Part 8 (1/2)
”No, but you think so; and that is worse. Well, come; I think I can convince you of your mistake. What do you think Miss Brandon would gain by marrying me? A fortune, you say. I have only one word in reply; but that is sufficient; Miss Brandon is richer than I am.”
How, and at what price, Miss Brandon had managed to possess herself of such a fortune, Daniel knew but too well from Maxime's account; hence he could not suppress a nervous shudder, which the count noticed, and which irritated him.
”Yes, richer than I am,” he repeated. ”The oil-wells which she has inherited from her father bring her in, bad years and good years, from thirty to forty thousand dollars a year, and that in spite of their being sadly mismanaged. If they were well managed, they would produce, three, four, or five times as much, or even more. Sir Thorn has proved to me that they are an almost inexhaustible mine of wealth. If petroleum was not fabulously profitable, how would you account for the oil-fever with which these cool, calculating Americans have suddenly been seized, and which has made more millionaires than the gold-fever in California and the Territories? Ah! there is something to be made there yet, and something grand, if one could dispose of a large capital.”
He became excited, and forgot himself; but he soon checked himself. He had evidently been on the point of letting a secret leak out. After a few moments, he continued more calmly,- ”But enough of that. I trust your suspicions are removed. Next you may tell me that Miss Brandon takes me because she can do no better. Mistaken again, my friend. At this very moment she is called upon to choose between me and a much younger man than I am, whose fortune, moreover, is larger than mine,-Mr. Wilkie Gordon.”
How did it come about that Count Ville-Handry seemed to appeal to Daniel, and to plead his cause before him? Daniel did not even think of asking himself that question; his mind was in a state of utter confusion. Still, as the count insisted on having his opinion, as he urged him, and repeatedly asked, ”Well, do you see any other objection?” he forgot at last his friend's prudent warning, and said in a troubled voice,- ”No doubt, count, you know Miss Brandon's family?”
”Certainly! Do you think I would buy a cat in a bag? Her excellent father was a model of honesty.”
”And-her previous life?”
The count started from his chair, and, casting a savage glance at Daniel, said,- ”Oh, oh! I see one of those rascally slanderers, who have tried to tarnish the honor of the n.o.blest and chastest of all women, has already been at work here, antic.i.p.ating my communication to you, and repeating those infamous calumnies. You must give me the name of the scoundrel.”
Unconsciously, almost, Daniel turned towards the door, behind which M. de Brevan was listening. Perhaps he expected him to come forth; but Maxime did not stir.
”Sarah's previous life!” continued the count. ”I know every hour of it; and I can answer for it as for my own. The darling! Before consenting to be mine, she insisted upon my knowing every thing, yes, every thing, without reserve or boastfulness; and I know what she has suffered. Did they not actually say she had been the accomplice of a wretched thief, a cas.h.i.+er of some bank, who had become a defaulter? Did they not say that she had driven a foolish young man, a gambler, to commit suicide; and that she had watched, unmoved, the tortures of his agony? Ah! you have only to look at Miss Brandon to know that these vile stories are wretched inventions of malicious enemies and rivals. And look here, Daniel; you may believe me; whenever you see people calumniate a man or a woman, you may rest a.s.sured that that man or woman has, somehow or other, wounded or humiliated some vulgar person, some mean, envious fool, who cannot endure his or her superiority in point of fortune, rank, or beauty and talent.”
He had actually recovered his youthful energy in thus defending his beloved. His eye brightened up; his voice became strong, and his gestures animated.
”But no more of that painful topic,” he said: ”let us talk seriously.”
He rose, and leaning on the mantelpiece, so as to face Daniel, he said,- ”I told you, my dear Daniel, that Sir Thorn and Mrs. Brian insisted upon certain conditions before they consented to our marriage. One is, that Miss Brandon is to be received by my relations as she deserves to be, not only respectfully, but affectionately, even tenderly. As to relations, there is not any. I have some remote cousins, who, having nothing to expect from me when I die, do not trouble themselves any more about me than I trouble myself about them. But I have a daughter; and there is the danger. I know she is distressed at the idea of my marrying again. She cannot bear the mere idea that another woman is to take the place of her mother, to bear her name, and to rule in my house.”
Daniel began at last to know what he had to understand by that unsuccessful appointment which had procured him the pleasure of a visit from Count Ville-Handry.
”Now,” continued the latter, ”I know my daughter. She is her mother over again, weak, but obstinate beyond endurance. If she has taken it into her head to receive Miss Brandon uncivilly, she will do so, in spite of all she has promised me, and she will make a terrible scene of it. And if Miss Brandon consents, in spite of all, to go on, my house will become a h.e.l.l to me, and my wife will suffer terribly. Now the question is, whether I have sufficient influence over Henrietta to bring her to reason. I think not. But this influence which I have not-a very nice young man may have it; and that man is you.”
Daniel had turned red. It was for the first time that the count spoke so clearly. He went on,- ”I have never disapproved of my poor wife's plans; and the proof is, that I have allowed you to pay your attentions to my daughter. But now I make this condition: if my daughter is to Miss Brandon what she ought to be to her, a tender and devoted sister, then, six months after my wedding, there shall be another wedding at my house.”
Daniel was about to speak; but he stopped him, saying,- ”No, not a word! I have shown you the wisdom of my decision, and you may act accordingly.”
He had already put on his hat and opened the door, when he added,- ”Ah! one word more. Miss Brandon has asked me to present you to her to-night. She wants to speak to you. Come and dine with me; and after dinner we will go to Circus Street. Now, pray think of what I have told you, and good-by!”
VII.
Count Ville-Handry had hardly closed the door, when M. de Brevan rushed out of the bedroom in which he had been concealed.
”Was I right?” he exclaimed.
But Daniel did not hear him. He had forgotten his very presence. Overcome by the great effort he had made to conceal his emotions, he had sunk into a chair, hiding his face in his hands, and said to himself in a mournful voice, and as if trying to convince himself of an overwhelming fact,- ”The count has lost his mind altogether, and we are lost.”
The grief of this excellent young man was so great and so bitter, that M. de Brevan seemed to be deeply moved. He looked at him for some time with an air of pity, and then suddenly, as if yielding to a good impulse, he touched his shoulder, and said,- ”Daniel!”
The unhappy man started like one who has suddenly been roused from deep slumber; and, as he recalled what had just happened, he said,- ”You have heard all, Maxime?”
”All! I have not lost a word nor a gesture. But do not blame me for my indiscretion. It enables me to give you some friendly advice. You know I have paid dear for my experience.”
He hesitated, being at a loss how to express his ideas; then he continued in a short, sharp tone,- ”You love Miss Ville-Handry?”
”More than my life, don't you know?”
”Well, if that is so, abandon all thoughts of useless resistance; induce Miss Henrietta to do as her father wishes; and persuade Miss Brandon to let your wedding take place a month after her own. But ask for special pledges. Miss Ville-Handry may suffer somewhat during that month; but the day after your wedding you will carry her off to your own home, and leave the poor old man to his amorous folly.”
Daniel showed in his face that this suggestion opened a new prospect before him.
”I had not thought of that,” he said.
”It is all you can do.”
”Yes, it is what prudence would advise me to do. But can I do so in honor?”
”Oh, honor, honor!”
”Would it not be wrong in me to abandon the poor old man to the mercy of Miss Brandon and her accomplices?”
”You will never be able to rescue him, my dear fellow.”
”I ought at least to try. You thought so yesterday, and even this morning, not two hours ago.”
Maxime could scarcely hide his impatience.
”I did not know then what I know now,” he said.
Daniel had risen, and was walking up and down the small room, replying to his own objections, rather than to those raised by Brevan.
”If I were alone master,” he said, ”I might, perhaps, agree to a capitulation. But could Henrietta accept it? Never, never! Her father knows her well. She is as weak as a child; but at the proper moment she can develop a masculine energy and an iron will.”
”Why should you tell her at all who Miss Brandon is?”
”I have pledged my word of honor to tell her every thing.”
Brevan again shrugged his shoulders, and there was no mistaking what he meant by that gesture. He might just as well have said aloud, ”Can one conceive such stupidity?”
”Then you had better give up your Henrietta, my poor fellow,” he said.
But Daniel's despair had been overcome. He ground his teeth with anger, and said,- ”Not yet, my friend, not yet! An honest man who defends his honor and his life is pretty strong. I have no experience, that is true; but I have you, Maxime; and I know I can always count upon you.”
Daniel did not seem to have noticed that M. de Brevan, at first all fire and energy, had rapidly cooled off, like a man, who, having ventured too far, thinks he has made a mistake, and tries to retrace his steps.
”Certainly you may count upon me,” he replied; ”but what can be done?”
”Well, what you said yourself. I shall call upon Miss Brandon, and watch her. I shall dissemble, and gain time. If necessary, I shall employ detectives, and find out her antecedents. I shall try to interest some high personage in my behalf,-my minister, for instance, who is very kind to me. Besides, I have an idea.”