The Indiscretion of the Duchess Part 11

I did not even know what I thought of it myself; of one thing only I felt sure---that what I had heard of Marie Delha.s.se was not all that there was to learn about her.

I was lodged in a large room on the third floor, and when I awoke the bright sun beamed on the convent where, as I presume, Mme. de Saint-Maclou lay, and on the great Mount beyond it in the distance. I have never risen with a more lively sense of unknown possibilities in the day before me.

These two women who had suddenly crossed my path, and their relations to the pale puffy-cheeked man at the little _chateau_, might well produce results more startling than had seemed to be offered even by such a freak as the original expedition undertaken by Gustave de Berensac and me. And now Gustave had fallen away and I was left to face the thing alone. For face it I must. My promise to the d.u.c.h.ess bound me: had it not I doubt whether I should have gone; for my interest was not only in the d.u.c.h.ess.

I had my coffee upstairs, and then, putting on my hat, went down for a stroll. So long as the duke did not come to Avranches, I could show my face boldly--and was not he busy preparing for his guests? I crossed the threshold of the hotel.

Just at the entrance stood Marie Delha.s.se; opposite her was a thickset fellow, neatly dressed and wearing mutton-chop whiskers. As I came out I raised my hat. The man appeared not to notice me, though his eyes fell on me for a moment. I pa.s.sed quickly by--in fact, as quickly as I could--for it struck me at once that this man must be Lafleur, and I did not want him to give the duke a description of the unknown gentleman who was staying at Avranches. Yet, as I went, I had time to hear Marie's slow musical voice say:

"I'm not coming at all to-day."

I was very glad of it, and pursued my round of the town with a lighter heart. Presently, after half an hour's walk, I found myself opposite the church, and thus nearly back at the hotel: and in front of the church stood Marie Delha.s.se, looking at _the facade_.

Raising my hat I went up to her, her friendliness of the evening before encouraging me.

"I hope you are going to stay to-day?" said I.

"I don't know." Then she smiled, but not mirthfully. "I expect to be very much pressed to go this afternoon," she said.

I made a shot--apparently at a venture.

"Someone will come and carry you off?" I asked jestingly.

"It's very likely. My presence here will be known."

"But need you go?"

She looked on the ground and made no answer.

"Perhaps though," I continued, "he--or she--will not come. He may be too much occupied."

"To come for me?" she said, with the first touch of coquetry which I had seen in her lighting up her eyes.

"Even for that, it is possible," I rejoined.

We began to walk together toward the edge of the open _place_ in front of the church. The convent came in sight as we reached the fall of the hill.

"How peaceful that looks!" she said; "I wonder if it would be pleasant there!"

I was myself just wondering how the d.u.c.h.ess of Saint-Maclou found it, when a loud cry of warning startled us. We had been standing on the edge of the road, and a horse, going at a quick trot, was within five yards of us. As it reached us, it was sharply reined in. To my amazement, old Jean, the d.u.c.h.ess' servant, sat upon it. When he saw me, a smile spread over his weather-beaten face.

"I was nearly over you," said he. "You had no ears."

And I am sorry to say that Jean winked, insinuating that Marie Delha.s.se and I had been preoccupied.

The diplomacy of non-recognition had failed to strike Jean. I made the best of a bad job, and asked:

"What brings you here?"

Marie stood a few paces off, regarding us.

"I'm looking for Mme. la d.u.c.h.esse," grinned Jean.

Marie Delha.s.se took a step forward when she heard his reference to the d.u.c.h.ess.

"Her absence was discovered by Suzanne at six o'clock this morning," the old fellow went on. "And the duke--ah, take care how you come near him, sir! Oh, it's a kettle of fis.h.!.+ For as I came I met that c.o.xcomb Lafleur riding back with a message from the duke's guests that they would not come to-day! So the d.u.c.h.ess is gone, and the ladies are not come; and the duke--he has nothing to do but curse that whippersnapper of a Pierre who came last night."

And Jean ended in a rapturous hoa.r.s.e chuckle.

"You were riding so fast, then, because you were after the d.u.c.h.ess?" I suggested.

"I rode fast for fear," said Jean, with a shrewd smile, "that I should stop somewhere on the road. Well, I have looked in Avranches. She is not in Avranches. I'll go home again."

Marie Delha.s.se came close to my side.

"Ask him," she said to me, "if he speaks of the d.u.c.h.ess of Saint-Maclou."

I put the question as I was directed.

"You couldn't have guessed better if you'd known," said Jean; and a swift glance from Marie Delha.s.se told me that her suspicion as to my knowledge was aroused.

"And what will happen, Jean?" said I.

"The good G.o.d knows," shrugged Jean. Then, remembering perhaps my five-franc pieces, he said politely, "I hope you are well, sir?"

"Up to now, thank you, Jean," said I.

His glance traveled to Marie. I saw his shriveled lips curl; his expression was ominous of an unfortunate remark.

"Good-by!" said I significantly.

Jean had some wits. He spared me the remark, but not the sly leer that had been made to accompany it. He clapped his heels to his horse's side and trotted off in the direction from which he had come. So that he could swear he had been to Avranches, he was satisfied!

Marie Delha.s.se turned to me, asking haughtily:

"What is the meaning of this? What do you know of the Duke or d.u.c.h.ess of Saint-Maclou?"

"I might return your question," said I, looking her in the face.

"Will you answer it?" she said, flus.h.i.+ng red.

"No, Mlle. Delha.s.se, I will not," said I.

"What is the meaning of this 'absence' of the d.u.c.h.ess of Saint-Maclou which that man talks about so meaningly?"

Then I said, speaking low and slow:

"Who are the friends whom you are on your way to visit?"