"And was this poison for yourself?" said the old man, still having his chin in the palm of his hand.
Florestan understood the force of the remark, his features expressed real indignation; for this time he spoke the truth. One day he took it into his head to kill himself,--an ephemeral fancy! Persons of his stamp are usually too cowardly to make up their minds calmly, and without witnesses, to the death which they face as a point of honour in a duel.
He therefore exclaimed, with an accent of truth:
"I have fallen very low, but not so low as that. It was for myself that I reserved this poison."
"And then were afraid of it?" asked the comte, without changing his posture.
"I confess I recoiled before this trying extremity,--nothing was yet desperate. The persons to whom I owed money were rich and could wait. At my age, and with my connections, I hoped for a moment, if not to repair my fortunes, at least to acquire for myself an honourable position, an independence which would have supplied my present situation. Many of my friends, perhaps less qualified than myself, had made rapid progress in diplomacy. I had ambition. I had but to make it known, and I was attached to the legation to Gerolstein. Unfortunately, a few days after this nomination, a gaming debt, contracted with a man who detested me, placed me in a cruel dilemma. I had exhausted my last resources. A fatal idea flashed across my mind. Believing that I was a.s.sured of impunity, I committed an infamous action. You see, my father, I conceal nothing from you. I avow the ignominy of my conduct,--I do not seek to extenuate anything. Two alternatives are now before me, and I am equally inclined to either. The one is to kill myself, and leave your name dishonoured; for if I do not pay this very day the twenty-five thousand francs, the accusation is made, and all is made public, and, dead or alive, I am disgraced. The second is to throw myself into your arms, father, to say to you, "Save your son,--save your name from infamy;" and I swear to you to depart for Africa to-morrow, and die a soldier"s death, or return to you completely restored in reputation. What I say to you, father, is true,--in face of the extremity which overwhelms me, I have no other resource. Decide: shall I die covered with shame, or, thanks to you, live to repair my fault? These are not the threats of a young man. I am twenty-five; I bear your name, and I have sufficient courage either to kill myself, or to become a soldier; for I will not go to the galleys."
[Ill.u.s.tration: _Was about to embrace his father._ Etching by Marcel after the drawing by Frank T. Merrill.]
The comte rose from his seat, saying:
"I do not desire to have my name dishonoured."
"Oh, my father!" exclaimed the vicomte, with warmth, and was about to embrace his father, when the old man, repressing his enthusiasm, said:
"You are expected until three o"clock at the man"s house who has the forged bill?"
"Yes, father, and it is now two o"clock."
"Let us go into your cabinet; give me writing materials."
"They are here, father."
The comte sat down and wrote, with a firm hand:
"I undertake to pay this evening, at ten o"clock, the twenty-five thousand francs which my son owes.
"COMTE DE SAINT-REMY."
"Your creditor merely wants his money; my guarantee will obtain a further delay. Let him go to M. Dupont, the banker, at No. 7 in the Rue Richelieu, and he will a.s.sure him of the validity of this promise."
"Oh, my father! How can I ever--"
"Expect me this evening; at ten o"clock I will bring the money. Let your creditor be here."
"Yes, father, and the day after I will set out for Africa. You shall see that I am not ungrateful! Then, perhaps, when I am again restored to honour you will accept my thanks?"
"You owe me nothing. I have said that my name shall not be dishonoured again; nor shall it be," said M. de Saint-Remy, in reply, taking up his cane, and moving towards the door.
"My father, at least shake hands with me!" said Florestan.
"Here this evening at ten o"clock," said the comte, refusing his hand.
"Saved!" exclaimed Florestan, joyously,--"saved!" Then he continued, after a moment"s reflection: "Saved--almost--no matter--it is always so.
Perhaps this evening I shall tell him of the other thing. He is in the vein, and will not allow a first sacrifice to become useless for lack of a second. Yet why should I tell him? Who will ever know it? Yet, if nothing should be discovered, I shall keep the money he will give me to pay this last debt. I had some work to move him. The bitterness of his sarcasms made me suspicious of his good resolution; but my threat of suicide, the fear of seeing his name dishonoured, decided him. That was the way to hit him. No doubt he is not so poor as he appears to be. But his arrival was indeed a G.o.dsend. Now, then, for the man of law!"
He rang the bell, and M. Boyer appeared.
"How was it that you did not inform me that my father was here? Really, this is most negligent."
"Twice I endeavoured to address your lordship when you came in by the garden gate with M. Badinot, but your lordship made me a sign with your hand not to interrupt you. I did not venture to insist. I should be very much grieved if your lordship should impute negligence to me."
"Very well. Desire Edwards to harness Orion or Ploughboy in the cabriolet immediately."
M. Boyer made a respectful bow. As he was about to quit the room, some one knocked. He looked at the vicomte with an inquiring air.
"Come in!" said Florestan.
A second _valet de chambre_ appeared, bearing in his hand a small silver-gilt waiter. M. Boyer took hold of the waiter with a kind of jealous haste, and presented it to the vicomte, who took from it a thick packet, sealed with black wax.
The two servants withdrew discreetly.
Florestan broke open the envelope. It contained twenty-five thousand francs in treasury bills, but not a word of writing.
"Decidedly," he exclaimed, in a joyful tone, "the day is propitious!
Saved this time, and at this moment completely saved! I will run to the jeweller; and yet," he added, "perhaps--no--let us wait--he cannot have any suspicion of me. Twenty-five thousand francs is a pleasant sum to have by one! _Pardieu!_ I was a fool ever to doubt the luck of my star; at the moment when it seemed most obscure, has it not burst forth more brilliant than ever? But where does this money come from? The writing of the address is unknown to me. Let me examine the seal,--the cipher. Yes, yes, I cannot mistake; an N and an L,--it is Clotilde! How could she know? And not a word,--that"s strange! How very opportune, though! Ah, _mon Dieu!_ now I remember. I had an appointment with her this morning.
That Badinot"s threats drove it out of my head. I forgot Clotilde. After having waited for me down-stairs, no doubt she went away; and this is, unquestionably, a delicate way of making me understand that she fears I may forget her through some pecuniary embarra.s.sment. Yes, it is an indirect reproach that I have not applied to her as usual. Good Clotilde! Always the same,--generous as a queen! What a pity I was ever driven to ask her,--her still so handsome! I sometimes regret it, but I only did it in a direful extremity, and on sheer compulsion."
"Your lordship"s cabriolet is at the door," said M. Boyer, on entering the room.
"Who brought this letter?" Florestan inquired.
"I do not know, my lord."
"Well, I will ask below. But tell me, was there no one in the ground floor?" asked the vicomte, looking significantly at Boyer.
"There is no one there now, my lord."
"I was not mistaken," thought Florestan; "Clotilde waited for me, and is now gone."
"If your lordship would have the goodness to grant me two minutes," said Boyer.
"Speak, but be quick!"
"Edwards and myself have learnt that the Duc de Montbrison is desirous of forming an establishment. If your lordship would but just be so kind to propose your own ready furnished, with the stable in first-rate order, it would be a most admirable opportunity for Edwards and myself to get the whole off our hands, and, perhaps, for your lordship a good reason for disposing of them."
"_Pardieu!_ Boyer, you are right. As for me, I should prefer such an arrangement. I will see Montbrison, and speak to him. What are your terms?"
"Your lordship will easily understand that we are desirous of profiting as much as possible by your generosity."
"And turn your bargain to the best advantage? Nothing can be plainer!
Let us see,--what"s the price?"
"The whole, two hundred and sixty thousand francs (10,400_l._), my lord."