Montcrabeau descended, and in five minutes returned with a light, which he offered to St. Maline.
"No, no," said he; "keep it; I may, perhaps, want both hands."
And he made a step forward.
"I take you all to witness," cried Ernanton, "that I am insulted without reason, and that in consequence"--and he drew his sword--"I will bury this sword in the breast of the first man who advances."
St. Maline, furious, was about to draw his sword also; but before he had time to do so, the point of Ernanton"s was on his breast, and as he advanced a step, without Ernanton"s moving his arm, St. Maline felt the iron on his flesh, and drew back furious, but Ernanton followed him, keeping the sword against his breast. St. Maline grew pale; if Ernanton had wished it, he could have pinned him to the wall, but he slowly withdrew his sword.
"You merit two deaths for your insolence," said he, "but the oath of which you spoke restrains me, and I will touch you no more; let me pa.s.s.
Come, madame, I answer for your free pa.s.sage."
Then appeared a woman, whose head was covered by a hood, and her face by a mask, and who took Ernanton"s arm, tremblingly. St. Maline stood by, stifling with rage at his merited punishment. He drew his dagger as Ernanton pa.s.sed by him. Did he mean to strike Ernanton, or only to do what he did? No one knew, but as they pa.s.sed, his dagger cut through the silken hood of the d.u.c.h.ess and severed the string of her mask, which fell to the ground. This movement was so rapid that in the half light no one saw or could prevent it. The d.u.c.h.ess uttered a cry; St. Maline picked up the mask and returned it to her, looking now full in her uncovered face.
"Ah!" cried he, in an insolent tone, "it is the beautiful lady of the litter. Ernanton, you get on fast."
Ernanton stopped and half-drew his sword again; but the d.u.c.h.ess drew him on, saying, "Come on, I beg you, M. Ernanton."
"We shall meet again, M. de St. Maline," said Ernanton, "and you shall pay for this, with the rest."
And he went on without meeting with any further opposition, and conducted the d.u.c.h.ess to her litter, which was guarded by two servants.
Arrived there and feeling herself in safety, she pressed Ernanton"s hand, and said, "M. Ernanton, after what has just pa.s.sed, after the insult which, in spite of your courage, you could not defend me from, and which might probably be renewed, we can come here no more; seek, I beg of you, some house in the neighborhood to sell or to let; before long you shall hear from me."
"Must I now take leave of you, madame?" said Ernanton, bowing in token of obedience to the flattering orders he had just received.
"Not yet, M. de Carmainges; follow my litter as far as the new bridge, lest that wretch who recognized in me the lady of the litter, but did not know me for what I am, should follow to find out my residence."
Ernanton obeyed, but no one watched them. When they arrived at the Pont Neuf, which then merited the name, as it was scarcely seven years since Ducerceau had built it, the d.u.c.h.ess gave her hand to Ernanton, saying, "Now go, monsieur."
"May I dare to ask when I shall see you again, madame?"
"That depends on the length of time which you take in executing my commission, and your haste will be a proof to me of your desire to see me again."
"Oh, madame, I shall not be idle."
"Well, then, go, Ernanton."
"It is strange," thought the young man, as he retraced his steps; "I cannot doubt that she likes me, and yet she does not seem the least anxious as to whether or not I get killed by that brute of a St. Maline.
But, poor woman, she was in great trouble, and the fear of being compromised is, particularly with princesses, the strongest of all sentiments."
Ernanton, however, could not forget the insult he had received, and he returned straight to the hotel. He was naturally decided to infringe all orders and oaths, and to finish with St. Maline; he felt in the humor to fight ten men, if necessary. This resolution sparkled in his eyes when he reached the door of the "Brave Chevalier." Madame Fournichon, who expected his return with anxiety, was standing trembling in the doorway. At the sight of Ernanton she wiped her eyes, as if she had been crying, and throwing her arms round the young man"s neck, begged for his pardon, in spite of her husband"s representations that, as she had done no wrong, she had nothing to be pardoned for. Ernanton a.s.sured her that he did not blame her at all--that it was only her wine that was in fault.
While this pa.s.sed at the door, all the rest were at table, where they were warmly discussing the previous quarrel. Many frankly blamed St.
Maline; others abstained, seeing the frowning brow of their comrade.
They did not attack with any less enthusiasm the supper of M.
Fournichon, but they discussed as they ate.
"As for me," said Hector de Bizan, "I know that M. de St. Maline was wrong, and that had I been Ernanton de Carmainges, M. de St. Maline would be at this moment stretched on the ground instead of sitting here."
St. Maline looked at him furiously.
"Oh, I mean what I say," continued he; "and stay, there is some one at the door who appears to agree with me."
All turned at this, and saw Ernanton standing in the doorway, looking very pale. He descended from the step, as the statue of the commander from his pedestal, and walked straight up to St. Maline, firmly, but quietly.
At this sight, several voices cried, "Come here, Ernanton; come this side, Carmainges; there is room here."
"Thank you," replied the young man; "but it is near M. de St. Maline that I wish to sit." St. Maline rose, and all eyes were fixed on him.
But as he rose, his face changed its expression.
"I will make room for you, monsieur," said he, gently; "and in doing so address to you my frank and sincere apologies for my stupid aggression just now; I was drunk; forgive me."
This declaration did not satisfy Ernanton; but the cries of joy that proceeded from all the rest decided him to say no more, although a glance at St. Maline showed him that he was not to be trusted. St.
Maline"s gla.s.s was full, and he filled Ernanton"s.
"Peace! peace!" cried all the voices.
Carmainges profited by the noise, and leaning toward St. Maline, with a smile on his lips, so that no one might suspect the sense of what he was saying, whispered:
"M. de St. Maline, this is the second time that you have insulted me without giving me satisfaction; take care, for at the third offense I will kill you like a dog."
And the two mortal enemies touched gla.s.ses as though they had been the best friends.
CHAPTER LIX.
WHAT WAS Pa.s.sING IN THE MYSTERIOUS HOUSE.
While the hotel of the "Brave Chevalier," the abode, apparently, of the most perfect concord, with closed doors and open cellars, showed through the openings of the shutters the light of its candles and the mirth of its guests, an unaccustomed movement took place in that mysterious house of which our readers have as yet only seen the outside.
The servant was going from one room to another, carrying packages which he placed in a trunk. These preparations over, he loaded a pistol, examined his poniard, then suspended it, by the aid of a ring, to the chain which served him for a belt, to which he attached besides a bunch of keys and a book of prayers bound in black leather.
While he was thus occupied, a step, light as that of a shadow, came up the staircase, and a woman, pale and phantom-like under the folds of her white veil, appeared at the door, and a voice, sad and sweet as the song of a bird in the wood, said: "Remy, are you ready?"
"Yes, madame, I only wait for your box."
"Do you think these boxes will go easily on our horses?"
"Oh! yes, madame, but if you have any fear, I can leave mine; I have all I want there."
"No, no, Remy, take all that you want for the journey. Oh! Remy! I long to be with my father; I have sad presentiments, and it seems an age since I saw him."
"And yet, madame, it is but three months; not a longer interval than usual."
"Remy, you are such a good doctor, and you yourself told me, the last time we quitted him, that he had not long to live."