CHAPTER LXXXIX.
LES HOSPITALIERES.
The count had passed a terrible night, in a state bordering on deliriumand verging on death.
Faithful, however, to his duty, as soon as he had heard the king'sarrival announced, he rose and received him at the gate, as we havedescribed; but no sooner had he presented his homage to his majesty,saluted respectfully the queen-mother, and pressed the admiral's hand,than he shut himself up in his own room, not to die, but to carrydeterminedly into execution his long cherished project, which nothingcould any longer interfere with.
Toward eleven o'clock in the morning, therefore--that is to say, as soonas, immediately after the terrible news had circulated that the Ducd'Anjou's life was in imminent danger, every one had dispersed, leavingthe king completely bewildered by this fresh event--Henri went andknocked at his brother's door, who, having passed a part of the previousnight traveling, had just retired to his own room.
"Ah! is that you?" asked Joyeuse, half asleep; "what is the matter?"
"I have come to bid you farewell, my brother," replied Henri.
"Farewell! What do you mean? Are you going away?"
"Yes, I am going away, brother, and nothing need keep me here anylonger, I presume."
"Why nothing?"
"Of course, since the fetes at which you wished me to be present willnot take place, I may now consider myself as freed from my promise."
"You are mistaken, Henri," replied the grand-admiral; "I have no greaterreason for permitting you to leave to-day than I had yesterday."
"I regret that it is so; but in that case, for the first time in mylife, I shall have the misfortune to disobey your orders, and to failin the respect I owe you; for from this very moment I declare to you,Anne, that nothing shall restrain me any longer from taking religiousvows."
"But the dispensation which is expected from Rome?"
"I can await it in a convent."
"You must positively be mad to think of such a thing." exclaimedJoyeuse, as he rose, with stupefaction depicted on his countenance.
"On the contrary, my dear and honored brother, I am the wisest of youall, for I alone know what I am about."'
"Henri, you promised us a month."
"Impossible."
"A week, then, longer."
"Not an hour."
"You are suffering so much, then, poor boy?"
"On the contrary, I have ceased to suffer, and that is why the evil iswithout a remedy."
"But, at all events, this woman is not made of bronze; her feelings canbe worked upon; I will undertake to persuade her."
"You cannot do impossibilities, Anne; besides, even were she to allowherself to be persuaded now, it is I who could no longer consent to loveher."
"Well, that is quite another matter."
"Such is the case, however, my brother."
"What! if she were now willing, would you be indifferent? Why, this issheer madness."
"Oh! no! no!" exclaimed Henri, with a shudder of horror, "nothing canany longer exist between that woman and myself."
"What does this mean?" inquired Joyeuse, with marked surprise; "and whocan this woman really be? Come, tell me, Henri; you know very well thatwe have never had any secrets from each other."
Henri trembled lest he had said too much, and that, in yielding to thefeeling which he had just exhibited, he had opened a channel by means ofwhich his brother would be able to penetrate the terrible secret whichhe kept imprisoned in his breast. He therefore fell into an oppositeextreme; and, as it happens in such cases, and in order to recall theimprudent words which had escaped him, he pronounced others which weremore imprudent still.
"Do not press me further," he said; "this woman will never be mine,since she belongs to Heaven."
"Folly!--mere idle tales! This woman a nun! She has deceived you."
"No, no, this woman has not spoken falsely; she is now an Hospitaliere.Do not let us speak any further of her, but rather let us respect thosewho throw themselves at the feet of Heaven."
Anne had sufficient power over himself not to show the delight thisrevelation gave him.
He continued: "This is something new, for you have never spoken to meabout it."
"It is indeed quite new, for she has only recently taken the veil; but Iam sure that her resolution, like my own, is irrevocable. Do nottherefore seek to detain me any longer, but embrace me, as you love me.Permit me to thank you for all your kindness, for all your patience, andfor your unceasing affection for a poor heart-broken man, and farewell!"
Joyeuse looked his brother full and steadily in the face; he looked athim like one whose feelings had overcome him, and who relied upon adisplay of feeling to work upon the feelings of others. But Henriremained unmoved at this exhibition of emotion on his brother's part,and replied in no other way but by the same mournful smile.
Joyeuse embraced his brother, and allowed him to depart.
"Go," he said to himself, "all is not yet finished, and, however greatyour hurry may be, I shall not be long before I shall have overtakenyou."
He went to the king, who was taking his breakfast in bed, with Chicotsitting by his side.
"Good-day! good-day!" said the king to Joyeuse. "I am very glad to seeyou, Anne; I was afraid you would lie in bed all day, you indolentfellow. How is my brother?"
"Alas! sire, I do not know; I am come to speak to you about mine."
"Which one?"--"Henri."
"Does he still wish to become a monk?"
"More so than ever."
"And will he take the vows?"
"Yes, sire."
"He is quite right, too."
"How so, sire?"
"Because men go straight to heaven that way."
"Oh!" said Chicot to the king, "men go much faster still by the way yourbrother is taking."
"Will your majesty permit me to ask a question?"
"Twenty, Joyeuse, twenty. I am as melancholy as I can possibly be atChateau-Thierry, and your questions will distract my attention alittle."
"You know all the religious houses in the kingdom, sire, I believe?"
"As well as I do a coat of arms."
"Is there one which goes by the name of Les Hospitalieres, sire?"
"It is a very small, highly distinguished, excessively strict, andsevere order, composed of twenty ladies, canonesses of Saint Joseph."
"Do they take the vows there?"
"Yes, as a matter of favor, and upon a presentation from the queen."
"Should I be indiscreet if I were to ask your majesty where this orderis situated?"
"Not at all; it is situated in the Rue de Chevet Saint-Laudry, in theCite, behind Le Cloitre Notre-Dame."
"At Paris?"--"Yes."
"Thank you, sire."
"But what the devil do you ask me that for? Has your brother changed hismind, and, instead of turning a Capuchin friar, does he now wish tobecome one of the Hospitalieres?"
"No, sire, I should not think he would be so mad, after what yourmajesty has done me the honor to tell me; but I suspect he has had hishead turned by some one belonging to that order, and I shouldconsequently like to discover who this person is, and speak to her."
"Par la mordieu!" said the king, with a self-satisfied expression,"some seven years ago I knew the superior of that convent, who was anexceedingly beautiful woman."
"Well, sire, it may perhaps be the very one."
"I cannot say; since that time, I too, Joyeuse, have assumed religiousvows myself, or nearly so, indeed."
"Sire," said Joyeuse, "I entreat you to give me, at any rate, a letterto this lady, and my leave of absence for a couple of days."
"You are going to leave me!" exclaimed the king; "to leave me all alonehere?"--"Oh! ungrateful king," said Chicot, shrugging his shoulders, "amI not here?"
"My letter, if you please, sire," said Joyeuse. The king sighed, butwrote it notwithstanding.
"But you cannot have anything to do at Paris?" said Henri, handing thenote to Joyeuse.
"I beg your pardon, sire, I ought to escort, or at least, to watch over,my brothers."
"You are right; away with you, but return as quickly as you can."
Joyeuse did not wait for this permission to be repeated; he quietlyordered his horses, and having satisfied himself that Henri had alreadyset off, galloped all the way until he reached his destination.
Without even changing his dress, the young man went straight to the Ruede Chevet Saint-Laudry. At the end of this street was the Rue d'Enfer,and parallel with it the Rue des Marmouzets.
A dark and venerable-looking house, behind whose walls the lofty summitsof a few trees could be distinguished, the windows of which were few,bad, barred, and a wicket at the side, completed the exterior appearanceof the Convent des Hospitalieres.
Upon the keystone of the arch of the porch an artisan had rudelyengraved these Latin words with a chisel:--
MATRONAE HOSPITES.
Time had partially destroyed both the inscription and the stone.
Joyeuse knocked at the wicket, and had his horses led away to the Ruedes Marmouzets, fearing that their presence in the street might attracttoo much attention.
Then, knocking at the entrance gate, he said, "Will you be good enoughto go and inform Madame la Superieure that Monsieur le Duc de Joyeuse,Grand Amiral de France, is desirous of speaking to her on behalf of theking."
The face of the nun who had made her appearance behind the gate blushedbeneath her veil, and she shut the gate.
Five minutes afterward a door was opened, and Joyeuse entered a room,set apart for the reception of visitors. A beautiful woman, of loftystature, made Joyeuse a profound reverence, which the admiral returnedgracefully and respectfully.
"Madame," said he, "the king is aware that you are about to admit, orthat you have already admitted, among the number of the inmates here, aperson with whom I require to speak. Will you be good enough to place mein communication with that person?"
"Will you tell me the name of the lady you wish to see, monsieur?"
"I am not aware of it."
"In that case, then, how can I possibly accede to your request?"
"Nothing is easier. Whom have you admitted during the last month?"
"You either tell me too precisely, or with not sufficient precision, whothis person is," said the superior, "and I am unable to comply with yourwish."
"Why so?"
"Because, during the last month I have received no one here until thismorning."
"This morning?"
"Yes, Monsieur le Duc, and you can understand that your own arrival, twohours after hers, has too much the appearance of a pursuit to enable meto grant you permission to speak to her."
"I implore you, madame."
"Impossible, monsieur."
"Will you merely let me see this lady?"
"Impossible, I repeat. Although your name was sufficient for the doorsof this house to be thrown open before you, yet in order to speak toany one here, except indeed to myself, a written order from the king isnecessary."
"Here is the order you require, madame," replied Joyeuse, producing theletter that Henri had signed.
The superior read it and bowed.
"His majesty's will shall be obeyed," she said, "even when it iscontrary to the will of Heaven."
And she advanced toward the courtyard of the convent.
"You now perceive, madame," said Joyeuse, courteously stopping her,"that I have right on my side; but I fear I may be under a mistake, andtherefore may be abusing the permission I have received from the king.Perhaps the lady may not be the one I am in search of; will you be kindenough to tell me how she came here, why she came, and by whom she wasaccompanied?"
"All that is useless, Monsieur le Duc," replied the superior, "you areunder no misapprehension for the lady, who arrived only this morning,after having been expected for the last fifteen days; this lady, I say,who was recommended by one who possesses the greatest authority over me,is indeed the very person with whom Monsieur le Duc de Joyeuse must wishto speak."
With these words the superior made another low courtesy to the duke anddisappeared.
Ten minutes afterward she returned, accompanied by an hospitaliere,whose veil completely covered her face. It was Diana, who had alreadyassumed the dress of the order.
The duke thanked the superior, offered a chair to her companion, himselfsat down, and the superior quitted the room, closing with her own handsthe doors of the deserted and gloomy-looking apartment.
"Madame," said Joyeuse, without any preface, "you are the lady of theRue des Augustins; that mysterious person with whom my brother, Monsieurle Comte du Bouchage, is so passionately and madly in love."
The hospitaliere bowed her head in reply, but did not open her lips.
This affectation appeared to Joyeuse almost like an act of rudeness; hewas already very indifferently disposed to his companion, and continued:
"You cannot have supposed, madame, that it is sufficient to bebeautiful, or to appear beautiful; to have no heart lying hidden beneaththat beauty, to inspire a wretched and despairing passion in the heartand mind of a young man of my name, and then one day calmly to tell him,'So much the worse for you if you possess a heart. I have none; nor do Iwish for any.'"
"That was not my reply, monsieur, and you have been incorrectlyinformed," said the hospitaliere, in so noble and touching a tone ofvoice that Joyeuse's anger was in a moment subdued.
"The actual words are immaterial, madame, when their sense has beenconveyed. You have rejected my brother, and have reduced him todespair."
"Innocently, monsieur: for I have always endeavored to keep Monsieur duBouchage at a distance."
"That is termed the art of coquetry, madame; and the result proves thefault."
"No one has the right to accuse me, monsieur; I am guilty of nothing.Your feelings of irritation are aroused against me; I shall say nomore."
"Oh, oh!" said Joyeuse, gradually working himself into a passion, "youhave been the ruin of my brother, and you fancy you can justify yourselfwith this irritating majesty of demeanor. No, no! the steps I have takenmust show you what my intentions are. I am serious, I assure you, andyou see by the trembling of my hands and lips that you will need somegood arguments to move me."
The hospitaliere rose.
"If you come here to insult a woman," she said, with the same calmself-possession, "insult me, monsieur; if, however, you have come toinduce me to change my opinion, you are wasting your time, and canwithdraw."
"Ah! you are no human creature!" exclaimed Joyeuse, exasperated. "Youare possessed by an evil spirit."
"I have answered already; I will reply no further. Since that is notsufficient, I shall withdraw." And the hospitaliere advanced toward thedoor.
Joyeuse stopped her.
"One moment! I have sought you for too long a period to allow you toleave me in this manner; and, since I have succeeded in meeting withyou--since your insensibility has confirmed me in the idea which hadalready occurred to me, that you are possessed by the foul fiendhimself, sent hither by the enemy of mankind to destroy my brother--Iwish to see that face whereon the bottomless pit has written itsblackest traces; I wish to behold the fire of that fatal gaze whichbewilders men's minds. Avaunt thee, Satan!"
And Joyeuse, making the sign of the cross with one hand, as if he wereexorcising her, with the other tore aside the veil which covered theface of the hospitaliere; the latter, silent and impassible, free fromanger or ill-feeling, fixed her sweet and gentle gaze upon him who hadso cruelly outraged her, and said: "Oh! Monsieur le Duc, what you havejust done is unworthy a gentleman."
Joyeuse's heart was smitten by her reply.
"Oh! madame," he murmured after a long silence, "you are indeedbeautiful, and truly must Henri have loved you. Surely Heaven can onlyhave bestowed upon you loveliness such as you possess to cast it likeperfume upon an existence devoted to your own."
"Monsieur, have you not conversed with your brother? or, if you havedone so, he
cannot have thought it expedient to make you his confidant;had not that been the case, he would have told you that I have done whatyou say--I have loved; I shall never love again; I have lived and mustdie."
Joyeuse had never taken his eyes from Diana's face, and the soft andgentle expression of her gaze penetrated the inmost recesses of hisbeing.
Her look had destroyed all the baser material in the admiral's heart:the pure metal was alone left, and his heart seemed rent asunder, likea crucible which had been riven by the fusion of metal.
"Yes, yes," he repeated, in a still lower voice, and continuing to fixupon her a gaze from which the fire of his fierce anger haddisappeared--"yes, yes, Henri must have loved you. Oh! madame, forpity's sake, on my knees I implore you to love my brother."
Diana remained cold and silent.
"Do not reduce a family to despair, do not sacrifice the futureprospects of our race; be not the cause of the death of one fromdespair, of the others from regret."
Diana, still silent, continued to look sorrowfully on the suppliantbending before her.
"Oh!" exclaimed Joyeuse, madly pressing his hand against his heart,"have mercy on my brother, have mercy on me!"
He sprung to his feet like a man bereft of his senses, unfastened, orrather tore open the door of the room where they had been conversing,and, bewildered and almost beside himself, fled from the house towardhis attendants, who were awaiting him at the corner of the Rue d'Enfer.