"Oh! ladies," said the young man, quite humiliated, "I a.s.sure you, I did not."
"But what is the matter? The coach stops."
"I will see, madame."
"Oh! I think we are overturning; pray take care, sir."
And Andree, in her terror, laid her hand on the young man"s shoulder.
He, yielding to an impulse, attempted to seize her little hand; but she had in a moment thrown herself back again in the carriage. He therefore got out, and found the coachman engaged in raising one of his horses, which had fallen on the ice.
The horse, with his aid, was soon on its legs again, and they pursued their way.
It seemed, however, that this little interruption had destroyed the intimacy which had begun to spring up, for after the ladies had asked and been told the cause of their detention, all relapsed into silence.
The young man, however, who had derived some pleasure from the touch of that little hand, thought he would at least have a foot in exchange; he therefore stretched out his, and endeavored to touch hers, which, was, however, quickly withdrawn; and when he did just touch that of the elder lady, she said, with great sang-froid,----
"I fear, sir, I am dreadfully in your way."
He colored up to the ears, and felt thankful to the darkness, which prevented it from being seen. After this, he desisted, and remained perfectly still, fearing even to renew the conversation, lest he should seem impertinent to these ladies, to whom, at first, he had thought himself rather condescending in his politeness.
Still, in spite of himself, he felt more and more strongly attracted towards them, and an increasing interest in them. From time to time he heard them speak softly to each other, and he caught these words:
"So late an hour! what excuse for being out?"
At last the coach stopped again, but this time it was no accident, but simply that they had arrived at Versailles.
The young man thought the time had pa.s.sed with marvelous quickness.
"We are at Versailles," said the coachman.
"Where must he stop, ladies?" asked the officer.
"At the Place d"Armes."
"At the Place d"Armes, coachman," said the officer; "go on.--I must say something to them," thought he, "or they will now think me a stupid, as they must before have thought me impertinent."
"Mesdames," said he, "you are at length arrived."
"Thanks to your generous a.s.sistance."
"What trouble we have given you," added Andree.
"Oh, madame, do not speak of it!"
"Well, sir, we shall not forget; will you tell us your name?"
"My name?"
"Certainly, sir; you do not wish to make us a present of a louis, I hope."
"Oh, madame, if that is it," said the young man, rather piqued, "I yield; I am the Comte de Charney, and as madame has already remarked, a naval officer."
"Charney," repeated the elder lady, "I shall not forget."
"Yes, madame, Georges de Charney."
"And you live----?"
"Hotel des Princes, Rue de Richelieu."
The coach stopped. The elder lady opened the door and jumped out quickly, holding out a hand to her companion.
"But pray, ladies," said he, preparing to follow them, "take my arm; you are not yet at your own home."
"Oh, sir, do not move."
"Not move?"
"No; pray remain in the coach."
"You cannot walk alone at this time of night; it is impossible."
"Now, you see," said the elder lady, gaily, "after almost refusing to oblige us, you wish to be too obliging."
"But, madame----"
"Sir, remain to the end a loyal and gallant cavalier; we thank you, M.
de Charney, with all our hearts, and will not even ask your word----"
"To do what, madame?"
"To shut the door, and order the man to drive back to Paris, without even looking where we go, which you will do, will you not?"
"I will obey you, madame; coachman, back again." And he put a second louis into the man"s hand, who joyfully set off on his return.
The young man sighed, as he took his place on the cushions which the unknown ladies had just occupied.
They remained motionless till the coach was out of sight, and then took their way towards the castle.
CHAPTER VI.
LAURENT.
At this moment our heroines heard the clock strike from the church of St. Louis.