CHAPTER IX.
THE VISIT.
All this passed, as we have said, in the lane under Helene's windows.She had heard the noise; and, as among the voices she thought shedistinguished that of the chevalier, she ran anxiously to the window,when, at the same moment, Madame Desroches appeared.
She came to beg Helene to go into the drawing-room, as the visitor hadarrived.
Helene started, and nearly fell; her voice failed her, and she followed,silent and trembling.
The room into which Madame Desroches led her was without any light,except what was thrown on the carpet by the last remains of a fire.Madame Desroches threw some water over the flame, and left the roomentirely dark.
Begging Helene to have no fear, Madame Desroches withdrew. The instantafter, Helene heard a voice behind the fourth door, which had not yetopened.
She started at the sound, and involuntarily made a few steps toward thedoor.
"Is she ready?" said the voice.
"Yes, monseigneur," was the reply.
"Monseigneur!" murmured Helene; "who is coming, then?"
"Is she alone?"
"Yes, monseigneur."
"Is she aware of my arrival?"
"Yes, monseigneur."
"We shall not be interrupted?"
"Monseigneur may rely upon me."
"And no light?"
"None whatever."
The steps approached, then stopped.
"Speak frankly, Madame Desroches," said the voice. "Is she as pretty asthey said?"
"More beautiful than your highness can imagine."
"Your highness! who can he be?" thought Helene, much agitated.
At this moment the door creaked on its hinges and a heavy stepapproached.
"Mademoiselle," said the voice, "I beg you to receive and hear me."
"I am here," said Helene, faintly.
"Are you frightened?"
"I confess it, mon--Shall I say 'monsieur' or 'monseigneur'?"
"Say 'my friend.'"
At this moment her hand touched that of the unknown.
"Madame Desroches, are you there?" asked Helene, drawing back.
"Madame Desroches," said the voice, "tell mademoiselle that she is assafe as in a temple before God."
"Ah! monseigneur, I am at your feet, pardon me."
"Rise, my child, and seat yourself there. Madame Desroches, close allthe doors; and now," continued he, "give me your hand, I beg."
Helene's hand again met that of the stranger, and this time it was notwithdrawn.
"He seems to tremble also," murmured she.
"Tell me are you afraid, dear child?"
"No," replied Helene; "but when your hand clasps mine, a strange thrillpasses through me."
"Speak to me, Helene," said the unknown, with an expression oftenderness. "I know already that you are beautiful, but this is thefirst time I have heard your voice. Speak--I am listening."
"But have you seen me, then?" asked Helene.
"Do you remember that two years ago the abbess had your portrait taken?"
"Yes, I remember--an artist came expressly from Paris."
"It was I who sent him."
"And was the portrait for you?"
"It is here," said the unknown, taking from his pocket a miniature,which Helene could feel, though she could not see it.
"But what interest could you have in the portrait of a poor orphan?"
"Helene, I am your father's friend."
"My father! Is he alive?"
"Yes."
"Shall I ever see him?"
"Perhaps."
"Oh!" said Helene, pressing the stranger's hand, "I bless you forbringing me this news."
"Dear child!" said he.
"But if he be alive," said Helene, "why has he not sought out hischild?"
"He had news of you every month; and though at a distance, watched overyou."
"And yet," said Helene, reproachfully, "he has not seen me for sixteenyears."
"Believe me, none but the most important reasons would have induced himto deprive himself of this pleasure."
"I believe you, monsieur; it is not for me to accuse my father."
"No; it is for you to pardon him if he accuses himself."
"To pardon him!" cried Helene.
"Yes; and this pardon, which he cannot ask for himself, I ask in hisname."
"Monsieur," said Helene, "I do not understand you.'"
"Listen, then, and give me back your hand."
"Here it is."
"Your father was an officer in the king's service; at the battle ofNerwinden, where he charged at the head of the king's household troops,one of his followers, called M. de Chaverny, fell near him, pierced by aball. Your father wished to assist him, but the wound was mortal, andthe wounded man, who knew that it was so, said, 'Think not of me, but ofmy child.' Your father pressed his hand as a promise, and the man fellback and died, as though he only waited this assurance to close hiseyes. You are listening, are you not, Helene?"
"Oh! need you ask such a question?" said the young girl.
"At the end of the campaign, your father's first care was for the littleorphan. She was a charming child, of from ten to twelve years, whopromised to be as beautiful as you are. The death of M. de Chaverny, herfather, left her without support or fortune; your father placed her atthe convent of the Faubourg Saint Antoine, and announced that at aproper age he should give her a dowry."
"I thank God," cried Helene, "for having made me the child of a man whoso nobly kept his promise."
"Wait, Helene," said the unknown, "for now comes the time when yourfather will not receive your praises."
Helene was silent.
The unknown continued: "Your father, indeed, watched over the orphantill her eighteenth year. She was an adorable young girl, and his visitsto the convent became longer and more frequent than they should havebeen: your father began to love his protegee. At first he was frightenedat his own love, for he remembered his promise to her dying father. Hebegged the superior to look for a suitable husband for Mademoiselle deChaverny, and was told that her nephew, a young Breton, having seen her,loved her, and wished to obtain her hand."
"Well, monsieur?" asked Helene, hearing that the unknown hesitated toproceed.
"Well; your father's surprise was great, Helene, when he learned fromthe superior that Mademoiselle de Chaverny had replied that she did notwish to marry, and that her greatest desire was to remain in the conventwhere she had been brought up, and that the happiest day of her lifewould be that on which she should pronounce her vows."
"She loved some one," said Helene.
"Yes, my child, you are right--alas! we cannot avoid ourfate--Mademoiselle de Chaverny loved your father. For a long time shekept her secret, but one day, when your father begged her to renounceher strange wish to take the veil, the poor child confessed all. Strongagainst his love when he did not believe it returned, he succumbed whenhe found he had but to desire and to obtain. They were both soyoung--your father scarcely twenty-five, she not eighteen--they forgotthe world, and only remembered that they could be happy."
"But since they loved," said Helene, "why did they not marry?"
"Union was impossible, on account of the distance which separated them.Do you not know that your father is of high station?"
"Alas! yes," said Helene, "I know it."
"During a year," continued he, "their happiness surpassed their hopes;but at the end of that time you came into the world, and then--"
"Well?" asked the young girl, timidly.
"Your birth cost your mother's life."
Helene sobbed.
"Yes," continued the unknown, in a voice full of emotion, "yes, Helene,weep for your mother; she was a noble woman, of whom, through hisgriefs, his pleasures, even his follies--your father retains a tenderrecollection; he transferred to you all his love for her."
"And yet," said Helene, "he consented to remove me from him, and hasnever again seen me."
"Hele
ne, on this point pardon your father, for it was not his fault. Youwere born in 1703, at the most austere period of Louis XIV.'s reign;your father was already out of favor with the king, or rather withMadame de Maintenon; and for your sake, as much or more than for his, hesent you into Bretagne, confiding you to Mother Ursula, superior of theconvent where you were brought up. At length, Louis XIV. being dead, andeverything having changed through all France, it is decided to bring younearer to him. During the journey, however, you must have seen that hiscare was over you, and when he knew that you were at Rambouillet, hecould not wait till to-morrow--he is come to you here, Helene."
"Oh, mon Dieu!" cried Helene, "is this true?"
"And in seeing, or rather in listening to you, he thinks he hears yourmother--the same accent in the voice. Helene, Helene, that you may behappier than she was is his heartfelt prayer!"
"Oh, heavens!" cried Helene, "this emotion, your trembling hand.Monsieur, you said my father is come to meet me."
"Yes."
"Here at Rambouillet?"
"Yes."
"You say he is happy to see me again?"
"Oh yes, very happy!"
"But this happiness was not enough, is it not so? He wished to speak tome, to tell me himself the story of my life--that I may thank him forhis love--that I may fall at his feet, that I may ask his blessing. Oh!"cried Helene, kneeling, "oh, I am at your feet; bless me, father!"
"Helene, my child, my daughter!" cried the unknown, "not at my feet, butin my arms!"
"My father, my father!" was Helene's only reply.
"And yet," continued he, "I came with a different intention, prepared todeny all, to remain a stranger to you; but having you so near me,pressing your hand, hearing your voice, I had not the strength; but donot make me repent my weakness, and let secrecy--"
"I swear by my mother's grave," cried Helene.
"That is all I desire," cried the unknown. "Now listen, for I must leaveyou."
"What, already!"
"It must be so."
"Speak, then, my father. I am ready to obey you."
"To-morrow you leave for Paris; there is a house there destined for you.Madame Desroches will take you there, and at the very first moment thatI can do so, I will come there to see you."
"Soon, I hope, for do not forget that I am alone in the world."
"As soon as possible;" and pressing his lips to Helene's forehead, theunknown imprinted on it one of those kisses as sweet to the heart of afather as a kiss of love to the heart of a lover.
Ten minutes later Madame Desroches entered with a light. Helene was onher knees praying; without rising, she signed to Madame Desroches toplace the light on the chimney-piece, which that lady did, and thenretired.
Helene, after praying for some time, rose, and looked around her asthough for some evidence that the whole was not a dream; her ownemotion, however, assured her that it was really a great event in herlife which had taken place. Then the thought of Gaston rose to her mind;this father whom she had so dreaded to see--this father, who himself hadloved so ardently and suffered so deeply, would not do violence to herlove; besides, Gaston was a scion of an ancient house, and beyond allthis, she loved him, so that she would die if she were separated fromhim, and her father would not wish her death.
The obstacles on Gaston's side could be but the right, and woulddoubtless be easily overcome, and Helene fell asleep to dream of a happyand smiling future.
Gaston, on his part, set at liberty with many apologies from those whopretended to have mistaken him for another person, went back to fetchhis coat and cloak, which he was overjoyed to find where he had leftthem; he anxiously opened his pocket-book--it was as he had left it,and for greater safety he now burned the address of La Jonquiere. Hegave his orders for the next day to Owen and retired.
Meanwhile, two carriages rolled away from the door of the Tigre-Royal;in the first were two gentlemen in traveling costume, preceded andfollowed by outriders.
In the second was a single traveler, wrapped in a large cloak; thiscarriage followed close behind the other as far as the Barriere del'Etoile, where they separated, and while the first stopped at thePalais Royal, the other drew up at the Rue de Valois.
Une fille du régent. English Page 10