When the Marquise, her daughter-in-law, and grandson left the salon, aservant attached especially to the service of the Vicomte approached.
"Madame la Vicomtesse," said Cyprien, "my master wishes to see you; heis in his chamber."
"Go, my child," interposed the Marquise, "but leave the boy with me, forI hate to be alone in these rooms which are drearier than a cloister."
The Vicomtesse de Talizac was of Austrian origin, and concealed under anair of languid indifference the most boundless ambition. Her large eyeswere light and generally without expression, but on occasion they grewdark and flashed fire.
She had married the Vicomte de Talizac with the idea that she would thusobtain a high position at the French Court, knowing well moreover thatthe immense fortune of the Fongereueses would ensure her princelyluxury. The Vicomtesse was both proud and avaricious, and her naturerebelled at the smallest check to her secret aspirations. Her only soncame into the world hopelessly deformed, but his mother adored him towhom Nature had given neither physical nor moral beauty. She labored tomake him as selfish and indifferent as herself. She determined that ashe grew to man's estate, he should be feared rather than pitied, and todo this it was necessary that he should be immensely rich. He was taughtfrom his cradle to hate France. When his mother saw that the hour oftriumph for the emigres, the traitors, was near at hand, she was filledwith bitter joy.
None of these people realized the work that had been going on for twentyyears, and had little idea of the changes that had taken place. Theyignored them all, and were only anxious to restore everything to the oldcondition.
The Vicomte de Talizac and his wife were especially eager for theseresults. There was but one shadow on their brilliant future. The fortuneof the Vicomte had nearly gone--the fortune of the Fongereues familyremained, but the Vicomte was well aware that his father had contractedan early marriage, and that of this union a son was born, with whom, tobe sure, the old Marquis seemed to have broken entirely, but of late deTalizac began to realize that the father's love had outlived thisseparation; and, moreover, indulged in no possible delusion in regard tohimself; he did not love his father, and knew that his father did notlove him. Madame de Fongereues was also well aware of the tenderreverence in which Simonne was held by the Marquis, and was convincedthat the peasant's son was not forgotten.
Where was Simon? Were he to appear it would be ruin for the Vicomte.When Magdalena fully realized this, she snatched her son in her arms,and said to his father:
"If you are not weak and childish, this Simon will never despoil ourson!"
De Talizac understood her.
We resume our recital at the moment when the Vicomtesse entered herhusband's room, where he was lying on the couch. He signed to her toclose the door. The Marquis was the living image of his mother, exceptthat her beautiful regular features became in his face bony andrepulsive.
"Well?" said the Vicomtesse, going up to the couch.
"I am wounded," he answered. "The man escaped me."
His wife frowned.
"Really!" she said, "one might think that the Vicomte de Talizac wasstrong enough to conquer a lacquey!"
"Hush!" cried the Vicomte, his eyes flashing fire, "do you think that Irequire you to remind me of the shame of my defeat? I have been fordays, as you well know, on the track of the hound. I hid by the waysideto-night, like a murderer, and I saw him press his hand to his breast asif to assure himself of the safety of some package which undoubtedlycontained the secret so necessary to the safety of our future. By whatmiracle the fellow escaped, I can't divine. I saw him fall forward, buthe suddenly fired at me--but I did at all events as I promised you todo--"
"I can only say that our son is ruined!"
"No, not yet; listen to me. Pierre is with my father at this moment;hasten and listen to the conversation."
"But he is locked in his room!"
"I know that, Magdalena. Raise that curtain; you will find a door whichopens on a staircase in the wall; go down twenty steps, then stop, passyour hand over the wall until you feel a spring; press it, and it willopen. You will find a small window concealed within the room by thecarving, and you can hear every word that is spoken--"
"Very good; but your wound--"
"Is not of much consequence; but hasten, for your son's sake."
The Vicomtesse disappeared.
This explains the noise that had attracted the attention of the Marquis.
An hour later Magdalena returned to her husband. "I know enough," shesaid. "Your brother Simon is married--he has two sons, and lives in thevillage of Leigoutte."
A cruel smile wandered over the lips of the Vicomte.