She understood, and closed her eyes as if on the brink of an abyss. In the long silence that followed was heard all over the park the falling of the leaves in the breeze, some still heavy with sap, dropping in bunches from bough to bough, others stealing down with a scarcely audible sound, like the rustling of a dress. Round the little hut, under the maples, it was more like the pattering footsteps of some voiceless crowd which moved around. She rose with a shiver. "It is cold; let us go in." She had made her sacrifice. It would kill her, very probably, but the world should not see the degradation of the d.u.c.h.ess Padovani into Madame Paul Astier, who had married her architect.
Paul spent the evening in making the obvious arrangements for his departure. He gave orders about his luggage, bestowed princely gratuities upon the servants, and inquired about the time of the trains, chatting away without constraint, but quite unsuccessful in breaking through the gloomy silence of the fair Antonia, who read with absorbed attention a magazine, of which she did not turn the pages. But when he took his leave of her and thanked her for her prolonged and gracious hospitality, in the light of the huge lace lamp-shade he saw on her haughty face a look of anguish, and in her eyes, magnificent as those of a dying lion, a beseeching supplication.
When he reached his room the young man looked to see that the door to the smoking-room was bolted; then he put out his light and waited, sitting quite still on the divan close to the communication. If she did not come, he had made a mistake and must begin again. But there was a slight noise in the private pa.s.sage, the sound of a gown, then after a momentary surprise at not being able to come straight in, a touch with the tip of a finger, scarcely a knock. He did not move, and paid no attention to a little significant coughing. Then he heard her go away, with an agitated, uneven step.
"Now," thought he, "she is mine. I can do what I like with her." And he went quietly to bed.
"If I were called the Prince d"Athis, would you not have married me when your mourning was over? Yet D"Athis did not love you, and Paul Astier does. Proud of his love, he would gladly have proclaimed it abroad instead of hiding it as a thing to be ashamed of. Ah, Mari" Anto! I have awaked from a beautiful dream! Farewell for ever."
She read his letter with her eyes hardly open, swollen with the tears she had been shedding all night. "Is Monsieur Astier gone?" The maid who was leaning out of the window to fasten back the shutters that moment caught sight of the carriage that was taking away M. Paul, right at the end of the avenue, too far off to be called back. The d.u.c.h.ess sprang out of bed and flew to the clock. "Nine o"clock." The express did not reach Onzain till ten. "Quick, a messenger--Bertoli, and the best of the horses!" By taking the short cut through the woods he could reach the station before the carriage. Whilst her orders were being hastily carried out she wrote a note, standing, without waiting to dress. "Come back; all shall be as you wish." No, that was too cold. That would not bring him back. She tore up the note, wrote another, "What you will, so long as I am yours," and signed it with her t.i.tle. Then, wild at the thought that perhaps even that would not bring him, she cried, "I"ll go myself! My habit, quick!" And she called out of the window to Bertoli, whose horse was by this time waiting impatiently at the foot of the steps, and gave orders to saddle "Mademoiselle Oger" for herself.
She had not ridden for five years. Her figure had grown stouter, the st.i.tches of the habit gave way, some of the hooks were missing. "Never mind, Matea, never mind." She went down the staircase with the train over her arm, between the footmen who stood with blank looks of astonishment, and set off full speed down the avenue, through the gate, into the road, into the wood, and down the cool green paths and long avenues, where the wild creatures fluttered and leapt away as she galloped madly by. She must and will have him. He is her death and life. She has tasted love; and what else does the world contain? Leaning forward, she listens for the sound of the train and watches in every distant view for the steam skirting the horizon. If only she is in time!
Poor thing! She might let her horse walk, and yet she would overtake that handsome runaway He is her evil genius, and he is not to be escaped.
[Ill.u.s.tration: down the cool gree paths and long avenues 298]
CHAPTER XIV.
From the Vicomte de Freydet
To Mademoiselle Germaine de Freydet Villa Beausejour,
Paris-Pa.s.sy.
_Cafe d"Orsay: 11 A.M. at breakfast._ EVERY two hours, and oftener if I can, I shall send you off an interim despatch like this, as much to relieve your anxiety, dearest, as for the pleasure of being with you throughout this great day, which I hope will end with the news of victory, in spite of defections at the last moment. Picheral told me just now of a saying of Laniboire"s, "When a man enters the Academie he wears a sword, but he does not draw it." an allusion, of course, to the Astier duel. It was not I who fought, but the creature cares more for his jest than for his promise. Cannot count on Danjou, either. After having said so often to me, "You must join us," this morning in the secretary"s office he came up to me and whispered, "You should let us miss you," perhaps the best epigram on his list. Never mind, I"m well ahead. My rivals are not formidable Fancy Baron Huchenard, the author of "Cave Man," in the Academie Francaise! Why, Paris would rise! As for M.
Dalzon, I can"t think how he has the face. I have got a copy of his too notorious book. I do not like to use it, but he had better be careful.
_2 P.M._
At the Inst.i.tute, in my good master"s rooms, where I shall await the result of the voting. Perhaps it is pure imagination, but I fancy that my arrival, though they expected me, has put them out here a little.
Our friends were finishing breakfast. There was a bustle and banging of doors, and Corentine, instead of showing me into the drawing-room, hustled me into the library, where my old master joined me with an embarra.s.sed air, and in a low voice advised me to keep extremely quiet.
He was quite depressed. I asked if he had any bad news. He said first, "No, no, my dear boy," and then, grasping my hand, "Come, cheer up." For some time past the poor man has been much altered. He is evidently ready to overflow with vexation and sorrow that he will not express. Probably some deep private trouble, quite unconnected with my candidature; but I am so nervous.
More than an hour to wait. I am amusing myself by looking across the court through the great bay window of the meeting-room at the long rows of busts. The Academicians! Is it an omen?
_2.45 P.M._
I have just seen all my judges go by, thirty-seven of them, if I counted right. The full number of the Academie, since Epinchard is at Nice, Ripault-Babin in bed, and Loisillon in the grave. It was glorious to see all the distinguished men come into the court; the younger walking slowly with serious looks and head bent as if under the weight of a responsibility too heavy for them, the old men carrying themselves well and stepping out briskly. A few gouty and rheumatic, like Courson-Launay, drove up to the foot of the steps and leant on the arm of a colleague. They stood about before going up, talking in little knots, and I watched the movements of their backs and shoulders and the play of their open hands. What would I not give to hear the last discussion of my prospects! I opened the window gently, but just then a carriage covered with luggage came clattering into the court, and out got a traveller wrapped in furs and wearing an otter-skin cap. It was Epinchard; just think, dear, Epinchard arriving from Nice on purpose to vote for me. Good fellow! Then my old master went by, his broad-brimmed hat down over his _eyes_; he was turning over the copy of "Without the Veil," which I gave him, to be used if necessary. Well, self-defence is always legitimate.
Now there"s nothing to see but two carriages waiting and the bust of Minerva keeping guard. G.o.ddess, protect me! They must be beginning the calling of names, and the interrogatory. Each Academician has to state to the President that his vote is not promised. It"s a mere formality, as you may suppose, and they all reply by a smile of denial or a little shake of the head like a Chinese mandarin.
A most amazing thing has just happened! I had given my letter to Corentine and was getting a breath of fresh air at the window and trying to read the secret of my fate in the gloomy front of the building opposite, when at the next window to mine I caught sight of Huchenard, airing himself too, quite close to me. Huchenard, my rival--Astier-Rehu"s worst enemy, installed in his study! We were, both equally amazed, bowed, and withdrew at the same moment. But there he is, I can hear him, I feel that he is on the other side of the part.i.tion. No doubt, like me, he is waiting to hear the decision of the Academie, only he has all the s.p.a.ce of "Villemain"s reception-room," while I am suffocating in this hole crammed full of papers! Now I understand the confusion caused by my arrival. But what is it all about? What is going on? My dear Germaine, my head is going! Which of us is the fool?
Lost! And by treachery, by some mean Academic intrigue which I do not yet understand!
FIRST COUNTING.
Baron Huchenard.......... 17 votes.
Dalzon................... 15 "
Vicomte de Freydet....... 5 "
Moser......................1 vote.
SECOND COUNTING.
Baron Huchenard.......... 19 votes.
Dalzon................... 15 "
Vicomte de Freydet....... 3 "
Moser.................... 1 vote.
THIRD COUNTING.
Baron Huchenard.......... 33 votes.
Dalzon................... 4 "
Vicomte de Freydet....... 0 "(!!)
Moser................... . 1 vote.
It is clear that between the second and third taking of votes the copy of "Without the Veil" must have been sent round in the interest of Baron Huchenard. An explanation I must and will have. I won"t leave the place till I get it.
_4 P.M._
Dearest sister, you may guess my feelings when, after I had heard in the next room M. and Madame Astier, old Rehu, and a stream of visitors congratulating the author of "Cave Man," the door of the library opened and my old master came in, reaching out his hands and saying, "My dear boy, forgive me"--between heat and emotion he was nearly speechless--"forgive me, that man had a hold over me. I had to do it, I had to do it. I thought I could avert the disaster which threatens me, but destiny is not to be escaped, no, not even by a base act--" He held out his arms and I embraced him without the least anger, without indeed quite understanding the mystery of this bitter grief.
After all, my own loss is easily retrieved. I have first-rate news of Ripault-Babin. He can hardly live through the week. One more campaign, dear, one more. Unfortunately the Hotel Padovani will be closed all the winter, owing to the d.u.c.h.ess"s deep mourning. So for our scene of operations we shall have the "at home" days of Madame Astier, Madame Ancelin, and Madame Eviza, of whose fashion there is no question since the visit of the Grand Duke. But the first thing, dear Germaine, will be to move. Pa.s.sy is too far off; the Academie will not go there. You will say I am dragging you about again, but it is so important. Just look at Huchenard. He had no claim whatever but his parties. I dine with my dear master; don"t wait for me.
Your affectionate brother,
Abel de Freydet.
Moser"s solitary vote in each counting was given by Laniboire, the man who reports for the good conduct prizes. They tell a queer story about it There are strange things under the dome!