"M. Rameau," said De Mauleon, when the two men had reseated themselves in
the salon, "I will honestly say that my desire is to rid myself as soon
as I can of the trust of guardian to this young lady. Playing as I do
with fortune, my only stake against her favours is my life. I feel as if
it were my duty to see that Mademoiselle is not left alone and friendless
in the world at my decease. I have in my mind for her a husband that I
think in every way suitable: a handsome and brave young fellow in my
battalion, of respectable birth, without any living relations to consult
as to his choice. I have reason to believe that if Julie married him,
she need never fear as a reproach to her antecedents. Her dot would
suffice to enable him to realise his own wish of a country town in
Normandy. And in that station, Paris and its temptations would soon pass
from the poor child's thoughts, as an evil dream. But I cannot dispose
of her hand without her own consent; and if she is to be reasoned out of
her fancy for you, I have no time to devote to the task. I come to the
point, You are not the man I would choose for her husband. But,
evidently, you are the man she would choose. Are you disposed to marry
her? You hesitate, very naturally; I have no right to demand an
immediate answer to a question so serious. Perhaps you will think over
it, and let me know in a day or two? I take it for granted that if you
were, as I heard, engaged before the siege to marry the Signora Cicogna,
that engagement is annulled?"
"Why take it for granted?" asked Gustave, perplexed. "Simply because I
find you here. Nay, spare explanations and excuses. I quite understand
that you were invited to come. But a man solemnly betrothed to a
_mademoiselle_ like the Signora Cicogna, in a time of such dire calamity
and peril, could scarcely allow himself to be tempted to accept the
invitation of one so beautiful, and so warmly attached to him, as is
Mademoiselle Julie; and on witnessing the passionate strength of that
attachment, say that he cannot keep a promise not to repeat his visits.
But if I mistake, and you are still betrothed to the Signorina, of course
all discussion is at an end."
Gustave hung his head in some shame, and in much bewildered doubt.
The practised observer of men's characters, and of shifting phases of
mind, glanced at the, poor poet's perturbed countenance with a half-smile
of disdain.
"It is for you to judge how far the very love to you so ingenuously
evinced by my ward--how far the reasons against marriage with one whose
antecedents expose her to reproach--should influence one of your advanced
opinions upon social ties. Such reasons do not appear to have with
artists the same weight they have with the bourgeoisie. I have but to
add that the husband of Julie will receive with her hand a dot of nearly
120,000 francs; and I have reason to believe that that fortune will be
increased--how much, I cannot guess-when the cessation of the siege will
allow communication with England. One word more. I should wish to rank
the husband of my ward in the number of my friends. If he did not oppose
the political opinions with which I identify my own career, I should be
pleased to make any rise in the world achieved by me assist to the
raising of himself. But my opinions, as during the time we were
brought together you were made aware, are those of a practical man
of the world, and have nothing in common with Communists, Socialists,
Internationalists, or whatever sect would place the aged societies of
Europe in Medea's caldron of youth. At a moment like the present,
fanatics and dreamers so abound that the number of such sinners will
necessitate a general amnesty when order is restored. What a poet so
young as you may have written or said at such a time will be readily
forgotten and forgiven a year or two hence, provided he does not put his
notions into violent action. But if you choose to persevere in the views
you now advocate, so be it. They will not make poor Julie less a
believer in your wisdom and genius. Only they will separate you from me,
and a day may come when I should have the painful duty of ordering you to
be shot--_Die meliora_. Think over all I have thus frankly said. Give
me your answer within forty-eight hours; and meanwhile hold no
communication with my ward. I have the honour to wish you good-day."