Monsieur de Camors -- Volume 2

to come after the session of the Corps Legislatif. There was a sudden knock at one of the doors of her room, which communicated w

ith you, my dear?" sh

the General,

looked at her some moments before

own to you my folly. I am almost mad since morning-I have

ish," she

e it to her. The writing was evidently ca

rows were slightly raised, with an expression of dis

eeing your confidence and your loyalty abused

thing to you are united by a secret intimacy which outrages you.

ted by her to whom you have confided it, and that she is still worthy of your confidence and esteem. She wrongs you in all

ut this man, your friend-almost your son-how can he excuse his conduct? Every honest person must be shocked by such behavior, a

eading it, returned t

ne

Jeanne de la Roche

k so?" asked

rt'-'every honest person.' She can disguise her writing, but not her style. But what is still more conclusive is that which she attributes to Monsieur d

er work," cried the General, "I neve

is better to

room. The Marquise looked uneasily at the clock. Her hus

Camors to-day

e will call aft

you know, my dear," he added, "the absurd idea which has haunted me since

e idea of observing ou

a tone of ind

od! I have been able to resist this base intention. If ever I allow myself to pla

to consent to it?"

nd confidence. What can you expect? I was so cruelly deceived before. I am an honorable man, but I have been taught that all men are not like myself. There are some things which to me seem as impossible as walking

d the Marquise, "I a

in the boudoir, during the ball. When I awoke you had both an

d!" said the Ma

you not

ow it at the

you-I neither suspect you of wronging me-of disgr

eart-if you, my two children, should be calculating with impatient eyes the progress of my old age-planning your projects for the future, and smil

is common features assumed an air of sombre dignity and imposing grandeur. A slight shade of pa

, she quickly mastered her weakness, and, coldly pointing out

conceal your

never fo

you do not know that jealousy is one of t

I am not

at you will, but sta

ncere in wishin

eave the door open, and when you hear Monsieur

far"-and he sighed deeply "I do not wish to leave myself the least pretex

. Remain here, then. Only take a book; for our conver

at d

t mystery can there

she said, with her

should have been content; for at that moment shame, ruin, and death were at her door. But, to tell the truth, it was too much for her; and when she looked, in the

illance she had never relaxed, she could not fail to see the changed nature of the intercourse between Camors and the Marquise. It must not be forgotten that she dreamed of securing for her son Sigismund the succession to her old friend; and she foresaw a dangerous rivalry-the germ of

stirring the fire, casting, from time

that the very first words of. Camors might immediately divulge their secret: and once betrayed, there was not only fo

on of the plan she had hastily conceived, which was her last hope. And one word, one gesture, one mistake, or one carelessness of her lover, might overthrow it in a second. A moment later the door was opened by a servant, announcing M. de Camors. With

pression on the face of the Marquise, and the words were frozen on his lips. This look, fixed upon him from his entrance, had a strange, weird intensity, which, without express

t ceasing to look at him wit

said to himself, "or the

love, she felt he understood her; and not leaving h

d of you to kee

said Camors, s

come here to be torment

convert to my fixed idea?

It seems to me you

ood one-my best one, at

assured of his danger and its nature, march

will tell you another thi

I shall

ile with an im

re to that plan?" sa

preached about it all winter-in fact so much so as to d

neral?

y the way; not Mademoiselle de Silas-too thin; not Mademoiselle Rolet, in spite of her millions; not Mademoiselle d'Esgrigny-too much like the Bacquieres

e?" said

e de

was si

thing-personal beauty, family, fortune, everything-almost like a dream. Then, too, your properties join. You

and the Marquise began to

caught this time. Come, my friend, say yes, I implore you!" And while her lips said "I impl

reflect upon it, Mad

my fr

oiselle de Tecle very readily. Mademoiselle de Tecle is rich and courted on all sides-also, he

th all that," inter

you have for m

ove, cousin, always have

will give me a few d

nd have been only waiting the chance? Well, you never can find a better one

time to consu

ou have reached full age; and then-what fa

do not wish

asy; suppress this uneasiness; I

shoul

g these words was seized with a fit of sardonic laughter which came

nts of the terrible enigma proposed to him, saw the necessity of shortening a sc

e you," he said; "for I

to-morrow, if yo

thorize me to spea

eally can see no re

arquise. She gave him her hand, whic

allon to detect any break, or any discordance, in the audacious come

alone could have betrayed th

confound all his suspicions. From this moment, and ever afterward, every shadow was effaced from his mind; for the ability to imagine such a plot a

and awkward. With a gesture of confusion and humility he took her hand, and smile

of her nervous system, broke into weeping and s

fficient to warrant the unpleasant effect it would produce on all honest people. We shall equally pass

onquer this supreme revolt of his conscience to the point of submitting to the expedient which would make his intrigue safe? By what detestable sophistries he dared persuade himself that he owed everything to his accomplice-even this, we shall not

cions of the General might be reawakened another day in a more dangerous manner, if this marriage proved only a farce. She loved Camors passionately; and she loved scarcely less the dramatic mystery of their liaison. She had also felt a frantic terror at the thought

at any price; and the more she reflected, the more the

on of herself to fear anything; and she preferred Mademoiselle de Tecle to an

nd her only surprise was that Camors had not come in person to press his suit. But Camors had not the heart to do so. He had been at Reuilly since that morning, and called on Madame de Tecle, where

ht of the stars-the daughter blessing her mother, and the mother thanking God- both mingling their hearts, their dreams, their

ITOR'S B

tude is never ag

for virtue's sake alo

vate ability rather

t which follo

re, it is useless to

art is the specia

, unlike most of the

terms with God, in

ired neither to rem