CHAPTER XXX.
THE FAMILY FEUD.
When Gaston returned to his room, he was obliged to answer the questionsof Dumesnil and Pompadour, who were waiting to hear news from him; but,in compliance with his promise made to D'Argenson, he did not mentionhis sentence, but simply announced a severer interrogatory thanbefore--but as he wished to write some letters, he asked Dumesnil for alight. Dumesnil sent him a candle--things were progressing, it may beremarked; Maison-Rouge could refuse nothing to Mademoiselle de Launay,and she shared all with Dumesnil, who, in his turn, again shared withhis neighbors, Gaston and Richelieu.
Gaston doubted whether, in spite of D'Argenson's promise, he would beallowed to see Helene, but he knew that at least he should see a priestbefore he died; there could be no doubt that the priest would forwardtwo letters for him.
As he began to write, Mademoiselle de Launay made a signal that she hadsomething to send him; it was a letter. Gaston read:
"Our friend--for you are our friend, and now we have no secrets fromyou--tell Dumesnil of the famous hope I conceived after the word thatHerment said to me."
Gaston's heart beat. Might not he also find in this letter some groundfor hope? Had they not said that his fate could not be separated fromthe others? It is true that those who had said so did not know of hisconspiracy. He read on:
"An hour ago the doctor came, accompanied by Maison-Rouge; from thelatter's manner I drew the most favorable augury; however, when I askedto speak in private, or, at least, to whisper to the doctor, he madesome difficulties, which I removed with a smile. 'At least,' said he,'no one must know that I am out of hearing. I should lose my place if itwere known how weak I am.' This tone of love and interest combinedseemed to me so grotesque that I laughingly promised him what he asked;you see how I keep my promise. He went to a distance, and Hermentapproached. Then commenced a dialogue, wherein the gestures meant onething while the voice declared another. 'You have good friends,' saidHerment; 'friends in good places, who are greatly interested for you.' Inaturally thought of Madame de Maine. 'Ah, monsieur,' I cried, 'have youanything for me?' 'Hush,' said Herment. Judge how my heart beat."
Gaston felt his own beating vigorously.
"'And what have you to give me?' 'Oh, nothing myself: but you will havethe object agreed upon.' 'But what is the object? Speak!' 'The beds inthe Bastille are known to be bad, and particularly badly covered, and Iam commissioned to offer you--' 'What?' 'A coverlet.' I burst outlaughing; the devotion of my friends was shown in preventing my catchingcold. 'My dear Monsieur Herment,' said I, 'in my present position itwould be better if my friends were to occupy themselves less about myfeet and more about my head.' 'It is a female friend,' said he. 'Who isit?' 'Mademoiselle de Charolais,' said Herment, lowering his voice, sothat I could scarcely hear him. Then he withdrew. I, my dear chevalier,am now waiting for Mademoiselle de Charolais's coverlet. Tell this toDumesnil; it will make him laugh."
Gaston sighed. The gayety of those around him weighed heavily on hisheart. It was a new torture which they had invented, in forbidding himto confide his fate to any one; it seemed to him that he should havefound consolation in the tears of his two neighbors. He had not thecourage to read the letter to Dumesnil, so he passed it on to him, and amoment after heard shouts of laughter.
At this moment Gaston was saying adieu to Helene.
After passing a part of the night in writing, he slept; atfive-and-twenty one must sleep, even if it be just before death.
In the morning Gaston's breakfast was brought at the usual hour, but heremarked that it was more _recherche_ than usual; he smiled at thisattention, and as he was finishing, the governor entered.
Gaston with a rapid glance interrogated his expression, which was calmand courteous as ever. Was he also ignorant of the sentence, or was hewearing a mask?
"Monsieur," said he, "will you take the trouble to descend to thecouncil-chamber?"
Gaston rose. He seemed to hear a buzzing in his ears, for to a mancondemned to death every injunction which he does not understand is atorture.
"May I know the reason, monsieur?" asked Gaston, in so calm a tone thatit was impossible to detect his real emotion.
"To receive a visit," replied the governor. "Yesterday, after theinterrogatory, did you not ask the lieutenant of police to be allowed tosee some one?"
Gaston started.
"And is it that person?" asked he.
"Yes, monsieur."
Gaston had asked for two persons; the governor only announced one; whichone was it? He had not the courage to ask, and silently followed thegovernor.
De Launay led Gaston to the council-chamber; on entering, he cast aneager glance around, but the room was empty.
"Remain here, monsieur; the person whom you expect is coming," said thegovernor, who bowed and went out.
Gaston ran to the window, which was barred, and looked out--there was asentinel before it.
The door opened, and Gaston, turning round, faced the Duc d'Olivares.
"Ah, monsieur," cried he, "how good of you to come at the request of apoor prisoner."
"It was a duty," replied the duke, "besides, I had to thank you."
"Me!" said Gaston, astonished; "what have I done to merit yourexcellency's thanks?"
"You have been interrogated, taken to the torture-chamber, given tounderstand that you might save yourself by naming your accomplices, andyet you kept silence."
"I made an engagement and kept it: that does not deserve any thanks,monseigneur."
"And now, monsieur, tell me if I can serve you in anything."
"First, tell me about yourself; have you been molested, monseigneur?"
"Not at all: and if all the Bretons are as discreet as you, I doubt notthat my name will never be mentioned in these unfortunate debates."
"Oh, I will answer for them as for myself, monseigneur; but can youanswer for La Jonquiere?"
"La Jonquiere!" repeated the duke.
"Yes. Do you not know that he is arrested?"
"Yes; I heard something of it."
"Well, I ask you, monseigneur, what you think of him?"
"I can tell you nothing, except that he has _my_ confidence."
"If so, he must be worthy of it, monseigneur. That is all I wished toknow."
"Then come to the request you had to make."
"Have you seen the young girl I brought to your house?"
"Mademoiselle Helene de Chaverny? Yes."
"Well, monsieur, I had not time to tell you then, but I tell you now,that I have loved her for a year. The dream of that year has been toconsecrate my life to her happiness. I say the dream, monseigneur; for,on awaking, I saw that all hope of happiness was denied me; and yet, togive this young girl a name, a position, a fortune, at the moment of myarrest, she was about to become my wife."
"Without the knowledge of her parents or the consent of her family?"cried the duke.
"She had neither, monseigneur; and was probably about to be sold to somenobleman when she left the person who had been set to watch her."
"But who informed you that Mademoiselle Helene de Chaverny was to be thevictim of a shameful bargain?"
"What she herself told me of a pretended father, who concealed himself;of diamonds which had been offered to her. Then, do you know where Ifound her, monseigneur? In one of those houses destined to the pleasuresof our roues. She! an angel of innocence and purity. In short,monseigneur, this young girl fled with me, in spite of the cries of herduenna, in broad daylight, and in the face of the servants whosurrounded her. She stayed two hours alone with me; and, though she isas pure as on the day when she received her mother's first kiss, she isnot the less compromised. I wish this projected marriage to take place."
"In your situation, monsieur?"
"A still greater reason."
"But perhaps you may deceive yourself as to the punishment reserved foryou!"
"It is probably the same which, under similar circumstances, wasinflicted on the Count de Chalais, the Marquis
de Cinq-Mars, and theChevalier Louis de Rohan."
"Then you are prepared even for death, monsieur?"
"I prepared for it from the day I joined the conspiracy: theconspirator's only excuse is, that, while robbing others of their lives,he risks his own."
"And what will this young girl gain by the marriage?"
"Monseigneur, though not rich, I have some fortune; she is poor; I havea name, and she has none. I would leave her my name and fortune; andwith that intention I have already petitioned the king that my goods maynot be confiscated, nor my name declared infamous. Were it known forwhat reason I ask this, it would doubtless be granted; if I die withoutmaking her my wife, she will be supposed to be my mistress, and will bedishonored, lost, and there will be no future for her. If, on thecontrary, by your protection, or that of your friends (and thatprotection I earnestly implore), we are united, no one can reproachher--the blood which flows for a political offense does not disgrace afamily--no shame will fall on my widow; and if she cannot be happy, shewill at least be independent and respected. This is the favor which Ihave to ask, monseigneur; is it in your power to obtain it for me?"
The duke went to the door and struck three blows: Maison-Rouge appeared.
"Ask M. de Launay, from me," said the duke, "whether the young girl whois at the door in my carriage may come in? Her visit, as he knows, isauthorized. You will have the kindness to conduct her here."
"What! monseigneur; Helene is here--at the door?"
"Were you not promised that she should come?"
"Yes; but seeing you alone, I lost all hope."
"I wished to see you first, thinking that you might have many things tosay which you would not wish her to hear; for I know all."
"You know all! What do you mean?"
"I know that you were taken to the arsenal yesterday!"
"Monseigneur!"
"I know that you found D'Argenson there, and that he read yoursentence."
"Mon Dieu!"
"I know that you are condemned to death, and that you were bound not tospeak of it to any one."
"Oh, monseigneur, silence! One word of this would kill Helene."
"Be easy, monsieur; but let us see; is there no way of avoiding thisexecution?"
"Days would be necessary to prepare and execute a plan of escape, and Iscarcely have hours."
"I do not speak of escape; I ask if you have no excuse to give for yourcrime?"
"My crime!" cried Gaston, astonished to hear his accomplice use such aword.
"Yes," replied the duke: "you know that men stigmatize murder with thisname under all circumstances; but posterity often judges differently,and sometimes calls it a grand deed."
"I have no excuse to give, monseigneur, except that I believe the deathof the regent to be necessary to the salvation of France."
"Yes," replied the duke, smiling; "but you will see that that isscarcely the excuse to offer to Philippe d'Orleans. I wanted somethingpersonal. Political enemy of the regent's as I am, I know that he is notconsidered a bad man. Men say that he is merciful, and that there havebeen no executions during his reign."
"You forget Count Horn."
"He was an assassin."
"And what am I?"
"There is this difference: Count Horn murdered in order to rob."
"I neither can nor will ask anything of the regent," said Gaston.
"Not you, personally, I know; but your friends. If they had a plausiblepretense to offer, perhaps the prince himself might pardon you."
"I have none, monseigneur."
"It is impossible, monsieur--permit me to say so. A resolution such asyou have taken must proceed from a sentiment of some kind--either ofhatred or vengeance. And stay; I remember you told La Jonquiere, whorepeated it to me, that there was a family feud: tell me the cause."
"It is useless, monseigneur, to tire you with that; it would notinterest you."
"Never mind, tell it me."
"Well, the regent killed my brother."
"The regent killed your brother! how so? it is--impossible, Monsieur deGaston," said the Duc d'Olivares.
"Yes, killed; if from the effect we go to the cause."
"Explain yourself; how could the regent do this?"
"My brother, who, being fifteen years of age when my father died, threemonths before my birth, stood to me in the place of that father, and ofmother, who died when I was still in the cradle--my brother loved ayoung girl who was brought up in a convent by the orders of the prince."
"Do you know in what convent?"
"No: I only know that it was at Paris."
The duke murmured some words which Gaston could not hear.
"My brother, a relation of the abbess, had seen this young girl andasked her hand in marriage. The prince's consent to this union had beenasked, and he made a pretense of granting it, when this young girl,seduced by her so-called protector, suddenly disappeared. For threemonths my brother hoped to find her, but all his searches were vain; hefound no trace of her, and in despair he sought death in the battle ofRamillies."
"And what was the name of this girl!"
"No one ever knew, monseigneur; to speak her name was to dishonor it."
"It was doubtless she," murmured the duke, "it was Helene's mother; andyour brother was called--?" added he aloud.
"Olivier de Chanlay, monseigneur."
"Olivier de Chanlay!" repeated the duke, in a low voice. "I knew thename of De Chanlay was not strange to me." Then, aloud, "Continue,monsieur; I listen to you."
"You do not know what a family hatred is in a province like ours. I hadlavished upon my brother all the love which would have fallen to theshare of my father and mother, and now I suddenly found myself alone inthe world. I grew up in isolation of heart, and in the hope of revenge;I grew up among people who were constantly repeating, 'It was the Ducd'Orleans who killed your brother.' Then the duke became regent, theBreton league was therefore organized. I was one of the first to joinit. You know the rest. You see that there is nothing in all this whichhas any interest for your excellency."
"You mistake, monsieur; unfortunately, the regent has to reproachhimself with many such faults."
"You see, therefore," said Gaston, "that my destiny must beaccomplished, and that I can ask nothing of this man."
"You are right, monsieur; whatever is done must be done without you."
At this moment the door opened and Maison-Rouge appeared.
"Well, monsieur?" asked the duke.
"The governor has an order from the lieutenant of police to admitMademoiselle Helene de Chaverny; shall I bring her here?"
"Monseigneur," said Gaston, looking at the duke with an air of entreaty.
"Yes, monsieur," said he, "I understand--grief and love do not needwitnesses--I will come back to fetch Mademoiselle Helene."
"The permission is for half an hour," said Maison-Rouge.
"Then at the end of that time I will return," said the duke, and bowingto Gaston, he went out.
An instant after the door opened again, and Helene appeared, trembling,and questioning Maison-Rouge, but he retired without replying.
Helene looked round and saw Gaston, and for a few minutes all theirsorrows were forgotten in a close and passionate embrace. "And now--"cried Helene, her face bathed in tears.
"Well! and now?" asked Gaston.
"Alas! to see you here--in prison," murmured Helene, with an air ofterror, "here, where I dare not speak freely, where we may bewatched--overheard."
"Do not complain, Helene, for this is an exception in our favor; aprisoner is never allowed to press one who is dear to him to his heart;the visitor generally stands against that wall, the prisoner againstthis, a soldier is placed between, and the conversation must be fixedbeforehand."
"To whom do we owe this favor?"
"Doubtless to the regent; for yesterday, when I asked permission ofMonsieur d'Argenson, he said that it was beyond his power to grant, andthat he must refer it to the regent."
"But now that
I see you again, Gaston, tell me all that has passed inthis age of tears and suffering. Ah! tell me; but my presentiments didnot deceive me; you were conspiring--do not deny it--I know it."
"Yes; Helene, you know that we Bretons are constant both in our lovesand our hatreds. A league was organized in Bretagne, in which all ournobles took part--could I act differently from my brothers? I ask you,Helene, could I, or ought I to have done so? Would you not have despisedme, if, when you had seen all Bretagne under arms, I alone had beeninactive--a whip in my hand while others held the sword?"
"Oh! yes; you are right; but why did you not remain in Bretagne with theothers?"
"The others are arrested also, Helene."
"Then you have been denounced--betrayed."
"Probably--but sit down, Helene; now that we are alone, let me look atyou, and tell you that you are beautiful, that I love you. How have youbeen in my absence--has the duke--"
"Oh! if you only knew how good he is to me; every evening he comes tosee me, and his care and attention--"
"And," said Gaston, who thought of the suggestion of the false LaJonquiere, "nothing suspicious in those attentions?"
"What do you mean, Gaston?"
"That the duke is still young, and that, as I told you just now, you arebeautiful."
"Oh, Heaven! no! Gaston; this time there is not a shadow of doubt; andwhen he was there near me--as near as you are now--there were momentswhen it seemed as if I had found my father."
"Poor child!"
"Yes, by a strange chance, for which I cannot account, there is aresemblance between the duke's voice and that of the man who came to seeme at Rambouillet--it struck me at once."
"You think so?" said Gaston, in an abstracted tone.
"What are you thinking of, Gaston?" asked Helene; "you seem scarcely tohear what I am saying to you."
"Helene, every word you speak goes to the inmost depth of my heart."
"You are uneasy, I understand. To conspire is to stake your life; but beeasy, Gaston--I have told the duke that if you die I shall die too."
Gaston started.
"You are an angel," said he.
"Oh, my God!" cried poor Helene, "how horrible to know that the man Ilove runs a danger--all the more terrible for being uncertain; to feelthat I am powerless to aid him, and that I can only shed tears when Iwould give my life to save him."
Gaston's face lit up with a flush of joy; it was the first time that hehad ever heard such words from the lips of his beloved; and under theinfluence of an idea which had been occupying him for some minutes--
"Yes, dearest," said he, taking her hand, "you can do much for me."
"What can I do?"
"You can become my wife."
Helene started.
"I your wife, Gaston?" cried she.
"Yes, Helene; this plan, formed in our liberty, may be executed incaptivity. Helene, my wife before God and man, in this world and thenext, for time and for eternity. You can do this for me, Helene, and amI not right in saying that you can do much?"
"Gaston," said she, looking at him fixedly, "you are hiding somethingfrom me."
It was Gaston's turn to start now.
"I!" said he, "what should I conceal from you?"
"You told me you saw M. d'Argenson yesterday?"
"Well, what then?"
"Well, Gaston," said Helene, turning pale, "you are condemned."
Gaston took a sudden resolution.
"Yes," said he, "I am condemned to exile; and, egotist as I am, I wouldbind you to me by indissoluble ties before I leave France."
"Is that the truth, Gaston?"
"Yes; have you the courage to be my wife, Helene? to be exiled with me?"
"Can you ask it, Gaston?" said she, her eyes lighted with enthusiasm,"exile--I thank thee, my God--I, who would have accepted an eternalprison with you, and have thought myself blessed--I may accompany,follow you? Oh, this condemnation is, indeed, a joy after what wefeared! Gaston, Gaston, at length we shall be happy."
"Yes, Helene," said Gaston, with an effort.
"Picture my happiness," cried Helene; "to me France is the country whereyou are; your love is the only country I desire. I know I shall have toteach you to forget Bretagne, your friends, and your dreams of thefuture; but I will love you, so that it will be easy for you to forgetthem."
Gaston could do nothing but cover her hands with kisses.
"Is the place of your exile fixed?" said she; "tell me, when do you go?shall we go together?"
"My Helene," replied Gaston, "it is impossible; we must be separated fora time. I shall be taken to the frontier of France--I do not as yetknow, which--and set free. Once out of the kingdom, you shall rejoinme."
"Oh, better than that, Gaston--better than that. By means of the duke Iwill discover the place of your exile, and instead of joining you there,I will be there to meet you. As you step from the carriage which bringsyou, you shall find me waiting to soften the pain of your adieux toFrance; and then, death alone is irretrievable; later, the king maypardon you; later still, and the action punished to-day may be lookedupon as a deed to be rewarded. Then we will return; then nothing needkeep us from Bretagne, the cradle of our love, the paradise of ourmemories. Oh!" continued she, in an accent of mingled love andimpatience, "tell me, Gaston, that you share my hopes, that you arecontent, that you are happy."
"Yes, Helene, I now am happy, indeed; for now--and only now--I know bywhat an angel I am beloved. Yes, dearest, one hour of such love asyours, and then death would be better than a whole life with the love ofany other."
"Well!" exclaimed Helene, her whole mind and soul earnestly fixed on thenew future which was opening before her, "what will they do? Will theylet me see you again before your departure? When and how shall we meetnext? Shall you receive my letters? Can you reply to them? What hourto-morrow may I come?"
"They have almost promised me that our marriage shall take place thisevening or to-morrow morning."
"What! here in a prison," said Helene, shuddering involuntarily.
"Wherever it may be, Helene, it will bind us together for the rest ofour lives."
"But suppose they do not keep their promise to you; suppose they makeyou set out before I have seen you?"
"Alas!" said Gaston, with a bursting heart, "that is possible, Helene,and it is that I dread."
"Oh, mon Dieu! do you think your departure is so near?"
"You know, Helene, that prisoners are not their own masters; they may beremoved at any moment."
"Oh, let them come--let them come; the sooner you are free, the soonerwe shall be reunited. It is not necessary that I should be your wife, inorder to follow and join you. Do I not know my Gaston's honor, and fromthis day I look upon him as my husband before God. Oh, go proudly,Gaston, for while these thick and gloomy walls surround you I tremblefor your life. Go, and in a week we shall be reunited; reunited, with noseparation to threaten us, no one to act as a spy on us--reunitedforever."
The door opened.
"Great Heaven, already!" said Helene.
"Madame," said the lieutenant, "the time has elapsed."
"Helene," said Gaston, seizing the young girl's hand, with a nervoustrembling which he could not master.
"What is it?" cried she, watching him with terror. "Good Heaven! you areas pale as marble."
"It is nothing," said he, forcing himself to be calm; "indeed, it isnothing," and he kissed her hand.
"Till to-morrow, Gaston."
"To-morrow--yes."
The duke appeared at the door; Gaston ran to him.
"Monseigneur," said he, "do all in your power to obtain permission forher to become my wife; but if that be impossible, swear to me that sheshall be your daughter."
The duke pressed Gaston's hand; he was so affected that he could notspeak.
Helene approached. Gaston was silent, fearing she might overhear.
He held out his hand to Helene, who presented her forehead to him, whilesilent tears rolled down her cheeks; Gaston c
losed his eyes, that thesight of her tears might not call up his own.
At length they must part. They exchanged one last lingering glance, andthe duke pressed Gaston's hand.
How strange was this sympathy between two men, one of whom had come sofar for the sole purpose of killing the other.
The door closed, and Gaston sank down on a seat, utterly broken andexhausted.
In ten minutes the governor entered; he came to conduct Gaston back tohis own room.
Gaston followed him silently, and when asked if there was anything hewanted, he mournfully shook his head.
At night Mademoiselle de Launay signaled that she had something tocommunicate.
Gaston opened the window, and received a letter inclosing another.
The first was for himself.
He read:
"DEAR NEIGHBOR--The coverlid was not so contemptible as I supposed; it contained a paper on which was written the word already spoken by Herment--'Hope!' It also inclosed this letter for M. de Richelieu; send it to Dumesnil, who will pass it to the duke.
"Your servant,
"DE LAUNAY."
"Alas!" thought Gaston, "they will miss me when I am gone," and hecalled Dumesnil, to whom he passed the letter.
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