Chapter XXXV.

Otago Witness, Issue 2179, 28 November 1895, Page 45

Chapter XXXV.

Grebauval's Game of Love. " Citizen the Deputy Grebauval," said a servant, announcing an early visitor at the Hotel de Fouruier. Matbilde and her mother were in the Bmall salon overlooking the inner courtyard, with its tubs of ornamental and flowering shrubs and its circular grass plot. The Duchess had prepared M-ithilde for Giebauval's visit, though she was as little expectant as Mathilde of the melancholy mission which the D^p sty had undertaken. Ho arrived in a sober costume of brown, but in admirable taste and with every token of careful grooming — bis face cleanly shaven, his hair well dressed, oilver buckles in hia shoes, a brooch in his high cravat, a goldmounted cane in his band, and a rapier by bi* side. Hia likeness to the Count, hei husband, struck Mathilde, and she shivered at tho thought of it. " I have to congratulate you, madame," said Grebauval, "on your escape from the Abbaye." Machilde bowed. "Thanks to your generosity, my dear friend," said the Dachess. " Rather to the dexterity of Citizen Laroche," said Grebauval. " It is like you to say so," the Duchess replied. "I only say what is true, my dear madame. I fear you do not quite realise what has happened at the Abbaye, and what has occurred at the other prisons in Paris " " Oh, yes, we do," said the Duchess. "My daughter was a witness of the deaths of several of the unhappy priests." 11 Ia that bo, indeed, madame 7 " said Grebanval, addressing Mathilde. " Yes." said Mathilde ; " a terrible sight." "The people have taken into their own hands the pnnisbment of the Tribunal's prisoners," said Grebauval. <l It is deeply to be deplored, but the Executive is powerless." " Are there no Iroops at your command ? " asked Mathilde. " They are inarchirjg to the frontier," said Grebauv&l. "If Paris is iv the hands of tho mob it is hard to say whether that is worse than if it should be ridden over by the Austrians and their French allies." " You mean the emigrants ? " said Mathilde. "They should not have left us." " I am glad you think so," said Grebauval » " but having left you, they should not try to oome back in the van of the foreign invader." " It is not to give us this information that you have done us the honour to make so early a call, Monsieur Grebauval 7 " said Mathilde, sustaining with a bad grace the effort of a civil conversation with Grebauval, even though she owed her life to his good offices. "Don't be impatient, my dear," said the Dachess. "You have a penetrating judgment, madame, * said Grebauval, "and I am not much of a diplomatist. I have a sad mission to you." " Everything is sad, it seems to me, in these days; but, finding myself in my husband's house, I have encouraged myself to hope that my mothers- predictions of a change of fortune might be coming true." "Ah, my love," said the Dachess, " I said that our friend, the Deputy Grebauval, would not let his kindness rest at your release from the Abbaye." " Madame, your mother only does me justice. I have been anxious, and am deiirous of serving you ; but I am only a subordinate in the Government. I hold a very humble position in the councils of the Municipality and the Convention. I have powerful friends, it is true ; but there are privileges, there are concessions, which even Citizen Robespierre has to forego." " And your mission 7 " asked Mathilde. " A band of patriots, believing that they do their duty in ridding France of enemies within the city while their allies are marching upon us, have taken the law into their own bands." " Yes 7 " said Mathilde, filling the pause which Grebauval made in bis difficult announcement. "As I was saying," went on Grebauval, with*an effort at something like emotion, " they have borne down the guards of the Oonciergerie and slain many of the prisoners." Matbilde, pale to the lips, pressed her band upon her heart. " I call upon you, madame, to summon all your fortitude." Mathilde pressed her hands upon the arms of the chair in which she was sitting, and rose to her feet. Grebauval stood motionless before her. The Dachess looked anxiously from one to the other. " I am at your mercy," said Mathilde. " It is with the deepest regret that I have to inform you of the death of your husband, the Citizen de Fournier." Mathilde uttered no cry. She stood supporting herself by the chair. "Daad?" exclaimed the Dachess. "Henri dead i " " Alas, yes I " said Grebauval ; M with many others who were awaiting their trial. The affair waa toojsadden far subs resistance tram the officials. 1 "

" And the Dake 7 " said the Duchess ; •• thg Duke 7 " " I have no report as to the Duke, madame, I believe he lives." ••What proof have you," asked Mafchilde slowly, the words falling from her white lipa^ " that my husband is among the martyrs t« Franca 7 " " The list of those who fell and notification of his burial." Mathilde oovered her face with he* hands. " Then you have a list of the victims ! • said the DucbeßS. " It iB here, madame," replied Grebauval, banding a paper to the Ducheso; "I feai you will find there the names of several of your servants." Then, turning to Mathilde, he continued, "If it is possible for me to assuage your grief, in which I share, bsliere me, I am at your command. The Count would have been safe but for his rash conduct in the attack upon a Government escort, for I had made dispositions to help him. Madame the Duchess knows I apeak the truth." " I believe you," the Dachess said. " Oh, mother of God, what shall we do 7 If wo had not been so obstinate I And he was so brave I I shall never live through all these horrors. What is to become of us? Oh, mj • dear ohild, my poor Mathilde I I shall go distracted," went on the Duchess, her grief finding relief in volubility of words ; while Mathilde stood balancing herself agAinst the chair, her mind for the moment quite unhinged, but making mental pictures of the massacre she had seen at the Abbaye, and with Henri aa ono of the victims. Grebauval did not know what colour these terrible memories gare to the truth of his report. Not that he had any doubt about the death of Da Fournier, for the gaolers ( rather than mention the escape of the eight prisoners an hour before tbe massacre, preferred to have them included in the morning's death-roll. "I know how impossible it is at such a moment, and for me in particular, to offer you one word of consolation. I can only Bay that the revolution has passed out of the hands of those who br gan it ; and threatens Ito overwhelm its pre • t directors. As fof me Bat I sparo you any comment. A grave fault lies upon those Parisians who have leagued themselves beyond the frontiers with the invaders of France." " It is so," said the Duchess, who was rocking herself to and fro in an agony of griei and fear ; " but that is no consolation to us. Oh, my God 1 what shall we do 7 Where can we go 7 If the Duke had only listened to me 1 But lam only a foolish woman— what should I know about politics 7 Ob, my poor Mathilde, if Henri had not been sc headstrong 1 " Then she Buddenly sat up and looked around her. "Ib it true, Grebauval 7 You are not frightening us for some good purpose 7 " " Alas 1 no," said Grebauval. " Madame, your daughter is a widow." Something in the tone of Grebauval'a voice, and the manner in which he suggested that she was free to marry again, struck Mathilde as if it were a blow. It brought the colour to her cheeks for a moment, stiffened her nerves, saved her from the fainting fit that threatened her. " And if It be so," she said hoarsely, " I shall die a widow." " Pardon me. I have fulfilled my painful mission," said Grebauval. " Unless I can be of any service to you I will take my leave. I came in sympathy; I leave deploring what has occurred, both for your sakes, mesd&mes, and for France. It is bad for the State when vengeance takeß the plaoo of justice; but, moved by the appeals of tbe Duohess, I had exerted all my influence for her friends." " It is true, Mathilde," said the Duohess. " Oh, yes, it is true. A bad business ; bat we have each other to live for. And tho Duke, Monsieur Grebauval ? Oh, bring me tidings of him I Save him, and let us be gone from this prison of Paris. Give at passports, find us the means of retreat — save us, Grebauval 1 We are not obstinate, we will do what you wish. Did you say our servant* 7 How many 7 Which of them ? " The Dachess had lapsed onoe more into the volubility of her grief, rockirjg herself as before, but at last finding a relief in an outburst of tears and sobs. Mathilde dropped upon her knees at hei mother's feet and buried her face upon her knees. Grebauval paused a moment as if in doubk what to do, and then quietly withdrew.