THE FAUBOURG SAINT ANTOINE.
No more illusion for the chevalier. In a day or two he might be called
to his work.
The Spanish envoy had deeply impressed Gaston--there was about him an
air of greatness which surprised him.
A strange circumstance passed across his mind; there was, between his
forehead and eyes and those of Helene, one of those vague and distant
likenesses which seem almost like the incoherence of a dream. Gaston,
without knowing why, associated these two faces in his memory, and could
not separate them. As he was about to lie down, worn out with fatigue, a
horse's feet sounded in the street, the hotel door opened, and Gaston
heard an animated conversation; but soon the door was closed, the noise
ceased, and he slept as a man sleeps at five-and-twenty, even if he be a
conspirator.
However, Gaston was not mistaken; a horse had arrived, and a
conversation had taken place. A peasant from Rambouillet brought in
haste a note from a young and pretty woman to the Chevalier de Chanlay,
Hotel Muids d'Amour.
We can imagine who the young and pretty woman was.
Tapin took the letter, looked at it, then, taking off his apron, left
the charge of the hotel to one of his servants, and went off to Dubois.
"Oh," exclaimed the latter, "let us see; a letter!"
He unsealed it skillfully by aid of steam, and, on reading it, seemed
pleased.
"Good! excellent! Let them alone to go their own way; we hold the reins,
and can stop them when we like." Then, turning to Tapin, he gave him the
letter, which he had resealed. "Here," said he, "deliver the letter."
"When?" asked Tapin.
"At once."
Tapin stepped toward the door.
"No, stop," said Dubois; "to-morrow morning will be soon enough."
"Now," said Tapin, "may I make an observation?"
"Speak."
"As monseigneur's agent, I gain three crowns a day."
"Well, is not that enough, you scoundrel?"
"It was enough as agent. I do not complain, but it is not enough as
wine-merchant. Oh, the horrid trade!"
"Drink and amuse yourself."
"Since I have sold wine I hate it."
"Because you see how it is made; but drink champagne, muscat, anything:
Bourguignon pays. Apropos, he has had a real attack; so your lie was
only an affair of chronology."
"Indeed."
"Yes, fear has caused it; you want to inherit his goods?"
"No, no; the trade is not amusing."
"Well, I will add three crowns a day to your pay while you are there,
and I will give the shop to your eldest daughter. Bring me such letters
often, and you shall be welcome."
Tapin returned to the hotel, but waited for the morning to deliver the
letter.
At six o'clock, hearing Gaston moving, he entered, and gave him the
note.
This was what it contained:
"MY FRIEND--I think of your advice, and that perhaps
you were right at last, I fear. A carriage has just
arrived--Madame Desroches orders departure--I tried to
resist--they shut me up in my room; fortunately, a
peasant passed by to water his horse; I have given him
two louis, and he promised to take you this note. I
hear the last preparations--in two hours we leave for
Paris.
"On my arrival, I will send you my address, if I have
to jump out of the window and bring it.
"Be assured, the woman who loves you will remain worthy
of herself and you."
"Ah, Helene!" cried Gaston; "I was not deceived. Eight o'clock, but she
must have arrived. Why was not this letter brought to me at once?"
"You were asleep, monsieur. I waited your awaking."
There was no reply to be made. Gaston thought he would go and watch at
the barrier, as Helene might not have arrived. He dressed quickly, and
set out, after saying to Tapin:
"If Captain La Jonquiere comes here, say I shall be back at nine."
* * * * *
While Gaston waits uselessly for Helene, let us look back.
We saw the regent receive Madame Desroches' letter and send a reply.
Indeed, it was necessary to remove Helene from the attempts of this M.
de Livry.
But who could he be? Dubois alone could tell. So when Dubois appeared--
"Dubois," said the regent, "who is M. de Livry, of Nantes?"
"Livry--Livry," said he. "Stay!"
"Yes, Livry."
"Who knows such a name? Send for M. d'Hozier."
"Idiot!"
"But, monseigneur, I do not study genealogies. I am an unworthy
plebeian."
"A truce to this folly."
"Diable! it seems monseigneur is in earnest about these Livrys. Are you
going to give the order to one of them? because, in that case, I will
try and find a noble origin."
"Go to the devil, and send me Noce."
Dubois smiled, and went out.
Noce quickly appeared. He was a man about forty, distinguished-looking,
tall, handsome, cold and witty, one of the regent's most faithful and
favorite friends.
"Monseigneur sent for me."
"Ah, Noce, good-day."
"Can I serve your royal highness in anything?"
"Yes; lend me your house in the Faubourg St. Antoine, but empty, and
carefully arranged. I will put my own people in it."
"Is it to be for--?"
"For a prude, Noce."
"The houses in the faubourg have a bad name, monseigneur."
"The person for whom I require it does not know that; remember, absolute
silence, Noce, and give me the keys."
"A quarter of an hour, monseigneur, and you shall have them."
"Adieu, Noce, your hand; no spying, no curiosity, I beg."
"Monseigneur, I am going to hunt, and shall only return at your
pleasure."
"Thanks; adieu till to-morrow."
The regent sat down and wrote to Madame Desroches, sending a carriage
with an order to bring Helene, after reading her the letter without
showing it to her.
The letter was as follows:
"MY DAUGHTER--On reflection, I wish to have you near
me. Therefore follow Madame Desroches without loss of
time. On your arrival at Paris, you shall hear from me.
Your affectionate father."
[Illustration: PHILIP V.--Page 477.]
Helene resisted, prayed, wept, but was forced to obey. She profited by a
moment of solitude to write to Gaston, as we have seen. Then she left
this dwelling which had become dear to her, for there she had found her
father and received her lover.
As to Gaston, he waited vainly at the barrier, till, giving up all hope,
he returned to the hotel. As he crossed the garden of the Tuileries,
eight o'clock struck.
At that moment Dubois entered the regent's bedchamber with a portfolio
under his arm, and a triumphant smile on his face.