Monsieur de Camors -- Volume 2

n surprises the human soul, it breaks down all resolve

s words you hardly comprehend, falsifies your thoughts, confounds your reason, and betrays your secrets. When this sublime madness possesses you, it elevates you-

s rarely so with men. Once transported to this stormy sky, women frankly accept

ut in action all the words which passion has caused to bubble from their lips. If they speak of flight, they ar

by his own nervous system. To love Madame de Tecle was perfectly proper, and he loved her still-for she was a person to be loved and desired- but to elevate that love or any other as the master of his life, instead of its plaything, was one of those weaknesses interdicted by his system more than any other. In fact, he felt that he had spoken and acted like a school-boy on a holiday. He had uttered words, made promises, and taken engagements on himself which no one demanded of him. No conduct c

would have preferred, from the point of view of his princ

de Tecle-implore her forgiveness-throw himself again at her feet, promising eternal res

AD

ding you adieu, and once mor

you pe

MOR

tching, when he received one c

sieur, if you will cal

o'c

E DE

rew his own note in the fi

s never to see him again. To see him was to pardon him; to pardon him was to surrender herself to him, with or without circumlocution. Camors did not allow himself to deplore any further an adventure which had so suddenly lost its gravity. He soliloquized on the weakness of women.

troubled. Doubt-and anxiety assailed him. When he saw through the trees the window of her roo

en leaping up suddenly he exclaimed, "But s

partment. This room M. de Camors had never seen. It was a la

d old family jewelry lying on tables-the whole prese

odor of flowers; and there were also to be seen boxes of lace, drawers of pe

eces of furniture as to make herself a little private nook near the chimneypiece, which her daughter called, "My mother's chapel." It was there Camors now perceived her, by the soft light of a lam

Camors forgot the neat phrases he had prepared for his

ds those of the young woman and, without speaking, in

d and bending her pale face gently; "I am bett

accent of Madame de Tecle something inde

im a species of being he did not understand, and that this woman, saddened, broken,

which he obeyed like a child

h, and I also believe it would occasion much grief to you. To unite ourselves:-for my own part, Monsieur, I should be willing to give you my life; but I can not do it, I can not wed you without manifest folly. You are younger than I; and as good and generous as I believe you to be, simple reason tells me that by so doing I should bring bitter repentance on myself. But there is yet another reason. I do not belong to myself, I belong to my daughter, to my family, to my p

at the pallor which overspread his fac

pati

he muttere

affection the two strongest sentiments of my heart! I wish to concentrate all my care, all my tenderness, all my joy on forming a wife worthy of you-a young soul who will make you happy, a cultivated intellect of which you can be proud. I will promise you, Monsieur, I will swear to

ent exclamation of irony

, "if so sudden a change in my sentim

shed sl

your mother-in-law may seem strange to you; but in some years, even in a very few

did not shrink from covering herself, even in the pre

red it the greatest homage he could pay, for his eyes suddenly filled with tears. She observed it, for she w

n harmony with our new thoughts. Even your future prospects, which are now also mine, will encounter fewer obstacles, because I shall push them more openly, without revealing to my uncle what ought to remai

ul effort of will, had re

What do you ask of me? Do you yourself fully comprehend? Have you reflected well on this? Can eit

remain single. This is probably a folly, but I risk my repose upon it. I will run all the risk, because I shall have all the joy. I have already had a thousand thoughts on this subject, which I can not yet tell you, but which I shall confess to God this night. I believe- I am convinced that my daughter, when I have done all that I can for her, will make an excel

ned, and Mademoiselle Marie entered the room b

d bit his lip to avoid smiling, which di

t, "really you are ab

e them!" replied

away with your dol

mbracing you,"

er's neck, and kissed her on both cheeks passionatel

le dears!" and

ou to take my word. She will have sense, courage, and goodness. Now," she continued in a more serious tone, "take tim

ill promise never to address a word to you which a son migh

er beautiful eyes, full of joy and gratitude, t

xtended her hand, wet with her tears, which he took a

le, however unworthy of her it might be, was nevertheless great. It was the only true passion he had ever felt. At the moment when he saw

gony was well borne. His first bitter words, c

t to be for those of others. He indulged in none o

was inviolable. He neither argued nor protested against her resolve. He submitted to it, and nobly kissed the noble hand which smote him. As to the miracle of courage, chastity, and faith by which Madame de Tecle had transformed and purified her love, he cared not to dwell upon

arriage with Mademoiselle d'Estrelles would take place in a few days, and inviting him to

at once to diminish his sufferings, but conquered this weakness. The next evening he passed at the chateau of M. des Rameures; and though his heart was bleeding,

st wishes to the Genera

ppy, but I confess I

good wishes to the

excipiendis', I hope," respon

anly nature knows so well how to apply to heal the wounds it has inflicted-how graciously she glided in

early hour to the General's house, a magnificent hotel in the Rue Vanneau. The marriage contract wa

which formed the ground floor of the hotel. The moment he perceived the young man entering-" Ah, i

Gene

Why do you no

nly, Ge

is for to-mor

Gene

are very cool! H

eral. I have

ou owe her this mark of interest; and if

ould I disco

You understand, I make no pretensions of turning her head, but still I do not wish to be an object of re

relles is naturally

cover anything, I rely on your communicating it to me. And stop!-when you have seen her,

General, I s

, I love her

nly right,

hat of Des

shall agre

re of this later. Go and

St. Dominique, where Madam

ant whom he found in the antechamber, very busy

e, Madame la Comtesse

ed thousand francs' income of the General, the most humble deference. Mademoiselle d'Estrelles had accepted this change with a disdainful indifference. Camors, who was ignorant of this change, knocked therefore most innocently at the door. Obtaining no answer, he e

arms and shoulders bare. Her auburn hair was unbound and floating, and fell in heavy masses almost to her feet. O

rself in the glass,

ttered there like the drops of dew which one sees shining in t

who had taken refuge in the chamber of her son, whom she had put in the little chamber formerly occupied by Mademoiselle d'Estrelles. His aunt, after the first greetings, introduced her nephew into the salon

icent things-of which she failed not to give him the prices-Charlott

sin!" she said gayly, extending her hand to Camors. "How very

sseau of a prince

is suits her! Dear child! you would suppose she had been born to a

demoiselle, kissing

said the Countess, affecting the plaintive tone, which

eed!" sa

! Only try on your coro

see it on your b

eplied Charlotte, in a voice harmonious

coronet set in precious stones and pearls. The young girl adjusted it on he

bewildered, for she looked wonderfully

yes of the young man, and lowering her voice

not?" Then turning her back to him

imself that this adorable person promised to become very

ediately to the General, who continued to pace

, w

General, perfect-ev

ave se

cert

e said

ut she seeme

did not remark a

she was ve

ou think she lo

h as she can love, for she has n

isagreeable to her. Is it not so? Very well, you give me great ple

this evenin

Camors was amused to remark the superb indifference of Mademoiselle Charlotte, the smiling exasperation of Mesdames Bacquiere and Van-Cuyp, and the amorous regard which Madame de la Roche-Jugan threw at th

ed her wedding-gown for a travelling-costume, and departed with her husband for Campvallon, b

rned to Reuilly. Paris had revived

different turn, his future destiny would have been compromised and deranged for him. His political future especially would have been lost, or indefinitely p

ion she had with him, confided to him that her uncle seemed much pleased when she

e future, which she did him the honor to form, he had not pledged himself to their realization;

the slightest allusion to the dear dream she cherished. Only her tenderness for her daughter seemed to increase, and she devoted herself to the care of her education with

character and talents for a great future, and that he would, one day, be an excellent match for Marie; that he was becoming daily more attached to agriculture, which turned toward decentralization, and that he should be attached by firmer bonds to a province which he would honor. While this was g

rt or a vote by a smile. Finally, to comply with the requisitions, he established himself for several weeks in the chief town of the department. He made his court to the wife of the prefect, sufficiently to flatter the functionary without disquieting the husband. The prefect informed the

olitic than the prefect,

d the end of his twenty-eighth year, was elected, at intervals of a few

e supported this young Parisian with all my influence. But I must say, he does not possess my confidence. May we never reg