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"Curse me if I don't believe that those same traditions were more or less founded on fact," said Eugene. "I never saw this court under these conditions before, but I could believe anything now. What's that!" "Nothing but a door slamming," said Duchesne, loudly. "Well, I wish doors wouldn't slam in houses that have been empty eleven months."
As we passed along hastily through the crowd, I saw that a young officer in a hussar uniform whispered something in Duchesne's ear; to which he quickly replied, "Certainly." And as he spoke again in the same low tone, Duchesne answered, "Agreed, sir," with a courteous smile, and a look of much pleasure.
I turned. It was Duchesne himself, who for some time had been seated behind my chair and looking on at the game. Fleeting as was the glance I had of his features, I fancied they were somewhat paler than usual. Could this be from the turn of fortune? But no. I watched him now, and I perceived that he never even looked at the game.
On Saturday, while half the village of Sainte-Agnes was mourning for Amedee and preparing the funeral black for his burial on Monday, the other half was busy with white dresses and white veils for the great confirmation service to-morrow, when the bishop was to confirm a class of one hundred boys and girls. Father Duchesne divided his time between the living and the dead.
I remember listening to an account by him of certain ceremonies in the catacombs in which he had taken part, in the train of an Ultramontane Cardinal whom he particularly disliked. He himself had preached the sermon. A member of the party said, "I hear your audience were greatly moved, Monsignore." Duchesne bowed, with just a touch of irony.
Duchesne drove up, helped him into the buggy, smiled a good-natured but half-perfunctory assurance that he would look after "her patient," and drove away.
"The counsel I have given to-day may come as a command to-morrow. The Chevalier Duchesne has given his Majesty great and grave offence; see that you are not led to follow his example." With a marked emphasis on the last few words, and with a cold bow, he left the room. "That I am not led to follow his example!" said I, repeating his words over slowly to myself.
"Here, Antoine; let us be served here," said Duchesne to the waiter; "I have already given orders about the dinner. And now, Burke, come out here. What think you of that view?" Scarcely had I set foot on the terrace, when I started back in mingled admiration and amazement. Beneath us lay the great city, in the mellow light of an evening in September.
"A thousand pardons, my dear Burke," said Duchesne, at this moment, as he slipped his arm through mine; "but I thought I should have been in need of your services a few minutes ago." "Ah! how?" "Move a little aside, and I 'll tell you. I wished to ask mademoiselle to dance, and approached her for the purpose.
Rivers was only vaguely conscious of a slight figure muffled tightly in a cloak carried past her in the arms of a grizzled negro up the staircase, followed by Dr. Duchesne. With the closing of the front door on the tumultuous world without, a silence fell again on the little parlor.
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