But the young duke promptly replied:
"I have already told you that the rooms would not suit me, my dear sir."
"Yes, because this young lady was offended with you, and it is very unpleasant to be on bad terms with one's fellow tenants. But now this young lady has forgiven you, there is no reason you shouldn't take those nice rooms."
"I am even less inclined to take them now," replied Gerald, venturing a glance at Herminie.
The young girl did not raise her eyes, but she blushed slightly, for she appreciated the delicacy of Gerald's refusal.
"What!" exclaimed M. Bouffard, profoundly astonished; "now you have made up with mademoiselle, you are less inclined to take them than ever? Is it possible that you have noticed any objections to my house since you came back?"
"It is not precisely that which deprives me of the pleasure of taking up my abode under your roof, my dear sir, but--"
"Come, I'll let you have those rooms for two hundred and fifty francs, with a small cellar thrown in, if you want it."
"Impossible, my dear sir, impossible."
"Call it two hundred and forty, then, and say no more about it."
"I am obliged to call your attention to the fact that mademoiselle's room is not the place for this haggling, monsieur."
Then turning to Herminie and bowing profoundly, the young duke said:
"Believe me, mademoiselle, I shall always retain a most delightful recollection of this first and last interview."
The girl bowed graciously, but without raising her eyes, and Gerald departed, resolutely pursued by M. Bouffard, who seemed determined not to lose his prey.
But Gerald remained obdurate in spite of the landlord's tempting offers.
The ex-grocer persisted in his efforts, so Gerald, to get rid of him, and perhaps also to have an opportunity to think over his meeting with Herminie, quickened his pace and told the landlord that he intended to extend his walk as far as the fortifications. So he started off, leaving M. Bouffard in despair at having missed this fine opportunity to rent those charming third story rooms.
A road leading to the fortifications intersected the Rue de Monceau near this point. Gerald took it, and then strolled slowly along, absorbed in a profound reverie.
Herminie's rare beauty, as well as her dignity and refinement of manner had made a deep impression on the young duke, and the more he said to himself that he had, of course, seen this charming creature for the first and last time, the more he rebelled against the thought.
Besides, upon analysing or rather comparing his former fancies with his sudden but deep interest in Herminie, and discovering nothing like it in the past, Gerald asked himself, with no little uneasiness:
"What if I should be really caught this time?"
He had just asked himself this question when he was met by an officer of engineers wearing an army redingote without epaulettes, and a big straw hat.
"Why, it's Senneterre!" exclaimed this officer.
The young duke looked up and recognised Captain Comtois, one of his former comrades in the African army.
"How are you, my dear Comtois?" he exclaimed, cordially offering his hand. "I did not expect to see you here, though you are quite in your native element, I must admit," he added, with a glance at the fortifications.
"Yes, my dear fellow, we're making the earth fly and the work is advancing rapidly. I am general-in-chief of that army of labourers and masons you see over there. In Africa, we tore down walls; here, we build them up. Did you come over to look at the works? If you did, I'll show you about."
"A thousand thanks for your kind offer, my dear Comtois, I'll remind you of your promise some day soon."
"Very well, come and take breakfast with me any morning you like. I am living in camp over there. It will remind you of old times; you'll think you're in a Bedouin camp again. Oh, by the way, you remember Clarville, that young lieutenant of _spahis_ who resigned in order that he might have the satisfaction of fighting Colonel Duval a year afterwards?"
"Clarville? Yes, a brave fellow--I remember him perfectly."
"Well, after he resigned, he had very little to live on, and the failure of some bank swept away the little that he had. In fact, if I hadn't happened to come across him, I believe he would have starved.
Fortunately, I was able to take him on as overseer, and that pays him a little something."
"Poor fellow! it was a lucky thing for him, though."
"I should think so, particularly as he is married,--a love-match,--that is to say, the girl hadn't a penny, and there are two little children in the bargain, so you can judge of his situation. He manages to make both ends meet, but that is all. I have been to see him. He lives in a side street at the end of the Rue de Monceau."
"At the end of the Rue de Monceau?" asked Gerald, hastily. "I, too, must go and see him."
"He would be delighted, my dear Senneterre, for when misfortunes come, one's visitors are rare."
"What is the number of the house?"
"It is the only house on the street,--a little bit of a house. The devil! There's the second bell. I must leave you, my dear Senneterre, and get my men together. Good-bye; don't forget your promise."
"No, certainly not."
"And I may tell Clarville you're coming to see him?"
"Yes, day after to-morrow."
"It will please him very much; good-bye."
"Good-bye, my dear fellow."
"Don't forget Clarville's address."
"I am not very likely to," thought Gerald. "The street where he lives must skirt the end of the garden of the house where I just saw that adorable girl."
So, while the captain rushed off towards a group of wooden shanties in the distance, Gerald strolled along, a prey to a sort of feverish agitation.
The sun was low in the horizon when he awoke from his reverie.
"I don't know what will come of all this," he said to himself, "but this time, and it is the only time, I feel that I'm gone, absolutely gone, this time!"
CHAPTER XXXI.
THE PRIVATE STAIRWAY.
In spite of the deep and novel impression made upon Gerald by his interview with Herminie, he had met Ernestine de Beaumesnil; for, in accordance with the plans of the Rochaigues, the richest heiress in France had directly or indirectly made the acquaintance of the three aspirants for her hand.