“Nothing! only you have ruined me, father.”
“How, how?” said the count. “What do you mean?”
And very much embarrassed, perhaps angry against himself, and trying to
find an excuse for what he had done, he added, simpering,--
“Is it not your own fault? Why do you treat Sarah so badly, and do all
you can to exasperate me?”
“Yes, you are right. It is my fault,” murmured Henrietta.
She said it in a tone of bitter irony now; but afterwards, when she was
alone, and more quiet, reflecting in the silence of the night, she had
to acknowledge, and confess to herself, that it was so. The scandal by
which she had intended to crush her step-mother had fallen back upon
herself, and crushed her.
Still, the next morning she was a little better; and, in spite of all
that Clarissa could say, she would get up, and go down stairs, for all
her hopes henceforth depended on that letter written by Daniel. She had
been waiting day after day for M. de Brevan, who was to bring it to her;
and for nothing in the world would she have been absent when he came at
last.
But she waited for him in vain that day, and four days after.
Attributing his tardiness to some new misfortune, she thought of writing
to him, when at last, on Tuesday,--the day which the countess had chosen
for her reception-day,--but not until the room was already quite full of
company, the servant announced,--“M. Palmer, M. de Brevan!”
Seized with most violent emotions, Henrietta turned round suddenly,
casting upon the door one of those glances in which a whole soul is
read at once. At last she was to know him whom her Daniel had called his
second self. Two men entered: one, quite old, had gray hair, and looked
as grave and solemn as a member of parliament; the other, who might be
thirty or thirty-five years old, looked cold and haughty, having thin
lips and a sardonic smile.
“That is the man!” said Henrietta to herself; “that is Daniel’s friend!”
At first she disliked him excessively. Upon examining him more closely,
she thought his composure affected, and his whole appearance lacking
in frankness. But she never thought for a moment of distrusting M. de
Brevan. Daniel had blindly recommended him to her; and that was enough.
She had been too severely punished when she tried to follow her own
inspirations, ever to think of repeating the experiment.
Still she kept him in view. After having been presented to the Countess
Sarah and her husband, he had thrown himself into the crowd, and
managed, after a while, to get near to her. He went from one group to
another, throwing a word to each one, gaining thus, insensibly, and
without affectation, a small chair, which was vacant, by the side of
Henrietta.
And the air of perfect indifference with which he took possession of it
would have made you think he had fully measured the danger of risking
a confidential talk with a young lady under the eyes of fifty or sixty
persons. He commenced with some of those set phrases which furnish the
currency of society, speaking loud enough to be heard by the neighbors,
and to satisfy their curiosity, if they should have a fancy for
listening. As he noticed that Henrietta had turned very red, and looked
overcome, while fixing most anxiously her eyes upon him, he even said,--
“I pray you, madam, affect a little more indifference. Smile; we may be
watched. Remember that we must not know each other; that we are perfect
strangers to each other.”
Then he began in a very loud voice to sing the praise of the last new
play that had been performed, until finally, thinking that he had put
all suspicions asleep, he drew a little nearer, and, casting down his
eyes, he said,--
“It is useless to tell you, madam, that I am M. de Brevan.”
“I heard your name announced, sir,” replied Henrietta in the same way.
“I have taken the liberty of writing to you, madam, under cover to your
maid Clarissa, according to Daniel’s orders; but I hope you will pardon
me.”
“I have nothing to pardon, sir, but to thank you very much, from the
bottom of my heart, for your generous devotion.”
No man is perfect. A passing blush colored the cheeks of M. de Brevan;
he had to cough a little; and once or twice passed his hand between his
collar and his neck, as if he felt troubled in his throat.
“You must have thought,” continued Henrietta, “that I was not in
great haste to avail myself of your kind offer; but--there were
difficulties--in my way”--
“Oh, yes! I know,” broke in M. de Brevan, sadly shaking his head; “your
maid has told me. For she found me at home, as no doubt you have heard;
and your letter arrived just in time to be sent on with mine. They will
gain a fortnight in this way; for the mail for Cochin China does not
leave more than once a month,--on the _26th_.”
But he paused suddenly, or rather raised his voice to resume his account
of the new drama. Two young ladies had stopped just before them. As soon
as they were gone, he went on,--
“I bring you, madam, Daniel’s letter.”
“Ah!”
“I have folded it up very small, and I have it here in my hand; if you
will let your handkerchief fall, I’ll slip it into it as I pick it up.”
The trick was not new; but it was also not very difficult. Still
Henrietta did it awkwardly enough. Her letting the handkerchief fall
looked any thing but natural; and, when she took it back again, she was
all eagerness. Then, when she felt the crisp paper under the folds of
the linen, she became all crimson in her face. Fortunately, M. de Brevan
had the presence of mind to rise suddenly, and to move his chair so as
to help her in concealing her embarrassment. Then, when he saw her
calm again, he sat down once more, and went on, with an accent of deep
interest,--
“Now, madam, permit me to inquire after your position here.”
“It is terrible.”
“Do they harass you?”
“Oh, fearfully!”
“No doubt, your step-mother?”
“Alas! who else would do it? But she dissembles, veiling her malignity
under the most affected gentleness. In appearance she is all kindness
to me. And my poor father becomes a willing instrument in her hands,--my
poor father, formerly so kind, and so fond of me!”
She was deeply moved; and M. de Brevan saw the tears starting in her
eyes. Quite frightened, he said,--
“Madam, for Heaven’s sake control yourself!”