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i-l; lint nothing cures one o quickly of that infirmity as tbe
i bath
of such an absolute and civilly gracious re-
fusal. I shall go to Paris in a few days."
CHAPTER VII.
COMPLICATIONS.
SEVERAL' days elapsed, and no one at the chateau made any
allusion to Deuise. Jacques found it hard work to get over his
disappointment and longed for the moment of departure. George,
to whom not a word had been said of what had been going on,
was, as usual, silent. The old Count, almost as vexed as his son
at the result of the journey to Toulon, took refuge in politics,
and held Ion? conversations with Jacques about his prospects at
the approaching elections.
A request had been made to him to stand for the department,
M. Cesaire de Croixfouds, who was to have done so, having apparently
been unable to buy a property which would have made
him eligible. This incident happened luckily at the very mo-
ini'iit when the thoughts of father and son were particularly
prepared to indulge in ambitious projects, and day after day
they had gone through calculations in the morning, and in the
afternoon paid visits in the neighborhood, in order to feel their
ground and sound the dispositions of the electors.
Tin- result of their investigations showed that parties were
very evenly balanced, and, as the Baron de Croixfonds had also
d'.sc'Avred, that M. Lescalle's influence, and the votes he could
i 'iiKn.ind. would probably turn the scale on way or the other.
"
Would he be well disposed towards us? "
Jacques asked his
father.
"
I really cannot tell. He had given the Baron de Croixfonds
great hopes that he would support
THE DAUGHTER.
his son in case of his stand-
ing, but somebody said the other day that he threw him over,
and is hand and glove now with the Richers de Montlouis. M.
Jules Richer is the ultra Liberal candidate, you know."
" I had better call on Madame Lescalle, and try to obtain her
good graces."
" I suspect that she has not much influence with her lord and
master, that is to say, she rules the menage, but when it comes to
business or politics, he is absolute "
" How can we get round him? "
" We can ask him to dinner before you go, and judge of his
dispositions."
"
In the meantime I shall leave my card at the Maison Lescalle.
Such little attentions are never wholly unacceptable."
On the afternoon of the same day, as he was returning from
La Ciotat. Jacques met his brother, and was struck with his pale-
ness and look of more than ordinary dejection.
"Are you ill, George? " he said, in a kind manner.
" What makes you think so?"
" You don't look at all well."
"
Oh, I am quite well. There is nothing the matter with me."
"
I am not at all convinced of that. I have observed that* for
some days you have looked anything but well. You must take
care of yourself, Ceorjre."
"
Oh! I shall lake a long walk to-morrow; that does me more
good than "
anything when
" When you feel ill. What is the matter with you? "
George hesitated and seemed about to answer, but he stopped,
turned away, and, as if speaking to himself, said, " Oh, these
last twelve days!
Those words struck Jacques. It was just twelve days since his
own unsuccessful journey to' Toulon. As his brother walked
away, he looked at him in a thoughtful and anxious manner,
then went out himself, and for nearly an hour paced slowly up
and down the avenue. At last he stopped, and, as if he was
making up his mind to an effort, came back to the house and
walked straight into his father's study.
The Count dc Vedelles was writing, and said, without looking
up, " \Vlial d,i yon want, .larq;
"
I want to speak to you about something which is, I think,
of con-ri,urnrr. "
"
About your election? "
"
No; it is about George."
"
Oh, George again! " the old man said, with a look of weari-
"
ness. Well, what is it?"
" He is not; well, and if we do not takecare, he will get worse,
both in body and mind. I suspect he spends his nights wander-
ing about tiie grounds. I found out
accidentally that he had not
gone to bed at all the '
night before last.
M. de Vedelles made a gesture which meant, " Why was I not
told of this before? "
"
I did not speak about it, because I knew how much it must
vex you, and then, as I could not imagine any reason, or think
of anv remedy for this increasing depression, I thought it belter
not to thwart his fancies. But I am getting anxious about him.
He is looking very ill, he has lost his appetite, he is more sileut
and abstracted than ever, and sometimes his absence is so great
that I can hardly rouse him from it."
" My dear Jacques, all this is not new to me. Your mother
has noticed it as well as yourself, and it makes her very unhappy.
But what can we do? We have tried everything we could think
of to rouse him out of this apathy. I afraid there is nothing to
be done. Speaking to him about his health only serves to irritate
him."
"But I think I have found out the cause of this increased
dejection."
" Have you? What is it? "
" He is in love."
" In love! George! Oh, then that would explain those long
walks and wanderings about the country! And you have found
out the secret, and know who it is he has taken a fancy to. A
peasant girl, I suppose one of the farmer's daughters?"
" No; not at all a peasant girl! "
" Some one at La Ciotat, then? That would be better. If
she is a respectable girl and tolerably well connected, why really
it would be no bad thing to get him married. I have often
thought that as there is no hope of his entering into any profession,
this would be the best thing that could happen/'
" But unfortunately it is Mdlle. de. la Pinede he has fallen in
love with."
"Denise! Nonsense! I don't believe a word of it!"
" But I am quite certain it is so. I suspected it, and just now
something he said, half unconsciously, proved I am right."
"Then I don't see what is to be done. She would certainly
not marry him."
"No, indeed," Jacques said, glancing at his own handsome
face in the glass. "A girl who has refused me, would not. I
suppose, think of marrying George. But what can we do about
this poor dear boy?"
" You think much too seriously, I am sure, of this fancy of
his. Well, suppose he imagines himself in love with Mdlle. Denise,
it is only because she is the first pretty girl he has met and
talked to. We could easily, if lie has taken a sentimental turn,
lead his affections in some other more possible direction. The
fact is, he is bored to death. Without occupation of any sort,
without interest in anything, his life here is of course dreadfully
dull. He will never be able to take care of himself, and a good,
sensible wife, pretty enough to please his fancy, would be the
making of your brother. Do you know that this idea is quite a
relief to me? Can you think of any one that would do for him?
We must not be too particular. People in our owu rank of life
would object to marry their daughters to such a poor creature as
George, considering he is no great parti, and will never get on in
life. But what I can settle upon him, and the title of Baronne,
would throw dust into the eyes of many an honest roturier."
Jacques reflected a moment, and then a smile hovered on his
"
lips. O father, what a capital stroke of policy for both your
sons I have thought of. "
" What are you thinking of?"