CHAPTER XXXV.
THE LAST INTERVIEW.
Gaston left the conservatory, his heart bounding with joy. The enormousweight which had oppressed him since the commencement of the conspiracy,and which Helene's love had scarcely been able to alleviate, now seemedto disappear as at the touch of an angel.
To dreams of vengeance, dreams both terrible and bloody, succeededvisions of love and glory. Helene was not only a charming and a lovingwoman, she was also a princess of the blood royal--one of thosedivinities whose tenderness men would purchase with their hearts' blood,if they did not, being after all weak as mortals, give this inestimabletenderness away.
And Gaston felt revive within his breast the slumbering instinct ofambition. What a brilliant fortune was his--one to be envied by such menas Richelieu and Lauzun. No Louis XIV., imposing, as on Lauzun, exile orthe abandonment of his mistress--no irritated father combating thepretensions of a simple gentleman--but, on the contrary, a powerfulfriend, greedy of love, longing to prove his affection for his pure andnoble daughter. A holy emulation between the daughter and the son-in-lawto make themselves more worthy of so just a prince, so mild a conqueror.
In a quarter of an hour Gaston had gained the Rue du Bac.
The door opened before him--a cry was heard--Helene, at the windowwatching for his return, had recognized the carriage, and ran joyouslyto meet him.
"Saved!" cried Gaston, seeing her; "saved! my friends,I--you--all--saved!"
"Oh, God!" cried Helene, turning pale, "you have killed him, then?"
"No, no; thank God! Oh! Helene, what a heart, what a man is this regent!Oh, love him well, Helene; you will love him, will you not?"
"Explain yourself, Gaston."
"Come, and let us speak of ourselves; I have but a few moments to giveyou, Helene; but the duke will tell you all."
"One thing before all," said Helene, "what is your fate?"
"The brightest in the world, Helene--your husband, rich and honored.Helene, I am wild with joy."
"And you remain with me at last?"
"No, I leave you, Helene."
"Oh, heavens!"
"But to return."
"Another separation!"
"Three days at the most--three days only. I go to bring blessings onyour name, on mine, on that of our protector, our friend."
"Where are you going?"
"To Nantes!"
"To Nantes!"
"Yes. This order is the pardon of Pontcalec, Montlouis, and Talhouet andDu Couedic. They are condemned to death, and they will owe me theirlives. Oh, do not keep me here, Helene; think of what you suffered justnow, when you were watching for me."
"And, consequently, what I am to suffer again."
"No, my Helene; for this time there is no fear, no obstacle: this timeyou are sure of my return."
"Gaston, shall I never see you, but at rare intervals and for a fewminutes? Ah! Gaston, I have so much need of happiness."
"You shall be happy, Helene, be assured."
"My heart sinks."
"Ah! when you know all!"
"But tell me at once."
"Helene, the only thing wanting to my happiness is the permission tofall at your feet and tell you all--but I have promised--nay more, Ihave sworn."
"Always some secret!"
"This, at least, is a joyful one."
"Oh, Gaston, Gaston, I tremble."
"Look at me, Helene; can you fear when you see the joy that sparkles inmy eyes?"
"Why do you not take me with you, Gaston?"
"Helene!"
"I beg of you to let us go together."
"Impossible."
"Why?"
"Because, first, I must be at Nantes in twenty hours."
"I will follow you, even should I die with fatigue."
"Then, because you are no longer your own mistress; you have here aprotector, to whom you owe respect and obedience."
"The duke?"
"Yes; the duke. Oh, when you know what he has done for me--for us."
"Let us leave a letter for him, and he will forgive us."
"No, no; he will say we are ungrateful; and he would be right. No,Helene; while I go to Bretagne, swift as a saving angel, you shallremain here and hasten the preparations for our marriage. And when Ireturn I shall at once demand my wife; at your feet I shall bless youfor the happiness and the honor you bestow on me."
"You leave me, Gaston?" cried Helene, in a voice of distress.
"Oh, not thus, Helene, not thus; I cannot leave you so. Oh, no--bejoyous, Helene; smile on me; say to me--in giving me your hand--thathand so pure and faithful--'Go, Gaston--go--for it is your duty.'"
"Yes, my friend," said Helene, "perhaps I ought to speak thus, but Ihave not the strength. Oh! Gaston, forgive me."
"Oh, Helene, when I am so joyful."
"Gaston, it is beyond my power; remember that you take with you the halfof my life."
Gaston heard the clock strike three and started.
"Adieu, Helene," said he.
"Adieu," murmured she.
Once more he pressed her hand and raised it to his lips, then dasheddown the staircase toward the door.
But he heard Helene's sobs.
Rapidly he remounted the staircase and ran to her. She was standing atthe door of the room he had just left. Gaston clasped her in his arms,and she hung weeping upon his neck.
"Oh, mon Dieu!" cried she, "you leave me again, Gaston; listen to what Isay, we shall never meet more."
"My poor Helene," cried the young man, "you are mad."
"Despair has made me so."
And her tears ran down her cheeks.
All at once she seemed to make a violent effort, and pressing her lipson those of her lover, she clasped him tightly to her breast, thenquickly repulsing him--
"Now go, Gaston," said she, "now I can die."
Gaston replied by passionate caresses. The clock struck the half hour.
"Another half hour to make up."
"Adieu, adieu, Gaston; you are right, you should already be away."
"Adieu for a time."
"Adieu, Gaston."
And Helene returned to the pavilion. Gaston procured a horse, saddled,mounted, and left Paris by the same gate by which he had entered somedays previously.
Une fille du régent. English Page 36