Part 22 (1/2)
”I once met there,” said Flocon, ”Rachel, the actress, and Van Amburgh, the lion-king.”
”M. Dantes is a perfect Maecenas in encouraging merit, as every one knows,” remarked Marrast; ”and he manifests especial solicitude to show that he appreciates worth more highly than wealth--genius than station.
Poverty and ability are sure recommendations to him.”
”Madame Dantes is, I am told, as devoted to the good cause as her husband,” remarked Flocon.
”She is a second Madame Roland!” exclaimed Louis Blanc. ”France will owe much to such women as she and her friend Madame Dudevant!”
”She differs greatly from Madame George Sand in some respects, I fancy,”
said Marrast; ”but, if she at all rivals that wonderful woman in devotedness to the cause of human rights, whether of her own s.e.x or ours, she deserves well of France. In her charities, it is notorious, she has no rival. Half the mendicants of the capital bless her name, and she is at the head of a dozen a.s.sociations and enterprises for the amelioration of the condition of the dest.i.tute, suffering and abandoned of her s.e.x.”
”Upon my word, Messieurs,” cried Ledru Rollin, ”your praises of M.
Dantes and Madame, his beautiful wife, are perfectly enthusiastic--so much so, that, in your zeal, you utterly forgot another matter quite as momentous. I am so unfortunate as to know M. Dantes only as one of the great pillars of our n.o.ble cause, and a man who, for nearly six years, has proven himself an apostle of man's rights, and ready, if need be, to become a martyr! That's enough for me to know of him!”
”But who really are M. Dantes and his wife?” asked Flocon.
”Who really are any of us?” laughingly rejoined Louis Blanc.
”Who really is any one in Paris,” continued Marrast, ”the blood-royal always and alone excepted?”
”Of M. Dantes this only is known,” said Louis Blanc, ”that for five or six years past he has been a Deputy from Ma.r.s.eilles, Lyons and other southern cities, all of which have been eager to honor themselves by returning him as their representative, as one of the boldest and most eloquent Republicans in all France; as for Madame Dantes, we know her to have once been the Countess de Morcerf, but now the wife of our friend, and one of the n.o.blest and most lovely matrons in Paris. What need have we to know more? But our friend comes.”
While this conversation was proceeding, Dantes and Mercedes had joined each other, and their hands were quietly clasped.
”Is all well, Edmond?” was the anxious inquiry of the fond wife, in low, soft, musical tones, as she fixed upon his pale face her dark eyes, beaming with the tenderest solicitude.
”All is well, love,” replied the husband. ”You will pardon my protracted absence, when I tell you it has been unavoidable--will you not, Mercedes?”
”Will I not? What a question! But I have been so anxious for your safety, knowing the perilous business in which you are engaged; and the night is so tempestuous.”
”You forget that I have a const.i.tution of iron, dear,” replied Dantes; ”you forget that I was a sailor once, and the storms were my playthings!”
”But you will go home with me now, Edmond, will you not?” she anxiously asked, placing her little white hand on his arm and gazing beseechingly into his eyes.
”Have I ever pa.s.sed one night from your arms, my Mercedes, since we were wed?” was the whispered response. ”Ah! love, any pillow but thy soft bosom would be to me a th.o.r.n.y one! You have spoiled me forever!” he added, smiling.
”And shall we go now, Edmond?” eagerly asked the delighted woman. ”Oh!
I'm so weary of this fete!”
”I must exchange a few words with our friend Louis Blanc, whom I see yonder, with others of our party, and then, dear, we will to our pillow.
We are both weary. Au revoir!”
”Edmond--Edmond!” cried the lady, as her husband was going, ”do you see Joliette and Louise in the redowa yonder?”
Dantes looked and, with a well pleased smile, nodded a.s.sent; a more brilliant and well-matched pair could hardly have been found, Joliette in the splendid uniform of an officer of the Spahis, and she in her own magnificent beauty, fitly garbed.
M. Dantes was received with marked respect by the knot of Republicans as he approached.