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There are, as I heard Madame Riano say some years afterward, such things as praying rogues and swearing saints but though I prayed, I was not a rogue. It may be imagined that I went not far from Gaston Cheverny's lodgings during that twenty-four hours.
Sleeping or working, however, my mind was always full of Francezka. With discretion on Gaston Cheverny's part there was no reason to fear for her; but although his wit and courage were above cavil, his discretion was an unknown quantity. For him, much as I loved him, I felt no immediate concern.
Monsieur Voltaire had gone to England, his departure hastened, so Count Saxe declared, laughing uproariously, by his dread of encountering Babache, the rival wit. I found time, in the midst of running about from one end of Paris to the other, to call daily at Gaston Cheverny's lodgings and ask after the young man. His improvement continued rapidly and steadily.
I judged that the payment of the ten thousand crowns would about swallow up Gaston Cheverny's modest estate; but apparently he gave no more thought to it than he did to last year's birds' nests. It was in the middle of the glorious summer afternoon that the fair blue lake of Uzmaiz came into view. As soon as we reached the shore of the lake we were perceived, and boats were sent for us.
Francezka walked the minuet with Count Saxe, and afterward danced in a very merry branle. She had danced since Gaston's return, for the first time in eight years, she told me, having no heart to dance in that first year, when she was secretly Gaston Cheverny's wife, because he was away at the wars, and having never seen dancing in those seven years of sorrow when she waited and longed for him.
Now, we were very far from secure; and we waited for Gaston Cheverny's return and the news he might bring to know whether we should have a chance to fight, or be marched off to Russian prisons as we supposed. As for Francezka it was not yet time for her to seek a safe place she came to the window and stood there in the half darkness, her one candle being out.
A deathlike silence fell when Francezka, in her sweet, penetrating voice, was bidding the cobbler's boy a last, despairing farewell. The Grand Prieur, leaning forward, put his hand to his ear he was slightly deaf and I felt my eyes grow hot with tears, when suddenly Mademoiselle Capello caught Gaston Cheverny's eyes fixed on her. It was as if he had laid a compelling hand upon her.
When Gaston was here secretly in September of last year we were married." She said it calmly, but with an undertone of the deepest and serenest joy; and rising, and once more wearing that look of happy exultation which had been hers, she added: "I am Gaston Cheverny's wife. Ought I not to be the happiest creature on earth?"
The singing at the table was entirely of hunting songs; the little rascals of pages took good care to keep Gaston's glass filled he was a great hero with them then. When it came time for the toasts, Count Saxe arose and after drinking to the king and the ladies, gave Gaston Cheverny's health, together with an account, as only Maurice of Saxe could give it, of the exploit of the afternoon.
As soon as the little Austrian lieutenant was up and dressed, I went into the room he had occupied to secure Gaston Cheverny's papers until he should return. I felt sure that his pretense of securing them was only an ineffectual ruse to gain time. I found nothing on his table of the least consequence, except a letter to Francezka, sealed and addressed. Of this I took possession.
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