These little pampering attentions make good friends.
An audacious idea suddenly came to Mlle.Moriaz; there was no time to recoil from it.She ordered up her coupe.M.Moriaz had just gone out to make a call in the neighbourhood.She determined to profit by his absence, and besought Mlle.Moiseney to make ready in haste to accompany her to Paris, where she had to confer with her dressmaker.
Ten minutes later she stepped into her carriage, having ordered her coachman to drive like the wind.
Her dressmaker did not detain her long; from the Rue de la Paix she ordered to be driven to No.27 Rue Mouffetard.She never was in the habit of permitting Mlle.Moiseney, who was very short of breath, to climb with her to the fifth story, where Mlle.Galet lodged; upon this occasion she indicated to her an express order to remain peaceably below in the coupe to await her return.
She slowly mounted the stairs; on her way up she encountered a servant, who informed her that Mlle.Galet was lying down taking a nap, being somewhat indisposed, but that the key was in the door.The apartment of which Mlle.Moriaz was in quest was composed of three rooms, a vestibule serving as a kitchen, a tiny /salon/, and a bed-chamber.She paused a few moments in the vestibule to regain her breath, to gather together all her courage, to compose her mind; she had at once divined that there was some one in the /salon/.She entered; Mlle.Galet was not there, but he was there, the man whom she had come to seek.Apparently, he awaited the awakening of the mistress of the place.In perceiving the woman whom he had sworn never to see again, he trembled violently, and his eyes sought some loophole of escape; there was none.Standing upon the threshold, Antoinette barred the passage.She looked fixedly at him and felt certain of her victory; he had the air of one vanquished, and his defeat resembled a complete routing.
She crossed her arms, she smiled, and, in a firm, half-mocking tone, said:
"So this is the way you rob me of my poor people! They flourish under it, I am well aware.Confess now that there is a little hypocrisy in your virtue.Mlle.Galet never for a moment doubted that these famous camellias were given for my sake.Bouquets costing sixty francs!
absolute folly! How you despise money! Why, then, do you not despise mine? You are afraid of it, you fear to burn your fingers by touching it.You will not aid me to throw it out of the windows? Your poor and mine will surely pick it up.Say, will you not? My fortune is not such a great affair; but it is certain that I alone do not suffice to spend it properly; there is plenty for two--for two would really only be one.You cannot consent to share it with me? You are too proud--that is it.The day before yesterday you were playing comedy; you do not love me.It costs little to owe something to those we love."He made a gesture of despair and cried:
"I implore you, let me go!"
"Presently; I propose telling you first all that is in my mind.I do not place much reliance on your boasted nobility of spirit; it is pride, egotistical pride.Yes, your pride is your god--a pitiful sort of a god! And as to Poland--" He winced at this word.After a pause, Antoinette continued: "It is she herself who will give, or rather lend, you to me.I solemnly promise that if ever she has need of you Iwill say to her, 'Here he is, take him'; and to you, yourself, I will say, 'She calls you--go.' But speak to me and look at me; you will not die of so doing.Are you so very much afraid of me? Come, have courage to repeat to me what you have said to others?"He fell back into a chair, where he remained, his arms hanging helplessly at his sides, his head drooping on his breast, and he murmured:
"I knew well that if I saw you again I should be lost.""Say, rather, saved.Your mind was sick; I have cured you.I work miracles; you once took the pains to write me so.Will you touch my hand? That will not bind you to anything; you can return it to me if you choose."He took the hand she extended to him; he did not carry it to his lips, but he held it within his own.
"Listen to me," she resumed."To-day, this very hour, you will set out for Cormeilles, and you will say to my father: 'She has given me her hand; it has seemed good to me to keep it; allow me to do so?' Is it agreed upon? Will you obey me?"He exclaimed: "You are here, you speak to me, the world has disappeared; henceforth I believe only in you!""Well done! You see when two people frankly discuss matters they soon come to an understanding; but the main essential is to see each other.
Since you are so wise when you see me, I naturally desire to have you see me always.There--take that!" And she handed him a medallion containing her portrait; then she moved towards the door.On the threshold she turned."Please tell Mlle.Galet," said she, "that Irespect her nap, and will return to-morrow.Mlle.Moiseney awaits me, and must be growing impatient.I have your word of honour? Adieu, then, until this evening.I must hasten away."And she did hasten, or, rather, she flew away.
Returning from as well as driving into Paris, the coachman put his horses to full speed, and Cormeilles was reached before the soup was cold.Nevertheless, M.Moriaz had had abundant time for anxiety.He did not take his seat at table without first questioning Mlle.
Moiseney; knowing nothing, she could give him no information; but she responded indefinitely to his queries with that air of mystery beneath which it was her wont to disguise her ignorance.He resolved to question Antoinette after dinner.She anticipated him, taking him aside and recounting to him what had occurred.
"I presume," said she, "that henceforth you will believe in his pride and his disinterestedness.Did I not foretell you that I should have to put myself on my knees to compel him to marry me?"He could not repress a movement of indignation.
