Part 58 (1/2)
”Very simply: My father, who suddenly sought me, as usual when he was in debt, saw that I wanted to marry Freyer and, fearing a public scandal, advised me, in order to save the property--which he needed almost more than I--to marry _secretly_. Wherever the Tridentine Council ruled, the sole requisite of a valid marriage was that the two persons should state, in the presence of an ordained priest and two witnesses, that they intended to marry. As my father was never very reliable, and might change his opinion any day, I hastened to follow his advice before it occurred to him to put any obstacles in my way, as the pastor at Prankenberg was wholly in his power. So I set off with Freyer and Josepha that very night. An old coachman, Martin, whose fidelity I had known from childhood, lived at Prankenberg. I took him and Josepha for witnesses, and we surprised the old pastor while he was drinking his coffee.”
The prince made a gesture of surprise. ”What--over his coffee?”
”Yes--before he could push back his cup, we had made our statement--and the deed was done.”
The prince started up; his eyes sparkled, his whole manner betrayed the utmost agitation. ”And you call that being married? And give me this fright?” He drew a long breath, as if relieved of a burden. ”Madeleine, if you had only told me this at once!”
”But why? Does it change the matter?”
”Surely you will not persuade yourself that this farce with the old pastor in his dressing-gown and slippers, his morning-pipe and the fragrance of Mocha--was a wedding? You will not expect me as a Protestant, or any enlightened Catholic, to regard it in that light?”
”But what does the form matter? Protestantism cares nothing for the form--it heeds only the meaning.”
”But the meaning was lacking--at least to you--to you it was a mere form which you owed to the sanct.i.ty of your lover's mask of Christus.”
He seized her hand with unwonted pa.s.sion. ”Madeleine, for once be truthful to yourself and to me--am I not right?”
”Yes!” she murmured almost inaudibly.
”Well, then--if the _meaning_ was lacking and the chosen form an _illegal_ one--what binds you?”
Madeleine was silent. This question was connected with her secret, which he would never understand. His nature was too positive to reckon with anything except facts. The duke felt that she was withholding an answer, not because she had none, but because she did not wish to give the true one. But he did not allow himself to be disconcerted. ”Did the old pastor give you any written proof of this 'sacred rite'--we will give it the proud name of a marriage certificate.”
”Yes.”
”Who has the doc.u.ment?”
”Freyer!”
”That is unfortunate; for it gives him an apparent right to consider himself married and make difficulties, which complicate the case. But we can settle with Freyer--I have less fear of him. Your situation is more imperilled by this tale of a secret marriage, which Josepha, in good faith, brought to the ears of the Wildenaus. This is a disaster which requires speedy remedy. In other respects everything is precisely as it was when you went to Cannes. This complication changes nothing in my opinion. I hold the same view. If you no longer _love_ Freyer, break with him; the way of doing so is a minor matter. I leave it to you. But break with him and give me your hand--then the whole spectre will melt.
We will gladly restore the Wildenau property to the cousins, and they will then have no farther motive for pursuing the affair.”
”Is that true? Could you still think seriously of it--and I, good Heavens, must I become doubly a criminal?”
”But, _chere amie_, look at things objectively a little.”
”Even if I do look at them objectively, I don't understand how I could marry again without being divorced, and to apply for a divorce now would be acknowledging the marriage.”
”Who is to divorce you, if no one married you? According to civil law, you are still single, for you are not registered in accordance with your rank--according to religious law you are not married, at least not in the opinion of the great majority of Christian countries and sects, to whom the Tridentine Council is not authoritative! Will you insist upon sacrificing your existence and honor to a sentimental scruple?
Will you confess to the Wildenaus that you are married? In that case you must not only restore the property, but also the interest you have illegally appropriated for nine years, which will swallow your little private property and rob you of your sole means of support. What will follow then? Do you mean to retire with the 'steward' from the scene amid the jeering laughter of society, make soup for him at his home in Ammergau, live by the labor of his hands, and at Christmas receive the gift of a calico gown?”
The countess shuddered, as though shaken by a feverish chill.
”Or will you continue to live on with Freyer as before and suffer the cousins to begin an inquiry against you, and afford the world the spectacle of seeing you wrangle with them over the property? Then you must produce the dogmatic and legal proof that you are not married.
This certainly would not be difficult--but I must beg you to note certain possibilities. If it is decided that your marriage was _illegal_, then the question will be brought forward--how did _you yourself_ regard it? And it might occur to the Wildenaus' lawyers that, no matter whether correctly or not, you considered yourself married and intentionally defrauded them of the property!”
”Merciful Heaven!”