Part 44 (1/2)

”And then, I must admit that I don't clearly understand the letter.”

”If you understood it, the charm would be destroyed.”

”Why not write simply, as one speaks?”

”Because three-fourths of the women, who are impervious to seduction by what is simple and natural, are delighted when a man seems to have lost his head for love of them. Trust me; this note will deliver the heart of the lovely Pole into your keeping. Sign that and give it to me.”

Cherubin did as he was told.

”By the way,” said Darena, as he took the letter, ”don't mention this intrigue to your Monsieur de Monfreville.”

”Why not?”

”In the first place, because an intrigue with such distinguished persons as these Poles requires to be conducted with the utmost secrecy.

Monfreville is very inquisitive and very talkative; he would want to see the lovely foreigner and that would spoil everything.”

”But you are very much mistaken; Monsieur de Monfreville is neither inquisitive nor talkative; on the contrary, he is a most sensible man, and he gives me excellent advice.”

Darena bit his lips, seeing that it was useless for him to try to destroy Cherubin's good opinion of Monfreville.

”Monfreville, sensible, virtuous!” he retorted in a sarcastic tone. ”At all events, he hasn't always been; I remember a time when he was the greatest ne'er-do-well; nothing was talked about but his conquests. To be sure, it was fifteen or eighteen years ago. When the devil grows old, he turns hermit. For my part, I am not changed, at all events; as I always have been, so I propose to remain; I prefer that. However, my dear fellow, I tell you again that, if I consent to act for you in your love-affair with the young Pole, I do it solely on account of my friends.h.i.+p for you; but you understand that the slightest indiscretion would compromise me. I demand secrecy, or I will have nothing to do with it.”

Cherubin swore that he would not mention his new conquest to a soul, and Darena left him, promising to return as soon as he should have anything to tell him.

Darena had hardly left his young friend, when Jasmin entered his master's presence. The old servant's manner was important and mysterious, and at the same time showed much satisfaction with the errand he had to perform. He tried to walk on tiptoe, as if he was afraid of being overheard; he went close to his master, nearly falling upon him because he lost his balance trying to lean over him, and said, with an expression at once serious and comical:

”There's a woman here, monsieur, who wishes to speak to us--that is to say, to you--if you are alone.”

Cherubin could not help laughing at his old servant's expression and at the malicious meaning which he tried to impart to his message.

”Who is the woman, Jasmin? Do you know her?”

”Yes, monsieur, I recognized her from having seen her in her mistress's antechamber; you go to the house sometimes.”

”What do you say?”

”Why, yes, she's a lady's maid. Oh! she doesn't come on her own account, it's her mistress who sends her--I know all about it. Many of them used to come to see monsieur le marquis, your father, before he was married.

There was sometimes a line waiting in our little salon. Ha! ha! I used to toy with all the maids.”

”Well, from whom does this one come?”

”Didn't I tell monsieur? From Madame de Valdieri.”

”The pretty countess! Show her in at once, Jasmin.”

Cherubin was very curious to know what Madame de Valdieri could possibly want of him. Jasmin went to call the maid, a tall, stoutly-built girl of some twenty years, with red cheeks and rather an attractive face, who seemed not at all abashed at calling at a gentleman's apartments. After ushering her into his master's room, the old servant, imagining doubtless that he had gone back to the time when they used to stand in line at Cherubin's father's door, essayed, as he left the room, to put his arms about the waist of the pretty lady's maid; but his foot slipped, and, to avoid falling, he was obliged to cling tightly to her, whom he had intended simply to caress; luckily the girl was firm on her legs, and able to sustain the weight of the old fellow, and she merely laughed in his face as he slunk from the room in dire confusion.

As soon as Jasmin had gone, the maid took from the pocket of her ap.r.o.n a tiny scented note, which she handed to the young marquis, saying:

”Madame told me to hand this to monsieur, and to request an immediate answer.”