by Eugène Sue
CHAPTER XVII.
PLANS FOR THE FUTURE.
The day following these events in the lodgings of John Lebrenn,Charlotte Desmarais was again talking with her mother in the parlor oftheir apartment. The latter, pale and downcast, and her eyes red withweeping, still trembled for the life of her brother, who, scenting thesnare in the commissioner's advice to leave Paris by the St. Victorbarrier, had remained snug in his refuge. The lawyer's wife was sayingto her daughter:
"And so you are happy, very happy at your coming marriage, my child?"
"Oh, mother!" echoed the young girl, covering Madam Desmarais's handwith kisses, "nothing is now wanting to my happiness but to see you nolonger sad."
"You know the reason for my sadness."
"Has not, perhaps, my marriage, to which you consented only reluctantly,added to the other causes of your sorrow?"
"Since you ask me, my dear daughter, I will admit that the ideas, orprejudices, if you will, in which I was brought up made me consider thismatch with a workingman a misalliance. I opposed it with all my might,up to the last moment. But--I confess it to you sincerely, mychild--last night when your father announced to Monsieur Lebrenn thathe granted him your hand, the young man showed himself so grateful, heexpressed his joy in such eloquent terms, he evinced so much attention,so much deference, he spoke so touchingly of his sister, in short heshowed himself so completely a man of heart and generosity, that myrepugnance vanished. Your marriage now satisfies me at all points."
"What delight I feel, good mother, to hear you say so," respondedCharlotte clasping Madam Desmarais around the neck. "John will be to youthe tenderest of sons."
"He will, I doubt not, but--" added Madam Desmarais sorrowfully, "I cannever share your happiness, dear child. I know the uprightness of yourspirit, the strength of your character; and I am going to make to you aserious and painful avowal: Your father has wounded me to the heart, hehas lost my esteem and affection. It is impossible for me to live longerwith him. You witnessed his conduct toward me, you heard his repeateddenunciations."
"Alas," replied Charlotte, forcing herself to make excuses for herfather, "it was only a shameful role he was driven to by necessity; beassured of that, good mother."
"No, it was not a role," answered the injured wife. "You must know thewhole truth. Last night, after Monsieur Lebrenn's departure, when wewere alone, your father said to me:
"'Madam, take this once for all, you and your miserable brother; youalmost sent me to the guillotine to-day. God grant that the perils whichI dread be fended off in the future by this marriage of my daughter tothis--this Lebrenn.
"'We live, madam,' continued your father, 'in terrible times, and I amin such a position that, should it some day come about that I musteither send others to the guillotine or face death myself, I would nothesitate to send even you before the revolutionary tribunal. Let thesewords always be present to your mind, madam, in regulating your conducthenceforth.'
"In these words your father wound up. Such, my child, was his language,"concluded Madam Desmarais, burying her tear-bedewed face in herhandkerchief.
Charlotte answered not. She was torn with inward struggle against thesad flood of ideas borne upon her by her father's hypocrisy. Brought upin an atmosphere of filial affection and respect, the young girlsuffered at being compelled to lower her estimate of her paternalparent. But this last conversation of the lawyer with his wife left nomore room for doubt as to his true character.
Having somewhat calmed her tears, Madam Desmarais went on:
"I have now, dear child, too much knowledge of your father's innermostnature. His presence is hateful to me. It would be impossible for me tolive with him. Hence, my poor girl, we must part."
"We part!" cried Charlotte, passionately embracing Madam Desmarais andmingling her tears with her mother's: "And where will you go?"
"I shall go back to Lyons, to my cousin's; I have resolved upon that,since I can do nothing here, alas, to add either to your happiness or mybrother's safety."
"Let us hope, mother, let us hope," said Charlotte through her tears,after a pause. "Perhaps there is a way for us not to separate, goodmother, and also to save uncle. Ah, mother, happiness, and above allthe desire to make others whom we love share our happiness, renders themind quick to invent. Last night, after father and you consented to mymarrying John, he and I were alone for a few minutes. Here is what hetold me: Before coming here, he had gone to Monsieur Billaud-Varenne,and he learned from this gentleman that father had previouslycommissioned him to offer my hand to Monsieur St. Just. Thus Johnlearned that father counted on finding in him a buffer against thedangers which he fears, and that this was the motive that led him, indefault of Monsieur St. Just, to offer my hand to John. That does notmatter; but John also learned from Monsieur Billaud-Varenne that he hadsaid to father: 'Since you so greatly desire to marry your daughter to agood republican, why not give her to John Lebrenn? He is, you say, yourpupil; he enjoys the esteem and friendship of the most eminent men ofthe Revolution.'"
"No doubt your father hoped, in marrying you to St. Just--"
"To build himself a powerful bulwark against possible danger. ButMonsieur St. Just not having accepted the alliance, and MonsieurBillaud-Varenne proposing John, father feared to seem to despise aworkingman should he refuse him my hand."
"And what opinion did John Lebrenn express of your father?"
"John said that father's conduct was lacking in straightforwardness, andadded, 'I have never failed in frankness toward you, Charlotte. If itpleases you still to live with your father, I shall yield to yourdesires, and I shall keep ever hidden the slight esteem in which,unhappily, I am forced to hold him. But if it is in your thoughts not todwell beneath the paternal roof after our marriage, I shall be morepleased with that resolution, as it will permit me not to be separatedfrom my sister.' And in this connection, mother," added Charlotte withtouching emotion, "John gave me a proof of confidence as honorable inhim as in his sister. He recounted to me all that related to theunfortunate girl, but all under the seal of secrecy. If MademoiselleLebrenn has been the most unhappy creature in the world, because ofcertain terrible events, no one is now more than she worthy of therespect of all."
"Gertrude was speaking to me yesterday about Mademoiselle Lebrenn, andassured me that during the four years she has lived in our quarter, allagree in praising her conduct. My husband used this as a pretext forgiving Monsieur Lebrenn to believe that if he formerly refused him yourhand on the ground that his sister had been Louis XV's mistress, thatobstacle no longer intervened, as by her virtuous conduct MademoiselleLebrenn had redeemed the past. Would not such deceit, without, alas, theother grievances I have against my husband, suffice to estrange us? Suchis our situation."
"Mother," said Charlotte, interrupting Madam Desmarais, "I told you thatJohn, while consenting to live with me at father's house, would muchprefer for us to dwell by ourselves, with his sister. Ah, well, mother,as I can not feel for father the sentiments which hallow the paternalroof-tree, I have resolved to part from him after my marriage. And now,mother mine, what reason can you give for a separation between us two?"
"Dear child," answered Madam Desmarais, embracing her daughter in tears,"you grant my wish before I utter it. Much as I longed for it, I did notdare make the request of you for our living together; and even now I donot know whether I ought to accept. To live with you would be my mostcherished desire; but Monsieur Lebrenn knows that I have constantlyopposed his marriage, and perhaps it would not please him to see me inhis home."
"Here comes John, mother," cried her daughter as Gertrude led the youngman into the parlor. "He will take upon himself the task of reassuringyou."
As soon as the maid had withdrawn, Charlotte said to her betrothed, whobowed respectfully to Madam Desmarais:
"My dear John, in case, after our marriage, it should not please me tolive in my father's house, would it be agreeable to you for mother tocome with us?"
"I shall answer you, Charlotte, in all si
ncerity," responded the youngartisan. "I should be happy to have Madam Desmarais with us; all themore, seeing that since what passed between her husband and her afterMonsieur Hubert's escape, it seems to me almost impossible that shecould resign herself to inhabit any longer the home of her marriage."And he continued, to Madam Desmarais: "Believe me, madam; by my respect,by my filial attachment, I shall strive to make you forget what you havesuffered; moreover, I promise to try to call a halt to the pursuit ofyour brother."
"Great God!" cried Madam Desmarais in accents of gratitude, "can it bepossible!"
"I have some hope, due to my political relations, of success in whatconcerns your brother's safety."
"Ah, John!" said Charlotte, "you have divined my thoughts, anticipatedmy wishes; for just now, in trying to reassure mother on the score ofuncle's fate, I dreamt of asking your assistance."
"And I, Monsieur Lebrenn, am doubly grateful for your generosity towardsmy brother, especially since you are not unaware that, even as I, he wasever obstinately opposed to your marriage with my daughter," added MadamDesmarais, with tears of happiness standing in her eyes. "Ah, whateverthe result of your efforts, my gratitude towards you will be eternal,Monsieur Lebrenn. But, alas! how can you save my brother?"
"Write, madam, to Monsieur Hubert, that if he will promise, on his wordof honor, to abstain henceforth from all intrigue, and to live quietlyin Paris, I hope, due to my relations with the procurator of the Communeand several members of the Committee of General Safety, to be able tosecure a suspension of the searches against him. I ask of him nothingwhich a man of honor can not accede to; I ask nothing which looks towardhis dropping his opinions, nothing that engages him towards theRepublic, except that he respect the established laws."
"Ah, uncle is saved, mother. This proposal is too straightforward forhim not to accept. Let your heart rejoice."
"Ah, Monsieur Lebrenn, what generosity, what grandeur of heart! Will youpardon me for having so long misprised you?"
"John, for answer, embrace _our_ mother," said Charlotte, gentlypushing her betrothed toward Madam Desmarais. The latter held out herarms to the young workman, who clasped her in a hearty hug.
"Aye, aye, you will hereafter be for me the best of sons," replied she."I owe to you forgetfulness from my sorrows, perhaps the life of mybrother, and assuredly the happiness of my Charlotte."
"And now let us talk of our plans," resumed the young girl. "It isunderstood, mother, that when we are married, you are to live with us?We need not go back to that."
"That is my dearest wish."
"Since we are speaking of plans, Charlotte," put in John, "I shouldacquaint your mother and you of my intention to continue my trade ofironsmith. My employer, Master Gervais, has long proposed to turn hisestablishment over to me, for which I was to reimburse him by yearlypayments to be agreed on by us. I am not of an age to enter upon anothercareer from that I have so far lived by."
"But, my dear John," began Madam Desmarais, "as you speak of continuingyour trade, I should tell you that my daughter has a dower--ofconsiderable importance."
"That is something, I must declare to you, which I have neverconsidered," John made answer. "Charlotte's dowry belongs to her, she isto use it as seems good to her. As to me, I am certain that neither younor she will disapprove of my resolution to live by my own labor, asheretofore. The establishment, perfectly equipped, which I shall getfrom Master Gervais for thirty thousand livres, should bring me, goodyear or bad, five or six thousand livres steadily. The output of myforge will permit us, then, to live in some comfort, and allow me to payoff my master in a few years, according to the arrangements that weshall make."
"But, my dear John, my daughter's dower is more than 120,000 livres ingood gold louis, snugly stowed underground in our cellar; not to speakof my personal fortune."
"Dear mother, permit me to interrupt you," returned John. "Your privatefortune is yours, and Charlotte's dowry is hers; she and you may disposeof them as you will, and in acts of benevolence. I wish only to prove toyou that my labor will suffice for the maintenance of our household,apart from your resources."
"I have always given you credit for delicacy, my dear John," repliedMadam Desmarais.
"For which I thank you, dear mother. You now know that I wish tocontinue to live by my trade. For the rest, be easy," added the youngworkingman, smiling. "Neither Charlotte nor you will be deafened by theclang of my anvil. Master Gervais's shop is on Anjou Street, and a greatcourtyard separates it from a pretty house in the midst of a garden. Thedwelling is at present occupied by Master Gervais, but as he purposes togo to live in the country, he will rent it to me. We shall be, my dearmother--you, Charlotte, my sister, and I--comfortably established in ourlittle nest, which smiles in the shade of the garden about it. These aremy plans, subject to your and Charlotte's approval; except, I repeat, myfirm resolve to continue to live by the work of my forge."
"I, to begin with, am agreed to these projects of John's," said theyoung girl gaily. "The house, surrounded by its garden, charms me beforeI see it. But do not be afraid, Monsieur John, that I shall fear toblacken my dress with the smoke of your forge; I shall also prove toyou that I dread not being deafened with the thunder of your anvil. Andyou, mother, what have you to say to our projects? Do they meet withyour approval?"
"I say that our John is honor, probity and delicacy itself," repliedMadam Desmarais with welling emotion. "I say that I would live, if needbe, in a garret, rather than be parted from you, my children. I say thatnow I am ashamed of the prejudices in which I have heretofore lived inregard to the men of the people. John teaches me to value them as theytruly deserve."
"Ah, dear mother," was John's answer, "I understand, I overlook theprejudices of which you accuse yourself. What causes them, what evenoften justifies them, is the faults of so many of the disinherited,unhappy ones, who, sunk in misery, in ignorance, and abandonment, havefallen prey to the fatal vices that are nearly always engendered bythese conditions. So, do you know what has been my motive in wishing tosucceed Master Gervais in his smithy, where a score or so of apprenticesare always employed? It is to form in our shop a sort of practicalschool of industrious, upright, and efficient workmen, jealous of theirrights as citizens, but also imbued with a sense of their public duties.I hope to render still more fervent, still more glowing, their love fortheir country, and for the Republic. I wish, in associating them with mylabors, to make them associated with the benefits thereof. I hope, inshort, to watch with fatherly solicitude over my young apprentices. Ishall choose orphans wherever possible, to the end of giving them afamily, and bringing them up good republicans. I have not, have I,Charlotte, presumed too much upon you, in counting on your help forthese poor boys?"
"Ah, count also on my co-operation, my dear John," exclaimed MadamDesmarais, her eyes filling with tears. "I now understand the grandeur,the usefulness, the holiness of the task which you impose upon yourselffor the benefit of your apprentices and workmen. You seek to educatethem; you charge yourself with the molding of their characters!"
Gertrude, entering at that moment, said to the young workman:
"Monsieur Desmarais knows that you are here, Monsieur Lebrenn. He asksyou to wait for him. He will be in directly."
"Mother," said Charlotte sadly, "grievous as is the dissimulation, Ibelieve there is every necessity for us not to inform father as yet ofour resolve to live apart from him after my wedding."
"I am not of your opinion, my dear Charlotte," objected John, whosecandidness would have suffered under the reticence. "At any rate, wehave time to consider the matter. But it is necessary to decide, beforeMonsieur Desmarais comes in on how to convey to Monsieur Hubert theproposal I made to you, dear mother."
"Dear John," replied Madam Desmarais, "I have a secure means ofcommunication with him. But should my letter indeed be intercepted, andyour name be found in it, do you not fear to be compromised?"
"Should they seize your letter, it will not injure me in the slightest.The attempt I make is loyal
. I accept proudly the responsibilityattached to it, the same as, this very morning, I took upon myself theresponsibility, still more serious on the face of it, of giving anEmigrant who had sought refuge with me the means, not of escapingjustice--my duty would not permit that--but of leaving our house. Thanksto me, the ex-Count of Plouernel was able, without molestation, to gaina safe retreat."
"That great seigneur who once so shamefully outraged my husband?" criedMadam Desmarais in surprise.
"Monsieur Plouernel," Charlotte asked, "the descendant of that ancientfamily of warrior Franks which has done so much injury to your plebeianstock?"
"Precisely. By a strange fatality, he picked a fight with me last night.I thought I had killed him, but he was only stunned. This morning whenMonsieur Plouernel had sufficiently regained his senses and strength, Iconducted him to the threshold of our house. The porter, recognizing myvoice, opened the street door to the Emigrant. Now let the justice ofmen be done; I can not denounce an enemy defeated and wounded."
At this moment advocate Desmarais stepped into the parlor, cordiallytendering his hand to Lebrenn, and saying:
"Good day, my dear friend, my worthy _pupil_." Then passing to the youngartisan a paper he held in his hand, the lawyer added: "Read that aloud,my dear John."
Charlotte's betrothed read as follows:
"Citizen colleague:
"I announce to you the marriage of my daughter, Charlotte Desmarais, to Citizen John Lebrenn, the iron worker.
"The vows of the two as husband and wife will be received by the municipal officer of the Section of the Pikes, on the day that the head of Louis Capet the tyrant falls on the scaffold.
"Fraternal greetings, "BRUTUS DESMARAIS.
"December 12, year One of the Republic one and indivisible."
"That is a copy of the circular letter I have just addressed to mycolleagues of the Convention, to invite them to your wedding with mydaughter. What do you say to the phrasing of my missive, and especiallyto the time chosen for your wedding?"
"My God!" thought Madam Desmarais with a shudder, "the fate of Louis XVIaroused my husband's pity, and still he chooses the day of that prince'sexecution to marry our daughter upon. What abominable hypocrisy!" AndMadam Desmarais left the parlor.
"You ask me, Citizen Desmarais, what I think of your letter ofinvitation, and of the time set for my union with Charlotte; I reply toyou, in all sincerity, that I extremely regret that you chose the day ofthe execution of Louis XVI for our marriage."
"And I, father, hold with John."
"I suspect you, my daughter, of being a little royalist," replied thelawyer in a bitter-sweet tone; "and as to you, my dear pupil, I did notbelieve it necessary to remind you that the day a King's head falls intothe basket is a festive day, a day of joy for all good patriots."
"Citizen Desmarais, did I sit in the Convention I would have voted forthe death of Louis XVI, as a perjurer and a conspirer against thenation. But the day when the glaive of the law strikes the last of theKings will not be a day of joy for the Republic."
"And what will it be, then, O my pupil? A day of mourning, perhaps?"
"For good patriots there will be neither joy nor mourning, CitizenDesmarais. It will be a day of deep and sober thought. Louis XVI is nota man, but a principle, representing the oldest monarchy in Europe. Instriking Louis XVI, it is royalty that is beheaded. It is not a headthat will fall to the scaffold, but a crown."
"My faith, my dear pupil, you have indeed out-reasoned your master. Thedeath of the tyrant, in fact, causes patriots more than the delirium ofjoy, it causes a religious meditation, as you have so aptly said. Butwhat is done is done. I sent off my circular this morning to all ourfriends in the Mountain; I can not now change the date of yourmarriage."
"Father," said Charlotte gravely, "John and I have awaited for years theday that would consummate our hopes; we would gladly consent to postponestill further the day that is to unite us, in order not to coincide withthat of the death of the King, guilty though he be."
"Enough on that subject, my daughter, time presses. You, my pupil, willcome to the notary's with me, if you please, to settle the terms of yourmarriage contract. Thence we shall hie us to the Convention, where Ishall present you to my colleagues of the Mountain as my futureson-in-law."
"I would say to you, Citizen Desmarais, that I do not intend tointerfere in the making of the contract; that shall be drawn up as itpleases you."
"But you must know, my dear pupil, what dowry I settle upon mydaughter!"
"That is a financial question in which I am not in the slightest degreeinterested."
"Ah, my children," returned the lawyer, in sepulchral tones, "whatregret I feel at not being able to endow you as I would wish! But I haveruined myself in patriotic gifts. Save for this house and some littleproperties which amount to almost nothing, there remain to me in allonly 850 louis, which I share with you, my children. This dowry is verysmall, my dear John, after that which you hoped to secure from yourfather-in-law."
"The thought of a dower never presented itself to me; be convinced ofthat, Monsieur Desmarais."
"I believe you, my dear pupil, expecting no less of your delicacy. But,apart from the 425 louis which I leave to you, you shall be lodged here,without expense to you; for we shall never part, my dear pupil. We shallbe but one single family, and we shall also find room for your sister,who has so admirably lived down her past; for I no longer see in her themistress of Louis XV, but the worthy daughter of the proletaire. And so,my dear John, it is indeed settled that neither you nor your wife shallleave me; I count on it, absolutely; it is for our peace and mutualhappiness."
Charlotte was as indifferent as John to the figure of her dowry; butknowing through her mother that the settlement originally was to havebeen 120,000 livres, buried in the cellar of the house, the young girlwas wounded by the secret calculations of her father, who, she thought(nor was she mistaken), in dowering her so niggardly expected to forceJohn Lebrenn to take up his residence with him.
"I must thank you for your offer, Citizen Desmarais," answered John,"but I desire but one thing in the world, the hand of Charlotte. That Ihave obtained. All the rest is in my eyes but a bauble; it concerns melittle, and troubles me not at all."
"Such delicacy does not surprise me, coming from you, my dear John. Soyou accept the terms of contract, as to the dowry? It is agreed?"
"Perfectly, and without objection."
"In that case, let us at once set about drawing up the marriagearticles. The notary awaits us."
"Adieu, Charlotte. I shall at once see the members of the Committee ofGeneral Safety about your uncle," added John softly to his betrothed.
"Ah, if I had ever hesitated to leave my father's house," replied theyoung girl to her lover in like tones, "this last interview with himwould have removed my scruples."
"Come, my pupil, let us go," said the lawyer, approaching the youngcouple. "Adieu, my daughter; tell mother that our dear John will dinehere--the betrothal feast!"
"Till we meet again, father," answered the young girl, with a look ofintelligence to John, who, accompanying his future father-in-law, leftthe house.