CHAPTER I.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 169, 11 September 1886, Page 6

CHAPTER I.

Iw the summer of 1783, two jbersons were Bitting in a finely furnished apartment of one of those grand old Parisian mansions Bwept away by the ruthless hand of Baron Haussman. One of them was ■ a lady of untjommon beauty, and dressed with an eye to effect ; the other was a young man whose fexterior promised the gentleman, and whose business proclaimed him an artist, for he was engaged in painting the lady's portrait. For some, minutes neither spoke, qnd the artist seemed to be studying his subject, for his brush was idle. At length th'd lady broke the silence. " What tiring WO rk • this is !" she exclaimed with a trace of pettish ness. "On© more sittiag," eaid the artist, "and , ,u, u . '♦ So you have'said for the tyst seven,'' rem turned the lady, without any softening of .her original tone There was a momentary silence; the painter put down hia palette and brush, and s slight shade stole over his feature?, passing ~*w«y as h© said, " When rman holdstne thread of his happiness in his own hand, cftn yotuwbnder that he is loth <io r eeVepit ?" The lady smiled . slightly, as if amused, and said pleasantly, •' Very prettily said ; but you needn't look so serious about it. «-My dours will atill be open to you." ' "^." said the young man in reply; "that I may walk about unnoticed by the aristocratic crowds which surround you." >' "I own,'! pursued the lady, as if in a reverie, " that lam ambitious. My husband left me wealth, but could not leave me that which I coveted more— rank and •tat ion." *' And yet the first nobles of the land are your constant and ready guests !" said the painter. "Yes," responded she, "to eat my dinners and suppers, but do I visit them 1 No ! the society of the merchant's widow would be contamination to the high-born taamea they call their wives and daughters. Oat upon it ! the thought chokes mo." Tho lady spoke with heat, and quite meant what Bhe said. "The wealth gained by honourable industry," began the artist «• Gets great respect for itself, but little \ owner. Let us change the hateful subject The next sitting, you say, will be the Jast ? said she inquiringly. " I fear so, for with that will cease my excuse for being alone with you," said the painter, stifling a sigh. "Rodolphe !" said the lady, rising quickly, you force me to request that you will apeak more of my portrait and less of myself." J *' If I hayo bean too presumptuous," aaid Kodolphe, "please pardon me," and this time he sighed without attempting to conceal it. " Nonsense !" said the la^y kindly. "I aid nothing about presumption. Only 'understand me ior the future ; for the present, I am not affronted : there's my band." She extended herhand, a handsome one, and the artist touchel it reverently with hi 3 lips. Now juat at this moment, as the fates ■would have it, who should run into the room but a very charming girl, not yet out of her, teen j. •* Oh ! good gracious," she said, and then 'stopped short and eaid,nothing more, which was very perplexing. As was natural, the lady recovered first. '* Well, Cecile !" Phe said to the girl, "what do you- want, pray"? Didn't I tell you not to interrupt u« ?" " STes, aunt," said Oscile demurely, and with a glance at the young artist, •• but I didn't know there would be anything to intorrapt. Monsieur Rodolpbe haB been here a good deal more than his hour." ** How da you know ?" inquired her aunt majestically. . " Because I watched, aunt," naively returned Geciie. " Indeed ! Well now you may retire to your own room and watch your lessons," 8«d the aunt, as she smiled with the air of one who thinks she has the best of it. •• Ye-ea," slowly said Cecile, " but I have something to tell you." " Be quick, then." "I was looking out of the window," eaid Cecile, glancing meanwhile at Rodolphe, "to see if anybody went out— l mean came in— when I saw the carriage of the Viscount de Millefleur3 coming this way." " The Viscount !" said the lady. "Oh, if he should have obtained for me an invitation to the fete this evening at Versailles!" and her faco lighted up with anticipated pleasure. The artist turned upon his heel and frowned, while he mattered, " Ever these hankerings after grandeur." " He might have spoken to me I should think," eaid Gecile to herself and a little hurt. She turned her glance from the -artiet to his Aork, and burat ont laughing. "Oh, my goodness ! pee here," said she; "juat come and look' at your portrait, want." "What of iVpray ?" said her aunt with some austerity. *• There," said the niece, *• it has never been touched since yesterday " The artist looked confused. ''It was 'to make some alterations," ho began toex•f>lain, bat Cecile. stopped him. " Now don't you toll me that !" said she ; ** It'j as dry aa a bone," " Aa you don't know how to behave yourself yefc, you shall go* back to" school this very day,'' said tKe lady, . annoyed, but whether with the arti3toi the niece did not Appear. ' •' ** Oh don'tlet me go to school any more, aunt." pleaded Cecile. . > ' "You Bb"all,";was the response. ■ • "Then I'll be good ; I'll leave the room ■without saying another word about the portrait "* said poor Cecile/ slowly leaving the room. f **Go, then.'^said her aunt, peremptorily. **Or," continued Cecile, •♦'about it not having been iouched since."- - >f '"Do you tfeafme?" ; • **0r about 'Monsieur' Rodolphe'a having l»en here two hours doing nothing." **Will yon be silent?" Baid her ftunt, Tntb Bdnje increased irritation, ' ' l •„ • ', "Vee, aunt," said Cecile,' as she retired, T>at, with a woman's "fondness for the last she added, " All I <»an 'say, though, is, that if be is as long about every picture, Ise'll never make his fortune." With' this Parthian^ ai;row she left the loom^ During; > the colldquy, the young bad hovered near the large caee"meut giving upon the' street, down, which lie looked with some anxiety. , ',-/• , , ,U ;\ •** i- -*• fiver some interruption," hemutUred; Wfirat Cecile, and now this popinjay of | the matt. I hear « hia carriage:whe6ls~thiB anotnent. ehall decide my cfate^,,, Thus anortttoring, he turned. tb/thelady» iod his *word» broke from him with all the gi^uerod loroi of p»Mk)n long pent up. FJ":: v

— ~ "-' II— Ti~; t' """" • "i " liniiiiiijni>nin«_»miun.xuiinwi.i»aiM «« Hortense l" eald he\ AncPwith all the a flattery in hiß voic^: _'J Hortense, I lovej you !" l Thßjlady rdoelved' thia appeal, not wiih 1 the^frown.of offjnccyio^^ijh t^ipipay.of flattered vanity, She turned .half aside, biting he^nbth'er'lipVi^Vvidefttifttfamfement v/hiohfhad no long endurance: V " tw ■ Turning, to the painter , { who , droppQii upon one ' linep^ ' sb'e 'said.' in- a tone of ■constraint', mingled with^ retuo'ivst'ranbe, "JRodolpho, really,* after what I have, said, it is extraordinary that you should ..'persist in thia language! I mtu-t, 1 howeve'rj '^p§Jik more, plainly. I am quite sensible, io£> the 'compliment you paid me, buc I cannot return your passion." > _ > ,ii There was a pause of* uncomfortable silence. The artisc dropped his head aa one overcome by his • emotioup, but • liffcine«.'it again, he ciied, "Give me but one word' of bfope, and I will leave you. I wjil travel - study— work—^slave, and nover return until I can offer you a name illustrious., in art", As he spoke, he rose as if inspired by the vision of future triumphs eveniri the mids.t of present defeat; and hia cheek, pallid before, bocime flushed with generous warmth. The lady sighed and her glance fell before th'o firm gaze of her admirer. ■For a time ho faucUsd < that there was a reaction in his favour. He - was soon undeceived. -• . ! " Look you, Rodolphe !" said Hortense, with more gentleness than before, but .with no leas resolution :'.',ahe whom you marry' may, well be proud ,and happy ; for your nature is generous, your talent, great,; but something beyund these ia necessary for my existence. . These who are noble and get poor will not receive me, because, though rich, lam not noble. They must and shall receive me,' und she paced the room impatiently. "To gain this end the wealth I have musb bo reserved forone whose name may prove my passport to their presence." ♦' And th^t," said Rodolphe impressively, "you tbink theroid to happiness." "No matter what I think', I kvow.it is my fate." . , »,,',< "Enough," said the artist, pvoudly, yet with respect, " and farew.ell. My dream ia over, may yours be realised " So saying, ,he bowed deeply and left the roonii , There was a look of relief on the lady's face as she was loft aloao, and she put up a jewelled hand to conceal a slight yawn. " These artipfcs are enthusiaaticcreaturee," said she. "They get so - enamoured of their own paintings that they fancy themselves in love with oiiginals.", With these words she turned ta the window, fmiling at her thought, as ehe looked > out vacantly ut a passing clerk. Ho, till this moment in love with, nothing less important than a carefully-cultivated mouatacho, straightway fell in love with the lady, and smiled in return and lifted his bat. Hortense turned shortly upon her heel at this f resWtoutburst of admiration, and threw herself into a luxurious armchair, where she fell into a reverie, and peered pensively into futurity over the taper tips of her uplifted hands, placed palms together. Madame Hortense Bertrand was the relict of a wealthy merchant, who, like a good man of business, had put off pleasure for 1 business till he could put off business for pleasure. By pleasure he understood matrimony, and he had not thought of marriage till late in life. Not very late, to be sure, for he did. not believe in saving up walnuts till you have do teeth to crack them with, and fortune had so far favoured him that earlier than is usual he could afford to retire. He had looked around him for a wife, and took a youngboe on the business ground that if you take a partner, take one that does not know too much. Whether he made a mistake in this is not material to our story, for he never lived long enough to find out his mistake). There is always some risk in a total change of habits late in lite, and Monsieur Bertrand had scarcely tasted bliss matrimonial when be departed this life, before his young and beautiful wife could realise hia worth. Possibly for this reaeon she was consoled the sooner ; at all events, after a decent interval of sacrifice to the conventionalities, the fair widow was seen displaying her charms again at rout and ball, looking neither less nor greater for her loas, and as charming as ever to the young men of ample or no estate, and more so to those rou 6*, broken on the wheel of fortune, for whom, as wealthy and aa a widow, she had more attractions than a young belle in her first season. Madame Bertrand sat in her armchair for some length of time. By the nervous tapping of one little, dftintly-shod foot that poeped ebyly from its silken BheUler, the current of her thoughts was a little ruffled and the knitting of her brows told a similar tale. A sudden opening of the door broke up the conference with her thoughts, and a footman in all the pomp of plush and powder, announced with more than his usual elevation of voice : " The Viscount de Millefleura !" Ilortense roee quickly, and with radiant looks and cheerful voice, said, "Aha! the King's Grand Master of the Ceremonies !" Almost as she fepoke the Viecount entered and bowed as none save' a grandmaster can. *' A thousand good mornings to the charming widow, " quoth the viecount with courtly gallantry. 'My lord," said Horjtense, "I am delighted >o see you," and she' looked delighted, and all the more lovely in consequence". ' '.Well?" she added Inquiringly. ( " How beautiful you look! 1 ' returned the 1 grandmaster with well-acted abstraction! as he dropped his head a little to one Bide and took a critical pinch of^njufT . " Pshaw L , JjVhat have you to tell me ?"• said the widdw ? , threatening to pput.^ \ " A thousand th«nge at. least,", said the' viscoant briskly. >** My horses are tired<to death. I • have -already been .thpt , whole fashionable round, of Paris, and .on the morning of so brilliant an. entertainment as that which the kipg gives ijOTnitfb.t,, every 1 lady wants to Bay ; f oraething to me." *f All ladies, at; » all), titae?)-! must be too ..charmed to see the .Viscount de Millefleurs," said Hortenee, smiling. , „ >»■"• /, „ "Nowfchatia very civil, and it h^s this advantage over ; the generality of^oivil speeches, it is very true. . The factvie, bßftutifui widow, [that my knowledge Happens to, be very deep upon a subject which so ; me people have the , impertinence tqjaay it is npt very deep,, I moan dress, and $}c first/ thing,, she, dear creatures ask' me • < -'/'.<« ij. f v aji!) l ) 1 ." i j|i > , ' ' Whether yop . have broqght,their,..Qards ,qf invitajtion,"' interrupted the>lady.»! • -„ , ",Qh, ,ob," .said •.the'tviscojips to himftelf. ,His glance^settled qn.the-parpet;, and .the' gho&t, of a emit© hovered aboutj bia , lips., "Oh dear, no,y c^aid Jbc, .brightly -looking up again. , . . Wl , v , jo>< „ 'j. „ ;, r J }*,*. Yph ntftft 1$ ,n^e Joll you ,a, stqry. , ' Jt wi fij '*? ft M' yo^ d . ie i^*Aa«Rhfng. } X-.W.6S t calliDg J( ]uat.i)qw ?uppn who andihi^iasajstant ]}|4<ibe9^.9iP* conjjbr.u.<mn,g the moßt magnificeot pjle.of building, ' VsTfl« may imagine Q vJbat it;,waa,like.ivvhen I £ell you,t^tilppntffig|fh^^"kircr i the v ar^ifi- ,

.her i fact* tlie.pictur^^^eapaw.^jaajl 1% !; fcaj",,^ S^ftiflcounJ WtofeS&'rAP laugh yhifife .<wrftMjß,ly^ji^^| .vejy^ke a ,gen u ino one „ , , ?,• But^ ypuu dojQj \i - lavigh 1 -he emd,, q topping u in the ti^i'pjstp^ hi'^ .overflow n,"Oh y^'Won^ed^lajlame^ertran^ <a little blankly, s**l^B most amusing, .but '^th i*? , f e te h w;iU be jver'y ' magnificent, will, it ■fibtr >' J; . „'.v V «,'.'] „,' ' , '!," : . ;^ Very," replied the^yiscount somewhat; drily, apdibowingVj<,i£iB'~hila j ritv> had quite; departed,, His "anecdote, had not diverted • the fair ' widow 8 argument (women are 'so pe^|9tent)^,apd hia^ diplomacy not haying Jp.iletjl the eneiny^ he felt thrown back upon! I ref!i9taneo. |p ,' ,', ' ( ( ' ' : „" Arid —and,"^ continued Madame t ,Bertrand, ','. you" alone,!, believe^ islue'thV in-: vitatiou^?'',, „-V'V, ''\:] ri „» l ''' ; "£y yidjuo pf, my office." ** , / ' \ ( ',i \ '/'Aap^l not fortunate, "she said with one of tbe spiles 'in^erWmoury','/" in ha viug 'the. honour to number you amongst my frjend'a?" r;' ,' ' , ' 4 „, J ( The hopouc' is wi{;h t me," returned the gallant grandmaster. ( _ |„''^ w r , „ , ' :, How muchi longer this duel of compliment might have .continued, cannot be said, Bull ,it .Was interrupted ,by,,fch,e} opening of, the door and the,di^clQBing,,frame^.jinithedoorway, of an odd little figure, draped in a brown coat, brapd new,, the freshuess of which increased by contrast the shabbmess of the rest e>i his attire. .His, appearance and a general perfume of leather, would have de- , clared his profession, bad not a pair of shoes, juefc mended, put the, matter beyond question, Vli - •„. , U , I'Monsieur -Bernard —eh? oh !". and the man, about to. step into the toom, stopped shorten th'e.threßhol^ . X , ■ ' '< \Vho are you ?" aaked Hortense, a litt|e stiifiy. " What do you, want? Leave the room." , „ , , , > , ' Making an uncouth obeisance, the cobbler advanced into the, middle of the room, saying slowly, , "I humbly beg your pardon." , , ? ■ " Did you .hear me ?" and this time the ludy spoke .ebarply. ; - , ".Vladame," answered the cobbler, deliberately, , and deprecatingly, "I did. You. were condescending enough ta speak so loud that* I could not help it.; but at the Bame time that you told me to go, you asked me two questions. Now if I had obeyed by, going,, I must haye disobeyed you by not answering." "There's truth," said Millefleurs, laughing, " in what the scoundrel says " " Sir," gravely rejoined the cobbler, " you are very kind." . , " Make haste, then, and answer," said Hor tense in nowise pleased with the interruption, "I brought these shoes, madama, for Monsieur Bernard, your steward, and my name is Crepip, ,cob,bler, at your service, '* said the artisan bowing, " and also at this gentleman's, set vice," bowing to the Viscount jj" indeed, I may say I'm at the public service." " JSnough— go," said the widow shortly. "Yes, madame," humbly said the cobbler turning to go. - _ - " Stay," said Millefleurs. "Yes;, sir," said "the cobbler, coming back. , Turning to the widow and bowing for permission, Millefleurs said, " Forgive me : I have a particular reason." £jot quite resigned to the situation, bub submitting nevertheless, Madame Bertrand once more reclined in the armchair from which she had > risen on the arrival of the grandmaster. " Stand forward, friend," said the .Viscount to Crepin, putting the shoes carefully down upon the carpet as if he feared he would hurt them, and, fumbling his felt hat round and round inhi3 h&nds uncertainly, the cobbler came forward as desired, quoting horn his sign, "Orders punctually executed " "Is your name really Crepin ?" inquired the nobleman. "Such, Bir, was my father's impression," said the cobbler, with the quiet deliberation' that seemed characteristic of all his movements. "Cobbler, I think," pursued the Viscount. " Cobbler beyond a doubt. Shoes soled and heeled —boots neatly repaired." •'Never mind that," said Millefleurs; " are you the celebrated Crepin ?" 41 1 beg your 'pardon," eaid the cobbler, cocking one ear. "I Bay, are you the celebrated Crepin ?' demanded theVincountt • The cobbler grinned, scratched the other ear, and said;** Very likely." ■ " He," went on Millefleurs, quickly, "he who, for the last three days, has been the talk of Paris?" 1 < " Have 1 really V ejaculated the man of shoes. "Now, doesn't that prove that good workmanehip and moderate charges will tell : in the end?" 'And the little man drew himself up and telt as tall aa the Marquis, 1 and the Marquis had been in the guards. '.'-'"' "Listen tb me," said the grandmaster. " Are you not the man to whom the courts of law, in* default of payment a debt, have adjudged! the person of your debtor, the MaVquis de Frontig'nac ?" • " Sir," said' the* cobbler with rueful importance, "lam."- <i > Mada'tioe Bertrarid, who had, up to tbi?, held aloof: with dislike deepening to disgust, •now, with- as touch surprise 'as a lady of fashion allows herself ' to show, came for- ' ward, and;* hey interest ' peeping through her guarded carriage toward the Viscount, asked de- Millefleurs for explanation. < -■ »H* Whaljidol j hoar,^my lord?— the person >ofi.& nobleman; adjudged in servitude to a oomthdn 'cobbler?" *: • - > " Excuse me, madame," quoth Crepin, •I'not a common cobbler/Vand the snub nose •of the artisan took an important upward /tarnj: t" Yhdmhst' h«ive heard this gentleman— nobleman.*!l mean - say that for thr.ee days I havo been the* talk of all'Parie." > • "The Marqui6>,'"'cohtinuea Hortonse, not heeding tKe*' nia^ , of 'lleatheri^'is a nei'ghbo'ur'o'f rnyie.", fiat ban have led ip this dreadful rosult?"" '' ' „ '', JExtravag,%nce,,recklesB, extravagance, 'ijesppndi!^ -iWs\ Marquis, ,' with ,th,at , philossop,by' 5 sop,by'' > and 'patronising \ equanimity, with ,^hich wg,dn'djy;e#tly c flatter , our.owri virtue, jwhib.pafaipg jif^ment on the, errors of oyr Ll f r'ien'cis ; V>Y ar^^* tihat wjlll the "of the, deepest ( .purB,e,'. But,- tell your own ijstorvi'.fe^o^ hjOyit.was." , „ ,; "11. will,^mv lord/ said 1 Crepin' with' a sightM ' " You > cc©i ( xny lord, u ' h^is 'lordship's * aervanta > ' firat employed mo, When'^l f ent-'in' tn&^lUtlO' bilU it '- was smaU ! 4beyjdsuldri?t ( think > of troubling AheuMatqbis* with-it." 1 " j After a^while I flattered myself it was large enough; to be worthy othiaiocdahipls attention, so 1 sent it in agairi. :""' "This time ' they said . J theylt'./)ouldri't<'(^thi^k p^ showing it? to, rhimi becaupe |[t}cw^BHoo»l«(rge. 8! 'Uponuth^t s l+wrpte<ana I + wrpte<ana re^pep^fiiily surged lf my f daim. ylreceiyißdrfoWanswerJ.pa ahtordec^to thakeitbree doiefa pairs f-forjtKe jTloblQm»n,c»n quiteit<nd«rata*d the h6noar

.me,, o\x£ he g.ia.noA do me pne> ,honqpr to, pay) jcae. '/Th^conjsequen^e was* that j couldn't; jfiay my butcher and baker. ?) !Z%ey ow^.^e,; a^dpC was pompelled, reluctantly and most/ respectfully, tosue^tfte^arquja.'' , „]j, ' / "^That^a enough," said the. widow. vphe.n; the cobbler. had pqmef'to theend ( 6f „liis dis«j jcourae^, t ( ' ,j s st,,',, t , ,', ,-.>-,/. , . - f , ' '> . " Yqb, mada.ii(e, I'm* going, ' s'said5 'said Crep'iri with a bow, an(i moving to ,the 'door!, * Qn* reaching ,it He, turned v apd* appealed *9» th 9 ( yiacount, ' saying. '*«14y lord,; I humbjy, b ; eg, pardon," ,'but, niay ,1 ven'ture'to^&k your' a'dvic#'^ ') 'Being a nobleman, yourself, you must know, more about' th"ese r matters' th'an'^t do. ."What would, you do with a 'Marquis if you had him?" '' - - ■ fcl " ■ -;•• '*'.';" ; The Viacount Blightly elevated his i ''eye-[ brows, gave the cobblbr the 1 full view of his shoulders for answer as 'he turned to 1 the, window and applied ,to y> hiB, snuff-bpx.i Madame Bertr(ind, ve,xed at the cobbler's' persistency, 'bade him > begone, and he departed. •■ ' ;i *» - »'' '51 5 ' Upo n n hisdeparture ehe turnedto the Vis- ; count and aaked, *• Is it your intention toi gratify me with a tiqket for the fdte tonight?" ' \ , ' " ' '.'Lovely widow," obsequiously replied the grandmaster, "I should be delighted, but — " and his pause was eloquent. " You refuse me then V* said she.turning away and pouting. ' \ 11 Don't distreea me !. What can Ido ?" he returned. , > j •'The invitations rest with you," said Hortenae with tears in her voice if not in her eves. * ' ' "True," eai'd Millefleurp, "but'onlyasto names. 1 Each card ' i 3 addressed to the, duchess, the marchioness, the countess or baroness of Is it my fault ii, you are neither of those ?" • The 1 Viscount smiled as if he had put an incontestable case. , Madame Bertrand remained fixed where she stood, with knit brow and an air o f vexation that rendered her so charming that the Viscount positively pitied her. Suddenly, and with , the manner of • one who has taken her determination,' florteuse went to the table, sat down, and began to write quickly and well; 11 1 ana satisfied," was all she said, and that in a resolute undertone, , , , For a few minutes the Viscount regarded her with bonder ' " lam delighted to hear it," said he to himself. He had not ex-pected-to be let off so easily. Still he was a little curious concerning the lady's present occupation. " A woman is not easily defeated when she has made a resolution," said Hort6nse, writing and speaking at the same time.' " Under existing circumstances, then, you cannot invite me, Viscount ?" > t ''If it depended on personal attractions alone." began- the Viscount politely. "Prav> don't talk nonsense," drily answered Hortenee. V Charming !"' expostulated the grandmaster. •♦Very, .no doubt," gaid she, in the most business'lide way in the world, and then, addressing him mere directly, she went on, "If I bore a title there would be no difficulty in doing as I wish— it that so ?" 11 Decidedly," said Millefleurs, bowing additional aesent. / VThat," said ehe, ringing the table-ball and folding and .directing the note upon which she had been engaged with quiet determination, and looking at the. grand master , with an air of perfect satisfaction, "that I may depend* on ?" '* You may," replied Mil'efleurs, wondering what was coming next. '•Then," said Hortense.rising, "be kind enough to keep one card in blank." For the first time in his life, an h& afterwards averred, the grandmaster fairly stared. " What on earth does she mean ?" said he to himself. " Francois," said Hortense to an entering servant who came in answer to the bell, "letthis be delivered instantly, and order the carriage round." The servant took the letter, bowed, and left the room. . "If the charming widow is going for an airing, I shall be proud to accompany her," said the Viscount gallantly. The widow acknowledged the compliment with a curtsey, but said, "The charming widow accepts your offer, but for this evening, not this morning. lam going to my lawyer on business of importance. Excuse my leaving you thus abruptly. .1 shall not be long absent,and hope to find you here on my return. Viscount, I 1I 1 shall reckon on t yourann for the f6to to-night." .. She smiled, curtaied, and departed,' leaving, the Viscount to gaze blankly after her.