Part 9 (1/2)

As they turned into the square, Esperance stopped, clutching her aged friend by the arm. ”Look there,” she said.

There were two men side by side in deep conversation. Esperance had instantly recognized Count Albert and her G.o.dfather. How did Adhemar Meydieux happen to know the Secretary of the Legation?

They had just pa.s.sed the post-office, so Esperance posted her letter without being seen by either of them, and returned to the hotel. Lunch time brought together all the guests except the G.o.dfather, who would not enter until the exact minute, if he had to wait in the corridor....

He thought it witty to behave so. His hateful, stupid mind flattered itself on being original. Therefore as the half-hour began to strike he was pompously ushered in, watch in hand.

”I am here, you see, to the tick,” he said noisily, kissing the forehead his G.o.ddaughter pressed forward to him. Then, turning to the waiter, ”You can serve without delay,” he said. ”I like my food hot.”

Mlle. Frahender, although she was well acquainted with the abrupt ways of the G.o.dfather, frowned at him with disapprobation. Nevertheless, thanks to Maurice, who made a point of laughing at everything Adhemar said, they had a gay luncheon, and Adhemar himself, appreciating the consideration shown for his palate, cast aside his ill humour and enjoyed with full indulgence the present hour, the savoury food and the plentiful wine.

At the end of the meal he examined the room. ”On my word, my girl, they have given you the royal suite: that must come pretty expensive.”

”M. Darbois,” said Jean Perliez, ”gave me a very liberal sum of money, with instructions to spare nothing for our little queen.”

”There you have it, if that is not the exaggeration of a lover! Little Queen! You are pouring poison in continuous doses into this little head, which is already full of nonsense. Esperance will end by taking herself seriously; she is already far too dictatorial for a child of seventeen.” He added to himself, ”She must be corrected, I will do it myself!”

Esperance raised her eyelids, and her clear blue eyes seemed to pierce the eyeb.a.l.l.s of the foolish blunderer, until he fluttered his lashes and closed his eyes to escape the powerful silent denial of his authority.

”Very well,” he said, succeeding in half opening his eyes, ”look at me as much as you like, that does not keep me from distrusting you, my child. You are nice-looking, you have a pretty voice, you may some day develop some talent; but you know, your inexperience is obvious, and I am very anxious to know how you will pull through to-night.”

”Do not disturb yourself, M. Meydieux, Esperance had a triumph at the last rehearsal at the Francaise.” (Mlle. Frahender nodded agreement.) ”I believe,” Jean continued, ”that she is going to receive a perfect ovation this evening.”

”I believe it too,” added the old lady, ”and permit me to state, my dear sir, that you judge my young pupil very unfairly. She is just as modest, just as gentle, as she was a year ago, and those who love her may be well rea.s.sured of that fact. Since you are among them,” she went on boldly, ”you should realize it and rejoice in it.”

Adhemar shrugged his shoulders. ”They are all mad, even the old saint!”

They left the table. He stopped before a basket of flowers. ”Who sent you those, my child?”

”Count Albert Styvens,” replied Jean.

”Ah! He does things well,” commented Adhemar, but he did not breathe a word concerning his conversation with the Count that morning.

Before there was time for a reply a waiter entered with a card. ”M.

Mounet-Sully would like to come up.”

”Oh! yes,” cried out the young artist with delight.

A little startled at finding five people in the room, Mounet-Sully regained his a.s.surance as he recognized Jean and Maurice.

”My dear child, we rehea.r.s.e at two-thirty,” he said to Esperance, ”so be prompt, because we have heard that the Queen will be there, though you may not see her. She is not well enough to come out in the evening.”

The young girl blushed with excitement. ”It is fortunate that I shall not see her, I think that I should be paralyzed!”

”Perhaps she will send for you after the rehearsal,” returned the tragedian. ”She is a patroness of art, and very kind to artists.”

”Will His Majesty, King Leopold, come this evening?” demanded Meydieux, with great interest.

”Certainly,” Mounet-Sully a.s.sured him.