Caught in the Net

  CHAPTER IX.

  ROSE'S PROMOTION.

  As soon as Andre had released her hand, Sabine took off her hat, and,handing it to Modeste, remarked,--

  "How am I looking to-day, Andre?"

  The young painter hastened to reassure her on this point, and shecontinued in joyous tones,--

  "No, I do not want compliments; I want to know if I look the right thingfor sitting for my portrait."

  Sabine was very beautiful, but hers was a different style of beauty fromthat of Rose, whose ripe, sensuous charms were fitted to captivate theadmiration of the voluptuary, while Sabine was of the most refined andethereal character. Rose fettered the body with earthly trammels, whileSabine drew the soul heavenward. Her beauty was not of the kind thatdazzles, for the air of proud reserve which she threw over it, in someslight measure obscured its brilliancy.

  She might have passed unnoticed, like the work of a great master's brushhanging neglected over the altar of a village church; but when the eyehad once fathomed that hidden beauty, it never ceased to gaze on it withadmiration. She had a broad forehead, covered with a wealth of chestnuthair, soft, lustrous eyes, and an exquisitely chiselled mouth.

  "Alas!" said Andre, "when I gaze upon you, I have to confess howimpossible it is to do you justice. Before you came I had fanciedthat the portrait was completed, but now I see that I have only made afailure."

  As he spoke, he drew aside the curtain, and the young girl's portraitwas revealed. It was by no means a work of extraordinary merit. Theartist was only twenty-four years of age, and had been compelled tointerrupt his studies to toil for his daily bread, but it was full oforiginality and genius. Sabine gazed at it for a few moments in silence,and then murmured the words,--

  "It is lovely!"

  But Andre was too discouraged to notice her praise.

  "It is like," remarked he, "but a photograph also has that merit. I haveonly got your features, but not your expression; it is an utter failure.Shall I try again?"

  Sabine stopped him with a gesture of denial.

  "You shall not try again," said she decidedly.

  "And why not?" asked he in astonishment.

  "Because this visit will be my last, Andre."

  "The last?" stammered the painter. "In what way have I so offended you,that you should inflict so terrible a punishment on me?"

  "I do not wish to punish you. You asked for my portrait, and I yieldedto your request; but let us talk reasonably. Do you not know that I amrisking my reputation by coming here day after day?"

  Andre made no reply, for this unexpected blow had almost stunned him.

  "Besides," continued Mademoiselle de Mussidan, "what is to be done withthe portrait? It must be hidden away, as if it were something we wereashamed of. Remember, on your success hangs our marriage."

  "I do not forget that."

  "Hasten then to gain all honor and distinction, for the world must agreewith me in saying that my choice has been a wise one."

  "I will do so."

  "I fully believe you, dear Andre, and remember what I said to you a yearago. Achieve a name, then go to my father and ask for my hand. If herefuses, if my supplications do not move him, I will quit his roofforever."

  "You are right," answered Andre. "I should indeed by a fool if Isacrificed a future happy life for a few hours of present enjoyment, andI will implicitly--"

  "And now," said Sabine, "that we have agreed on this point, let usdiscuss our mutual interests, of which it seems that we have been alittle negligent up till now."

  Andre at once began to tell her of all that had befallen him since theyhad last met, his defeats and successes.

  "I am in an awkward plight," said he. "Yesterday, that well knowncollector, Prince Crescenzi, came to my studio. One of my pictures tookhis fancy, and he ordered another from me, for which he would pay sixthousand francs."

  "That was quite a stroke of luck."

  "Just so, but unfortunately he wants it directly. Then Jean Lamou, whohas more in his hand than he can manage, has offered me the decorationof a palatial edifice that he is building for a great speculator, M.Gandelu. I am to engage all the workmen, and shall receive some seven oreight hundred francs a month."

  "But how does this trouble you?"

  "I will tell you. I have twice seen M. Gandelu, and he wants me to beginwork at once; but I cannot accept both, and must choose between them."

  Sabine reflected.

  "I should execute the Prince's commission," said she.

  "So should I, only----"

  The girl easily found the cause of his hesitation.

  "Will you never forget that I am wealthy?" replied she.

  "The one would bring in the most money," he returned, "and the othermost credit."

  "Then accept the offer of M. Gandelu."

  The old cuckoo-clock in the corner struck five.

  "Before we part, dear Andre," resumed she, "I must tell you of a freshtrouble which threatens us; there is a project for marrying me to M. deBreulh-Faverlay."

  "What, that very wealthy gentleman?"

  "Just so."

  "Well, if I oppose my father's wishes, an explanation must ensue, andthis just now I do not desire. I therefore intend to speak openly to M.de Breulh-Faverlay, who is an honorable, straightforward man; and when Itell him the real state of the case, he will withdraw his pretensions."

  "But," replied Andre, "should he do so, another will come forward."

  "That is very possible, and in his turn the successor will bedismissed."

  "Ah!" murmured the unhappy man, "how terrible will be your life,--ascene of daily strife with your father and mother."

  After a tender farewell, Sabine and Modeste left. Andre had wished tobe permitted to go out and procure a vehicle, but this the young girlnegatived, and took her leave, saying.--

  "I shall see M. de Breulh-Faverlay to-morrow."

  For a moment after he was left alone Andre felt very sad, but a happythought flashed across his brain.

  "Sabine," said he, "went away on foot, and I may follow her withoutinjury to her reputation."

  In another moment he was in the street, and caught a glimpse of Sabineand her maid under a lamp at the next corner. He crossed to the otherside of the way and followed them cautiously.

  "Perhaps," murmured he, "the time is not far distant when I shall havethe right to be with her in her walks, and feel her arm pressed againstmine."

  By this time Sabine and her companion had reached the Rue Blanche, andhailing a cab, were rapidly driven away. Andre gazed after it, and assoon as it was out of sight, decided to return to his work. As he passeda brilliantly lighted shop, a fresh young voice saluted him.

  "M. Andre, M. Andre."

  He looked up in extreme surprise, and saw a young woman, dressed inthe most extravagant style, standing by the door of a brougham, whichglittered with fresh paint and varnish. In vain he tried to think whoshe could be, but at length his memory served him.

  "Mademoiselle Rose," said he, "or I am much mistaken."

  A shrill, squeaky voice replied, "Madame Zora Chantemille, if youplease."

  Andre turned sharply round and found himself face to face with a youngman who had completed an order he was giving to the coachman.

  "Ah, is that you?" said he.

  "Yes, Chantemille is the name of the estate that I intend to settle onmadame."

  The painter examined the personage who had just addressed him withmuch curiosity. He was dressed in the height or rather the burlesque offashion, wore an eyeglass, and an enormous locket on his chain. The facewhich surmounted all this grandeur was almost that of a monkey, andToto Chupin had not exaggerated its ugliness when he likened it to thatanimal.

  "Pooh," cried Rose, "what matters a name? All you have to do is to askthis gentleman, who is an old friend of mine, to dinner." And withoutwaiting for a reply, she took Andre by the hand and led him into abrilliantly lighted hall. "You must dine with us," she exclaimed; "Iwill take no denial. Come, let me introd
uce you, M. Andre, M. Gaston deGandelu. There, that is all settled."

  The man bowed.

  "Andre, Andre," repeated Gandelu; "why, the name is familiar to me,--andso is the face. Have I not met you at my father's house? Come in; weintend to have a jovial evening."

  "I really cannot," pleaded Andre. "I have an engagement."

  "Throw it over then; we intend to keep you, now that we have got you."

  Andre hesitated for a moment, but he felt dispirited, and that herequired rousing. "After all," thought he, "why should I refuse? If thisyoung man's friends are like himself, the evening will be an amusingone."

  "Come up," cried Rose, placing her foot upon the stairs. Andre was aboutto follow her, but was held back by Gandelu, whose face was radiant withdelight.

  "Was there ever such a girl?" whispered he; "but there, don't jump atconclusions. I have only had her in hand for a short time, but I am areal dab at starting a woman grandly, and it would be hard to find myequal in Paris, you may bet."

  "That can be seen at a glance," answered Andre, concealing a smile.

  "Well, look here, I began at once. Zora is a quaint name, is it not?It was my invention. She isn't a right down swell to-day, but I haveordered six dresses for her from Van Klopen; such swell gets up! Youknow Van Klopen, don't you, the best man-milliner in Paris. Such taste!such ideas! you never saw the like."

  Rose had by this time reached her drawing-room. "Andre," said she,impatiently, "are you never coming up?"

  "Quick, quick," said Gandelu, "let us go at once; if she gets into atemper she is sure to have a nervous attack, so let us hurry up."

  Rose did all she could to dazzle Andre, and as a commencement exhibitedto him her domestics, a cook and a maid; then he was shown every articleof furniture, and not one was spared him. He was forced to admire thedrawing-room suite covered with old gold silk, trimmed blue, and to testthe thickness of the curtains. Bearing aloft a large candelabra, andcovering himself with wax, Gandelu led the way, telling them the priceof everything like an energetic tradesman.

  "That clock," said he, "cost me a hundred louis, and dirt cheap at theprice. How funny that you should have known my father! Has he nota wonderful intellect? That flower stand was three hundred francs,absolutely given away. Take care of the governor, he is as sharp as aneedle. He wanted me to have a profession, but no, thank you. Yes, thatoccasional table was a bargain at twenty louis. Six months ago I thoughtthat the old man would have dropped off, but now the doctors say--" Hestopped suddenly, for a loud noise was heard in the vestibule. "Herecome the fellows I invited," cried he, and placing the candelabra on thetable, he hurried from the room.

  Andre was delighted at so grand an opportunity of studying the _genus_masher. Rose felt flattered by the admiration her fine rooms evidentlycaused.

  "You see," cried she, "I have left Paul; he bothered me awfully, andended by half starving me."

  "Why, you are joking; he came here to-day, and said he was earningtwelve thousand francs a year."

  "Twelve thousand humbugs. A fellow that will take five hundred francsfrom an old scarecrow he never met before is--"

  Rose broke off abruptly, for at that moment young Gandelu brought in hisfriends, and introduced them; they were all of the same type astheir host, and Andre was about to study them more intently, when awhite-waistcoated waiter threw open the door, exclaiming pompously,"Madame, the dinner is on the table."