Volume II Part 78 (1/2)
”And if he has received it, my child; of two things choose one: either he is in such a situation that he cannot come to our aid, or he feels no interest for us; then why expose ourselves to a refusal or a humiliation?”
”Come, courage, mamma, we have one hope left. Perhaps this morning will bring us a happy answer.”
”From Lord d'Orbigny?”
”Without doubt. This letter, of which you formerly made a draught, was so simple, so touching--exposed so naturally our misfortunes, that he will have pity on us. Really, I do not know what tells me you are wrong to despair of a.s.sistance.”
”He has so little reason to interest himself about us: he had, it is true, formerly known your father, and I had often heard my brother speak of Lord d'Orbigny as of a man with whom he had been on friendly terms before he left Paris with his young wife.”
”It is just on that account that I have hopes; he has a young wife, she will be compa.s.sionate; and, besides, in the country one can do so much good. He will take you, I suppose, for housekeeper; I will take care of the linen. Since Lord d'Orbigny is very rich, in a large house there is always employment.”
”Yes; but we have so little right to his interest. We are so unfortunate.”
”That is frequently a t.i.tle in the eyes of charitable people. Let us hope that Lord d'Orbigny and his wife are so.”
”Well, in case we need expect nothing from him, I will overcome my false shame, and will write to the d.u.c.h.ess de Lucenay--this lady of whom M. de Saint Remy spoke so often, whose generosity and good heart he so often praised. Yes, the daughter of the Prince de Noirmont. He knew her when she was very small, and he treated her almost as his child, for he was intimately connected with the prince. Madame de Lucenay must have many-acquaintances; she could, perhaps, find us a place.”
”Doubtless, mamma, but I understand your reserve; you do not know her at all, while my poor father and uncle knew Lord d'Orbigny a little.”
”Finally, in the case that Madame d'Orbigny can do nothing for us, I will have recourse to a last resource.”
”What is it, mamma?”
”It is a very weak one--a very foolish hope, perhaps; but why not try it? the son of M. de Saint Remy is---”
”M. de Saint Remy has a son!” cried Claire, with astonishment.
”Yes, my child, he has a son.”
”He never spoke of him--he never came to Angers.”
”True, for reasons you cannot know. M. de Saint Remy, having left Paris fifteen years ago, has not seen his son since.”
”Fifteen years without seeing his father! can it be possible?”
”Alas! yes, you see. I tell you that the son of M. de Saint Remy, being well known in the fas.h.i.+onable world, and very rich--”
”Very rich! and his father is poor?”
”All the fortune of M. de Saint Remy, the son, came from his mother.”
”But no matter; how can he leave his father--”
”His father would accept nothing from him.”
”Why is that?”
”This is once more a question to which I cannot reply, my dear child; but I heard my poor brother say that the generosity of this young man was generally praised. Young and generous, he ought to be good. Thus, learning from me that my husband was the intimate friend of his father, perhaps he might interest himself in procuring us some work or employment; he has so many brilliant and numerous relations, that this would be easy.”
”And then we could find out from him, perhaps, if M. de Saint Remy, his father, should have left Angers before you wrote to him; that would explain his silence.”