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Updated: June 12, 2025
At last, several men entered the drawing room; at their head was Monsieur de Camier, whose ruddy face had lost all its color. "Do not be frightened, ladies," said he, in a trembling voice; "do not be frightened. It is only a slight accident, without any danger. Monsieur de Bergenheim was wounded in the hunt," he continued, addressing Mademoiselle de Corandeuil.
They fought for their colors the whole time; the Bergenheim livery was red, the Corandeuil green. There were two flags; each exalted his own while throwing that of his adversaries in the mud. Greenhorn and crab were jokes; cucumber and lobster were insults. Such were the gracious terms exchanged every day between the two parties.
"Yes, I know him! Speaking of service, I once rendered him one which was of some account. Is he at the castle?" "Yes, Monsieur, and his lady also." "Ah! his wife, too. She was a Mademoiselle de Corandeuil, of Provence. Is she pretty?" "Pretty," said Mademoiselle Gobillot, pursing up her lips, "that depends upon tastes. If a person likes a face as white as a ghost, she is.
"Madame," said he, "there is a person here inquiring for Monsieur le Baron de Bergenheim." "Is Monsieur de Bergenheim not at home?" asked Mademoiselle de Corandeuil. "Monsieur has gone to ride with Mademoiselle Aline." "Who is this person?" "It is a gentleman; but I did not ask his name." "Let him enter."
"It was that poor Fidele that I gave your husband," said Mademoiselle de Corandeuil, who was always very sentimental in the choice of names she gave to animals. "He merited his name, Mademoiselle, for the poor beast died for his master, for whom the shot was in tended.
"You know Bergenheim; you will go to see him to-morrow. He will invite you to pass a few days with him; you will stay to dinner. You will see Mademoiselle de Corandeuil, in whose presence you will speak my name as you refer to our journey; and before night, my venerable cousin of 1569 shall send me an invitation to come to see her."
Mademoiselle de Corandeuil recognized the correctness of this observation, and left the room, asking the others to follow her. During this time, Madame de Bergenheim remained motionless in her place, apparently insensible to all that surrounded her. The noise of the closing door aroused her from her stupor.
The sort of infatuation which Mademoiselle de Corandeuil seemed to have for him, and Christian's courteous and hospitable habits, would give him an opportunity to prolong his stay as long as he desired. She thus compared herself to a besieged general, who sees the enemy within his ramparts. "Very well!
Then she ran two or three times around the room in a sort of frenzy, and ended by falling upon her knees before the sofa and burying her head in its cushions. This scene bewildered the two women. While Mademoiselle de Corandeuil tried to raise Clemence, Aline, still more frightened, ran out of the room to call for aid.
"You are needed no longer, Rousselet," said Mademoiselle de Corandeuil; "close the door as you go out." When she had been obeyed, the old maid turned gravely toward Aline, who was still dancing about the room, having seized her sister-in-law's hands in order to force her to share her childish joy.
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