CHAPTER XXXIX. THE SKIRMISH.
On entering, Mdlle. de Cardoville threw down upon a chair the graybeaver hat she had worn to cross the garden, and displayed her finegolden hair, falling on either side of her face in long, light ringlets,and twisted in a broad knot behind her head. She presented herselfwithout boldness, but with perfect ease: her countenance was gay andsmiling; her large black eyes appeared even more brilliant than usual.When she perceived Abbe d'Aigrigny, she started in surprise, and herrosy lips were just touched with a mocking smile.
After nodding graciously to the doctor, she passed Baron Tripeaud bywithout looking at him, and saluted the princess with stately obeisance,in the most fashionable style.
Though the walk and bearing of Mdlle. de Cardoville were extremelyelegant, and full of propriety and truly feminine grace, there was abouther an air of resolution and independence by no means common in women,and particularly in girls of her age. Her movements, without beingabrupt, bore no traces of restraint, stiffness, or formality. They werefrank and free as her character, full of life, youth, and freshness; andone could easily divine that so buoyant, straightforward, and decided anature had never been able to conform itself to the rules of an affectedrigor.
Strangely enough, though he was a man of the world, a man of greattalent, a churchman distinguished for his eloquence, and, above all,a person of influence and authority. Marquis d'Aigrigny experiencedan involuntary, incredible, almost painful uneasiness, in presence ofAdrienne de Cardoville. He--generally so much the master of himself, soaccustomed to exercise great power--who (in the name of his Order)had often treated with crowned heads on the footing of an equal, felthimself abashed and lowered in the presence of this girl, as remarkablefor her frankness as for her biting irony. Now, as men who areaccustomed to impose their will upon others generally hate those who,far from submitting to their influence, hamper it and make sport ofthem, it was no great degree of affection that the marquis bore towardsthe Princess de Saint-Dizier's niece.
For a long time past, contrary to his usual habit, he had ceased to tryupon Adrienne that fascinating address to which he had often owed anirresistible charm; towards her he had become dry, curt, serious, takingrefuge in that icy sphere of haughty dignity and rigid austerity whichcompletely hid all those amiable qualities with which he was endowedand of which, in general, he made such efficient use. Adrienne was muchamused at all this, and thereby showed her imprudence--for the mostvulgar motives often engender the most implacable hatreds.
From these preliminary observations, the reader will understand thedivers sentiments and interests which animated the different actors inthe following scene.
Madame de Saint-Dizier was seated in a large arm-chair by one sideof the hearth. Marquis d'Aigrigny was standing before the fire. Dr.Baleinier seated near a bureau, was again turning over the leavesof Baron Tripeaud's biography, whilst the baron appeared to be veryattentively examining one of the pictures of sacred subjects suspendedfrom the wall.
"You sent for me, aunt, to talk upon matters of importance?" saidAdrienne, breaking the silence which had reigned in the reception-roomsince her entrance.
"Yes, madame," answered the princess, with a cold and severe mien; "uponmatters of the gravest importance."
"I am at your service, aunt. Perhaps we had better walk into yourlibrary?"
"It is not necessary. We can talk here." Then, addressing the marquis,the doctor, and the baron, she said to them, "Pray, be seated,gentlemen," and they all took their places round the table.
"How can the subject of our interview interest these gentlemen, aunt?"asked Mdlle. de Cardoville, with surprise.
"These gentlemen are old family friends; all that concerns you mustinterest them, and their advice ought to be heard and accepted by youwith respect."
"I have no doubt, aunt, of the bosom friendship of M. d'Aigrigny for ourfamily: I have still less of the profound and disinterested devotionof M. Tripeaud; M. Baleinier is one of my old friends; still, beforeaccepting these gentlemen as spectators, or, if you will, as confidantsof our interview, I wish to know what we are going to talk of beforethem."
"I thought that, among your many singular pretensions, you had at leastthose of frankness and courage."
"Really, aunt," said Adrienne, smiling with mock humility, "I have nomore pretensions to frankness and courage than you have to sincerity andgoodness. Let us admit, once for all, that we are what we are--withoutpretension."
"Be it so," said Madame de Saint-Dizier, in a dry tone; "I have longbeen accustomed to the freaks of your independent spirit. I suppose,then, that, courageous and frank as you say you are, you will not beafraid to speak before such grave and respectable persons as thesegentlemen what you would speak to me alone?"
"Is it a formal examination that I am to submit to? if so, upon whatsubject?"
"It is not an examination: but, as I have a right to watch over you, andas you take advantage of my weak compliance with your caprices, I meanto put an end to what has lasted too long, and tell you my irrevocableresolutions for the future, in presence of friends of the family. And,first, you have hitherto had a very false and imperfect notion of mypower over you."
"I assure you, aunt, that I have never had any notion, true or false, onthe subject--for I have never even dreamt about it."
"That is my own fault; for, instead of yielding to your fancies, Ishould have made you sooner feel my authority; but the moment has cometo submit yourself; the severe censures of my friends have enlightenedme in time. Your character is self-willed, independent, stubborn; itmust change--either by fair means or by force, understand me, it shallchange."
At these words, pronounced harshly before strangers, with a severitywhich did not seem at all justified by circumstances, Adrienne tossedher head proudly; but, restraining herself, she answered with a smile:"You say, aunt, that I shall change. I should not be astonished at it.We hear of such odd conversions."
The princess bit her lips.
"A sincere conversion can never be called odd, as you term it, madame,"said Abbe d'Aigrigny, coldly. "It is, on the contrary, meritorious, andforms an excellent example."
"Excellent?" answered Adrienne: "that depends! For instance, what if oneconverts defects into vices?"
"What do you mean, madame?" cried the princess.
"I am speaking of myself, aunt; you reproach me of being independent andresolute--suppose I were to become hypocritical and wicked? In truth,I prefer keeping my dear little faults, which I love like spoiledchildren. I know what I am; I do not know what I might be."
"But you must acknowledge, Mdlle. Adrienne," said Baron Tripeaud, with aself-conceited and sententious air, "that a conversion--"
"I believe," said Adrienne, disdainfully, "that M. Tripeaud is wellversed in the conversion of all sorts of property into all sorts ofprofit, by all sorts of means--but he knows nothing of this matter."
"But, madame," resumed the financier, gathering courage from a glanceof the princess, "you forget that I have the honor to be your deputyguardian, and that--"
"It is true that M. Tripeaud has that honor," said Adrienne, with stillmore haughtiness, and not even looking at the baron; "I could never tellexactly why. But as it is not now the time to guess enigmas, I wish toknow, aunt, the object and the end of this meeting?"
"You shall be satisfied, madame. I will explain myself in a very clearand precise manner. You shall know the plan of conduct that you willhave henceforth to pursue; and if you refuse to submit thereto, with theobedience and respect that is due to my orders, I shall at once see whatcourse to take."
It is impossible to give an idea of the imperious tone and stern lookof the princess, as she pronounced these words which were calculated tostartle a girl, until now accustomed to live in a great measure as shepleased: yet, contrary perhaps to the expectation of Madame de SaintDizier, instead of answering impetuously, Adrienne looked her full inthe face, and said, laughing: "This is a perfect declaration of war.It's becoming very amusing."
"We are not talking of declarations of war," said the Abbe d'Aigrigny,harshly, as if offended by the expressions of Mdlle. de Cardoville.
"Now, M. l'Abbe!" returned Adrienne, "for an old colonel, you are reallytoo severe upon a jest!--you are so much indebted to 'war,' which gaveyou a French regiment after fighting so long against France--in order tolearn, of course, the strength and the weakness of her enemies."
On these words, which recalled painful remembrances, the marquiscolored; he was going to answer, but the princess exclaimed: "Really,madame, your behavior is quite intolerable!"
"Well, aunt, I acknowledge I was wrong. I ought not to have said thisis very amusing--for it is not so, at all; but it is at least verycurious--and perhaps," added the young girl, after a moment's silence,"perhaps very audacious and audacity pleases me. As we are upon thissubject, and you talk of a plan of conduct to which I must conformmyself, under pain of (interrupting herself)--under pain of what, Ishould like to know, aunt?"
"You shall know. Proceed."
"I will, in the presence of these gentlemen, also declare, in a veryplain and precise manner, the determination that I have come to. As itrequired some time to prepare for its execution, I have not spoken of itsooner, for you know I am not in the habit of saying, 'I will do so andso!' but I do it."
"Certainly; and it is just this habit of culpable independence of whichyou must break yourself."
"Well, I had intended only to inform you of my determination at a laterperiod; but I cannot resist the pleasure of doing so to-day, you seem sowell disposed to hear and receive it. Still, I would beg of you to speakfirst: it may just so happen, that our views are precisely the same."
"I like better to see you thus," said the princess. "I acknowledge atleast the courage of your pride, and your defiance of all authority. Youspeak of audacity--yours is indeed great."
"I am at least decided to do that which others in their weakness darenot--but which I dare. This, I hope, is clear and precise."
"Very clear, very precise," said the princess, exchanging a glance ofsatisfaction with the other actors in this scene. "The positions beingthus established, matters will be much simplified. I have only togive you notice, in your own interest, that this is a very seriousaffair--much more so than you imagine--and that the only way to disposeme to indulgence, is to substitute, for the habitual arrogance and ironyof your language, the modesty and respect becoming a young lady."
Adrienne smiled, but made no reply. Some moments of silence, and somerapid glances exchanged between the princess and her three friends,showed that these encounters, more or less brilliant in themselves, wereto be followed by a serious combat.
Mdlle. de Cardoville had too much penetration and sagacity, notto remark, that the Princess de Saint-Dizier attached the greatestimportance to this decisive interview. But she could not understand howher aunt could hope to impose her absolute will upon her: the threat ofcoercive measures appearing with reason a mere ridiculous menace. Yet,knowing the vindictive character of her aunt, the secret power ather disposal, and the terrible vengeance she had sometimesexacted--reflecting, moreover, that men in the position of the marquisand the doctor would not have come to attend this interview without someweighty motive--the young lady paused for a moment before she plungedinto the strife.
But soon, the very presentiment of some vague danger, far from weakeningher, gave her new courage to brave the worst, to exaggerate, if thatwere possible, the independence of her ideas, and uphold, come whatmight, the determination that she was about to signify to the Princessde Saint Dizier.