‘Is he? Yes, I believe you are right. What next? If I can find her a French cook she vows she will love me more than ever. Léon, tell Walker to find me a French cook. – She wishes she could visit me as I suggested some time ago – how rash of me! – but it is quite impossible as she cannot leave her darling Edward alone, and she fears he would not accompany her to my hovel. Hovel. Not very polite of Fanny. I must remember to speak to her about it.’
‘Hôtel,’ suggested Hugh.
‘Once more you are right. Hôtel it is. The rest of this enthralling communication concerns Fanny’s toilettes. I will reserve it. Oh, have you finished?’
‘Finished and gone,’ answered Davenant, rising. ‘I am riding out with D’Anvau. I shall see you later.’ He went out.
Avon leaned his arms on the table, resting his chin on the back of his clasped hands.
‘Léon, where does your remarkable brother live?’
Léon started, and fell back a pace.
‘Mon – Monseigneur?’
‘Where is his inn?’
Suddenly Léon fell on his knees beside Avon’s chair, and clutched the Duke’s sleeve with desperate fingers. His face was upturned, pale and agonised, the great eyes swimming in tears.
‘Oh no, no, no, Monseigneur! You would not – Oh, please not that! I – I will never go to sleep again! Please, please forgive me! Monseigneur! Monseigneur!’
Avon looked down at him with upraised brows. Léon had pressed his forehead against his master’s arm, and was shaking with suppressed sobs.
‘You bewilder me,’ complained the Duke. ‘What is it that I am not to do, and why will you never sleep again?’
‘Don’t – don’t give me back to Jean!’ implored Léon, clinging tighter still. ‘Promise, promise!’
Avon loosened the clasp on his sleeve.
‘My dear Léon, I beg you will not weep over this coat. I have no intention of giving you to Jean, or to anyone else. Stand up, and do not be ridiculous.’
‘You must promise! You shall promise!’ Léon shook the arm he held almost fiercely.
The Duke sighed.
‘Very well: I promise. Now tell me where I may find your brother, my child.’
‘I won’t! I won’t! You – he – I won’t tell you!’
The hazel eyes became hard.
‘I have borne much from you in patience, Léon, but I will not brook your defiance. Answer me at once.’
‘I dare not! Oh, please, please do not make me tell! I – I do not mean to be defiant! But perhaps Jean is sorry now that – that he let me go, and – and will try to m-make you give me back!’ He was plucking at the Duke’s sleeve now, and again Avon removed the frenzied fingers.
‘Do you think Jean could make me give you back?’ he asked.
‘N-no – I don’t know. I thought perhaps because I went to sleep you were angered, and – and –’
‘I have already told you that it is not so. Strive to have a little sense. And answer my question.’
‘Yes, Monseigneur. I – I am sorry. Jean – Jean lives in the Rue Sainte-Marie. There is only one inn – the Crossbow. Oh, what are you going to do, Monseigneur?’
‘Nothing at all alarming, I assure you. Dry your tears.’
Léon hunted through his various pockets.
‘I – I have lost my handkerchief,’ he apologised.
‘Yes, you are very young, are you not?’ commented his Grace. ‘I suppose I must give you mine.’
Léon took the fine lace handkerchief which the Duke held out, wiped his eyes, blew his nose, and gave it back again. The Duke received it gingerly, and eyed the crumpled ball through his quizzing glass.
‘Thank you,’ he said. ‘You are nothing if not thorough. I think you had better keep it now.’
Léon pocketed it cheerfully.
‘Yes, Monseigneur,’ he said. ‘Now I am happy again.’
‘I am relieved,’ said the Duke, and rose. ‘I shall not want you this morning.’ He strolled out, and in half an hour’s time was in his coach, driving towards the Rue Sainte-Marie.
The street was very narrow, with refuse in the kennels on either side of the road; the houses were mostly tumbledown, projecting outward from the first storey. Hardly one had all its windows intact; there were cracked and missing panes on all sides, and where curtains hung they were ragged and dirty. Half a dozen partly clothed children were playing in the road, and scattered to right and left as the coach drove up, standing on the footway, and watched the progress of this fine equipage with astonished eyes, and many startled comments.
The tavern of the Crossbow was situated midway down the squalid street, and from its open door issued a smell of cooking, and of cabbage water, thrown carelessly out into the kennel. The coach drew up outside the inn, and one of the footmen sprang down to open the door for his Grace to alight. His countenance was quite impassive, and only by the lofty tilt of his chin did he betray his emotions.
His Grace came slowly down from the coach, his handkerchief held to his nose. He picked his way across the filth and garbage to the inn door, and entered what appeared to be the taproom and the kitchen. A greasy woman was bending over the fire at one end, a cooking-pot in her hand, and behind the counter opposite the door stood the man who had sold Léon to the Duke a month ago.
He gaped when he saw Avon enter, and for a moment did not recognise him. He came forward cringingly, rubbing his hands together, and desired to know Monseigneur’s pleasure.
‘I think you know me,’ said his Grace gently.
Bonnard stared, and suddenly his eyes dilated, and his full-blooded countenance turned a sickly grey.
‘Léon! Milor’ – I –’
‘Precisely. I want two words with you in private.’
The man looked at him fearfully, passing his tongue between his lips.
‘I swear by God –’
‘Thank you. In private I said.’
The woman, who had watched the encounter open-mouthed, came forward now, arms akimbo. Her soiled dress was in disorder, cut low across her scraggy bosom, and there was a smudge of dirt on her cheek.
‘Now, if the little viper has said aught against us,’ she began shrilly, but was cut short by Avon’s lifted hand.
‘My good woman, I have no desire to speak with you. You may return to your stew-pots. Bonnard, in private!’
Charlotte would have interrupted again, but her husband hustled her back to the stove, whispering to her to hold her tongue.
‘Yes, milor’, indeed yes! If milor’ will follow me?’ He pushed open the crazy, rat-eaten door at the other end of the room, and ushered his Grace into the parlour. The room was scantily furnished, but it was not so dirty as the taproom. Avon went to the table that stood by the window, flicked the dust from its surface with a corner of his cloak, and sat down on the edge of the rickety structure.
‘Now, my friend. That you may not misunderstand me, or seek to evade me, let me tell you that I am the Duke of Avon. Yes, I thought that you would be surprised. You realise, I am sure, that it would be very dangerous to play with me. I am going to ask you one or two questions about my page. I wish to know first where he was born.’
‘I – I think in the north, Monseigneur. In – Champagne, but I am not sure. Our – our parents never spoke of that time, and I can scarce remember – I –’
‘No? It seems strange that you do not know why your worthy parents went so suddenly to live in Anjou.’
Bonnard looked at him helplessly.
‘My – my father told me that he had come into money! Indeed, I know no more, Monseigneur! I would not lie. I swear I would not!’
The fine lips curled sardonically.
‘We will pass over that. How comes it that Léon is so unlike you in face and form?’
Bonnard rubbed his forehead. There was no mistaking the perplexity in his eyes.
‘I do not know, Monseigneur. I have often wondered. He was ever a weakly child, petted and cosseted when I was made to work on the farm. My mother car
ed nothing for me beside him. It was all Léon, Léon, Léon! Léon must learn to read and write, but I – the eldest – must tend the pigs! A sickly, pert lad he was ever, Monseigneur! A viper, a –’
Avon tapped the lid of his snuff-box with one very white finger.
‘Do not let us misunderstand one another, my friend. There never was a Léon. A Léonie, perhaps. I want that explained.’
The man shrank.
‘Ah, Monseigneur! Indeed, indeed I did it for the best! It was impossible to have a girl of that age here, and there was work to be done. It was better to dress her as a boy. My wife – Monseigneur will understand – women are jealous, milor’. She would not have a girl here. Indeed, indeed, if the boy – girl – has said aught against us, he lies! I could have turned him out into the streets, for he had no claim on me. Instead, I kept him, clothed him, fed him, and if he says he was ill-treated it is a lie! He is a wicked brat with a vicious temper. You could not blame me for hiding his sex, Monseigneur! It was for his sake, I swear! He liked it well enough. Never did he demand to be a girl!’
‘No doubt he had forgotten,’ said Avon dryly. ‘Seven years a boy… Now –’ He held up a louis. ‘Mayhap this will refresh your memory. What do you know of Léon?’
The man looked at him in a puzzled way.
‘I – do not understand, Monseigneur. What do I know of him?’
Avon leaned forward slightly, and his voice became menacing.
‘It will not serve you to feign ignorance, Bonnard. I am very powerful.’
Bonnard’s knees shook.
‘Indeed, Monseigneur, I do not understand! I cannot tell you what I do not know! Is – is aught amiss with Léon?’
‘You never thought that he was, perhaps, not your parents’ child?’
Bonnard’s jaw dropped.
‘Not – Why, Monseigneur, what do you mean? Not my parents’ child. But –’
Avon sat back.
‘Does the name Saint-Vire convey aught to you?’
‘Saint-Vire… Saint-Vire… no. Stay, the name has a familiar ring! But – Saint-Vire – I do not know.’ He shook his head hopelessly. ‘It may be that I have heard my father speak the name, but I cannot remember.’
‘A pity. And when your parents died was there no document found belonging to them which concerned Léon?’
‘If there was, milor’, I never saw it. There were old accounts and letters – I cannot read, Monseigneur, but I have them all.’ He looked at the louis, and licked his lips. ‘If Monseigneur would care to see for himself ? They are here, in that chest.’
Avon nodded.
‘Yes. All of them.’
Bonnard went to the chest and opened it. After some search he found a sheaf of papers, which he brought to the Duke. Avon went through them quickly. For the most part they were, as Bonnard had said, farm accounts, with one or two letters amongst them. But at the bottom of the pile was a folded slip of paper, addressed to Jean Bonnard, on the estate of M. le Comte de Saint-Vire, in Champagne. It was only a letter from some friend, or relation, and it held nothing of importance, save the address. The Duke held it up.
‘This I will take.’ He tossed the louis to Bonnard. ‘If you have lied to me, or deceived me, you will be sorry. At present I am willing to believe that you know nothing.’
‘I have spoken naught but the truth, Monseigneur, I swear!’
‘Let us hope that it is so. One thing, however’ – he produced another louis – ‘you can tell me. Where shall I find the Curé at Bassincourt, and what is his name?’
‘M. de Beaupré, Monseigneur, but he may be dead now, for aught I know. He was an old man when we left Bassincourt. He used to live in a little house beside the church. You cannot mistake it.’
Avon threw the louis into his eager hand.
‘Very well.’ He went to the door. ‘Be advised by me, my friend, and strive to forget that you ever had a sister. For you had not, and it might be that if you remember a Léonie there would be a reckoning to be paid for your treatment of her. I shall not forget you, I assure you.’ He swept out, and through the taproom to his coach.
That afternoon, when Avon sat in the library of his house, writing to his sister, a footman came to him and announced that M. de Faugenac wished to see him.
The Duke raised his head.
‘M. de Faugenac? Admit him.’
In a few minutes’ time there entered a tubby little gentleman with whom his Grace was but slightly acquainted. Avon rose as he came in and bowed.
‘Monsieur!’
‘Monsieur!’ De Faugenac returned the bow. ‘Pardon the unseemly hour of this intrusion, I beg!’
‘Not at all,’ answered the Duke. ‘Fetch wine, Jules. Pray be seated, m’sieur.’
‘No wine for me, I thank you! The gout you understand. A sad affliction!’
‘Very,’ agreed his Grace. ‘Is there something I can do for you, I wonder?’
De Faugenac stretched his hands to the fire.
‘Yes, I come on business, m’sieur. Bah, the ugly word! M’sieur will pardon the interruption, I am sure! A splendid fire, Duc!’
Avon bowed. He had seated himself on the arm of a chair, and was looking at his visitor in mild surprise. He drew out his snuff-box and offered it to De Faugenac, who helped himself to a liberal pinch and sneezed violently.
‘Exquisite!’ he said enthusiastically. ‘Ah, the business! M’sieur, you will think I come upon a strange errand, but I have a wife!’ He beamed at Avon, and nodded several times.
‘I felicitate you, m’sieur,’ said Avon gravely.
‘Yes, yes! A wife! It will explain all.’
‘It always does,’ answered his Grace.
‘Aha, the pleasantry!’ De Faugenac broke into delighted laughter. ‘We know, we husbands, we know!’
‘As I am not a husband I may be excused my ignorance. I am sure you are about to enlighten me.’ His Grace was becoming bored, for he had remembered that De Faugenac was an impoverished gentleman usually to be found at the heels of Saint-Vire.
‘Indeed yes. Yes, indeed. My wife. The explanation! She has seen your page, m’sieur!’
‘Wonderful!’ said the Duke. ‘We progress.’
‘We – ? You said progress? We? Progress?’
‘It seems I erred,’ Avon sighed. ‘We remain at the same place.’
De Faugenac was puzzled for a moment, but all at once his face broke into fresh smiles.
‘Another pleasantry! Yes, yes, I see!’
‘I doubt it,’ murmured Avon. ‘You were saying, m’sieur, that your wife had seen my page.’
De Faugenac clasped his hands to his breast.
‘She is ravished! She is envious! She pines!’
‘Dear me!’
‘She gives me no peace!’
‘They never do.’
‘Aha! No, never, never! But you do not take my meaning, m’sieur, you do not take my meaning!’
‘But then, that is hardly my fault,’ said Avon wearily. ‘We have arrived at the point at which your wife gives you no peace.’
‘That is the matter in a nutshell! She eats out her heart for your so lovely, your so enchanting, your so elegant –’
Avon held up his hand.
‘M’sieur, my policy has ever been to eschew married women.’
De Faugenac stared.
‘But – but – what do you mean, m’sieur? Is it another pleasantry? My wife pines for your page.’
‘How very disappointing!’
‘Your page, your so elegant page! She plagues me day and night to come to you. And I am here! Behold me!’
‘I have beheld you for the past twenty minutes, m’sieur,’ said Avon rather tartly.
‘She begs me to come to you, to ask you if you would part with your page! She cannot rest until she has him to hold her train for her, to carry her gloves and fan. She cannot sleep at night until she knows that he is hers!’
‘It seems that madame is destined to spend many sleepless nights,’ sai
d Avon.
‘Ah no, m’sieur! Consider! It is said that you bought your page. Now, is it not truly said that what may be bought may be sold?’
‘Possibly.’
‘Yes, yes! Possibly! M’sieur, I am as a slave to my wife.’ He kissed the tips of his fingers. ‘I am as the dirt beneath her feet.’ He clasped his hands. ‘I must bestow on her all that she desires, or die!’
‘Pray make use of my sword,’ invited his Grace. ‘It is in the corner behind you.’
‘Ah no! M’sieur cannot mean that he refuses! It is impossible! M’sieur, you may name your own price and I will give it!’
Avon stood up. He picked up a silver hand-bell, and rang it.
‘M’sieur,’ he said silkily, ‘you may bear my compliments to the Comte de Saint-Vire, and tell him that Léon, my page, is not for sale. Jules, the door.’
De Faugenac rose, very crestfallen.
‘M’sieur?’
Avon bowed.
‘M’sieur. You mistake! You do not understand!’
‘Believe me, I understand perfectly.’
‘Ah, but you have no soul thus to thwart a lady’s wish!’
‘My misfortune entirely, m’sieur. I am desolated that you are unable to stay longer. M’sieur, your very obedient!’ So he bowed De Faugenac out.
No sooner had the door closed behind the little man than it opened again to admit Davenant.
‘Who in the name of all that’s marvellous was that?’ he asked.
‘A creature of no account,’ replied his Grace. ‘He wished to buy Léon. An impertinence. I am going into the country, Hugh.’
‘Into the country? Why?’
‘I forget. No doubt I shall call the reason to mind some time. Bear with me, my dear; I am still moderately sane.’
Hugh sat down.
‘You never were sane. ’Pon rep, you’re a casual host!’
‘Ah Hugh, I crave your pardon on my knees! I encroach on your good nature.’
‘Damme, you’re very polite! Is Léon to accompany you?’
‘No, I leave him in your charge, Hugh, and I counsel you to have a care for him. While I am away he will not leave the house.’
‘I thought there was some mystery. Is he in danger?’
‘N-no. I can hardly say. But keep him close, and say naught, my dear. I should not be pleased if harm came to him. Incredible as it may seem, I am becoming fond of the child. I must be entering upon my dotage.’