The marquis replied only by shrugging his shoulders without turning towards Marguerite, then he seated himself near Blanche and took off his hat and mantle, establishing himself in the room like one who is not disposed to go.
Blanche was trembling, confused; she looked at Marguerite as if to implore her not to abandon her, and the old woman, whom the conduct of the stranger had filled with new dread, forced herself to appear calm, saying in a voice whose faltering accents betrayed her fright,--
"Be easy, my child, I am here, I will not leave you, and while monsieur does not appear to listen to me it is, above all, necessary that he should tell us what he came here to do."
"I have told you, my good woman, I am waiting for Touquet. I must speak to him this evening; that is very important."
"And just now you said that it was he who had sent you; you were deceiving us, then?"
"Perhaps," said the marquis, laughing.
"Very well, monsieur, if you are really waiting for my master, come into the lower room. I will give you a light, and you will find a fire there."
"No, indeed, my good woman, I like this much better than your lower room; the society of this charming child will make the time seem very short, and surely, adorable Blanche, you will not be cruel enough to refuse to keep me company."
"No, monsieur, if you desire it, if it will amuse you, I must wish it also."
"Yes," said Marguerite, "it seems that it is necessary that we should do monsieur"s will, but patience--soon I hope--"
At this moment somebody violently shut the street door. Blanche started joyfully, and Marguerite cried, with a triumphant air,--
"Ah! here is my master! We shall now see whether anyone can establish himself here in spite of us."
The marquis rose without answering, took his mantle, put his hat on his head, kissed Blanche"s hand, saying to her,--
"Au revoir, charming girl," then left the room saying to Marguerite,--
"Light me!"
All this had happened so quickly that Blanche, who was greatly astonished, had not time to oppose the action of the marquis, and the old servant followed the great n.o.bleman, saying,--
"O mon Dieu, what a man!"
The barber had entered and was taking off his mantle, when the marquis, followed by Marguerite, appeared in the lower room. At the sight of Villebelle, Touquet started with surprise, saying,--
"What, you here, monseigneur!"
He paused and Marguerite cried,--
"Yes, my dear master, monseigneur has been here for three-quarters of an hour. He presented himself as coming from you, and he installed himself in Mademoiselle Blanche"s room."
"In Blanche"s room," said the barber, appearing violently agitated.
"Yes, monsieur, in mademoiselle"s room--"
"That"s enough, my good woman, leave us," said the marquis, in an imperious tone.
"Leave you," answered Marguerite, "oh, it is necessary before all--"
"It is necessary to obey," said the barber, in a gloomy voice. "Go!"
Marguerite was dumbfounded, but she dared not reply and left them, saying,--
"Well, I don"t understand all this, this man does as he pleases here, it troubles me."
"Well, dear nurse," said Blanche to the old woman, "and what about the stranger?"
"Oh, I don"t know who that man can be, but M. Touquet is as submissive as a child before him. I left them together. This fine gentleman said to me, "Go!" and it was necessary to obey him."
"That"s very surprising, dear nurse."
"How did you like that man?"
"Oh, he is not so bad, dear nurse, and if I had not been a little afraid of him, I believe I should have thought him very agreeable."
"Ah, mon Dieu, I was very much frightened; he has something satanic in his looks."
"Oh, dear nurse, you"re mistaken, he has a very fine face, features which inspire respect, and which are bland at the same time."
"Fie! for shame! my child, to admire such an impertinent man. Oh, if your Urbain could hear you."
"But, dear nurse, I should say the same thing before Urbain. Is it not necessary to tell him all that I think? That could not displease him, for he knows how much I love him."
"Come, my child, it"s late, go to bed. I am going, too, good-night."
Marguerite went up to her room, saying to herself,--
"Young girls will always be young girls. The most virtuous of them will allow themselves to be favorably impressed by fine compliments, a handsome face, and rich clothing. These are terrible talismans with the women."
When Marguerite had left the lower room, the barber shut the door. His manner disclosed a violent agitation; however, he awaited the marquis"
explanation, and the latter narrowly watched and appeared to enjoy his uneasiness.
"May I know, monseigneur," said Touquet at last, "how it is that you are at my house when you appointed another meeting place?"
"What, Touquet, don"t you understand it? I made a distant appointment with you in order that I might represent myself as sent by you to this young girl, whom you have hidden from me and whom I ardently desired to see. This is one of the little tricks which you yourself formerly taught me, and which are nearly always successful."
The barber bit his lips, but did not answer.
"Well, to be sure," resumed the marquis, "that you should possess such a treasure, an angel of beauty and grace, and hide her from me, your old master! From me, when you know my partiality for the s.e.x which has led me to commit so many follies."
"It was precisely because of that partiality, monsieur le marquis, that I hoped to shield Blanche from your notice; I am interested in that young girl, to whom I stand in the place of her parents. I know the impetuosity of your pa.s.sions, and I don"t think the honor of being your mistress for a fortnight will a.s.sure the child"s happiness."
"And how long, clown, have you made similar reflections," said the marquis, looking witheringly at the barber. "After lending aid in all my intrigues, after leading me to commit actions which, but for you, I should never have thought of, should you allow yourself to control my morals and enact the knight errant of the beauties I deign to distinguish."
"Monseigneur!"
"Remember that though your hypocrisy and lies may serve you sometimes, they can never deceive me. It is not from me only that you hide this young girl, for you hold her a prisoner in her chamber and do not permit her to go out. It is not because you are in love with Blanche, since you are about to give her in marriage; besides, love is a feeling unknown to you; your heart knows nothing but a thirst for gold. There is in all this some mystery which I must discover."
Touquet became pale and trembling, and murmured, lowering his eyes,--