Part 6 (1/2)
”Truly I think my duty to Montvilliers is to let some one else rule it,” he said, with a smile.
”Duty is not a cloak a man can put off and on as he wills,” Christine answered; ”it is part of the man himself. He is called to fulfil certain conditions of his life, of his birth, and he cannot throw duty aside by saying he is unfitted to perform it. Are you a coward, Maurice, as well as a scholar?”
”No; I do not think I am a coward.”
”It is only a coward who would not ride to Vayenne and claim his birthright.”
”If we come to such close argument as that, this same birthright may be found to have little justice in it,” he said quickly. ”Did my father become Duke by right of birth? You know he didn't. He was a strong man, while those who should have ruled were weak. Montvilliers wanted a strong hand to guide her, and a bloodless revolution raised my father to power.”
”Has Felix any greater right than you?” she asked.
”By birth, no; by capacity, yes. Let him be Duke. I will be the first to shout for him.”
”Coward!” she said.
”Christine, there are bounds which even you must not pa.s.s,” he said, turning a stern face to her.
She clapped her hands at his sudden anger, and stepped quickly to his side.
”There spoke a worthy Duke. I have seen the same anger rush blood-red into your father's face, and have trembled for his enemies. You cannot hide your real self; you cannot deny your real personality, even though you would.”
”It lies in peace among these books of mine,” he answered. ”We have talked of this enough.”
”Not yet. Listen, Maurice. Felix is hated by many, and if he seizes the crown, there will be bloodshed in the streets of Vayenne.”
”He will be strong enough to suppress rebellion,” was the answer.
”And wise enough perchance to shed blood in this peaceful Chateau of Pa.s.sey,” she went on quickly.
”Why here? Pa.s.sey does not trouble itself with politics. The harvest of the fields is Pa.s.sey's concern, and it is of small consequence who rules in Vayenne.”
Christine laid her hand on his arm. ”Think you the golden circle of sovereignty will rest easily on your cousin's brow while you live?
Deny your birthright, Maurice, and then, like a coward, flee your country for safety, for I warrant you will die a violent death if you stay in it.”
”I cannot think so--so much evil of Felix,” he answered.
”I know him far better than you possibly can do,” she said. ”He let me come to you only because he is convinced that you will not come to Vayenne. He despises you, Maurice. He will use your refusal for his own purposes, and in his own manner. He will easily convince many that you are a danger to the state and that there is righteousness in judicial murder.”
”Will not a kingdom satisfy him, but he must have my poor life as well?” Maurice muttered.
”Has it ever satisfied, in any age, in any history? Felix will seek to make himself secure in every possible way. Since there are many who love me, he wishes to wed me.”
”Perhaps he loves you?”
”It may be,” she answered, ”but not as he loves himself.”
”And you would marry him?”
”For the good of Montvilliers I might be persuaded.”