Calvert of Strathore Part 21

Perhaps it is another friend in trouble, and I had best see," and, calling to the coachman to stop the horses, he jumped out. Almost at the same instant a man stumbled out of the allee and ran down the boulevard.

Beaufort would have followed him, but, as he started to do so, he heard his name called and, looking back, saw another man emerge from the allee and gaze down the almost deserted street. By the dim light of the lantern swung from its great iron post the man recognized Monsieur de Beaufort and ran forward.

"Will you come?" he said, hurriedly. "Monsieur Calvert is here--wounded by that villain."

"Calvert--impossible! He is not in Paris."

"But he is!--here," said Bertrand, drawing Beaufort toward the allee.

Adrienne's pale face appeared at the coach-door.

"Did I hear someone speak of Monsieur Calvert?"

Beaufort went up to her. "He is here--wounded, I think," he said in a low voice. "I will go and see--you will not be afraid to wait?"

"To wait!--I am going, too," and before he could prevent it she had stepped from the coach and was making her way toward the allee. A ghastly sight met their eyes as they entered the lane. St. Aulaire lay upon the ground, one of his companions standing over him, and at a little distance, Calvert, white and unconscious, the blood trickling from his left shoulder. With a low cry Adrienne knelt on the ground beside him and felt his pulse to see if he still lived. In an instant she was up.

"Bring him to the carriage. We must take him to the Legation--to Mr.

Morris," she says, in a low tone, to Beaufort and Bertrand, whom she had recognized as the servant Calvert had brought with him to Azay-le-Roi.

Without a look at St. Aulaire she helped the two to get Calvert to the coach, where he was placed on the cus.h.i.+ons as easily as possible and held between herself and Madame d'Azay. She hung over him during the long drive in a sort of pa.s.sion of pity and love. It was the dearest happiness she had ever known to touch him, to feel his head upon her arm. Even though he were dead, she thought, it were worth all her life to have held him so. She scarcely spoke save to ask Bertrand if he knew the cause of the encounter, and, when he had told her all he knew of the events of the evening, she relapsed again into silence. They reached the Legation as Mr. Morris's guests were leaving, and in a very few minutes the young man was put to bed and a surgeon called.

Though the wound was not fatal--not even very serious--a sharp fever fastened upon Calvert, and, in the delirium of the few days following, Mr. Morris was easily able to learn the cause of the duel. The story he thus gathered from Calvert's wild talk he told Adrienne and Madame d'Azay--the two ladies came daily to inquire how the patient was doing--for he thought that they should know of the n.o.ble action of the young man, and he felt sure that as soon as Calvert was himself again he would request him to keep silence about his share in the matter. He was right, for when Calvert was come to his senses again and was beginning to be convalescent--which was at the end of a week--he told Mr. Morris the particulars of his encounter with St. Aulaire, requesting that he make no mention of his part in the affair and begging him to urge d'Azay to leave Paris. This was the more necessary as St. Aulaire, though badly wounded, was fully conscious and might at any moment cause d'Azay's arrest, and, moreover, pa.s.sports were becoming daily harder to obtain.

Mr. Morris had to confess his inability to comply with Calvert's first request, but promised to see d'Azay immediately, and, ordering his carriage, in half an hour was on his way to the rue St. Honore. No man in Paris knew better than he the risk an aristocrat ran who was denounced to the a.s.sembly and remained in Paris, nor how difficult it was to get out of the city. He was also aware of rumors concerning d'Azay of which he thought best not to tell Calvert in his present condition, but which made him seriously fear for d'Azay's safety.

On his arrival in the rue St. Honore he found Adrienne with the old d.u.c.h.ess in one of the smaller salons, but d'Azay was not with them, nor did they know where he was. Mr. Morris had not intended telling the two ladies of his mission, fearing to increase the anxiety which he knew they already felt on d'Azay's account, but he suddenly changed his determination and, in a few words, informed them of Calvert's urgent message to d'Azay and of the reasons for his instant departure from Paris.

"He is not safe for a day," he said. "Calvert has saved him for the time being, but St. Aulaire, though unable himself to go to the a.s.sembly and prefer charges against him, can find a dozen tools among the Orleans party who will do his dirty work for him. The mere a.s.sertion that d'Azay is in correspondence with Monsieur de Conde or any of the counter-revolutionists will send him to prison--or worse. As you know, he, like Lafayette, is out of favor with all factions. There is but one thing to do--get him out of Paris."

"He will never go!" said the old d.u.c.h.ess, proudly.

"He must! Listen," said Adrienne, rising and laying her hand on Mr.

Morris's arm. "I think he will never ask for a pa.s.sport himself, but if we could get it for him, if, when he comes in, he should find all in readiness for his going, if we could convince him by these means that his immediate departure was so necessary--" She stood looking at Mr.

Morris, forcing herself to be calm, and with such an expression of courage and determination on her pale face that Mr. Morris, who had always admired her, was touched and astonished.

"'Tis the very best thing to be done, my dear young lady," he said. "We must get the pa.s.sport for d'Azay and force him to quit Paris. I think I am not entirely without influence with some of these scoundrels in authority just now. Danton, for instance. He is, without doubt, the most powerful man in Paris for the moment. Suppose we apply to him and his worthy a.s.sistant, Bertrand, and see what can be done. As Danton himself said to me the other evening at the Cordelliers Club, 'in times of revolution authority falls into the hands of rascals!' Bertrand was a good valet, but he knows no more of statescraft than my coachman does.

However, what we want is not a statesman but a friend, and I think Bertrand may prove to be that. My carriage is waiting below; shall we go at once?"

"Oh, we cannot go too soon! I will not lose a moment." She ran out of the room and returned almost instantly with her wraps, for the March day was chill and gloomy. The two set out immediately, Mr. Morris giving orders to his coachman to drive to the Palais de Justice, where he hoped to find Danton, the deputy attorney-general of the commune of Paris, and Bertrand, his a.s.sistant. As he expected, they were there and, on being announced, he and Madame de St. Andre were almost instantly admitted to their presence.

There could be no better proof of the unique and powerful position held by the representative of the infant United States than the reception accorded him by this dictator of Paris. Though Mr. Morris was known to disapprove openly of the excesses to which the a.s.sembly and the revolution had already gone, yet this agitator, this leader of the most violent district of Paris, welcomed him with marked deference and consideration. And it was with the deepest regret that he professed himself unable to undertake to obtain, at Mr. Morris's request, a pa.s.sport for Monsieur d'Azay, brother of Madame de St. Andre, to whom he showed a coldness and brusqueness in marked contrast to his manner toward Mr. Morris.

"The applications are so numerous, and the emigrant army is becoming so large," and here he darted a keen, mocking look at Madame de St. Andre out of his small, ardent eyes, "that even were I as influential as Monsieur Morris is pleased to think me, I would scarcely dare to ask for a pa.s.sport for Monsieur d'Azay. Moreover," and he bent his great, hideous head for an instant over a pile of papers upon the desk before him, "moreover, Monsieur d'Azay is particularly wanted in Paris just now."

"It is not his wish to leave--indeed, he knows nothing of this application for a pa.s.sport. It is by my wish and on my affairs that he goes to England," says Adrienne, steadily, facing with courage the malignant look of that terrible countenance. Monsieur Danton ignored these remarks and turned to Mr. Morris.

"Receive my regrets, Monsieur, that I can do nothing in this matter. It would give me pleasure to render any favor to an American."

"Then we must ask a.s.sistance in other quarters," says Mr. Morris, rising abruptly, and with a show of confidence which he was far from feeling.

He had applied in the most powerful and available quarter that he knew of, and he confessed to himself that, having failed here, he had no hope of succeeding elsewhere.

As he and Adrienne turned to go, Bertrand, who had sat quietly by during this short colloquy, arose and accompanied them toward the door.

"It is a pity Madame de St. Andre is not an American--is not Madame Calvert," he says, in a low tone, and fixing a meaning look on Adrienne.

"Pa.s.sports for the brother-in-law of Monsieur Calvert, the American, were easy to obtain. It is doubly a pity," and he spoke in a still lower tone, "since I have, on good authority, the news that Monsieur d'Azay is to be accused of forwarding military intelligence to Monsieur de Conde in to-morrow's session of the a.s.sembly."

The young girl stopped and stood looking at him, transfixed with terror and astonishment.

"What do you mean?" she says, in a frightened, hushed voice.

"This, Madame. A long time ago, when I was a soldier in America under Lafayette, Monsieur Calvert did me a great service--he saved my life--he was kind to me. He is the only man, the only person in the world I love, and I have sworn to repay that debt of grat.i.tude. I was with Monsieur, as his servant, at Azay-le-Roi, and I guessed, Madame, what pa.s.sed there between you and him. Afterward I was with him in Paris, and I saw how he suffered, and I swore, if the thing were ever possible, I would make you suffer as he suffered. There is but one thing I would rather do than make you suffer--and that is to make him happy. The pa.s.sport for the brother of Madame Calvert will be ready at six this evening and Monsieur will be free to leave Paris. Do you understand now, Madame?"

"It is impossible," she says, faintly, leaning for support on Mr.

Morris, who stood by, unspeakably astonished at the strange scene taking place.

"Impossible? Then I am sorry," he says. "Frankly, there is but one way, Madame, for you to obtain the pa.s.sport you wish, and that is by becoming an American subject, the wife of Monsieur Calvert. I can interest myself in the matter only on those conditions. I have but to mention to Danton my good reasons for serving so close a relation of Monsieur Calvert, and he will be inclined to interest himself in obtaining the freedom of Monsieur d'Azay--for such it really is. Should he still be disinclined to serve a friend who has stood him well"--and his face darkened ominously and a sinister smile came to his lips--"I have but to recall to his mind a certain scene which took place in the Cafe de l'ecole some years ago in which Monsieur Calvert was an actor, and I can answer for it that Monsieur d'Azay leaves Paris to-night. Shall I do these things or not? If not, I think 'tis sure that, let Madame and Monsieur Morris apply to whom they may, Danton and I will see to it that no pa.s.sport for Monsieur d'Azay is granted. Is it still impossible?" he asks, with an insolent smile.

The girl turned piteously from Bertrand to Mr. Morris and back again, as if seeking some escape from the trap in which she was caught. Her pale lips trembled.

"Is it impossible?" again asks Bertrand, noting her pallor and cruel indecision.

"No, no," she cries, suddenly, shuddering and putting out her hand.

"Then all will be in readiness at six, Monsieur," says Bertrand, addressing himself to Mr. Morris.

"A word aside with you," he says to Bertrand, and, leading Adrienne to a seat, he went back to Bertrand, who waited for him beside the door.

"What is the meaning of this extraordinary scene?" he asked, sternly.

The man shrugged his shoulders. "Just what I have said. You know yourself, Monsieur, whether or not I am devoted to Monsieur Calvert. For Madame de St. Andre I care less than nothing," he said, snapping his fingers carelessly. "But Monsieur Calvert loves her--it seems a pretty enough way of making them happy, though 'tis a strange metier for me--arranging love-matches among the n.o.bility! However, stranger things than that are happening in France. Besides, it is necessary," he said, his light manner suddenly changing to one more serious. "I swear it is the only way of getting d'Azay out of Paris. I doubt if even Danton, urged on by me, could obtain a pa.s.sport for him to quit the city. But I can answer for one for the brother of Madame Calvert, wife of the former secretary of Monsieur Jefferson, friend of the present Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States of America to France."

Mr. Morris looked at the man keenly.

"And suppose this thing were done--I can rely upon you?"

"Absolutely. Attend a moment," he said, and, going back to where Danton still sat at his desk, he spoke with him in low and earnest tones. From where Mr. Morris stood he could see Danton's expression change from sternness and anger to astonishment and interest. In a few moments, with a low exclamation, he got up and, followed by Bertrand, came toward Mr.

Morris.

"Bertrand has just told me facts which alter this case--which impel me to aid Monsieur d'Azay if possible," he said; and then, turning to Adrienne, who, pale with anxiety and terror, had risen from her seat and drawn near, he went on: "I will use all my power to be of service to the wife of the man who once showed a courtesy to mine." At his words the girl drew back and blushed deeply over her whole fair face. "I swore that I would reward him if possible, and I do so to-day. I also swore to reward his companion, Monsieur de Beaufort--the time is not yet come for that, but it will," and he smiled in so terrible a fas.h.i.+on that Adrienne could have cried out in fear. The fierce malignity of his look so filled Mr. Morris with disgust that he could scarce bear to speak to him.

"We will return at six," he said, at length, and leading Adrienne to the door that the painful interview might end.

"At six," said Danton.

They made their way out and found Mr. Morris's coach. In the carriage the courage which had sustained the young girl gave way.

Mr. Morris laid a kindly hand upon her arm. "Be calm. A way is found to save d'Azay, and surely it is no great trial to become an American subject," he said, smiling a little and looking keenly at Adrienne.

"I do not know how I shall dare to ask this great sacrifice of him,"

said she, in a low tone. "True, he risked his life for d'Azay, but that is not so great a sacrifice as to marry a woman he does not love."