CHAPTER LI.
A SHOT FROM A REVOLVER.
Goutran and Esperance went out together from the little hotel in theavenue Montaugne. Slowly and without talking they walked on side byside. The moon had gone down; it was one of those soft, starry nightswhich are so delicious. The Champs Elysees was deserted.
Suddenly Goutran exclaimed, "It is best to go on with it, I am sure!"
Esperance looked at his friend in surprise. "What are you saying?" heasked.
Goutran laughed. "I was only thinking aloud," he said. "The fact is, Iam attempting to decide upon an important question. To marry, or not tomarry. What do you say?"
"I know so little of life that I can give no advice," answeredEsperance, "and yet," he continued, "it seems to me that no happinesscan be so great as to spend your life in the companionship of one whowill share your joys and your sorrows."
"Then you advise me to marry?"
"If the woman is worthy of you."
Goutran had begun this conversation in a gay, familiar tone, but thegravity of Esperance influenced him, and he continued more seriously, "Iwished to consult you, because I knew you to be a man who weighed suchmatters seriously. You noticed a young lady, to-night--but what is thematter?"
Esperance had started. "It is nothing, my foot slipped. And this younglady?"
"The pretty blonde is the one I mean."
"Oh!" answered Esperance, with a sigh of relief, "I congratulate you,most warmly. You love her?"
"I hardly know. I am attracted by her, I admire her beauty, thebrilliancy of her eyes, her figure and her manner. Is this love?"
"I have no experience in such matters, you know."
"But you have instinct, which is worth ten times as much as experience.Carmen is an adorable creature, and when I am with her I can think of noone else. Twenty times this evening the decisive words were on my lips."
"And why did you not speak?"
"Ah! that is as much of a mystery to me as to you. A strange reluctancekept me back--almost a presentiment of evil. Do you know what I mean?"
"I understand that. I have felt the same thing at times."
"But to return to Carmen. Whenever I think of asking her to marry me, Ifeel as if I were deliberately inviting misfortune."
"You are not well, perhaps?"
"Bless my soul! How reasonable you are! No, I am well, I am greatly inlove, and yet--"
"Upon my word!" said the Vicomte, "I can't see what you expect me tosay."
"I have not told you all, and I have an admission to make that is notaltogether agreeable. The truth is, I was so carried away by Carmen'sbeauty, that--"
"You became engaged to her?"
"I kissed her, my friend, and I was not repulsed nor reproved. Sheconsidered the kiss given to her fiance. And now, shall I marry her? Itell you, that even when my lips met hers, I felt more sharply than everthe presentiment of which I spoke. I know that after what has takenplace I ought to apply to her father for her hand. Why do I hesitate? Icannot tell."
"Does Monsieur de Laisangy inspire you with absolute confidence?" askedEsperance, after a long pause.
The two friends had passed the Arc de Triomphe by this time, and enteredthe dark shadows of the Bois.
"Monsieur de Laisangy seems to have an excellent reputation. Bankers aremeasured by a standard of their own, and public opinion is never verystrict in regard to them. Monsieur de Laisangy is rich, but no one sayshe has made his money dishonestly. I know nothing of his past, but havenever heard a whisper against him, and yet sometimes he inspires me withabsolute repulsion."
"My dear Goutran," said Esperance, in that grave, steady voice, whichwas so like his father's, "I am very young, I know nothing of life, Ihave never loved, but it seems to me that I could not speak as you havedone, if I felt sincerely or deeply. I do not think I could analyze myambitions so artistically." Esperance now began to speak more rapidlyand with emotion. "To love is to give up one's entire being, to live inanother. You say that you love, that your lips have touched those ofwhom you have chosen, and that your heart sank at that same moment. No,you do not love Carmen de Laisangy!"
At this moment both men heard the report of a pistol.
"What is that?" cried Goutran.
"Some crime, I fear," answered his companion.
The two friends forced their way through the underbrush, Esperance alittle in advance. Suddenly he beheld in an open space a prostrate form.It was that of a woman. Esperance rushed forward and lifted her from theground. He uttered a hoarse cry. It was she whose life he had sorecently saved--it was Jane Zeld. A small revolver lay at her side.
Esperance, bearing her in his vigorous arms, made his way into theroad.