CHAPTER XII.

by Alexandre Dumas

　　THE day I arrived in Paris I called upon M. Louis de Franchi. He wasnot at home.I left my card, with an intimation that I had just returned fromSullacaro, and that I was the bearer of a letter from M. Lucien, hisbrother. I inquired when he would be at home, as I had undertaken todeliver the letter with my own hand.To conduct me to his master's study, where I wished to write a note,the valet led me through the dining-room and the _salon._I looked around me as I proceeded with a curiosity which will beunderstood, and I recognized the influence of the same taste which Ihad already perceived at Sullacaro; only the taste was here set off bytrue Parisian elegance. M. Louis de Franchi certainly appeared to havea very charming lodging for a bachelor.Next morning, about eleven o'clock, my servant announced M. Louis deFranchi. I told the man to offer my visitor the papers and to say thatI would wait on him as soon as I was dressed.In five minutes I presented myself.M. Louis do Franchi who was, no doubt from a sense of courtesy,reading a tale I had contributed to _La Presse,_ raised his head asthe door opened, and I entered.I stood perfectly astounded at the resemblance between the twobrothers. He rose."Monsieur," he said, "I could scarcely credit my good fortune when Iread your note yesterday on my return home. I have pictured you twentytimes so as to assure myself that it was in accord with yourportraits, and at last I, this morning, determined to present myselfat your house without considering the hour, and I fear I have been tooearly.""I hope you will excuse me if I do not at once acknowledge yourkindness in suitable terms, but may I inquire whether I have thehonour to address M. Louis or M. Lucien de Franchi?""Are you serious? Yes, the resemblance is certainly wonderful, andwhen I was last at Sullacaro nearly every one mistook one of us forthe other, yet, if he has not abjured the Corsican dress, you haveseen him in a costume, which would make a considerable difference inour appearance.""And justly so," I replied; "but as chance would have it, he was, whenI left, dressed exactly as you are now, except that he wore whitetrowsers, so that I was not able to separate your presence from hismemory with the difference in dress of which you speak, but," Icontinued, taking the letter from my pocket-book, "I can quiteunderstand you are anxious to have news from home, so pray read thiswhich I would have left at your house yesterday had I not promisedMadame de Franchi to give it to you myself.""They were all quite well when you left, I hope?""Yes, but somewhat anxious.""On my account?""Yes; but read that letter, I beg of you.""If you will excuse me."So Monsieur Franchi read the letter while I made some cigarettes. Iwatched him as his eyes travelled rapidly over the paper, and I heardhim murmur, "Dear Lucien, Darling Mother----yes----yes----Iunderstand."I had not yet recovered from the surprise the strange resemblancebetween the brothers had caused me, but now I noticed what Lucien hadtold me, that Louis was paler, and spoke French better than he did."Well," I said when he had finished reading the letter, and hadlighted the cigarette, "You see, as I told you, that they are anxiousabout you, and I am glad that their fears are unfounded.""Well, no," he said gravely, "not altogether; I have not been ill, itis true, but I have been out of sorts, and my indisposition has beenaugmented by this feeling that my brother is suffering with me.""Monsieur Lucien has already told me as much, and had I been scepticalI should now have been quite sure that what he said was a fact. Ishould require no further proof than I now have. So you, yourself, areconvinced, monsieur, that your brother's health depends to a certainextent on your own.""Yes, perfectly so.""Then," I continued, "as your answer will doubly interest me, may Iask, not from mere curiosity, if this indisposition of which you speakis likely soon to pass away?""Oh, you know, monsieur, that the greatest griefs give way to time,and that my heart, even if seared, will heal. Meantime, however, prayaccept my thanks once more, and permit me to call on you occasionallyto have a chat about Sullacaro.""With the greatest pleasure," I replied; "but why not now continue ourconversation, which is equally agreeable to both of us. My servant isabout to announce breakfast. Will you do me the honour to join me, andwe can talk at our ease?""I regret that it is impossible; I have an appointment with theChancellor at twelve o'clock, and you will understand that such ayoung advocate as I am cannot afford to stay away.""Ah, it is probably only about that Orlandi and Colona affair, as you,no doubt, are aware, and I can re-assure you on that point, for Imyself signed the contract as sponsor for this Orlandi.""Yes, my brother said as much.""But," he added, looking at his watch, "it is nearly twelve o'clock; Imust go and inform the Chancellor that my brother has redeemed myword.""Ah, yes, most religiously, I can answer for that.""Dear Lucien, I knew quite well, though our sentiments do not agree onthis point, that he would do it for me.""Yes, and I assure you it cost him something to comply.""We will speak of all this later, for you can well understand howpleasant it is for me to re-visit with your assistance my mother, mybrother, and our home surroundings, so if you will tell me when youare disengaged----""That will be somewhat difficult; for this next few days I shall bevery busy, but will you tell me where I am likely to find you.""Listen," he said, "to-morrow is Mi-Careme, is it not?""To-morrow?""Yes.""Well?""Are you going to the Opera Ball?""Yes and No. Yes, if you will meet me there. No, if I have no objectin going.""I must go, I am obliged to be there.""Ah, yes," I said laughing, "I understand, as you said just now, timeheals up the greatest griefs, and your seared heart must be healed.""You are under a misapprehension, for I shall probably sustain newtortures by going.""Then do not go.""But what is one to do in this world? We cannot always do what wewant; I am dragged thither by fate in spite of myself. I know I hadbetter not go, and nevertheless I shall go.""Well, then, to-morrow, at the Opera.""Yes, agreed.""At what time?""Half-past twelve midnight, if that will suit you.""And whereabouts?""In the _foyer_--at one, I will be in front of the clock.""That is understood."We then shook hands and he left the house quickly. It was on thestroke of twelve.As for me, I occupied myself all the afternoon and all the next day inthose employments as a man is obliged to undertake on his return froma lengthened tour.At half-past twelve o'clock at night I was at the rendezvous.Louis had been waiting some time--he had been following a mask whichhe thought he recognized, but the lady had been lost in the crowd, andhe had not been able to rejoin her.I wished to speak of Corsica, but Louis was too absent to follow outsuch a grave subject of conversation. His eyes were constantly fixedon the clock, and suddenly he rushed away from my side, exclaiming:"Ah, there is my bouquet of violets."He pushed through the crowd to join a woman who, evidently with apurpose, was holding a large bouquet of violets in her hand.There were bouquets of every species in the foyer, and I myself wassoon accosted by a bouquet of camellias, which congratulated me uponmy safe return to Paris.To the camellias succeeded a bouquet of rose-pompons.To these succeeded a bouquet of heliotrope.In fact I was engaged with my fifteenth bouquet when I encounteredD----."Ah, is it you, _mon cher?_" he cried. "Welcome back; you havereturned just in time. I have a little supper party thisevening--so-and-so and so-and-so--and we shall count upon you.""A thousand thanks, my dear fellow; but though I am strongly temptedto accept your invitation, I can't. I am engaged to somebody.""Yes; but everyone else will bring somebody also," said D----. "It isquite understood that there are to be six water-bottles, whose destinyit is to refresh bouquets.""Ah, you are mistaken. I shall have no bouquet to put in awater-bottle; I am with a friend.""Well, you know the proverb, 'Friends of our friends.'""It is a young gentleman whom you do not know.""Well, then, we will make his acquaintance.""I will tell him of his good fortune.""Yes, and if he decline, bring him by force.""I will do what I can, I promise you. At what time?""Three o'clock; but as supper will remain on table till six you haveample margin.""Very well."A bouquet of myosotis, which perhaps had heard the latter portion ofour conversation, then took D----'s arm and walked on with him.Shortly afterwards I met Louis, who had by this time got rid of hisviolets.As the lady who honoured me with her attention just then was a trifledull, I despatched her to one of my friends, and took Louis' arm."Well," I said, "have you learnt what you wanted to know?""Oh, yes! You know that at a masked ball people talk of the verythings they ought to leave you in ignorance of.""My poor friend," I said, "pardon me for thus addressing you; but itappears to me that I know you since I have known your brother. Lookhere--you are unhappy, are not you? Now what is it?""Oh, my goodness! Nothing worth talking about."I saw that he did not wish to speak on the subject, so I said no more.We took two or three turns in silence.--I was quite indifferent, for Iexpected nobody, but he was anxiously examining every domino thatpassed.At length I said, "Do you know what you might do to-night?"He started like a man suddenly aroused."I! No. I beg your pardon; what did you say?""I was about to propose a distraction which it seems to me you need.""What is it?""Come to supper with a friend of mine, with me.""Oh, no--I am not in a festive humour.""Bah! They will talk nothing but nonsense, and that will amuse you.""Well--but I am not invited!""You mistake--for you are.""It is very kind on your part--but 'pon my word I am not worthy of--"Just then we crossed D----. He seemed very much engaged with hisbouquet of myosotis. Nevertheless he saw me."Well," he said, "is it settled? Three o'clock.""Less settled than ever," I replied--"I cannot join you.""Go to the Devil, then!"And with this pious ejaculation he continued his course."Who is that gentleman?" inquired Louis."That is D----, one of my friends; a very cheerful youth, though he isthe manager of one of our most respectable papers.""Monsieur D----!" exclaimed Louis. "Do you know _him?_""Certainly. I have known him for some years.""And is he the person with whom you are invited to sup this evening?""Yes, the same.""Then it was to his house you intended to take me?""Yes.""Then that alters the case. I accept, and with very great pleasure.""All right. That settles the question.""Perhaps, after all, I ought not to go," muttered Louis, smilingsadly. "But you remember what I said yesterday about my destiny. Hereis the proof. I should have done better not to have come here thisevening."At this moment we again encountered D----. "My dear fellow," I said,"I have changed my mind!""And you will join us?""Yes.""Bravo! But I ought to mention one thing.""That is?""That whoever sups with us to-night, sups with us again to-morrowevening.""By what law of society is that?""By the laws of the wager made with Chateau Renaud."I felt Louis' arm quiver as it rested on mine--I turned round; butthough his face was deadly pale, it was impassable."What is the wager?" I inquired."Oh, it would occupy too much time to repeat here, and, besides, someone interested might overhear, and it might thus be lost.""What wonderful discretion you possess! At three, then.""At three!"Once more we separated, and as I glanced at the clock I saw it thenwas thirty-five minutes past two."Do you know this M. de Chateau Renaud?" asked Louis, who vainlyattempted to command his voice, and to conceal his emotion."Only by sight. I have met him occasionally in society.""Then he is not a friend of yours?""Not even an acquaintance.""Ah, so much the better," replied Louis."Why so?""For no particular reason.""But do you know him?""Indirectly."Notwithstanding this evasive answer, it was easy to perceive thatbetween Louis and Chateau Renaud there existed one of those mysteriousbonds which could only be forged by a woman. An instinctive feelingassured me that it would be best for all if he and I returned homequietly."Will you take my advice, Monsieur de Franchi," I said."About what? tell me!""Do not go to supper at D----'s house.""Why not? Does he not expect us. Have you not told him that you willbring a friend?""Yes, but that is not the point.""What is the point then?""I am sure you had better not go, that is all!""But surely you have some reason to give for your change of opinion;just now you were insisting on my presence at D----'s against mywill.""I did not then know that we should meet Chateau Renaud.""But that is all the better. I believe he is a very pleasantcompanion, and I shall be glad to make his acquaintance.""Very well," I replied--"so be it. Shall we go now?"We accordingly went downstairs for our paletots.D---- lived within a short distance of the opera house, the morningwas very fine, and I hoped that the open air would enliven mycompanion. So I proposed that we should walk, and this he agreed to.