24Andre had removed his coat and donned his blouse, the sleeves of whichwere rolled up to his shoulders. "I must get to business," murmuredhe, "to make up for lost time." He set to work with great vigor, buthad hardly got into the swing, when a lad came actively up the ladderand told him that a gentleman wished to see him, "and a real swell,too," added the boy. Andre was a good deal put out at being disturbed,but when he reached the street and saw that it was M. de Breulh-Faverlay who was waiting for him, his ill-humor disappeared like chaffbefore the wind.
"Ah, this is really kind of you," cried he; for he could never forgetthe debt of gratitude he owed to the gentleman. "A thousand thanks forremembering me. Excuse my not shaking hands, but see;" and heexhibited his palms all white with plaster. As he did so the smiledied away on his lips, for he caught sight of his friend's face.
"What is the matter?" exclaimed he, anxiously. "Is Sabine worse? Hasshe had a relapse?"De Breulh shook his head, but the expression of his face clearlysaid,--"Would to heavens it were only that!"But the news that Sabine was not worse relieved Andre at once, and hepatiently waited for his friend to explain.
"I have seen her twice for you," answered De Breulh; "but it isabsolutely necessary that you should come to a prompt decision on animportant affair.""I am quite at your service," returned Andre a good deal surprised andtroubled.
"Then come with me at once, I did not drive here, but we shall not bemore than a quarter of an hour in reaching my house.""I will follow you almost immediately. I only ask five minutes' graceto go up to the scaffold again.""Have you any orders to give?""No, I have none.""Why should you go, then?""To make myself a little more presentable.""Is it an annoyance or inconvenience for you to go out in that dress?""Not a bit, I am thoroughly used to it; but it was for your sake.""If that is all, come along.""But people will stare at seeing you in company with a commonworkman.""Let them stare." And drawing Andre's arm through his, M. de Breulhset off.
Andre was right; many persons did turn round to look at thefashionably dressed gentleman walking arm in arm with a mason in hisworking attire, but De Breulh took but little heed, and to all Andre'squestions simply said, "Wait till we reach my house."At length they arrived, without having exchanged twenty words, andentering the library closed the door. M. de Breulh did not inflict thetorture of suspense upon his young friend a moment longer than wasnecessary.
"This morning, about twelve o'clock, as I was crossing the Avenue deMatignon, I saw Modeste, who had been waiting for you more than anhour.""I could not help it.""I know that. As soon as she saw me, she ran up to me at once. She wasterribly disappointed at not having seen you; but knowing ourintimacy, she intrusted me with a letter for you from Mademoiselle deMussidan."Andre shuddered; he felt that the note contained evil tidings, withwhich De Breulh was already acquainted. "Give it to me," said he, andwith trembling hands he tore open the letter and perused its contents.
"DEAREST ANDRE,--"I love you, and shall ever continue to do so, but I have duties--most holy ones--which I must fulfil; duties which my name andposition demand of me, even should the act cost me my life. Weshall never meet again in this world, and this letter is the lastone you will ever receive from me. Before long you will see theannouncement of my marriage. Pity me, for great as yourwretchedness will be, it will be as nothing compared to mine.
Heaven have mercy upon us both! Andre, try and tear me out of yourheart. I have not even the right to die, and oh, my darling,this--this is the last word you will ever receive from your poorunhappy"SABINE."If M. de Breulh had insisted upon taking Andre home with him before hehanded him the letter, it was because Modeste had given him someinkling of its contents. He feared that the effect would be tremendousupon nerves so highly strung and sensitive as those of Andre. But heneed not have been alarmed on this point. As the young paintermastered the contents of the letter his features became ghastly pale,and a shudder convulsed every nerve and muscle of his frame. With amechanical gesture he extended the paper to M. de Breulh, uttering theone word, "Read."His friend obeyed him, more alarmed by Andre's laconism than he couldhave been by some sudden explosion of passion.
"Do not lose heart," exclaimed he.
But Andre interrupted him. "Lose heart!" said he; "you do not know me.
When Sabine was ill, perhaps dying, far away from me, I did feel castdown; but now that she tells me that she loves me, my feelings are ofan entirely different nature."M. de Breulh was about to speak, but Andre went on.
"What is this marriage contract which my poor Sabine announces to me,as if it was her death-warrant? Her parents must all along haveintended to break with you, but you were beforehand with them. Canthey have received a more advantageous offer of marriage already? Itis scarcely likely. When she confided the secret of her life to you,she certainly knew nothing of this. What terrible event has happenedsince then? My brave Sabine would never have submitted unless somecoercion had been used that she could not struggle against; she wouldrather have quitted her father's house for ever."As Andre uttered these words De Breulh's mind was busy with similarreflections, for Modeste had given him some hint of the approachingmarriage, and had begged him to be most careful how he communicatedthe facts to Andre.
"You must have noticed," continued the young painter, "the strangecoincidence between Sabine's illness and this note. You left her happyand full of hope, and an hour afterward she falls senseless, as thoughstruck by lightning; as soon as she recovers a little she sends methis terrible letter. Do you remember that Madame de Bois Arden toldus that during Sabine's illness her father and mother never left herbedside? Was not this for fear lest some guilty secret of theirs mightescape her lips in a crisis of delirium?""Yes, I remember that, and I have long had reason to imagine thatthere is some terrible family secret in the Mussidans' family, such aswe too often find among the descendants of noble houses.""What can it be?""That I have no means of ascertaining, but that there is one I amsure."Andre turned away and paced rapidly up and down the room. "Yes," saidhe, suddenly, "there is a mystery; but you and I will leave no stoneunturned until we penetrate it." He drew a chair close to the side ofhis friend, who was reclining on a couch. "Listen," said he, "andcorrect me if you fancy that I am not right in what I am saying. Doyou believe that the most terrible necessity alone has compelledSabine to write this letter?""Most certainly.""Both the Count and Countess were willing to accept you as their son-in-law?""Exactly so.""Could M. de Mussidan have found a more brilliant match for hisdaughter, one who could unite so many advantages of experience andeducation to so enormous a fortune?"De Breulh could hardly repress a smile.
"I am not wishing to pay you a compliment," said Andre impatiently.
"Reply to my question.""Very well then, I admit that according to the opinion of the world, Iwas a most eligible suitor, and that M. de Mussidan would find it hardto replace me.""Then tell me how it comes about that neither the Count nor theCountess has made any effort to prevent this rupture?""Their pride, perhaps, has been wounded.""Not so, for Modeste tells us that on the very day you sent the letterthe Count was going to call on you to break off the engagement.""Yes, that is so, if we are to believe Modeste."As if to give more emphasis to his words, Andre started to his feet.
"This," cried he, "this man, who has so suddenly appeared upon thescene, will marry Sabine, not only against her own will, but againstthat of her parents, and for what reason? Who is this man, and what isthe mysterious power that he possesses? His power is too great tospring from an honorable source. Sabine is sacrificing herself to thisman for some reason or other, and he, like a dastardly cur, is readyto take advantage of the nobleness of her heart.""I admit the correctness of your supposition," said he; "and now, howdo you propose to act?""I shall do nothing as yet," answered the young man, with a fiercegleam in his eyes. "Sabine asks me to tear her from my heart. I willaffect to do so for the time. Modeste believes in me, and will helpme. I have patience. The villain who has wrecked my life does not knowme, and I will only reveal myself upon the day that I hold himhelpless in my hand.""Take care, Andre," urged De Breulh; "a false step would ruin yourhopes for ever.""I will make none; as soon as I have this man's name, I will insulthim; there will be a duel, and I shall kill him--or he me.""A duel will be the height of madness, and would ruin all your hopesof marriage with Sabine.""The only thing that holds me back is that I do not wish that thereshould be a corpse between Sabine and myself. Blood on a bridal dress,they say, brings misery; and if this man is what I suspect him to be,I should be doing him too much honor if I crossed swords with him. No,I must have a deeper vengeance than this, for I can never forget thathe nearly caused Sabine's death."He paused for a few seconds, and once again broke the silence whichreigned in the room.
"To abuse the power that he must possess shows what a miserable wretchhe must be; and men do not attain such a height of infamy by a singlebound. The course of his life must be full of similar crimes, growingdeeper and deadlier as he moves on. I will make it my business tounmask him and to hold him up to the scorn and contempt of his fellow-men.""Yes; that is the plan to pursue.""And we will do so, sir. Ah! heaven help me! I say 'we,' for I haverelied on you. The generous offer that you made to me I refused, and Iwas in the right in doing so; but I should now be a mere madman if Idid not entreat you to grant me your aid and advice. We have bothknown hardship and are capable of going without food or sleep, ifnecessity requires it of us. We have both graduated in the school ofpoverty and sorrow. We can keep our plans to ourselves and act."Andre paused, as if waiting for a reply, but his friend remainedsilent.
"My plan is most simple," resumed the young painter. "As soon as weknow the fellow's name we shall be able to act. He will never suspectus, and we can follow him like his very shadow. There are professionaldetectives who, for a comparatively small sum, will lay bare a man'sentire life. Are we not as clever as this fine fellow? We can workwell together in our different circles; you, in the world of fashion,can pick up intelligence that I could not hope to gain; while I, frommy lowly position, will study the hidden side of his life, for I cantalk to the servants lounging at the front doors or the grooms at thepublic-houses without suspicion."M. de Breulh was delighted at finding that he could have someoccupation which would fill up the dreary monotony of his life.
"I am yours!" cried he; "and will work with you heart and soul!"Before the artist could reply a loud blow was struck upon the librarydoor, and a woman's voice exclaimed,--"Let me in, Gontran, at once.""It is Madame de Bois Arden," remarked De Breulh, drawing the boltback; and the Viscountess rushed hastily into the room and threwherself into a low chair.
Her beautiful face was bedewed with tears, and she was in a terriblestate of excitement.
"What is the matter, Clotilde?" asked De Breulh kindly, as he took herhand.
"Something terrible," answered she with a sob; "but you may be able tohelp me. Can you lend me twenty thousand francs?"De Breulh smiled; a heavy weight had been lifted from his heart.
"If that is all you require, do not shed any more tears.""But I want them at once.""Can you give me half an hour?""Yes; but lose no time."De Breulh drew a check and despatched his valet for the money.
"A thousand thanks!" said the Viscountess; "but money is not all thatI require, I want your advice."Andre was about to leave the cousins together, but the lady stoppedhim.
"Pray remain, M. Andre," said she; "you are not at all in the way;............