"Yes," joined in Maurice, "the enemy has fallen into the ambush, as Baron van Berger would say. I will be back as soon as possible, but I must take time to rout our amiable Duke. He is the real enemy, and the most difficult opponent, but I am confident. With my most diabolical scheming, little cousin, I am going to have great fun. All the same, I foresee that I sha"n"t be able to stay away long." And he kissed Genevieve"s hand tenderly.
They soon finished the packing, and Jean closed the suitcase, and the young people arrived at the carriage just as it drew up.
"How very good it is of you to accept this sudden demand upon your services with such good grace!"
"I must remind you, Madame, that I suggested the work myself and I am glad to do it. I am also quite happy to be carried off by you, as it is such an unlooked-for pleasure."
Two days later the professor had a letter from Maurice, which he read aloud to the family as they drank their coffee.
"My dear Uncle,--This letter is to be shared by the whole community. I have found a world gone mad in this magnificent chateau. We are twenty-two at table. I have been cordially welcomed by all the strangers, to whom this cursed Duke, delightful fellow, has graciously presented me. I set to work at once to unravel and discover the plans of Charles de Morlay. But more anon. This is the programme: an orchestra composed of excellent artists are to play while the guests arrive, inspect each other, and take their places. We begin with a little ballet, ent.i.tled, _The Moon in Search of Pierrot_, acted and danced by some very good amateurs. I am to paint the drop for this ballet, and the authors (it has taken three of them to elaborate the stupidest scenario you ever yawned through) have called for a Scandinavian design and I have promised it, and shall paint it at Penhouet. Then, the great attraction, the tableaux vivants. That is where I lay in wait for our astute Duke. I will spare you details of nine of the tableaux. There are to be twelve, but Esperance appears only in three, which are the best. In one she represents Andromeda fastened to the rock, and Perseus (the Duke) delivers her after overcoming the dragon. In the second, the "Judgment of Paris," she appears as Aphrodite, to whom Paris (the Duke) gives the apple. The third is "Europa and the Bull," Europa being personified by Esperance.
The Duke does not wish to look ridiculous in a bull"s hide, so takes liberties with the legend and transforms the bull into a centaur. I have said "Amen" to everything. Finally to complete the fete, which will no doubt be well attended and very profitable, there will be little shops of all kinds. Esperance is to sell flowers from the d.u.c.h.ess"s gardens. I have my own idea on this point, which I shall later confide to you. I can easily get her fiance to agree. Your nephew, dear uncle, should live in the land of honey for the future. I have already had orders for three portraits, and of three pretty women, which a.s.sures me that the portraits will be successful. Ahem! I am taking all my notes to-day and will be with you the day after to-morrow. It is up to you, dear uncle, to distribute in unequal or suitable doses my respects and love and affection amongst all those anxious to receive such privileges. Your affectionately devoted, Maurice."
"It seems to me," said Genevieve, as she left the dining-room with Esperance, "that your cousin has arranged everything very well, and that you ought to be quite happy and content."
"Oh! I know very well that I shall be taken care of, but how can I struggle against the tumultuous ideas that a.s.sail me? The vision of the Duke has haunted me ever since Maurice left. I have never seen the chateau, but I am sure that I shall recognize it. I would like to fall ill with some complaint that would send me to sleep and sleep. Oh! if I could get a little ugly for a little while, just long enough to make the Duke lose interest in me, I should be so glad. Dear Genevieve, can"t you give me a little dose of the elixir of your happiness. I need it sorely just now."
The girls had been walking as they talked down to the little beach at Penhouet. The sea was at low tide, and the golden sand, dried by the sun, offered them a restful couch. They stretched themselves out upon it, and Esperance soon fell asleep. Jean Perliez appeared on the crest of the little hill that hides the bay from the sightseeker. Genevieve signed to him to come down quietly. He had a telegram, a dispatch from Belgium. He pinned it to Esperance"s hat lying on the sand at her side, and dropping down close to Genevieve, began to talk in low tones. For both he and Genevieve were uneasy concerning their little friend.
A farm dog at the moment began to bark furiously. Esperance woke quickly, looking pale and worried, with her hands pressed on her frightened heart. She saw the telegram and opened it quickly.
"Albert will be here this evening by the second boat. What time is it?" She showed a little emotion, but only a little, though she felt deeply.
She looked towards the sun.
"It can"t be four yet."
Jean took out his watch.
"Twenty to four," he said.
"The boat can"t get here before five-thirty. Quick, quick, run, Jean, and ask to have some conveyance got ready. I must go and tell my father and get his permission to go with you and Genevieve to meet my fiancee. Ah! what good luck!" she said with a long breath, "What good luck!"
Francois Darbois was delighted for his daughter to go and meet Albert, and departed so radiantly that he said to his wife, "I believe she is getting to love this brave Albert?"
Genevieve, who had heard, as had also Jean, said to the young man in a low voice, "But, my G.o.d! suppose she is beginning to love the Duke?"
CHAPTER XXII
The boat approached the little quay of Palais slowly with Count Styvens standing well forward, his tall figure silhouetted against the grey of the sea. He caught sight of Esperance immediately, as she stood up in the brake, waving her handkerchief. Great happiness was in his heart, and in his haste to be ash.o.r.e, he went to a.s.sist them to lay down the gangplank, and was at the carriage in a second, kissing most tenderly the hand Esperance held out to him. A great basket was placed on the seat. The girls blushed with pleasure, for a sweet odour was wafted to them from it.
All the way home Esperance heard from Albert in detail all that had happened to him since she had last seen him. She talked incessantly, as if to drown her thoughts under a sea of nonsense. At the farm the young man could see the pleasure they all showed at his return. Of course he was somewhat astonished to learn that Maurice was absent with the d.u.c.h.ess, for he had not yet heard of the events that had happened during his absence.
They all gathered together in the dining-room. The Count took out of his pocket a little case, and asking Esperance to give him her hand, slipped on to her middle finger a magnificent engagement ring. Somehow her hand went cold as death as Albert held it, and her face contracted strangely.
"Do you regret your word already, Esperance?" he asked in a nervous, low voice.
"No, no, Albert," she said quickly, nervously twisting the ring on her finger, "but this is a very serious moment, and you know that I incline to taking things seriously here," and she put her hand across her heart. Then she smiled, pressed his hand, and showed the ring to Genevieve. They all examined and admired the beautiful jewel. When the philosopher turned to praise it Albert had disappeared.
The basket was opened revealing a bouquet of magnificent white orchids, marvellously fresh, held in a white scarf with embroidered ends.
When they a.s.sembled for dinner an hour later Esperance was not present, and Albert began to look uneasy. But they had not long to wait, and when she did appear she was dressed all in white, an embroidered scarf fastened about her waist, and several orchids arranged like a coronet in her hair. At that moment she seemed almost supernaturally beautiful.
"What a pity that Maurice is not here! You are so lovely this evening," said Genevieve.
"Oh," said Esperance smiling, "that is not the only reason you regret his absence?"
Next day they were surprised to get no word from the painter to tell them which boat he would take. It was warm and they had coffee served in the convolvulus bower. The breeze came through an opening from the sea.
"Look! isn"t that a pretty boat?" cried out Genevieve.
A white yacht was sailing slowly towards Penhouet. The philosopher got his gla.s.ses.
"It is the Princess"s flag," he exclaimed.
"Yes, yes," agreed Albert, "it is the Belgian flag. Listen, there is the salute."
Jean ran to the farm, calling back, "I will answer it. All right, M.
Darbois?"
The flag sank and rose three times, then the yacht headed straight for the little bay. Genevieve climbed on a high rock and clapped her hands. "It is he, oh! it is he."
She turned radiantly back to the party in the grove. Her "It is he"
made Albert smile. It was so charming, so sincere that they all shared the quality of her joy.
It was indeed Maurice returning on the Princess"s yacht. The tide was so high that the boat could get quite close.
Everyone went down to the beach where the waves were washing the little rocks. Albert jumped on the largest rock which seemed to recede to sea with him. Genevieve would have followed him but he cried out, "Look out, it is very deep here."
She stayed where she was, but so woebegone did her face become that Albert leapt ash.o.r.e again, and before she knew what he was doing, picked her up, and was back on the slippery rock with her.
"Oh! the bold lad!" said the Professor.
The little sloop had been launched and Maurice could easily land on the big rock. He kissed Genevieve, and told the Count of his delight in seeing him again. Then he looked around him. The water surrounded them on all sides. He looked at Genevieve questioningly, but by way of response Albert simply picked her up again and went ash.o.r.e with her.
Maurice was quick and agile, he was even strong in a nervous way, but Albert"s strength and agility filled him with wonder.
Esperance congratulated the Count on his prowess and his kind thought in enabling Genevieve to see Maurice a little sooner.
"It is because I know what that joy is myself," he answered simply.
Esperance"s eyes grew moist as she turned to Albert.
"You are so good, you always do the right thing. I am prouder every day to be loved by you."
During dinner Maurice gave them an account of all that had happened to him, with many new incidents.