For several days I remained quiet in the little ante-chamber, during
which Madame d'Albret had been busy every morning driving in her
carriage, and ordering me a wardrobe; and as the various articles came
in, I was as much surprised as I was pleased at the taste which had been
shown, and the expense which must have been incurred.
"My dear madame," cried I, as each parcel was opened, "these are much
too good for me; recollect I am but a poor soldier's daughter."
"You were so," replied Madame d'Albret; "but you forget," continued she,
kissing my forehead, "that the poor soldier's daughter was drowned in
the Seine, and you are now the _protegee_ of Madame d'Albret. I have
already mentioned to all my friends that I expect a young cousin from
Gascony, whom I have adopted, having no children of my own. Your own
name is noble, and you may safely retain it, as there are no want of
Chatenoeufs in Gascony, and there have been former alliances between
them and the d'Albrets. I have no doubt that if I were to refer back to
family records, that I could prove you to be a cousin, some three
hundred times removed, and that is quite enough. As soon as you are
quite well, and I think in a week all vestiges of your ill-treatment
will be effaced, we will go down to my chateau for a few months, and we
will return to Paris in the season. Has Madame Paon been here?"
"Yes, my dear madame, she has, and has taken my measure for the dresses;
but don't scold me. I must cry a little, for I am so happy and so
grateful. My heart will burst if I do not. Bless you, bless you, dear
madame; little did I think before I saw you, that I should ever cry for
joy."
Madame d'Albret embraced me with much affection, and allowed me to give
vent to my feelings, which I did, bedewing her hands with my tears. A
week afterwards, everything was ready, and we set off for the chateau in
Brittany, travelling in Madame d'Albret's post-chariot with an _avant
courier_, and without regard to expense.
And now I must make the reader somewhat better acquainted with my kind
protectress. I little thought at the time that she offered me her
protection, that she was a personage of such consequence, but the fact
was, that her sister having made a very inferior match to her own, she,
out of delicacy, while the Colonel and his wife were at Paris, avoided
anything like state in paying them a visit, and I supposed that she was
much in the same rank and society as they were; but such was not the
case.
Madame d'Albret had married into one of the highest and most noble
families of France. Her husband had died three years after their
marriage, and having no children, had left her a large revenue entirely
at her own disposal during her life, and wishing her to marry again, had
the property entailed upon her children if she had any, if not, after
her death, it was to go to a distant brand of the d'Albret family. I
was informed that her income amounted to 60,000 livres per annum,
besides her chateau in the country, and the hotel in the Rue St Honore,
which belonged to her, although she only occupied a portion of it. Her
husband had now been dead more than ten years, and Madame d'Albret had
not been persuaded by her numerous suitors to marry again. She was
still handsome, about thirty-four years of age, and I hardly need say,
was in the very best society in Paris. Such was the person who came to
the barracks in so unassuming a manner, and whose protection I was so
fortunate as to obtain.
I could dwell long upon the happy days that I passed at the chateau.
There was no want of society, and the _reunions_ were charming; and
being in the country, I was allowed to join them, having been formally
introduced by Madame d'Albret to all her visitors, as her cousin. My
time was fully occupied. Madame d'Albret, perceiving that I had great
talent for music and a fine voice, had procured me good masters, and
wishing to prove my gratitude by attention, I was indefatigable, and
made so rapid a progress, that my masters were surprised. Music and
embroidery, at which I had before mentioned I was very expert, were my
only occupations--and on the latter my talents were exerted to please
Madame d'Albret, by offering her each piece as they were successively
taken from the frame. So far from wishing to return to Paris, I was
unhappy at the idea of leaving the chateau. Indeed, if the reader will
recall what I have narrated of my former life, he will at once perceive
that I could but be in a state of perfect happiness.
Until I was received by Madame d'Albret, I had lived a life of
persecution, and had not known kindness. Fear was the passion which had
been acted upon, and which, I may say, had crushed both mind and body:
now all was kindness and love. Praise, which I had never before
received, was now lavished upon me, and I felt my energies and talents
roused, and developing themselves in a way that astonished myself. I
had not known what I was, or what I was capable of. I had had no
confidence in myself, and I had believed myself to be almost as
incapable as my mother would have persuaded me, and everybody else.
This sudden change of treatment had a most surprising effect. In the
course of a few months I had grown nearly three inches taller, and not
only my figure, but my features, had become so improved, that, although
not vain, it was impossible for me not to believe what every one said,
and what my glass told me, that I was very handsome, and that I should
make a great sensation when I was introduced at Paris. But although I
believed this, I felt no desire. I was too happy as I was, and would
not have exchanged the kindness of Madame d'Albret for the best husband
that France could produce; and when anything was mentioned by ladies who
visited Madame d'Albret, to that effect, and they talked about my future
establishment, my reply invariably was, "_Je ne veux pas_." I had
always expressed my regrets that we should be obliged to go to Paris for
the season, and Madame d'Albret, who of course had no wish to part with
me so soon, and who felt that I was still young enough to remain for
some years single, made me very happy by telling me that she did not
intend to stay long in the capital, and that although I should appear at
her parties, she did not intend that I should be much at public places.
And so it proved; we went to Paris, and the best masters were procured
for me, but I did not go out with Madame d'Albret, except occasionally,
in her morning drives, and once or twice to the Opera and theatres. My
music occupied the major portion of my time, and having expressed a wish
to learn English, I had a good master; but I had another resource from
an intimacy having arisen between me and Madame Paon, whom, I believe, I
have before mentioned as the first milliner in Paris.
This intimacy was brought about in the following manner. Being very
clever with my needle, and having a great taste for dress, I used to
amuse myself at the chateau with inventing something new, not for
myself, but for Madame d'Albret, and very often surprised and pleased
her by making alterations or additions to her dresses, which were always
admired, and declared to be in the best taste. On our arrival at Paris,
Madame Paon was visited of course, that the new fashions might be
ascertained, and she immediately remarked and admired my little
inventions. I was therefore consulted whenever a new dress was to be
made for Madame d'Albret, and as Madame Paon was a very lady-like and
superior person, of a decayed, but good family, we soon became very
intimate. We had been at Paris about two months, when one morning
Madame Paon observed to Madame d'Albret, that as I was learning English
it would not be a bad plan if Madame d'Albret was to drop me at her
establishment when she took her morning airing, as she had two highly
respectable English _modistes_ in her employ, who she found were
necessary for her English customers, and that I should learn more
English by an hour's conversation with them than a master could supply.
Madame d'Albret agreed with her, I was pleased at the idea, and
consequently three or four mornings in the week were passed at Madame
Paon's.
But the reader must be introduced to the establishment of Madame Paon,
or he may imagine that it was too condescending for a young lady in my
position to visit at a milliner's. Madame Paon was the first milliner
at Paris, and as is generally the case, was on the most intimate terms
with all the ladies. She made for the court, and, indeed, for every
lady to whom she could dedicate her time, as it was almost a favour to
be permitted to be one of her customers. Her establishment was in the
Rue St Honore, I forget the name of the hotel, but it was one of the
largest.
The suite of apartments were magnificent. You passed from one room to
another, each displaying every variety of rich and graceful costume. In
every room were demoiselles well-dressed to attend to the customers, and
everything bespoke a degree of taste and elegance quite unparalleled.
At last you arrived at the reception-room of madame, which was spacious
and most superbly furnished. There were no men in the establishment
except in one room, called the Comptoir, in which were six clerks at
their desks. When I add that Madame Paon was elegant in her manners,
and handsome in her person, very tall and majestic, that she was rich,
kept several servants, a handsome carriage, and had a _maison de
campagne_, to which she retired every Saturday afternoon, the reader may
acknowledge that she was a person whom Madame d'Albret might permit me
to visit.
This intimacy soon became very great. There was a certain degree of
_eclat_ at my being so constantly in the house, and, moreover, as I had
a decided taste for dress, I often brought forward some new invention
which was not only approved of, but a source of profit to Madame Paon.
Everything was submitted to my judgment as Madame Paon more than once
observed, "What a first-rate _modiste_ you would make, mademoiselle;
but, unfortunately for the fashions, there is no chance of your being so
employed."
At last the Paris season was nearly over, and truly glad was I when
Madame d'Albret mentioned the day of our departure. I had very much
improved in my music and my English during our residence at Paris. I
had not been out except to small parties, and had no wish whatever to go
out at all. I was satisfied with Madame d'Albret's company, and had no
wish to leave her. I may say that I was truly happy, and my countenance
was radiant, and proved that I was so. My thoughts would occasionally
revert to my father and my brother Auguste, and make me melancholy for
the time, but I felt that all was for the best, and I built castles, in
which I imagined my suddenly breaking in upon them, throwing myself in
my father's arms, and requesting him to share the wealth and luxury with
which I fancied myself to be endowed.
I was now nearly eighteen years old. I had been one year under the
protection of Madame d'Albret, and the old dowagers who visited us at
the chateau were incessantly pointing out to Madame d'Albret that it was
time to look out for an establishment for me. Madame d'Albret was, to a
certain degree, of their opinion, but she did not wish to part with me,
and I was resolute in my determination not to leave her. I had no wish
to be married; I had reflected much upon the subject; the few married
lives I had witnessed were not to my taste. I had seen my kind-hearted
amiable grandmother thwarted by a penurious husband; I had witnessed my
father under the control of a revengeful woman; and when I beheld, as I
did every day, the peace and happiness in the establishment of Madame
d'Albret as a single woman, I felt certain that marriage was a lottery
in which there were thousands of blanks to one prize. When, therefore,
any of Madame d'Albret's acquaintances brought up the subject, when they
left the room I earnestly implored Madame d'Albret not to be influenced
by their remarks, as I had made up my mind to remain single, and that
all I asked was to remain with her and prove my gratitude.
"I believe you, Valerie," replied Madame d'Albret, "but I should not be
doing my duty if I permitted you to act upon your own feelings. A girl
like you was not intended by Heaven to pine away in celibacy, but to
adorn the station in life in which she is placed. At the same time, I
will not press the matter, but if an advantageous offer were to be made,
I shall then consider it my duty to exert my influence with you to make
you change your mind, but, at the same time, I will never use anything
more than persuasion. I am too happy with you as a companion to wish to
part with you, but, at the same time, I should be very selfish if I did
not give you up when your own interest told me that such was my duty."
"Well, madame, I thank Heaven that I have no fortune, and that will, I
trust, be a bar to any proposals from the interested gentleman of the
present day."
"That may not save you, Valerie," replied Madame d'Albret, laughing,
"gentlemen may be satisfied with expectancies; nay, it is possible that
one may be found who may be satisfied with your own pretty self, and ask
no more."
"I rather think not, madame," replied I. "You have too good an opinion
of me, and must not expect others to view me with your partial eyes; all
I can say is, that if such a gentleman could be found, his
disinterestedness would make me think more highly of him than I do of
the sex at present, although not sufficiently well to wish me to change
my present condition."
"Well, well, we shall see," replied Madame d'Albret, "the carriage is at
the door, so bring me my bonnet and cashmere."
A few weeks after our return to the chateau, a Monsieur de G--, of an
old family in Brittany, who had been for the last two years in England,
returned to his father's house, and called upon Madame d'Albret. She
had known him from childhood, and received him most cordially. I must
describe him fully, as he played no small part in my little drama. He
was, I should think, nearly thirty years of age, small in person but
elegantly made, with a very handsome but rather effeminate face. His
address and manners were perfect. He was very witty, and apparently
very amiable. His deportment towards our sex was certainly most
fascinating--so tender and so respectful. I certainly never had before
seen so polished a man. He sang well, and played upon several
instruments; drew, caricatured--indeed, he did everything well that he
attempted to do; I hardly need say that with such qualifications, and
being so old a friend, that he was gladly welcomed by Madame d'Albret,
and became a daily visitor at the chateau. I was soon intimate with him
and partial to his company, but nothing more; indeed, his attentions to
Madame d'Albret were quite as great as to me, and there was nothing to
permit any one to suppose that he was paying his court either to her or
to me. Madame d'Albret thought otherwise, because we sang together, and
because he talked to me in English, and she as well as others rallied me
in consequence.
After two months had passed away, Monsieur de G--was supposed to be
paying his attentions more particularly to me, and I thought so myself;
Madame d'Albret certainly did, and gave him every opportunity. He was
the heir to a large property, and did not require money with his wife.
About this time, an English lady of the name of Bathurst who was
travelling with a niece, a little girl about fourteen years old, had
accepted an invitation from Monsieur de G--'s father, to pass a week
with them at their chateau, which was about five miles from that of
Madame d'Albret, and this lady was introduced. She was apparently very
amiable, and certainly very _distinguee_ in her manners, and we saw a
great deal of her as she was a great favourite with Madame d'Albret.
A few weeks after the introduction of this English lady, I was one day
on the terrace alone, when I was accosted by Monsieur de G--. After a
remark or two upon the beauty of the autumnal flowers, he observed, "How
different are the customs of two great nations, with but a few leagues
of water between them--I refer to the French and the English. You would
be surprised to see how great they are if you were ever to go to
England--in none, perhaps, more so than in the affairs of the heart. In
France we do not consult the wishes or the feelings of the young lady,
we apply to her parents, and if the match is considered equally
advantageous, the young lady is told to prepare herself for changing her
condition. In England the very reverse is the case; we apply to the
young lady, gain her affections, and when certain of them, we then
request the sanction of those who are her guardians. Which do you think
is the most natural and satisfactory, Mademoiselle de Chatenoeuf?"
"I have been brought up in France, Monsieur de G--, and I prefer the
mode of France; our parents and our guardians are the people most able
to decide upon the propriety of a match, and I think that until that
point is ascertained, no affections should be engaged, as, should the
marriage not be considered advisable, much pain and disappointment will
be prevented."
"In some instances, I grant that such may be the case," replied he; "but
still, is it not treating your sex like slaves to permit no love before
marriage? and is it agreeable for ours, that we lead to the altar a
person who may consent from a sense of duty, without having the least
regard for her husband; nay, perhaps feeling an aversion?"
"I do not think that any kind parents would force their child to marry a
man for whom she felt an aversion," replied I; "and if there is not much
love before marriage, there may be a great deal after; but the fact is,
it is a subject upon which I am not able, nor do I wish to give my
opinion."
"As you disagree with me, Mademoiselle de Chatenoeuf," replied he, "I
fear you will not be pleased at my courting you in the English fashion;
and previous to addressing myself to Madame d'Albret, making known to
you my sincere regard for you, and my humble hopes that I am not
indifferent to you."
"I will answer you very plainly, Monsieur de G--; and perhaps it is as
well you have taken this unusual step, as it will save you the trouble
of making any application to Madame d'Albret. Flattered as I am by your
compliment, I beg to decline the honour you propose, and now that you
know my feelings, you will of course not be so ungenerous as to make any
application to Madame d'Albret."
"Certainly, mademoiselle," replied he, with great pique, "but on one
condition, which is, that you will promise me that you will not mention
to Madame d'Albret what has now passed between us."
"That I willingly promise, Monsieur de G--, as I may consider it as your
secret."
"And I trust," continued he, "that you will not discard me from your
friendship, but receive me as before."
"I shall always be happy to receive the friends of Madame d'Albret,"
replied I, "and now I wish you a good-morning."
I went to my own room and reflected upon what had passed. I was angry
with Monsieur de G--for what I considered the unwarrantable liberty he
had taken, the greater as he must have known my utter dependence upon
Madame D'Albret; and how unlikely it was that I would form any such
engagement without her knowledge and sanction. That I had no love for
Monsieur de G--was certain, although I was pleased with his company and
conversation. I was sorry on reflection that I had given my promise not
to mention what had passed, but having made the promise, although
hastily, I resolved to adhere to it.
I took it for granted that he would gradually withdraw himself, and that
we should see little more of him; but in this I was mistaken; he was as
frequent in his visits as before, dividing his attentions between Madame
d'Albret and me. This annoyed me, and I avoided him as much as I could,
and the consequence was, that he was oftener with Madame d'Albret than
with me. At first when Madame d'Albret perceived this, she appeared to
be vexed, as she had evidently set her mind upon the match, and expected
daily to receive a formal proposal from him in my behalf; but gradually,
why I know not, it gave her no further concern, and I was permitted to
leave the room, and do as I pleased without being subjected to any
remarks.
Such was the state of affairs when the Paris season drew near. Madame
Bathurst had been induced to remain in Brittany, and was continually
with us. She had often asked me to come over to England, and pass a few
weeks with them, and I had jokingly replied that I would. One morning
Madame d'Albret said to me--
"My dear Valerie, Madame Bathurst has again requested me to allow you to
go to England with her. Now if you think that you would like to pass a
short time with her, instead of remaining at Paris during the season, I
really have no objection, if it would give you pleasure."
"My dear madame, I was only joking when I said so."
"Well, you have made Madame Bathurst think you were in earnest, my
dear," replied she; "and I thought so too, and have this morning
promised that you shall go with her. I thought you would perfect
yourself in English, and it would be a good opportunity of relieving you
for a short time of your constant attendance upon me; so, my dear
Valerie, I advise you to go. It will amuse you, and a little change
will do you good: besides, my dear, I perceive that the attentions of
Monsieur de G--are not agreeable to you, and it is as well to break it
off by a short absence."
"I shall not dispute your wishes, madame," replied I, mournfully, for my
heart misgave me, why I knew not, "but if I do go, it will be to oblige
you, and not because I really wish it."
"My dear Valerie, I think it will be for the best, and therefore you
will oblige me. I have promised for you, and I should be sorry to have
to recall my promise--so consent, my dear, and I will write to Madame
Bathurst, that she may be prepared to receive you."
"Certainly, madame," replied I, "your wishes will ever be a law to me:"
and so saying, I left the room, and going to my own chamber, I threw
myself down on the bed, and wept bitterly without knowing why.
About ten days after this, Madame Bathurst called for me to take me to
the chateau of Monsieur de G--'s father, where I was to remain till the
next morning, when we were to post to Paris. It was with great pain
that I quitted Madame d'Albret, but her kindness to me appeared to have
increased rather than diminished, after the proposal of our short
separation. "God bless you, my dear Valerie," she said, "you must write
to me twice a week; I shall be most impatient for your return." I
parted from her with many tears, and did not leave off weeping till we
arrived at the chateau, at which Madame Bathurst resided.
I was received with formal politeness by the old gentleman, and Monsieur
de G--, who was also at home, and in an excessive gay humour. "Alas,
mademoiselle," cried he, "what a desert you will leave behind you! It
is too cruel, this travelling mania on your part. We never shall see
you again."
There was so much irony in his face as he said this, that I hardly knew
what to make of it; but it made me feel anxious and dissatisfied. I
would have given much to have abandoned the journey, but Madame
d'Albret's wishes were a law to me. To avoid reflection, which was
painful, I talked with Caroline, the niece of Madame Bathurst, and as we
were to set off at daylight, we retired early. The following morning we
set off, and in due time arrived at Paris, where we remained but one
day, and then proceeded to Boulogne, where we embarked.
It was now November, and half-way across the Channel we were enveloped
in a fog, and it was with difficulty that we made the harbour. We set
off for London, the fog continued during the whole day, and on our
arrival at the suburbs it was thicker than ever, and the horses were led
through the streets by people carrying flambeaux. I had heard that
England was a _triste pays_, and I thought it so indeed. At last I
observed to Madame Bathurst, "Est-ce qu'il n'y a jamais de soleil dans
ce pays, madame?"
"Oh, yes," replied she, laughing, "and a very beautiful sun too."
The next day we set off for Madame Bathurst's country seat, to pass the
Christmas. Before we were three miles out of London, the fog had
disappeared, the sun shone out brilliantly, and the branches of the
leafless trees covered with rime, glittered like diamond wands, as we
flew past them. What with the change in the weather, and the rapid
motion produced by the four English post-horses, I thought England
beautiful; but I must say that the first two days were a trial, the more
so as I was very despondent from having quitted Madame d'Albret. I was
delighted with Madame Bathurst's country seat, the well-arranged
gardens, the conservatories, the neatness displayed in every thing so
different from France, the cleanness of the house and furniture; the
London carpets over the whole of the rooms and staircases, were, in my
opinion, great improvements; but I cared little for the society, which I
found not only dull, but it appeared to me to be selfish. I found a
lively companion in Caroline, and we sat up in a little boudoir, where
we were never interrupted. Here I practised my music, and at Madame
Bathurst's request, spoke alternately English and French with my little
companion, for our mutual improvement.
I had written twice to Madame d'Albret, and had received one very kind
answer; but no mention was made of my return, although it was at first
arranged that my visit was to be three weeks or a month. A fortnight
after my arrival at Fairfield, I received a second letter from Madame
d'Albret, kind as usual, but stating, to my great grief, that she was
not well, having had an attack on her chest from having taken a violent
cold. I answered the letter immediately, requesting that I might be
permitted to return home and nurse her, for I felt very uneasy. For
three weeks, during which I had no reply, I was in a state of great
anxiety and distress, as I imagined that Madame d'Albret must have been
too ill to write, and I was in a fever of suspense. At last I received
a letter from her, stating that she had been very ill, and that she had
been recommended by the physicians to go to the south of France for the
winter. At the same time, as she could not put off her departure, she
wrote to Madame Bathurst, requesting, if not inconvenient, that she
would allow my visit to be extended till the spring, at which season she
expected to return to Paris. Madame Bathurst read her letter to me, and
stated how happy she should be for me to remain. I could do no
otherwise but thank her, although I was truly miserable. I wrote to
Madame d'Albret, and stated what my feelings were; but as she had, by
what was said in her letter, already left for the south of France, I
knew that my letter would arrive too late to enable her to alter her
determination. All I requested was, that she would give me continual
intelligence of her health.
I was, however, much consoled in my distress by the kindness of Madame
Bathurst, and affectionate manners of her niece Caroline, who was my
constant companion. There was a great deal of company not only
visiting, but staying in the house; but although there was much company,
there was very little society. Horses, dogs, guns, were the amusements
of the gentlemen during the day. In the evening we saw little of them,
as they seldom left the dinner-table before Caroline and I had retired
to our rooms; and the ladies appeared to me to be all afraid of each
other, and to be constantly on the reserve.
Christmas had passed, and I had not heard again from Madame d'Albret,
which was a source of great vexation and many bitter tears. I fancied
her dying in the south of France, without anyone to take care of her. I
often spoke to Madame Bathurst on the subject, who offered all the
excuses that she could devise, but I thought at the same time appeared
to be very grave, and unwilling to continue the conversation. At last I
thought of Madame Paon, and I wrote to her, inquiring whether she knew
how Madame d'Albret was, detailing to her how I had come to England, and
how Madame D'Albret had been seriously indisposed, stating my fears from
not having received any reply to my last letters. The day after I had
written to Madame Paon, Caroline, who was sitting with me in the
boudoir, observed, "I heard Mrs Corbet say to my aunt that she had seen
Madame d'Albret at Paris about ten days ago."
"Impossible!" replied I; "she is in the south of France."
"So I understood," replied Caroline; "but she did say so, and my aunt
immediately sent me out of the room on a message. I am sure it was to
get rid of me, that she might talk to Mrs Corbet."
"What can this mean?" exclaimed I. "Oh, my heart forebodes evil!
Excuse me, Caroline, but I feel very miserable;" and I laid my face down
on the table, covering it with my hands, and tears trickled fast through
my fingers.
"Speak to my aunt," said Caroline, consolingly; "do not cry, Valerie, it
may be all a mistake."
"I will at once speak to Madame Bathurst," said I, raising my head, "it
will be the best plan."
I went into my room, bathed my eyes, and then sought Madame Bathurst,
whom I found in the conservatory, giving directions to the gardener.
After a time she took my arm and we walked down the terrace.
"Madame Bathurst," said I, "I have been made very miserable by Caroline
stating that Mrs Corbet had told you that she met Madame d'Albret at
Paris. How can this be?"
"I cannot imagine more than yourself, my dear Valerie," replied Madame
Bathurst, "except that Mrs Corbet was mistaken."
"Do you think it was Madame?"
"I cannot say, Valerie, but I have written to Paris to ascertain the
fact, which is to me incomprehensible. A few days will let us into the
truth; I cannot believe it--indeed, if it were true, I shall consider
that Madame d'Albret has treated me ill, for much as I am pleased to
have you here, she has not been candid with me in proposing that you
should remain the winter, upon the plea of her being obliged to go to
the south, when she is still at Paris. I cannot understand it, and
until confirmed, I will not believe it. Mrs Corbet is not an
acquaintance of hers, and may, therefore, be mistaken."
"She must be, madame," replied I; "still it is strange that I do not
hear from her. I am fearful something is wrong, and what it can be, I
cannot surmise."
"Let us talk no more about it, my dear Valerie. A few days will decide
the point."
A few days did decide the point, for I received an answer from Madame
Paon, in which she said:--
"My dear Mademoiselle Chatenoeuf,--You may imagine my surprise at
receiving your letter, and I fear you must prepare yourself for
unpleasant intelligence. Madame d'Albret is in Paris, and has never
been in the south of France that I have heard. When she first called, I
inquired after you. The reply was that you were on a visit to a lady in
England; that you had left her; that you had a _manie pour
l'Angleterre_; and so saying, she shrugged up her shoulders. I was
about to inquire more particularly, but she cut the conversation short
by asking to see a new pelisse, and I perceived at once that there was
something wrong, but what I could not comprehend. I did not see her
till four or five weeks afterwards, when she called, accompanied by a
Monsieur de G--, a person well known in Paris, where he bears a very
indifferent character, as a desperate gambler, and a man of very bad
disposition concealed under a very polished exterior; but his character
is better known in England, which country, I am told, he was obliged to
quit in consequence of some gaming transaction anything but honourable.
I again made inquiries after you, and this time the reply was given by
Monsieur de G--, who replied that you were an _ingrate_, and your name
must not be in future mentioned by anyone to Madame d'Albret.
"The handsome face of Monsieur de G--, was changed to that of a demon
when he made this remark, and fully proved to me the truth of the report
that he was a person of very bad disposition. Madame d'Albret made no
remark, except that she should be careful how she ever engaged a
_demoiselle de compagnie_ again. I was struck at this remark from her,
as I always considered that you were (and indeed I know you were at one
time), viewed in a very different light, and I was quite mystified.
About a fortnight afterwards Madame d'Albret called upon me and
announced her intended marriage to Monsieur de G--, and requested me to
make her wedding dresses. Here the whole mystery was out, but why,
because she marries Monsieur de G--, you should lose her protection, and
why Monsieur de G--should be so inveterate against you, is more than I
can tell. I have now, my dear mademoiselle, given you a detail of all I
know, and shall be most happy to hear from you if you will please to
write to me, etcetera, etcetera.
"Emile Paon, nee Merce."
Here was a solution of the whole mystery. I read the letter and fell
back on the sofa, gasping for breath. It was some time before I could
recover myself. I was alone in my bedroom, my head and eyes swimming;
but I staggered to the washing-stand, and obtained some water. It was
half-an-hour before I could recall my astonished senses, and then
everything appeared as clear to me as if it had been revealed. Monsieur
de G--'s double attentions; his spiteful look at my refusal; his
occupying himself wholly with Madame d'Albret after I refused him; her
wishing to get rid of me, by sending me to England with Madame Bathurst,
and her subsequent false and evasive conduct. Monsieur de G--had had
his revenge, and gained his point at the same time. He had obtained the
wealth of Madame d'Albret to squander at the gaming-table, and had
contrived, by some means or another, to ruin me in her good opinion. I
perceived at once that all was lost, and when I considered the
awkwardness of my position, I was almost in despair.