CHAPTER VI.
Nothing was said, either by De Montigni or father Walter till theyreached the chamber of the former, where, closing the door, the youngnobleman placed a seat for his reverend companion, and asked him ifMonsieur de Liancourt had held any communication with him upon thesubject on which they were about to speak?
"A few words were all that passed," replied father Walter, in a mild,though grave tone; "but they were sufficient to show me that thematter on which you wish to consult me is one in regard to which youruncle and myself have often conferred before."
"Nay," replied De Montigni; "the Count has not put the business on itsright footing: let us settle that first, my good father. I did notdesire to consult you, but he declared that you would easily removefrom my mind the strong objections which I entertain to pledgingmyself for any consideration to enter the church without muchdeliberation, and a considerable time for thought. I expressed myselfmost willing to hear all you could say upon the subject, though I muchdoubted, from a knowledge of my own character, that you would succeedin removing my scruples, and, from a knowledge of yours, that youwould even make the attempt."
"You were perfectly right, my son," replied the priest, after amoment's pause; "my arguments could but tend to show that theprofession which your uncle wishes you to embrace is the highest, asit is the holiest, to which man can dedicate himself; but I fear much,that very consideration would tend rather to induce you to pause long,and to think well before you took upon yourself such high duties andresponsibilities, than to hurry you on, as is the case with so many,into a rash, I might almost call it an impious, intrusion into asacred calling, which should be approached with reverence, and notwithout the full concurrence of the heart."
De Montigni smiled, well pleased. Various circumstances, allapparently small, but weighty in their sum, had induced him to imaginethat father Walter de la Tremblade was one of those who had consultedtogether to frustrate his hopes, and disappoint his wishes; but thecalm and reasonable answer which he now made removed the suspicion.Whether he deceived himself or not may be seen hereafter.
"I am happy to find, my dear father," he said, "that your good anddisinterested opinion confirms my own, as it will give me strength andconfidence in my determination."
"Of all the many wise maxims which have come down to us, confirmed bythe experience of ages," replied the priest, "one of the surest is,'Do nothing rashly;' and if applicable to the common affairs of life,it is still more so to points where the whole of our future existence,here and hereafter, is affected. You are right, my son, to pause anddeliberate; but before I give any advice beyond the general opinionwhich I have expressed, let me hear all the circumstances, the doubts,and considerations that affect you; and you shall then have my bestcounsel which may, perhaps, be valuable, as that of a man longaccustomed to consider and, with God's aid, to decide upon questions,in which the consciences of those very dear to him, as members of hisflock, are concerned. Tell me what are your doubts--what are yourdifficulties; and if I can I will resolve them."
"My doubts, good father," replied Louis de Montigni, "are simplywhether I am fitted, either by inclination or by character, for theprofession my uncle would put upon me. No mention was ever made ofsuch a plan till this very night; and now, fatigued in body andsomewhat agitated in mind, I am asked to decide at once, upon aquestion of such vital importance to myself."
"That is wrong--that is all very wrong," answered the priest. "Youmust have time--it is absolutely necessary. Yet," he continued, aftera moment's pause, "I cannot help thinking there must be some mistake.I am sure Monsieur de Liancourt did not intend to urge such a speedydecision upon that point. Perhaps it was your acquiescence alone inthe disposal of his property that he required. You are well aware thatthe benefices may be held by one who is not in the church; and hisconferring them on you, while he is himself living will prevent anycavil which might be raised in the distracted state of the country,with regard to your obtaining them, if they were merely destined foryou at his death. I do not mean," he added in a grave tone, "topronounce any opinion upon the propriety of laymen holding suchproperty. That is not a question for me to decide."
"But it is one for me to consider in accepting them," said DeMontigni; "and I scruple not to acknowledge that I hold the corruptpractice in horror and reprobation."
"I must not deny that I think you are right," replied father Walter;"but yet your refusal to accept this portion of his property, wouldgreatly embarrass and grieve your uncle. All the arrangements beingconcluded for Monsieur de Chazeul's marriage with Mademoiselled'Albret, your rejection of the share assigned to you, would prove aserious inconvenience to all parties; and I am sure you would not wishto throw any impediment in the way of her happiness, or your cousin'seither."
"And does her happiness so entirely depend upon this marriage?" askedthe young nobleman bitterly.
"Undoubtedly!" replied the priest, with an air of surprise at the veryquestion.
"Then my course will be easy!" exclaimed De Montigni. "I will never doought to give her one uneasy moment."
"That is noble, and generous, and like yourself!" said Walter de laTremblade, holding out his hand to him. "I was quite sure that youwould never hesitate at any personal sacrifice for the happiness ofthose you love. What course, then, do you intend to pursue?"
De Montigni, however, remembered the promise he had made to his uncle,and he replied, "Of that I must think; all I can say at present is,that no wish of Rose d'Albret's shall ever be thwarted by me. First,in order to form a judgment of my future conduct, I would fain knowall the circumstances of the case; and, my good father, as you havethus far dealt frankly with me, I would fain ask you a few questions,hoping for clear information."
"I will give you the best that I possess, my son," replied the priest."But you must recollect that I am not a man of the world, and meddlelittle with things that are not brought absolutely under my notice."
"Well, then, to begin with matters that you do understand," said DeMontigni; "if I accept these benefices, and sign the papers my unclewishes me to sign, do I in any degree bind myself either to enter thechurch, or to hold preferment which I think should be reserved forecclesiastics?"
"Not in the least, my son," answered father Walter, "nothing can bindyou to the church but vows made to the church; and as to the beneficesyou can give them all away next day; at no greater risk than beingcalled by some, an enthusiastic fool."
"That is soon met," said the young nobleman; "but if this be so, whatis the need of my signing any papers at all?"
The priest paused for a moment in thought; but then answered, lookingsuddenly up, "It is simply because, as your uncle's nearest relationyou have a claim to his property, either the entire estate or amoiety, I know not well which. The benefices he can bestow where helikes, and he gives them to you as an equivalent to the other,thinking that, if the bishopric can be obtained for you, as doubtlessit might be if you so liked, the advantages would be at least equal."
"My uncle did not tell me this!" replied De Montigni, with an air ofmortification. "My uncle did not tell me this!"
"Perhaps he thought you knew it already," rejoined father Walter; "or,perhaps, he did not remember how generous and self-denying you havealways shown yourself."
"He should have dealt openly with me," said the young man in amournful tone, "He should have dealt openly with me."
He then thought for a few minutes, while the priest watched thevarying expressions that came over his countenance with an inquiringand interested eye, reading them as they rose. Perhaps he did notaltogether interpret them aright, though the true Roman Catholicpriest, who, following the rule of his order, strictly excludes fromhis breast half the passions that affect other men, learns to tracetheir workings in others with a skill which those who suffer themcannot acquire. He stands as a spectator of the most critical part inthe busy game of life, and sees the cards in either hand, and judgeswhere they are played well or ill.
At length the young
nobleman said aloud, "So then I have some realpower in this matter; and they would have concealed it from me. Asomewhat dangerous course!"
"Perhaps such was not the view, my son," answered father Walter, "thematter could not be concealed from you long, as, if you read thepapers, you must have seen what they contained."
"I am not sure of that, good father," rejoined De Montigni; "theymight calculate upon my not reading them at all, or that theircontents veiling their meaning in the profuse words of the law, wouldafford me no clue to my own rights. However, all this must be inquiredinto. I will now know the truth, wholly and entirely."
"I trust," said the priest gravely, "that you will in no degreeforfeit that character of frank and generous disinterestedness whichyou gained in youth. It is a jewel, my son, inestimable from itsrarity. Come, Louis, let me tell your uncle that you will sign thepapers."
The young man gazed in his face intently; but father Walter returnedthe look with calm and unflinching firmness, and then added, "I am noparty to any deceit, if any have been committed."
"I believe you, father," replied De Montigni, "for it is you who haveunveiled the deceit; but as for the rest, I will make no rash promise.I will know the whole clearly, before I act or promise to act; I willknow what are my own rights, and their full extent; I will know themotives of others, their conduct, and its causes."
The priest smiled, and shook his head; "You lay out labour for many along day, my son," he said, "if you propose to penetrate into thesecrets of any human heart; and in the mean time you stop a uniondesired by all, to wait upon your caprice. Look into your own bosom,Louis, and inquire there, whether the motives of such a conduct maynot have a source in passions you will not like to own; disappointmentor some chimerical dreams, jealousy of another's happiness, orrevengeful feelings for imaginary injury."
"No, no, no!" replied De Montigni, "my conduct shall be influenced bynone of these; and whatever my motives are, they shall be made clearin the eyes of all."
"Well before you act," continued the priest, "ask yourself, if whatyour uncle proposes is at all unfair. In the division of his propertyhe assigns you more than the simple half, though perhaps not themoiety you might like the best. There is no great injustice in this;there is nothing to move anger or suspicion; and yet you are evidentlysomewhat heated, and nourish doubts of those that love you, which youhave no just reason to entertain."
"Father, you are mistaken," answered De Montigni, "I am aught butangry; my heart feels too cold and chilled for anything so warm.Suspicion may be there--would it had never entered--but who can helpit? When once a concealment or deceit has been practised in matterswhere all should be fair and open as the day, can confidence be everrestored? no more than you can restore the white bloom to the grape orto the plum which you have once pressed in your hand. I will think ofthis, good father, I will think of it all well. No man can reproach mefor examining closely into that in which I have so great an interest;no man shall have to reproach me for the manner in which I act when Ihave examined. But let me put a picture before your eyes ere you go,in order that you may see what necessarily presents itself to my eyes.It is of an uncle and two nephews; the one the son of an elder sister,the other of a younger; the first possessed of moderate estates, but aclaim, it seems, to his uncle's property; the other possessed oflarger estates already, but, if I judge rightly, without that claim.The one is sent by his uncle and guardian to foreign country to study:the other remains upon the spot. At the end of five years they meetagain, and the uncle proposes a plan which he declares to beequitable. To the son of his eldest sister, who has been absent solong, he offers certain benefices, and proposes that he shall enterthe church. To the son of the younger, who has remained upon the spot,he gives the whole of his estates, the hand of his fair ward, and thelarge property which she inherits. Do not suppose, father, I can shutmy eyes to such things; do not suppose that I can do aught but feelthem bitterly. Mark me, however, I say not that I will reject thisarrangement, even if I have power to do so; I say not that I willthrow the least impediment in the way of views and plans which wereformed without my concurrence and without my knowledge; but I do say,that I will consider, and examine, and ponder, before I in any waysanction a proceeding, by which I am destined to be, in every sense, aloser."
"I thought," replied the priest, mildly, "that you had alreadydetermined not to do anything which could impede the union ofMademoiselle d'Albret with the man of her choice; that you would notfrustrate her wishes, or delay her happiness?"
"Nor will I," answered De Montigni; "but I must be well assured in thefirst place of the conduct which she herself wishes to pursue."
Father Walter shook his head gravely, saying, "My son, my son, I fearyou are deceiving yourself. I am not aware whether your knowledge ofwomen be much or little, whether in studious seclusion you have passedyour time without mingling with the general world, or whether you havefrequented the gay society of Italy, and gained an insight into thefemale heart as it there appears. But do not deceive yourself into abelief, because Mademoiselle d'Albret sometimes speaks coldly to yourcousin, affects an occasional indifference, ay, or even adds a harshword towards him--do not believe, I say, that she does not love him. Ihave always seen that women, circumstanced as she is, from the verymodesty of their nature, assume such disguises to conceal the warmerfeelings of their heart; and the men with whom they are most free,familiar, ay, and perhaps, affectionate, have the least cause tosuppose that they entertain any serious attachment to them,--for wheresuch exists, it always brings diffidence and some reserve along withit."
De Montigni mused. There was truth, he thought, in what the old mansaid--it might be, indeed, that he was right. True, in her youth Rosed'Albret was frank, open, and unreserved, her loves and her dislikeswere plainly shown. But yet she might be changed. Womanhood andpassion might have brought with them reserve, concealment, art. Whocould say what in the space of five years might have been effected,and what the girl of fourteen might have become?
"Probably, you are right, good father," he replied; "I know but littleof woman or woman's arts; but still I am not deceiving myself. All Ipropose is to pause and consider all things, this as well as any ofthe rest, in fact, to use your own maxim, and 'do nothing rashly.' AsI conclude you will see my uncle tonight, and report to him the resultof our conference, pray tell him my resolution, such as it is, andexplain to him in terms that will give him no offence, but yet conveymy full meaning, that in my determination to consider before I act, Iam too firm to be shaken. I find that I have somewhat too longsuffered my conduct to be dictated by others, and I do so no more,whatsoever be the result."
"Can you not enable me, Monsieur de Montigni," asked the priest, "tofix some term for your consideration? As your uncle will have to shapehis conduct, as he may judge expedient to meet yours, it might be aswell to name a time for your decision."
"That I cannot do," replied De Montigni; "at least not tonight. At allevents it shall not be long before I do decide. Small time willsuffice me, if no means be taken to impede me in judging for myself;if there be, those who employ them must be answerable for the delay. Iwill now be satisfied on all point--I will see the whole case clearlybefore I judge. Whenever I do so see it, my course will be determinedin an hour. And now, good father," he continued, perceiving that thepriest was about to reply, "I would fain discuss this subject with youno more, at least, tonight, though most happy to hear you upon anyother, if you have aught else to say."
"Nothing, my son," replied father Walter, rising; "pray remember thatthe discussion has not been of my seeking. I never thrust myself uponthe confidence of any one, happy to give advice or assistance where itis required, but never obtruding it, except at the sacred call ofduty; and so, my son, good night and benedicite."
Thus saying, he slowly quitted the room, and walked deliberately downthe stairs across a low-roofed hall, where several servants sat, andthen mounting another staircase with a quicker step, found his way tothe apartments of the Count de Liancourt
. That gentleman, halfundressed, was sitting in his dressing-gown conversing with Chazeul,and both eagerly turned to the priest as he entered, demanding, "Well,what does he say? how did you find him disposed?"
Walter de la Tremblade sat down in a vacant chair, and then lookingfrom the one to the other, he said, "I found him firmer, sterner thancould be expected from his character or his years. I fear, my son,"addressing Monsieur de Liancourt, "that your policy has somewhat runawry. If instead of calling him back you had written to him the plainand straightforward state of the case, telling him that the marriageof Mademoiselle d'Albret with Monsieur de Chazeul here, depended uponthe renunciation of his claim to your estates, and begging him to sendyou his procuration instantly for the purpose of making thatrenunciation, he would have done so at once."
"Pshaw," cried Chazeul, "you must think him a greater fool than even Ido, to suppose that if he were told those facts he would give up hischance of beauty, grace, and the united estates of Liancourt andMarennes."
"He is no fool," replied the priest, "but one of those with whom it isbetter to tell the whole truth, and engage his generosity andenthusiasm on your side, than suffer him to discover, not only thefacts you would conceal, but that you have endeavoured to concealthem. Better to tell him the truth, Monsieur de Chazeul, than to lethim find it out; and allow me to say, he has found out one halfalready, and will find out the rest ere long."
"_Ventre bleu!_ what has he discovered?" demanded Monsieur deLiancourt. "This is an affair indeed."
"He is right well informed," answered the priest, "that the estates ofLiancourt are his at your death, in right of his mother."
Chazeul struck his hand vehemently upon the table, exclaiming, "Thenthe game is up."
"Not exactly," replied the priest; "had he known it a month ago, itwould have been much better. Then at a distance, and without the meansof farther inquiry, he would, I am sure, have been easily induced tomake the renunciation, in consideration of the benefices, withoutcoming here at all."
"But he has been urging me for these two years," exclaimed Monsieur deLiancourt, "to give my consent to his return. I had no power to refusehim, and it was only by persuasions that I kept him there so long."
"Well, but the results, the results, Monsieur de la Tremblade,"exclaimed Chazeul: "we will be guided by you. Tell us what conclusionsyou have come to, and what course it will be best to follow."
"From my conference with him this night," replied the priest, "I seeexactly the state of his mind. In the first place I tell you he knowsmuch, and suspects more; he perceives that you have attempted to keephim in the dark; and he is no weak studious boy, such as you believed.He is as firm as a rock, and determined upon his course. You cannot,and will not deceive him on any of the facts of the case; and atpresent his reply is, that he is determined to take full time toconsider before he decides. There is one way, and only one way to actupon his mind. If you can induce Mademoiselle d'Albret, to ask him tomake the renunciation for her sake, he will do it, without theslightest hesitation. Get her but to say three words to that effect,and he will sign the act to-morrow."
"Oh, then the whole matter is easy!" cried Chazeul. "I will induce herto do that in a moment."
The priest looked at him with a somewhat cynical smile, and replied,"You may not find so much facility as you expect, Monsieur. Ladieshave caprices; and perhaps you may not be able to make her to say theexact words you wish."
"Oh, but I am sure I can!" replied Chazeul. "I know the pretty Roseright well, with all her coquettish ways for goading on a lover'spassion, by airs of coldness and indifference; but she is not such afool as to be blind to the advantages of the most brilliant fortuneshe can reach in France. With the united estates of Liancourt,Marennes, and Chazeul, we take our seat amongst the highest of theland. Did you not mark what she said to me today, about the splendoursof a court? Such hopes and expectations, once entering a woman's head,never go out of it, good father."
The priest paused and mused with a slight smile curling his lip; butat length he replied, "Doubtless you are more learned in women'shearts than I am, Monsieur de Chazeul; you have had more to do withthem, though in the confessional we sometimes hear strange secrets.However, if you will take my advice, you will not trust to your ownunassisted efforts, but send for your mother at once. She is within atwo hours' journey, and may easily be here, before noon to-morrow."
"Right, right, father," cried Monsieur de Liancourt, "we will not losea moment's time. Jacqueline's head is worth all ours put together. Italways was so; and poor Louise, when she was alive, was no match forher at all. Let us not lose a moment, but send a messenger to herto-night, so that she may set out the first thing to-morrow. See toit, Chazeul, see to it; for I am tired, and going to bed. Choose somestout fellow who will do the errand well. Let him avoid the wood, andtake the Chartres road; 'tis but half a league about."
"I will do it at once," said Chazeul, "for it is now near ten. Butstill I am sure that I can persuade fair Rose to make the request,before my mother comes; and so, goodnight, Sir."
Thus saying, he left the room, and father Walter only remained, toshake his head with a doubtful air, and say, "He is too confident. Godsend that he mars not all;" and he, too, left Monsieur de Liancourt toseek repose.