第69章

THE COMTESSE DE L'ESTORADE TO MADAME OCTAVE DE CAMPSParis, May, 1839.

Monsieur Dorlange came last evening to take leave of us.He starts to-day for Arcis-sur-Aube, where the ceremony of inaugurating hisstatue takes place.That is also the place selected by the Opposition journals for his candidacy.Monsieur de l'Estorade declares that the locality could not have been worse chosen, and that it leaves his election without a chance.

Monsieur Dorlange paid his visit early.I was alone.Monsieur de l'Estorade was dining with the Minister of the Interior, and the children were in bed.The conversation interrupted by Madame de la Bastie could now be renewed, as I was about to ask him to continue the history, of which he had only told me the last words, when our old Lucas brought me a letter.It was from my Armand, to let me know that he had been ill since morning, and was then in the infirmary.

"Order the carriage," I said to Lucas, in a state of agitation you can easily conceive.

"But, madame," replied Lucas, "monsieur has ordered the carriage to fetch him at half-past nine o'clock, and Tony has already started.""Then send for a cab."

"I don't know that I can find one," said our old servant, who is a man of difficulties; "it is beginning to rain."Without noticing that remark and without thinking of Monsieur Dorlange, I went hastily to my room to put on my bonnet and shawl.

That done, I returned to the salon, where my visitor still remained.

"You must excuse me, monsieur," I said to him, "for leaving you so abruptly.I must hasten to the Henri IV.College.I could not possibly pass a night in the dreadful anxiety my son's letter has caused me; he tells me he has been ill since morning in the infirmary.""But," replied Monsieur Dorlange, "surely you are not going alone in a hired carriage to that lonely quarter?""Lucas will go with me."

At that moment Lucas returned; his prediction was realized; there was not a coach on the stand; it was raining in torrents.Time was passing; already it was almost too late to enter the school, where masters and pupils go to bed at nine o'clock.

"Put on thick shoes," I said to Lucas, "and come with me on foot."Instantly I saw his face lengthen.He is no longer young and loves his ease; moreover, he complains every winter of rheumatism.He made various objections,--that it was very late; that we should "revolutionize" the school; I should take cold; Monsieur Armand could not be very ill if he wrote himself; in short, it was clear that my plan of campaign did not suit my old retainer.

Monsieur Dorlange very obligingly offered to go himself in my place and bring me word about Armand; but that did not suit me at all; Ifelt that I must see for myself.Having thanked him, I said to Lucas in a tone of authority:--"Get ready at once, for one thing is true in your remarks: it is getting late."Seeing himself driven into a corner, Lucas raised the standard of revolt.

"It is not possible that madame should go out in such weather; and Idon't want monsieur to scold me for giving in to such a singular idea.""Then you do not intend to obey me?"

"Madame knows very well that for anything reasonable I would do what she told me if I had to go through fire to obey her.""Heat is good for rheumatism, but rain is not," I said; then, turning to Monsieur Dorlange, I added: "As you were so kind as to offer to do this errand alone, may I ask you to give me your arm and come with me?""I am like Lucas," he said, "I do not think this excursion absolutely necessary; but as I am not afraid of being scolded by Monsieur de l'Estorade, I shall have the honor to accompany you."We started.The weather was frightful; we had hardly gone fifty steps before we were soaked in spite of Lucas's huge umbrella, with which Monsieur Dorlange sheltered me at his own expense.Luckily a coach happened to pass; Monsieur Dorlange hailed the driver; it was empty.

Of course I could not tell my companion that he was not to get in;such distrust was extremely unbecoming and not for me to show.But you know, my dear friend, that showers of rain have helped lovers from the days of Dido down.However, Monsieur Dorlange said nothing: he saw my anxiety and he had the good taste not to attempt conversation, breaking the silence only from time to time with casual remarks.When we reached the school, after getting out of the carriage to give me his hand he saw for himself that he must not enter the house and he therefore got back into the carriage to await my return.

Well, I found Monsieur Armand had hoaxed me.His illness reduced itself to a headache, which departed soon after he had written me.The doctor, for the sake of ordering something, had told him to take an infusion of linden-leaves, telling him that the next day he could go back to his studies.I had taken a club to kill a flea, and committed all sorts of enormities to get there at an hour when the entire establishment were going to bed, only to find my young gentleman perfectly well and playing chess with one of the nurses.

On leaving the school I found the rain had ceased and the moon was shining brightly.My heart was full; the reaction from my great anxiety had set in and I felt a need of breathing the fresh air.Itherefore proposed to Monsieur Dorlange to dismiss the coach and return on foot.