CHAPTER XIV.
THE BOURGEOIS UNMASKED.
Monsieur Desmarais, still affected by the cries uttered by Lehiron's moband unable to account for the apparently sudden revulsion of thesentiments entertained for him by the people, was earnestly conversingwith his wife and her brother, Monsieur Hubert. The latter he hadsummoned to his side to consult on the weighty resolves he felt forcedto take, both on the score of his daughter, and on the line of policywhich he should adopt to ride the gathering political storm.
Monsieur Hubert, Desmarais's brother-in-law and a rich banker of Paris,was a very honest man, in the accepted sense of honesty in thecommercial jargon; that is to say, he scrupulously fulfilled hisengagements, and never loaned his money at higher rates than the lawallowed. At heart he was dry; his spirit was jealous and sinister. A manof inflexible opinions, he nursed an equal aversion for the clergy, thenobility, and the proletariat. He regarded the Third Estate as called toreign under the nominal authority of a constitutional head, an emperoror king, whom he called a "pig in clover," in imitation of the English;the intervention of the people in public affairs he considered theheight of absurdity. Monsieur Hubert lived in the St. Thomas of theLouvre quarter, a quarter hostile to the revolution, where he hadrecently been promoted to the grade of commander of the battalion. Thisbattalion, called the "Daughters of St. Thomas of the Louvre," wasalmost entirely composed of royalists. The banker was about fifty yearsof age; of slight build, one could see in his physiognomy, in hisglance, that in him nervous force supplied the place of physical energy.At this moment he was plunged in a deep silence. His sister and MonsieurDesmarais seemed to hang with an uneasy curiosity on the result of thefinancier's reflections. The latter at length seemed to have reached theend of his cogitation, for he raised his head and said sardonically:
"In the light of your confidences, dear brother-in-law, I can onlyremind you that four months ago I told you you were wrong to letyourself be dragged into what you called the 'cause of the people.' Mysincerity caused a sort of break between us, but at your first call, yousee me back again. My previsions have been fulfilled. To-day thepopulace has been unchained, and I see you all struck with fright at thecries of death that have rung in your ears."
"My dear Hubert," replied Desmarais, restraining his impatience, butinterrupting the financier, "please, do not let us concern ourselveswith politics now. We begged you to come to our aid with your advice;you put to one side our disagreement; we thank you. So please you then,help us to recall to her senses our unworthy daughter, who is madlysmitten with an ironsmith's apprentice, our neighbor, whom you haveseveral times met in our house."
"Very well then, my dear Desmarais; let us put aside politics for themoment. Nevertheless, since we are concerned with the unworthy love ofmy niece for that artisan, I must, indeed, recall to your mind that Ihave often reproached you for your intimacy with the young fellow.To-day, a grave peril menaces you. Your regrets are tardy."
"My dear Hubert, we waste precious time in vain recriminations of thepast. Unfortunately, what is done, is done. Let us speak, I pray you, ofthe present. My wife and I, in order to cut short this attachment ofCharlotte for John Lebrenn, have decided to take our daughter with us toVersailles. What do you think of that resolution?"
"That it will not accomplish the object you seek. Versailles is too nearto Paris. If your man is as persevering as enamored--not of Charlotte,but of her fortune, for, do not mistake, the fellow is after nothing buther dower--he will find a way to meet her. My advice would be to sendMademoiselle Charlotte, instantly, a hundred leagues from Paris, tothrow this lover off the track. Send her, say, to Lyons, to our cousinDusommier; my sister will accompany her and remain beside her until thispuppy-love is forgotten. A month or two will do for that."
"Your advice, brother, seems wise. But I fear that Charlotte will notconsent to the trip."
"Heavens, sister! Is paternal authority an empty word! A flightabout ofseventeen years to dare disobey the orders of her parents? That is notprobable, surely. Have some strength."
"But it is well to be prepared for everything. Let us suppose thiscase--she refuses to obey--"
"In that case, brother-in-law, willy-nilly, bundle MademoiselleCharlotte into the stage for Lyons--then, whip up, coachman!"
Just then Gertrude the servant entered and said: "Monsieur John Lebrenndesires to speak with monsieur on a very pressing matter. He is in thevestibule."
"What! The wretch still has the audacity to present himself here!" criedHubert, purple with rage.
"He does not know that my daughter has revealed their engagement; andbesides--a while ago--" stammered Desmarais, turning red with confusion,"I had to give him a cordial greeting."
"Yes, brother," said Madam Desmarais, coming to the aid of her husband,"a while ago, a column returning from the Bastille, commanded by JohnLebrenn, halted before our house, shouting 'Long live Citizen Desmarais!Long live the friend of the people!'"
"And so, I had to bow to necessity," acknowledged the lawyer. "I wasforced to harangue the insurgents."
"Wonderful, brother-in-law, wonderful!" retorted Hubert, with a burst ofcutting laughter. "The lesson and the punishment are complete!"
"My friend--if you receive this young man, be calm, I conjure you," saidMadam Desmarais uneasily to the lawyer. "Refuse him politely."
"Death of my life! my poor sister, have you not a drop of blood in yourveins?"
"Brother, I beg of you, do not speak so loud. John Lebrenn is even now,perhaps, in the dining room."
"Ah, heaven, if he is there--so much the better! And since no one heredares speak outright to one of the famous conquerors of the Bastille, Itake it upon myself," cried Hubert still louder, his eyes glaring withanger, and starting for the door of the room.
But Madam Desmarais, alarmed and suppliant, seized the financier by thearm, exclaiming in a trembling voice, "Brother, I beg you! Oh, God, havepity on us!"
Hubert yielded to the prayers of his sister and stopped just asDesmarais, emerging from his revery, said to his wife with a sigh ofrelief, "Dear friend, I have hit upon quite a plausible way, in caseMonsieur Lebrenn has the impudence to ask for our daughter's hand, toreject his demand without giving him anything to be offended at. I shallrefuse him without irritating him."
"Another cowardice that you are meditating," cried Hubert, exasperated."Let me receive your workingman!"
"I thank you, brother-in-law, for your offer. Please leave me alone. Ishall know how to guard my dignity." Then, addressing Gertrude.
"Show Monsieur Lebrenn in."
"We shall leave you, my friend," said Madam Lebrenn to her husband."Come, brother, let us find Charlotte. I count on your influence todissuade her from this match, and to bring her back to herself."
Hubert took the arm of his sister, and left the room; but not withoutsaying to himself as he did so, "By heaven, I shall not lose theopportunity of speaking my mind to that workingman, if only for thehonor of the family. I shall have my chance to talk."
As the wife and brother-in-law of lawyer Desmarais disappeared throughone of the side-doors of the room, John Lebrenn was shown in by Gertrudethrough the principal entrance. Desmarais, at the sight of John,controlled and hid his anger under a mask of cordial hospitality. Hetook two steps to meet the young man, and clasped him affectionately bythe hand:
"With what pleasure do I see you again, my dear friend! Your hurt, Ihope, is not serious? We were quite alarmed about you."
"Thanks to God, my wound is slight; and I am truly touched by theinterest you show in me."
"Nothing surprising, my dear John. Do you not know that I am yourfriend?"
"It is just to throw myself upon your friendship that I have come to seeyou."
"Well, well! And what is it?"
"It is my duty at this solemn moment to answer you withoutcircumlocution, monsieur," said John Lebrenn in a voice filled withemotion. "I love your daughter. She has returned my love, and I am cometo ask of you her hand."
"What do I hear!" exclaimed advocate Desmarais, feigning extremesurprise.
"Mademoiselle Charlotte, I am certain, will approve the request that Inow prefer to you, and which accords with the sentiments she has shownme."
"So, my dear John," continued the attorney with a paternal air thatseemed to augur the best for the young workman, "my daughter andyou--you love, and you have sworn to belong to each other? So stands thesituation?"
"Six months ago, Monsieur Desmarais, we pledged ourselves to eachother."
"After all, there is nothing in this love that should surprise me,"continued Desmarais, as if talking to himself. "Charlotte has a hundredtimes heard me appreciate, as they deserve to be, the character, theintelligence, the excellent conduct of our dear John. She knows that Irecognize no social distinction between man and man, except only that ofworth. All are equal in my eyes, whatever the accidents of their birthor fortune. Nothing more natural--I should rather say, nothing moreinevitable--than this love of my daughter for my young and worthyfriend."
"Ah, monsieur," cried the young mechanic, his eyes filling with tearsand his voice shaken with inexpressible gratitude, "you consent, then,to our union?"
"Well!" replied Monsieur Desmarais, continuing to affect imperturbablegood-fellowship, "if the marriage pleases my daughter, it shall beaccording to her desire. I would not go against her wishes."
"Oh, please, monsieur, ask mademoiselle at once!"
"It is needless, my dear John, perfectly needless; for, betweenourselves, a thousand circumstances until now insignificant now flock tomy memory. There is no necessity for my questioning my daughterCharlotte to know that she loves you as much as you love her, my youngfriend. I am already convinced of it!"
"Hold, monsieur--pardon me, I can hardly believe what I hear. Words failme to express my joy, my gratitude, my surprise!"
"And what, my dear John, have you to be surprised at?"
"At seeing this marriage meet with not a single objection on your part,monsieur. I am astonished, in the midst of my joy. The language sotouching, so flattering, in which you frame your consent, doubles itsvalue to me."
"Good heaven! And nothing is more simple than my conduct. Neither I normy wife--I answer to you for her consent--can raise any objection toyour marriage. Is it the question of fortune? I am rich, you arepoor--what does that matter? Is the value of men measured by the francmark? Is not, in short, your family as honorable, in other words, asvirtuous as mine, my dear John? Are not both our families equallywithout reproach and without stain? Are not--"
And Desmarais stopped as if smitten with a sudden and terriblerecollection. His features darkened, and expressed a crushing sorrow. Hehid his face in his hands and murmured:
"Great God! What a frightful memory! Ah, unhappy young man! Unhappyfather that I am!"
Apparently overcome, Desmarais threw himself into an arm-chair, stillholding his hands before his eyes as if to conceal his emotion. Stunnedand alarmed, John Lebrenn gazed at the lawyer with inexpressibleanguish. A secret presentiment flashed through his mind, and he said toCharlotte's father as he drew closer to him, "Monsieur, explain thecause of the sudden emotion under which I see you suffering."
"Leave me, my poor friend, leave me! I am annihilated, crushed!"
John Lebrenn, more and more uneasy, contemplated Charlotte's father insilent anguish, and failed to notice that one of the side doors of theroom was half-opened by Monsieur Hubert, who warily put his head throughthe crack, muttering to himself, "While my sister and her daughter arein their apartment, let me see what is going on here, where myintervention may come in handy."
After a long silence which John feared to break, advocate Desmaraisrose. He pretended to wipe away a tear, then, stretching out his arms toJohn, he said in a smothered voice:
"My friend, we are very unfortunate."
The young artisan, already much moved by the anxieties the scene hadaroused, responded to Desmarais's appeal. He threw himself into thelatter's arms, saying solicitously:
"Monsieur, what ails you? I know not the cause of the chagrin, which,all so sudden, seems to have struck you; but, whatever it be, I shallfight it with all my spirit."
"Your tender compassion, my friend, gives me consolation and comfort,"said Desmarais in a broken voice, pressing John several times to hisheart; and seeming to make a violent effort to master himself, heresumed in firmer tones, "Come, my friend, courage. We shall need it,you and I, to touch upon so sad a matter."
"Monsieur, I know not what you are about to say, and yet I tremble."
"Ah, at least, my dear John, our friendship will still be left to us. Itwill remain our refuge in our common sorrow."
"But to what purpose?"
Perceiving out of the corner of his eye the nonplussed countenance ofJohn Lebrenn, who stood pale and speechless, advocate Desmarais heavedanother lamentable sigh, pulled out his handkerchief and again buriedhis face in his hands.
"What the devil is my brother-in-law getting at?" exclaimed Hubert tohimself, cautiously introducing his head again through the half-opendoor, and observing the young artisan. The latter, dejected, his headbowed, his gaze fixed, was in a sort of daze, and searched in vain inhis troubled brain for the true significance of Desmarais'slamentations. Finally, desirous at any price to escape from thelabyrinth of anxiety that tortured his soul and filled his heart withanguish, he said falteringly to the lawyer:
"Monsieur, it is impossible for me to picture the apprehension withwhich I am tortured. I adjure you, in the name of the friendship youhave up to this moment shown me, to explain yourself clearly. What isthis cause for our common sorrow? You have just appealed to my courage;I have courage. But, I pray you, let me at least know the blow withwhich I, with which we, are threatened!"
"You are right, my dear John. Excuse my weakness. Let us face the truthlike men of heart, howsoever hard it may be." Desmarais took the handsof the young artisan in his own and contemplated him with an expressionof fatherly tenderness. "You would have rendered certain the happinessof my only child, of that I am sure. But this marriage is impossible!"
Seeing the young artisan, at these words, grow mortally pale, andstagger, the lawyer supported him, and continued in his mock-paternalvoice: "John, I counted on you to help us bear the blow that was to fallon us. Now you weaken--"
Young Lebrenn pulled himself together, summoned back his spirits, and ina voice which he strove hard to render firm, said: "Now I am calmer. Bepleased to inform me how these projects of marriage, first hailed by youwith such kindness, are now suddenly become impossible?"
"Helas!--because of all the joy--which your proposal heaped upon me, Iforgot, as you did--a sad circumstance. And then, all of a sudden thememory--came back to me. Your family--is it, like mine, stainless? Alas,no! Your father wrote--printed--published a pamphlet in which herecorded that his daughter--your sister--had been the mistress of KingLouis XV. You know my susceptibility where honor is concerned! Mydaughter may never enter the family which bears that indelible blot."
"Ah, by my faith! The trick is great!" muttered Hubert, the financier,stepping out of the neighboring room and slowly entering the parlorwithout at first being perceived by either John Lebrenn or Desmarais.
Hearing only the words of the father of his beloved one, John at firstreeled with dismay. But his good sense quickly coming to his aid, andremembering the doubts of his father and Victoria as to Desmarais'sconsent to his daughter's union with an ironsmith's apprentice, hedetected the refusal hypocritically veiled under the excuse employed bythe advocate. Cruel was the young man's disillusionment. It dashed atonce his dearest hopes, and his confidence, until then implicit, in thesincerity of the principles professed by the deputy of the Third Estate.The double shock was so severe that John, refusing, like all generouscharacters, to believe evil, began to cast about for excuses for theadvocate's conduct. The following thought sprang up in his head: PerhapsDesmarais had learned of the consequences of the debauchery of Louis XV;perhaps he knew that Victoria had been held
in the lupanar in KingLouis's "Doe Park," and had later been imprisoned in the RepentantWomen. If he knew all this, John thought, Desmarais could not help, asVictoria had told him, but refuse, upon a very pardonable scruple, togrant him his daughter.
Preserving, then, his hope, not indeed of overcoming the objections ofCharlotte's father, but of being saved from having to regard him as adouble-dealer and a traitor, John controlled his emotions, raised hishead, and turned his eyes square upon Desmarais. Only then did heperceive the presence of banker Hubert, the sight of whom alwaysinspired him with the profoundest antipathy. Surprised and pained, aboveall, at the presence of this personage at so delicate a juncture, Johnremarked that the financier conversed in a low and sardonic voice withhis brother-in-law.
"Monsieur," said John to Desmarais, "you will recognize, I hope, thatour interview is of such a nature that it can not continue exceptbetween you and me?"
"From which it seems that Citizen John Lebrenn politely shows me thedoor!" retorted Hubert, with a mocking leer.
"Sir," impatiently answered the young mechanic, "I desire to remainalone with Monsieur Desmarais, to discuss family matters."
"I would beg to remark to--Citizen John Lebrenn, that my brother-in-lawhas no secrets from me, in what touches the honor of our family. Ishall, therefore, assist at this conference."
Desmarais, at first highly opposed to the unforeseen presence of thebanker, soon resigned himself gracefully to the intrusion, hoping tofind in it a pretext for hastening to an end an interview which wasbecoming quite embarrassing to him. Accordingly, he made haste to sayvery affectionately to the young artisan:
"My dear friend, I have acquainted you with the cause which bars amarriage that would otherwise have been the embodiment of my views. Letus never again refer to a subject justly so painful to us both."
"Pardon me, monsieur," returned the young workman firmly; "but beforetaking my leave of you, I have just one more question to ask, and whichyou will please to answer."
"Speak, my dear John, what is it?"
"You refuse me the hand of Mademoiselle Charlotte because my sister wasthe mistress of Louis XV?"
"Alack, yes. Your father himself, without naming, it is true, hisdaughter, stigmatized, denounced to the public indignation that horriblefact. He told how your unfortunate sister, having been kidnapped at theage of eleven and a half, left the Doe Park only to disappear forever.Since that sad day, no one has ever heard of the poor creature, whoembarked in all probability for America, there to await the end of herunhappy life. That is my opinion."
"So, monsieur, you share our belief on the subject of my sister'sdisappearance? The victim has been sacrificed?"
"Eh, surely! But whence your insistence on the subject, my dear John?"
The voice, the features of the lawyer proved his sincerity. He wasmanifestly ignorant of Victoria's prolonged sojourn in the royalpleasure-house at Versailles, and her subsequent imprisonment in theRepentant Women--fatal circumstances, which in John's mind, might haveexplained Desmarais's refusal. The last illusion that John Lebrennstill hugged to heart now vanished. But containing his indignation, headdressed the advocate: "And so, monsieur, my marriage with MademoiselleCharlotte is impossible, solely because my sister, snatched from thebosom of her family by a procuress at the age of eleven, was violated byLouis XV?"
"Is not that good and sufficient cause?"
"And is not Citizen Lebrenn satisfied?" put in Hubert, who for severalminutes had been with difficulty bottling up his rage. "The dismissal isgiven in good form, by heaven! You have nothing to do but retire."
"Please, my dear John, attach no importance to the temper of mybrother-in-law," interposed advocate Desmarais, extending his hand tothe young man. "Excuse, I beseech you, his thrusts; I should be verysorry to have you depart from my house under a false impression."
"Citizen Desmarais, I long trusted in your friendship," replied John,without taking the hand that the lawyer held out to him. "I am not thedupe of the vain pretext with which you color your refusal. It is notthe brother of the unhappy child dishonored by Louis XV that yourepulse; it is the artisan, the ironsmith."
"Ah, my dear John, I protest, in the name of our common principles,against such a supposition. You are in error!"
"Blue death! brother-in-law, have the courage of your opinion!" shoutedHubert, unable to contain himself. "Dare to tell the truth! Suchhypocrisy and cowardice revolt me."
"Once more, brother-in-law, mix in your own affairs!" cried theadvocate, exasperated. "I know what I am saying! I find intolerable yourpretension to dictate my answers to me."
John Lebrenn turned to the financier, as if to address his words throughhim to the lawyer. "You, Citizen Hubert, are sincere in your aversion,in your disdain for us. You are an enemy of the working class, but anopen one. We can esteem you while we join battle with you. You are a manof courage, in spite of your prejudices. Alas, the people and thebourgeoisie, united and pursuing the same object, would be invincibleand would change the face of this old world. But the bourgeois mistrustthe workers and turn against them, when they should sustain them, guidethem, direct them in the uprisings whose object is the reconquest oftheir common rights. The people have so far borne witness by theirconduct to their affection, their trust in the bourgeoisie. They havehad, they will have faith in it to the end. But sad and irreparable willbe the evil for you and for us, if one day the bourgeoisie, havingutilized the people to overcome the nobility, should seek to reign inthe shadow of a fictitious royalty; to substitute its own privileges forthose we will have helped it to overthrow; to perjure itself by merelychanging the style of our yoke; and refuse to satisfy our legitimatedemands. That day, we shall fight the bastard royalty of the shekel, thebourgeois oligarchy, even as we now fight the royalty of divine rightand the aristocracy!"
"And hunger will defeat you, vile mechanics! For the moment always comeswhen you must resume the yoke of forced labor!"
Hardly had Hubert hurled this threat of savage exultation at JohnLebrenn, when the door flew open, and Charlotte, her eyes red and filledwith tears, rushed in, followed by her mother.
The change in Charlotte's features, her grief-stricken appearance,gripped John Lebrenn's heart as if in a vise. Lawyer Desmarais and hisbrother-in-law seemed as much irritated as astonished at the presence ofthe young girl. She, after a momentary struggle, spoke straight toDesmarais in a firm and even voice:
"I have just learned from mother that Monsieur John Lebrenn came to askof you my hand, and that your intention was to answer the request with arefusal--"
"Yes, niece," interjected Hubert, "your father has just now refused yourhand to Monsieur Lebrenn. We all oppose the union, which would be adisgrace to our family."
"Father, have you so made up your mind?"
"Daughter, reasons which it is useless to inform you of, oppose, indeed,this marriage. I can not give my consent to it."
"Do these reasons attaint, in any way, the honor, probity, or conduct ofMonsieur John Lebrenn?" asked the young girl unfalteringly.
"Monsieur Lebrenn is an upright man; but the lawyer Desmarais can notgive, will not give, his daughter in marriage to an ironsmith'sapprentice. It is out of all reason."
"So, then, father, you refuse for no other reason than prejudice againstthe inequality of condition between Monsieur Lebrenn and me?"
"No other reason; but that suffices to make this union impossible."
"Monsieur John Lebrenn," then said Charlotte, advancing toward theyoung artisan and tendering him her hand with a gesture full of graceand dignity, "in the presence of God, who sees me and hears me,--youhave my pledge! I shall wed none other but you. I shall be yourwife,--or die a maid."
"Adieu, Charlotte, thou love of my life. I, too, shall be till deathtrue to my promise. Let us have faith in the future to break down allbarriers."
The betrothed exchanged a tender hand-clasp, and Charlotte, followed byher mother, left the room; while John Lebrenn, bowing to MonsieurDesmarais and his brother-in-law,
withdrew without a word.