登陆注册
5383200000202

第202章 A MYSTERY(2)

That gentleman, with Madame, had hurried back from Pointe Coupee at a message from the Vicomtesse, and had gone first to Les Iles to see Antoinette.Then he had come, in spite of the fever, to his own house in New Orleans to see Nick himself.What their talk had been I never knew, for the subject was too painful to be dwelt upon, and the conversation had been marked by frankness on both sides.Monsieur de St.Gre was a just man, his love for his daughter was his chief passion, and despite all that had happened he liked Nick.I believe he could not wholly blame the younger man, and he forgave him.

Mrs.Temple, poor lady, had died on that first night of my illness, and it was her punishment that she had not known her son or her son's happiness.Whatever sins she had committed in her wayward life were atoned for, and by her death I firmly believe that she redeemed him.

She lies now among the Temples in Charleston, and on the stone which marks her grave is cut no line that hints of the story of these pages.

One bright morning, when Nick and I were playing cards, we heard some one mounting the stairs, and to my surprise and embarrassment I beheld Monsieur de St.Gre emerging on the gallery.He was in white linen and wore a broad hat, which he took from his head as he advanced.He had aged somewhat, his hair was a little gray, but otherwise he was the firm, dignified personage Ihad admired on this same gallery five years before.

``Good morning, gentlemen,'' he said in English; ``ha, do not rise, sir'' (to me).He patted Nick's shoulder kindly, but not familiarly, as he passed him, and extended his hand.

``Mr.Ritchie, it gives me more pleasure than I can express to see you so much recovered.''

``I am again thrown on your hospitality, sir,'' I said, flushing with pleasure at this friendliness.For I admired and respected the man greatly.``And I fear I have been a burden and trouble to you and your family.''

He took my hand and pressed it.Characteristically, he did not answer this, and I remembered he was always careful not to say anything which might smack of insincerity.

``I had a glimpse of you some weeks ago,'' he said, thus making light of the risk he had run.``You are a different man now.You may thank your Scotch blood and your strong constitution.''

``His good habits have done him some good, after all,''

put in my irrepressible cousin.

Monsieur de St.Gre smiled.

``Nick,'' he said (he pronounced the name quaintly, like Antoinette), ``his good habits have turned out to be some advantage to you.Mr.Ritchie, you have a faithful friend at least.'' He patted Nick's shoulder again.

``And he has promised me to settle down.''

``I have every inducement, sir,'' said Nick.

Monsieur de St.Gre became grave.

``You have indeed, Monsieur,'' he answered.

``I have just come from Dr.Perrin's, David,''--he added, ``May I call you so? Well, then, I have just come from Dr.Perrin's, and he says you may be moved to Les Iles this very afternoon.Why, upon my word,'' he exclaimed, staring at me, ``you don't look pleased.One would think you were going to the calabozo.''

``Ah,'' said Nick, slyly, ``I know.He has tasted freedom, Monsieur, and Madame la Vicomtesse will be in command again.''

I flushed.Nick could be very exasperating.

``You must not mind him, Monsieur,'' I said.

``I do not mind him,'' answered Monsieur de St.Gre, laughing in spite of himself.``He is a sad rogue.As for Helene--''

``I shall not know how to thank the Vicomtesse,'' Isaid.``She has done me the greatest service one person can do another.''

``Helene is a good woman,'' answered Monsieur de St.

Gre, simply.``She is more than that, she is a wonderful woman.I remember telling you of her once.I little thought then that she would ever come to us.''

He turned to me.``Dr.Perrin will be here this afternoon, David, and he will have you dressed.Between five and six if all goes well, we shall start for Les Iles.And in the meantime, gentlemen,'' he added with a stateliness that was natural to him, ``I have business which takes me to-day to my brother-in-law's, Monsieur de Beausejour's.''

Nick leaned over the gallery and watched meditatively his prospective father-in-law leaving the court-yard.

``He got me out of a devilish bad scrape,'' he said.

``How was that?'' I asked listlessly.

``That fat little Baron, the Governor, was for deporting me for running past the sentry and giving him all the trouble I did.It seems that the Vicomtesse promised to explain matters in a note which she wrote, and never did explain.She was here with you, and a lot she cared about anything else.Lucky that Monsieur de St.Gre came back.

Now his Excellency graciously allows me to stay here, if Ibehave myself, until I get married.''

I do not know how I spent the rest of the day.It passed, somehow.If I had had the strength then, I believe I should have fled.I was to see her again, to feel her near me, to hear her voice.During the weeks that had gone by I had schooled myself, in a sense, to the inevitable.I had not let my mind dwell upon my visit to Les Iles, and now I was face to face with the struggle for which I felt I had not the strength.I had fought one battle,--I knew that a fiercer battle was to come.

In due time the doctor arrived, and while he prepared me for my departure, the little man sought, with misplaced kindness, to raise my spirits.Was not Monsieur going to the country, to a paradise? Monsieur--so Dr.Perrin had noticed--had a turn for philosophy.Could two more able and brilliant conversationalists be found than Philippe de St.Gre and Madame la Vicomtesse? And there was the happiness of that strange but lovable young man, Monsieur Temple, to contemplate.He was in luck, ce beau garcon, for he was getting an angel for his wife.

Did Monsieur know that Mademoiselle Antoinette was an angel?

At last I was ready, arrayed in my best, on the gallery, when Monsieur de St.Gre came.Andre and another servant carried me down into the court, and there stood a painted sedan-chair with the St.Gre arms on the panels.

1

同类推荐
  • 慧命经

    慧命经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 随息居重订霍乱论

    随息居重订霍乱论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 疑龙经

    疑龙经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 鱼篮宝卷

    鱼篮宝卷

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 修养

    修养

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 异华山降器

    异华山降器

    孤儿乔宣之前一直在青岍夏家做书童,虽是吃喝不愁,但命握他手。从夏家逃跑便遇上了水妖,白胡子老头踩着葫芦瓢救了他。以为老头术法一流,拜了师才知道降术渣的葫芦瓢都掉底了,还好自己天赋异禀。〈来看的就图个乐子吧,谢谢各位兄弟们了〉
  • 转世之倾城公主

    转世之倾城公主

    仙魔两界公主重生人间,从出生那天起,姐妹俩的命运就发生了翻天覆地的变化。因为从小失去最爱的妹妹,变成双面人。在家人面前的她是可爱活泼的。但在外人面前的她却是冰冷如山,成为世界第一杀手,嗜血公主-沐之晴,拒人于千里之外。
  • 锐读(第5期·悬疑新主张)

    锐读(第5期·悬疑新主张)

    《惊奇档案》专栏编辑,觅骨寻踪,亲历惊奇与惊险,探寻神秘的不可思议,用科学的态度解读怪谈与诡闻。
  • 魔王的绝地求生

    魔王的绝地求生

    (新书,《吾乃格斗之王》以发表,请多多支持)“勇者”,乃天选之人。“勇者”,乃创造奇迹之人。“勇者”,乃纵横无数战场而不败之人......魔王里雍:咔!别说些有的没的,现在这么多勇者马上要来扒我家魔王城的窗户,你就说说该怎么办吧?作者:教你一招,找一个月黑风高的夜晚,悄悄的把自己吊在魔王城的城门上,这样过来的勇者就被你吓跑了......
  • 千年守望不负卿

    千年守望不负卿

    他们本应是神仙眷侣,无奈却触及仙皇逆鳞,一个被封山反省,一个遭万世轮回。看仙界四皇子如何隐世凡间,苦苦等待恋人的灵魂归来,再续前缘;看失去仙界记忆的芙蓉仙子如何找回记忆,重塑仙骨。“今天果然是个好日子!怀楚你看,我们白衣执扇的正派贵公子有了,以纱遮面的冰山姐姐有了,大眼粉嫩的萌正太和俊美温柔的贴身侍卫也有了。我们今日就出去好好逛逛,顺便给大街上的姑娘婶婶们来点福利吧!”“……”我的晔儿,怎么你在凡世走一遭,变得这么皮了?
  • 前世今生2:总有奇迹降临

    前世今生2:总有奇迹降临

    魏斯和他的女儿艾米跟我们共同分享了发生在现实生活中许多不同寻常的故事,为我们揭示了前世回溯即通往灵性目标的神秘之处。这里有个人讲述的故事和魏斯博士的教导,这些都为根本地、永久地慰藉我们的身体和心灵提供了可能。如果我们能够意识到自己曾有过多次生命经历,只是被心灵的插曲隔开而已,我们对死亡的恐惧可能就会消解,我们将焕然一新。或许当我们沿着灵性之路循着自我的目标前行时,也能为当下的自己带来更多的平和与喜乐。奇迹仍在上演,上万读者参悟生命真谛,改变命运的连锁反应仍在传递中……
  • 医品傲妻

    医品傲妻

    她,是唐门世家的天才家主,绝色,狂妄,慵懒,毒辣。他,是天隆王朝的瘸子战王,倾城,面瘫,腹黑,狡诈。痴傻嫡女一朝翻身,本是无人肯要的纨绔嫡女,却一夜之间成为抢手货,连太子都亲自上门求亲!一个计谋,京中盛传将军府大小姐跟战王爷生米煮成熟饭!某女:“我守宫砂还在!我什么时候怀上了!你好意思散播那些谣言出去吗?!”某人:“你是介意本王没有将你生米煮成熟饭?不要紧,现在来也不迟。”某女:“喂喂喂战王爷,君子动口不动手啊……”【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 天降倾城王妃

    天降倾城王妃

    千年难遇的时光交错,让某些事情发生了奇妙的变化,相府二小姐死而复生,她却已不是她!
  • 教你学自行车·摩托车(学生室内外运动学习手册)

    教你学自行车·摩托车(学生室内外运动学习手册)

    体育运动是以身体练习为基本手段,以增强人的体质,促进人的全面发展,丰富社会文化生活和促进精神文明为目的一种有意识、有组织的社会活动。室内外体育运动内容丰富,种类繁多,主要项目有田径、球类、游泳、武术、登山、滑冰、举重、摔跤、自行车、摩托车等数十个类别。
  • 我一开口,就能说服所有人

    我一开口,就能说服所有人

    古人说:“三寸不烂之舌,强于百万之师。”本书以马云的真实事例作为写作的主体,向读者展示了马云口才的惊人力量。你既可以欣赏其中的精彩绝妙之处,也可以从中寻觅到自我提升的方法与路径。