Part 94 (1/2)
come here! It is I whom he loves, it is I whom he wants to marry--and he knows that I will never refuse him!”
Madeleine was not far away. Servants are never far from people who are talking. She came skipping into the room like a crazy person, for she was really happy in her mistress's happiness.
”We were just talking about you when you came, monsieur,” she said to Gustave; ”I often talk about you to mamzelle, because I have found that that's the best way to make her listen to me. _Dame!_ I'm from the country, but I guessed, all the same, what made mamzelle so sad; and now I'm sure that she'll be happy like me! and that she'll sing and dance like me!”
Monsieur Gerbault's arrival put an end to Madeleine's antics. He was surprised, as usual, to find Gustave in his house; but he was especially impressed on this occasion by the joy and happiness which he read on every face.
”Bless my soul!” he said, shaking hands with Gustave; ”are you just back from the war, my friend? At all events, you have received a wound which proves that you don't turn your back on the foe.”
”No, monsieur; it's the result of a duel. I am not quarrelsome, as you know, but a man cannot always be sure of himself.”
”Have you returned to Paris for some time?”
”For always! I have no further desire to travel. My uncle, who is good enough to say that I understand the business very well, told me yesterday that he would make me his partner.”
”The deuce! that's very nice, indeed; for your uncle's business is very extensive, I believe?”
”His profits never fall below sixty thousand francs a year.”
”Of which you will have half. That makes you a rich _parti!_--Talking of _partis_, Adolphine, I have another one to propose to you; and this time perhaps you will accept, for you surely don't intend to die an old maid.”
Adolphine looked anxiously at her father; Gustave himself had a vague feeling of apprehension. Monsieur Gerbault eyed them both with a sly expression, and continued:
”Yes, my child; a new suitor has come forward. He will never see twenty-five again, and he is not very rich; but he has a competence and an honorable position in society. It is Monsieur Batonnin.”
”Monsieur Batonnin! Oh! I won't marry him. I won't marry anybody--that is to say--any of those who----”
Gustave made haste to interrupt Adolphine, and, going up to Monsieur Gerbault, said to him with the utmost seriousness:
”Monsieur, a long time ago I was to have been your son-in-law.
Circ.u.mstances prevented it, and, if I must confess it, I think that I have every reason to thank destiny therefor. To-day, I come once more to ask your permission to become a member of your family. Mademoiselle Adolphine has consented to be my wife, and something tells me that she will not retract her word.”
”Yes, father, yes.--Oh! I can't refuse Gustave. And you are willing that he should be my husband, aren't you?”
”Especially,” replied Monsieur Gerbault, as he embraced his daughter, ”especially as you have loved him for a long time!”
”What, father! you knew it? How strange! I never told anyone my secret.”
”But a father's eyes are sharp-sighted, dear heart; and now I trust that you will recover your good spirits.”
”Oh! father, I am so happy!”
”Take her, Gustave; she will not throw you over for another man. For, even when she could not possibly hope to be your wife, she refused all offers in order to be at liberty to love you. As for Monsieur Batonnin, I was sure beforehand of your reply; but, in order to soften your refusal, I will tell him that he came too late, because you are going to marry Gustave.”
LXII
TERTIA SOLVET