"M. de Macreuse, you have lied atrociously. You have not lost your mother, M. de Macreuse; your sainted mother is living, as you know very well, and your sainted father also. You see that I am sufficiently well informed concerning your antecedents. You have played an infamous part!
You have cast odium upon a sentiment that even the most degraded respect,--the sentiment of filial love. The object of all this duplicity is known to me, and if I refrain from disclosing it, you may be sure that it is only because names are involved which are so honoured that they should not even be mentioned in the same breath with yours--if you possess one."
M. de Macreuse's frightful pallor and utter consternation proved the truth of these charges so conclusively that even the warmest admirers of this model young man dared not rally to his defence, while those who had always felt an instinctive dislike for the founder of the St. Polycarpe Mission, loudly applauded the marquis.
"Monsieur," cried Macreuse, terrible to behold in his suppressed rage,--for he felt that his villainy was certain to be unmasked now,--"for such an insult as this--"
"Enough, monsieur, enough. Leave this house at once. The mere sight of you is offensive to respectable people, and Madame de Mirecourt will be infinitely obliged to me for punishing you as you deserve. It is absolutely necessary that scoundrels like you should be made an example of now and then, and, distasteful as the role of executioner is to me, I have assumed it to-night, and my task is not yet ended by any means."
This announcement increased the confusion and excitement very considerably.
The model young man, anticipating another attack, and thinking he had had quite enough of it, straightened himself up, as a snake straightens itself up from beneath the foot that is crushing it, and said, insolently:
"After these gross insults, I will not remain another minute in this house, but I venture to hope that, in spite of the difference in our ages, M. le Marquis de Maillefort will be so kind as to accede to-morrow to a request which I shall make through two of my friends."
"Go, monsieur, go! The night brings counsel, and after a little reflection you will abandon your absurd and sanguinary pretensions."
"So be it, monsieur, but in that case you may rest assured that I shall resort to other means," retorted the model youth, casting a venomous look at the hunchback, as he turned to depart.
[Illustration: "_'Enough, monsieur, enough._'"
Original etching by Adrian Marcel.]
Madame de Mirecourt, recollecting what Madame de Senneterre had said in relation to M. de Macreuse, was not sorry to see that gentleman's villainy exposed, but to put an end to the excitement and confusion this strange scene had created, she requested several men she knew very well to form a quadrille as soon as possible.
In fact, the young men were already starting out in search of partners.
This exposure of M. de Macreuse filled Mlle. de Beaumesnil's heart with gratitude and also with terror when she thought that she might have yielded to the interest M. de Macreuse had at first inspired, and perhaps married a man capable of such an infamous act--an act that revealed an utterly depraved nature.
While engaged in these reflections, the orphan saw that Madame de Senneterre and Madame de la Rochaigue, who had been for a time unable to force their way through the crowd that had gathered around the two men, had returned and resumed their seats beside her. The marquis then rose and stepped around back of the divan, after which he leaned over Madame de la Rochaigue and said, almost in a whisper:
"Ah, well, madame, you see I am not a bad auxiliary, after all. I discover many strange and villainous things from my post of observation, as I told you some time ago."
"I am utterly astounded, my dear marquis," replied the baroness. "I understand everything now, however. This explains why my odious sister-in-law has been dragging the poor dear child off to the Church of St. Thomas d'Aquin every morning. With her apparent stupidity and her religious zeal, Helena is a most perfidious creature. Did any one ever hear of such deceitfulness and treachery?"
"The end is not yet, my dear baroness. You have not only been sheltering a viper in your house, but a veritable serpent as well."
"A serpent?"
"Yes, an enormous one, with long teeth," said the marquis, with a meaning glance at M. de la Rochaigue, who happened to be standing in the doorway, showing his teeth after his usual fashion.
"What! my husband?" exclaimed the baroness. "What do you mean?"
"You will soon know. Do you see that stout man advancing towards us with such a triumphant air?"
"Of course. That is M. de Mornand."
"He is coming to ask your ward to dance."
"Oh, that doesn't matter. We can let her dance with anybody now, for we were right in our suppositions. The dear child is charmed with M. de Senneterre, my dear marquis."
"I am sure of it."
"So behold the Duchesse de Senneterre," said Madame de la Rochaigue, triumphantly, "and that without the slightest trouble."
"The Duchesse de Senneterre!" repeated the hunchback. "Not quite."
"Of course not, but the matter is virtually settled."
"So at last you are satisfied with Gerald, Mlle. de Beaumesnil, and me, are you not, my dear baroness?"
"Delighted, my dear marquis."
"That is all I want to know. Now I can devote my attention to that stout man and your serpent of a husband, whose coils--"
"What! M. de la Rochaigue has dared--"
"Ah, my poor baroness, your ingenuousness rends my heart. Look, listen and profit thereby, poor credulous woman that you are!"
As the marquis uttered these words, M. de Mornand was already bowing low before Mlle. de Beaumesnil to remind her of the engagement she had made to dance with him.
CHAPTER XV.
THE PROSPECTIVE MINISTER'S DEFEAT.
"Mademoiselle has not forgotten that she promised me this dance, I trust," said M. de Mornand, complacently. "Will she do me the honour to accept my arm?"
"That cannot be, M. de Mornand," interposed M. de Maillefort, who was still leaning over the back of the sofa on which Ernestine was seated.
M. de Mornand straightened himself up hastily, and, perceiving the marquis, demanded with great hauteur:
"What can not be, monsieur?"
"You can not dance with Mlle. de Beaumesnil, monsieur," answered the hunchback, still in the same quiet tone.
M. de Mornand shrugged his shoulders disdainfully, then, turning to Ernestine, repeated:
"Will mademoiselle do me the honour to accept my arm?"
Embarrassed and bewildered, Ernestine turned to M. de Maillefort as if to ask his advice, and again the marquis repeated in the same quiet but impressive tone, emphasising each word strongly:
"Mlle. de Beaumesnil can not and must not dance with M. de Mornand."
Ernestine was so impressed by M. de Maillefort's grave, almost solemn manner that, turning to M. de Mornand, she said, casting down her eyes:
"I must beg you to excuse me, monsieur, for I feel too fatigued to keep the promise I made you."