"How much do you and Patterson make?"
"About forty thousand francs, my lord."
"Very pretty! However, so much the better; for, after all, I am satisfied with you, and if I had had a will to make, I should have left this sum to you and Patterson." The viscount went out to go, in the first place, to his creditor and Madame de Lucenay, whom he did not suspect of having overheard his conversation with Badinot.
CHAPTER x.x.x.
THE INTERVIEW.
Lucenay House was one of those princely habitations of the Faubourg Saint Germain which the un.o.bstructed view renders so magnificent. A modern house could have been placed with ease in the s.p.a.ce occupied by the staircase of one of these palaces; and an entire ward on the ground they covered.
Toward nine o"clock in the evening of this same day, the enormous gateway was opened to a glittering carriage, which, after having described a scientific curve in the immense court stopped before a covered porch, which led to an antechamber.
While the stampings of the two vigorous and mettlesome horses resounded on the pavement, a gigantic footman opened the emblazoned door, and a young man descended slowly from this brilliant vehicle, and not less slowly mounted the five or six steps of the porch.
This was the Viscount de Saint Remy.
On leaving his creditor, who, satisfied with the engagement made by the Count de Saint Remy, had granted the delay asked, and agreed to come to Rue Chaillot at ten o"clock, Florestan was come to thank Madame de Lucenay for the new service she had rendered; but, not having met the d.u.c.h.ess in the morning, he came in great spirits, certain to find her at the hour she habitually reserved for him.
From the obsequiousness of the two footmen in the antechamber who ran to open the door as soon as they recognized the carriage; from the profoundly respectful air with which the rest of the liveried servants spontaneously arose as the viscount pa.s.sed, one could easily see that he was looked upon as the second, if not the real master of the mansion.
When the Duke de Lucenay entered his house, his umbrella in his hand, and his feet in huge overshoes (he detested riding in the daytime), the same domestic evolutions were repeated, and always respectfully; yet to the eyes of an observer, there was a great difference of expression between the reception given to the husband, and that which was reserved for the _cicisbeo_.
The same respectful eagerness was manifested in the saloon of the valets when Florestan entered there; in a moment, one of them preceded him, to announce him to Madame de Lucenay.
Never had Florestan been more conceited; never did he feel more easy, more sure of himself, more irresistible. The victory which he had gained in the morning over his father; the new proof of attachment from Madame de Lucenay; the joy at having so miraculously escaped from so cruel a position; his renewed confidence in his star, gave to his handsome face an expression of boldness and good humor which rendered him still more seducing. In fine, he never was more pleased with himself; and he had reason.
A last glance in a mirror completed the excellent opinion that Florestan had of himself.
The valet opened the folding doors of the saloon, and announced, "His lordship the Viscount de Saint Remy."
The astonishment and indignation of the d.u.c.h.ess were indescribable.
She thought the count must have told his son that she also had overheard all.
We have said before, that, on learning the infamy of Florestan, the love of Madame de Lucenay was at once changed into utter disdain.
Being engaged out that evening, she was, although without diamonds, dressed with her usual taste and magnificence: this splendid toilet; the rouge which she wore boldly; her beauty, quite striking at night; her figure of "the G.o.ddess sailing on clouds," rendered still more striking a dignity, which no one possessed more than she did, and which she pushed, when it was necessary, to a most superlative haughtiness.
The proud, determined character of the d.u.c.h.ess is known to the reader; let him imagine her look, when the viscount, smiling, advanced toward her, and said in loving tones, "My dear Clotilde, how kind you are!
how much you----" The viscount could not finish.
The d.u.c.h.ess was seated, and had not stirred; but her actions, the glance of her eye, revealed a contempt at once so calm and so withering, that Florestan stopped short. He could not say a word, or make a step in advance. Never had Madame de Lucenay conducted herself thus toward him. He could not believe it to be the same woman whom he had always found so tender and affectionate. His first surprise over, Florestan was ashamed of his weakness; he resumed his habitual audacity; making a step toward Madame de Lucenay to take her hand, he said to her in the most caressing manner, "Clotilde, how is this? I have never seen you so handsome, and yet--"
"Oh! this is too impudent!" cried the d.u.c.h.ess, recoiling with such unequivocal disgust and pride, that Florestan once more was surprised and confounded.
However, a.s.suming a little a.s.surance, he said to her: "You will inform me, at least, Clotilde, the cause of this sudden change? What have I done? What do you wish?"
Without replying to him, Madame de Lucenay looked at him from head to foot, with an expression so insulting that Florestan felt the flush of resentment mount to his forehead, and he cried, "I know, madame, you are habitually very hasty in your ruptures. Is it a rupture you wish?"
"The pretension is curious!" said Madame de Lucenay, with a burst of sardonic laughter. "Know that when a lackey robs me--I do not break with him--I turn him out."
"Madame!"
"Let us put a stop to this," said the d.u.c.h.ess, in a decided and haughty tone. "Your presence is repugnant to me! What do you want here? Have you not got your money?"
"I was right then. I guessed it was you. These twenty-five thousand francs--"
"Your last forgery is withdrawn, is it not? The honor of your family name is saved. It is saved. Go away. Ah! believe--I much regret this money--it would have succored so many honest people; but it was necessary to think of your father"s shame and of mine."
"Then, Clotilde, you know all! Oh! look you now; nothing remains for me but to die," cried Florestan in the most pathetic and despairing tone.
A burst of indignant laughter from the d.u.c.h.ess replied to this tragical exclamation, and she added, between two fits of hilarity, "I never could have thought that infamy could make itself so ridiculous!"
"Madame!" cried Florestan, almost blind with rage.
The folding doors were thrown open suddenly, and a valet announced, "His Grace the Duke de Montbrison!"
Notwithstanding his habitual self-command, Florestan could hardly restrain himself, which a man more accustomed to society than the duke would certainly have remarked. Montbrison was scarcely eighteen.
Let the reader imagine the charming face of a young girl, fair, white, and red, whose rosy lips and smooth chin shall be slightly shaded with an incipient beard; add to this, large brown eyes, still slightly timid, a figure as graceful as that of the d.u.c.h.ess, and he will have, perhaps, an idea of the appearance of this young duke, the most ideal Cherubino that a Countess and a Susanna had ever put on a woman"s cap, after admiring the whiteness of his ivory neck.
The viscount had the weakness or the audacity to remain.
"How kind you are, Conrad, to have thought of me tonight!" said Madame de Lucenay in the most affectionate tone, extending her beautiful hand to the young duke who hastened to shake hands with his cousin; but Clotilde shrugged her shoulders, and said to him gayly, "You may kiss them, cousin: you wear your gloves."
"Pardon me, cousin," said the youth; and he pressed his lips on the charming hand she presented him.
"What are you going to do this evening, Conrad?" demanded the d.u.c.h.ess, without taking the least notice of Florestan.
"Nothing, cousin; when I leave here, I am going to my club."
"Not at all: you shall accompany M. de Lucenay and me to Madame de Senneval"s; it is her night; she has already asked me several times to present you."
"Cousin, I shall be too happy to place myself under your orders."
"And besides, frankly, I do not like to see you so soon accustom yourself to this taste for clubs; you have every requisite to be perfectly well received and even sought after in society. So you must go oftener."
"Yes, cousin."
"And as I am with you pretty much on the footing of a grandmother, my dear Conrad, I am disposed to be very maternal. You are emanc.i.p.ated it is true; but still I think you will have need for a long time of a tutor. And you must absolutely accept of me."
"With joy, with delight, my cousin!" said the young duke with vivacity.
It is impossible to describe the mute rage of Florestan, who remained standing, leaning against the chimney-piece.