Part 31 (1/2)
”You will be deprived of your husband's name; and as Count Grudzinski cannot give you back his, you will be made Princess of Lovicz. Can you not now picture to yourself what your future lot will be?”
”Patience and resignation!”
”Did you not notice the cruel smile on Araktseieff's face as, when kissing your hand, he said, 'The sight of this happiness reminds me _of mine_'? By that he intended to put you on a par with the woman called Daimona, who is only his paramour and was a _vivandiere_.”
”I do not feel the intended insult.”
”No, no; it is impossible! When I heard the scheme, I too thought, 'After all, what will it matter? She, like other women, will receive compensation, and, like them, will--survive it.' But since I have been brought face to face with those clear, pure eyes, which so faithfully mirror the n.o.ble heart within, I ceased to consult my reasoning powers, for they counselled me to take myself a hundred miles away and to make myself believe that I had been dreaming. Since that moment I have been pondering how--at the risk of my own life--I could save you. It must not be that such an angel should fall a victim to such devilish intrigues!
It must not be that a Polish woman be forced to see her father's name and coat of arms tarnished without any one to protect her--without means of revenge!”
”What do you mean?”
”What do I mean? To tell you how you can revenge yourself! You must antic.i.p.ate those intriguers, and, in answer to their dishonoring proposal, say, 'Keep your princedom of Lovicz for high-born courtesans.
I, a Polish n.o.blewoman, will find a husband ready to give me the protection of his honorable name and whole heart--a true man, who loves and respects me!'”
Face, eyes, the Chevalier's dramatic action, all tended to ill.u.s.trate his words. It was not difficult for Johanna to divine whom he meant as the ”true man.” Not the shadow of a blush tinted her cheek as, with great composure, she replied:
”Chevalier Galban, do you see those walls surrounding Belvedere and Lazienka? Within those walls you are my guest, and you have the right to do exactly as you please, even to the length of insulting me; but only within these walls, as my guest. As soon, however, as you are without them, your immunity ceases. I will confide to no one what you have just said to me. A Polish woman betrays no one, not even to her husband; she revenges herself! So, once you have pa.s.sed without these walls, for this unpardonable insult I will order my people to give you a sound thras.h.i.+ng! May I offer you a little more sugar in your coffee?”
Chevalier Galban burst into a peal of laughter.
”_Ma foi!_ the fate of war. Out of three a.s.saults, one may come off conqueror twice and yet be beaten the third time. Thank you, I will take another piece of sugar.”
Then he strolled out with Johanna into the park, admired her tulip-bed, and, deferentially taking leave of her, went back to his chief, as already related.
”Where did you leave my wife?” the Grand Duke asked, as he rose from table.
”I accompanied her into the park. We parted at the Hermitage.”
”Come, Araktseieff, let us go and find her! You take one way; I will take the other. Whoever first finds her brings her back to Belvedere.”
The Grand Duke was lucky. He was first to find Johanna. She was kneeling on the gra.s.s feeding his pet rabbits; he let himself down clumsily beside her.
”Take care!” he said; ”the gra.s.s is wet with dew; you will take a chill.”
”It will not hurt me--I am strong.”
”That's a story,” he growled, ”you are very delicate. I do not know how to wait the season to send you to Ems, that you may take the baths for which you are longing.”
”I do not want to go there now.”
”Why not?”
”I have been thinking it over. You would be unable to leave your post to go with me; and to be weeks, months, away from you, not ever to see you, is more than I could bear. I would so much rather stay here. Indeed, I am quite well.”
”What!” cried the Grand Duke, with a wild outburst of joy. ”You love me so much that you cannot live without me? that you would care for nothing if you were away from me? Oh, my own true pearl of women!” And taking up his wife in his strong arms he laughed, caressed, and covered her with a shower of fiery kisses. ”And they would separate me from my wife! A fine idea, eh? Shall I throw you into this pond?” And he swung her in his arms like a little child. ”Are you afraid that I shall throw you in? Ha, ha, ha! and do you think I would let them make you Princess of Lovicz and be parted from you? That I would repay you for your love and faithfulness with a t.i.tle, and take another to wife? Are you afraid of it? Shall I toss you into the pond? Hus.h.!.+”
Johanna twined her arms round her husband's neck, kissed him, and murmured, softly: