His bedside was not watched by hirelings. When first taken thus ill-too ill to attend to his editorial duties — information was conveyed to the publisher of the "Sens Commun," and in consequence of that information, Victor de Mauléon came to see the sick man. By his bed he found Savarin, who had called, as it were by chance, and seen the doctor, who had said, "It is grave. He must be well nursed." ters, and familiarized to all the gossip, | if we may hazard a conjecture, the grief all the scandal, to which they who give of disappointed love was not the immetheir names to the public are exposed, I diate cause of his illness, and yet it had declare that if I had a daughter who in- much to do with it. The goad of Isaura's herited Savarin's talents, and was ambi- refusal had driven him into seeking distious of attaining to his renown, I would traction in excesses which a stronger rather shut her up in a convent than let frame could not have courted with imher publish a book that was in every punity. The man was thoroughly Parisone's hands until she had sheltered her ian in many things, but especially in name under that of a husband; and if I impatience of any trouble. Did love say this of my child with a father so trouble him—love could be drowned in wise in the world's ways, and so popu- absinthe; and too much absinthe may be larly respected as my bon homme, what a more immediate cause of congested must I feel to be essential to your safety, lungs than the love which the absinthe poor stranger in our land! poor solitary had lulled to sleep. orphan with no other advice or guardian than the singing mistress whom you touchingly call 'Madre!' I see how I distress and pain you I cannot help it. Listen: The other evening Savarin came back from his favourite café in a state of excitement that made me think he came to announce a revolution. It was about you; he stormed, he wept — actually wept my philosophical laughing Savarin. He had just heard of that atrocious wager made by a Russian barbarian. Every one praised you for the contempt with which you had treated the savage's insolence. But that you should have been submitted to such an insult without one male friend who had the right to resent and chastise it, you cannot think how Savarin was chafed and galled. You know how he admires, but you cannot guess how he reveres you; and since then he says to me every day: That girl must not remain single. Better marry any man who has a heart to defend a wife's honour and the nerve to fire a pistol: every Frenchman has those qualifications!"" Here Isaura could no longer restrain her emotions, she burst into sobs so vehement, so convulsive, that Madame Savarin became alarmed; but when she attempted to embrace and soothe her, Isaura recoiled with a visible shudder, and gasping out, "Cruel, cruel!" turned to the door and rushed to her own room. A few minutes afterwards a maid entered the salon with a message to Madame Savarin that Mademoiselle was so unwell that she must beg Madame to excuse her return to the salon. Later in the day Mrs. Morley called, but Isaura would not see her. Meanwhile poor Rameau was stretched on his sick-bed, and in sharp struggle between life and death. It is difficult to disentangle, one by one, all the threads in a nature so complex as Rameau's; but Savarin whispered to De Mauléon, "Shall we call in a professional nurse, or a sœur de charité ?» De Mauléon replied also in whisper, "Somebody told me that the man had a mother." It was true Savarin had forgotten it. Rameau never mentioned his parentshe was not proud of them. They belonged to a lower class of the bourgeoisie, retired shopkeepers, and a Red Republican is sworn to hate of the bourgeoisie, high or low; while a beautiful young author pushing his way into the Chaussée d'Antin does not proclaim to the world that his parents had sold hosiery in the Rue St. Denis. Nevertheless Savarin knew that Rameau had such parents still living, and took the hint. Two hours afterwards Rameau was leaning his burning forehead on his mother's breast. The next morning the doctor said to the mother, "You are worth ten of me. If you can stay here we shall pull him through." "Stay here! my own boy!" cried indignantly the poor mother. CHAPTER VIII. THE day which had inflicted on Isaura so keen an anguish, was marked by a great trial in the life of Alain de Rochebriant. In the morning he received the notice "of un commandement tendant à saisie immobilière," on the part of his creditor, condition, that there should be an entire M. Louvier; in plain English, an announcement that his property at Rochebriant would be put up to public sale on a certain day, in case all debts due to the mortgagee were not paid before. An hour afterwards came a note from Duplessis stating that "he had returned from Bretagne on the previous evening, and would be very happy to see the Marquis de Rochebriant before two o'clock, if not inconvenient to call." Alain put the "commandement" into his pocket, and repaired to the Hotel Duplessis. The financier received him with very cordial civility. Then he began, "I am happy to say I left your excellent aunt in very good health. She honoured the letter of introduction to her which I owe to your politeness with the most amiable hospitalities; she insisted on my removing from the auberge at which I first put up and becoming a guest under your venerable roof-tree -a most agreeable lady, and a most interesting château." "I fear your accommodation was in striking contrast to your comforts at Paris; my château is only interesting to an antiquarian enamoured of ruins." "Pardon me, 'ruins' is an exaggerated expression. I do not say that the château does not want some repairs, but they would not be costly; the outer walls are strong enough to defy time for centuries to come, and a few internal decorations and some modern additions of furniture would make the old manoir a home fit for a prince. I have been over the whole estate, too, with the worthy M. Hébert, a superb property!" "Which M. Louvier appears to appreciate," said Alain, with a somewhat melancholy smile, extending to Duplessis the menacing notice. union of interests between us two; that I should be at liberty to make the improvements I desire, and when the improvements be made, there should be a fair arrangement as to the proportion of profits due to me as mortgagee and improver, to you as original owner. Attend, my dear Marquis, I am speaking as a mere man of business. I see my way to adding more than a third — I might even say a half-to the present revenues of Rochebriant. The woods have been sadly neglected, drainage alone would add greatly to their produce. Your orchards might be rendered magnificent supplies to Paris with better cultivation. Lastly, I would devote to building purposes or to market gardens all the lands round the two towns of and I think I can lay my hands on suitable speculators for these last experiments. In a word, though the market value of Rochebriant, as it now stands, would not be equivalent to the debt on it, in five or six years it could be made worth — well, I will not say how much but we shall be both well satisfied with the result. Meanwhile, if you allow me to find purchasers for your timber, and if you will not suffer the Chevalier de Finisterre to regulate your expenses, you need have no fear that the interest due to me will not be regularly paid, even though I shall be compelled, for the first year or two at least, to ask a higher rate of interest than Louvier exacted-say a quarter per cent more; and in suggesting that, you will comprehend that this is now a matter of business between us, and not of friendship." Alain turned his head aside to conceal his emotion, and then with the quick affectionate impulse of the genuine French nature, threw himself on the financier's breast and kissed him on both cheeks. "You save me! you save the home and tombs of my ancestors! Thank you I cannot; but I believe in God- I prayI will pray for you as for a father; and if ever," he hurried on in broken words, "I am mean enough to squander on idle luxuries one franc that I should save for the debt to you, chide me as a father would chide a graceless son." Duplessis glanced at it, and said drily, "M. Louvier knows what he is about. But I think we had better put an immediate stop to formalities which must be painful to a creditor so benevolent. I do not presume to offer to pay the interest due on the security you can give for the repayment. If you refused that offer from so old a friend as Lemercier, of course you could not accept it from me. I make another proposal, to which you Moved as Alain was, Duplessis was can scarcely object. I do not like to give moved yet more deeply. "What father my scheming rival on the Bourse the would not be proud of such a son? Ah, triumph of so profoundly planned a if I had such a one!" he said softly. speculation. Aid me to defeat him. Let Then, quickly recovering his wonted me take the mortgage on myself, and composure, he added, with a sardonic become sole mortgagee-hush! -on this smile which often chilled his friends and alarmed his foes, "Monsieur Louvier is, which I don't mind paying for, and among about to pass that which I promised him, them may be a fancy for the lands of a mauvais quart d'heure. Lend me Rochebriant." that commandement tendant à saisie. I "Look you, Duplessis, when a man must be off to my avoué with instruc- like me asks a favour, you may be sure tions. If you have no better engagement, that he has the power to repay it. Let pray dine with me to-day and accompany me have my whim here, and ask anything Valérie and myself to the opera." you like from me in return!" I need not say that Alain accepted the invitation. How happy Valérie was that evening! CHAPTER IX. THE next day Duplessis was surprised by a visit from M. Louvier- that magnate of millionnaires had never before set foot in the house of his younger and less famous rival. The burly man entered the room with a face much flushed, and with more than his usual mixture of jovial brusquerie and opulent swagger. "Startled to see me, I daresay," began Louvier, as soon as the door was closed. "I have this morning received a communication from your agent containing a cheque for the interest due to me from M. Rochebriant, and a formal notice of your intention to pay off the principal on behalf of that popinjay prodigal. Though we two have not hitherto been the best friends in the world, I thought it fair to a man in your station to come to you direct and say, Cher confrère, what swindler has bubbled you? you don't know the real condition of this Breton property, or you would never so throw away your millions. The property is not worth the mortgage I have on it by 30,000 louis.'" "Then, M. Louvier, you will be 30,000 louis the richer if I take the mortgage off your hands." "I can afford the loss - no offence better than you can; and I may have fancies which I don't mind paying for, but which cannot influence another. See, I have brought with me the exact schedule of all details respecting this property. You need not question their accuracy; they have been arranged by the Marquis's own agents, M. Gandrin and M. Hebert. They contain, you will perceive, every possible item of revenue, down to an apple-tree. Now, look at that, and tell you are justified in lending such a sum on such a property." me if "Thank you very much for an interest in my affairs that I scarcely ventured to expect M. Louvier to entertain; but I see that I have a duplicate of this paper, furnished to me very honestly by M. Hébert himself. Besides, I, too, have fancies "Désolé not to oblige you, but this has become not only a whim of mine, but a matter of honour; and honour, you know, my dear M. Louvier, is the first principle of sound finance. I have myself, after careful inspection of the Rochebriant property, volunteered to its owner to advance the money to pay off your hypothèque; and what would be said on the Bourse if Lucien Duplessis failed in an obligation?" "I think I can guess what will one day be said of Lucien Duplessis if he make an irrevocable enemy of Paul Louvier. Corbleu! mon cher, a man of thrice your capital, who watched every speculation of yours with a hostile eye, might some beau jour make even you a bankrupt!" 666 "Forewarned, forearmed!" replied Duplessis, imperturbably, Fas est ab hoste doceri, — I mean, 'It is right to be taught by an enemy;' and I never remember the day when you were otherwise, and yet I am not a bankrupt, though I receive you in a house which, thanks to you, is so modest in point of size!" "Bah! that was a mistake of mine, and, ha! ha! you had your revenge there that forest !" "Well, as a peace-offering, I will give you up the forest, and content my ambition as a landed proprietor with this bad speculation of Rochebriant!" "Confound the forest, I don't care for it now! I can sell my place for more than it has cost me to one of your imperial favourites. Build a palace in your forest. Let me have Rochebriant, and name your terms." "A thousand pardons! but I have already had the honour to inform you, that I have contracted an obligation which does not allow me to listen to terms." As a serpent, that, after all crawlings and windings, rears itself on end, Louvier rose, crest erect "So then it is finished. I came here disposed to offer peace-you refuse, and declare war." "Not at all, I do not declare war; I accept it if forced on me." "Is that your last word, M. Duplessis ?” "Monsieur Louvier, it is." MADAME SAVARIN wrote a very kind and very apologetic letter to Isaura, but no answer was returned to it. Madame Savarin did not venture to communicate to her husband the substance of a conversation which had ended so painfully. He had, in theory, a delicacy of tact, which, if he did not always exhibit it in practice, made him a very severe critic of its deficiency in others. Therefore, unconscious of the offence given, he made a point of calling at Isaura's apartments, and leaving word with her servant that "he was sure she would be pleased to hear M. Rameau somewhat better, though still in was danger." "I knew he had refused," said Isaura, with a low bitter laugh. "How? who told you?" "My own good sense told me. One may have good sense, though one is a poor scribbler." "Don't talk in that way; it is beneath you to angle for compliments." 66 Compliments! ah ! And so Mr. Vane has refused to come to Paris; never mind, he will come next year. I shall not be in Paris then. Did Colonel Morley see Mr. Vane?" "Oh yes; two or three times." "He is well?" "Quite well, I believe - at least Frank did not say to the contrary; but, from what I hear, he is not the person I took him for. Many people told Frank that he is much changed since he came into his fortune- is grown very stingy, quite miserly indeed; declines even a seat in Parliament because of the expense. It is astonishing how money does spoil a man." "He had come into his fortune when he was here. Money had not spoiled him then." The fair American was shocked to see the change in Isaura's countenance. She Isaura paused, pressing her hands was very pale, and with that indescriba- tightly together; then she suddenly rose ble appearance of exhaustion which be- to her feet, the colour on her cheek mantrays continued want of sleep; her soft tling and receding rapidly, and fixing on eyes were dim, the play of her lips was her startled visitor eyes no longer dim, gone, her light step weary and languid. but with something half fierce, half imMy poor darling!" cried Mrs. Mor-ploring in the passion of their gaze, said ley, embracing her, "you have indeed "Your husband spoke of me to Mr. been ill! What is the matter?-who attends you?" Vane: I know he did. What did Mr. Vane answer? Do not evade my question. The truth! the truth! I only ask the truth!" "Give me your hand; sit here beside me, dearest child." "Child! — no, I am a woman ! — weak as a woman, but strong as a woman too! - The truth!" Mrs. Morley had come prepared to carry out the resolution she had formed and "break" to Isaura "the truth," that which the girl now demanded. But then she had meant to break the truth in her own gentle gradual way. Thus suddenly called upon, her courage failed her. She burst into tears. Isaura gazed at her dry-eyed, "Your tears answer me. Mr. Vane A rowed to the Home that she adorned and blessed. has heard that I have been insulted. "I join with my whole heart in all that you say, with such eloquent justice, of the mental and personal gifts so bounteously lavished by nature on the young lady whom you name. "No one can feel more sensible than I of the charm of so exquisite a loveliness; no one can more sincerely join in the belief that the praise which greets the commencement of her career is but the whisper of the praise that will cheer its progress with louder and louder plaudits. 66 "And yet not even the jealous tyranny of man's love could dare to say to natures like hers of whom we speak, Limit to the household glory of one the light which genius has placed in its firmament for the use and enjoyment of all.'" "I thank you so much," said Isaura, calmly; "suspense makes a woman so weak-certainty so strong." Mechanically she smoothed and refolded the letter mechanically, but with slow, lingering hands - then she extended it to her friend, smiling. "Nay, will you not keep it yourself?" said Mrs. Morley. "The more you examine the narrow-minded prejudices, the English arrogant man's jealous dread of superiority - nay, of equality-in the woman he can only value as he does his house or his horse, because she is his exclusive property, the more you will be rejoiced to find yourself free for a more worthy choice. Keep the letter; read it till you feel for the writer forgiveness and disdain." Isaura took back the letter, and leaned her cheek on her hand, looking dreamily into space. It was some moments before she replied, and her words then had no reference to Mrs. Morley's consolatory exhortation. "He only would be worthy of her hand, "He was so pleased when he heard who, if not equal to herself in genius, that I renounced the career on which I would feel raised into partnership with it had set my ambition. I thought he by sympathy with its objects and joy in would have been so pleased when I its triumphs. For myseif, the same pain sought in another career to raise myself with which I should have learned she nearer to his level- I see now how had adopted the profession which she sadly I was mistaken. All that peroriginally contemplated, saddened and plexed me before in him is explained. I stung me when, choosing a career that did not guess how foolishly I had deconfers a renown yet more lasting than ceived myself till three days ago, the stage, she no less left behind her then I did guess it; and it was that the peaceful immunities of private life. guess which tortured me so terribly that Were I even free to consult only my own I could not keep my heart to myself heart in the choice of the one sole part- when I saw you to-day; in spite of all ner of my destinies (which I cannot at womanly pride it would force its waypresent honestly say that I am, though I to the truth. Hush! I must tell you expected to be so ere this, when I last what was said to me by another friend of saw you at Paris); could I even hope-mine- a good friend, a wise and kind which I have no right to do that I one. Yet I was so angry when she said could chain to myself any private portion it that I thought I could never see her of thoughts which now flow into the large channels by which poets enrich the blood of the world, still (I say it in self-reproach, it may be the fault of my English rearing, it may rather be the fault of an egotism peculiar to myself) still I doubt if I could render happy any That she would have suffered no woman whose world could not be nar-daughter of hers to commit her name to more." "My sweet darling! who was this friend, and what did she say to you? "The friend was Madame Savarin." "No woman loves you more except myself and she said?" |