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I got to M. de Bragadin's just as the soup was being served. He welcomed me heartily, and was delighted at having foreseen that I should thus surprise them. Besides my two other old friends, there were De la Haye, Bavois, and Dr. Righelini at table. "What! you without a cloak!" said M. Dandolo. "Yes," said I; "for having gone out with my mask on I forgot to bring one:"
For more than a minute he lay there upon the ground stunned and dizzy. When he rose two men seized him roughly. "Ah, no foolishness," he said quickly. "It is I, Bavois." This did not cause them to relax their hold. "How does it happen," demanded one, in a threatening tone, "that Baron d'Escorval falls and you succeed in making the descent in safety a few moments later?"
But while he seemed to be occupied only with thoughts of his approaching marriage, his mind was full of intense anxiety concerning Baron d'Escorval. What had become of the baron and of Bavois after their escape? What had become of those who were awaiting them on the rocks for Martial knew all their plans Mme. d'Escorval and Marie-Anne, the abbe and Maurice, and the four officers?
I thought that excess of imitation perfectly scandalous, and I could not help telling De la Haye that he ought to change his pupil's deportment, because such servile mimicry would only expose him to bitter raillery. As I was giving him my opinion on that subject, Bavois made his appearance, and when he had spent an hour in the company of the young man he was entirely of the same mind.
It is only love which can inspire such conversations, but unfortunately it gains nothing by them. Next morning, just as I was going out to take my letters, the Baron de Bercei, uncle of my friend Bavois, entered. "I know," said he, "that my nephew owes his fortune to you; he is just going to be made general, and I and all the family will be enchanted to make your acquaintance.
He made this movement, murmuring: "If there is a God who watches over honest people let Him open His eyes this instant!" The God of the just was watching. Bavois arrived at the end of his dangerous journey with torn and bleeding hands, but safe. He fell like a mass of rock; and the rudeness of the shock drew from him a groan resembling the roar of an infuriated beast.
The Baron and the Baroness d'Escorval, and old Corporal Bavois had departed this life within a month of each other, the previous year, mourned by all. So that of all the people of diverse condition who had been connected with the troubles at Montaignac, Blanche knew only four who were still alive.
I was nearly bursting into a loud laugh, when I heard M. Dandolo remark that, unless we hurried, we would not have time to hear mass, whereupon Bavois enquired whether it was a festival. M. Dandolo, without passing any remark, answered negatively, and after that, mass was not again mentioned. When Bavois was ready, I left them and went a different way.
But the old physician had not given his word lightly, and everything took place as he had promised. The priest at Vigano blessed the marriage of Maurice d'Escorval and of Marie-Anne Lacheneur, and after inscribing their names upon the church register, he gave them a certificate, upon which the physician and Corporal Bavois figured as witnesses.
We returned to the palace before him, and when he came back, finding us all together, he gave his new guests the most friendly welcome. De la Haye spoke to me of a hundred things, but I scarcely heard what he said, so much was my attention taken up by Bavois. He was so different to what I had fancied him to be from the impression I had received from De la Haye, that my ideas were altogether upset.
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