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Vandeuvres once more assumed his dignified bearing and added gravely: "Monsieur Venot is fully aware that I believe what it is one's duty to believe." It was an act of faith, and even Leonide appeared satisfied. The young men at the end of the room no longer laughed; the company were old fogies, and amusement was not to be found there.
There remained Leonide de Chezelles and Steiner, an ugly little knot against which Mme Hugon's elderly and amiable serenity stood out in strange contrast. And Fauchery, having sketched out his article, named this last group "Countess Sabine's little clique." "On another occasion," continued Steiner in still lower tones, "Leonide got her tenor down to Montauban.
Read Kropotkin, Osip-Luri, E. Semenov, Walizewski, Melchior de Vogüé, and Leo Wiener if you doubt the wealth and variety of this literature. Among living prose writers two names are encountered: Maxim Gorky and Léonide Andreiev. Of the neurotic Gorky there is naught to be said that is encouraging. He was physically ill when in America and as an artist in plain decadence.
"Room, room, there!" cried a seneschal. "The emperor!" "Dearest Leonide," whispered a voice in her ear, "I resolved to see you again to-night, in spite of your prohibition to renew my suit." "Then wait here beside me; do not leave me," answered the lady, as she recognized St. Eustache. "That will I not, dearest," was the fervent reply.
But the Countess Sabine had once more resumed: "Well, at last the news of it got about. The young man was likely to die, and that would explain the poor child's adoption of the religious life. Besides, they say that Monsieur de Fougeray would never have given his consent to the marriage." "They say heaps of other things too," cried Leonide giddily. She fell a-laughing; she refused to talk.
"Dear Alfred," said the lady, "I am afraid you impoverished yourself to aid me in extricating myself from the toils of my persevering suitor." "Say nothing of it, Leonide," replied Alfred. "Your liberty is cheaply purchased by the sacrifice." "Lady, one word with you," said a low voice at her side. She turned, and beheld a pilgrim with scrip, staff, and cross, and closely masked.
The two lamps on the chimney piece, which had shades of rose-colored lace, cast a feeble light over them while on scattered pieces of furniture there burned but three other lamps, so that the great drawing room remained in soft shadow. Steiner was getting bored. He was describing to Fauchery an escapade of that little Mme de Chezelles, whom he simply referred to as Leonide.
In a few minutes the tramp of armed men was heard in the saloon, and the wretched culprit was removed. "General Lioncourt," said the emperor to his recovered officer, "your new commission shall be made out to-morrow. In the mean while the lovely Leonide shall teach you to forget your trials." The assemblage broke up. Lioncourt, his wife, and her faithful brother retired to their now happy home.
Georges, who could not leave without his mother, had stationed himself at the door, where he gave the exact address. "Third floor, door on your left." Yet before going out Fauchery gave a final glance. Vandeuvres had again resumed his position among the ladies and was laughing with Leonide de Chezelles.
"Sorry to interrupt you, colonel," said the new comer, a young man with dark lowering brows, deep-set eyes, and a sinister expression, heightened by a sabre cut that traversed his left cheek diagonally, "but his majesty desires to speak to you." "Au revoir, Leonide," said the young colonel to his bride; "I will join you again in a few moments. The emperor is laconic enough in his communications.
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