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Updated: June 16, 2025
As the young painter mastered the contents of the letter his features became ghastly pale, and a shudder convulsed every nerve and muscle of his frame. With a mechanical gesture he extended the paper to M. de Breulh, uttering the one word, "Read." His friend obeyed him, more alarmed by Andre's laconism than he could have been by some sudden explosion of passion. "Do not lose heart," exclaimed he.
"Gracious me!" exclaimed the worthy woman, dazzled by the gorgeousness of the whole turnout; "he can't be coming here, he must have mistaken the house." But her amazement reached its height when M. de Breulh, on alighting, asked for Andre. "Fourth story, first door to the right," answered the woman; "but I will show you the way."
She was terribly disappointed at not having seen you; but knowing our intimacy, she intrusted me with a letter for you from Mademoiselle de Mussidan." Andre shuddered; he felt that the note contained evil tidings, with which De Breulh was already acquainted. "Give it to me," said he, and with trembling hands he tore open the letter and perused its contents.
"De Breulh," went on the lady, "has heard a good deal about De Croisenois, and, as no doubt you can guess, but very little to his credit, and quite enough to justify any father in refusing him his daughter's hand; but in this case it is evident to me that De Mussidan is yielding to a secret pressure.
You are of high birth and princely fortune, while I am utterly friendless and unknown; all that I am deficient in you possess." "But I have been poor myself," interposed De Breulh, "and perhaps endured even greater miseries than ever you have done. Do you know what I was doing at your age? I was slowly starving to death at Sonora, and had to take the humblest position in a cattle ranch.
"My reason, sir, for seeing you to-day is to ask, nay, to entreat you, to release me from my engagement to you, and to take the whole responsibility of the rupture on yourself." Man of the world as he was, M. de Breulh could not conceal his surprise, in which a certain amount of wounded self-love was mingled. "Mademoiselle!" commenced he Sabine interrupted him.
"I am, and I have spent an enormous sum with him." "But Van Klopen is nasty sometimes; did he not sue Mademoiselle de Riversac?" asked De Breulh. "But he did not, I expect, force his way into her drawing-room and behave outrageously before a perfect stranger. Do you know M. de Croisenois?" returned Andre.
"Do not think that I ask this question from mere idle curiosity; my only desire is to aid you. I should be glad to be a something in your life. I have influential friends and connections " Sabine was deeply wounded. Did this man propose patronizing Andre, and thus place his position and wealth in contrast with that of the obscure painter? In his eagerness de Breulh had made a false move.
Just then the servant returned from the bank, and as soon as the man had left the room De Breulh took the notes and placed them in his cousin's hand. "Here is the money for De Croisenois," said he. "Take my advice, and give it to him this evening with a polite letter of thanks." "A thousand thanks, Gontran; I will act as you advise."
Andre's manner had by this time so captivated De Breulh that he muttered to himself, "I really ought to hate this fellow, but on my word I like him better than any one I have met for a long time." Andre had by this time placed a large portfolio on the table. "Here," said he, "are some twenty or thirty sketches; if any of them took your fancy, you could make your choice."
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