Volume II Part 31 (1/2)
The marquis and his wife looked proudly at the vicomte, who, however, could hardly restrain his disappointment He did not knohat hurt him most, the loss of Louison or the twenty thousand francs, and he railed against hiine that Robeckal and Rolla would keep their word
”Do not frown so,” whispered Madeleine to her son, ”here comes Irene”
The vicomte bit his lips until they bled, and then approached Irene de Salves, who had just entered, accompanied by her mother and the Marquis de Montferrand
Irene was dazzlingly beautiful, and her rich dress enhanced her char appearance There was, however, a melancholy look in her dark eyes, but her voice sounded clear and strong as she replied to the vicoht up in the traditions of the nobility, Irene did not think of resisting her ement with the Vico Irene loved Fanfaro with all the fervor of her soul, but she would never have dared to tell her mother of her attachment for the acrobat
When the vicomte pressed her hand upon his are shot out of the dark eyes, while Talizac thought to hiirl had every reason to be proud of hiht of St Louis The more he considered it the more he came to the conclusion that he could de countess possessed several millions caused him to submit to the match
The first notes of a polonaise were heard now, and the guests, grouping theh the wide halls A quadrille followed the polonaise, and it was a charirls dance Irene kept up a cross-fire of words with the vicoallant sentence to her, when a high officer of the Royal Life Guards appeared and handed the vicomte his commission
Great enthusiasratulated froirls envied Irene, for it was an open secret that she would be the future Vicomtesse de Talizac
Arthur de Montferrand was the only one who could not force hiratulate the vicomte It was only on his father's account that he ca surrounded on all sides, Arthur's thoughts went back to the scene of the previous evening He saw Louison's pleading looks, he heard her conteiven her good reason to believe that he was one of Talizac's accomplices
The vicomte's voice aroused hi, ”have you no congratulation for ly at the vicomte, and in a low voice replied:
”Vicomte, if I cannot discover any traces of the punishment you received yesterday on your cheeks, I hope to be able to pay up for what I have lost For to-day you must excuse me”
Deathly pale, Talizac looked at Montferrand, but before he had a chance to reply, a commotion was heard in the corridor, followed by a war of words
The ive an order to a servant to inquire after the cause of the disturbance, when the folding doors were thrown open and a irl in his arms rushed into the ballroom
”Fanfaro!” cried Montferrand in a girl's body tenderly upon the ground, and, turning to the asse voice:
”Ladies and gentleirl whom the Vicomte de Talizac murdered”
The woly at Talizac, as tre hard to appear indifferent
The Marquis of Fougereuse was as white as a spectre Was this Fanfaro going to pursue him forever?
”Who is the bold fellow?” he audaciously said ”Throw him out”
”Don't be so quick, marquis,” said Fanfaro earnestly; ”it is a question of a terrible crime, and your son the Vicomte de Talizac is the criminal! Oh, the shame of it! Does he think that because he is a nobleirl lived modestly and plainly; she was pure and innocent The Vicoarded her as his prey He bribed a couple of scoundrels and had the poor child abducted
”Half crazed with horror and despairing of huetfulness in suicide Marquis, do you know of any infaer of innocence, Fanfaro stood in the centre of the room and his eyes shot forth rays of contempt
Montferrand hurried toward him and cordially shook him by the hand
”Is she dead--is she really dead?” he asked
”I fear so,” replied the young ive up all hope Is there no lady here ill take care of the poor child and try to soften the vico his voice ”Does not a heart beat under these silks and satins?”