"Well, I will add three crowns a day to your pay while you are there, and I will give the shop to your eldest daughter. Bring me such letters often, and you shall be welcome."
Tapin returned to the hotel, but waited for the morning to deliver the letter.
At six o"clock, hearing Gaston moving, he entered, and gave him the note.
This was what it contained:
"MY FRIEND--I think of your advice, and that perhaps you were right at last, I fear. A carriage has just arrived--Madame Desroches orders departure--I tried to resist--they shut me up in my room; fortunately, a peasant pa.s.sed by to water his horse; I have given him two louis, and he promised to take you this note. I hear the last preparations--in two hours we leave for Paris.
"On my arrival, I will send you my address, if I have to jump out of the window and bring it.
"Be a.s.sured, the woman who loves you will remain worthy of herself and you."
"Ah, Helene!" cried Gaston; "I was not deceived. Eight o"clock, but she must have arrived. Why was not this letter brought to me at once?"
"You were asleep, monsieur. I waited your awaking."
There was no reply to be made. Gaston thought he would go and watch at the barrier, as Helene might not have arrived. He dressed quickly, and set out, after saying to Tapin:
"If Captain La Jonquiere comes here, say I shall be back at nine."
While Gaston waits uselessly for Helene, let us look back.
We saw the regent receive Madame Desroches" letter and send a reply.
Indeed, it was necessary to remove Helene from the attempts of this M.
de Livry.
But who could he be? Dubois alone could tell. So when Dubois appeared--
"Dubois," said the regent, "who is M. de Livry, of Nantes?"
"Livry--Livry," said he. "Stay!"
"Yes, Livry."
"Who knows such a name? Send for M. d"Hozier."
"Idiot!"
"But, monseigneur, I do not study genealogies. I am an unworthy plebeian."
"A truce to this folly."
"Diable! it seems monseigneur is in earnest about these Livrys. Are you going to give the order to one of them? because, in that case, I will try and find a n.o.ble origin."
"Go to the devil, and send me Noce."
Dubois smiled, and went out.
Noce quickly appeared. He was a man about forty, distinguished-looking, tall, handsome, cold and witty, one of the regent"s most faithful and favorite friends.
"Monseigneur sent for me."
"Ah, Noce, good-day."
"Can I serve your royal highness in anything?"
"Yes; lend me your house in the Faubourg St. Antoine, but empty, and carefully arranged. I will put my own people in it."
"Is it to be for--?"
"For a prude, Noce."
"The houses in the faubourg have a bad name, monseigneur."
"The person for whom I require it does not know that; remember, absolute silence, Noce, and give me the keys."
"A quarter of an hour, monseigneur, and you shall have them."
"Adieu, Noce, your hand; no spying, no curiosity, I beg."
"Monseigneur, I am going to hunt, and shall only return at your pleasure."
"Thanks; adieu till to-morrow."
The regent sat down and wrote to Madame Desroches, sending a carriage with an order to bring Helene, after reading her the letter without showing it to her.
The letter was as follows:
"MY DAUGHTER--On reflection, I wish to have you near me. Therefore follow Madame Desroches without loss of time. On your arrival at Paris, you shall hear from me.
Your affectionate father."
[Ill.u.s.tration: PHILIP V.--Page 477.]
Helene resisted, prayed, wept, but was forced to obey. She profited by a moment of solitude to write to Gaston, as we have seen. Then she left this dwelling which had become dear to her, for there she had found her father and received her lover.
As to Gaston, he waited vainly at the barrier, till, giving up all hope, he returned to the hotel. As he crossed the garden of the Tuileries, eight o"clock struck.
At that moment Dubois entered the regent"s bedchamber with a portfolio under his arm, and a triumphant smile on his face.
CHAPTER XIX.
THE ARTIST AND THE POLITICIAN.