CHAPTER LXXXIV.
THE FATHER AND THE FIANCEE.
Philippe hastened to the boudoir, where his sister awaited him. She ranto embrace him with a joyous air.
"What is it, Andree?" cried he.
"Something which makes me happy. Oh! very happy, brother."
"And you come back to announce it to me."
"I come back for ever," said Andree.
"Speak low, sister; there is, or is going to be, some one in the nextroom who might hear you."
"Who?"
"Listen."
"M. le Comte de Charny," announced the servant.
"He! oh, I know well what he comes for."
"You know!"
"Yes, and soon I shall be summoned to hear what he has to say."
"Do you speak seriously, my dear Andree?"
"Listen, Philippe. The queen has brought me suddenly back, and I must goand change my dress for one fit for a fiancee." And saying this, with akiss to Philippe, she ran off.
Philippe remained alone. He could hear what passed in the adjoiningroom. M. de Taverney entered, and saluted the count with a recherchethough stiff politeness.
"I come, monsieur," said Charny, "to make a request, and beg you toexcuse my not having brought my uncle with me, which I know would havebeen more proper."
"A request?"
"I have the honor," continued Charny, in a voice full of emotion, "toask the hand of Mademoiselle Andree, your daughter."
The baron opened his eyes in astonishment--"My daughter?"
"Yes, M. le Baron, if Mademoiselle de Taverney feels no repugnance."
"Oh," thought the old man, "Philippe's favor is already so well-known,that one of his rivals wishes to marry his sister." Then aloud, he said,"This request is such an honor to us, M. le Comte, that I accede withmuch pleasure; and as I should wish you to carry away a perfectlyfavorable answer, I will send for my daughter."
"Monsieur," interrupted the count, rather coldly, "the queen has beengood enough to consult Mademoiselle de Taverney already, and her replywas favorable."
"Ah!" said the baron, more and more astonished, "it is the queenthen----"
"Yes, monsieur, who took the trouble to go to St. Denis."
"Then, sir, it only remains to acquaint you with my daughter's fortune.She is not rich, and before concluding----"
"It is needless, M. le Baron; I am rich enough for both."
At this moment the door opened, and Philippe entered, pale and wildlooking.
"Sir," said he, "my father was right to wish to discuss these thingswith you. While he goes up-stairs to bring the papers I have somethingto say to you."
When they were left alone, "M. de Charny," said he, "how dare you comehere to ask for the hand of my sister?" Charny colored. "Is it,"continued Philippe, "in order to hide better your amours with anotherwoman whom you love, and who loves you? Is it, that by becoming thehusband of a woman who is always near your mistress, you will have morefacilities for seeing her?"
"Sir, you pass all bounds."
"It is, perhaps; and this is what I believe, that were I yourbrother-in-law, you think my tongue would be tied about what I know ofyour past amours."
"What you know?"
"Yes," cried Philippe, "the huntsman's house hired by you, yourmysterious promenades in the park at night, and the tender parting atthe little gate."
"Monsieur, in heaven's name----"
"Oh, sir, I was concealed behind the baths of Apollo when you came out,arm in arm with the queen."
Charny was completely overwhelmed for a time; then, after a few moments,he said, "Well, sir, even after all this, I reiterate my demand for thehand of your sister. I am not the base calculator you suppose me; butthe queen must be saved."
"The queen is not lost, because I saw her on your arm, raising to heavenher eyes full of happiness; because I know that she loves you. That isno reason why my sister should be sacrificed, M. de Charny."
"Monsieur," replied Charny, "this morning the king surprised me at herfeet----"
"Mon Dieu!"
"And she, pressed by his jealous questions, replied that I was kneelingto ask the hand of your sister. Therefore if I do not marry her, thequeen is lost. Do you now understand?"
A cry from the boudoir now interrupted them, followed by another fromthe ante-chamber. Charny ran to the boudoir; he saw there Andree, dressedin white like a bride: she had heard all, and had fainted. Philippe ranto where the other cry came from; it was his father, whose hopes thisrevelation of the queen's love for Charny had just destroyed; struck byapoplexy, he had given his last sigh. Philippe, who understood it,looked at the corpse for a few minutes in silence, and then returned tothe drawing-room, and there saw Charny watching the senseless form ofhis sister. He then said, "My father has just expired, sir; I am now thehead of the family; if my sister survive, I will give her to you inmarriage."
Charny regarded the corpse of the baron with horror, and the form ofAndree with despair. Philippe uttered a groan of agony, then continued,"M. de Charny, I make this engagement in the name of my sister, nowlying senseless before us; she will give her happiness to the queen, andI, perhaps, some day shall be happy enough to give my life for her.Adieu, M. de Charny----" and taking his sister in his arms, he carriedher into the next room.