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It is just one month I have forgotten the date it was, 'Good-morning, my son how pretty you are! You see the progress; and do you know, finally, what passed yesterday? I entered Robert's room noiselessly; the door was open what did I behold, my mother! Monsieur de Camors, with his head resting on the pillow of the cradle, and laughing at this little creature, who smiled back at him!
Notwithstanding this assertion, Camors was yet more determined to leave the next morning, as he had previously decided. He carried away the most painful impression of the scene of that evening. She had wounded his pride, inflamed his hopeless passion, and disquieted his honor. "What is this woman, and what does she want of me?
Everything justifies me the past and the present, I am sure; and so will the future, I fear. Did I say the past? Be assured, Monsieur de Camors, I am not a narrow-minded admirer of the past. Though a Legitimist from personal affections, I am a downright Liberal in principles. You know that, Durocher?
All women, widows, matrons, or maids, are deeply interested in matters pertaining to marriage. "What, uncle! The General! Can it be? Are you sure?" "Um rather. He writes the news himself. Do you know the lady, Monsieur le Comte?" "Mademoiselle de Luc d'Estrelles is my cousin," Camors replied. "Ah! That is right; and she is of a certain age?" "She is about twenty-five."
M. de Campvallon had not less reason to congratulate himself on the conduct of the young Count. He entered into the folly of his host with affectionate grace. He spoke to him little of the beauty of his fiancee: much of her high moral qualities; and let him see his most flattering confidence in the future of this union. On the eve of his departure Camors was summoned into the General's study.
The death of M. Campvallon had finally destroyed her last hopes, which she had believed she could have founded on the anger and desperation of the old man. Since that time she was animated against her nephew and the Marquise with the rage of one of the Furies. She learned through Vautrot that M. de Camors had been in the chamber of Madame de Campvallon the night of the General's death.
"Monsieur!" he said, doubtfully. Camors opened his arms and bent as if to kneel before him. "Come and embrace me, I beg of you," he murmured. The child had already advanced smiling, when the woman who was following him, who was his old nurse, suddenly appeared. 'She made a gesture of fright: "Your father!" she said, in a stifled voice.
Camors felt a chill run to his very marrow. "In mourning! and why?" he asked, mechanically. "Juliette is dead!" sobbed Lescande, and covered his eyes with his great hands. "Great God!" cried Camors in a hollow voice. He listened a moment to Lescande's bitter sobs, then made a movement to take his hand, but dared not do it. "Great God! is it possible?" he repeated.
"Indeed!" said Camors. "You, who always reproach me with hiding my merits, why do you hide yours? If you are still capable of weeping, so much the better." "No! I claim no merit for that. Oh, heavens! If you only knew! It is quite the contrary." "What a mystery you are!" "Are you very curious to fathom this mystery? Only that? Very well be happy! It is time to put an end to this."
But Camors formed no judgment, good or bad; Mademoiselle de Tecle was for him only an insignificant little girl, whom he never thought of for a moment in the year. There was, however, at this time in society a person who did interest him very much, and the more because against his will. This was the Marquise de Campvallon, nee de Luc d'Estrelles.
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