"The minister of Public Works, who came to make you his excuses.He noticed with regret the disagreeable impression made upon you by the theories of that scamp de Ronquerolles.""He has taken a good deal of trouble for a very small matter," said Madame de l'Estorade, not sharing her husband's enthusiasm.
"But all the same," he replied, "it was very gracious of him to think of your feelings." Then, in order to change the conversation, he asked Madame de Camps about their visit.
"Oh!" she replied, "the place is enchanting; you have no idea of its elegance and comfort.""How about Gaston?" asked Monsieur de l'Estorade.
"He was, I won't say very calm," replied Madame de l'Estorade, "but at any rate master of himself.His condition satisfied me all the more because the day had begun by a serious annoyance to him.""What was it?"
"Monsieur de Sallenauve could not come with him," replied Nais, taking upon herself to reply.
She was one of those children brought up in a hot-house, who put themselves forward much oftener than they ought to do.
"Nais," said Madame de l'Estorade, "go to Mary and tell her to do up your hair."The child understood perfectly well that she was sent away for speaking improperly, and she made a face as she left the room.
"This morning," said Madame de l'Estorade as soon as Nais had shut the door, "Monsieur Gaston and Monsieur de Sallenauve were to start together for Ville d'Avray, and meet us there, as agreed upon.But last night they had a visit from that organist who took such an active part in the election.He came to hear the Italian housekeeper sing and judge if she were ready to go upon the stage.""Yes, yes," said Monsieur de l'Estorade; "of course Sallenauve wants to get rid of her now that he has ceased to make statues.""Just so," replied Madame de l'Estorade, with a slight tone of asperity."In order to put a stop to all calumny Monsieur de Sallenauve wishes her to carry out her idea of going on the stage; but he wanted, in the first place, an opinion he could trust.Monsieur Gaston and Monsieur de Sallenauve accompanied the organist to Saint-Sulpice, where, during the services of the Month of Mary, the Italian woman sings every evening.After hearing her, the organist said she had a fine contralto that was worth, at the lowest, sixty thousand francs a year.""Just the revenue of my iron-works," remarked Monsieur de Camps.
"That evening," continued Madame de l'Estorade, "Monsieur de Sallenauve told his housekeeper the opinion given of her talent, and with great kindness and delicacy let her know that she must now carry out her intention of supporting herself in that way.'Yes,' she replied, 'I think the time has come.We will talk of it later'; and she stopped the conversation.This morning when the breakfast hour came, there was no sign of her.Thinking she must be ill, Monsieur de Sallenauve sent an old charwoman who does the rough work of the house to her room.No answer.Much disturbed, Monsieur Gaston and Monsieur de Sallenauve went themselves to see what it meant.After knocking and calling in vain, they determined to open the door, the key of which was outside.In the room no housekeeper! but in place of her a letter addressed to Monsieur de Sallenauve, in which she said that finding herself an embarrassment to him, she had retired to the house of one of her friends, thanking him for all his goodness to her.""The bird has found its wings," said Monsieur de l'Estorade, "and takes flight.""That is not Monsieur de Sallenauve's idea," replied the countess; "he does not believe in such ingratitude.He is confident that, feeling herself a burden to him and yielding to the desperation which is natural to her, she felt obliged to leave his house without giving him a chance in any manner to provide for her future.""A good riddance!" remarked Monsieur de l'Estorade.
"Neither Monsieur de Sallenauve nor Monsieur Gaston takes that stoical view of it.In view of the headstrong nature of the woman, they fear some violence to herself, which, as we know, she once attempted.Or else they dread some evil adviser.The charwoman states that two or three visits have been lately made at the house by a lady of middle age, richly dressed, in a carriage, whose manner was singular, and who seemed to desire secrecy in speaking with Luigia.""Some charitable woman, of course," said Monsieur de l'Estorade; "the runaway is given to piety.""At any rate the truth must be discovered, and it was that which kept Monsieur de Sallenauve from accompanying Monsieur Gaston to Ville d'Avray.""Well," remarked Monsieur de l'Estorade, "in spite of their respective virtue, it is my opinion he holds by her.""In any case," returned Madame de l'Estorade, emphasizing the word, "she does not hold by him.""I don't agree with you," said Madame de Camps; "to avoid a man is often the greatest proof of love."Madame de l'Estorade looked at her friend with a vexed air, and a slight tinge of color came into her cheeks.But no one took notice of it, for at this moment the servant threw open the door and announced dinner.
After dinner, the theatre was proposed; that is one of the amusements that Parisians miss the most in the provinces.Monsieur Octave de Camps, coming from his "villanous iron-works," as Madame de l'Estorade called them, had arrived in Paris eager for this pleasure, which his wife, more serious and sober, did not enjoy to the same extent.
Therefore, when Monsieur de Camps proposed going to the Porte-Saint-Martin to see a fairy piece then much in vogue, Madame Octave replied:--"Neither Madame de l'Estorade nor I have the least desire to go out this evening; we are very tired with our expedition.Take Rene and Nais; they will enjoy the fairies far more than we."The two children awaited in deep anxiety the permission which Madame de l'Estorade finally granted; and a few moments later the two friends, left to themselves, prepared for an evening of comfortable talk.
