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"Not so strange," I said; and told her how many times before the eclipse under the edge of which my boyhood was passed had completely shadowed me. At the account of Ste. Pélagie she leaned toward me, her hands clenched on her breast. When we came to the Hôtel Dieu she leaned back pallid against the stone. "Dear Marquis du Plessy!" she whispered, as his name entered the story.
Taking the road early next morning, I began to watch for Plessy too soon, without forecasting that I was not to set foot within its walls. We came within the marquis' boundaries upon a little goose girl, knitting beside her flock. Her bright hair was bound with a woolen cap. Delicious grass, and the shadow of an oak, under which she stood, were not to be resisted, so I sent the carriage on.
"Certainly," answered Plessy. He twirled his moustache, his voice had lost its suavity and had taken on an accent of almost contemptuous raillery. He even winked at his two brother officers, he was beginning to play with Faversham. "I read the letter to illustrate how strange, how very strange, are your English girls. Here is one of them who writes to me.
I am so happy it seems impossible that I come from Mittau, and this day the Marquis du Plessy died to me! I wish the sun had been tied to the trees, as the goose girl tied her gander." "But I want another day," said Eagle. "I want all the days that are my due at home." We ascended the steps of the stone pavilion, and sat down in an arch like a balcony over the sunken garden.
A companion would be of no use; one cannot talk for fifteen or sixteen hours, and while debating with myself whether I should go to Plessy, I often glanced down the long perspective of hours.
However, I knew my friend the marquis expected me to return defeated. He gave me my opportunity as a child is indulged with a dangerous plaything, to teach it caution. He would be in his chateau of Plessy, cutting off two days' posting to Paris. And after the first sharp pangs of chagrin and shame at losing the fortune he had placed in my hands, I looked forward with impatience to our meeting.
Plessy, Anai's, and Augustine Brohan, is constantly with me. At the Porte-Saint-Martin were Frederic Lemaltre and Madame Dorval, startling in their poignant truthfulness and dramatic power in that terrible drama Trente Ans, oil la Vie d'un Joueur. And at the Gymnase we had Rose Cheri. If I talk so much about theatres, it must be remembered that the theatre is one of our glories.
Will you be wearing it to-morrow? I pray you gentlemen to help me," he said turning to the subalterns, and he began to push the heavy table from the centre of the room. "I will not fight you to-night, Lieutenant," Captain Plessy replied. "And why?" asked Faversham ceasing from his work. He made a gesture which had more of despair than of impatience. Captain Plessy gave his reason.
To-morrow I would very likely kill our young friend, he would have had time to think, to picture to himself the little point of steel glittering towards his heart but to-night he would assuredly have killed me. But as I say I do not wish to be killed. You are satisfied?" It appeared that they were not. They sat with all the appearances of discontent. They had no words for Captain Plessy.
None the less they were distinctly spoken. A startled exclamation broke from the two subalterns. Plessy commenced to bluster. "Sir, do I understand you?" and he saw Faversham standing above him, in a quiver of excitement. "You will hold your tongue, Captain Plessy, until I have finished.
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