Part 14 (1/2)

The whole party now moved toward the inn, and the viscountess felt herself obliged to make Camille a speech on the savages of Saint-Nazaire.

”I love Brittany, madame,” replied Camille, gravely. ”I was born at Guerande.”

Calyste could not help admiring Mademoiselle des Touches, who, by the tone of her voice, the tranquillity of her look, and her quiet manner, put him at his ease, in spite of the terrible declarations of the preceding night. She seemed, however, a little fatigued; her eyes were enlarged by dark circles round them, showing that he had not slept; but the brow dominated the inward storm with cold placidity.

”What queens!” he said to Charlotte, calling her attention to the marquise and Camille as he gave the girl his arm, to Mademoiselle de Pen-Hoel's great satisfaction.

”What an idea your mother has had,” said the old maid, taking her niece's other arm, ”to put herself in the company of that reprobate woman!”

”Oh, aunt, a woman who is the glory of Brittany!”

”The shame, my dear. Mind that you don't fawn upon her in that way.”

”Mademoiselle Charlotte is right,” said Calyste; ”you are not just.”

”Oh, you!” replied Mademoiselle de Pen-Hoel, ”she has bewitched you.”

”I regard her,” said Calyste, ”with the same friends.h.i.+p that I feel for you.”

”Since when have the du Guenics taken to telling lies?” asked the old maid.

”Since the Pen-Hoels have grown deaf,” replied Calyste.

”Are you not in love with her?” demanded the old maid.

”I have been, but I am so no longer,” he said.

”Bad boy! then why have you given us such anxiety? I know very well that love is only foolishness; there is nothing solid but marriage,” she remarked, looking at Charlotte.

Charlotte, somewhat rea.s.sured, hoped to recover her advantages by recalling the memories of childhood. She leaned affectionately on Calyste's arm, who resolved in his own mind to have a clear explanation with the little heiress.

”Ah! what fun we shall have at _mouche_, Calyste!” she said; ”what good laughs we used to have over it!”

The horses were now put in; Camille placed Madame de Kergarouet and Charlotte on the back seat. Jacqueline having disappeared, she herself, with the marquise, sat forward. Calyste was, of course, obliged to relinquish the pleasure on which he had counted, of driving back with Camille and Beatrix, but he rode beside the carriage all the way; the horses, being tired with the journey, went slowly enough to allow him to keep his eyes on Beatrix.

History must lose the curious conversations that went on between these four persons whom accident had so strangely united in this carriage, for it is impossible to report the hundred and more versions which went the round of Nantes on the remarks, replies, and witticisms which the viscountess heard from the lips of the celebrated Camille Maupin _herself_. She was, however, very careful not to repeat, not even to comprehend, the actual replies made by Mademoiselle des Touches to her absurd questions about Camille's authors.h.i.+p,--a penance to which all authors are subjected, and which often make them expiate the few and rare pleasures that they win.

”How do you write your books?” she began.

”Much as you do your worsted-work or knitting,” replied Camille.

”But where do you find those deep reflections, those seductive pictures?”

”Where you find the witty things you say, madame; there is nothing so easy as to write books, provided you will--”

”Ah! does it depend wholly on the will? I shouldn't have thought it.

Which of your compositions do you prefer?”

”I find it difficult to prefer any of my little kittens.”