first person I saw was Ballangier, in a neat brown frock-coat and a
round hat; his attire was noticeable for a sort of coquetry which
indicated that the desire to please was still his first thought.
He grasped my hand, crying:
"Ah! here you are at last! I am so glad to see you! I have so much to
tell you about all that has happened in the six weeks since you went
away! For it is six weeks since you left Paris."
"Is Mignonne in my room now?"
"No; but she sometimes passes the whole day there and a large part of
the evening. She enjoys being in your room."
"Come up with me and tell me all about it."
Ballangier accompanied me to my apartment; I got rid of Pomponne by
telling him to get his dinner wherever he chose; and when I was alone
with my friend, I asked how his love affairs were progressing.
"In the first place, my dear Charles, when I came here, three days after
you went away, I was very much surprised to learn that you were in the
country; I was going away, sadly enough, when the concierge said to me:
'There's somebody upstairs, and my orders are to let you go up.' I
didn't wait to be informed twice; something told me that I should find
Mignonne here. Sure enough, she was here; she was working, but she was
very sad--indeed, I believe she was crying. She received me coldly. I
sat a long while looking at her, without saying a word, and she didn't
speak, either. At last I began to talk about you, of all that I owed
you, of my affection for you. Then she listened to me and answered. On
my next visit, I talked again about you; I saw that that was the only
way of making her talk a little. I asked her if she knew where you were;
she said, with a sigh, that she knew perfectly well, but, as you had
made a secret of it, she didn't think that she ought to tell. I
continued to come from time to time; and when I couldn't call during the
day, on account of my work, I made up for it by waiting for her in the
evening at the corner of the street. I watched for her to come away from
your house; I didn't dare to speak to her, for fear of displeasing her,
but I followed her at a distance till she was safely at home; and as she
lives on Rue Ménilmontant, my pleasure lasted some time. You will see,
Charles, what an excellent idea it was of mine to act as her escort. For
several days I had noticed a middle-aged man prowling about the street,
a well-dressed man, but very fat; and I fancied that he too was on the
watch for Mignonne; for he walked very near her--when he could keep up
with her, that is, for she quickened her pace at his approach.--'Parbleu!'
I said to myself, about a week ago; 'I must find out about this matter.
I'll just keep out of sight and see what this fellow's intentions are.'
The weather happened to be bad that night, and there were few people in
the street. I waited; my man soon appeared, and he waited too. After a
few minutes, Mignonne came out of the house. Then I saw my man, who was
lurking in the darkest part of the street, speak to Mignonne, put his
arm round her waist, insult her, in short, in spite of her entreaties
and her shrieks. I tell you, his punishment wasn't long in coming! In
three seconds I was on the fellow; I had grabbed him by the throat,
thrown him into the gutter, and hammered him with feet and hands. I
believe that I should be punching him yet, if Mignonne hadn't begged me
to let him alone. You can imagine that I offered her my arm then to take
her home, and she didn't refuse it. The poor child was so frightened!
She thanked me a hundred times more than I deserved; and since then, I'm
not sure, but it seems to me that she's more friendly with me."
"Well done, Ballangier! that incident ought surely to have helped on
your prospects. You have rendered Mignonne a great service, and she is
grateful."
"A great thing that was! to punch an impertinent blackguard's head!
Anybody would do as much for a poor little woman who's being
insulted--unless he has no blood in his veins! How is it with you,
Charles, are you all right? Have you left the country for good?"
"I don't know; that depends. Look you, my friend, I too am in love, and
I don't know yet whether my love is returned."
"Oho! Do you mean it? you are in love, too? Oh! she'll love you, I'll
answer for that; it is impossible for anyone not to love you!"
"God grant it! Meanwhile, I will admit that I haven't dined; and as it's
the fashion in our day for lovers to dine, because dieting would not
advance their affairs, I propose to regale myself. Have you dined?"
"Oh! long ago. I came here to wait for Mignonne, but she must have gone
away earlier than usual."
I was in a hurry to dine, because I intended to go immediately after to
Madame Dauberny's; as she had returned only a few hours ahead of me, it
was impossible that she should not be at home.
Ballangier went out with me; he would have left me when we reached the
street, but I asked him to walk with me as far as the boulevard; and on
the way I learned with pleasure that his conduct was still all that
could be desired, that his love did not cause him to neglect his work,
and that he had become one of his employer's head workmen.
We had almost reached the boulevard, when, as we passed a brightly
lighted shop, Ballangier started back, touched my arm, and said,
pointing to a man who had just passed us:
"There he is! That's the man! He didn't see me, but I recognized him."
"Who is he?"
"The man I thrashed so soundly for taking liberties with Mignonne."
I looked at the person whom Ballangier pointed out to me; his figure
impressed me, it reminded me of someone. I ran back and overtook him,
then turned about and faced him. I was not mistaken: it was Monsieur
Dauberny.
I do not know whether he recognized me. He must have been surprised by
the way I stared at him; but he simply frowned and went his way,
quickening his pace. I let him go, and returned to Ballangier, who had
stopped and was waiting for me a few steps away.
"Well, Charles, you wanted to see that man; you succeeded, didn't you?"
"Yes, and I recognized him perfectly."
"Recognized? The deuce! do you know the old reprobate?"
"Ah! if he were no worse than that! But he's an infernal villain! You
did well, I assure you, to deliver Mignonne from his persecutions. Poor
girl! If you knew of what that man is capable!"
"Really?"
"Continue to watch. The sight of that man makes me tremble for her! But
the day of reckoning must come some time!"
"Explain yourself! Do you want me to run after the fellow and arrest
him?"
"No, no! that's not the way I must deal with him. But we will watch him,
and an opportunity will soon come--with that man they must come
frequently--and then----"
"Then we will annihilate him, won't we?"
"Au revoir, Ballangier! I must dine. But, I repeat, watch over Mignonne
more carefully than ever."
"Oh! you have no need to urge that on me."
I entered a restaurant, dined in hot haste, and went to Madame
Dauberny's house.
"Madame is not in," said the concierge.
"You mean that she is not receiving, for she must be at home; did she
not return from the country to-day?"
"Yes, monsieur; madame returned to-day. But I assure you that she went
out this evening, not very long ago; and I believe I heard someone say
that she was going to the Opéra."
"To the Opéra?"
"Yes, monsieur; Mamzelle Adèle told us that her mistress was going to
the Opéra."
I was determined to find her. If I allowed that evening to pass without
having an explanation with her, she would be quite capable of leaving
Paris on the morrow; she would escape me again, and for a long time
perhaps. I decided to go to the Opéra. Frédérique was not one of those
women who are afraid to go to the theatre alone; more than once I had
heard her say:
"Why do I need a companion? When the fancy takes me to go to the
theatre, I send and hire a box, and I go. In my box, I am alone, I am at
home, and no one has the right to come there to annoy me."
I arrived at the Opéra; I went into the orchestra and stood at the
entrance, from which I examined one side of the auditorium. I did not
see Frédérique. I walked to the other side of the orchestra; there was a
large audience, and several men were already standing at that entrance.
I slipped in behind them and began my inspection. That time my search
was short: I saw her, alone, in a _baignoire_, leaning back a little.
Was she listening attentively to the performance, or was she absorbed by
her thoughts? Before joining her, I gave myself the pleasure of gazing
at her for several minutes.
Suddenly one of the men in front of me began to speak, so loudly that I
did not lose a single word; indeed, I was speedily convinced that he
intended that I should hear.
"I say, do you see that lady yonder, in one of the _baignoires_--all
alone in her box?"
"In a pearl-gray dress, with black hair, and long cork-screw curls?"
"Exactly. What do you think of her?"
"Not bad--a Spanish type of face; but a little pale."
"Perhaps that may be grief at losing me."
"Oho! is she----?"
"Yes, my dear fellow, she's an old flame of mine; she's still a----"
I did not allow Saint-Bergame to complete his sentence; if I had not
recognized his voice, I should have guessed his identity from his
language. I grasped his arm, and said to him in an undertone:
"Monsieur, the man who has been a woman's lover and tells of it is a
conceited ass; the man who insults her in public is a coward!"
Saint-Bergame turned, eyed me from head to foot with an insolent air,
and rejoined in a loud voice:
"Ah! you constitute yourself that lady's champion, do you? To be sure,
it's your turn now."
I could not contain my wrath; I struck him in the face. Saint-Bergame
tried to rush at me; but our quarrel had attracted general attention;
someone threw himself between us, and I noticed then for the first time
that Saint-Bergame's companion was Fouvenard.
We left the hall; several persons tried to adjust our difficulty, but I
satisfied them that their mediation was useless, and that we knew
perfectly well how the affair must end. I joined Saint-Bergame, who,
with Fouvenard, awaited me in a corner of the vestibule. The latter
stared at me in amazement, murmuring:
"What! is it you? What is this quarrel about?"
"There are no explanations to be given, messieurs. At what hour
to-morrow?"
"At nine o'clock--no, ten o'clock, at Porte Maillot," said
Saint-Bergame, who was trembling with anger. "I don't like to rise
early. I shall have time enough to kill you."
"Very good, monsieur! Your weapon?"
"The sword."
"That is all."
"I shall have monsieur and another second with me."
"It seems to me that monsieur would suffice."
"You evidently do not fight often, monsieur, and are not familiar with
the customs of duelling."
I did not consider it necessary to reply to this new insult.
"Very good; I will have two witnesses," I said, and walked away.
I returned to the hall and was going toward Madame Dauberny's box, when
a lady rushed up to me. It was Frédérique. She took my arm and led me
away, saying:
"Come! let us go! let us go!"
I followed her from the building. She almost made me run; she squeezed
my arm convulsively; I spoke to her, and she did not reply; but she
wept, and hid her face in her handkerchief. At last we arrived at her
house. Then she threw herself into a chair and her sobs burst forth
anew. I knelt at her feet; I took her hand and begged her to tell me the
cause of her grief.
"The cause? the cause? You ask me that when you are to fight
to-morrow--for me?"
"I am to fight?"
"Oh! no falsehoods! I recognized you at the entrance to the orchestra.
You struck Saint-Bergame."
"Yes, for he insulted you."
She took my head in her hands and kissed me again and again, crying:
"Ah! that was well done! Thanks, my friend! I expected nothing less from
you."
"Well! in that case, why these tears, this grief, when I am going to
punish a man who had insulted you once before? I found this evening an
opportunity that I have been looking for ever since our drive in the
Bois de Boulogne."
"Oh! of course, this duel would be an everyday affair, if---- Mon Dieu!
it is my fault! always my fault! Why did I leave the country? why did I
come back to Paris? All this would not have happened, if I had stayed at
Fontenay. But you, my friend--why did you come back--why did you follow
me? Why didn't you stay with that woman whom you love--and who has no
idea of spurning you now?"
"You are all astray, Frédérique: it was to stay with the woman I love
that I returned to Paris; it was to be with her that I followed you; for
the woman I love--not with friendship, but with love--the most sincere,
the most passionate love--with a love that will end only with my
life--is you--you! Yes! though you banish me from your presence again, I
can no longer content myself with the title of friend, beneath which I
have with difficulty concealed all that I felt for you!"
"He loves me! he loves me!" murmured Frédérique, gazing at me with an
expression of the purest ecstasy in her lovely eyes. Then, giving way to
her emotion, lacking strength to say more, she fell into my arms. I will
not try to describe my bliss. One cannot describe what one feels so
keenly.
When we had recovered the faculty of speech, Frédérique said to me, with
her head resting on my shoulder:
"The least that I can do is to reveal all my secrets to you now; there
must be no more secrets between us. I felt drawn toward you the first
moment that I knew you. There are, I have no question, certain bonds of
sympathy which we cannot understand, but which draw us toward those whom
we are destined to love. But at that time you were engrossed by
Armantine. Remember that I refused to allow you to call on me. I had no
idea that you would fall in love with me, but I felt that your presence
would be dangerous to me. I saw you again at Armantine's, depressed and
disheartened by her coquetry; I determined to console you by offering
you my friendship; I was acting in perfect good faith then, I proposed
to be your friend and nothing more--when that kiss that you gave me
while I was pretending to doze, that kiss which set my whole being on
fire, proved to me that I had other sentiments for you than those of a
friend. But you loved Armantine; I did not choose to be simply a passing
caprice to you, so it was necessary to break off our relations
altogether. And that is what I did, without ceasing for an instant to
think of you. Later, I learned what Monsieur Sordeville was, and I lost
no time in urging you not to go again to his house; you did not follow
my advice, being still in love with Armantine.--Then came the scene on
the Champs-Élysées; I had had nothing to do with bringing it about; but
I am too honest not to confess that her treatment of you gave me some
little hope. We met again, and again I offered you my friendship; but I
had much difficulty in concealing the true state of my heart. Your
liaison with Rosette made me unhappy, but I soon realized that it was
not love. When I saw that other attractive and interesting young woman
in your rooms, fresh torments assailed me, and I was very happy when you
consented to go away from Mignonne. Finally, at Fontenay my secret was
at my tongue's end every day; for I fancied that your eyes expressed
something different from friendship. Then we fell in with Armantine
again, and she recommenced her coquetries with you. Ah! that was too
much! I no longer had the strength to carry on the struggle; I came
away, fully determined to part from you forever. But you would not have
it so; it is I whom you love. Ah! my friend, my bliss at this moment
more than makes up for all the torture I have endured!"
For more than an hour we abandoned ourselves to the ecstatic joy of two
hearts which for the first time have declared their mutual love. But
suddenly Frédérique's brow darkened, and she looked sadly into my face,
crying:
"Mon Dieu! my happiness has made me forget. It is not a dream--you are
to fight to-morrow!"
"Yes, I am to fight to-morrow, at ten o'clock. But that fact cannot
prevent my being the happiest of men to-night."
"Is there no way of enjoying perfect happiness on earth? I was so happy,
so happy! And you are to fight to-morrow!"
"I shall be the victor, and I shall have avenged you! My happiness will
be even greater--if that is possible!"
"Oh! yes, yes, we must hope so! With what weapons do you fight?"
"Swords."
"Ah! Saint-Bergame chose that weapon, of course. I have often heard him
boast of his fine swordsmanship."
"I struck him, so he had the choice of weapons."
"True; but are you a good fencer?"
"I know how to defend myself."
"We will see about that."
She left me and went into her dressing-room, whence she soon returned
with a pair of buttoned foils and handed one to me.
"Let us see, my friend, if you really know how to defend yourself," she
said.
"What! can you handle a sword?"
"Very well, according to Grisier, who was my teacher. Didn't I tell you
that I received a man's education? Come, monsieur, on guard, and look
out for yourself!"
I took the foil. I thought, at first, that all I needed to do was to
parry carelessly a thrust or two. But Frédérique soon undeceived me; she
was sharp and persistent in attack, quick in parrying. Twice I was
touched, and she exclaimed:
"Ah! so that's how you defend yourself, is it? Why, poor fellow, you
will let him kill you! Attack--attack, I say!"
These words recalled me to myself; my self-esteem was aroused. We
continued for some time, and at last I touched her. She dropped her foil
and embraced me, saying:
"That's all right! that will do! But you must be careful; you must not
be taken unawares. Whom shall you have with you to-morrow?"
"You remind me. I shall get Balloquet. I can rely upon him, and I must
go this evening and leave a letter for him. But I must have another
second. Those fellows insist on having three on a side. Whom in the
devil shall I get?"
"Don't cudgel your brains, my friend. Your other second will be at your
rooms at nine o'clock to-morrow."
"Do you know of someone?"
"Yes."
"Ah! I'll wager that you are thinking of Baron von Brunzbrack?"
"Perhaps so. However, I'll be responsible for your second. Now, write to
Balloquet at once. Do you know the long-bearded individual who was with
Saint-Bergame?"
"Oh! yes, I know him! And if I could fight with him too, it would be an
additional gratification."
"Why, what has he done to you?"
"Nothing to me. But I told you, did I not, that Mignonne was vilely
insulted and then abandoned by her seducer? Well, it was that dastard,
that low-lived scoundrel, that Fouvenard, in short, who was with
Saint-Bergame at the Opéra this evening."
"Go, my friend, and carry the note to Balloquet; make sure of him, and I
will answer for the other second. Then go home and rest. Until
to-morrow!"
"You will come to my rooms to learn the result of the duel?"
"Yes, you will see me. Until to-morrow!"
I pressed her to my heart. I was proud of her courage. She continued to
smile as she looked after me. I found Balloquet's abode, not without
difficulty, gave my letter to the concierge, and went home to bed. She
loved me! I was so happy, that I had not a thought to spare for my
duel.
XLIX
A DOUBLE DUEL
I woke early. It seemed to me that the events of the preceding night
were a dream. But, no--she loved me, she was mine, and I was to fight a
duel!
At half-past eight, Balloquet arrived, all out of breath.
"What's up, my dear Rochebrune?" he cried. "You wrote me not to fail
you, to drop everything--and here I am! Is there a duel on the carpet,
by any chance?"
"Just that! I have a duel on hand for this morning, at ten o'clock, at
Porte Maillot. I tell you beforehand, my dear Balloquet, that the affair
cannot be adjusted; I struck my opponent at the Opéra last night."
"The devil! it's a serious business, then. What caused the quarrel?"
"It is about a lady, my friend."
"A lady! I understand! that is to say, it's for her lovely eyes."
"If I should tell you her name, I'll be bound that you also would fight
for her."
"Oho! do I know her, pray?"
"Madame Dauberny."
"Madame Dauberny! _Fichtre!_ But, tell me, are you in love with her
now?"
"I have always been, my dear Balloquet; but I dared not confess it to
myself, or tell her, for fear I should be repulsed."
"Like me! But it would seem that you haven't been repulsed. I was in
love with her for a moment, after a good dinner. She sent me about my
business, and I haven't given her a thought for a long time. But I am
none the less enchanted that you have chosen me for your second. She's a
charming woman, and, although she didn't listen to my nonsense, 'pon my
honor! I'd be very glad to fight for her."
"Give me your hand, Balloquet. I expected nothing less from you."
"What is the weapon?"
"The sword."
"Have you one?"
"Yes; here it is."
"Are there to be only we two?"
"I am expecting my other second."
"Who is he?"
"Frédérique has undertaken to send him to me. I fancy that it will be a
certain Prussian baron, an excellent and honorable man."
I had finished dressing just as the clock struck nine. I was already
beginning to fret over the baron's non-appearance, when my door opened
and a slender, graceful young man, of most attractive aspect, stood
before us. I looked at him several times, before I exclaimed:
"Frédérique!"
"Myself, my friend."
"What's that? Why, yes, on my word, it's Madame Dauberny!"
"Why are you in this disguise?"
"What! can't you guess? I am your other second."
"You! Can you think of such a thing, Frédérique?"
"I thought of it instantly, when I knew that you were going to fight for
me."
"But it's impossible! A woman cannot act as second. I cannot consent to
it.--Isn't that so, Balloquet?"
"It certainly isn't customary, and----"
"Listen, messieurs: I have but one reply to make--I propose to do it! If
you don't take me with you, I will follow you and be there, all the
same. All argument is useless. I propose to be your second."
"But my adversary's seconds will laugh when they see a woman."
"Never fear, they won't laugh long. But let us go, messieurs; we must
not keep them waiting. I have a cab below."
I saw that it was useless for me to try to change Frédérique's
resolution. We started. I took my sword; but I found a pair of foils
without buttons in the cab. Frédérique had thought of everything. We
talked little on the way. However brave we may be, we are always
assailed by a multitude of reflections when about to fight a duel.
We reached the rendezvous. Saint-Bergame was already there, with
Fouvenard and a little man who did not seem to enjoy the occasion at
all. I went forward first, apologizing for my delay. Balloquet was
behind me, and Frédérique a little farther back.
Saint-Bergame simply bowed and walked away, saying:
"Let us look for a suitable spot."
The little man suggested that we might fight behind the restaurant.
Fouvenard recognized Balloquet, and they exchanged a formal bow. We went
into the woods, and in a few moments came to a small cleared space. I
removed my coat, and Saint-Bergame did the same. Then Frédérique came
forward with the foils, and my opponent at once exclaimed:
"What is this? Is Madame Dauberny one of your seconds?"
"Yes, monsieur," replied Frédérique, with dignity; "for if Charles and
his friend do not avenge me, then I will avenge myself."
Saint-Bergame indulged in mocking laughter, and Monsieur Fouvenard
deemed it fitting to join him.
"Ha! ha!" he said; "a woman for second! Why, this is charming! I would
be glad to cross swords with the lady myself."
"Well! so you shall, if you're not a coward," retorted Frédérique,
offering him one of her foils.
He was still pleased to jest and draw back, saying:
"Nonsense! I would with pleasure, if it were a fan; but a foil--my dear
lady, you wouldn't know how to handle that!"
"Indeed! I shouldn't know how to handle it?"
As she spoke, Frédérique laid her foil across Fouvenard's face, leaving
a red mark which seemed to cut it in two. The bearded man flew into a
rage; he seized the weapon she offered him, exclaiming:
"I no longer recognize your sex, and I will not spare you."
"And I will avenge my sex, and poor Mignonne!"
At the name of Mignonne, Fouvenard turned pale; but he prepared for the
combat. Balloquet proposed to the little man that they should imitate
us; he declined, saying that he considered it ridiculous for seconds to
fight.
When I saw Frédérique cross swords with Fouvenard, I shuddered; I
trembled for her safety.
"Come on, monsieur," said Saint-Bergame; "I didn't come here to admire
madame's prowess; on guard!"