THE INTERVIEW
"In the first place," said M. de Brévannes, endeavouring to slip a
purse of gold into the hand of the mulatto, "take this, my good girl,
for your own trouble."
Iris, however, indignantly rejected the propitiatory offering, saying,
in a tone of offended pride, "You are evidently under some mistake,
monsieur."
"Nay," said M. de Brévannes, trying to force it upon her acceptance,
"nay, accept it as a feeble mark of my esteem."
"Esteem!" responded the mulatto with an expression of ironical contempt
so unequivocally displayed, that M. de Brévannes, perceiving his error,
returned his purse into his pocket, saying, "I believe I have the
pleasure of speaking to the young person acting as companion to the
Princess de Hansfeld?"
"You are perfectly correct, sir?"
"May I ask whether you have held that situation long?"
"Very long."
"Doubtless ever since her journey to Florence, whither she went in
company with her aunt?"
"You are right."
"The female I sent to speak to you has, I presume, acquainted you with
the fact of my having matters of the utmost importance to communicate to
the princess?"
"She stated as much to me."
"Have you acquainted Madame de Hansfeld with the visits of this person,
or with the interview you have been kind enough to grant me?"
"I have not."
"And, no doubt, you have observed equal silence as regards the prince?"
"I never converse with his excellency."
"Your motive in meeting rare, therefore, this evening, was merely----"
"To ascertain what you had to communicate to my mistress, and to apprise
her of it if I should deem it advisable."
"You are so extremely young, that I can scarcely judge how far you may
be in the confidence of Madame de Hansfeld."
"Your best way to prevent any error on your part will be to apply to the
princess herself."
"The very thing I was going to ask you to assist me in doing. Put me in
the way of seeing and speaking to the princess: that is all I desire."
"That permission must be accorded by my mistress herself."
"Whatever price you may set on this service, I am prepared to pay it."
"I can do nothing without the knowledge and concurrence of the
princess."
"Give her this letter."
"Impossible."
"There is nothing in it at all objectionable. I have merely said, that
having matters of the deepest importance to communicate to her, I
venture to implore the favour of being instructed how to convey a letter
into her hands without fear of its being intercepted."
"Then your letter is useless for the present. I will repeat to her what
you say; and if she thinks proper to grant your request, I will let you
know. What is your name and address?"
"My name is Charles de Brévannes: here is my card. You understand me;
do you not? Remember Charles de Brévannes."
"I shall remember."
"Is that name quite unknown to you?"
"Quite."
"Has Madame de Hansfeld never pronounced it in your hearing?"
"Never."
Irritated by the reserve maintained by the mulatto, M. de Brévannes
determined to try a fresh mode of attack. "My dear girl," said he, "it
is useless for me to attempt concealing any thing from you. 'Tis true I
have most interesting communications to make to Madame de Hansfeld;
but," added he, with an insinuating tone of voice and almost tenderness
of manner, "I have something equally important to say to you also."
"To me?"
"Indeed I have. I saw you the other day as you passed through the Rue
Saint Louis, and I found you far too charming for my peace of mind."
This speech appeared to have taken effect, for the mulatto hung her
head, but spoke not.
"The girl is probably more vulnerable on the score of personal vanity
than assailable by gold," thought M. de Brévannes. "I will just try the
effect of a few soft flattering words."
"Yes, my dear girl, from that hour my anxiety to obtain an interview has
been redoubled. In the first place, I longed to tell you how deep and
ineffaceable an impression you had made on my heart; and in the second
place, to speak with you respecting those important matters which are
for the princess's ear."
"You are jesting, sir?"
"No, I am not. I might have found other means of effecting my
communication with the princess; but I preferred addressing myself to
you. Your expressive features announced so much intelligence, mingled
with passions both ardent and generous, that I felt persuaded that in
speaking to you of the mistress you love, and the affection with which
you have inspired me, you would not be wholly deaf to my suit, dearest
Iris."
"You know my name?"
"I do; and many other things you may suppose me unacquainted with. Ah!
how could it be otherwise, when you alone have long engrossed my every
thought? Believe me your sincere attachment to Madame de Hansfeld has
but tended to increase the fervour of my regard for you."
"I must not listen to this language," said Iris, in a tone that betrayed
considerable emotion.
"Victoria!" said De Brévannes mentally; "the game is won. This poor
simpleton is like all her sex, unable to resist a little well-applied
flattery, mixed with a few professions of everlasting affection. Madame
Grassot was right; she is but a child in years or understanding."
"Why do you retire so far from me, my pretty Iris?" continued the
seducer; "let me hold your hand, and support your trembling steps."
"No; I can stay no longer: I have business that requires my presence
within doors."
"I cannot suffer you to depart. I have scarcely said a quarter of what I
wished to say."
"Then let me beg that our conversation may be entirely confined to the
princess."
"I am most desirous it should; only for that purpose it is essential
that we should repose the most perfect confidence in each other; by that
means, and by acting in strict concert, we may be enabled to prevent the
most fearful calamities."
"What mean you? Would the princess risk----"
"Fear not, lovely Iris; if you will aid me, these evils, however
threatening, may be dispelled. With such an ally as yourself, nothing
would be impossible; and, upon reflection, it seems to me that if once
you and I come to a right understanding on the subject, it will be
better just for the present not to inform the princess of what we are
endeavouring to effect."
"And wherefore should she be kept in ignorance of what so much concerns
her to know?"
"She might not be enabled to impose sufficient command on herself, and
her very apprehensions might endanger the success of the projects I wish
to work out for her good."
"But what good can I do in the matter? Why is it so indispensable that
you and myself should become such confidants?"
"I will explain; but, in the first place, you must candidly answer the
questions I shall put to you. Will you engage to do so?"
"Alas! I seem as though you exercised some spell or fascination over my
actions; although nearly a stranger to me, you seem to have inspired me
with sufficient confidence in your words to do whatsoever you ask me."
"Because I speak the pure language of truth, and that ever reaches the
heart."
"Oh no, no; I must not believe you. That female you sent so continually
to seek me--so many artifices tried with such untiring perseverance to
gain the ear of a simple girl like me, must conceal some deep, some
hidden design."
"Let my extreme anxiety to obtain an interview with you for the sake of
revealing the passion with which you had inspired me, and of carrying
out my good intentions to save and serve your honoured mistress, plead
my excuse for having had recourse to such modes of accomplishing the two
dearest wishes of my heart. Will you not accept my plea, dearest Iris?"
"Perhaps I am wrong to do so; after having made me grant you an
interview, even against my own judgment, I ought doubly to mistrust
you."
"Madame Grassot is certainly a clever reader of countenances," thought
M. de Brévannes. "It is scarcely possible for a young person to exhibit
more perfect silliness and childish simplicity than my dark friend
here." However he did not deem it advisable to allow the prudent
reflections of the mulatto to proceed further, as, hastily interrupting
her, he said, with every appearance of earnest sincerity, "Why reproach
yourself for what you have done? Our interview is based upon the purest
and most praiseworthy motives; besides, remember, dear Iris, that far
from yielding a ready assent to my prayers, you long hesitated ere you
would bless me with the meeting which now renders me so happy."
"Are you then happy?"
"How can I be otherwise? When you are beside me, and your arm gently
locked in mine?"
"Let me beseech you to speak only of the princess."
"Ah! now 'tis you who wish her to form the subject of our conversation."
"'Tis fitting you should converse of that which brought you hither."
"Then must I talk of you, dear Iris; or if that theme be forbidden me,
indulge the dear delight of being near you, and silently enjoy the
pleasure of walking by your side."
"No; each minute I stay serves but to convince me you are deceiving me:
let me return to the house. You had nothing to communicate to the
princess, I feel persuaded; and are merely laying a snare to entrap me
into some danger."
"If even it were so?"
"Why, then, it would be base and wicked to endeavour to harm a poor weak
girl like me. Let me go, I say; I must and will return home."
"Come, come. Iris--be calm. What use is there in my speaking to you of
Madame de Hansfeld, if you will not answer the questions I must
unavoidably put to you?
"I would much rather hear you speak of my mistress than address such
language to me."
"Well, then, let us talk only of Madame de Hansfeld. Tell me, is it not
above a week ago since she accompanied her husband to the Théâtre
Français?"
"It is. I remember it the more particularly, because it was the first
occasion of the prince's having gone out for a long while."
"And you, charming Iris, remained probably all alone at the Hôtel. Ah!
had I but known it, what happiness would it not have afforded me to have
been permitted to share your solitude with you!"
"Speak only of the princess, or I leave you."
"Pardon me for forgetting your former wishes. In what state did your
mistress appear to you on her return from the theatre?"
"At first she seemed very uneasy, for the prince did not entirely
recover from his indisposition for more than an hour after his return to
the Hôtel."
"Iris, what splendid eyes you have!--and what a beneficent moon we have
that shews them to double advantage when compared with her own pale
rays!"
"Have you nothing further to ask me, or tell me, respecting her
excellency?"
"And I suppose, when once reassured as to her husband's health, Madame
de Hansfeld resumed her ordinary state of calmness and composure?--What
a lovely hand yours is, Iris!--and how small!"
"Leave off these foolish compliments, I desire. What good is there in
your asking me questions, when you pay not the slightest attention to
the answers I make you?"
"Now you shall see how attentive I will be. You are right: matters of
the most vital import are at stake, and it is almost in spite of myself,
that I yield to the fascinations with which you surround me. But now,
then, go on--tell me of the princess?"
"Far from becoming tranquil, when the state of the prince no longer
excited her apprehensions, her agitation appeared to increase. I
attended her as usual, with the rest of her women, but she dismissed
them all but me; then, when we were alone, she wept. Oh! how bitterly
she wept!"
"Did she, indeed?"
"And even I could scarcely restrain my tears."
"She seemed very angry, did she, Iris?"
"Angry? oh! no; on the contrary, she appeared heart-broken and
miserable--raising her clasped hands towards heaven, as if to implore
mercy, while her tears flowed down her pallid cheeks. About an hour
after midnight she bade me call her attendants to undress her, but as
soon as they had done so, and she found herself again alone with me,
instead of retiring to bed, she sat down to her writing-table, and began
to write in a sort of private memorandum-book. I have observed she
always writes after any thing extraordinary has happened. I ventured to
express my fears that she would over-fatigue herself, but she replied
that, on the contrary, writing was the sole occupation which would have
the effect of calming her mind. About four o'clock in the morning I left
her; but long after that I could perceive the light still burning in her
chamber. Upon entering softly, I found her still occupied in writing."
The account of the mulatto (who by the way fabricated the history of the
private memorandum-book and the extreme despondency of the princess)
became of inestimable value to M. de Brévannes, who flattered himself
that his unexpected presence had occasioned all the agitation, anxiety,
and distress evinced by the princess--he was not aware of Madame de
Hansfeld having previously recognised him at the Opera-ball, and his
greatest wonder was to find her more afflicted than irritated by their
meeting.
M. de Brévannes was not only egotistical and obstinate, but also
singularly vain, and, spite of all the coolness, even amounting to
aversion, manifested by Madame de Hansfeld towards him when in Italy, he
had never despaired of winning her love; his fatal duel, in compelling
him to quit, had neither extinguished his selfish passion nor destroyed
his insensate hopes of ultimate success, and frequently did he mentally
assure himself, that but for his flight, rendered necessary by the
rigour of the Italian laws, he should certainly have succeeded in
gaining the heart of Paula Monti by the very violence of his passion,
and through the excesses even to which its ardour impelled him, and have
easily won her to forget the very name of Raphael, who, after all, had
forced the quarrel upon him.
Vanity is at least as blind as love itself, and M. de Brévannes, being
as vain as love-stricken, felt a gleam of hope in learning that the
princess had witnessed his re-appearance more in sorrow than in anger;
and he farther dwelt with considerable interest on the fact as related
to him by Iris. If Paula having passed her midnight hours after what he
erroneously supposed her first surprise at seeing him in writing long
passages in a book devoted, it would seem, to the reception of her most
private thoughts and occurrences, doubtless this volume contained every
particular relative to the death of Raphael as well as the circumstances
which led to it, and then he too, Brévannes, must likewise figure in
its pages.
To obtain possession of this book, and thereby surprise, as it were, the
most hidden and secret thoughts of Madame de Hansfeld, became now the
ruling desire of M. de Brévannes, but in proportion as the wish became
more predominant, so did his fears of failure begin to agitate his mind,
and thus he deemed it more prudent not to appear to attach any
importance to the narrative Iris with all the simplicity of a child had
just confided to him.
Surprised at his long silence, the mulatto at length inquired, of what
he was so intently thinking?
"Ah, Iris! 'tis your fault; in your presence I cannot command my
thoughts, try as I will, they all fly to you and your dear image."
"What! after promising me so faithfully not to think of any thing but my
dear mistress?--And when I have not only answered every question you
have put to me, but even told you more than I should have done. I
scarcely believe you have heard a word I said."
"Oh, yes I have, every syllable, but then you see, Iris, I have only
asked you such simple and innocent questions as could in no way
compromise the princess, still I am not now at liberty to explain to you
the motive I have in asking them. Ere long I may probably put others to
you, but by that time, I trust to have established myself so firmly in
your confidence, that you will place implicit confidence in all I say,
and treat me as a second self."
"I must not promise to see you again; for why should I? I see but too
plainly that you are only making use of me as a medium of correspondence
between yourself and the princess. But what right have I to complain?
Have not the unhappy ever been sacrificed to the happy, the rich, and
the prosperous of this world?"
The almost imperceptible tone of bitterness with which Iris uttered
these last words made M. de Brévannes start, and afresh idea found
admission into his thoughts. What was more natural than that the humble
dependant looked with eyes of jealousy upon her more fortunate mistress,
and loathed each day more and more the hireling service she was called
upon to pay?
Spite of the cunning and experience possessed by persons of the class to
which M. de Brévannes belonged, they are almost invariably dupes of
their own misplaced contempt for mankind in general, and their proneness
to believe at all times rather in the bad than good inclinations of
those with whom they have to deal; instead, therefore, of considering
the mulatto as devoted to her mistress, and consequently observing a
necessary degree of reserve, a single word, nay a mere inflection of the
voice sufficed to impress M. de Brévannes with the idea that Iris
envied the superior advantages possessed by her mistress, and might very
probably be easily brought to act in direct hostility against her; and
he the more readily adopted this hypothesis, as it chanced to accord
perfectly with his own projects. It was of paramount importance to him
to have about Madame de Hansfeld a person wholly devoted to himself, who
would be restrained by no scruple or prevented by no tie of gratitude,
from executing whatever orders he might give, or assisting in any scheme
he might devise. Anxious, however, to be well assured of the reality of
his surmise, he said to Iris, in a feigned tone of the tenderest
interest,--
"You are happy--quite happy in your present situation; are you not, my
dear girl?"
The mulatto was as skilful a tactician as himself, and perfectly
comprehended the import of a question she had so adroitly managed to
elicit; she made no reply at first, but sighed heavily, then, after a
prolonged pause, said,--
"Oh yes, very happy indeed! And even if I were not, what good would it
do me to complain?"
Then abruptly disengaging herself from M. de Brévannes, she hastily ran
towards the little side-gate, which had remained half open all the time
they had been talking.
Astonished at this sudden flight, M. de Brévannes followed her,
saying,--
"But, at least, do not leave me without fixing when I shall see you
again?"
"I know not," replied she.
"But I cannot, let you go until you have appointed some time; will you
say the day after to-morrow at the same hour as before?"
"Perhaps--but no, no--not again--I am sufficiently wretched already;"
and with these words the garden gate shut M. de Brévannes out from all
further communication with the mulatto. M. de Brévannes accordingly
returned homewards, inexpressibly delighted with the result of his first
interview with Iris, who, on her side not less satisfied with her recent
meeting, hastened to Madame de Hansfeld, to whom she related every word
that had transpired, reserving, however, certain details for the better
furtherance of a diabolical project which had recently sprang up within
her breast.