CHAPTER IV.
A FINANCIAL TRANSACTION.
Daumon was expecting a visit from the young man, and had been waitingfor him with the cool complacency of a bird-catcher, who, havingarranged all his lines and snares, stands with folded arms until hisfeathered victims fall into his net. The line that he had displayedbefore the young man's eyes was the sight of liberty. Daumon hademissaries everywhere, and knew perfectly well what was going on at theChateau de Champdoce, and could have repeated the exact words made useof by the Duke in his last conversation with his son, and was awareof the leave of liberty that had been granted to Norbert, and was ascertain as possible that this small concession would only hasten therebellion of the young Marquis.
He often took his evening stroll in the direction of Champdoce, and,pipe in mouth, would meditate over his schemes. Pausing on the brow of ahill that overlooked the Chateau, he would shake his fist, and mutter,--
"He will come; ah, yes, he must come to me!"
And he was in the right, for, after a week spent in indecision, Norbertknocked at the door of his father's bitterest enemy. Daumon, concealedbehind the window curtain, had watched his approach, and it was with thesame air of deference that he had welcomed the Marquis, as he took careto call him; but he affected to be so overcome by the honor of thisvisit that he could only falter out,--
"Marquis, I am your most humble servant."
And Norbert, who had expected a very warm greeting, was muchdisconcerted. For a moment he thought of going away again, but his pridewould not permit him to do so, for he had said to himself that it wouldbe an act of a fool to go away this time without having accomplishedanything.
"I want to have a bit of advice from you, Counsellor," said he; "for asI have but little experience in a certain matter, I should like to availmyself of your knowledge."
"You do me too much honor, Marquis," murmured the Counsellor with a lowbow.
"But surely," said the young man, "you must feel that you are bound toassist me after all you told me a day or two back. You mentioned twomeans by which I could regain my freedom, and hinted that there was athird one. I have come to you to-day to ask you what it was."
Never did any man more successfully assume an air of astonishment thandid Daumon at this moment.
"What," said he, "do you absolutely remember those idle words I made useof then?"
"I do most decidedly."
The villain's heart of Daumon was filled with delight, but he replied,--
"Oh, Marquis! you must remember that we say many things that really haveno special meaning, for between act and intention there is a tremendousdifference. I often speak too freely, and that has more than once got meinto trouble."
Norbert was no fool, in spite of his want of education, and the hotblood of his ancestors coursed freely through his veins. He now struckthe butt-end of his gun heavily upon the floor.
"You treated me like a simpleton, then, it appears?" remarked heangrily.
"My dear Marquis--"
"And imagined that you could trifle with me. You managed to learn myreal feelings for your own amusement; but, take care; this may cost youmore than you think."
"Ah, Marquis, can you believe that I would act so basely?"
"What else can I think?"
Daumon paused for a moment, and then said,--
"You will be angry when you hear what I have to say, but I cannot helpspeaking the truth."
"I shall not be angry, and you can speak freely."
"I am but a very poor and humble man. What have I to gain by securingany note, and by encouraging you to brave your father's anger? Justthink what must happen if I opposed the all-powerful Duke de Champdoce;why, I might find myself in prison in next to no time."
"And for what reason, if you please?" asked Norbert.
"Have you never studied law in the slightest degree, Marquis? Dear me,how neglectful some parents are! You are not of age, and there is acertain article, 354 in the code, that could be so worked that a poorhumble creature like me could be locked up for perhaps five years. Thelaw deals very hardly when any one has dealings with a minor, the moreespecially when the father is a man of untold wealth. If the Duke shouldever discover----"
"But how could he ever do so?"
Daumon made no reply, and his silence so plainly showed Norbert that theCounsellor did not trust him, that he repeated the question in an angryvoice.
"Your blind subservience to your father is too well known."
"You believe that I should confess everything to him?"
"You yourself told me that when his eyes were fixed on yours you couldnot avoid yielding to his will."
Norbert's anger gradually died away, as he replied in accents of intensebitterness,--
"I may be a savage, but I am not likely to become a traitor. If I oncepromised to keep a secret, no measures or tortures would tear it fromme. I may fear my father, but I am a Champdoce, and fear no other mortalman. Do you understand me?"
"But, Marquis--"
"No other mortal man," interrupted Norbert sternly, "will ever know fromme that we have ever exchanged words together."
An expression passed over the features of the Counsellor which cast aray of hope upon the young man's heart.
"Upon my word," said he, "any one would judge from my hesitation thatI had some wrong motive in acting as I am doing, but I never give badadvice, and any one will tell you the same about me, and this is thebreviary by which I regulate all my actions."
As he spoke, he took a book from his desk, and waved it aloft.
Norbert looked puzzled and angry.
"What do you mean?" asked he.
"Nothing, Marquis, nothing; have patience; your majority is not far off,and you have only a few years to wait. Remember that your father is anold man; let him carry out his plan for a few years longer, and----"
Norbert struck his fist savagely upon the table, crying out furiously."It was not worth my coming here if this was all that you had to say;"and, whistling to Bruno, the young man prepared to quit the room.
"Ah, Marquis! you are far too hasty," said the Counsellor humbly.
Norbert paused. "Speak then," answered he roughly.
In a low, impressive voice, Daumon went on.
"Remember, Marquis, that though I should like to see you have a betterunderstanding with your father, yet, at the same time, I should liketo work for the happiness of you both. I am like a judge in court, whoendeavors to bring about a compromise between the litigants. Can younot, while affecting perfect submission, live in a manner more suitedto you? There are many young men of your age in a precisely similarposition."
Norbert took a step forward and began to listen earnestly.
"You have more liberty now," continued Daumon. "Pray, does your fatherknow how you employ your time?"
"He knows that I can do nothing but shoot."
"Well, I know what I would do if I were your age."
"And what would that be?"
"First of all, I would stay at home sufficiently often not to arousepapa's suspicions, and the rest of my leisure I would spend in Poitiers,which is a very pleasant town. I could take nice rooms in which I couldbe my own master. At Champdoce I could keep to my peasant's clothes, butin Poitiers I would be dressed by the best tailor. I should pick upa few boon companions amongst the jolly students, and have plenty offriends, ladies as well as gentlemen. I would dance, sing, and drink,and would dip into every kind of life, so that----"
He paused for a second and then said, "There ought to be a fast horse orso in your father's stables, eh? Well then, if there are, why not takeone for your own riding? Then at night, when you are supposed to besnug between the sheets, creep down to the stable, clap a bridle onthe horse, and, hey, presto! you are in Poitiers. Put on the clothessuitable to the handsome young noble you are, and have a joyous carousewith your many companions; and if you do, next day, not choose to goback until the morning, the servants will only tell your father that youare out shooting."
Norbert was a thoroughly strong, honest youth, and the idea of meannessand duplicity were most repugnant to his feelings in general; and yet helistened eagerly to this proposition, for oppression had utterly changedhis nature. The career of dissipation and pleasure proposed so adroitlyby Daumon dazzled his imagination and his eyes began to sparkle.
"Well," asked the Counsellor invidiously, "and, pray, what is there toprevent you doing all this?"
"Want of funds," returned Norbert, with a deep sigh; "I should want agreat deal, and I have hardly any; if I were to ask my father for any,he would refuse me, and wonder----"
"Have you no friends who would find you such a sum as you would requireuntil you came of age?"
"None at all;" and, overwhelmed with the sense of his utterhelplessness, Norbert sank back upon a chair.
After a brief period of reflection, Daumon spoke with apparentreluctance,--
"No, Marquis, I cannot see you so miserably unhappy without doing mybest to help you. A man is a fool who puts out his hand to interferebetween father and son, but I will find money to lend you what youwant."
"Will you do so, Counsellor?"
"Unluckily I cannot, I am only a poor fellow, but some of theneighboring farmers intrust me with their savings for investment. Whyshould I not use them to make you comfortable and happy?"
Norbert was almost choked with emotion. "Can this be done?" asked heeagerly.
"Yes, Marquis; but you understand that you will have to pay very heavyinterest on account of the risk incurred in lending money to a minor.For the law does not recognize such transactions, and I myself do notlike them. If I were in your place, I would not borrow money on theseterms, but wait until some friend could help me."
"I have no friends," again answered the young man.
Daumon shrugged his shoulders with the air of a man who says: "Well, Isuppose I must give in, but at any rate I have done my duty." Thenhe began aloud, "I am perfectly aware, Marquis, that, considering thewealth that must one day be yours, this transaction is a most paltryone."
He then went on to enumerate the conditions of the loan, and at eachclause he would stop and say, "Do you understand this?"
Norbert understood him so well that at the end of the conversation,in exchange for the thousand francs, he handed to the Counsellor thepromissory notes for four thousand francs each, which were made payableto two farmers, who were entirely in Daumon's clutches. The youngman, in addition, pledged his solemn word of honor that he would neverdisclose that the Counsellor had anything to do with the transaction.
"Remember, Marquis, prudence must be strictly observed. Come here to meonly after the night has set in."
This was the last piece of advice that Daumon gave his client; andwhen he was again left alone, he perused with feelings of intensegratification, the two notes that Norbert had signed. They were entirelycorrect and binding, and drawn up in proper legal form. He had made uphis mind to let the young man have all his savings, amounting to someforty thousand francs, and not to press for payment until the young mancome into his fortune.
All this, however, hinged upon Norbert's silence and discretion, for, atthe first inkling of the matter, the Duke would scatter all the edificeto the winds; but of this happening Daumon had no fear.
As Norbert walked along, followed by his dog, he could not resistputting his hands into his pockets and fingering the tempting, crispbanknotes which lurked there, and making sure that it was a reality andnot a dream. That night seemed interminable; and the next morning, withhis gun on his shoulder and his dog at his heels, he walked brisklyalong the road to Poitiers. He had determined to follow Daumon'sadvice,--to have suitable rooms, and to make the acquaintance of some ofthe students. On his arrival at Poitiers, which he had only once beforevisited, Norbert felt like a half-fledged bird who knows not how to useits wings. He wandered about the streets, not knowing how to commencewhat he wanted. Finally, after a sojourn in the town of a very briefduration, he went to the inn where he had breakfasted with his fatheron his former visit, and, after an unsatisfactory meal, returned toChampdoce, as wretched as he had been joyful and hopeful at his earlystart in the morning. But later on he went to Daumon, who put himin communication with a friend who, for a commission, took theunsophisticated lad about, hired some furnished rooms, and finallyintroduced him to the best ladies in the town, while Norbert orderedclothes to the tune of five hundred francs. He now thought himself onthe high road to the full gratification of his desires; but, alas! thereality, compared with what his imagination had pictured, appeared rankand chilling. His timidity and shyness arrested all his progress; herequired an intimate friend, and where could he hit upon one?
One evening he entered the Cafe Castille. He found a large number ofstudents collected there, and was a little disgusted at their turbulentgayety, and, hastily withdrawing, he spent the rest of the wearyevening in his own rooms with Bruno, who, for his part, would have muchpreferred the open country. He had really only enjoyed the four eveningson which he had visited the Martre; but these limited hours of happinessdid not make up for the web of falsehood in which he had enmeshedhimself, or the daily dread of detection in which he lived.
The Duke had noticed his son's absence, but his suspicions were verywide of the truth. One morning he laughed at Norbert on the continuednon-success of his shooting.
"Do your best to-day, my boy," said he, "and try and bring home somegame, for we shall have a guest to dinner."
"To dinner, here?"
"Yes," answered the Duke suppressing a smile. "Yes, actually here; M.Puymandour is coming, and the dining-room must be opened and put intoproper order."
"I will try and kill some game," answered Norbert to himself as hestarted on his errand.
This, however, was more easily resolved on than executed. At last hecaught sight of an impudent rabbit near a hedge; he raised his gun andfired. A shriek of anguish followed the report, and Bruno dashed intothe hedge, barking furiously.