Marguerite continued to keep watch over her father's material comfort, aided in the sweet task by Emmanuel.The noble girl received from the hands of love that most envied of all garlands, the wreath that happiness entwines and constancy keeps ever fresh.No couple ever afforded a better illustration of the complete, acknowledged, spotless felicity which all women cherish in their dreams.The union of two beings so courageous in the trials of life, who had loved each other through years with so sacred an affection, drew forth the respectful admiration of the whole community.Monsieur de Solis, who had long held an appointment as inspector-general of the University, resigned those functions to enjoy his happiness more freely, and remained at Douai where every one did such homage to his character and attainments that his name was proposed as candidate for the Electoral college whenever he should reach the required age.Marguerite, who had shown herself so strong in adversity, became in prosperity a sweet and tender woman.
Throughout the following year Claes was grave and preoccupied; and yet, though he made a few inexpensive experiments for which his ordinary income sufficed, he seemed to neglect his laboratory.
Marguerite restored all the old customs of the House of Claes, and gave a family fete every month in honor of her father, at which the Pierquins and the Conyncks were present; and she also received the upper ranks of society one day in the week at a "cafe" which became celebrated.Though frequently absent-minded, Claes took part in all these assemblages and became, to please his daughter, so willingly a man of the world that the family were able to believe he had renounced his search for the solution of the great problem.
Three years went by.In 1828 family affairs called Emmanuel de Solis to Spain.Although there were three numerous branches between himself and the inheritance of the house of Solis, yellow fever, old age, barrenness, and other caprices of fortune, combined to make him the last lineal descendant of the family and heir to the titles and estates of his ancient house.Moreover, by one of those curious chances which seem impossible except in a book, the house of Solis had acquired the territory and titles of the Comtes de Nourho.Marguerite did not wish to separate from her husband, who was to stay in Spain long enough to settle his affairs, and she was, moreover, curious to see the castle of Casa-Real where her mother had passed her childhood, and the city of Granada, the cradle of the de Solis family.She left Douai, consigning the care of the house to Martha, Josette, and Lemulquinier.Balthazar, to whom Marguerite had proposed a journey into Spain, declined to accompany her on the ground of his advanced age; but certain experiments which he had long meditated, and to which he now trusted for the realization of his hopes were the real reason of his refusal.
The Comte and Comtesse de Solis y Nourho were detained in Spain longer than they intended.Marguerite gave birth to a son.It was not until the middle of 1830 that they reached Cadiz, intending to embark for Italy on their way back to France.There, however, they received a letter from Felicie conveying disastrous news.Within a few months, their father had completely ruined himself.Gabriel and Pierquin were obliged to pay Lemulquinier a monthly stipend for the bare necessaries of the household.The old valet had again sacrificed his little property to his master.Balthazar was no longer willing to see any one, and would not even admit his children to the house.Martha and Josette were dead.The coachman, the cook, and the other servants had long been dismissed; the horses and carriages were sold.Though Lemulquinier maintained the utmost secrecy as to his master's proceedings, it was believed that the thousand francs supplied by Gabriel and Pierquin were spent chiefly on experiments.The small amount of provisions which the old valet purchased in the town seemed to show that the two old men contented themselves with the barest necessaries.To prevent the sale of the House of Claes, Gabriel and Pierquin were paying the interest of the sums which their father had again borrowed on it.None of his children had the slightest influence upon the old man, who at seventy years of age displayed extraordinary energy in bending everything to his will, even in matters that were trivial.Gabriel, Conyncks, and Pierquin had decided not to pay off his debts.
This letter changed all Marguerite's travelling plans, and she immediately took the shortest road to Douai.Her new fortune and her past savings enabled her to pay off Balthazar's debts; but she wished to do more, she wished to obey her mother's last injunction and save him from sinking dishonored to the grave.She alone could exercise enough ascendancy over the old man to keep him from completing the work of ruin, at an age when no fruitful toil could be expected from his enfeebled faculties.But she was also anxious to control him without wounding his susceptibilities,--not wishing to imitate the children of Sophocles, in case her father neared the scientific result for which he had sacrificed so much.
Monsieur and Madame de Solis reached Flanders in the last days of September, 1831, and arrived at Douai during the morning.Marguerite ordered the coachman to drive to the house in the rue de Paris, which they found closed.The bell was loudly rung, but no one answered.Ashopkeeper left his door-step, to which he had been attracted by the noise of the carriages; others were at their windows to enjoy a sight of the return of the de Solis family to whom all were attached, enticed also by a vague curiosity as to what would happen in that house on Marguerite's return to it.The shopkeeper told Monsieur de Solis's valet that old Claes had gone out an hour before, and that Monsieur Lemulquinier was no doubt taking him to walk on the ramparts.
