The Maid of Honour: A Tale of the Dark Days of France. Vol. 2 (of 3)

by Lewis Wingfield

  CHAPTER XIX.

  A COUNCIL OF WAR.

  Could we remove the fronts from the imposing domiciles whose dignifiedexteriors compel our admiring awe, we should often rub our eyes inastonishment at the curious spectacle within. Than the outgoings andincomings of the inhabitants of Lorge nothing could appear moredecorous and respectable, and yet as regarded a prospect of lastingpeace, that group was composed of the least promising elements.

  On the day after the return from Paris Gabrielle remained inseclusion, making no sign, while the others waited with more or lessimpatience to see if she would throw down the gauntlet. Aglae couldscarce conceal her satisfaction at the warmness of her dear friend'sgreeting. Clovis was genuinely delighted to see her and made no secretof his joy, whereat the abbe was annoyed, though he knew better thanto betray the feeling. Time had not loosed the bonds wherein themarquis was held by his affinity. On the contrary, absence had in hiscase made the heart grow fonder, for he seemed now to have quiteforgotten the fear with which former admiration had been mingled. Itwas rather hard, the abbe could not help considering, that his owninfluence, for which he had laboured with such patience and dexterity,should pale so easily before that of this lady, who for twelve monthshad made no move. By summoning her to his aid, had he raised up aspirit which by and by he would be powerless to lay? No. For theattainment of an object that was now clearly modelled before hissight, the assistance of Mademoiselle Brunelle was absolutelynecessary. The object attained, he would steal a march on her, and onhis brothers as well, if need were. Meanwhile, it was of the bestaugury that the chatelaine should remain quiescent. It has been saidthat the woman who hesitates is lost. Certain it is that one of thenature of the marquise--of the class who seem specially made to endureslings and arrows--does not gain strength by delay. She can in amoment of impulse perform an act of energy; but if she waits andbroods her strength exhales itself in moans.

  The marquis and his friend got out their books, made a grand parade ofbeing vastly busy--even dug out the blessed 'cello and groaned out anaffecting fugue; but expecting you know not what it is impossible tokeep the mind from wandering, and Aglae, try as she would to commandherself, jumped up at intervals and strode the polished floor withstatuesque arms crossed over the ample bosom, longing for something tooccur.

  "No news is good news, believe me," the abbe whispered in caution, ashour succeeded hour, and their patience began to ooze. "If she acceptsher position without a struggle, a most important point is gained."

  Aglae sniffed fretfully, and passed her square-tipped fingers throughthe masses of her blue-black hair. "That is mighty well," she said,tartly; "but for the creature to take me back again so quietly, afterall that passed, makes me long to pinch, and beat, and slap anythingso deplorably spiritless. If she does not do something to-morrow, youwill have to lock me up, for I shall not be able to prevent myselffrom rushing into her room and banging her head against the wall."

  "No more blunders!" returned the abbe, sternly. "You have not theskill to read her. Do not forget that it was by your wrong-headednessand bungling that you brought about your own defeat. Remember theterms of the agreement which was to bring you back among us. You wereto be guided by me absolutely, and abstain from silly little privateplots which could only prove disastrous to us both."

  Mademoiselle was silent, and her heavy mobile brows shaped themselvesinto something like a scowl. She bit her thick red lips and smiled anengaging smile, as she patted the abbe with a fan, playfully. "Ofcourse, I will do as you bid," she said, "but you must not look socross. I am all gratitude for your many kindnesses and too glad of soskilled a guide." Then as she turned away there were lines about hermouth that were not pretty to look upon, and a sullen shade upon herbrow, that was gone again like a summer thunder-cloud.

  The classically-modelled bosom of mademoiselle covered a black well ofbitterness. She loathed herself for having bungled; she hatedGabrielle with an all-absorbing hate as the author of herdiscomfiture; she detested the abbe for his domineering ways--andClovis for not having defended her. She hated all and everyone in thatshe had accidentally been kept in the dark as to the real owner of thefortune, whereby she had been betrayed into a pitfall.

  As she was being ignominiously conducted to Blois, like a thief takenin the act, a boiling geyser of venom had scalded her cheeks; and asshe writhed behind a lace handkerchief she registered a vow to beavenged on Gabrielle some day a hundred-fold for that which she hadborne at her hands. The knowledge did not tend to appease her wraththat without outside help she would be incapable of fulfilling thevow. The devil will do much to assist his own, but his methods are notartistically complete, and at a critical moment he whisks into spacewith a grin, leaving his votaries to disaster. Hence it is not alwayswell to depend too much upon the devil. It is a fact worthy of remarkthat in the legends of his many compacts with mankind it is alwaysassumed that he is honest in his dealings and a model of business-likestraightforwardness, while it is the insignificant mortal--merewax in such hands--who ultimately cheats and circumvents him. Surelythis is all wrong. We would not wish the devil to be inconsistent,and it is in the fitness of things that his ardent worshippers shouldfind the ground slippery under foot, and the power in which theytrusted--nowhere.

  Vainly she revolved the chances of ever returning to Lorge, whensuddenly arrived the abbe's first letter, which was quite sticky andmawkish with honey. What was he driving at? He would not write thuswithout an object. She smiled, locked away the missive, and waited.

  Then came the second letter, wherein, to her surprise, she found thegates open again which she feared were hermetically closed. Go back toLorge? Of course she would, with alacrity, and follow the abbe'sinstructions, though she understood them not. She knew that the oldnuisance was defunct, that the marquise was in full possession. Whatwas this miracle which called her back to Paradise? It mattered not.Her massive foot once more within the threshold, she would profit bythe 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 womanwho hung for awhile in the balance, till the devil inserted a toe and,by its weight, settled the matter. She had genuinely liked themarquis's children, and would, if circumstances so ordained, have gonedown to posterity as a typically virtuous second wife, but for thatdevil's toe!

  Well, the toe was inserted, and proved a heavy one, for down came thescale with a thud. Perceiving they were a fruitful cause of danger,she made up her mind without a qualm that she would avoid her quondampets in the future, and school herself to gaze with sphinx-likestoniness on the twain whom she had kissed and cuddled.

  What happened to them--one way or the other--was become a matter ofcomplete indifference. The black well seethed and boiled. She wouldhave revenge, somehow, and at the same time feather her nest.

  Suspense lasted till the end of the second day. As the party--minusthe chatelaine--were sitting down to dinner, there appeared upon thescene, Toinon, who demurely laid a note upon the marquis's plate, andwithout a word retired.

  As many weak people do, Clovis stared at the letter, longing to openit, and yet loth to do so, knowing that its contents could scarcely beagreeable, and it was not until the snorting and sniffing of theaffinity awoke him to a sense of responsibility, that he took it upand broke the seal. The letter was exceedingly unpleasant and to thepurpose.

  "Clovis, when I called upon my father to rid me of that woman, Iaccomplished a sacred duty which cost me dear; for to inflict painupon another brings the like upon myself. That you should have forcedher on me again, was due, I am sure, to fear. I suspected before thatyou were afraid of her, for what reason I could not guess. The gulfbetween us is impassable, and as you brood over this fact and knowthat you have dug it yourself, you will be filled some day withunavailable remorse. The future appals me--I shudder at itscontemplation, wondering to what you may be goaded. The conduct of anunscrupulous woman, who has all to gain, I can u
nderstand, but yoursremains a mystery. What a life! What a future! If at your age you canbe so easily fooled by a vulgar _intriguante_, what will become of youwhen old? How singular a creation is man! You have oppressed,humiliated, abandoned me who loved you for yourself with an ardourthat amazes me when I recall it now, and are content to grovel at thefeet of one who but likes you for what you can bestow--whom you willknow some day and despise.

  "When your conscience forces you to see what you have done, seek notto wreak vengeance upon me. Henceforth, we dwell apart, and your lifeand mine have naught in common. You may go your ways on this conditionunmolested. Never speak to me, or to the children: never let anymember of your coterie invade the apartments I inhabit. The house islarge enough. Avoid a scandal. Farewell. To each other we arehenceforth dead.

  "Gabrielle Marquise de Gange."

  With twitching fingers the marquis passed the letter to the abbe whoread and passed it on to mademoiselle. It was not the sort of letterthat it would be nice to read aloud. Silence fell upon the group, andby tacit consent all rose and went about their avocations, withoutventuring to comment on the document.

  The letter breathed dignity, and there was something fine about thescathing words contemptuously flung at the foe. A vulgar_intriguante_, indeed! Well, why deny that it was true, though thestatement was somewhat blunt? Mademoiselle always preferred toconsider herself the architect of her own fortunes.

  On the morrow, the abbe, who, more disconcerted than he chose toadmit, by the decided action of the chatelaine, had sallied forth tomeditate in private, perceived that she had already taken steps toisolate herself!

  He found workmen busy in opening a doorway which should give access tothe children's wing from the bedroom of the marquise, and a locksmithchanging the lock of the postern which gave upon the garden moat.

  So that pleasaunce was to be denied henceforth to the group whichcomposed the enemy? How would Clovis take this move? A scandal,forsooth! Was she not causing one herself by so ostentatiously raisingbarriers and employing workmen who would chatter? It was evidently herintention to occupy the long saloon, the boudoir adjoining, thebedroom that looked on the yard, and the children's wing, with themoat garden for outdoor recreation, leaving the rest of the premisesto the family. If they were never to see or speak with her, how couldthey prosecute their plans? The masters who doubtless would besummoned from Blois to teach the young idea would certainly detectsomething unusual, and they too would be sure to gossip. And what ofthe servants? They were trustworthy enough, since they had for themost part been engaged by the abbe himself, as representing theMarquis de Gange, and Gabrielle had never thought of interfering. Butthe best of servants have tongues, and when the neighbours should flitover from Montbazon (which they were certain to do shortly) coachmanwould confide in coachman, and lacquey in lacquey, and old Madame deVaux would hear all about it and spread the news like wildfire. AllTouraine would believe that the Marquise de Gange was a prisoner inher own chateau; the mob who were fond of her would rise, and therewould be a pretty pother! What a pity she was not indeed a prisoner,hedged round with subtle precautions such as the abbe could so readilyinvent!

  When he revolved this point, he sighed. No. That plan was not feasiblefor many reasons, at least for the present. This was not the momentfor coercion but for wheedling. Yet, he reflected, it might be aswell, as chance arose, to complete the ring of servants. How veryprovoking it was that things should run so agley! Mademoiselle,instead of proving useful, seemed only likely to give rise tocomplications. Her reappearance had already produced a disastrouseffect, for what was the use of setting her to manage the marquis'sconscience if his wife could retire out of reach? As matters stood, todrag her thence by violence would never do, for shilly-shally Cloviswould turn restive. If only he could be induced to go away for a timewith his troublesome conscience to pay a visit to the prophet atSpa--but there again arose a difficulty. His presence was necessaryhere, for if that will was to be cancelled and another made, it was hewho ostensibly must manage it.

  A council of war! determined Pharamond at last. Valuable time is beingwasted. We must combine and resolve upon a plan of campaign which mustbe carried without flinching to the end.

  Having arrived at this conclusion, he turned briskly round and wentwith rapid steps in search of his allies.

  Presently, mademoiselle, the chevalier, and the abbe found themselvessitting round a table in the small sanctum the latter had madehis own--a cosy little chamber, panelled in dark oak with heavydouble-doors--and the host took up his parable and spake,

  "Mademoiselle Brunelle is probably aware," he began, in his low sweetvoice, "that she was not summoned here for her charming society alone.We have long known each other's views and wishes, and have arrived ata consciousness that without mutual assistance our desires areunattainable. Fortunately they do not clash; on the contrary, althoughdifferent, they run amicably side by side. So fortunate! It will bebest, will it not, if I review them?

  "Mademoiselle Brunelle has developed a fancy to wear a coronet. Thesaid coronet would prove a paltry bauble unless handsomely gilt andjewelled. The gold and jewels are unluckily in possession of a ladywho at present holds the coronet, and who has no intention ofresigning either the one or the other. She must be made to give upboth--how?"

  There was a pause, during which the chevalier blinked uneasily. Theabbe had succeeded in drawing one brother at least well under histhumb. Like a hound, poor sodden Phebus gazed constantly into the eyesof Pharamond, seeking his orders there. There was a germ of an ideawithin the breast of each, which none cared to drag into the light.

  "Abbe," remarked mademoiselle, curtly. "As usual, you beat about thebush. There is none to overhear. What you would suggest, stateplainly."

  "Am I not plain enough?" laughed Pharamond, lightly.

  "No," returned Aglae, drawing down her brows in thought. "You say thatour views run parallel. How can that be? You love that mawkishcreature, and, for my part, as I have said before, you may wear herand welcome, though I don't admire your taste. I tried to assist youin the past, but--well--my efforts were not successful. How can I helpyou now, without injury to my own prospects? You are not so foolish asto suppose that I would accept Clovis without a sou, nor am I so sillyas to imagine that you would take that chit without her fortune."

  "Mademoiselle sketches a situation with such brief lucidity, that itis a privilege to listen to her," replied Pharamond, with a tighttwitch of his thin lips, that was intended for a smile. "But as thereare blotches on the sun, so is not even she quite perfect. She forgetsthat the world is ever rolling, and that as we roll with it our viewschange and give place to others. She will remember, perhaps, that butfor me she would still be an angel without the gate, and grant that Iam not likely to employ the paw of one so clever, without sharing thechestnuts 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 sono longer. With an engaging frankness, which claims my devotedadmiration, you admit that you do not care a straw for Clovis withouthis coronet and a sufficiency of wealth. Well, I care not a jot morefor Gabrielle. She was misguided enough to flout my suit, to cover mewith lofty scorn, to tread me under foot. Am I a man, think you, toforgive that? Not likely.

  "If I could have my way, I would take her with me for a while, andthen fling her, soiled and broken, to the lowest of my lackeys! Itwould be a sweet and complete vengeance, which, alas, prudence bids meto forego." The abbe, as he considered the delightful possibilities ofsuch a vengeance, looked so wicked with his pallid face and grindingteeth, 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 hadcome to dislike the unlucky marquise as much as she did, and the twowere to unite for her undoing. That was capital!

  Gradually the green light paled, the white face flushed, and Pharamo
ndlaughing lightly was himself again.

  "How wise we are," he said, "to make full confession and keep nosecrets back! She has tied up her fortune, and must untie it, and thenwe must take possession and divide. You and Clovis will take a half,Phebus and I the other. There will be enough for all. Surely thearrangement is a simple one."

  Yes. Certain conditions arrived at, the rest was simple. That germdown in the darkness was developing rapidly, and putting forth darkslimy leaves like those of the deadly nightshade.

  The three contemplated one another and kept silence, each thinking thesame 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 bescaled, wide ditches to be crossed. Could the obstacles ever besurmounted? Some of them towered as high as virgin Alps.

  The abbe proceeded to explain that the role of mademoiselle was toskilfully bring the marquis to a fitting state of mind. She was tofind engrossing occupation for such intellect as he possessed, dazzlehis eyes with mystical gewgaws, increase by artful pricks hisexasperation 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 lookhe gave her when she wished the wife to drown? He would never consentto such strong measures, as might seem convenient to less qualmishpersons.

  "Pooh!" retorted Pharamond. "Do I not know him? When a thing isirrevocably done, he will be glad to benefit by the results. You mustkeep him in play like a struggling fish, and when the time comes bringhim to land. With half a great fortune, and the removal of itsimportunate 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 notsatisfactory!"

  END OF VOLUME II.

  * * * * * SIMMONS & BOTTEN, PRINTERS, LONDON. _G. C. & Co_.