The Bath Keepers Volume Ii Part 14

Six days had pa.s.sed, and nothing had occurred to disturb the peaceful life that Bathilde was leading in her room at Master Hugonnet's.

Ambroisine had not ventured to tell her of her visit to the old Marquis de Marvejols. But she was constantly preoccupied and anxious; at the least unexpected sound in the house, she ran to inquire if anyone had come. So that now it was Bathilde's turn to be surprised at her restlessness, and she insisted upon knowing its cause.

But Ambroisine confined herself to replying:

"Nothing is the matter! I a.s.sure you that nothing is the matter! But I was thinking--I am surprised that the Sire de Jarnonville has not been to our shop for several days, to ask me about you, as he has been accustomed to do for some time."

"Why, Ambroisine, he must have much else in his head! Why should he think so often of a poor girl whom he does not know?"

"Upon my word! I would like to see him forget you! After he promised to take care of your child--especially now that----"

"That what?"

"Why, that the time is approaching when you will be a mother.--Oh, no!

he will not forget you. He is not like most of the young n.o.bles of the court, I tell you! And as he doesn't come, there must be something to prevent; for he put his hand in mine; that means that he is my friend, that I may rely on him under all circ.u.mstances; and he is not the man to break his engagements."

Toward the close of that day, a servant in the Marquis de Marvejols's livery appeared at Master Hugonnet's shop, bearing two large letters sealed with the crest of that n.o.ble house.

Ambroisine, who was with her father at the moment, turned pale and began to tremble when the servant entered, for she instantly recognized the livery.

"Master Hugonnet, bath keeper?" said the man, addressing the master of the house.

"That is my name, monsieur; what do you wish?"

"I am instructed to hand you this letter from my master--Monsieur le Marquis de Marvejols."

Hugonnet glanced at the letter that was presented to him; he hesitated about taking it, and said to the valet:

"Are you not making a mistake, monsieur; I have not the honor of knowing Monsieur le Marquis de Marvejols, and----"

"Yes, father, yes, it is surely for you," interposed Ambroisine; "take it--take it, I say!"

"Ah! you are sure that there is no mistake?"

"Yes, yes; you will see.--And that other letter, monsieur?"

"It is for a certain Demoiselle Bathilde Landry, who lives with you.

Will you have the kindness to hand it to her?"

"Yes, monsieur, oh, yes! I will take it to her at once."

"Then my errand is done."

And the valet went away, after bowing very respectfully to the bath keeper and his daughter.

"So you know what all this means, do you?" said Hugonnet, looking at his daughter with a surprised expression.

"Yes, father; I will explain it to you. But break this seal first, I entreat you, and see what he has written to you."

"Break the seal! that would be a pity! It is magnificent--just look!"

"But, father, seals are made to be broken. How else do you expect to know what anyone writes to you?--Break it! please break it!"

"Oh! how impatient you are!--Well! if I must----"

The seal was broken, and the bath keeper unfolded a large sheet of paper, on which he read:

"The Marquis de Marvejols requests Master Hugonnet, bath keeper, and his daughter Ambroisine to accompany Bathilde Landry to his house to-morrow.

"He will expect them at two o'clock in the afternoon, all other affairs being put aside."

"What does this mean?" said Hugonnet, glancing at his daughter.

"It means, father, that I went, all alone, to see the old Seigneur de Marvejols, that I told him the whole story of his son's treatment of Bathilde, giving him as proof of what I said a letter that Monsieur Leodgard once wrote to my friend; and that I demanded justice at his hands for the victim of the seduction.--That is what I did, father, without asking Bathilde's permission."

"Nor mine either, I believe?"

"That is true, father. Are you angry with me for doing it? Do you think that I did wrong?"

Hugonnet reflected a moment, then cried:

"I' faith! no! You did not do wrong. But you should have told me.--No matter; kiss me; you are a good girl, a true friend.--Well! we will go to the marquis's to-morrow, and we will see what he has to say. After all, he cannot make it out a crime in us to take a poor child in, who was without a home and without means."

"Oh! no, father! on the contrary, he thanked me for doing it."

"Go now, and take your friend her letter. It probably contains the same invitation as this one."

"Yes, father, I am going. But if you knew how excited I am! What will Bathilde say when she learns that I went to her seducer's father and told him everything?"

"Why, you are not afraid of her scolding you, are you? I have forgiven you."

"Oh! that is not the same thing."

"True; with me, you are always sure of being in the right. But you acted for Bathilde's good--and, above all, for her child's! Go--go; if the friend blames, the mother will pardon you!"

Ambroisine left her father and went to her friend's room, concealing beneath her neckerchief the marquis's second letter. She tried to a.s.sume an indifferent, cheerful air as she walked toward Bathilde; but the latter was not deceived, and after looking into Ambroisine's eyes for an instant she said, somewhat sharply:

"You have something to tell me, and you are afraid to speak; what makes you afraid? Cast out and cursed by my parents, abandoned by the man I loved, it seems to me that I can defy fate now. What more have I to dread?"

"It is true that I have something to tell you; but it is no new misfortune that threatens you--far from it!"

"What is it, then, and why do you hesitate to say what you have to say?"

Ambroisine took from her bosom the letter sealed with the marquis's crest, and handed it to Bathilde, saying in a faltering tone:

"Here--here is a letter that was just brought here for you."

"A letter!--Oh! it is from him; yes, n.o.body but he can have written to me. So he is still thinking of me--and you did not give it to me at once!"