CHAPTER XXIII.
FRANCE--1824.
The 29th of February, 1824, was a Sunday, and a fete day. At that timethe Carnival was in full blast, and the streets were crowded withcurious spectators. A carriage drew up before a fashionable restaurantin the Palais Royal. The carriage was driven by a coachman wearing apowdered wig, and the horses were magnificent. Three young men withcigars in their mouths descended from the carriage, and took the paththat led to the garden.
They were wrapped in Venetian cloaks and each wore on his shoulder knotsof ribbon, different in hue, and each concealed his face under a whitesatin mask, to which mask the police made no objection, as it was a signof high birth and nobility.
These young men laughed when they found they were to pass through adouble row of spectators, to whose jokes they replied in kind.
Lights were beginning to twinkle among the trees when they establishedthemselves at a table in the cafe.
"I am thankful to say," exclaimed one of the young men, "that theCarnival is nearly over."
"Fernando is right," said one of the two others. "We have been out nowfor two hours, and we have not had the smallest adventure."
"Pshaw!" answered the third youth, who was called Arthur by his friends,"we have a long evening before us, and it would be odd if we did notfind some excitement and could not create a little scandal!"
Of these three young men one was named Arthur de Montferrand; his fatherhad made himself a name in the Chamber of Peers by defending theassassins of Marshal Brune; the other, Gaston de Ferrette, was a greatduelist, although not more than twenty-four, and belonged to the bestblood in France.
The third was less known in Paris. He was an Italian who was travelingin France. His name was Fernando de Vellebri. He came with letters fromprinces and ambassadors, which opened to him the first hotels in theFaubourg. This was the time when the word "dandy" began to be used, andthese three aspired to the title.
"Where is Frederic?" said one. "Would he fail us now?"
"Of course not. Besides, he wrote to me to say that he was to go withMademoiselle de Salves to witness some ceremony at Notre Dame!"
"Poor Frederic!"
"He is not so much to be pitied, if you please, for Mademoiselle deSalves is a most charming person."
"But does he love her? That is the question."
"It seems to me that you take a great deal of interest in my privateaffairs, gentlemen!" said a clear voice behind them.
"Frederic! Frederic, at last!"
"Yes, Frederic, who has been listening to you for some minutes, and whothinks you a little venturesome in your remarks."
He whom these young men greeted as Frederic wore no mask. His costumewas what in 1824 was regarded as the height of elegance. His friendslooked at him with admiration and envy, audibly regretting that they hadappeared in mask and costume.
"Then go and take them off," said Frederic. "I will wait for you here,or, better still, you may stop for me an hour later at the _MilleColonnes_."
Frederic was left alone. He was a youth of about twenty, but lookedolder. Heavy brows shaded deep-set eyes, his shoulders were square, witha slight deformity of the spine. His name was Frederic de Talizac.
Ten years had elapsed since the son of Magdalena scorned and insultedFrance. We shall soon discover if the man fulfilled the promise of hischildhood.
The Vicomte left the rotunda, and putting up his eyeglasses, began toexamine the crowd in the garden.
The Palais Royal was at that time the central point of Paris, and servedas a rendezvous for everybody. Each cafe had its special customers. TheBonapartists went to one, foreigners to another--the _MilleColonnes_--speculators to the _Cafe de Fois_, and so on. The _Cafe deValois_ was frequented by military men, the survivors of the greatRevolution, and it was also believed that it was a resort of theRepublicans. Wonder was frequently expressed that the police had notsuppressed this scandal. It was toward this cafe that the Vicomte nowtook his way. Hardly had he passed the gallery than he was attracted bya group of young men earnestly conversing together. Frederic watchedthem a moment, and then went up to them. He touched one of the men onhis shoulder, saying:
"Will you grant me a few minutes' conversation, sir?"
The young man to whom this question was addressed was about twenty-five.His regular features indicated great determination. He looked at Talizacfor a moment, and then replied, very coldly:
"I am at your service, sir."
The two men then walked into an almost deserted street.
"I first wish to know your name," said the Vicomte. "I am Frederic deTalizac."
"As I am well aware."
"And I wish to know your name that I may know also, if I am to speak toyou as to a gentleman, or strike you as I would a lacquey."
The young man turned very pale, but with a calmness that was absolutelyterrifying under the circumstances, he replied:
"There can be nothing in common between us two."
"I am to marry Mademoiselle de Salves in a month," said Talizac, betweenhis close shut teeth. "Yesterday, at noon, you had the impertinence,when riding past her mother's hotel, to throw a bouquet over the gardenwall."
"Well?"
"You probably have excellent reasons for concealing your name, but Igive you fair warning that if you are again guilty of similar conduct,that your chastisement will be swift and sure!"
The Vicomte stopped short, for the young man grasped him by the wristwith such strength that Frederic caught his breath in pain.
The stranger spoke in a low, calm voice.
"You have insulted me--wait!"
He turned and called to his friends.
"Gentlemen," he said, "this man has insulted me. Shall I fight him? Heis the Vicomte de Talizac."
One of the friends, who wore the ribbon of the Legion of Honor, replied:
"You cannot fight with a Talizac!"
The Vicomte uttered a cry of rage, but the other still held him firmly.
"You see," he said, "we do not fight with people whom we do not respect.If you do not understand me, apply to your father for an explanation--hewill give it to you. The day may come when you may have an opportunityof killing me--if you can. Now go--return to your shameful pleasures!"
With features convulsed with rage the Vicomte, unable to speak, drewfrom his pocket a handful of cards, and flung them into the face of theunknown, who started forward, but one of his friends laid a restraininghand on his arm.
"You do not belong to yourself!" he said, warningly.
Talizac disappeared. As he was hurrying on, blind with anger, a voicecried:
"Is this the way you keep your appointments?"
It was the Italian, Fernando de Vellebri. He added, with a wink:
"You ought to have killed that fellow. You know him?"
"Very little."
"He was concerned in that affair at Tivoli. You will tell me about it."
The tone which the Italian employed was not pleasing to Frederic, who,glad to have found a new adversary, answered quickly:
"I suppose you mean that I can tell you, if I choose. You seem to giveme orders."
"Suppose we sit down." And the Italian pointed to two chairs which wereunoccupied. He seated himself at once.
"My dear Vicomte," he said, serenely, "it seems to me that, situated aswe are, there should be no misunderstanding or quarrel between us."
"How do you mean?"
"I mean what you seem to have forgotten, that yesterday, in a moment ofabsent-mindedness, you signed a certain paper with a name that was notyour own."
The Vicomte turned very pale.
"How did you know this?" he stammered.
The Italian took out an elegant little pocketbook.
"Here it is," he said, opening a paper bearing the royal mark.
"But how did it come into your hands?"
"In a very simple way--I bought it."
"You--and for what reason?"
"Can you not suppose that my only motive
was to render you a service?"
The Vicomte shrugged his shoulders.
"You are right," answered Fernando, in reply to this mute protest. "Ihave another reason. I do not wish the Vicomte de Talizac to come togrief because my fortune is intimately connected with his--because hisfather, the Marquis de Fongereues, has rendered and will render greatservices to a cause that is mine. You must promise me to be guilty of nomore imprudences like this."
"Do you mean to give me that paper?"
"No, it is not altogether mine; those who retain an interest in it canalone surrender it to you."
"And who are those persons?"
"Friends, defenders of the Monarchy and of Religion. But we will say nomore on this trifle now. I merely wished to prove to you that I had aright to your confidence. Resume your story, and tell me why you hatethis man whom you just now provoked."
This trifle, as the Italian called it, could place the Vicomte at thecriminals' bar, as both men well knew, but Frederic deemed it advisablenot to insist. He suspected the truth, and had long since decided thatthe Italian belonged to the mysterious association. It was enough forhim that the danger was momentarily averted.
"Very well," said Talizac, "you were speaking of Tivoli. The crowd wasvery great at the fete, the fireworks were going on, at that moment theking's arms were exhibited. Suddenly there was a grand excitement; partof the scaffolding gave way. Mademoiselle de Salves in her frightdropped my arm and began to run. I saw a great timber falling andbelieved she was lost. I could not reach her. A man emerged from thecrowd, and with incredible strength seized this timber and eased it tothe ground. She fainted, and when the crowd permitted me to reach herside, this young man was holding her in his arms. She opened her eyes,and I am certain that this man was no stranger to her. When, however, weall gathered about her, the unknown bowed respectfully and vanished. Inoticed, however, that this romantic cavalier carried away with him aribbon from the dress of the young lady--only a ribbon. I told Irene ofthis impertinence; she did not even condescend to answer me."
"But the Paladin did not long content himself with this silent homage, Ipresume?"
"Women are idiots, you know, and this man now passes Irene's windowsdaily, and even throws flowers over the garden wall; and this woman, whois to be my wife, stands behind the curtain and watches for his coming.This my own eyes have seen, and I have come to the conclusion that ithas gone on long enough--"
"Ah! and you wish to get rid of this gallant. The matter ought to beeasy enough."
"Yes, one would think so. I have kept my valet on the watch, anddiscovered that he came every day to the _Cafe de Valois_ at thishour--"
"My dear Talizac, I can put an end to all your difficulties. IfMademoiselle de Salves has built up a pretty romance, I can banish herdreams by telling her the name of her lover. Your rival, my dear fellow,is or was rather, a mountebank, and his name is Fanfar."
The Vicomte laughed long and loud.
"Upon my word!" he exclaimed, as soon as he could speak, "I should havemade a fool of myself, had I fought a duel with the fellow! But do themen who are with him know who he is?"
"Certainly. They know perfectly well. And yet shake hands with him! Theycall him their friend."
The Italian could stand no more of this. He rose from his chair. "Come,"he said, "this is the Carnival, let us end the day merrily."
"I should be only too glad to do so," was the Vicomte's reply, "anythingto make me forget the disagreeable scene with that man!"
The Vicomte called the contumely heaped on his father's name and hisown, "a disagreeable scene."
The two young men sauntered across the garden. Just as they reached thefountain, Frederic stopped.
"What is it?" asked the Italian.
A young girl was singing to a guitar. A curious crowd had gathered abouther. She was a pretty creature; her brown curls were covered by ahandkerchief of white wool, her face was perfect in shape and incoloring, her eyes were dark--gay, but at the same time innocent.
She accompanied herself on a guitar as she sang, and her voice was sodelicious that the crowd clamored for more. The girl bowed her thanks,and extended the back of her guitar for money. She colored deeply as shedid so. When she reached Frederic, he said, in a whisper, as he laid agold piece on the instrument, "You are alone to-day."
She started, looked up quickly, and passed on.
"The 'Marquise' is in a lofty mood," said the Italian, stooping as hespoke, and picking the gold piece from the ground. "Take it, Vicomte, itis yours, since she would have none of it."
Frederic uttered a sullen oath.
"And this has been going on for two months!" Fernando laughed, as hestated this as a fact, "and every day the Marquise--by the way, why isshe called by that name!--repels the homage of the Vicomte!"
"Do you spend all your time watching me, Fernando? Take care, patiencehas its limits!"
"I am glad to hear it. You bear too much from this girl!"
Frederic caught his arm. "Listen to me, Fernando, my brain reels withmad projects. Help me to avenge myself on Fanfar--help me to carry offthis girl, and I belong to you, body and soul!"
"Well said!" answered the Italian, "as the bargain is concluded, supposewe go to dinner?"
"But this girl?"
"We will talk of her to-night, and I am quite sure you will have noreason to complain of me!"