Fabiola : or, The church of the catacombs - Digital Repository Services

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staff,' Mile. d.> Malpoiro said, as she took hold of the little fig-
'
ure. Do put your gloves on before you touch that thing,'
the Baronne said; 'how do you know through whoso hnmls
that figure lu.s I passed? daresay soiao peasant-boy made it
in Home dirty shed, sitting on the straw amongst his sheep.'
wife's little table, and sank into the soft depths of an easychair,
with his elbows resting on the pearl-colored damask
cushions. Madame de Malpeiro sat opposite to him, playing
with her fan, and now and then taking a pinch of Spanish snuff
out of a box of burnished gold. You may easily imagine what
a strange contrast the husband and wife presented. He with
word, he will crush the factious multitude. '
Mile, de Malpeire ejaculated, with a singular expression of
'
countenance. I said to myself, The study of the Philosophical
History of the East and West Indies has, I see, borne
its fruits.' But I considered this leaning towards the new
opinions as the youthful exuberance of a generous spirit, and I
was not at all anxious as t the results it might have.
"Supper was announced and we went into the next room.
By Madame de Malpeire's desire I led her daughter in, and sat
down by her side. But she did not vouchsafe to look again
towards me, and when I spoke to her she answered shortly,
and with marked coldness of manner, still I could evidently
see that she was by no means out of spirits. On the contrary,
there was a half-smiling, half-dreamy expression in her face
which enchanted me.
" After supper we retired to the saloon, which was lighted
up and arranged as if a numerous society had been expected.
The arm-chairs were placed in a semi-circle opposite to the
chimney, and a screen embroidered in gold and purple silk,
with the arms of the Malpeires in the centre, stood before the
hearth. The harpsichord was open, and the card-table set out.
Madame de Malpeire sat down at the instrument, and played
an easy little sonata with her eyes looking up at the ceiling,
and her head moving to and fro in time with her performance.
Meanwhile the Baron fell asleep, and Mile, de Malpeire gradually
approached the window, and at last ensconced herself in
the recess, half concealed by the curtain. I could see her
profile. She was leaning her forehead on her hands, and
gazing through the half-closed shutters on the outer darkness,
in the midst of which a few lights in the direction of the vil-
lage showed that some of the cottagers had not yet retired
to rest.
" '
Will you play cards with me?' Madame de Malpeire said,
keep hia eye* open after supper, and as to my daughter, I
/ 9
could never teach her tl> ofhmrtH
mid a knave f diamonds. .
i I
sometimes amuse myself with a solitary game at
tience. It is a sort of method of telling
1
cards.' 'Will you tell me mine?
I Haul.
'
fortunes with
(), by nil means.'
' We
'
Yes, very likely,' replied her daughter, and she put the little
figure in her '
pocket. I think it is the image of some saint,'
the Baron opined; '
my gamekeeper slipped it, I have no doubt,
into my bag to bring me luck.' "
she answered, laughing and looking
" He then took off his belt, threw his powder-flask on his
at her daughter.
will consult the cards to see how soon a certain handsome dark
young man will marry a fair young lady.' Mile, de Maljn
blushed at this direct allusion, and a slight frown con'. ."ted
her eyebrows. A moment afterwards she asked i-'s
leave to withdraw, and curtseying to me left the room without
speaking. 'Ah, Madame,' I exclaimed. 'lam sadly afraid
the cards do not return a favorable answer.' 'In t!
she quickly replied, 'they do not speak the truth.' And
holding out the pack to me, she added, 'Cut, if yon pie
'
dear son-in-law. played six games at pirqiiet. Ma-
We my
dame de Malpeire was in ecstasies; 'it seemed,' she said
his thick blue-cloth waistcoat, his leather gaiters reaching
above his knees, his sunburnt face, large heavy hands, and colossal
figure; she with her bows, her lace, her small, light figure,
dainty manners and aristocratic refinements. I looked on in
astonishment.
" The Baron asked me what was the news at Court, according
to the style still in use at that time, and the conversation
naturally turned on recent events. The old nobleman could
not at all realize the importance^nd significance of what he
called an audacious sedition, ancr spoke of it in terms of indig-
'
nant contempt. Sir,' he said to me emphatically, 'we have
nothing to apprehend. The King is '
like being
master, and he will show
himself to be so as soon as he chooses it. With one look, one
'Who knows?'
in Paris again. '
"When the clock struck twelve, the Baron woke up, and
said, looking at the clock, 'You ought, I am sure, to be tired.
We have kept you up much too late. It is all Madame do
Malpeire's fault. We have got into this bad habit of sitting
up.'
"According to the old fashioned ideas of hospitality, lie
lighted me to my room, and, before taking leave of me for the
night, he pressed my hand affectionately, and said with some
emotion, 'Your coming here has made me very happy. Good
'
night, my dear Count. To-morrow we shall talk of the future.
"In spite of the fatigues of the day, I did not rest much
that night. Mile, de Malpeire's image kept pursuing me, and
seemed to hover behind the curtain of my canopied bed. If I
fell asleep, I saw her, and when I awoke my thoughts carried
on the dream. This feverish excitement subsided towards
morning. The lovely phantom which had haunted me vanished
with the first rays of dawning light, and the delightful hopes
and anticipations which had filled my mind during the night,
gave way to an unaccountable feeling of depression. I was in
this state when, at an early hour, the Baron walked into my
room. Though the clock had not yet struck seven, I was al-
ready up and dressed. He took a chair, and, sitting down by
me, began at once, without : any preface 'My dear Count, the
reception we have given you must have plainly shown what our
feelings are with regard to your views in coming here. You
have quite won my wife's heart she is ; delighted with yonr appearance,
your manners, your conversation. For my part, I
felt love to you at once because of your great likeness to your
father, the worthiest man I know. Now it is for you to sav if
there is anything about my daughter's looks which does not
take your fancy, or if you find her pretty and attractive enough
for you ?' '
'O, Monsieur le Baron ! I exclaimed, 'she is the
I ever beheld ! If I can ob-
loveliest, the most charming person
tain her hand, I shall consider myself the most fortunate man
in the world.' 'In that case,' the Baron answered, with a
pleased smile, 'we have nothing to do but to draw up the settlements
and fix the day for the wedding.' 'You do not antici-
pate, then, any obstacle ?' I asked in an agitated voice. 'No ;
what obstacle could there be ?' he replied. 'You have my con-
sent and Madame de Malpeire's what would you desire more?'
I clasped the hand he held out to me in token of his j_roui
and then asked him as a favor to delay my happiness for a lit-
tle while. 'I beseech you, not to tell Mile, de Malpeire that
you have accepted my proposals for her. Allow me a few days,
during which I shall endeavor to win her own consent.'
" He laughed and answered, 'Oh! by all means, up
as she rose from the instrument.
' What do you say to a
hundred at picquet? It was the Baillfe d'Herbel ay's favorite
game, and his luck at it was wonderful. I was his scholar but
it is so long since I have played, that I am afraid I have forgotten
his lessons." The card-table was near the window, and
win -M I was seated at it I found there was only the curtain beme
and Mile, de Malpeire. She immediately moved
'
away, and sat down by her mother. Do you, then
never play, Madame la Baronne?' I said, shuffling the cards.
iot at picquet,' she answered. 'The Baron can never
Count I can refuse no ; request of yours. Pay your court to
my daughter, fair Amadis. Her heart must be made of s
if it does not soon surrender at discretion. Now,' he mi
' come to breakfast, and then I will take you over tli;
We have plenty of time to spare ; my wife only gets up for din-
ner at twelve o'clock.'
" The Castle de Malpeire is now, I suppose a heap of ruins ;
but at that time not one st^nci of its ramparts was missing, ami
it contained treasures of antiquarian value. The armory and