The White House Part 55

"No, he is a bachelor, and so is Edouard Beaumont.--However, as we are alone for a moment, which rarely happens, I would like to express to you,--to make you understand----"

"Ah! I think I see your two friends; let us walk a little faster."

"Never fear; monsieur le marquis your father, and your uncle, are very busy talking politics with Monsieur Moulinet, and they will not notice that----"

"Much I care about my father and my uncle! they think well enough of me, monsieur, not to be afraid to let me walk with whomever I please!"

"I do not doubt it, mademoiselle; that was not what I meant; but when one is with you, the confusion, the agitation one feels make one, in spite of oneself----"

"He is very good-looking, is this Monsieur Alfred. His friend is not bad-looking, either. I don't know which of them is the better looking!"

"I don't know, mademoiselle, whether you have divined the secret sentiments of my heart. The other evening, when I danced with you at the tax-collector's, it seemed to me that I was happy enough to----"

"Does your friend Alfred intend to pa.s.s some time in this region?"

"Oh, yes, he is in no hurry, he has nothing to do.--Well, mademoiselle, do you remember that contradance, when, as we made the _poule_, I declared that your charms, that your graces----"

"Mon Dieu! I am so accustomed to having compliments paid me, monsieur, and declarations of love, that three-fourths of the time I pay no attention to them!"

"I can understand that perfectly, and it does honor to your modesty. But still, your heart must be touched some day and if I were the fortunate mortal----"

"Ah! I beg your pardon, I see my sister; I have something to say to her!"

Mademoiselle Cornelie escaped and ran to join Eudoxie, who was walking with Edouard, Alfred and several ladies. Robineau looked after her, saying to himself:

"She is fascinating! A magnificent figure! and after our conversation, I have every reason to believe that I am not displeasing to her."

The guests walked about for some time in the gardens, where Monsieur Vincent was sitting on a bench, in evident ill humor, amusing himself by throwing dirt and water on his yellow breeches. Monsieur de la Pincerie had seized an old annuitant, to whom he was confiding his plans of economy, trudging through the strawberry plants; Monsieur Gerard plucked flowers for the ladies; Uncle Mignon looked for pins for his nieces; Alfred, as a matter of habit, paid compliments to the young ladies who were with him; Edouard talked little, but from time to time he sighed as he walked about with Madame de Hautmont; and the widow, who could not conceive that a man could sigh for another woman than herself, sighed with him, leaning more heavily on his arm. Monsieur Berlingue examined with a mocking air the colored lanterns and the dilapidated statues; the Chevalier de Tantignac told a fable to every person that he met; and Monsieur Ferulus put everybody to flight, because he carried with him an odor of cheese, which recalled too vividly the throwing of the discus.

Mademoiselle de la Pincerie had received Robineau's homage civilly enough at Saint-Amand; for Cornelie was nearing her twenty-eighth year, and although she was the daughter of a n.o.ble family, the marquis's fortune consisted in little else than his economical projects; the tall young lady had noticed that the attentions which were paid to her always began and ended with compliments, and she was beginning to desire most earnestly to be called madame. In truth, to save her self-esteem, the family had agreed to say to all those people who expressed surprise that the fair Cornelie had never married, that for family reasons they wished to obtain a place for her Uncle Mignon first. But the uncle was becoming quite as difficult to find a place for as his niece was to find a husband for, and Cornelie no longer a.s.sumed such haughty airs with her admirers. That is why she had smiled amiably at the new owner of the chateau, who, although he was not of an old family, had at all events a fortune with which she could make a show, and appear to much greater advantage. They had prudently sent Uncle Mignon to the notary to make inquiries concerning Robineau's fortune; the notary at Saint-Amand knew the new owner only from the fact that he had purchased the estate of La Roche-Noire, and that Robineau asked him every day for considerable sums, which were repaid to him by his confrere in Paris. From the mode of life that the new lord was leading, one might well accredit him with twice the amount that he really possessed; so that the notary answered Uncle Mignon that he was a man who probably had fifty thousand francs a year.

The uncle returned and imparted this news to his niece, jumping and showing his teeth, because he too thought that a very wealthy nephew would be of great a.s.sistance to him in procuring employment; and the La Pincerie family accepted Robineau's invitation with pleasure.

But Mademoiselle Cornelie had found Alfred much more fascinating than the lord of La Roche-Noire; the unaffected bearing, the amiable manners, and the lively tone of young De Marcey had caused Robineau to appear more stupid and heavy than ever; and when she learned that the tall young man was a baron and had an income of a hundred thousand francs, she thought of nothing but making a conquest of him, because, in addition to his physical advantages, there was fifty per cent. to be won with him.

That is why she had dropped Robineau's arm to run after Eudoxie, who had seated herself under a clump of trees with Alfred and several other ladies of the company, married and single.

Cornelie ran to them at a mincing gait, holding her hand to her heart, and said:

"I don't know what the matter is with me, but I am tired so soon."

They hastened to offer a seat to the young lady, who eyed from the height of her grandeur the young women to whom Alfred had offered his arm.

"These gardens are immense!" said Eudoxie; "but it seems to me that they might have been arranged in a more mysterious way."

"Mesdames," said Edouard, "it is Monsieur Jules's intention to arrange them so; but he has not yet had time to carry out all the improvements that he plans; so you must excuse him if his property is still somewhat in confusion, for his keen desire to receive you did not allow him to wait until everything was entirely finished."

"Ah! this gentleman is very agreeable," said one of the young women; "he takes so much trouble to entertain us."

"Besides, mesdames," said Alfred, "you must remember that you are at a bachelor's house, and that quality should induce you to overlook many things."

"That quality!" said Cornelie, pressing her lips together; "do you call that a quality, monsieur?"

"It is at all events a condition which ent.i.tles one to be excused for many thoughtless acts."

"You abuse the privilege sometimes, messieurs!" said Eudoxie, making eyes at Edouard, who was gazing at the foliage.

"However," rejoined Alfred smiling, "I believe that our friend does not intend to retain long that t.i.tle upon which you ladies make war."

All the young ladies were silent and looked at the ground. There was a moment's pause, which Eudoxie broke, saying:

"Monsieur de la Roche-Noire is certainly very gallant; his fete is delightful; if only he won't have those vulgar peasants fight any more, for that is a spectacle which I cannot endure."

"Well I would have liked to climb the greased pole!" said a little girl of ten to her older sister.

"Oh! that would have been very nice, mademoiselle!" replied the sister; "to do as that vulgar creature did and show your----"

The older sister suddenly checked herself and turned as red as a beet; all the young ladies lowered their eyes once more. Renewed silence, which amused the young men immensely.

"You gentlemen did not come with Monsieur de la Roche-Noire to the last parties which were given in our town?" said Eudoxie, addressing Alfred.

"As we knew no one at Saint-Amand, mademoiselle, we thought that it would be impertinent to try to obtain our own inclusion in invitations which were addressed solely to the new owner of this estate."

"Why so, pray, monsieur? My father will certainly be charmed to become better acquainted with Monsieur le Baron de Marcey."

"And with Monsieur Edouard de Beaumont," said Eudoxie.

"It is not _de_ Beaumont." replied Edouard, with a bow, "it is Beaumont simply."

"There speaks the modesty of a man of letters, who desires to owe his reputation to his genius alone."

"Monsieur has something of my cousin the viscount's look in his features," said Cornelie, glancing at Alfred; "don't you think so, sister? In the eyes, and the shape of the mouth; but monsieur is even better looking."

"I have heard a great deal about your works, monsieur," said Eudoxie to Edouard; "and I am delighted to be in the company of the author of compositions so well turned."

"These women are terrible with their compliments!" whispered Edouard in Alfred's ear. Luckily for the young men, Robineau bustled up to them, crying:

"Dinner is ready, mesdames! Let us go to the dining-room, if you please!"

Cornelie had approached Alfred, and put out her hand as if absent-mindedly; but Alfred, paying no heed to Mademoiselle de la Pincerie's distraction, offered his arms to the two young women with whom he had already been walking, and moved away with them. Thereupon Cornelie abruptly took the hand that Robineau offered her; her anger caused her to squeeze it violently; and Robineau, beside himself with joy, kept repeating to her all the way:

"I am the most fortunate of mortals!"

They reached the banquet hall, which was decorated with festoons, garlands and mottoes.

"This is very neat," said Madame Gerard.

"It is like Berthelemot's," said Monsieur Berlingue.