Part 32 (1/2)

But he remained standing before her and said presently, ”What is of much more importance is that they don't like me.”

”No--they don't,” she said.

”And don't you think they are wrong?” Newman asked. ”I don't believe I am a man to dislike.”

”I suppose that a man who may be liked may also be disliked. And my brother--my mother,” she added, ”have not made you angry?”

”Yes, sometimes.”

”You have never shown it.”

”So much the better.”

”Yes, so much the better. They think they have treated you very well.”

”I have no doubt they might have handled me much more roughly,” said Newman. ”I am much obliged to them. Honestly.”

”You are generous,” said Madame de Cintre. ”It's a disagreeable position.”

”For them, you mean. Not for me.”

”For me,” said Madame de Cintre.

”Not when their sins are forgiven!” said Newman. ”They don't think I am as good as they are. I do. But we shan't quarrel about it.”

”I can't even agree with you without saying something that has a disagreeable sound. The presumption was against you. That you probably don't understand.”

Newman sat down and looked at her for some time. ”I don't think I really understand it. But when you say it, I believe it.”

”That's a poor reason,” said Madame de Cintre, smiling.

”No, it's a very good one. You have a high spirit, a high standard; but with you it's all natural and unaffected; you don't seem to have stuck your head into a vise, as if you were sitting for the photograph of propriety. You think of me as a fellow who has had no idea in life but to make money and drive sharp bargains. That's a fair description of me, but it is not the whole story. A man ought to care for something else, though I don't know exactly what. I cared for money-making, but I never cared particularly for the money. There was nothing else to do, and it was impossible to be idle. I have been very easy to others, and to myself. I have done most of the things that people asked me--I don't mean rascals. As regards your mother and your brother,” Newman added, ”there is only one point upon which I feel that I might quarrel with them. I don't ask them to sing my praises to you, but I ask them to let you alone. If I thought they talked ill of me to you, I should come down upon them.”

”They have let me alone, as you say. They have not talked ill of you.”

”In that case,” cried Newman, ”I declare they are only too good for this world!”

Madame de Cintre appeared to find something startling in his exclamation. She would, perhaps, have replied, but at this moment the door was thrown open and Urbain de Bellegarde stepped across the threshold. He appeared surprised at finding Newman, but his surprise was but a momentary shadow across the surface of an unwonted joviality.

Newman had never seen the marquis so exhilarated; his pale, unlighted countenance had a sort of thin transfiguration. He held open the door for some one else to enter, and presently appeared old Madame de Bellegarde, leaning on the arm of a gentleman whom Newman had not seen before. He had already risen, and Madame de Cintre rose, as she always did before her mother. The marquis, who had greeted Newman almost genially, stood apart, slowly rubbing his hands. His mother came forward with her companion. She gave a majestic little nod at Newman, and then she released the strange gentleman, that he might make his bow to her daughter.

”My daughter,” she said, ”I have brought you an unknown relative, Lord Deepmere. Lord Deepmere is our cousin, but he has done only to-day what he ought to have done long ago--come to make our acquaintance.”

Madame de Cintre smiled, and offered Lord Deepmere her hand. ”It is very extraordinary,” said this n.o.ble laggard, ”but this is the first time that I have ever been in Paris for more than three or four weeks.”

”And how long have you been here now?” asked Madame de Cintre.

”Oh, for the last two months,” said Lord Deepmere.

These two remarks might have const.i.tuted an impertinence; but a glance at Lord Deepmere's face would have satisfied you, as it apparently satisfied Madame de Cintre, that they const.i.tuted only a naivete. When his companions were seated, Newman, who was out of the conversation, occupied himself with observing the newcomer. Observation, however, as regards Lord Deepmere's person; had no great range. He was a small, meagre man, of some three and thirty years of age, with a bald head, a short nose and no front teeth in the upper jaw; he had round, candid blue eyes, and several pimples on his chin. He was evidently very shy, and he laughed a great deal, catching his breath with an odd, startling sound, as the most convenient imitation of repose. His physiognomy denoted great simplicity, a certain amount of brutality, and probable failure in the past to profit by rare educational advantages. He remarked that Paris was awfully jolly, but that for real, thorough-paced entertainment it was nothing to Dublin. He even preferred Dublin to London. Had Madame de Cintre ever been to Dublin? They must all come over there some day, and he would show them some Irish sport. He always went to Ireland for the fis.h.i.+ng, and he came to Paris for the new Offenbach things. They always brought them out in Dublin, but he couldn't wait. He had been nine times to hear La Pomme de Paris. Madame de Cintre, leaning back, with her arms folded, looked at Lord Deepmere with a more visibly puzzled face than she usually showed to society.

Madame de Bellegarde, on the other hand, wore a fixed smile. The marquis said that among light operas his favorite was the Gazza Ladra. The marquise then began a series of inquiries about the duke and the cardinal, the old countess and Lady Barbara, after listening to which, and to Lord Deepmere's somewhat irreverent responses, for a quarter of an hour, Newman rose to take his leave. The marquis went with him three steps into the hall.