de Macreuse, who is so devout, would probably not have the same scruples that I, a mere pagan, have. But such as I am, such I shall remain, and love you even more than ever, my dear mother," added Gerald, kissing the hand of the d.u.c.h.ess respectfully.
There are strange coincidences in this life of ours.
Gerald had scarcely uttered M. de Macreuse"s name before a servant rapped at the door, and, on being told to enter, announced that M. de Macreuse wished to see the d.u.c.h.ess in regard to a very important matter.
"Did you tell him that I was at home?" asked Madame de Senneterre.
"Madame la d.u.c.h.esse gave no order to the contrary."
"Very well,--ask M. de Macreuse to wait a moment."
Then turning to her son, she said, no longer with severity, but with deep sadness:
"Your incomprehensible refusal grieves and disappoints me more than I can express, so I beg and implore that you will remain here. I will return almost immediately. Ah, my son, my dear son, you can not imagine the terrible chagrin you are causing me."
"Pray, mother, do not say that," pleaded Gerald, touched by his mother"s grief. "You know how much I love you."
"You are always saying that, Gerald. I wish I could believe it."
"Then send that brute of a Macreuse away, and let me try to convince you that my conduct is at least loyal and honest. What, you insist upon going?" he added, seeing his mother moving towards the door.
"M. de Macreuse is waiting for me," replied the d.u.c.h.ess.
"Then let me send him word to take himself off. There is no necessity of bothering with him."
But as M. de Senneterre started towards the bell with the evident intention of giving the order, his mother checked him by saying:
"Really, Gerald, another of my great annoyances is the intense aversion--I will not say jealousy--you seem to entertain for a worthy young man whose exemplary life, modesty, and piety ought to be an example to you. Ah, would to Heaven that you had his principles and virtues! If that were the case, you would not prefer low company and a life of dissipation to a brilliant marriage which would a.s.sure your happiness and mine."
With this parting thrust Madame de Senneterre went to join M. de Macreuse, leaving her son alone, but not without making him promise that he would wait for her return.
CHAPTER XVII.
PRESUMPTION AND INDIGNATION.
When the d.u.c.h.ess returned to her son, her cheeks were flushed, and intense indignation was depicted on her visage.
"Who ever would have believed it? Did any one ever hear of such audacity?" she exclaimed, on entering the room.
"What is the matter, mother?"
"M. de Macreuse is a scoundrel,--a vile scoundrel!" cried Madame de Senneterre, in a tempest of wrath.
Gerald could not help bursting into a hearty laugh, despite his mother"s agitation; then, regretting this unseemly hilarity, he said:
"Forgive me, mother, but this revulsion of feeling is so sudden and so very remarkable! But tell me, has this man failed in respect to you?"
demanded Gerald, very seriously, this time.
"Such a person as he is never forgets his manners," answered the d.u.c.h.ess, spitefully.
"Then what is the meaning of this anger? You were swearing by your M. de Macreuse a minute ago!"
"Don"t call him my M. de Macreuse, if you please," cried Madame de Senneterre, interrupting her son, impetuously. "Do you know the object of his visit? He came to ask me to say all I could in his praise,--in his praise, indeed!"
"But to whom, and for what purpose?"
"Did any one ever hear of such audacity!"
"But tell me his object in making this request, mother."
"His object! Why, the man wants to marry Mlle. de Beaumesnil!"
"He!"
"Did any one ever hear of such presumption?"
"Macreuse?"
"A mere n.o.body! A common vagrant!" cried the d.u.c.h.ess. "Really, it is hard to imagine who could have had the audacity to introduce a creature like that into our circle."
"But how did he happen to reveal his projects to you?"
"Because I have always treated him with consideration, I suppose; because, like so many other fools I took him up, without knowing why, until the fellow thought he had a right to come and say to me that, by reason of the friendly interest I had always taken in him, and the eulogiums I had lavished upon him, he really felt it his duty to confide to me, under the pledge of secrecy, his intentions with regard to Mlle.
de Beaumesnil; not doubting, he had the audacity to remark that I would say a few words in his favour to that young lady, adding that he would trust to--to my friendly interest. I do believe he had the impudence to say--to find an opportunity to do him this favour at the earliest possible moment. Really, effrontery is no name for a.s.surance like his!"
"But really, my dear mother, you must confess that it is your own fault.
Haven"t I heard you praise and flatter this Macreuse in the most outrageous manner, again and again?"
"Praise him--flatter him!" exclaimed Madame de Senneterre, navely. "Did I suppose then that he would have the impudence to take it into his head to marry the richest heiress in France, or to think of such a thing as competing with my son? Besides, with all his boasted shrewdness, the man is nothing more or less than a fool to apply to me for a.s.sistance in his schemes! He will be surprised when he finds out how I will serve his interests. His pretensions are ridiculous, positively ridiculous! He is an adventurer, a scoundrel! He hasn"t even a name, and looks like a sacristan who has just been to dine with his parish priest. He is a hypocrite, a pedant, and a most unmitigated bore, with all his pretended virtues. Besides, he hasn"t the slightest chance, for, from what Madame de la Rochaigue tells me, Mlle. de Beaumesnil would be delighted to become a d.u.c.h.ess. Quite a woman of the world, though so young, she has a full appreciation of all the pleasures and advantages which a large fortune combined with a high social position gives, and it certainly is not a plebeian like M. de Macreuse who can give her this high social position."
"And what reply did you make to his request?"
"Enraged at his audacity, I was on the point of telling him that his pretensions were as absurd as they were insolent, and of forbidding him to ever set foot in my house again; but I reflected that I might be able to circ.u.mvent him most successfully by pretending that I was willing to a.s.sist him, so I promised that I would speak of him, as he deserved--and I certainly shall not fail to do so. Oh, I will urge his claims in an effectual manner, I"ll vouch for that."
"Do you know, my dear mother, that it is not at all unlikely that Macreuse will attain his end?"
"He marry Mlle. de Beaumesnil, he?"
"Yes."
"Nonsense! Are you, too, mad?"
"Don"t deceive yourself, mother. The coterie that sustains him is all-powerful. He has on his side,--I don"t mind telling you now you detest him so thoroughly,--he has on his side all the women who have become bigots, because they are old, all the young women who are prudes, because they are ugly, all the male devotees, because they make capital out of their religion, and all the serious-minded men, because they are so stupid; so you see the name of his supporters is legion."
"But with my social standing, my opinion will have some weight, I think," retorted the d.u.c.h.ess.