PRESUMPTION AND INDIGNATION.
When the duchess returned to her son, her cheeks were flushed, and
intense indignation was depicted on her visage.
"Who ever would have believed it? Did any one ever hear of such
audacity?" she exclaimed, on entering the room.
"What is the matter, mother?"
"M. de Macreuse is a scoundrel,--a vile scoundrel!" cried Madame de
Senneterre, in a tempest of wrath.
Gerald could not help bursting into a hearty laugh, despite his mother's
agitation; then, regretting this unseemly hilarity, he said:
"Forgive me, mother, but this revulsion of feeling is so sudden and so
very remarkable! But tell me, has this man failed in respect to you?"
demanded Gerald, very seriously, this time.
"Such a person as he is never forgets his manners," answered the
duchess, spitefully.
"Then what is the meaning of this anger? You were swearing by your M. de
Macreuse a minute ago!"
"Don't call him my M. de Macreuse, if you please," cried Madame de
Senneterre, interrupting her son, impetuously. "Do you know the object
of his visit? He came to ask me to say all I could in his praise,--in
his praise, indeed!"
"But to whom, and for what purpose?"
"Did any one ever hear of such audacity!"
"But tell me his object in making this request, mother."
"His object! Why, the man wants to marry Mlle. de Beaumesnil!"
"He!"
"Did any one ever hear of such presumption?"
"Macreuse?"
"A mere nobody! A common vagrant!" cried the duchess. "Really, it is
hard to imagine who could have had the audacity to introduce a creature
like that into our circle."
"But how did he happen to reveal his projects to you?"
"Because I have always treated him with consideration, I suppose;
because, like so many other fools I took him up, without knowing why,
until the fellow thought he had a right to come and say to me that, by
reason of the friendly interest I had always taken in him, and the
eulogiums I had lavished upon him, he really felt it his duty to confide
to me, under the pledge of secrecy, his intentions with regard to Mlle.
de Beaumesnil; not doubting, he had the audacity to remark that I would
say a few words in his favour to that young lady, adding that he would
trust to--to my friendly interest. I do believe he had the impudence to
say--to find an opportunity to do him this favour at the earliest
possible moment. Really, effrontery is no name for assurance like his!"
"But really, my dear mother, you must confess that it is your own fault.
Haven't I heard you praise and flatter this Macreuse in the most
outrageous manner, again and again?"
"Praise him--flatter him!" exclaimed Madame de Senneterre, naively. "Did
I suppose then that he would have the impudence to take it into his head
to marry the richest heiress in France, or to think of such a thing as
competing with my son? Besides, with all his boasted shrewdness, the
man is nothing more or less than a fool to apply to me for assistance in
his schemes! He will be surprised when he finds out how I will serve his
interests. His pretensions are ridiculous, positively ridiculous! He is
an adventurer, a scoundrel! He hasn't even a name, and looks like a
sacristan who has just been to dine with his parish priest. He is a
hypocrite, a pedant, and a most unmitigated bore, with all his pretended
virtues. Besides, he hasn't the slightest chance, for, from what Madame
de la Rochaigue tells me, Mlle. de Beaumesnil would be delighted to
become a duchess. Quite a woman of the world, though so young, she has a
full appreciation of all the pleasures and advantages which a large
fortune combined with a high social position gives, and it certainly is
not a plebeian like M. de Macreuse who can give her this high social
position."
"And what reply did you make to his request?"
"Enraged at his audacity, I was on the point of telling him that his
pretensions were as absurd as they were insolent, and of forbidding him
to ever set foot in my house again; but I reflected that I might be able
to circumvent him most successfully by pretending that I was willing to
assist him, so I promised that I would speak of him, as he deserved--and
I certainly shall not fail to do so. Oh, I will urge his claims in an
effectual manner, I'll vouch for that."
"Do you know, my dear mother, that it is not at all unlikely that
Macreuse will attain his end?"
"He marry Mlle. de Beaumesnil, he?"
"Yes."
"Nonsense! Are you, too, mad?"
"Don't deceive yourself, mother. The coterie that sustains him is
all-powerful. He has on his side,--I don't mind telling you now you
detest him so thoroughly,--he has on his side all the women who have
become bigots, because they are old, all the young women who are prudes,
because they are ugly, all the male devotees, because they make capital
out of their religion, and all the serious-minded men, because they are
so stupid; so you see the name of his supporters is legion."
"But with my social standing, my opinion will have some weight, I
think," retorted the duchess.
"But you have been one of his warmest champions and admirers up to the
present time, and no one will be able to explain your sudden change of
feeling, or, rather, every one will be able to explain it; and, instead
of injuring Macreuse, the war you wage against him will aid him. The
fellow is an unmitigated scoundrel and arrant hypocrite. You have no
idea with whom you have to deal, my dear mother."
"Really, you take this very calmly--with truly heroic self-abnegation, I
might say," exclaimed the duchess, bitterly.
"No, I assure you, his presumption excites my deepest indignation. A
fellow like Macreuse to have such pretensions and perhaps be able to
realise them, a man who from my school-days has always inspired me with
both loathing and aversion! And this poor Mlle. de Beaumesnil whom I do
not even know, but who becomes interesting in my eyes the minute she is
in danger of becoming the wife of that rascal,--really I have half a
mind to marry her myself, if only to spoil Macreuse's plans and save the
poor little thing from that villain's clutches."
"Oh, Gerald, my son," cried the duchess, "your marriage would make me
the happiest of mothers!"
"But--my liberty--my precious liberty!"
"But, Gerald, think of it,--with one of the most illustrious names in
France, and then to become the richest and greatest landowner in France!
Think of the power this immense fortune will give combined with a
position like yours, my dear Gerald."
"Yes, that is so," answered Gerald, reflectively, "but think of me,
too, condemned to a life of ennui, and silk hose every evening
henceforth and for ever. Besides, remember those dear girls who love me
so devotedly; for, having the good fortune to be young and poor, I am
forced to believe that their love is entirely disinterested."
"But, my dear," insisted the duchess, urged on in spite of herself by
her ambition to see her son make this wealthy marriage, "perhaps you
exaggerate the requirements of duty too much. Because you are married is
no reason--"
"Oh, mother, mother, to think I should ever hear you recommending laxity
of morals after marriage!"
"You misunderstand my meaning entirely, my son," replied Madame de
Senneterre, considerably embarrassed. "I didn't say anything of the
kind. If I insist, it is not only to inspire you with a desire to
supplant this abominable man, but also for humanity's sake, so to
speak."
"Humanity's sake?"
"Certainly, that poor little Mlle. de Beaumesnil would positively die of
grief and despair if she is forced to live with such a monster. It would
be a most generous and commendable act to save her from him."
"Really, mother, I expect to hear you say in a minute or two that I
shall deserve the Monthyon prize, if I contract this marriage."
"Yes, if the Monthyon prize is to be awarded to the son who makes his
mother the happiest of women," replied Madame de Senneterre, looking up
at Gerald with eyes full of tears.
Gerald loved his mother so devotedly that the emotion she manifested
touched the young duke deeply, and he said, with a smile:
"Ah, what a dangerous thing a mother is! She seems to be quite capable
of marrying you to the heiress of millions, even against your will,
especially when there is danger that a scoundrel like Macreuse may be
converted into a millionaire. The fact is, the more I think of it the
more pleased I am at the idea of circumventing this hypocrite. What a
blow it would be to him! But there is one difficulty, my dear mother,
and it strikes me that I am a little late in thinking of it."
"What do you mean?"
"I am by no means sure that I should please Mlle. de Beaumesnil."
"You will only have to try to succeed in doing it, I am sure, my dear
Gerald."
"A true mother's view of the matter."
"I know you better than most people, perhaps."
"You are not capable of giving an opinion on the matter, I see. Your
affection blinds you, but I forgive you."
"Leave the matter to me, Gerald. Only consent to be guided by me, and
see if I don't conduct the affair to a successful termination."
"Do you know that one would take you for an inveterate match-maker if
one didn't know you," said Gerald, gaily. "But all mothers are alike in
one respect, when their children's interests are at stake they become
positive tigresses and lionesses. Very well, whatever your will may be I
resign myself to it blindly."
"My dear, good Gerald," cried the delighted duchess, positively weeping
with joy; "you cannot imagine how happy you have made me. That wretched
Macreuse will die of spite."
"That is so, mother. I shall give him the jaundice instead of the
sword-thrust he would have declined to take."
"Now, Gerald, let us talk the matter over sensibly."
"So be it. I am listening."
"As you have made up your mind, it is of the utmost importance that you
should see Mlle. de Beaumesnil as soon as possible."
"Very well."
"This first interview, you must understand, is of great importance."
"Unquestionably."
"The fact is so apparent that I had a long talk with Mesdames de
Mirecourt and de la Rochaigue upon the subject this morning. From what
the latter lady is able to judge of Mlle. de Beaumesnil's character,
this is the plan we think most expedient; but you shall judge for
yourself, Gerald."
"Very well, let me hear it."
"We recognised from the first the impossibility of representing you as a
serious-minded and settled man--"
"And you showed your good sense, for I should have proved you a set of
base deceivers only too soon," retorted Gerald, laughing.
"Of course there is no hope of avoiding the many censorious remarks
which the frivolity of your conduct seems to justify, my poor Gerald, so
the best thing we can do is to make everything that is said against you
redound to your credit as much as possible."
"Only mothers could show themselves such clever diplomatists as that."
"Fortunately, Mlle. de Beaumesnil, judging from what Madame de la
Rochaigue says,--she talked with the girl awhile last evening, and the
mind of a child of sixteen is not difficult to read,--fortunately,
Ernestine de Beaumesnil seems to be very fond of luxury, splendour, and
display, so we think it advisable that you should first appear before
her in the character of one of the most elegant young men in Paris."
"If you are clever enough to find such an opportunity, I consent, I am
sure."
"It is to-morrow afternoon, is it not, that you are to take part in that
race in the Bois de Boulogne?"
"Yes, I promised that ninny, De Courville, who has a number of fine
horses he is afraid to mount himself, that I would ride his horse,
'Young Emperor,' in the hurdle race."
"Capital! Madame de la Rochaigue shall take Mlle. de Beaumesnil to the
race. They will call for me, and as soon as we reach the Bois it will
seem the most natural thing in the world that you should come up and
talk with us before the racing begins. Your jockey costume of orange
satin with black velvet trimmings is extremely becoming to you."
"One word, if you please, my dear mother."
"Let me finish, please. Mlle. de Beaumesnil will see you among a crowd
of fashionable young men, in which you shine preeminent, every one must
admit. And, then, I don't doubt that you will win the race. It is
absolutely necessary that you should win it, Gerald."
"It is the general opinion, mother, that the 'Young Emperor' and I will
come out ahead, but--"
"You certainly ride superbly," said the duchess, again interrupting her
son; "and when Ernestine sees you excelling your competitors in the
midst of frantic applause, there can be very little doubt that, upon one
with the tastes and character she seems to have, the impression produced
will be excellent; and if, after this first meeting, you make yourself
as agreeable as you can be when you choose, that impudent Macreuse will
appear odious in her eyes even if he should have the audacity to enter
the lists."
"May I be allowed to say a word now, my dear mother?"
"Certainly."
"I see no objection to being introduced by you to Mlle. de Beaumesnil at
a race in the Bois de Boulogne; but do you really think it advisable
that the presentation should take place on a day that I am arrayed in
the garb of a jockey?"
"But why not? I am sure the costume is extremely becoming to you."
"It seems to me to savour too much of an actor."
"Really, Gerald, you have the most peculiar ideas."
"No, no, my dear mother, it is you who have such ideas, without
suspecting it. But, seriously, you can present me to Mlle. de Beaumesnil
where you please, when you please, and as you please, either afoot or on
horseback,--you are at liberty to choose, you see. But I will not have
recourse to the fascinations of a jockey's costume. I don't need them,"
added Gerald, with a comical affectation of extreme complacency. "I
shall dazzle and fascinate Mlle. de Beaumesnil by a host of admirable
moral and conjugal qualities."
"Really, Gerald, you are incorrigible. You can not treat even the most
important things seriously."
"What does that matter, provided the things are accomplished?"
The conversation between the duchess and her son was interrupted a
second time by a valet who announced that the Baron de Ravil wished to
see M. le duc on very important business, and that he was now waiting in
the apartments of M. le duc.
"Very well," said Gerald, though he was greatly surprised at this visit.
After the valet withdrew, the duchess said to her son:
"What business can you have with M. de Ravil? I can not bear the man. He
is received everywhere, though, and I must confess that I set the
example as much as any one, without really knowing why I do it."
"The explanation is very simple. His father was a very popular man. He
introduced his son into the same social circle in which he himself
moved, and, once admitted, Ravil, the younger, continued to be received.
I, too, dislike him thoroughly. I have not seen him since the day of
that strange duel between the marquis and M. de Mornand, and I have no
idea what he can want with me. By the way, I heard an anecdote yesterday
that shows his real character, perfectly. A poor fellow who is not very
well off in this world's goods obligingly opened his purse to Ravil, and
this is the way Ravil repaid him for his kindness: 'Where the devil did
the fool steal that two hundred louis he loaned to me?' he exclaimed in
the presence of a number of acquaintances afterward."
"How shameful!" cried the duchess.
"I will go and see what he has to say," remarked Gerald. "The man always
seems to know everything that is going on. Wait for me, though, my dear
mother. In a few minutes I may return as enthusiastic in regard to this
cynical personage as you were exasperated against Macreuse."
"That is very ungenerous in you, Gerald."
"Well, at least admit that you and I are not very fortunate in our
callers, this morning, my dear mother."
And M. de Senneterre hurried off to join the baron.