Part 37 (2/2)
”No, it is only to make a woman love you within a fortnight.”
”Is it a lorette?”
”Why?”
”Because that's impossible; but if it concerns a woman, and a well-bred one who is also clever--”
”She is a very ill.u.s.trious marquise.”
”You want her letters?” said the young count.
”Ah! you are after my own heart!” cried Maxime. ”No, that's not it.”
”Then you want me to love her?”
”Yes, in the real sense--”
”If I am to abandon the aesthetic, it is utterly impossible,” said La Palferine. ”I have, don't you see, as to women a certain honor; we may play the fool with them, but not--”
”Ah! I was not mistaken!” cried Maxime. ”Do you think I'm a man to propose mere twopenny infamies to you? No, you must go, and dazzle, and conquer. My good mate, I give you twenty thousand francs, and ten days in which to triumph. Meet me to-night at Madame Schontz'.”
”I dine there.”
”Very good,” returned Maxime. ”Later, when you have need of me, Monsieur le comte, you will find me,” he added in the tone of a king who binds himself, but promises nothing.
”This poor woman must have done you some deadly harm,” said La Palferine.
”Don't try to throw a plummet-line into my waters, my boy; and let me tell you that in case of success you will obtain such powerful influence that you will be able, like me, to retire upon a fine marriage when you are bored with your bohemian life.”
”Comes there a time when it is a bore to amuse one's self,” said La Palferine, ”to be nothing, to live like the birds, to hunt the fields of Paris like a savage, and laugh at everything?”
”All things weary, even h.e.l.l,” said de Trailles, laughing. ”Well, this evening.”
The two _roues_, the old and the young, rose. As Maxime got into his one-horse equipage, he thought to himself: ”Madame d'Espard can't endure Beatrix; she will help me. Hotel de Grandlieu,” he called out to the coachman, observing that Rastignac was just pa.s.sing him.
Find a great man without some weakness!
The d.u.c.h.ess, Madame du Guenic, and Clotilde were evidently weeping.
”What is the matter?” he asked the d.u.c.h.ess.
”Calyste did not come home; this is the first time; my poor daughter is in despair.”
”Madame la d.u.c.h.esse,” said Maxime, drawing the pious lady into the embrasure of a window, ”for Heaven's sake keep the utmost secrecy as to my efforts, and ask d'Ajuda to do the same; for if Calyste ever hears of our plot there will be a duel between him and me to the death. When I told you that the affair would not cost much, I meant that you would not be obliged to spend enormous sums; but I do want twenty thousand francs; the rest is my affair; there may be important places to be given, a receiver-generals.h.i.+p possibly.”
The d.u.c.h.ess and Maxime left the room. When Madame de Grandlieu returned to her daughter, she again listened to Sabine's dithyrambics inlaid with family facts even more cruel than those which had already crushed the young wife's happiness.
”Don't be so troubled, my darling,” said the d.u.c.h.ess. ”Beatrix will pay dear for your tears and sufferings; the hand of Satan is upon her; she will meet with ten humiliations for every one she has inflicted upon you.”
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