She paused, but De Breulh made no reply, for he was perfectly mystified.
"You are," she continued, "my parents" intimate friend, and must have seen the discomforts of our domestic hearth, and that though both my father and mother are living, I am as desolate as the veriest orphan."
Fearing that M. de Breulh might not understand her reason for speaking thus, she threw a shade of haughtiness into her manner as she resumed,--
"My reason, sir, for seeing you to-day is to ask,--nay, to entreat you, to release me from my engagement to you, and to take the whole responsibility of the rupture on yourself."
Man of the world as he was, M. de Breulh could not conceal his surprise, in which a certain amount of wounded self-love was mingled.
"Mademoiselle!" commenced he--
Sabine interrupted him.
"I am asking a great favor, and your granting it will spare me many hours of grief and sadness, and," she added, as a faint smile flickered across her pallid features, "I am aware that I am asking but a trifling sacrifice on your part. You know scarcely anything of me, and therefore you can only feel indifference toward me."
"You are mistaken," replied the young man gravely; "and you do not judge me rightly. I am not a mere boy, and always consider a step before I take it; and if I asked for your hand, it was because I had learned to appreciate the greatness both of your heart and intellect; and I believe that if you would condescend to accept me, we could be very happy together."
The girl seemed about to speak, but De Breulh continued,--
"It seems, however, that I have in some way displeased you,--I do not know how; but, believe me, it will be a source of sorrow to me for the rest of my life."
De Breulh"s sincerity was so evident, that Mademoiselle de Mussidan was deeply affected.
"You have not displeased me in any way," answered she softly, "and are far too good for me. To have become your wife would have made me a proud and happy woman."
Here she stopped, almost choked by her tears, but M. de Breulh wished to fathom this mystery.
"Why then this resolve?" asked he.
"Because," replied Sabine faintly, as she hid her face,--"because I have given all my love to another."
The young man uttered an exclamation so full of angry surprise, that Sabine turned upon him at once.
"Yes, sir," answered she, "to another; one utterly unknown to my parents, yet one who is inexpressibly dear to me. This ought not to irritate you, for I gave him my love long before I met you. Besides, you have every advantage over him. He is at the foot, while you are at the summit, of the social ladder. You are of aristocratic lineage,--he is one of the people. You have a n.o.ble name,--he does not even know his own. Your wealth is enormous,--while he works hard for his daily bread.
He has all the fire of genius, but the cruel cares of life drag and fetter him to the earth. He carries on a workman"s trade to supply funds to study his beloved art."
Incautiously, Sabine had chosen the very means to wound this n.o.ble gentleman most cruelly, for her whole beauty blazed out as, inflamed by her pa.s.sion, she spoke so eloquently of Andre and drew such a parallel between the two young men.
"Now, sir," said she, "do you comprehend me? I know the terrible social abyss which divides me from the man I love, and the future may hold in store some terrible punishment for my fidelity to him, but no one shall ever hear a word of complaint from my lips, for----" she hesitated, and then uttered these simple words--"for I love him."
M. de Breulh listened with an outwardly impa.s.sible face, but the venomed tooth of jealousy was gnawing at his heart. He had not told Sabine the entire truth, for he had studied her for a long time, and his love had grown firm and strong. Without an unkind thought the girl had shattered the edifice which he had built up with such care and pain. He would have given his name, rank, and t.i.tle to have been in this unknown lover"s place, who, though he worked for his bread, and had no grand ancestral name, was yet so fondly loved. Many a man in his position would have shrugged his shoulders and coldly sneered at the words, "I love him,"
but he did not, for his nature was sufficiently n.o.ble to sympathize with hers. He admired her courage and frankness, which disdaining all subterfuges, went straight and unhesitatingly to the point she desired to reach. She might be imprudent and reckless, but in his eyes these seemed hardly to be faults, for it is seldom that convent-bred young ladies err in this way.
"But this man," said he, after a long pause,--"how do you manage ever to see him?
"I meet him out walking," replied she, "and I sometimes go to his studio."
"To his studio?"
"Yes, I have sat to him several times for my portrait; but I have never done anything that I need blush to own. You know all now, sir,"
continued Sabine; "and it has been very hard for a young girl like me to say all this to you. It is a thing that ought to be confided to my mother."
Only those who have heard a woman that they are ardently attached to say, "I do not love you," can picture M. de Breulh"s frame of mind.
Had any one else than Sabine made this communication he would not have withdrawn, but would have contested the prize with his more fortunate rival. But now that Mademoiselle de Mussidan had, as it were, thrown herself upon his mercy, he could not bring himself to take advantage of her confidence.
"It shall be as you desire," said he, with a faint tinge of bitterness in his tone. "To-night I will write to your father, and withdraw my demand for your hand. It is the first time that I have ever gone back from my word; and I am sure that your father will be highly indignant."
Sabine"s strength and firmness had now entirely deserted her. "From the depth of my soul, sir," said she, "I thank you; for by this act of generosity I shall avoid a contest that I dreaded."
"Unfortunately," broke in De Breulh, "you do not see how useless to you will be the sacrifice that you exact from me. Listen! you have not appeared much in society; and when you did, it was in the character of my betrothed; as soon as I withdraw hosts of aspirants for your hand will spring up."
Sabine heaved a deep sigh, for Andre had foreseen the same result.
"Then," continued De Breulh, "your situation will become even a more trying one; for if your n.o.ble qualities are not enough to excite admiration in the bosoms of the other s.e.x, your immense wealth will arouse the cupidity of the fortune-hunters."
When De Breulh referred to fortune-hunters, was this a side blow at Andre? With this thought rushing through her brain, she gazed upon him eagerly, but read no meaning in his eyes.
"Yes," answered she dreamily, "it is true that I am very wealthy."
"And what will be your reply to the next suitor, and to the one after that?" asked De Breulh.
"I know not; but I shall find some loophole of escape when the time comes; for if I act in obedience to the dictates of my heart and conscience, I cannot do wrong, for Heaven will come to my aid."
The phrase sounded like a dismissal; but De Breulh, man of the world as he was, did not accept it.
"May I permit myself to offer you a word of advice?"
"Do so, sir."
"Very well, then; why not permit matters to remain as they now are? So long as our rupture is not public property, so long will you be left in peace. It would be the simplest thing in the world to postpone all decisive steps for a twelvemonth, and I would withdraw as soon as you notified me that it was time."
Sabine put every confidence in this proposal, believing that everything was in good faith. "But," said she, "such a subterfuge would be unworthy of us all."
M. de Breulh did not urge this point; a feeling of deep sympathy had succeeded to his wounded pride; and, with all the chivalrous instinct of his race, he determined to do his best to a.s.sist these lovers.
"Might I be permitted," asked he, "now that you have placed so much confidence in me, to make the acquaintance of the man whom you have honored with your love?"
Sabine colored deeply. "I have no reason to conceal anything from you: his name is Andre, he is a painter, and lives in the Rue de la Tour d"Auvergne."
De Breulh made a mental note of the name, and continued,--
"Do not think that I ask this question from mere idle curiosity; my only desire is to aid you. I should be glad to be a something in your life. I have influential friends and connections----"
Sabine was deeply wounded. Did this man propose patronizing Andre, and thus place his position and wealth in contrast with that of the obscure painter? In his eagerness de Breulh had made a false move.
"I thank you," answered she coldly; "but Andre is very proud, and any offer of a.s.sistance would wound him deeply. Forgive my scruples, which are perhaps exaggerated and absurd. All he has of his own are his self-respect and his natural pride."
As she spoke, Sabine rang the bell, to show her visitor that the conversation was at an end.