Part 58 (1/2)

”And I,” he said, covering Denyse's face and hair with kisses, ”I could not go on living with the thought that I might be taken away without your future being provided for in the way in which I should wish it to be.”

”Don't talk about all those things,” she murmured. ”I want to think that I shall never be separated from you--never, never!”

Trying, in spite of the darkness, to look into Bijou's eyes, he asked anxiously:

”Will you be able to love me a little, as I love you?”

Without answering, she held her pretty lips up to him, but just at that moment the sound of voices made them move away from each other abruptly.

Only a few yards away from them they could hear several persons talking in low voices, and also the sound of heavy footsteps walking with measured tread. It seemed as though just there, quite near to them, a heavy burden were being carried along, whilst, in the midst of the darkness, lights kept pa.s.sing by.

”It's very odd,” said M. de Clagny; ”one would think something had happened.”

Bijou, however, who had stopped short, her heart beating fast with anxiety, struck with the strangeness of the little procession, put her hand on the count's arm, and said, quite tranquilly:

”Oh, no! it must be the men going back to the farm. Just now they are at work up at the house through the day, and then, when they have had something to eat, they go back home.”

”It seemed to me, though, that the lanterns were on the way towards the house.”

She was walking along with her hand on his arm, and a thrill of joy ran through him as he drew this beautiful girl, who had just promised herself to him, closer still, in a pa.s.sionate embrace.

They returned slowly to the house along the avenues, meeting several carriages, which were bearing away the departing guests.

”How's that?” exclaimed Bijou, in surprise. ”They are going away already--but what about the cotillion? Is it very late?”

On arriving at the hall-door steps, they met the La Balues coming towards their carriage.

”How's this?” asked Bijou. ”You are going? But why?”

M. de la Balue mumbled out some unintelligible words, whilst his son and daughter, looking very sad, shook hands with Bijou.

”Well, what long faces they are making,” remarked M. de Clagny, beginning to get anxious in his turn. ”Ah! what's that? Whatever's the matter?”

In the hall there was a long pool of water. The servants were going backwards and forwards quickly, looking awestruck, and then Pierrot came in sight, his eyes swollen with crying, and his hands full of flowers. Madame de Rueille was following him, carrying flowers, too.

Bijou stopped short, thunderstruck; but M. de Clagny hurried up to Madame de Rueille.

”What has happened?” he asked.