Part 15 (1/2)

She hesitated a moment, and then, ”In former years,” she said.

Her brother had been watching Newman's movement. ”Perhaps you would like to examine the house,” he said.

Newman slowly brought down his eyes and looked at him; he had a vague impression that the young man at the chimney-piece was inclined to irony. He was a handsome fellow, his face wore a smile, his mustaches were curled up at the ends, and there was a little dancing gleam in his eye. ”d.a.m.n his French impudence!” Newman was on the point of saying to himself. ”What the deuce is he grinning at?” He glanced at Madame de Cintre; she was sitting with her eyes fixed on the floor. She raised them, they met his, and she looked at her brother. Newman turned again to this young man and observed that he strikingly resembled his sister.

This was in his favor, and our hero's first impression of the Count Valentin, moreover, had been agreeable. His mistrust expired, and he said he would be very glad to see the house.

The young man gave a frank laugh, and laid his hand on one of the candlesticks. ”Good, good!” he exclaimed. ”Come, then.”

But Madame de Cintre rose quickly and grasped his arm, ”Ah, Valentin!”

she said. ”What do you mean to do?”

”To show Mr. Newman the house. It will be very amusing.”

She kept her hand on his arm, and turned to Newman with a smile. ”Don't let him take you,” she said; ”you will not find it amusing. It is a musty old house, like any other.”

”It is full of curious things,” said the count, resisting. ”Besides, I want to do it; it is a rare chance.”

”You are very wicked, brother,” Madame de Cintre answered.

”Nothing venture, nothing have!” cried the young man. ”Will you come?”

Madame de Cintre stepped toward Newman, gently clasping her hands and smiling softly. ”Would you not prefer my society, here, by my fire, to stumbling about dark pa.s.sages after my brother?”

”A hundred times!” said Newman. ”We will see the house some other day.”

The young man put down his candlestick with mock solemnity, and, shaking his head, ”Ah, you have defeated a great scheme, sir!” he said.

”A scheme? I don't understand,” said Newman.

”You would have played your part in it all the better. Perhaps some day I shall have a chance to explain it.”

”Be quiet, and ring for the tea,” said Madame de Cintre.

The young man obeyed, and presently a servant brought in the tea, placed the tray on a small table, and departed. Madame de Cintre, from her place, busied herself with making it. She had but just begun when the door was thrown open and a lady rushed in, making a loud rustling sound.

She stared at Newman, gave a little nod and a ”Monsieur!” and then quickly approached Madame de Cintre and presented her forehead to be kissed. Madame de Cintre saluted her, and continued to make tea. The new-comer was young and pretty, it seemed to Newman; she wore her bonnet and cloak, and a train of royal proportions. She began to talk rapidly in French. ”Oh, give me some tea, my beautiful one, for the love of G.o.d!

I'm exhausted, mangled, ma.s.sacred.” Newman found himself quite unable to follow her; she spoke much less distinctly than M. Nioche.

”That is my sister-in-law,” said the Count Valentin, leaning towards him.

”She is very pretty,” said Newman.

”Exquisite,” answered the young man, and this time, again, Newman suspected him of irony.

His sister-in-law came round to the other side of the fire with her cup of tea in her hand, holding it out at arm's-length, so that she might not spill it on her dress, and uttering little cries of alarm. She placed the cup on the mantel-shelf and begun to unpin her veil and pull off her gloves, looking meanwhile at Newman.

”Is there any thing I can do for you, my dear lady?” the Count Valentin asked, in a sort of mock-caressing tone.

”Present monsieur,” said his sister-in-law.

The young man answered, ”Mr. Newman!”