The Clique of Gold

y nearly touched the roofs of the houses; and a furious wind was shaking the black branc

d playing in his hair, restored him to consciousness. Then he became aware that he was still in evening costume, bareheaded, and that he had left his hat and his overcoat in Miss Brandon's house. Then he rem

e from that hell; and he himself, in

drunkard, who, when he is sobered, tries to recall the foolish things he may have done under the guidance of King Alcohol, Daniel conjured up one by one all his emotions during the hour which he h

d he been so

s Brandon's tricks; they had told him of the weird charm of her eyes; he h

by the fascinations of this strange girl. Her voice had made him forget every thing,

to himself, "w

o him some plan of salvation. Conjuring up the whole energy of his will, he tried to retrace his interview with Miss Brandon in order to find out by what marvellous transformation it had begun as a terrible combat, and ended as a love-scene. And recalling thus to his memory all sh

had said that she did not love Count Ville-Handry with real love, and that, until now, no man had even

el trembled as he remembered certain words in which, under almost transparent illusions, the secret of her heart had betrayed itself. Could she have told Daniel more pointedly than she had actually done, "He whom I could love is none other but you"? Certainly not! And as he thought of it his heart was f

o me?" he repeated.

his mind what might have happene

d his escape? How had she acc

usly the windows, as if they could have told him any thing of what was going on inside. The reception-room was still brilliantly lighted, and people came and went, castin

niel's thoughts when he heard the noise of bolts withdrawn, and doors opened. It was the great entrance-gate of Miss Brandon's house, whi

upon the inside, and Daniel thought he recognized, nay, he did recognize

nding his teeth in his rage; "she has tr

nceiving a strang

oing at four o'clock in the

orse could go, and the animal was a famous trotter, carefully chosen by Sir Thorn, who understood horse-flesh better than an

ly catch a cab

only following the coupe, but in actually gaining ground. When Miss Brandon reached Concord Square, he was only a few yards behind the

e. He was on the point of giving up the pursuit, when he saw a cab coming down towards him from the Madelein

s for you, if you follow

bareheaded, and in evening costume, and who offered him such an enormous sum, t

et out of the way, o

side. But all this had taken time; and, when he looked up, the coupe was far off, nearly at the boulevard. T

inst him; he gave up that idea. He went slowly back to his lodgings, and threw himself into an arm-chair, det

nto open water. He had not closed an eye for forty-eight hours; and, if the heart seems to be able to suffer almost indefinitely, our physical strength is strictly limite

imself. What! he succumbed so easily?-he, the sailor, who remembered very well having remained more than once for forty, and even once for sixty hours on deck, when his vessel was threa

rious depths. Nevertheless, while he hastened to kindle a large fire, in order to warm himself, he felt that the rest had done him good. The last evil eff

have been inclined to believe that they had given him one of those drugs which set the brains on fire, and produce a kind of delirium.

when his servant entered, as he did every mor

se things at the house where you spent the evening yesterday. A servant-on horseback too

delicate, but in no ways like the long, angular hand of an American lady. At last he tore the envelope; and at o

he top of the page bore her name, Sarah,

mine, and that I can count upon you? You told me

him that she was imprudence personified; a

er? Did they not admit the most extraordinary interpretation

t I tell

answered Dan

t his bureau, he wr

mises you extorted from me when I was not ma

first trap she had prepared for his inexperience, was he to risk falling into a second? H

m out; and make haste

s once more alon

rtainty. She cannot even suspect that her driving out this morning has

ubled Daniel excessively. Miss Brandon was certain of achieving her end;

out," sighed Daniel. "

usted to his hands still unfinished. But the minister, the department, his position, his

rriage drove to his friend's house, he tho

fore an immense marble table, covered all over with pots and bottles, with bru

an expression which seemed to prohibit all confidential talk. But Daniel saw noth

made me promise all she wanted. I

r," said M.

Brandon had taken him into her little boudoir, and how she had exculpated herself fr

he said, "which, if

shrugged hi

romised all she wanted! Do you not think she mi

Daniel. "Kergrist's b

magine that brother is an

went on, describing his amazement when Miss Brando

ing, and interrupted him,

nted to you the phoenix in such colors, that you had to say to yourself, 'What does she mean? That phoenix! Why, she means me!' That has tickled you prodigiou

overcome. H

id you

t his voice was as steady as ever when he

Brandon? She has only one card in her hand;

ourselves, however painful the process may be; but to hear another person laugh at us after such a thing has hap

Brandon, my dear Maxime, you see,

, a

t, thanks to her; for she hers

sh

like a fool, I was wandering about in the streets ne

, c

I see you. It was four o'c

ble? And wha

llowe

was polishing his finger-nails; but he mastered his

ich all his efforts could not steady entirely

at, quick as I am, I could not f

s breathing more freely,

e opportunity. I am, however, by no means a

you may believ

l, y

ther sardonic smile appear on Maxime's l

Brandon states about her childhood, her family,

who is forced to listen to the a

s Brandon, anxious as she must be to conceal her past, could herself point out to me the means to ascert

r expressed astonishment; he

d you seriously think of un

y n

yet it is patent enough. When she saw you, and had taken your measure, she said to herself, 'Here is an excellent young man who is in my way, exces

r, this explanation sounded by no means improbable. Neverth

no interest in my being abroad. Believe me, Maxime, there is something else unde

t pl

ou may be sure that I am not mistaken. I want no better evi

n jumped up

has writt

e, that brings me here. Here it is, just read it; and, if

five lines which Miss Brandon had writ

ote, and such an indiscreet no

trate his innermost thoughts, and then asked

ally love you, wh

ous in you to make sport of me, Maxime. I may be a fool;

n," said Brevan; "and I repeat m

y that I ex

so bitterly, you are

er; and with

story. That is

dearly, how ardently, I

t that is not

ut on a dressing-gown; and, carrying Daniel with him into

you said in rep

thi

le chair, and assumed the careful air of a physi

same plan. Don't say a word. Can you do any thing to prevent Miss

ut

part you, you will be inconsolable; but you will also be free to act. She, on the other hand, will be forced to live u

ought of that; and the idea had ma

how your flight has been explained. We may be able to dr

and try to find o

nt was at home and alone, walking up and down in the most excited manner. And certainly he had enough to excite and preoccupy him just now. It was nearly noon; a

Champcey. Well, you

unt? H

ime when she was trying to explain every thing to you? Who else, ashamed of

n told? Certainly not

. You unlucky man, you might have killed her! They would, of course, never have allowed me to enter her own room; but from the reception-room I could at times hear her painful cries and so

he impudence of Sir Thorn and Mrs. Brian, and hardly able to und

of this Miss Brandon. Must I actually aid her

ries of pain, and sobs, they were certainly not uttered by Miss Brandon? Should he tell him, that, w

nd thus he would only add new difficulties to his position, which was already complicated enough. Finally, he saw very, clearly that h

f a gentleman to

rrupted him ru

arly. I know the heart of man too well not to be sure, that, in acting thus, you have follo

a to allow the count to cherish such thoughts.

re you,

pted him fiercely, st

they not know that I am master in my own house? and do they propose to treat me like

for an instant, a

it is the last; and this very morning, as soon as she wakes, she shall know that all is ended. I have just sent for my dau

for Henriet

me, papa?" she said as

es

up to the count, and offered him her forehead to kiss; but he push

to inform you that to-morrow fort

kind, for she did not move. She turned slightly pale; a

that you should not know her who is to be your mother hereafter. I

k her head gently,

N

had become very r

ay if I threatened to carry you f

that that is the only

n every thing a resolution firmly formed, and not to be shaken by any thing. The count seeme

t, you envy, th

that she cannot become the Countess Ville-Handry,

ou so? No doubt

has told

has been slandere

ocent; but the Countess Ville-Han

her full height, and a

I-I owe it to myself and to the sacred memory of my mother,

stared. The blood rose t

I was not mistaken. It was you who sent M. Daniel Cham

d M. Daniel in a

d; and, with his eyes almost startin

, Henrietta. You are afraid of lo

Henrietta had stepped

is woman who wants your fortune, and that

f you p

not dared answer him; but now, carried away by her bitterness at being insulted by a woman whom she despised, s

Well, look there!

. But he had allowed art to spoil every thing. And this morning, with his few hairs, half white, half dyed, with the rou

elf as he reall

y, for his excessive rage gave him t

wretch, H

in sobs, terrified by

nd ready to accompany me to Miss Brandon's house, all right. If not M. Champcey has been here for the last t

door so violently, that the

is

iel were crushed by th

he mischief would be done. Daniel was the first to shake off the

t your father said.

ould do, whateve

uld you

claimed the

iel with grieved su

o had only to look at Miss Brandon to lose your se

tta, I

ccused you of having done so at my bidding

d himself guilty already by not revealing the mean conduct of M. Elgin and Mrs. Brian while Miss Brandon was driving about Paris. And now

nd Henrietta glori

eart condemns me, your reason and yo

a wild beast searching for some outlet from the cage in which it has been imprisoned.

; "we must do it; we are almost helpless. Let us give up the strug

love lent him all its persuasive power. And at last it looked as if Henrietta's determination were giving way, and she

you think I am not

n him a long, anxiou

dreading the time which has still to elapse till w

detected; but, given up entirely to

roof with Miss Brandon, M. Elgin, and Mrs. Brian. Since this abominable adventuress must triumph, let us

him by a gesture

oid a blot upon the name of Ville-Handry, I should tarn

riet

ndon. The more formidable Miss Brandon is, the more it becom

l tre

y Miss Brandon for the purpose of getting rid of troublesome people. Did Henr

ange discovery I have made. This morning a gentleman called here, who said he was a busine

was the matter. When he saw me, and found out who I was, he at once became very quiet, and begged me to take charge of a

t upon my father's bureau, I happened to look at it. Do you know what it

d! Is it

ry, director in chief' and after the name followed all his titles, the high offi

no longer dou

fortune, and now we have the proof of it. But what can we ever do

and answered in a

ensive child is sufficient to intimidate and frighten away the

e to insist; but she

ured the confidence of one of my waiting-women, and to her you must direct your letters. Her name is Clarissa Pontois. If any grave and unforeseen neces

felt increasing anguish as the hand on the dial advanced. They k

insulting remarks of his daughter, he had stimulated the zeal of his valet; and that artist ha

nrietta?"

remains uncha

d for this answer; for he succ

consider! Do not decide rashly, re

ph, looked at it lovingly, and, ha

d see if she to whom God has given such a charmi

ined the likeness; and then, returnin

. Now I can explain to myself that new society

le under this "juncture," an

appy child! You dar

rike his daughter, when Daniel seized his wrist in his iron grasp,

ve a care! h

tred; but, regaining his self-control, he freed h

g back to it again. My servants will be informed, that, if any one of them ever allow