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Updated: June 8, 2025
M. and Madame Darbois had received the telegram announcing the return of their daughter, and were at the station to meet her. Esperance saw them and would have jumped out before the train had fully slopped. Maurice held her just in time. "No foolishness there, little cousin. Your bodyguards must return you intact to your family's four arms. One more moment of patience.
"Too late, dear child, I know everything!" The two ladies seemed surprised. "But ? How?" "Through my friend, Victor Perliez, the chemist; who is, like me, a father who feels deeply about his child's choice of a career." Esperance made a little move. "No, little girl," went on Francois Darbois, "I do not want to cause you the least regret.
The two ladies came in. "Ah," he continued, glancing toward the pastel, after he had greeted Madame Darbois, "Here is the model of this beautiful portrait." The gracious lady flushed, a little embarrassed, but flattered. After the introduction, Sardou repeated his proposal to Esperance, who, with visible excitement, looked questioningly at her father.
"That will be the very best thing for both of you," agreed Madame Darbois, and she went to make her preparations. Left alone, Esperance cast aside her blue dress and surveyed herself in the long mirror. Her eyes were asking the questions that perplexed her whole being. She raised herself lightly on her little feet. "Oh! yes, surely I am going to be tall.
Everything happened according to the Count's plans. Francois Darbois had a great success; the Catholic party owed him recognition for his noble dissertation on the role of philosophy in religion. He was a fervent follower of the author of "The Genius of Christianity." The Princess de Bernecourt presented sincere compliments to the affable philosopher.
"The man I was trying to be has left the man I am, and now, Renaud, here is what I want you to know. Esperance Darbois loves me, I was convinced of that at the rehearsal. I love her ardently in return. She will not be happy with Albert, and I want to marry her. I will employ no 'illicit means, as the lawyers say. On other scores I shall feel no remorse to have broken your cousin's engagement.
"Your request would be offensive, Albert, if it were not for your emotion." "Is it true that you love Esperance Darbois?" "It is true." "Is it true that you want to marry her?" "It is true." "My God! My God!" muttered Albert, and he stopped for a minute. He was choking. The Duke felt a profound pity for this man who was suffering at this moment the most terrible pain.
The young people could see that it contained only two ladies and the philosopher, and Genevieve breathed again. The Princess descended lightly before the front door. She kissed Esperance, and after speaking to Mme. Darbois, had Maurice, Jean and Genevieve presented to her. "You did the portrait of which the Duke de Morlay has spoken so highly?" Maurice bowed.
The young Count presented himself at seven-fifteen, having been preceded by two great bunches of flowers, for Madame Darbois and Esperance, who was at the piano when he came into the room. The Count entered with Madame Darbois, whom her husband had just presented to her, and they stopped silent to listen to Mendelssohn's beautiful nocturne, "Song of a Summer Night."
The Baron recognized the opposition of an unchangeable will to his own, which no discussion could influence. Life had resumed its regular course in the apartment on the Boulevard Raspail, but an important relationship was developing in Esperance's life. Count Albert Styvens came three times a week to pursue his philosophic studies with Professor Darbois.
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