CHAPTER XV
"But beauty, like the fair Hesperian tree, Laden with blooming gold, had need the guard Of dragon watch with unenchanted eye To save her blossoms, or defend her fruit."--MILTON.
The trial was nearer than either Manon or Victoire expected. Manon hadscarcely pronounced the last words when the ci-devant hairdresser burstinto the room, accompanied by several of his political associates, whomet to consult measures for the good of the nation. Among these patriotswas the Abbe Tracassier.
"Who is that pretty girl who is with you, Manon?" whispered he; "a friendof yours, I hope?"
Victoire left the room immediately, but not before the profligate abbehad seen enough to make him wish to see more. The next day he went toMadame Feuillot's under pretence of buying some embroideredhandkerchiefs; he paid Victoire a profusion of extravagant compliments,which made no impression upon her innocent heart, and which appearedridiculous to her plain good sense. She did not know who he was, nor didMadame Feuillot; for though she had often heard of the abbe, yet she hadnever seen him. Several succeeding days he returned, and addressedhimself to Victoire, each time with increasing freedom. Madame Feuillot,who had the greatest confidence in her, left her entirely to her owndiscretion. Victoire begged her friend Annette to do the business of theshop, and stayed at work in the back parlour. Tracassier was muchdisappointed by her absence; but as he thought no great ceremonynecessary in his proceedings, he made his name known in a haughty mannerto Madame de Feuillot, and desired that he might be admitted into theback parlour, as he had something of consequence to say to MademoiselleVictoire in private. Our readers will not require to have a detailedaccount of this _tete-a-tete_; it is sufficient to say that thedisappointed and exasperated abbe left the house muttering imprecations.The next morning a note came to Victoire apparently from Manon: it wasdirected by her, but the inside was written by an unknown hand, andcontinued these words:--
"You are a charming, but incomprehensible girl--since you do not likecompliments, you shall not be addressed with empty flattery. It is inthe power of the person who dictates this, not only to make you as richand great as your cousin Manon, but also to restore to fortune and totheir country the friends for whom, you are most interested. Their fateas well as your own is in your power: if you send a favourable answer tothis note, the persons alluded to will, to-morrow, be struck from thelist of emigrants, and reinstated in their former possessions. If youranswer is decidedly unfavourable, the return of your friends to Francewill be thenceforward impracticable, and their chateau, as well as theirhouse in Paris, will be declared national property, and sold withoutdelay to the highest bidder. To you, who have as much understanding asbeauty, it is unnecessary to say more. Consult your heart, charmingVictoire! be happy, and make others happy. This moment is decisive ofyour fate and of theirs, for you have to answer a man of a most decidedcharacter."
Victoire's answer was as follows:--
"My friends would not, I am sure, accept of their fortune, or consent toreturn to their country, upon the conditions proposed; therefore I haveno merit in rejecting them."
Victoire had early acquired good principles, and that plain steady goodsense, which goes straight to its object, without being dazzled orimposed upon by sophistry. She was unacquainted with the refinements ofsentiment, but she distinctly knew right from wrong, and had sufficientresolution to abide by the right. Perhaps many romantic heroines mighthave thought it a generous self-devotion to have become in similarcircumstances the mistress of Tracassier; and those who are skilled "tomake the worst appear the better cause" might have made such an act ofheroism the foundation of an interesting, or at least a fashionablenovel. Poor Victoire had not received an education sufficiently refinedto enable her to understand these mysteries of sentiment. She was evensimple enough to flatter herself that this libertine patriot would notfulfil his threats, and that these had been made only with a view toterrify her into compliance. In this opinion, however, she found herselfmistaken. M. Tracassier was indeed a man of the most decided character,if this form may properly be applied to those who act uniformly inconsequence of their ruling passion. The Chateau de Fleury was seized asnational property. Victoire heard this bad news from the old steward,who was turned out of the castle, along with his son, the very day afterher rejection of the proposed conditions.
"I could not have believed that any human creature could be so wicked!"exclaimed Victoire, glowing with indignation: but indignation gave way tosorrow.
"And the Chateau de Fleury is really seized?--and you, good old man, areturned out of the place where you were born?--and you too, Basile?--andMadame de Fleury will never come back again!--and perhaps she may be putinto prison in a foreign country, and may die for want--and I might haveprevented all this!"
Unable to shed a tear, Victoire stood in silent consternation, whilstAnnette explained to the good steward and his son the whole transaction.Basile, who was naturally of an impetuous temper, was so transported withindignation, that he would have gone instantly with the note fromTracassier to denounce him before the whole National Convention, if hehad not been restrained by his more prudent father. The old stewardrepresented to him, that as the note was neither signed nor written bythe hand of Tracassier, no proof could be brought home to him, and theattempt to convict one of so powerful a party would only bring certaindestruction upon the accusers. Besides, such was at this time thegeneral depravity of manners, that numbers would keep the guilty incountenance. There was no crime which the mask of patriotism could notcover. "There is one comfort we have in our misfortunes, which these mencan never have," said the old man; "when their downfall comes, and comeit will most certainly, they will not feel as we do, INNOCENT. Victoire,look up! and do not give way to despair--all will yet be well."
"At all events, you have done what is right--so do not reproachyourself," said Basile. "Everybody--I mean everybody who is good foranything--must respect, admire, and love you, Victoire."
CHAPTER XVI
"Ne mal cio che v'annoja, Quello e vero gioire Che nasce da virtude dopo il soffrire."
Basile had not seen without emotion the various instances of goodnesswhich Victoire showed during the illness of Sister Frances. Her conducttowards M. Tracassier increased his esteem and attachment; but he forboreto declare his affection, because he could not, consistently withprudence, or with gratitude to his father, think of marrying, now that hewas not able to maintain a wife and family. The honest earnings of manyyears of service had been wrested from the old steward at the time theChateau de Fleury was seized, and he now depended on the industry of hisson for the daily support of his age. His dependence was just, and notlikely to be disappointed; for he had given his son an education suitableto his condition in life. Basile was an exact arithmetician, could writean excellent hand, and was a ready draughtsman and surveyor. To bringthese useful talents into action, and to find employment for them withmen by whom they would be honestly rewarded, was the only difficulty--adifficulty which Victoire's brother Maurice soon removed. His reputationas a smith had introduced him, among his many customers, to a gentlemanof worth and scientific knowledge, who was at this time employed to makemodels and plans of all the fortified places in Europe; he was in want ofa good clerk and draughtsman, of whose integrity he could be secure.Maurice mentioned his friend Basile; and upon inquiry into his character,and upon trial of his abilities, he was found suited to the place, andwas accepted. By his well-earned salary he supported himself and hisfather; and began, with the sanguine hopes of a young man, to flatterhimself that he should soon be rich enough to marry, and that then hemight declare his attachment to Victoire. Notwithstanding all hisboasted prudence, he had betrayed sufficient symptoms of his passion tohave rendered a declaration unnecessary to any clear-sighted observer:but Victoire was not thinking of conquests; she was wholly occupied witha scheme of earning a certain sum of money for her benefactress, who wasnow, as she feared, in want. All Madame de Fleury's form
er pupilscontributed their share to the common stock; and the mantua-maker, theconfectioner, the servants of different sorts, who had been educated ather school, had laid by, during the years of her banishment, an annualportion of their wages and savings: with the sum which Victoire now addedto the fund, it amounted to ten thousand livres. The person whoundertook to carry this money to Madame de Fleury, was Francois, herformer footman, who had procured a pass to go to England as ahairdresser. The night before he set out was a happy night for Victoire,as all her companions met, by Madame Feuillot's invitation, at her house;and after tea they had the pleasure of packing up the little box, inwhich each, besides the money, sent some token their gratitude, and someproof of their ingenuity. They would with all their hearts have senttwice as many _souvenirs_ as Francois could carry.
"D'abord c'est impossible!" cried he, when he saw the box that wasprepared for him to carry to England: but his good nature was unable toresist the entreaties of each to have her offering carried, "which wouldtake up no room."
He departed--arrived safe in England--found out Madame de Fleury, who wasin real distress, in obscure lodgings at Richmond. He delivered themoney, and all the presents of which he had taken charge: but the personto whom she entrusted a letter, in answer to Victoire, was not sopunctual, or was more unlucky: for the letter never reached her, and sheand her companions were long uncertain whether their little treasure hadbeen received. They still continued, however, with indefatigablegratitude, to lay by a portion of their earnings for their benefactress;and the pleasure they had in this perseverance made them more than amendsfor the loss of some little amusements, and for privations to which theysubmitted in consequence of their resolution.
In the meantime, Basile, going on steadily with his employments, advancedevery day in the favour of his master, and his salary was increased inproportion to his abilities and industry; so that he thought he couldnow, without any imprudence, marry. He consulted his father, whoapproved of his choice; he consulted Maurice as to the probability of hisbeing accepted by Victoire; and encouraged by both his father and hisfriend, he was upon the eve of addressing himself to Victoire, when hewas prevented by a new and unforeseen misfortune. His father was takenup, by an emissary of Tracassier's, and brought before one of theirrevolutionary committees, where he was accused of various acts of_incivisme_. Among other things equally criminal, it was proved that oneSunday, when he went to see Le Petit Trianon, then a public-house, heexclaimed, "C'est ici que le canaille danse, et que les honnetes genspleurent!"
Basile was present at this mock examination of his father--he saw him onthe point of being dragged to prison--when a hint was given that he mightsave his father by enlisting immediately, and going with the army out ofFrance. Victoire was full in Basile's recollection; but there was noother means of saving his father. He enlisted, and in twenty-four hoursleft Paris.
What appear to be the most unfortunate circumstances of life often proveultimately the most advantageous--indeed, those who have knowledge,activity, and integrity, can convert the apparent blanks in the lotteryof fortune into prizes. Basile was recommended to his commanding officerby the gentleman who had lately employed him as a clerk; his skill indrawing plans, and in taking rapid surveys of the country through whichthey passed, was extremely useful to his general, and his integrity madeit safe to trust him as a secretary. His commanding officer, though abrave man, was illiterate, and a secretary was to him a necessary oflife. Basile was not only useful, but agreeable; without any mean arts,or servile adulation, he pleased by simply showing the desire to obligeand the ability to serve.
"Diable!" exclaimed the general one day, as he looked at Basile's plan ofa town which the army was besieging. "How comes it that you are able todo all these things? But you have a genius for this sort of work,apparently."
"No, sir," said Basile, "these things were taught to me when I was achild by a good friend."
"A good friend he was, indeed! he did more for you than if he had givenyou a fortune; for, in these times, that might have been soon taken fromyou; but now you have the means of making a fortune for yourself."
This observation of the general's, obvious as it may seem, is deservingof the serious consideration of those who have children of their own toeducate, or who have the disposal of money for public charities. Inthese times no sensible person will venture to pronounce that a change offortune and station may not await the highest and the lowest; whether werise or fall in the scale of society, personal qualities and knowledgewill be valuable. Those who fall cannot be destitute, and those who risecannot be ridiculous or contemptible, if they have been prepared fortheir fortune by proper education. In shipwreck those who carry theirall in their minds are the most secure.
But to return to Basile. He had sense enough not to make his generaljealous of him by any unseasonable display of his talents, or anyofficious intrusion of advice, even upon subjects which he bestunderstood.
The talents of the warrior and the secretary were in such differentlines, that there was no danger of competition; and the general, findingin his secretary the soul of all the arts, good sense, gradually acquiredthe habit of asking his opinion on every subject that came within hisdepartment. It happened that the general received orders from theDirectory at Paris to take a certain town, let it cost what it would,within a given time: in his perplexity he exclaimed before Basile againstthe unreasonableness of these orders, and declared his belief that it wasimpossible he should succeed, and that this was only a scheme of hisenemies to prepare his ruin. Basile had attended to the operations ofthe engineer who acted under the general, and perfectly recollected themodel of the mines of this town, which he had seen when he was employedas draughtsman by his Parisian friend. He remembered that there wasformerly an old mine that had been stopped up somewhere near the placewhere the engineer was at work; he mentioned in private his suspicions tothe general, who gave orders in consequence. The old mine wasdiscovered, cleared out, and by these means the town was taken the daybefore the time appointed. Basile did not arrogate to himself any of theglory of this success; he kept his general's secret and his confidence.Upon their return to Paris, after a fortunate campaign, the general wasmore grateful than some others have been, perhaps because more room wasgiven by Basile's prudence for the exercise of this virtue.
"My friend," said he to Basile, "you have done me a great service by yourcounsel, and a greater still by holding your tongue. Speak now, and tellme freely if there is anything I can do for you. You see, as avictorious general, I have the upper hand amongst thesefellows--Tracassier's scheme to ruin me missed--whatever I ask will atthis moment be granted; speak freely, therefore."
Basile asked what he knew Victoire most desired--that Monsieur and Madamede Fleury should be struck from the list of emigrants, and that theirproperty now in the hands of the nation should be restored to them. Thegeneral promised that this should be done. A warm contest ensued uponthe subject between him and Tracassier, but the general stood firm; andTracassier, enraged, forgot his usual cunning, and quarrellingirrevocably with a party now more powerful than his own, he and hisadherents were driven from that station in which they had so longtyrannised. From being the rulers of France, they in a few hours becamebanished men, or, in the phrase of the times, _des deportes_.
We must not omit to mention the wretched end of Manon. The man with whomshe lived perished by the guillotine. From his splendid house she wentupon the stage, did not succeed, sank from one degree of profligacy toanother, and at last died in an hospital.
In the meantime, the order for the restoration of the Fleury property,and for permission for the Fleury family to return to France, was madeout in due form, and Maurice begged to be the messenger of these goodtidings--he set out for England with the order.
Victoire immediately went down to the Chateau de Fleury, to geteverything in readiness for the reception of the family.
Exiles are expeditious in their return to their native country. Victoirehad bu
t just time to complete her preparations, when Monsieur and Madamede Fleury arrived at Calais. Victoire had assembled all her companions,all Madame de Fleury's former pupils; and the hour when she was expectedhome, they, with the peasants of the neighbourhood, were all in theirholiday clothes, and, according to the custom of the country, singing anddancing. Without music and dancing there is no perfect joy in France.Never was _fete du village_ or _fete du Seigneur_ more joyful than this.
The old steward opened the gate, the carriage drove in. Madame de Fleurysaw that home which she had little expected evermore to behold, but allother thoughts were lost in the pleasure of meeting her beloved pupils.
"My children!" cried she, as they crowded round her the moment she gotout of her carriage--"my dear, _good_ children!"
It was all she could say. She leaned on Victoire's arm as she went intothe house, and by degrees recovering from the almost painful excess ofpleasure, began to enjoy what she yet only confusedly felt.
Several of her pupils were so much grown and altered in their externalappearance, that she could scarcely recollect them till they spoke, andthen their voices and the expression of their countenances brought theirchildhood fully to her memory. Victoire, she thought, was changed theleast, and at this she rejoiced.
The feeling and intelligent reader will imagine all the pleasure thatMadame de Fleury enjoyed this day; nor was it merely the pleasure of aday. She heard from all her friends, with prolonged satisfaction,repeated accounts of the good conduct of these young people during herabsence. She learned with delight how her restoration to her country andher fortune had been effected; and is it necessary to add, that Victoireconsented to marry Basile, and that she was suitably portioned, and, whatis better still, that she was perfectly happy? Monsieur de Fleuryrewarded the attachment and good conduct of Maurice by taking him intohis service, and making him his manager under the old steward at theChateau de Fleury.
On Victoire's wedding-day Madame de Fleury produced all the littleofferings of gratitude which she had received from her and her companionsduring her exile. It was now her turn to confer favours, and she knewhow to confer them both with grace and judgment.
"No gratitude in human nature! No gratitude in the lower classes of thepeople!" cried she; "how much those are mistaken who think so! I wishthey could know my history, and the history of these my children, andthey would acknowledge their error."
FOOTNOTES
{1} "Whom the gods wish to destroy, they first deprive ofunderstanding."
Murad the Unlucky, and Other Tales Page 21