Part 35 (2/2)
Hortense, enlightened by her anxieties as a mother, and driven by dire necessity, had discovered too late the mistakes she had been involuntarily led into by her excessive love. Still, the worthy daughter of her mother, her heart ached at the thought of worrying Wenceslas; she loved her dear poet too much to become his torturer; and she could foresee the hour when beggary awaited her, her child, and her husband.
”Come, come, my child,” said Lisbeth, seeing the tears in her cousin's lovely eyes, ”you must not despair. A gla.s.sful of tears will not buy a plate of soup. How much do you want?”
”Well, five or six thousand francs.”
”I have but three thousand at the most,” said Lisbeth. ”And what is Wenceslas doing now?”
”He has had an offer to work in partners.h.i.+p with Stidmann at a table service for the Duc d'Herouville for six thousand francs. Then Monsieur Chanor will advance four thousand to repay Monsieur de Lora and Bridau--a debt of honor.”
”What, you have had the money for the statue and the bas-reliefs for Marshal Montcornet's monument, and you have not paid them yet?”
”For the last three years,” said Hortense, ”we have spent twelve thousand francs a year, and I have but a hundred louis a year of my own.
The Marshal's monument, when all the expenses were paid, brought us no more than sixteen thousand francs. Really and truly, if Wenceslas gets no work, I do not know what is to become of us. Oh, if only I could learn to make statues, I would handle the clay!” she cried, holding up her fine arms.
The woman, it was plain, fulfilled the promise of the girl; there was a flash in her eye; impetuous blood, strong with iron, flowed in her veins; she felt that she was wasting her energy in carrying her infant.
”Ah, my poor little thing! a sensible girl should not marry an artist till his fortune is made--not while it is still to make.”
At this moment they heard voices; Stidmann and Wenceslas were seeing Chanor to the door; then Wenceslas and Stidmann came in again.
Stidmann, an artist in vogue in the world of journalists, famous actresses, and courtesans of the better cla.s.s, was a young man of fas.h.i.+on whom Valerie much wished to see in her rooms; indeed, he had already been introduced to her by Claude Vignon. Stidmann had lately broken off an intimacy with Madame Schontz, who had married some months since and gone to live in the country. Valerie and Lisbeth, hearing of this upheaval from Claude Vignon, thought it well to get Steinbock's friend to visit in the Rue Vanneau.
Stidmann, out of good feeling, went rarely to the Steinbocks'; and as it happened that Lisbeth was not present when he was introduced by Claude Vignon, she now saw him for the first time. As she watched this noted artist, she caught certain glances from his eyes at Hortense, which suggested to her the possibility of offering him to the Countess Steinbock as a consolation if Wenceslas should be false to her. In point of fact, Stidmann was reflecting that if Steinbock were not his friend, Hortense, the young and superbly beautiful countess, would be an adorable mistress; it was this very notion, controlled by honor, that kept him away from the house. Lisbeth was quick to mark the significant awkwardness that troubles a man in the presence of a woman with whom he will not allow himself to flirt.
”Very good-looking--that young man,” said she in a whisper to Hortense.
”Oh, do you think so?” she replied. ”I never noticed him.”
”Stidmann, my good fellow,” said Wenceslas, in an undertone to his friend, ”we are on no ceremony, you and I--we have some business to settle with this old girl.”
Stidmann bowed to the ladies and went away.
”It is settled,” said Wenceslas, when he came in from taking leave of Stidmann. ”But there are six months' work to be done, and we must live meanwhile.”
”There are my diamonds,” cried the young Countess, with the impetuous heroism of a loving woman.
A tear rose in Wenceslas' eye.
”Oh, I am going to work,” said he, sitting down by his wife and drawing her on to his knee. ”I will do odd jobs--a wedding chest, bronze groups----”
”But, my children,” said Lisbeth; ”for, as you know, you will be my heirs, and I shall leave you a very comfortable sum, believe me, especially if you help me to marry the Marshal; nay, if we succeed in that quickly, I will take you all to board with me--you and Adeline. We should live very happily together.--But for the moment, listen to the voice of my long experience. Do not fly to the Mont-de-Piete; it is the ruin of the borrower. I have always found that when the interest was due, those who had pledged their things had nothing wherewith to pay up, and then all is lost. I can get you a loan at five per cent on your note of hand.”
”Oh, we are saved!” said Hortense.
”Well, then, child, Wenceslas had better come with me to see the lender, who will oblige him at my request. It is Madame Marneffe. If you flatter her a little--for she is as vain as a _parvenue_--she will get you out of the sc.r.a.pe in the most obliging way. Come yourself and see her, my dear Hortense.”
Hortense looked at her husband with the expression a man condemned to death must wear on his way to the scaffold.
”Claude Vignon took Stidmann there,” said Wenceslas. ”He says it is a very pleasant house.”
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