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Updated: June 16, 2025
"Both the Count and Countess were willing to accept you as their son-in-law?" "Exactly so." "Could M. de Mussidan have found a more brilliant match for his daughter, one who could unite so many advantages of experience and education to so enormous a fortune?" De Breulh could hardly repress a smile. "I am not wishing to pay you a compliment," said Andre impatiently. "Reply to my question."
I will affect to do so for the time. Modeste believes in me, and will help me. I have patience. The villain who has wrecked my life does not know me, and I will only reveal myself upon the day that I hold him helpless in my hand." "Take care, Andre," urged De Breulh; "a false step would ruin your hopes for ever."
"Unfortunately," broke in De Breulh, "you do not see how useless to you will be the sacrifice that you exact from me. Listen! you have not appeared much in society; and when you did, it was in the character of my betrothed; as soon as I withdraw hosts of aspirants for your hand will spring up." Sabine heaved a deep sigh, for Andre had foreseen the same result.
"It is all perfectly clear," said Andre in jubilant tones; "M. de Croisenois had need of your aid, he saw that he could not easily obtain it, and so sought to bind you by the means of a loan made to you at a time of great need." "You are right," said De Breulh. The Viscountess' giddy mode of action had brought her into many scrapes, but never into so terrible a one as this.
When he entered his club, the traces of his agitation were so visible upon his face, that some of the card-players stopped their game to inquire if Chambertin, the favorite for the Chantilly cup, had broken down. "No, no," replied he, as he hurriedly made his way to the writing-room, "Chambertin is as sound as a bell." "What the deuce has happened to De Breulh?" asked one of the members.
He did not, however, allow his surprise to be visible. "I ought to apologize for receiving you like this," remarked Andre quickly, "but a poor man must wait upon himself." As he spoke, he threw off his blouse and set down the pail in a corner of the room. "I rather should offer my excuse for my intrusion," returned M. de Breulh.
Misfortune is a harsh teacher; some weeks ago he would have smiled superciliously at the mere idea of granting his daughter's hand to a struggling artist, for then he thought only of M. de Breulh, but now he would have esteemed it a precious boon had he been allowed to choose Andre as Sabine's husband.
"I will, as is usual, deposit half the price in advance." Andre blushed scarlet. "You are joking," said he. "Not at all," answered De Breulh quietly; "I have my own way of doing business, from which I never deviate." In spite of this answer Andre's pride was hurt. "But," remarked he, "this picture will not be ready for perhaps six or seven months.
Ah! now I can see why you did not wish to write and inquire about poor Sabine. You well knew the effect that your message would have on her." M. de Breulh smiled as he turned to Andre and said, "You see that I was right in what I told you."
Hardly knowing what he was doing, he rushed out on the landing, and, leaning over the banister, called out loudly, "Sir, stop a moment!" De Breulh, who had by this time reached the bottom of the staircase, turned round. "Come back, if you please," said Andre.
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