"Yes," answered Madeleine, smiling gravely.
"It would not render him wretched? It would not exasperate him?"
questioned Maurice.
"No."
"He is not jealous, then?"
"Yes, I fear he is,--very jealous; but not of _you_."
"And yet, he has cause," returned Maurice, with violence which he could not control; "more cause than I trust he has of being jealous of any other man; and there may be, _must_ be other men who aspire to love you.
Your position, Madeleine, must expose you, at times, to impertinence; you must need protection."
"I have a talisman within which protects me ever," answered Madeleine.
"Ah, I know,--the love you bear _him_, my rival! Let us not speak of him. I cannot endure it; let us ever banish him from our conversation."
"I did not mean to make you suffer," said Madeleine, soothingly.
Before he could reply, Victorine entered with a mysterious air. Her countenance intimated that she had a matter of the utmost importance upon her mind.
Habituated to some of the little, pleasant, and _supposed to be_ harmless customs of her own country, she could not comprehend that Mademoiselle Melanie appeared to have no lovers, that she entertained no gentleman in particular. M. de Bois was so openly her _friend_ that mystery never attached itself to his visits. Mr. Hilson was a frequent visitor, but he was a married man, whose wife and daughters were among the most zealous of Mademoiselle Melanie"s patrons. Victorine was always on the _qui vive_ for the accession of a lover, as a necessary appendage to one in Mademoiselle Melanie"s position; and, at this moment, she felt as though she had a clew to some intrigue.
Instead of speaking in an audible tone, she approached Madeleine, and glancing dubiously at Maurice, said, in a whisper, "Mademoiselle, I have something to communicate."
"What is it?" asked Madeleine, without the slightest embarra.s.sment.
"A gentleman desires to see Mademoiselle Melanie immediately, and _in private_," whispered Victorine. "He particularly said _in private_, and, evidently he is very desirous of not being seen. He was quite confused when that stupid valet ushered him into the exhibition-rooms; but fortunately, I came to his a.s.sistance. He was so anxious to escape observation that he _would_ follow me downstairs; I therefore ushered him into Mademoiselle"s private drawing-room."
"Did you not ask his name?" inquired Madeleine, quietly.
"He would not give his name, mademoiselle. He said I must deliver you this note when no one was by, or slip it in your hand unperceived."
She spoke in a whisper, and gave the note with her back turned to Maurice, probably supposing that he was not aware of its delivery.
Madeleine broke the seal quite openly. At the first line, however, she changed color, and was visibly disturbed. Victorine, who was watching her closely, exulted in secret. Maurice perceived Madeleine"s agitation with surprise and pain. A suspicion that the letter was from his rival could not be escaped.
"What is it?" he asked, impulsively.
"I cannot tell you," replied Madeleine, hastily refolding the letter.
"Can you not tell me from whom this letter comes?"
"No--no!" she replied with unusual vehemence.
"Alas! I know too well," returned Maurice sadly. "But why should you be agitated and troubled by what he says? What right has he to give you pain?"
"You must leave me--leave me at once!" cried Madeleine, nervously.
Victorine was enchanted; the plot thickened! Here was a mystery, and she held the clew to it! It was very plain that Mademoiselle Melanie did not wish these two gentlemen to meet.
"Victorine, you will conduct monsieur"--said Madeleine. "I do not wish him to leave by the front entrance; you will conduct him through the garden."
There was a private entrance into the street through the large garden at the back of the house; but this was the first time that Victorine had ever received an order to show any visitor out by that way, and she felt she was beginning to be admitted to Mademoiselle Melanie"s confidence,--an honor for which she had long sighed.
Maurice was about to remonstrate, but Madeleine said to him, imploringly, "Can you not trust me? Will you not consent to my wishes, and trust to their being explained some future day?"
Maurice, though tormented by the keenest pangs of jealousy, could not resist this appeal.
"I trust you ever, Madeleine," he replied, taking up his hat. "When may I see you again?"
"When you choose; you are always welcome; but go now. Show monsieur _through the garden_, Victorine."
Victorine smiled a mysterious a.s.sent. Maurice followed her out of the room, but Madeleine"s intention was unexpectedly frustrated.
The visitor whom Victorine had ushered into the drawing-room had followed her unnoticed to the small entry which led into Madeleine"s boudoir. The forewoman and Maurice had only taken a few steps when they encountered him.
Maurice exclaimed in astonishment, "Good heavens, my father!"
"You here, Maurice," returned the count in a severe tone.
"Are you not here, my father?"
"That is different," answered the count, hiding his annoyance beneath a frigid air. "You heard what your grandmother said. She would be indignant if she knew of this visit, and you must be aware that it does not meet with _my_ approval."
"Have I reason to think so when I find you here also?" replied Maurice, in a manly tone.
"I come as the head of the family, and to talk upon a family matter of great importance. I do not, however, wish that my visit here should be known to any one. You understand me,--it is not to be mentioned."
"Be a.s.sured I shall not mention it," said Maurice, bowing and moving onward.
As the gentlemen had met, Victorine concluded there was now no need of showing the way through the garden entrance. She opened the door of the boudoir to admit Count Tristan, and then led the way to the entrance from the street. Maurice did not comprehend why Madeleine"s orders were disregarded; for he never suspected that his father was the writer of the note.
At the sound of a footstep on the stair, the viscount raised his head, and caught sight of a gentleman who had commenced descending, but suddenly turned back, as though he also did not wish to be seen. He could not, however, disappear before Maurice had recognized Lord Linden.
Why should Lord Linden have so rapidly retreated when he thought he might be seen? Could this languid, _blase_ n.o.bleman be the man Madeleine loved? Could she have been acquainted with him in France? When could their acquaintance have commenced? Why had she never mentioned him? It was very singular.
Maurice left the house he had entered with such joyous sensations, sadly and slowly. Madeleine was found at last, yet Madeleine was again lost to him!
CHAPTER XXVII.
COUNT TRISTAN"S POLICY.
When Count Tristan was ushered into Madeleine"s presence, he was received, not perhaps with warmth, but with marked courtesy. Nothing in her greeting betrayed that his past conduct was remembered, and yet nothing in her manner indicated that their relationship was unforgotten.
Her demeanor was simply that which would have been natural and appropriate in receiving, beneath her own roof, one who was almost a stranger.