CHAPTER V.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 141, 13 February 1886, Page 3

CHAPTER Y.

THE BLOOD STAItf. The last words spoken by the agent had produced on the Viscount a singular impression. He rang for Antoine, gave him the key of the stable, dressed himself has : tily, and went down into the courtyard, where he found Toby standing erect before a handsome horse which he had just harnessed, and waiting for his master in the dignified attitude of a well-trained groom, Sartilly's first impulse was to question and reprove him for his ill-timed absence, but looking at the pleasant face of the rosy and beardless boy, he said to himself that Jottrat's suspicions were .ridiculous. Besides, Toby did not seem -to remember the reproofs that old Antoine had just given him, and when his master took his seat and held the reins in his hands he jumped up lightly into his place, crossed his arms, and threw himself back with his usual ease. The gate being open, the horse started off at full speed, and three minutes after, the Viscount's Irish trotter was rapidly going along the wide avenue of the Champs Elysees. It was a magnificent winter day, and the numerous pedestrians whs were walking in the gay street turned to look at the fleet horse. Men admired its rapid gait, the simple elegance of the harness, and the lightness of the carriage, while women cast an approving glance at the brilliant young man who drove so skilfu'ly. All believed him to be one of I fortune's favourites, and many looked with an envious eye upon Toby's master. Nevertheless, this envied nobleman was suffering at that moment the most cruel torture. His thoughts were fixed on the young girl he loved, and he trembled for her. What would become of Jeanne if her brother did not return, and if the imDlacable persecution of her family should succeed in dishonouring the Be Mensignac name? Sartilly knew Jeanne's high sense of honour, and he feared that he, whom she had chosen when ?he was rich and sought after, might now, when she was alone and without fortune, refuse to be his. Was it certain that the enemies who struck in darkness would be content with one victim ? Who could assure him that the invisible plotter •would not entrap in his foMs Jeanne de Mensignac, the last of her race ? "I will save her, or die with her/ thought the Viscount at the moment his carriage stopped at her house. He knew Jeanne expected him, aB she had written for him to come, bo he went directly to the boudoir that Jeanne usually occupied. On going in he felt rather surprised at not finding her alone. The English governess was seated on the other side of the work table occupied in imbroidering, and necessarily would be present during the interview. Her presence there was undoubtedly conformable to the rules of etiquette, for Sartilly knew very well that worldly decorum required that he should not have a lpng tete-a-tete with Jeanne, but under circumstances so serious the Viscount would have greatly preferred a conversation with witnesses. Besides, he had very little sympathy with Miss Georgina. She had certainly brought up Jeanne with unquestionable devotion, showing upon all occasions an attachment that seemed sincere, yet nevertheless Sartilly instinctively mistrusted her. And, right or wrong, imagining that she was opposed to his marriage, with his present feelings her presence was an excessive restraint upon him. Besides, he euspected that Jeanne had an ob* ject in having her present with them during a conversation that might perhaps decide the future life of both. Jeanne had accustomed him to a freer intercourse, and only the night before she had met him alone in the library. The crisis was still serious enough to justify a momentary infraction upon worldly rules, and the Viscount, with good reason was, astonished at the scruples of the young girl. While accosting her, his manner was rather more reserved than usual, but the welcome she gave him reassured him immediately, for she offered him her hand with so much cordiality, and her large eyes expressed so much sincerity, that Sartilly reproached himeelf for having doubted her for a moment. " I have been expecting you impatiently, Edmond," said Mademoiselle de Mensignac, " and I thank you for having come." "You could not doubt my eagerness to do so," answered Edmond, surprised and almost shocked at her manner, so much more ceremonious than usual. "I begged Miss Georerina to listen to what I have to say to you," continued Jeanne, in a voice" she vainly tried to calm ; "you know how much I love her, and now that I am alone in the world, I need her advice more than ever." Sartilly bowed, and turned pale, in spite of the effort he made to hide bis agitation. Jeanne's first words gave a blow to his heart. " But two women, without protection and experience," Jeanne continued, " cannot act. by themselves, and I depend upon you to aid me." " Alone in the world, did you say, Jeanne ?" cried the Viecount, with a burst of indigoation. " Alone in the world ! you, Jeanne— you, whom I love with all the strength of my heart, and when my most ardent deeire is to be your husband !" The features of Medemoiselle de Mensignac betrayed great emotion, and she remained a few seconds without answering. It could be seen that she was arming hersefl against the love which, in spite of hersel.f had taken complete possession of her, and that a resolution formed in advance alone prevented her expressing her feelings. "God is my witness, Edmond," she said at last, with a trembling voice, " that I would have been proud and happy to be your wife when I could have brought you a name without stain, and— a fortune." fbe had hesitated before pronouncing the last word, that made Sartilly start f* A fortune !" said he, bitterly ; " and is it you, Jeanne, who is mingling our love with mercenary considerations ?" '•Pardon me, Edmond," continued the young girl: "a day will come, I trust, when I will be able to say to you, Edmond, do you wish me to be your wife ? Now, 1 entreat you to leave me mistress of mveelf." J " Then you withdraw your promise," repeated Sartilly, who felt tears coming into hie eyes. "You do not understand me, Edmond," Jeanne Baid, sadly, " and you know how much I love you." These simple words and this frank avowal touched the Viscount deeply. He took her hand, and with a look full of tenderness and love, said, "I will wait."

c,"? hank you ' Esmond," said Jeanne, and now it is your advice I require." • "Tell me what I can do for you," said Sartilly, eagerly, "I want to sell this n?ansiou, and realise the pr'ce of it as soon as possible ; being absolutely ignorant of business, I depend upon you to point out the steps I am to take.'' " Sell this house ! • "It must be done, Edmond. M.,Calmet has told you I have no other fortune, and I wish to pay my brother's debt." "Roger owes nothing-I am sure of it; and thia miserable De Noreff will not dare to prosecute." "Even at this moment he is doing so," said the young girl, pointing out to Edmond a paper lying on the table. "It is too insqlent !" murmured the Viscount, looking with disgust at a yellowish sheet of paper bearing the stamp of the public treasury. " But this is addressed to Roger," said he, after having read it ; "it is only addressed to bin, and—" Jeanne stopped him with a gesture. '• What, would you do, Edmond, if Roger were you'- brother ?" • Sartilly cast down his eyes and did not answer .\ " You see very well thatl cannothesitato," she said, calmly. •' And what proof have you that Roger is dead ?" asked the Viscount. He expected to see the young girl shake her head sadly, butshelookedathimsreadily, and said, in a firm voice, " Ido not thinknowr that ho is dead." Sartilly 's face expressed such great astonishment that Jeanne understood from its expression that bethought her mind was wandering. "If he is living," continued she, "my duty is the same ; it is I a'one who can now prevent his name being dishonoured, and struggle against tho enemies who force him to hide himself. My resolution is taken, Edmond, and I a3k you by the friendship that unites you to him, and by your love fn' me, to aid me in accomplishing this. I have asked the notary to come here tomorrow, and I depend upon you to be present at my interview with him." Sartilly was no longer listening to Jeanne — the words she had spoken came back unceasingly to his thoughts, and he wondered if she had some good reason to believe in Roger's existence, or if the exalted imagination of the young girl had not presented her with some delusive fancy. He looked at her anxiously, and almost feared to question her. " Why do you think Roger is not dead ?" he asked at last, timidty. Jeanne turned pile and hesitated, but after a minute she lowered her voice, and said : " I saw my brother last night." " Roger ! .yo"u saw Roger !" cried Sartilly. The young girl looked at him with an expression of indefinable grief, and did not | answer. "Speak, Jeanne, I entreat you," cried the half-distracted Viscount. She was making a great effort, and was going to speak, when Miss Geoirgina, who had been present at the interview without taking any part in it, got up, took her hand, and said, in the most affectionate manner : "Jeanne, my dear child, T beg you to forget these dangerous imaginations ; you are ill, and the recollections of a mournful dream can only aggravate your illness. " " Let mo speak to him," said the young girl, eently. Sartilly, pale with emotion" was listening eagerly. "It was the same hour as the night before last ; I was not in bed, as I could not sleep, but walking up ! and down my room, for I was very feverish, ; my forehead burned, I leaned it against the window that is opposite the left wing of the house, and I saw a light shining— it was an isolated light, and so faint that I thought at first it was the reflection of the moon's rays on the slate roof. I looked more attentively, and saw that this uncertain light came from the lihrary, which seemed to me very strange, as who could be there at this hour ? I attributed it at first to come neglect of the servants, but I soon remembered that no one could get into that part of the house, a3 l had the key of the gallery taken away, and the private door of the staircase that goes down into the garden is always locked. I had still before my eyes the gloomy visions of the night before, and I already began to fear, when suddenly the outline of a dark shadow passed before the lighted window, and it peetned to me that this shadow stopped and leaned its forehead against the glass window as I wag doing. By degrees the contour became moro distinct, the figure showed more plainly, and it seemed to be looking at me. I uttered a loud cry, for I had recognised Roger, or rather had divined it wa3 he, as I could only distinguish the outline of his profile. At the same moment the light was extinguished, and 1 paw nothing more, for I had fainted away. When I came to myself, Miss Georcrina wa3 applying salts to restore me. The noise of my fall had awakened her, and she came to me and remained with me until daybreak." A long silence followed Jeanne's recital. Edmond gave her a look full of love and pity, for he trembled again for her reason. The English woman held the young girl's hands in her own, and with her eyes supplicated Sartilly not to dwell on this subject. He felt the danger of prolonging the conversation in Jeanne's state of excessive nervous excitement, yet an instinctive feeling impelled himto think it had not been a dream, and it required a violent offort on his part to change a conversation so full of ppril, and to speak again in the cold language of business. "Jeanne," he said, in a serious and impressive tone, "you have just expressed your wishes. You know they are sacred to me, and as you refuse me the right of protecting you, I accept the part you offer me. I will be your friend and defender until the day I become your hueband> and now, tell me at what hour you expect the notary tomorrow ?" *• I^wrote this morning to M. Calniet to tell him to come hore to-morrow at twelve o'clock, and I depend upon you to be here at that hour." "I will be punctual," answered Sartilly, whoae face brightened suddenly, as if he had found the solution of a long-sought-for problem. "Will you allow me now to write a few urgent letters, and at the same time to look into the library for an indis pensable document thatl left there the last time I sa w— that I saw Roger?" He had hesitated on prononncing that name, and Jeanne had started on hearing it. "My dear Georgina," she said, " will you give the key to M. Sartilly ?" The English woman went out and came back again with the key, which she handed to Edmond without saying a word. She was very rarely courteous to him, yet today her stiff coldness struck him more than usual ; but his other preoccupations were too engrossing to let this much impress him. He bid Jeanne an affectionate adieu, bowed ceremoniously to Miss Georgina, and by a way well known to him went to the library. In going through the long gallery that led to the right wing of the house, Sartilly thought of the strange history he had just heard, and he could not help feeling a secret agitation. It was in vain to remem-

ber that he was a man, and thai the foolish terrors of a young girl had alone produced these impossible visions. It was invvain to recall td himself that he was brave— bie heart beat more quickly) and the" blood rushed to his' temples, for in the presence of invisible perils his bravery could do nothing, and his well-balanced and firm mind began to stagger under cruel realities and fantastic fears. An instinct stronger than reason led him away by improbable suppositions, and even at this moment he was going into the library to try to find an explanation of this dark enigma; as the forgotten document was only a pretext to be alone there. The high oaken folding-doors were before him, and he almost hesitated to open them, but he went in hastily, for night was coming on. The fading day imperfectly lighted the room, and this obscurity almost gave an air of life to the large family portraits, which seemed to him as if they .would step o,ut of their sculpture frames ; the large bookcases threw out enormous shadows, and the dim light gave to the ancient tapestry at the end of the room a reddish tint. Sartilly walked warily, as if fearing to awaken an echo, his brain full of terrible images; and mournful visions of the night before stood up distinctly before him, There, by this ebony table inlaid with ■ivojry, he. had for the last time held intimate communication with Roger ; further, on, in , those large Cordova leather armchairs, he had so', often lounged, carrying on a . pleasant cHit-chat f with Jeanne and her brother, and even the flowers that he had sent to Jeanne were still fresh in the china vases on the white marble brackets. All at once he stopped, seized by a feeling of repulsion, almost of fear, for at this very spot the night before he had picked up the golden tress of hair, and he looked around him as if seeing other proofs. A last ray from the setting sun, fast dis-' appearing behind the hills of Brandon, lighted the dark coloured carpet, and a column of bright light coming through the lower part of the high and narrow window, struck the wall at the end of the library. Sartilly, motionless and thoughtful, followed with an absent eye the clear ray of sunshine, which appeared still more brilliant when contrasted with the angles of the room now deeply shaded, and very soon his look became fixed upon a spot on the carpet, which the bright light brought oufc dis tinctly, and he started back instinctively, as it struck him suddenly that this stain was a spot of blood. He started back, yet could not turn his eyes away from this dark stain, but irresistibly attracted by it, and his eye following the odd tracing, he walked forward, impelled by an overpowering curiosity that banished di&gust. The spot became larger toward the end of the room, and near the wall at the foot of the old tapestry hangings, it widened and then suddenly ceased. He Etooped down, examined the tapestry, discovering here and there dark spots, as if drops had spurted upon it. "It is here they killed her," he murmured. He got up slowly, and remained standing before the wall that be was examining with horror, and after a moment's stupor, he touched the tarnished surface, for it eeemed to him that it must conceal some dark secret or terrible mystery ; but his hands could only feel the plaited hangings. There was nothing beyond the wall, as the building ended there, and now he despaired of ever discovering the secret. Theray ofsunshinedisappearingsuddenly, and the shadows of night coming down quickly, soon left the room in darkness. Sartilly went away from the bloody walla, for a new feeling had just filled his heart — fear ; and as he walked along with stealthy steps, he Euffered from a nervous contraction that he had never known before, and on reaching the wide staircase, and seeing the bright lamps of his carriage, and Toby waiting for him, he repeated in a low voice, " Yes, this was fear."