CHAPTER XVII

BETWEEN THE ACTS.--BOX NUMBER VII

This box, as we have said already, was occupied by M. de Brévannes and his wife.

He had recognised Paula Monti in the Princess de Hansfeld.

Fortunately Bertha's attention was occupied, else the marked alteration in her husband's features could not have escaped her. In spite of the iron temper of his disposition, M. de Brévannes was, in spite of himself, much agitated, and compelled to lean against the side of the box for support, as he felt the mad passion with which Paula Monti had inspired him again awaken in his bosom with increased violence.

He saw once again this woman more lovely than ever, admired by all the men, envied by all the women, and in a most elevated social position. And she could now exact from him a terrible account of the blood which he had shed, of the infamous means which he had employed to give a colourable appearance to his cowardly calumnies.

Fearing the pursuit of justice, which might be directed against him after his duel with Raphael (in which the latter fell), De Brévannes had quitted Florence precipitately. Since then he had sought to amuse himself by guilty intrigues, in order to forget his unworthy conduct and invincible passion, which, in spite of himself, still held such dominion over him.

His ill humour, his coarseness, his severity towards Bertha, had no other source than his feeling of the past which he could not drive from his memory.

What would then become of him when he found himself face to face with Madame de Hansfeld, and should be recognised by her, for the looks of the princess, at first attracted by the _sobieska_ of Madame Girard, were thence removed to M. de Brévannes at the very instant when, having discovered in her Paula Monti, he was looking at her with amazement.

He saw her shudder, lift her hands suddenly to her eyes, and then become again perfectly impassive.

* * * * *

Bertha had been deeply interested, going rarely to the theatre, she preserved all her feelings youthful and fresh. Entirely absorbed in the plot of the comedy, nay indifferent to what was going on in the various boxes and stalls, the commencement of the second act of _The Seducer_ completely fascinated her attention.

The second act was, perhaps, even more successful than the first. De Gercourt's friends began to get impatient at this lucky chance, and one of the most intimate said:--

"Now I am quite easy; if the piece should fail in spite of the talent displayed in those two acts, poor Gercourt will be quite innocent of the failure. I say this now without knowing what may occur--so much the better or the worse for him. Gercourt is not the author of this play — it is not in his vein at all."

During this pause between the acts we will conduct our reader into Madame de Hansfeld's box.

Madame de Lormoy, who accompanied her, was a woman of nearly fifty, and a high-bred lady in every sense of the word.

And now a few words of the Prince de Hansfeld, to whom the reader has already been introduced in the gallery of the Hôtel Lambert.

M. de Hansfeld, who was seated so far back in his box that none of the audience could see him, was of middle height, thin and slender, about twenty-two or twenty-three years of age. His features were extremely delicate, his hair chestnut, very little moustache and beard, but fine and silky of a light brown hue, which harmonised admirably with the transparent paleness of his complexion. His eyes were very large and soft, and of a blue so bright that, in spite of the half obscurity of his box, the clear glance of Arnold was distinguishable, the light seeming not to be reflected upon, but to dart through them, giving them the blue brightness of a sapphire.

His smile was full of benignity, intelligence, and grace; there was only lacking to this interesting countenance the warm colouring of life and health, just as flowers which vegetate in the shade, and are denied the salutary beams of the sun, lose the brilliancy of their hues, and assume the pale tints of extreme delicacy; so had Arnold's features something languishing and pining in their expression.

During some minutes he remained in the deepest reflection.

When Madame de Lormoy had pointed out to the princess the ridiculous _coiffure_ of Madame Girard, M. de Hansfeld, whilst turning his eyes mechanically in that direction, had remained for some time contemplating Bertha.

Madame de Brévannes' beauty was not dazzling, but her sweet and lovely countenance had such a touching expression of melancholy, that Arnold felt quite interested. At the moment of the _entr'acte_, Bertha, by an involuntary return to her own and her father's position--too proud to accept henceforth the least assistance from M. de Brévannes, and too poor to live without aid,--Bertha, being no longer attracted by the interest of the performance, gave way to the melancholy of her reflections, and, with her figure slightly bent, her head inclined towards her bosom, was mechanically moving a bouquet of red camelia, which she held in her hand, as she seemed bowed beneath the weight of some silent sorrow.

M. de Hansfeld felt himself attracted towards this young female by the mysterious and powerful sympathy of suffering. He was almost grateful to her for being, like himself, a stranger to the noise, stir, and joyous bustle of this brilliant audience, and, wishing to judge if Bertha's features corresponded with the favourable impression she created, he raised his lorgnette.

At this moment Madame de Lormoy turned towards him:--

"Well, prince, how do you find yourself?"

"I thank you, madame!" replied the prince in French, and without any foreign accent, but in a low, faint voice, "I feel very well."

"Perhaps the light hurts you a little, dear?" said the princess to her husband.

"Rather, but I must get accustomed to it,--I am about to become such a gay fellow!" he added, with a smile.

"Well, then, prince," continued Madame de Lormoy, "there is nothing like stirring about as a remedy for nervous complaints. I only advise you to try the most agreeable recreation, and Madame de Hansfeld is with you."

"It is she, on the contrary, who requires recreation," said the prince, kindly; "but I have much trouble in inducing her to go into society now and then."

"Alas! prince, my nephew, De Morville, is just the same, and I am always scolding him; my poor sister, his mother, has been an invalid so long, and he has nursed her so affectionately, that he really quite keeps away from the world. _Dieu merci!_ She is getting better now, but my nephew still insists on his absurd retirement. He has become whimsical and capricious, and I have been obliged to make his excuses to you, my dear princess, for, after having asked me the favour of being presented to you, his savage taste has resumed its ascendancy, and he has made the excuse of his retirement from the world to renounce a favour at first so eagerly requested."

Madame de Hansfeld remained quite unmoved by this allusion to De Morville, whom she had for some time seen in the orchestra stalls, and replied with a smile,--

"I have heard this singularity of M. de Morville accounted for in a very romantic manner--allusions to an affair of the heart very deeply seated--a fidelity which does not belong to our times."

"And I believe with truth. Aunts ought always to feign ignorance of these lovers' weaknesses, and but for that I should boast of the heroic constancy of my nephew. Ah! there he is!--in the stalls!" said Madame de Lormoy who had discovered De Morville.

"Monsieur de Fierval, since Léon will not see me, have the kindness to go to him, and say I am here--this time he shall not escape us."

M. de Fierval, who had been paying his respects to Madame de Lormoy and the princess, instantly quitted the box in obedience to the request of De Morville's aunt.

"But really, madame," said Madame de Hansfeld, with a laugh, when De Fierval had left the box, "I should be quite vexed to catch M. de Morville in a net of this sort, and thus surprise him into an introduction which he may desire to avoid."

"My dear princess, if he has his whims, I have mine; and amongst others, that of being proud of my nephew, and his greatest success would be to acquire your good opinion."

"I have no right to repeat it to any person so nearly connected with you as M. de Morville, only I regret that good opinion should not have the value which you are so kind as to attribute to it."

"Allow me to say that on this point you completely deceive yourself.--But," added Madame de Lormoy, "I most decidedly denounce M. de Hansfeld to you. He appears to me entirely absorbed with Madame Girard's _sobieska_, and cannot take his eyes off her, unless, indeed, it is that pretty Madame de Brévannes whom M. de Fierval has just named to us."

"And who is really very charming," said the princess, directing her _lorgnette_ with the utmost intrepidity into the box of Brévannes.

M. de Hansfeld did not hear, or pretended not to bear, his wife, and kept his glass fixed on Bertha.

"But," continued Madame de Lormoy, "do you know, princess, that I very much admire M. de Brévannes? From what M. de Fierval told us, he must have evinced great delicacy and generosity in his marriage with a poor girl; and this is so seldom witnessed in our days. After such conduct, it seems to me that people are hardly able to form their opinion of a man's worth. Don't you think so?"

"With your elevated opinions, you must think highly of M. de Brévannes, or rather of his noble disinterestedness, his admirable behaviour, since he has not the honour of an acquaintance with you. Madame de Brévannes is so lovely," said the princess, without betraying any emotion; "she appears so well bred, that the _sacrifice_ of M. de Brévannes appears to me simply _very great good fortune_."

"In this you are quite right; but when I look at the marked and almost harsh features of M. de Brévannes I should never have thought him capable of such a feeling of the tender passion. What is your opinion, princess:

"Countenances are sometimes so deceitful," replied Paula, whose composure did not forsake her.

At this moment M. de Fierval came into the box.

"What! alone?" said Madame de Lormoy; "and Léon?"

"He has desired me, madame, to express to you his extreme regret; but after having dined at the club, he smoked a cigar, and----"

"I understand. He knows my abhorrence of the abominable odour of tobacco. I only hope that what he has lost by his filthy habit, just like a soldier in a barrack, may be profitable to him when he remembers how he lost it. Again, my dear princess, I hope for his pardon, and express my regret to you."

"We are all losers, madame," was the princess's reply.

It was plain that De Morville's excuse for not going to his aunt was the result of his resolution to avoid a meeting with the princess.

"What do they say of the piece?" asked Madame de Lormoy of M. de Fierval.

"They did not expect such signal success; and Gercourt's _friends_ are really in consternation!

"Shameful! but so much the better; it is right that envious people should feel the pain of their hateful desires. I wish M. de Gercourt's success was twice as disagreeable to them as it is already."

"Is M. de Gercourt one of your friends, madame?" inquired Madame de Hansfeld.

"Is he?--indeed he is, and one of my best. When he returned from his travels before the revolution of July, he entered the world under my patronage and that of the Duchesse de Bellecourt; and I can assure you we were very proud of introducing M. de Gercourt into society. He was a charming young man; and although quite young, soon became very much the fashion:--with a large fortune, a good name, a handsome person, and most gentlemanly manners, he had only to desire to please, and he did please; and because, after he had enjoyed, as a young man, all the pleasures of his age and position, he now seeks more elevated enjoyments, more serious occupations, every body says malicious things of him. It is really a shame and a pity. Why are not fools as indulgent to the merit of another as they are for their own nonentity? It is all that is required of them."

"It is well to be one of your friends, madame," said Paula, smiling at the excitement with which Madame de Lormoy had said these words.

"Assuredly," said M. de Fierval; "and I regret that I think with Madame de Lormoy of Gercourt, as else I might have had the pleasure of being converted by her."

"Oh! I do not pretend to convert anybody, but to say unreservedly my opinion of malicious and jealous persons. That is an old woman's privilege, and I avail myself of it, as I have a right to do. Have I not, prince?--But, heavens! what's the matter?--How pale you are!"

And, indeed, M. de Hansfeld was leaning his head against the panel of the box, and seemed at the moment extremely ill.

"Princess, your smelling bottle!" exclaimed Madame de Lormoy.

Madame de Hansfeld rose half up from her seat. Her husband repulsed her with terror, saying in an alarmed voice, "No,--no; not that smelling bottle!" and the prince fainted.

Despite her husband's habitual impassiveness, Madame de Hansfeld could not help a shudder and a frown of her black eyebrows at the frightened gesture of the prince when she presented her _flacon_ to him; but neither Madame de Lormoy nor M. de Fierval, who were occupied with the prince, observed her emotion.

The indisposition of the prince occurred between the acts, and several persons came to help to convey the prince to his carriage; and amongst the inquisitives was M. Girard, whom his wife had despatched to ascertain what effect her _sobieska_ had occasioned in the public mind.

M. Girard took very good care not to make a single inquiry on this subject, resolving to tell his spouse that her dashing _casquette_ had excited the utmost admiration. He returned hastily to the box to inform her of the prince's fainting fit. He had scarcely opened the door, and said to Madame Girard, "My love----," than she, without allowing him to add another word, exclaimed,--

"Run as fast as you can to see what is the matter with the Prince de Hansfeld: they have carried him out, I understand, into the lobby in front of us."

"But, my dearest----"

"Go quick, I tell you----"

"But, my life, I have come to----"

"Go, I say, Timoléon."

"I beg of you to hear me----."

"Oh!--how tiresome you are! Pray, go as quickly as you can."

"Why, I came in fact to tell you----"

"That is not what I want to hear, it is about the prince. So once more go."

"But, my dearest love, I have come to tell you the very thing you desire to know," exclaimed M. Girard, with intense volubility.

"Oh! that's quite another thing. Come in and shut the door, and tell us all about it as quick as you can."

"My love, you really will not give me time; and I----"

"Pray speak--do speak."

"Did the prince quite lose his consciousness?" inquired Bertha, with interest.

"Of course the princess has gone away with him?" said De Brévannes.

"Did they give him immediate assistance?" continued Madame Girard. "Timoléon, why don't you speak, and not stand there like a great _clod_, not opening your mouth?"

"Why, I really cannot answer so many questions at once. From what I could gather in the crowd, some said the prince was just recovering from a very long illness, and the heat of the house had quite overcome him; others declared that it was another attack of lunacy which had come over him, although they had thought him completely cured; and there were others besides, who asserted that it was violent and sudden emotion which had caused his fainting."

"Poor prince!--So young, and such a sufferer!" said Bertha to De Brévannes, with sympathy of tone. "All, even to his maladies, is a mystery!"

"Ah! my dear Madame de Brévannes, how very interesting, isn't it?" cried Madame de Girard, with excitement. "What a pity we could not see him, for he was so completely concealed at the back of the box that we could not distinguish his features!"

"I confess," said Bertha, "that I should have liked to have seen his face."

M. de Brévannes frowned as he looked scrutinisingly in Bertha's face at the moment when she had manifested her interest for M. de Hansfeld, and awaited with some uneasiness the reply of Madame Girard, who added in a sentimental tone, "Admitting that the prince is as young, as handsome and interesting as he is, it is thus one would choose the fancied one, if we were young girls and mistress of his heart. Don't you think so, Madame de Brévannes?"

"But, my love, I do not think I ever cross your inclination, and I----"

"Really, Timoléon, I hope you have never had the pretension to be a 'fancied one,' an ideal being?"

"I have no pretension to be an ideal being, my dear; but----"

"Silence! the curtain is going up."

M. Girard was silent.

Bertha and Madame Girard again lent all their attention to the last act of the comedy; and De Brévannes, whose features grew darker and darker, cast, from time to time, strange looks on his wife; his absurd jealousy was alarmed at the interest which Bertha had shewn when speaking of the sufferings of the prince, whose features she had not even seen.