"My lord!" cried Murphy, entering precipitately, "she whom G.o.d has restored to you has recovered her senses. Her first words were, "My father!" She asks to see you."
A few moments after, Lady d"Harville left the mansion. Accompanied by Murphy, Baron de Graun, and an aid-de-camp, the prince went in great haste to the residence of the Countess M"Gregor.
CHAPTER XXIII.
THE WEDDING.
Since Rudolph had informed her of the murder of Fleur-de-Marie, Countess Sarah M"Gregor, overwhelmed by this revelation, which ruined all her hopes, tortured by deep remorse, had been attacked by violent nervous spasms, and a frightful delirium; her wound, hardly healed, reopened, and a fainting fit of long duration had caused her attendants to suppose her dead.
However, from the strength of her const.i.tution, she did not sink under this severe attack; a new glimmering of life once more reanimated her. Seated in an arm-chair, in order to relieve the oppression which suffocated her, Sarah, almost regretting the death from which she had just escaped, was occupied with bitter thoughts. Suddenly Thomas Seyton entered the chamber of the countess; he with difficulty restrained some internal agitation; at a sign from him her two women withdrew.
"How are you now?" said he to his sister.
"In the same state--I am very weak, and from time to time almost suffocated. Why did not heaven take me away from this world during my last attack?"
"Sarah," said Thomas Seyton, after a pause, "you are between life and death--a violent emotion might kill you, as it might save you."
"I have now no more emotions to experience, my brother."
"Perhaps--"
"The death of Rudolph would find me indifferent; the ghost of my drowned daughter--drowned by my fault--is there--always there, before me. It is not an emotion--it is incessant remorse. I am really a mother now, since I no longer have a child."
"I would prefer to find in you that cold ambition which made you regard your daughter as a means to realize the dream of your life."
"The frightful reproaches of the prince have killed this ambition; the maternal sentiment is awakened in me at the picture of the extreme misery of my daughter."
"And," said Seyton, hesitating and weighing each word, "if by chance-supposing an impossible thing--a miracle--you were informed that your daughter still lived--how would you support such a discovery?"
"I should die with shame and despair at the sight of her."
"Do not believe that--you would be too much elated with the triumph of your ambition; for, if your daughter had lived, the prince would have married you--he told you so."
"In admitting this mad supposition, it seems to me that I should not have a right to live. After having received the hand of the prince, my duty would be to deliver him of an unworthy wife--my daughter of an unnatural mother."
The embarra.s.sment of Thomas Seyton increased every moment. Charged by Rudolph, who was in an adjoining room, to inform Sarah that Fleur-de-Marie was alive, he did not know how to accomplish it. The state of the countess was so critical that she might expire from one moment to another; there was, then, no time to be lost in celebrating the marriage _in extremis_ which was to legitimate the birth of Fleur-de-Marie. For this sad ceremony, the prince had brought with him a clergyman, with Murphy and Baron de Graun as witnesses; the Duke de Lucenay and Lord Douglas, notified in haste by Seyton, were to serve as witnesses for the countess, and had just arrived.
Time was pressing; but remorse, feelings of maternal tenderness, which replaced, in Sarah"s heart, her merciless ambition, rendered the task of Seyton still more difficult. All his hope was that his sister deceived him or deceived herself, and that her pride would be awakened, as soon as she had gained this crown, so long and ambitiously coveted.
"Sister," said Thomas Seyton, "I am in a terrible perplexity; one word from me, perhaps, will restore you to life--perhaps will send you to your tomb."
"I have already told you that I have no more emotions to dread."
"One alone, however--"
"Which?"
"If it concerned your child?"
"My child is dead."
"If she were not?"
"We have exhausted this supposition already. Enough, brother, my remorse suffices."
"But if it were not a supposition? if by chance--an incredible chance--your daughter had been rescued from death; if she lived?"
"You alarm me; do not talk thus."
"Well, then, may G.o.d pardon me and judge you! she lives still."
"My daughter?"
"She lives, I tell you. The prince is here with a clergyman. I have sent for two of your friends for witnesses; the wish of your life is at length realized--the prediction is fulfilled--you are a sovereign."
Thomas Seyton p.r.o.nounced these words while fixing on his sister a look of anguish, watching for each sign of emotion. To his great astonishment, the features of Sarah remained almost impa.s.sible; she placed her hand upon her heart, and falling back in her chair, suppressed a slight cry, which appeared to have been caused by some sudden and excruciating pain, after which her face became composed and calm.
"What is the matter, sister?"
"Nothing--surprise--unhoped-for joy. At length my wishes are crowned."
"I was not deceived," thought Thomas Seyton. "Ambition rules--she is saved." Then, addressing his sister, he said, "What did I tell you?"
"You were right," replied she, with a bitter smile, divining her brother"s thoughts; "ambition has once more stifled maternity within me."
"You will live; and will love your daughter?"
"I do not doubt it--I shall live--see how calm I am. Where is the prince?"
"He is here."
"I wish to see him before the ceremony. My daughter is here also, without doubt."
"No; you will see her afterward."
"Now that I have the time, ask, I pray you, the prince to come."
"My sister, I do not know why--but your manner is strange."
"Would you have me laugh? Do you think satisfied ambition has a soft and tender expression? Let the prince come!"
In spite of himself, Seyton was uneasy at Sarah"s calmness. For a moment he thought he saw in her eyes restrained tears; after a little longer hesitation, he opened a door, which he left open, and went out.
"Now," said Sarah, "let me but see and embrace my child, I shall be satisfied. It will be very difficult to be obtained: Rudolph, to punish me, will refuse; but I will succeed."
Rudolph entered and closed the door.