CHAPTER XXXVI.
SUPREME EFFORT.
Monsieur de Fongereues was alone in his cabinet. Magdalena had left himonly a few moments before. A violent scene had taken place between thehusband and wife.
The ruin that threatened the Fongereues mansion had been temporarilystaved off by the marriage that had been arranged between Irene and theVicomte, but as soon as the world knew that the marriage was broken off,the tongues of gossips began to wag.
The Fongereues felt that their doom was sealed when they knew thatIrene's millions were forever lost to them. Then this unhappy pair beganto quarrel. To Magdalena's violent reproaches Fongereues answered byviolent recriminations. Was it not her senseless indulgence that hadcaused the Vicomte to become the depraved and worthless person upon whomevery one now turned a cold shoulder? If they were ruined, was it notbecause of the mad extravagance of mother and son?
And Magdalena replied:
"If I have been weak, was it not still more your duty to be strong? Whois the proper guide for a young man if not his father? You have beenfaithless to your duties, and, moreover, has he a vice which is notyours?"
Fongereues foamed with rage, and before he could speak his wife had theaudacity to say:
"You are choked by the blood of your brother!"
She thus reproached him for a crime that he had committed at herinstigation. A moment more and this great lord would have demeanedhimself to brutalities worthy of a lacquey, but with a look of contemptMagdalena swept past him and left the room. And now, crushed into alarge arm-chair, the Marquis sat with his eyes fixed on the floor.
"Count Fernando de Vellebri wishes to see you," a servant knocked at thedoor to say.
"One moment!" answered the Marquis.
He hurried to his dressing room, bathed his face in cold water andhastily brushed his fast whitening hair. He took his seat at his desk,which was covered with papers.
"Show Monsieur de Vellebri up," he said.
He shuddered as he spoke, for he had learned through Cyprien that thisFernando belonged to the society of the Jesuits. The young man entered.
He was no longer the obsequious person with the stereotyped smile, whohad done the will of the Vicomte de Talizac. Dressed in black, a longsingle-breasted coat, Fernando was the type of the Jesuits who pervadedFrench society. His dark hair rendered his pallor more remarkable. Hishalf closed eyes were brilliant in spite of their heavy lids.
Fongereues divined a contest. What new struggle would he be compelledto undergo? He pointed to a chair, but the Italian bowed and remainedstanding.
"You wished to see me," said the Marquis, "and I am at your service. Butwhat is this costume? I was not aware that you belonged to any religioussociety, officially, at least."
"As to my claims to this dress," answered De Vellebri, coldly, "I amquite ready to explain them, if you will condescend to listen to me."
His voice was monotonous, as he continued:
"You are not ignorant, sir, of how greatly the conduct of the Vicomte deTalizac has compromised himself and his family."
"I beg your pardon," interrupted the Marquis, "but may I ask if you werenot the companion of my son in most of his excesses?"
Fernando smiled satirically.
"Perhaps you are not quite aware of the part I played in these excesses.Monsieur de Talizac is not a child, to be influenced for good or evil byhis friends. Perhaps, instead of accusing me, you should thank me forhaving saved the honor of your house more than once."
"Indeed, sir! I confess I do not understand."
"It seems to me," said Fernando, still very calm, "that we are wanderingfrom the real subject of this conversation. A powerful Society, sir,attached above all else to the practice of all virtues and to thetriumph of God's cause, has for a long time been watching you. Yourinfluence and your talents all give a guarantee that you may become amost useful auxiliary to the society to which I have the honor tobelong."
"The Society of Jesus?" interrupted the Marquis.
Fernando did not reply to this direct question other than with a slightbow.
"This society," he continued, "is disposed to come to your aid. It isthey who have prevented His Majesty from revoking the favors shown toyour son."
Fongereues uttered an exclamation of surprise.
"And they, too, will enable you to re-conquer the rank to which youbelong."
"On condition that I will be their slave!" said the Marquis, with aconstrained smile.
It was certain that in this terrible crisis the Marquis was ready tosnatch at anything that would save him. But in spite of himself, he feltan invincible repugnance to giving himself up entirely to the control ofthese people and to have no will of his own. He hesitated. Fernandoseemed to read his every thought.
"I think, sir," he said, "that you exaggerate the consequences of thestep I suggest."
"And if I refuse?"
"You will not refuse," said the Italian, quietly.
Fongereues bit his lips.
"What does the Society of Jesus require of me?"
"Two things--a great service and a guarantee."
"What do they offer me?"
"The position of Prime Minister."
The Marquis started.
"I do not understand you," he said.
"The position of Prime Minister."
Beads of sweat broke out on the brow of the Marquis. He knew that thesociety was strong enough to keep its promises. He knew that as PrimeMinister all his dreams of power and wealth would be realized.
"You spoke also of a service and a guarantee," he said, quietly.
"The service is the greatest that can be rendered by any man to theCatholic world and to his Holiness the Pope."
Fernando lowered his voice.
"You are aware, sir, that by a Royal Edict of 1764 the Jesuits wereexpelled from France. Two years since, in 1822, His Majesty, unable toelevate in its integrity the standard of Catholicism, contented himselfwith authorizing the sojourn in France of the Fathers of the Faith. Thetime has now come to arrest these persecutions entailed on the Societyof Jesus. We are resolved that they shall be solemnly re-establishedunder their own name, with all their rights and privileges, and this notby virtue of a royal edict, but by a legal measure emanating from theChamber of Peers. This is a bold act and one full of danger. We arefully aware of it, and do not propose to deny it. To carry out this plansuccessfully would require great dexterity and astuteness, as well asprofound faith in the justice of the cause you defend. The reward wouldbe the dazzling recompense I have named. Monsieur de Fongereues, areyou--can you be this man?"
Fongereues started to his feet.
"Yes--I can!" he cried.
"We will assist you," said the Jesuit. "We are certain of the support ofa respectable minority. It is for you to scatter rewards, and warmlukewarm consciences, and I repeat, sir--a work like this ismagnificent."
"I belong to you, heart and soul," said Fongereues, "and to-morrow--"
"Wait," said Vellebri, laying his hand on the arm of the Marquis, thusforcing him back to his seat. "I spoke of a guarantee."
"Ah! yes," answered Fongereues, "my word of honor, I presume, isenough?"
Fernando did not seem to think a reply incumbent upon him. He continued:
"The man in whom the Society places enough confidence to entrust himwith arms which will ensure his victory, should be bound to them bystrong ties."
Fongereues listened with interest and curiosity.
"And the strongest ties are those of gold," said the Jesuit, slowly anddistinctly. "You questioned me as to my claim to my dress. I am theSecretary of the General of the Society, and I am required to ask, ifyou are willing to aid in the establishment of houses like those ofMontrouge and Saint-Acheul in Parma and Tuscany?"
"Most certainly," answered Fongereues, uneasily, for this allusion tomoney was most unwelcome. "I am ready to second all efforts of thisSociety, but still it would be necessary for me to know just what amountwould be required of me. M
y resources are just now greatly restricted,and--"
"Do not be concerned," said Vellebri, coldly, "the amount need notdisturb you." Fongereues sighed with relief. "You will have to give butone million."
"A million!" repeated the Marquis, in despair.
"In fixing this sum our Superiors have merely carried out their plan ofattaching you to their cause."
"But a million!" repeated the Marquis, "it is impossible. Were I to sellall that I now have in the world, I should not realize the half of thissum!"
"Is this, then, a refusal?"
"By no means. But a million!--I haven't it," and he repeated these wordsover and over again.
"But you have resources which should make such a sacrifice easy."
"No, you are mistaken. I am ruined, entirely ruined!"
His agitation was so great that he forgot to dissimulate.
"But the fortune of your father was very large, and cannot beexhausted."
"But I was robbed of that!"
Fernando rose from his chair.
"Permit me," he said, "to decline to enter into any affairs foreign tothe matters we have under consideration. I came to offer you peace orwar. Peace means fortune and power, and war--"
"War!" repeated Fongereues, "I do not understand you."
"When the Society proposes a compact, when, as I have just done to you,she unveils her secret designs, she holds in reserve a weapon whichplaces at her mercy the man of whom she wished to make an ally, and whomshe does not choose to have for an adversary."
"I! I an adversary of the Society of Jesus! You cannot mean what yousay."
"Everything is possible, Marquis. This is our ultimatum--either you willaccept the proposals I have made, and placing in my hands within fivedays the million I ask, you will at once begin the campaign whosesuccess is certain, or within five days a certain person will place inthe hands of the Procureur de Roi papers which will be your ruin."
"What do you mean?"
Fongereues was livid as he asked this question.
"They are notes, forged by the Vicomte, your son!"
"Talizac a forger! Impossible!"
"I assure you that it is only too true. Once more, let me ask for yourdecision."
"I beg you to remember that my devotion to the Society is unalterable.But a million--you know!"
"You understand," repeated Vellebri, "it is a million that is demanded?"
"Yes, I know. Grant me a little time."
"We give you five days, as I said, at the end of which time theproposition I have named must be presented to the Chamber of Peers."
"I will present it."
"But the Society will not permit you to interfere until you have giventhe required guarantee. And now, good-morning, sir."
In vain did Fongereues petition the Italian to remain, but Fernandobowed coldly and departed.
Fongereues sank back in his chair, utterly crushed. For a few moments hehad indulged in the hope of a proud future, and now, knowing that hecould not raise a million, he felt that he was in deeper perplexity thanever.
Cyprien now appeared.
"You made a mistake, sir, in hesitating for a moment. Write to theSociety that before five days have elapsed you will have fulfilled theconditions imposed."
"That would be folly!"
"Is not Fanfar in prison?"
"What of that? He will not be condemned."
"By the judges, possibly not--but by us."
Fongereues held himself more erect.
"Tell me what you mean, Cyprien?" he asked.
The lacquey laughed.
"I mean simply, that I will kill this Fanfar!"