Part 26 (1/2)
”I dread this visit,” exclaimed Esperance.
”What is the reason of this sudden call?” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Maurice.
”I think I can guess,” said the actor.
”Well, tell me!”
”But if I should be wrong?” said Jean.
”What a frightful lot of circ.u.mlocution,” cried Maurice impatiently, pretending to tear out his hair.
But Esperance replied, ”No, Jean, you are not mistaken. I can guess your thoughts. I am afraid, as I just now said to Genevieve, that the Duke de Morlay-La-Branche is connected in some way with this visit of the Princess and her friend!”
”If the Duke comes here, but I do not believe he will, Jean and I will not leave him alone a minute. I a.s.sure you that he will get more of our company than he will appreciate. But, knowing that the Count is not here, I do not think he will come. He is too correct for that!
Come, let us dance in honour of Albert!”
Taking his cousin's hands and Genevieve's, he nodded his head to Jean to do the same thing, and led them into a whirlwind dance upon the sands of the beach, until the girls laughed as though no heavy thoughts were weighing in their hearts.
Two hours later the victoria arrived from Palais. The young people could see that it contained only two ladies and the philosopher, and Genevieve breathed again.
The Princess descended lightly before the front door. She kissed Esperance, and after speaking to Mme. Darbois, had Maurice, Jean and Genevieve presented to her.
”You did the portrait of which the Duke de Morlay has spoken so highly?”
Maurice bowed.
”Would it be impertinence if I asked you to let me see it?” she said with a smile.
”I thank you, Madame; you flatter me by your request.”
The Dowager d.u.c.h.ess, with whom the Princess had been spending three weeks at her Chateau of Castel-Montjoie, was now presented to Mme.
Darbois. She was a lovable and delightful old lady, with a great appreciation of art and science. Both ladies had been present with the Duke at the last Conservatoire compet.i.tion, and they expressed to Esperance, Genevieve and Jean the enjoyment their performances had given them. The d.u.c.h.ess was much struck by Genevieve's proud beauty, and said to Maurice, ”Ah! Monsieur, what another beautiful portrait you could make! This young lady is much more beautiful close to than even on the stage!” And she added a kind and appreciative word for the cla.s.sic talent of Jean Perliez.
Tea was to be served in the little beautiful convolvulus garden. When they entered this shelter, which a poet might have designed, the d.u.c.h.ess exclaimed enviously, ”What a heavenly spot. Who is the inspired person who has arranged this mysterious flowery retreat for you?”
The philosopher pointed to Maurice and the girls.
The Princess admired it, and the conversation rippled on. ”We are come to trouble your bower with a plea for charity! Every year, the d.u.c.h.ess gives a garden party in her beautiful park at Montjoie for the benefit of the 'Orphans of the Fishermen.' There is a little open-air theatre, where some of the greatest actors have appeared. Little rustic booths, shops where you pay a great deal for nothing at all, and a thousand other distractions. We are come, the d.u.c.h.ess and I, drawn by a very pretty star, Esperance. She will not deny us her light, our lovely little star?” she concluded, bending towards Esperance.
”But, Madame,” murmured Esperance, ”my decision--my promises do not depend on myself alone, now.”
The d.u.c.h.ess extracted a letter from her gold mesh bag and held it towards her.
”You are perfectly right, my dear child,” she said easily. ”I also foresaw that objection, so I wrote to your fiance, even before speaking to you, for which I must apologize, and here is his answer.”
Esperance read the little missive bearing the Styvens's arms and handed it back to the d.u.c.h.ess.
”I will not be,” she said smiling sadly, ”more royalist than the king.
Madame, I am at the service of your work.”