Part 20 (1/2)
”What--is it bad news?” she asked, looking at him with some apprehension.
A long silence fell between them. He was watching her, hesitating whether he should speak. At length, however, he suddenly took her hand and said--
”As I have told you, I am your father's friend. You may doubt me; probably you do. But one day I shall prove to you that I am acting solely from motives of friends.h.i.+p--that I am endeavouring to s.h.i.+eld your father from the impending blow.”
”If you are, why do you not go to my father and tell him everything?”
she asked, inwardly filled with doubt and mistrust.
”Because, as I have told you, it is impolitic to do so at this moment.
We must wait.”
”And while we wait his enemies may take advantage.”
”No, not yet. Their plans are not yet complete,” he answered. ”I was at the Camera last evening, and discovered the exact situation. If we are patient and watchful we may yet turn the weapon of our enemies against themselves.”
He saw that she was grave and thoughtful, that his advice caused her to reflect; while she, on her part, did not divulge what she had already told His Excellency.
They stood together at the window, where the long green sun-shutters were closed to keep out the blazing heat of afternoon, and as he looked upon her handsome profile in that dim half-light he saw that her face and figure in her cool white dress was the most perfect that he had ever gazed upon even in the _haut monde_ of Paris. In the air was the stifling oppression of the storm-cloud: ”You are sad,” he said presently in a calm, low voice as he leaned against the broad marble sill of the window, where a welcome breath of air reached them from the silent sun-baked street below.
Her dark eyes were fixed upon the opposite wall, and her hands were clasped in pensive att.i.tude; for his manner had mystified her, knowing all that he had done in the silence of the night at San Donato.
”I fear the future,” she declared frankly, starting at his words and turning her gaze upon him.
”But what have you to fear?” he asked, bending slowly towards her with an intense look in his eyes. ”I am your friend equally with your father's, as I have already declared, and fortunately I know the intentions and the dastardly intrigues of those who are plotting his ruin.”
”Then you can save him by exposing their plot?” she cried, utterly amazed at his words. ”You will--will you not?” she implored breathlessly.
”I can save him--yes, I can, within twelve hours, cause the very men who now seek the downfall of the Ministry to fly in fear from Rome,” he said. Then, after a pause, he added, ”I know the truth.”
”And you will tell it?” she urged breathlessly, advancing towards him.
”My father's future, my own future, the honour of our house all depend upon you.” He had examined her father's private papers, and undoubtedly knew the truth on both sides. He had acted with the enemy, and yet he declared himself to be her friend? ”You will save my father?” she implored.
With a sudden movement he took her hand in his and whispered in a quick, earnest voice into her ear--
”Yes, I will save him--on one condition. Of late, Mary, I have noticed that you have avoided me--that--that you somehow appear to shun me in suspicion and mistrust. You doubt my good intentions towards you and your family. But I will give proof of them if you will only allow me.”
She felt his hot breath upon her cheek, and trembled.
”Save my father from the hands of these unscrupulous office-seekers,”
she panted. ”His honour--his very life is to-day at stake.”
”Upon two conditions, Mary,” was his low, quiet answer, still holding her hand firmly in his. ”That he gives his consent to our marriage, and that you are willing to become my wife.”
”Your wife!” she gasped, drawing her hand away, starting back, and looking blankly at him with her magnificent eyes. ”_Your wife_!”
”Yes. I love you, Mary,” he cried pa.s.sionately, taking her hand again, ”I love you. You must have seen how for months past I have lived for you alone, yet I dared not, until to-day, reveal the truth. Say one word--only say that you will be mine--and your father shall crush those who intend to wreck and ruin him.”
”You--then you make marriage the price of my father's triumph?” she faltered hoa.r.s.ely, as the ghastly truth gradually dawned upon her.