"What is the matter?" asked Hortebise, with some anxiety. "What is troubling you?"
Tantaine had thrown himself into a chair, and for a moment made no reply; then, springing to his feet, he gave the expiring embers a furious kick, and faced the doctor with folded arms.
"I see much trouble before us," said he at last.
The doctor"s face grew as gloomy as that of his companion.
"Is it Perpignan who interferes?" asked he.
"No, Perpignan is only a fool; but he will do what I tell him."
"Then I really do not see--"
"Do not see," exclaimed Tantaine; "but luckily for us all, I am not so blind. Have you forgotten this marriage of De Croisenois? There lies the danger. All had gone so smoothly, every combination had been arranged, and every difficulty foreseen, and now----"
"Well, you had made too sure, that was all; and you were unprepared for the slightest check."
"Not so, but I had made no attempt to guard against the impossible."
"Of course, there are limits to all human intelligence, but pray explain yourself."
"This is it, then, doctor. The most adroit energy could never have put in our way such an obstacle as now threatens us. Have you in your experience of society ever come across a wealthy heiress who is indifferent to all the allurements of luxury, and is capable of disinterested love?"
The doctor smiled an expressive denial.
"But such an heiress does exist," said Tantaine, "and her name is Sabine de Mussidan. She loves--and whom do you think?--why a mere painter, who has crossed my path three times already. He is full, too, of energy and perseverance, and for these qualities I have never met his equal."
"What, a man without friends, money, or position, what can--"
A rapid gesture of Tantaine"s checked his companion"s speech.
"Unfortunately he is not without friends," remarked the genial Tantaine.
"He has one friend at least; can you guess who it is? No less a personage than the man who was to have married Sabine, M. de Breulh-Faverlay."
At this unexpected news Hortebise remained silent and aghast.
"How on earth those two met I cannot imagine. It must have been Sabine that brought them together, but the facts remain the same. They are close friends anyhow. And these two men have in their interests the very woman that I had selected to push De Croisenois" suit."
"Is it possible?"
"That is my present belief. At any rate, these three had a long interview last night, and doubtless came to a decision hostile to the interests of the Marquis."
"What do you mean?" asked Hortebise, his lips tightly compressed with anxiety. "Do you mean that they are aware of the manner by which De Croisenois hopes to succeed?"
"Look here?" answered Tantaine. "A general, on the eve of a battle, takes every precaution, but among his subordinates there are always fools, if not traitors. I had arranged a pretty little scene between Croisenois and Van Klopen, by which the Viscountess would be securely trapped. Unfortunately, though the rehearsal was excellent, the representation was simply idiotic. Neither of the actors took the least trouble to enter into the spirit of his part. I had arranged a scene full of delicacy and _finesse_, and they simply made a low, coa.r.s.e exhibition of it and themselves. Fools! they thought it was the easiest thing in the world to deceive a woman; and finally the Marquis, to whom I had recommended the most perfect discretion, opened fire, and actually spoke of Sabine and his desire to press his suit. The Viscountess found, with a woman"s keen perceptions, that there was something arranged between Van Klopen and her visitor, and hurried off to her cousin, M. de Breulh-Faverlay for advice and a.s.sistance."
The doctor listened to this recital, pallid and trembling.
"Who told you all this?" gasped he.
"No one; I discovered it; and it was easy to do so. When we have a result, it is easy to trace it back to the cause. Yes, this is what took place."
"Why don"t you say at once that the whole scheme is knocked on the head?" asked the doctor.
"Because I do not think that it is; I know that we have sustained a very severe check; but when you are playing _ecarte_ and your adversary has made five points to your one, you do not necessarily throw down the cards and give up the game? Not a bit; you hold on and strive to better your luck."
The worthy Dr. Hortebise did not know whether the most to admire the perseverance or deplore the obstinacy of the old man, and exclaimed,--
"Why, this is utter madness; it is like plunging headlong into a deep pit, which you can easily see in your path."
Tantaine gave a long, low whistle.
"My friend," said he, "what in your opinion would be the best course to pursue?"
"I should say, without a moment"s hesitation, turn up the whole scheme, and look out for another one, which, if less lucrative, would not be so full of danger. You had hoped to win the game, and with good reason too.
Now throw aside all feelings of wounded vanity, and accept your defeat.
After all, it does not matter to us who Mademoiselle de Mussidan marries. The great enterprise fortunately does not lie in this alliance.
We have still the idea of the Company to which all old people must subscribe remaining to us, and we can work it up at once."
He stopped short, abashed by the look on Tantaine"s face.
"It strikes me," resumed the doctor, a little mortified, "that my proposal is not utterly ridiculous, and certainly deserves some consideration."
"Perhaps so; but is it a practical one?"
"I see no reason why it should not be."
"Indeed, then, you look at the thing in a very different manner to myself. We are too far advanced, my dear doctor, to be our own masters.
We must go on, and have no option to do otherwise. To beat a retreat would simply be to invite our enemies to fall upon our disorganized battalions. We must give battle; and as the first to strike has always the best chance of victory, we must strive to take the initiative."
"The idea is good, but these are mere words."
"Was the secret that we confided to De Croisenois only words?"
This thrust went home.
"Do you mean that you think he would betray us?" said he.
"Why should he not if it were to his interests to do so? Reflect, Croisenois is almost at the end of his tether. We have dangled the line of a princely fortune before his eyes. Do you think he would do nothing if we were to say, "Excuse us, but we made a mistake; poor as you are, so you must remain, for we do not intend to help you?""
"But is it necessary to say that at all?"
"Well, at any rate, whatever we choose to say, what limit do you think he will place upon his extortions now that he holds our secret? We have taught him his music, and he will make us do our part in the chorus, and can blackmail us as well as we can others."
"We played a foolish game," answered Dr. Hortebise moodily.
"No; we had to confide in some one. Besides, the two affairs, that of Madame de Mussidan and the Duke de Champdoce, ran so well together. They were the simultaneous emanations of my brain. I worked them up together, and together they must stand or fall."