CHAPTER XIV.
CHECK.
Gabrielle learned to practise her new art so well that day followedday in usual routine without suspicion being aroused of the bold thingshe had done. It occurred to none of the party that under the sameexterior 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, andwatched her in idle surprise, marvelling that the squeeze, socarefully calculated, should so signally have failed in its effect.What a low mania the mawkish creature was displaying for dirtywretches clad in rags! That thing a marquise! To crush one who was sounworthy of her place would be quite a virtuous action, as virtue wasunderstood by Aglae. The squeeze having proved insufficient for thepurpose, another must be applied. It was difficult to determine whatform the pressure was to take, since the lady was so craven and meanspirited. Aglae had declared to her face that the marquis was herlover--which was not true; had spoken of corrupting little Camille,whose mother, shocked for the moment, had, as it appeared, got used tothe abominable idea with singular rapidity. The ever-increasing scornof the governess was mingled now with disdain of a more positive kindfor the pusillanimity of the destined victim.
The family councils had resulted in abdication of authority on thepart of Clovis, who loved his ease, and was only too glad to escapefrom politics. How should he cope with two such clever heads as thoseof Aglae and Pharamond? The clever pair was in perfect accord as towhat should be done under given circumstances. The governess gentlylured him back to his accustomed pursuits and studies, and hisconscience ceased by degrees to pinch him.
Unknown to each other, the private scheme of each of the conspiratorshad miscarried, and both felt that the next move must be made withexceeding caution. Hence they were to outward seeming extremelyfriendly, whilst hating each other with a healthy loathing; makingbelieve to have all ideas in common, carefully concealing any desiresuddenly to depart from Lorge.
By suggestion of the affinity, they had taken to breakfasting in thestudy, where the morning sun shone in, a cosy party of four, in whichGabrielle was not included. During the meal the abbe would discuss thelatest rumour with the lady at the head of the table in amicablefashion, or join with her in arguing some point arising out ofMesmer's letters. The sage was as dissatisfied as his pupil at thenonappreciation of his discovery. For the miraculous cure of thebaron's sciatic nerve had found no favour with the peasantry ofTouraine, who vowed it was a perilous thing to allow the devil totamper with scourges sent from Heaven. That party requires littleencouragement, as all the world knows, and that it was he who hadworked the cure was evident, since the musicians, ere they ran away,had counted the hairs in his tail. Could there be any doubt thatwithout witchcraft or direct aid from the evil one, no tubful ofbottles could affect a gentleman's rheumatism? If there had been asprinkling of holy water by the good priest, as Madame la Baronne hadpiously wished, it would have been quite another affair. But ironfilings and a violoncello! had not the cure preached on the very nextSunday on the subject of Satanic miracles?
Clovis was heartily disgusted with the crassness of the bucolicignorance and the pig-headedness of its obstinacy, and gave a willingear 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 understoodnow that the suggestion which had affrighted him on the night of theattempted suicide had merely been an ebullition of overboiling zeal.She, had felt a genuine interest in him; had perceived that themarquise was no fitting helpmeet for a _savant_, and had been unableto conceal regret that he should not have been freed from a weightwhich clogged his scientific usefulness. Over-zeal, as Richelieuremarked, is productive of more harm than good, but it should betreated with indulgence in that it springs from laudable intentions.It was wrong to have said that the chatelaine should have been left todrown. But in his heart of hearts, Clovis began to confess to himselfthat the caresses of the patient during convalescence had beenwell-nigh unbearable, and that if Heaven thought well to take her in anatural way, it would be a relief rather than otherwise.
The even tenour of _dejeuner_ was disturbed one morning by theannouncement that a travelling berline was coming up the road, andthat an old gentleman was looking from its window. A travellingberline, covered thick with dust, too! Not a neighbour, then. Whocould it be that presumed to invade their monastic privacy? Amessenger from Paris, perhaps. Had something awful happened? The abbeand the governess glanced at each other suspiciously, the sameunspoken thought occurring to both. Was the crisis come before theywere prepared? If so, the idea of ousting the other one must beabandoned, and a yet closer alliance formed.
"Monsieur Galland," announced a servant. None of those present hadever heard the name. Who was he? Whence and from whom had he come?
The gentleman entered, and bowed gravely to the company. A spare, tallold man, who, despite the march of fashion, wore his hair curled andpowdered. He was clad in plain black cloth, with woollen stockings andblack buckles. A most respectable person, evidently. Would he be goodenough to state his business? He took a chair, accepted a cup ofcoffee, and, fixing his eyes on the portly Aglae, in what sheconsidered an offensive and marked manner, explained that he was asolicitor. A solicitor? There was no law suit pending that anyone wasaware. What? The confidential man of business of Monsieur le Marechalde Breze, who was, unfortunately, ill in bed. The grave Gentlemantrusted that the marechal's daughter was not also indisposed. To hisregret he perceived that she was absent from the morning meal of thefamily.
Again Pharamond and Aglae glanced at each other. What could the oldman have to say which could not be communicated by letter?
Clovis blushed, and looked for assistance to the abbe. It came uponhim suddenly that what had grown to be quite natural to him, would berather difficult to explain to a stranger.
"Madame la Marquise is an angel of charity," demurely remarked theabbe, "who repudiates the innocent comforts of this life to give themore time to others. She grudges the hour we waste in dallying, andprefers 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 wassomething unpleasant coming. It was odd that the announcement ofGabrielle's being an angel should make them all feel guilty. Thechevalier sighed and wheezed. Clovis's colour deepened. The abbedrummed his fingers on the cloth, annoyed. The governess scrutinisedthe stranger with lowering brow, for instinct whispered that somethinghad been kept back from her, and that it was on her account he hadcome.
"Will monsieur kindly explain his business?" enquired the abbe, withhis sweetest smile. "Of course, any emissary from one who has all ourrespect and affection is most welcome at his chateau of Lorge. Yet wecannot expect that our poor attractions should lure anyone to so quieta retreat."
"His chateau of Lorge?" thought the governess, surprised. "Surely itbelongs to the marquis?"
"I hope M. de Breze is not seriously ill?" asked Clovis, with aneffort. 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 herfather?"
If a cannon ball had dropped through the ceiling, the company couldnot have looked more startled. The solicitor smiled, and then grewgraver than before. There was consternation on every face. Theposition of the marquise was evidently more serious even than she hadsaid. The letter had been sent clandestinely, or it would have beensuppressed.
"The communication was a sad blow to the marechal," the solicitorcontinued quietly, "and increased the fever under which he suffered.Nevertheless, he would be here himself had not the doctors and Madamela Marechale almost employed force. It is as well that the marquiseshould happen to be absent, for it makes
my task the easier. Plainly,marquis, M. de Breze demands the instant dismissal of a person in youremploy who has seriously offended his daughter."
Aglae's massive jaw dropped in dumb amazement, while the abbe shot ather a covert glance of white hot malevolence. She had been up to somenefarious prank on her own account, unknown to him: had spoiled hisgame as well as her own. His frail fingers writhed like adders underthe 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 oldgentleman in Paris send so peremptory a demand to his son-in-law? Thesly minx was not so mean-spirited after all. Who could have supposedher 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, toyingcarelessly with a coffee-spoon--
"I have always done my duty by madame's children, whom she neverlooked after herself. I was engaged by M. le Marquis, who hasexpressed himself satisfied with my efforts."
"Do I understand that mademoiselle declines to go?" enquired thesolicitor. "M. le Marquis is strangely silent. Shall I, to my infiniteregret, 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 ather. She was bewildered, possessing no key to the puzzle.
"My instructions are," pursued the solicitor, "to see the dismissedperson off the premises, within two hours. In the event of herrefusing to go, M. le Marquis is to be informed, that I am to removeMadame la Marquise at once, and that, if she is detained it will bethe painful duty of the Marechal de Breze to prosecute certainindividuals, whom I need not designate, for conspiracy and cruelty.The officers of law at Blois have their instructions. If the dismissedperson does not present herself there within a given time to receiveher wages, or if I do not arrive in the company of Madame la Marquise,the officers will come here and demand admittance to the premisesbelonging to the marechal. I am glad to be informed that madame isuniversally beloved. A whisper that she received cruel treatment wouldrouse the province, and this I need scarcely observe, is not themoment for a collision with the _tiers etat_."
Excellently planned. The abbe, a good critic of such matters, wasfilled with appreciative admiration, although he was to be one of thesufferers. Aglae had been guilty of some prodigious blunder for whichshe was to be justly punished. That was well, for in actingindependently of him, she had broken a solemn promise. He also, headmitted inwardly, had not displayed his usual astuteness. Doubtlessher intense horror of him had helped to goad the victim to that whichhe had falsely judged she would never do. Then a sense that she hadshaken herself free of him, aroused a new access of impotent fury inhis breast. She had defied his hate as well as his love, and heshivered with malignant spite at the idea, that by claiming herfather's protection she had baffled him.
Clovis felt more angry than ever in his life before. It was arevelation of an unpleasant kind to find himself in leading strings;the state of dependence of which the abbe hinted long ago, to beordered like a lacquey, to be threatened and browbeaten in thepresence of others--he, Marquis de Gange, above all, under the eyes ofthe affinity, and to be powerless to return blow for blow. To be sodegraded and humiliated, and at the instance of his own wife! It wassome moments ere he could control the whirlwind of emotionssufficiently to command his voice.
"Am I to gather," he at length said, huskily, "that Madame la Marquiserequires a separation? I am surprised, for she has never spoken on thesubject. 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. Yourrights! And what of hers? You have compelled her to dwell under oneroof with a designing wanton. You have deprived her of access to herchildren. After that mere neglect may count for nothing. I am sorry tosay that all madame demands is the dismissal of that woman, freeaccess to the children, and a show of respect from you. So much beingconceded, bygones are to be bygones. Her terms refused, she will leaveyour roof, her father will withdraw supplies from you, and give younotice to quit his property."
Then the money was the old man's, and not the marquis's. Aglae hatedeverybody, herself included, at thought of how she had been duped.
"I will go when you will," she said, preparing to withdraw, with awhimsical attempt to don a martyr's chaplet. "I thank the marquis forhis many kindnesses. May I have a moment to embrace the cherubs? I amglad 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 daywhen she comes to know me better."
At this juncture the door opened, and Gabrielle entered in her ridinghabit, pale but composed. Without noticing the others, she advancedquickly 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 thereasons in your saddened face. I am sorry to be unable to congratulatemadame upon her blooming looks. She was wrong not to have spokensooner."
"I could not," pleaded Gabrielle. "It takes long for a loyal love tosmoulder out of life. I could have borne all, if she there had notthreatened to instil poison into a child's mind. Just think of it! MyGod! How monstrous!"
"She never did that," Clovis put in hotly. "Never, never! You may seethe children yourself, sir, and question them. Such a calumny isatrocious!"
"Thanks! Oh--thanks for that!" murmured the deep tones ofmademoiselle, as with theatrical gesture she hastily knelt and kissedhis hand. "When I have been chased away, it will be a comfort toremember 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'saverted back as he crouched in his fauteuil, "all is over. We arehopelessly divided. And yet, take comfort. In years to come, maybe,when Victor and Camille are man and woman, we may be joined again bythem. Mademoiselle, I wish no harm to you--only that after this day wemay never come face to face."
Unaccustomed tears stood on the seamed cheeks of M. Galland. It waswell that fiery old de Breze had not arrived in person. The visage ofthe white chatelaine told such a tale that bloodshed might have ensuedwhich all would have deplored. The interview was painful, and itbehoved 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 asshe cannot pack quickly will be sent after her. I have messages fromyour father, marquise, that must not be delivered here. Might I askthe favour of being conducted to the nursery, that I may make faithfulreports to my employer?"
Aglae bit her lips. This was a cunning stroke to present a theatricaldisplay, _a la Medea_. Gabrielle consented gratefully, and led theway, leaving the marquis tingling with humbled vanity, and areawakened remorse that would not be quieted.
His face was buried in his hands, and he was too absorbed in thecontemplation of his own outraged self to attend to the woes ofothers.
Aglae sidled up to the abbe timidly. Her usual masterful confidencehad melted into air.
"Is there no hope?" she whispered.
"None!" was the blunt rejoinder. "You must submit to instantbanishment, which serves you right. So it was you who, by yourbesotted folly drove her to this? I hope you will die in penury.Idiot! Not to know that the vilest animal will turn if threatened inits offspring."
Of course, the abbe was just the man to jump upon the fallen! Was ither fault that she had been kept in the dark with regard tocircumstances, which, if known, would have changed her tactics? Allwas not lost. It was but a temporary defeat such as the most skilfulgenerals
must submit to sometimes. It would not do to quarrel openlywith the abbe, though, in her trouble he was behaving like a brute.Therefore, while wreathing her face in smiles, she registered aninward 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 beststill be friends. Look at him. He is chafing now, wincing under thewhip 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 hadbeen kicked over by her clumsy foot, and must be recommenced from thefoundations. Who could foretell what the stormy future might bringforth? It was politic to keep on civil terms with one who might yetprove formidable--or useful.
The chevalier, who could read things hazily, as in the dark with ahorn 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, airilykissing his finger-tips till the berline was out of sight.
The Maid of Honour: A Tale of the Dark Days of France. Vol. 2 (of 3) Page 4
