Part 22 (1/2)
”More, monsieur,” said the sculptor.
”Her mother was a peasant's daughter, and had not a farthing of her own.”
”Only give me Mademoiselle Hortense just as she is, without a trousseau even----”
”So I should think!” said the Baron, smiling. ”Hortense is the daughter of the Baron Hulot d'Ervy, Councillor of State, high up in the War Office, Grand Commander of the Legion of Honor, and the brother to Count Hulot, whose glory is immortal, and who will ere long be Marshal of France! And--she has a marriage portion.
”It is true,” said the impa.s.sioned artist. ”I must seem very ambitious.
But if my dear Hortense were a laborer's daughter, I would marry her----”
”That is just what I wanted to know,” replied the Baron. ”Run away, Hortense, and leave me to talk business with Monsieur le Comte.--He really loves you, you see!”
”Oh, papa, I was sure you were only in jest,” said the happy girl.
”My dear Steinbock,” said the Baron, with elaborate grace of diction and the most perfect manners, as soon as he and the artist were alone, ”I promised my son a fortune of two hundred thousand francs, of which the poor boy has never had a sou; and he never will get any of it. My daughter's fortune will also be two hundred thousand francs, for which you will give a receipt----”
”Yes, Monsieur le Baron.”
”You go too fast,” said Hulot. ”Have the goodness to hear me out. I cannot expect from a son-in-law such devotion as I look for from my son.
My son knew exactly all I could and would do for his future promotion: he will be a Minister, and will easily make good his two hundred thousand francs. But with you, young man, matters are different. I shall give you a bond for sixty thousand francs in State funds at five per cent, in your wife's name. This income will be diminished by a small charge in the form of an annuity to Lisbeth; but she will not live long; she is consumptive, I know. Tell no one; it is a secret; let the poor soul die in peace.--My daughter will have a trousseau worth twenty thousand francs; her mother will give her six thousand francs worth of diamonds.
”Monsieur, you overpower me!” said Steinbock, quite bewildered.
”As to the remaining hundred and twenty thousand francs----”
”Say no more, monsieur,” said Wenceslas. ”I ask only for my beloved Hortense----”
”Will you listen to me, effervescent youth!--As to the remaining hundred and twenty thousand francs, I have not got them; but you will have them--”
”Monsieur?”
”You will get them from the Government, in payment for commissions which I will secure for you, I pledge you my word of honor. You are to have a studio, you see, at the Government depot. Exhibit a few fine statues, and I will get you received at the Inst.i.tute. The highest personages have a regard for my brother and for me, and I hope to succeed in securing for you a commission for sculpture at Versailles up to a quarter of the whole sum. You will have orders from the City of Paris and from the Chamber of Peers; in short, my dear fellow, you will have so many that you will be obliged to get a.s.sistants. In that way I shall pay off my debt to you. You must say whether this way of giving a portion will suit you; whether you are equal to it.”
”I am equal to making a fortune for my wife single-handed if all else failed!” cried the artist-n.o.bleman.
”That is what I admire!” cried the Baron. ”High-minded youth that fears nothing. Come,” he added, clasping hands with the young sculptor to conclude the bargain, ”you have my consent. We will sign the contract on Sunday next, and the wedding shall be on the following Sat.u.r.day, my wife's fete-day.”
”It is all right,” said the Baroness to her daughter, who stood glued to the window. ”Your suitor and your father are embracing each other.”
On going home in the evening, Wenceslas found the solution of the mystery of his release. The porter handed him a thick sealed packet, containing the schedule of his debts, with a signed receipt affixed at the bottom of the writ, and accompanied by this letter:--
”MY DEAR WENCESLAS,--I went to fetch you at ten o'clock this morning to introduce you to a Royal Highness who wishes to see you. There I learned that the duns had had you conveyed to a certain little domain--chief town, _Clichy Castle_.
”So off I went to Leon de Lora, and told him, for a joke, that you could not leave your country quarters for lack of four thousand francs, and that you would spoil your future prospects if you did not make your bow to your royal patron. Happily, Bridau was there --a man of genius, who has known what it is to be poor, and has heard your story. My boy, between them they have found the money, and I went off to pay the Turk who committed treason against genius by putting you in quod. As I had to be at the Tuileries at noon, I could not wait to see you sniffing the outer air. I know you to be a gentleman, and I answered for you to my two friends --but look them up to-morrow.
”Leon and Bridau do not want your cash; they will ask you to do them each a group--and they are right. At least, so thinks the man who wishes he could sign himself your rival, but is only your faithful ally,
”STIDMANN.