"It is indeed no concern of yours," said Madame la Vicomtesse.
He shrugged his shoulders.
"And now," he said, "I take it that there are no further conscientious scruples against my receiving this paltry sum."
"I will go with you to your pirogue," I answered, "when you embark you shall have it."
"I, too, will go," said Madame la Vicomtesse.
"You overwhelm me with civility, Madame," said the Sieur de St. Gre, bowing low.
"Lead the way, Monsieur," I said.
He took his bundle, and started off down the garden path with a grand air. I looked at the Vicomtesse inquiringly, and there was laughter in her eyes.
"I must show you the way to Lamarque"s." And then she whispered, "You have done well, Mr. Ritchie."
I did not return her look, but waited until she took the path ahead of me. In silence we followed Auguste through the depths of the woods, turning here and there to avoid a fallen tree or a sink-hole where the water still remained. At length we came out in the glare of the sun and crossed the dusty road to the levee bank. Some forty yards below us was the canoe, and we walked to it, still in silence. Auguste flung in his bundle, and turned to us.
"Perhaps Monsieur is satisfied," he said.
I handed him the bag, and he took it with an elaborate air of thankfulness. Nay, the rascal opened it as if to a.s.sure himself that he was not tricked at the last. At the sight of the gold and silver which Antoinette had hastily collected, he turned to Madame la Vicomtesse.
"Should I have the good fortune to meet Monsieur le Vicomte in France, I shall a.s.sure him that Madame is in good hands" (he swept an exultant look at me) "and enjoying herself."
I could have flung him into the river, money-bag and all. But Madame la Vicomtesse made him a courtesy there on the levee bank, and said sweetly:--
"That is very good of you, Auguste."
"As for you, Monsieur," he said, and now his voice shook with uncontrolled rage, "I am in no condition to repay your kindnesses. But I have no doubt that you will not object to keeping the miniature a while longer."
I was speechless with anger and shame, and though I felt the eyes of the Vicomtesse upon me, I dared not look at her. I heard Auguste but indistinctly as he continued:--
"Should you need the frame, Monsieur, you will doubtless find it still with Monsieur Isadore, the Jew, in the Rue Toulouse." With that he leaped into his boat, seized the paddle, and laughed as he headed into the current. How long I stood watching him as he drifted lazily in the sun I know not, but at length the voice of Madame la Vicomtesse aroused me.
"He is a pleasant person," she said.
CHAPTER VIII. AT LAMARQUE"S
Until then it seemed as if the sun had gotten into my brain and set it on fire. Her words had the strange effect of clearing my head, though I was still in as sad a predicament as ever I found myself. There was the thing in my pocket, still wrapped in Polly Ann"s handkerchief. I glanced at the Vicomtesse shyly, and turned away again. Her face was all repressed laughter, the expression I knew so well.
"I think we should feel better in the shade, Mr. Ritchie," she said in English, and, leaping lightly down from the bank, crossed the road again. I followed her, perforce.
"I will show you the way to Lamarque"s," she said.
"Madame la Vicomtesse!" I cried.
Had she no curiosity? Was she going to let pa.s.s what Auguste had hinted?
Lifting up her skirts, she swung round and faced me. In her eyes was a calmness more baffling than the light I had seen there but a moment since. How to begin I knew not, and yet I was launched.
"Madame la Vicomtesse, there was once a certain miniature painted of you."
"By Boze, Monsieur," she answered, readily enough. The embarra.s.sment was all on my side. "We spoke of it last evening. I remember well when it was taken. It was the costume I wore at Chantilly, and Monsieur le Prince complimented me, and the next day the painter himself came to our hotel in the Rue de Bretagne and asked the honor of painting me." She sighed. "Ah, those were happy days! Her Majesty was very angry with me."
"And why?" I asked, forgetful of my predicament.
"For sending it to Louisiana, to Antoinette."
"And why did you send it?"
"A whim," said the Vicomtesse. "I had always written twice a year either to Monsieur de St. Gre or Antoinette, and although I had never seen them, I loved them. Perhaps it was because they had the patience to read my letters and the manners to say they liked them."
"Surely not, Madame," I said. "Monsieur de St. Gre spoke often to me of the wonderful pictures you drew of the personages at court."
Madame la Vicomtesse had an answer on the tip of her tongue. I know now that she spared me.
"And what of this miniature, Monsieur?" she asked. "What became of it after you restored it to its rightful owner?"
I flushed furiously and fumbled in my pocket.
"I obtained it again, Madame," I said.
"You obtained it!" she cried, I am not sure to this day whether in consternation or jest. In pa.s.sing, it was not just what I wanted to say.
"I meant to give it you last night," I said.
"And why did you not?" she demanded severely.
I felt her eyes on me, and it seemed to me as if she were looking into my very soul. Even had it been otherwise, I could not have told her how I had lived with this picture night and day, how I had dreamed of it, how it had been my inspiration and counsel. I drew it from my pocket, wrapped as it was in the handkerchief, and uncovered it with a reverence which she must have marked, for she turned away to pick a yellow flower by the roadside. I thank Heaven that she did not laugh. Indeed, she seemed to be far from laughter.
"You have taken good care of it, Monsieur," she said. "I thank you."
"It was not mine, Madame," I answered.
"And if it had been?" she asked.
It was a strange prompting.
"If it had been, I could have taken no better care of it," I answered, and I held it towards her.
She took it simply.
"And the handkerchief?" she said.
"The handkerchief was Polly Ann"s," I answered.