Part 12 (1/2)
”Your G.o.dfather came to complain to us of Maurice, of Jean Perliez, and of yourself. You all displeased him; tell us just what happened?”
Esperance recounted the happenings with perfect impartiality, adding honestly that she had done nothing to try to persuade her G.o.dfather to remain. The philosopher smiled.
”Very well, let us forget all that. We will take up our happy life again, that has been interrupted by your triumphs,” he added sadly.
And then, as the women were preparing to leave the library, ”Tell me, Esperance, who is the Countess Styvens?”
”A great lady at court, and oh! so charming.”
”Is Count Albert Styvens of the Legation any relation of hers?”
”Yes, father, he is her son. But why do you ask that?”
”Your G.o.dfather spoke to me of this young man, who, it seems, wants to complete his studies in philosophy.”
The poor little star trembled. She was on the point of confessing all her presentiments, her terrors, to her father.... But he had just sat down to his desk and seemed already indifferent to what was going on around him. She went softly out of the library, following her mother, who was bearing away the newspaper excerpts and the royal jewel cases.
In the beautiful house which Countess Styvens occupied with her son, an animated discussion was taking place at the same moment between Baron von Berger and Count Albert.
”I advise you, my boy,” the Baron was saying brusquely, ”to ask for another post. You, so sensible, too sensible, for a man of your age, in fact it's a little ridiculous....”
”That has nothing to do with it,” returned the younger man coolly.
”All very well, but my quasi-paternal duty is to stop you before certain danger. You admit that you adore this young star of seventeen, the daughter of a philosopher of high standing. You do not intend, I suppose, to make her your mistress?”
Albert Styvens felt the blood run into his temples, but he did not answer.
The Baron continued, more determinedly, ”You do not intend to propose her as a daughter-in-law to your mother?”
For an instant a vertigo froze the young man's being. His heart stopped beating, his throat contracted with a terrific pressure of blood. He did not answer a word.
”In G.o.d's name,” cried the Baron violently, ”am I in the presence of a woman or a man?”
”A man,” said Count Albert, getting to his feet. ”A man whose anger is held in check by his respect, but who can endure no more,” he added, throwing back his arms to allow his chest to dilate still farther. ”I am going to answer you; please listen without interruption.”
Then, after a moment more of silence, he declared, ”Yes, I am desperately in love with this young girl, and I am going to try everything, not to make her love me, for that she probably never will--but that she will let herself be loved. What will come of it, I have not the least idea. I want her and no one else. I will commit no disloyal act, I give you my word for that. If she should become my wife, it would be with my mother's full permission. I beg you now, my dear Baron, to say nothing further about it; I am old enough to regulate my life, as much as the divine guiding force which you call 'Destiny' permits.”
He came up to the Baron, clasped his hand in a firm grasp, and reaching for his hat, added, ”I want to get out in the air. Shall we go together?”
The Baron recognized the opposition of an unchangeable will to his own, which no discussion could influence.
CHAPTER XII
Life had resumed its regular course in the apartment on the Boulevard Raspail, but an important relations.h.i.+p was developing in Esperance's life. Count Albert Styvens came three times a week to pursue his philosophic studies with Professor Darbois. This arrangement had been contrived by the hypocrite, Adhemar Meydieux. He did not mistake the Count's infatuation for his G.o.ddaughter. A marriage of such wealth and aristocratic connections flattered his foolish egoism, and he was sworn to attempt everything that would bring about such a magnificent consummation.
A friend of the family, Doctor Bertaud, noticed alarming symptoms in the girl, most prevalent between five and seven o'clock each evening.
He could not ascertain the cause, but persuaded the philosopher to take her to Doctor Potain, a celebrated heart specialist. Madame Darbois took Esperance for an examination.