COUNT TRISTAN'S POLICY.
When Count Tristan was ushered into Madeleine's presence, he was
received, not perhaps with warmth, but with marked courtesy. Nothing in
her greeting betrayed that his past conduct was remembered, and yet
nothing in her manner indicated that their relationship was unforgotten.
Her demeanor was simply that which would have been natural and
appropriate in receiving, beneath her own roof, one who was almost a
stranger.
The count had been completely disconcerted by the unexpected meeting
with his son; his wily smoothness was too much ruffled for him to couch
his first words in polite language; he could not forbear saying,--
"I entertained the hope that my visit would be private; it is very
unfortunate that I encountered Maurice; it will give him cause to think
that I am opposed to his grandmother's course." He smoothed over this
slip of the tongue by adding, "And, certainly, so I am! I disapprove of
her excessive rigor; her conduct toward you does not meet with my full
sanction."
It was the unintentional expression of Madeleine's countenance, perhaps,
which made Count Tristan remember that his own conduct had strongly
resembled that of his mother. But his auditor spoke no word; she was too
kind to utter her thoughts, and too frank to say what she did not think.
The count went on,--
"I could not yield to my strong impulse yesterday, and defend you; it
would not have done; my mother would only have been exasperated. I was
forced apparently to agree with her. The sacred title of 'mother,'
which is never to be forgotten, compelled me to yield her this
respect,--a respect due alike to her years and to her position. But, now
that we are alone, I may tell you how pained, how grieved I was at the
occurrences of yesterday."
"I no longer think of them," replied Madeleine.
"As I said," continued the count, "when you left us so mysteriously in
Brittany, however troubled we might have been at your sudden step,
however anxious about your welfare, it was useless to be indignant,
since you thought your course the right one, and you were ever
conscientiousness personified; besides it should always be taken into
consideration that, come what might, you are still our relation; the
ties of blood are indissoluble. I said to my mother, 'It can never be
forgotten that Madeleine is your niece.'"
"I would have had her forget it," replied Madeleine. "I preserved my
incognita, and kept at a distance from you all that you might not be
wounded by the remembrance."
"But be sure, Madeleine, that I, for one, cannot forget our
relationship, nor cease to treat you as my niece."
Madeleine could not but be touched by this unexpected declaration. She
answered, gratefully, "It is more than I ask, yet I thank you."
"Yes," returned the count, "and to prove to you how far I am from
looking down upon you,--how much I honor your position, and how highly I
esteem you,--how thoroughly I comprehend your character, and the
readiness with which you always serve others,--I come here to-day to ask
a favor at your hands."
"Is it possible?" exclaimed Madeleine, delightedly. "You make me truly
happy. Can I, indeed, serve you? You could scarcely have spoken words
that had more power to gladden me."
"That is precisely what I imagined," answered the count, complacently.
"Now let me explain the matter. You have often heard me speak of the
property left to Maurice by his uncle. It is now almost our sole
possession. Its value depends upon the railroad which may or may not run
through that portion of the country. A committee of nine persons has
been selected to decide whether this road shall run to the right or
left. If they choose the road to the right, the property of Maurice will
not be benefited, and--and--and--I cannot enter into particulars,
but--but--it is almost valueless. If they choose the left road, the
value of the estate will be so much increased that it will yield
us,--that is, will yield my son something very handsome. Of this
committee, Mr. Hilson and Mr. Meredith will vote for the left road, and,
through the influence of Madame de Fleury, for which I am indebted to
you, M. de Fleury's banker, Mr. Gobert, will also vote for the left:
that secures us three votes."
"How glad I am that I was able to accomplish something to serve you!"
said Madeleine.
"There is much more, I trust, that you will be able to accomplish. The
votes of Mr. Gilmer and Mr. Rutledge must be gained,--the only two which
it seems possible to obtain; for the other gentlemen are inflexible in
their decision. Mrs. Gilmer is one of your customers. I hear that she
raves about you; if that is the case, you can do anything with her, and
_she_ will manage her _husband_. Have you no mode of winning her over to
our side?"
Madeleine pondered a moment, then answered gayly,--
"Yes, I have at my command one method that is certain,--_perfectly
certain_. Mrs. Gilmer is very desirous of receiving an invitation to
Madame de Fleury's ball. The marchioness has left her out on purpose.
Mrs. Gilmer has made numerous efforts, but, thus far, unsuccessful ones,
to obtain this invitation; if I could secure it for her she would gladly
repay me by inducing her husband to vote as you desire."
"Bravo! Bravo! we shall succeed; for you can surely obtain the
invitation. Madame de Fleury herself said that she was enchanted at the
opportunity of obliging you,--that she could not do too much to show her
great consideration."
"Yes; but you can scarcely comprehend the difficulty of persuading her
to consent to invite Mrs. Gilmer. She mortally detests her, and I could
offer few petitions which she would be less likely to grant. Still, I
will use strong arguments,--powerful inducements. I will endeavor to
think of some temptation which she cannot resist."
"That is just what I believed you would do, my dear Madeleine," said the
count, taking her hand.
Madeleine withdrew it, though not too abruptly. The contact gave her,
magnetically, as it were, a painful impression.
"But how," she asked, "is Mr. Rutledge to be reached?"
"Through you,--through _you_ again, my kind, good Madeleine," answered
the count, hilariously.
"Through _me_? I do not know him except by name. He is a bachelor;
therefore there is no wife who can be induced to become a mediator."
"No, there is no wife, to be sure, but there is a lady-love whom he
hopes to make his wife, and she, also, is one of your patrons; it is the
sister of Lord Linden; you might solicit her, or you might obtain her
influence through his lordship."
"Through his lordship? That is not possible," replied Madeleine,
decisively.
"Surely it may be," remarked the count, "since you are acquainted with
him, and I have faith in your powers of persuasion."
Madeleine looked very much astonished as she answered, "What has made
you imagine that I have any acquaintance with Lord Linden?"
"I saw him upstairs in one of your _salons_, sitting in a comfortable
arm-chair, as though he were very much at home, reading a book."
Madeleine looked confounded.
"Lord Linden?"
"Yes; you will therefore admit that it was quite natural for me to
suppose that he had the _entrée_ here?"
"I did not know that he was in the house!" returned Madeleine,
ingenuously. "He has never been here before to my knowledge. I once was
thrown in contact with him in travelling from New York to Washington.
The cars met with an accident and he broke his arm; I, being unhurt, was
of some little assistance; but I have never seen him since."
"Then it is a most fortunate chance," resumed Count Tristan, "that
brings him here. Through him you can influence his sister,--through her
the vote of Mr. Rutledge will be secured, and these two votes gained;
the road to the left will be chosen, and for this I shall be wholly your
debtor. Truly, Madeleine, you are the fairy Maurice used to call you in
old times; for you have the power, the gift of working wonders, and you
always _had_!"
"Cousin Tristan,"--began Madeleine, seriously, then paused; "do you
allow me still to call you so?"
"Yes,--yes, undoubtedly; and especially when we are alone. Call me
_cousin_, certainly; but what did you wish to say?"
"You must find some other advocate as far as Mr. Rutledge is concerned.
I fear I have not sufficient influence with Lady Augusta Linden to make
this request, or to induce her to grant it, or to prevent her thinking
the petition itself an impertinence."
"That does not matter; you can manage the affair through Lord Linden,
and the opportunity presents itself this very moment, since he is
here,--here under your own roof."
"I cannot see him,--I particularly desire not to see him; there are
reasons which must prevent my asking any favor at his hands. It is
totally out of my power to do what you desire."
"But it is of the greatest importance, Madeleine; this opportunity must
not be thrown away. What would Maurice think if he believed that you
refused to serve him at such a critical moment?"
"Maurice, if he knew all which I could tell him, would be the first to
forbid my appealing to Lord Linden. I pray you to seek some other means
of influencing Mr. Rutledge; he cannot be reached through me."
"I have no other!" cried the count, with desperate energy. "My sole
dependence is upon you. And, Madeleine, this is not the mere question of
gain: more than I dare confide to you depends upon the decision of that
committee."
Madeleine made no response, but her manner plainly manifested that she
was not prepared to retract what she had said.
"Madeleine," continued the count, with ill-disguised anger, and feeling
that he had no alternative but to make a confession which humbled him to
the dust, "this property was held in trust by me; my difficulties, my
embarrassments, have been overwhelming: they have brought me to the
verge of absolute ruin. A man may be placed in positions where he is
forced into actions from which he would otherwise shrink; this was my
case. I obtained from Maurice a power of attorney which he thinks I have
never used,--but--but--impelled by my troubles, and without his
knowledge, I have been induced,--women cannot understand business
matters; it was a course that could not be avoided,--I have been forced
to compromise the interest of Maurice; I have been compelled to mortgage
his estate so heavily that it is valueless unless this road augments its
present worth. Do you not see what is at stake? Will you not exert
yourself to save me, to save Maurice from the mortification of knowing
that I have committed an action which might be misconstrued,--which
might be condemned,--might be considered,"--the count paused, overcome
with shame.
Madeleine hesitated; for the sake of Maurice she could endure to be
misunderstood,--she could submit to place herself in a position which
humbled and compromised her.
The count saw that her resolution was shaken, and he did not lose his
advantage.
"Remember that Maurice is beginning life; he has imbibed the sanguine
spirit of the land in which he has lately lived. What a sudden and
crushing blow to him will be the revelation that awaits him! Can _you_
bear to contemplate its effect? _I_ cannot. Answer, Madeleine; he has
suffered much, much for _your_ sake: will you, will you make him suffer
more?"
"No!" answered Madeleine, firmly. "Come what may, I will see Lord
Linden, and obtain his influence with his sister _if I can_."
"There spoke the Madeleine of other days!"
Madeleine interrupted him: "Spare me your praises; I do not deserve
them. If Lord Linden is here, as you say, I will see him at once."
"That is right; you are prompt as ever. I will take my leave. It may not
be well for him to see me here. Success to you, Madeleine! But you
always command success. It is a condition of your existence."
The count withdrew, and Madeleine, with a sad countenance, only waited
until the street door closed upon him, to keep her promise and seek Lord
Linden.