The Chevalier De Maison Rouge (19 page)

" Seven days, at least, are necessary," said he.

" Maurice is guard in eight days," murmured Dixmer.

" It is then absolutely imperative that within eight days we should be reconciled to Maurice."

The half-hour struck, Morand, sighing, resumed hia

gun, and, conducted by the corporal, went to relieve the

sentinel who paraded the platform before the tower.

CHAPTER XIV.

DEVOTION.

THE day following these events, that is to say, the 1st

of June, at ten o'clock in the morning, Genevieve was

seated in her accustomed place near the window. She

asked herself why, for the last three weeks, the days for

her rose so sad, while they passed so slowly, and, lastly,

why, instead of anticipating each evening with delight,

she now dreaded its return. Her nights, above all, were

wretched, those nights that used to be so happy, those

nights passed in dreaming of the past and of the future.

THE CHEVALIER DE MAISON ROUGE. 123

At this moment her eyes fell upon a case of magnificent

striped and crimsoned carnations, which since the winter

she had removed from the little greenhouse where

Maurice had been imprisoned, to bloom in her own apart-

ment. Maurice had taught her to cultivate them in this

case where they were inclosed ; they were watered and

daily trimmed, as if Maurice had been there ; for when

he came in the evening, she delighted to show him,

thanks to their united care, the progress they had made

during the night. But since the cessation of Maurice's

visits, the poor carnations had been quite neglected, and

for want of requisite care and attention, the opening buds

had withered, turned yellow, and fallen down outside the

balustrade. Genevieve now comprehended from this

sight alone the reason of her own melancholy. She said

to herself : " It is with flowers as with certain friendships, which we nourish and cultivate with ardor, till they bloom in the heart, and then, in a moment of suspicion,

a caprice, au unkindness, strikes at the root of this friendship, and the heart that this friendship has bound up and

brought to life languishes and dies." The young woman

experienced a sensation of anguish. She examined her

inmost thoughts ; the sentiments she had endeavored to

combat, and which she had hoped to conquer, she feared

now more than ever, would only die with her ; then she

felt a moment's despair, for she knew the struggle would

become more and more impossible. She slowly bowed her

head, imprinted a kiss upon the withered flowers, and

wept. Her husband entered at this moment. He, on his

side, was too much preoccupied with his own thoughts to

pay any attention to the emotion exhibited by his wife.

It is true, Genevieve rose quickly to meet him, and in so

doing turned her face from the window.

"Well?" said she.

""NYi'll. nothing new; impossible to approach her, impossible to puss her, impossible even to see her."

"'' AVhat ?' cried Genevieve, " with all the noise there has been in Paris ?"

%< It is the very noise which has made the guard re-

124 THE CHEVALIER DE MAISON ROUGE.

double their vigilance, from the fear that any one might

avail themselves of the general excitement to make an at-

tempt on the temple, and the very moment when her

majesty was about to walk upon the platform, an order

was issued by Santerre that neither the queen, Madame

Eoyale, nor Madame Elizabeth should go out to-day."

" The poor chevalier ! he must be much annoyed ? "

" He was in despair when he saw this chance had thus

escaped us, and turned so pale that I trembled lest he

should betray himself."

" But," asked Genevieve, timidly, "is there not, then, at the Temple, any municipal of your acquaintance ? "

" There ought to have been one, but he did not come."

" Who ? "

"The Citizen Maurice Lindey," saidDixmer, in atone he endeavored to render indifferent.

"And why did he not come ?" said Genevieve, in her turn making a similar effort at self-command.

"He was ill."

"He ill?"

" Yes, and seriously so. Patriot as you know him to

be, he was obliged to cede his turn to another."

" This is most unfortunate !"

" Mon Dieu! Genevieve," replied Dixmer, "if he had been there, as matters now stand, it might have been

just the same. Unfriendly as we are at present, he might

perhaps have avoided even speaking to me."

" I think, mon ami," replied Genevieve, "you exaggerate the unpleasantness of our situation. Monsieur

Maurice may have taken a whim not to come here, but

is not on that account our enemy. Coolness does not ex-

clude politeness, and I am convinced, on seeing you, he

would meet you half way."

" Genevieve," replied Dixmer, "what we require from Maurice needs something more than politeness a firm

and attached friendship. This feeling is destroyed ; we

have nothing further to hope from him."

And Dixmer heaved a deep sigh, while his usually

placid face bore a troubled expression.

THE CHEVALIER DE MAISON ROUGE. 125

" But," said Genevieve, hesitatingly, " if you think that Monsieur Maurice is necessary to your projects "

"That is to say," replied Dixmer, "that I despair of being able to succeed without him."

" Well, then, why do you not try some new method

with the Citizen Lindey ? "

It seemed to her that in speaking of the young man by

his surname, her voice sounded less tender than when

she called him by his Christian name.

"No," replied Dixmer, shaking his head, "any new proceeding would appear singular and necessarily awaken

suspicion ; and then, Genevieve, I see further than you

into this affair ; Maurice feels deeply wounded."

" Wounded, mon ami ! What would you say ? Speak. "

"You know as well as I do, Genevieve, that in our

rupture with the Citizen Lindey there is more than

caprice."

" To what, then, do you attribute this rupture ?"

" To pride, perhaps," said Dixmer, quickly.

' To pride ?"

" Yes ; he did us honor, in his opinion, at least, this good bourgeois of Paris this demi-aristocrat de role

concealing his susceptibilites under his patriotism ; he

conferred honor upon us, this Eepublican so powerful in

the section, in his club, in the municipality, by according his friendship to a manufacturer of hides. Perhaps we

have made too few advances ; perhaps we have forgotten

ourselves."

" If we had even been guilty of this, I think your last step would have redeemed all that," replied Genevieve.

" Yes, supposing the offense came from me ; but if, on the contrary, it proceeded from you."

" From rne ! Do you imagine I have any ill-feeling

toward Monsieur Maurice?" said Genevieve, aston-

ished.

" Who knows ? In a similar manner did you not at

first even accuse him of caprice ? I, therefore, still re-

turn to my first opinion, Genevieve ; you did very wrong

not to write to him."

126 THE CHEVALIER DE MAISON ROUGE.

" Me ! " cried Genevieve ; " do you think so ? "

"Xot only now do I think so, but have done so ever

since this rupture of the last three weeks."

" And " said Genevieve, timidly.

" I look upon this step as indispensable."

" Xo, no ! Dixmer, do not require this of me."

" You know, Genevieve, I require nothing of you ; I

only entreat you. Well, listen : I request you to write to

the Citizen Maurice."

" But " said Genevieve.

" Hearken ! " said Dixmer, interrupting her ; " there is between you and Maurice either some serious cause of

quarrel for, as far as I am concerned, there is no com-

plaint against my proceedings or it emanates from

childish folly."

Genevieve did not reply.

" If this is merely a silly disagreement, it is folly to render it lasting ; and if you have serious motives for

quarreling, situated as we are, you ought not even to

value yonr dignity or self-respect. We must not place

in the Balance the quarrels of young people against

objects of high interest. Make one effort ; subdue your

own feelings, and write one word only to Maurice Lindey,

and he will return."

Genevieve reflected for a moment.

" But," said she, " could we not find some means less compromising to renew the friendly intercourse between

Monsieur Maurice and yourself ? "

" Compromising, do you call it ? It appears to me to

be the most natural way possible."

" Xo, not for me, mon ami."

" You are very opinionated, Genevieve."

" Allow me to tell you, it is the first time, at least, that you have discovered it."

Dixmer, who for some time had been crushing his

handkerchief between his hands, now wiped the perspira-

tion from his brow.

"Yes," said he, "and it is this increases my astonishment."

THE CHEVALIER DE MAISON ROUGE. 127

" Mon Dieu ! " said Genevieve, " and is it possible, Dixmer, that you do not divine the cause of my resistance, and that you wish to force me to speak ? "

And, overcome with contending emotions, her head

sank upon her breast, and her arms fell listlessly by her

sides. Dixmer appeared to make a strenuous effort to

command himself, took Genevieve's hand, compelled her

to raise her head, looked into her eyes, and began to

laugh ; but in a manner so forced and unnatural that,

had Genevieve been less agitated at the moment, it must

have been perceptible even to her.

" I see how it is," said he ; '' you are in the right, and I was blind. With your wit and distinction, you have

been fearful that Maurice ought not to admire you so

much."

Geuevieve felt as if an icy chill had penetrated to her

heart. This irony on the part of her husband relative

to Maurice's affection for her that love of which, from

the knowledge she possessed of the character of the

young man, she could estimate the violence, and in T ' r1 nch, though only acknowledged with deep remorse, sh

her. She felt it was utterly impossible to reply.

" I have guessed rightly, have I not ? " said Dixmer.

." Well, reassure yourself, Genevieve ; I know Maurice to be a fierce Republican, whose heart contains no other

love than love of country/'

" Monsieur," exclaimed Genevieve, " are you certain of what you say ? "

" Eh ! without doubt," replied Dixmer. " If Maurice loved you, instead of quarreling with me he would redouble his attentions and civilities to one whom it was his interest to deceive. If Maurice loved you, he would not

so easily renounce his title of ' friend of the family/ generally used to cover these treasons."

' Do not, I beseech you," cried Genevieve, " make a jest of these things."

" I do not jest, madame ; I only tell you Maurice does not love you, that is all."

128 THE CHEVALIER DE MAISON ROUGE.

" And I I," said Genevi^ve, " tell you that you deeeive yourself."

" In that case," replied Dixmer, " Maurice, who has had sufficient strength to tear himself away, is an honest

man, and as they are rare, Genevieve, one cannot do too

much to reclaim them when once lost. Genevieve, you

will write to Maurice, will you not ? "

" Oh, mon Dieu ! " cried the young woman, resting her head between her hands, for he to whom she looked for

support in a moment of danger had precipitated instead

of restraining her fall.

Dixmer regarded her for a moment, then, forcing a

smile :

"Allans, chere amie," said he; "no woman's amour proprc. If Maurice wishes to recommence a declaration,

laugh at the second as you did at the first. I know you,

Genevieve ; you have a noble and excellent heart. I can

depend on you."

( ' Oh, mon Dieu ! " said the young woman, sinking on her knees, " who can feel confidence in those who have no

confidence in themselves ? "

Dixmer turned pale, as if all his blood had retreated

buck to his heart.

" Genevieve," said he, " I have acted very wrong to cause you so much anguish of mind. I ought to have explained myself at once. Genevieve, we live at an epoch

of self-sacrifice. I have devoted myself to the queen, our

benefactress, and not only my arm, not only my head, but

my happiness. Others will give their lives ; I do more

than give her my life, I risk my honor, and if that perishes, only one more tear will fall into the ocean of miseries

which are preparing to swallow up France. But my honor

runs no risk under the guardianship of such a woman as

Genevieve.''

For the first time Dixmer bad revealed the whole truth.

Genevieve raised her head, and fixed her beautiful eyes,

full of admiration, upon him ; then slowly rose, and pre-

sented her face to him to kiss.

" You wish it ? " said she.

THE CHEVALIER DE MAISON ROUGE. 129

Dixmer made a sign in the affirmative.

" Dictate, then ; " and she took up a pen.

" No ; it is sufficient to use, not to abuse, this worthy young man," said Dixmer ; " and when he will reconcile himself to us on receipt of a letter from Geiievieve, this

letter should be from Genevie" ve, and not from Monsieur Dixmer."

And Dixmer a second time kissed his wife's forehead,