第68章

"Speak, I am ready to hear you; you know it always gives me pleasure to talk with you.""I beg you, sir," said Gilbert, "to pardon your daughter the bitterness of her language.She spoke in delirium.I swear to you that at the bottom of her heart, she respects you, and that you have only to wish it to have her love you as a father."M.Leminof answered only by a shrug of the shoulders, which signified--"What matters it to me?""I am bound to say further," resumed Gilbert, "that your anger ought to fall upon me alone.It was I who sought this child, who hated me; and I constrained her to receive me.I pressed my attentions upon her and had no peace or rest until I had gained her affection."The Count shrugged his shoulders again, as much as to say: "Ibelieve you, but how does that change the situation?""As for me," continued Gilbert, "I assure you, upon my honor, that it was only yesterday I drew from your daughter her secret."The Count answered:

"I believe you readily; but tell me, if you please, is it true that you now love this little girl as she loves you?"Gilbert reflected a moment; then considering only the dignity and interests of Stephane, he replied:

"Yes, I love her with a pure, deep love."

A sarcastic joy appeared upon the Count's face.

"Admirable!" said he; "that is all I wish to know.We have nothing more to say."Gilbert raised his head: "One word more, sir!" he exclaimed."I do not leave you until you have sworn to me that you will not touch a hair of your daughter's head, and that you will not revenge yourself upon her for my well-meant imprudence.""Peste!" said the Count, laughing, "you are taking great airs; but I owe you some gratitude, inasmuch as your coolness has saved me from committing a crime which would have been a great folly, for only fools avenge themselves with the knife.So I shall grant you even more than you ask.Hereafter, my daughter shall have no cause to complain of me, and I will interest myself paternally in her happiness.It displeases her to be under Ivan's charge; he shall be only her humble servant.I intend that she shall be as free as air, and all of her caprices will be sacred to me.I will begin by restoring her horse, if he is not already sold.I will do more: Iwill permit her to resume the garments of her sex.But for these favors I exact two conditions: first, that you shall remain here at least six months; second, that you will try neither to see, speak, nor write to my doll, without my consent."Gilbert breathed a deep sigh.

"I swear it, on my honor!" replied he.

"Enough! Enough!" resumed M.Leminof, "I have your promise, and Ibelieve in it as I do in the Gospels."

When the Count reentered his study, Doctor Vladimir, who was patiently awaiting him, examined him from head to foot, as if seeking to discover upon his garments or his hands some stain of blood, then controlling his emotion:

"Well," said he coolly, "how did the affair terminate?""Very well," said the Count, throwing himself in a chair."I have not killed anyone.This young man's reason restored mine."Vladimir Paulitch turned pale.

"So," said he, with a forced smile, "this audacious seducer gets off with a rating.""You haven't common sense, Vladimir Paulitch! What are you saying about seduction? Gilberts are an enigma to you.They are not born under the same planets as Doctors Vladimir and Counts Leminof.

There is a mixture in them of the humanitarian, the knight-errant, the gray sister, and the St.Vincent de Paul, added to all which, our philanthropist has a passion for puppets, and from the time of his arrival he has forewarned me that he intended to make them play.He must have wanted, I think, to give himself a representation of some sacramental act, of some mystery play of the middle ages.The piece began well.The principal personages were faith, hope, and charity.Unfortunately, love got into the party, and the mystery was transformed into a drama of cloak and sword.Iam sorry for him; these things always end badly.""You are mistaken, Count Kostia!" replied Vladimir ironically;"they often end with a wedding."

"Vladimir Paulitch!" exclaimed the Count, stamping his foot, "you have the faculty of exasperating me.Today you spent an hour in kindling the fire of vengeance in my soul.You hate this young man.I believe, on my honor, that you are jealous of him.You are afraid, perhaps, that I may put him in my will in place of the little shepherd of Ukraine? Think of it as you please, my dear doctor; it is certain that if I had had the awkwardness to kill this admirable companion of my studies, I should lament him now in tears of blood, for I know not why, but he is dear to me in spite of all.But who loves well, chastises well, and I cannot help pitying him in thinking of all the sufferings which I shall make him undergo.Now go to bed, doctor.To-morrow morning you will go on your nimble feet, three leagues from here, on the other side of the mountain, to a little inn, which I will direct you how to find.

I will follow on horseback.I need exercise and diversion.We will meet there and dine together.At dessert we will talk physiology, and you will exert yourself to entertain me.""But what are you thinking of?" exclaimed Vladimir, surprised to the last degree."Will you permit these two lovers--""Oh! you have but a dull mind, in spite of your wisdom,"interrupted the Count."In matters of vengeance, you only know the calicoes and cottons.Mine I prefer to weave of silk and threads of gold."On returning to his room, Vladimir Paulitch said to himself:

"These two men are too rational.The piece moves too slowly.Imust hasten the denouement."