THE BALL.
As the eleventh hour of the night sounded from the different clocks in
Paris, the gates of an hôtel in the Rue Plumet were thrown open by a
Swiss in rich livery, and forthwith issued a magnificent dark blue
Berlin carriage, drawn by two superb long-tailed gray horses; on the
seat, which was covered by a rich hammercloth, trimmed with a mossy silk
fringe, sat a portly-looking coachman, whose head was ornamented by a
three-cornered hat, while his rotund figure looked still more imposing
in his dress livery-coat of blue cloth, trimmed up the seams with silver
lace, and thickly braided with the same material; the whole finished by
a splendid sable collar and cuffs. Behind the carriage stood a tall
powdered lacquey, dressed in a livery of blue turned up with yellow and
silver; and by his side was a chasseur, whose fierce-looking moustaches,
gaily embroidered dress and hat, half concealed by a waving plume of
blue and yellow feathers, completed a most imposing _coup-d'oeil_.
The bright light of the lamps revealed the costly satin lining of the
interior of the vehicle we are describing, in which were seated Rodolph,
having on his right hand the Baron de Graün, and opposite to him the
faithful Murphy.
Out of deference for the sovereign represented by the ambassador to
whose ball he was then proceeding, Rodolph wore no other mark of
distinction than the diamond order of ----.
Round the neck of Sir Walter Murphy, and suspended by a broad orange
riband, hung the enamelled cross of the grand commander of the Golden
Eagle of Gerolstein; and a similar insignia decorated the Baron de
Graün, amidst an infinite number of the crosses and badges of honour
belonging to all countries, depending by a gold chain placed in the two
full buttonholes of the diplomatist's coat.
"I am delighted," said Rodolph, "with the very favourable accounts I
have received from Madame Georges respecting my poor little protégée at
the farm of Bouqueval. David's care and attention have worked wonders.
Apropos of La Goualeuse: what do you think, Sir Walter Murphy, any of
your Cité acquaintances would say at seeing you so strangely disguised,
as at present they would consider you, most valiant charcoal-man, to be?
They would be somewhat astonished, I fancy."
"Much in the same degree as the surprise your royal highness would
excite among your new acquaintances in the Rue du Temple, were you to
proceed thither, as now attired, to pay a friendly visit to Madame
Pipelet, and to inquire after the health of Cabrion's victim, the poor
melancholy Alfred!"
"My lord has drawn so lively a sketch of Alfred, attired in his
long-skirted green coat and bell-crowned hat," said the baron, "that I
can well imagine him seated in magisterial dignity in his dark and smoky
lodge. Let me hope that your royal highness's visit to the Rue du Temple
has fully answered your expectations, and that you are in every way
satisfied with the researches of my agent?"
"Perfectly so," answered Rodolph. "My success was even beyond my
expectations."
Then, after a moment's painful silence, and to drive away the train of
thought conjured up by the recollection of the probable guilt of Madame
d'Harville, he resumed, in a tone more gay:
"I am almost ashamed to own to so much childishness, but I confess
myself amused with the contrast between my treating Madame Pipelet in
the morning to a glass of cordial, and then proceeding in the evening to
a grand fête, with all the pomp and prestige of one of those privileged
beings who, by the grace of God, 'reign over this lower world.' Some men
of small fortune would speak of my revenues as those of a millionaire,"
added Rodolph, in a sort of parenthesis, alluding to the limited extent
of his estates.
"And many millionaires, my lord, might not have the rare, the admirable
good sense, of the man of narrow means."
"Ah, my dear De Graün, you are really too good, much too good! You
really overwhelm me," replied Rodolph, with an ironical smile, while the
baron glanced at Murphy with the consciousness of a man who has just
discovered he has been saying a foolish thing.
"Really, my dear De Graün," resumed Rodolph, "I know not how to
acknowledge the weight of your compliment, or how to repay such delicate
flattery in its own way."
"My lord, let me entreat of you not to take the trouble," exclaimed the
baron, who had for the instant forgotten that Rodolph, who detested
every species of flattery, always revenged himself by the most unsparing
raillery on those who, directly or indirectly, addressed it to him.
"Nay, baron, I cannot allow myself to remain in your debt. You have
praised my understanding,--I will, in return, admire your countenance;
for by my honour, as I sit beside you, you look like a youth of twenty.
Antinous himself could not boast of finer features, or a more
captivating expression."
"My lord! my lord! I cry your mercy!"
"Behold him, Murphy, and say whether Apollo could display more graceful
limbs, more light, and youthful proportions!"
"I beseech you, my lord, to pardon me, from the recollection of how long
it is since I have permitted myself to utter the slightest compliment to
your royal highness."
"Observe, Murphy, this band of gold which restrains, without concealing,
the locks of rich black hair flowing over this graceful neck, and--"
"My lord! my lord! for pity's sake spare me! I repent, most sincerely,
of my involuntary fault," said the unfortunate baron, with an expression
of comic despair on his countenance truly ludicrous.
It must not be forgotten that the original of this glowing picture was
at least fifty years of age; his hair gray, frizzled and powdered; a
stiff white cravat round his throat; a pale, withered countenance; and
golden spectacles upon the horny bridge of his sharp, projecting nose.
"Pardon, my lord! pardon, for the baron," exclaimed the squire,
laughing. "I beseech you not to overwhelm him beneath the weight of your
mythological allusions. I will be answerable to your royal highness that
my unlucky friend here will never again venture to utter a flattery,
since so truth is translated in the new vocabulary of Gerolstein."
"What! old Murphy, too? Are you going to join in the rebellion against
sincerity?"
"My lord, I am so sorry for the position of my unfortunate _vis-à-vis_,
that--I beg I may divide his punishment with him."
"Charcoal-man in ordinary, your disinterested friendship does you
honour. But seriously now, my dear De Graün, how have you forgotten that
I only allow such fellows as D'Harneim and his train to flatter, for the
simple reason that they know not how to speak the truth? That
cuckoo-note of false praise belongs to birds of such feather as
themselves, and the species they claim relationship with; but for a
person of your mind and good taste to descend to its usage--oh, fie!
baron, fie!"
"It is all very well, my lord," said the baron, sturdily; "but I must be
allowed to say (with all due apology for my boldness) that there is no
small portion of pride in your royal highness's aversion to receive even
a just compliment."
"Well said, baron! Come, I like you better now you speak plain truths.
But tell me how you prove your assertion?"
"Why, just so, my lord; because you repudiate it upon the same principle
that might induce a beautiful woman, well aware of her charms, to say to
one of her most enthusiastic admirers, 'I know perfectly well how
handsome I am, and therefore your approval is perfectly uncalled for and
unnecessary. What is the use of reiterating what everybody knows? Is it
usual to proclaim in the open streets that the sun shines, when all may
see and feel certain of his midday brightness?'"
"Now, baron, you are shifting your ground, and becoming more dangerous
as you become more adroit; and, by way of varying your punishment, I
will only say that the infernal Polidori himself could not have more
ingeniously disguised the poisonous draught of flattery, when seeking to
persuade some poor victim to swallow it."
"My lord, I am now effectually silenced."
"Then," said Murphy (and this time with an air of real seriousness),
"your royal highness has now no doubt as to its being really Polidori
you encountered in the Rue du Temple?"
"I have ceased to have the least doubt on the subject, since I learned
through you that he had been in Paris for some time past."
"I had forgotten, or, rather, purposely omitted to mention to your
lordship," said Murphy in a sorrowing tone, "a name that never failed to
awaken painful feelings; and knowing as I do how justly odious the
remembrance of this man was to your royal highness, I studiously
abstained from all reference to it."
The features of Rodolph were again overshadowed with gloom, and, plunged
in deep reverie, he continued to preserve unbroken the silence which
prevailed until the carriage stopped in the courtyard of the embassy.
The windows of the hôtel were blazing with a thousand lights, which
shone brightly through the thick darkness of the night, while a crowd of
lacqueys, in full-dress liveries, lined the entrance-hall, extending
even to the salons of reception, where the grooms of the chamber waited
to announce the different arrivals.
M. le Comte ----, the ambassador, with his lady, had purposely remained
in the first reception-room until the arrival of Rodolph, who now
entered, followed by Murphy and M. de Graün.
Rodolph was then in his thirty-sixth year, in the very prime and
perfection of manly health and strength. His regular and handsome
features, with the air of dignity pervading his whole appearance, would
have rendered him, under any circumstances, a strikingly attractive man;
but, combined with the _éclat_ of high birth and exalted rank, he was a
person of first-rate importance in every circle in which he presented
himself, and whose notice was assiduously sought for. Dressed with the
utmost simplicity, Rodolph wore a white waistcoat and cravat; a blue
coat, buttoned up closely, on the right breast of which sparkled a
diamond star, displayed to admiration the light yet perfect proportions
of his graceful figure, while his well-fitting pantaloons, of black
kerseymere, defined the finely formed leg and handsome foot in its
embroidered stocking.
From the rareness of the Grand Duke's visits to the _haut monde_, his
arrival produced a great sensation, and every eye was fixed upon him
from the moment that, attended by Murphy and Baron de Graün, he entered
the first salon at the embassy. An attaché, deputed to watch for his
arrival, hastened immediately to appraise the ambassadress of the
appearance of her illustrious guest. Her excellency instantly hurried,
with her noble husband, to welcome their visitor, exclaiming:
"Your royal highness is, indeed, kind, thus to honour our poor
entertainment."
"Nay, madame," replied Rodolph, gracefully bowing on the hand extended
to him, "your ladyship is well aware of the sincere pleasure it affords
to pay my compliments to yourself; and as for M. le Comte, he and I are
two old friends, who are always delighted to meet. Are we not, my lord?"
"Your royal highness, in deigning to continue to me so flattering a
place in your recollection, makes it still more impossible for me ever
to forget your many acts of condescending kindness."
"I assure you, M. le Comte, that in my memory the past never dies; or,
at least, the pleasant part of it; for I make it a strict rule never to
preserve any reminiscences of my friends but such as are agreeable and
gratifying."
"Your royal highness has found the secret of being happy in your
thoughts, and rendering others so at the same time," rejoined the
ambassador, smiling with gratified pride and pleasure at a conference so
cordially carried on before a gathering crowd of admiring auditors.
"Thus, then, madame," replied Rodolph, "will your flattering reception
of to-night live long in my memory; and I shall promise myself the
happiness of recalling this evening's fête, with its tasteful
arrangements and crowd of attending beauties. Ah, Madame la Comtesse,
who like you can effect such a union of taste and elegance as now
sparkles around us?"
"Your royal highness is too indulgent."
"But I have a very important question to ask you: Why is it that,
lovely as are your fair guests, their charms are never seen to such
perfection as when assembled beneath your hospitable roof?"
"Your royal highness is pleased to view our fair visitants through the
same flattering medium with which you are graciously pleased to behold
our poor endeavours for your and their amusement," answered the
ambassador, with a deferential bow.
"Your pardon, count," replied Rodolph, "if I differ with you in opinion.
According to my judgment, the cause proceeds wholly from our amiable
hostess, Madame l'Ambassadrice."
"May I request of your royal highness to solve this enigma?" inquired
the countess, smiling.
"That is easily given, madame, and may be found in the perfect urbanity
and exquisite grace with which you receive your lovely guests, and
whisper to each a few charming and encouraging words, which, if the
least bit exceeding strict truth," said Rodolph, smiling with
good-tempered satire, "renders those who are even praised above their
merits more radiant in beauty from your kind commendations, while those
whose charms admit of no exaggeration are no less radiant with the
happiness of finding themselves so justly appreciated by you; thus each
countenance, thanks to the gentle arts you practise, is made to exhibit
the most smiling delight, for perfect content will set off even homely
features. And thus I account for why it is that woman, all lovely as she
is, never looks so much so as when seen beneath your roof. Come, M.
l'Ambassadeur, own that I have made out a good case, and that you
entirely concur with me in opinion."
"Your royal highness has afforded me too many previous reasons to admire
and adopt your opinions for me to hesitate in the present instance."
"And for me, my lord," said the countess, "at the risk of being included
among those fair ladies who get a little more praise or flattery (which
was it your highness styled it?) than they deserve, I accept your very
flattering explanation with as much qualified pleasure as if it were
really founded on truth."
"In order more effectually to convince you, madame, that nothing is more
correct than all I have asserted, let us make a few observations
touching the fine effect of praise in animating and lighting up the
countenance."
"Ah, my lord, you are laying a very mischievous snare for me," said the
countess, smiling.
"Well, then, I will abandon that idea; but upon one condition, that you
honour me by taking my arm. I have been told wonderful things of a
'Winter Garden,'--a work from Fairyland. May I put up my humble petition
to be allowed to see this new wonder of a 'hundred and one nights?'"
"Oh, my lord, with the utmost pleasure. But I see that your highness had
received a most exaggerated account. Perhaps you will accompany me, and
judge for yourself. Only in this instance I would fain hope that your
habitual indulgence may induce you to feel as little disappointment as
possible at finding how imperfectly the reality equals your
expectations."
The ambassadress then took the offered arm of Rodolph, and proceeded
with him to the other salons, while the count remained conversing with
the Baron de Graün and Murphy, whom he had been acquainted with for some
time.
And a more beautiful scene of enchantment never charmed the eye than
that presented by the aspect of the winter garden, to which Rodolph had
conducted his noble hostess. Let the reader imagine an enclosure of
about forty feet in length, and thirty in width (leading out of a long
and splendid gallery), surmounted by a glazed and vaulted roof, the
building being securely covered in for about fifty feet. Round the
parallelogram it described, the walls were concealed by an infinite
number of mirrors, over which was placed a small and delicate trellis of
fine green rushes, which, thanks to the strong light reflected on the
highly polished glass, resembled an arbour, and were almost entirely
hidden by a thick row of orange-trees, as large as those of the
Tuileries, mixed with camellias of equal size; while the golden fruit
and verdant foliage of the one contrasted beautifully with the rich
clusters of waxen flowers, of all colours, with which the other was
loaded. The remainder of the garden was thus devised:
Five or six enormous clumps of trees, and Indian or other tropical
shrubs, planted in immense cases filled with peat earth, were surrounded
by alleys paved with a mosaic shell-work, and sufficiently wide for two
or three persons to walk abreast. It is impossible to describe the
wondrous effect produced by this rich display of tropical vegetation in
the midst of a European winter, and almost in the very centre of a
ballroom. Here might be seen gigantic bananas stretching their tall arms
to the glass roof which covered them, and blending the vivid green of
their palms with the lanceolated leaves of the large magnolias, some of
which already displayed their matchless and odoriferous flowers with
their bell-shaped calices, purple without and silvery white within, from
which started forth the little gold-threaded stamens. At a little
distance were grouped the palm and date-trees of the Levant; the red
macaw, and fig-trees from India; all blooming in full health and vigour,
and displaying their foliage in all its luxuriance, gave to the _tout
ensemble_ a mass of rich, brilliant tropical verdure, which, glittering
among the thousand lights, sparkled with the colours of the emerald.
Along the trellising, between the orange-trees, and amid the clumps,
were trained every variety of rare climbing plants; sometimes hanging
their long wreaths of leaves and flowers in graceful festoons, then
depending like blooming serpents from the tall boughs; now trailing at
their roots, then ambitiously scaling the very walls, till they hung
their united tresses round the transparent and vaulted roof, from which
again they floated in mingled masses, waving in the pure, light breeze
loaded with so many odours. The winged pomegranate, the passion-flower,
with its large purple flowers striated with azure, and crowned with its
dark violet tuft, waved in long spiral wreaths over the heads of the
admiring crowd, then, as though fatigued with the sport, threw their
colossal garlands of delicate flowers across the hard, prickly leaves of
the gigantic aloes.
The bignonia of India, with its long, cup-shaped flower of dark sulphur
colour, and slight, slender leaves, was placed beside the delicate
flesh-coloured petals of the stephanotis, so justly appreciated for its
exquisite perfume; the two stems mutually clinging to each other for
support, and mingling their leaves and flowers in one confused mass,
disposed them in elegant festoons of green fringe spangled with gold and
silver spots, around the immense velvet foliage of the Indian fig.
Farther on, started forth, and then fell again in a sort of variegated
and floral cascade, immense quantities of the stalks of the asclepias,
whose leaves, large, umbellated, and in clusters of from fifteen to
twenty star-shaped flowers, grew so thickly, so evenly, that they might
have been mistaken for bouquets of pink enamel surrounded with leaves of
fine green porcelain. The borders of the cases containing the orange
sand camellias were filled with the choicest cape heaths, the tulips of
Thol, the narcissus of Constantinople, the hyacinth, irides, and
cyclamina of Persia; forming a sort of natural carpet, presenting one
harmonious blending of the loveliest tints.
Chinese lanterns of transparent silk, some pale blue, others pink,
partly concealed amid the foliage, threw a soft and gentle light over
this enchanting scene; nor could a more ingenious idea have been
resorted to than in the happy amalgamation of these two colours, by
which a charming and almost unearthly light was produced combining the
clear cerulean blue of a summer's night with the rose-coloured
coruscations emitted from sparkling rays of an aurora borealis.
The entrance to this immense hothouse was from a long gallery glittering
with gold, with mirrors, crystal vases filled with the choicest
perfumes, and brilliantly lighted, and also raised a few steps above the
fairy palace we have been endeavouring to describe. The dazzling
brightness of the approach served as a sort of penumbra, in which were
indistinctly traced out the gigantic exotics discernible through a
species of arch, partly concealed by two crimson velvet curtains looped
back with golden cords so as to give a dim and misty view of the
enchanted land that lay beyond. An imaginative mind might easily have
persuaded himself he stood near a huge window opening on some beautiful
Asiatic landscape during the tranquillity of a summer's twilight.
The sounds of the orchestra, weakened by distance, and broken by the
joyous hum proceeding from the gallery, died languidly away among the
motionless foliage of the huge trees. Insensibly each fresh visitant to
this enchanting spot lowered his voice until his words fell in whispers;
for the light genuine air, embalmed with a thousand rich odours,
appeared to cast a sort of somnolency over the senses; every breath
seemed to speak of the clustering plants whose balmy sweetness filled
the atmosphere. Certainly two lovers, seated in some corner of this
Eden, could conceive no greater happiness to be enjoyed on earth, than
thus dreamily to rest beneath the trees and flowers of this terrestrial
paradise.
At the end of this winter garden were placed immense divans beneath
canopies of leaves and flowers; the subdued light of the hothouse
forming a powerful contrast with the gallery, the distance seemed filled
with a species of gold-coloured, shining fog, in the midst of which
glittered and flickered, like a living embroidery, the dazzling and
varied robes of the ladies, combined with the prismatic scintillations
of the congregated mass of diamonds and precious stones. Rodolph's first
sensation upon arriving at this enchanting triumph of art over nature
was that of most unfeigned surprise.
"This is, indeed, a wonderfully beautiful carrying out of a poetical
idea," said he, almost involuntarily; then, turning to the ambassadress,
he exclaimed, "Madame, till now, I had not deemed such wonders
practicable. We have not in the scene before us a mere union of
unbounded expense with the most exquisite taste, but you give us poetry
in action. Instead of writing as a master poet, or painting as a
first-rate artist, you create that which they would scarcely venture to
dream of."
"Your royal highness is too indulgent."
"Nay, but candidly, all must agree that the mind which could so
faithfully depict this ravishing scene, with its charm of colours and
contrasts,--beyond us, the loud notes of joy and mirthful revelry, here
the soft silence and sweet, gentle murmurs of distant voices, that lull
the spirit into a fancied flight beyond this fitful existence,--surely,
surely, without suspicion of flattery, it may be said of the planner and
contriver of all this, such a one was born a poet and a painter
combined."
"The praises of your royal highness are so much the more dangerous from
the skill and cleverness with which they are uttered, and which makes us
listen to them with delight, even in defiance of our sternest
resolutions. But allow me to call your royal highness's attention to the
very lovely person who is approaching us. I must have you admit that the
Marquise d'Harville must shine preeminently beautiful any and every
where. Is she not graceful? And does not the gentle elegance of her
whole appearance acquire a fresh charm, from the contrast with the
severe yet classic beauty by whom she is accompanied?"
The individuals thus alluded to were the Countess Sarah Macgregor and
the Marquise d'Harville, who were at this moment descending the steps
which led from the gallery to the winter garden. Neither was the
panegyric bestowed by the ambassadress on Madame d'Harville at all
exaggerated. No words can accurately describe the loveliness of her
person, and the Marquise d'Harville was then in the first bloom of
youthful charms; but her beauty, delicate and fragile as it was,
appeared less to belong to the strict regularity of her features than to
the irresistible expression of sweetness and universal kindness, which
imparted a charm to her countenance impossible to resist or to describe;
and this peculiar charm served invariably to distinguish Madame
d'Harville from all other fashionable beauties; for goodness of heart
and kindliness of disposition are but rarely seen as the prevailing
passions revealed in a face as fair, as young, high-born, and ardently
worshipped by all, as was the Marquise d'Harville, who shone forth in
all her lustre as the brightest star in the galaxy of fashion. Too wise,
virtuous, and right-minded to listen to the host of flatterers by whom
she was surrounded, Madame d'Harville smiled as gratefully on all as
though she could have given them credit for speaking the truth, had not
her own modest opinion of her just claims to such homage have forbidden
her accepting of praise she never could have deserved. Wholly
indifferent to flattery, yet sensibly alive to kindness, she perfectly
distinguished between sympathy and insincerity. Her acute penetration,
correct judgment, and lively wit, unmixed by the slightest ill-nature,
made her wage an early, though good-tempered war with those vain and
egotistical beings who crowd and oppress society with the view of
monopolising general attention, and, blinded by their own self-love,
expect one universal deference and submission.
"Those kind of persons," said Madame d'Harville one day, laughingly,
"appear to me as if their whole lives were passed in dancing '_Le
Cavalier Seul_' before an invisible mirror."
An unassuming and unpretending person, however reserved and consequently
unpopular he might be with others, was sure to find a steady friend and
partial observer in Madame d'Harville.
This trifling digression is absolutely essential to the right
understanding of facts of which we shall speak hereafter.
The complexion of Madame d'Harville was of the purest white, tinged with
the most delicate carnation; her long tresses of bright chestnut hair
floated over her beautifully formed shoulders, white and polished as
marble. It would be an impossible task to describe her large dark gray
eyes, fringed with their thick lashes, and beaming with angelic
sweetness; her coral lips, with their gentle smile, gave to her eyes the
indefinable charm that her affable and winning mode of expressing
herself derived from their mild and angelic expression of approving
goodness. We will not farther delay the reader by describing the
perfection of her figure, nor dwell upon the distinguished air which
marked her whole appearance. She wore a white crape dress, trimmed with
the natural flowers of the camellia, intermixed with its own rich green
leaves. Here and there a diamond sparkled among the waxy petals, as if a
dewdrop fresh from its native skies had fallen there. A garland of the
same flowers, equally ornamented with precious stones, was placed with
infinite grace upon her fair and open brow.
The peculiar style of the Countess Sarah Macgregor's beauty served to
set off the fair feminine loveliness of her companion. Though turned
thirty-five years of age, Sarah looked much younger. Nothing appears to
preserve the body more effectually from all the attacks of sickness or
decay than a cold-hearted, egotistical disregard of every one but
ourselves; it encrusts the body with a cold, icy covering, which alike
resists the inroads of bodily or mental wear and tear. To this cause may
be ascribed the wonderful preservation of Countess Sarah's appearance.
The lady whose name we last mentioned wore a dress of pale amber watered
silk, beneath a crape tunic of the same colour. A simple wreath of the
dark leaves of the _Pyrus Japonicus_ encircled her head, and harmonised
admirably with the bandeaux of raven hair it confined. This classically
severe mode of head-dress gave to the profile of this imperious woman
the character and resemblance of an antique statue. Many persons,
mistaking their real cast of countenance, imagine some peculiar vocation
delineated in their traits. Thus one man, who fancies he possesses a
warlike air, assumes the warrior; another imagines
"His eye, in a fine frenzy rolling,"
marks him out as a poet; instantly he turns down his shirt-collar,
adopts poetical language, and writes himself poet. So the self-imagined
conspirator wastes days and hours in pondering over mighty deeds he
feels called upon to do. The politician, upon the same terms, bores the
world and his friends with his perpetual outpourings upon political
economy; and the man whose saintly turn of countenance persuades its
owner into the belief of a corresponding character within, forthwith
abjures the pomps and vanities of the world, and aims at reforming his
brethren by his pulpit eloquence. Now, ambition being Sarah's ruling
passion, and her noble and aristocratical features well assisting the
delusion, she smiled as the word "diadem" crossed her thoughts, and lent
a willing ear to the predictions of her Highland nurse, and firmly
believed herself predestined to a sovereign destiny. Spite of the
trifling embonpoint that gave to her figure (which, though fatter than
Madame d'Harville's, was not less slender and nymph-like) a voluptuous
gracefulness, Sarah boasted of all the freshness of early youth, and few
could long sustain the fire of her black and piercing eyes; her nose was
aquiline; her finely formed mouth and rich ruby lips were expressive of
the highest determination, haughtiness, and pride.
The marquise and Sarah had recognised Rodolph in the winter garden at
the moment they were descending into it from the gallery; but the prince
feigned not to observe their presence.
"The prince is so absorbed with the ambassadress," said Madame
d'Harville to Sarah, "that he pays not the slightest attention to us."
"You are quite mistaken, my dear Clémence," rejoined the countess; "the
prince saw us as quickly and as plainly as we saw him, but I frightened
him away; you see he still bears malice with me."
"I am more than ever at a loss to understand the singular obstinacy with
which he persists in shunning you,--you, formerly an old friend.
'Countess Sarah and myself are sworn enemies,' replied he to me once in
a joking manner; 'I have made a vow never to speak to her; and you may
judge how sacred must be the vow that hinders me from conversing with so
charming a lady.' And, strange and unaccountable as was this reply, I
had no alternative but to submit to it."
"And yet I can assure you that the cause of this deadly feud, half in
jest, and half in earnest as it is, originates in the most simple
circumstance. Were it not that a third party is implicated in it, I
should have explained the whole to you long ago. But what is the matter,
my dear child? You seem as though your thoughts were far from the
present scene."
"Nothing, nothing, I assure you," replied the marquise, faintly; "but
the gallery is so very hot, it gave me a violent headache. Let us sit
down here for a minute or two. I hope and believe it will soon be
better."
"You are right; see, here is a nice quiet corner, where you will be in
perfect safety from the researches of those who are lamenting your
absence," added Sarah, pronouncing the last words with marked emphasis.
The two ladies then seated themselves on a divan, almost concealed
beneath the clustering shrubs and overhanging plants.
"I said those who would be lamenting your absence, my dear
Clémence,--come, own that I deserve praise for so discreetly forming my
speech."
The marquise blushed slightly, cast down her eyes, but spoke not.
"How unreasonable you are!" exclaimed Sarah, in a tone of friendly
reproach. "Can you not trust me, my dear child?--yes, child; for am I
not old enough to be your mother?"
"Not trust you?" uttered the marquise, sadly; "alas! have I not on the
contrary confessed that to you which I should hardly have dared to own
to myself?"
"Well, then, come, rouse yourself; now, let us have a little talk about
him: and so you have really sworn to drive him to despair?"
"For the love of heaven," exclaimed Madame d'Harville, "think what you
are saying!"
"I tell you I know him better than you do, my poor child; he is a man of
cool and decided energy, who sets but little value on his life; he has
had misfortunes enough to make him quite weary of it; and it really
seems as if you daily found greater pleasure in tormenting him, and
playing with his feelings."
"Is it possible you can really think so?"
"Indeed, in spite of myself, I cannot refrain from entertaining that
opinion. Oh, if you but knew how over-susceptible some minds are
rendered by a continuance of sorrows and afflictions,--just now I saw
two large tears fall from his eyes, as he gazed on you."
"Are you quite sure of what you say?"
"Indeed, I am quite certain; and that, too, in a ballroom, at the risk
of becoming an object of general derision, if this uncontrollable misery
were perceived! Ah! let me tell you, a person must truly love to bear
all this, and even to be careless about concealing his sufferings from
the world."
"For the love of heaven, do not speak thus!" replied Madame d'Harville,
in a voice trembling with emotion. "Alas! you have touched me nearly; I
know too well what it is to struggle with a hidden grief, yet wear an
outward expression of calmness and resignation. Alas! alas! 'tis the
deep pity and commiseration I feel for him has been my ruin," added she,
almost unconsciously.
"Nonsense! What an over-nice person you are, to talk of a little
innocent flirtation being ruinous, and that, too, with a man so
scrupulously guarded as to abstain from ever appearing in your husband's
presence, for fear of compromising you. You must admit that M. Charles
Robert is a man of surprising honour, delicacy, and real feeling. I feel
the more inclined to espouse his cause from the recollection that you
have never met him elsewhere but at my house, and because I can answer
for his principles, and that his devoted attachment to you can only be
equalled by the deep respect he bears you."
"I have never doubted the many noble qualities you have so repeatedly
assured me he possesses, but you know well that it is his long
succession of bitter afflictions which have so warmly interested me in
his favour."
"And well does he merit this interest, and most fully do his excellent
qualities absolve you of all blame in thus bestowing it. Surely so fine
and noble a countenance bespeaks a mind equally superior to all mankind.
How completely are you reminded, while gazing on his tall and finely
proportioned figure, of the _preux chevaliers_ of bygone days,'_sans
peur et sans reproche_.' I once saw him dressed in his uniform as
commandant of the national guard, and, handsome as he is, I really
think he looked surpassingly well, and I could but say to myself, that,
if nobility were the award of inward merit and external beauty, M.
Charles Robert, instead of being so called, would take precedence of
nearly all our dukes and peers. Would he not be a fitting representative
of any of the most distinguished families in France?"
"You know, my dear countess, how very little importance I attach to mere
birth, and you yourself have frequently reproached me with being
strongly inclined to republicanism," said Madame d'Harville, smiling
gently.
"For my own part, I always thought, with you, that M. Charles Robert
required not the aid of rank or titles to render him worthy of universal
admiration. Then, what extreme talent he possesses! What a fine voice he
has! And what delightful morning concerts we three have been able to
achieve, owing to his all-powerful assistance! Ah, my dear Clémence, do
you remember the first time you ever sang with him: what passionate
expression did he not throw into the words of that beautiful duet, so
descriptive of his love, and his fear of offending her who was the
object of it, by revealing it?"
"Let me entreat of you," said Madame d'Harville, after a long silence,
"to speak of something else; indeed I dare not listen further: what you
but just now intimated of his depressed and unhappy appearance has
caused me much pain."
"Nay, my dear friend, I meant not to grieve you, but merely to point out
the probability that a man, rendered doubly sensitive by the succession
of past misfortunes, might feel his courage insufficient to encounter
the fresh trial of your rejection of his suit, and thus be induced to
end his hopeless love and his life together."
"Oh, no more! no more!" almost shrieked Madame d'Harville, interrupting
Sarah; "this fearful idea has glanced across my mind already." Then,
after a second silence of some minutes, the marquise resumed, "Let us,
as I said before, talk of somebody else,--of your mortal enemy, for
instance," added she, with assumed gaiety of manner; "come, we will take
the prince for a fresh theme of conversation; I had not seen him,
previously to this evening, for a very long time. Do you know that I
think he looks handsomer than ever? Though all but king, he has lost
none of the winning sweetness and affability of his manner, and, spite
of my republicanism, I must confess I have seldom, if ever, known so
irresistible a person."
Sarah threw a side glance of deep and scrutinising hatred upon her
unconscious rival, but, quickly recovering herself, she said, gaily:
"Now, my dear Clémence, you must confess to being a most capricious
little lady; you have regular alternating paroxysms of admiration and
violent dislike for the prince; why, a few months ago, I mean about his
first arrival here, you were so captivated by him, that, between
ourselves, I was half afraid you had lost your heart past all hope of
recall."
"Thanks to you," replied Madame d'Harville, smiling, "my admiration was
very short-lived; for so well did you act up to your character of the
prince's sworn foe, and such fearful tales did you tell me of his
profligacy and misconduct, that you succeeded in inspiring me with an
aversion as powerful as had been the infatuation which led you to fear
for the safety of my heart; which, by the way, I cannot think would ever
have been placed in any danger from the attempts of your enemy to
disturb its repose, since, shortly before you gave me those frightful
particulars of the prince's character, he had quite ceased to honour me
with his visits, although on the most intimate and friendly terms with
my husband."
"Talking of your husband, pray is he here to-night?" inquired Sarah.
"No," replied Madame d'Harville, in a tone of embarrassment; "he
preferred remaining at home."
"He seems to me to mix less and less in the world."
"He never liked what is called fashionable gaiety."
The marquise's agitation visibly increased; and Sarah, whose quick eye
easily perceived it, continued:
"The last time I saw him he looked even paler than usual."
"He has been very much out of health lately."
"My dearest Clémence, will you permit me to speak to you without
reserve?"
"Oh, yes, pray do!"
"How comes it that the least allusion to your husband always throws you
into such a state of extraordinary alarm and uneasiness?"
"What an idea! Is it possible you can mean it seriously?" asked poor
Madame d'Harville, trying to smile.
"Indeed, I am quite in earnest," rejoined her companion; "whenever you
are speaking of him, your countenance assumes, even in spite of
yourself,--but how shall I make myself understood?" and Sarah, with the
tone and fixed gaze of one who wished to read the most secret thoughts
of the person she addressed, slowly and emphatically added, "a look of
mingled aversion and fear!"
The fixed pallid features of Madame d'Harville at first defied even
Sarah's practised eye, but her keen gaze soon detected a slight
convulsive working of the mouth, with a tremulous movement of the under
lip of her victim; but feeling it unsafe to pursue the subject farther
at this moment so as to awaken the marquise's mistrust of her friendly
intentions, by way, therefore, of concealing her real suspicions, she
continued:
"Yes, just that sort of dislike any woman would entertain for a peevish,
jealous, ill-tempered--"
At this explanation of the countess's meaning, as regarded Madame
d'Harville's imagined dislike for her husband, a heavy load seemed
taken from her; the working of her lip ceased, and she replied:
"Let me assure you M. d'Harville is neither peevish nor jealous." Then,
as if searching for some means of breaking a conversation so painful to
her feelings, she suddenly exclaimed, "Ah! here comes that tiresome
friend of my husband's, the Duke de Lucenay. I hope he has not seen us.
Where can he have sprung from? I thought he was a thousand miles off!"
"It was reported that he had gone somewhere in the East for a year or
two, and behold, at the end of five months, here he is back again! His
unexpected arrival must have sadly annoyed the Duchess de Lucenay,
though poor De Lucenay is a very inoffensive creature," said Sarah, with
an ill-natured smile. "Nor will Madame de Lucenay be the only one to
feel vexation at his thus changing his mind; her friend, M. de St. Remy,
will duly and affectionately sympathise in all her regrets on the
subject."
"Come, come, my dear Sarah, I cannot allow you to scandalise; say that
this return of M. de Lucenay is a nuisance to everybody; the duke is
sufficiently disagreeable for you to generalise the regret his
unexpected presence occasions."
"I do not slander, I merely repeat. It is also said that M. de St. Remy,
the model of our young _élégantes_, whose splendid doings have filled
all Paris, is all but ruined! 'Tis true, he has by no means reduced
either his establishment or his expenditure; however, there are several
ways of accounting for that; in the first place, Madame de Lucenay is
immensely rich."
"What a horrible idea!"
"Still I only repeat what others say. There, the duke sees us; he is
coming towards us; we must resign ourselves to our fate,--miserable, is
it not? I know nothing so hard to bear as that man's company; he makes
himself so very disagreeable, and then laughs so disgustingly loud at
the silly things he says. Indeed, he is so boisterous that the bare idea
of him makes one think of pretending to faint, or any other pretext, to
avoid him. Talking of fainting, pray let me beg of you, if you have the
least regard for your fan or essence-bottle, to beware how you allow him
to handle either, for he has the unfortunate habit of breaking whatever
he touches, and all with the most facetious self-satisfied air
imaginable."
END OF VOLUME I.
* * * * *
Transcriber's Notes:
This e-text was prepared from numbered edition 505 of the 1000 printed.
Minor punctuation and capitalization corrections have been made without
comment.
Minor typographical errors of single words, otherwise spelled correctly
throughout the text have been made without comment.
Word Variations appearing in the original text which have been retained:
"bull-dog" (1) and "bulldog" (2)
"protégé" (1), "protégée" (8) and "protégés" (1)
"rencontre" (2) and "rencounter" (1)
"Sarah Seyton of Halsburg" (1) and "Sarah Seyton of Halsbury" (1)
Words using the [oe] ligature, which have been herein represented as
"oe": "manoeuvre", "coeur", "chef-d'oeuvre", "coup-d'oeil".
Throughout the text, illustrations and their captions were placed on
facing pages. For the purpose of this e-text these pages have been
combined into one entry.
Footnotes, originally at the bottom of a printed page, have been placed
directly below the paragraph in which their anchor symbol appears.