Leading a regular, uniform life,--and sad enough I admit--he will gradually become surfeited with his own emotions when the objects of them are never renewed, and he will end, I hope, by demanding the diversions of work and study.May he be able some day to discover that a problem of Euclid is more interesting than the wreck of a nutshell! Upon that day he will enter upon full convalescence, and I shall not be the last to rejoice in it."M.Leminof spoke in a tone so serious and composed, that for a few moments Gilbert could have imagined him a pedagogue gravely explaining his maxims of education; but he could not forget that expression of ferocious joy which was depicted on his face at the moment when Stephane fled sobbing from the garden, and he remembered also the somnambulist who, on the preceding night, had uttered certain broken phrases in regard to a LIVING PORTRAIT and a BURIED SMILE.These mysterious words, terrible in their obscurity, had appeared to him to allude to Stephane, and they accorded badly with the airs of paternal solicitude which M.Leminof had deigned to affect in the past few minutes.He had a show of reason, however, in his argument; and the picture which he drew of his son, if cruelly exaggerated, had still some points of resemblance.Only Gilbert had reason to think that the Count purposely confounded cause and effect, and that Stephane's malady was the work of the physician.
"Will you permit me, sir," answered he, "to tell you all that Ihave on my heart?"
"Speak, speak, improve the opportunity: I swear to you it won't occur again."And looking at his watch:
"You have still five minutes to talk with me about my son.Hurry;I will not grant you two seconds more."
"I have heard it said," resumed Gilbert, "that in building bridges and causeways, the best foundations are those which HUMOR the waves of the sea.These are foundations with inclined slopes, which, instead of breaking the waves abruptly, check their movement by degrees, and abate their force without violence.""You favor anodynes, Monsieur disciple of Galen," exclaimed M.
Leminof."Each one according to his temperament.We cannot reconstruct ourselves.I am a very violent, very passionate man, and when, for example, a servant offends me I throw him headforemost downstairs.This happens to me every day.""Between your son and your valet de chambre, the difference is great," answered Gilbert, a little piqued.
"Did not your famous revolution proclaim absolute equality between all men?""In the law it is admirable, but not in the heart of a father.""Good God!" cried the Count, "I do not know that I have a father's heart for my son; I know only that I think a great deal about him, and that I strive according to my abilities to correct in him very grave faults, which threaten to compromise his future welfare.Iknow also for a certainty that this whiner enjoys some pleasures of which many children of his age are deprived, as, for example, a servant for himself, a horse, and as much money as he wants for his petty diversions.You are not ignorant of the use which he makes of this money, neither in regard to the two thalers expended yesterday to corrupt my valet, nor of the seven crowns with which he purchased the delightful pleasure, the other day in your presence, of having his foot kissed by a troop of young rustics.
And at this point, I will tell you that Ivan has reported to me that, on the same day, Stephane turned up his sleeve to make you admire a scar which he carried upon one of his wrists.Oblige me by telling me what blue story he related to you on this subject."This unexpected question troubled Gilbert a little.
"To conceal nothing from you," answered he hesitatingly, "he told me, that for an escapade which he had made, he had been condemned to pass a fortnight in a dungeon in irons.""And you believed it!" cried the Count, shrugging his shoulders.
"The truth is, that, for a fortnight, I compelled my son to pass one hour every evening in an uninhabited wing of this castle; my intention was not so much to punish him for an act of insubordination, as to cure him of the foolish terrors by which he is tormented, for this boy of sixteen, who often shows himself brave even to rashness, believes in ghosts, in apparitions, in vampires.I ought to authorize him to guard himself at night by the best-toothed of my bulldogs.Oh what a strange compound has God given me for a son!"At this moment the sound of steps was heard in the corridor.
"In the name of the kind friendship which you profess for me, sir,"exclaimed Gilbert, seizing one of M.Leminof's hands, "I beg of you, do not punish this child for a boyish freak for which Iforgive him with all my heart!"
"I can refuse you nothing, my dear Gilbert," answered he with a smiling air."I spare him from his pretended dungeons.I dare hope that you will give me credit for it.""I thank you; but one thing more: the flowers you deprived him of.""Mon Dieu! since you wish it, we will have them restored to him, and to please you, I will content myself with having him make apologies to you in due form.""Make apologies to me!" cried Gilbert in consternation; "but that will be the most cruel of punishments.""We will leave him the choice," said the Count dryly.And as Gilbert insisted: "This time you ask too much!" added he in a tone which admitted of no reply."It is a question of principles, and in such matters I never compromise."Gilbert perceived that even in Stephane's interest, it was necessary to desist, but he understood also to what extent the pride of the young man would suffer, and cursed himself a thousand times for having spoken.
Someone knocked at the door.
"Come in," cried the Count in a hoarse voice; and Stephane entered, followed by Ivan.
