Part 32 (1/2)
XXIV
MARRIAGE PROPOSALS
Monsieur de la Beriniere left the table and went to talk with Adolphine; she, no less indifferent to the gallant speeches of the old count than to young Anatole's compliments, was equally amiable to both; for neither of them diverted her thoughts for a moment, and it is easy to be amiable when the heart is not involved.
The party broke up at last; but, before taking their leave, the count and Monsieur de Raincy in turn exchanged a few words in undertones with Monsieur Gerbault; which proceeding aroused Monsieur Batonnin's curiosity to such an extent, that he went in the direction of the kitchen instead of toward the street-door.
”It's your turn to be absent-minded, I see,” observed Monsieur Clairval, satirically.
”Oh! not at all; I made a mistake in the door; that may happen to anybody. Perhaps you thought that I had something to whisper to Monsieur Gerbault, like those two ahead of us?”
”Ah! so they whispered to our friend Gerbault, did they? I confess that I didn't notice it, and, furthermore, that it's a matter of indifference to me.”
”And to me, too, of course; although I have an idea that I can guess what they had to say to Mademoiselle Adolphine's father.”
”Ah! you have an idea? The deuce! do you possess the art of divination, then?”
”One needn't be a sorcerer to divine certain things.--Do you want me to tell you my conjectures?”
”No, I thank you, Monsieur Batonnin, keep them to yourself; I don't appreciate conjectures; I like official facts only. Good-night!”
”That means that he is vexed because he hasn't guessed it,” said Batonnin to himself, as they separated. ”For my part, I would bet--six francs to twenty--that young De Raincy and old De la Beriniere are in love with the charming Adolphine; and I would also bet--twenty francs to thirty--that the girl doesn't care for either of them. So much the better for me! I have all the more chance. Let us wait, let us let the mutton boil, as the common saying goes. That's an old proverb; and I am like Sancho, I love proverbs.”
Adolphine also had noticed her father's brief _aside_ with the count and with De Raincy. When all the guests had gone, she went to him, and said with a smile:
”So those gentlemen have secrets with you, have they, father? for Monsieur de la Beriniere, and then Monsieur Anatole, whispered to you in a corner.”
”Faith! my dear girl, as yet I have no more idea than you what they have to say to me; but each of them asked me for an appointment to-morrow, having a very important matter to discuss with me. I said to Monsieur de Raincy: 'I shall expect you at eleven o'clock;' and to Monsieur de la Beriniere: 'You will find me at home at one;' so I suppose that, at three or four o'clock to-morrow, I shall be able to gratify your curiosity, and to tell you what those gentlemen have confided to me---- Unless it concerns serious matters, which one doesn't tell to little girls; but I fancy not.”
”You fancy not?--Do you mean that you suspect what it is, father?”
”Why--bless my soul!--but, after all, as they will tell me to-morrow, it's useless to indulge in conjectures. Ah! there's something which interests me much more than that.”
”What is it, father?”
”The duel that Batonnin told us about. I pretended, before him, not to put any faith in what he said; but, if all that he told us is true, why, your sister's husband didn't hurt himself by falling on the stairs--and it must have been Gustave with whom he fought.”
”Oh, no, father, no; I give you my word that it wasn't Gustave.”
”Aha! so you know the truth, do you? and you never told me anything about it?”
”f.a.n.n.y and her husband didn't want it to become known, and she made me promise not to mention it to you.”
”But tell me whom Auguste did fight with?”
”With a man who was drunk, and who didn't know what he was saying--that's the whole of it. And Auguste didn't attach the slightest importance to it.”
”Very good! I hope he didn't; but I am convinced, none the less, that Gustave was mixed up in it in some way, and I repeat what I have said to you before: that young man must never come here again!--Good-night, my dear!”
”Good-night, father!”