The Chevalier De Maison Rouge (16 page)

able to account for it, the cause of this mad folly ; the

sole canse was jealousy of Morand ; but the moment was

certainly badly chosen to amuse himself by being jealous

of a man, when this man was at Rambouillet, and while

enjoying a tete-a-tete with the woman one loves, surrounded by the most enchanting scenery, on one of the lovely days

THE CHEVALIER DE MAISON ROUGE. 103

of spring. It was not suspicion of the inmates at the

house at Auteuil, where Genevieve had remained an hour ;

no, the incessant torment of his life was the idea that

Morand loved Genevieve, and yet, singular fantasy of the

brain, strange combination of caprice, not a gesture, a

look, not even a word from Dixmer's partner had afforded

the slightest grounds for this belief. The voice of the

valet de chambre aroused him from this reverie.

" Citizen," said he, showing him the open letters on the table, " have you selected those you wish to keep, or shall they all be burned ? "

" Burn what ? " said Maurice.

" The letters the citizen read last night before he retired to bed.'

Maurice could not remember having read one.

" Burn all," said he.

" Here are two days' letters, citizen," said the official.

He presented a packet of letters to Maurice, and threw

the others under the grate. Maurice took the letters, felt

the impression of a seal, and fancied that he recognized

thp perfume of a friend, and looking over his correspond-

ence, he found an envelope and handwriting that made

him tremble. This man, who bravely faced danger, trem-

bled before the odor of a letter. The official approached

Maurice, to inquire what he would take, but he signified

a wish to be alone. Maurice turned and re-turned this

letter ; he felt a presentiment it contained misery for

him, and started and trembled before unknown misfor-

tune. Having collected all his courage, he at length

opened it, and read as follows :

" CITIZEN MAURICE, It has become necessary that

we should burst these bonds bonds which, on your side,

affect to exceed the bounds of friendship. You are a man

of honor, citizen, and now a night has passed since the

occurrences of yesterday evening, you ought to compre-

hend that your presence at our house is no longer desir-

able. I leave it to you to excuse yourself in any way you

think best to my husband. On the arrival this day of

X04 THE CHEVALIER DE MAISON ROUGE.

yonr letter to Monsieur Dixmer, I am convinced I shall

regret the loss of an unfortunate friend, whom all social

propriety will deter me from meeting for the future.

Adieu forever. GEKEVIEVE.

" P.S. The bearer awaits your reply."

Maurice called ; the valet de chambre reappeared.

" Who brought this letter ? *

" A citizen commissionaire."

" Is he waiting ? "

" Yes."

Maurice did not for a moment hesitate, but, partly

dressing, seated himself before his writing-desk, and tak-

ing the first sheet of paper that came to hand (he found

it had on it the impression of a heart with the name of

the section), he wrote :

" CITIZEN DIXMER, I respected you, and I still do so,

but I cannot visit you any longer."

Maurice considered what reason he could assign for not

visiting Dixmer, and one idea alone presented Jtself to

his mind, that which at this epoch occurred to every

one. He thus continued :

" Certain rumors are afloat relative to your lukewarm-

ness in public affairs. I have no wish to accuse you, and

no mission to defend you. Receive my respects, and feel

assureed your secrets will remain forever buried in my

heart."

Maurice did not even read this letter, written, as we

have said, under the impression of the first idea that

presented itelf. He did not doubt the effect it would

produce. Dixmer, an excellent patriot, as Maurice im-

agined from his conversation, at least, would be much

grieved at. receiving it. his wife and M. Morand would 710

doubt influence him not to reply, and forgetfulness would

gradually spread itself like a dark veil over the past,

laughing at the melancholy transformation. Maurice

signed and sealed his letter, gave it the official, and

THE CHEVALIER DE MAISON ROUGE. 105

the commissionaire departed. Then a slight sigh escaped

the Republican ; he took his hat and gloves and pro-

ceeded to the section. He hoped, poor Brutus, to re-

cover his stoicism by occupying himself with public

affairs. These were indeed terrible ; the 31st of May was

preparing. The terreur, which like a torrent, precipi-

tated itself from the height of La Montague, endeavored

to carry away this dike, opposed to it by the Girondins,

those audacious Moderes who had dared to demand

vengeance for the massacres of September, and to wrestle

for an instant to save the life of the king.

While Maurice pursued his way with a rapidity that

drove the fever from his heart to his head, the messenger

had reentered the Old Rue St. Jacques, filling the dwell-

ing there with terror and astonishment. The letter,

after passing through G-enevieve's hands, was given by

her to Dixmer. Dixmer opened and read it, without at

first understanding it ; he then communicated the con-

tents to the Citizen Morand, who supported his head

upon his hand. His face was pale as death. In the sit-

uation in which Dixmer, Morand, and their companions

found themselves (a situation totally unknown to Mau-

rice, but which our readers have penetrated) this letter

was like a thunder-bolt.

" Is this an upright, honest man ? " asked Dixmer, much grieved.

"Yes," replied Morand, without the least hesitation.

" Never mind," said the advocate for extreme measures,

"you see we were very wrong not to kill him.'"

"My friend," said Louis, "we struggle against violence, we brand it with the name of crime. We have

acted rightly, whatever may be the result, in not assas-

sinating this man. I again repeat, I believe Maurice to

possess a noble, generous spirit."

" Yes ; but if so noble and generous a spirit belongs to this warm Republican, perhaps he may regard it in the

light of crime, if he has made any discovery, not to im-

molate his own honor, as they say, ' on the altar of the

country.' '

106 THE CHEVALIER DE MA1SON ROUGE.

"But," said Morand, "do you think he knows anything?"

" Do you not hear ? he speaks of secrets buried in his own heart."

" These secrets are evidently those confided to him by me, relative to our contraband transactions. He knows

no others."

" But this interview at Auteuil ? does he suspect any-

thing ? you know he accompanied your wife ? "

" It was I who told Genevieve to take Maurice with her as a protection."

"Listen," said Morand; "we shall soon see if these surmises be true. The turn of our battalion to guard the

temple arrives on the 2d of June, that is to say, in eight

days. You are captain, Dixmer, and I lieutenant ; if our

battalion, or even our company, receives a counter-order,

like that received the other day by the battalion of La

Butte-des-Moulins, which Santerre has replaced by that

of Gravilliers, all is discovered, and we have only to flee from Paris, or die fighting. But if all follows in the

usual course of things "

" We are lost, all the same," replied Dixmer.

"How so ?"

" Pardien / does not all revolve upon the cooperation

of this young municipal ? Was it not he who, without

knowing it, must open the road for us to the queen ? "

" That is true," said Morand, confounded.

"You see, then," said Dixmer, knitting his brows,

"that, at any price, we must renew our intimacy with

this young man."

" But if he refuse, if he fears to compromise himself ? "

" Listen," said Dixmer ; " I will question Genevieve ; she saw him last ; perhaps she may know something more."

"Dixmer," said Morand, "it is with pain I gee you mixing Genevieve with all our plots, not that I fear any

indiscretion on her part. Oh, great God ! the drama we

are acting is a dreadful one, and I blush and tremble at

the same time to place the head of a woman at stake, aa

well as our own."

THE CHEVALIER DE MAISON ROUGE. 107

" The head of a woman, " said Dixmer, " poiiders as gravely as that of a man, when stratagem is required,

and often achieves more by candor and beauty than by

force, strength, power, or courage. Genev'^ve shares in

our convictions and our sympathies. Genevieve shall

also share our fate."

" Well, my friend," said Morand, " I have said a'l I ought to say. Genevieve is in every way worthy of the

mission you have given her, or, rather that sae has taken

upon herself. It is martyrs who become saints."

And he held out his delicate and effeminate hand to

Dixmer, who roughly pressed it between his own. Then

Dixmer, recommending Morand and his companions to

watch with increased vigilance, quitted them, and entered

Genevieve's apartments. She was seated before a table,

bending over a piece of embroidery. She turned round

at the noise of the opening door, and recognized Dixmer.

" Ah ! is it you, mon ami ? " said she.

" Yes," said Dixmer, with a placid, smiling countenance. " I have received a letter from your friend Maurice, which I cannot understand in the least. Bead it,

and then tell me what you think of it."

Genevieve took the letter with a hand, of which (with

all her self-command) she could not disguise the tremor,

and read. Dixmer followed her eyes as they ran over

every line.

" Well ? " said he, when she had finished.

" Well, I think that Monsieur Maurice Lindey is an

honest man, and from him we have nothing to fear/' re-

plied Genevieve, with the greatest calmness.

" You think he is ignorant who the persons are you

visited at Auteuil ?"

"I am certain."

" Why, then, this sudden determination ? Did he ap-

pear yesterday less friendly and more silent than usual ? "

" No/' said Genevieve ; I believe he was just the same."

" Consider well before you answer me, Genevieve, for

you must understand your reply will greatly influence our

future projects."

108 THE CHEVALIER DE MAISON ROUGE.

" Listen, then," said she, with an emotion that over-threw all her attempts at calmness. " Wiit "

" Well/' said Dixmer, all the muscles of his face slightly contracting, " collect your thoughts, Gjnevieve."

"Yes," said the young woman, " yes, I remember, yesterday he was not particularly civil. Monsieur Maurice,"

coatinued she, " is a little tyrannical in his friendship, and," hesitatingly added, "sometimes we have quarreled for a whole week."

" This is, then, merely a simple quarrel ? " demanded Dixmer.

"Most probably."

"Genevie've, understand this, in our position it is not probability that will suffice ; it is certitude we require/'

"Ah, well, mon anil, I am certain."

"This letter, then, would be only a pretext for not

visiting us again ? "

"Mon ami, as you wish it, I will tell you."

" Speak. Genevieve, speak ; of any other woman I

would not ask it."

" It is a pretext," said Genevieve, looking down.

" Ah ! " said Dixmer.

Then, after a moment's silence, he replaced it in his

waistcoat, and placed his hand upon his wife's chair to compress the beatings of his heart.

" Will you do me a service ? " said he.

"What service ?" said Genevieve, turning round, surprised.

" To prevent even the shadow of danger. Maurice is,

perhaps, deeper in our secrets than we imagine. That

which you believe a pretext may, perhaps, be a reality.

Write him one word.'"

" I ? " said Genevieve, starting.

" Yes, you. Toll him that you have opened the letter

and desire an explanation. lie will then call, you can

interrogate him, and will easily discover what is the

matter."

"Oh, no! r ' rrirvl Oonevieve ; "I cannot do as yon wish me ; 1 will not do it."

THE CHEVALIER DE MAISON ROUGE. 109

" Dear Genevieve, when interests so powerful as those

that rest upon us are at stake, will you recoil before the

paltry consideration of self-love ?"

" I have told you my opinion of Maurice, monsieur/'

said Genevie've ; " he is honest and brave, but capricious, and I do not choose to submit to any other authority but

that of my husband."

This answer, returned with so much calmness, and, at

the same time, firmness, convinced Dixmer that to insist

further at this moment would be worse than useless. He

did not add another word, but looked at Genevieve,

without seeming to do so, and went out. Morand was

awaiting his return with great anxiety. Dixmer repeated

word for word all that had occurred.

" Well," said Morand, " we will wait and think no more about it. Eather than I would cast a shadow of suspicion

on your wife, rather than wound her self-love, I would

renounce "

Dixmer placed his hand upon his shoulder.

" You are mad, monsieur," said he to him, "or else you do not know what you are saying."