LORD LINDEN'S DISCOVERY.
Lord Linden, who had resolved not to leave the house until he had
discovered his incognita, waited with laudable patience, closely
scanning every lady who passed through the adjoining apartments. His
position did not command a view of the workroom. An hour passed, and he
began to get puzzled. The non-appearance of the lady who had entered the
house was inexplicable, unless she resided there. His perplexity was
momentarily increasing, when he saw Count Tristan in conversation with
the forewoman. They left the apartment together. It then occurred to
Lord Linden that there might be other exhibition-rooms in the lower
story, and he had better reconnoitre. He had made up his mind to do
this, and was descending the stair, when he caught sight of Maurice de
Gramont and involuntarily retreated. What was Count Tristan doing here?
What brought his son here? Neither of the gentlemen were accompanied by
ladies. He returned to his former station, uncertain what step to take
next. Just then, Victorine passed through the apartment on her way to
the workroom. He accosted her and inquired if there were exhibition
rooms on the lower floor. She informed him that the first story was
reserved by Mademoiselle Melanie for her own use.
Lord Linden returned to his arm-chair, and had just made up his mind
that the lady of whom he was in search had visited Mademoiselle Melanie
in her own apartments and left the house again, when he was startled,
astounded, and overjoyed by the sight of the very being he sought,
tranquilly approaching him.
Madeleine looked serious, even sad; for she had consented to stoop to an
action which mortified her deeply.
Lord Linden was so thoroughly amazed at her sudden appearance that he
could not move,--could not collect himself to address her.
She courtesied, and said, with grave sweetness,--
"I was only informed a few moments ago of your presence here, my Lord."
Lord Linden rose and stammered out, "Is it possible? Do I really behold
you? This morning I saw you enter this house. I gained my admission as
Madame de Fleury's escort, and lingered in the hope of seeing you after
she left."
Lord Linden did not know how to proceed. He had expected to encounter
his incognita wearing her hat and mantle. He had supposed that her visit
to the residence of the celebrated _couturière_ was to make some
purchase. To behold her so apparently at home bewildered him.
Madeleine perfectly comprehended his perplexity, and, with the utmost
composure, attempted to clear away the mist from his mind by saying,--
"I beg pardon; I was not aware that you accompanied Madame de Fleury. As
I have the honor of numbering Lady Augusta Linden, your lordship's
sister, among my customers, I thought"--
"Customers? Your customers? You, then, are"--
"Mademoiselle Melanie, the mantua-maker," answered Madeleine with an
unfaltering voice.
"_You?_ Can it be?"
Pointing in the direction of the workroom, she answered with a
half-smile, "Yonder are a number of witnesses who can testify to my
identity."
Lord Linden, trying to conceal the shock he had received, and gazing
upon her with admiration, exclaimed, in an impassioned tone,--
"Ever since I first met you, when you were returning from"--
"From New York," broke in Madeleine, "where I went to choose silks and
velvets and other feminine paraphernalia for the use of my customers."
Lord Linden was again discomfited. After a moment he went on,--
"I have sought you everywhere. I was certain I should find you in the
first drawing-rooms in Washington."
"You find me in a _salon_ which a great many ladies visit before they
enter those drawing-rooms."
"It is incredible!"
"To me it seems very comprehensible," answered Madeleine stoically.
He looked into her lovely countenance and continued, with increasing
fervor,--
"I have never ceased to think of you. No other woman has had power to
efface your image. Having known you, without ever suspecting who and
what you are"--
Madeleine interrupted him.
"Now that you are aware _who_ I am and _what_ I am, my lord, it becomes
easier to dissipate any illusion which owes its origin to a mystery with
which you were pleased to surround me."
"To _exchange_ my illusions, perhaps, for others, more captivating, more
poetic," resumed the nobleman.
"Do you talk of poetry, my lord, to a mantua-maker?"
"Say, rather, to one who, in spite of her vocation, inspires me with the
most absolute veneration. I swear to you--But no, my actions, not my
words, must prove my admiration. You shall find me ever at your command.
I shall count it the greatest happiness of my life to devote myself to
your service."
"My lord, you tempt me to put your words to the test."
"Do so, I pray you. It is what I most desire."
"By a singular chance," said Madeleine, "one of those marvellous
coincidences which sometimes occur in real life, but which look like
fiction when they are related in books, an opportunity presents itself
that may enable you to prove the sincerity of your protestations. You
must understand that I am a woman of business. But that is easily
comprehended, as I am a woman who toils for her daily bread. I take
great interest in the decision of the committee of a certain railroad
company, one of the members of which I desire to influence."
Lord Linden looked stupefied, and almost as if he thought Madeleine were
making a jest of him. But her grave manner contradicted that suggestion.
She went on as tranquilly as before,--
"They are to decide, at their next meeting, whether a certain railroad
shall take the direction to the right or left. I desire that the left
road should be chosen."
Lord Linden still regarded her as though he were too completely
astounded to make any comment.
"Certain members of the committee will, I am aware, vote for the left
road. I wish to secure the vote of Mr. Rutledge."
"Mr. Rutledge!" exclaimed Lord Linden. "I know him well."
"He is the warm admirer of Lady Augusta Linden," observed Madeleine. "It
is even reported that he aspires to her hand."
Lord Linden showed plainly that he was astonished to find one in
Madeleine's position so conversant with the affairs both of the business
world and the _beau monde_.
Madeleine proceeded,--
"If any influence can be used with Mr. Rutledge to induce him to vote
for the left road, it will cause me gratification, I cannot explain of
what nature. You have spoken, my lord, of desiring to serve me. I have
very frankly pointed out in what manner it was possible that you might
confer a favor upon me. If I could enter into full particulars, this
request would lose its singularity. As that cannot be done, I can only
entertain the hope that you will believe it has an interpretation which
I should not blush to reveal."
"That I feel,--of that I am certain," returned the nobleman, earnestly.
"No one could look at you and doubt the nobility of your actions and
motives. I am almost hardy enough to venture to promise Mr. Rutledge's
vote. Will you permit me to return here after I have spoken with him,
and report to you the result of my advocacy?"
Before Madeleine could reply, Mrs. Gilmer entered the adjoining room.
Madeleine rose, and, courtesying to her visitor, said,--
"Your lordship will excuse me; my duty requires that I should leave you
and attend to this lady."
She glided out of the room, but Lord Linden continued to watch her, as
though he could not force his eyes away.
It was some time before he made his exit.
Mrs. Gilmer was looking very much depressed. She had begun to believe
that it was very possible she would receive no invitation to Madame de
Fleury's ball.
"Ah, Mademoiselle Melanie," said she, as Madeleine entered; "you will
sympathize with me. I have never had such a mortification before. I knew
Madame de Fleury's enmity, but I could not believe her so cruel, so
_inhuman_. She is thoroughly devoid of feeling, and has determined to
leave me out of her invitations. I actually induced the Russian
ambassadress, with whom she is very intimate, to intercede for me. I
have just seen Madame Orlowski, and she tells me Madame de Fleury
refused point blank. She resisted Madame Orlowski's most urgent
entreaties, and will not yield to any one; I have no longer any hope. I
shall be excluded from this ball, of which all Washington is talking.
How am I to survive such a slight?"
"It, however, may still be possible," said Madeleine, smilingly, "to
obtain you an invitation."
"You think so? You really think so?" cried Mrs. Gilmer, in joyful
surprise. "Do not raise my hopes to the highest pitch to cast them down
again unless you want to make me ill for a month. Who could have the
power to obtain me an invitation after the Russian ambassadress has been
refused?"
"It sounds very presumptuous to say so, but _I_ may have."
"_You?_ My dear Mademoiselle Melanie,--_you?_ I can well believe it.
Madame de Fleury adores you; she owes all her success to you. Oh, I know
it, well enough, though you may pretend to be ignorant of what you have
done for her. And you seriously think you can get me this invitation?
You will positively make the effort?"
"I will use my best endeavors, and I am pretty sure I shall succeed; but
it is to be the return for a favor which I desire you to grant me."
"A favor? You can ask none that I will not grant in return for this
invitation," replied Mrs. Gilmer, eagerly.
Madeleine could scarcely repress a smile, tinged with a slightly
scornful expression.
"You American ladies are said to be all-powerful with your husbands;
you, no doubt, have great influence with Mr. Gilmer?"
"I fancy I have," said Mrs. Gilmer, tossing her graceful head. "I
arrange matters so as to have him in my power. I know his weak points,
and I make it a rule to play upon them until I obtain everything I
desire. Just at this moment, he is in a particularly favorable state: he
is frantically jealous; though, between ourselves, I never give him real
cause. I only excite his jealousy to use it as a valuable weapon against
himself. Tell me quickly what favor you desire."
"Mr. Gilmer is a member of a committee which is to decide upon the
course a certain railroad is to take. I wish to secure his vote for the
left road."
"How odd! What difference can it make to you?"
"It would occupy too much time to explain that, and might not interest
you. The important question is, can he be induced to vote for this left
road?"
"I dare say; I do not doubt it,--that is, if you are really in earnest,
and can promise me my invitation to the ball in exchange for his vote."
"The one depends upon the other," replied Madeleine. "I had the good
fortune to secure the vote of Mr. Gobert, the banker of Monsieur de
Fleury, and"--
"Mr. Gobert votes for the left road? Ah, that increases the difficulty.
My husband makes a point of never voting as he does,--never! It is
enough that Mr. Gobert votes one way for him to vote the other."
"That is singular; they are both bankers, and I thought they were
friends."
"It is because they are both bankers that they are the bitterest
enemies. Talk of the jealousies of women, of artists, of men of genius,
of nations! Those are nothing to the jealousy of these rival
capitalists, who are engaged in a perpetual strife to excel each other.
If Mr. Gobert gives a ball that costs two thousand dollars, Mr. Gilmer
gives one that costs four thousand. If Mr. Gobert builds a superb house,
Mr. Gilmer builds a palace. It is a steeple-chase of vanity, in which
the conqueror has for the only price of his victory the delight of
seeing his rival conquered."
"Then you find the difficulty of reconciling Mr. Gilmer to vote for the
left road beyond your skill?"
"No,--no,--I do not say _that_. I do not admit _that_, by any means. But
Mr. Gobert is a great obstacle."
"But one which the pleasure of attending this ball will enable you to
surmount?"
"Yes, I trust so. There is a way,--there is a sacrifice I can make; and
I will not hesitate for such an object. My husband detests, without the
slightest cause, a gentleman who visits me frequently: now, if I
promised not to receive this obnoxious, but very delightful individual
(whom I care nothing about), I think Mr. Gilmer, in return, would be
willing, for once, to cast, his vote on the same side as his enemy. It
would need some such grave inducement, some such unquestionable
sacrifice on my part."
"That sacrifice may also be a prudent action," observed Madeleine.
"Oh, I do not know about that," replied the thoughtless woman of
fashion; "a woman is expected to have admirers; they only render her
more valuable in the eyes of her husband. I should not consent to offend
this devoted friend without some strong incentive. But to insure being
present at Madame de Fleury's ball, I would agree to anything. So, it is
a bargain: if I obtain you my husband's vote, you obtain me this
invitation?"
"That is our compact," answered Madeleine.
"Agreed. I shall return home with a light heart; you have cheered me
wonderfully; I am inclined to be so amiable to all the world, my husband
included, that all the world and my husband are your debtors. When shall
I receive the good news that you have conquered Madame de Fleury?"
"At whatever time you think you will be prepared to send me the
intelligence that you have vanquished Mr. Gilmer."
"That will be this evening, before my husband goes to his club."
"By this evening, then, I will have procured you the invitation."
"Remember, I depend upon you. Good-morning."
Mrs. Gilmer departed in high good-humor, leaving Madeleine reflecting
with regret upon the tools which harsh circumstance seemed to force her
to use.