THE ORATORY
You who read this will please remember that I was but a girl, and that
my powers of resistance were limited. Some of you, perhaps, may have
gone through the same ordeal, not in the rough-and-ready way that I
had to make the passage, but through a slower if not less certain
mill. The result being the same in both cases, to wit, that you have
stood, as I did, at the altar with vows on your lips that you felt in
your heart were false.
A thought had struck me when I was led back to my room, and that was
to throw myself on the mercy of de Lorgnac. But means of communication
with him were denied to me by the foresight of my persecutors. Even my
maid, Mousette, was not allowed to see me, and Madame de Martigny,
though kindness itself in every other way, absolutely refused to lend
herself to my suggestion that she should aid me, if only to the extent
of bearing a note from me to my future husband, in which I meant to
implore him, as a man of honour and a gentleman, not to force this
marriage upon me. I then tried Pare, who, by the Queen's command, had
been sent to me. He brought me a cordial with his own hands, and to
him I made my request, notwithstanding all Madame de Martigny's
protests, to carry my note to de Lorgnac. He listened with that acute
attention peculiar to him, and answered:
"Mademoiselle! I have not yet discovered the balsam that will heal a
severed neck--you must excuse me."
When he left, Madame de Martigny tried to comfort me in her kindly
way.
"My dear," she said, "after all it is not so very terrible. I myself
never saw M. de Martigny more than twice before we were married, and
yet I have learned to love him, and we are very happy. Believe me!
Love before marriage does not always mean happiness. In five years it
will become a friendship--that is all. It is best to start as I did,
so that there will be no awakenings. As for de Lorgnac--rest you
assured that monsieur is well aware of the state of your mind towards
him, else he would never have taken the course he has adopted. Be
certain, therefore, that all appeal to him will be in vain!"
I felt the force of the last words and was silent, and then de
Clermont's face came before me, very clear and distinct, and with a
sob I broke down once again and gave way to tears.
I will pass over the rest of the time until I found myself ready for
the ceremony, noting only with surprise, that I was to be married in a
riding-habit, as if the wedding was to be instantly followed by a
journey. Unhinged though I was, I asked the reason for this, but
Madame de Martigny could only say it was the Queen's order, and I
honestly believe she had no further explanation to offer.
At the door of the oratory the marshal met me, and led me into the
chapel, which was but dimly lighted, and where my husband that was to
be, was already standing booted and spurred, ready, like myself, to
take to horse. There were a dozen or so of people grouped around,
and one seated figure which I felt was that of the King. I made a
half-glance towards him, but dared not look again, for behind Henri's
chair was de Clermont, gay and brilliant, in marked contrast to the
sombre, if stately, figure of de Lorgnac.
At last the time came when I placed a hand as cold as stone in that of
my husband, and the words were spoken which made us man and wife. When
it was all over, and we had turned to bow to the King, de Clermont
stepped forward and clasped a jewelled collar round my neck, saying in
a loud voice, "In the King's name," and then, aided by the dim light,
and with unexampled daring, he swiftly snatched away one of my gloves,
which I held in my hand, with a whisper of "This for me."
Henri spoke a few jesting words, and then rising, left the chapel
abruptly, followed by de Clermont; but those who remained, came round
us with congratulations that sounded idle and hollow to me. It was
then that I noticed for the first time that Catherine was not present,
although I saw Queen Margot, and Madame de Canillac there. The
marshal, however, cut the buzz of voices short.
"The horses are ready, de Lorgnac, and, as arranged, you start
to-night. And now, my good niece, adieu, and good fortune be with you
and your husband."
With that he bent, and touching my forehead with his stiff moustache,
stepped back a pace to let us pass.
As I walked by my husband's side, dazed and giddy, with a humming in
my ears, there came back to me with a swift and insistent force, the
words of the vows, which, if I had not spoken, I had given a tacit
assent to. They were none the less binding on this account. Two of
them I could not keep. One cannot control one's soul, and I felt that
in this respect my life would be henceforth a living lie; but one I
thought I might observe, and that was the oath to obey; yet even in
the short passage leading from the oratory to the entrance to the
chapel, my heart flamed up in rebellion, and, with a sudden movement,
I withdrew my hand from my husband's arm, and biting my lips till the
blood came, forced myself to keep by his side. He made no effort to
restrain me, spoke never a word, until we came to the door where the
horses were waiting, with half-a-dozen armed and mounted men. Here de
Lorgnac turned to me, saying, almost in a whisper, "May I help you to
mount?"
I made a movement of my hand in the negative, and he stepped back; but
the animal was restive, and at last I was forced to accept his aid. As
we passed out of the gateway, riding side by side, I spoke for the
first time.
"May I ask where you are going to take me, Monsieur de Lorgnac?"
He answered, speaking as before, in low tones, "I thought you
knew--you should have been told. We go first to the house of Madame de
Termes."
Like lightning it came to me that the man was afraid of me. I cannot
say how I knew it. I felt it, and made up my mind to use my advantage,
with a vengeful joy at being able to make my bear dance to my tune. I
therefore broke in upon his speech.
"Enough, monsieur! I should not have asked the question. It is a
wife's duty to obey without inquiry."
I looked him full in the face as I said this coldly, and he touched
his horse with the spur and rode a yard or two in front of me,
muttering something indistinctly. But my heart was leaping at the
discovery, and I inwardly thanked God that it was to Madame de Termes
we were to go, for apart from the fact that both she and her husband,
whose lands of Termes marched with mine, had been life-long friends of
our house, she was one whom I knew to be the noblest and best of
women. I was not aware that she was known to de Lorgnac; but I hid my
curiosity and asked no questions, and there was no further speech
between my husband and myself until we came to our destination. As we
entered the courtyard of the Hotel de Termes all appeared to be bustle
and confusion within, and the flare of torches fell on moving figures
hurrying to and fro, on saddled horses and packed mules, and on the
flash and gleam of arms. My surprise overcame my resolve of silence,
and I asked aloud, "Surely Madame de Termes is not leaving Paris?"
"News has come that the Vicomte is grievously ill in his government of
Perigueux, and Madame is hastening there."
"And we travel with her? There! It is impossible, monsieur, that I can
face so long a journey without some preparation. It is cruel to expect
this of me."
"It is the King's order that we leave Paris to-night, and I have done
my best."
"Say your worst, monsieur; it will be more correct," and then we came
to the door. We appeared to be expected, for we were at once ushered
up the stairway into a large reception room, where Madame stood almost
ready to start, for her cloak was lying on a chair, and she held her
mask in her hand. She came forward to meet us, but as the light fell
on my face, she started back with a little cry:
"You, Denise--you! My dear, I did not know it was you who were to
travel with me. You are thrice welcome," and she took me in her arms
and kissed my cold cheek. "I was but told," she went on, "that a lady
travelling to Guyenne would join my party, which would be escorted by
M. de Lorgnac. But what is the matter, child? You are white as a
sheet, and shiver all over. You are not fit for a long journey."
"M. de Lorgnac thinks otherwise, madame."
"Blaise de Lorgnac! What has he to do with it?" and the spirited old
lady, one arm round my waist, turned and faced my husband, who stood a
little way off, fumbling with the hat he held in his hand.
"It is a wife's duty to obey, madame, not to question."
I felt her arm tighten round my waist, and I too turned and faced de
Lorgnac, who looked like a great dog caught in some fault.
"A wife's duty to obey!" exclaimed Madame; "but that does not concern
you. Stay! What do you mean, child?"
"I mean, madame, that I was married to M. de Lorgnac scarce an hour
ago."
Her hand dropped from my side, and she looked from one to the other of
us in amazement.
"I cannot understand," she said.
"It is for my husband to explain," I said bitterly. "It is for the
gentleman, to whom we are to trust our lives on this journey, to say
in how knightly a manner he can treat a woman."
And there de Lorgnac stood, both of us looking at him, his forehead
burning and his eyes cast down. Even then a little pang of pity went
through me to see him thus humbled, so strangely does God fashion the
hearts of us women. But I hardened myself. I was determined to spare
him nothing, and to measure out in full to him a cup of bitterness for
the draught he had made me drink.
"Speak, man," exclaimed Madame. "Have you no voice?"
"He works in silence, madame," I burst in with an uncontrollable gust
of anger; "he lies in silence. Shall I tell you what has happened?
I, Denise de Mieux, am neither more nor less than M. de Lorgnac's
price--the hire he has received for a business he has to perform for
the King. What it is I know not--perhaps something that no other
gentleman would undertake. All that I know is that I, and my estates
of Mieux, have become the property of this man, who stands before us,
and is, God help me, my husband. Madame, five hours ago, I had not
spoken ten words to him in my life, and now I am here, as much his
property, as the valise his lackey bears behind his saddle."
"Hush, dear--be still--you forget yourself," and Madame drew me once
more to her side and turned to my husband.
"Is this true, Blaise de Lorgnac? Or is the child ill and raving?
Answer, man!"
"It is," he answered hoarsely, "every word."
In the silence that ensued I might have heard my glove fall, and then
Madame, with a stiff little bow to my husband, said, "Pray excuse me
for a moment," and stepped out of the room. He would have held the
door for her, but she waved him aside, and he moved back and faced me,
and for the first time we were alone together.
In the meanwhile I had made up my mind. I had repeated parrot-like the
words that it was my duty to obey. I had vowed to follow my husband
whithersoever he went; but vow or no vow I felt it was impossible, and
I spoke out.
"Monsieur, you stand self-convicted. You have pleaded guilty to every
charge I have made. Now hear me before Madame comes back, for I wish
to spare you as much as possible. I have been forced into this
marriage; but I am as dead to you as though we had never met. I
decline to accept the position you have prepared for me, and our paths
separate now. Would to God they had never crossed! I shall throw
myself on the protection of Madame de Termes, and at the first
opportunity shall seek the refuge of a convent. You will have to do
your work without your hire, M. de Lorgnac."
He made a step forward, and laid his hand on my cloak.
"Denise--hear me--I love you."
"You mean my chateau and lands of Mieux. Why add a lie to what you
have already done? It is hardly necessary," and I moved out of his
reach.
His hand dropped to his side as he turned from me, and at the same
time Madame re-entered the room.
"Monsieur," she said, "I fear the honour of your escort is too great
for such as I, and I have arranged to travel with such protection as
my own people can give me. As for this poor girl here, if she is
willing to go with me, I will take the risk of the King's anger--and
yours. She shall go with us, I say, and if there is a spark of honour
left in you, you will leave her alone."
"She is free as air," he answered.
"Then, monsieur, you will excuse me; but time is pressing."