Part 36 (1/2)
Albert sighed sadly and closed the carriage door, after he had kissed his fiancee's hand. As the carriage drove away he went up to the room his mother was to occupy when she arrived next day, and looked to see if all was ready.
He took a book and tried to read, but after a couple of minutes he threw it aside and went out of doors again. He stopped a moment on the terrace, considering where to go. A young lady stopped him as he was preparing to go down the steps.
”All alone, Count, and dreaming! Ah! you are thinking of her. Come, let us stroll along together.”
And the young Countess de Morgueil took his arm before he had time to answer.
”You were not at the rehearsal this morning. You know that they have given up the tableaux of 'Europa.' Did you insist upon it?”
”No, why should I have made myself so ridiculous?”
”But the Duke pretended....”
”Dear Madame, the Duke could not have pretended anything except that he did not wish to appear without any clothes on, a decision that I heartily approved of.”
”They say that he tries to fascinate every woman he meets. What do you think?”
”And what do you?” said the Count, looking her straight in the eye.
”Oh! he would never cause me great palpitation,” she returned meaningly.
”Are you making any allusion to Mlle. Darbois?” he asked, stopping abruptly.
”I am engaged to Mlle. Darbois, I believe you know, Madame. You are piqued because you love the Duke de Morlay and he seems to be deserting you to hover near my fiancee. Do as I do; have a little patience; to-morrow by this time the fete will be over and I shall have left with Mlle. Darbois. Don't be either too nervous or too malicious, it does not agree with your type of beauty. I kiss your hands.”
He went towards the Chateau, and took up his vigil in the little salon adjoining Esperance's room.
The Countess of Morgueil was confused and mortified. ”He is not so stupid as he looks,” she thought.
Albert was reading, but listening all the time. Finally a carriage stopped before the Chateau. He went down quickly and caught Esperance in his arms so tightly that the young girl gave a little scream.
”Oh! pardon, pardon. It is so long since I have seen you.”
He kissed Mme. Darbois's hand and almost crushed the professor's fingers in his nervous grasp. He asked anxiously concerning Penhouet, and expressed his desire to return there immediately. Maurice and Genevieve came running up.
”How happy every one looks here,” said Mme. Darbois.
”Don't believe it, my dear aunt; we are standing on a volcano.”
”Ah! the cares of the fete weigh upon you. It always seems as if everything were going wrong at the last moment.”
She laughed, proud of her penetrations. Genevieve tugged at Maurice's vest as he was about to set the dear lady right.
”Ah! well, I leave you to dress. This evening, uncle, I want to have a chat with you as I have something serious to say to you.”
The philosopher and his wife looked at each other understandingly.
”Very well, my boy, I shall be entirely at your disposal for as long as you like, for I can guess....”