LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1754, 3 October 1879, Page 3

LITERATURE.

THE RENDEZVOUS. A Btoby of a Silly Little Woman’s Advkniuks. BY HENRY GRENVILLE, (Concluded ) ‘ Count I’ replied 1, indignantly, with a secret pleasure, however, at being invited. * I mean no harm,’ he answered, with the most Jesuitical air. * I am away from home ail day. If you will honor my trifles by deigning to look at them you may be (quite sure that the master of the house will not offend your eyes by his presence,’ * But,’ answered I devoured by the demon of curiosity, and also, it must be said, consumed with an ardent desire to,see the place inhabited by so fascinating a mortal, ‘ such a step would compromise me.’ ‘You need not come by daylight,’ said my

tempt:r. ‘At night'toward 3o’clock, when it is dark, a staircase, leading into the portecochere, will take you directly into my cabinet without passing under the eyes of the Suisse who guards, the staircase. My servants, even, will hear- nothing about it; this little key opens the-door.’ He handed me a key—ouch a key ! The size of a watch key, in chased gold and ornamented with rubies. That key would have been the perdition o§ a saint, such wonders did it promise. He placed it before mo ; I kept silence, ‘ What day ?’ said he in a low voice. I pushed the key away. ‘ No, Count I shall not go.’ ‘ I ask you on what day, so as not to run the risk of meeting you—and have promised yon that you should not see me.’ In short, what is positive, is that in five minutes afterwards 1 was alone, the key in my hand, and having promised to go the next evening. I pass over in silence the history of my remorse, of my agitation, of the resolutions taken and then forsaken. Thirty-two times I swore to myself that I would not go, but thirty-three times I represented to myself that I ran no risk, that the word of a gentleman ought to suffice me, and curiosity carried the day by a majority of one voice. For that matter I think it would have carried the day under any circumstances. The next evening, having found an excellent pretext—excellent, because it had taken mo fourteen hours to find it. I left my home furtively on foot. Count Alexis lived in the neighboring street, and I soon arrived under the porte-ooohere of his house. This portecochere seemed to me extraordinary. Since that time I have been able to convince myself that It differed in nothing from others ; but only think, during my life 1 had never been under a porte-ooohere on foot; I only know it as a place through which the carriage and hones passed when coming to take me up at the street door. This particular will give you au idea of what sort of a woman 1 was then; a widow and mother, but more I ignorant of life than a child of three. I perceived the door in question; I ascended three steps—no one saw me—the oonrt-yard was deserted, by order, doubting I have lUjot) thpught, I pushed the, icy

into the key-hole, not without trembling a little, and I entered. 11. A tiny ante-chamber lit by a lantern of colored glass and filled with mirrois in somber frames offered mo a warm hospitality ; there were flowers everywhere, but little light, not a btesth of air. I listened —not a sound. The stillness reassured me. I threw off my cloak and opened the door. Count Alexia had said truly; hia cabinet was a marvel. The first glance gave me an impression of entire satisfaction, such as we feel when our sense of the beautiful has nothing more to desire. The sweet and subtle perfume that the very hangings gave forth charmed without intoxicating ; the lamps were so cleverly placed as to leave nothing in shadow, and at the same time not to hnrt the eyes ; light and shade were here in irreproachable contrast from the oe ithetio point of view ; and what beautiful things I Decidedly, Count Alexis was a great magician.

When I had touched every box, opened every drawer, tried on every jewel, I looked at a door with superb hangings, which apparently led into inner rooms. I examined the key-hole—it was locked on the outside. I put my oar to it without shame or confusion, and I heard 'these words, spoken probably : ‘Do come down ; the Count will be here before ten minutes. ’

Pome one passed by on tiptoe, and silence was re-established. 1 retired safely to a low divan placed at the other end of the room, and sat down to reflect. As the Count is coming why don’t you go away ? demanded the reasonable part of my intelligence. Why? the other part would have been much embarrased to answer—Why, indeed, if not because I loved Count Alexis, and that I had come to see him evidently? But this is what it was impossible for mo to ac knowledge to myself.at that palace without its lord? What' did I care for caskets or scent boxes, without the dark eyes and white teeth of Count Alexis! 'lt was his voice, hia glance, that gave me those delicious sensations to which I surrendered myself while shutting my eyes to their danger. That was what I had come in search of ; and-.- not the vulgar curiosity that could bo as well gratified in a museum or •in a brie a brae shop. ' Yes, decidedly,’ I raid to myself finally, after having vacillated a little, ‘ I will remain. After all, I am young and free. I shall only wrong myself; and If It pleases me for once to live for myself, instead of living for the world I am my own mistress to act as I choose.’

I rose with a decided air, and walked quickly round the room two or three times. The carpet came from Persia, hut mine was much handsomer and much softer. The motley design which at first seemed so piquant and original now only struck me as fantastic and irregular. Decidedly I preferred the Anbussou flowers—beautiful full blown roses, symmetrical llllies and proud peonies. The remembrance of civilised Europe brought -mo back to less poetical thoughts. My home seemed to me charming just then ; but th6recollection of my mother-in-law, the Princess D , the most disagreeable of princesses and mother-in-laws, threw me back again into the realms of fancy. At home. I often saw the Princess. Wiiat does it. matter ? thought I. I want to make the most of life! At this hour women are dressing to go to balls, to listen to platitudes and to dance quadrilles ; here at least

A small clock 'struck half-past eight. Its sound was exactly the same as that of a travelling clock that I had received as a present three years previously. It was at the time of son’s birth. My husband not knowing what to invent to give .me pleasure—for he spoilt me dreadfully, my poor husband—had ordered for me from Faria this small clock, that was as -high as my finger, and was placed in a velvet case. It was a rare gem, and since that time it had counted the hours by my son’s cradle. At half-past eight I always went to kiss him in his bed for the night He knew, this so well that he always waited for the clock to strike, to call out, ‘ Mamma V : At this cry the nurse came to tell me, if I was not there, and my baby received .his, evening, kiss; after which he, went to sleep immediately, as if touched by a magic wand.' I had not seen my son that night before setting out. When I,went to the theatre or when I dined out, I was careful to kiss him bsfore going, and to account to him for my absence. By the help of this precaution, and a bon-bon placed in reserve for the moment of the clock’s striking, my little boy generally went to sleep without any difficulty.

Bat that day 1 had not kissed baby; what could I have-said to him? I had told my servants that I was going on foot to vespers at the neighboring church—servants are of no imp9rtanco ; and, besides, if we rendered, them an explanation of all pur actions I Bnt my son—that was another matter. Without, explaining to myself why, I felt that it would be painful for me to .lie to the child, and to hear him repeat the praise that, he generally said to me when I went to church ; * Greet the Good God for me 1* This, which he mimicked from some grown, up person, was the delight of all the nursery, and baby, repeated it to make the others laugh. 1 felt remorseful at the thought of my son, doubtless calling me at- that- moment—no bonbon placed in reserve, no caress, for the night’s repose. Was it possible that this Oonnt Alexis, with his. black eyes, had made me forgot my little boy?- 1 recalled with horror that in fact I had not troubled myself about the child since the night before. Still worse, after his walk, when he had come In, 1 had neglected to have him brought to me. Was I gomg to forget to be a mother, P And ’ for whom ? For a pair of black eyes and a little bombast.

A carriage stopped before the flight of steps in front of the house, deposited some one. and dashed noisily nnder the portecochere, making all the kniok- knacks around me tremble. It was the Connt coming in. But be promised me that I should be alone, cried I mentally. It is abominable; he is breaking his word !■ And what would he think of me if' he found me here ?

I heard a step approaching the door of the apartment, the clinking of spnra and the grating of a key in the lock. 1 hurried into the little ante-chamber ; I flung on my cloak without taking time to fix my sleeves ; I slipped on to the staircase, taking care to double-lock the door behind mo by the means of the precious gold key which I carefully carried away. Five minutes later I was at home, rather breathless. I ran first of all to baby’s bedside, who, very solemn, was seated upright, declaring to, his nurse that in the first place he would not go to sleep until he bad seen mamma, and that there was no nse in teasing him. When he saw me baby hold out his arms, and said to the frightened nurse—- ‘ I told you she would oome I’ After which, having kissed mo, he lay down on his pillow, shut his eyes and bis fists, and went to sleep. I had hardly had time to change my dress when I heard horses stop beneath my window. I seated myself very comportably in my usual place and ordered to tea to be served.

Count Alexis entered, with his hair tossed about looking very tragic, and with eyes filled with passion, ‘ Thank God, ’ cried he, * I find yon alive!’ Bis voice, his manner, all seemed to mo as false as possible. ‘And why, dear Count, should I not bo alive? asked I, with the moat tranquil mein.

My assurance made him lose a little of his own.

‘But,’ said he, ‘I had thought—you deigned.’ I looked at him attentively and, thanks to I know not what miracle, I saw in him now nothing bnt an actor—and not a vsry. good one. ‘Went? Why? Where?’

He looked at me with an air of stupefaction. I could not help smiling. ‘ Ton forgot yesterday this small object on the table,’ said I, pushing the key toward toward him. *lt must be precious; do take it back.’

Completely at a loss, Oauat Alexis took the key and put itj into his watch-pocket without saying a word.. The servant who had just entered with the tea on a waiter offered him his glass. ‘No, thank you,’ said he, ‘I have no time. I am expected at home.’ And he disappeared. Now, when I think of it, I cannot help laughing ; but that night I cried bitterly. I cried from rage at; the thought that I might have ruined myself for that fooh And all that xor the sake of Eastern carpets and a lit*,\e rhodomontade. I Well, they say there 1s a God for children, I and wo mnst believe that there is one also for the giddy. As for (that, they are aboui; one and the earne thing,