Monsieur de Camors -- Volume 2

is Parisian instinct induced him to prefer the former. In spite of this preference, he would not have scrupled to adopt the

speak to Madame de Tecle, when, at the appointed hour, he presented himself before her. He found her in the garden, which, like the house, was of an ancient, severe, and monastic

vening when her unexpected apparition had suddenly inspired w

with pieces of wool and silk; her feet rested on a stool, and she

himself at this audience in the open air. He thought he fathomed its meaning. Madame de Tecle desi

pressions, which, although just, were not always too flattering to the delicacy and discretion of the opposite sex. Like all women of her age, she knew her danger, and, unlike most of them, she did not love it. She had invariably turned into the broad road of friendship all those s

ion. However vividly the famed gallantry of the young Count rose to her memory, she thought so noted a ladykiller as he migh

arden, having remarked, during her short experience, that ope

himself, drew his chair nearer to hers, mischievously perhaps, and lowering his voice into a confid

ight gaze, smiled vaguely, and by a slight movement of the hand

Madame-I desire to become

le looked at him, breathed a slight sigh of r

y success as a candidate. I have therefore come here, by the General's advice, in the hope of obtaining this support, but the ideas and opinions expressed yesterday by your uncle appear to me so directly opposed to my pre

he young woman, whose pretty face, at first cloud

Madame, this matter seriously concerns my fortune, my future, and my whole destiny. This opportunity which now presents itself for

cle. "I never interfere in politics,

dame, I pray you

uld I op

e dissipated. My reputation, in some respects, is not over-good, I know, and I doubt not yo

f we did, this would not prevent my assisting you, if I knew how, for I think that

" thought the young Count, "to

shall succeed in obtaining your uncle's support. You know him well. What shall I do to conciliate him? What course shall I

Madame de Tecle, with a refl

not,

Madame de Tecle was quite touched, and even the devil himse

fingers, like a fan, half shading her eyes, while sparks of fire from her rings glittered in the sunshine, and her iv

ast, smiling, "I think you can

me, bu

uietly until intimacy, time, and your own good qualities have sufficiently prepared my uncle for your nomination. My role is very simple. I cannot, at t

r and an impertinence, which a slight contempt from you has mildly punished. But speaking seriously, Madame, I thank

enter into his views. Come here, Marie?" These last words were addressed to her daughter, who appeared on the steps of the terrace, her cheeks scarlet, and her hair

sh, which we are translating? You are too warm-do not run any more. Tell Rosa to prepare

, mo

ritten your

y 'joli' in English for a m

hy

cise, to be said of a man wh

and charming," re

man, our neighbor, is altogethe

ame de Tecle, while the litt

I thank you again, Madame," he said; "and will you now excuse me? You will

nly, Mo

ce to face with Mademoiselle Marie. He gave her a most respectful bow. "Ano

lushed up to the roots of her hair, and cast on M.

sfied, Miss Mary,

child, quickly, her str

ed, leaving Mademoiselle Marie in the mids

he arms of her mother, weeping bitterly, and t

convenance, avoided treating the matter too seriously and even seemed to laugh heartily at

ured, for he was not ignorant of the incomparable value of woman's assistance, and knew all the power of that secret and continued labor, of those small but cumulative efforts, and of those subterranean movements which assimilate feminine influence with the secret and irresistible forces of nature. Another point gained-he had e

opening of his operations, and admonish him to have patience. From that day he tu

t to school, as it were, at the model farm of the gentleman-farmer, and submitted to him the direction of his own domain. By this quiet compliment, enhanced by his captivating courtesy, he advanced insensibly

ambition had superseded his first; in other words his fancy for Madame de Tecle had become more ardent and more pressing than his desire for the deputyship. We are compelled to admit, not to his credit, that he first proposed to himself, to ensnare his charming neighbor as a simple pastime, as an interesting adventure, and, above all, as a work of art, which was extremely difficult and would greatly redound to his honor.

us successes. Instinctively, he knew that the ordinary forms of gallantry would not answer with her. All his art

timid manner of this 'mauvais sujet', in her presence-the homage of a fal

te, was there a jest, a word, or a look w

as serious as if he had entered a church. He had a great deal of wit, and he used and abused it beyond measure in conversations in the presence of Madame de T

. In the shadow of the perfect security in which M. de Camors had placed her, Madame de Tecle could not but be pleased in th

her equivocal could not but awaken in the heart of Madame de Tecle a se

t not less dangerous-the attraction of reforming them. It is rare that virtuous women do not fall into the error of believing that it is for virtue's sake alone such men

e earth with heaven. To these sombre instincts of depravity were soon united in the feelings of Camors a sentiment more worthy of her. Seeing her every day with that childlike intimacy which the country encourages-enhancing the graceful movements of this accomplished person, ever self-possessed and equally prepared for duty or for pleasure-as animated as passion, yet as severe as virtue-he conceived for her a genuine worship. It was not respect, for that requires the effort of believing in such merits, and he did not wish to believe. He thought Madame de Tecle was born so. He admired her as he would admire a rare plant, a beautiful object, an e

allen, clear and cold; but as the Count could not see Madame de Tecle that evening, he began only to think of being near he

ed in his pitiless system, he was troubled at the thought of a victim so pure as Madame de Tecle. To trample on the life, the repos

aved soul he foresaw that the moment he touched her hands with the lips of a lover a new sentiment would spring up in her soul. As he abandoned himself to these passionate imaginings, the recollection of young Madame Lescande came back suddenly to his memory. He grew pale in the darkness. At this moment he was passing the edge of a li

from houses, the wood was very wild, as if a t

ributed to diffuse that religious light half over the rocks, the brushwood and the fertile soil, and on the limpid water, which is at once the charm and the horror of old neglected woods. In this solitude, and on a space of cleared ground, rose a sort of rude hut, constructed by a poor devil who was a sabot-maker by trade, and who had

id not to be his wife. He was very taciturn, and his featur

though dirty, were beautiful as angels; and she pitied the woman. She had a secret proje

ghost of Madame Lescande had risen before him, and he believed he could almost hear her weep. Suddenly this illusion gave

d glance, he saw a light shining through the foliage in the direction of the cottage of the sabot-maker. Guided by this, he put spurs to his horse, crossed the cleared ground up the hillside, and found himself face to face with Mada

you. I am so much distressed-so distressed! The two children of thi

, threw the reins to hi

into the inter

pairing eye. The mother was on her knees, her head clasped in her hands, and weeping bitterly. At the foot of the bed stood the father, with his savage mien-his arms crossed, and his eyes dry. He shuddered at intervals, and murmured, in a hoarse, hollow voice: "Both of them! Both of them!" Then he relapsed into his mournful attitude. M

our before. He had hastened, and found the children already speechless, in a state of fearful cong

n the poor rags. The doctor touched his forehead, and turned over with a feverish hand the small linen-the rough waistcoat-searched the pockets, and found dozens of a small fruit-like cherries, half

et time?" asked the youn

seem to me t

e time that has passed, the quantity they h

, or counter-irritants, which the urgency of the case demanded. The doctor was obliged to content himself with the essen

eavens! it is four leagues-it is night, and we s

aid: "Trilby is at the door, and with him I can do the fou

Monsieur!" said

er had rapidly traced on a leaf of his po

far distant. When he reached it h

the two children seemed to have grown worse in the interval, but the old doctor had great hopes in the remedies which Camors was to bring. She waited with impatience, and received him like the dawn of the la

he confided Trilby to the charge of her servant, with orders to take him to the stable, and a thousand minute directions to take good care of him after his noble conduct. Dr. Durocher had to obtain the aid of Camors to pass the new medic

u have had too much excitement, and the odo

t feel very wel

send you the news. One of you

wife of the sabot-maker arrested her. To this poor woman, i

le fresh air. I will remain until they are safe, I promise you;" and she left the r

urther need of your services; so you too may go

the atmosphere of the hut, and consented to the sugge

ing before the door, quickly rose and threw over his shoulders a cloak w

remain here all

e too uneas

very cold-shall

wish," s

he midst of this wood it is impossible-we should hav

shall go and search for a

arm, and took a few steps

they are sav

"The face of Doctor Dur

ow gla

root, and laughed like two

ame de Tecle, "and I declare I can go no

ed by the axe spread like a sombre dome over their heads. Near by was a large rock, slightly

" said Camors, gayly. "I

n his arms brushwood, and also a travell

d them with a match. When the flame began to flicker on the rustic hearth

"and then it is so amusing; one

ould be perfect go and s

gant and simple silhouette of the young woman, defined sharply against the blackness of th

" she

t deal

ss, Monsieur!" Sh

there,"

doctor, and explained at length the properties of belladonna. She listened at first with interest, but little by little, with he

fall asleep there,"

urmured-smiled,

profound, and so calm was the beating

ing of the leaves. His eyes followed the flickering of the flame, sometimes resting on the white cheek, sometimes on the grove, sometimes on the arches of the high trees,

ssailed it! What images of peace, truth, virtue, and happiness passed into that brain full of sto

opened her eyes in surprise, and as soon as she sa

they now,

st hour he had had but one thought, and that wa

and return home, or we shall have to treat you to-morrow. You are very imprudent t

s torpor, but who seemed still terrified by the threatened death, raised their little round heads. She made them a

f laughing, half crying, followed Madame de Tecle ste

the old doctor, querulo

Camors, ta

e suddenly, seized the arm of Madame de Tecle, who, slightly terrified, turned round, for the gesture of the man was so viole

said, although

red the man with a hollow

weeping shook his frame; he then threw himself on his knees, and they saw

Monsieur," sai

d followed her. She took his arm and desce

He guided her cautiously in the darkness, although the light step of the young woman was little slower in the obscurity. Her springy step pressed noiselessly the fallen leaves- avoided without assistance the ruts and marshes, as if she had been

ening, Monsieur," she said in a

o much!" said

ple words in such a dee

rembled and stood

ur de C

he demanded, i

his is a declaration of friendship, I suppos

once, and in a hoarse

ot your

you then,

trees which bordered the road. The explosion so long pent up burst forth, and

ld wish to feel always-always-in my head, my heart, my entire being-that which I now feel, near you-of you -for you! I should wish to be stricken with some sudden illness, without hope, in order to be watched and wept for by you, like those c

fear," sh

uil? Are you confident? Will you hear me? May I tell you what image I carry of you in the secret recesses of my heart? Dear creature that you are, you do not-ah, you do not know how great is your worth; and I fear to tell you; so much am I afraid of stripping you of your charms, or of one of your virtues. If you had been proud of yourself, as you have a right to be, you would be less perfect, and I should love you less. But I wish to tell you how lovable and how charming you are. You

the rhapsodies of the poets, all the loves of the martyrs, I comprehend in your presence. This is truth itself. I understand those who died for

strating himself before her, seized

en too long that you require repose. Pardon me-proceed. I shall follow you at

one of those songs of love- one of those hymns alive with passion, which every woman wishes to hear before she dies. Should she die because she had heard it? She remained withou

s far as my house,

They did not exchange a word-only as they reached the gate, Madame de Tecle turned and made him