第43章

But I will admit that I was conceited.What I don't say yes to is that Idon't stand high--as high as any one else.This is a line of speculation I should not have chosen, but you must remember you began it yourself.

I should never have dreamed that I was on the defensive, or that Ihad to justify myself; but if your people will have it so, I will do my best.""But you offered, a while ago, to make your court as we say, to my mother and my brother.""Damn it!" cried Newman, "I want to be polite.""Good!" rejoined Bellegarde; "this will go far, it will be very entertaining.

Excuse my speaking of it in that cold-blooded fashion, but the matter must, of necessity, be for me something of a spectacle.It's positively exciting.

But apart from that I sympathize with you, and I shall be actor, so far as I can, as well as spectator.You are a capital fellow;I believe in you and I back you.The simple fact that you appreciate my sister will serve as the proof I was asking for.All men are equal--especially men of taste!"

"Do you think," asked Newman presently, "that Madame de Cintre is determined not to marry?""That is my impression.But that is not against you;it's for you to make her change her mind.""I am afraid it will be hard," said Newman, gravely.

"I don't think it will be easy.In a general way I don't see why a widow should ever marry again.She has gained the benefits of matrimony--freedom and consideration--and she has got rid of the drawbacks.

Why should she put her head into the noose again? Her usual motive is ambition: if a man can offer her a great position, make her a princess or an ambassadress she may think the compensation sufficient.""And--in that way--is Madame de Cintre ambitious?""Who knows?" said Bellegarde, with a profound shrug.

"I don't pretend to say all that she is or all that she is not.

I think she might be touched by the prospect of becoming the wife of a great man.But in a certain way, I believe, whatever she does will be the IMPROBABLE.Don't be too confident, but don't absolutely doubt.Your best chance for success will be precisely in being, to her mind, unusual, unexpected, original.

Don't try to be any one else; be simply yourself, out and out.

Something or other can't fail to come of it; I am very curious to see what.""I am much obliged to you for your advice," said Newman.

"And," he added with a smile, "I am glad, for your sake, I am going to be so amusing.""It will be more than amusing," said Bellegarde;"it will be inspiring.I look at it from my point of view, and you from yours.After all, anything for a change!

And only yesterday I was yawning so as to dislocate my jaw, and declaring that there was nothing new under the sun!

If it isn't new to see you come into the family as a suitor, I am very much mistaken.Let me say that, my dear fellow;I won't call it anything else, bad or good; I will simply call it NEW"And overcome with a sense of the novelty thus foreshadowed, Valentin de Bellegarde threw himself into a deep arm-chair before the fire, and, with a fixed, intense smile, seemed to read a vision of it in the flame of the logs.After a while he looked up.

"Go ahead, my boy; you have my good wishes," he said.

"But it is really a pity you don't understand me, that you don't know just what I am doing.""Oh," said Newman, laughing, "don't do anything wrong.

Leave me to myself, rather, or defy me, out and out.

I wouldn't lay any load on your conscience."Bellegarde sprang up again; he was evidently excited;there was a warmer spark even than usual in his eye.

"You never will understand--you never will know," he said;"and if you succeed, and I turn out to have helped you, you will never be grateful, not as I shall deserve you should be.

You will be an excellent fellow always, but you will not be grateful.

But it doesn't matter, for I shall get my own fun out of it."And he broke into an extravagant laugh."You look puzzled,"he added; "you look almost frightened."

"It IS a pity," said Newman, "that I don't understand you.

I shall lose some very good jokes."

"I told you, you remember, that we were very strange people,"Bellegarde went on."I give you warning again.We are!

My mother is strange, my brother is strange, and I verily believe that I am stranger than either.You will even find my sister a little strange.Old trees have crooked branches, old houses have queer cracks, old races have odd secrets.

Remember that we are eight hundred years old!""Very good," said Newman; "that's the sort of thing I came to Europe for.

You come into my programme."

"Touchez-la, then," said Bellegarde, putting out his hand.

"It's a bargain: I accept you; I espouse your cause.It's because Ilike you, in a great measure; but that is not the only reason!"And he stood holding Newman's hand and looking at him askance.

"What is the other one?"

"I am in the Opposition.I dislike some one else.""Your brother?" asked Newman, in his unmodulated voice.

Bellegarde laid his fingers upon his lips with a whispered HUSH!

"Old races have strange secrets!" he said."Put yourself into motion, come and see my sister, and be assured of my sympathy!"And on this he took his leave.

Newman dropped into a chair before his fire, and sat a long time staring into the blaze.