bear within the walls +of the grim chateau, and so soon as it should be urgent to flit, why, +then there should be a flitting. For the present she was mistress of +the situation, and till a change could be brought about, must have her +way unchallenged. + +As for Clovis, with much spare time upon his hands, his idle hours +were spent in brooding and regret, and the yearning that besets +humanity to have things other than they are. He was both fascinated +and disgusted by the scenes that passed around him, episodes which +served to increase the peevishness due to private worries. + +He was haunted by the idea that if Gabrielle had refrained from +writing that letter, the maréchal would not have so disposed his +property as to secure it against his son-in-law. But that piece of sly +impertinence on the part of the lady who bore his name had put +everything agog. But for her all apprehensions might ere this have +been removed. He would have been independent; have betaken himself and +the magic tub to some other land under the guidance of the dear +affinity; have escaped from the turmoil of politics, the noisy babble +of miscreants and cutthroats; be enjoying in peace the applause and +serenity which go with success in science. Instead of that, here was +he, the Marquis de Gange, kicking his heels in a capital which +resembled in its wild proceedings the mental phantasmagoria that +follows indigestion, deprived even of the consoling presence of her +who knew how to comfort him. + +Pharamond was all very well in his way, always obliging and cheery, +but somehow or other his sweetness left a taste in the mouth that was +bitter, even acrid. How this should be Clovis was at a loss to +comprehend, for there was no doubt that the abbé was sincerely sorry +for his brother's woeful plight, and did all that in him lay to prune +the thorns that pricked him. As Clovis meditated, topics were ever +cropping up which he longed to discuss with the governess; but, alas, +alas! thanks to the insane jealousy of a most annoying wife, the +charmer was gone--her place knew her no more! + +To brood over the halcyon days which are gone by is conducive to +snappishness, and, after a chewing of the cud, to chronic sullenness +and gnawing discontent. Sometimes the marquis would strive to rouse +himself from dismal reverie, and force himself to take interest in +what was passing; but the contemplation thereof only led to further +disapproval, for he found himself in company that revolted him. To +think that he, a noble of high rank, should find himself cheek by jowl +with the low, dirty, foul-mouthed scribbler, whose name was Marat! +People's friend, forsooth! If a wolf could write a journal, the brute +could not raven more thirstily for blood. Blood--not in drops from a +single breast, nor even in a river from the slaughter of families. He +howled for the crimson liquor in the profusion of an ocean from the +instinctive love of it which impels the tiger to rend his mangled +victim after his hunger is appeased. Then to have to be civil to that +dandified Robespierre, whom instinct whispered was one of the coming +men--one whose talents were insignificant and oratory wretched, but +who plodded ahead to his goal with a passionless undeviating pitiless +perseverance that was appalling; one who boasted with apathetic +cruelty that to gain a point the immolation of a generation was as +nothing; who was already clamouring for the sacrifice of the royal +family, and of all who were tainted with nobility. + +To visit the palace was to be distracted with indignant pity. Though +the son of St. Louis still ate off silver plate, the most elaborate +precautions were taken to secure him against poison. The wine he +drank, the food he ate, was introduced secretly by devoted friends. +Not a scrap passed his lips that was supplied from the royal kitchens. +Things had gone so far that there was no safety--as the hapless king +had realized on the eve of the Varennes disaster--but in flight. His +friends in Paris could be of little service, for he was as close a +prisoner in the gilded Tuileries as the felon in his cell--in a worse +plight than the convicted assassin in his jail, whom the rabble were +forbidden to persecute. + +Clovis could perceive as clearly now as Pharamond that so acute a +situation could not last. This was a state of crisis which should have +nearly attained its apogee, and which promised to result in +catastrophe. And here was the Gange family lingering on in the most +undesirable manner instead of making itself scarce, and skipping out +of danger. As we know, Clovis was not too brave, and preferred +scientific to military triumphs. If other nobles viewed the situation +from a long way off, why should not he also? What was it to him that +the continued outpouring of landholders had unhinged the public mind, +and that the exodus of those who should have rallied round their +monarch was indeed the greatest cause of the miseries that loomed +ahead? By deserting their native land at the most critical period of +its history, the French nobility cast a stain on their order, which +may never be wiped out. At this time, no less than a hundred thousand +of the most influential class had turned their backs upon their +country! + +The marquis exhorted and implored his brother to speak to Gabrielle, +to beg her to be sensible and go, before it was too late. With perfect +truth (for once) Pharamond declared that he had done his best--that +Gabrielle was obstinate and declined to budge--adding, with a +conciliatory smile, that Clovis must practise the unruffled calm that +springs from a tranquil mind; that when the new-blown prerogative of +managing people was more familiar to the heiress, she would be less +headstrong, more considerate. + +"It was too bad," groaned Clovis, who really was growing frightened. +The details of the inheritance settled, what was to detain a party of +provincials, who no longer had business in the dangerous proximity of +the whirlpool? If the heritage had been left in a proper manner, all +would have been well; for there would be nothing more natural than for +the head of the family to issue peremptory and dignified orders for +immediate departure. Even Gabrielle, who steadfastly declined to be of +the elect, ought--by reason of her gentle birth--to have preferred the +philanthropic society of an adept and the virtues of a magic tub at a +safe distance, to the chance of rubbing shoulders with a Marat or a +Robespierre, or enduring blue-stocking lectures from an upstart Madame +Roland. Though young and handsome, that person was a political +pen-woman--horrid precedent! But the contrariness of the feminine +nature is proverbial. As was to be expected, the heiress was gloating +over the shame of those she held in leash, and refused to leave the +hurly-burly just to annoy her husband. + +As to this Pharamond fully agreed with Clovis. There was nothing to be +gained but possible mishaps by lingering in Paris; and he was the more +anxious to be off that he found himself a nonentity there. The fields +he burned to cultivate were lying fallow. His house of cards was +making no progress; he seemed actually to be losing ground. The abbé +was a busy bee whose time was being wasted. + +Had not Gabrielle and Clovis become hopelessly estranged she might +have confided to him her deep sorrow for the queen, and her +unflinching determination to remain beside her, so long as she could +be of use. In better days, the queen had been her benefactress, and +she loved her as all did who knew her well. + +But days of confidence were over now, never to be recalled. The +seasons revolved, and spring came round again to find the De Ganges +still in Paris. + +It is only fair to say that Clovis was sorry for the position of their +majesties; but being of lymphatic temperament he had decided long ago +that disagreeable things which could not be helped, and which did not +injure himself, were promptly to be set aside. + +Ill-starred Marie Antoinette! Is it to underline the fact of mundane +injustice that the innocent are so often scapegoats for the black +sheep? There was no abomination, however monstrous, of which the mob, +maddened by professional agitators, did not believe her to be capable. +Murder, adultery, theft. + +She sometimes mournfully reminded Gabrielle of the evening--it must +have been a thousand years ago--when they had discussed their +horoscopes. "The iron grave-clothes, as was foretold, are slowly +wrapping me," she said, "to stifle my breath and crush my bones. I +hope and believe, dear Gabrielle, that your prophet lied, for you are +content and well. Happiness, we all are bound to learn does not exist. +That will perhaps appear as a fresh and welcome acquaintance at some +later stage of the long journey. You are well, my dear, and I am glad, +but I may not keep you, for here we are under the ban. I would not +have the faithful few to share the fate which daily approaches +nearer." + +Gabrielle sighed, but kept her counsel, for why should she inflict +her own sorrows on one so sorely stricken? Content? No. Not even +that--much less happy. She who needed sympathy and support so much +that without them she felt her fibres paralysed, had come to know that +all the battles of our inner life must be fought out alone, hand to +hand, in solitude, and that no friend, not even the dearest, can +help us in the conflict. She had learned that much during hours of +self-communing at Lorge, and the discovery dismayed her. In the next +world, the Christians say there is no marrying or giving in marriage. +Each soul is a single unit, the bonds of life-chains shattered. It is +so even in this life, though many see it not; when the real tussle +comes, the spirit stands unaided, deprived of succour from without, to +triumph or to fall alone. + +It was her anxious wish to stay beside the queen and cheer her, and by +so doing cheer herself. To be certain that some one longed for her +advent, and that her appearance in a doorway was like the glinting of +a welcome sunbeam, was a novel and refreshing sensation after the +gruesome experiences of Lorge. There was no need to trouble about the +prodigies, seeing that they were enjoying the best of air under +surveillance of Toinon and her betrothed. The old mother, who sadly +missed the perennial scoldings of the irascible defunct, also needed +her presence, for was she not more helpless than her child? Gabrielle, +counselled by M. Galland, had settled that the old lady was to move to +a small house of modest aspect in the suburbs, where she could +vegetate unharmed by revolutionary turbulence, and arranged with the +family solicitor to keep a watchful eye on her. + +The marquise had a variety of reasons, then, for desiring to remain in +the capital. + +Idleness brings out the bad points of most people; and both Clovis and +Pharamond were chafing. The latter, having nothing else to do, studied +his brother carefully, and the proceeding increased his disquietude. +Clovis fretted, and fumed, and yawned, and wished himself away, +listening with eagerness to the abbé's insidious innuendoes, then +growling and muttering to himself. He had something on his mind which +he was keeping back. It was not well that he should keep anything from +the abbé, so the son of the Church, with appropriate little jests +anent confession, set himself to expose the secret. It was as instinct +bade him fear. Clovis was hankering after the absent affinity. + +Pharamond had had cause to suspect that since the advent of +Mademoiselle Brunelle his own power had been permanently weakened. As +he had told Gabrielle, to obtain complete mastery over this wavering +specimen of fleshliness it was necessary that the leading-rein should +be held by a woman; and--without fault of his--the abbé chanced to be +a man. + +The marquis had not been aware of the delights of feminine +companionship till the arrival of the enchanting governess, and +Pharamond understood with reluctance now that although the subject had +been tabooed, Clovis yet pined for his affinity. He remembered the +parting words of Aglaé at the moment of her banishment. "In the +solitude of the country," she had said, "the neophyte would miss her." +The capital under its present aspect was as lonely to him, for he had +always been more or less of a recluse, and most of his town friends +had joined the army of emigrants. + +To avoid contact with the scum, and to save appearances in the matter +of compulsory attendance on his wife, he had taken up his studies with +ardour in the capital, and missed his late comrade each day more and +more. As his lips unclosed, he poured forth his confession to the +churchman; Pharamond reflected with perturbation that if the temple +were left long without its tenant, a new one might crawl in and +occupy. What was to prevent this flabby Clovis, since he felt the void +so much, from seeking another adept, even from applying to Mesmer for +just such another siren as the last? And if he did, what of the abbé +and his plans? Though not so docile as could be wished, and given to +casual deceit, it was possible for the abbé and the governess to work +together smoothly enough. That much had been proven. Supposing that, +taking the bull by the horns, he were cunningly to bring about her +re-introduction into the _ménage_, would she be grateful, and, singing +_peccavi_, promise to behave better in future? Gratitude is so scarce +a commodity! And by what artifice could she be introduced again +without raising a whirlwind of remonstrance? On the other hand, if +Clovis were allowed to find another leader, the new affinity might +eschew an alliance with the abbé, even deliberately work for his +suppression. How complicated the game! How difficult were his cards to +play! Was it safe to leave the ball to roll, or must it be checked in +mid career? How would the marquise behave deprived of parental +support, at sight of the apparition of her rival? These were knotty +problems, and another false move might mean irremediable discomfiture. +Impossible as it was to see far ahead, it was necessary to feel step +by step like a blind man groping. How delicate an operation to +re-introduce the massive form of the offender! On what plea, since +after what had passed she could not assume the attributes of teacher? +Move the fragments of his puzzle as he would, they declined to fit +together, and the abbé ground his teeth with fury and confessed that +for the moment he was nonplussed. + +If only the marquise could be induced to return home quickly, remove +herself from the influence of supporters. Would it be well to have a +fictitious message sent announcing the illness of the darlings? A +scrap of paper a few inches square would send her posting back to +Lorge at lightning speed; but then discovering that she was fooled, +suspicion would arise, alert. Could Clovis be persuaded to go home +without her? In that case his brothers must accompany him, lest, left +to his devices, he should do something regrettable; and it was of +equal importance to keep an eye on wife as well as husband. + +Turning the subject over and over with infinite care, the abbé +admitted with an impatient sigh that for the time being he was +powerless, and that the ball must be allowed to roll. Meanwhile it +would be advisable not to lose touch of the governess, lest some day, +when wanted, she should turn rusty and accuse him of neglect. He +accordingly sat down and wrote a long and entertaining letter full of +sly quip and graphic description, ending with the assurance that the +marquis did not forget, and that the humble scribe was her slave. + +This precaution taken, he settled himself down to drift with hands +before him: nor had he long to wait to perceive the direction of the +current. + +It was the twentieth of June. The day was balmy, and the windows open. +The queen sat in a low _causeuse_ in her tiny library relating to the +Marquise de Gange the ominous occurrences of the morning. Paris was a +penful of sheep now distracted by too many shepherds--a weathercock +its most fitting symbol. What was happening every day would be +laughable but for the lurid cloud above with its blood-red lining, and +the low rumbling of thunder, each hour more distinct. The Assembly +whose mission was to guide the nation was no better than a den of +noxious animals, each bent on biting his neighbour. The president had +committed the grievous error of opening the flood-gates to the waters. +The sacred precincts over which he ruled were thrown open to a mob of +thirty thousand scoundrels who, their imaginations inflamed by novelty +and drunken with success, licked their foul lips and prepared for +further outrage. Women danced like M[oe]nads, waving a pike in one +hand and an olive-branch in the other--symbols of peace and war. From +a chorus of brawny throats rolled the familiar strains of _Ça Ira_. +The unkempt porters of the markets, the cadaverous workers from the +cellars of St. Antoine; a weak-limbed squad, a sturdy crew of +ruffians, equally bent on mischief, waved rude bits of jagged iron +bound to the ends of bludgeons. There was no end to the muster. Women +possessed of the devil Hysteria--men maddened and excited by the +women. More men--more women--women--men. What did they want? What was +the object of the saturnalia in the sacred precincts of the Assembly? +Ragged breeches were held up with a yell of "_Vive les sans +culottes!_" Some one flourished a pike aloft on which was transfixed +the bleeding heart of a calf. Through the drip the scrawled +description could be deciphered--"This is the heart of an aristocrat!" + +"If the accepted authorities were to be bearded thus, what next?" +suggested Marie Antoinette. "We are marching straight downwards to our +doom. We know it, and being blameless, look to the end with +thankfulness. But when we are sacrificed--what then--afterwards. +Après?" + +When Gabrielle strove to persuade her benefactress that she saw things +_en noir_ the latter gave her haughty head a toss. "Conflict with the +inevitable is not always an absurd mockery, for self-respect, when we +are innocent, insists on battle to the death." + +As she spoke a low rumble, increasing each second in volume which +seemed an echo of what she described as having dismayed the Assembly a +few hours since, caused the ladies to look at each other in alarm. +What was that ominous sound? Almost before they had time to realize +that it meant anguish and woe treading on each other's heels--it had +increased to a deafening roar. + +"They have burst into the gardens. Where are the little ones?" cried +Gabrielle, thinking of her own cherubs, happily far away. "I will +fetch them. Their Royal Highnesses are in the next room, reading." + +She sped away, and returning with the royal children presently, beheld +her mistress leaning against the casement frame, stone white. + +"Hist!" she said, her voice scarce audible above the noise. "The +wretches have invaded the palace--do they intend to fire it? Amid +yonder sea of pikes and staves there is a cannon which they are +dragging up the stairs. What for--for me? Into what a pandemonium were +we born!" + +The uproar was like the lashing of an angry sea. The frightened +women could hear the grinding and creaking of the heavy gun as with +volleys of cries and curses it was lifted to the grand landing. +"Unbar the door or we will blow it down," some one shouted, in rough +accents--then followed a thunderous battering of pikes, the crushing +and rending of panels and then--silence. + +"They will kill him. They will kill him! Why am I not by his side?" +murmured Marie Antoinette, writhing her hands together. + +"I am here--what would you?" a steady voice said, cheerfully, rising +above the hubbub not far away. + +"Vive la nation!" roared the rabble. + +"Yes. Vive la nation. I am its best friend," replied the king. + +Then there was a diversion. The trembling listeners were startled by a +new roar of groans and hooting. "There she is--the curse of France. +The Austrian! The Austrian! Down with her!" + +"My God!" muttered the queen. "It must be Elizabeth whom they mistake +for me! My place is with them. Is a child of Maria Theresa to play the +cur? Why am I skulking here?" + +"Madame! They will tear you in pieces!" implored Gabrielle, clinging +to her skirts. + +"So be it," returned the queen proudly, and drawing herself up to her +imperial height, she opened the door with steady hand and went forth +with her two children. Unrecognized, she penetrated as far as the +council chamber where a group of Grenadiers hastily surrounded and +pushed her into the embrasure of a window which they barricaded with a +table. For the present, to attempt to reach the king was hopeless. The +palace was flooded with a ragged rout, who, in intervals of yelling +pocketed such portable property as was handy. They were covered with +dirt and blood, and, for the most part, wore the red cap recently +introduced by Collot d'Herbois as the orthodox symbol of the free. + +Meanwhile a messenger had rushed to the Assembly to announce the +danger of the palace, and a number of deputies hastened thither with +all speed, to slay the wreckers and prevent a tragedy. The mob, drunk +with too potent a dose of liberty, had committed a deplorable outrage, +and were on the threshold of a great crime without definite purpose. +Exhorted to sobriety, upbraided for excesses which stained the holy +cause in the face of Europe, the rabblement sulkily withdrew, gnashing +their teeth and snarling with gestures of menace, as they filed past +the queen; and she watched them go in gloomy silence, with a heart +that welled with horror and eyes that swam in tears. + +For the moment peril was averted, the palace safe; but who might tell +when the unreasoning flood, lashed by the agitators into foam, would, +in caprice, flow back and drown its inmates? General indignation +prevailed among all grades of the better classes. Though to the new +way of thinking kings and queens might be objects of dislike, yet, so +long as they existed, it was not fair that at any moment their privacy +should be invaded by the unwashed, their furniture broken, their +children terrified. The Assembly was ashamed. The partisans of the +court were unwise enough to bluster. Rumours were abroad that, in +consequence of the outrage, the royal servants were to be armed; that +the Swiss Guard would be ordered to fire upon the first sans-culotte +who ventured within shot. So far was this from the truth that his +majesty had determined to dismiss from about his person those +untrustworthy friends, who, without possessing the power to save, had +so often compromised him. The queen, too, was firmly resolved that she +would not have upon her head the blood of those who were not directly +in her service. Gently, but without wavering, she bade adieu, amongst +others, to the Marquise de Gange, who begged hard for permission to +remain. + +"No," said Marie Antoinette, gloomily, "you have duties of your own +from which I must no longer keep you. Heaven bless you, my dear +friend. To such calumnies as may reach your ears you will give no +credence, but will pray for an unhappy woman who has not deserved her +fate. Give me your thoughts and prayers, for we shall meet no more on +earth." + +Her forebodings were but too soon realized. Only seven weeks later the +Palace of the Tuileries was stormed, and the devoted guards massacred +under circumstances of peculiar atrocity. Soon afterwards the royal +family were removed to the Temple, whence, in the course of a long +drawn martyrdom, the unfortunate queen was transferred to a squalid +hole in the Conciergerie on her rough road to the scaffold and +release. + + + + + CHAPTER XVII. + + GABRIELLE HAS AN IDEA. + + +Loth as she was to leave her benefactress in so critical a plight, +there was no denying that the Marquise de Gange was an incumbrance in +the royal dwelling; yet another helpless female for the men to +protect; and that there were duties with regard to others, that +demanded the attention of the heiress. + +Clovis had valid reason for his impatience to be off. The prisons were +opening their maws to swallow the blue-blooded, who tumbled in by +shoals on frivolous and ridiculous charges. Paris was becoming so +disagreeably warm, that self-preservation bade all and sundry to +depart unless tied by special reasons. Now, as the abbé pointed out +(who grew almost as impatient as his brother, in his enforced +idleness), there was nothing whatever to detain the provincials from +returning to their chateau, since the queen had dismissed the +marquise. + +Gabrielle agreed that the time was come for a journey, and even made +an attempt to induce the aged maréchale to join the party. It would be +nice to have her mother with her, and perhaps the suburban residence +might be fraught with unknown drawbacks. But at the suggestion, the +old lady lifted up her voice in such querulous screechings that her +daughter was silenced. + +"You should know, but for your innate selfishness," complained the old +dame, "that I can't bear the place. Its crepuscular corridors and +frowning front give me the shivers. I wonder you can endure it +yourself, but you always were so peculiar and inconsiderate. I will +visit you for a week or so some day, if I pluck up courage; but, live +there? The family vault with a pile of coffins for furniture, would be +more cheerful as a dwelling-place." + +Then Gabrielle's mind went through a curious and unexpected phase. The +queen's reference to their horoscopes had set the marquise thinking. +The prophecy regarding her majesty was being fulfilled, slowly but +surely, to the letter. A friend informed her with grief and +lamentations, that Louise de Savoye, Princesse de Lamballe, had been +seized and confined at La Force. At this moment, the least secure +refuges in France were the prisons, for the blood-drunken populace had +a way of making raids upon the jails, and maltreating incarcerated +aristos, out of pure devilry. First, Her Majesty; then Madame de +Lamballe. Who was she, Marquise de Gange, that she should hope to +escape her doom? She was, like the others, predestined to misfortune. +True. She had suffered deeply already, and Heaven had relented for +awhile; but there was nothing to justify her in face of the prophecy, +in supposing that it was more than a respite. Try to grapple with it +as she would, Gabrielle, as the time for moving approached, was +oppressed by a growing presentiment of ill. From what quarter it was +to come she could not guess, but it was her bounden duty to take such +precautions as were possible. Were the darlings to be stricken down +and die? Or was the impending misfortune to consist in the sacking of +the chateau? It was impossible to foresee and avert the trouble. In +contrast to the storm that had blown over, the family outlook was fair +enough. Though the domestic sky was cloudflecked, there was no +specially black bank of vapour striding up the vault. Clovis was +bearish and ill-humoured. That was nothing new. The abbé was all +smiles and benevolence, his leisure much occupied in a laudable and +Christian endeavour to break the chevalier of tippling. Toinon wrote +that, summoned to Blois by his party, Jean Boulot was gone for awhile, +and for her part she rejoiced at the riddance, for was it not too bad +that he should prefer his vulgar noisy Jacobin clubs and fustian +nonsense to the charming society of his betrothed? + +Strive as she would to argue with and laugh at herself, Gabrielle +could not shake off her gloom. The gamekeeper--who had saved her +life--was gone away to Blois, and Toinon hoped that he would stop +there? Why should she feel as if a staunch and trusty friend had left +her side? The chatelaine had every right to feel angry that a paid +servant should throw up his place with such scant ceremony, and yet +was not the abruptness of the act strictly in tune with the man's +independent principles and the spirit of the time? + +He was a rough, honest, warm-hearted, wrong-headed fellow, with whom +Toinon was justly annoyed in that she had failed to reform his ways. +All this was true enough, but Gabrielle could not shake off a sense of +loneliness, of vague uneasy dread, a conviction of impending calamity; +and suddenly something whispered that before leaving Paris it would be +well to execute a testament. + +History is full of strange presentiments which come like warnings, but +which have the peculiar property of defeating themselves; for they +exercise sometimes a fatal fascination akin to that of the snake over +the bird, which paralyses the victim's efforts to escape the +threatened peril. + +Trying to argue down her fears, she made it the more evident to +herself that whatever came of it, duty pointed in the direction of +Lorge. The grim chateau was her own now; the fields were her own +fields; the peasants her own vassals. In the interests of the darlings +she would be very energetic, learn to farm, improve the property, and +draw the bonds closer than heretofore between mistress and tenants. +But what if the clever abbé's prognostications were to be realized, +and the flames which she had seen burning so fiercely in Paris, were +indeed to spread dismay and ruin even to remote Touraine? Was he right +in the advice which she had resented so warmly--the unwelcome advice +to be content with the money-bags at Geneva, and abandon the chateau +to the wreckers? No. She had always disapproved the craven conduct of +the fugitives. It was not in the nature of things for the present +cataclysm to go on for ever. Temporary insanity would give way to +reason; the mob, glutted by impunity and gorged by excess, would calm +down again, and those who had had presence of mind to hold their own +while passively bowing before the storm would reap the reward of their +bravery. + +The chatelaine knew herself to be a favourite with the people and that +her presence at the chateau would go far in the event of a +revolutionary wave, to save it from destruction. She could not believe +that the shadow she felt approaching could come from that quarter. +Whence then? It was probably a bugaboo, born of nervousness, resulting +from sympathy with the desperate condition of the queen. Dismissed by +Marie Antoinette, her place was at Lorge on the estates, and since +flesh is grass, it was only right to make a will. + +While revolving these things, Gabrielle's attention was naturally +turned upon her husband. It was odd that he should resent so deeply +her one act of independence. We know that what the constitutionally +weak resent the most, is being openly convicted of their weakness. +Could that humiliating quarter of an hour with the family solicitor +have left so deep an impression on his easy-going soul? and, while her +repulsed affection had faded into indifference, was his unconcern +growing into positive aversion? It occurred to her now for the first +time, as singular that when he wanted money of late the abbé had +always been the spokesman. Did he feel his dependent position so +acutely that he could not bring himself to mention the sordid subject, +or was it that he had come to dislike his wife so much, that he could +not bring himself to speak to her at all? She resolved to open her +mind to the abbé about it, for Clovis must be infatuated and purblind +indeed, not to feel assured that, though she was resolved to carry out +her father's wishes and keep a firm hold of the purse strings, they +would not be drawn too tight. + +The abbé's thin features relaxed into a whimsical smile, and he slyly +nodded, as with some stammering and much circumlocution she exposed +her suspicions to him. Was it, or not, abominably wicked of her to +have such suspicions at all? How girlish and how lovely she looked in +her blushing confusion, as she enlarged on the unsavoury topic, +excusing herself for harbouring such thoughts. + +"You dear guileless dove of a Gabrielle!" he laughed. "Yet not so +simple as you seem, for you have guessed aright. Alack, yes! +Unpardonably sensitive as he may appear to you, your little +escapade--you will allow me to call it an escapade?---cut him so +completely to the quick that he has never recovered it, but crouches +down and winces still like a well-whipped hound, dreading another +scourging. You deem yourself proud? Learn that an honest man's pride +is of more delicate texture than a woman's. And it _is_ hard, you +know, for a proud man to be placed before witnesses in so equivocal a +position as that in which you placed your husband." + +The position in which _she_ had placed _him?_ What of the intolerable +one in which _he_ had chosen to place _her?_ Men always start with the +absurd premise that they must be in the right. Gabrielle was deeply +offended that one on whom she had vainly squandered all the treasures +of her love could think this meanly--read her so amiss! + +Tears of mortification due to insulted womanhood were in her eyes, and +as he marked the colour, like that of an opening moss rose, that +flooded plastic neck and shell-like ear, the blood of Pharamond +throbbed so fiercely that he had much ado to maintain his impassible +demeanour. + +"Since you forgave me, I take Heaven to witness," he purred, bending +as near to her as he dared, "that I have striven to heal your +differences." + +"Differences? There need be none; my love for him is dead," Gabrielle +remarked slowly, so absorbed in the contemplation of shattered Penates +as to pass unheeded the gleam of triumph on the face that was so near +her shoulder. "You may tell him, if you like, that I shall not behave +ill to him, because he has outraged me. A fair allowance shall be +regularly paid to him, or to you if he prefers it. Monsieur Galland is +coming here this afternoon about my testament, and the arrangement +shall be carried out at once." Then after a gloomy pause, she added +with a sigh, "To think he could ever suppose that I should want him to +ask me favours!" + +So her unrequited and too persistent love had perished of starvation! +It was dead--quite, quite dead, at last! With its last struggle how +great a barrier was swept away, and how much better was the chance for +one who had obstinately persevered! + +Excellent! The empty shell was ready for the hermit crab! Pharamond +could see ultimate triumph, within measurable distance, and after that +a ripe revenge. A fair allowance regularly paid? Gilded, degrading +slavery! Clovis would repudiate the plan; refuse to have anything to +do with it. + +But what was this about a will? + +"M. Galland--about your will, this afternoon?" the abbé echoed with +raised brows. "On whose advice are you acting? I declare you are +marvellously changed, every inch a woman of business. Pooh, pooh! Is +there not ample time? For a beautiful young creature like yourself to +prate of such grisly things seems like an untimely invitation to the +worms." + +"Little I care for life, God knows!" sighed Gabrielle, wearily, "were +it not for----" + +"Yes, yes, I know--the cherubs. About this will. It takes me by +surprise, and you have deigned to trust me. Your pardon if I seem +importunate. I scarcely dare to ask, and yet----" + +"What its conditions are to be? There need be no secret as to that, +since my mind is quite made up. I intend to leave my dear father's +fortune to my mother, in trust for Victor and Camille?" + +Here was a sledge-hammer blow, full on the skull from behind. For an +instant Pharamond was paralysed, then his nimble brain took in at a +glance all the facets of this new and unpalatable situation. Who could +have put into her shapely head so inconvenient an idea as this? Good +heavens! If this project were not nipped in the bud, averted somehow, +the future position of the three brothers promised to be a worse one +even than in the days of the maréchal! What the abbé had himself +looked upon as a scarcely possible contingency, and had held up to the +marquis as a mere red rag to inflame his feelings withal against his +wife, might at any moment become an actual and horrible fact. At this +rate the marquis and his brothers were not to be provided for at all; +were in the event of this woman's death to be pitched out like so much +lumber! And she had the brazen presumption to expatiate on their lot +to their faces. A gush of ungovernable rage, bubbled into the abbé's +brain, an unreasoning whirl, which he vainly endeavoured to master, as +he strode up and down the room. + +"Clovis is to be made a laughing stock to suit your malice!" he +exclaimed hotly, as he turned on the astonished marquise. "He counts +for nothing, although your lawful husband. No wonder if you have +earned his hate as well as mine, since you are resolved to pour insult +upon insult." + +"Of course, he will have his allowance secured until his death," +Gabrielle explained, with a red spot of annoyance on either cheek. + +"Pah! Allowance! Allowance! A pittance for a schoolboy, which he will +fling back into your face. If he takes my advice, he will toss your +paltry allowance in your lap, since you treat him like a baby! A dole +of charity to a beggar!" + +The marquise sat dumb with hands before her, petrified, for this man +would fain persuade her that she was a monster of iniquity, on the +threshold of a stupendous crime, and yet she knew that her motives +were of the purest. + +He continued, biting his nails in his agitation, addressing his words +half to himself and half to her. + +"Women's horizon is so circumscribed, her stream of thought so narrow, +that if left alone she rarely avoids being ungenerous. Engrossed by +trivialities how can it be otherwise? Sly, too, and double-faced. So +this is your sublime forgiveness, in which I was fool enough to trust! +A trap! A trick! You were but biding your time, till you could injure +me by maltreatment of my brother. My first duty is to him, and I tell +you plainly, that never with my consent will he accept your ignoble +terms." + +Gabrielle made no answer but sat dumb. + +"Eh, bien, madame," he cried, suddenly wheeling round and standing in +front of her, his thin lips curled into a snarl. "The result of your +insensate acts be on your head. Mark that the fault is yours if, after +all my efforts to annihilate the past, you force me to be your enemy. +Here below we must be judged by acts, madame, not by sugared words +that mean nothing. Why compel me to war when I would fain bring peace? +If you execute so iniquitous an instrument as you propose, you will +have made thereby three implacable enemies; and a woman without +friends should think twice before making one. Your husband never +wronged you with that governess, you foolish girl; you were racked by +your own silly phantom jealousy. If you must have revenge, wreak it +upon me, whose only fault was loving you too much. No need to start. +Cards down! Why should I deny that I loved you? The more fool I! But +as your love for him has been crushed out, so, too, has mine for you, +as to your sorrow you will learn." + +His envenomed words snapped out like the clicks of a matchlock, and +the old dismay gathered round the heart of the marquise with a chill +of exceeding desolation. She had been taken in. His seeming recovery +of his better self was but a sham, his fawning courtesy a grimace, his +suave kindliness a mockery, his effusive benevolence a snare. To one +so simply truthful as Gabrielle, such calculating duplicity was +diabolical. He had dropped his vizard and shown his real face, and as +she shudderingly surveyed it, she had gauged something of the malice +of which this foe was capable. Returned to Lorge, was peace to be +denied? Since cajolery and threats had not availed to win her, did he +think to bend her to his will by force? Though he declared he hated +her, there was that on his white vindictive face that she had learned +to read too well. She would go straight to her husband, tell him the +whole truth, and claim protection. But what then of the disposal of +her property, which she felt it her duty to make? Ought she, taking a +high line, to threaten to withdraw the allowance, act for herself as +the good father had done on her behalf? But, ah me, how changed things +were since then, so brief a while ago! Her husband already hated +her--there was a ring of sincerity in the voice of Pharamond as he +informed her that it was so, and she knew well, in case of a tussle, +into which scale the latter would throw all his weight. Doubtless, +Clovis wished her dead; alone at Lorge, might even--yet no, much as he +might wish to be quit of her, his courage would surely fail when the +pinch came. + +In carrying out her project she would be acting rightly, of that she +was now more than ever convinced; but locked up with the brethren at +Lorge, would not her own courage fail? Perhaps it would be safer to +remain in the Paris whirlpool. But what of the children then, and what +of the prisons that filled so rapidly? Behind the bars and bolts of La +Force or the Abbaye, of what service could she be to them? Leave the +country she would not, stay in the capital she dared not. Moreover, in +so turbulent a time her place was among her people in her distant +citadel of Lorge. + +All that was fine in theory, yet her heart whispered grave doubts as +to her tenacity of purpose in carrying out to the end the fight so +boldly planned. Alas, did she not know too well that standing alone +and unsupported, with no succour within hail, she would go down at the +shock of the first lance? Should she parley, even surrender now, at +once--unveil her feebleness and implore pity? Promise to abandon the +project which raised such ire and stirred the lees of the worst +passions, trust the future of her children to their father's paternal +instincts? No; one of the lessons taught by the abbé was that Clovis +was born to be led. Happily that woman had been expelled, but rescued +from her baleful control, he would fall under that of somebody else, +and circumstanced as they were, who should that other be but the +vindictive Pharamond? Of course, at Lorge, the marquis would sink +completely under the abbé's sway; and with him for master, much chance +would Victor and Camille have of justice in the event of their +mother's death. Come what might to her, they should be guarded. Taking +her courage in both hands and clinging firmly to it, she must pray for +strength to bear all, doing what was best for the little ones. The +best security against the greed and malevolence of Pharamond would be +to place the fortune out of reach. + +As these considerations flitted across the mind of the harassed +marquise, she took comfort in the thought that the arch-foe should +have exposed himself as he was before the party had started from +Paris. Further precautions should be devised by a mother's ingenuity +such as should reduce to harmlessness, in the event of disaster to +herself, the abbé's strongest batteries. + +Meanwhile, Pharamond mopped his face with a laced kerchief, blaming +himself for precipitation as he paced nervously up and down. That he, +skilful fowler of artless birds, should have been betrayed by sudden +passion and disappointment into exhibiting his person to this +flutterer! But then the blow had been so swift and heavy that there +was some excuse for reeling under the shock. It was vexatious to have +been taken off his guard. Further duplicity was useless now, for the +present, at least, for she was fully informed as to his sentiments +with regard to the obnoxious testament. She had beheld a glimpse of +his real countenance, which was a pity, for burrowing underground was +the favourite pastime of our abbé. It was a mercy, considering all +things, that the obdurate and recalcitrant lady had resolved on +returning to Lorge. Beyond the frontier, countenanced by friends and +acquaintances, she would doubtless have proved dreadfully +obstreperous. Yes, decidedly it was best to depart forthwith for the +chateau. It was a fortunate thing, too, that during the lengthy and +tedious sojourn in the metropolis, Clovis should have abstained from +falling into the clutches of some new and antagonistic affinity. + +And this turned the current of his meditations into another channel. +It would have to be war now at Lorge, deliberate and serious war for +the averting of a threatened calamity; a campaign consisting of +feints, and ambuscades, and forced night marches requiring swiftness +of resolve and unerring execution. As to submitting to such a +testament, it was out of the question. The campaign might prove a +desperate and bloody one, for maternity at bay fights hard. + +If she signed the proposed document--and just now she looked very +resolute--it would have, somehow or another, to be cancelled; a +ticklish job even for so astute a diplomatist as our abbé. Would it be +prudent to descend alone into the arena, or must an ally be found? But +for Clovis's tergiversation, Pharamond felt fully capable of carrying +a battle to successful issue, but he knew better than to deceive +himself with regard to the shifty marquis, and caution whispered that +he dared not work alone. His mere male influence might lead the horse +to the water, but could not make him drink. You may bend a bow with +impunity to a certain point, beyond which it will snap unless +strengthened. Desperate emergencies call for desperate remedies, and +Clovis' was one to shrink and run away in the face of anything +desperate. How difficult to guide clear of obstacles is a shying +horse! + +Although a thousand pities, it was plain to Pharamond that what might +have to be done could not be accomplished alone; that combined forces +would be required to arrive at a given result, to reach a goal which +he gropingly saw looming. + +What could Gabrielle be pondering over so deeply, as with absent gaze +she looked out of the window? Perhaps, alarmed, she was repenting, was +preparing at the first glimpse of the enemy's line of battle to +withdraw from the conflict. Her attitude was full of hesitation; here +was a crumb of comfort. It was wondrous that she should have been +able, so far, to subdue her nature as to speak out so boldly as she +had dared to do just now. A little solitary reflection might produce a +salutary effect. In a duel of wits, when your foe begins to hesitate, +leave him to his thoughts, and ten to one he will give way. + +The abbé roused himself from reverie; coughed to draw attention, and +bowed with a measure of respect, nicely tempered with menace. Then, +smilingly remarking that it would be regrettable if his dear +sister-in-law did not reconsider her iniquitous plans, he took himself +out of the apartment for the purpose of informing Clovis. + +Left alone, Gabrielle, as Pharamond had seen, was much perturbed by +the difficulties of the task she had set herself, but when she +remembered his wicked face, a courage, born of despair, came to her +aid, and she resolved to take up the cudgels. As she mechanically +arranged, with trembling fingers, her silken hood and mantle, she +prayed fervently for strength, and called on heaven for protection. + +Without a moment's waiting she would go to M. Galland. The solicitor +had arranged to call during the afternoon, but she felt assured that +if she were to wait till then, she would think, and think, and think, +till courage ebbed away. Swiftly descending the stairs unseen by the +abbé, who was busily unfolding his budget for the horrified behoof of +his more than ever exasperated brother, she hailed a hackney chair, +and had herself carried to the lawyer's. + +Being a person of eminent respectability, M. Galland dwelt in a smug +street within decorous propinquity of the fashionable Place Royale. +His line of business was as humdrum and respectable as himself, and +the door-keeper, who kept the stone staircase so scrupulously +spotless, was unaccustomed to agitated clients. The beautiful lady who +emerged from a hackney sedan, and tremulously paid the men more than a +double fare, was extremely agitated, and appeared in a desperate hurry +to reach the first-floor landing. Evidently an aristo. Doubtless she +had a husband or a brother who had fallen within the meshes of the +reigning spiders. Poor dear soul! Such episodes as unexpected arrest +were but too common nowadays. Bless me! Her case must be a very urgent +one, the concierge muttered, as he scratched his head in sympathy, for +after an interval of fifteen minutes, the lady emerged in the +company of M. Galland himself, looking graver than was his wont, who, +calling a coach, directed the driver to the nearest magistrate's. + +"I understand my instructions, madame," the solicitor said, as the +pair were driven along. "But, if without breach of respect, I may be +permitted to say so, you must be suffering from hallucination. Your +will being safely deposited with me, it is manifest that its terms are +your safeguard, even if any of them should wish to harm you. We will +admit that M. le Marquis got into bad hands, and that your hours were +made unpleasant by another of your charming sex. But from that point +to personal violence is a great stride, and you must pardon me if I +fail to see any justifiable cause for apprehension. It is a morbid +fancy, believe me. However, your wishes shall be gratified, and you +will be able to retire to the chateau of Lorge with mind relieved. +This is the house. I follow you to the first floor. You will make the +declaration I suggested, before my friend, M. Sardeigne, who is a +magistrate, and proper witnesses." + +It was certainly a strange proceeding and the worthy magistrate was +justified in his surprise. Here was a celebrated Court beauty of whose +fame he had often heard, who pretended to believe that her relatives +were hankering after her money to the extent of a deep-laid plot, +ending in personal injury. "If you say so, madame," he observed, with +a gallant bow, "I am bound to believe you. I should have thought it +more likely that someone would take to kidnapping, for the sake of +being proud possessor of the fairest woman in France." + +Gabrielle sighed. Was not a would-be kidnapper at the bottom of all +her fears? + +M. Galland produced the last will and testament of Gabrielle, Marquise +de Gange, on which the ink was but just dry, and his friend, having +summoned his secretary and two male attendants, the lady signed it in +their presence. + +Then, instructed by M. Galland, she made a solemn declaration that if +her life should be cut off before that of the maréchale, her mother, +and that if she should have been found in the interim to have executed +another will of more recent date, she thereby formally disavowed the +latter instrument. If she were destined to outlive the maréchale, +which she did not think likely, M. Galland, on the demise of Madame de +Brèze would visit Lorge, and another arrangement would be made. + +She had a presentiment, she explained, which pointed to a life cut off +by violent means before its prime, and expressed in the most distinct +and emphatic manner words could express, her desire that the testament +just executed should alone be regarded as authentic. + +"Dear me! A presentiment?" laughed M. Sardeigne, "as well consult with +lawyers about ghosts! To set your mind at rest in this peculiar +matter," proceeded the magistrate, perceiving that his mirth was +ill-timed, "let it be understood that a cross after the signature on +any subsequent testament will be considered to convey that it was +signed under coercion." + +The business accomplished, Gabrielle breathed more freely, and the +abbé, observing at dinner how serene she looked, grew suspicious. Such +calm after their recent stormy interview, seemed to suggest that she +had been doing something underhand, on which she plumed herself. What +could it be? Something that boded him no good. In the imminent war, +which was to be declared so soon as the party were back in Touraine, +it would clearly be perilous and rash to take the field alone.[1] + + +---------------------------- + +Footnote 1: It must be remembered that the French law, as it at +present stands, dates from the later epoch of Napoleon. The events +connected with the will of the Marquise de Gange are historical. L. W. + +---------------------------- + + + + CHAPTER XVIII. + + A SURPRISE. + + +The quartet that journeyed back to solitude was not a lively one, for +each of the four occupants of the travelling berline was fully +engrossed by private speculations. The chevalier was nervous and +uneasy, having received severe mental castigations at the hands of +brother Pharamond. The marquis avoided his wife's eye, and glanced +wistfully now and again at his Mentor, as though to crave support in +some matter of which his conscience was afraid. The abbé smiled and +nodded encouragement at intervals, and then grew grave again, for he +knew that he was on the point of playing a trump card, and players +miscalculate sometimes as to what remains in the adversary's hand. +Gabrielle, gazing calmly from the windows, seemed scarcely aware of +flitting trees and passing villages, or the constantly recurring jerky +stoppages for the change of steaming horses. She did not remark the +altered attitude of the rustics, who scowled at the emblazoned +carriage panels, with hat on head, pipe in mouth, and arms crossed +tightly over chest. A party of fugitive aristos, fleeing from the +sinking ship like other rodents. Well, let them go. France was well +rid of such vermin that were not worth the rope and lantern. As they +approached their destination, some recognized the coronet and coat, +and made furtive awkward bows. The Gange family were not so bad as +others, report said, and as for the lady, sure no wickedness could +lurk in her mild angel's face. + +She was about to see her darlings, and her spirits rose, for the +sojourn in the capital had been a long one. Of course they were safe +in Toinon's care, but the mother had been weaving ingenious plans for +their advantage, which she longed to execute forthwith. And then she +fell a wondering as to how, under fresh auspices, they would all get +on at Lorge. So far as the fortune was concerned there was naught to +dread. Were her secret fears due, indeed, as had been suggested, to +morbid fancy? No. Life would be far from easy; but a sturdy heart +armoured in love's panoply can surmount difficulties. She knew too +well now that, at best, the brothers looked on her existence as a +necessary evil. She could see it in the lack-lustre eyes even of the +chevalier, who, doubtless, had been well tutored and taught to believe +false tales. The poor drivelling chevalier! What his hazy views might +be on any subject was of little consequence. As friend or foe he was +equally harmless. It was well to have been undeceived as to the abbé, +and to know him for what he was--plausible, cunning, double-faced, +vindictive. Why should she, Gabrielle, fear him? Forewarned, +forearmed. If she placed no trust in her smooth brother-in-law--held +studiously aloof from him--he could not betray or do her injury. Yet +was this so? What of the horoscope and her own presentiment? To remain +unmolested was overmuch to hope for. And then the marquise found +herself marvelling what form his too certain malevolence would take. +He would, of course, misconstrue all her acts and read them awry to +Clovis. Alas! as things were, even that no longer mattered. For the +future, so long as they lived, husband and wife would each go their +ways, tacitly agreeing not to annoy each other, and in the ancient +chateau there was so much room that the pair need never meet. A sad +condition of affairs to have arrived at, and yet--is it not best to +save painful fretting of soul and futile nerve friction by boldly +confronting and accepting the inevitable in all its ugliness? + +When we have given up crying for the moon, we can coldly contemplate +the once-desired prize, critically examine each blemish, and shall +probably be surprised at ourselves for having yearned after so spotty +an object. The Marquis de Gange, deprived of glamour robes, was but a +commonplace mortal, after all. Not good; not particularly bad. +Unpractical, lazy, given to useless theorizing. Sure, in a previous +life, he must have been a comely ox, fond of swishing its tail in the +sunshine and blinkingly chewing the cud, with its legs to the knees in +a puddle. Reflexion brought conviction that the diabolical woman who, +happily, was gone for ever, had, out of sheer spitefulness, smirched +her own fair fame without a cause. She had avowed herself the +marquis's mistress merely to irritate his wife, just as she had +threatened to warp the children's minds to frighten the mother into +rashness. Poor distracted wife and mother. What could have possessed +her--Gabrielle marvelled--to have gone through that performance in the +water? Could she really and seriously have been so acutely affected by +the idea that Mademoiselle Brunelle had succeeded in occupying the +place within her husband's heart for which she had herself +unsuccessfully longed? What a foolish and unnecessary fraying of heart +strings! Was she so blinded as to have been unable to realize that the +thing he called his heart was so full of selfishness that there lacked +room for any other feeling? No. Even though she loved him then, it was +not wholly on his account that she had suffered. It was the loss of +her children, apparently complete and irrevocable, that had goaded her +to mad despair. Well, well, Heaven had been merciful. The woman had +been driven forth--her baleful shadow would cross her path no more. +The darlings were her own again. The future was not so black after +all. She would, on arrival at the chateau, place things on an entirely +new footing; would take up her quarters in the wing erst occupied by +the objectionable Aglaé, and, by aid from without, continue the +education of Victor and Camille, which, during the last year, had been +sorely neglected. As for the rest of the chateau, the three brothers +might have it to themselves, and what they did and how their time was +spent, so long as they did not tease her, should be no concern of +hers. + +Thus, I daresay, has the ingenuous lamb, clothed in the white wool of +its simplicity, thought to cope, with success, against the hovering +wolf and snarling panther. There is room enough for all of us, it has +bleated. Let me gambol on this square of sward, and do you frolic as +you choose beyond. The artless thing cannot discern the smacking chops +of wolf or hungry leer of panther, or perceive that it is its own +quivering pink limbs that the two are after, and which they are +preparing presently to rend. If Gabrielle could have read the thoughts +that were working in two busy skulls within that rumbling berline she +might have, perhaps, gazed out of the window with less hopeful +equanimity. + +Clovis, touched on his rawest points, was burning with exasperation. +As Pharamond had truly declared it was absolutely monstrous of the old +donkey who was dead to have placed a noble of ancient race and lofty +lineage in so ridiculous a predicament; and it was just one shade more +shocking that his never-sufficiently-to-be-execrated daughter should +have so meanly taken advantage of the situation. She had actually +dared, with an innocent simper which set all his nerves twanging, to +tell him one morning to his face that he was to live on an allowance! +He, her lord and master! Whether the allowance was to be large or +small was beside the question. He was firmly resolved, and supported +therein by Pharamond, utterly to repudiate the allowance. She had +humiliated him once, and was bent on doing so again and again--was +unwise enough, having planted a dagger, to turn it in the wound, +thereby rousing the victim out of sheer pain to make a desperate +effort of retaliation. By the terms of a will which she had been +sufficiently insolent to make, her fortune was to pass over his head +for the behoof of his own children, who would be thus emancipated from +any control on his part. If she could act so outrageously and show so +clearly how little she respected his feelings, she could not expect +him to consider hers. And with it all there was a sham veneer of +deference that was but added insult. "Clovis," she had said, when +composedly making the announcement, "I have thought it all over +carefully, and am acting for the best according to my lights. I should +like you to feel assured that the revenues I hand to you for your own +use are, indeed, your own; I mean that however ill you may behave to +me I will never withdraw them, for I do not wish you to feel, on your +good behaviour, at the mercy of your wife." + +There was a lofty air of magnanimity about this that was sheer +impertinence. It was as though she were to say:--"I know you to be a +worm while I am an æglet, and the lower you may elect to grovel, I +shall myself, by contrast, appear to soar the higher." Was it a crafty +way of putting him on his honour? Was he to understand that, of +course, he must respect the wishes in all things of so magnanimous a +benefactress? It was treating him like a schoolboy, and, whatever he +should elect to do to show his independence would be justifiable, +however unpalatable it might prove to the self-elected schoolmistress. + +Thus, by the most crystalline of demonstrations was it proved to +conscience that reproaches were out of place, and that that +importunate monitor would do well to go to bed. But for all that +Clovis felt secretly ashamed of himself as well as a little frightened +about something he had done, and impelled to look to the abbé for +support. + +The abbé, happily for himself, had long since smothered his own +monitor under the pillows, and had replaced the corpse by a rival, +called Expediency. He had made a suggestion to the marquis a few days +since, and the latter, shocked and alarmed at first, had permitted +himself without much trouble to be argued into its acceptance. So far +so good. The suggestion had been quietly carried out, and it remained +to be proved how the marquise would take it. + +It was in the afterglow of a lovely evening in late summer, that the +party arrived within sight of the well-known turrets. There were no +servants about. Toinon stood smileless at the gate alone, gazing into +vacancy, and seemed to survey her mistress as she descended from the +carriage with a serious air of doubtful concern. + +"Here we are at last!" said the marquise, with an assumption of +gaiety. "Why, how odd you look. This is not a cordial welcome!" + +"Madame is welcome," returned Toinon, curtly. + +"The children--they are well?" + +"Monsieur Victor and Mademoiselle Camille are well," was the brief +rejoinder. + +"Of course, the little dears are well," cried the abbé, cheerfully, +"or we should have heard of it. Poor Mademoiselle Toinon has lost her +tongue, being reduced to stone by ennui. How goes my old enemy, Maître +Jean Boulot?" + +"He is at Blois, busy." + +"So much the better, for I don't mind confessing now that I was a wee +bit afraid of his rough ways and stalwart bulk. His room is better +than his company--a Jacobin!" + +"No one who is good need be afraid of Jean," retorted Toinon, who, +without another word, led the way across the courtyard. + +The chill of presentiment touched Gabrielle like an icy wind as she +passed in to the dreary hall, black now in shadowy twilight. The +crumbling implements of torture on the walls took fantastic and +forbidding shapes. The panoplies of helmets of the Moyen Age seemed to +mope, and mow, and wink their eyeless sockets. Somehow, Lorge seemed +more grimly forbidding than before, after the long absence; there was +a pervading odour of dank decay which was as a breath from out the +charnel-house. The chatelaine shuddered, and drawing her cloak closer +took her foster-sister by the hand. + +"What is it? Toinon, tell me," she whispered. "Has something dreadful +happened?" + +Toinon glanced round quickly with the same strange expression of doubt +mingled with concern, and held her peace. + +What could it be? Toinon appeared to consider that her mistress had +done something wrong--or was it some act, whose unwisdom she would +surely rue, which filled the eyes of the foster-sister with +disapproval. In the look there was pained surprise as well as pity. +The tightened lips were closed, imprisoning reproach. + +Foreboding, she knew not what, the marquise mounted the grand +staircase and opened the door of the long saloon, expecting to find +the children there. + +"Not here? Where are they?" began Gabrielle. Then her voice died away, +the words frozen on her lips. The brothers had remained below, +ostensibly to superintend the removal of the baggage from the coach. +In the dim saloon with its view through the gaunt row of windows of +the crocus-coloured Loire, stood Gabrielle aghast, and Toinon, with +brows knit anxiously--and against the light at the further end a tall, +upright figure like a sable shadow, that was only too familiar. + +"She!" murmured the startled chatelaine, clasping her hands upon her +breast. "Mademoiselle Aglaé Brunelle!" + +"It was a trick, then," Toinon muttered, with a deepening frown. "She +knew not of her coming!" + +The commanding figure swept swiftly past the tapestries of Odette and +the mad old king, and with a glad cry Aglaé seized Gabrielle's cold +hands and covered them with kisses. + +"The good marquise!" she cooed. "The dear excellent marquise! I am so +glad, so glad, to have been summoned! There was a little +unpleasantness, was there not? A deplorable misunderstanding, and our +dearest lady like the angel that she is, has forgiven and forgotten, +and we are better friends than ever." + +"I never summoned you," began the marquise, faintly, but her voice was +quickly drowned in the torrent of the other's volubility. + +"I know--I know," she purred, with kittenish gestures of overweening +joy. "It was but a tiny ripple on our ideal life! Madame was sorry to +have so misread her Aglaé's devotion, and bade the dear abbé to invite +her hither on a visit. Did I delay an instant? Surely not, for I +burned to show the good marquise how cruelly she'd wronged me. Oh! +What ineffable delight! Is it not well to be divided by a tiff to +taste the glad moment of reunion?" + +Gabrielle remaining silent, too giddy and too sick to collect her +thoughts, the other went on glibly-- + +"I arrived yesterday, a whole day before you, and have been so +good--have I not, Mademoiselle Toinon? You like not poor Aglaé, and +frown at her, but must speak honest truth. Knowing to my dismay and +grief when I went hence that madame could deign to be jealous of one +so insignificant, I refrained from embracing my pets until madame +should grant permission. And since I adore them as if they were my +own, madame can guess what that has cost me. Yes! I can hardly believe +it possible myself, but I've not yet seen either Victor or Camille, +the sweet ones!" + +With a sigh of admiration and a large gesture of the dusky arms, +suggestive of amazement at such self-control, Aglaé ceased, shaking +her head archly, and holding the unwilling chatelaine by both hands, +gazed long and fondly at her. + +It was evident that the woman was playing a part, and was over-acting +it. Was this done purposely, that the marquise, who was not clever, +might have no doubt about the acting? It seemed so to watchful Toinon. +The creature had succeeded somehow in inflicting her baleful presence +for a second time upon the _mènage_, and wished it to be understood +that the returned Mademoiselle Brunelle was another person, no +relation to the one who had been ejected. Why had she come? What did +she propose to do? She surely did not expect the hapless marquise to +clasp in her arms one who had so injured her--respond in earnest to +her blandishments? + +The brothers had come up the stairs to reconnoitre, and stood somewhat +shyly in the doorway. Was there to be an explosion---a harrowing scene +in which passion was to be torn to tatters; or was the artful play of +the abbé to win the trick? He took in the situation with an exulting +heart-thump. He had judged rightly. Of course he had! The marquise, +pale as marble, was struck dumb--discomfited. She neither stormed nor +wept. With a movement almost as kittenish as Aglaé's, he joined the +group. + +"Reconciled? I knew it," he cried, rubbing his white hands with +relief. "Clovis, come and witness this delightful spectacle. The past +is past and buried. We shall now begin afresh, and, profiting by +experience, will be so happy, that madame will forgive our little +_ruse_. The fact is, my sweet Gabrielle, that Clovis intends to devote +himself to a yet deeper course of study, which requires a secretary +and a partner--one who has an inkling of the secrets which are to be +unearthed for the world's benefit. I took on myself, therefore, to +risk the vials of a transient annoyance for the ultimate good of all. +Mademoiselle will now be so occupied with her new duties that, to her +regret, she must renounce all intercourse with the little ones. This, +I believe, will meet your wishes? You are not angry? That is well. We +are both pardoned, are we not?" + +The marquise cast one slow glance of dumb remonstrance at Clovis, who +was shifting from one foot to the other, guiltily, and shaking herself +free from the exuberant Aglaé, left the room with Toinon. + +Her strange reception by the latter was fully explained. Her +foster-sister had believed that she was sufficiently unstable of +purpose herself to have summoned the evil spirit that had been +exorcised; it had not entered the girl's head that the men could have +dared secretly to play such a trick upon her patience. What was their +motive for the proceeding? Did the woman wield an occult power over +the marquis such as forced him to obey her will even from a distance? +Did she hold him in such abject thraldom that he really could not get +on without her? The abbé had been the acting party in the arrangement. +Had he re-introduced the bugbear merely to distress his sister-in-law, +and display his malignant spleen? Such speculations as these passed +vaguely through Gabrielle's dizzy brain as she stared aimlessly from +her bedroom window into the courtyard, mechanically counting the big +familiar stones which composed the opposite wall, surveying the +iron-bound postern door with its complicated locks and bolts. + +Toinon watched her mistress with growing ire as she bustled hither and +thither arranging the details of the toilet. + +Though scarce conceivable it was true--she could perceive it in every +mournful line on the gloomy face of the marquise--that these bad men +had deliberately done behind her back that which they knew to be most +abhorrent to the gentle chatelaine; and she the one to whom they owed +every earthly comfort! By so mad a stroke they had overreached +themselves, for, of course, madame would resent the intolerable +insolence--order the woman off with contumely--send the men packing. +Toinon was aware of the late maréchal's testamentary dispositions; was +thankful now to remember that it rested with her mistress alone to +turn out the ex-governess as well as the chevalier and the abbé; and +it somewhat nettled the faithful abigail that she should not at once +have shown a proper spirit, and have abruptly closed the situation. +The marquis looked just now so shamefaced that a few indignant words +would have brought him to a sense of his wickedness. Whether there +were or not guilty relations between the marquis and mademoiselle, was +beside the point. The latter had by her fiendish behaviour well-nigh +driven the marquise out of the world, and here she was playing the +affectionate friend with exaggerated pantomime. It was disgusting. +Madame being much too good, would perhaps give her shelter till the +morrow, instead of expelling her into the night; but madame must rise +in the morning with a firm resolve to make them all understand that +she was mistress. + +Thus grumbling, Toinon, who was answered only by a sigh. A thrill of +doom had passed over Gabrielle. She felt the feeling of helplessness +in face of the inevitable which brings with it an abiding sense of +calm. She was hedged round by enemies--what mattered one the more? +That Clovis should be so unutterably base as he now showed himself to +be filled her with a numb surprise, tinged with subdued regret. The +world, from the point where she now stood, was of such exceeding +hideousness, that it came home with conviction to the spectator that +nothing mattered any more. Oh! to be out of it! To be protected by a +shield of sod from the tawdry mockeries that make this dwelling-place +untenable! Should she, acting on Toinon's counsel, gird up her loins +on the morrow, and assert her rights? _À quoi bon?_ Gabrielle felt so +shocked, so sore, so weary, and so desolate, that to show energy was +not worth while. They had had the tact to let her comprehend at once +that there was to be no more interference between herself and the dear +ones. That was a prudent move on their part. Were these not now her +all? If she and they were permitted to live their quiet life in the +secluded wing, what signified the rest? Victor and Camille were out of +reach of the greed and malice of the foe, quite secure from harm, for +were their mother to be snatched away, they would be removed at once +by the maréchale, and watched over by the friendly solicitor. + +Toinon surveyed her mistress with amazed disgust when the latter +quietly remarked, as she unrobed to go to rest, that for the present +she would watch and wait; and act, if need were, by and by. + + + + + CHAPTER XIX. + + A COUNCIL OF WAR. + + +Could we remove the fronts from the imposing domiciles whose dignified +exteriors compel our admiring awe, we should often rub our eyes in +astonishment at the curious spectacle within. Than the outgoings and +incomings of the inhabitants of Lorge nothing could appear more +decorous and respectable, and yet as regarded a prospect of lasting +peace, that group was composed of the least promising elements. + +On the day after the return from Paris Gabrielle remained in +seclusion, making no sign, while the others waited with more or less +impatience to see if she would throw down the gauntlet. Aglaé could +scarce conceal her satisfaction at the warmness of her dear friend's +greeting. Clovis was genuinely delighted to see her and made no secret +of his joy, whereat the abbé was annoyed, though he knew better than +to betray the feeling. Time had not loosed the bonds wherein the +marquis was held by his affinity. On the contrary, absence had in his +case made the heart grow fonder, for he seemed now to have quite +forgotten the fear with which former admiration had been mingled. It +was rather hard, the abbé could not help considering, that his own +influence, for which he had laboured with such patience and dexterity, +should pale so easily before that of this lady, who for twelve months +had made no move. By summoning her to his aid, had he raised up a +spirit which by and by he would be powerless to lay? No. For the +attainment of an object that was now clearly modelled before his +sight, the assistance of Mademoiselle Brunelle was absolutely +necessary. The object attained, he would steal a march on her, and on +his brothers as well, if need were. Meanwhile, it was of the best +augury that the chatelaine should remain quiescent. It has been said +that the woman who hesitates is lost. Certain it is that one of the +nature of the marquise--of the class who seem specially made to endure +slings and arrows--does not gain strength by delay. She can in a +moment of impulse perform an act of energy; but if she waits and +broods her strength exhales itself in moans. + +The marquis and his friend got out their books, made a grand parade of +being vastly busy--even dug out the blessed 'cello and groaned out an +affecting fugue; but expecting you know not what it is impossible to +keep the mind from wandering, and Aglaé, try as she would to command +herself, jumped up at intervals and strode the polished floor with +statuesque arms crossed over the ample bosom, longing for something to +occur. + +"No news is good news, believe me," the abbé whispered in caution, as +hour succeeded hour, and their patience began to ooze. "If she accepts +her position without a struggle, a most important point is gained." + +Aglaé sniffed fretfully, and passed her square-tipped fingers through +the masses of her blue-black hair. "That is mighty well," she said, +tartly; "but for the creature to take me back again so quietly, after +all that passed, makes me long to pinch, and beat, and slap anything +so deplorably spiritless. If she does not do something to-morrow, you +will have to lock me up, for I shall not be able to prevent myself +from rushing into her room and banging her head against the wall." + +"No more blunders!" returned the abbé, sternly. "You have not the +skill to read her. Do not forget that it was by your wrong-headedness +and bungling that you brought about your own defeat. Remember the +terms of the agreement which was to bring you back among us. You were +to be guided by me absolutely, and abstain from silly little private +plots which could only prove disastrous to us both." + +Mademoiselle was silent, and her heavy mobile brows shaped themselves +into something like a scowl. She bit her thick red lips and smiled an +engaging smile, as she patted the abbé with a fan, playfully. "Of +course, I will do as you bid," she said, "but you must not look so +cross. I am all gratitude for your many kindnesses and too glad of so +skilled a guide." Then as she turned away there were lines about her +mouth that were not pretty to look upon, and a sullen shade upon her +brow, that was gone again like a summer thunder-cloud. + +The classically-modelled bosom of mademoiselle covered a black well of +bitterness. She loathed herself for having bungled; she hated +Gabrielle with an all-absorbing hate as the author of her +discomfiture; she detested the abbé for his domineering ways--and +Clovis for not having defended her. She hated all and everyone in that +she had accidentally been kept in the dark as to the real owner of the +fortune, whereby she had been betrayed into a pitfall. + +As she was being ignominiously conducted to Blois, like a thief taken +in the act, a boiling geyser of venom had scalded her cheeks; and as +she writhed behind a lace handkerchief she registered a vow to be +avenged on Gabrielle some day a hundred-fold for that which she had +borne at her hands. The knowledge did not tend to appease her wrath +that without outside help she would be incapable of fulfilling the +vow. The devil will do much to assist his own, but his methods are not +artistically complete, and at a critical moment he whisks into space +with a grin, leaving his votaries to disaster. Hence it is not always +well to depend too much upon the devil. It is a fact worthy of remark +that in the legends of his many compacts with mankind it is always +assumed that he is honest in his dealings and a model of business-like +straightforwardness, while it is the insignificant mortal--mere +wax in such hands--who ultimately cheats and circumvents him. Surely +this is all wrong. We would not wish the devil to be inconsistent, +and it is in the fitness of things that his ardent worshippers should +find the ground slippery under foot, and the power in which they +trusted--nowhere. + +Vainly she revolved the chances of ever returning to Lorge, when +suddenly arrived the abbé's first letter, which was quite sticky and +mawkish with honey. What was he driving at? He would not write thus +without an object. She smiled, locked away the missive, and waited. + +Then came the second letter, wherein, to her surprise, she found the +gates open again which she feared were hermetically closed. Go back to +Lorge? Of course she would, with alacrity, and follow the abbé's +instructions, though she understood them not. She knew that the old +nuisance was defunct, that the marquise was in full possession. What +was this miracle which called her back to Paradise? It mattered not. +Her massive foot once more within the threshold, she would profit by +the experience of the past, and in the end come out the gainer. + +Now you will perceive how odd a mixture was the ex-governess; a woman +who hung for awhile in the balance, till the devil inserted a toe and, +by its weight, settled the matter. She had genuinely liked the +marquis's children, and would, if circumstances so ordained, have gone +down to posterity as a typically virtuous second wife, but for that +devil's toe! + +Well, the toe was inserted, and proved a heavy one, for down came the +scale with a thud. Perceiving they were a fruitful cause of danger, +she made up her mind without a qualm that she would avoid her quondam +pets in the future, and school herself to gaze with sphinx-like +stoniness on the twain whom she had kissed and cuddled. + +What happened to them--one way or the other--was become a matter of +complete indifference. The black well seethed and boiled. She would +have revenge, somehow, and at the same time feather her nest. + +Suspense lasted till the end of the second day. As the party--minus +the chatelaine--were sitting down to dinner, there appeared upon the +scene, Toinon, who demurely laid a note upon the marquis's plate, and +without a word retired. + +As many weak people do, Clovis stared at the letter, longing to open +it, and yet loth to do so, knowing that its contents could scarcely be +agreeable, and it was not until the snorting and sniffing of the +affinity awoke him to a sense of responsibility, that he took it up +and broke the seal. The letter was exceedingly unpleasant and to the +purpose. + + +"Clovis, when I called upon my father to rid me of that woman, I +accomplished a sacred duty which cost me dear; for to inflict pain +upon another brings the like upon myself. That you should have forced +her on me again, was due, I am sure, to fear. I suspected before that +you were afraid of her, for what reason I could not guess. The gulf +between us is impassable, and as you brood over this fact and know +that you have dug it yourself, you will be filled some day with +unavailable remorse. The future appals me--I shudder at its +contemplation, wondering to what you may be goaded. The conduct of an +unscrupulous woman, who has all to gain, I can understand, but yours +remains a mystery. What a life! What a future! If at your age you can +be so easily fooled by a vulgar _intriguante_, what will become of you +when old? How singular a creation is man! You have oppressed, +humiliated, abandoned me who loved you for yourself with an ardour +that amazes me when I recall it now, and are content to grovel at the +feet of one who but likes you for what you can bestow--whom you will +know some day and despise. + +"When your conscience forces you to see what you have done, seek not +to wreak vengeance upon me. Henceforth, we dwell apart, and your life +and mine have naught in common. You may go your ways on this condition +unmolested. Never speak to me, or to the children: never let any +member of your coterie invade the apartments I inhabit. The house is +large enough. Avoid a scandal. Farewell. To each other we are +henceforth dead. + + "Gabrielle Marquise de Gange." + + +With twitching fingers the marquis passed the letter to the abbé who +read and passed it on to mademoiselle. It was not the sort of letter +that it would be nice to read aloud. Silence fell upon the group, and +by tacit consent all rose and went about their avocations, without +venturing to comment on the document. + +The letter breathed dignity, and there was something fine about the +scathing words contemptuously flung at the foe. A vulgar +_intriguante_, indeed! Well, why deny that it was true, though the +statement was somewhat blunt? Mademoiselle always preferred to +consider herself the architect of her own fortunes. + +On the morrow, the abbé, who, more disconcerted than he chose to +admit, by the decided action of the chatelaine, had sallied forth to +meditate in private, perceived that she had already taken steps to +isolate herself! + +He found workmen busy in opening a doorway which should give access to +the children's wing from the bedroom of the marquise, and a locksmith +changing the lock of the postern which gave upon the garden moat. + +So that pleasaunce was to be denied henceforth to the group which +composed the enemy? How would Clovis take this move? A scandal, +forsooth! Was she not causing one herself by so ostentatiously raising +barriers and employing workmen who would chatter? It was evidently her +intention to occupy the long saloon, the boudoir adjoining, the +bedroom that looked on the yard, and the children's wing, with the +moat garden for outdoor recreation, leaving the rest of the premises +to the family. If they were never to see or speak with her, how could +they prosecute their plans? The masters who doubtless would be +summoned from Blois to teach the young idea would certainly detect +something unusual, and they too would be sure to gossip. And what of +the servants? They were trustworthy enough, since they had for the +most part been engaged by the abbé himself, as representing the +Marquis de Gange, and Gabrielle had never thought of interfering. But +the best of servants have tongues, and when the neighbours should flit +over from Montbazon (which they were certain to do shortly) coachman +would confide in coachman, and lacquey in lacquey, and old Madame de +Vaux would hear all about it and spread the news like wildfire. All +Touraine would believe that the Marquise de Gange was a prisoner in +her own chateau; the mob who were fond of her would rise, and there +would be a pretty pother! What a pity she was not indeed a prisoner, +hedged round with subtle precautions such as the abbé could so readily +invent! + +When he revolved this point, he sighed. No. That plan was not feasible +for many reasons, at least for the present. This was not the moment +for coercion but for wheedling. Yet, he reflected, it might be as +well, as chance arose, to complete the ring of servants. How very +provoking it was that things should run so agley! Mademoiselle, +instead of proving useful, seemed only likely to give rise to +complications. Her reappearance had already produced a disastrous +effect, for what was the use of setting her to manage the marquis's +conscience if his wife could retire out of reach? As matters stood, to +drag her thence by violence would never do, for shilly-shally Clovis +would turn restive. If only he could be induced to go away for a time +with his troublesome conscience to pay a visit to the prophet at +Spa--but there again arose a difficulty. His presence was necessary +here, for if that will was to be cancelled and another made, it was he +who ostensibly must manage it. + +A council of war! determined Pharamond at last. Valuable time is being +wasted. We must combine and resolve upon a plan of campaign which must +be carried without flinching to the end. + +Having arrived at this conclusion, he turned briskly round and went +with rapid steps in search of his allies. + +Presently, mademoiselle, the chevalier, and the abbé found themselves +sitting round a table in the small sanctum the latter had made +his own--a cosy little chamber, panelled in dark oak with heavy +double-doors--and the host took up his parable and spake, + +"Mademoiselle Brunelle is probably aware," he began, in his low sweet +voice, "that she was not summoned here for her charming society alone. +We have long known each other's views and wishes, and have arrived at +a consciousness that without mutual assistance our desires are +unattainable. Fortunately they do not clash; on the contrary, although +different, they run amicably side by side. So fortunate! It will be +best, will it not, if I review them? + +"Mademoiselle Brunelle has developed a fancy to wear a coronet. The +said coronet would prove a paltry bauble unless handsomely gilt and +jewelled. The gold and jewels are unluckily in possession of a lady +who at present holds the coronet, and who has no intention of +resigning either the one or the other. She must be made to give up +both--how?" + +There was a pause, during which the chevalier blinked uneasily. The +abbé had succeeded in drawing one brother at least well under his +thumb. Like a hound, poor sodden Phebus gazed constantly into the eyes +of Pharamond, seeking his orders there. There was a germ of an idea +within the breast of each, which none cared to drag into the light. + +"Abbé," remarked mademoiselle, curtly. "As usual, you beat about the +bush. There is none to overhear. What you would suggest, state +plainly." + +"Am I not plain enough?" laughed Pharamond, lightly. + +"No," returned Aglaé, drawing down her brows in thought. "You say that +our views run parallel. How can that be? You love that mawkish +creature, and, for my part, as I have said before, you may wear her +and welcome, though I don't admire your taste. I tried to assist you +in the past, but--well--my efforts were not successful. How can I help +you now, without injury to my own prospects? You are not so foolish as +to suppose that I would accept Clovis without a sou, nor am I so silly +as to imagine that you would take that chit without her fortune." + +"Mademoiselle sketches a situation with such brief lucidity, that it +is a privilege to listen to her," replied Pharamond, with a tight +twitch of his thin lips, that was intended for a smile. "But as there +are blotches on the sun, so is not even she quite perfect. She forgets +that the world is ever rolling, and that as we roll with it our views +change and give place to others. She will remember, perhaps, that but +for me she would still be an angel without the gate, and grant that I +am not likely to employ the paw of one so clever, without sharing the +chestnuts which she rescues." + +"A compromise, then?" said Aglaé. "I am still completely in the dark." + +"Because you start on a false premise, which was once true, but is so +no longer. With an engaging frankness, which claims my devoted +admiration, you admit that you do not care a straw for Clovis without +his coronet and a sufficiency of wealth. Well, I care not a jot more +for Gabrielle. She was misguided enough to flout my suit, to cover me +with lofty scorn, to tread me under foot. Am I a man, think you, to +forgive that? Not likely. + +"If I could have my way, I would take her with me for a while, and +then fling her, soiled and broken, to the lowest of my lackeys! It +would be a sweet and complete vengeance, which, alas, prudence bids me +to forego." The abbé, as he considered the delightful possibilities of +such a vengeance, looked so wicked with his pallid face and grinding +teeth, and green eyes lighted from within, that the chevalier cowered, +and Aglaé was a little uncomfortable. + +Here was a revelation, and a clue to his labyrinthine mind. He had +come to dislike the unlucky marquise as much as she did, and the two +were to unite for her undoing. That was capital! + +Gradually the green light paled, the white face flushed, and Pharamond +laughing lightly was himself again. + +"How wise we are," he said, "to make full confession and keep no +secrets back! She has tied up her fortune, and must untie it, and then +we must take possession and divide. You and Clovis will take a half, +Phebus and I the other. There will be enough for all. Surely the +arrangement is a simple one." + +Yes. Certain conditions arrived at, the rest was simple. That germ +down in the darkness was developing rapidly, and putting forth dark +slimy leaves like those of the deadly nightshade. + +The three contemplated one another and kept silence, each thinking the +same thought. + +Having been induced to revoke her will, the marquise must be put away. + +But ere the treasure could be reached there were ramparts to be +scaled, wide ditches to be crossed. Could the obstacles ever be +surmounted? Some of them towered as high as virgin Alps. + +The abbé proceeded to explain that the rôle of mademoiselle was to +skilfully bring the marquis to a fitting state of mind. She was to +find engrossing occupation for such intellect as he possessed, dazzle +his eyes with mystical gewgaws, increase by artful pricks his +exasperation against his wife, swaddle him with flattering attentions, +keep the wound green, yet wrap him in cotton wool. + +Mademoiselle shook her head dubiously. Did she not remember the look +he gave her when she wished the wife to drown? He would never consent +to such strong measures, as might seem convenient to less qualmish +persons. + +"Pooh!" retorted Pharamond. "Do I not know him? When a thing is +irrevocably done, he will be glad to benefit by the results. You must +keep him in play like a struggling fish, and when the time comes bring +him to land. With half a great fortune, and the removal of its +importunate owner, he would soon grow content." + +"Half the fortune," mused Aglaé, deep down within herself. "H'm! H'm! +Half the fortune! Why not the whole? Half-measures are not +satisfactory!" + + + + + END OF VOLUME II. + + + + * * * * * + SIMMONS & BOTTEN, PRINTERS, LONDON. _G. C. & Co_. + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Maid of Honour, Volume 2 (of 3), by +Lewis Wingfield + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MAID OF HONOUR, VOLUME 2 *** + +***** This file should be named 38875-8.txt or 38875-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/8/8/7/38875/ + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by Google Books + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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A Tale of the Dark Ages. Vol. II.</title> +<meta name="Author" content="The Hon. Lewis Wingfield"> + +<meta name="Publisher" content="Richard Bentley and Son"> +<meta name="Date" content="1891"> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1"> +<style type="text/css"> +body {margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; background-color:#FFFFFF;} + + +p.normal {text-indent:.25in; text-align: justify;} +.center {margin: auto; text-align:center; margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:24pt} +.stage {margin-left:10%} + + +p.right {text-align:right; margin-right:20%;} + +p.continue {text-indent: 0in; margin-top:9pt;} +.text10 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:10%; margin-right:0px; font-size:90%;} +.text20 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:20%; margin-right:0px; font-size:90%;} + + +.poem0 { + margin-top: 24pt; margin-left: 0%; + margin-right: 0%; text-align: left; + margin-bottom: 24pt; font-size:90%} + +.poem1 { + margin-top: 24pt; margin-left: 2em; + margin-right: 10%; text-align: left; + margin-bottom: 24pt; font-size:90%} + +.poem2 { + margin-top: 24pt; margin-left: 20%; + margin-right: 20%; text-align: left; + margin-bottom: 24pt; font-size:90%} + +.poem3 { + margin-top: 24pt; margin-left: 30%; + margin-right: 30%; text-align: left; + margin-bottom: 24pt; font-size:90%} + + + + + +figcenter {margin:auto; text-align:center; margin-top:9pt;} + +.t0 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:0em; margin-right:0px;} +.t1 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:1em; margin-right:0px;} +.t2 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:2em; margin-right:0px;} +.t3 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:3em; margin-right:0px;} +.t4 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4em; margin-right:0px;} +.t5 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:5em; margin-right:0px;} +.t6 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:6em; margin-right:0px;} +.t7 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:7em; margin-right:0px;} +.t8 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:8em; margin-right:0px;} +.t9 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:9em; margin-right:0px;} +.t10 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:10em; margin-right:0px;} +.t11 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:11em; margin-right:0px;} +.t12 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:12em; margin-right:0px;} +.t13 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:13em; margin-right:0px;} +.t14 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:14em; margin-right:0px;} +.t15 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:15em; margin-right:0px;} +.t16 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:16em; margin-right:0px;} + + +.quote {text-indent:.25in; text-align: justify; font-size:90%; margin-top:36pt; margin-bottom:36pt} +.ctrquote {text-align: center; font-size:90%; margin-top:36pt; margin-bottom:36pt} + +.dateline {text-align:right; font-size:90%; margin-right:10%; margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:24pt} + +h1,h2,h3,h4,h5 {text-align: center;} + +span.sc {font-variant: small-caps; font-size:110%;} +span.sc2 {font-variant: small-caps; font-size:90%;} + +hr.W10 {width:10%; color:black; margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:24pt} + +hr.W20 {width:20%; color:black; margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:12pt} + +hr.W50 {width:50%; color:black;} +hr.W90 {width:90%; color:black;} + +p.hang1 {margin-left:3em; text-indent:-3em;} +p.hang2 {margin-left:3em; text-indent:0em;} + + +</style> + +</head> + +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's The Maid of Honour, Volume 2 (of 3), by Lewis Wingfield + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Maid of Honour, Volume 2 (of 3) + A Tale of the Dark Days of France + +Author: Lewis Wingfield + +Release Date: February 14, 2012 [EBook #38875] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MAID OF HONOUR, VOLUME 2 *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by Google Books + + + + + +</pre> + + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<p class="hang1">Transcriber's Notes:<br> + +1. Page scan source:<br> +http://books.google.com/books?oe=UTF-8&id=zxBLAAAAIAAJ</p> + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>THE MAID OF HONOUR</h2> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h1>THE MAID OF HONOUR</h1> +<br> +<br> +<h2>A Tale of the Dark Days of France</h2> +<br> +<br> +<h5>BY</h5> + +<h2>THE HON. LEWIS WINGFIELD</h2> + +<h5>AUTHOR OF<br> + +"LADY GRIZEL," "THE LORDS OF STROGUE," "ABIGEL ROWE"<br> + +ETC.</h5> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h4><i>IN THREE VOLUMES</i></h4> +<h4>VOL. II.</h4> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h4>LONDON</h4> +<h3>RICHARD BENTLEY AND SON</h3> +<h3>Publishers in Ordinary to Her Majesty the Queen.</h3> + +<h3>1891</h3> +<br> +<h5>[<i>All Rights Reserved</i>]</h5> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h5>TO</h5> + +<h2>WILLIAM HENRY WELDON.</h2> +<br> +<h3>A TRIBUTE</h3> + +<h3>OF OLD FRIENDSHIP.</h3> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<div style="margin-left:25%; margin-right:25%"> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> +<br> + +<h3>CHAPTER XI.</h3> + +<p class="normal"><a name="div1Ref_11" href="#div1_11"><span class="sc">A +Crisis.</span></a></p> +<br> + +<h3>CHAPTER XII.</h3> + +<p class="normal"><a name="div1Ref_12" href="#div1_12"><span class="sc">Diamond +Cut Diamond.</span></a></p> +<br> + +<h3>CHAPTER XIII.</h3> + +<p class="normal"><a name="div1Ref_13" href="#div1_13"><span class="sc">Domestic +Surgery.</span></a></p> +<br> + +<h3>CHAPTER XIV.</h3> + +<p class="normal"><a name="div1Ref_14" href="#div1_14"><span class="sc">Check.</span></a></p> +<br> + +<h3>CHAPTER XV.</h3> + +<p class="normal"><a name="div1Ref_15" href="#div1_15"><span class="sc">The +Situation Changes.</span></a></p> +<br> + +<h3>CHAPTER XVI.</h3> + +<p class="normal"><a name="div1Ref_16" href="#div1_16"><span class="sc">The Abbé +is Terribly Perplexed.</span></a></p> +<br> + +<h3>CHAPTER XVII.</h3> + +<p class="normal"><a name="div1Ref_17" href="#div1_17"><span class="sc"> +Gabrielle has an Idea.</span></a></p> +<br> + +<h3>CHAPTER XVIII.</h3> + +<p class="normal"><a name="div1Ref_18" href="#div1_18"><span class="sc">A +Surprise.</span></a></p> +<br> + +<h3>CHAPTER XIX.</h3> + +<p class="normal"><a name="div1Ref_19" href="#div1_19"><span class="sc">A +Council Of War.</span></a></p> +</div> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h1>THE MAID OF HONOUR.</h1> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_11" href="#div1Ref_11">A CRISIS.</a></h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">The abbé's departure left a void in the household. He had grown to be +so conspicuous and necessary a feature in it that even Gabrielle +regretted his mercurial presence, while conscious of a feeling of +relief in that he no more pursued her. It was but a temporary respite, +she knew. He would return ere long, renew the siege, demand an answer. +What that answer was to be, she did not feel certain. Her interest in +herself had gone. She missed the readings, the soft declamation of the +musical voice; for, left more alone than ever, her mind brooded +without distraction on the past and the tangled possibilities of the +future. The chevalier's attentions were rather irksome than otherwise, +for his conversational powers were limited. His position was that of +watchdog, and, as all the world knows, watch-dogs are expected to +watch and not to talk. He was content to sit staring with vacant eyes +at his sister-in-law for an unlimited period, breathing very hard and +emitting strong fumes of spirits with a meaningless but complacent +expression of conscious rectitude. He was doing his duty, and knew it. +Since his rebuff on that moonlight night, now long ago, he had seemed +in his slow way to have become possessed by a fixed idea. The prize +was not for him. His brother had behaved magnanimously in permitting +him to try first for it. Having failed--as he might have known he +would--he must keep his promise, and assist him in the chase to the +best of his abilities.</p> + +<p class="normal">He was a remarkable man, his brother, of that he had been convinced +for years, who was destined to have his will in all things; and quite +right, too, for commanding genius should surely achieve success.</p> + +<p class="normal">Dreary fat Phebus! Lulled by the monotonous life at Lorge, the little +intellect he possessed had gone to sleep. Now and again he had sallied +forth to shoot with the gamekeeper, but could never hit it off with +him. His oracular remarks were met by silence. Jean Boulot treated him +with a sullen and enforced politeness, and it dawned on his sluggish +mind by slow degrees that the gamekeeper heartily despised him. He +despised by a common country peasant, who, instead of sneering, should +have been grateful to be noticed by a half-brother of the Marquis de +Gange! The position was so unsatisfactory that the chevalier gave up +the chase. He also gave up riding, for his horse would take the +direction of Montbazon, the welcome of whose inmates frightened him. +Angelique looked so wistful, and the old lady was so effusively +hospitable that he quite trembled in his shoes lest he should wake up +some morning and find that he was married.</p> + +<p class="normal">Moping about with no occupation either for mind or body, it was +natural that he should have fallen into the trap which is prepared for +the idle and empty-pated; that he should while away the laggard hours +in the company of the best cognac.</p> + +<p class="normal">Time hung very heavy on the hands of neglected Gabrielle. Toinon was a +sweet girl who strove by many little acts to comfort her stricken +heart; but the pride of the chatelaine stood between herself and +Toinon. It was bitter to expose her wrongs to the tender touch of a +loving foster-sister. Even when engaged on missions to the sick poor, +of whom, alack, there were far too many, she could not keep her mind +from brooding. "What was, and what might have been," formed a dismal +refrain that was for ever ringing in her ears.</p> + +<p class="normal">The abbé remained a long time absent. His letters were full of +interest, though not particularly cheerful. He appeared to have come +to the conclusion that affairs in the capital were not improving. "The +king is much to blame," he wrote, "while the queen is rash, and the +combination is not fortuitous." He told of the strange and aggressive +proceedings of that impudent body, the National Assembly, of the +treasonous language employed by some of its members. These impertinent +rascals babbled of the Rights of Man in a manner which, to one of +superior birth, was disgusting. He related that their majesties had +been forcibly taken from Versailles and bidden to dwell in the +metropolis, and told stories of Monsieur de Lafayette, whose conduct +was the more to be regretted in that he was himself a noble. He had +actually proclaimed in a public séance of the rabble who directed +affairs, that, "When oppression renders a revolution necessary, +insurrection is the most sacred of duties." Good heavens! what next? +Political societies had thrown off the mantle of secrecy and openly +paraded their abominable sentiments. The "Society of the Jacobins" +bade fair to be a dangerous element in the future, although a rival +club called the Feuillans had recently been established to +counterbalance its baleful influence. Altogether, Pharamond, who was +usually so lively, looked at events through darkened spectacles.</p> + +<p class="normal">The abbé had duly presented his credentials to the Maréchal de Brèze, +who had been effusively civil and had wearied him with endless +questions about his daughter's happiness. The life at Lorge must be +Arcadian, he had declared with satisfaction, or the lovely chatelaine +would have returned to the capital long since.</p> + +<p class="normal">Why, suggested the abbé, did he not make a pilgrimage to visit her?</p> + +<p class="normal">No, he had replied, shaking his venerable head; happiness was a +fragile thing that must not be disturbed. The advent of an old man and +an old woman would be like the throwing of a stone into a tarn. He was +content to know that Gabrielle was happy, and to write and receive +letters. Moreover, he did not wish his darling to return to Paris in +its present chaotic state.</p> + +<p class="normal">These letters of Pharamond's were mumbled out at breakfast by the +chevalier.</p> + +<p class="normal">Clovis had resumed his habit of breakfasting alone--moreover, politics +bored him; but mademoiselle made a point of being present, after +having given her dear charges their own meal in the distant wing; for +she liked to hear the news, indited by the abbé.</p> + +<p class="normal">Gabrielle seldom spoke. She seemed in a despondent daze which provoked +the observant governess. Was the silly creature going out of her mind? +Those who are unable to stand up for themselves deserve to be +subjected to the yoke. Aglaé's fingers itched to slap the marquise, +or give her a sound shaking. But she had been lectured by the abbé +before he left, was aware that the dog was watching, and knew that it +behoved her to be prudent; not to quarrel with her ally at present. As +to Gabrielle, she smiled sometimes a mysterious smile that was more +sad than tears. Happy! why, her heart was slowly breaking. Nobody +wanted her. Her only desire was to remain secluded--shielded by +distance from the searching glances of her father, who, with the eyes +of love, could not fail to read her misery.</p> + +<p class="normal">Autumn waned, the winter came and went, and spring came round, and +still the abbé was absent. The long evenings, when, try as she would +to exorcise them, the procession of her sorrows danced fandangoes in +the brain of Gabrielle to the accompaniment of the chevalier's +snoring, were becoming unendurable. How long was this martyrdom to +continue?--how long?</p> + +<p class="normal">The cold winds had softened their rigour; the air was growing balmy. +There were voices down below in half-whispered converse. Moving to the +open window, Gabrielle looked out. How calm and sweet an evening! How +placidly the river flowed past the feet of the gloomy castle! How +gently the boughs waved opposite beyond the stream to the rhythm of +the breeze!</p> + +<p class="normal">Under the windows of the grand saloon there was a sort of narrow +gangway which acted as penthouse to the grilled windows of the +dungeons on the water's edge. In old times it had been used as a +platform for embarkation in boats, but now it was trodden by few feet, +for its flags were slimy and treacherous. The voices were those of +Jean and Toinon, who were apparently indulging in a delightful +flirtation. They had been out rowing. The clumsy wherry used by the +family was moored to a ring a few yards distant. The lovers were +exchanging delicious confidences before parting for the night.</p> + +<p class="normal">Lovers billing and cooing in the moonlight, discoursing, doubtless, on +the happiness they should certainly enjoy when married. They believed +in human happiness, and looked forward to a future! Gabrielle laughed +a hoarse laugh that frightened her, and she retreated to the boudoir +in a feverish tingle. What was there to-night that made her feel more +desolate than usual? She must be unwell, for her nerves were twanging +so that she could not sit still a moment. The children were asleep by +this time, for mademoiselle was very careful of them. She deserved, at +least, that justice. Asleep and dreaming--not of her; for she rarely +saw them now at all, except gambolling like kids in the distance. She +felt suddenly impelled to be near the treasures over whom her soul +yearned so sorely. She could not see them, of course, for had not +mademoiselle made her understand long since that in the nursery she +held no authority? The dear ones. Thank God they were happy! She would +creep out in the spring air and kiss the wall behind which the +children lay! Almost guiltily she took up a silken wrap with trembling +fingers and stole forth. It was well the chevalier was in a boozy +sleep, or he would insist on following, and in his presence she would +have been ashamed to gratify her whim. Away, across the inner yard, +through the postern door, of which she wore a golden key upon a +bracelet, along the trim alleys of the moat garden to the extreme +right wing of the two floors of which mademoiselle had taken +possession. As we know, she established herself on arrival in the +rooms below the salon; but later, under pretext that it was damp, had +removed herself and her charges. In the chamber now used as nursery +she had caused a window to be pierced, so as to give access to the +garden moat It was so much better for the children, she had pleaded, +to be able to dance out at once upon the sunlit grass instead of +threading darksome corridors. How thoughtful! Of course she was right, +as usual. Clovis was enchanted with her attention to details, and the +window was made forthwith.</p> + +<p class="normal">A ray of light streamed across the sward. Strange. The casement was +open. How imprudent, and the dear ones in bed! In hot and anxious +wrath Gabrielle was about to rush forward and remonstrate, when her +steps were stayed. They were not in bed, for she could detect their +voices prattling with the marquis and their governess. Stealing +stealthily nearer she peeped in. Through her breast there shot a pain +so sharp that she almost hoped to die. An affecting family group, of +which <i>she</i> should have been the centre--her legitimate place usurped +by that wicked cruel woman! while she, the mistress of the house, was +shivering without in the night air! A pariah--a leper--a loathsome +thing--cast without the gates. What had she done--what had she +done--to deserve this dreadful fate? The marquis was reclining in a +low chair, with the complacent calm that comfort brings, while Aglaé, +bending over, was carefully bandaging his hand. With what tenderness +she folded and tightened the linen. He had injured himself in some +slight way with a broken bottle, and was smilingly watching her work +whilst hearkening to the babble of the little ones who, in wadded +dressing-gowns, were toasting their pink toes before the fire.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are so good to all of us," softly remarked Clovis. "Camille and +Victor, say, do you appreciate mademoiselle?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I try to be a mother to them," was her calm response.</p> + +<p class="normal">A mother! Clovis sighed and frowned, while the children cried out with +blithe accord, "Aglaé? of course we love her."</p> + +<p class="normal">Camille, stealing up behind, passed her tiny arms about the portly +waist, while Aglaé said, quietly, "Be still, my pet, or you will make +me hurt your father."</p> + +<p class="normal">Victor--a wise boy--wagged his head sagely at the hissing hearth, and +announced his conviction, "That mademoiselle had come down from +heaven. But, never mind," he added, "when she gets back she'll have a +higher place than before, on such a nice and pearly cloud."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How's that?" asked the marquis, amused.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You'll have a nice place, too," continued the urchin. "Every evening +when I say my prayers, I ask heaven to be good to papa and +mademoiselle."</p> + +<p class="normal">The marquise staggered away with fingers tight clasped over dry and +burning eyes. "They are complete without me," she moaned, panting like +a hunted animal. "There is no place for me! no place in all the +world!"</p> + +<p class="normal">She tottered along the surrounding belt of green like one struck +blind, till she came to the end where the moat was closed against the +river.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No place for me! no place for me!" Gabrielle muttered, with teeth +that chattered as do those of one in an ague fit. Swaying to and fro +she looked into the water and discerned the black bulk of the wherry. +A luminous idea shot across her mind. If the boat were found drifting +down the stream with naught but a silken wrap in it, they would drag +the Loire for the missing chatelaine, and, at least, pretend to be +sorry for the accident. Yes! an accident--that was the solution of the +difficulty. Her father would deplore her death, but would never know +that she had brought it about herself. Why had this never occurred to +her before? The maréchal would grieve, but would get over it; for the +grief of the old is short-lived, and are not the dead at rest? Happy +dead to sleep so sound. She soon would be one of the shadowy +phalanx--at rest for evermore.</p> + +<p class="normal">Taking a hasty survey of the scene she stepped into the boat and +loosed the chain. There was none to look on her, save the blank eyes +of the dark chateau. In its history what was a life--an intolerably +weary life? Was not its memory green concerning the water-dungeon and +the torture-chamber?</p> + +<p class="normal">"For me there is no place in all the world," repeated the chattering +jaws as the boat shot into midstream. As it chanced there were four +human eyes watching that she wist not of.</p> + +<p class="normal">Jean and Toinon were not gone, though they had retreated into shadow. +At sound of the loosening chain the latter had shuddered and hidden +her face on the ample breast close by.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Dungeon ghosts--rattling their gyves," Jean observed, quietly. +"See--there's another yonder."</p> + +<p class="normal">Toinon looked up and held her breath. In the broad moonbeams a woman +stood erect in a boat! A woman, who slowly divested herself of a +drapery and arranged it carefully upon the seat. Then she placed a +foot upon the gunwale and deliberately plunged into the stream.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was all so unexpected--so sudden--that the two stood paralysed. +Both knew the slim figure well. They were startled from awe-stricken +stupor by shouts above. The chevalier was stamping on a balcony wildly +waving his arms. "It is Gabrielle! Gabrielle!" he shrieked. "Save her! +save her! save her!" And then, with a despairing yell, he dashed away +in the direction of the children's wing.</p> + +<p class="normal">Jean muttered with contempt: "The useless imbecile," and, disengaging +himself from Toinon's encircling arms, leapt from the platform into +the water. Breathless and proud of him, Toinon watched his strong +strokes as they clove the oily surface. He had hold of her--thank God! +and was bearing his burthen to the bank.</p> + +<p class="normal">There was a hubbub and an outcry in the house approaching nearer. +Clovis and the chevalier appeared at a window shouting madly: "Save +her!" The marquis disappeared from the balcony, and touching a spring, +vanished down a secret staircase which gave upon the slippery gangway, +accompanied by Mademoiselle Brunelle, who with a new care upon her +brow was swiftly following his lead. De Gange received the inanimate +burthen into his arms, while tears poured down his face. "God bless +you, Jean," he sobbed, "God bless you. I will never forget this deed. +She will live--she has but swooned. Jean, you have saved her from +death--me from a life-long remorse."</p> + +<p class="normal">Aglaé's clouded visage grew more perplexed as he took roughly from her +the mantle she had cast over her shoulders to wrap it round his +dripping burthen.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He takes my cloak," she muttered, "not caring if I feel cold!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Aglaé, feel," he whispered anxiously. "Am I not right? Does not her +pulse still beat?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Mademoiselle Brunelle roused herself from astonished reverie to attend +to the exigencies of the moment. "Yes," she declared, with +authoritative promptitude. "The poor crazy lady lives. Toinon, warm a +bed without delay. Jean, take horse at once and fetch a doctor. We two +will see to her meanwhile."</p> + +<p class="normal">Moaning and shaking, the scared and palsied chevalier stood helpless +by, wringing his hands together. "She went in the boat alone, poor +thing," he whimpered, "because she could not trust me. Oh! that fatal +night--that fatal night! Of course she would not trust me."</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile, the marquis and his affinity bore their burthen up the +winding stair. Neither spoke till they reached the saloon and laid the +unconscious marquise upon a couch. Then Aglaé, more perplexed than +ever, sighed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank God, she's saved; thank God!" Clovis murmured, fervently.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who would have ever thought," reflected the governess aloud, "that so +long-suffering and useless piece of goods could be goaded to take her +life?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hush!" shuddered the marquis. "Ever after I should have deemed myself +her murderer!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"A thousand pities," mused mademoiselle. "If he had only let her +drown, at this moment you would be free."</p> + +<p class="normal">Clovis looked up in horror, blanched to the pallor of a statue.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_12" href="#div1Ref_12">DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND.</a></h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">With a turn of the kaleidoscope is another pattern formed. Lying in +the great state bed with its ponderous carven canopy and heavy +curtains of deep blue velvet fringed with gold, Gabrielle wondered +whether she had awakened in a kinder world or whether she was dreaming +in the old rugose one. No. It was the same gorgeously gloomy chamber +in which she had so often wept, with its dim ancestors frowning from +the background of mouldering arras.</p> + +<p class="normal">Yonder, by the tall emblazoned mantel, was the familiar ebony cabinet +in which a long bygone De Brèze, who was an alchemist, had been wont +to lock his phials. To the left, was the mullioned window, with wide +sill, looking out upon the paved courtyard. On the sill was a row of +ponderous bronze pots of the Renaissance period, filled with gay +plants to hide out the blank wall opposite. Both Madame de Vaux and +Angelique had always shuddered when they crossed the threshold of this +room, vowing that the big bed, like a funereal catafalque, was a fit +resting-place for spectres, not for human beauty. When counselled to +move elsewhere, or do up the apartment in more cheerful fashion, the +chatelaine had smilingly shaken her head. The ladies of the castle had +always occupied this room, and she would follow their precedent, not +being afraid of ghosts.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The precedents of Lorge were pretty ones to follow," retorted her +neighbour. "Many of the chatelaines were murdered, poor things! and +the rest so wretched that murder, however atrocious, would have been +hailed as a release."</p> + +<p class="normal">Alas! The destiny of the present one was no brighter than that of the +others. She had been miserable enough in this tranquil chamber, and +had ofttimes prayed for death. But now, somehow, Fortune seemed to be +weary of persecution. Was it possible that out of the sinister tangle +content might yet be unwound?</p> + +<p class="normal">There were voices whispering in the antechamber which Gabrielle +recognized as those of Jean and Toinon, watchers. Now and again, +Toinon would gently open the door and reconnoitre, and seeing the +invalid apparently asleep would quietly close it again, but not before +the sick lady had caught a glimpse of the chevalier behind, still +wearing an expression of dismay.</p> + +<p class="normal">Wonder of wonders! Sometimes when she woke from fitful dozing, she +would see the figure of the marquis standing at the bed-foot anxiously +peering down at her. He looked haggard and careworn. Could it be on +her account? Hidden away somewhere in a remote recess could there be a +flame of affectionate esteem for her still flickering?</p> + +<p class="normal">Simulating slumber, she would scan him narrowly. He was evidently +unhappy, had something on his mind, was unpleasantly preoccupied. Her +heart leapt with the thought that it was on her account, perhaps, that +he was troubled. He certainly was thinking a good deal about her, for +though he did not stop long he often visited the chamber. Although +well-nigh beyond belief, Gabrielle could hardly doubt that he was +unhappy for her sake. His eyes had been opened! It had come home to +him how cruel his neglect had been, and he was sorry. It needed but a +kind word of encouragement from her to bring about a tardy +reconciliation.</p> + +<p class="normal">Choosing an opportunity, she gently put forth her hand and clasped +that of Clovis with a tender pressure, murmuring the while, "Husband! +I was driven to do that wicked thing by a mistake. God will forgive. +Can you, too, pardon?"</p> + +<p class="normal">At sound of her feeble voice, the marquis started guiltily and hung +his head; and as he remained silent, his hand inert in hers, she +proceeded slowly--</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is not you who are to blame, dear. Occupied as your mind is, you +are unable to conceive what to a loving woman are isolation and +indifference. I teased and annoyed you with my jealousy; but then, as +a girl, I was so pampered--steeped to the lips in love! Give me +confidence and perfect trust and you shall be vexed no more. Obedient +in all things, assuming no right to counsel or rebuke, I will be your +faithful life-companion, the half of your very self!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Much more did she say in the same strain, without reproach, pleading +for a modest place within his heart.</p> + +<p class="normal">Ah me! What a mockery are these earthly unions for better or worse +till death do us part! The best are doomed to fling away their wealth +of tenderness upon recipients who do not crave for it. Is it a +punishment meted in subtle irony for the transgressions of a previous +life? For half a lifetime we persist in lavishing our love upon a +phantom, and, discovering by chance how evil is the wraith, lie down +despairing. A fool's paradise would be a charming residence, were we +not pretty certain, sooner or later, to be expelled from it with +violence. On this tiny dust grain of the universe--let us hope it is +not so in the more important worlds, wherein we hope to sojourn +later--we batter our pates at a tender age against the stone wall of +disillusion, become early familiar with broken promises. Fortunately, +the sustaining angel Hope has more lives than a cat. Pummelled, +stoned, and mangled beyond recognition, behold she sits up and rubs +herself, charming well again.</p> + +<p class="normal">What the hapless Gabrielle took for the stir of dormant affection was +no more than an ignoble mixture of shame, remorse, and anxiety. The +conscience of Clovis had dinned into him long since that he was +behaving very ill; that he had espoused a beautiful woman with a fresh +and ardent temperament and a well-lined purse; that, thanks to the +last, he lived in gilded ease, and gave to its owner in exchange +nothing for which she yearned. People are vastly provoking, who +clamorously demand that we have not to bestow. How wearisome are those +who go on repeating, "I want your love and nothing else," when they +ought to know that we have no love to give. Then is sure to follow the +phase of reproaches and tears which is more tiresome still. Clovis, +when conscience pricked, was very sorry for his helpmeet; and sorry +for himself, too, that she should be so worrying. From his point of +view, he was justified in withdrawing from the dining-hall the light +of his comely countenance. How can a man have any appetite with so +rueful a visage opposite? Talk of skeletons at feasts! Here was one at +every meal, because speechless no less eloquent. That which is +unpleasant and can't be helped, it behoves us in self-defence to put +away and forget as quickly as possible. Clovis had (metaphorically) +plunged into the magic tub with Aglaé in order to forget his skeleton. +He knew he was doing wrong, but was equally aware that it was not in +him to do right. Why could not Gabrielle be sensible? If people would +only cultivate that humble virtue common sense, how much more smoothly +life's wheels would run. Why could not she, realizing--perhaps with +pain--that Luna is not in the market as a purchaseable article, sit +quietly down with philosophy, and give up crying for the moon?</p> + +<p class="normal">When the poor lady was impelled to shuffle off her coil, the +completeness of the desolation revealed due to her husband's fault, +came home to him with a mighty twinge; and he felt angry with her in +that she should be capable of inflicting so severe a nip. The +estrangement was not his fault, he argued with conscience. It was his +misfortune and hers, which it was in the province of neither to +remedy. Of course, it was all a pity; but are there not numberless +things in this life that are "a pity," but which we are powerless to +alter? The brief period of <i>tête-à-tête</i> when they first came to live +at Lorge had been ghastly dull, and he, like a sensible man, had +sought refuge from it in his books. Then merciful Providence had sent +a set of people to make his situation more bearable--his and hers +also. Why could she not let herself drift in calm content, as he had +done? It always came back to that, and every time he was the more +convinced of it. His wife was an unreasonable creature, who persisted +in pining for what she could not get instead of making the best of +what she had. Perhaps he had not behaved quite nicely in the matter of +the prodigies. Yet after all, was it not essential that they should +receive trained instruction, and had they not of their own accord +turned from their mother to the governess? He had never said, "My +dears, you must care no longer for mamma, and adore your governess." +Was it not evident that mamma wearied them as much as she did him, +while their instructress was the most delightful comrade that ever +breathed, as well as abnormally clever?</p> + +<p class="normal">With this course of argument conscience was convinced, or pretended to +be, and curled itself up and slept, and would have continued thus in +charmed repose, but for this new disturbance. There can be no denying +that there must be something radically wrong, when a woman who used to +be serene leaps with felonious intent out of a wherry. Though everyone +was told that the affair was an accident, nobody believed it. The +marquis was ashamed and dreaded a scandal.</p> + +<p class="normal">Of course, when the story reached them, the Montbazon party came +trundling over in the shanderydan, with goggling eyes and ears acock, +to inquire into the extraordinary tale. Clovis received them with +scant courtesy, but the old baroness was not to be put off with a cold +shoulder, and Angelique took little trouble to cloak her suspicions. +What could madame have been doing--navigating the Loire in the +middle of the night, and tumbling overboard? Why choose so strange an +hour for a solitary excursion, and why fall out of so clumsy and +broad-beamed a craft? Could the dear marquis explain? The dear marquis +became testy, and, shrugging his shoulders, advised the ladies to +visit madame who was in bed, but well enough to tell them all about +it. The ladies sat on either side of the great catafalque, under +shadow of the blue velvet curtains, and sniffed at one another with +meaning across the counterpane. Cross-questioned by the baron as they +drove home, the baroness pursed her lips in ominous silence, while +Angelique remarked, "If with those sad eyes welling with tears, she +persists that she is happy, and vows that on that night her foot +slipped, in courtesy we must pretend to believe her." To which the +baron pertinently replied, "Foot slipped, indeed! and in the middle of +the river, too. What was it doing on the gunwale?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Clovis knew that the de Vaux family would spread damaging reports, but +he had yet another cause for anxiety. A certain remark had been +dropped by Mademoiselle Brunelle as the two were carrying their +burthen to the salon, which was like a douche of icy water. "If he had +let her drown, you would be free!" What an atrociously cold-blooded +sentiment from the lips of the good-natured Aglaé! As to this the +marquis's conscience had no suggestion to make, for it had never +entered his head to desire his wife's demise.</p> + +<p class="normal">It is another unpleasing fact with regard to our little earth, that +nothing can remain stationary. We must always be on the move--backward +if not forward. Clovis, pleased with the situation as it had chosen to +develop itself, wished for naught but the continuance of the <i>status +quo</i>; and now it came rudely home to him that mademoiselle, instead of +being satisfied, as he was, had been raising shadowy edifices in +cloudland. The glance which accompanied her regretful words had been +full of significance. She could look so far forward as to welcome the +departure of Gabrielle in order that she might occupy her place. And a +governess too--without a shred of a pedigree--who had never heard the +name of her grandfather! That a person of low birth, however +admirable, should presume to aspire to the coronet of a Marquise de +Gange took the breath away! The idea was as wildly fantastic as it was +revolting. And yet she had so wormed herself into his life that he +knew he could not tear her thence without an awful struggle. If that +poor thing had died, could he in course of time have been persuaded to +take the governess? Who might prophesy? Most fortunately there was no +question of such a possibility, as the lady had been saved and was +recovering. Mademoiselle must be his affinity--nor hope for anything +more lofty. And yet the more he thought of it, all the more shocked +did Clovis feel at the absurdity of such aspirations in one so lowly, +and the cold-bloodedness of that remark.</p> + +<p class="normal">For her part the unlucky speech had been wrung from Aglaé by genuine +surprise, for the boating catastrophe had opened to her mind's eye a +dazzling vista of actual possibilities as new as they were +astonishing. It had certainly occurred to her before that it would be +nice some day to be Marquise de Gange, but it had not struck her that +the present marquise could be induced to open the door herself to her +successor. It was merely in a spirit of casual spite that Aglaé had +insolently invited Gabrielle, during their last interview, to retire +out of the world.</p> + +<p class="normal">How surprising are the vagaries of the human animal! No one would have +guessed that a quiet reserved woman, who was so feeble as to suppose +she could buy the enemy with a bracelet, could be driven to take her +life! The discovery suggested for the future a new series of tactics. +Owing to vexatious interference the tragedy had miscarried this time, +but surely with deft management a similar condition of mind to that +which had led up to it could be brought about again? And the second +time precautions might be taken to ensure a different termination. +There was no hurry about it. When matters of serious import are under +consideration it is a woeful thing to hurry. The mawkish creature was +in bed, being fondled and caressed. By and by when she grew better, a +progressive series of cunningly-masked attacks would have to be +organized which should finally and completely rout the insignificant +foe and leave her prone upon the field.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile there was something new that rather puzzled the governess. +Clovis was so thin-skinned that it was only by surpassing skill that +he could be managed. He was so beset with crotchets which required +coaxing. There was some bee worrying in his bonnet now, for instead of +frisking about the feet of his affinity, according to habit, he slunk +away from her approach with uneasy bashfulness, and bestowed his +attentions on the invalid.</p> + +<p class="normal">With regard to the latter there was nothing to dread for the +blandishments of the wife invariably had the effect in the long run of +alienating the husband. On this score the mind of the schemer was +easy. But what if she were indeed to die in a not too distant future? +Clovis had shudderingly declared on the fateful night that had she +been drowned he would have considered himself a murderer. What a +stupid old adage it is which says the dead do not return! How many, +when they have passed from sight, are more formidable than when alive! +Would it be so with Gabrielle? Is not remorse a more formidable +barrier than the imperial wall of China? As it was, mademoiselle could +not deny that the marquis had taken to avoiding her, that in his eyes +there was a sinister expression, in which fear and distrust were +blended. He must have caught a glimpse under her ample skirt of a +cloven hoof instead of a substantial foot, and have been alarmed by +the spectacle. This alarm must be lulled to rest, or the influence of +the affinity might stand in actual peril. It would be odd if in the +end he crawled out of her clutches--very odd.</p> + +<p class="normal">Pooh! She was strong, and he was weak. Had she not proved already that +she could bend him like a willow wand? And yet--in front there lay a +mist which even sharp-sighted Aglaé was unable to penetrate. She +laughed with quiet cynicism when she considered what Clovis's feelings +would be if he could read the dark thoughts of his affinity. He had +read too much already, and the effect had not been good. Now that she +knew what she wanted, it behoved her to consider the attitude which +the marquis must be made to assume, for his conduct, whatever it might +be, would, of course, be influenced by another will than his own.</p> + +<p class="normal">Gabrielle was to depart.</p> + +<p class="normal">That much was settled in the mind of the governess. With regard to the +husband, two courses were open. Was he to be lulled into forgetting +the untoward remark which had so shocked him, or was he to grow +accustomed by degrees to its implied suggestion, and be induced +tacitly to approve by skilful wheedling? Her bringing-up had led the +governess to hold a low opinion of human nature. No one ever lived, +she fully believed, so devoid of the leaven of wickedness as to be +proof against temptation to crime. It was merely a matter of +surroundings and the amount of temptation employed. But then in the +case of Clovis, the inertness and hesitancy of his character called +for consideration. Moreover, his recent behaviour had shown that he +did not care as yet sufficiently warmly for his Aglaé to go all +lengths with her. Alarmed for his own safety, he would shrink and run +off howling. It is wiser in dealing with some people to do a thing +without consulting them, and obtain consent to the act when it is +done--irrevocably and irremediably. Clearly, the first course was +the most judicious. Clovis must be amused and petted till the +temporary access of inconvenient remorse was past, the little speech +forgotten--and wake up some fine day in the not too far distant future +to find himself bereaved and a widower.</p> + +<p class="normal">All this was mighty well in theory, but what of the plaguey abbé? He +would hear of the water episode and be seriously annoyed. The +governess was angered to think of the length of time which must elapse +ere her scheme could be brought to a head--and all through the idiotic +passion of Pharamond for the marquise! It would be dangerous to make +an open enemy of Pharamond, for were he so minded, he could place many +spokes in her wheel; all the more easily at this precise juncture when +Clovis was so shocked. As a matter of policy, whereby she might +herself benefit, she was quite ready to push Gabrielle into his arms, +as quickly as possible, for she reckoned that he was a fickle man, +who would soon tire of a toy attained, and so soon as he had done with +it, would not care how soon it was broken. But then she was not +without grave doubts of his ever succeeding in his suit. Mawkish, +milk-and-water women, such as this pale-faced creature, have no +passions worthy of the name, but exhale themselves in sighs and +prayer.</p> + +<p class="normal">And here was another awkward point. Given that the abbé was rebuffed, +compelled to abandon the siege of the marquise, would he not lose all +motive for further assisting the governess? and that before she was +prepared to do without him? Of course, he would then cease to sing her +praises in the ears of Clovis; would even perhaps, to suit his own +interests, endeavour to divide those whom he had assisted in uniting? +If the abbé could only be got rid of! But there seemed, peer out into +the horizon as she would, no chance of getting rid of him. No. He must +be humoured--hoodwinked, if possible. The abbé for the present must be +endured, treated as a trusty ally, since it would not do to attack him +as an enemy. Mademoiselle guessed that the chevalier would report all +that had happened, so concealment was out of the question. When he +received tidings of the episode he would, of course, come home, and in +an evil mood. With a peevish sigh, she wrote an effusive letter to +Pharamond, begging him to return to Lorge, wishing the while that he +would break his neck upon the journey. In the letter she artfully +stated that she had been guilty of a little error. When you wish to +avert a scolding, it is well to be candid and confess; and rather make +the most of the peccadillo.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus she came vaguely to the conclusion that the alliance must stand +good for the present, that she and the abbé must maintain their +friendship, outwardly at least, and that, with regard to the fate of +Gabrielle, she must wait and watch events. Perhaps destiny in a +generous mood would point out some means of clearing the thorn-strewn +path by sweeping away the abbé. If he were got rid of, the course of +Aglaé would be quite plain; the shrift of the marquise would be a +short one.</p> + +<p class="normal">Pharamond received two letters by the same courier, and boiled +with displeasure at the contents of both. With what a culpable +stupidity had all of them been behaving in his absence! That the +chevalier--useless lump of carrion--should proclaim himself a fool was +only to be expected. It had been the height of folly to trust to the +discretion of a zany. By his own showing, Phebus had failed to watch +properly over the marquise, and the malignant Aglaé had wreaked on +her, with impunity, the full venom of her spite. For that when the +chance arrived she should be punished, for he had plainly given his +instructions before he started, to the effect that the marquise must +be made to feel her lonely position so acutely, that she would be +inclined to look kindly on a lover. It was not at all a portion of his +programme that she should be hunted into a grave. Moreover, was she +not the golden goose that fed them? The regrettable catastrophe was +due to the governess's disobedience and malignity. Feminine spite is +unreasoning, as all the world knows.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not guessing that she was so sensitive, I went too far and am deeply +distressed," Aglaé mendaciously wrote; "not but what the story you +will probably hear is much exaggerated. You have impressed on me more +than once that you are my friend. By an artful imposture of sham +suicide, the marquise has succeeded in frightening her husband back to +her side again. They bill and coo all day, which will not please you +any more that it does me. For your own sake, as well as mine, prove +that you are my friend, and come."</p> + +<p class="normal">Yes. Both letters assured him that his presence at Lorge was urgently +needed to give form again to chaos; and Pharamond saw that he must +leave the capital, although occurrences in Paris were of daily +increasing interest. It was dawning on himself and others at last that +they stood on the threshold of an entirely new epoch, which was to +shatter and blot out the old; that what they had chosen to +contemptuously take for harmless effervescence was the commencement of +convulsion, from which a newly-cast society would spring. The daring +of the lower lieges grew as fast as did the fabled bean-stalk. A timid +contingent of the assailed upper class had already abandoned France, +dreading they knew not what, and the remainder were like sheep without +a shepherd. What if, though really the notion was too preposterous, +the bubbling scum should actually suffocate the elect in its foul and +fetid waters? In the world's story there have been many cataclysms. +Though the peasants of Touraine had done little damage as yet, they +would surely hear of the excesses of the south, and would probably be +urged to emulation.</p> + +<p class="normal">Lorge was a strong place, but precautionary measures of defence must +be taken in view of prospective difficulties. For many reasons, then, +the return of the abbé to the country might no longer be delayed. It +would be a wise measure to summon a meeting of the rural seigneurie, +and form a league for mutual protection.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Her friend!" the abbé laughed with a malevolent twitch of his thin +lips as he folded and pocketed his letters. "So long as she is useful, +yes--a dear trusty loyal friend--but not an instant longer! If she +cannot behave with decency and common prudence, we must unite and +sweep her into space."</p> + +<p class="normal">Everyone was glad to see Pharamond home again, or affected to be so. +He assumed the highest spirits, although his news was little +reassuring, and he was privately much vexed at the changed positions +of his puppets.</p> + +<p class="normal">The chevalier, when rated for his drunken incapacity, excused himself +by swearing that but for his timely outcry, Gabrielle would have +perished. He wept alcoholic tears and babbled incoherent nonsense, in +which he deplored his numerous transgressions. "If only she could have +loved me," he whimpered with clasped hands more aspen than of yore, +"she would have been made so happy, and now she is plunged in misery, +and I can do nothing to prevent it. Console her, brother, since you +are the favoured one; make her smile again and I will be your slave +for life!" and so on, with trickling jeremiads and idle expressions of +penitence.</p> + +<p class="normal">As for mademoiselle, she expressed herself so full of contrition, and +so anxious to promote the abbé's suit, and altogether made herself so +agreeable, that he pretended loftily to pardon her, registering a +private vow that she must be ousted at the earliest moment. A woman +who could act so foolishly as to frighten the admirer she intended to +cajole, was but a contemptible enemy to battle with in a game of +diamond cut diamond. For the achievement of his own plans he must put +up with her just now, and make good the incipient breach. Aglaé must +be washed clean in the eyes of the remorseful marquis of having caused +his wife's rash act. Whatever might happen by-and-by, the neophyte and +his affinity must be brought close together again for a while, and to +that end Pharamond loyally exerted all his influence. He fairly +laughed his brother into the belief that he was a deluded simpleton; +that the suicide was a stage device got up by Phebus and the victim. +"What a ninny to be taken in!" He said, "A bit of jealous temper, +nothing more, for which she is sorry now, for she has gained naught by +the dramatic ducking except an attack of illness."</p> + +<p class="normal">Aglaé was gushing in her gratitude, which served only to increase the +contempt of Pharamond, who, like her, heartily despised the virtues. +She was a tool to be used and blunted, then carelessly thrown away. +Meanwhile, she was laughing in her sleeve in that he should so easily +be hoodwinked by her comedy. He never guessed what a new and +portentous idea was surging in her brain, and she was careful to drop +no hint of it.</p> + +<p class="normal">We will not endeavour to excuse the error in judgment of so +accomplished a manipulator of marionnettes as the Abbé Pharamond, in +that he should have esteemed so lightly the talents of Mademoiselle +Brunelle. Perhaps he was led astray by the crafty display of +helplessness shown in her last epistle. You are not inclined to +suspect, when a lady candidly confesses weakness and craves help, that +she has a private set of schemes in the background, of which she tells +you nothing. As Aglaé was prepared (since she could not help it) to +put up with Pharamond for a period, so was the abbé prepared to endure +Aglaé until he had quite done with her, feeling less and less doubt +that when she was no longer useful he could administer the final push.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus schemed the schemers, labouring each for self, masking their +batteries one from the other till the propitious moment should come +for rupture. If the muse of history had not intervened as Marplot at +this moment, there is no telling which way the scale would have +turned, for it was nicely balanced. If Pharamond was being deceived, +so was Aglaé, for she failed to gauge the extent of the shock she had +inflicted on the marquis. He was too timid to express his feelings +openly, to confess that he had become genuinely afraid of his +affinity, perceiving that on occasion she could be more unscrupulous +than his feeble soul was prepared to contemplate. Even strong-minded +men do not care to have a Lady Macbeth in the <i>mènage</i> who "lays the +daggers ready." He clung to Aglaé because he could not do without her; +but at the same time he leaned heavily on Pharamond. But for that muse +of history this tale might have had a different ending. The schemes of +both conspirators required time. As it was, something happened which +awoke them with a start, and entirely changed the face of affairs, for +they became aware that what they intended to do must be done quickly +or be left undone. The shuttle of the muse flew apace across the loom. +An event occurred which came upon the country like a thunder-clap, +spreading terror and dismay in one camp, causing the wildest +exultation in the other. Rumour brought the news that their majesties +had fled from France.</p> + +<p class="normal">The situation was so grave that it behoved the country seigneurie to +look to themselves in earnest and at once. Perforce dismissing for the +moment arrangements of a private nature, Pharamond galloped hither and +thither, vastly busy, suggesting, advising, arranging. The Marquis de +Gange, much as he disliked politics, was compelled to rouse himself +from his ease and his remorse. He became quite energetic; ceased to +worry about his wife, and even forgot the tub. Old de Vaux came +cantering over on his pony, followed by a multitude of booby squires, +who, grouped in solemn conclave in the banquet-hall of Lorge, sat dumb +before the wisdom of the governess. In important deliberations sage +counsellors of either sex are to be courted, and Aglaé in all +emergencies shone forth with special brilliancy. Her mind worked so +nimbly and practically, that the eyes of the enraptured gentry were +round with awe. They vowed in chorus that the marquis was a lucky man +to have captured this pearl of price. All were agreed, and impressed +the fact on him. As there was no dissentient voice, his uneasy terrors +waned; suspicion gave place to a renewal of admiration, in which fear +was tempered with respect.</p> + +<p class="normal">It never occurred to anyone to consult Gabrielle, and she had no +desire to be consulted. The white chatelaine knew too well that as a +leader she was a failure. It was enough to feel quite assured at last +with numbing, wearing pain, that Clovis cared no jot for her.</p> + +<p class="normal">That illusion had been put to flight for ever, for she had perceived +that his courtesy was awkward and unreal, a mask assumed by sluggish +duty to conceal ennui. Well, however evil the fate which should pursue +her in the future, she deserved it all, and would accept it meekly as +a penance. It was wicked to have made a deliberate attempt upon the +life which was not her own to destroy. Each night and morning she +fervently prayed for pardon, vowing that she would try to endure all +henceforth by aid of such support as was vouchsafed.</p> + +<p class="normal">Of a sudden there came a second thunder-clap, and the booby squires +shut themselves up, each in his own domain, unable to comprehend its +meaning.</p> + +<p class="normal">Rumour had brought a second budget more disquieting in effect than the +first. Their majesties had not succeeded in escaping. They had been +caught at Varennes, to be conducted back to Paris by Barnave and +Pétion, deputies. The King and Queen of France were prisoners! +Actually they were in custody of King Mob--a more powerful potentate +than they--who had locked them up in a gilded jail, yclept the Palace +of the Tuileries. For a moment all sections of society paused and held +their breath.</p> + +<p class="normal">If Louis and Marie Antoinette had crossed the frontier it would have +been to return at the head of an avenging army, which would by force +have replaced their diadems. But prisoners!--for though not dubbed so +openly as yet, their power of free action had departed. The innocent +king, the unfortunate queen, the saintly Madame Elizabeth, had been +drawn through the streets of the capital, a helpless raree-show, for +the delectation of the populace, like the Parisian "Bœuf Gras" or +the London Guido Fawkes! The scum themselves were so taken aback by +the prodigious spectacle that many burst into tears, while others +stood dumbfoundered. Then, the shock of surprise over, there followed +inevitably excess, the boisterous stretching of untried limbs, for the +first time free. In some parts of the country this took the form of a +meaningless upheaval, just to test the new-found liberty. Chateaux of +unpopular proprietors were sacked and burnt. The dwelling of the de +Vaux family was somewhat injured, and its inmates alarmed for their +property; but, at a critical moment, Jean Boulot appeared upon the +scene and scornfully rated the rioters for their cowardice. "Shame!" +he cried, "ye are indeed worthy of liberty if your first use of it is +to slay or insult old men and women! Next, I suppose, you will pay us +a visit, and repay with brand and pitchfork the debt you all owe to +the marquise?" The crowd desisted from the work of destruction and +shamefacedly dispersed. No, no--they grumbled. Jean Boulot was a fine +fellow, to whose harangues they all liked to listen, but his tongue +sometimes was sharp, his sayings bitter. Attack Lorge? Never. What! +the home of the white chatelaine, whose hands were ever stretched +forth to do good, at sight of whose beautiful sad face everyone sighed +with pity?</p> + +<p class="normal">People are naturally so perverse that they are ever apt to plume +themselves upon results that are due to others. The abbé and +Mademoiselle Brunelle, and with them the Marquis de Gange, were quite +assured that the impunity from attack enjoyed by Lorge was due to the +strength of its walls and the ingenuity of their tactics. Jean's +speech at Montbazon was not reported to them--he was not one to boast +of his own deeds, and they were too infatuated to realize that the +pale, weak, fragile woman, whose reserve and resignation daily +exasperated Aglaé, was the real author of their safety.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_13" href="#div1Ref_13">DOMESTIC SURGERY.</a></h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">These were exciting times--no doubt of it--even to humdrum +provincials, remote from the madding crowd. The web on the muse's loom +grew so rapidly that the eye could not follow the shuttle. Were the +dogs of war to be unloosed upon the land? Was fair France to be +invaded and torn by the enemy from without as well as by one within? +On the 6th of July the Emperor of Austria appealed to the sovereigns +to unite for the delivery of Louis. On the 11th a formal demand was +made in the Constituant Assembly for his dethronement. His majesty's +brothers, after having solemnly sworn that they would not leave their +native soil, were gone; and the stream of emigration increased in +volume daily. The Minister of War announced that no less than nineteen +hundred officers had abandoned their regiments and fled. It was +decreed that the property of emigrants should be confiscated for the +public good. Meanwhile, the upheaval of the peasantry continued to be +intermittent. Sometimes they merely growled; sometimes they rushed +about like madmen, leaving, as locusts do, a trail of destruction in +their wake.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then the question of money, or rather of no money, became a burning +one. In October there was a famine and a deadlock. Farmers refused to +take paper in payment for corn, and somehow there was naught else to +pay them with. The occupants of Lorge watched vigilantly, awaiting a +crisis which they could not but feel was imminent; and the two +conspirators considered their broken plans with the palpitating woe of +ants when somebody treads upon their hill. The abbé and the governess +consulted frequently, each assuming the ingenuousness of infancy, +whilst reconnoitring with wary eye the position of the other. Though +they made believe to sit in one boat and caulk it, the attention of +either was directed to a private craft (cunningly concealed from +sight) in which the other was to find no seat, and which must be +rendered taut and trim to face the coming storm.</p> + +<p class="normal">A conviction that leaks were numerous, and that there was no time for +elaborate operations, oppressed them both; a prophetic instinct +whispered that such materials as were at hand must serve, or, when the +wind rose presently, their frail coracles would founder and go to the +bottom.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Marquise de Gange was the pivot upon which the schemes of both +plotters turned--the listless lady who took no further interest in the +world's doings; who, excluded alike from family councils and domestic +interests, gave herself up to devotions and to almsgiving.</p> + +<p class="normal">Time being just now so precious an article, it seemed to both schemers +that the victim had been brought into as auspicious a state for +operation as was likely to be attained without long waiting. It would, +in all probability, become necessary ere long to follow the stream of +emigration, and abandon France till the Saturnalia which convulsed the +motherland should have passed away. Now it was clear to Pharamond that +prudent persons are bound to prepare themselves for any fate. If +Gabrielle accepted his terms, as reflection would doubtless lead her +to do, it was obvious that he and she would, some of these days, +quietly elope, leaving the husband and his affinity to discover, too +late, with teeth-gnashing, that the golden goose was gone. An adroit +display of sympathy combined, perhaps, with a gentle and artistic +touch of coercion, would bring this about. When the moment for +departure came she would follow him, and from a safe point of vantage +overtures could be made to the maréchal with regard to the question of +finance. Of course, after what she had suffered there, she would be +only too glad to turn her back upon the dismal chateau, which must be +as odious to her as to him. What happened to the besotted Clovis and +the impudent Aglaé would concern neither any more.</p> + +<p class="normal">Mademoiselle Brunelle, on the other hand, saw in Gabrielle's condition +of indifference the stony numbness of a despair which a trifling +amount of pressure would lead to the desired denouement. She would +find the hateful world too unbearable, and leave it. The obstacle +removed, Aglaé resolved to work with cunning touch on the fears of the +timid widower. She would cause him to understand that jeremiads over +what was done were useless, or that, at any rate, they might with +propriety be postponed until his skin was safe beyond the frontier. It +is a first duty to look after one's skin. Gabrielle out of the way, +there was nothing to prevent her successor from taking possession of +Clovis with a strong hand, and carrying him off to join the other +nobles. This must be accomplished with despatch and secrecy and +diplomatic skill. An exactly propitious moment must be chosen. The +fate of the abbé and the chevalier, left behind, would concern in no +wise the future Marquise de Gange.</p> + +<p class="normal">Many a clever criminal, when plaiting a rope for his deliverance will +leave a strand unsound, and break his leg in a ditch. The pride and +delicacy of the marquise had always shrunk from upbraiding Clovis with +ingratitude, or of using her wealth as a weapon of self-defence. With +misery comes indifference to pelf. What was money to her, save what +she needed for her poor? Since Clovis and the dear ones were complete +without her, and clearly did not want her, wherein would she be +bettered by twitching at the purse-strings? Hence, as the subject, +being rather unpleasant, was never broached, the governess had never +learned that the source of affluence was Gabrielle, and that if the +wife were, before the death of old de Brèze, to sink into the grave, +the husband would lose all hope of himself fingering the revenues.</p> + +<p class="normal">Seeing how urgent it was to hit upon a plan of action which should +avert impending chaos, both Pharamond and Aglaé secretly and +independently resolved to seek a private interview with the marquise +which should further prepare the way to a desirable result from their +own point of view, or, if destiny proved kindly, clinch the matter of +the future.</p> + +<p class="normal">The first in the field was Pharamond, who, suddenly solicitous for the +welfare of his sister-in-law, tapped at her boudoir door.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My blessed Gabrielle!" he cried, archly shaking a finger. "You are +very very naughty, and I have come to scold you! At a time when we +ought all to hang together you avoid us as if we had the plague, and +shun the family councils. Do you not know what is happening; that we +are all tinkering with might and main to prepare our ark for the +Deluge? I am sure the Noah family must have been an united one, or +they would never have achieved the task of heralding all those beasts. +Just think what a genius for organization some of them must have had! +A pair of each after their kind! I declare that the beetles and flies +alone would have reduced me to a state of madness!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Gabrielle had no smile now for the abbé's persiflage.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You should know," she quietly observed, looking up from her book with +a serious wrapt expression which seemed as if reflected from beyond +the gates, "that the world and I have parted company. Grief is a slow +and painful death which absorbs our stock of endurance."</p> + +<p class="normal">This was not quite the desirable frame of mind which Pharamond had +reckoned on. The screw had been turned too far and must be loosened.</p> + +<p class="normal">"This mopish place affects your nerves, and no wonder," he said. +"Change of air and scene will set you up again."</p> + +<p class="normal">She glanced at the abbé in quick surprise. "Change of air and scene!" +She feared lest he had come to demand her ultimatum.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What would you say," he suggested, "to a tour in Switzerland, with +one who would make you happy?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No one will ever make me happy," she returned, composedly, "and yet I +have desired a change--should like to go away from here----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"A la bonheur," muttered the abbé to himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where I contemplated going I might achieve content; but then, much as +I yearn for it, there are earth-born ties which detain me within these +walls, despite my judgment."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A fig for such ties!" cried Pharamond with conviction. "Clovis has +behaved in a disgraceful way, and you will be fully justified in +considering him no more. Another woman occupies your place. Unless I +am mistaken one so proud as you would not deign to thrust her thence +by the moving of a finger. Clovis, by his own acts has placed himself +beyond the pale. He is out of court. The nobles are leaving France in +droves. Common prudence bids you follow."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I never thought of leaving France," the marquise said, coldly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Does Clovis want to go? I have more than once contemplated asking him +to permit me to retire to a convent. I know too well," she added, +wearily, "that he would not be sorry to be relieved of my presence. +But I have not the strength to bid farewell to the children. Though +they have been alienated from me by base arts, they have all my +single-minded love, and it is my duty to watch over their well-being."</p> + +<p class="normal">A convent! Pshaw! How many babble of the cloistered life, chilled by +dreariness and disappointment! The poor thing was very lonely--ripe +for judicious comforting.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Their governess is devoted to the little ones and loves them," mused +Gabrielle, sadly sighing. "Were I not assured of that I should do +something desperate. It would be too much--I could not bear it!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Excuse my disrespectful merriment," laughed Pharamond, "but your +project is too funny. What! A convent! A mouse trap! My dear, you need +rousing to revive your mental tone, which has dropped too low. A +commingling of new pleasures and fresh interests is vastly beneficial. +In your despondent state you would, within the living tomb of the +cloister, become in a month a hysterical <i>convulsionaire</i>--fit subject +for Mesmer's tub! No, no, The world shall not lose its fairest +ornament, hidden away out of reach too long. I am here now as your +true friend to administer timely counsel. Residence in France is, for +the time being, fraught with peril. I propose to escort you to a place +of security where you will be free from molestation. There will be no +one to worry or torment you as those two have done. Your father +learning that you have been induced to fly from an impossible +existence, will doubtless join us, and I pledge my honour that the +little ones shall follow."</p> + +<p class="normal">Gabrielle had been listening drearily, her head supported on her hand, +as one listens to a tale too often told. But at mention of the +children she started, and the abbé flattered himself that he had hit +the bull's-eye. How to secure the infants he had not considered, but +if their presence was essential as a tempting bait, why, they could +easily be kidnapped.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You see, dear Gabrielle," the abbé whispered drawing his chair close +and laying a persuasive hand upon her arm, "that I have thought of +everything. We will make for Switzerland, where you and I and the +angels will dwell in paradise. The maréchal is not strait-laced, +heaven save the mark, how should he be? and seeing you quite happy, +will be satisfied. You are too mopish to act for yourself. Say the +delicious word and I will see it all settled in a twinkling."</p> + +<p class="normal">He awaited a reply, but it came not. The marquise, engrossed in his +word-picture, was gently smiling. She was out of sorts--too much +depressed for decision. This was the instant for a tiny twist of the +screw, like a microscopic prick from a spur.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I see that you have reflected, and that you have made the best +selection. That is well. You recall my words before I went away? I +meant them then, and mean them still. My will is iron, Gabrielle. A +resolve once taken hardens into adamant. Mine you are to be, and mine +you will be; so further struggling is useless."</p> + +<p class="normal">Still no answer; yet she had had time enough in all conscience to see +that there was no escape. The abbé, quite certain of his prey, edged +nearer yet till he could inhale the perfume on her hair.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is indeed I, and no other, who am to teach you love, my +Gabrielle," he whispered tenderly. "It is written! Mine too shall be +the privilege to return the children to your keeping. You bear me no +malice in that I parted you from them for awhile? You know right well +that what I have done I can undo. Ha! Your bosom heaves! You yield at +last! Was ever woman so strangely wooed----and won!"</p> + +<p class="normal">It was a favourite theory of the abbé's (which, like many plausible +theories, had a crack in it) that in a tussle of two, the weaker must +inevitably go under. A female heart, he argued, must perforce be +flattered when it finds its citadel besieged with unflagging +perseverance. The abbé was radiant, for he had no doubt that his sharp +attack must tell on ramparts undermined by prolonged strategy, and +that he would reap the reward of his efforts.</p> + +<p class="normal">Gabrielle rose slowly from her seat, with flushed cheeks and eyes that +sparkled; but not to fall into his outstretched and expectant arms.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Abbé," she said, clasping her bosom with her hands, "you admit that +it was you who parted us. What your ingenious cruelty will invent next +I dread to think. You did well to name my dear ones. But for them you +might have had your way, perhaps, since I care not what becomes of me. +You would persuade me to fly with you, and hold them out as a lure? A +grievous error, abbé; they are my buckler! They will grow up, a +blooming youth and maiden, will learn by degrees to gauge this sordid +world. What would their opinion be, think you, of a mother who +abandoned her home and her honour to gratify a son of the Church?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The beacon of green-gray light, which the chevalier knew so well, +shone out for an instant and was gone. It began to strike the abbé, +with a surge of impotent rage, that he might have been wrong in his +calculations; that some long-suffering and apparently defenceless +women possess an occult strength against which a will of tempered +steel may beat in vain; and a suspicion of defeat at the moment of +expected victory sent a fume of wrath into his brain that made him +dizzy.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Take care!" he muttered, hoarsely. "That I have already done is +nothing! I have wooed you long, and in the end you shall give way--I +swear it!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Wickedness and conceit disturb your reason," Gabrielle replied, with +a calm which increased his fury. "The crafty and unscrupulous often +over-reach themselves. Therein lies the salvation of those who have +naught but innocence for armour."</p> + +<p class="normal">She looked him in the face with such steady scorn, that his shifty +eyes lowered before hers. It came upon Pharamond with a shock, that +she whom he had thought to dominate by a skilful mixture of the bitter +and the sweet was not the least afraid of him, although she realised +too well that to gratify his passions he would stick at nothing. One +by one he had cut off from her the joys of life, and the slow cruel +process had turned his sword edge. He was nettled and humiliated by +the conviction that his boasted knowledge of the feminine organism was +moonshine, and that the error into which he had fallen--and which must +lie at his own door--was possibly irremediable. To be baffled now, +when he had deemed all secure; to be shown with withering contempt, +that he would never have his way! It was too late to turn a new leaf +and commence again at the beginning. And the immediate future so +ominously dark! A resistance so cool and deliberate and unexpected, +shivered his plans at a blow. Well. Baffled he might be, but she +should rue the day. If in the duel, she was to prove victorious, with +a bitterness as of gall would he execrate this woman! Is it possible +to love and hate at the same time? As Pharamond glanced at the tall +figure and defiant bearing of the marquise, his desire for her tingled +along each nerve, and yet he hated her for that mien of stubborn +scorn. She should rue that day--oh, yes, she should rue it! Some +excruciatingly ingenious retaliation should be devised. The proud +beauty should be whipped till each limb quivered. She had confessed to +apprehension of his inventive powers; she should feel their effect, +and speedily.</p> + +<p class="normal">Gabrielle was able apparently to read his white and vindictive visage. +Without blenching, she observed, mournfully, "I spoke at random, when +I said I dreaded you; what is there left for me to dread? I have +passed along the stony path of the black valley of the shadow, and, +thanks to you, nothing can affect me now. I defy you to do your worst. +Having bereft me of children and husband, what is there left for me to +bear? Whatever you may devise, I shall thank heaven for the burthen as +a merciful atonement for my sin."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You scoff at my love and brave my hate!" returned the abbé, striving +hard to control his voice. "You have finally refused the one, and for +the first time shall know the other."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I despise both. To me you are more vile a reptile than the bloated +hideous toad from which by instinct we recoil. Your poisonous breath +infects the air; your vampire face insults God's image. In place of +the abject thing which you call love, and which I rightly spurned, you +offer hate? So much the better. As the more honest I accept it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have spoken your own sentence. A day will come when you shall sue +for mercy and find none!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Never! Go!"</p> + +<p class="normal">With a frown and a superb motion of her matchless arm, Gabrielle +pointed at the door. In the excitement of indignation and defiance, +the marquise was more beautiful than ever. Pharamond fairly writhed in +his desire and his rage. She should be his--by force, if need be; but +his--his! And after that, to revenge this scorn, he would fling her in +the gutter to rot there! Stung to the quick--torn by ravening +passions, evil both--the abbé bowed mechanically, and, scowling, left +the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">If he had seen how swiftly she collapsed when the door closed, he +might have hoped again, for she was a fragile creature, borne up by +pride and a pure love that was beyond his sordid ken.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What will he do? What will he do?" she moaned, trembling, as she +crouched down upon a seat. "What hideous form will his revenge take? +Shall I implore the protection of my husband?"</p> + +<p class="normal">And then she reflected moodily about that said husband, as she +had at last learned to know him. Selfish and self-indulgent to the +core--heartless, too, or he could not survey his wife's sufferings +with such perfect equanimity. True, he knew little about her, and +troubled less. If he had not again dismissed her from his mind he +could not but perceive her suffering. He was infatuated by that +dreadful woman, and further beguiled astray by his insidious brother. +No help was to be expected from him, or, indeed, from any one. She had +boldly defied the abbé. Would she be given strength to fight? Alas, +alas! Did she not know too well that she was not made for fighting? +Where, then, to look for assistance? Rising, she slowly paced the +room, and thought Heaven was cruel. Why not have let her die? Sure +'tis a venial sin to put off what one cannot bear? We can feel for +ourselves with the instinct with which we are endowed, that the +burthen is too great. Heaven is busy with other things--too +indifferent to know or care what we poor pigmies feel. She paused in +her walk before a mirror and shook her head at the pale and drawn +reflexion. "Oh! fatal gift of beauty," she murmured, "which men +pretend to worship, swearing that 'tis a glimpse of paradise. It is a +devil's gift; for its province is to stir the foulest lees of the base +human soul and set them festering."</p> + +<p class="normal">What was she to do--what to expect? Perhaps he had already invented +and set going some new plan to torture her. Would she have done +better, being but a helpless, tempest-tossed sport of destiny, to have +surrendered, pleading her weakness and his strength? Had he not +touched on the cherubs, she might have given way for very weariness; +but they, as she had declared, were her buckler. They wist not of her, +nor cared, being transferred to other hands, and yet they stood 'twixt +her and the precipice. Then she fell a thinking of Victor and pretty +Camille. When they grew up they would seek their mother. Would they +not? If not, why live? Better--better far--to die. Yes: Heaven had +been cruel--very, very cruel!</p> + +<p class="normal">Suspecting nothing of the abbé's move, Mademoiselle Brunelle resolved +on that very self-same morning to operate on her own account. She made +her way boldly to the boudoir, and without knocking, entered. +Gabrielle started, and dried her eyes. The woman dared to invade her +sanctuary. For what purpose? In her highly-strung condition of +despairing nervousness, it seemed to Gabrielle that the governess +looked as wicked and as menacing as the abbé.</p> + +<p class="normal">In truth there was a sour curl about her lips that was not becoming. +The marquise, as white as a sheet, in tears? Crying her eyes out in +solitude--the whining idiot! That so weak and contemptible an obstacle +should be allowed to stand between herself and her ambition was +preposterous. Well, the victim should be given the wrench which should +impel her to retire from the scene.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I want to talk to you about affairs," Aglaé began. "Since you do not +ask me to sit, I will choose a chair myself."</p> + +<p class="normal">So saying, she subsided into the most inviting fauteuil and assumed a +pose of studied insolence.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I congratulate madame on her humility," observed the governess, in +her rolling bass, with a condescending headshake. "The Christian +virtues are rare, alas, just now in persons of your birth and +breeding."</p> + +<p class="normal">"To what do I owe this visit?" demanded the marquise, stretching her +hand towards the bell-rope.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not ring; you will regret it," returned the other. "For all our +sakes, I would not have you despised by the domestics, if I can help +it. You are so apathetic to the stirring history which is being made +under your very nose that I am compelled to enlighten your lamentably +darkened mind. It is quite on the cards that we may find it convenient +to leave Lorge until the storm that threatens is past. By the dear +marquis's wish I and the sweet children will accompany him into +temporary banishment, and it becomes necessary to know what madame +will do in that contingency. Of course she is a free agent to go +where she pleases, and the marquis is too good and generous not +to see that she is well provided for. It is best for madame to +know that her presence with us would, for various reasons, be +inconvenient--calculated, indeed, to produce scandal, which, for the +sake of monsieur and the little ones, madame will desire to avoid."</p> + +<p class="normal">What snake was there rustling beneath the leaves?</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is this an ambassage from the Marquis de Gange?" enquired Gabrielle.</p> + +<p class="normal">"His interests and mine have become identical," drawled mademoiselle, +"as madame is no doubt aware, and when I speak it is for both."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will go to him myself!" exclaimed the outraged marquise with +trembling lips, "He should know that betwixt himself and his wife no +ambassador is needed."</p> + +<p class="normal">Aglaé raised her bushy brows and critically contemplating the aspen +figure before her, laughed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How lamentable that madame should take no interest in what is +passing," she exclaimed. "She knows so little of her husband as to be +unaware that he has gone to Blois on business and will not return +until to-morrow."</p> + +<p class="normal">Could Clovis really have been base enough to confide such a mission as +this to the governess, running off meanwhile himself like a coward? +Was he bent on withering every leaf of her true love that still +struggled for existence? She could scarce believe it even now.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Madame had better listen and be calm," suggested Aglaé. "It is always +better to be calm."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Wherever they may go, my place is with my husband and my children," +the marquise replied with dignity.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cannot madame perceive a troublesome <i>nuance</i>, which, in another +place, might make her position uncomfortable?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Enough of this impertinence," returned the other, sternly. "You +forget that you are my servant, to be dismissed at pleasure. Speak +plainly and briefly, or I will have you ejected by the valets."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Impertinent, am I?" cried mademoiselle, losing her temper. "Since you +wish it, I will speak plainly. Here, within these gaunt grey walls, +what passes within concerns nobody without; but if we should have to +fly--which may or may not prove expedient--we shall be dwelling in a +public place, where others will criticise our acts. It will be said +that the Marquise de Gange is a mean-spirited creature to eat her +bread on sufferance at the table of a man who hates her, and of his +mistress who treats her with contumely. That is what will be said of +the pretty, empty-headed doll who was too stupid to hold her place as +the reigning belle of Paris. They will also say that she is bad, as +well as mean, to have abandoned her own offspring to the mistress to +mould according to her fancy. Madame will probably now perceive that +her presence with us anywhere except in the privacy of Lorge, will be +an abiding source of scandal."</p> + +<p class="normal">His mistress! The brazen wretch!--confessed--nay, gloried--in her +shame; and the unhappy wife had striven so hard to believe that there +was nothing but <i>camaraderie</i> between them.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You wicked, wicked woman!" Gabrielle gasped, choking. "I have never +wittingly done you aught but kindness. You are a fiend."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A fiend!" echoed Aglaé, amused, stretching herself luxuriously with +loose limbs as the tigress does, while she proceeded.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Every female envelope contains an angel and a devil combating; which +gains the mastery depends upon the men, who, I regret to say, are +usually guided by the lowest motives. That is an elementary lesson +which I think I shall teach Camille. I shall teach the darling many +curious things before I've done with her."</p> + +<p class="normal">A hit--a palpable hit, which went straight to the quivering goal. It +was a fact that the future of the dear ones was in this monster's +keeping. She was as evil as the abbé. If it suited her she would not +scruple to sow in their white souls the seeds of vice. How appalling! +Forgetful always of herself, the mother had striven to be comforted +with the assurance that though she was thrust forth from Eden, those +she adored were well guarded. The woman's conduct, as far as concerned +the children, had been irreproachable: she had treated them with +affection; but knowing her now as she really was, Gabrielle could see +with a thrill of dismay that she was unencumbered by such scruples as +keep ordinary mortals in check; was governed by expediency alone.</p> + +<p class="normal">The marquise sat for awhile without movement, but her rival was not +slow to mark with satisfaction the exceeding pallor of her lips and +the horror in her distended eyes. That the sword-thrust had pierced +too deep escaped her ken: she failed to see that the whole being of +the victim had undergone so violent a convulsion as to produce quite a +different result from that which she expected. The courage she lacked +for her own succour could be aroused in behalf of others, whom she +loved better than herself. It was as by a miracle a naked and +defenceless combatant were of a sudden sheathed in armour.</p> + +<p class="normal">Aglaé sat waiting, fully aware that having made an effective point, +you should allow it to take effect. She waited, and beguiled the time +by considering what she would do when married. It would be pleasant to +play chatelaine for a month or so each year, even at gloomy Lorge, so +soon as the country should be quieted. The puling thing on the sofa +yonder was stricken under the fifth rib, would totter into a thicket +presently and perish, as was intended. What a cleverly imagined stroke +it had been to hint at the depraving of the prodigies--a stroke as of +a sledgehammer, to batter in the apology for brains vouchsafed to such +despicable objects.</p> + +<p class="normal">Gabrielle remained so long in apparent torpor, while the Medusan +horror on her face permanently hardened there, that the enemy waxed +impatient. It is indecent for the stricken stag to lie down where +shot. Decorum bids him conceal himself in the bracken--make a move of +some sort to veil his agonies. Gabrielle being too crushed to make a +motion must be stirred up with an eleemosynary stab.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We will come to an arrangement," mademoiselle suggested cheerfully, +"without troubling our dear marquis on the subject. Go away +somewhere--to some nice place which we will engage never to visit, and +I will promise never to teach anything naughty either to Victor or +Camille. Refuse, and--well--h-m!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh! the wicked, wicked woman!" the marquise ejaculated, inwardly. +"There must be a hell somewhere for the punishing of such villanous +dastards." But in her new-born strength, the possession of which was +unaccountable and amazing, she found herself enabled to smile sadly, +and remark, without a tremor in her voice, "You will leave me now, if +you please, and give me time to think."</p> + +<p class="normal">That was reasonable, and desirable to boot. The more she thought, the +better would she comprehend that she was hemmed in, undone; that a +certain wherry was swinging on the tide, under which was a soft bed +preparing.</p> + +<p class="normal">"By all means," returned the enemy, with bonhomie. "Take time, my +dear; but you must not be too long deciding. A little friendly counsel +before I go: when <i>our</i> Clovis comes back to-morrow--for, oddly +enough, he is for the present <i>ours</i>--better say nothing, you have +disgusted him enough already."</p> + +<p class="normal">With that she waved a light adieu, and ere long her bass voice was to +be heard in the corridor, accompanying the joyous treble of her +shouting charges engaged in a game of romps.</p> + +<p class="normal">What a day's experience--a day to sear the brain and blanch the hair +with silver. Gabrielle, her hands tight clasped behind her back, +strode up and down the long saloon deeply immersed in thought, quite +calm and self-possessed. The time for impulsive moaning and mad frenzy +was gone by. Drowsy reason stood upright and alert upon her throne. At +any cost of pain to herself or others duty must be done--the little +ones rescued from the ogress. Even the dear father must for their +sakes bear his share of the burthen. It was decreed. He must learn the +truth, which she had hoped would lie buried in her grave. Victor, +Camille; their blythe merriment in the corridor was an eloquent +sermon. Up to now--all thanks to Heaven for it--they were unsmirched +by aught of evil, their sky sunny and unclouded. Instinct told their +mother that the ogress, by some paradox, was capable of some measure +of wholesome affection, and would do them no injury unless it were +necessary to strike through them at her. The new fledged diplomate +must temporize--gain time. A power of dissimulation, to which hitherto +she had been a stranger, was developing itself in Gabrielle. The dear +father--he would be terribly concerned--would arrive posthaste, wreak +vengeance on those who had so nearly slain his child, bear away her +and his grandchildren to safety.</p> + +<p class="normal">Gabrielle locked herself in her bedroom, and wrote with feverish +energy. The pen flew over the sheets and covered them with close +writing that told a piteous tale. Toinon, who knew that in the absence +of my lord, both abbé and governess had been persecuting her mistress, +tried the door once or twice, and, receiving no response to her +knocks, grew so seriously alarmed, that she dashed off in search of +Jean Boulot, dreading some new catastrophe. Just as the latter +appeared with a hatchet in his grasp, and anxious lines upon his brow, +the door opened, and the chatelaine herself stood on the threshold +holding a letter.</p> + +<p class="normal">She was flushed with fever, but quite self-possessed. With a strange +smile she beckoned them both in, and again turned the key in the lock.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Something has happened, dear good friends, whom I can trust," she +explained, rapidly. "Something so terrible, that I cannot tell it you. +I am still scared and horrified, but Heaven permits me to retain my +senses. Jean, for love of me and mine, you will saddle your horse and +ride leisurely to Onzain, as though bent on ordinary business; and +there engage with the Maître de Poste to send this letter by special +courier. He must take no rest till he reaches Paris. Two precious +souls--three--depend on punctual obedience. I may trust you, Jean? Let +none suspect your mission."</p> + +<p class="normal">Honest Jean sank on one knee and pressed the hot hand of the +chatelaine to his lips with reverence. "My life is madame's," he said +simply, and went.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Embrace me, my Toinon," Gabrielle cried, falling on the neck of her +foster-sister in a paroxysm of hysterical weeping. "I have been for +years in a foolish day-dream. I am awake now to sleep no more."</p> + +<p class="normal">Toinon was mystified, but could gather that the terrible emotion of +the marquise relieved her pent feelings, and was as salutary as timely +bleeding to the apoplectic. After a brief space she grew better, and +could smile like a ghost of her old self. The die was cast. She would +be relieved of nightmare. Her affection for her husband was burned +quite away, and, as its ashes paled, her love for the little ones shot +up the purer.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_14" href="#div1Ref_14">CHECK.</a></h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Gabrielle learned to practise her new art so well that day followed +day in usual routine without suspicion being aroused of the bold thing +she had done. It occurred to none of the party that under the same +exterior she was another woman. She went her ways as before, +displaying, perhaps, an increased activity, visiting the distressed, +administering to the sick. Mademoiselle Brunelle was puzzled, and +watched her in idle surprise, marvelling that the squeeze, so +carefully calculated, should so signally have failed in its effect. +What a low mania the mawkish creature was displaying for dirty +wretches clad in rags! That thing a marquise! To crush one who was so +unworthy of her place would be quite a virtuous action, as virtue was +understood by Aglaé. The squeeze having proved insufficient for the +purpose, another must be applied. It was difficult to determine what +form the pressure was to take, since the lady was so craven and mean +spirited. Aglaé had declared to her face that the marquis was her +lover--which was not true; had spoken of corrupting little Camille, +whose mother, shocked for the moment, had, as it appeared, got used to +the abominable idea with singular rapidity. The ever-increasing scorn +of the governess was mingled now with disdain of a more positive kind +for the pusillanimity of the destined victim.</p> + +<p class="normal">The family councils had resulted in abdication of authority on the +part of Clovis, who loved his ease, and was only too glad to escape +from politics. How should he cope with two such clever heads as those +of Aglaé and Pharamond? The clever pair was in perfect accord as to +what should be done under given circumstances. The governess gently +lured him back to his accustomed pursuits and studies, and his +conscience ceased by degrees to pinch him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Unknown to each other, the private scheme of each of the conspirators +had miscarried, and both felt that the next move must be made with +exceeding caution. Hence they were to outward seeming extremely +friendly, whilst hating each other with a healthy loathing; making +believe to have all ideas in common, carefully concealing any desire +suddenly to depart from Lorge.</p> + +<p class="normal">By suggestion of the affinity, they had taken to breakfasting in the +study, where the morning sun shone in, a cosy party of four, in which +Gabrielle was not included. During the meal the abbé would discuss the +latest rumour with the lady at the head of the table in amicable +fashion, or join with her in arguing some point arising out of +Mesmer's letters. The sage was as dissatisfied as his pupil at the +nonappreciation of his discovery. For the miraculous cure of the +baron's sciatic nerve had found no favour with the peasantry of +Touraine, who vowed it was a perilous thing to allow the devil to +tamper with scourges sent from Heaven. That party requires little +encouragement, as all the world knows, and that it was he who had +worked the cure was evident, since the musicians, ere they ran away, +had counted the hairs in his tail. Could there be any doubt that +without witchcraft or direct aid from the evil one, no tubful of +bottles could affect a gentleman's rheumatism? If there had been a +sprinkling of holy water by the good priest, as Madame la Baronne had +piously wished, it would have been quite another affair. But iron +filings and a violoncello! had not the curé preached on the very next +Sunday on the subject of Satanic miracles?</p> + +<p class="normal">Clovis was heartily disgusted with the crassness of the bucolic +ignorance and the pig-headedness of its obstinacy, and gave a willing +ear to Aglaé's secret hints that it might be well, some of these days, +to transplant the magic tub to some more enlightened centre.</p> + +<p class="normal">She was always right--clear-headed, far-seeing Aglaé! He understood +now that the suggestion which had affrighted him on the night of the +attempted suicide had merely been an ebullition of overboiling zeal. +She, had felt a genuine interest in him; had perceived that the +marquise was no fitting helpmeet for a <i>savant</i>, and had been unable +to conceal regret that he should not have been freed from a weight +which clogged his scientific usefulness. Over-zeal, as Richelieu +remarked, is productive of more harm than good, but it should be +treated with indulgence in that it springs from laudable intentions. +It was wrong to have said that the chatelaine should have been left to +drown. But in his heart of hearts, Clovis began to confess to himself +that the caresses of the patient during convalescence had been +well-nigh unbearable, and that if Heaven thought well to take her in a +natural way, it would be a relief rather than otherwise.</p> + +<p class="normal">The even tenour of <i>déjeuner</i> was disturbed one morning by the +announcement that a travelling berline was coming up the road, and +that an old gentleman was looking from its window. A travelling +berline, covered thick with dust, too! Not a neighbour, then. Who +could it be that presumed to invade their monastic privacy? A +messenger from Paris, perhaps. Had something awful happened? The abbé +and the governess glanced at each other suspiciously, the same +unspoken thought occurring to both. Was the crisis come before they +were prepared? If so, the idea of ousting the other one must be +abandoned, and a yet closer alliance formed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Monsieur Galland," announced a servant. None of those present had +ever heard the name. Who was he? Whence and from whom had he come?</p> + +<p class="normal">The gentleman entered, and bowed gravely to the company. A spare, tall +old man, who, despite the march of fashion, wore his hair curled and +powdered. He was clad in plain black cloth, with woollen stockings and +black buckles. A most respectable person, evidently. Would he be good +enough to state his business? He took a chair, accepted a cup of +coffee, and, fixing his eyes on the portly Aglaé, in what she +considered an offensive and marked manner, explained that he was a +solicitor. A solicitor? There was no law suit pending that anyone was +aware. What? The confidential man of business of Monsieur le Maréchal +de Brèze, who was, unfortunately, ill in bed. The grave Gentleman +trusted that the maréchal's daughter was not also indisposed. To his +regret he perceived that she was absent from the morning meal of the +family.</p> + +<p class="normal">Again Pharamond and Aglaé glanced at each other. What could the old +man have to say which could not be communicated by letter?</p> + +<p class="normal">Clovis blushed, and looked for assistance to the abbé. It came upon +him suddenly that what had grown to be quite natural to him, would be +rather difficult to explain to a stranger.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Madame la Marquise is an angel of charity," demurely remarked the +abbé, "who repudiates the innocent comforts of this life to give the +more time to others. She grudges the hour we waste in dallying, and +prefers to breakfast alone."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We all know that madame is an angel," agreed the grave stranger; +"much too good for this world."</p> + +<p class="normal">The company looked one at another in growing uneasiness. There was +something unpleasant coming. It was odd that the announcement of +Gabrielle's being an angel should make them all feel guilty. The +chevalier sighed and wheezed. Clovis's colour deepened. The abbé +drummed his fingers on the cloth, annoyed. The governess scrutinised +the stranger with lowering brow, for instinct whispered that something +had been kept back from her, and that it was on her account he had +come.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will monsieur kindly explain his business?" enquired the abbé, with +his sweetest smile. "Of course, any emissary from one who has all our +respect and affection is most welcome at his chateau of Lorge. Yet we +cannot expect that our poor attractions should lure anyone to so quiet +a retreat."</p> + +<p class="normal">"His chateau of Lorge?" thought the governess, surprised. "Surely it +belongs to the marquis?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I hope M. de Brèze is not seriously ill?" asked Clovis, with an +effort. It was incumbent on him to say something.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Too indisposed, unfortunately, to travel, even on important business. +You are aware that Madame la Marquise has made a communication to her +father?"</p> + +<p class="normal">If a cannon ball had dropped through the ceiling, the company could +not have looked more startled. The solicitor smiled, and then grew +graver than before. There was consternation on every face. The +position of the marquise was evidently more serious even than she had +said. The letter had been sent clandestinely, or it would have been +suppressed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The communication was a sad blow to the maréchal," the solicitor +continued quietly, "and increased the fever under which he suffered. +Nevertheless, he would be here himself had not the doctors and Madame +la Maréchale almost employed force. It is as well that the marquise +should happen to be absent, for it makes my task the easier. Plainly, +marquis, M. de Brèze demands the instant dismissal of a person in your +employ who has seriously offended his daughter."</p> + +<p class="normal">Aglaé's massive jaw dropped in dumb amazement, while the abbé shot at +her a covert glance of white hot malevolence. She had been up to some +nefarious prank on her own account, unknown to him: had spoiled his +game as well as her own. His frail fingers writhed like adders under +the table. How he would have liked to strangle her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I--offend madame?" faltered the governess, dumbfoundered.</p> + +<p class="normal">The ground was slipping from beneath her. By what right could the old +gentleman in Paris send so peremptory a demand to his son-in-law? The +sly minx was not so mean-spirited after all. Who could have supposed +her capable of turning the tables, by secretly sending for her father? +Aglaé looked at the marquis, whose face was dark as a thundercloud. +Gaining courage from a certainty of his support, she added, toying +carelessly with a coffee-spoon--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have always done my duty by madame's children, whom she never +looked after herself. I was engaged by M. le Marquis, who has +expressed himself satisfied with my efforts."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do I understand that mademoiselle declines to go?" enquired the +solicitor. "M. le Marquis is strangely silent. Shall I, to my infinite +regret, be compelled to carry out my instructions in full?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The stranger dared to threaten the Marquis de Gange!</p> + +<p class="normal">Mademoiselle Brunelle glanced furtively at the abbé, who glared at +her. She was bewildered, possessing no key to the puzzle.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My instructions are," pursued the solicitor, "to see the dismissed +person off the premises, within two hours. In the event of her +refusing to go, M. le Marquis is to be informed, that I am to remove +Madame la Marquise at once, and that, if she is detained it will be +the painful duty of the Maréchal de Brèze to prosecute certain +individuals, whom I need not designate, for conspiracy and cruelty. +The officers of law at Blois have their instructions. If the dismissed +person does not present herself there within a given time to receive +her wages, or if I do not arrive in the company of Madame la Marquise, +the officers will come here and demand admittance to the premises +belonging to the maréchal. I am glad to be informed that madame is +universally beloved. A whisper that she received cruel treatment would +rouse the province, and this I need scarcely observe, is not the +moment for a collision with the <i>tiers état</i>."</p> + +<p class="normal">Excellently planned. The abbé, a good critic of such matters, was +filled with appreciative admiration, although he was to be one of the +sufferers. Aglaé had been guilty of some prodigious blunder for which +she was to be justly punished. That was well, for in acting +independently of him, she had broken a solemn promise. He also, he +admitted inwardly, had not displayed his usual astuteness. Doubtless +her intense horror of him had helped to goad the victim to that which +he had falsely judged she would never do. Then a sense that she had +shaken herself free of him, aroused a new access of impotent fury in +his breast. She had defied his hate as well as his love, and he +shivered with malignant spite at the idea, that by claiming her +father's protection she had baffled him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Clovis felt more angry than ever in his life before. It was a +revelation of an unpleasant kind to find himself in leading strings; +the state of dependence of which the abbé hinted long ago, to be +ordered like a lacquey, to be threatened and browbeaten in the +presence of others--he, Marquis de Gange, above all, under the eyes of +the affinity, and to be powerless to return blow for blow. To be so +degraded and humiliated, and at the instance of his own wife! It was +some moments ere he could control the whirlwind of emotions +sufficiently to command his voice.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Am I to gather," he at length said, huskily, "that Madame la Marquise +requires a separation? I am surprised, for she has never spoken on the +subject. What if I refuse, and claim my marital rights?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is always such angels as she," the solicitor observed sternly, +"who are doomed to earthly martyrdom at the hands of wicked men. Your +rights! And what of hers? You have compelled her to dwell under one +roof with a designing wanton. You have deprived her of access to her +children. After that mere neglect may count for nothing. I am sorry to +say that all madame demands is the dismissal of that woman, free +access to the children, and a show of respect from you. So much being +conceded, bygones are to be bygones. Her terms refused, she will leave +your roof, her father will withdraw supplies from you, and give you +notice to quit his property."</p> + +<p class="normal">Then the money was the old man's, and not the marquis's. Aglaé hated +everybody, herself included, at thought of how she had been duped.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will go when you will," she said, preparing to withdraw, with a +whimsical attempt to don a martyr's chaplet. "I thank the marquis for +his many kindnesses. May I have a moment to embrace the cherubs? I am +glad to think that they will miss me more than anyone. As for madame, +I can only pity her delusions, knowing that she will be sorry some day +when she comes to know me better."</p> + +<p class="normal">At this juncture the door opened, and Gabrielle entered in her riding +habit, pale but composed. Without noticing the others, she advanced +quickly to the new-comer and held forth her hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Dear M. Galland," she said. "My father!----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Was sorely troubled by what you wrote to him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I feared it," she replied dejectedly. "But there were reasons."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Reasons!" cried the old gentleman with warmth. "I can read the +reasons in your saddened face. I am sorry to be unable to congratulate +madame upon her blooming looks. She was wrong not to have spoken +sooner."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I could not," pleaded Gabrielle. "It takes long for a loyal love to +smoulder out of life. I could have borne all, if she there had not +threatened to instil poison into a child's mind. Just think of it! My +God! How monstrous!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"She never did that," Clovis put in hotly. "Never, never! You may see +the children yourself, sir, and question them. Such a calumny is +atrocious!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thanks! Oh--thanks for that!" murmured the deep tones of +mademoiselle, as with theatrical gesture she hastily knelt and kissed +his hand. "When I have been chased away, it will be a comfort to +remember that I never lost your confidence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In this affair, I play a pretty part!" exclaimed the marquis, +bitterly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Between us," Gabrielle said mournfully, gazing at her husband's +averted back as he crouched in his fauteuil, "all is over. We are +hopelessly divided. And yet, take comfort. In years to come, maybe, +when Victor and Camille are man and woman, we may be joined again by +them. Mademoiselle, I wish no harm to you--only that after this day we +may never come face to face."</p> + +<p class="normal">Unaccustomed tears stood on the seamed cheeks of M. Galland. It was +well that fiery old de Brèze had not arrived in person. The visage of +the white chatelaine told such a tale that bloodshed might have ensued +which all would have deplored. The interview was painful, and it +behoved him to cut it short.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If the person intends to obey orders," the solicitor said curtly, +looking at his watch, "she had better waste no time. Such clothes as +she cannot pack quickly will be sent after her. I have messages from +your father, marquise, that must not be delivered here. Might I ask +the favour of being conducted to the nursery, that I may make faithful +reports to my employer?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Aglaé bit her lips. This was a cunning stroke to present a theatrical +display, <i>à la Medea</i>. Gabrielle consented gratefully, and led the +way, leaving the marquis tingling with humbled vanity, and a +reawakened remorse that would not be quieted.</p> + +<p class="normal">His face was buried in his hands, and he was too absorbed in the +contemplation of his own outraged self to attend to the woes of +others.</p> + +<p class="normal">Aglaé sidled up to the abbé timidly. Her usual masterful confidence +had melted into air.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is there no hope?" she whispered.</p> + +<p class="normal">"None!" was the blunt rejoinder. "You must submit to instant +banishment, which serves you right. So it was you who, by your +besotted folly drove her to this? I hope you will die in penury. +Idiot! Not to know that the vilest animal will turn if threatened in +its offspring."</p> + +<p class="normal">Of course, the abbé was just the man to jump upon the fallen! Was it +her fault that she had been kept in the dark with regard to +circumstances, which, if known, would have changed her tactics? All +was not lost. It was but a temporary defeat such as the most skilful +generals must submit to sometimes. It would not do to quarrel openly +with the abbé, though, in her trouble he was behaving like a brute. +Therefore, while wreathing her face in smiles, she registered an +inward vow to remember, and be bitterly revenged some day.</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Sans rancune!</i>" she said lightly, holding out her large brown hand. +"You are not merciful, but I forgive you: am I not admirably generous? +You think I am cast out for ever. A grievous mistake; so we had best +still be friends. Look at him. He is chafing now, wincing under the +whip thong. In the distractions of the capital he might forget me. +Here he will miss me and be sorry."</p> + +<p class="normal">It was likely that in that much she was right. The house of cards had +been kicked over by her clumsy foot, and must be recommenced from the +foundations. Who could foretell what the stormy future might bring +forth? It was politic to keep on civil terms with one who might yet +prove formidable--or useful.</p> + +<p class="normal">The chevalier, who could read things hazily, as in the dark with a +horn lantern, wondered why his brother was so civil to the routed one. +He led her to the carriage with a ceremony suited to an archduchess, +and stood under the archway where the portcullis used to hang, airily +kissing his finger-tips till the berline was out of sight.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_15" href="#div1Ref_15">THE SITUATION CHANGES.</a></h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Gabrielle's injunctions to Monsieur Galland were concise. The maréchal +must not be told too much. The good solicitor must keep to himself her +worn and haggard aspect. Nor must he relate aught of the eloquent +meeting between the mother and her dear ones. The children looked on +her with a vague alarm as on one of whom they had learned to be +suspicious from hearing unpleasant things. He had been obliged to wipe +away another tear--it was a wonder that there remained so much liquid +in one so dry and shrunken--ere he stole from the room on tiptoe, +leaving the yearning heart to recover its lost sway.</p> + +<p class="normal">And now began for Madame de Gange a lull of peace, and as her troubled +soul regained its equilibrium she marvelled that she should have been +patient for so long. The dear father's mandate had been a wand of +harlequin transforming with a touch the Cave of the Black Gnome into +the Calm Retreat of the Serene Spirit. For several months nothing +occurred that was of import to the recluses. By a seeming paradox, the +remnants of the affection she had once borne her husband being +destroyed, she found that she could get on better with him. There were +no more throes of jealousy, no irritating scenes, no midnight weepings +with the morning reproach of swollen eyelids--simply because she had +renounced a desire for the moon, as he had so often wished she might. +That he should shut himself up in his study and pore over the secrets +of science, avoiding his better half, was no longer a cause for grief; +she cared no more how this time was passed. Had she not got back the +stolen treasures in whose interest alone she prayed for a span of +life? For many weary months she had been bereaved, and it was an +intense delight--a dazzling peep into heaven--to have them once again +all to herself with no shadow to fall between. What a joy to mark how +the minds of Victor and Camille had expanded in the interval; how the +young plants had shot up, putting out fresh leaves of tender green and +fragrant blossoms of rich intelligence. The mother thanked God that, +search as anxiously as she might, she could find no trace of evil in +the children's minds. The singular specimen of womanhood, who happily +was gone for ever, had been a real mother to them, had tended them as +if they were her own, had packed in the little heads a store of +information that to Gabrielle was a source of awe. A very curious +mixture was Mademoiselle Brunelle. What she had herself remarked as to +the conflicting elements in the female bosom was more true than the +conclusion which followed. Whether the angel or the devil obtains +mastery does not always depend upon a man. In this case it depended on +a woman--Gabrielle. If she had been drowned, Aglaé would, no doubt, +have been a model stepmother, and have done everything in her power +for the advantage of the young ones. It was her hatred of the +chatelaine, due to the misreading of her character, that had put the +thought into her head of hurting them in order to inflict pain on her. +Perhaps, it was no more than an idle threat to instil terror. When the +moment came she would perchance have held her hand and spared them. +Perhaps too rough a contact with the sharp edges of the jagged world +in early life had warped a nature that was intended to be genial. As +she considered these things the forgiving Gabrielle freely pardoned +her tormentor for the many stabs she had inflicted. Fear and horror +gave place to holy pity, and she resolved to use her influence to +procure for her another situation. With suitable surroundings she +might succeed in banishing the devil. Those surroundings she had not +found at Lorge. That short volume of its sinister history was closed, +and must never be re-opened. Whatever else might happen Mademoiselle +Aglaé Brunelle must never revisit Lorge.</p> + +<p class="normal">The magic wand of the old maréchal had even produced an effect upon +the abbé. Either he had been frightened into good behaviour, or he had +been induced to smother his unholy passion and forego his campaign of +menaces. A few days after Aglaé's defeat, during which time he had +been ostentatiously humble and obliging, he paid another visit to the +chatelaine in her boudoir. For a moment she held her breath. Was the +persecution to recommence? As he had never threatened harm to the dear +ones, she had spared him in her letter to her father. Must she again +cause him sorrow by seeking protection against her husband's brother?</p> + +<p class="normal">No; heaven was very merciful, and had quite withdrawn its galling +hand. The abbé presented himself before her in a new light. His sweet +voice was pitched in its most melodious key. His intellectual visage +was scored with furrows of anxiety and contrition. He frankly +confessed his sins, and humbly craved forgiveness, while tears poured +down his cheeks.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I was mad--driven quite out of myself by your marvellous beauty, +Gabrielle," he murmured, in broken accents. "Believe me if you can, +after the past, that I am not altogether bad. Forgiveness is a divine +attribute which will well become your angelic nature. Like him from +whom the unclean spirit was cast, I no longer shriek, and howl, and +tear my flesh, but am subdued, clothed, and in my right mind again. I +look upon my other self with horror, and praise God for the miracle +whereby I am saved. Pardon, Gabrielle; without it I shall never know +another instant's peace."</p> + +<p class="normal">The marquise was much moved by the appeal. She had liked the man and +enjoyed his society until, as he explained, he had gone mad. Who was +she, who had erred in so many things--had even been so wicked as to +try to take her life--that she should punish one who repented?</p> + +<p class="normal">He had muttered something about going away, removing from her path his +execrated presence; had even said with thrilling sadness that he +firmly purposed to seek the cloister, and commence a life of penance. +She, too, had once thought of the cloister. Indeed, it was upon that +hint that Pharamond was acting now; for, alas, alas, the astute one +was but playing a new rôle, preparing new foundations for his tumbled +house of cards.</p> + +<p class="normal">It is grievous for the historian to relate that this brilliant son of +the Church was altogether heartless. He, who could prate so prettily +about forgiveness, had not a grain of pity in his composition. Can a +man love and hate at the same time? he had asked himself. No; but he +had mistaken a vile grovelling feeling born of ignoble sensuality for +love, and that feeling could run in harness in perfect accord side by +side with hatred. His beautiful sister-in-law had flouted him, had +foiled him, had, with sublime disdain, flung his threats in his face. +She had plainly shown him how high above his foul and leprous baseness +soared her own simple purity. We may be aware that we are grovelling +and vile, and deserve to be held up to the contempt of our fellows in +our native ugliness. We may know this, and may endure the knowledge +with equanimity, even cynically enjoy and relish it; but to have our +vileness tossed in our face by another is quite another thing. The +abbé was not one to be baffled and submit to the beating calmly. He +was more than ever steadfastly resolved some day to conquer; and being +endowed with indomitable patience, washed the slate with plodding care +in order to commence afresh.</p> + +<p class="normal">As his craft had calculated, the marquise was too simple in her +goodness and too generous to bear malice. With feelings of intense +gratitude that the stony path should grow so smooth, she forgave the +suppliant freely, and even gently jested as to the proposed retreat. +No, no; he must wear his hair shirt at Gange, she said, and having +been granted full absolution, must, together with her, obliterate the +past. She explained that it was her intention to have masters from +Blois, frankly confessing that the education of the dear ones had +soared far beyond her reach. "They shall come twice a week," the +marquise explained, "and I will take lessons also. It will be +delightful for us all to help each other and prepare our various tasks +during the other days. You, Pharamond," she added cheerily, bent on +helping him to forget, "may be of the greatest service to us, for you +are clever and learned in books. You shall hold the post of assistant +usher and explain what we cannot understand. Leave us? Never! What +would Clovis do without you? I am afraid that you will have to study +Mesmer's doctrines, so that he may not miss that woman. I am resolved +that if it is essential to provide for him an affinity, that +mysterious object, in the future, shall be of the other sex."</p> + +<p class="normal">The new foundations were progressing prosperously. Pharamond had never +contemplated abandoning the flesh-pots. Since the plan of an elopement +with the heiress was doomed to failure through the interference of the +dictatorial old maréchal, they must all be content to stop where they +were, and, for the time being, dwell together. There was a lull in the +political situation, so emigration might not prove necessary. Within +the boundaries of France there was no safer refuge than Touraine. +Rustic effervescence was subsiding. News arrived from time to time of +massacres and burnings, but these were chiefly in the south, in +districts surrounding cities.</p> + +<p class="normal">With grateful reverence and many eloquent protestations, the abbé +received the olive branch and set himself with alacrity to show how +exceedingly clean he was washed. He impressed on Victor and Camille +the angelic attributes of their mamma, strained every nerve to tighten +the bonds that had grown slack, laid stress on the fact that though +the beloved governess was, of course, one of the best of women, it was +necessary for their sakes to provide teachers more advanced than she. +The best side of the mercurial gentleman quite glittered with snowy +rectitude, and mother and children were agreed that no one could do +without the abbé.</p> + +<p class="normal">A thorn in the flesh was the chevalier. A man who, too thirsty, +babbles in his cups, is provoking; but when he becomes maudlin and is +scarcely ever sober, he is a grievous trial to his comrades. Having +turned over the new leaf it was exasperating to Pharamond to be +constantly reminded of the old one at inconvenient seasons by a +hiccuping sot; to be implored between vinous sobs "to make her happy." +It was urgently necessary to take poor shaky Phebus in tow and treat +him with strict severity. Once or twice, in disgust, he thought of +getting rid of the sodden creature, and even mentioned the subject to +Clovis. But the latter would not hear of his banishment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where should we send him to alone?" he asked. "He would get into +trouble and disgrace us. It was you who saddled us with him, so you +must help us to bear the burthen."</p> + +<p class="normal">The abbé gave up the point without further discussion, for in dealing +with the weak it is wise to let them have their way in small matters +in order to get your own in large ones. Moreover, if kept under +surveillance, Phebus might be improved, and it is not well to throw +wilfully aside a man, however helpless, over whom we have obtained +complete ascendency.</p> + +<p class="normal">Matters being arranged to his satisfaction so far, the astute and busy +one bestirred himself about the marquis. Now that she was gone, Clovis +had cause every hour, as she had foreseen, to regret Aglaé. Who so +ingenious as she in disentangling knotty problems; who so clear of +head in deciphering a theorem? Without her help, what was the use of +the tub, or its precious contents? The evenings were interminable to +him without his favourite music. The blessed violoncello reposed now +in its box, for grunting on it all alone brought melancholy instead of +solace to the musician. Before the cannon ball fell, neophyte and +affinity had been concerting plans for removing the tub from a +benighted neighbourhood to some more congenial sphere. Its blessings +were wasted on rustic swine. Clovis longed to escape from the scene of +his humiliation; burned to turn his back on Lorge; but there was a new +and galling dread within, which kept him tongue-tied: a fear, that if +he took too much upon himself the douche of an evil precedent would be +turned on again; that the odious old rascal in Paris would warn him to +obey his wife.</p> + +<p class="normal">If you are ill-advised enough to espouse an heiress, you are pretty +sure, sooner or later, to have her money flung in your face. Gabrielle +had been so full of delicate tact with regard to the dangerous point, +that Clovis had never been troubled about it until urgency had +impelled de Brèze to twist the screw, and under the wrench he +continued to wince and writhe. Calm and dreamy as he was, he had never +overtly done anything to vex his wife--had drifted, and then been +towed into troubled waters, whose turbidness, now that attention was +called to them, was a matter for surprise. He had struggled in his +feeble way with conscience, and, the governess assisting, had +succeeded in lulling it to rest; and it was very distressing to his +vanity that the sleeper should be so roughly wakened. Is it not always +humiliating to be treated like a peccant school-boy?</p> + +<p class="normal">I regret to state that the abbé, when in conference with the marquis, +adroitly added to the chafing, by covert scratches and the insertion +of little pins. "To a man of spirit," he would remark, deprecatingly, +"it is painful to be led by the nose; none the less so, when the +holder of the tongs happens to be the one whose duty is obedience." On +such occasions, Clovis would turn to his brother with puzzled +wrinklings of the brow that were piteous and yet ludicrous. "What am I +to do?" he would groan. "The situation, as you say, is horrible; but I +don't see a way out of the difficulty." Then the abbé would tap his +shoulder and murmur, sighing, "Poor fellow. I pity you with all my +being, but for all our sakes must exhort you to be civil to madame. +Her wish is law to her papa. If she chose to ask the old scamp to +eject us into the road, what else could we do but go?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus it will be seen that Gabrielle's sanguine expressions of +gratitude were somewhat premature. The disease of an importunate love +for her spouse had submitted to surgical treatment, which was an +advantageous change for both; but she guessed nothing of the Nessus +shirt, that under the fine linen excoriated the tender skin of the +lymphatic sensualist, or dreamed of the effect on his tissues of the +abbé's little pins.</p> + +<p class="normal">Affairs stood thus, when the marquis's <i>bête noire</i> appeared again to +stir the wound in his vanity which never ceased to fester. Actually, +under the spring sunshine, the dusty berline was again visible, +crawling down the road with its load of dust, and M. Galland peering +from the window. Clovis shot at his wife a look of angry suspicion, +but did not fail to mark by her face, that this time the apparition +was unexpected. He could see plainly that if there was to be another +screw turn, it was not at her instance or suggestion. So much was +evident, and the hot and hasty words which rose died upon his lips. +The old rascal had determined to do something disagreeable on his own +account. What?</p> + +<p class="normal">M. Galland, sphynx-like as usual, bowed to the assembled company with +respectful deference; but the marquise turned faint, foreboding some +fresh sorrow. The calm eyes of the solicitor rested on her with deep +compassion; for she was looking so much better, that it was a grievous +thing to be bearer of evil tidings. For fear of distressing his +idolized child, the maréchal had strictly forbidden her mother to +alarm her in the weekly bulletins. She was not informed that the old +gentleman's malady had grown on him, that he grew worse instead of +better, and it came now upon her like an avalanche, that she would +never see him more.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Maréchal de Brèze was dead; had died blessing his daughter. It was +necessary for his heiress to proceed instantly to Paris, to comfort +her distracted mother and attend to business of import.</p> + +<p class="normal">The irruption of the new cannon ball affected the party of listeners +differently. Gabrielle, overwhelmed with grief, retired to pray in her +chamber. Oh! Why had she not been more patient--more brave--less +selfish! She had inflicted her own troubles on the good father when he +was sick, perchance had been the innocent cause of precipitating his +demise. Why not have continued the loving deceit, whereby she had +veiled her wounds so long from him?</p> + +<p class="normal">That wicked woman had only played upon her terrors, she was now +convinced of it; would never have carried out her threats. Now that it +was too late, Gabrielle perceived with abortive beatings of the breast +and idle wringings of the hands, that she had acted wrongly. By +playing the craven, she had killed her father! Had she been possessed +of a grain of independent courage, instead of seeking succour from +without, she would have marched like a steadfast heroine straight into +her husband's presence--have detailed her grievances and claimed her +rights, and with her own bow and spear, have driven the enemy away. +Alas! She was made to cling and not to fight. In her desolation she +prayed long and earnestly ere tears came to her relief. Vainly Toinon +upbraided her, declaring that such thoughts were morbid, whilst +hastily packing for the journey.</p> + +<p class="normal">To Clovis, the unexpected news brought ineffable relief. Just as he +had learnt to believe himself saddled with a demon, who would be +constantly driving spurs into his flanks. Lo! The incubus vanished +into air! The old rascal could no longer threaten. His hand was +stilled. His voice was dumb for ever. From that quarter there would be +no more humiliation; he would not be bidden to obey his wife.</p> + +<p class="normal">The abbé was so taken aback, that his nimble mind wandered in a maze +of possibilities, ere it settled down seriously to consider the +effects of the change. The protector of the marquise was gone--her +only protector--for Madame la Maréchale was a colourless, somewhat +weak-minded lady, who need not be considered at all. The newly-laid +foundations of the house of cards were just what they should be, but +as circumstances alter cases, new plans must be drawn for the +structure. How true is it that the unexpected is always happening to +disarrange the most elaborate schemes. The first thing was to go to +Paris, there to learn what dispositions had been made by the deceased +as to his property. It was highly improbable that the marshal should +have placed confidence in his unpractical consort. Was everything left +to Gabrielle? Probably. The abbé was content with his survey. By the +death of de Brèze, the situation was totally altered. He, Pharamond, +must by skilful management, lead the marquise to lean more and more on +him. Influence must be exerted, too, over the marquis, who in sudden +freedom from irksome restraint might be impelled to do something +imprudent. Yes, the horizon was rosy--clouds of difficulty were +rolling away. Holding in his supple fingers both the husband and the +wife, and exercising due dominion over the bibulous chevalier, it +would be curious if, by and by, the abbé did not attain his ends.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_16" href="#div1Ref_16">THE ABBÉ IS TERRIBLY PERPLEXED.</a></h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Further surprises of a bewildering kind awaited our abbé in the +capital, which blurred the growing clearness of his sky. The temporary +tranquillity of Touraine had deceived him, for events had been passing +in other parts of France of gravest import, of which hitherto he was +unaware. The scum of the earth had in the general upheaval risen, as +he feared, to the surface, and emitted nauseous savours.</p> + +<p class="normal">Names new to him were in every mouth, and, the last doubts swept away, +he saw with concern for his own safety that the ship of state, guided +by such agitators as he saw around, was predestined to disaster. Urged +by curiosity, he attended the meetings of new-fangled clubs, and was +amazed at the language used there--words which a couple of years ago +would have jeopardized the heads of the speakers. He read the <i>Ami du +Peuple</i>, a popular journal edited by one, Marat, which openly +advocated regicide; and became acquainted with a forbidding person of +greenish complexion and smooth aspect whom men called Robespierre. +Were these ever to obtain mastery in the confusion, there were dark +days in store for France, much tribulation for scions of nobility. +Their majesties were still residing at the Tuileries, but how draggled +was the royal ermine! The queen dared not to look out of a window for +fear of insult. Stepping, on one occasion, into an inner court to +breathe some air, the soldier on guard shook his fist at her and +courteously declared how pleased he would be to have her head upon his +bayonet. Anarchy and crime marched hand in hand, no longer keeping in +the shadow; and the worst of all was that the movement Pharamond had +been watching showed signs--as by this time the blindest of moles +might perceive--of being no transient one, which interference from +without might quell. A mighty nation had risen in its strength to +protest against intolerable abuses, and so many villains and madmen +had risen in wild crusade against things established, that no wonder +it lost its senses. True, a good proportion of villains and madmen had +already gone under in the conflict, having devoured each other +piecemeal; but as these disappeared others, every bit as vile, arose +to fill their places.</p> + +<p class="normal">The long threatened collision with other nations was by this time a +fact. The country was formally declared to be in danger. All the +remaining property of those who had fled was seized in obedience to an +edict promulgated some time since, to defray the expenses of the +conflict.</p> + +<p class="normal">The first act, and one of marked significance, dictated to the abbé by +caution, was a change of garb, for in April, when religious +communities were suppressed, the wearing of ecclesiastical costumes +was prohibited. When religion topples, chaos shows its face.</p> + +<p class="normal">Seeing what he saw on all sides, Pharamond might well be anxious, and +look forward with interest to the reading of de Brèze's will. Within +its parchment folds lay the key of the future, for upon the conditions +expressed in the document hung the fortune of the party, and he could +not but feel serious misgivings with regard to inconvenient +stipulations. He had been wrong in supposing that the storm could be +weathered at Lorge; of that all he beheld in Paris spoke with +eloquence. Sooner or later, every noble in the land would be compelled +to emigrate, or gravely risk his life. It was merely a question of how +much the sooner or the later their party must join the exodus.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was a fortunate thing that de Brèze long ago should have deposited +the bulk of the money bags in Necker's bank at Geneva. The Chateau of +Lorge must be left to its fate. It really mattered little, since when +provided with means, palaces will spring up at our bidding on eligible +spots. It was essential to learn without delay whether he had left his +fortune to the marquise absolutely, or vested it, under care of +trustees, for her benefit. In the latter case she was safe, for it +would be necessary to be civil to her always, which would be +fatiguing; in the former, she must be cajoled to leave the country +with the brothers, for some quiet place, where she could be skilfully +moulded to their wishes. But what if, for some whimsy, she refused, or +if there were special stipulations which would interfere with a +flitting? After that artful trick of the clandestine letter there was +no trusting her apparent openness. Well, well, there was no use in +idle speculation. It was a most lucky circumstance, in any case, that +her only protector should be dead.</p> + +<p class="normal">M. Galland read the will to the brothers in the absence of the +heiress, for she was too much overcome by her loss to care about the +provisions of the testament; and Clovis raged inwardly the while, for +the solicitor had a dubious way of glancing from one to the other of +the three, which could hardly be called respectful. The effect of the +reading on the auditors was curiously different. The chevalier blinked +and smiled, as if he scarcely understood; the abbé, not displeased, +nodded politely from time to time, and purred out his satisfaction; +Clovis had much ado to conceal his disappointment.</p> + +<p class="normal">The property was left to the marquise absolutely, the will being a new +one, signed a few hours before death. It was worded with extreme care, +so that the entire inheritance should be at her own disposal, out of +reach of Clovis as of others. This to clever Pharamond seemed a small +matter, for had not the lady shown in the past that she was +indifferent to dross, and would it not be an amusing bit of diplomacy +to direct her as to its disposal? There were no vexatious +stipulations: so far, well; and the nimble mind of the abbé began +straightway to erect new card-castles for the housing of the coveted +money bags. Clovis was exasperated, which was a good point that might +be played on with advantage later. It was evident that his vanity was +touched on the raw, for, filled as he was with deep resentment, it +smouldered all the more fiercely in that he was ashamed to show it.</p> + +<p class="normal">Was his spouse to nip his nose with the tongs for the rest of his +natural life? Was he to be an obedient serf who could not touch a +stiver without her express consent? At the time of his marriage he was +not troubled on the subject, because the money being the maréchal's it +was necessary, for the time being, to submit to his crotchety but not +illiberal ways. But now that he was dead? The husband was to bend +beneath the yoke, to be under the thumb of this wife of his, who had +shown recently that she could assert herself, and who would, of +course, now that she knew her power and disliked her spouse, use it to +oppress and injure him.</p> + +<p class="normal">As the trio walked home from M. Galland's office, the usually dreamy +marquis was roused to a pitch of ire which Pharamond fanned into a +flame.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My poor fellow," he said, "I bleed for you, but we must make the best +of a bad job. Be civil to her, always civil, and she will let you dip +into her purse."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let me, indeed!" growled Clovis, in dudgeon.</p> + +<p class="normal">This was just where the tongs pinched most painfully. His olfactory +organ still tingled with the tweaking which it received in the matter +of the affinity's expulsion, and now he was exhorted to sit down +meekly and extend his nose to the torturer.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I suppose," he cried, in his vexation, "that each time I require a +new pair of breeches I must beg her, on my bare knees, to sign the +order."</p> + +<p class="normal">Splendid! The abbé was delighted, for this was quite the mental +condition in which he wished to see his brother. If the fortune had +been left in the hands of the husband, as would have been proper, the +tactics of the astute one would have been mapped out with simple +clearness. He would have exerted his power over the marquis to obtain +his share of the spoil. But with one to whom intrigue was as the +breath of life, so humdrum a way of settling business could not find +favour. If we would break up a bundle of sticks, we untie the string +that binds them and operate separately upon each. Was it not possible +finally to stop personal communication between the husband and the +wife, and establish himself as go-between, availing himself of +opportunities? The further he kept them apart the greater his own +influence would be, and, as things were, it might soon be of the +greatest importance to establish a firm authority. To this end, +therefore, he patted his fuming brother on the shoulder with +affectionate familiarity.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come, come!" he laughed. "It is only silly children who quarrel with +their bread and butter. The proceedings of the maréchal were malignant +and preposterous. Curb your feelings, and bury your chagrin deep down, +and never let her guess your most righteous indignation. You shall not +be so far degraded if I can help it, as to have to sue in person for +money. She likes and trusts me. Let me be your <i>homme d'affaires</i>, and +act as mediator between you."</p> + +<p class="normal">Clovis was grateful for being thus saved from a humiliating position, +and Gabrielle tacitly agreed to the arrangement without reflecting +much upon the subject. She naturally shrank from too frequent converse +with the man whom she had ceased to love.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What he wants for his pleasures, he can have, and welcome," she said, +with a sad smile; "but he must not be unduly extravagant. I am going +to blossom out into a terrible woman of business for the sake of +Victor and Camille. When they come of age they shall have cause to +bless me for my thrift."</p> + +<p class="normal">A woman of business? That would never do. But there was no danger of +it. The charming lady was not endowed with business capacities. This +infant-worship of hers was rather tiresome. Would it lead to +mortifying complications? <i>Not</i> if the sensitive instrument of +her character was played upon with caution. To think that that +never-sufficiently-to-be-execrated Aglaé should have been such a fool +as to try and strike at her through the adored cherubs--apples of the +maternal eyes!</p> + +<p class="normal">Well, that Marplot was well out of the road, and the abbé was pleased +to be quit of so deceitful a coadjutor. He took the earliest +opportunity to sound the marquise as to future plans. To his way of +thinking it behoved the family to make quietly for Geneva, there to +rejoin the money bags, and it would be well to find out, if, in her +new capacity, she proposed to put down her foot. He accordingly +remarked one day that Paris was a seething caldron, out of which it +would be prudent to escape.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No," replied Gabrielle, quietly, "I have no intention of leaving at +present; my place is here, and I am no poltroon. My mother wants me, +and so does the queen; and there is much business to arrange with M. +Galland. The little ones are happy at Lorge with Toinon, where we will +go and see them later."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But Lorge may be burnt over our heads," objected Pharamond. "Excuse +me; but you fail to grasp the situation, which is much more serious +than you suppose."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I shall certainly not leave France," returned Gabrielle, with +decision. "No one will hurt us in Touraine, for we are beloved and +respected, and the hearts of the people shall be our bulwarks."</p> + +<p class="normal">This was rather a bad beginning to the newly-inaugurated régime. It +was unwelcomely manifest that the foot was down. She had never +mentioned her husband or referred to his possible desires. That was +significant. Pshaw! she was a woman who was made to lean on others, +and just now she was supported by the queen, the family solicitor, and +other meddlesome advisers, and was thereby induced to assume an +independence which was foreign to her nature. So she was bent on +returning to Lorge? Well and good, the sojourn must be brief. +The temporary props being left behind, others would have to be +supplied--by him. Pressure could be brought to bear within the walls +of the grim chateau, and so soon as it should be urgent to flit, why, +then there should be a flitting. For the present she was mistress of +the situation, and till a change could be brought about, must have her +way unchallenged.</p> + +<p class="normal">As for Clovis, with much spare time upon his hands, his idle hours +were spent in brooding and regret, and the yearning that besets +humanity to have things other than they are. He was both fascinated +and disgusted by the scenes that passed around him, episodes which +served to increase the peevishness due to private worries.</p> + +<p class="normal">He was haunted by the idea that if Gabrielle had refrained from +writing that letter, the maréchal would not have so disposed his +property as to secure it against his son-in-law. But that piece of sly +impertinence on the part of the lady who bore his name had put +everything agog. But for her all apprehensions might ere this have +been removed. He would have been independent; have betaken himself and +the magic tub to some other land under the guidance of the dear +affinity; have escaped from the turmoil of politics, the noisy babble +of miscreants and cutthroats; be enjoying in peace the applause and +serenity which go with success in science. Instead of that, here was +he, the Marquis de Gange, kicking his heels in a capital which +resembled in its wild proceedings the mental phantasmagoria that +follows indigestion, deprived even of the consoling presence of her +who knew how to comfort him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Pharamond was all very well in his way, always obliging and cheery, +but somehow or other his sweetness left a taste in the mouth that was +bitter, even acrid. How this should be Clovis was at a loss to +comprehend, for there was no doubt that the abbé was sincerely sorry +for his brother's woeful plight, and did all that in him lay to prune +the thorns that pricked him. As Clovis meditated, topics were ever +cropping up which he longed to discuss with the governess; but, alas, +alas! thanks to the insane jealousy of a most annoying wife, the +charmer was gone--her place knew her no more!</p> + +<p class="normal">To brood over the halcyon days which are gone by is conducive to +snappishness, and, after a chewing of the cud, to chronic sullenness +and gnawing discontent. Sometimes the marquis would strive to rouse +himself from dismal reverie, and force himself to take interest in +what was passing; but the contemplation thereof only led to further +disapproval, for he found himself in company that revolted him. To +think that he, a noble of high rank, should find himself cheek by jowl +with the low, dirty, foul-mouthed scribbler, whose name was Marat! +People's friend, forsooth! If a wolf could write a journal, the brute +could not raven more thirstily for blood. Blood--not in drops from a +single breast, nor even in a river from the slaughter of families. He +howled for the crimson liquor in the profusion of an ocean from the +instinctive love of it which impels the tiger to rend his mangled +victim after his hunger is appeased. Then to have to be civil to that +dandified Robespierre, whom instinct whispered was one of the coming +men--one whose talents were insignificant and oratory wretched, but +who plodded ahead to his goal with a passionless undeviating pitiless +perseverance that was appalling; one who boasted with apathetic +cruelty that to gain a point the immolation of a generation was as +nothing; who was already clamouring for the sacrifice of the royal +family, and of all who were tainted with nobility.</p> + +<p class="normal">To visit the palace was to be distracted with indignant pity. Though +the son of St. Louis still ate off silver plate, the most elaborate +precautions were taken to secure him against poison. The wine he +drank, the food he ate, was introduced secretly by devoted friends. +Not a scrap passed his lips that was supplied from the royal kitchens. +Things had gone so far that there was no safety--as the hapless king +had realized on the eve of the Varennes disaster--but in flight. His +friends in Paris could be of little service, for he was as close a +prisoner in the gilded Tuileries as the felon in his cell--in a worse +plight than the convicted assassin in his jail, whom the rabble were +forbidden to persecute.</p> + +<p class="normal">Clovis could perceive as clearly now as Pharamond that so acute a +situation could not last. This was a state of crisis which should have +nearly attained its apogee, and which promised to result in +catastrophe. And here was the Gange family lingering on in the most +undesirable manner instead of making itself scarce, and skipping out +of danger. As we know, Clovis was not too brave, and preferred +scientific to military triumphs. If other nobles viewed the situation +from a long way off, why should not he also? What was it to him that +the continued outpouring of landholders had unhinged the public mind, +and that the exodus of those who should have rallied round their +monarch was indeed the greatest cause of the miseries that loomed +ahead? By deserting their native land at the most critical period of +its history, the French nobility cast a stain on their order, which +may never be wiped out. At this time, no less than a hundred thousand +of the most influential class had turned their backs upon their +country!</p> + +<p class="normal">The marquis exhorted and implored his brother to speak to Gabrielle, +to beg her to be sensible and go, before it was too late. With perfect +truth (for once) Pharamond declared that he had done his best--that +Gabrielle was obstinate and declined to budge--adding, with a +conciliatory smile, that Clovis must practise the unruffled calm that +springs from a tranquil mind; that when the new-blown prerogative of +managing people was more familiar to the heiress, she would be less +headstrong, more considerate.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It was too bad," groaned Clovis, who really was growing frightened. +The details of the inheritance settled, what was to detain a party of +provincials, who no longer had business in the dangerous proximity of +the whirlpool? If the heritage had been left in a proper manner, all +would have been well; for there would be nothing more natural than for +the head of the family to issue peremptory and dignified orders for +immediate departure. Even Gabrielle, who steadfastly declined to be of +the elect, ought--by reason of her gentle birth--to have preferred the +philanthropic society of an adept and the virtues of a magic tub at a +safe distance, to the chance of rubbing shoulders with a Marat or a +Robespierre, or enduring blue-stocking lectures from an upstart Madame +Roland. Though young and handsome, that person was a political +pen-woman--horrid precedent! But the contrariness of the feminine +nature is proverbial. As was to be expected, the heiress was gloating +over the shame of those she held in leash, and refused to leave the +hurly-burly just to annoy her husband.</p> + +<p class="normal">As to this Pharamond fully agreed with Clovis. There was nothing to be +gained but possible mishaps by lingering in Paris; and he was the more +anxious to be off that he found himself a nonentity there. The fields +he burned to cultivate were lying fallow. His house of cards was +making no progress; he seemed actually to be losing ground. The abbé +was a busy bee whose time was being wasted.</p> + +<p class="normal">Had not Gabrielle and Clovis become hopelessly estranged she might +have confided to him her deep sorrow for the queen, and her +unflinching determination to remain beside her, so long as she could +be of use. In better days, the queen had been her benefactress, and +she loved her as all did who knew her well.</p> + +<p class="normal">But days of confidence were over now, never to be recalled. The +seasons revolved, and spring came round again to find the De Ganges +still in Paris.</p> + +<p class="normal">It is only fair to say that Clovis was sorry for the position of their +majesties; but being of lymphatic temperament he had decided long ago +that disagreeable things which could not be helped, and which did not +injure himself, were promptly to be set aside.</p> + +<p class="normal">Ill-starred Marie Antoinette! Is it to underline the fact of mundane +injustice that the innocent are so often scapegoats for the black +sheep? There was no abomination, however monstrous, of which the mob, +maddened by professional agitators, did not believe her to be capable. +Murder, adultery, theft.</p> + +<p class="normal">She sometimes mournfully reminded Gabrielle of the evening--it must +have been a thousand years ago--when they had discussed their +horoscopes. "The iron grave-clothes, as was foretold, are slowly +wrapping me," she said, "to stifle my breath and crush my bones. I +hope and believe, dear Gabrielle, that your prophet lied, for you are +content and well. Happiness, we all are bound to learn does not exist. +That will perhaps appear as a fresh and welcome acquaintance at some +later stage of the long journey. You are well, my dear, and I am glad, +but I may not keep you, for here we are under the ban. I would not +have the faithful few to share the fate which daily approaches +nearer."</p> + +<p class="normal">Gabrielle sighed, but kept her counsel, for why should she inflict +her own sorrows on one so sorely stricken? Content? No. Not even +that--much less happy. She who needed sympathy and support so much +that without them she felt her fibres paralysed, had come to know that +all the battles of our inner life must be fought out alone, hand to +hand, in solitude, and that no friend, not even the dearest, can +help us in the conflict. She had learned that much during hours of +self-communing at Lorge, and the discovery dismayed her. In the next +world, the Christians say there is no marrying or giving in marriage. +Each soul is a single unit, the bonds of life-chains shattered. It is +so even in this life, though many see it not; when the real tussle +comes, the spirit stands unaided, deprived of succour from without, to +triumph or to fall alone.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was her anxious wish to stay beside the queen and cheer her, and by +so doing cheer herself. To be certain that some one longed for her +advent, and that her appearance in a doorway was like the glinting of +a welcome sunbeam, was a novel and refreshing sensation after the +gruesome experiences of Lorge. There was no need to trouble about the +prodigies, seeing that they were enjoying the best of air under +surveillance of Toinon and her betrothed. The old mother, who sadly +missed the perennial scoldings of the irascible defunct, also needed +her presence, for was she not more helpless than her child? Gabrielle, +counselled by M. Galland, had settled that the old lady was to move to +a small house of modest aspect in the suburbs, where she could +vegetate unharmed by revolutionary turbulence, and arranged with the +family solicitor to keep a watchful eye on her.</p> + +<p class="normal">The marquise had a variety of reasons, then, for desiring to remain in +the capital.</p> + +<p class="normal">Idleness brings out the bad points of most people; and both Clovis and +Pharamond were chafing. The latter, having nothing else to do, studied +his brother carefully, and the proceeding increased his disquietude. +Clovis fretted, and fumed, and yawned, and wished himself away, +listening with eagerness to the abbé's insidious innuendoes, then +growling and muttering to himself. He had something on his mind which +he was keeping back. It was not well that he should keep anything from +the abbé, so the son of the Church, with appropriate little jests +anent confession, set himself to expose the secret. It was as instinct +bade him fear. Clovis was hankering after the absent affinity.</p> + +<p class="normal">Pharamond had had cause to suspect that since the advent of +Mademoiselle Brunelle his own power had been permanently weakened. As +he had told Gabrielle, to obtain complete mastery over this wavering +specimen of fleshliness it was necessary that the leading-rein should +be held by a woman; and--without fault of his--the abbé chanced to be +a man.</p> + +<p class="normal">The marquis had not been aware of the delights of feminine +companionship till the arrival of the enchanting governess, and +Pharamond understood with reluctance now that although the subject had +been tabooed, Clovis yet pined for his affinity. He remembered the +parting words of Aglaé at the moment of her banishment. "In the +solitude of the country," she had said, "the neophyte would miss her." +The capital under its present aspect was as lonely to him, for he had +always been more or less of a recluse, and most of his town friends +had joined the army of emigrants.</p> + +<p class="normal">To avoid contact with the scum, and to save appearances in the matter +of compulsory attendance on his wife, he had taken up his studies with +ardour in the capital, and missed his late comrade each day more and +more. As his lips unclosed, he poured forth his confession to the +churchman; Pharamond reflected with perturbation that if the temple +were left long without its tenant, a new one might crawl in and +occupy. What was to prevent this flabby Clovis, since he felt the void +so much, from seeking another adept, even from applying to Mesmer for +just such another siren as the last? And if he did, what of the abbé +and his plans? Though not so docile as could be wished, and given to +casual deceit, it was possible for the abbé and the governess to work +together smoothly enough. That much had been proven. Supposing that, +taking the bull by the horns, he were cunningly to bring about her +re-introduction into the <i>ménage</i>, would she be grateful, and, singing +<i>peccavi</i>, promise to behave better in future? Gratitude is so scarce +a commodity! And by what artifice could she be introduced again +without raising a whirlwind of remonstrance? On the other hand, if +Clovis were allowed to find another leader, the new affinity might +eschew an alliance with the abbé, even deliberately work for his +suppression. How complicated the game! How difficult were his cards to +play! Was it safe to leave the ball to roll, or must it be checked in +mid career? How would the marquise behave deprived of parental +support, at sight of the apparition of her rival? These were knotty +problems, and another false move might mean irremediable discomfiture. +Impossible as it was to see far ahead, it was necessary to feel step +by step like a blind man groping. How delicate an operation to +re-introduce the massive form of the offender! On what plea, since +after what had passed she could not assume the attributes of teacher? +Move the fragments of his puzzle as he would, they declined to fit +together, and the abbé ground his teeth with fury and confessed that +for the moment he was nonplussed.</p> + +<p class="normal">If only the marquise could be induced to return home quickly, remove +herself from the influence of supporters. Would it be well to have a +fictitious message sent announcing the illness of the darlings? A +scrap of paper a few inches square would send her posting back to +Lorge at lightning speed; but then discovering that she was fooled, +suspicion would arise, alert. Could Clovis be persuaded to go home +without her? In that case his brothers must accompany him, lest, left +to his devices, he should do something regrettable; and it was of +equal importance to keep an eye on wife as well as husband.</p> + +<p class="normal">Turning the subject over and over with infinite care, the abbé +admitted with an impatient sigh that for the time being he was +powerless, and that the ball must be allowed to roll. Meanwhile it +would be advisable not to lose touch of the governess, lest some day, +when wanted, she should turn rusty and accuse him of neglect. He +accordingly sat down and wrote a long and entertaining letter full of +sly quip and graphic description, ending with the assurance that the +marquis did not forget, and that the humble scribe was her slave.</p> + +<p class="normal">This precaution taken, he settled himself down to drift with hands +before him: nor had he long to wait to perceive the direction of the +current.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was the twentieth of June. The day was balmy, and the windows open. +The queen sat in a low <i>causeuse</i> in her tiny library relating to the +Marquise de Gange the ominous occurrences of the morning. Paris was a +penful of sheep now distracted by too many shepherds--a weathercock +its most fitting symbol. What was happening every day would be +laughable but for the lurid cloud above with its blood-red lining, and +the low rumbling of thunder, each hour more distinct. The Assembly +whose mission was to guide the nation was no better than a den of +noxious animals, each bent on biting his neighbour. The president had +committed the grievous error of opening the flood-gates to the waters. +The sacred precincts over which he ruled were thrown open to a mob of +thirty thousand scoundrels who, their imaginations inflamed by novelty +and drunken with success, licked their foul lips and prepared for +further outrage. Women danced like Mœnads, waving a pike in one +hand and an olive-branch in the other--symbols of peace and war. From +a chorus of brawny throats rolled the familiar strains of <i>Ça Ira</i>. +The unkempt porters of the markets, the cadaverous workers from the +cellars of St. Antoine; a weak-limbed squad, a sturdy crew of +ruffians, equally bent on mischief, waved rude bits of jagged iron +bound to the ends of bludgeons. There was no end to the muster. Women +possessed of the devil Hysteria--men maddened and excited by the +women. More men--more women--women--men. What did they want? What was +the object of the saturnalia in the sacred precincts of the Assembly? +Ragged breeches were held up with a yell of "<i>Vive les sans +culottes!</i>" Some one flourished a pike aloft on which was transfixed +the bleeding heart of a calf. Through the drip the scrawled +description could be deciphered--"This is the heart of an aristocrat!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"If the accepted authorities were to be bearded thus, what next?" +suggested Marie Antoinette. "We are marching straight downwards to our +doom. We know it, and being blameless, look to the end with +thankfulness. But when we are sacrificed--what then--afterwards. +Après?"</p> + +<p class="normal">When Gabrielle strove to persuade her benefactress that she saw things +<i>en noir</i> the latter gave her haughty head a toss. "Conflict with the +inevitable is not always an absurd mockery, for self-respect, when we +are innocent, insists on battle to the death."</p> + +<p class="normal">As she spoke a low rumble, increasing each second in volume which +seemed an echo of what she described as having dismayed the Assembly a +few hours since, caused the ladies to look at each other in alarm. +What was that ominous sound? Almost before they had time to realize +that it meant anguish and woe treading on each other's heels--it had +increased to a deafening roar.</p> + +<p class="normal">"They have burst into the gardens. Where are the little ones?" cried +Gabrielle, thinking of her own cherubs, happily far away. "I will +fetch them. Their Royal Highnesses are in the next room, reading."</p> + +<p class="normal">She sped away, and returning with the royal children presently, beheld +her mistress leaning against the casement frame, stone white.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hist!" she said, her voice scarce audible above the noise. "The +wretches have invaded the palace--do they intend to fire it? Amid +yonder sea of pikes and staves there is a cannon which they are +dragging up the stairs. What for--for me? Into what a pandemonium were +we born!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The uproar was like the lashing of an angry sea. The frightened +women could hear the grinding and creaking of the heavy gun as with +volleys of cries and curses it was lifted to the grand landing. +"Unbar the door or we will blow it down," some one shouted, in rough +accents--then followed a thunderous battering of pikes, the crushing +and rending of panels and then--silence.</p> + +<p class="normal">"They will kill him. They will kill him! Why am I not by his side?" +murmured Marie Antoinette, writhing her hands together.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am here--what would you?" a steady voice said, cheerfully, rising +above the hubbub not far away.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Vive la nation!" roared the rabble.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes. Vive la nation. I am its best friend," replied the king.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then there was a diversion. The trembling listeners were startled by a +new roar of groans and hooting. "There she is--the curse of France. +The Austrian! The Austrian! Down with her!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"My God!" muttered the queen. "It must be Elizabeth whom they mistake +for me! My place is with them. Is a child of Maria Theresa to play the +cur? Why am I skulking here?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Madame! They will tear you in pieces!" implored Gabrielle, clinging +to her skirts.</p> + +<p class="normal">"So be it," returned the queen proudly, and drawing herself up to her +imperial height, she opened the door with steady hand and went forth +with her two children. Unrecognized, she penetrated as far as the +council chamber where a group of Grenadiers hastily surrounded and +pushed her into the embrasure of a window which they barricaded with a +table. For the present, to attempt to reach the king was hopeless. The +palace was flooded with a ragged rout, who, in intervals of yelling +pocketed such portable property as was handy. They were covered with +dirt and blood, and, for the most part, wore the red cap recently +introduced by Collot d'Herbois as the orthodox symbol of the free.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile a messenger had rushed to the Assembly to announce the +danger of the palace, and a number of deputies hastened thither with +all speed, to slay the wreckers and prevent a tragedy. The mob, drunk +with too potent a dose of liberty, had committed a deplorable outrage, +and were on the threshold of a great crime without definite purpose. +Exhorted to sobriety, upbraided for excesses which stained the holy +cause in the face of Europe, the rabblement sulkily withdrew, gnashing +their teeth and snarling with gestures of menace, as they filed past +the queen; and she watched them go in gloomy silence, with a heart +that welled with horror and eyes that swam in tears.</p> + +<p class="normal">For the moment peril was averted, the palace safe; but who might tell +when the unreasoning flood, lashed by the agitators into foam, would, +in caprice, flow back and drown its inmates? General indignation +prevailed among all grades of the better classes. Though to the new +way of thinking kings and queens might be objects of dislike, yet, so +long as they existed, it was not fair that at any moment their privacy +should be invaded by the unwashed, their furniture broken, their +children terrified. The Assembly was ashamed. The partisans of the +court were unwise enough to bluster. Rumours were abroad that, in +consequence of the outrage, the royal servants were to be armed; that +the Swiss Guard would be ordered to fire upon the first sans-culotte +who ventured within shot. So far was this from the truth that his +majesty had determined to dismiss from about his person those +untrustworthy friends, who, without possessing the power to save, had +so often compromised him. The queen, too, was firmly resolved that she +would not have upon her head the blood of those who were not directly +in her service. Gently, but without wavering, she bade adieu, amongst +others, to the Marquise de Gange, who begged hard for permission to +remain.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No," said Marie Antoinette, gloomily, "you have duties of your own +from which I must no longer keep you. Heaven bless you, my dear +friend. To such calumnies as may reach your ears you will give no +credence, but will pray for an unhappy woman who has not deserved her +fate. Give me your thoughts and prayers, for we shall meet no more on +earth."</p> + +<p class="normal">Her forebodings were but too soon realized. Only seven weeks later the +Palace of the Tuileries was stormed, and the devoted guards massacred +under circumstances of peculiar atrocity. Soon afterwards the royal +family were removed to the Temple, whence, in the course of a long +drawn martyrdom, the unfortunate queen was transferred to a squalid +hole in the Conciergerie on her rough road to the scaffold and +release.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_17" href="#div1Ref_17">GABRIELLE HAS AN IDEA.</a></h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Loth as she was to leave her benefactress in so critical a plight, +there was no denying that the Marquise de Gange was an incumbrance in +the royal dwelling; yet another helpless female for the men to +protect; and that there were duties with regard to others, that +demanded the attention of the heiress.</p> + +<p class="normal">Clovis had valid reason for his impatience to be off. The prisons were +opening their maws to swallow the blue-blooded, who tumbled in by +shoals on frivolous and ridiculous charges. Paris was becoming so +disagreeably warm, that self-preservation bade all and sundry to +depart unless tied by special reasons. Now, as the abbé pointed out +(who grew almost as impatient as his brother, in his enforced +idleness), there was nothing whatever to detain the provincials from +returning to their chateau, since the queen had dismissed the +marquise.</p> + +<p class="normal">Gabrielle agreed that the time was come for a journey, and even made +an attempt to induce the aged maréchale to join the party. It would be +nice to have her mother with her, and perhaps the suburban residence +might be fraught with unknown drawbacks. But at the suggestion, the +old lady lifted up her voice in such querulous screechings that her +daughter was silenced.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You should know, but for your innate selfishness," complained the old +dame, "that I can't bear the place. Its crepuscular corridors and +frowning front give me the shivers. I wonder you can endure it +yourself, but you always were so peculiar and inconsiderate. I will +visit you for a week or so some day, if I pluck up courage; but, live +there? The family vault with a pile of coffins for furniture, would be +more cheerful as a dwelling-place."</p> + +<p class="normal">Then Gabrielle's mind went through a curious and unexpected phase. The +queen's reference to their horoscopes had set the marquise thinking. +The prophecy regarding her majesty was being fulfilled, slowly but +surely, to the letter. A friend informed her with grief and +lamentations, that Louise de Savoye, Princesse de Lamballe, had been +seized and confined at La Force. At this moment, the least secure +refuges in France were the prisons, for the blood-drunken populace had +a way of making raids upon the jails, and maltreating incarcerated +aristos, out of pure devilry. First, Her Majesty; then Madame de +Lamballe. Who was she, Marquise de Gange, that she should hope to +escape her doom? She was, like the others, predestined to misfortune. +True. She had suffered deeply already, and Heaven had relented for +awhile; but there was nothing to justify her in face of the prophecy, +in supposing that it was more than a respite. Try to grapple with it +as she would, Gabrielle, as the time for moving approached, was +oppressed by a growing presentiment of ill. From what quarter it was +to come she could not guess, but it was her bounden duty to take such +precautions as were possible. Were the darlings to be stricken down +and die? Or was the impending misfortune to consist in the sacking of +the chateau? It was impossible to foresee and avert the trouble. In +contrast to the storm that had blown over, the family outlook was fair +enough. Though the domestic sky was cloudflecked, there was no +specially black bank of vapour striding up the vault. Clovis was +bearish and ill-humoured. That was nothing new. The abbé was all +smiles and benevolence, his leisure much occupied in a laudable and +Christian endeavour to break the chevalier of tippling. Toinon wrote +that, summoned to Blois by his party, Jean Boulot was gone for awhile, +and for her part she rejoiced at the riddance, for was it not too bad +that he should prefer his vulgar noisy Jacobin clubs and fustian +nonsense to the charming society of his betrothed?</p> + +<p class="normal">Strive as she would to argue with and laugh at herself, Gabrielle +could not shake off her gloom. The gamekeeper--who had saved her +life--was gone away to Blois, and Toinon hoped that he would stop +there? Why should she feel as if a staunch and trusty friend had left +her side? The chatelaine had every right to feel angry that a paid +servant should throw up his place with such scant ceremony, and yet +was not the abruptness of the act strictly in tune with the man's +independent principles and the spirit of the time?</p> + +<p class="normal">He was a rough, honest, warm-hearted, wrong-headed fellow, with whom +Toinon was justly annoyed in that she had failed to reform his ways. +All this was true enough, but Gabrielle could not shake off a sense of +loneliness, of vague uneasy dread, a conviction of impending calamity; +and suddenly something whispered that before leaving Paris it would be +well to execute a testament.</p> + +<p class="normal">History is full of strange presentiments which come like warnings, but +which have the peculiar property of defeating themselves; for they +exercise sometimes a fatal fascination akin to that of the snake over +the bird, which paralyses the victim's efforts to escape the +threatened peril.</p> + +<p class="normal">Trying to argue down her fears, she made it the more evident to +herself that whatever came of it, duty pointed in the direction of +Lorge. The grim chateau was her own now; the fields were her own +fields; the peasants her own vassals. In the interests of the darlings +she would be very energetic, learn to farm, improve the property, and +draw the bonds closer than heretofore between mistress and tenants. +But what if the clever abbé's prognostications were to be realized, +and the flames which she had seen burning so fiercely in Paris, were +indeed to spread dismay and ruin even to remote Touraine? Was he right +in the advice which she had resented so warmly--the unwelcome advice +to be content with the money-bags at Geneva, and abandon the chateau +to the wreckers? No. She had always disapproved the craven conduct of +the fugitives. It was not in the nature of things for the present +cataclysm to go on for ever. Temporary insanity would give way to +reason; the mob, glutted by impunity and gorged by excess, would calm +down again, and those who had had presence of mind to hold their own +while passively bowing before the storm would reap the reward of their +bravery.</p> + +<p class="normal">The chatelaine knew herself to be a favourite with the people and that +her presence at the chateau would go far in the event of a +revolutionary wave, to save it from destruction. She could not believe +that the shadow she felt approaching could come from that quarter. +Whence then? It was probably a bugaboo, born of nervousness, resulting +from sympathy with the desperate condition of the queen. Dismissed by +Marie Antoinette, her place was at Lorge on the estates, and since +flesh is grass, it was only right to make a will.</p> + +<p class="normal">While revolving these things, Gabrielle's attention was naturally +turned upon her husband. It was odd that he should resent so deeply +her one act of independence. We know that what the constitutionally +weak resent the most, is being openly convicted of their weakness. +Could that humiliating quarter of an hour with the family solicitor +have left so deep an impression on his easy-going soul? and, while her +repulsed affection had faded into indifference, was his unconcern +growing into positive aversion? It occurred to her now for the first +time, as singular that when he wanted money of late the abbé had +always been the spokesman. Did he feel his dependent position so +acutely that he could not bring himself to mention the sordid subject, +or was it that he had come to dislike his wife so much, that he could +not bring himself to speak to her at all? She resolved to open her +mind to the abbé about it, for Clovis must be infatuated and purblind +indeed, not to feel assured that, though she was resolved to carry out +her father's wishes and keep a firm hold of the purse strings, they +would not be drawn too tight.</p> + +<p class="normal">The abbé's thin features relaxed into a whimsical smile, and he slyly +nodded, as with some stammering and much circumlocution she exposed +her suspicions to him. Was it, or not, abominably wicked of her to +have such suspicions at all? How girlish and how lovely she looked in +her blushing confusion, as she enlarged on the unsavoury topic, +excusing herself for harbouring such thoughts.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You dear guileless dove of a Gabrielle!" he laughed. "Yet not so +simple as you seem, for you have guessed aright. Alack, yes! +Unpardonably sensitive as he may appear to you, your little +escapade--you will allow me to call it an escapade?---cut him so +completely to the quick that he has never recovered it, but crouches +down and winces still like a well-whipped hound, dreading another +scourging. You deem yourself proud? Learn that an honest man's pride +is of more delicate texture than a woman's. And it <i>is</i> hard, you +know, for a proud man to be placed before witnesses in so equivocal a +position as that in which you placed your husband."</p> + +<p class="normal">The position in which <i>she</i> had placed <i>him?</i> What of the intolerable +one in which <i>he</i> had chosen to place <i>her?</i> Men always start with the +absurd premise that they must be in the right. Gabrielle was deeply +offended that one on whom she had vainly squandered all the treasures +of her love could think this meanly--read her so amiss!</p> + +<p class="normal">Tears of mortification due to insulted womanhood were in her eyes, and +as he marked the colour, like that of an opening moss rose, that +flooded plastic neck and shell-like ear, the blood of Pharamond +throbbed so fiercely that he had much ado to maintain his impassible +demeanour.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Since you forgave me, I take Heaven to witness," he purred, bending +as near to her as he dared, "that I have striven to heal your +differences."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Differences? There need be none; my love for him is dead," Gabrielle +remarked slowly, so absorbed in the contemplation of shattered Penates +as to pass unheeded the gleam of triumph on the face that was so near +her shoulder. "You may tell him, if you like, that I shall not behave +ill to him, because he has outraged me. A fair allowance shall be +regularly paid to him, or to you if he prefers it. Monsieur Galland is +coming here this afternoon about my testament, and the arrangement +shall be carried out at once." Then after a gloomy pause, she added +with a sigh, "To think he could ever suppose that I should want him to +ask me favours!"</p> + +<p class="normal">So her unrequited and too persistent love had perished of starvation! +It was dead--quite, quite dead, at last! With its last struggle how +great a barrier was swept away, and how much better was the chance for +one who had obstinately persevered!</p> + +<p class="normal">Excellent! The empty shell was ready for the hermit crab! Pharamond +could see ultimate triumph, within measurable distance, and after that +a ripe revenge. A fair allowance regularly paid? Gilded, degrading +slavery! Clovis would repudiate the plan; refuse to have anything to +do with it.</p> + +<p class="normal">But what was this about a will?</p> + +<p class="normal">"M. Galland--about your will, this afternoon?" the abbé echoed with +raised brows. "On whose advice are you acting? I declare you are +marvellously changed, every inch a woman of business. Pooh, pooh! Is +there not ample time? For a beautiful young creature like yourself to +prate of such grisly things seems like an untimely invitation to the +worms."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Little I care for life, God knows!" sighed Gabrielle, wearily, "were +it not for----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, yes, I know--the cherubs. About this will. It takes me by +surprise, and you have deigned to trust me. Your pardon if I seem +importunate. I scarcely dare to ask, and yet----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What its conditions are to be? There need be no secret as to that, +since my mind is quite made up. I intend to leave my dear father's +fortune to my mother, in trust for Victor and Camille?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Here was a sledge-hammer blow, full on the skull from behind. For an +instant Pharamond was paralysed, then his nimble brain took in at a +glance all the facets of this new and unpalatable situation. Who could +have put into her shapely head so inconvenient an idea as this? Good +heavens! If this project were not nipped in the bud, averted somehow, +the future position of the three brothers promised to be a worse one +even than in the days of the maréchal! What the abbé had himself +looked upon as a scarcely possible contingency, and had held up to the +marquis as a mere red rag to inflame his feelings withal against his +wife, might at any moment become an actual and horrible fact. At this +rate the marquis and his brothers were not to be provided for at all; +were in the event of this woman's death to be pitched out like so much +lumber! And she had the brazen presumption to expatiate on their lot +to their faces. A gush of ungovernable rage, bubbled into the abbé's +brain, an unreasoning whirl, which he vainly endeavoured to master, as +he strode up and down the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Clovis is to be made a laughing stock to suit your malice!" he +exclaimed hotly, as he turned on the astonished marquise. "He counts +for nothing, although your lawful husband. No wonder if you have +earned his hate as well as mine, since you are resolved to pour insult +upon insult."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course, he will have his allowance secured until his death," +Gabrielle explained, with a red spot of annoyance on either cheek.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pah! Allowance! Allowance! A pittance for a schoolboy, which he will +fling back into your face. If he takes my advice, he will toss your +paltry allowance in your lap, since you treat him like a baby! A dole +of charity to a beggar!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The marquise sat dumb with hands before her, petrified, for this man +would fain persuade her that she was a monster of iniquity, on the +threshold of a stupendous crime, and yet she knew that her motives +were of the purest.</p> + +<p class="normal">He continued, biting his nails in his agitation, addressing his words +half to himself and half to her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Women's horizon is so circumscribed, her stream of thought so narrow, +that if left alone she rarely avoids being ungenerous. Engrossed by +trivialities how can it be otherwise? Sly, too, and double-faced. So +this is your sublime forgiveness, in which I was fool enough to trust! +A trap! A trick! You were but biding your time, till you could injure +me by maltreatment of my brother. My first duty is to him, and I tell +you plainly, that never with my consent will he accept your ignoble +terms."</p> + +<p class="normal">Gabrielle made no answer but sat dumb.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Eh, bien, madame," he cried, suddenly wheeling round and standing in +front of her, his thin lips curled into a snarl. "The result of your +insensate acts be on your head. Mark that the fault is yours if, after +all my efforts to annihilate the past, you force me to be your enemy. +Here below we must be judged by acts, madame, not by sugared words +that mean nothing. Why compel me to war when I would fain bring peace? +If you execute so iniquitous an instrument as you propose, you will +have made thereby three implacable enemies; and a woman without +friends should think twice before making one. Your husband never +wronged you with that governess, you foolish girl; you were racked by +your own silly phantom jealousy. If you must have revenge, wreak it +upon me, whose only fault was loving you too much. No need to start. +Cards down! Why should I deny that I loved you? The more fool I! But +as your love for him has been crushed out, so, too, has mine for you, +as to your sorrow you will learn."</p> + +<p class="normal">His envenomed words snapped out like the clicks of a matchlock, and +the old dismay gathered round the heart of the marquise with a chill +of exceeding desolation. She had been taken in. His seeming recovery +of his better self was but a sham, his fawning courtesy a grimace, his +suave kindliness a mockery, his effusive benevolence a snare. To one +so simply truthful as Gabrielle, such calculating duplicity was +diabolical. He had dropped his vizard and shown his real face, and as +she shudderingly surveyed it, she had gauged something of the malice +of which this foe was capable. Returned to Lorge, was peace to be +denied? Since cajolery and threats had not availed to win her, did he +think to bend her to his will by force? Though he declared he hated +her, there was that on his white vindictive face that she had learned +to read too well. She would go straight to her husband, tell him the +whole truth, and claim protection. But what then of the disposal of +her property, which she felt it her duty to make? Ought she, taking a +high line, to threaten to withdraw the allowance, act for herself as +the good father had done on her behalf? But, ah me, how changed things +were since then, so brief a while ago! Her husband already hated +her--there was a ring of sincerity in the voice of Pharamond as he +informed her that it was so, and she knew well, in case of a tussle, +into which scale the latter would throw all his weight. Doubtless, +Clovis wished her dead; alone at Lorge, might even--yet no, much as he +might wish to be quit of her, his courage would surely fail when the +pinch came.</p> + +<p class="normal">In carrying out her project she would be acting rightly, of that she +was now more than ever convinced; but locked up with the brethren at +Lorge, would not her own courage fail? Perhaps it would be safer to +remain in the Paris whirlpool. But what of the children then, and what +of the prisons that filled so rapidly? Behind the bars and bolts of La +Force or the Abbaye, of what service could she be to them? Leave the +country she would not, stay in the capital she dared not. Moreover, in +so turbulent a time her place was among her people in her distant +citadel of Lorge.</p> + +<p class="normal">All that was fine in theory, yet her heart whispered grave doubts as +to her tenacity of purpose in carrying out to the end the fight so +boldly planned. Alas, did she not know too well that standing alone +and unsupported, with no succour within hail, she would go down at the +shock of the first lance? Should she parley, even surrender now, at +once--unveil her feebleness and implore pity? Promise to abandon the +project which raised such ire and stirred the lees of the worst +passions, trust the future of her children to their father's paternal +instincts? No; one of the lessons taught by the abbé was that Clovis +was born to be led. Happily that woman had been expelled, but rescued +from her baleful control, he would fall under that of somebody else, +and circumstanced as they were, who should that other be but the +vindictive Pharamond? Of course, at Lorge, the marquis would sink +completely under the abbé's sway; and with him for master, much chance +would Victor and Camille have of justice in the event of their +mother's death. Come what might to her, they should be guarded. Taking +her courage in both hands and clinging firmly to it, she must pray for +strength to bear all, doing what was best for the little ones. The +best security against the greed and malevolence of Pharamond would be +to place the fortune out of reach.</p> + +<p class="normal">As these considerations flitted across the mind of the harassed +marquise, she took comfort in the thought that the arch-foe should +have exposed himself as he was before the party had started from +Paris. Further precautions should be devised by a mother's ingenuity +such as should reduce to harmlessness, in the event of disaster to +herself, the abbé's strongest batteries.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile, Pharamond mopped his face with a laced kerchief, blaming +himself for precipitation as he paced nervously up and down. That he, +skilful fowler of artless birds, should have been betrayed by sudden +passion and disappointment into exhibiting his person to this +flutterer! But then the blow had been so swift and heavy that there +was some excuse for reeling under the shock. It was vexatious to have +been taken off his guard. Further duplicity was useless now, for the +present, at least, for she was fully informed as to his sentiments +with regard to the obnoxious testament. She had beheld a glimpse of +his real countenance, which was a pity, for burrowing underground was +the favourite pastime of our abbé. It was a mercy, considering all +things, that the obdurate and recalcitrant lady had resolved on +returning to Lorge. Beyond the frontier, countenanced by friends and +acquaintances, she would doubtless have proved dreadfully +obstreperous. Yes, decidedly it was best to depart forthwith for the +chateau. It was a fortunate thing, too, that during the lengthy and +tedious sojourn in the metropolis, Clovis should have abstained from +falling into the clutches of some new and antagonistic affinity.</p> + +<p class="normal">And this turned the current of his meditations into another channel. +It would have to be war now at Lorge, deliberate and serious war for +the averting of a threatened calamity; a campaign consisting of +feints, and ambuscades, and forced night marches requiring swiftness +of resolve and unerring execution. As to submitting to such a +testament, it was out of the question. The campaign might prove a +desperate and bloody one, for maternity at bay fights hard.</p> + +<p class="normal">If she signed the proposed document--and just now she looked very +resolute--it would have, somehow or another, to be cancelled; a +ticklish job even for so astute a diplomatist as our abbé. Would it be +prudent to descend alone into the arena, or must an ally be found? But +for Clovis's tergiversation, Pharamond felt fully capable of carrying +a battle to successful issue, but he knew better than to deceive +himself with regard to the shifty marquis, and caution whispered that +he dared not work alone. His mere male influence might lead the horse +to the water, but could not make him drink. You may bend a bow with +impunity to a certain point, beyond which it will snap unless +strengthened. Desperate emergencies call for desperate remedies, and +Clovis' was one to shrink and run away in the face of anything +desperate. How difficult to guide clear of obstacles is a shying +horse!</p> + +<p class="normal">Although a thousand pities, it was plain to Pharamond that what might +have to be done could not be accomplished alone; that combined forces +would be required to arrive at a given result, to reach a goal which +he gropingly saw looming.</p> + +<p class="normal">What could Gabrielle be pondering over so deeply, as with absent gaze +she looked out of the window? Perhaps, alarmed, she was repenting, was +preparing at the first glimpse of the enemy's line of battle to +withdraw from the conflict. Her attitude was full of hesitation; here +was a crumb of comfort. It was wondrous that she should have been +able, so far, to subdue her nature as to speak out so boldly as she +had dared to do just now. A little solitary reflection might produce a +salutary effect. In a duel of wits, when your foe begins to hesitate, +leave him to his thoughts, and ten to one he will give way.</p> + +<p class="normal">The abbé roused himself from reverie; coughed to draw attention, and +bowed with a measure of respect, nicely tempered with menace. Then, +smilingly remarking that it would be regrettable if his dear +sister-in-law did not reconsider her iniquitous plans, he took himself +out of the apartment for the purpose of informing Clovis.</p> + +<p class="normal">Left alone, Gabrielle, as Pharamond had seen, was much perturbed by +the difficulties of the task she had set herself, but when she +remembered his wicked face, a courage, born of despair, came to her +aid, and she resolved to take up the cudgels. As she mechanically +arranged, with trembling fingers, her silken hood and mantle, she +prayed fervently for strength, and called on heaven for protection.</p> + +<p class="normal">Without a moment's waiting she would go to M. Galland. The solicitor +had arranged to call during the afternoon, but she felt assured that +if she were to wait till then, she would think, and think, and think, +till courage ebbed away. Swiftly descending the stairs unseen by the +abbé, who was busily unfolding his budget for the horrified behoof of +his more than ever exasperated brother, she hailed a hackney chair, +and had herself carried to the lawyer's.</p> + +<p class="normal">Being a person of eminent respectability, M. Galland dwelt in a smug +street within decorous propinquity of the fashionable Place Royale. +His line of business was as humdrum and respectable as himself, and +the door-keeper, who kept the stone staircase so scrupulously +spotless, was unaccustomed to agitated clients. The beautiful lady who +emerged from a hackney sedan, and tremulously paid the men more than a +double fare, was extremely agitated, and appeared in a desperate hurry +to reach the first-floor landing. Evidently an aristo. Doubtless she +had a husband or a brother who had fallen within the meshes of the +reigning spiders. Poor dear soul! Such episodes as unexpected arrest +were but too common nowadays. Bless me! Her case must be a very urgent +one, the concierge muttered, as he scratched his head in sympathy, for +after an interval of fifteen minutes, the lady emerged in the +company of M. Galland himself, looking graver than was his wont, who, +calling a coach, directed the driver to the nearest magistrate's.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I understand my instructions, madame," the solicitor said, as the +pair were driven along. "But, if without breach of respect, I may be +permitted to say so, you must be suffering from hallucination. Your +will being safely deposited with me, it is manifest that its terms are +your safeguard, even if any of them should wish to harm you. We will +admit that M. le Marquis got into bad hands, and that your hours were +made unpleasant by another of your charming sex. But from that point +to personal violence is a great stride, and you must pardon me if I +fail to see any justifiable cause for apprehension. It is a morbid +fancy, believe me. However, your wishes shall be gratified, and you +will be able to retire to the chateau of Lorge with mind relieved. +This is the house. I follow you to the first floor. You will make the +declaration I suggested, before my friend, M. Sardeigne, who is a +magistrate, and proper witnesses."</p> + +<p class="normal">It was certainly a strange proceeding and the worthy magistrate was +justified in his surprise. Here was a celebrated Court beauty of whose +fame he had often heard, who pretended to believe that her relatives +were hankering after her money to the extent of a deep-laid plot, +ending in personal injury. "If you say so, madame," he observed, with +a gallant bow, "I am bound to believe you. I should have thought it +more likely that someone would take to kidnapping, for the sake of +being proud possessor of the fairest woman in France."</p> + +<p class="normal">Gabrielle sighed. Was not a would-be kidnapper at the bottom of all +her fears?</p> + +<p class="normal">M. Galland produced the last will and testament of Gabrielle, Marquise +de Gange, on which the ink was but just dry, and his friend, having +summoned his secretary and two male attendants, the lady signed it in +their presence.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then, instructed by M. Galland, she made a solemn declaration that if +her life should be cut off before that of the maréchale, her mother, +and that if she should have been found in the interim to have executed +another will of more recent date, she thereby formally disavowed the +latter instrument. If she were destined to outlive the maréchale, +which she did not think likely, M. Galland, on the demise of Madame de +Brèze would visit Lorge, and another arrangement would be made.</p> + +<p class="normal">She had a presentiment, she explained, which pointed to a life cut off +by violent means before its prime, and expressed in the most distinct +and emphatic manner words could express, her desire that the testament +just executed should alone be regarded as authentic.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Dear me! A presentiment?" laughed M. Sardeigne, "as well consult with +lawyers about ghosts! To set your mind at rest in this peculiar +matter," proceeded the magistrate, perceiving that his mirth was +ill-timed, "let it be understood that a cross after the signature on +any subsequent testament will be considered to convey that it was +signed under coercion."</p> + +<p class="normal">The business accomplished, Gabrielle breathed more freely, and the +abbé, observing at dinner how serene she looked, grew suspicious. Such +calm after their recent stormy interview, seemed to suggest that she +had been doing something underhand, on which she plumed herself. What +could it be? Something that boded him no good. In the imminent war, +which was to be declared so soon as the party were back in Touraine, +it would clearly be perilous and rash to take the field alone.<a name="div2Ref_01" href="#div2_01"><sup>[1]</sup></a></p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_18" href="#div1Ref_18">A SURPRISE.</a></h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">The quartet that journeyed back to solitude was not a lively one, for +each of the four occupants of the travelling berline was fully +engrossed by private speculations. The chevalier was nervous and +uneasy, having received severe mental castigations at the hands of +brother Pharamond. The marquis avoided his wife's eye, and glanced +wistfully now and again at his Mentor, as though to crave support in +some matter of which his conscience was afraid. The abbé smiled and +nodded encouragement at intervals, and then grew grave again, for he +knew that he was on the point of playing a trump card, and players +miscalculate sometimes as to what remains in the adversary's hand. +Gabrielle, gazing calmly from the windows, seemed scarcely aware of +flitting trees and passing villages, or the constantly recurring jerky +stoppages for the change of steaming horses. She did not remark the +altered attitude of the rustics, who scowled at the emblazoned +carriage panels, with hat on head, pipe in mouth, and arms crossed +tightly over chest. A party of fugitive aristos, fleeing from the +sinking ship like other rodents. Well, let them go. France was well +rid of such vermin that were not worth the rope and lantern. As they +approached their destination, some recognized the coronet and coat, +and made furtive awkward bows. The Gange family were not so bad as +others, report said, and as for the lady, sure no wickedness could +lurk in her mild angel's face.</p> + +<p class="normal">She was about to see her darlings, and her spirits rose, for the +sojourn in the capital had been a long one. Of course they were safe +in Toinon's care, but the mother had been weaving ingenious plans for +their advantage, which she longed to execute forthwith. And then she +fell a wondering as to how, under fresh auspices, they would all get +on at Lorge. So far as the fortune was concerned there was naught to +dread. Were her secret fears due, indeed, as had been suggested, to +morbid fancy? No. Life would be far from easy; but a sturdy heart +armoured in love's panoply can surmount difficulties. She knew too +well now that, at best, the brothers looked on her existence as a +necessary evil. She could see it in the lack-lustre eyes even of the +chevalier, who, doubtless, had been well tutored and taught to believe +false tales. The poor drivelling chevalier! What his hazy views might +be on any subject was of little consequence. As friend or foe he was +equally harmless. It was well to have been undeceived as to the abbé, +and to know him for what he was--plausible, cunning, double-faced, +vindictive. Why should she, Gabrielle, fear him? Forewarned, +forearmed. If she placed no trust in her smooth brother-in-law--held +studiously aloof from him--he could not betray or do her injury. Yet +was this so? What of the horoscope and her own presentiment? To remain +unmolested was overmuch to hope for. And then the marquise found +herself marvelling what form his too certain malevolence would take. +He would, of course, misconstrue all her acts and read them awry to +Clovis. Alas! as things were, even that no longer mattered. For the +future, so long as they lived, husband and wife would each go their +ways, tacitly agreeing not to annoy each other, and in the ancient +chateau there was so much room that the pair need never meet. A sad +condition of affairs to have arrived at, and yet--is it not best to +save painful fretting of soul and futile nerve friction by boldly +confronting and accepting the inevitable in all its ugliness?</p> + +<p class="normal">When we have given up crying for the moon, we can coldly contemplate +the once-desired prize, critically examine each blemish, and shall +probably be surprised at ourselves for having yearned after so spotty +an object. The Marquis de Gange, deprived of glamour robes, was but a +commonplace mortal, after all. Not good; not particularly bad. +Unpractical, lazy, given to useless theorizing. Sure, in a previous +life, he must have been a comely ox, fond of swishing its tail in the +sunshine and blinkingly chewing the cud, with its legs to the knees in +a puddle. Reflexion brought conviction that the diabolical woman who, +happily, was gone for ever, had, out of sheer spitefulness, smirched +her own fair fame without a cause. She had avowed herself the +marquis's mistress merely to irritate his wife, just as she had +threatened to warp the children's minds to frighten the mother into +rashness. Poor distracted wife and mother. What could have possessed +her--Gabrielle marvelled--to have gone through that performance in the +water? Could she really and seriously have been so acutely affected by +the idea that Mademoiselle Brunelle had succeeded in occupying the +place within her husband's heart for which she had herself +unsuccessfully longed? What a foolish and unnecessary fraying of heart +strings! Was she so blinded as to have been unable to realize that the +thing he called his heart was so full of selfishness that there lacked +room for any other feeling? No. Even though she loved him then, it was +not wholly on his account that she had suffered. It was the loss of +her children, apparently complete and irrevocable, that had goaded her +to mad despair. Well, well, Heaven had been merciful. The woman had +been driven forth--her baleful shadow would cross her path no more. +The darlings were her own again. The future was not so black after +all. She would, on arrival at the chateau, place things on an entirely +new footing; would take up her quarters in the wing erst occupied by +the objectionable Aglaé, and, by aid from without, continue the +education of Victor and Camille, which, during the last year, had been +sorely neglected. As for the rest of the chateau, the three brothers +might have it to themselves, and what they did and how their time was +spent, so long as they did not tease her, should be no concern of +hers.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus, I daresay, has the ingenuous lamb, clothed in the white wool of +its simplicity, thought to cope, with success, against the hovering +wolf and snarling panther. There is room enough for all of us, it has +bleated. Let me gambol on this square of sward, and do you frolic as +you choose beyond. The artless thing cannot discern the smacking chops +of wolf or hungry leer of panther, or perceive that it is its own +quivering pink limbs that the two are after, and which they are +preparing presently to rend. If Gabrielle could have read the thoughts +that were working in two busy skulls within that rumbling berline she +might have, perhaps, gazed out of the window with less hopeful +equanimity.</p> + +<p class="normal">Clovis, touched on his rawest points, was burning with exasperation. +As Pharamond had truly declared it was absolutely monstrous of the old +donkey who was dead to have placed a noble of ancient race and lofty +lineage in so ridiculous a predicament; and it was just one shade more +shocking that his never-sufficiently-to-be-execrated daughter should +have so meanly taken advantage of the situation. She had actually +dared, with an innocent simper which set all his nerves twanging, to +tell him one morning to his face that he was to live on an allowance! +He, her lord and master! Whether the allowance was to be large or +small was beside the question. He was firmly resolved, and supported +therein by Pharamond, utterly to repudiate the allowance. She had +humiliated him once, and was bent on doing so again and again--was +unwise enough, having planted a dagger, to turn it in the wound, +thereby rousing the victim out of sheer pain to make a desperate +effort of retaliation. By the terms of a will which she had been +sufficiently insolent to make, her fortune was to pass over his head +for the behoof of his own children, who would be thus emancipated from +any control on his part. If she could act so outrageously and show so +clearly how little she respected his feelings, she could not expect +him to consider hers. And with it all there was a sham veneer of +deference that was but added insult. "Clovis," she had said, when +composedly making the announcement, "I have thought it all over +carefully, and am acting for the best according to my lights. I should +like you to feel assured that the revenues I hand to you for your own +use are, indeed, your own; I mean that however ill you may behave to +me I will never withdraw them, for I do not wish you to feel, on your +good behaviour, at the mercy of your wife."</p> + +<p class="normal">There was a lofty air of magnanimity about this that was sheer +impertinence. It was as though she were to say:--"I know you to be a +worm while I am an æglet, and the lower you may elect to grovel, I +shall myself, by contrast, appear to soar the higher." Was it a crafty +way of putting him on his honour? Was he to understand that, of +course, he must respect the wishes in all things of so magnanimous a +benefactress? It was treating him like a schoolboy, and, whatever he +should elect to do to show his independence would be justifiable, +however unpalatable it might prove to the self-elected schoolmistress.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus, by the most crystalline of demonstrations was it proved to +conscience that reproaches were out of place, and that that +importunate monitor would do well to go to bed. But for all that +Clovis felt secretly ashamed of himself as well as a little frightened +about something he had done, and impelled to look to the abbé for +support.</p> + +<p class="normal">The abbé, happily for himself, had long since smothered his own +monitor under the pillows, and had replaced the corpse by a rival, +called Expediency. He had made a suggestion to the marquis a few days +since, and the latter, shocked and alarmed at first, had permitted +himself without much trouble to be argued into its acceptance. So far +so good. The suggestion had been quietly carried out, and it remained +to be proved how the marquise would take it.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was in the afterglow of a lovely evening in late summer, that the +party arrived within sight of the well-known turrets. There were no +servants about. Toinon stood smileless at the gate alone, gazing into +vacancy, and seemed to survey her mistress as she descended from the +carriage with a serious air of doubtful concern.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Here we are at last!" said the marquise, with an assumption of +gaiety. "Why, how odd you look. This is not a cordial welcome!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Madame is welcome," returned Toinon, curtly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The children--they are well?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Monsieur Victor and Mademoiselle Camille are well," was the brief +rejoinder.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course, the little dears are well," cried the abbé, cheerfully, +"or we should have heard of it. Poor Mademoiselle Toinon has lost her +tongue, being reduced to stone by ennui. How goes my old enemy, Maître +Jean Boulot?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is at Blois, busy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So much the better, for I don't mind confessing now that I was a wee +bit afraid of his rough ways and stalwart bulk. His room is better +than his company--a Jacobin!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No one who is good need be afraid of Jean," retorted Toinon, who, +without another word, led the way across the courtyard.</p> + +<p class="normal">The chill of presentiment touched Gabrielle like an icy wind as she +passed in to the dreary hall, black now in shadowy twilight. The +crumbling implements of torture on the walls took fantastic and +forbidding shapes. The panoplies of helmets of the Moyen Age seemed to +mope, and mow, and wink their eyeless sockets. Somehow, Lorge seemed +more grimly forbidding than before, after the long absence; there was +a pervading odour of dank decay which was as a breath from out the +charnel-house. The chatelaine shuddered, and drawing her cloak closer +took her foster-sister by the hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is it? Toinon, tell me," she whispered. "Has something dreadful +happened?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Toinon glanced round quickly with the same strange expression of doubt +mingled with concern, and held her peace.</p> + +<p class="normal">What could it be? Toinon appeared to consider that her mistress had +done something wrong--or was it some act, whose unwisdom she would +surely rue, which filled the eyes of the foster-sister with +disapproval. In the look there was pained surprise as well as pity. +The tightened lips were closed, imprisoning reproach.</p> + +<p class="normal">Foreboding, she knew not what, the marquise mounted the grand +staircase and opened the door of the long saloon, expecting to find +the children there.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not here? Where are they?" began Gabrielle. Then her voice died away, +the words frozen on her lips. The brothers had remained below, +ostensibly to superintend the removal of the baggage from the coach. +In the dim saloon with its view through the gaunt row of windows of +the crocus-coloured Loire, stood Gabrielle aghast, and Toinon, with +brows knit anxiously--and against the light at the further end a tall, +upright figure like a sable shadow, that was only too familiar.</p> + +<p class="normal">"She!" murmured the startled chatelaine, clasping her hands upon her +breast. "Mademoiselle Aglaé Brunelle!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It was a trick, then," Toinon muttered, with a deepening frown. "She +knew not of her coming!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The commanding figure swept swiftly past the tapestries of Odette and +the mad old king, and with a glad cry Aglaé seized Gabrielle's cold +hands and covered them with kisses.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The good marquise!" she cooed. "The dear excellent marquise! I am so +glad, so glad, to have been summoned! There was a little +unpleasantness, was there not? A deplorable misunderstanding, and our +dearest lady like the angel that she is, has forgiven and forgotten, +and we are better friends than ever."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I never summoned you," began the marquise, faintly, but her voice was +quickly drowned in the torrent of the other's volubility.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know--I know," she purred, with kittenish gestures of overweening +joy. "It was but a tiny ripple on our ideal life! Madame was sorry to +have so misread her Aglaé's devotion, and bade the dear abbé to invite +her hither on a visit. Did I delay an instant? Surely not, for I +burned to show the good marquise how cruelly she'd wronged me. Oh! +What ineffable delight! Is it not well to be divided by a tiff to +taste the glad moment of reunion?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Gabrielle remaining silent, too giddy and too sick to collect her +thoughts, the other went on glibly--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I arrived yesterday, a whole day before you, and have been so +good--have I not, Mademoiselle Toinon? You like not poor Aglaé, and +frown at her, but must speak honest truth. Knowing to my dismay and +grief when I went hence that madame could deign to be jealous of one +so insignificant, I refrained from embracing my pets until madame +should grant permission. And since I adore them as if they were my +own, madame can guess what that has cost me. Yes! I can hardly believe +it possible myself, but I've not yet seen either Victor or Camille, +the sweet ones!"</p> + +<p class="normal">With a sigh of admiration and a large gesture of the dusky arms, +suggestive of amazement at such self-control, Aglaé ceased, shaking +her head archly, and holding the unwilling chatelaine by both hands, +gazed long and fondly at her.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was evident that the woman was playing a part, and was over-acting +it. Was this done purposely, that the marquise, who was not clever, +might have no doubt about the acting? It seemed so to watchful Toinon. +The creature had succeeded somehow in inflicting her baleful presence +for a second time upon the <i>mènage</i>, and wished it to be understood +that the returned Mademoiselle Brunelle was another person, no +relation to the one who had been ejected. Why had she come? What did +she propose to do? She surely did not expect the hapless marquise to +clasp in her arms one who had so injured her--respond in earnest to +her blandishments?</p> + +<p class="normal">The brothers had come up the stairs to reconnoitre, and stood somewhat +shyly in the doorway. Was there to be an explosion---a harrowing scene +in which passion was to be torn to tatters; or was the artful play of +the abbé to win the trick? He took in the situation with an exulting +heart-thump. He had judged rightly. Of course he had! The marquise, +pale as marble, was struck dumb--discomfited. She neither stormed nor +wept. With a movement almost as kittenish as Aglaé's, he joined the +group.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Reconciled? I knew it," he cried, rubbing his white hands with +relief. "Clovis, come and witness this delightful spectacle. The past +is past and buried. We shall now begin afresh, and, profiting by +experience, will be so happy, that madame will forgive our little +<i>ruse</i>. The fact is, my sweet Gabrielle, that Clovis intends to devote +himself to a yet deeper course of study, which requires a secretary +and a partner--one who has an inkling of the secrets which are to be +unearthed for the world's benefit. I took on myself, therefore, to +risk the vials of a transient annoyance for the ultimate good of all. +Mademoiselle will now be so occupied with her new duties that, to her +regret, she must renounce all intercourse with the little ones. This, +I believe, will meet your wishes? You are not angry? That is well. We +are both pardoned, are we not?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The marquise cast one slow glance of dumb remonstrance at Clovis, who +was shifting from one foot to the other, guiltily, and shaking herself +free from the exuberant Aglaé, left the room with Toinon.</p> + +<p class="normal">Her strange reception by the latter was fully explained. Her +foster-sister had believed that she was sufficiently unstable of +purpose herself to have summoned the evil spirit that had been +exorcised; it had not entered the girl's head that the men could have +dared secretly to play such a trick upon her patience. What was their +motive for the proceeding? Did the woman wield an occult power over +the marquis such as forced him to obey her will even from a distance? +Did she hold him in such abject thraldom that he really could not get +on without her? The abbé had been the acting party in the arrangement. +Had he re-introduced the bugbear merely to distress his sister-in-law, +and display his malignant spleen? Such speculations as these passed +vaguely through Gabrielle's dizzy brain as she stared aimlessly from +her bedroom window into the courtyard, mechanically counting the big +familiar stones which composed the opposite wall, surveying the +iron-bound postern door with its complicated locks and bolts.</p> + +<p class="normal">Toinon watched her mistress with growing ire as she bustled hither and +thither arranging the details of the toilet.</p> + +<p class="normal">Though scarce conceivable it was true--she could perceive it in every +mournful line on the gloomy face of the marquise--that these bad men +had deliberately done behind her back that which they knew to be most +abhorrent to the gentle chatelaine; and she the one to whom they owed +every earthly comfort! By so mad a stroke they had overreached +themselves, for, of course, madame would resent the intolerable +insolence--order the woman off with contumely--send the men packing. +Toinon was aware of the late maréchal's testamentary dispositions; was +thankful now to remember that it rested with her mistress alone to +turn out the ex-governess as well as the chevalier and the abbé; and +it somewhat nettled the faithful abigail that she should not at once +have shown a proper spirit, and have abruptly closed the situation. +The marquis looked just now so shamefaced that a few indignant words +would have brought him to a sense of his wickedness. Whether there +were or not guilty relations between the marquis and mademoiselle, was +beside the point. The latter had by her fiendish behaviour well-nigh +driven the marquise out of the world, and here she was playing the +affectionate friend with exaggerated pantomime. It was disgusting. +Madame being much too good, would perhaps give her shelter till the +morrow, instead of expelling her into the night; but madame must rise +in the morning with a firm resolve to make them all understand that +she was mistress.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus grumbling, Toinon, who was answered only by a sigh. A thrill of +doom had passed over Gabrielle. She felt the feeling of helplessness +in face of the inevitable which brings with it an abiding sense of +calm. She was hedged round by enemies--what mattered one the more? +That Clovis should be so unutterably base as he now showed himself to +be filled her with a numb surprise, tinged with subdued regret. The +world, from the point where she now stood, was of such exceeding +hideousness, that it came home with conviction to the spectator that +nothing mattered any more. Oh! to be out of it! To be protected by a +shield of sod from the tawdry mockeries that make this dwelling-place +untenable! Should she, acting on Toinon's counsel, gird up her loins +on the morrow, and assert her rights? <i>À quoi bon?</i> Gabrielle felt so +shocked, so sore, so weary, and so desolate, that to show energy was +not worth while. They had had the tact to let her comprehend at once +that there was to be no more interference between herself and the dear +ones. That was a prudent move on their part. Were these not now her +all? If she and they were permitted to live their quiet life in the +secluded wing, what signified the rest? Victor and Camille were out of +reach of the greed and malice of the foe, quite secure from harm, for +were their mother to be snatched away, they would be removed at once +by the maréchale, and watched over by the friendly solicitor.</p> + +<p class="normal">Toinon surveyed her mistress with amazed disgust when the latter +quietly remarked, as she unrobed to go to rest, that for the present +she would watch and wait; and act, if need were, by and by.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_19" href="#div1Ref_19">A COUNCIL OF WAR.</a></h3> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Could we remove the fronts from the imposing domiciles whose dignified +exteriors compel our admiring awe, we should often rub our eyes in +astonishment at the curious spectacle within. Than the outgoings and +incomings of the inhabitants of Lorge nothing could appear more +decorous and respectable, and yet as regarded a prospect of lasting +peace, that group was composed of the least promising elements.</p> + +<p class="normal">On the day after the return from Paris Gabrielle remained in +seclusion, making no sign, while the others waited with more or less +impatience to see if she would throw down the gauntlet. Aglaé could +scarce conceal her satisfaction at the warmness of her dear friend's +greeting. Clovis was genuinely delighted to see her and made no secret +of his joy, whereat the abbé was annoyed, though he knew better than +to betray the feeling. Time had not loosed the bonds wherein the +marquis was held by his affinity. On the contrary, absence had in his +case made the heart grow fonder, for he seemed now to have quite +forgotten the fear with which former admiration had been mingled. It +was rather hard, the abbé could not help considering, that his own +influence, for which he had laboured with such patience and dexterity, +should pale so easily before that of this lady, who for twelve months +had made no move. By summoning her to his aid, had he raised up a +spirit which by and by he would be powerless to lay? No. For the +attainment of an object that was now clearly modelled before his +sight, the assistance of Mademoiselle Brunelle was absolutely +necessary. The object attained, he would steal a march on her, and on +his brothers as well, if need were. Meanwhile, it was of the best +augury that the chatelaine should remain quiescent. It has been said +that the woman who hesitates is lost. Certain it is that one of the +nature of the marquise--of the class who seem specially made to endure +slings and arrows--does not gain strength by delay. She can in a +moment of impulse perform an act of energy; but if she waits and +broods her strength exhales itself in moans.</p> + +<p class="normal">The marquis and his friend got out their books, made a grand parade of +being vastly busy--even dug out the blessed 'cello and groaned out an +affecting fugue; but expecting you know not what it is impossible to +keep the mind from wandering, and Aglaé, try as she would to command +herself, jumped up at intervals and strode the polished floor with +statuesque arms crossed over the ample bosom, longing for something to +occur.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No news is good news, believe me," the abbé whispered in caution, as +hour succeeded hour, and their patience began to ooze. "If she accepts +her position without a struggle, a most important point is gained."</p> + +<p class="normal">Aglaé sniffed fretfully, and passed her square-tipped fingers through +the masses of her blue-black hair. "That is mighty well," she said, +tartly; "but for the creature to take me back again so quietly, after +all that passed, makes me long to pinch, and beat, and slap anything +so deplorably spiritless. If she does not do something to-morrow, you +will have to lock me up, for I shall not be able to prevent myself +from rushing into her room and banging her head against the wall."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No more blunders!" returned the abbé, sternly. "You have not the +skill to read her. Do not forget that it was by your wrong-headedness +and bungling that you brought about your own defeat. Remember the +terms of the agreement which was to bring you back among us. You were +to be guided by me absolutely, and abstain from silly little private +plots which could only prove disastrous to us both."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mademoiselle was silent, and her heavy mobile brows shaped themselves +into something like a scowl. She bit her thick red lips and smiled an +engaging smile, as she patted the abbé with a fan, playfully. "Of +course, I will do as you bid," she said, "but you must not look so +cross. I am all gratitude for your many kindnesses and too glad of so +skilled a guide." Then as she turned away there were lines about her +mouth that were not pretty to look upon, and a sullen shade upon her +brow, that was gone again like a summer thunder-cloud.</p> + +<p class="normal">The classically-modelled bosom of mademoiselle covered a black well of +bitterness. She loathed herself for having bungled; she hated +Gabrielle with an all-absorbing hate as the author of her +discomfiture; she detested the abbé for his domineering ways--and +Clovis for not having defended her. She hated all and everyone in that +she had accidentally been kept in the dark as to the real owner of the +fortune, whereby she had been betrayed into a pitfall.</p> + +<p class="normal">As she was being ignominiously conducted to Blois, like a thief taken +in the act, a boiling geyser of venom had scalded her cheeks; and as +she writhed behind a lace handkerchief she registered a vow to be +avenged on Gabrielle some day a hundred-fold for that which she had +borne at her hands. The knowledge did not tend to appease her wrath +that without outside help she would be incapable of fulfilling the +vow. The devil will do much to assist his own, but his methods are not +artistically complete, and at a critical moment he whisks into space +with a grin, leaving his votaries to disaster. Hence it is not always +well to depend too much upon the devil. It is a fact worthy of remark +that in the legends of his many compacts with mankind it is always +assumed that he is honest in his dealings and a model of business-like +straightforwardness, while it is the insignificant mortal--mere +wax in such hands--who ultimately cheats and circumvents him. Surely +this is all wrong. We would not wish the devil to be inconsistent, +and it is in the fitness of things that his ardent worshippers should +find the ground slippery under foot, and the power in which they +trusted--nowhere.</p> + +<p class="normal">Vainly she revolved the chances of ever returning to Lorge, when +suddenly arrived the abbé's first letter, which was quite sticky and +mawkish with honey. What was he driving at? He would not write thus +without an object. She smiled, locked away the missive, and waited.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then came the second letter, wherein, to her surprise, she found the +gates open again which she feared were hermetically closed. Go back to +Lorge? Of course she would, with alacrity, and follow the abbé's +instructions, though she understood them not. She knew that the old +nuisance was defunct, that the marquise was in full possession. What +was this miracle which called her back to Paradise? It mattered not. +Her massive foot once more within the threshold, she would profit by +the experience of the past, and in the end come out the gainer.</p> + +<p class="normal">Now you will perceive how odd a mixture was the ex-governess; a woman +who hung for awhile in the balance, till the devil inserted a toe and, +by its weight, settled the matter. She had genuinely liked the +marquis's children, and would, if circumstances so ordained, have gone +down to posterity as a typically virtuous second wife, but for that +devil's toe!</p> + +<p class="normal">Well, the toe was inserted, and proved a heavy one, for down came the +scale with a thud. Perceiving they were a fruitful cause of danger, +she made up her mind without a qualm that she would avoid her quondam +pets in the future, and school herself to gaze with sphinx-like +stoniness on the twain whom she had kissed and cuddled.</p> + +<p class="normal">What happened to them--one way or the other--was become a matter of +complete indifference. The black well seethed and boiled. She would +have revenge, somehow, and at the same time feather her nest.</p> + +<p class="normal">Suspense lasted till the end of the second day. As the party--minus +the chatelaine--were sitting down to dinner, there appeared upon the +scene, Toinon, who demurely laid a note upon the marquis's plate, and +without a word retired.</p> + +<p class="normal">As many weak people do, Clovis stared at the letter, longing to open +it, and yet loth to do so, knowing that its contents could scarcely be +agreeable, and it was not until the snorting and sniffing of the +affinity awoke him to a sense of responsibility, that he took it up +and broke the seal. The letter was exceedingly unpleasant and to the +purpose.</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">"Clovis, when I called upon my father to rid me of that woman, I +accomplished a sacred duty which cost me dear; for to inflict pain +upon another brings the like upon myself. That you should have forced +her on me again, was due, I am sure, to fear. I suspected before that +you were afraid of her, for what reason I could not guess. The gulf +between us is impassable, and as you brood over this fact and know +that you have dug it yourself, you will be filled some day with +unavailable remorse. The future appals me--I shudder at its +contemplation, wondering to what you may be goaded. The conduct of an +unscrupulous woman, who has all to gain, I can understand, but yours +remains a mystery. What a life! What a future! If at your age you can +be so easily fooled by a vulgar <i>intriguante</i>, what will become of you +when old? How singular a creation is man! You have oppressed, +humiliated, abandoned me who loved you for yourself with an ardour +that amazes me when I recall it now, and are content to grovel at the +feet of one who but likes you for what you can bestow--whom you will +know some day and despise.</p> + +<p class="normal">"When your conscience forces you to see what you have done, seek not +to wreak vengeance upon me. Henceforth, we dwell apart, and your life +and mine have naught in common. You may go your ways on this condition +unmolested. Never speak to me, or to the children: never let any +member of your coterie invade the apartments I inhabit. The house is +large enough. Avoid a scandal. Farewell. To each other we are +henceforth dead.</p> + +<p style="text-indent:20%">"<span class="sc">Gabrielle Marquise de Gange.</span>"</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">With twitching fingers the marquis passed the letter to the abbé who +read and passed it on to mademoiselle. It was not the sort of letter +that it would be nice to read aloud. Silence fell upon the group, and +by tacit consent all rose and went about their avocations, without +venturing to comment on the document.</p> + +<p class="normal">The letter breathed dignity, and there was something fine about the +scathing words contemptuously flung at the foe. A vulgar +<i>intriguante</i>, indeed! Well, why deny that it was true, though the +statement was somewhat blunt? Mademoiselle always preferred to +consider herself the architect of her own fortunes.</p> + +<p class="normal">On the morrow, the abbé, who, more disconcerted than he chose to +admit, by the decided action of the chatelaine, had sallied forth to +meditate in private, perceived that she had already taken steps to +isolate herself!</p> + +<p class="normal">He found workmen busy in opening a doorway which should give access to +the children's wing from the bedroom of the marquise, and a locksmith +changing the lock of the postern which gave upon the garden moat.</p> + +<p class="normal">So that pleasaunce was to be denied henceforth to the group which +composed the enemy? How would Clovis take this move? A scandal, +forsooth! Was she not causing one herself by so ostentatiously raising +barriers and employing workmen who would chatter? It was evidently her +intention to occupy the long saloon, the boudoir adjoining, the +bedroom that looked on the yard, and the children's wing, with the +moat garden for outdoor recreation, leaving the rest of the premises +to the family. If they were never to see or speak with her, how could +they prosecute their plans? The masters who doubtless would be +summoned from Blois to teach the young idea would certainly detect +something unusual, and they too would be sure to gossip. And what of +the servants? They were trustworthy enough, since they had for the +most part been engaged by the abbé himself, as representing the +Marquis de Gange, and Gabrielle had never thought of interfering. But +the best of servants have tongues, and when the neighbours should flit +over from Montbazon (which they were certain to do shortly) coachman +would confide in coachman, and lacquey in lacquey, and old Madame de +Vaux would hear all about it and spread the news like wildfire. All +Touraine would believe that the Marquise de Gange was a prisoner in +her own chateau; the mob who were fond of her would rise, and there +would be a pretty pother! What a pity she was not indeed a prisoner, +hedged round with subtle precautions such as the abbé could so readily +invent!</p> + +<p class="normal">When he revolved this point, he sighed. No. That plan was not feasible +for many reasons, at least for the present. This was not the moment +for coercion but for wheedling. Yet, he reflected, it might be as +well, as chance arose, to complete the ring of servants. How very +provoking it was that things should run so agley! Mademoiselle, +instead of proving useful, seemed only likely to give rise to +complications. Her reappearance had already produced a disastrous +effect, for what was the use of setting her to manage the marquis's +conscience if his wife could retire out of reach? As matters stood, to +drag her thence by violence would never do, for shilly-shally Clovis +would turn restive. If only he could be induced to go away for a time +with his troublesome conscience to pay a visit to the prophet at +Spa--but there again arose a difficulty. His presence was necessary +here, for if that will was to be cancelled and another made, it was he +who ostensibly must manage it.</p> + +<p class="normal">A council of war! determined Pharamond at last. Valuable time is being +wasted. We must combine and resolve upon a plan of campaign which must +be carried without flinching to the end.</p> + +<p class="normal">Having arrived at this conclusion, he turned briskly round and went +with rapid steps in search of his allies.</p> + +<p class="normal">Presently, mademoiselle, the chevalier, and the abbé found themselves +sitting round a table in the small sanctum the latter had made +his own--a cosy little chamber, panelled in dark oak with heavy +double-doors--and the host took up his parable and spake,</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mademoiselle Brunelle is probably aware," he began, in his low sweet +voice, "that she was not summoned here for her charming society alone. +We have long known each other's views and wishes, and have arrived at +a consciousness that without mutual assistance our desires are +unattainable. Fortunately they do not clash; on the contrary, although +different, they run amicably side by side. So fortunate! It will be +best, will it not, if I review them?</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mademoiselle Brunelle has developed a fancy to wear a coronet. The +said coronet would prove a paltry bauble unless handsomely gilt and +jewelled. The gold and jewels are unluckily in possession of a lady +who at present holds the coronet, and who has no intention of +resigning either the one or the other. She must be made to give up +both--how?"</p> + +<p class="normal">There was a pause, during which the chevalier blinked uneasily. The +abbé had succeeded in drawing one brother at least well under his +thumb. Like a hound, poor sodden Phebus gazed constantly into the eyes +of Pharamond, seeking his orders there. There was a germ of an idea +within the breast of each, which none cared to drag into the light.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Abbé," remarked mademoiselle, curtly. "As usual, you beat about the +bush. There is none to overhear. What you would suggest, state +plainly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Am I not plain enough?" laughed Pharamond, lightly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No," returned Aglaé, drawing down her brows in thought. "You say that +our views run parallel. How can that be? You love that mawkish +creature, and, for my part, as I have said before, you may wear her +and welcome, though I don't admire your taste. I tried to assist you +in the past, but--well--my efforts were not successful. How can I help +you now, without injury to my own prospects? You are not so foolish as +to suppose that I would accept Clovis without a sou, nor am I so silly +as to imagine that you would take that chit without her fortune."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mademoiselle sketches a situation with such brief lucidity, that it +is a privilege to listen to her," replied Pharamond, with a tight +twitch of his thin lips, that was intended for a smile. "But as there +are blotches on the sun, so is not even she quite perfect. She forgets +that the world is ever rolling, and that as we roll with it our views +change and give place to others. She will remember, perhaps, that but +for me she would still be an angel without the gate, and grant that I +am not likely to employ the paw of one so clever, without sharing the +chestnuts which she rescues."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A compromise, then?" said Aglaé. "I am still completely in the dark."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because you start on a false premise, which was once true, but is so +no longer. With an engaging frankness, which claims my devoted +admiration, you admit that you do not care a straw for Clovis without +his coronet and a sufficiency of wealth. Well, I care not a jot more +for Gabrielle. She was misguided enough to flout my suit, to cover me +with lofty scorn, to tread me under foot. Am I a man, think you, to +forgive that? Not likely.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If I could have my way, I would take her with me for a while, and +then fling her, soiled and broken, to the lowest of my lackeys! It +would be a sweet and complete vengeance, which, alas, prudence bids me +to forego." The abbé, as he considered the delightful possibilities of +such a vengeance, looked so wicked with his pallid face and grinding +teeth, and green eyes lighted from within, that the chevalier cowered, +and Aglaé was a little uncomfortable.</p> + +<p class="normal">Here was a revelation, and a clue to his labyrinthine mind. He had +come to dislike the unlucky marquise as much as she did, and the two +were to unite for her undoing. That was capital!</p> + +<p class="normal">Gradually the green light paled, the white face flushed, and Pharamond +laughing lightly was himself again.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How wise we are," he said, "to make full confession and keep no +secrets back! She has tied up her fortune, and must untie it, and then +we must take possession and divide. You and Clovis will take a half, +Phebus and I the other. There will be enough for all. Surely the +arrangement is a simple one."</p> + +<p class="normal">Yes. Certain conditions arrived at, the rest was simple. That germ +down in the darkness was developing rapidly, and putting forth dark +slimy leaves like those of the deadly nightshade.</p> + +<p class="normal">The three contemplated one another and kept silence, each thinking the +same thought.</p> + +<p class="normal">Having been induced to revoke her will, the marquise must be put away.</p> + +<p class="normal">But ere the treasure could be reached there were ramparts to be +scaled, wide ditches to be crossed. Could the obstacles ever be +surmounted? Some of them towered as high as virgin Alps.</p> + +<p class="normal">The abbé proceeded to explain that the rôle of mademoiselle was to +skilfully bring the marquis to a fitting state of mind. She was to +find engrossing occupation for such intellect as he possessed, dazzle +his eyes with mystical gewgaws, increase by artful pricks his +exasperation against his wife, swaddle him with flattering attentions, +keep the wound green, yet wrap him in cotton wool.</p> + +<p class="normal">Mademoiselle shook her head dubiously. Did she not remember the look +he gave her when she wished the wife to drown? He would never consent +to such strong measures, as might seem convenient to less qualmish +persons.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pooh!" retorted Pharamond. "Do I not know him? When a thing is +irrevocably done, he will be glad to benefit by the results. You must +keep him in play like a struggling fish, and when the time comes bring +him to land. With half a great fortune, and the removal of its +importunate owner, he would soon grow content."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Half the fortune," mused Aglaé, deep down within herself. "H'm! H'm! +Half the fortune! Why not the whole? Half-measures are not +satisfactory!"</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> + + +<h3>FOOTNOTE</h3> +<br> + + +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_01" href="#div2Ref_01">Footnote 1</a>: It must be remembered that the French law, as it at +present stands, dates from the later epoch of Napoleon. The events +connected with the will of the Marquise de Gange are historical.<span style="letter-spacing:10pt"> </span> L. W.</p> +<br> + + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>END OF VOLUME II.</h3> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<hr class="W20"> +<h5>SIMMONS & BOTTEN, PRINTERS, LONDON. <i>G. C. & Co</i>.</h5> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Maid of Honour, Volume 2 (of 3), by +Lewis Wingfield + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MAID OF HONOUR, VOLUME 2 *** + +***** This file should be named 38875-h.htm or 38875-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/8/8/7/38875/ + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by Google Books + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Maid of Honour, Volume 2 (of 3) + A Tale of the Dark Days of France + +Author: Lewis Wingfield + +Release Date: February 14, 2012 [EBook #38875] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MAID OF HONOUR, VOLUME 2 *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by Google Books + + + + + + + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + + 1. Page scan source: + http://books.google.com/books?oe=UTF-8&id=zxBLAAAAIAAJ + + 2. The diphthong oe is represented by [oe]. + + + + + + + + THE MAID OF HONOUR + + + + + + + THE MAID OF HONOUR + + + A Tale of the Dark Days of France + + + BY + + THE HON. LEWIS WINGFIELD + + AUTHOR OF + + "LADY GRIZEL," "THE LORDS OF STROGUE," "ABIGEL ROWE" + + ETC. + + + + + + _IN THREE VOLUMES_ + VOL. II. + + + + + LONDON + RICHARD BENTLEY AND SON + Publishers in Ordinary to Her Majesty the Queen. + + 1891 + + [_All Rights Reserved_] + + + + + + + TO + + WILLIAM HENRY WELDON. + + A TRIBUTE + + OF OLD FRIENDSHIP. + + + + + + + CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER XI. + + A Crisis. + + + CHAPTER XII. + + Diamond Cut Diamond. + + + CHAPTER XIII. + + Domestic Surgery. + + + CHAPTER XIV. + + Check. + + + CHAPTER XV. + + The Situation Changes. + + + CHAPTER XVI. + + The Abbe is Terribly Perplexed. + + + CHAPTER XVII. + + Gabrielle has an Idea. + + + CHAPTER XVIII. + + A Surprise. + + + CHAPTER XIX. + + A Council Of War. + + + + + + + THE MAID OF HONOUR. + + + + + CHAPTER XI. + + A CRISIS. + + + +The abbe's departure left a void in the household. He had grown to be +so conspicuous and necessary a feature in it that even Gabrielle +regretted his mercurial presence, while conscious of a feeling of +relief in that he no more pursued her. It was but a temporary respite, +she knew. He would return ere long, renew the siege, demand an answer. +What that answer was to be, she did not feel certain. Her interest in +herself had gone. She missed the readings, the soft declamation of the +musical voice; for, left more alone than ever, her mind brooded +without distraction on the past and the tangled possibilities of the +future. The chevalier's attentions were rather irksome than otherwise, +for his conversational powers were limited. His position was that of +watchdog, and, as all the world knows, watch-dogs are expected to +watch and not to talk. He was content to sit staring with vacant eyes +at his sister-in-law for an unlimited period, breathing very hard and +emitting strong fumes of spirits with a meaningless but complacent +expression of conscious rectitude. He was doing his duty, and knew it. +Since his rebuff on that moonlight night, now long ago, he had seemed +in his slow way to have become possessed by a fixed idea. The prize +was not for him. His brother had behaved magnanimously in permitting +him to try first for it. Having failed--as he might have known he +would--he must keep his promise, and assist him in the chase to the +best of his abilities. + +He was a remarkable man, his brother, of that he had been convinced +for years, who was destined to have his will in all things; and quite +right, too, for commanding genius should surely achieve success. + +Dreary fat Phebus! Lulled by the monotonous life at Lorge, the little +intellect he possessed had gone to sleep. Now and again he had sallied +forth to shoot with the gamekeeper, but could never hit it off with +him. His oracular remarks were met by silence. Jean Boulot treated him +with a sullen and enforced politeness, and it dawned on his sluggish +mind by slow degrees that the gamekeeper heartily despised him. He +despised by a common country peasant, who, instead of sneering, should +have been grateful to be noticed by a half-brother of the Marquis de +Gange! The position was so unsatisfactory that the chevalier gave up +the chase. He also gave up riding, for his horse would take the +direction of Montbazon, the welcome of whose inmates frightened him. +Angelique looked so wistful, and the old lady was so effusively +hospitable that he quite trembled in his shoes lest he should wake up +some morning and find that he was married. + +Moping about with no occupation either for mind or body, it was +natural that he should have fallen into the trap which is prepared for +the idle and empty-pated; that he should while away the laggard hours +in the company of the best cognac. + +Time hung very heavy on the hands of neglected Gabrielle. Toinon was a +sweet girl who strove by many little acts to comfort her stricken +heart; but the pride of the chatelaine stood between herself and +Toinon. It was bitter to expose her wrongs to the tender touch of a +loving foster-sister. Even when engaged on missions to the sick poor, +of whom, alack, there were far too many, she could not keep her mind +from brooding. "What was, and what might have been," formed a dismal +refrain that was for ever ringing in her ears. + +The abbe remained a long time absent. His letters were full of +interest, though not particularly cheerful. He appeared to have come +to the conclusion that affairs in the capital were not improving. "The +king is much to blame," he wrote, "while the queen is rash, and the +combination is not fortuitous." He told of the strange and aggressive +proceedings of that impudent body, the National Assembly, of the +treasonous language employed by some of its members. These impertinent +rascals babbled of the Rights of Man in a manner which, to one of +superior birth, was disgusting. He related that their majesties had +been forcibly taken from Versailles and bidden to dwell in the +metropolis, and told stories of Monsieur de Lafayette, whose conduct +was the more to be regretted in that he was himself a noble. He had +actually proclaimed in a public seance of the rabble who directed +affairs, that, "When oppression renders a revolution necessary, +insurrection is the most sacred of duties." Good heavens! what next? +Political societies had thrown off the mantle of secrecy and openly +paraded their abominable sentiments. The "Society of the Jacobins" +bade fair to be a dangerous element in the future, although a rival +club called the Feuillans had recently been established to +counterbalance its baleful influence. Altogether, Pharamond, who was +usually so lively, looked at events through darkened spectacles. + +The abbe had duly presented his credentials to the Marechal de Breze, +who had been effusively civil and had wearied him with endless +questions about his daughter's happiness. The life at Lorge must be +Arcadian, he had declared with satisfaction, or the lovely chatelaine +would have returned to the capital long since. + +Why, suggested the abbe, did he not make a pilgrimage to visit her? + +No, he had replied, shaking his venerable head; happiness was a +fragile thing that must not be disturbed. The advent of an old man and +an old woman would be like the throwing of a stone into a tarn. He was +content to know that Gabrielle was happy, and to write and receive +letters. Moreover, he did not wish his darling to return to Paris in +its present chaotic state. + +These letters of Pharamond's were mumbled out at breakfast by the +chevalier. + +Clovis had resumed his habit of breakfasting alone--moreover, politics +bored him; but mademoiselle made a point of being present, after +having given her dear charges their own meal in the distant wing; for +she liked to hear the news, indited by the abbe. + +Gabrielle seldom spoke. She seemed in a despondent daze which provoked +the observant governess. Was the silly creature going out of her mind? +Those who are unable to stand up for themselves deserve to be +subjected to the yoke. Aglae's fingers itched to slap the marquise, +or give her a sound shaking. But she had been lectured by the abbe +before he left, was aware that the dog was watching, and knew that it +behoved her to be prudent; not to quarrel with her ally at present. As +to Gabrielle, she smiled sometimes a mysterious smile that was more +sad than tears. Happy! why, her heart was slowly breaking. Nobody +wanted her. Her only desire was to remain secluded--shielded by +distance from the searching glances of her father, who, with the eyes +of love, could not fail to read her misery. + +Autumn waned, the winter came and went, and spring came round, and +still the abbe was absent. The long evenings, when, try as she would +to exorcise them, the procession of her sorrows danced fandangoes in +the brain of Gabrielle to the accompaniment of the chevalier's +snoring, were becoming unendurable. How long was this martyrdom to +continue?--how long? + +The cold winds had softened their rigour; the air was growing balmy. +There were voices down below in half-whispered converse. Moving to the +open window, Gabrielle looked out. How calm and sweet an evening! How +placidly the river flowed past the feet of the gloomy castle! How +gently the boughs waved opposite beyond the stream to the rhythm of +the breeze! + +Under the windows of the grand saloon there was a sort of narrow +gangway which acted as penthouse to the grilled windows of the +dungeons on the water's edge. In old times it had been used as a +platform for embarkation in boats, but now it was trodden by few feet, +for its flags were slimy and treacherous. The voices were those of +Jean and Toinon, who were apparently indulging in a delightful +flirtation. They had been out rowing. The clumsy wherry used by the +family was moored to a ring a few yards distant. The lovers were +exchanging delicious confidences before parting for the night. + +Lovers billing and cooing in the moonlight, discoursing, doubtless, on +the happiness they should certainly enjoy when married. They believed +in human happiness, and looked forward to a future! Gabrielle laughed +a hoarse laugh that frightened her, and she retreated to the boudoir +in a feverish tingle. What was there to-night that made her feel more +desolate than usual? She must be unwell, for her nerves were twanging +so that she could not sit still a moment. The children were asleep by +this time, for mademoiselle was very careful of them. She deserved, at +least, that justice. Asleep and dreaming--not of her; for she rarely +saw them now at all, except gambolling like kids in the distance. She +felt suddenly impelled to be near the treasures over whom her soul +yearned so sorely. She could not see them, of course, for had not +mademoiselle made her understand long since that in the nursery she +held no authority? The dear ones. Thank God they were happy! She would +creep out in the spring air and kiss the wall behind which the +children lay! Almost guiltily she took up a silken wrap with trembling +fingers and stole forth. It was well the chevalier was in a boozy +sleep, or he would insist on following, and in his presence she would +have been ashamed to gratify her whim. Away, across the inner yard, +through the postern door, of which she wore a golden key upon a +bracelet, along the trim alleys of the moat garden to the extreme +right wing of the two floors of which mademoiselle had taken +possession. As we know, she established herself on arrival in the +rooms below the salon; but later, under pretext that it was damp, had +removed herself and her charges. In the chamber now used as nursery +she had caused a window to be pierced, so as to give access to the +garden moat It was so much better for the children, she had pleaded, +to be able to dance out at once upon the sunlit grass instead of +threading darksome corridors. How thoughtful! Of course she was right, +as usual. Clovis was enchanted with her attention to details, and the +window was made forthwith. + +A ray of light streamed across the sward. Strange. The casement was +open. How imprudent, and the dear ones in bed! In hot and anxious +wrath Gabrielle was about to rush forward and remonstrate, when her +steps were stayed. They were not in bed, for she could detect their +voices prattling with the marquis and their governess. Stealing +stealthily nearer she peeped in. Through her breast there shot a pain +so sharp that she almost hoped to die. An affecting family group, of +which _she_ should have been the centre--her legitimate place usurped +by that wicked cruel woman! while she, the mistress of the house, was +shivering without in the night air! A pariah--a leper--a loathsome +thing--cast without the gates. What had she done--what had she +done--to deserve this dreadful fate? The marquis was reclining in a +low chair, with the complacent calm that comfort brings, while Aglae, +bending over, was carefully bandaging his hand. With what tenderness +she folded and tightened the linen. He had injured himself in some +slight way with a broken bottle, and was smilingly watching her work +whilst hearkening to the babble of the little ones who, in wadded +dressing-gowns, were toasting their pink toes before the fire. + +"You are so good to all of us," softly remarked Clovis. "Camille and +Victor, say, do you appreciate mademoiselle?" + +"I try to be a mother to them," was her calm response. + +A mother! Clovis sighed and frowned, while the children cried out with +blithe accord, "Aglae? of course we love her." + +Camille, stealing up behind, passed her tiny arms about the portly +waist, while Aglae said, quietly, "Be still, my pet, or you will make +me hurt your father." + +Victor--a wise boy--wagged his head sagely at the hissing hearth, and +announced his conviction, "That mademoiselle had come down from +heaven. But, never mind," he added, "when she gets back she'll have a +higher place than before, on such a nice and pearly cloud." + +"How's that?" asked the marquis, amused. + +"You'll have a nice place, too," continued the urchin. "Every evening +when I say my prayers, I ask heaven to be good to papa and +mademoiselle." + +The marquise staggered away with fingers tight clasped over dry and +burning eyes. "They are complete without me," she moaned, panting like +a hunted animal. "There is no place for me! no place in all the +world!" + +She tottered along the surrounding belt of green like one struck +blind, till she came to the end where the moat was closed against the +river. + +"No place for me! no place for me!" Gabrielle muttered, with teeth +that chattered as do those of one in an ague fit. Swaying to and fro +she looked into the water and discerned the black bulk of the wherry. +A luminous idea shot across her mind. If the boat were found drifting +down the stream with naught but a silken wrap in it, they would drag +the Loire for the missing chatelaine, and, at least, pretend to be +sorry for the accident. Yes! an accident--that was the solution of the +difficulty. Her father would deplore her death, but would never know +that she had brought it about herself. Why had this never occurred to +her before? The marechal would grieve, but would get over it; for the +grief of the old is short-lived, and are not the dead at rest? Happy +dead to sleep so sound. She soon would be one of the shadowy +phalanx--at rest for evermore. + +Taking a hasty survey of the scene she stepped into the boat and +loosed the chain. There was none to look on her, save the blank eyes +of the dark chateau. In its history what was a life--an intolerably +weary life? Was not its memory green concerning the water-dungeon and +the torture-chamber? + +"For me there is no place in all the world," repeated the chattering +jaws as the boat shot into midstream. As it chanced there were four +human eyes watching that she wist not of. + +Jean and Toinon were not gone, though they had retreated into shadow. +At sound of the loosening chain the latter had shuddered and hidden +her face on the ample breast close by. + +"Dungeon ghosts--rattling their gyves," Jean observed, quietly. +"See--there's another yonder." + +Toinon looked up and held her breath. In the broad moonbeams a woman +stood erect in a boat! A woman, who slowly divested herself of a +drapery and arranged it carefully upon the seat. Then she placed a +foot upon the gunwale and deliberately plunged into the stream. + +It was all so unexpected--so sudden--that the two stood paralysed. +Both knew the slim figure well. They were startled from awe-stricken +stupor by shouts above. The chevalier was stamping on a balcony wildly +waving his arms. "It is Gabrielle! Gabrielle!" he shrieked. "Save her! +save her! save her!" And then, with a despairing yell, he dashed away +in the direction of the children's wing. + +Jean muttered with contempt: "The useless imbecile," and, disengaging +himself from Toinon's encircling arms, leapt from the platform into +the water. Breathless and proud of him, Toinon watched his strong +strokes as they clove the oily surface. He had hold of her--thank God! +and was bearing his burthen to the bank. + +There was a hubbub and an outcry in the house approaching nearer. +Clovis and the chevalier appeared at a window shouting madly: "Save +her!" The marquis disappeared from the balcony, and touching a spring, +vanished down a secret staircase which gave upon the slippery gangway, +accompanied by Mademoiselle Brunelle, who with a new care upon her +brow was swiftly following his lead. De Gange received the inanimate +burthen into his arms, while tears poured down his face. "God bless +you, Jean," he sobbed, "God bless you. I will never forget this deed. +She will live--she has but swooned. Jean, you have saved her from +death--me from a life-long remorse." + +Aglae's clouded visage grew more perplexed as he took roughly from her +the mantle she had cast over her shoulders to wrap it round his +dripping burthen. + +"He takes my cloak," she muttered, "not caring if I feel cold!" + +"Aglae, feel," he whispered anxiously. "Am I not right? Does not her +pulse still beat?" + +Mademoiselle Brunelle roused herself from astonished reverie to attend +to the exigencies of the moment. "Yes," she declared, with +authoritative promptitude. "The poor crazy lady lives. Toinon, warm a +bed without delay. Jean, take horse at once and fetch a doctor. We two +will see to her meanwhile." + +Moaning and shaking, the scared and palsied chevalier stood helpless +by, wringing his hands together. "She went in the boat alone, poor +thing," he whimpered, "because she could not trust me. Oh! that fatal +night--that fatal night! Of course she would not trust me." + +Meanwhile, the marquis and his affinity bore their burthen up the +winding stair. Neither spoke till they reached the saloon and laid the +unconscious marquise upon a couch. Then Aglae, more perplexed than +ever, sighed. + +"Thank God, she's saved; thank God!" Clovis murmured, fervently. + +"Who would have ever thought," reflected the governess aloud, "that so +long-suffering and useless piece of goods could be goaded to take her +life?" + +"Hush!" shuddered the marquis. "Ever after I should have deemed myself +her murderer!" + +"A thousand pities," mused mademoiselle. "If he had only let her +drown, at this moment you would be free." + +Clovis looked up in horror, blanched to the pallor of a statue. + + + + + CHAPTER XII. + + DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND. + + +With a turn of the kaleidoscope is another pattern formed. Lying in +the great state bed with its ponderous carven canopy and heavy +curtains of deep blue velvet fringed with gold, Gabrielle wondered +whether she had awakened in a kinder world or whether she was dreaming +in the old rugose one. No. It was the same gorgeously gloomy chamber +in which she had so often wept, with its dim ancestors frowning from +the background of mouldering arras. + +Yonder, by the tall emblazoned mantel, was the familiar ebony cabinet +in which a long bygone De Breze, who was an alchemist, had been wont +to lock his phials. To the left, was the mullioned window, with wide +sill, looking out upon the paved courtyard. On the sill was a row of +ponderous bronze pots of the Renaissance period, filled with gay +plants to hide out the blank wall opposite. Both Madame de Vaux and +Angelique had always shuddered when they crossed the threshold of this +room, vowing that the big bed, like a funereal catafalque, was a fit +resting-place for spectres, not for human beauty. When counselled to +move elsewhere, or do up the apartment in more cheerful fashion, the +chatelaine had smilingly shaken her head. The ladies of the castle had +always occupied this room, and she would follow their precedent, not +being afraid of ghosts. + +"The precedents of Lorge were pretty ones to follow," retorted her +neighbour. "Many of the chatelaines were murdered, poor things! and +the rest so wretched that murder, however atrocious, would have been +hailed as a release." + +Alas! The destiny of the present one was no brighter than that of the +others. She had been miserable enough in this tranquil chamber, and +had ofttimes prayed for death. But now, somehow, Fortune seemed to be +weary of persecution. Was it possible that out of the sinister tangle +content might yet be unwound? + +There were voices whispering in the antechamber which Gabrielle +recognized as those of Jean and Toinon, watchers. Now and again, +Toinon would gently open the door and reconnoitre, and seeing the +invalid apparently asleep would quietly close it again, but not before +the sick lady had caught a glimpse of the chevalier behind, still +wearing an expression of dismay. + +Wonder of wonders! Sometimes when she woke from fitful dozing, she +would see the figure of the marquis standing at the bed-foot anxiously +peering down at her. He looked haggard and careworn. Could it be on +her account? Hidden away somewhere in a remote recess could there be a +flame of affectionate esteem for her still flickering? + +Simulating slumber, she would scan him narrowly. He was evidently +unhappy, had something on his mind, was unpleasantly preoccupied. Her +heart leapt with the thought that it was on her account, perhaps, that +he was troubled. He certainly was thinking a good deal about her, for +though he did not stop long he often visited the chamber. Although +well-nigh beyond belief, Gabrielle could hardly doubt that he was +unhappy for her sake. His eyes had been opened! It had come home to +him how cruel his neglect had been, and he was sorry. It needed but a +kind word of encouragement from her to bring about a tardy +reconciliation. + +Choosing an opportunity, she gently put forth her hand and clasped +that of Clovis with a tender pressure, murmuring the while, "Husband! +I was driven to do that wicked thing by a mistake. God will forgive. +Can you, too, pardon?" + +At sound of her feeble voice, the marquis started guiltily and hung +his head; and as he remained silent, his hand inert in hers, she +proceeded slowly-- + +"It is not you who are to blame, dear. Occupied as your mind is, you +are unable to conceive what to a loving woman are isolation and +indifference. I teased and annoyed you with my jealousy; but then, as +a girl, I was so pampered--steeped to the lips in love! Give me +confidence and perfect trust and you shall be vexed no more. Obedient +in all things, assuming no right to counsel or rebuke, I will be your +faithful life-companion, the half of your very self!" + +Much more did she say in the same strain, without reproach, pleading +for a modest place within his heart. + +Ah me! What a mockery are these earthly unions for better or worse +till death do us part! The best are doomed to fling away their wealth +of tenderness upon recipients who do not crave for it. Is it a +punishment meted in subtle irony for the transgressions of a previous +life? For half a lifetime we persist in lavishing our love upon a +phantom, and, discovering by chance how evil is the wraith, lie down +despairing. A fool's paradise would be a charming residence, were we +not pretty certain, sooner or later, to be expelled from it with +violence. On this tiny dust grain of the universe--let us hope it is +not so in the more important worlds, wherein we hope to sojourn +later--we batter our pates at a tender age against the stone wall of +disillusion, become early familiar with broken promises. Fortunately, +the sustaining angel Hope has more lives than a cat. Pummelled, +stoned, and mangled beyond recognition, behold she sits up and rubs +herself, charming well again. + +What the hapless Gabrielle took for the stir of dormant affection was +no more than an ignoble mixture of shame, remorse, and anxiety. The +conscience of Clovis had dinned into him long since that he was +behaving very ill; that he had espoused a beautiful woman with a fresh +and ardent temperament and a well-lined purse; that, thanks to the +last, he lived in gilded ease, and gave to its owner in exchange +nothing for which she yearned. People are vastly provoking, who +clamorously demand that we have not to bestow. How wearisome are those +who go on repeating, "I want your love and nothing else," when they +ought to know that we have no love to give. Then is sure to follow the +phase of reproaches and tears which is more tiresome still. Clovis, +when conscience pricked, was very sorry for his helpmeet; and sorry +for himself, too, that she should be so worrying. From his point of +view, he was justified in withdrawing from the dining-hall the light +of his comely countenance. How can a man have any appetite with so +rueful a visage opposite? Talk of skeletons at feasts! Here was one at +every meal, because speechless no less eloquent. That which is +unpleasant and can't be helped, it behoves us in self-defence to put +away and forget as quickly as possible. Clovis had (metaphorically) +plunged into the magic tub with Aglae in order to forget his skeleton. +He knew he was doing wrong, but was equally aware that it was not in +him to do right. Why could not Gabrielle be sensible? If people would +only cultivate that humble virtue common sense, how much more smoothly +life's wheels would run. Why could not she, realizing--perhaps with +pain--that Luna is not in the market as a purchaseable article, sit +quietly down with philosophy, and give up crying for the moon? + +When the poor lady was impelled to shuffle off her coil, the +completeness of the desolation revealed due to her husband's fault, +came home to him with a mighty twinge; and he felt angry with her in +that she should be capable of inflicting so severe a nip. The +estrangement was not his fault, he argued with conscience. It was his +misfortune and hers, which it was in the province of neither to +remedy. Of course, it was all a pity; but are there not numberless +things in this life that are "a pity," but which we are powerless to +alter? The brief period of _tete-a-tete_ when they first came to live +at Lorge had been ghastly dull, and he, like a sensible man, had +sought refuge from it in his books. Then merciful Providence had sent +a set of people to make his situation more bearable--his and hers +also. Why could she not let herself drift in calm content, as he had +done? It always came back to that, and every time he was the more +convinced of it. His wife was an unreasonable creature, who persisted +in pining for what she could not get instead of making the best of +what she had. Perhaps he had not behaved quite nicely in the matter of +the prodigies. Yet after all, was it not essential that they should +receive trained instruction, and had they not of their own accord +turned from their mother to the governess? He had never said, "My +dears, you must care no longer for mamma, and adore your governess." +Was it not evident that mamma wearied them as much as she did him, +while their instructress was the most delightful comrade that ever +breathed, as well as abnormally clever? + +With this course of argument conscience was convinced, or pretended to +be, and curled itself up and slept, and would have continued thus in +charmed repose, but for this new disturbance. There can be no denying +that there must be something radically wrong, when a woman who used to +be serene leaps with felonious intent out of a wherry. Though everyone +was told that the affair was an accident, nobody believed it. The +marquis was ashamed and dreaded a scandal. + +Of course, when the story reached them, the Montbazon party came +trundling over in the shanderydan, with goggling eyes and ears acock, +to inquire into the extraordinary tale. Clovis received them with +scant courtesy, but the old baroness was not to be put off with a cold +shoulder, and Angelique took little trouble to cloak her suspicions. +What could madame have been doing--navigating the Loire in the +middle of the night, and tumbling overboard? Why choose so strange an +hour for a solitary excursion, and why fall out of so clumsy and +broad-beamed a craft? Could the dear marquis explain? The dear marquis +became testy, and, shrugging his shoulders, advised the ladies to +visit madame who was in bed, but well enough to tell them all about +it. The ladies sat on either side of the great catafalque, under +shadow of the blue velvet curtains, and sniffed at one another with +meaning across the counterpane. Cross-questioned by the baron as they +drove home, the baroness pursed her lips in ominous silence, while +Angelique remarked, "If with those sad eyes welling with tears, she +persists that she is happy, and vows that on that night her foot +slipped, in courtesy we must pretend to believe her." To which the +baron pertinently replied, "Foot slipped, indeed! and in the middle of +the river, too. What was it doing on the gunwale?" + +Clovis knew that the de Vaux family would spread damaging reports, but +he had yet another cause for anxiety. A certain remark had been +dropped by Mademoiselle Brunelle as the two were carrying their +burthen to the salon, which was like a douche of icy water. "If he had +let her drown, you would be free!" What an atrociously cold-blooded +sentiment from the lips of the good-natured Aglae! As to this the +marquis's conscience had no suggestion to make, for it had never +entered his head to desire his wife's demise. + +It is another unpleasing fact with regard to our little earth, that +nothing can remain stationary. We must always be on the move--backward +if not forward. Clovis, pleased with the situation as it had chosen to +develop itself, wished for naught but the continuance of the _status +quo_; and now it came rudely home to him that mademoiselle, instead of +being satisfied, as he was, had been raising shadowy edifices in +cloudland. The glance which accompanied her regretful words had been +full of significance. She could look so far forward as to welcome the +departure of Gabrielle in order that she might occupy her place. And a +governess too--without a shred of a pedigree--who had never heard the +name of her grandfather! That a person of low birth, however +admirable, should presume to aspire to the coronet of a Marquise de +Gange took the breath away! The idea was as wildly fantastic as it was +revolting. And yet she had so wormed herself into his life that he +knew he could not tear her thence without an awful struggle. If that +poor thing had died, could he in course of time have been persuaded to +take the governess? Who might prophesy? Most fortunately there was no +question of such a possibility, as the lady had been saved and was +recovering. Mademoiselle must be his affinity--nor hope for anything +more lofty. And yet the more he thought of it, all the more shocked +did Clovis feel at the absurdity of such aspirations in one so lowly, +and the cold-bloodedness of that remark. + +For her part the unlucky speech had been wrung from Aglae by genuine +surprise, for the boating catastrophe had opened to her mind's eye a +dazzling vista of actual possibilities as new as they were +astonishing. It had certainly occurred to her before that it would be +nice some day to be Marquise de Gange, but it had not struck her that +the present marquise could be induced to open the door herself to her +successor. It was merely in a spirit of casual spite that Aglae had +insolently invited Gabrielle, during their last interview, to retire +out of the world. + +How surprising are the vagaries of the human animal! No one would have +guessed that a quiet reserved woman, who was so feeble as to suppose +she could buy the enemy with a bracelet, could be driven to take her +life! The discovery suggested for the future a new series of tactics. +Owing to vexatious interference the tragedy had miscarried this time, +but surely with deft management a similar condition of mind to that +which had led up to it could be brought about again? And the second +time precautions might be taken to ensure a different termination. +There was no hurry about it. When matters of serious import are under +consideration it is a woeful thing to hurry. The mawkish creature was +in bed, being fondled and caressed. By and by when she grew better, a +progressive series of cunningly-masked attacks would have to be +organized which should finally and completely rout the insignificant +foe and leave her prone upon the field. + +Meanwhile there was something new that rather puzzled the governess. +Clovis was so thin-skinned that it was only by surpassing skill that +he could be managed. He was so beset with crotchets which required +coaxing. There was some bee worrying in his bonnet now, for instead of +frisking about the feet of his affinity, according to habit, he slunk +away from her approach with uneasy bashfulness, and bestowed his +attentions on the invalid. + +With regard to the latter there was nothing to dread for the +blandishments of the wife invariably had the effect in the long run of +alienating the husband. On this score the mind of the schemer was +easy. But what if she were indeed to die in a not too distant future? +Clovis had shudderingly declared on the fateful night that had she +been drowned he would have considered himself a murderer. What a +stupid old adage it is which says the dead do not return! How many, +when they have passed from sight, are more formidable than when alive! +Would it be so with Gabrielle? Is not remorse a more formidable +barrier than the imperial wall of China? As it was, mademoiselle could +not deny that the marquis had taken to avoiding her, that in his eyes +there was a sinister expression, in which fear and distrust were +blended. He must have caught a glimpse under her ample skirt of a +cloven hoof instead of a substantial foot, and have been alarmed by +the spectacle. This alarm must be lulled to rest, or the influence of +the affinity might stand in actual peril. It would be odd if in the +end he crawled out of her clutches--very odd. + +Pooh! She was strong, and he was weak. Had she not proved already that +she could bend him like a willow wand? And yet--in front there lay a +mist which even sharp-sighted Aglae was unable to penetrate. She +laughed with quiet cynicism when she considered what Clovis's feelings +would be if he could read the dark thoughts of his affinity. He had +read too much already, and the effect had not been good. Now that she +knew what she wanted, it behoved her to consider the attitude which +the marquis must be made to assume, for his conduct, whatever it might +be, would, of course, be influenced by another will than his own. + +Gabrielle was to depart. + +That much was settled in the mind of the governess. With regard to the +husband, two courses were open. Was he to be lulled into forgetting +the untoward remark which had so shocked him, or was he to grow +accustomed by degrees to its implied suggestion, and be induced +tacitly to approve by skilful wheedling? Her bringing-up had led the +governess to hold a low opinion of human nature. No one ever lived, +she fully believed, so devoid of the leaven of wickedness as to be +proof against temptation to crime. It was merely a matter of +surroundings and the amount of temptation employed. But then in the +case of Clovis, the inertness and hesitancy of his character called +for consideration. Moreover, his recent behaviour had shown that he +did not care as yet sufficiently warmly for his Aglae to go all +lengths with her. Alarmed for his own safety, he would shrink and run +off howling. It is wiser in dealing with some people to do a thing +without consulting them, and obtain consent to the act when it is +done--irrevocably and irremediably. Clearly, the first course was +the most judicious. Clovis must be amused and petted till the +temporary access of inconvenient remorse was past, the little speech +forgotten--and wake up some fine day in the not too far distant future +to find himself bereaved and a widower. + +All this was mighty well in theory, but what of the plaguey abbe? He +would hear of the water episode and be seriously annoyed. The +governess was angered to think of the length of time which must elapse +ere her scheme could be brought to a head--and all through the idiotic +passion of Pharamond for the marquise! It would be dangerous to make +an open enemy of Pharamond, for were he so minded, he could place many +spokes in her wheel; all the more easily at this precise juncture when +Clovis was so shocked. As a matter of policy, whereby she might +herself benefit, she was quite ready to push Gabrielle into his arms, +as quickly as possible, for she reckoned that he was a fickle man, +who would soon tire of a toy attained, and so soon as he had done with +it, would not care how soon it was broken. But then she was not +without grave doubts of his ever succeeding in his suit. Mawkish, +milk-and-water women, such as this pale-faced creature, have no +passions worthy of the name, but exhale themselves in sighs and +prayer. + +And here was another awkward point. Given that the abbe was rebuffed, +compelled to abandon the siege of the marquise, would he not lose all +motive for further assisting the governess? and that before she was +prepared to do without him? Of course, he would then cease to sing her +praises in the ears of Clovis; would even perhaps, to suit his own +interests, endeavour to divide those whom he had assisted in uniting? +If the abbe could only be got rid of! But there seemed, peer out into +the horizon as she would, no chance of getting rid of him. No. He must +be humoured--hoodwinked, if possible. The abbe for the present must be +endured, treated as a trusty ally, since it would not do to attack him +as an enemy. Mademoiselle guessed that the chevalier would report all +that had happened, so concealment was out of the question. When he +received tidings of the episode he would, of course, come home, and in +an evil mood. With a peevish sigh, she wrote an effusive letter to +Pharamond, begging him to return to Lorge, wishing the while that he +would break his neck upon the journey. In the letter she artfully +stated that she had been guilty of a little error. When you wish to +avert a scolding, it is well to be candid and confess; and rather make +the most of the peccadillo. + +Thus she came vaguely to the conclusion that the alliance must stand +good for the present, that she and the abbe must maintain their +friendship, outwardly at least, and that, with regard to the fate of +Gabrielle, she must wait and watch events. Perhaps destiny in a +generous mood would point out some means of clearing the thorn-strewn +path by sweeping away the abbe. If he were got rid of, the course of +Aglae would be quite plain; the shrift of the marquise would be a +short one. + +Pharamond received two letters by the same courier, and boiled +with displeasure at the contents of both. With what a culpable +stupidity had all of them been behaving in his absence! That the +chevalier--useless lump of carrion--should proclaim himself a fool was +only to be expected. It had been the height of folly to trust to the +discretion of a zany. By his own showing, Phebus had failed to watch +properly over the marquise, and the malignant Aglae had wreaked on +her, with impunity, the full venom of her spite. For that when the +chance arrived she should be punished, for he had plainly given his +instructions before he started, to the effect that the marquise must +be made to feel her lonely position so acutely, that she would be +inclined to look kindly on a lover. It was not at all a portion of his +programme that she should be hunted into a grave. Moreover, was she +not the golden goose that fed them? The regrettable catastrophe was +due to the governess's disobedience and malignity. Feminine spite is +unreasoning, as all the world knows. + +"Not guessing that she was so sensitive, I went too far and am deeply +distressed," Aglae mendaciously wrote; "not but what the story you +will probably hear is much exaggerated. You have impressed on me more +than once that you are my friend. By an artful imposture of sham +suicide, the marquise has succeeded in frightening her husband back to +her side again. They bill and coo all day, which will not please you +any more that it does me. For your own sake, as well as mine, prove +that you are my friend, and come." + +Yes. Both letters assured him that his presence at Lorge was urgently +needed to give form again to chaos; and Pharamond saw that he must +leave the capital, although occurrences in Paris were of daily +increasing interest. It was dawning on himself and others at last that +they stood on the threshold of an entirely new epoch, which was to +shatter and blot out the old; that what they had chosen to +contemptuously take for harmless effervescence was the commencement of +convulsion, from which a newly-cast society would spring. The daring +of the lower lieges grew as fast as did the fabled bean-stalk. A timid +contingent of the assailed upper class had already abandoned France, +dreading they knew not what, and the remainder were like sheep without +a shepherd. What if, though really the notion was too preposterous, +the bubbling scum should actually suffocate the elect in its foul and +fetid waters? In the world's story there have been many cataclysms. +Though the peasants of Touraine had done little damage as yet, they +would surely hear of the excesses of the south, and would probably be +urged to emulation. + +Lorge was a strong place, but precautionary measures of defence must +be taken in view of prospective difficulties. For many reasons, then, +the return of the abbe to the country might no longer be delayed. It +would be a wise measure to summon a meeting of the rural seigneurie, +and form a league for mutual protection. + +"Her friend!" the abbe laughed with a malevolent twitch of his thin +lips as he folded and pocketed his letters. "So long as she is useful, +yes--a dear trusty loyal friend--but not an instant longer! If she +cannot behave with decency and common prudence, we must unite and +sweep her into space." + +Everyone was glad to see Pharamond home again, or affected to be so. +He assumed the highest spirits, although his news was little +reassuring, and he was privately much vexed at the changed positions +of his puppets. + +The chevalier, when rated for his drunken incapacity, excused himself +by swearing that but for his timely outcry, Gabrielle would have +perished. He wept alcoholic tears and babbled incoherent nonsense, in +which he deplored his numerous transgressions. "If only she could have +loved me," he whimpered with clasped hands more aspen than of yore, +"she would have been made so happy, and now she is plunged in misery, +and I can do nothing to prevent it. Console her, brother, since you +are the favoured one; make her smile again and I will be your slave +for life!" and so on, with trickling jeremiads and idle expressions of +penitence. + +As for mademoiselle, she expressed herself so full of contrition, and +so anxious to promote the abbe's suit, and altogether made herself so +agreeable, that he pretended loftily to pardon her, registering a +private vow that she must be ousted at the earliest moment. A woman +who could act so foolishly as to frighten the admirer she intended to +cajole, was but a contemptible enemy to battle with in a game of +diamond cut diamond. For the achievement of his own plans he must put +up with her just now, and make good the incipient breach. Aglae must +be washed clean in the eyes of the remorseful marquis of having caused +his wife's rash act. Whatever might happen by-and-by, the neophyte and +his affinity must be brought close together again for a while, and to +that end Pharamond loyally exerted all his influence. He fairly +laughed his brother into the belief that he was a deluded simpleton; +that the suicide was a stage device got up by Phebus and the victim. +"What a ninny to be taken in!" He said, "A bit of jealous temper, +nothing more, for which she is sorry now, for she has gained naught by +the dramatic ducking except an attack of illness." + +Aglae was gushing in her gratitude, which served only to increase the +contempt of Pharamond, who, like her, heartily despised the virtues. +She was a tool to be used and blunted, then carelessly thrown away. +Meanwhile, she was laughing in her sleeve in that he should so easily +be hoodwinked by her comedy. He never guessed what a new and +portentous idea was surging in her brain, and she was careful to drop +no hint of it. + +We will not endeavour to excuse the error in judgment of so +accomplished a manipulator of marionnettes as the Abbe Pharamond, in +that he should have esteemed so lightly the talents of Mademoiselle +Brunelle. Perhaps he was led astray by the crafty display of +helplessness shown in her last epistle. You are not inclined to +suspect, when a lady candidly confesses weakness and craves help, that +she has a private set of schemes in the background, of which she tells +you nothing. As Aglae was prepared (since she could not help it) to +put up with Pharamond for a period, so was the abbe prepared to endure +Aglae until he had quite done with her, feeling less and less doubt +that when she was no longer useful he could administer the final push. + +Thus schemed the schemers, labouring each for self, masking their +batteries one from the other till the propitious moment should come +for rupture. If the muse of history had not intervened as Marplot at +this moment, there is no telling which way the scale would have +turned, for it was nicely balanced. If Pharamond was being deceived, +so was Aglae, for she failed to gauge the extent of the shock she had +inflicted on the marquis. He was too timid to express his feelings +openly, to confess that he had become genuinely afraid of his +affinity, perceiving that on occasion she could be more unscrupulous +than his feeble soul was prepared to contemplate. Even strong-minded +men do not care to have a Lady Macbeth in the _menage_ who "lays the +daggers ready." He clung to Aglae because he could not do without her; +but at the same time he leaned heavily on Pharamond. But for that muse +of history this tale might have had a different ending. The schemes of +both conspirators required time. As it was, something happened which +awoke them with a start, and entirely changed the face of affairs, for +they became aware that what they intended to do must be done quickly +or be left undone. The shuttle of the muse flew apace across the loom. +An event occurred which came upon the country like a thunder-clap, +spreading terror and dismay in one camp, causing the wildest +exultation in the other. Rumour brought the news that their majesties +had fled from France. + +The situation was so grave that it behoved the country seigneurie to +look to themselves in earnest and at once. Perforce dismissing for the +moment arrangements of a private nature, Pharamond galloped hither and +thither, vastly busy, suggesting, advising, arranging. The Marquis de +Gange, much as he disliked politics, was compelled to rouse himself +from his ease and his remorse. He became quite energetic; ceased to +worry about his wife, and even forgot the tub. Old de Vaux came +cantering over on his pony, followed by a multitude of booby squires, +who, grouped in solemn conclave in the banquet-hall of Lorge, sat dumb +before the wisdom of the governess. In important deliberations sage +counsellors of either sex are to be courted, and Aglae in all +emergencies shone forth with special brilliancy. Her mind worked so +nimbly and practically, that the eyes of the enraptured gentry were +round with awe. They vowed in chorus that the marquis was a lucky man +to have captured this pearl of price. All were agreed, and impressed +the fact on him. As there was no dissentient voice, his uneasy terrors +waned; suspicion gave place to a renewal of admiration, in which fear +was tempered with respect. + +It never occurred to anyone to consult Gabrielle, and she had no +desire to be consulted. The white chatelaine knew too well that as a +leader she was a failure. It was enough to feel quite assured at last +with numbing, wearing pain, that Clovis cared no jot for her. + +That illusion had been put to flight for ever, for she had perceived +that his courtesy was awkward and unreal, a mask assumed by sluggish +duty to conceal ennui. Well, however evil the fate which should pursue +her in the future, she deserved it all, and would accept it meekly as +a penance. It was wicked to have made a deliberate attempt upon the +life which was not her own to destroy. Each night and morning she +fervently prayed for pardon, vowing that she would try to endure all +henceforth by aid of such support as was vouchsafed. + +Of a sudden there came a second thunder-clap, and the booby squires +shut themselves up, each in his own domain, unable to comprehend its +meaning. + +Rumour had brought a second budget more disquieting in effect than the +first. Their majesties had not succeeded in escaping. They had been +caught at Varennes, to be conducted back to Paris by Barnave and +Petion, deputies. The King and Queen of France were prisoners! +Actually they were in custody of King Mob--a more powerful potentate +than they--who had locked them up in a gilded jail, yclept the Palace +of the Tuileries. For a moment all sections of society paused and held +their breath. + +If Louis and Marie Antoinette had crossed the frontier it would have +been to return at the head of an avenging army, which would by force +have replaced their diadems. But prisoners!--for though not dubbed so +openly as yet, their power of free action had departed. The innocent +king, the unfortunate queen, the saintly Madame Elizabeth, had been +drawn through the streets of the capital, a helpless raree-show, for +the delectation of the populace, like the Parisian "B[oe]uf Gras" or +the London Guido Fawkes! The scum themselves were so taken aback by +the prodigious spectacle that many burst into tears, while others +stood dumbfoundered. Then, the shock of surprise over, there followed +inevitably excess, the boisterous stretching of untried limbs, for the +first time free. In some parts of the country this took the form of a +meaningless upheaval, just to test the new-found liberty. Chateaux of +unpopular proprietors were sacked and burnt. The dwelling of the de +Vaux family was somewhat injured, and its inmates alarmed for their +property; but, at a critical moment, Jean Boulot appeared upon the +scene and scornfully rated the rioters for their cowardice. "Shame!" +he cried, "ye are indeed worthy of liberty if your first use of it is +to slay or insult old men and women! Next, I suppose, you will pay us +a visit, and repay with brand and pitchfork the debt you all owe to +the marquise?" The crowd desisted from the work of destruction and +shamefacedly dispersed. No, no--they grumbled. Jean Boulot was a fine +fellow, to whose harangues they all liked to listen, but his tongue +sometimes was sharp, his sayings bitter. Attack Lorge? Never. What! +the home of the white chatelaine, whose hands were ever stretched +forth to do good, at sight of whose beautiful sad face everyone sighed +with pity? + +People are naturally so perverse that they are ever apt to plume +themselves upon results that are due to others. The abbe and +Mademoiselle Brunelle, and with them the Marquis de Gange, were quite +assured that the impunity from attack enjoyed by Lorge was due to the +strength of its walls and the ingenuity of their tactics. Jean's +speech at Montbazon was not reported to them--he was not one to boast +of his own deeds, and they were too infatuated to realize that the +pale, weak, fragile woman, whose reserve and resignation daily +exasperated Aglae, was the real author of their safety. + + + + + CHAPTER XIII. + + DOMESTIC SURGERY. + + +These were exciting times--no doubt of it--even to humdrum +provincials, remote from the madding crowd. The web on the muse's loom +grew so rapidly that the eye could not follow the shuttle. Were the +dogs of war to be unloosed upon the land? Was fair France to be +invaded and torn by the enemy from without as well as by one within? +On the 6th of July the Emperor of Austria appealed to the sovereigns +to unite for the delivery of Louis. On the 11th a formal demand was +made in the Constituant Assembly for his dethronement. His majesty's +brothers, after having solemnly sworn that they would not leave their +native soil, were gone; and the stream of emigration increased in +volume daily. The Minister of War announced that no less than nineteen +hundred officers had abandoned their regiments and fled. It was +decreed that the property of emigrants should be confiscated for the +public good. Meanwhile, the upheaval of the peasantry continued to be +intermittent. Sometimes they merely growled; sometimes they rushed +about like madmen, leaving, as locusts do, a trail of destruction in +their wake. + +Then the question of money, or rather of no money, became a burning +one. In October there was a famine and a deadlock. Farmers refused to +take paper in payment for corn, and somehow there was naught else to +pay them with. The occupants of Lorge watched vigilantly, awaiting a +crisis which they could not but feel was imminent; and the two +conspirators considered their broken plans with the palpitating woe of +ants when somebody treads upon their hill. The abbe and the governess +consulted frequently, each assuming the ingenuousness of infancy, +whilst reconnoitring with wary eye the position of the other. Though +they made believe to sit in one boat and caulk it, the attention of +either was directed to a private craft (cunningly concealed from +sight) in which the other was to find no seat, and which must be +rendered taut and trim to face the coming storm. + +A conviction that leaks were numerous, and that there was no time for +elaborate operations, oppressed them both; a prophetic instinct +whispered that such materials as were at hand must serve, or, when the +wind rose presently, their frail coracles would founder and go to the +bottom. + +The Marquise de Gange was the pivot upon which the schemes of both +plotters turned--the listless lady who took no further interest in the +world's doings; who, excluded alike from family councils and domestic +interests, gave herself up to devotions and to almsgiving. + +Time being just now so precious an article, it seemed to both schemers +that the victim had been brought into as auspicious a state for +operation as was likely to be attained without long waiting. It would, +in all probability, become necessary ere long to follow the stream of +emigration, and abandon France till the Saturnalia which convulsed the +motherland should have passed away. Now it was clear to Pharamond that +prudent persons are bound to prepare themselves for any fate. If +Gabrielle accepted his terms, as reflection would doubtless lead her +to do, it was obvious that he and she would, some of these days, +quietly elope, leaving the husband and his affinity to discover, too +late, with teeth-gnashing, that the golden goose was gone. An adroit +display of sympathy combined, perhaps, with a gentle and artistic +touch of coercion, would bring this about. When the moment for +departure came she would follow him, and from a safe point of vantage +overtures could be made to the marechal with regard to the question of +finance. Of course, after what she had suffered there, she would be +only too glad to turn her back upon the dismal chateau, which must be +as odious to her as to him. What happened to the besotted Clovis and +the impudent Aglae would concern neither any more. + +Mademoiselle Brunelle, on the other hand, saw in Gabrielle's condition +of indifference the stony numbness of a despair which a trifling +amount of pressure would lead to the desired denouement. She would +find the hateful world too unbearable, and leave it. The obstacle +removed, Aglae resolved to work with cunning touch on the fears of the +timid widower. She would cause him to understand that jeremiads over +what was done were useless, or that, at any rate, they might with +propriety be postponed until his skin was safe beyond the frontier. It +is a first duty to look after one's skin. Gabrielle out of the way, +there was nothing to prevent her successor from taking possession of +Clovis with a strong hand, and carrying him off to join the other +nobles. This must be accomplished with despatch and secrecy and +diplomatic skill. An exactly propitious moment must be chosen. The +fate of the abbe and the chevalier, left behind, would concern in no +wise the future Marquise de Gange. + +Many a clever criminal, when plaiting a rope for his deliverance will +leave a strand unsound, and break his leg in a ditch. The pride and +delicacy of the marquise had always shrunk from upbraiding Clovis with +ingratitude, or of using her wealth as a weapon of self-defence. With +misery comes indifference to pelf. What was money to her, save what +she needed for her poor? Since Clovis and the dear ones were complete +without her, and clearly did not want her, wherein would she be +bettered by twitching at the purse-strings? Hence, as the subject, +being rather unpleasant, was never broached, the governess had never +learned that the source of affluence was Gabrielle, and that if the +wife were, before the death of old de Breze, to sink into the grave, +the husband would lose all hope of himself fingering the revenues. + +Seeing how urgent it was to hit upon a plan of action which should +avert impending chaos, both Pharamond and Aglae secretly and +independently resolved to seek a private interview with the marquise +which should further prepare the way to a desirable result from their +own point of view, or, if destiny proved kindly, clinch the matter of +the future. + +The first in the field was Pharamond, who, suddenly solicitous for the +welfare of his sister-in-law, tapped at her boudoir door. + +"My blessed Gabrielle!" he cried, archly shaking a finger. "You are +very very naughty, and I have come to scold you! At a time when we +ought all to hang together you avoid us as if we had the plague, and +shun the family councils. Do you not know what is happening; that we +are all tinkering with might and main to prepare our ark for the +Deluge? I am sure the Noah family must have been an united one, or +they would never have achieved the task of heralding all those beasts. +Just think what a genius for organization some of them must have had! +A pair of each after their kind! I declare that the beetles and flies +alone would have reduced me to a state of madness!" + +Gabrielle had no smile now for the abbe's persiflage. + +"You should know," she quietly observed, looking up from her book with +a serious wrapt expression which seemed as if reflected from beyond +the gates, "that the world and I have parted company. Grief is a slow +and painful death which absorbs our stock of endurance." + +This was not quite the desirable frame of mind which Pharamond had +reckoned on. The screw had been turned too far and must be loosened. + +"This mopish place affects your nerves, and no wonder," he said. +"Change of air and scene will set you up again." + +She glanced at the abbe in quick surprise. "Change of air and scene!" +She feared lest he had come to demand her ultimatum. + +"What would you say," he suggested, "to a tour in Switzerland, with +one who would make you happy?" + +"No one will ever make me happy," she returned, composedly, "and yet I +have desired a change--should like to go away from here----" + +"A la bonheur," muttered the abbe to himself. + +"Where I contemplated going I might achieve content; but then, much as +I yearn for it, there are earth-born ties which detain me within these +walls, despite my judgment." + +"A fig for such ties!" cried Pharamond with conviction. "Clovis has +behaved in a disgraceful way, and you will be fully justified in +considering him no more. Another woman occupies your place. Unless I +am mistaken one so proud as you would not deign to thrust her thence +by the moving of a finger. Clovis, by his own acts has placed himself +beyond the pale. He is out of court. The nobles are leaving France in +droves. Common prudence bids you follow." + +"I never thought of leaving France," the marquise said, coldly. + +"Does Clovis want to go? I have more than once contemplated asking him +to permit me to retire to a convent. I know too well," she added, +wearily, "that he would not be sorry to be relieved of my presence. +But I have not the strength to bid farewell to the children. Though +they have been alienated from me by base arts, they have all my +single-minded love, and it is my duty to watch over their well-being." + +A convent! Pshaw! How many babble of the cloistered life, chilled by +dreariness and disappointment! The poor thing was very lonely--ripe +for judicious comforting. + +"Their governess is devoted to the little ones and loves them," mused +Gabrielle, sadly sighing. "Were I not assured of that I should do +something desperate. It would be too much--I could not bear it!" + +"Excuse my disrespectful merriment," laughed Pharamond, "but your +project is too funny. What! A convent! A mouse trap! My dear, you need +rousing to revive your mental tone, which has dropped too low. A +commingling of new pleasures and fresh interests is vastly beneficial. +In your despondent state you would, within the living tomb of the +cloister, become in a month a hysterical _convulsionaire_--fit subject +for Mesmer's tub! No, no, The world shall not lose its fairest +ornament, hidden away out of reach too long. I am here now as your +true friend to administer timely counsel. Residence in France is, for +the time being, fraught with peril. I propose to escort you to a place +of security where you will be free from molestation. There will be no +one to worry or torment you as those two have done. Your father +learning that you have been induced to fly from an impossible +existence, will doubtless join us, and I pledge my honour that the +little ones shall follow." + +Gabrielle had been listening drearily, her head supported on her hand, +as one listens to a tale too often told. But at mention of the +children she started, and the abbe flattered himself that he had hit +the bull's-eye. How to secure the infants he had not considered, but +if their presence was essential as a tempting bait, why, they could +easily be kidnapped. + +"You see, dear Gabrielle," the abbe whispered drawing his chair close +and laying a persuasive hand upon her arm, "that I have thought of +everything. We will make for Switzerland, where you and I and the +angels will dwell in paradise. The marechal is not strait-laced, +heaven save the mark, how should he be? and seeing you quite happy, +will be satisfied. You are too mopish to act for yourself. Say the +delicious word and I will see it all settled in a twinkling." + +He awaited a reply, but it came not. The marquise, engrossed in his +word-picture, was gently smiling. She was out of sorts--too much +depressed for decision. This was the instant for a tiny twist of the +screw, like a microscopic prick from a spur. + +"I see that you have reflected, and that you have made the best +selection. That is well. You recall my words before I went away? I +meant them then, and mean them still. My will is iron, Gabrielle. A +resolve once taken hardens into adamant. Mine you are to be, and mine +you will be; so further struggling is useless." + +Still no answer; yet she had had time enough in all conscience to see +that there was no escape. The abbe, quite certain of his prey, edged +nearer yet till he could inhale the perfume on her hair. + +"It is indeed I, and no other, who am to teach you love, my +Gabrielle," he whispered tenderly. "It is written! Mine too shall be +the privilege to return the children to your keeping. You bear me no +malice in that I parted you from them for awhile? You know right well +that what I have done I can undo. Ha! Your bosom heaves! You yield at +last! Was ever woman so strangely wooed----and won!" + +It was a favourite theory of the abbe's (which, like many plausible +theories, had a crack in it) that in a tussle of two, the weaker must +inevitably go under. A female heart, he argued, must perforce be +flattered when it finds its citadel besieged with unflagging +perseverance. The abbe was radiant, for he had no doubt that his sharp +attack must tell on ramparts undermined by prolonged strategy, and +that he would reap the reward of his efforts. + +Gabrielle rose slowly from her seat, with flushed cheeks and eyes that +sparkled; but not to fall into his outstretched and expectant arms. + +"Abbe," she said, clasping her bosom with her hands, "you admit that +it was you who parted us. What your ingenious cruelty will invent next +I dread to think. You did well to name my dear ones. But for them you +might have had your way, perhaps, since I care not what becomes of me. +You would persuade me to fly with you, and hold them out as a lure? A +grievous error, abbe; they are my buckler! They will grow up, a +blooming youth and maiden, will learn by degrees to gauge this sordid +world. What would their opinion be, think you, of a mother who +abandoned her home and her honour to gratify a son of the Church?" + +The beacon of green-gray light, which the chevalier knew so well, +shone out for an instant and was gone. It began to strike the abbe, +with a surge of impotent rage, that he might have been wrong in his +calculations; that some long-suffering and apparently defenceless +women possess an occult strength against which a will of tempered +steel may beat in vain; and a suspicion of defeat at the moment of +expected victory sent a fume of wrath into his brain that made him +dizzy. + +"Take care!" he muttered, hoarsely. "That I have already done is +nothing! I have wooed you long, and in the end you shall give way--I +swear it!" + +"Wickedness and conceit disturb your reason," Gabrielle replied, with +a calm which increased his fury. "The crafty and unscrupulous often +over-reach themselves. Therein lies the salvation of those who have +naught but innocence for armour." + +She looked him in the face with such steady scorn, that his shifty +eyes lowered before hers. It came upon Pharamond with a shock, that +she whom he had thought to dominate by a skilful mixture of the bitter +and the sweet was not the least afraid of him, although she realised +too well that to gratify his passions he would stick at nothing. One +by one he had cut off from her the joys of life, and the slow cruel +process had turned his sword edge. He was nettled and humiliated by +the conviction that his boasted knowledge of the feminine organism was +moonshine, and that the error into which he had fallen--and which must +lie at his own door--was possibly irremediable. To be baffled now, +when he had deemed all secure; to be shown with withering contempt, +that he would never have his way! It was too late to turn a new leaf +and commence again at the beginning. And the immediate future so +ominously dark! A resistance so cool and deliberate and unexpected, +shivered his plans at a blow. Well. Baffled he might be, but she +should rue the day. If in the duel, she was to prove victorious, with +a bitterness as of gall would he execrate this woman! Is it possible +to love and hate at the same time? As Pharamond glanced at the tall +figure and defiant bearing of the marquise, his desire for her tingled +along each nerve, and yet he hated her for that mien of stubborn +scorn. She should rue that day--oh, yes, she should rue it! Some +excruciatingly ingenious retaliation should be devised. The proud +beauty should be whipped till each limb quivered. She had confessed to +apprehension of his inventive powers; she should feel their effect, +and speedily. + +Gabrielle was able apparently to read his white and vindictive visage. +Without blenching, she observed, mournfully, "I spoke at random, when +I said I dreaded you; what is there left for me to dread? I have +passed along the stony path of the black valley of the shadow, and, +thanks to you, nothing can affect me now. I defy you to do your worst. +Having bereft me of children and husband, what is there left for me to +bear? Whatever you may devise, I shall thank heaven for the burthen as +a merciful atonement for my sin." + +"You scoff at my love and brave my hate!" returned the abbe, striving +hard to control his voice. "You have finally refused the one, and for +the first time shall know the other." + +"I despise both. To me you are more vile a reptile than the bloated +hideous toad from which by instinct we recoil. Your poisonous breath +infects the air; your vampire face insults God's image. In place of +the abject thing which you call love, and which I rightly spurned, you +offer hate? So much the better. As the more honest I accept it." + +"You have spoken your own sentence. A day will come when you shall sue +for mercy and find none!" + +"Never! Go!" + +With a frown and a superb motion of her matchless arm, Gabrielle +pointed at the door. In the excitement of indignation and defiance, +the marquise was more beautiful than ever. Pharamond fairly writhed in +his desire and his rage. She should be his--by force, if need be; but +his--his! And after that, to revenge this scorn, he would fling her in +the gutter to rot there! Stung to the quick--torn by ravening +passions, evil both--the abbe bowed mechanically, and, scowling, left +the room. + +If he had seen how swiftly she collapsed when the door closed, he +might have hoped again, for she was a fragile creature, borne up by +pride and a pure love that was beyond his sordid ken. + +"What will he do? What will he do?" she moaned, trembling, as she +crouched down upon a seat. "What hideous form will his revenge take? +Shall I implore the protection of my husband?" + +And then she reflected moodily about that said husband, as she +had at last learned to know him. Selfish and self-indulgent to the +core--heartless, too, or he could not survey his wife's sufferings +with such perfect equanimity. True, he knew little about her, and +troubled less. If he had not again dismissed her from his mind he +could not but perceive her suffering. He was infatuated by that +dreadful woman, and further beguiled astray by his insidious brother. +No help was to be expected from him, or, indeed, from any one. She had +boldly defied the abbe. Would she be given strength to fight? Alas, +alas! Did she not know too well that she was not made for fighting? +Where, then, to look for assistance? Rising, she slowly paced the +room, and thought Heaven was cruel. Why not have let her die? Sure +'tis a venial sin to put off what one cannot bear? We can feel for +ourselves with the instinct with which we are endowed, that the +burthen is too great. Heaven is busy with other things--too +indifferent to know or care what we poor pigmies feel. She paused in +her walk before a mirror and shook her head at the pale and drawn +reflexion. "Oh! fatal gift of beauty," she murmured, "which men +pretend to worship, swearing that 'tis a glimpse of paradise. It is a +devil's gift; for its province is to stir the foulest lees of the base +human soul and set them festering." + +What was she to do--what to expect? Perhaps he had already invented +and set going some new plan to torture her. Would she have done +better, being but a helpless, tempest-tossed sport of destiny, to have +surrendered, pleading her weakness and his strength? Had he not +touched on the cherubs, she might have given way for very weariness; +but they, as she had declared, were her buckler. They wist not of her, +nor cared, being transferred to other hands, and yet they stood 'twixt +her and the precipice. Then she fell a thinking of Victor and pretty +Camille. When they grew up they would seek their mother. Would they +not? If not, why live? Better--better far--to die. Yes: Heaven had +been cruel--very, very cruel! + +Suspecting nothing of the abbe's move, Mademoiselle Brunelle resolved +on that very self-same morning to operate on her own account. She made +her way boldly to the boudoir, and without knocking, entered. +Gabrielle started, and dried her eyes. The woman dared to invade her +sanctuary. For what purpose? In her highly-strung condition of +despairing nervousness, it seemed to Gabrielle that the governess +looked as wicked and as menacing as the abbe. + +In truth there was a sour curl about her lips that was not becoming. +The marquise, as white as a sheet, in tears? Crying her eyes out in +solitude--the whining idiot! That so weak and contemptible an obstacle +should be allowed to stand between herself and her ambition was +preposterous. Well, the victim should be given the wrench which should +impel her to retire from the scene. + +"I want to talk to you about affairs," Aglae began. "Since you do not +ask me to sit, I will choose a chair myself." + +So saying, she subsided into the most inviting fauteuil and assumed a +pose of studied insolence. + +"I congratulate madame on her humility," observed the governess, in +her rolling bass, with a condescending headshake. "The Christian +virtues are rare, alas, just now in persons of your birth and +breeding." + +"To what do I owe this visit?" demanded the marquise, stretching her +hand towards the bell-rope. + +"Do not ring; you will regret it," returned the other. "For all our +sakes, I would not have you despised by the domestics, if I can help +it. You are so apathetic to the stirring history which is being made +under your very nose that I am compelled to enlighten your lamentably +darkened mind. It is quite on the cards that we may find it convenient +to leave Lorge until the storm that threatens is past. By the dear +marquis's wish I and the sweet children will accompany him into +temporary banishment, and it becomes necessary to know what madame +will do in that contingency. Of course she is a free agent to go +where she pleases, and the marquis is too good and generous not +to see that she is well provided for. It is best for madame to +know that her presence with us would, for various reasons, be +inconvenient--calculated, indeed, to produce scandal, which, for the +sake of monsieur and the little ones, madame will desire to avoid." + +What snake was there rustling beneath the leaves? + +"Is this an ambassage from the Marquis de Gange?" enquired Gabrielle. + +"His interests and mine have become identical," drawled mademoiselle, +"as madame is no doubt aware, and when I speak it is for both." + +"I will go to him myself!" exclaimed the outraged marquise with +trembling lips, "He should know that betwixt himself and his wife no +ambassador is needed." + +Aglae raised her bushy brows and critically contemplating the aspen +figure before her, laughed. + +"How lamentable that madame should take no interest in what is +passing," she exclaimed. "She knows so little of her husband as to be +unaware that he has gone to Blois on business and will not return +until to-morrow." + +Could Clovis really have been base enough to confide such a mission as +this to the governess, running off meanwhile himself like a coward? +Was he bent on withering every leaf of her true love that still +struggled for existence? She could scarce believe it even now. + +"Madame had better listen and be calm," suggested Aglae. "It is always +better to be calm." + +"Wherever they may go, my place is with my husband and my children," +the marquise replied with dignity. + +"Cannot madame perceive a troublesome _nuance_, which, in another +place, might make her position uncomfortable?" + +"Enough of this impertinence," returned the other, sternly. "You +forget that you are my servant, to be dismissed at pleasure. Speak +plainly and briefly, or I will have you ejected by the valets." + +"Impertinent, am I?" cried mademoiselle, losing her temper. "Since you +wish it, I will speak plainly. Here, within these gaunt grey walls, +what passes within concerns nobody without; but if we should have to +fly--which may or may not prove expedient--we shall be dwelling in a +public place, where others will criticise our acts. It will be said +that the Marquise de Gange is a mean-spirited creature to eat her +bread on sufferance at the table of a man who hates her, and of his +mistress who treats her with contumely. That is what will be said of +the pretty, empty-headed doll who was too stupid to hold her place as +the reigning belle of Paris. They will also say that she is bad, as +well as mean, to have abandoned her own offspring to the mistress to +mould according to her fancy. Madame will probably now perceive that +her presence with us anywhere except in the privacy of Lorge, will be +an abiding source of scandal." + +His mistress! The brazen wretch!--confessed--nay, gloried--in her +shame; and the unhappy wife had striven so hard to believe that there +was nothing but _camaraderie_ between them. + +"You wicked, wicked woman!" Gabrielle gasped, choking. "I have never +wittingly done you aught but kindness. You are a fiend." + +"A fiend!" echoed Aglae, amused, stretching herself luxuriously with +loose limbs as the tigress does, while she proceeded. + +"Every female envelope contains an angel and a devil combating; which +gains the mastery depends upon the men, who, I regret to say, are +usually guided by the lowest motives. That is an elementary lesson +which I think I shall teach Camille. I shall teach the darling many +curious things before I've done with her." + +A hit--a palpable hit, which went straight to the quivering goal. It +was a fact that the future of the dear ones was in this monster's +keeping. She was as evil as the abbe. If it suited her she would not +scruple to sow in their white souls the seeds of vice. How appalling! +Forgetful always of herself, the mother had striven to be comforted +with the assurance that though she was thrust forth from Eden, those +she adored were well guarded. The woman's conduct, as far as concerned +the children, had been irreproachable: she had treated them with +affection; but knowing her now as she really was, Gabrielle could see +with a thrill of dismay that she was unencumbered by such scruples as +keep ordinary mortals in check; was governed by expediency alone. + +The marquise sat for awhile without movement, but her rival was not +slow to mark with satisfaction the exceeding pallor of her lips and +the horror in her distended eyes. That the sword-thrust had pierced +too deep escaped her ken: she failed to see that the whole being of +the victim had undergone so violent a convulsion as to produce quite a +different result from that which she expected. The courage she lacked +for her own succour could be aroused in behalf of others, whom she +loved better than herself. It was as by a miracle a naked and +defenceless combatant were of a sudden sheathed in armour. + +Aglae sat waiting, fully aware that having made an effective point, +you should allow it to take effect. She waited, and beguiled the time +by considering what she would do when married. It would be pleasant to +play chatelaine for a month or so each year, even at gloomy Lorge, so +soon as the country should be quieted. The puling thing on the sofa +yonder was stricken under the fifth rib, would totter into a thicket +presently and perish, as was intended. What a cleverly imagined stroke +it had been to hint at the depraving of the prodigies--a stroke as of +a sledgehammer, to batter in the apology for brains vouchsafed to such +despicable objects. + +Gabrielle remained so long in apparent torpor, while the Medusan +horror on her face permanently hardened there, that the enemy waxed +impatient. It is indecent for the stricken stag to lie down where +shot. Decorum bids him conceal himself in the bracken--make a move of +some sort to veil his agonies. Gabrielle being too crushed to make a +motion must be stirred up with an eleemosynary stab. + +"We will come to an arrangement," mademoiselle suggested cheerfully, +"without troubling our dear marquis on the subject. Go away +somewhere--to some nice place which we will engage never to visit, and +I will promise never to teach anything naughty either to Victor or +Camille. Refuse, and--well--h-m!" + +"Oh! the wicked, wicked woman!" the marquise ejaculated, inwardly. +"There must be a hell somewhere for the punishing of such villanous +dastards." But in her new-born strength, the possession of which was +unaccountable and amazing, she found herself enabled to smile sadly, +and remark, without a tremor in her voice, "You will leave me now, if +you please, and give me time to think." + +That was reasonable, and desirable to boot. The more she thought, the +better would she comprehend that she was hemmed in, undone; that a +certain wherry was swinging on the tide, under which was a soft bed +preparing. + +"By all means," returned the enemy, with bonhomie. "Take time, my +dear; but you must not be too long deciding. A little friendly counsel +before I go: when _our_ Clovis comes back to-morrow--for, oddly +enough, he is for the present _ours_--better say nothing, you have +disgusted him enough already." + +With that she waved a light adieu, and ere long her bass voice was to +be heard in the corridor, accompanying the joyous treble of her +shouting charges engaged in a game of romps. + +What a day's experience--a day to sear the brain and blanch the hair +with silver. Gabrielle, her hands tight clasped behind her back, +strode up and down the long saloon deeply immersed in thought, quite +calm and self-possessed. The time for impulsive moaning and mad frenzy +was gone by. Drowsy reason stood upright and alert upon her throne. At +any cost of pain to herself or others duty must be done--the little +ones rescued from the ogress. Even the dear father must for their +sakes bear his share of the burthen. It was decreed. He must learn the +truth, which she had hoped would lie buried in her grave. Victor, +Camille; their blythe merriment in the corridor was an eloquent +sermon. Up to now--all thanks to Heaven for it--they were unsmirched +by aught of evil, their sky sunny and unclouded. Instinct told their +mother that the ogress, by some paradox, was capable of some measure +of wholesome affection, and would do them no injury unless it were +necessary to strike through them at her. The new fledged diplomate +must temporize--gain time. A power of dissimulation, to which hitherto +she had been a stranger, was developing itself in Gabrielle. The dear +father--he would be terribly concerned--would arrive posthaste, wreak +vengeance on those who had so nearly slain his child, bear away her +and his grandchildren to safety. + +Gabrielle locked herself in her bedroom, and wrote with feverish +energy. The pen flew over the sheets and covered them with close +writing that told a piteous tale. Toinon, who knew that in the absence +of my lord, both abbe and governess had been persecuting her mistress, +tried the door once or twice, and, receiving no response to her +knocks, grew so seriously alarmed, that she dashed off in search of +Jean Boulot, dreading some new catastrophe. Just as the latter +appeared with a hatchet in his grasp, and anxious lines upon his brow, +the door opened, and the chatelaine herself stood on the threshold +holding a letter. + +She was flushed with fever, but quite self-possessed. With a strange +smile she beckoned them both in, and again turned the key in the lock. + +"Something has happened, dear good friends, whom I can trust," she +explained, rapidly. "Something so terrible, that I cannot tell it you. +I am still scared and horrified, but Heaven permits me to retain my +senses. Jean, for love of me and mine, you will saddle your horse and +ride leisurely to Onzain, as though bent on ordinary business; and +there engage with the Maitre de Poste to send this letter by special +courier. He must take no rest till he reaches Paris. Two precious +souls--three--depend on punctual obedience. I may trust you, Jean? Let +none suspect your mission." + +Honest Jean sank on one knee and pressed the hot hand of the +chatelaine to his lips with reverence. "My life is madame's," he said +simply, and went. + +"Embrace me, my Toinon," Gabrielle cried, falling on the neck of her +foster-sister in a paroxysm of hysterical weeping. "I have been for +years in a foolish day-dream. I am awake now to sleep no more." + +Toinon was mystified, but could gather that the terrible emotion of +the marquise relieved her pent feelings, and was as salutary as timely +bleeding to the apoplectic. After a brief space she grew better, and +could smile like a ghost of her old self. The die was cast. She would +be relieved of nightmare. Her affection for her husband was burned +quite away, and, as its ashes paled, her love for the little ones shot +up the purer. + + + + + CHAPTER XIV. + + CHECK. + + +Gabrielle learned to practise her new art so well that day followed +day in usual routine without suspicion being aroused of the bold thing +she had done. It occurred to none of the party that under the same +exterior she was another woman. She went her ways as before, +displaying, perhaps, an increased activity, visiting the distressed, +administering to the sick. Mademoiselle Brunelle was puzzled, and +watched her in idle surprise, marvelling that the squeeze, so +carefully calculated, should so signally have failed in its effect. +What a low mania the mawkish creature was displaying for dirty +wretches clad in rags! That thing a marquise! To crush one who was so +unworthy of her place would be quite a virtuous action, as virtue was +understood by Aglae. The squeeze having proved insufficient for the +purpose, another must be applied. It was difficult to determine what +form the pressure was to take, since the lady was so craven and mean +spirited. Aglae had declared to her face that the marquis was her +lover--which was not true; had spoken of corrupting little Camille, +whose mother, shocked for the moment, had, as it appeared, got used to +the abominable idea with singular rapidity. The ever-increasing scorn +of the governess was mingled now with disdain of a more positive kind +for the pusillanimity of the destined victim. + +The family councils had resulted in abdication of authority on the +part of Clovis, who loved his ease, and was only too glad to escape +from politics. How should he cope with two such clever heads as those +of Aglae and Pharamond? The clever pair was in perfect accord as to +what should be done under given circumstances. The governess gently +lured him back to his accustomed pursuits and studies, and his +conscience ceased by degrees to pinch him. + +Unknown to each other, the private scheme of each of the conspirators +had miscarried, and both felt that the next move must be made with +exceeding caution. Hence they were to outward seeming extremely +friendly, whilst hating each other with a healthy loathing; making +believe to have all ideas in common, carefully concealing any desire +suddenly to depart from Lorge. + +By suggestion of the affinity, they had taken to breakfasting in the +study, where the morning sun shone in, a cosy party of four, in which +Gabrielle was not included. During the meal the abbe would discuss the +latest rumour with the lady at the head of the table in amicable +fashion, or join with her in arguing some point arising out of +Mesmer's letters. The sage was as dissatisfied as his pupil at the +nonappreciation of his discovery. For the miraculous cure of the +baron's sciatic nerve had found no favour with the peasantry of +Touraine, who vowed it was a perilous thing to allow the devil to +tamper with scourges sent from Heaven. That party requires little +encouragement, as all the world knows, and that it was he who had +worked the cure was evident, since the musicians, ere they ran away, +had counted the hairs in his tail. Could there be any doubt that +without witchcraft or direct aid from the evil one, no tubful of +bottles could affect a gentleman's rheumatism? If there had been a +sprinkling of holy water by the good priest, as Madame la Baronne had +piously wished, it would have been quite another affair. But iron +filings and a violoncello! had not the cure preached on the very next +Sunday on the subject of Satanic miracles? + +Clovis was heartily disgusted with the crassness of the bucolic +ignorance and the pig-headedness of its obstinacy, and gave a willing +ear to Aglae's secret hints that it might be well, some of these days, +to transplant the magic tub to some more enlightened centre. + +She was always right--clear-headed, far-seeing Aglae! He understood +now that the suggestion which had affrighted him on the night of the +attempted suicide had merely been an ebullition of overboiling zeal. +She, had felt a genuine interest in him; had perceived that the +marquise was no fitting helpmeet for a _savant_, and had been unable +to conceal regret that he should not have been freed from a weight +which clogged his scientific usefulness. Over-zeal, as Richelieu +remarked, is productive of more harm than good, but it should be +treated with indulgence in that it springs from laudable intentions. +It was wrong to have said that the chatelaine should have been left to +drown. But in his heart of hearts, Clovis began to confess to himself +that the caresses of the patient during convalescence had been +well-nigh unbearable, and that if Heaven thought well to take her in a +natural way, it would be a relief rather than otherwise. + +The even tenour of _dejeuner_ was disturbed one morning by the +announcement that a travelling berline was coming up the road, and +that an old gentleman was looking from its window. A travelling +berline, covered thick with dust, too! Not a neighbour, then. Who +could it be that presumed to invade their monastic privacy? A +messenger from Paris, perhaps. Had something awful happened? The abbe +and the governess glanced at each other suspiciously, the same +unspoken thought occurring to both. Was the crisis come before they +were prepared? If so, the idea of ousting the other one must be +abandoned, and a yet closer alliance formed. + +"Monsieur Galland," announced a servant. None of those present had +ever heard the name. Who was he? Whence and from whom had he come? + +The gentleman entered, and bowed gravely to the company. A spare, tall +old man, who, despite the march of fashion, wore his hair curled and +powdered. He was clad in plain black cloth, with woollen stockings and +black buckles. A most respectable person, evidently. Would he be good +enough to state his business? He took a chair, accepted a cup of +coffee, and, fixing his eyes on the portly Aglae, in what she +considered an offensive and marked manner, explained that he was a +solicitor. A solicitor? There was no law suit pending that anyone was +aware. What? The confidential man of business of Monsieur le Marechal +de Breze, who was, unfortunately, ill in bed. The grave Gentleman +trusted that the marechal's daughter was not also indisposed. To his +regret he perceived that she was absent from the morning meal of the +family. + +Again Pharamond and Aglae glanced at each other. What could the old +man have to say which could not be communicated by letter? + +Clovis blushed, and looked for assistance to the abbe. It came upon +him suddenly that what had grown to be quite natural to him, would be +rather difficult to explain to a stranger. + +"Madame la Marquise is an angel of charity," demurely remarked the +abbe, "who repudiates the innocent comforts of this life to give the +more time to others. She grudges the hour we waste in dallying, and +prefers to breakfast alone." + +"We all know that madame is an angel," agreed the grave stranger; +"much too good for this world." + +The company looked one at another in growing uneasiness. There was +something unpleasant coming. It was odd that the announcement of +Gabrielle's being an angel should make them all feel guilty. The +chevalier sighed and wheezed. Clovis's colour deepened. The abbe +drummed his fingers on the cloth, annoyed. The governess scrutinised +the stranger with lowering brow, for instinct whispered that something +had been kept back from her, and that it was on her account he had +come. + +"Will monsieur kindly explain his business?" enquired the abbe, with +his sweetest smile. "Of course, any emissary from one who has all our +respect and affection is most welcome at his chateau of Lorge. Yet we +cannot expect that our poor attractions should lure anyone to so quiet +a retreat." + +"His chateau of Lorge?" thought the governess, surprised. "Surely it +belongs to the marquis?" + +"I hope M. de Breze is not seriously ill?" asked Clovis, with an +effort. It was incumbent on him to say something. + +"Too indisposed, unfortunately, to travel, even on important business. +You are aware that Madame la Marquise has made a communication to her +father?" + +If a cannon ball had dropped through the ceiling, the company could +not have looked more startled. The solicitor smiled, and then grew +graver than before. There was consternation on every face. The +position of the marquise was evidently more serious even than she had +said. The letter had been sent clandestinely, or it would have been +suppressed. + +"The communication was a sad blow to the marechal," the solicitor +continued quietly, "and increased the fever under which he suffered. +Nevertheless, he would be here himself had not the doctors and Madame +la Marechale almost employed force. It is as well that the marquise +should happen to be absent, for it makes my task the easier. Plainly, +marquis, M. de Breze demands the instant dismissal of a person in your +employ who has seriously offended his daughter." + +Aglae's massive jaw dropped in dumb amazement, while the abbe shot at +her a covert glance of white hot malevolence. She had been up to some +nefarious prank on her own account, unknown to him: had spoiled his +game as well as her own. His frail fingers writhed like adders under +the table. How he would have liked to strangle her. + +"I--offend madame?" faltered the governess, dumbfoundered. + +The ground was slipping from beneath her. By what right could the old +gentleman in Paris send so peremptory a demand to his son-in-law? The +sly minx was not so mean-spirited after all. Who could have supposed +her capable of turning the tables, by secretly sending for her father? +Aglae looked at the marquis, whose face was dark as a thundercloud. +Gaining courage from a certainty of his support, she added, toying +carelessly with a coffee-spoon-- + +"I have always done my duty by madame's children, whom she never +looked after herself. I was engaged by M. le Marquis, who has +expressed himself satisfied with my efforts." + +"Do I understand that mademoiselle declines to go?" enquired the +solicitor. "M. le Marquis is strangely silent. Shall I, to my infinite +regret, be compelled to carry out my instructions in full?" + +The stranger dared to threaten the Marquis de Gange! + +Mademoiselle Brunelle glanced furtively at the abbe, who glared at +her. She was bewildered, possessing no key to the puzzle. + +"My instructions are," pursued the solicitor, "to see the dismissed +person off the premises, within two hours. In the event of her +refusing to go, M. le Marquis is to be informed, that I am to remove +Madame la Marquise at once, and that, if she is detained it will be +the painful duty of the Marechal de Breze to prosecute certain +individuals, whom I need not designate, for conspiracy and cruelty. +The officers of law at Blois have their instructions. If the dismissed +person does not present herself there within a given time to receive +her wages, or if I do not arrive in the company of Madame la Marquise, +the officers will come here and demand admittance to the premises +belonging to the marechal. I am glad to be informed that madame is +universally beloved. A whisper that she received cruel treatment would +rouse the province, and this I need scarcely observe, is not the +moment for a collision with the _tiers etat_." + +Excellently planned. The abbe, a good critic of such matters, was +filled with appreciative admiration, although he was to be one of the +sufferers. Aglae had been guilty of some prodigious blunder for which +she was to be justly punished. That was well, for in acting +independently of him, she had broken a solemn promise. He also, he +admitted inwardly, had not displayed his usual astuteness. Doubtless +her intense horror of him had helped to goad the victim to that which +he had falsely judged she would never do. Then a sense that she had +shaken herself free of him, aroused a new access of impotent fury in +his breast. She had defied his hate as well as his love, and he +shivered with malignant spite at the idea, that by claiming her +father's protection she had baffled him. + +Clovis felt more angry than ever in his life before. It was a +revelation of an unpleasant kind to find himself in leading strings; +the state of dependence of which the abbe hinted long ago, to be +ordered like a lacquey, to be threatened and browbeaten in the +presence of others--he, Marquis de Gange, above all, under the eyes of +the affinity, and to be powerless to return blow for blow. To be so +degraded and humiliated, and at the instance of his own wife! It was +some moments ere he could control the whirlwind of emotions +sufficiently to command his voice. + +"Am I to gather," he at length said, huskily, "that Madame la Marquise +requires a separation? I am surprised, for she has never spoken on the +subject. What if I refuse, and claim my marital rights?" + +"It is always such angels as she," the solicitor observed sternly, +"who are doomed to earthly martyrdom at the hands of wicked men. Your +rights! And what of hers? You have compelled her to dwell under one +roof with a designing wanton. You have deprived her of access to her +children. After that mere neglect may count for nothing. I am sorry to +say that all madame demands is the dismissal of that woman, free +access to the children, and a show of respect from you. So much being +conceded, bygones are to be bygones. Her terms refused, she will leave +your roof, her father will withdraw supplies from you, and give you +notice to quit his property." + +Then the money was the old man's, and not the marquis's. Aglae hated +everybody, herself included, at thought of how she had been duped. + +"I will go when you will," she said, preparing to withdraw, with a +whimsical attempt to don a martyr's chaplet. "I thank the marquis for +his many kindnesses. May I have a moment to embrace the cherubs? I am +glad to think that they will miss me more than anyone. As for madame, +I can only pity her delusions, knowing that she will be sorry some day +when she comes to know me better." + +At this juncture the door opened, and Gabrielle entered in her riding +habit, pale but composed. Without noticing the others, she advanced +quickly to the new-comer and held forth her hand. + +"Dear M. Galland," she said. "My father!----" + +"Was sorely troubled by what you wrote to him." + +"I feared it," she replied dejectedly. "But there were reasons." + +"Reasons!" cried the old gentleman with warmth. "I can read the +reasons in your saddened face. I am sorry to be unable to congratulate +madame upon her blooming looks. She was wrong not to have spoken +sooner." + +"I could not," pleaded Gabrielle. "It takes long for a loyal love to +smoulder out of life. I could have borne all, if she there had not +threatened to instil poison into a child's mind. Just think of it! My +God! How monstrous!" + +"She never did that," Clovis put in hotly. "Never, never! You may see +the children yourself, sir, and question them. Such a calumny is +atrocious!" + +"Thanks! Oh--thanks for that!" murmured the deep tones of +mademoiselle, as with theatrical gesture she hastily knelt and kissed +his hand. "When I have been chased away, it will be a comfort to +remember that I never lost your confidence." + +"In this affair, I play a pretty part!" exclaimed the marquis, +bitterly. + +"Between us," Gabrielle said mournfully, gazing at her husband's +averted back as he crouched in his fauteuil, "all is over. We are +hopelessly divided. And yet, take comfort. In years to come, maybe, +when Victor and Camille are man and woman, we may be joined again by +them. Mademoiselle, I wish no harm to you--only that after this day we +may never come face to face." + +Unaccustomed tears stood on the seamed cheeks of M. Galland. It was +well that fiery old de Breze had not arrived in person. The visage of +the white chatelaine told such a tale that bloodshed might have ensued +which all would have deplored. The interview was painful, and it +behoved him to cut it short. + +"If the person intends to obey orders," the solicitor said curtly, +looking at his watch, "she had better waste no time. Such clothes as +she cannot pack quickly will be sent after her. I have messages from +your father, marquise, that must not be delivered here. Might I ask +the favour of being conducted to the nursery, that I may make faithful +reports to my employer?" + +Aglae bit her lips. This was a cunning stroke to present a theatrical +display, _a la Medea_. Gabrielle consented gratefully, and led the +way, leaving the marquis tingling with humbled vanity, and a +reawakened remorse that would not be quieted. + +His face was buried in his hands, and he was too absorbed in the +contemplation of his own outraged self to attend to the woes of +others. + +Aglae sidled up to the abbe timidly. Her usual masterful confidence +had melted into air. + +"Is there no hope?" she whispered. + +"None!" was the blunt rejoinder. "You must submit to instant +banishment, which serves you right. So it was you who, by your +besotted folly drove her to this? I hope you will die in penury. +Idiot! Not to know that the vilest animal will turn if threatened in +its offspring." + +Of course, the abbe was just the man to jump upon the fallen! Was it +her fault that she had been kept in the dark with regard to +circumstances, which, if known, would have changed her tactics? All +was not lost. It was but a temporary defeat such as the most skilful +generals must submit to sometimes. It would not do to quarrel openly +with the abbe, though, in her trouble he was behaving like a brute. +Therefore, while wreathing her face in smiles, she registered an +inward vow to remember, and be bitterly revenged some day. + +"_Sans rancune!_" she said lightly, holding out her large brown hand. +"You are not merciful, but I forgive you: am I not admirably generous? +You think I am cast out for ever. A grievous mistake; so we had best +still be friends. Look at him. He is chafing now, wincing under the +whip thong. In the distractions of the capital he might forget me. +Here he will miss me and be sorry." + +It was likely that in that much she was right. The house of cards had +been kicked over by her clumsy foot, and must be recommenced from the +foundations. Who could foretell what the stormy future might bring +forth? It was politic to keep on civil terms with one who might yet +prove formidable--or useful. + +The chevalier, who could read things hazily, as in the dark with a +horn lantern, wondered why his brother was so civil to the routed one. +He led her to the carriage with a ceremony suited to an archduchess, +and stood under the archway where the portcullis used to hang, airily +kissing his finger-tips till the berline was out of sight. + + + + + CHAPTER XV. + + THE SITUATION CHANGES. + + +Gabrielle's injunctions to Monsieur Galland were concise. The marechal +must not be told too much. The good solicitor must keep to himself her +worn and haggard aspect. Nor must he relate aught of the eloquent +meeting between the mother and her dear ones. The children looked on +her with a vague alarm as on one of whom they had learned to be +suspicious from hearing unpleasant things. He had been obliged to wipe +away another tear--it was a wonder that there remained so much liquid +in one so dry and shrunken--ere he stole from the room on tiptoe, +leaving the yearning heart to recover its lost sway. + +And now began for Madame de Gange a lull of peace, and as her troubled +soul regained its equilibrium she marvelled that she should have been +patient for so long. The dear father's mandate had been a wand of +harlequin transforming with a touch the Cave of the Black Gnome into +the Calm Retreat of the Serene Spirit. For several months nothing +occurred that was of import to the recluses. By a seeming paradox, the +remnants of the affection she had once borne her husband being +destroyed, she found that she could get on better with him. There were +no more throes of jealousy, no irritating scenes, no midnight weepings +with the morning reproach of swollen eyelids--simply because she had +renounced a desire for the moon, as he had so often wished she might. +That he should shut himself up in his study and pore over the secrets +of science, avoiding his better half, was no longer a cause for grief; +she cared no more how this time was passed. Had she not got back the +stolen treasures in whose interest alone she prayed for a span of +life? For many weary months she had been bereaved, and it was an +intense delight--a dazzling peep into heaven--to have them once again +all to herself with no shadow to fall between. What a joy to mark how +the minds of Victor and Camille had expanded in the interval; how the +young plants had shot up, putting out fresh leaves of tender green and +fragrant blossoms of rich intelligence. The mother thanked God that, +search as anxiously as she might, she could find no trace of evil in +the children's minds. The singular specimen of womanhood, who happily +was gone for ever, had been a real mother to them, had tended them as +if they were her own, had packed in the little heads a store of +information that to Gabrielle was a source of awe. A very curious +mixture was Mademoiselle Brunelle. What she had herself remarked as to +the conflicting elements in the female bosom was more true than the +conclusion which followed. Whether the angel or the devil obtains +mastery does not always depend upon a man. In this case it depended on +a woman--Gabrielle. If she had been drowned, Aglae would, no doubt, +have been a model stepmother, and have done everything in her power +for the advantage of the young ones. It was her hatred of the +chatelaine, due to the misreading of her character, that had put the +thought into her head of hurting them in order to inflict pain on her. +Perhaps, it was no more than an idle threat to instil terror. When the +moment came she would perchance have held her hand and spared them. +Perhaps too rough a contact with the sharp edges of the jagged world +in early life had warped a nature that was intended to be genial. As +she considered these things the forgiving Gabrielle freely pardoned +her tormentor for the many stabs she had inflicted. Fear and horror +gave place to holy pity, and she resolved to use her influence to +procure for her another situation. With suitable surroundings she +might succeed in banishing the devil. Those surroundings she had not +found at Lorge. That short volume of its sinister history was closed, +and must never be re-opened. Whatever else might happen Mademoiselle +Aglae Brunelle must never revisit Lorge. + +The magic wand of the old marechal had even produced an effect upon +the abbe. Either he had been frightened into good behaviour, or he had +been induced to smother his unholy passion and forego his campaign of +menaces. A few days after Aglae's defeat, during which time he had +been ostentatiously humble and obliging, he paid another visit to the +chatelaine in her boudoir. For a moment she held her breath. Was the +persecution to recommence? As he had never threatened harm to the dear +ones, she had spared him in her letter to her father. Must she again +cause him sorrow by seeking protection against her husband's brother? + +No; heaven was very merciful, and had quite withdrawn its galling +hand. The abbe presented himself before her in a new light. His sweet +voice was pitched in its most melodious key. His intellectual visage +was scored with furrows of anxiety and contrition. He frankly +confessed his sins, and humbly craved forgiveness, while tears poured +down his cheeks. + +"I was mad--driven quite out of myself by your marvellous beauty, +Gabrielle," he murmured, in broken accents. "Believe me if you can, +after the past, that I am not altogether bad. Forgiveness is a divine +attribute which will well become your angelic nature. Like him from +whom the unclean spirit was cast, I no longer shriek, and howl, and +tear my flesh, but am subdued, clothed, and in my right mind again. I +look upon my other self with horror, and praise God for the miracle +whereby I am saved. Pardon, Gabrielle; without it I shall never know +another instant's peace." + +The marquise was much moved by the appeal. She had liked the man and +enjoyed his society until, as he explained, he had gone mad. Who was +she, who had erred in so many things--had even been so wicked as to +try to take her life--that she should punish one who repented? + +He had muttered something about going away, removing from her path his +execrated presence; had even said with thrilling sadness that he +firmly purposed to seek the cloister, and commence a life of penance. +She, too, had once thought of the cloister. Indeed, it was upon that +hint that Pharamond was acting now; for, alas, alas, the astute one +was but playing a new role, preparing new foundations for his tumbled +house of cards. + +It is grievous for the historian to relate that this brilliant son of +the Church was altogether heartless. He, who could prate so prettily +about forgiveness, had not a grain of pity in his composition. Can a +man love and hate at the same time? he had asked himself. No; but he +had mistaken a vile grovelling feeling born of ignoble sensuality for +love, and that feeling could run in harness in perfect accord side by +side with hatred. His beautiful sister-in-law had flouted him, had +foiled him, had, with sublime disdain, flung his threats in his face. +She had plainly shown him how high above his foul and leprous baseness +soared her own simple purity. We may be aware that we are grovelling +and vile, and deserve to be held up to the contempt of our fellows in +our native ugliness. We may know this, and may endure the knowledge +with equanimity, even cynically enjoy and relish it; but to have our +vileness tossed in our face by another is quite another thing. The +abbe was not one to be baffled and submit to the beating calmly. He +was more than ever steadfastly resolved some day to conquer; and being +endowed with indomitable patience, washed the slate with plodding care +in order to commence afresh. + +As his craft had calculated, the marquise was too simple in her +goodness and too generous to bear malice. With feelings of intense +gratitude that the stony path should grow so smooth, she forgave the +suppliant freely, and even gently jested as to the proposed retreat. +No, no; he must wear his hair shirt at Gange, she said, and having +been granted full absolution, must, together with her, obliterate the +past. She explained that it was her intention to have masters from +Blois, frankly confessing that the education of the dear ones had +soared far beyond her reach. "They shall come twice a week," the +marquise explained, "and I will take lessons also. It will be +delightful for us all to help each other and prepare our various tasks +during the other days. You, Pharamond," she added cheerily, bent on +helping him to forget, "may be of the greatest service to us, for you +are clever and learned in books. You shall hold the post of assistant +usher and explain what we cannot understand. Leave us? Never! What +would Clovis do without you? I am afraid that you will have to study +Mesmer's doctrines, so that he may not miss that woman. I am resolved +that if it is essential to provide for him an affinity, that +mysterious object, in the future, shall be of the other sex." + +The new foundations were progressing prosperously. Pharamond had never +contemplated abandoning the flesh-pots. Since the plan of an elopement +with the heiress was doomed to failure through the interference of the +dictatorial old marechal, they must all be content to stop where they +were, and, for the time being, dwell together. There was a lull in the +political situation, so emigration might not prove necessary. Within +the boundaries of France there was no safer refuge than Touraine. +Rustic effervescence was subsiding. News arrived from time to time of +massacres and burnings, but these were chiefly in the south, in +districts surrounding cities. + +With grateful reverence and many eloquent protestations, the abbe +received the olive branch and set himself with alacrity to show how +exceedingly clean he was washed. He impressed on Victor and Camille +the angelic attributes of their mamma, strained every nerve to tighten +the bonds that had grown slack, laid stress on the fact that though +the beloved governess was, of course, one of the best of women, it was +necessary for their sakes to provide teachers more advanced than she. +The best side of the mercurial gentleman quite glittered with snowy +rectitude, and mother and children were agreed that no one could do +without the abbe. + +A thorn in the flesh was the chevalier. A man who, too thirsty, +babbles in his cups, is provoking; but when he becomes maudlin and is +scarcely ever sober, he is a grievous trial to his comrades. Having +turned over the new leaf it was exasperating to Pharamond to be +constantly reminded of the old one at inconvenient seasons by a +hiccuping sot; to be implored between vinous sobs "to make her happy." +It was urgently necessary to take poor shaky Phebus in tow and treat +him with strict severity. Once or twice, in disgust, he thought of +getting rid of the sodden creature, and even mentioned the subject to +Clovis. But the latter would not hear of his banishment. + +"Where should we send him to alone?" he asked. "He would get into +trouble and disgrace us. It was you who saddled us with him, so you +must help us to bear the burthen." + +The abbe gave up the point without further discussion, for in dealing +with the weak it is wise to let them have their way in small matters +in order to get your own in large ones. Moreover, if kept under +surveillance, Phebus might be improved, and it is not well to throw +wilfully aside a man, however helpless, over whom we have obtained +complete ascendency. + +Matters being arranged to his satisfaction so far, the astute and busy +one bestirred himself about the marquis. Now that she was gone, Clovis +had cause every hour, as she had foreseen, to regret Aglae. Who so +ingenious as she in disentangling knotty problems; who so clear of +head in deciphering a theorem? Without her help, what was the use of +the tub, or its precious contents? The evenings were interminable to +him without his favourite music. The blessed violoncello reposed now +in its box, for grunting on it all alone brought melancholy instead of +solace to the musician. Before the cannon ball fell, neophyte and +affinity had been concerting plans for removing the tub from a +benighted neighbourhood to some more congenial sphere. Its blessings +were wasted on rustic swine. Clovis longed to escape from the scene of +his humiliation; burned to turn his back on Lorge; but there was a new +and galling dread within, which kept him tongue-tied: a fear, that if +he took too much upon himself the douche of an evil precedent would be +turned on again; that the odious old rascal in Paris would warn him to +obey his wife. + +If you are ill-advised enough to espouse an heiress, you are pretty +sure, sooner or later, to have her money flung in your face. Gabrielle +had been so full of delicate tact with regard to the dangerous point, +that Clovis had never been troubled about it until urgency had +impelled de Breze to twist the screw, and under the wrench he +continued to wince and writhe. Calm and dreamy as he was, he had never +overtly done anything to vex his wife--had drifted, and then been +towed into troubled waters, whose turbidness, now that attention was +called to them, was a matter for surprise. He had struggled in his +feeble way with conscience, and, the governess assisting, had +succeeded in lulling it to rest; and it was very distressing to his +vanity that the sleeper should be so roughly wakened. Is it not always +humiliating to be treated like a peccant school-boy? + +I regret to state that the abbe, when in conference with the marquis, +adroitly added to the chafing, by covert scratches and the insertion +of little pins. "To a man of spirit," he would remark, deprecatingly, +"it is painful to be led by the nose; none the less so, when the +holder of the tongs happens to be the one whose duty is obedience." On +such occasions, Clovis would turn to his brother with puzzled +wrinklings of the brow that were piteous and yet ludicrous. "What am I +to do?" he would groan. "The situation, as you say, is horrible; but I +don't see a way out of the difficulty." Then the abbe would tap his +shoulder and murmur, sighing, "Poor fellow. I pity you with all my +being, but for all our sakes must exhort you to be civil to madame. +Her wish is law to her papa. If she chose to ask the old scamp to +eject us into the road, what else could we do but go?" + +Thus it will be seen that Gabrielle's sanguine expressions of +gratitude were somewhat premature. The disease of an importunate love +for her spouse had submitted to surgical treatment, which was an +advantageous change for both; but she guessed nothing of the Nessus +shirt, that under the fine linen excoriated the tender skin of the +lymphatic sensualist, or dreamed of the effect on his tissues of the +abbe's little pins. + +Affairs stood thus, when the marquis's _bete noire_ appeared again to +stir the wound in his vanity which never ceased to fester. Actually, +under the spring sunshine, the dusty berline was again visible, +crawling down the road with its load of dust, and M. Galland peering +from the window. Clovis shot at his wife a look of angry suspicion, +but did not fail to mark by her face, that this time the apparition +was unexpected. He could see plainly that if there was to be another +screw turn, it was not at her instance or suggestion. So much was +evident, and the hot and hasty words which rose died upon his lips. +The old rascal had determined to do something disagreeable on his own +account. What? + +M. Galland, sphynx-like as usual, bowed to the assembled company with +respectful deference; but the marquise turned faint, foreboding some +fresh sorrow. The calm eyes of the solicitor rested on her with deep +compassion; for she was looking so much better, that it was a grievous +thing to be bearer of evil tidings. For fear of distressing his +idolized child, the marechal had strictly forbidden her mother to +alarm her in the weekly bulletins. She was not informed that the old +gentleman's malady had grown on him, that he grew worse instead of +better, and it came now upon her like an avalanche, that she would +never see him more. + +The Marechal de Breze was dead; had died blessing his daughter. It was +necessary for his heiress to proceed instantly to Paris, to comfort +her distracted mother and attend to business of import. + +The irruption of the new cannon ball affected the party of listeners +differently. Gabrielle, overwhelmed with grief, retired to pray in her +chamber. Oh! Why had she not been more patient--more brave--less +selfish! She had inflicted her own troubles on the good father when he +was sick, perchance had been the innocent cause of precipitating his +demise. Why not have continued the loving deceit, whereby she had +veiled her wounds so long from him? + +That wicked woman had only played upon her terrors, she was now +convinced of it; would never have carried out her threats. Now that it +was too late, Gabrielle perceived with abortive beatings of the breast +and idle wringings of the hands, that she had acted wrongly. By +playing the craven, she had killed her father! Had she been possessed +of a grain of independent courage, instead of seeking succour from +without, she would have marched like a steadfast heroine straight into +her husband's presence--have detailed her grievances and claimed her +rights, and with her own bow and spear, have driven the enemy away. +Alas! She was made to cling and not to fight. In her desolation she +prayed long and earnestly ere tears came to her relief. Vainly Toinon +upbraided her, declaring that such thoughts were morbid, whilst +hastily packing for the journey. + +To Clovis, the unexpected news brought ineffable relief. Just as he +had learnt to believe himself saddled with a demon, who would be +constantly driving spurs into his flanks. Lo! The incubus vanished +into air! The old rascal could no longer threaten. His hand was +stilled. His voice was dumb for ever. From that quarter there would be +no more humiliation; he would not be bidden to obey his wife. + +The abbe was so taken aback, that his nimble mind wandered in a maze +of possibilities, ere it settled down seriously to consider the +effects of the change. The protector of the marquise was gone--her +only protector--for Madame la Marechale was a colourless, somewhat +weak-minded lady, who need not be considered at all. The newly-laid +foundations of the house of cards were just what they should be, but +as circumstances alter cases, new plans must be drawn for the +structure. How true is it that the unexpected is always happening to +disarrange the most elaborate schemes. The first thing was to go to +Paris, there to learn what dispositions had been made by the deceased +as to his property. It was highly improbable that the marshal should +have placed confidence in his unpractical consort. Was everything left +to Gabrielle? Probably. The abbe was content with his survey. By the +death of de Breze, the situation was totally altered. He, Pharamond, +must by skilful management, lead the marquise to lean more and more on +him. Influence must be exerted, too, over the marquis, who in sudden +freedom from irksome restraint might be impelled to do something +imprudent. Yes, the horizon was rosy--clouds of difficulty were +rolling away. Holding in his supple fingers both the husband and the +wife, and exercising due dominion over the bibulous chevalier, it +would be curious if, by and by, the abbe did not attain his ends. + + + + + CHAPTER XVI. + + THE ABBE IS TERRIBLY PERPLEXED. + + +Further surprises of a bewildering kind awaited our abbe in the +capital, which blurred the growing clearness of his sky. The temporary +tranquillity of Touraine had deceived him, for events had been passing +in other parts of France of gravest import, of which hitherto he was +unaware. The scum of the earth had in the general upheaval risen, as +he feared, to the surface, and emitted nauseous savours. + +Names new to him were in every mouth, and, the last doubts swept away, +he saw with concern for his own safety that the ship of state, guided +by such agitators as he saw around, was predestined to disaster. Urged +by curiosity, he attended the meetings of new-fangled clubs, and was +amazed at the language used there--words which a couple of years ago +would have jeopardized the heads of the speakers. He read the _Ami du +Peuple_, a popular journal edited by one, Marat, which openly +advocated regicide; and became acquainted with a forbidding person of +greenish complexion and smooth aspect whom men called Robespierre. +Were these ever to obtain mastery in the confusion, there were dark +days in store for France, much tribulation for scions of nobility. +Their majesties were still residing at the Tuileries, but how draggled +was the royal ermine! The queen dared not to look out of a window for +fear of insult. Stepping, on one occasion, into an inner court to +breathe some air, the soldier on guard shook his fist at her and +courteously declared how pleased he would be to have her head upon his +bayonet. Anarchy and crime marched hand in hand, no longer keeping in +the shadow; and the worst of all was that the movement Pharamond had +been watching showed signs--as by this time the blindest of moles +might perceive--of being no transient one, which interference from +without might quell. A mighty nation had risen in its strength to +protest against intolerable abuses, and so many villains and madmen +had risen in wild crusade against things established, that no wonder +it lost its senses. True, a good proportion of villains and madmen had +already gone under in the conflict, having devoured each other +piecemeal; but as these disappeared others, every bit as vile, arose +to fill their places. + +The long threatened collision with other nations was by this time a +fact. The country was formally declared to be in danger. All the +remaining property of those who had fled was seized in obedience to an +edict promulgated some time since, to defray the expenses of the +conflict. + +The first act, and one of marked significance, dictated to the abbe by +caution, was a change of garb, for in April, when religious +communities were suppressed, the wearing of ecclesiastical costumes +was prohibited. When religion topples, chaos shows its face. + +Seeing what he saw on all sides, Pharamond might well be anxious, and +look forward with interest to the reading of de Breze's will. Within +its parchment folds lay the key of the future, for upon the conditions +expressed in the document hung the fortune of the party, and he could +not but feel serious misgivings with regard to inconvenient +stipulations. He had been wrong in supposing that the storm could be +weathered at Lorge; of that all he beheld in Paris spoke with +eloquence. Sooner or later, every noble in the land would be compelled +to emigrate, or gravely risk his life. It was merely a question of how +much the sooner or the later their party must join the exodus. + +It was a fortunate thing that de Breze long ago should have deposited +the bulk of the money bags in Necker's bank at Geneva. The Chateau of +Lorge must be left to its fate. It really mattered little, since when +provided with means, palaces will spring up at our bidding on eligible +spots. It was essential to learn without delay whether he had left his +fortune to the marquise absolutely, or vested it, under care of +trustees, for her benefit. In the latter case she was safe, for it +would be necessary to be civil to her always, which would be +fatiguing; in the former, she must be cajoled to leave the country +with the brothers, for some quiet place, where she could be skilfully +moulded to their wishes. But what if, for some whimsy, she refused, or +if there were special stipulations which would interfere with a +flitting? After that artful trick of the clandestine letter there was +no trusting her apparent openness. Well, well, there was no use in +idle speculation. It was a most lucky circumstance, in any case, that +her only protector should be dead. + +M. Galland read the will to the brothers in the absence of the +heiress, for she was too much overcome by her loss to care about the +provisions of the testament; and Clovis raged inwardly the while, for +the solicitor had a dubious way of glancing from one to the other of +the three, which could hardly be called respectful. The effect of the +reading on the auditors was curiously different. The chevalier blinked +and smiled, as if he scarcely understood; the abbe, not displeased, +nodded politely from time to time, and purred out his satisfaction; +Clovis had much ado to conceal his disappointment. + +The property was left to the marquise absolutely, the will being a new +one, signed a few hours before death. It was worded with extreme care, +so that the entire inheritance should be at her own disposal, out of +reach of Clovis as of others. This to clever Pharamond seemed a small +matter, for had not the lady shown in the past that she was +indifferent to dross, and would it not be an amusing bit of diplomacy +to direct her as to its disposal? There were no vexatious +stipulations: so far, well; and the nimble mind of the abbe began +straightway to erect new card-castles for the housing of the coveted +money bags. Clovis was exasperated, which was a good point that might +be played on with advantage later. It was evident that his vanity was +touched on the raw, for, filled as he was with deep resentment, it +smouldered all the more fiercely in that he was ashamed to show it. + +Was his spouse to nip his nose with the tongs for the rest of his +natural life? Was he to be an obedient serf who could not touch a +stiver without her express consent? At the time of his marriage he was +not troubled on the subject, because the money being the marechal's it +was necessary, for the time being, to submit to his crotchety but not +illiberal ways. But now that he was dead? The husband was to bend +beneath the yoke, to be under the thumb of this wife of his, who had +shown recently that she could assert herself, and who would, of +course, now that she knew her power and disliked her spouse, use it to +oppress and injure him. + +As the trio walked home from M. Galland's office, the usually dreamy +marquis was roused to a pitch of ire which Pharamond fanned into a +flame. + +"My poor fellow," he said, "I bleed for you, but we must make the best +of a bad job. Be civil to her, always civil, and she will let you dip +into her purse." + +"Let me, indeed!" growled Clovis, in dudgeon. + +This was just where the tongs pinched most painfully. His olfactory +organ still tingled with the tweaking which it received in the matter +of the affinity's expulsion, and now he was exhorted to sit down +meekly and extend his nose to the torturer. + +"I suppose," he cried, in his vexation, "that each time I require a +new pair of breeches I must beg her, on my bare knees, to sign the +order." + +Splendid! The abbe was delighted, for this was quite the mental +condition in which he wished to see his brother. If the fortune had +been left in the hands of the husband, as would have been proper, the +tactics of the astute one would have been mapped out with simple +clearness. He would have exerted his power over the marquis to obtain +his share of the spoil. But with one to whom intrigue was as the +breath of life, so humdrum a way of settling business could not find +favour. If we would break up a bundle of sticks, we untie the string +that binds them and operate separately upon each. Was it not possible +finally to stop personal communication between the husband and the +wife, and establish himself as go-between, availing himself of +opportunities? The further he kept them apart the greater his own +influence would be, and, as things were, it might soon be of the +greatest importance to establish a firm authority. To this end, +therefore, he patted his fuming brother on the shoulder with +affectionate familiarity. + +"Come, come!" he laughed. "It is only silly children who quarrel with +their bread and butter. The proceedings of the marechal were malignant +and preposterous. Curb your feelings, and bury your chagrin deep down, +and never let her guess your most righteous indignation. You shall not +be so far degraded if I can help it, as to have to sue in person for +money. She likes and trusts me. Let me be your _homme d'affaires_, and +act as mediator between you." + +Clovis was grateful for being thus saved from a humiliating position, +and Gabrielle tacitly agreed to the arrangement without reflecting +much upon the subject. She naturally shrank from too frequent converse +with the man whom she had ceased to love. + +"What he wants for his pleasures, he can have, and welcome," she said, +with a sad smile; "but he must not be unduly extravagant. I am going +to blossom out into a terrible woman of business for the sake of +Victor and Camille. When they come of age they shall have cause to +bless me for my thrift." + +A woman of business? That would never do. But there was no danger of +it. The charming lady was not endowed with business capacities. This +infant-worship of hers was rather tiresome. Would it lead to +mortifying complications? _Not_ if the sensitive instrument of +her character was played upon with caution. To think that that +never-sufficiently-to-be-execrated Aglae should have been such a fool +as to try and strike at her through the adored cherubs--apples of the +maternal eyes! + +Well, that Marplot was well out of the road, and the abbe was pleased +to be quit of so deceitful a coadjutor. He took the earliest +opportunity to sound the marquise as to future plans. To his way of +thinking it behoved the family to make quietly for Geneva, there to +rejoin the money bags, and it would be well to find out, if, in her +new capacity, she proposed to put down her foot. He accordingly +remarked one day that Paris was a seething caldron, out of which it +would be prudent to escape. + +"No," replied Gabrielle, quietly, "I have no intention of leaving at +present; my place is here, and I am no poltroon. My mother wants me, +and so does the queen; and there is much business to arrange with M. +Galland. The little ones are happy at Lorge with Toinon, where we will +go and see them later." + +"But Lorge may be burnt over our heads," objected Pharamond. "Excuse +me; but you fail to grasp the situation, which is much more serious +than you suppose." + +"I shall certainly not leave France," returned Gabrielle, with +decision. "No one will hurt us in Touraine, for we are beloved and +respected, and the hearts of the people shall be our bulwarks." + +This was rather a bad beginning to the newly-inaugurated regime. It +was unwelcomely manifest that the foot was down. She had never +mentioned her husband or referred to his possible desires. That was +significant. Pshaw! she was a woman who was made to lean on others, +and just now she was supported by the queen, the family solicitor, and +other meddlesome advisers, and was thereby induced to assume an +independence which was foreign to her nature. So she was bent on +returning to Lorge? Well and good, the sojourn must be brief. +The temporary props being left behind, others would have to be +supplied--by him. Pressure could be brought to bear within the walls +of the grim chateau, and so soon as it should be urgent to flit, why, +then there should be a flitting. For the present she was mistress of +the situation, and till a change could be brought about, must have her +way unchallenged. + +As for Clovis, with much spare time upon his hands, his idle hours +were spent in brooding and regret, and the yearning that besets +humanity to have things other than they are. He was both fascinated +and disgusted by the scenes that passed around him, episodes which +served to increase the peevishness due to private worries. + +He was haunted by the idea that if Gabrielle had refrained from +writing that letter, the marechal would not have so disposed his +property as to secure it against his son-in-law. But that piece of sly +impertinence on the part of the lady who bore his name had put +everything agog. But for her all apprehensions might ere this have +been removed. He would have been independent; have betaken himself and +the magic tub to some other land under the guidance of the dear +affinity; have escaped from the turmoil of politics, the noisy babble +of miscreants and cutthroats; be enjoying in peace the applause and +serenity which go with success in science. Instead of that, here was +he, the Marquis de Gange, kicking his heels in a capital which +resembled in its wild proceedings the mental phantasmagoria that +follows indigestion, deprived even of the consoling presence of her +who knew how to comfort him. + +Pharamond was all very well in his way, always obliging and cheery, +but somehow or other his sweetness left a taste in the mouth that was +bitter, even acrid. How this should be Clovis was at a loss to +comprehend, for there was no doubt that the abbe was sincerely sorry +for his brother's woeful plight, and did all that in him lay to prune +the thorns that pricked him. As Clovis meditated, topics were ever +cropping up which he longed to discuss with the governess; but, alas, +alas! thanks to the insane jealousy of a most annoying wife, the +charmer was gone--her place knew her no more! + +To brood over the halcyon days which are gone by is conducive to +snappishness, and, after a chewing of the cud, to chronic sullenness +and gnawing discontent. Sometimes the marquis would strive to rouse +himself from dismal reverie, and force himself to take interest in +what was passing; but the contemplation thereof only led to further +disapproval, for he found himself in company that revolted him. To +think that he, a noble of high rank, should find himself cheek by jowl +with the low, dirty, foul-mouthed scribbler, whose name was Marat! +People's friend, forsooth! If a wolf could write a journal, the brute +could not raven more thirstily for blood. Blood--not in drops from a +single breast, nor even in a river from the slaughter of families. He +howled for the crimson liquor in the profusion of an ocean from the +instinctive love of it which impels the tiger to rend his mangled +victim after his hunger is appeased. Then to have to be civil to that +dandified Robespierre, whom instinct whispered was one of the coming +men--one whose talents were insignificant and oratory wretched, but +who plodded ahead to his goal with a passionless undeviating pitiless +perseverance that was appalling; one who boasted with apathetic +cruelty that to gain a point the immolation of a generation was as +nothing; who was already clamouring for the sacrifice of the royal +family, and of all who were tainted with nobility. + +To visit the palace was to be distracted with indignant pity. Though +the son of St. Louis still ate off silver plate, the most elaborate +precautions were taken to secure him against poison. The wine he +drank, the food he ate, was introduced secretly by devoted friends. +Not a scrap passed his lips that was supplied from the royal kitchens. +Things had gone so far that there was no safety--as the hapless king +had realized on the eve of the Varennes disaster--but in flight. His +friends in Paris could be of little service, for he was as close a +prisoner in the gilded Tuileries as the felon in his cell--in a worse +plight than the convicted assassin in his jail, whom the rabble were +forbidden to persecute. + +Clovis could perceive as clearly now as Pharamond that so acute a +situation could not last. This was a state of crisis which should have +nearly attained its apogee, and which promised to result in +catastrophe. And here was the Gange family lingering on in the most +undesirable manner instead of making itself scarce, and skipping out +of danger. As we know, Clovis was not too brave, and preferred +scientific to military triumphs. If other nobles viewed the situation +from a long way off, why should not he also? What was it to him that +the continued outpouring of landholders had unhinged the public mind, +and that the exodus of those who should have rallied round their +monarch was indeed the greatest cause of the miseries that loomed +ahead? By deserting their native land at the most critical period of +its history, the French nobility cast a stain on their order, which +may never be wiped out. At this time, no less than a hundred thousand +of the most influential class had turned their backs upon their +country! + +The marquis exhorted and implored his brother to speak to Gabrielle, +to beg her to be sensible and go, before it was too late. With perfect +truth (for once) Pharamond declared that he had done his best--that +Gabrielle was obstinate and declined to budge--adding, with a +conciliatory smile, that Clovis must practise the unruffled calm that +springs from a tranquil mind; that when the new-blown prerogative of +managing people was more familiar to the heiress, she would be less +headstrong, more considerate. + +"It was too bad," groaned Clovis, who really was growing frightened. +The details of the inheritance settled, what was to detain a party of +provincials, who no longer had business in the dangerous proximity of +the whirlpool? If the heritage had been left in a proper manner, all +would have been well; for there would be nothing more natural than for +the head of the family to issue peremptory and dignified orders for +immediate departure. Even Gabrielle, who steadfastly declined to be of +the elect, ought--by reason of her gentle birth--to have preferred the +philanthropic society of an adept and the virtues of a magic tub at a +safe distance, to the chance of rubbing shoulders with a Marat or a +Robespierre, or enduring blue-stocking lectures from an upstart Madame +Roland. Though young and handsome, that person was a political +pen-woman--horrid precedent! But the contrariness of the feminine +nature is proverbial. As was to be expected, the heiress was gloating +over the shame of those she held in leash, and refused to leave the +hurly-burly just to annoy her husband. + +As to this Pharamond fully agreed with Clovis. There was nothing to be +gained but possible mishaps by lingering in Paris; and he was the more +anxious to be off that he found himself a nonentity there. The fields +he burned to cultivate were lying fallow. His house of cards was +making no progress; he seemed actually to be losing ground. The abbe +was a busy bee whose time was being wasted. + +Had not Gabrielle and Clovis become hopelessly estranged she might +have confided to him her deep sorrow for the queen, and her +unflinching determination to remain beside her, so long as she could +be of use. In better days, the queen had been her benefactress, and +she loved her as all did who knew her well. + +But days of confidence were over now, never to be recalled. The +seasons revolved, and spring came round again to find the De Ganges +still in Paris. + +It is only fair to say that Clovis was sorry for the position of their +majesties; but being of lymphatic temperament he had decided long ago +that disagreeable things which could not be helped, and which did not +injure himself, were promptly to be set aside. + +Ill-starred Marie Antoinette! Is it to underline the fact of mundane +injustice that the innocent are so often scapegoats for the black +sheep? There was no abomination, however monstrous, of which the mob, +maddened by professional agitators, did not believe her to be capable. +Murder, adultery, theft. + +She sometimes mournfully reminded Gabrielle of the evening--it must +have been a thousand years ago--when they had discussed their +horoscopes. "The iron grave-clothes, as was foretold, are slowly +wrapping me," she said, "to stifle my breath and crush my bones. I +hope and believe, dear Gabrielle, that your prophet lied, for you are +content and well. Happiness, we all are bound to learn does not exist. +That will perhaps appear as a fresh and welcome acquaintance at some +later stage of the long journey. You are well, my dear, and I am glad, +but I may not keep you, for here we are under the ban. I would not +have the faithful few to share the fate which daily approaches +nearer." + +Gabrielle sighed, but kept her counsel, for why should she inflict +her own sorrows on one so sorely stricken? Content? No. Not even +that--much less happy. She who needed sympathy and support so much +that without them she felt her fibres paralysed, had come to know that +all the battles of our inner life must be fought out alone, hand to +hand, in solitude, and that no friend, not even the dearest, can +help us in the conflict. She had learned that much during hours of +self-communing at Lorge, and the discovery dismayed her. In the next +world, the Christians say there is no marrying or giving in marriage. +Each soul is a single unit, the bonds of life-chains shattered. It is +so even in this life, though many see it not; when the real tussle +comes, the spirit stands unaided, deprived of succour from without, to +triumph or to fall alone. + +It was her anxious wish to stay beside the queen and cheer her, and by +so doing cheer herself. To be certain that some one longed for her +advent, and that her appearance in a doorway was like the glinting of +a welcome sunbeam, was a novel and refreshing sensation after the +gruesome experiences of Lorge. There was no need to trouble about the +prodigies, seeing that they were enjoying the best of air under +surveillance of Toinon and her betrothed. The old mother, who sadly +missed the perennial scoldings of the irascible defunct, also needed +her presence, for was she not more helpless than her child? Gabrielle, +counselled by M. Galland, had settled that the old lady was to move to +a small house of modest aspect in the suburbs, where she could +vegetate unharmed by revolutionary turbulence, and arranged with the +family solicitor to keep a watchful eye on her. + +The marquise had a variety of reasons, then, for desiring to remain in +the capital. + +Idleness brings out the bad points of most people; and both Clovis and +Pharamond were chafing. The latter, having nothing else to do, studied +his brother carefully, and the proceeding increased his disquietude. +Clovis fretted, and fumed, and yawned, and wished himself away, +listening with eagerness to the abbe's insidious innuendoes, then +growling and muttering to himself. He had something on his mind which +he was keeping back. It was not well that he should keep anything from +the abbe, so the son of the Church, with appropriate little jests +anent confession, set himself to expose the secret. It was as instinct +bade him fear. Clovis was hankering after the absent affinity. + +Pharamond had had cause to suspect that since the advent of +Mademoiselle Brunelle his own power had been permanently weakened. As +he had told Gabrielle, to obtain complete mastery over this wavering +specimen of fleshliness it was necessary that the leading-rein should +be held by a woman; and--without fault of his--the abbe chanced to be +a man. + +The marquis had not been aware of the delights of feminine +companionship till the arrival of the enchanting governess, and +Pharamond understood with reluctance now that although the subject had +been tabooed, Clovis yet pined for his affinity. He remembered the +parting words of Aglae at the moment of her banishment. "In the +solitude of the country," she had said, "the neophyte would miss her." +The capital under its present aspect was as lonely to him, for he had +always been more or less of a recluse, and most of his town friends +had joined the army of emigrants. + +To avoid contact with the scum, and to save appearances in the matter +of compulsory attendance on his wife, he had taken up his studies with +ardour in the capital, and missed his late comrade each day more and +more. As his lips unclosed, he poured forth his confession to the +churchman; Pharamond reflected with perturbation that if the temple +were left long without its tenant, a new one might crawl in and +occupy. What was to prevent this flabby Clovis, since he felt the void +so much, from seeking another adept, even from applying to Mesmer for +just such another siren as the last? And if he did, what of the abbe +and his plans? Though not so docile as could be wished, and given to +casual deceit, it was possible for the abbe and the governess to work +together smoothly enough. That much had been proven. Supposing that, +taking the bull by the horns, he were cunningly to bring about her +re-introduction into the _menage_, would she be grateful, and, singing +_peccavi_, promise to behave better in future? Gratitude is so scarce +a commodity! And by what artifice could she be introduced again +without raising a whirlwind of remonstrance? On the other hand, if +Clovis were allowed to find another leader, the new affinity might +eschew an alliance with the abbe, even deliberately work for his +suppression. How complicated the game! How difficult were his cards to +play! Was it safe to leave the ball to roll, or must it be checked in +mid career? How would the marquise behave deprived of parental +support, at sight of the apparition of her rival? These were knotty +problems, and another false move might mean irremediable discomfiture. +Impossible as it was to see far ahead, it was necessary to feel step +by step like a blind man groping. How delicate an operation to +re-introduce the massive form of the offender! On what plea, since +after what had passed she could not assume the attributes of teacher? +Move the fragments of his puzzle as he would, they declined to fit +together, and the abbe ground his teeth with fury and confessed that +for the moment he was nonplussed. + +If only the marquise could be induced to return home quickly, remove +herself from the influence of supporters. Would it be well to have a +fictitious message sent announcing the illness of the darlings? A +scrap of paper a few inches square would send her posting back to +Lorge at lightning speed; but then discovering that she was fooled, +suspicion would arise, alert. Could Clovis be persuaded to go home +without her? In that case his brothers must accompany him, lest, left +to his devices, he should do something regrettable; and it was of +equal importance to keep an eye on wife as well as husband. + +Turning the subject over and over with infinite care, the abbe +admitted with an impatient sigh that for the time being he was +powerless, and that the ball must be allowed to roll. Meanwhile it +would be advisable not to lose touch of the governess, lest some day, +when wanted, she should turn rusty and accuse him of neglect. He +accordingly sat down and wrote a long and entertaining letter full of +sly quip and graphic description, ending with the assurance that the +marquis did not forget, and that the humble scribe was her slave. + +This precaution taken, he settled himself down to drift with hands +before him: nor had he long to wait to perceive the direction of the +current. + +It was the twentieth of June. The day was balmy, and the windows open. +The queen sat in a low _causeuse_ in her tiny library relating to the +Marquise de Gange the ominous occurrences of the morning. Paris was a +penful of sheep now distracted by too many shepherds--a weathercock +its most fitting symbol. What was happening every day would be +laughable but for the lurid cloud above with its blood-red lining, and +the low rumbling of thunder, each hour more distinct. The Assembly +whose mission was to guide the nation was no better than a den of +noxious animals, each bent on biting his neighbour. The president had +committed the grievous error of opening the flood-gates to the waters. +The sacred precincts over which he ruled were thrown open to a mob of +thirty thousand scoundrels who, their imaginations inflamed by novelty +and drunken with success, licked their foul lips and prepared for +further outrage. Women danced like M[oe]nads, waving a pike in one +hand and an olive-branch in the other--symbols of peace and war. From +a chorus of brawny throats rolled the familiar strains of _Ca Ira_. +The unkempt porters of the markets, the cadaverous workers from the +cellars of St. Antoine; a weak-limbed squad, a sturdy crew of +ruffians, equally bent on mischief, waved rude bits of jagged iron +bound to the ends of bludgeons. There was no end to the muster. Women +possessed of the devil Hysteria--men maddened and excited by the +women. More men--more women--women--men. What did they want? What was +the object of the saturnalia in the sacred precincts of the Assembly? +Ragged breeches were held up with a yell of "_Vive les sans +culottes!_" Some one flourished a pike aloft on which was transfixed +the bleeding heart of a calf. Through the drip the scrawled +description could be deciphered--"This is the heart of an aristocrat!" + +"If the accepted authorities were to be bearded thus, what next?" +suggested Marie Antoinette. "We are marching straight downwards to our +doom. We know it, and being blameless, look to the end with +thankfulness. But when we are sacrificed--what then--afterwards. +Apres?" + +When Gabrielle strove to persuade her benefactress that she saw things +_en noir_ the latter gave her haughty head a toss. "Conflict with the +inevitable is not always an absurd mockery, for self-respect, when we +are innocent, insists on battle to the death." + +As she spoke a low rumble, increasing each second in volume which +seemed an echo of what she described as having dismayed the Assembly a +few hours since, caused the ladies to look at each other in alarm. +What was that ominous sound? Almost before they had time to realize +that it meant anguish and woe treading on each other's heels--it had +increased to a deafening roar. + +"They have burst into the gardens. Where are the little ones?" cried +Gabrielle, thinking of her own cherubs, happily far away. "I will +fetch them. Their Royal Highnesses are in the next room, reading." + +She sped away, and returning with the royal children presently, beheld +her mistress leaning against the casement frame, stone white. + +"Hist!" she said, her voice scarce audible above the noise. "The +wretches have invaded the palace--do they intend to fire it? Amid +yonder sea of pikes and staves there is a cannon which they are +dragging up the stairs. What for--for me? Into what a pandemonium were +we born!" + +The uproar was like the lashing of an angry sea. The frightened +women could hear the grinding and creaking of the heavy gun as with +volleys of cries and curses it was lifted to the grand landing. +"Unbar the door or we will blow it down," some one shouted, in rough +accents--then followed a thunderous battering of pikes, the crushing +and rending of panels and then--silence. + +"They will kill him. They will kill him! Why am I not by his side?" +murmured Marie Antoinette, writhing her hands together. + +"I am here--what would you?" a steady voice said, cheerfully, rising +above the hubbub not far away. + +"Vive la nation!" roared the rabble. + +"Yes. Vive la nation. I am its best friend," replied the king. + +Then there was a diversion. The trembling listeners were startled by a +new roar of groans and hooting. "There she is--the curse of France. +The Austrian! The Austrian! Down with her!" + +"My God!" muttered the queen. "It must be Elizabeth whom they mistake +for me! My place is with them. Is a child of Maria Theresa to play the +cur? Why am I skulking here?" + +"Madame! They will tear you in pieces!" implored Gabrielle, clinging +to her skirts. + +"So be it," returned the queen proudly, and drawing herself up to her +imperial height, she opened the door with steady hand and went forth +with her two children. Unrecognized, she penetrated as far as the +council chamber where a group of Grenadiers hastily surrounded and +pushed her into the embrasure of a window which they barricaded with a +table. For the present, to attempt to reach the king was hopeless. The +palace was flooded with a ragged rout, who, in intervals of yelling +pocketed such portable property as was handy. They were covered with +dirt and blood, and, for the most part, wore the red cap recently +introduced by Collot d'Herbois as the orthodox symbol of the free. + +Meanwhile a messenger had rushed to the Assembly to announce the +danger of the palace, and a number of deputies hastened thither with +all speed, to slay the wreckers and prevent a tragedy. The mob, drunk +with too potent a dose of liberty, had committed a deplorable outrage, +and were on the threshold of a great crime without definite purpose. +Exhorted to sobriety, upbraided for excesses which stained the holy +cause in the face of Europe, the rabblement sulkily withdrew, gnashing +their teeth and snarling with gestures of menace, as they filed past +the queen; and she watched them go in gloomy silence, with a heart +that welled with horror and eyes that swam in tears. + +For the moment peril was averted, the palace safe; but who might tell +when the unreasoning flood, lashed by the agitators into foam, would, +in caprice, flow back and drown its inmates? General indignation +prevailed among all grades of the better classes. Though to the new +way of thinking kings and queens might be objects of dislike, yet, so +long as they existed, it was not fair that at any moment their privacy +should be invaded by the unwashed, their furniture broken, their +children terrified. The Assembly was ashamed. The partisans of the +court were unwise enough to bluster. Rumours were abroad that, in +consequence of the outrage, the royal servants were to be armed; that +the Swiss Guard would be ordered to fire upon the first sans-culotte +who ventured within shot. So far was this from the truth that his +majesty had determined to dismiss from about his person those +untrustworthy friends, who, without possessing the power to save, had +so often compromised him. The queen, too, was firmly resolved that she +would not have upon her head the blood of those who were not directly +in her service. Gently, but without wavering, she bade adieu, amongst +others, to the Marquise de Gange, who begged hard for permission to +remain. + +"No," said Marie Antoinette, gloomily, "you have duties of your own +from which I must no longer keep you. Heaven bless you, my dear +friend. To such calumnies as may reach your ears you will give no +credence, but will pray for an unhappy woman who has not deserved her +fate. Give me your thoughts and prayers, for we shall meet no more on +earth." + +Her forebodings were but too soon realized. Only seven weeks later the +Palace of the Tuileries was stormed, and the devoted guards massacred +under circumstances of peculiar atrocity. Soon afterwards the royal +family were removed to the Temple, whence, in the course of a long +drawn martyrdom, the unfortunate queen was transferred to a squalid +hole in the Conciergerie on her rough road to the scaffold and +release. + + + + + CHAPTER XVII. + + GABRIELLE HAS AN IDEA. + + +Loth as she was to leave her benefactress in so critical a plight, +there was no denying that the Marquise de Gange was an incumbrance in +the royal dwelling; yet another helpless female for the men to +protect; and that there were duties with regard to others, that +demanded the attention of the heiress. + +Clovis had valid reason for his impatience to be off. The prisons were +opening their maws to swallow the blue-blooded, who tumbled in by +shoals on frivolous and ridiculous charges. Paris was becoming so +disagreeably warm, that self-preservation bade all and sundry to +depart unless tied by special reasons. Now, as the abbe pointed out +(who grew almost as impatient as his brother, in his enforced +idleness), there was nothing whatever to detain the provincials from +returning to their chateau, since the queen had dismissed the +marquise. + +Gabrielle agreed that the time was come for a journey, and even made +an attempt to induce the aged marechale to join the party. It would be +nice to have her mother with her, and perhaps the suburban residence +might be fraught with unknown drawbacks. But at the suggestion, the +old lady lifted up her voice in such querulous screechings that her +daughter was silenced. + +"You should know, but for your innate selfishness," complained the old +dame, "that I can't bear the place. Its crepuscular corridors and +frowning front give me the shivers. I wonder you can endure it +yourself, but you always were so peculiar and inconsiderate. I will +visit you for a week or so some day, if I pluck up courage; but, live +there? The family vault with a pile of coffins for furniture, would be +more cheerful as a dwelling-place." + +Then Gabrielle's mind went through a curious and unexpected phase. The +queen's reference to their horoscopes had set the marquise thinking. +The prophecy regarding her majesty was being fulfilled, slowly but +surely, to the letter. A friend informed her with grief and +lamentations, that Louise de Savoye, Princesse de Lamballe, had been +seized and confined at La Force. At this moment, the least secure +refuges in France were the prisons, for the blood-drunken populace had +a way of making raids upon the jails, and maltreating incarcerated +aristos, out of pure devilry. First, Her Majesty; then Madame de +Lamballe. Who was she, Marquise de Gange, that she should hope to +escape her doom? She was, like the others, predestined to misfortune. +True. She had suffered deeply already, and Heaven had relented for +awhile; but there was nothing to justify her in face of the prophecy, +in supposing that it was more than a respite. Try to grapple with it +as she would, Gabrielle, as the time for moving approached, was +oppressed by a growing presentiment of ill. From what quarter it was +to come she could not guess, but it was her bounden duty to take such +precautions as were possible. Were the darlings to be stricken down +and die? Or was the impending misfortune to consist in the sacking of +the chateau? It was impossible to foresee and avert the trouble. In +contrast to the storm that had blown over, the family outlook was fair +enough. Though the domestic sky was cloudflecked, there was no +specially black bank of vapour striding up the vault. Clovis was +bearish and ill-humoured. That was nothing new. The abbe was all +smiles and benevolence, his leisure much occupied in a laudable and +Christian endeavour to break the chevalier of tippling. Toinon wrote +that, summoned to Blois by his party, Jean Boulot was gone for awhile, +and for her part she rejoiced at the riddance, for was it not too bad +that he should prefer his vulgar noisy Jacobin clubs and fustian +nonsense to the charming society of his betrothed? + +Strive as she would to argue with and laugh at herself, Gabrielle +could not shake off her gloom. The gamekeeper--who had saved her +life--was gone away to Blois, and Toinon hoped that he would stop +there? Why should she feel as if a staunch and trusty friend had left +her side? The chatelaine had every right to feel angry that a paid +servant should throw up his place with such scant ceremony, and yet +was not the abruptness of the act strictly in tune with the man's +independent principles and the spirit of the time? + +He was a rough, honest, warm-hearted, wrong-headed fellow, with whom +Toinon was justly annoyed in that she had failed to reform his ways. +All this was true enough, but Gabrielle could not shake off a sense of +loneliness, of vague uneasy dread, a conviction of impending calamity; +and suddenly something whispered that before leaving Paris it would be +well to execute a testament. + +History is full of strange presentiments which come like warnings, but +which have the peculiar property of defeating themselves; for they +exercise sometimes a fatal fascination akin to that of the snake over +the bird, which paralyses the victim's efforts to escape the +threatened peril. + +Trying to argue down her fears, she made it the more evident to +herself that whatever came of it, duty pointed in the direction of +Lorge. The grim chateau was her own now; the fields were her own +fields; the peasants her own vassals. In the interests of the darlings +she would be very energetic, learn to farm, improve the property, and +draw the bonds closer than heretofore between mistress and tenants. +But what if the clever abbe's prognostications were to be realized, +and the flames which she had seen burning so fiercely in Paris, were +indeed to spread dismay and ruin even to remote Touraine? Was he right +in the advice which she had resented so warmly--the unwelcome advice +to be content with the money-bags at Geneva, and abandon the chateau +to the wreckers? No. She had always disapproved the craven conduct of +the fugitives. It was not in the nature of things for the present +cataclysm to go on for ever. Temporary insanity would give way to +reason; the mob, glutted by impunity and gorged by excess, would calm +down again, and those who had had presence of mind to hold their own +while passively bowing before the storm would reap the reward of their +bravery. + +The chatelaine knew herself to be a favourite with the people and that +her presence at the chateau would go far in the event of a +revolutionary wave, to save it from destruction. She could not believe +that the shadow she felt approaching could come from that quarter. +Whence then? It was probably a bugaboo, born of nervousness, resulting +from sympathy with the desperate condition of the queen. Dismissed by +Marie Antoinette, her place was at Lorge on the estates, and since +flesh is grass, it was only right to make a will. + +While revolving these things, Gabrielle's attention was naturally +turned upon her husband. It was odd that he should resent so deeply +her one act of independence. We know that what the constitutionally +weak resent the most, is being openly convicted of their weakness. +Could that humiliating quarter of an hour with the family solicitor +have left so deep an impression on his easy-going soul? and, while her +repulsed affection had faded into indifference, was his unconcern +growing into positive aversion? It occurred to her now for the first +time, as singular that when he wanted money of late the abbe had +always been the spokesman. Did he feel his dependent position so +acutely that he could not bring himself to mention the sordid subject, +or was it that he had come to dislike his wife so much, that he could +not bring himself to speak to her at all? She resolved to open her +mind to the abbe about it, for Clovis must be infatuated and purblind +indeed, not to feel assured that, though she was resolved to carry out +her father's wishes and keep a firm hold of the purse strings, they +would not be drawn too tight. + +The abbe's thin features relaxed into a whimsical smile, and he slyly +nodded, as with some stammering and much circumlocution she exposed +her suspicions to him. Was it, or not, abominably wicked of her to +have such suspicions at all? How girlish and how lovely she looked in +her blushing confusion, as she enlarged on the unsavoury topic, +excusing herself for harbouring such thoughts. + +"You dear guileless dove of a Gabrielle!" he laughed. "Yet not so +simple as you seem, for you have guessed aright. Alack, yes! +Unpardonably sensitive as he may appear to you, your little +escapade--you will allow me to call it an escapade?---cut him so +completely to the quick that he has never recovered it, but crouches +down and winces still like a well-whipped hound, dreading another +scourging. You deem yourself proud? Learn that an honest man's pride +is of more delicate texture than a woman's. And it _is_ hard, you +know, for a proud man to be placed before witnesses in so equivocal a +position as that in which you placed your husband." + +The position in which _she_ had placed _him?_ What of the intolerable +one in which _he_ had chosen to place _her?_ Men always start with the +absurd premise that they must be in the right. Gabrielle was deeply +offended that one on whom she had vainly squandered all the treasures +of her love could think this meanly--read her so amiss! + +Tears of mortification due to insulted womanhood were in her eyes, and +as he marked the colour, like that of an opening moss rose, that +flooded plastic neck and shell-like ear, the blood of Pharamond +throbbed so fiercely that he had much ado to maintain his impassible +demeanour. + +"Since you forgave me, I take Heaven to witness," he purred, bending +as near to her as he dared, "that I have striven to heal your +differences." + +"Differences? There need be none; my love for him is dead," Gabrielle +remarked slowly, so absorbed in the contemplation of shattered Penates +as to pass unheeded the gleam of triumph on the face that was so near +her shoulder. "You may tell him, if you like, that I shall not behave +ill to him, because he has outraged me. A fair allowance shall be +regularly paid to him, or to you if he prefers it. Monsieur Galland is +coming here this afternoon about my testament, and the arrangement +shall be carried out at once." Then after a gloomy pause, she added +with a sigh, "To think he could ever suppose that I should want him to +ask me favours!" + +So her unrequited and too persistent love had perished of starvation! +It was dead--quite, quite dead, at last! With its last struggle how +great a barrier was swept away, and how much better was the chance for +one who had obstinately persevered! + +Excellent! The empty shell was ready for the hermit crab! Pharamond +could see ultimate triumph, within measurable distance, and after that +a ripe revenge. A fair allowance regularly paid? Gilded, degrading +slavery! Clovis would repudiate the plan; refuse to have anything to +do with it. + +But what was this about a will? + +"M. Galland--about your will, this afternoon?" the abbe echoed with +raised brows. "On whose advice are you acting? I declare you are +marvellously changed, every inch a woman of business. Pooh, pooh! Is +there not ample time? For a beautiful young creature like yourself to +prate of such grisly things seems like an untimely invitation to the +worms." + +"Little I care for life, God knows!" sighed Gabrielle, wearily, "were +it not for----" + +"Yes, yes, I know--the cherubs. About this will. It takes me by +surprise, and you have deigned to trust me. Your pardon if I seem +importunate. I scarcely dare to ask, and yet----" + +"What its conditions are to be? There need be no secret as to that, +since my mind is quite made up. I intend to leave my dear father's +fortune to my mother, in trust for Victor and Camille?" + +Here was a sledge-hammer blow, full on the skull from behind. For an +instant Pharamond was paralysed, then his nimble brain took in at a +glance all the facets of this new and unpalatable situation. Who could +have put into her shapely head so inconvenient an idea as this? Good +heavens! If this project were not nipped in the bud, averted somehow, +the future position of the three brothers promised to be a worse one +even than in the days of the marechal! What the abbe had himself +looked upon as a scarcely possible contingency, and had held up to the +marquis as a mere red rag to inflame his feelings withal against his +wife, might at any moment become an actual and horrible fact. At this +rate the marquis and his brothers were not to be provided for at all; +were in the event of this woman's death to be pitched out like so much +lumber! And she had the brazen presumption to expatiate on their lot +to their faces. A gush of ungovernable rage, bubbled into the abbe's +brain, an unreasoning whirl, which he vainly endeavoured to master, as +he strode up and down the room. + +"Clovis is to be made a laughing stock to suit your malice!" he +exclaimed hotly, as he turned on the astonished marquise. "He counts +for nothing, although your lawful husband. No wonder if you have +earned his hate as well as mine, since you are resolved to pour insult +upon insult." + +"Of course, he will have his allowance secured until his death," +Gabrielle explained, with a red spot of annoyance on either cheek. + +"Pah! Allowance! Allowance! A pittance for a schoolboy, which he will +fling back into your face. If he takes my advice, he will toss your +paltry allowance in your lap, since you treat him like a baby! A dole +of charity to a beggar!" + +The marquise sat dumb with hands before her, petrified, for this man +would fain persuade her that she was a monster of iniquity, on the +threshold of a stupendous crime, and yet she knew that her motives +were of the purest. + +He continued, biting his nails in his agitation, addressing his words +half to himself and half to her. + +"Women's horizon is so circumscribed, her stream of thought so narrow, +that if left alone she rarely avoids being ungenerous. Engrossed by +trivialities how can it be otherwise? Sly, too, and double-faced. So +this is your sublime forgiveness, in which I was fool enough to trust! +A trap! A trick! You were but biding your time, till you could injure +me by maltreatment of my brother. My first duty is to him, and I tell +you plainly, that never with my consent will he accept your ignoble +terms." + +Gabrielle made no answer but sat dumb. + +"Eh, bien, madame," he cried, suddenly wheeling round and standing in +front of her, his thin lips curled into a snarl. "The result of your +insensate acts be on your head. Mark that the fault is yours if, after +all my efforts to annihilate the past, you force me to be your enemy. +Here below we must be judged by acts, madame, not by sugared words +that mean nothing. Why compel me to war when I would fain bring peace? +If you execute so iniquitous an instrument as you propose, you will +have made thereby three implacable enemies; and a woman without +friends should think twice before making one. Your husband never +wronged you with that governess, you foolish girl; you were racked by +your own silly phantom jealousy. If you must have revenge, wreak it +upon me, whose only fault was loving you too much. No need to start. +Cards down! Why should I deny that I loved you? The more fool I! But +as your love for him has been crushed out, so, too, has mine for you, +as to your sorrow you will learn." + +His envenomed words snapped out like the clicks of a matchlock, and +the old dismay gathered round the heart of the marquise with a chill +of exceeding desolation. She had been taken in. His seeming recovery +of his better self was but a sham, his fawning courtesy a grimace, his +suave kindliness a mockery, his effusive benevolence a snare. To one +so simply truthful as Gabrielle, such calculating duplicity was +diabolical. He had dropped his vizard and shown his real face, and as +she shudderingly surveyed it, she had gauged something of the malice +of which this foe was capable. Returned to Lorge, was peace to be +denied? Since cajolery and threats had not availed to win her, did he +think to bend her to his will by force? Though he declared he hated +her, there was that on his white vindictive face that she had learned +to read too well. She would go straight to her husband, tell him the +whole truth, and claim protection. But what then of the disposal of +her property, which she felt it her duty to make? Ought she, taking a +high line, to threaten to withdraw the allowance, act for herself as +the good father had done on her behalf? But, ah me, how changed things +were since then, so brief a while ago! Her husband already hated +her--there was a ring of sincerity in the voice of Pharamond as he +informed her that it was so, and she knew well, in case of a tussle, +into which scale the latter would throw all his weight. Doubtless, +Clovis wished her dead; alone at Lorge, might even--yet no, much as he +might wish to be quit of her, his courage would surely fail when the +pinch came. + +In carrying out her project she would be acting rightly, of that she +was now more than ever convinced; but locked up with the brethren at +Lorge, would not her own courage fail? Perhaps it would be safer to +remain in the Paris whirlpool. But what of the children then, and what +of the prisons that filled so rapidly? Behind the bars and bolts of La +Force or the Abbaye, of what service could she be to them? Leave the +country she would not, stay in the capital she dared not. Moreover, in +so turbulent a time her place was among her people in her distant +citadel of Lorge. + +All that was fine in theory, yet her heart whispered grave doubts as +to her tenacity of purpose in carrying out to the end the fight so +boldly planned. Alas, did she not know too well that standing alone +and unsupported, with no succour within hail, she would go down at the +shock of the first lance? Should she parley, even surrender now, at +once--unveil her feebleness and implore pity? Promise to abandon the +project which raised such ire and stirred the lees of the worst +passions, trust the future of her children to their father's paternal +instincts? No; one of the lessons taught by the abbe was that Clovis +was born to be led. Happily that woman had been expelled, but rescued +from her baleful control, he would fall under that of somebody else, +and circumstanced as they were, who should that other be but the +vindictive Pharamond? Of course, at Lorge, the marquis would sink +completely under the abbe's sway; and with him for master, much chance +would Victor and Camille have of justice in the event of their +mother's death. Come what might to her, they should be guarded. Taking +her courage in both hands and clinging firmly to it, she must pray for +strength to bear all, doing what was best for the little ones. The +best security against the greed and malevolence of Pharamond would be +to place the fortune out of reach. + +As these considerations flitted across the mind of the harassed +marquise, she took comfort in the thought that the arch-foe should +have exposed himself as he was before the party had started from +Paris. Further precautions should be devised by a mother's ingenuity +such as should reduce to harmlessness, in the event of disaster to +herself, the abbe's strongest batteries. + +Meanwhile, Pharamond mopped his face with a laced kerchief, blaming +himself for precipitation as he paced nervously up and down. That he, +skilful fowler of artless birds, should have been betrayed by sudden +passion and disappointment into exhibiting his person to this +flutterer! But then the blow had been so swift and heavy that there +was some excuse for reeling under the shock. It was vexatious to have +been taken off his guard. Further duplicity was useless now, for the +present, at least, for she was fully informed as to his sentiments +with regard to the obnoxious testament. She had beheld a glimpse of +his real countenance, which was a pity, for burrowing underground was +the favourite pastime of our abbe. It was a mercy, considering all +things, that the obdurate and recalcitrant lady had resolved on +returning to Lorge. Beyond the frontier, countenanced by friends and +acquaintances, she would doubtless have proved dreadfully +obstreperous. Yes, decidedly it was best to depart forthwith for the +chateau. It was a fortunate thing, too, that during the lengthy and +tedious sojourn in the metropolis, Clovis should have abstained from +falling into the clutches of some new and antagonistic affinity. + +And this turned the current of his meditations into another channel. +It would have to be war now at Lorge, deliberate and serious war for +the averting of a threatened calamity; a campaign consisting of +feints, and ambuscades, and forced night marches requiring swiftness +of resolve and unerring execution. As to submitting to such a +testament, it was out of the question. The campaign might prove a +desperate and bloody one, for maternity at bay fights hard. + +If she signed the proposed document--and just now she looked very +resolute--it would have, somehow or another, to be cancelled; a +ticklish job even for so astute a diplomatist as our abbe. Would it be +prudent to descend alone into the arena, or must an ally be found? But +for Clovis's tergiversation, Pharamond felt fully capable of carrying +a battle to successful issue, but he knew better than to deceive +himself with regard to the shifty marquis, and caution whispered that +he dared not work alone. His mere male influence might lead the horse +to the water, but could not make him drink. You may bend a bow with +impunity to a certain point, beyond which it will snap unless +strengthened. Desperate emergencies call for desperate remedies, and +Clovis' was one to shrink and run away in the face of anything +desperate. How difficult to guide clear of obstacles is a shying +horse! + +Although a thousand pities, it was plain to Pharamond that what might +have to be done could not be accomplished alone; that combined forces +would be required to arrive at a given result, to reach a goal which +he gropingly saw looming. + +What could Gabrielle be pondering over so deeply, as with absent gaze +she looked out of the window? Perhaps, alarmed, she was repenting, was +preparing at the first glimpse of the enemy's line of battle to +withdraw from the conflict. Her attitude was full of hesitation; here +was a crumb of comfort. It was wondrous that she should have been +able, so far, to subdue her nature as to speak out so boldly as she +had dared to do just now. A little solitary reflection might produce a +salutary effect. In a duel of wits, when your foe begins to hesitate, +leave him to his thoughts, and ten to one he will give way. + +The abbe roused himself from reverie; coughed to draw attention, and +bowed with a measure of respect, nicely tempered with menace. Then, +smilingly remarking that it would be regrettable if his dear +sister-in-law did not reconsider her iniquitous plans, he took himself +out of the apartment for the purpose of informing Clovis. + +Left alone, Gabrielle, as Pharamond had seen, was much perturbed by +the difficulties of the task she had set herself, but when she +remembered his wicked face, a courage, born of despair, came to her +aid, and she resolved to take up the cudgels. As she mechanically +arranged, with trembling fingers, her silken hood and mantle, she +prayed fervently for strength, and called on heaven for protection. + +Without a moment's waiting she would go to M. Galland. The solicitor +had arranged to call during the afternoon, but she felt assured that +if she were to wait till then, she would think, and think, and think, +till courage ebbed away. Swiftly descending the stairs unseen by the +abbe, who was busily unfolding his budget for the horrified behoof of +his more than ever exasperated brother, she hailed a hackney chair, +and had herself carried to the lawyer's. + +Being a person of eminent respectability, M. Galland dwelt in a smug +street within decorous propinquity of the fashionable Place Royale. +His line of business was as humdrum and respectable as himself, and +the door-keeper, who kept the stone staircase so scrupulously +spotless, was unaccustomed to agitated clients. The beautiful lady who +emerged from a hackney sedan, and tremulously paid the men more than a +double fare, was extremely agitated, and appeared in a desperate hurry +to reach the first-floor landing. Evidently an aristo. Doubtless she +had a husband or a brother who had fallen within the meshes of the +reigning spiders. Poor dear soul! Such episodes as unexpected arrest +were but too common nowadays. Bless me! Her case must be a very urgent +one, the concierge muttered, as he scratched his head in sympathy, for +after an interval of fifteen minutes, the lady emerged in the +company of M. Galland himself, looking graver than was his wont, who, +calling a coach, directed the driver to the nearest magistrate's. + +"I understand my instructions, madame," the solicitor said, as the +pair were driven along. "But, if without breach of respect, I may be +permitted to say so, you must be suffering from hallucination. Your +will being safely deposited with me, it is manifest that its terms are +your safeguard, even if any of them should wish to harm you. We will +admit that M. le Marquis got into bad hands, and that your hours were +made unpleasant by another of your charming sex. But from that point +to personal violence is a great stride, and you must pardon me if I +fail to see any justifiable cause for apprehension. It is a morbid +fancy, believe me. However, your wishes shall be gratified, and you +will be able to retire to the chateau of Lorge with mind relieved. +This is the house. I follow you to the first floor. You will make the +declaration I suggested, before my friend, M. Sardeigne, who is a +magistrate, and proper witnesses." + +It was certainly a strange proceeding and the worthy magistrate was +justified in his surprise. Here was a celebrated Court beauty of whose +fame he had often heard, who pretended to believe that her relatives +were hankering after her money to the extent of a deep-laid plot, +ending in personal injury. "If you say so, madame," he observed, with +a gallant bow, "I am bound to believe you. I should have thought it +more likely that someone would take to kidnapping, for the sake of +being proud possessor of the fairest woman in France." + +Gabrielle sighed. Was not a would-be kidnapper at the bottom of all +her fears? + +M. Galland produced the last will and testament of Gabrielle, Marquise +de Gange, on which the ink was but just dry, and his friend, having +summoned his secretary and two male attendants, the lady signed it in +their presence. + +Then, instructed by M. Galland, she made a solemn declaration that if +her life should be cut off before that of the marechale, her mother, +and that if she should have been found in the interim to have executed +another will of more recent date, she thereby formally disavowed the +latter instrument. If she were destined to outlive the marechale, +which she did not think likely, M. Galland, on the demise of Madame de +Breze would visit Lorge, and another arrangement would be made. + +She had a presentiment, she explained, which pointed to a life cut off +by violent means before its prime, and expressed in the most distinct +and emphatic manner words could express, her desire that the testament +just executed should alone be regarded as authentic. + +"Dear me! A presentiment?" laughed M. Sardeigne, "as well consult with +lawyers about ghosts! To set your mind at rest in this peculiar +matter," proceeded the magistrate, perceiving that his mirth was +ill-timed, "let it be understood that a cross after the signature on +any subsequent testament will be considered to convey that it was +signed under coercion." + +The business accomplished, Gabrielle breathed more freely, and the +abbe, observing at dinner how serene she looked, grew suspicious. Such +calm after their recent stormy interview, seemed to suggest that she +had been doing something underhand, on which she plumed herself. What +could it be? Something that boded him no good. In the imminent war, +which was to be declared so soon as the party were back in Touraine, +it would clearly be perilous and rash to take the field alone.[1] + + +---------------------------- + +Footnote 1: It must be remembered that the French law, as it at +present stands, dates from the later epoch of Napoleon. The events +connected with the will of the Marquise de Gange are historical. L. W. + +---------------------------- + + + + CHAPTER XVIII. + + A SURPRISE. + + +The quartet that journeyed back to solitude was not a lively one, for +each of the four occupants of the travelling berline was fully +engrossed by private speculations. The chevalier was nervous and +uneasy, having received severe mental castigations at the hands of +brother Pharamond. The marquis avoided his wife's eye, and glanced +wistfully now and again at his Mentor, as though to crave support in +some matter of which his conscience was afraid. The abbe smiled and +nodded encouragement at intervals, and then grew grave again, for he +knew that he was on the point of playing a trump card, and players +miscalculate sometimes as to what remains in the adversary's hand. +Gabrielle, gazing calmly from the windows, seemed scarcely aware of +flitting trees and passing villages, or the constantly recurring jerky +stoppages for the change of steaming horses. She did not remark the +altered attitude of the rustics, who scowled at the emblazoned +carriage panels, with hat on head, pipe in mouth, and arms crossed +tightly over chest. A party of fugitive aristos, fleeing from the +sinking ship like other rodents. Well, let them go. France was well +rid of such vermin that were not worth the rope and lantern. As they +approached their destination, some recognized the coronet and coat, +and made furtive awkward bows. The Gange family were not so bad as +others, report said, and as for the lady, sure no wickedness could +lurk in her mild angel's face. + +She was about to see her darlings, and her spirits rose, for the +sojourn in the capital had been a long one. Of course they were safe +in Toinon's care, but the mother had been weaving ingenious plans for +their advantage, which she longed to execute forthwith. And then she +fell a wondering as to how, under fresh auspices, they would all get +on at Lorge. So far as the fortune was concerned there was naught to +dread. Were her secret fears due, indeed, as had been suggested, to +morbid fancy? No. Life would be far from easy; but a sturdy heart +armoured in love's panoply can surmount difficulties. She knew too +well now that, at best, the brothers looked on her existence as a +necessary evil. She could see it in the lack-lustre eyes even of the +chevalier, who, doubtless, had been well tutored and taught to believe +false tales. The poor drivelling chevalier! What his hazy views might +be on any subject was of little consequence. As friend or foe he was +equally harmless. It was well to have been undeceived as to the abbe, +and to know him for what he was--plausible, cunning, double-faced, +vindictive. Why should she, Gabrielle, fear him? Forewarned, +forearmed. If she placed no trust in her smooth brother-in-law--held +studiously aloof from him--he could not betray or do her injury. Yet +was this so? What of the horoscope and her own presentiment? To remain +unmolested was overmuch to hope for. And then the marquise found +herself marvelling what form his too certain malevolence would take. +He would, of course, misconstrue all her acts and read them awry to +Clovis. Alas! as things were, even that no longer mattered. For the +future, so long as they lived, husband and wife would each go their +ways, tacitly agreeing not to annoy each other, and in the ancient +chateau there was so much room that the pair need never meet. A sad +condition of affairs to have arrived at, and yet--is it not best to +save painful fretting of soul and futile nerve friction by boldly +confronting and accepting the inevitable in all its ugliness? + +When we have given up crying for the moon, we can coldly contemplate +the once-desired prize, critically examine each blemish, and shall +probably be surprised at ourselves for having yearned after so spotty +an object. The Marquis de Gange, deprived of glamour robes, was but a +commonplace mortal, after all. Not good; not particularly bad. +Unpractical, lazy, given to useless theorizing. Sure, in a previous +life, he must have been a comely ox, fond of swishing its tail in the +sunshine and blinkingly chewing the cud, with its legs to the knees in +a puddle. Reflexion brought conviction that the diabolical woman who, +happily, was gone for ever, had, out of sheer spitefulness, smirched +her own fair fame without a cause. She had avowed herself the +marquis's mistress merely to irritate his wife, just as she had +threatened to warp the children's minds to frighten the mother into +rashness. Poor distracted wife and mother. What could have possessed +her--Gabrielle marvelled--to have gone through that performance in the +water? Could she really and seriously have been so acutely affected by +the idea that Mademoiselle Brunelle had succeeded in occupying the +place within her husband's heart for which she had herself +unsuccessfully longed? What a foolish and unnecessary fraying of heart +strings! Was she so blinded as to have been unable to realize that the +thing he called his heart was so full of selfishness that there lacked +room for any other feeling? No. Even though she loved him then, it was +not wholly on his account that she had suffered. It was the loss of +her children, apparently complete and irrevocable, that had goaded her +to mad despair. Well, well, Heaven had been merciful. The woman had +been driven forth--her baleful shadow would cross her path no more. +The darlings were her own again. The future was not so black after +all. She would, on arrival at the chateau, place things on an entirely +new footing; would take up her quarters in the wing erst occupied by +the objectionable Aglae, and, by aid from without, continue the +education of Victor and Camille, which, during the last year, had been +sorely neglected. As for the rest of the chateau, the three brothers +might have it to themselves, and what they did and how their time was +spent, so long as they did not tease her, should be no concern of +hers. + +Thus, I daresay, has the ingenuous lamb, clothed in the white wool of +its simplicity, thought to cope, with success, against the hovering +wolf and snarling panther. There is room enough for all of us, it has +bleated. Let me gambol on this square of sward, and do you frolic as +you choose beyond. The artless thing cannot discern the smacking chops +of wolf or hungry leer of panther, or perceive that it is its own +quivering pink limbs that the two are after, and which they are +preparing presently to rend. If Gabrielle could have read the thoughts +that were working in two busy skulls within that rumbling berline she +might have, perhaps, gazed out of the window with less hopeful +equanimity. + +Clovis, touched on his rawest points, was burning with exasperation. +As Pharamond had truly declared it was absolutely monstrous of the old +donkey who was dead to have placed a noble of ancient race and lofty +lineage in so ridiculous a predicament; and it was just one shade more +shocking that his never-sufficiently-to-be-execrated daughter should +have so meanly taken advantage of the situation. She had actually +dared, with an innocent simper which set all his nerves twanging, to +tell him one morning to his face that he was to live on an allowance! +He, her lord and master! Whether the allowance was to be large or +small was beside the question. He was firmly resolved, and supported +therein by Pharamond, utterly to repudiate the allowance. She had +humiliated him once, and was bent on doing so again and again--was +unwise enough, having planted a dagger, to turn it in the wound, +thereby rousing the victim out of sheer pain to make a desperate +effort of retaliation. By the terms of a will which she had been +sufficiently insolent to make, her fortune was to pass over his head +for the behoof of his own children, who would be thus emancipated from +any control on his part. If she could act so outrageously and show so +clearly how little she respected his feelings, she could not expect +him to consider hers. And with it all there was a sham veneer of +deference that was but added insult. "Clovis," she had said, when +composedly making the announcement, "I have thought it all over +carefully, and am acting for the best according to my lights. I should +like you to feel assured that the revenues I hand to you for your own +use are, indeed, your own; I mean that however ill you may behave to +me I will never withdraw them, for I do not wish you to feel, on your +good behaviour, at the mercy of your wife." + +There was a lofty air of magnanimity about this that was sheer +impertinence. It was as though she were to say:--"I know you to be a +worm while I am an aeglet, and the lower you may elect to grovel, I +shall myself, by contrast, appear to soar the higher." Was it a crafty +way of putting him on his honour? Was he to understand that, of +course, he must respect the wishes in all things of so magnanimous a +benefactress? It was treating him like a schoolboy, and, whatever he +should elect to do to show his independence would be justifiable, +however unpalatable it might prove to the self-elected schoolmistress. + +Thus, by the most crystalline of demonstrations was it proved to +conscience that reproaches were out of place, and that that +importunate monitor would do well to go to bed. But for all that +Clovis felt secretly ashamed of himself as well as a little frightened +about something he had done, and impelled to look to the abbe for +support. + +The abbe, happily for himself, had long since smothered his own +monitor under the pillows, and had replaced the corpse by a rival, +called Expediency. He had made a suggestion to the marquis a few days +since, and the latter, shocked and alarmed at first, had permitted +himself without much trouble to be argued into its acceptance. So far +so good. The suggestion had been quietly carried out, and it remained +to be proved how the marquise would take it. + +It was in the afterglow of a lovely evening in late summer, that the +party arrived within sight of the well-known turrets. There were no +servants about. Toinon stood smileless at the gate alone, gazing into +vacancy, and seemed to survey her mistress as she descended from the +carriage with a serious air of doubtful concern. + +"Here we are at last!" said the marquise, with an assumption of +gaiety. "Why, how odd you look. This is not a cordial welcome!" + +"Madame is welcome," returned Toinon, curtly. + +"The children--they are well?" + +"Monsieur Victor and Mademoiselle Camille are well," was the brief +rejoinder. + +"Of course, the little dears are well," cried the abbe, cheerfully, +"or we should have heard of it. Poor Mademoiselle Toinon has lost her +tongue, being reduced to stone by ennui. How goes my old enemy, Maitre +Jean Boulot?" + +"He is at Blois, busy." + +"So much the better, for I don't mind confessing now that I was a wee +bit afraid of his rough ways and stalwart bulk. His room is better +than his company--a Jacobin!" + +"No one who is good need be afraid of Jean," retorted Toinon, who, +without another word, led the way across the courtyard. + +The chill of presentiment touched Gabrielle like an icy wind as she +passed in to the dreary hall, black now in shadowy twilight. The +crumbling implements of torture on the walls took fantastic and +forbidding shapes. The panoplies of helmets of the Moyen Age seemed to +mope, and mow, and wink their eyeless sockets. Somehow, Lorge seemed +more grimly forbidding than before, after the long absence; there was +a pervading odour of dank decay which was as a breath from out the +charnel-house. The chatelaine shuddered, and drawing her cloak closer +took her foster-sister by the hand. + +"What is it? Toinon, tell me," she whispered. "Has something dreadful +happened?" + +Toinon glanced round quickly with the same strange expression of doubt +mingled with concern, and held her peace. + +What could it be? Toinon appeared to consider that her mistress had +done something wrong--or was it some act, whose unwisdom she would +surely rue, which filled the eyes of the foster-sister with +disapproval. In the look there was pained surprise as well as pity. +The tightened lips were closed, imprisoning reproach. + +Foreboding, she knew not what, the marquise mounted the grand +staircase and opened the door of the long saloon, expecting to find +the children there. + +"Not here? Where are they?" began Gabrielle. Then her voice died away, +the words frozen on her lips. The brothers had remained below, +ostensibly to superintend the removal of the baggage from the coach. +In the dim saloon with its view through the gaunt row of windows of +the crocus-coloured Loire, stood Gabrielle aghast, and Toinon, with +brows knit anxiously--and against the light at the further end a tall, +upright figure like a sable shadow, that was only too familiar. + +"She!" murmured the startled chatelaine, clasping her hands upon her +breast. "Mademoiselle Aglae Brunelle!" + +"It was a trick, then," Toinon muttered, with a deepening frown. "She +knew not of her coming!" + +The commanding figure swept swiftly past the tapestries of Odette and +the mad old king, and with a glad cry Aglae seized Gabrielle's cold +hands and covered them with kisses. + +"The good marquise!" she cooed. "The dear excellent marquise! I am so +glad, so glad, to have been summoned! There was a little +unpleasantness, was there not? A deplorable misunderstanding, and our +dearest lady like the angel that she is, has forgiven and forgotten, +and we are better friends than ever." + +"I never summoned you," began the marquise, faintly, but her voice was +quickly drowned in the torrent of the other's volubility. + +"I know--I know," she purred, with kittenish gestures of overweening +joy. "It was but a tiny ripple on our ideal life! Madame was sorry to +have so misread her Aglae's devotion, and bade the dear abbe to invite +her hither on a visit. Did I delay an instant? Surely not, for I +burned to show the good marquise how cruelly she'd wronged me. Oh! +What ineffable delight! Is it not well to be divided by a tiff to +taste the glad moment of reunion?" + +Gabrielle remaining silent, too giddy and too sick to collect her +thoughts, the other went on glibly-- + +"I arrived yesterday, a whole day before you, and have been so +good--have I not, Mademoiselle Toinon? You like not poor Aglae, and +frown at her, but must speak honest truth. Knowing to my dismay and +grief when I went hence that madame could deign to be jealous of one +so insignificant, I refrained from embracing my pets until madame +should grant permission. And since I adore them as if they were my +own, madame can guess what that has cost me. Yes! I can hardly believe +it possible myself, but I've not yet seen either Victor or Camille, +the sweet ones!" + +With a sigh of admiration and a large gesture of the dusky arms, +suggestive of amazement at such self-control, Aglae ceased, shaking +her head archly, and holding the unwilling chatelaine by both hands, +gazed long and fondly at her. + +It was evident that the woman was playing a part, and was over-acting +it. Was this done purposely, that the marquise, who was not clever, +might have no doubt about the acting? It seemed so to watchful Toinon. +The creature had succeeded somehow in inflicting her baleful presence +for a second time upon the _menage_, and wished it to be understood +that the returned Mademoiselle Brunelle was another person, no +relation to the one who had been ejected. Why had she come? What did +she propose to do? She surely did not expect the hapless marquise to +clasp in her arms one who had so injured her--respond in earnest to +her blandishments? + +The brothers had come up the stairs to reconnoitre, and stood somewhat +shyly in the doorway. Was there to be an explosion---a harrowing scene +in which passion was to be torn to tatters; or was the artful play of +the abbe to win the trick? He took in the situation with an exulting +heart-thump. He had judged rightly. Of course he had! The marquise, +pale as marble, was struck dumb--discomfited. She neither stormed nor +wept. With a movement almost as kittenish as Aglae's, he joined the +group. + +"Reconciled? I knew it," he cried, rubbing his white hands with +relief. "Clovis, come and witness this delightful spectacle. The past +is past and buried. We shall now begin afresh, and, profiting by +experience, will be so happy, that madame will forgive our little +_ruse_. The fact is, my sweet Gabrielle, that Clovis intends to devote +himself to a yet deeper course of study, which requires a secretary +and a partner--one who has an inkling of the secrets which are to be +unearthed for the world's benefit. I took on myself, therefore, to +risk the vials of a transient annoyance for the ultimate good of all. +Mademoiselle will now be so occupied with her new duties that, to her +regret, she must renounce all intercourse with the little ones. This, +I believe, will meet your wishes? You are not angry? That is well. We +are both pardoned, are we not?" + +The marquise cast one slow glance of dumb remonstrance at Clovis, who +was shifting from one foot to the other, guiltily, and shaking herself +free from the exuberant Aglae, left the room with Toinon. + +Her strange reception by the latter was fully explained. Her +foster-sister had believed that she was sufficiently unstable of +purpose herself to have summoned the evil spirit that had been +exorcised; it had not entered the girl's head that the men could have +dared secretly to play such a trick upon her patience. What was their +motive for the proceeding? Did the woman wield an occult power over +the marquis such as forced him to obey her will even from a distance? +Did she hold him in such abject thraldom that he really could not get +on without her? The abbe had been the acting party in the arrangement. +Had he re-introduced the bugbear merely to distress his sister-in-law, +and display his malignant spleen? Such speculations as these passed +vaguely through Gabrielle's dizzy brain as she stared aimlessly from +her bedroom window into the courtyard, mechanically counting the big +familiar stones which composed the opposite wall, surveying the +iron-bound postern door with its complicated locks and bolts. + +Toinon watched her mistress with growing ire as she bustled hither and +thither arranging the details of the toilet. + +Though scarce conceivable it was true--she could perceive it in every +mournful line on the gloomy face of the marquise--that these bad men +had deliberately done behind her back that which they knew to be most +abhorrent to the gentle chatelaine; and she the one to whom they owed +every earthly comfort! By so mad a stroke they had overreached +themselves, for, of course, madame would resent the intolerable +insolence--order the woman off with contumely--send the men packing. +Toinon was aware of the late marechal's testamentary dispositions; was +thankful now to remember that it rested with her mistress alone to +turn out the ex-governess as well as the chevalier and the abbe; and +it somewhat nettled the faithful abigail that she should not at once +have shown a proper spirit, and have abruptly closed the situation. +The marquis looked just now so shamefaced that a few indignant words +would have brought him to a sense of his wickedness. Whether there +were or not guilty relations between the marquis and mademoiselle, was +beside the point. The latter had by her fiendish behaviour well-nigh +driven the marquise out of the world, and here she was playing the +affectionate friend with exaggerated pantomime. It was disgusting. +Madame being much too good, would perhaps give her shelter till the +morrow, instead of expelling her into the night; but madame must rise +in the morning with a firm resolve to make them all understand that +she was mistress. + +Thus grumbling, Toinon, who was answered only by a sigh. A thrill of +doom had passed over Gabrielle. She felt the feeling of helplessness +in face of the inevitable which brings with it an abiding sense of +calm. She was hedged round by enemies--what mattered one the more? +That Clovis should be so unutterably base as he now showed himself to +be filled her with a numb surprise, tinged with subdued regret. The +world, from the point where she now stood, was of such exceeding +hideousness, that it came home with conviction to the spectator that +nothing mattered any more. Oh! to be out of it! To be protected by a +shield of sod from the tawdry mockeries that make this dwelling-place +untenable! Should she, acting on Toinon's counsel, gird up her loins +on the morrow, and assert her rights? _A quoi bon?_ Gabrielle felt so +shocked, so sore, so weary, and so desolate, that to show energy was +not worth while. They had had the tact to let her comprehend at once +that there was to be no more interference between herself and the dear +ones. That was a prudent move on their part. Were these not now her +all? If she and they were permitted to live their quiet life in the +secluded wing, what signified the rest? Victor and Camille were out of +reach of the greed and malice of the foe, quite secure from harm, for +were their mother to be snatched away, they would be removed at once +by the marechale, and watched over by the friendly solicitor. + +Toinon surveyed her mistress with amazed disgust when the latter +quietly remarked, as she unrobed to go to rest, that for the present +she would watch and wait; and act, if need were, by and by. + + + + + CHAPTER XIX. + + A COUNCIL OF WAR. + + +Could we remove the fronts from the imposing domiciles whose dignified +exteriors compel our admiring awe, we should often rub our eyes in +astonishment at the curious spectacle within. Than the outgoings and +incomings of the inhabitants of Lorge nothing could appear more +decorous and respectable, and yet as regarded a prospect of lasting +peace, that group was composed of the least promising elements. + +On the day after the return from Paris Gabrielle remained in +seclusion, making no sign, while the others waited with more or less +impatience to see if she would throw down the gauntlet. Aglae could +scarce conceal her satisfaction at the warmness of her dear friend's +greeting. Clovis was genuinely delighted to see her and made no secret +of his joy, whereat the abbe was annoyed, though he knew better than +to betray the feeling. Time had not loosed the bonds wherein the +marquis was held by his affinity. On the contrary, absence had in his +case made the heart grow fonder, for he seemed now to have quite +forgotten the fear with which former admiration had been mingled. It +was rather hard, the abbe could not help considering, that his own +influence, for which he had laboured with such patience and dexterity, +should pale so easily before that of this lady, who for twelve months +had made no move. By summoning her to his aid, had he raised up a +spirit which by and by he would be powerless to lay? No. For the +attainment of an object that was now clearly modelled before his +sight, the assistance of Mademoiselle Brunelle was absolutely +necessary. The object attained, he would steal a march on her, and on +his brothers as well, if need were. Meanwhile, it was of the best +augury that the chatelaine should remain quiescent. It has been said +that the woman who hesitates is lost. Certain it is that one of the +nature of the marquise--of the class who seem specially made to endure +slings and arrows--does not gain strength by delay. She can in a +moment of impulse perform an act of energy; but if she waits and +broods her strength exhales itself in moans. + +The marquis and his friend got out their books, made a grand parade of +being vastly busy--even dug out the blessed 'cello and groaned out an +affecting fugue; but expecting you know not what it is impossible to +keep the mind from wandering, and Aglae, try as she would to command +herself, jumped up at intervals and strode the polished floor with +statuesque arms crossed over the ample bosom, longing for something to +occur. + +"No news is good news, believe me," the abbe whispered in caution, as +hour succeeded hour, and their patience began to ooze. "If she accepts +her position without a struggle, a most important point is gained." + +Aglae sniffed fretfully, and passed her square-tipped fingers through +the masses of her blue-black hair. "That is mighty well," she said, +tartly; "but for the creature to take me back again so quietly, after +all that passed, makes me long to pinch, and beat, and slap anything +so deplorably spiritless. If she does not do something to-morrow, you +will have to lock me up, for I shall not be able to prevent myself +from rushing into her room and banging her head against the wall." + +"No more blunders!" returned the abbe, sternly. "You have not the +skill to read her. Do not forget that it was by your wrong-headedness +and bungling that you brought about your own defeat. Remember the +terms of the agreement which was to bring you back among us. You were +to be guided by me absolutely, and abstain from silly little private +plots which could only prove disastrous to us both." + +Mademoiselle was silent, and her heavy mobile brows shaped themselves +into something like a scowl. She bit her thick red lips and smiled an +engaging smile, as she patted the abbe with a fan, playfully. "Of +course, I will do as you bid," she said, "but you must not look so +cross. I am all gratitude for your many kindnesses and too glad of so +skilled a guide." Then as she turned away there were lines about her +mouth that were not pretty to look upon, and a sullen shade upon her +brow, that was gone again like a summer thunder-cloud. + +The classically-modelled bosom of mademoiselle covered a black well of +bitterness. She loathed herself for having bungled; she hated +Gabrielle with an all-absorbing hate as the author of her +discomfiture; she detested the abbe for his domineering ways--and +Clovis for not having defended her. She hated all and everyone in that +she had accidentally been kept in the dark as to the real owner of the +fortune, whereby she had been betrayed into a pitfall. + +As she was being ignominiously conducted to Blois, like a thief taken +in the act, a boiling geyser of venom had scalded her cheeks; and as +she writhed behind a lace handkerchief she registered a vow to be +avenged on Gabrielle some day a hundred-fold for that which she had +borne at her hands. The knowledge did not tend to appease her wrath +that without outside help she would be incapable of fulfilling the +vow. The devil will do much to assist his own, but his methods are not +artistically complete, and at a critical moment he whisks into space +with a grin, leaving his votaries to disaster. Hence it is not always +well to depend too much upon the devil. It is a fact worthy of remark +that in the legends of his many compacts with mankind it is always +assumed that he is honest in his dealings and a model of business-like +straightforwardness, while it is the insignificant mortal--mere +wax in such hands--who ultimately cheats and circumvents him. Surely +this is all wrong. We would not wish the devil to be inconsistent, +and it is in the fitness of things that his ardent worshippers should +find the ground slippery under foot, and the power in which they +trusted--nowhere. + +Vainly she revolved the chances of ever returning to Lorge, when +suddenly arrived the abbe's first letter, which was quite sticky and +mawkish with honey. What was he driving at? He would not write thus +without an object. She smiled, locked away the missive, and waited. + +Then came the second letter, wherein, to her surprise, she found the +gates open again which she feared were hermetically closed. Go back to +Lorge? Of course she would, with alacrity, and follow the abbe's +instructions, though she understood them not. She knew that the old +nuisance was defunct, that the marquise was in full possession. What +was this miracle which called her back to Paradise? It mattered not. +Her massive foot once more within the threshold, she would profit by +the experience of the past, and in the end come out the gainer. + +Now you will perceive how odd a mixture was the ex-governess; a woman +who hung for awhile in the balance, till the devil inserted a toe and, +by its weight, settled the matter. She had genuinely liked the +marquis's children, and would, if circumstances so ordained, have gone +down to posterity as a typically virtuous second wife, but for that +devil's toe! + +Well, the toe was inserted, and proved a heavy one, for down came the +scale with a thud. Perceiving they were a fruitful cause of danger, +she made up her mind without a qualm that she would avoid her quondam +pets in the future, and school herself to gaze with sphinx-like +stoniness on the twain whom she had kissed and cuddled. + +What happened to them--one way or the other--was become a matter of +complete indifference. The black well seethed and boiled. She would +have revenge, somehow, and at the same time feather her nest. + +Suspense lasted till the end of the second day. As the party--minus +the chatelaine--were sitting down to dinner, there appeared upon the +scene, Toinon, who demurely laid a note upon the marquis's plate, and +without a word retired. + +As many weak people do, Clovis stared at the letter, longing to open +it, and yet loth to do so, knowing that its contents could scarcely be +agreeable, and it was not until the snorting and sniffing of the +affinity awoke him to a sense of responsibility, that he took it up +and broke the seal. The letter was exceedingly unpleasant and to the +purpose. + + +"Clovis, when I called upon my father to rid me of that woman, I +accomplished a sacred duty which cost me dear; for to inflict pain +upon another brings the like upon myself. That you should have forced +her on me again, was due, I am sure, to fear. I suspected before that +you were afraid of her, for what reason I could not guess. The gulf +between us is impassable, and as you brood over this fact and know +that you have dug it yourself, you will be filled some day with +unavailable remorse. The future appals me--I shudder at its +contemplation, wondering to what you may be goaded. The conduct of an +unscrupulous woman, who has all to gain, I can understand, but yours +remains a mystery. What a life! What a future! If at your age you can +be so easily fooled by a vulgar _intriguante_, what will become of you +when old? How singular a creation is man! You have oppressed, +humiliated, abandoned me who loved you for yourself with an ardour +that amazes me when I recall it now, and are content to grovel at the +feet of one who but likes you for what you can bestow--whom you will +know some day and despise. + +"When your conscience forces you to see what you have done, seek not +to wreak vengeance upon me. Henceforth, we dwell apart, and your life +and mine have naught in common. You may go your ways on this condition +unmolested. Never speak to me, or to the children: never let any +member of your coterie invade the apartments I inhabit. The house is +large enough. Avoid a scandal. Farewell. To each other we are +henceforth dead. + + "Gabrielle Marquise de Gange." + + +With twitching fingers the marquis passed the letter to the abbe who +read and passed it on to mademoiselle. It was not the sort of letter +that it would be nice to read aloud. Silence fell upon the group, and +by tacit consent all rose and went about their avocations, without +venturing to comment on the document. + +The letter breathed dignity, and there was something fine about the +scathing words contemptuously flung at the foe. A vulgar +_intriguante_, indeed! Well, why deny that it was true, though the +statement was somewhat blunt? Mademoiselle always preferred to +consider herself the architect of her own fortunes. + +On the morrow, the abbe, who, more disconcerted than he chose to +admit, by the decided action of the chatelaine, had sallied forth to +meditate in private, perceived that she had already taken steps to +isolate herself! + +He found workmen busy in opening a doorway which should give access to +the children's wing from the bedroom of the marquise, and a locksmith +changing the lock of the postern which gave upon the garden moat. + +So that pleasaunce was to be denied henceforth to the group which +composed the enemy? How would Clovis take this move? A scandal, +forsooth! Was she not causing one herself by so ostentatiously raising +barriers and employing workmen who would chatter? It was evidently her +intention to occupy the long saloon, the boudoir adjoining, the +bedroom that looked on the yard, and the children's wing, with the +moat garden for outdoor recreation, leaving the rest of the premises +to the family. If they were never to see or speak with her, how could +they prosecute their plans? The masters who doubtless would be +summoned from Blois to teach the young idea would certainly detect +something unusual, and they too would be sure to gossip. And what of +the servants? They were trustworthy enough, since they had for the +most part been engaged by the abbe himself, as representing the +Marquis de Gange, and Gabrielle had never thought of interfering. But +the best of servants have tongues, and when the neighbours should flit +over from Montbazon (which they were certain to do shortly) coachman +would confide in coachman, and lacquey in lacquey, and old Madame de +Vaux would hear all about it and spread the news like wildfire. All +Touraine would believe that the Marquise de Gange was a prisoner in +her own chateau; the mob who were fond of her would rise, and there +would be a pretty pother! What a pity she was not indeed a prisoner, +hedged round with subtle precautions such as the abbe could so readily +invent! + +When he revolved this point, he sighed. No. That plan was not feasible +for many reasons, at least for the present. This was not the moment +for coercion but for wheedling. Yet, he reflected, it might be as +well, as chance arose, to complete the ring of servants. How very +provoking it was that things should run so agley! Mademoiselle, +instead of proving useful, seemed only likely to give rise to +complications. Her reappearance had already produced a disastrous +effect, for what was the use of setting her to manage the marquis's +conscience if his wife could retire out of reach? As matters stood, to +drag her thence by violence would never do, for shilly-shally Clovis +would turn restive. If only he could be induced to go away for a time +with his troublesome conscience to pay a visit to the prophet at +Spa--but there again arose a difficulty. His presence was necessary +here, for if that will was to be cancelled and another made, it was he +who ostensibly must manage it. + +A council of war! determined Pharamond at last. Valuable time is being +wasted. We must combine and resolve upon a plan of campaign which must +be carried without flinching to the end. + +Having arrived at this conclusion, he turned briskly round and went +with rapid steps in search of his allies. + +Presently, mademoiselle, the chevalier, and the abbe found themselves +sitting round a table in the small sanctum the latter had made +his own--a cosy little chamber, panelled in dark oak with heavy +double-doors--and the host took up his parable and spake, + +"Mademoiselle Brunelle is probably aware," he began, in his low sweet +voice, "that she was not summoned here for her charming society alone. +We have long known each other's views and wishes, and have arrived at +a consciousness that without mutual assistance our desires are +unattainable. Fortunately they do not clash; on the contrary, although +different, they run amicably side by side. So fortunate! It will be +best, will it not, if I review them? + +"Mademoiselle Brunelle has developed a fancy to wear a coronet. The +said coronet would prove a paltry bauble unless handsomely gilt and +jewelled. The gold and jewels are unluckily in possession of a lady +who at present holds the coronet, and who has no intention of +resigning either the one or the other. She must be made to give up +both--how?" + +There was a pause, during which the chevalier blinked uneasily. The +abbe had succeeded in drawing one brother at least well under his +thumb. Like a hound, poor sodden Phebus gazed constantly into the eyes +of Pharamond, seeking his orders there. There was a germ of an idea +within the breast of each, which none cared to drag into the light. + +"Abbe," remarked mademoiselle, curtly. "As usual, you beat about the +bush. There is none to overhear. What you would suggest, state +plainly." + +"Am I not plain enough?" laughed Pharamond, lightly. + +"No," returned Aglae, drawing down her brows in thought. "You say that +our views run parallel. How can that be? You love that mawkish +creature, and, for my part, as I have said before, you may wear her +and welcome, though I don't admire your taste. I tried to assist you +in the past, but--well--my efforts were not successful. How can I help +you now, without injury to my own prospects? You are not so foolish as +to suppose that I would accept Clovis without a sou, nor am I so silly +as to imagine that you would take that chit without her fortune." + +"Mademoiselle sketches a situation with such brief lucidity, that it +is a privilege to listen to her," replied Pharamond, with a tight +twitch of his thin lips, that was intended for a smile. "But as there +are blotches on the sun, so is not even she quite perfect. She forgets +that the world is ever rolling, and that as we roll with it our views +change and give place to others. She will remember, perhaps, that but +for me she would still be an angel without the gate, and grant that I +am not likely to employ the paw of one so clever, without sharing the +chestnuts which she rescues." + +"A compromise, then?" said Aglae. "I am still completely in the dark." + +"Because you start on a false premise, which was once true, but is so +no longer. With an engaging frankness, which claims my devoted +admiration, you admit that you do not care a straw for Clovis without +his coronet and a sufficiency of wealth. Well, I care not a jot more +for Gabrielle. She was misguided enough to flout my suit, to cover me +with lofty scorn, to tread me under foot. Am I a man, think you, to +forgive that? Not likely. + +"If I could have my way, I would take her with me for a while, and +then fling her, soiled and broken, to the lowest of my lackeys! It +would be a sweet and complete vengeance, which, alas, prudence bids me +to forego." The abbe, as he considered the delightful possibilities of +such a vengeance, looked so wicked with his pallid face and grinding +teeth, and green eyes lighted from within, that the chevalier cowered, +and Aglae was a little uncomfortable. + +Here was a revelation, and a clue to his labyrinthine mind. He had +come to dislike the unlucky marquise as much as she did, and the two +were to unite for her undoing. That was capital! + +Gradually the green light paled, the white face flushed, and Pharamond +laughing lightly was himself again. + +"How wise we are," he said, "to make full confession and keep no +secrets back! She has tied up her fortune, and must untie it, and then +we must take possession and divide. You and Clovis will take a half, +Phebus and I the other. There will be enough for all. Surely the +arrangement is a simple one." + +Yes. Certain conditions arrived at, the rest was simple. That germ +down in the darkness was developing rapidly, and putting forth dark +slimy leaves like those of the deadly nightshade. + +The three contemplated one another and kept silence, each thinking the +same thought. + +Having been induced to revoke her will, the marquise must be put away. + +But ere the treasure could be reached there were ramparts to be +scaled, wide ditches to be crossed. Could the obstacles ever be +surmounted? Some of them towered as high as virgin Alps. + +The abbe proceeded to explain that the role of mademoiselle was to +skilfully bring the marquis to a fitting state of mind. She was to +find engrossing occupation for such intellect as he possessed, dazzle +his eyes with mystical gewgaws, increase by artful pricks his +exasperation against his wife, swaddle him with flattering attentions, +keep the wound green, yet wrap him in cotton wool. + +Mademoiselle shook her head dubiously. Did she not remember the look +he gave her when she wished the wife to drown? He would never consent +to such strong measures, as might seem convenient to less qualmish +persons. + +"Pooh!" retorted Pharamond. "Do I not know him? When a thing is +irrevocably done, he will be glad to benefit by the results. You must +keep him in play like a struggling fish, and when the time comes bring +him to land. With half a great fortune, and the removal of its +importunate owner, he would soon grow content." + +"Half the fortune," mused Aglae, deep down within herself. "H'm! H'm! +Half the fortune! Why not the whole? Half-measures are not +satisfactory!" + + + + + END OF VOLUME II. + + + + * * * * * + SIMMONS & BOTTEN, PRINTERS, LONDON. _G. C. & Co_. + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Maid of Honour, Volume 2 (of 3), by +Lewis Wingfield + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MAID OF HONOUR, VOLUME 2 *** + +***** This file should be named 38875.txt or 38875.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/8/8/7/38875/ + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by Google Books + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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