Joseph Balsamo (67 page)

From the moment that he once more plunged into the crowd, he cared neither for horses nor men. Collecting all his strength, he dashed forward like a wild boar with the spear in his side, and, at the risk of being crushed or trodden underfoot, he opened a passage for himself through the multitude. When the denser mass of the people had been crossed, he began to breathe more freely, and looking round he discovered that he was alone, and that around him was the green grass, the cool water, and solitude.

Without knowing whither he was going, he had advanced toward the Seine, and he now found himself opposite the Isle of St. Denis. Exhausted, not from fatigue of body but from anguish of mind, he sank on the turf, and grasping his head with both hands, he began to roar hoarsely, as if by these inarticulate sounds alone could he express his rage and grief.

All those vague and senseless hopes which until then had shed a glimmering light on the darkness of his soul, and whose existence he scarcely ventured to confess, even to himself, were now at one blow utterly annihilated. To whatsoever height genius, science or study might raise him in the social scale, he must to Andre always remain the Gilbert that he had been ; a thing or a man to use her own words to her father not worth the slightest regard, not worth even the trouble of being looked down on.

For a moment he had thought, that, seeing him in Paris, learning that he had come on foot, knowing that he had determined to struggle out of obscurity into light, hi had thought that Andre would applaud his resolution ;,

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bnt instead of applause, what had he met with as the re-ward of so much fatigue and of such firm determination ? The same scornful indifference with which he had been treated at Taverney. Even more was she not almost angry when she heard that his eyes had had the audacity to look on her music-book ? Had he only touched that music-book with the tip of his finger, he would have been doubtless considered only worthy to be burned at the stake.

By weak characters, any deception, any mistake, with regard to those they love, is quickly forgotten, and they bend under the blow only to rise again stronger and more persevering than before. They vent their sufferings in complaints and tears, but their resistance is only passive ; nay, their love often increases by that which should destroy it, and they whisper to themselves that their submissiveness will at last have its reward. Toward that reward they steadfastly advance, whether the road be easy or the reverse ; if it be unfavorable they will be longer in attain-ing their end, that is all ; but they will attain it at last.

It is not thus with strong minds, obstinate natures, and powerful wills. They are indignant when they see their own blood flowing ; at the sight their energy augments so furiously that they seem to hate rather than to love. In-deed, with them love and hate are so closely allied that they often are not aware of the transition from one to the other. So it was with Gilbert. When he flung himself on the ground, overcome by his feelings, did he love or hate Andre ? He knew not ; he suffered intensely, that was all. Bnt not having the virtue of long-suffering, he shook off his dejection of soul, and determined to carry into practise some energetic resolution.

” She does not love me,” thought he, “it is true ; but had I any right to hope that she would ? The only feeling that I had a right to hope for was that kindly interest which attaches to the unfortunate who strive with energy to rise above their wretchedness. Her brother felt this ; she did not feel it. He said, ‘ Who knows ? perhaps you may become a Colbert, a Var.ban !’ If I became either one or other he would do me justice ; he would give me

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his sister as a reward for the glory I had won for myself, as he would now give her in exchange for my personal nobility, had I been born his equal. But as for her oh, yes ! I feel it yes, although Colbert or Yauban, I should never be to her other than Gilbert ! “What she despises in me is what nothing can efface, nothing gild, nothing cover it is the lowness of my birth. As if, supposing I attain my object, I should not then be greater, having risen to her level, than if I had been born beside her ! Ah, senseless, unthinking creature ! Woman woman ! That is, imperfection ! Do you trust in her open look, her expan-sive forehead, her beaming smile, her queenly carriage, her beauty, which makes her worthy to be an empress ? Fool ! she is an affected, starched country girl, bound up, swathed in aristocratic prejudices. The gay and showy young noblemen with empty heads mere weathercocks who have all the means and appliances for learning, but who know nothing they are her equals ; they are things and men on > horn she may bestow attention ! But Gilbert ? Gilbert is a dog nay, lower than a dog ! She asked, I think, for news of Mahon ; she did not ask how it fared with Gilbert. Oh, she knows not then that I am as strong as they ! That if clothed like them, I should be as handsome ! That I have what they have not, an inflexible will, and that if I wished “

A threatening smile curled his lip, and he left the sentence unfinished ; then slowly, and with a deep frown, his head sunk on his breast. What passed at that moment in his dark and gloomy soul ? Under what terrible idea did that pale forehead, already furrowed with painful thoughts, droop ? Who shall tell ? Is it the boatman who slowly glides down the river in his skiff, humming the song of Henri Quatre ? Is it the laughing washer-woman who is returning from the splendid scene at St. Denis, and who, turning aside from her path to avoid him, probably takes the young loiterer for a thief, lying, as he is, at full length on the grass amid the lines hung with linen.

After half an hour’s reflection, Gilbert arose, calm and resolved. He approached the bank of the Seine, and re-

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freshed himself with a deep draught of water ; then, looking around, he saw on his left the waves of people pouring out of St. Denis. Amid the throng he could distinguish the principal carriages forced to go slowly from the crowd of spectators that pressed on them and taking the road to St. Ouen.

The danphiness had expressed a desire that her entrance into the kingdom should be a family festival, and the good Parisians had taken advantage of this kind wish to place their families so near the royal train that many of them had mounted on the seats of the footmen, and some held on by the heavy springs which projected from the carriages, without manifesting the least fear.

Gilbert soon recognized Andre’s carriage ; Philip was galloping or, rather, we should say, reining in his prancing horse, close beside it.

” It is well,” said he, ” I must know whither she is going, and for that purpose I must follow her ‘

The dauphiness was to sup at Muette in private with the king, the dauphin, the Count de Provence and the Count d’Artois. At St. Denis the king had invited the dauphiness, and had given her a list of guests and a pen-cil, desiring her to erase the name of any one whom she did not wish to be present. Now, it must be confessed that Louis carried his forgetfulness of the respect due to her so far as to include in it the name of
Mme.
Dnbarry. It was the last on the list, and when the dauphiness reached it her cheek turned pale and her lip quivered ; but, following the instruction of the empress, her mother, she recovered her self-possession, and with a sweet smile returning the list and the pencil to the king, she expressed herself most happy to be admitted thus from the first to the intimacy of his family circle.

Gilbert knew nothing of all this, and it was only at Muette that he discovered the equipage of the countess, followed by Zamore on his tall white charger. Fortunately, it was dark ; and, concealing himself behind a clump of trees, he lay down and waited.

The king supped with his daughter-in-law and his mis-

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tress, and was in charming spirits ; more especially when lie saw the dauphiness receive the countess even more graciously than she had done at Compiegne. But the dauphin seemed grave and anxious, and, pretending that he suffered from a violent headache, retired before they sat down to supper. The entertainment was prolonged until eleven o’clock.

In the meantime the retinue of the dauphiness and the haughty Andre was forced to acknowledge that she formed one of them supped in tents, to the music of the king’s private band, who had been ordered to attend for that purpose. Besides these as the tents could not accommodate all fifty gentlemen supped at tables spread in the open air, waited on by fifty lackeys in the royal livery.

Gilbert, still hidden in the clump of trees, lost nothing of this spectacle, while he supped at the same time as the others on a piece of bread which he had bought at Clichy-la-Garenue.

After supper, the dauphiness and the king appeared on a balcony to take leave of their guests. As each person departed, he passed below the balcony to salute his majesty and her royal highness. The dauphiness already knew many who had accompanied her from Compiegue, and those whom she did not know the king named to her. From time to time, a gracious word or well-turned compliment fell from her lips, diffusing joy in the breasts of those to whom it was addressed.

Gilbert, from his distant post, saw the meanness of their homage, and murmured : ” I am greater than those people, since for all the gold in the world I would not do what they are doing.”

At last the turn of the Baron de Taverney and his family came. Gilbert rose on one knee.

” Monsieur Philip,” said the dauphiness, ” I give you leave of absence, in order that you may accompany your father and your sister to Paris.”

Gilbert heard these words distinctly, which, in the silence of the night, and amid the respectful attention of all around, vibrated in his ears.

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Then she added : ” Monsieur de Taverney, I cannot promise you apartments until I install my household at Versailles. You can, therefore, in the meantime accompany your daughter to Paris. Do not forget me, mademoiselle. “

The baron passed on with his son and daughter. They were succeeded by many others, to whom the dauphiness made similar speeches, but Gilbert cared no longer for her words. He glided out of the clump of trees and followed the baron amid the confused cries of two hundred footmen running after their masters and calling to a hundred coachmen, while their shouts were accompanied by the thunder-ing of numerous carriages rolling along the paved road.

As the baron had one of the carriages of the court at his command, it waited for them apart from the general crowd. When, accompanied by Andre and Philip, he had entered it, the latter said to the footman who was closing the door :

” Mount on the seat beside the coachman, my friend.”

” Why so ? Why so ? ” asked the baron, hastily.

” Because the poor devil has been on his legs since morning, and must be tired by this time.”

The baron grumbled something which Gilbert did not hear, while the footman mounted beside the coachman.

Gilbert drew nearer. At the moment when they were about to start, it was perceived that the trace had become unbuckled. The coachman jumped down, and the coach remained for a few moments stationary.

” It is very late,” said the baron.

” I am dreadly fatigued,” said Andre. ” Are yon sure we shall get beds ? “

” I hope so,” said Philip ; “I sent on La Brie and Nicole from Soissoiis with a letter to a friend of mine, desiring him to engage a small garden pavilion for us, which his mother and sister occupied last year. It is not a very splendid abode, but it is suitable enough ; you do not wish to receive company you only want a stopping-place for the present.”

” Faith,” exclaimed the baron, “whatever it is, it will be better than Taverney.”

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” Unfortunately, father, that is true ‘ replied Philip, in a melancholy tone.

” Are there any trees ? ” asked Andre.

” Oh, yes ; and very fine ones, too. But, in all probability, you will not have long to enjoy them, for as soon as the marriage is over you will be presented at court.”

“Well this is all a dream, I fear ‘ said the baron ; ” do not awake us too soon, Philip. Have you given the proper direction to the coachman ? “

Gilbert listened anxiously.

” Yes, father ‘

Gilbert, who had heard all this conversation, had for a moment hoped to discover the address.

” No matter,” said he, f ‘ I shall follow them ; it is only a league to Paris.”

The trace was fastened, the coachman mounted his seat, and the carriage was again in motion.

But the king’s horses go fast when they are not in a procession which obliges them to go slowly, and now they darted forward so rapidly that they recalled to poor Gilbert’s recollection the road to Lachaussee, his weakness, and his fainting. He made an effort and reached the foot-board behind, which was vacant, as the weary footman was seated beside the coachman. Gilbert grasped it, sprang up, and seated himself. But scarcely had he done so when the thought struck him that he was behind Andre’s carriage, and in the footman’s place.

” No, no,” muttered the inflexible young man, ” it shall never be said that I did not struggle to the last ; my legs are tired, but my arms are strong.”

Then, seizing the foot-board with his hands, he followed at full speed, supported by the strength of his arms, and keeping his hold in spite of jolts and shocks, rather than capitulate with his conscience.

“At least I shall know her address,” murmured he. “True, I shall have to pass one more bad night ; but to-morrow I shall rest while I copy my music. Besides, I have still some money, and I may take two hours for sleep if I like.”

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Then he reflected that as Paris was such a large place, and he was quite unacquainted with it, he might lose his way after the baron and his daughter should have entered the house chosen for them by Philip. Fortunately, it was then near midnight, and day would break at half-past three.

As all these reflections passed through Gilbert’s mind he remarked that they were passing through a spacious square, in the center of which was a large equestrian statue.