"I have told monsieur every word Mademoiselle Madeleine spoke to me on the subject."
"_Some one_ must have aided her further! Who could it be? _Who could it possibly be?_" mused Maurice.
Baptiste was certain he knew who alone it could be; and he was pondering within himself whether he had the right to mention the note Madeleine had ordered him to deliver to M. de Bois. Her request had been that he would give no information he could honestly avoid; if it _could_ be avoided, it was plain, then, that the intelligence ought not to be communicated.
"Has monsieur done with me?" he asked, as Maurice stood reflecting in silence.
"Yes, if you have nothing further to tell me."
"Nothing further, monsieur." Saying these words, Baptiste withdrew.
"After Madeleine was missed," said Bertha, when the old gardener was gone, "I was the first person who came to the _chalet_. I found a handkerchief lying just by this table. It was marked G. de Bois."
"Gaston de Bois! Then it is clear _he_ was Madeleine"s confidant. He promoted her flight!"
"So I thought, at first," rejoined Bertha; "but it seems this is not so.
Your father took him the handkerchief, and he could not tell when or where he had lost it. He was amazed to hear that Madeleine had left us, and disclaimed all knowledge concerning her."
"Who, then, could it have been? But I will see M. de Bois myself."
"First let me tell you"--began Bertha, and faltered.
"Why do you hesitate? For Heaven"s sake, dear Bertha, tell me everything which can throw the faintest glimmer of light upon the path Madeleine has taken."
"I do not know how to say what I was thinking; perhaps I ought not to allude to it at all; yet it seems as if it must be true. Do you not remember that Madeleine confessed she had bestowed her affections upon _some one_? Since they were not given to you, as I once believed, I cannot help imagining that perhaps she might--might have meant"--
"Gaston de Bois?"
"Yes."
Maurice did not answer, and Bertha could say no more. There was a painful struggle going on in her mind, though less torturing than that which convulsed the spirit of her cousin.
When he had somewhat recovered himself, he said,--
"At all events I will see M. de Bois. If there is nothing to be learned from him, if he really knows nothing concerning Madeleine"s departure, I must seek information at Rennes. There is no time to lose. I will call upon M. de Bois at once."
The cousins parted at the door of the _chalet_. Bertha turned toward the chateau, pausing on her way to talk with Baptiste; Maurice went in the direction of his neighbor"s residence.
Count Tristan"s visit had taken M. de Bois aback, chiefly because he was confounded by a new proof of his own awkwardness (stupidity, he plainly termed it) in leaving his handkerchief behind him, as a witness of his presence at the _chalet_. But there was no such confusing testimony to destroy his composure when he received Maurice. Besides, he had ample time to collect himself; for he was walking in the park when his valet announced that the young viscount was awaiting him in the library. He had looked forward to the return of Maurice to Brittany as soon as the latter heard of Madeleine"s mysterious disappearance. M. de Bois knew that it would be more difficult to prevent her being traced by her cousin than by any other person, and that it was by him Madeleine herself most feared to be discovered. Gaston was therefore fully on his guard against betraying her confidence.
Maurice, on his part, was keenly sensible of the difficulty of his undertaking. He could not openly inquire of M. de Bois whether Madeleine had apprised him of her intentions. The very question would have a tendency to compromise his cousin, by suggesting that she was capable of holding clandestine communication with a young gentleman. Then, too, if M. de Bois was really the object of her attachment, he might not be aware of the preference with which she honored him; and it would be the height of indelicacy for Maurice to allow him to suspect a circ.u.mstance which her modesty would scrupulously conceal. He was sitting in the library pondering over the embarra.s.sments of his position, when his host entered. The gentlemen greeted each other with wonted cordiality.
"Did you return from Paris to-day?" asked M. de Bois. "Have you just come?"
"About an hour ago. I came to you at once to"--
M. de Bois interrupted him. It was the policy of the former to lead the conversation, that he might avoid direct questions.
"Had you heard that Mademoiselle de Gramont had left the chateau?"
"Yes; my cousin Bertha wrote to me, and"--
Again M. de Bois seized upon the thread of conversation.
"Have you no news from Mademoiselle Madeleine?--no letter?"
"None," sighed Maurice, convinced that, as M. de Bois plunged into the subject in this straightforward, calm manner, he could not possibly be in her confidence.
The host went on.
"Has not Count Tristan been able to obtain any trace of her?"
"Thus far, none at all! What _could_ have become of her! Where _could_ she have gone!" exclaimed Maurice; but not in a tone of interrogation, for he now felt a.s.sured that M. de Bois could not answer.
"One thing is certain; what Mademoiselle Mad--ad--adeleine has done must have been prompted by a n.o.ble motive. She could not cause you all this sorrow unless she imagined herself compelled to take the step which we must all lament."
"You are right, you only do her justice!" rejoined Maurice.
"What course do you propose to ado--op--opt?" inquired M. de Bois, with a perfectly natural air of friendly interest.
"I hardly know what to do. I should be thankful for any advice. I shall first visit the Prefecture at Rennes, to see if she obtained a pa.s.sport.
She could not surely run the risk of attempting to travel without one.
If the pa.s.sport be for Great Britain, I may go to Scotland. Possibly she may have changed her mind, and accepted Lady Vivian"s offer,--do you not think so?"
"It does not appear to me likely. She definitely decli--i--ined."
"Did she tell you so? Did she speak to you on the subject?" asked Maurice, hastily.
For the first time during the interview, M. de Bois betrayed a slight disquietude, but he quickly collected himself and answered,--
"I heard Lady Vivian speak to Mademoiselle Bertha of the offer she had made her cousin, and after that, Mademoiselle Mad--ad--adeleine told me she had declined the prop--op--oposition. But, if you imagine she has changed her mind, would not a letter to Lady Vivian answer every pur--ur--urpose?"
"No; if she should be there, I must see her, and use arguments which would have no force upon paper. _She must be there!_ Where else could she be? I will start for Scotland to-night. Now I must bid you adieu."
"If you are going back to the chateau, I will accompany you. I must make my _adieux_ to the ladies. I leave for Paris to-morrow."
"Indeed! Do you make a long stay?"
"Prob--ob--obably. The Marquis de Fleury had promised me a secretaryship, if he were sent as amba.s.sador to America. It is uncertain when he may get the appointment, but he has offered me the post of confidential sec--ec--ecretary at once."
"And you have accepted?"
"Gladly."
"Ah, M. de Bois, how I envy you! _You_ will have an object in life, while _I_, who feel as though a pent-up volcano were roaring within me, am condemned to let my struggling energies smoulder beneath the ashes of my father"s autocratic will! You have heard of his opposition to my studying for the bar? What is to become of me if I am deprived of every stimulating incentive to action?--especially now--now that"--he checked himself suddenly. He was not aware that M. de Bois had been informed by Bertha of Madeleine"s rejection, and Maurice could not dwell upon his own disappointment to one who might be a rival.
"Count Tristan may gradually be brought to contemplate your wishes with more favor."
"Hardly; but come--if you will accompany me, let us go."