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Updated: July 5, 2025
The principal actor in this strange drama was, indeed, the Colonel, who stood facing the old Count de St. Alyre, who, in his traveling costume, with his black silk scarf covering the lower part of his face, confronted him; he had evidently been intercepted in an endeavor to reach his carriage.
"Perhaps?" I repeated, and looked at him. "Then I suppose he is not very popular." "Neither one thing nor the other, Monsieur," he answered; "I meant only that we could not tell what use he might make of riches." "And who is he?" I inquired. "The Count de St. Alyre." "Oh! The Count! You are quite sure?" I asked, very eagerly. It was now the innkeeper's turn to look at me.
"I rather think the Count and Countess de St. Alyre." "And are they here, in the Belle Etoile?" he asked. "They have got apartments upstairs," I answered. He started up, and half pushed his chair from the table. He quickly sat down again, and I could hear him sacre-ing and muttering to himself, and grinning and scowling. I could not tell whether he was alarmed or furious.
Alyre the old gentleman who was so near being sliced like a cucumber tonight, I am informed, by the sword of the general whom Monsieur, by a turn of fortune, has put to bed of an apoplexy." "Hold your tongue, fool! The man's beastly drunk he's sulking he could talk if he liked who cares? Pack up my things. Which are Monsieur Droqville's apartments?" He knew, of course; he always knew everything.
Alyre, be sure you say you never saw either. I shall have more to say to you tomorrow night. I have reasons that I cannot now explain, for all I do, and all I postpone. Farewell. Go! Leave me." She waved me back, peremptorily. I echoed her "farewell," and obeyed. This interview had not lasted, I think, more than ten minutes.
I saw other people who consulted him, evidently as much surprised and more frightened than I. I came with the Count de St. Alyre and the Countess." He nodded toward a thin figure, also in a domino. It was the Count. "Come," he said to me, "I'll introduce you." I followed, you may suppose, readily enough.
Alyre is, in all respects, the most beautiful lady I ever beheld." The masque laughed coldly, and then, more and more softly, said, with a sigh, "I will prove all I say." And as she spoke she removed the mask: and the Countess de St. Alyre, smiling, confused, bashful, more beautiful than ever, stood before me! "Good Heavens!" I exclaimed. "How monstrously stupid I have been.
"And may I inquire between what powers, and on what particular quarrel?" "Between the Count and Countess de St. Alyre, and about a document they subscribed on the 25th July, 1811." The Marquis afterwards told me that this was the date of their marriage settlement. The Count stood stock-still for a minute or so; and one could fancy that they saw his face flushing through his mask.
If he were, by chance, to turn his eyes in my direction, I knew that I must reckon upon an instantaneous renewal of the combat only commenced in the hall of Belle Etoile. In any case, could malignant fortune have posted, at this place and hour, a more dangerous watcher? What ecstasy to him, by a single discovery, to hit me so hard, and blast the Countess de St. Alyre, whom he seemed to hate.
"I fell asleep and was dreaming," I said, lest any strong language, founded on the role he played in my dream, should have escaped me. "I did not know for some moments where I was." "You are the young gentleman who has the apartments over the Count and Countess de St. Alyre?" he said, winking one eye, close in meditation, and glaring at me with the other. "I believe so yes," I answered.
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