The Mesmerist's Victim Page 5

  CHAPTER V.

  SUSPICIONS.

  The voice which made answer to the girl's was her brother Philip's. Hewas anxiously asking after her health.

  Gilbert took a few steps guardedly and stood behind one of thosehalf-columns carrying a bust which were the ornaments in pairs todoorways of the period. Thus in security, he looked and listened, sohappy that his heart melted with delight; yet so frightened that itseemed to shrink up to a pin's head.

  He saw Andrea lounging on an invalid-chair, with her face turned towardsthe glazed door, a little on the jar. A small lamp with a largereflecting shade placed on a table heaped with books, showed the onlyrecreation allowed the fair patient, and illumined only the lower partof her countenance.

  Seated on the foot of the chair, Philip's back was turned to thewatcher; his arm was still in a sling.

  This was the first time the lady sat up and that her brother was allowedout. They had not seen each other since the dreadful night; but both hadbeen informed of the respective convalescence. They were chatting freelyas they believed themselves alone and that Nicole would warn them if anyone came.

  "Then you are breathing freely," said Philip.

  "Yes, but with some pain."

  "Strength come back, my poor sister?"

  "Far from it, but I have been able to get to the window two or threetimes. How nice the open air is--how sweet the flowers--with them itseems that one cannot die. But I am so weak from the shock having beenso horrid. I can only walk by hanging on to the furniture; I should fallwithout support."

  "Cheer up, dear; the air and flowers will restore you. In a week youwill be able to pay a visit to the Dauphiness who has kindly asked afteryou, I hear."

  "I hope so, for her Highness has been good to me; to you in promotingyou to be captain in her guards, and to father, who was induced by herbenevolence to leave our miserable country house.

  "Speaking of your miraculous escape," said Philip, "I should like toknow more about the rescue."

  Andrea blushed and seemed ill at ease. Either he did not remark it orwould not do so.

  "I thought you knew all about it," said she; "father was perfectlysatisfied.

  "Of course, dear Andrea, and it seemed to me that the gentleman behavedmost delicately in the matter. But some points in the account seemedobscure--I do not mean suspicious."

  "Pray explain," said the girl with a virgin's candor.

  "One point is very out of the way--how you were saved. Kindly relateit."

  "Oh, Philip," she said with an effort, "I have almost forgotten--I wasso frightened."

  "Never mind--tell me what you do remember."

  "You know, brother, that we were separated within twenty paces of theRoyal Wardrobe Storehouse? I saw you dragged away towards the TuileriesGardens, while I was hurled into Royale Street. Only for an instant didI see you, making desperate efforts to return to me. I held out my armsto you and was screaming, 'Philip!' when I was suddenly wrapped in awhirlwind, and whisked up towards the railings. I feared that thecurrent would dash me up against the wall and shatter me. I heard theyells of those crushed against the iron palings; I foresaw my turncoming to be ground to rags. I could reckon how few instants I had tolive, when--half dead, half crazed, as I lifted eyes and arms in a lastprayer to heaven, I saw the eyes sparkle of a man who towered over themultitude and it seemed to obey him."

  "You mean Baron Balsamo, I suppose?"

  "Yes, the same I had seen at Taverney. There he struck me with uncommonterror. The man seems supernatural. He fascinates my sight and myhearing; with but the touch of his finger he would make me quiver allover."

  "Continue, Andrea," said the chevalier, with darkening brow and moodyvoice.

  "This man soared over the catastrophe like one whom human ills could notattain. I read in his eyes that he wanted to save me and somethingextraordinary went on within me: shaken, bruised, powerless and nearlydead though I was, to that man I was attracted by an invincible, unknownand mysterious force, which bore me thither. I felt arms enclasp me andurge me out of this mass of welded flesh in which I was kneaded--whereothers choked and gasped I was lifted up into air. Oh, Philip," said shewith exaltation, "I am sure it was the gaze of that man. I grasped athis hand and I was saved."

  "Alas," thought Gilbert, "I was not seen by her though dying at herfeet."

  "When I felt out of danger, my whole life having been centred in thisgigantic effort or else the terror surpassed my ability to contend--Ifainted away."

  "When do you think this faint came on?"

  "Ten minutes after we were rent asunder, brother."

  "That would be close on Midnight," remarked the Knight of Red Castle."How then was it you did not return home until three? You must forgiveme questions which may appear to you ridiculous but they have a reasonto me, dear Andrea."

  "Three days ago I could not have replied to you," she said, pressing hishand, "but, strange as it may be, I can see more clearly now. I rememberas though a superior will made me do so."

  "I am waiting with impatience. You were saying that the man took you upin his arms?"

  "I do not recall that clearly," answered Andrea, blushing. "I only knowthat he plucked me up out of the crowd. But the touch of his hand causedme the same shock as at Taverney, and again I swooned or rather I slept,for it was a sleep that was good."

  Gilbert devoured all the words, for he knew that so far all was true.

  "On recovering my senses, I was in a richly furnished parlor. A lady andher maid were by my side, but they did not seem uneasy. Their faces werebenevolently smiling. It was striking half-past twelve."

  "Good," said the knight, breathing freely. "Continue, Andrea, continue."

  "I thanked the lady for the attentions she was giving, but, knowing inwhat anxiety you must all be, I begged to be taken home at once. Theytold me that the Count--for they knew our Baron Balsamo as Count Fenix,had gone back to the scene of the accident, but would return with hiscarriage and take me to our house. Indeed, about two o'clock, I heardcarriage wheels and felt the same warning shiver of his approach. Ireeled and fell on a sofa as the door opened; I barely could recognizemy deliverer as the giddiness seized me. During this unconsciousness Iwas put in the coach and brought here. It is all I recall, brother."

  "Thank you, dear," said Philip, in a joyful voice; "your calculations ofthe time agree with mine. I will call on Marchioness Savigny andpersonally thank her. A last word of secondary import. Did you noticeany familiar face in the excitement? Such as little Gilbert's, forinstance?"

  "Yes, I fancy I did see him a few paces off, as you and I were drivenapart," said Andrea, recollecting.

  "She saw me," muttered Gilbert.

  "Because, when I was seeking you, I came across the boy."

  "Among the dead?" asked the lady with the shade of assumed interestwhich the great take in their inferiors.

  "No, only wounded, and I hope he will come round. His chest was crushedin."

  "Ay, against hers," thought Gilbert.

  "But the odd part of it was that I found in his clenched hand a rag fromyour dress, Andrea," pursued Philip.

  "Odd, indeed; but I saw in this Dance of Death such a series of faces,that I can hardly say whether his figured truly there or not, poorlittle fellow!"

  "But how do you account for the scrap in his grip?" pressed the captain.

  "Good gracious! nothing more easy," rejoined the girl with tranquillitygreatly contrasting with the eavesdropper's frightful throbbing of theheart. "If he were near me and he saw me lifted up, as I stated, by thespell of that man, he might have clutched at my skirts to be saved asthe drowning snatch at a straw."

  "Ugh," grumbled Gilbert, with gloomy contempt for this haughtyexplanation, "what ignoble interpretation of my devotion! How wronglythese aristocrats judge us people. Rousseau is right in saying that weare worth more than they--our heart is purer and our arms stronger."

  At that he heard a sound behind him.

  "What, is not that madcap Nicole here?"
asked Baron Taverney, for it washe who passed by Gilbert hiding and entered his daughter's room.

  "I dare say she is in the garden," replied his daughter, the latter witha quiet proving that she had no suspicion of the listener; "goodevening, papa."

  The old noble took an armchair.

  "Ha, my children, it is a good step to Versailles when one travels in ahackney coach instead of one of the royal carriages. I have seen theDauphiness, though, who sent for me to learn about your progress."

  "Andrea is much better, sir."

  "I knew that and told her Royal Highness so. She is good enough topromise to call her to her side when she sets up her establishment inthe Little Trianon Palace which is being fitted up to her liking."

  "I at court?" said Andrea timidly.

  "Not much of a court; the Dauphiness has quiet tastes and the PrinceRoyal hates noise and bustle. They will live domestically at Trianon.But judging what the Austrian princess's humor is, I wager that as muchwill be done in the family circle as at official assemblies. Theprincess has a temper and the Dauphin is deep, I hear."

  "Make no mistake, sister, it will still be a court," said CaptainPhilip, sadly.

  "The court," thought Gilbert with intense rage and despair, "a hight Icannot scale--an abyss into which I cannot hurl myself! Andrea will belost to me!"

  "We have neither the wealth to allow us to inhabit that palace, nor thetraining to fit us for it," replied the girl to her father. "What woulda poor girl like me do among those most brilliant ladies of whom I havehad a glimpse? Their splendor dazzled me, while their wit seemed futilethough sparkling. Alas, brother, we are obscure to go amid so muchlight!"

  "What nonsense!" said the baron, frowning. "I cannot make out why myfamily always try to bemean what affects me! obscure--you must be mad,miss! A Taverney Redcastle, obscure! who should shine if not you, I wantto know? Wealth? we know what wealth at court is--the crown is a sunwhich creates the gold--it does the gilding, and it is the tide ofnature. I was ruined--I become rich, and there you have it. Has not theKing money to offer his servitors? Am I to blush if he provides my sonwith a regiment and gives my daughter a dowry? or an appanage for me, ora nice warrant on the Treasury--when I am dining with the King and Ifind it under my plate?"

  "No, no, only fools are squeamish--I have no prejudices. It is my dueand I shall take it. Don't you have any scruples, either. The onlymatter to debate is your training. You have the solid education of themiddle class with the more showy one of your own; you paint just suchlandscapes as the Dauphiness doats upon. As for your beauty, the Kingwill not fail to notice it. As for conversation, which Count Artois andCount Provence like--you will charm them. So you will not only bewelcome but adored. That is the word," concluded the cynic, rubbing hishands and laughing so unnaturally that Philip stared to see if it were ahuman being.

  But, taking Andrea's hand as she lowered her eyes, the young gentlemansaid:

  "Father is right; you are all he says, and nobody has more right to goto Versailles Palace."

  "But I would be parted from you," remonstrated Andrea.

  "Not at all," interrupted the baron; "Versailles is large enough to holdall the Taverneys."

  "True, but the Trianon is small," retorted Andrea, who could be proudand willful.

  "Trianon is large enough to find a room for Baron Taverney," returnedthe old nobleman, "a man like me always finds a place"--meaning "canfind a place. Any way, it is the Dauphiness's order."

  "I will go," said Andrea.

  "That is good. Have you any money, Philip?" asked the old noble.

  "Yes, if you want some; but if you want to offer me it, I should saythat I have enough as it is."

  "Of course, I forgot you were a philosopher," sneered the baron. "Areyou a philosopher, too, my girl, or do you need something?"

  "I should not like to distress you, father."

  "Oh, luck has changed since we left Taverney. The King has given me fivehundred louis--on account, his Majesty said. Think of your wardrobe,child."

  "Oh, thank you, papa," said Andrea, joyously.

  "Oho, going to the other extreme now! A while ago, you wanted fornothing--now you would ruin the Emperor of China. Never mind, for finedresses become you, darling."

  With a tender kiss, he opened the door leading into his own room, anddisappeared, saying:

  "Confound that Nicole for not being in to show me a light!"

  "Shall I ring for her, father?"

  "No, I shall knock against Labrie, dozing on a chair. Good night, mydears."

  "Good night, brother," said Andrea as Philip also stood up: "I amovercome with fatigue. This is the first time, I have been up since myaccident."

  The gentleman kissed her hand with respect mixed with his affectionalways entertained for his sister and he went through the corridor,almost brushing against Gilbert.

  "Never mind Nicole--I shall retire alone. Good bye, Philip."