“You shall not have them, excepting on that condition, count.”
“Oh! I shall, perhaps, find some mode of compiling you to return them.”
“Will you, sir, deliver those letters to me!”
“Count,” replied Paul, with an expression of countenance, which, under the circumstances, was perfectly inexplicable to Emanuel, “count, listen to me?”
“Well then, sir, you wear a sword, as I do; we are both gentlemen, or rather I would believe you to be such; let us leave the house together, and one of us shall return alone, and he, being unfettered and powerful from the death of the other, shall then do as he best pleases.”
“I regret I cannot accept the offer, count.”
“How? you wear that uniform, that cross upon your breast, by your side that sword, and you refuse a duel.”
“Yes, Emanuel, I do refuse it, because I cannot raise my sword against you, count--believe me, I entreat you.”
“At this moment a person who had entered the room without being perceived, burst into a loud laugh, close behind the two young men. Paul and Emanuel turned hastily round. Lectoure was standing close to them.
“But,” said Paul, pointing to Lectoure, “I can fight with him, for he is a miserable and infamous wretch.”
A burning blush passed over Lectoure’s features, like the reflection of a flame. He made a step towards Paul, and then stopped.
“It is well, sir,” said he; “send your second to Emanuel and they can arrange this matter.”
“You will understand that between us the affair is merely deferred,” said Emanuel, to Paul.
“Silence!” replied Paul, “they are announcing your mother.”
“Yes, silence, and to-morrow we meet again. Lectoure,” added Emanuel, “let us go to receive my mother.”
Paul looked silently at the young men as they retired, and then he entered the small room in which he had before been concealed.
Listen to me and heed me! If this contract Thou holdst me to, abide thou the result! Answer to heaven for what I suffer! act! Prepare thyself for such calamity To fall on me, and those whose evil Have linked them with me, as no past mishap, However rare and marvellously Sad, Can parallel.
At the moment that Paul went into the study, the marchioness appeared at the door of the drawing-room, followed by the notary, and the several persons who had been invited to be present at the signing of the contract. Notwithstanding the nature of the meeting, the marchioness had not considered it proper to lay aside, even for one evening, her mourning garments, and dressed in complete black, as she had been always during twenty years, she came into the room a few moments before the marquis. None of the persons present, not even his son, had seen the marquis for many years. Such attention was in those days paid to ancient forms, that the marchioness would not allow the marriage contract of her daughter to be signed, without the head of the family, although deprived of reason, being present; at the ceremony. However little accustomed Lectoure was to feel intimidated, the marchioness produced upon him the effect which she did on every one that approached her, and on seeing her enter the room with so grave and dignified an aspect, he bowed to her with a feeling of profound respect.