CHAPTER XXXII. "ON WITH THE DANCE."
Bigot, a voluptuary in every sense, craved a change of pleasure. He wasnever satisfied long with one, however pungent. He felt it as a reliefwhen Angelique went off like a laughing sprite upon the arm of De Pean."I am glad to get rid of the women sometimes, and feel like a man,"he said to Cadet, who sat drinking and telling stories with hilariouslaughter to two or three boon companions, and indulging in the coarsestjests and broadest scandal about the ladies at the ball, as they passedby the alcove where they were seated.
The eager persistence of Angelique, in her demand for a lettre de cachetto banish the unfortunate Caroline, had wearied and somewhat disgustedBigot.
"I would cut the throat of any man in the world for the sake of herbright eyes," said he to himself, as she gave him a parting salute withher handkerchief; "but she must not ask me to hurt that poor foolishgirl at Beaumanoir. No, by St. Picot! she is hurt enough already, and Iwill not have Angelique tormenting her! What merciless creatures womenare to one another, Cadet!" said he, aloud.
Cadet looked up with red, inflamed eyes at the remark of Bigot. He carednothing for women himself, and never hesitated to show his contempt forthe whole sex.
"Merciless creatures, do you call them, Bigot! the claws of all the catsin Caen could not match the finger-nails of a jealous woman--still lessher biting tongue."
Angelique des Meloises swept past the two in a storm of music, as if indefiance of their sage criticisms. Her hand rested on the shoulder ofthe Chevalier de Pean. She had an object which made her endure it,and her dissimulation was perfect. Her eyes transfixed his with theirdazzling look. Her lips were wreathed in smiles; she talked continuallyas she danced, and with an inconsistency which did not seem strangein her, was lamenting the absence from the ball of Le Gardeur deRepentigny.
"Chevalier," said she, in reply to some gallantry of her partner,"most women take pride in making sacrifices of themselves; I prefer tosacrifice my admirers. I like a man, not in the measure of what I do forhim, but what he will do for me. Is not that a candid avowal, Chevalier?You like frankness, you know."
Frankness and the Chevalier de Pean were unknown quantities together;but he was desperately smitten, and would bear any amount of snubbingfrom Angelique.
"You have something in your mind you wish me to do," replied he,eagerly. "I would poison my grandmother, if you asked me, for the rewardyou could give me."
"Yes, I have something in my mind, Chevalier, but not concerning yourgrandmother. Tell me why you allowed Le Gardeur de Repentigny to leavethe city?"
"I did not allow him to leave the city," said he, twitching his uglyfeatures, for he disliked the interest she expressed in Le Gardeur."I would fain have kept him here if I could. The Intendant, too, haddesperate need of him. It was his sister and Colonel Philibert whospirited him away from us."
"Well, a ball in Quebec is not worth twisting a curl for in the absenceof Le Gardeur de Repentigny!" replied she. "You shall promise me tobring him back to the city, Chevalier, or I will dance with you nomore."
Angelique laughed so gaily as she said this that a stranger would haveinterpreted her words as all jest.
"She means it, nevertheless," thought the Chevalier. "I will promise mybest endeavor, Mademoiselle," said he, setting hard his teeth, with agrimace of dissatisfaction which did not escape the eye of Angelique;"moreover, the Intendant desires his return on affairs of the GrandCompany, and has sent more than one message to him already, to urge hisreturn."
"A fig for the Grand Company! Remember, it is I desire his return; andit is my command, not the Intendant's, which you are bound, as a gallantgentleman, to obey." Angelique would have no divided allegiance, and theman who claimed her favors must give himself up, body and soul, withoutthought of redemption.
She felt very reckless and very wilful at this moment. The laughter onher lips was the ebullition of a hot and angry heart, not the play ofa joyous, happy spirit. Bigot's refusal of a lettre de cachet had stungher pride to the quick, and excited a feeling of resentment which foundits expression in the wish for the return of Le Gardeur.
"Why do you desire the return of Le Gardeur?" asked De Pean,hesitatingly. Angelique was often too frank by half, and questioners gotfrom her more than they liked to hear.
"Because he was my first admirer, and I never forget a true friend,Chevalier," replied she, with an undertone of fond regret in her voice.
"But he will not be your last admirer," replied De Pean, with whathe considered a seductive leer, which made her laugh at him. "In thekingdom of love, as in the kingdom of heaven, the last shall be firstand the first last. May I be the last, Mademoiselle?"
"You will certainly be the last, De Pean; I promise that." Angeliquelaughed provokingly. She saw the eye of the Intendant watching her. Shebegan to think he remained longer in the society of Cadet than was dueto herself.
"Thanks, Mademoiselle," said De Pean, hardly knowing whether her laughwas affirmative or negative; "but I envy Le Gardeur his precedence."
Angelique's love for Le Gardeur was the only key which ever unlocked herreal feelings. When the fox praised the raven's voice and prevailed onher to sing, he did not more surely make her drop the envied morsel outof her mouth than did Angelique drop the mystification she had worn socoquettishly before De Pean.
"Tell me, De Pean," said she, "is it true or not that Le Gardeur deRepentigny is consoling himself among the woods of Tilly with a faircousin of his, Heloise de Lotbiniere?"
De Pean had his revenge, and he took it. "It is true; and no wonder,"said he. "They say Heloise is, without exception, the sweetest girl inNew France, if not one of the handsomest."
"Without exception!" echoed she, scornfully. "The women will not believethat, at any rate, Chevalier. I do not believe it, for one." And shelaughed in the consciousness of beauty. "Do you believe it?"
"No, that were impossible," replied he, "while Angelique des Meloiseschooses to contest the palm of beauty."
"I contest no palm with her, Chevalier; but I give you this rosebud foryour gallant speech. But tell me, what does Le Gardeur think of thiswonderful beauty? Is there any talk of marriage?"
"There is, of course, much talk of an alliance." De Pean lied, and thetruth had been better for him.
Angelique started as if stung by a wasp. The dance ceased for her, andshe hastened to a seat. "De Pean," said she, "you promised to bring LeGardeur forthwith back to the city; will you do it?"
"I will bring him back, dead or alive, if you desire it; but I must havetime. That uncompromising Colonel Philibert is with him. His sister,too, clings to him like a good angel to the skirt of a sinner. Since youdesire it,"--De Pean spoke it with bitterness,--"Le Gardeur shall comeback, but I doubt if it will be for his benefit or yours, Mademoiselle."
"What do you mean, De Pean?" asked she, abruptly, her dark eyes alightwith eager curiosity, not unmingled with apprehension. "Why do you doubtit will not be for his benefit or mine? Who is to harm him?"
"Nay, he will only harm himself, Angelique. And, by St. Picot! he willhave ample scope for doing it in this city. He has no other enemy buthimself." De Pean felt that she was making an ox of him to draw theplough of her scheming.
"Are you sure of that, De Pean?" demanded she, sharply.
"Quite sure. Are not all the associates of the Grand Company his fastestfriends? Not one of them will hurt him, I am sure."
"Chevalier de Pean!" said she, noticing the slight shrug he gave when hesaid this, "you say Le Gardeur has no enemy but himself; if so, I hopeto save him from himself, nothing more. Therefore I want him back to thecity."
De Pean glanced towards Bigot. "Pardon me, Mademoiselle. Did theIntendant never speak to you of Le Gardeur's abrupt departure?" askedhe.
"Never! He has spoken to you, though. What did he say?" asked she, witheager curiosity.
"He said that you might have detained him had you wished, and he blamedyou for his departure."
De Pean had a suspicion that Angelique had
really been instrumental inwithdrawing Le Gardeur from the clutches of himself and associates; butin this he erred. Angelique loved Le Gardeur, at least for her own sakeif not for his, and would have preferred he should risk all the dangersof the city to avoid what she deemed the still greater dangers of thecountry,--and the greatest of these, in her opinion, was the fair faceof Heloise de Lotbiniere. While, from motives of ambition, Angeliquerefused to marry him herself, she could not bear the thought of anothergetting the man whom she had rejected.
De Pean was fairly puzzled by her caprices: he could not fathom, but hedared not oppose them.
At this moment Bigot, who had waited for the conclusion of a game ofcards, rejoined the group where she sat.
Angelique drew in her robe and made room for him beside her, and waspresently laughing and talking as free from care, apparently, as anoriole warbling on a summer spray. De Pean courteously withdrew, leavingher alone with the Intendant.
Bigot was charmed for the moment into oblivion of the lady who sat inher secluded chamber at Beaumanoir. He forgot his late quarrel withAngelique in admiration of her beauty. The pleasure he took in herpresence shed a livelier glow of light across his features. She observedit, and a renewed hope of triumph lifted her into still higher flightsof gaiety.
"Angelique," said he, offering his arm to conduct her to the gorgeousbuffet, which stood loaded with golden dishes of fruit, vases offlowers, and the choicest confectionery, with wine fit for a feast ofCyprus, "you are happy to-night, are you not? But perfect bliss is onlyobtained by a judicious mixture of earth and heaven: pledge me gaily nowin this golden wine, Angelique, and ask me what favor you will."
"And you will grant it?" asked she, turning her eyes upon him eagerly.
"Like the king in the fairy tale, even to my daughter and half of mykingdom," replied he, gaily.
"Thanks for half the kingdom, Chevalier," laughed she, "but I wouldprefer the father to the daughter." Angelique gave him a look ofineffable meaning. "I do not desire a king to-night, however. Grant methe lettre de cachet, and then--"
"And then what, Angelique?" He ventured to take her hand, which seemedto tempt the approach of his.
"You shall have your reward. I ask you for a lettre de cachet, that isall." She suffered her hand to remain in his.
"I cannot," he replied sharply to her urgent repetition. "Ask herbanishment from Beaumanoir, her life if you like, but a lettre de cachetto send her to the Bastile I cannot and will not give!"
"But I ask it, nevertheless!" replied the wilful, passionate girl."There is no merit in your love if it fears risk or brooks denial! Youask me to make sacrifices, and will not lift your finger to remove thatstumbling-block out of my way! A fig for such love, Chevalier Bigot! IfI were a man, there is nothing in earth, heaven, or hell I would not dofor the woman I loved!"
Angelique fixed her blazing eyes full upon him, but magnetic as wastheir fire, they drew no satisfying reply. "Who in heaven's name is thislady of Beaumanoir of whom you are so careful or so afraid?"
"I cannot tell you, Angelique," said he, quite irritated. "She may be arunaway nun, or the wife of the man in the iron mask, or--"
"Or any other fiction you please to tell me in the stead of truth, andwhich proves your love to be the greatest fiction of all!"
"Do not be so angry, Angelique," said he, soothingly, seeing the needof calming down this impetuous spirit, which he was driving beyond allbounds. But he had carelessly dropped a word which she picked up eagerlyand treasured in her bosom. "Her life! He said he would give me herlife! Did he mean it?" thought she, absorbed in this new idea.
Angelique had clutched the word with a feeling of terrible import. Itwas not the first time the thought had flashed its lurid light acrossher mind. It had seemed of comparatively light import when it was onlythe suggestion of her own wild resentment. It seemed a word of terriblepower heard from the lips of Bigot, yet Angelique knew well he did notin the least seriously mean what he said.
"It is but his deceit and flattery," she said to herself, "an idlephrase to cozen a woman. I will not ask him to explain it, I shallinterpret it in my own way! Bigot has said words he understood nothimself; it is for me to give them form and meaning."
She grew quiet under these reflections, and bent her head in seemingacquiescence to the Intendant's decision. The calmness was apparentonly.
"You are a true woman, Angelique," said he, "but no politician: youhave never heard thunder at Versailles. Would that I dared to grant yourrequest. I offer you my homage and all else I have to give you to halfmy kingdom."
Angelique's eyes flashed fire. "It is a fairy tale after all!" exclaimedshe; "you will not grant the lettre de cachet?"
"As I told you before, I dare not grant that, Angelique; anythingelse--"
"You dare not! You, the boldest Intendant ever sent to New France, andsay you dare not! A man who is worth the name dare do anything in theworld for a woman if he loves her, and for such a man a true womanwill kiss the ground he walks on, and die at his feet if need be!"Angelique's thoughts reverted for a moment to Le Gardeur, not to Bigot,as she said this, and thought how he would do it for her sake if sheasked him.
"My God, Angelique, you drive this matter hard, but I like you better sothan when you are in your silkiest humor."
"Bigot, it were better you had granted my request." Angelique clenchedher fingers hard together, and a cruel expression lit her eyes for amoment. It was like the glance of a lynx seeking a hidden treasure inthe ground: it penetrated the thick walls of Beaumanoir! She suppressedher anger, however, lest Bigot should guess the dark imaginings andhalf-formed resolution which brooded in her mind.
With her inimitable power of transformation she put on her air ofgaiety again and exclaimed,--"Pshaw! let it go, Bigot. I am really nopolitician, as you say; I am only a woman almost stifled with the heatand closeness of this horrid ballroom. Thank God, day is dawning in thegreat eastern window yonder; the dancers are beginning to depart! Mybrother is waiting for me, I see, so I must leave you, Chevalier."
"Do not depart just now, Angelique! Wait until breakfast, which will beprepared for the latest guests."
"Thanks, Chevalier," said she, "I cannot wait. It has been a gay anddelightful ball--to them who enjoyed it."
"Among whom you were one, I hope," replied Bigot.
"Yes, I only wanted one thing to be perfectly happy, and that I couldnot get, so I must console myself," said she, with an air of mockresignation.
Bigot looked at her and laughed, but he would not ask what it was shelacked. He did not want a scene, and feared to excite her wrath bymention again of the lettre de cachet.
"Let me accompany you to the carriage, Angelique," said he, handing hercloak and assisting her to put it on.
"Willingly, Chevalier," replied she coquettishly, "but the Chevalierde Pean will accompany me to the door of the dressing-room. I promisedhim." She had not, but she beckoned with her finger to him. She hada last injunction for De Pean which she cared not that the Intendantshould hear.
De Pean was reconciled by this manoevre; he came, and Angelique andhe tripped off together. "Mind, De Pean, what I asked you about LeGardeur!" said she in an emphatic whisper.
"I will not forget," replied he, with a twinge of jealousy. "Le Gardeurshall come back in a few days or De Pean has lost his influence andcunning."
Angelique gave him a sharp glance of approval, but made no furtherremark. A crowd of voluble ladies were all telling over the incidentsof the ball, as exciting as any incidents of flood and field, while theyarranged themselves for departure.
The ball was fast thinning out. The fair daughters of Quebec, withdisordered hair and drooping wreaths, loose sandals, and dresses loopedand pinned to hide chance rents or other accidents of a long night'sdancing, were retiring to their rooms, or issuing from them hooded andmantled, attended by obsequious cavaliers to accompany them home.
The musicians, tired out and half asleep, drew their bows slowly acrosstheir violins; the very music wa
s steeped in weariness. The lamps grewdim in the rays of morning, which struggled through the high windows,while, mingling with the last strains of good-night and bon repos, camea noise of wheels and the loud shouts of valets and coachmen out in thefresh air, who crowded round the doors of the Palace to convey homethe gay revellers who had that night graced the splendid halls of theIntendant.
Bigot stood at the door bowing farewell and thanks to the fair companywhen the tall, queenly figure of Angelique came down leaning on the armof the Chevalier de Pean. Bigot tendered her his arm, which she at onceaccepted, and he accompanied her to her carriage.
She bowed graciously to the Intendant and De Pean, on her departure,but no sooner had she driven off, than, throwing herself back in hercarriage, heedless of the presence of her brother, who accompanied herhome, she sank into a silent train of thoughts from which she was rousedwith a start when the carriage drew up sharply at the door of their ownhome.