CHAPTER XIII. THE ADIEUS.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 148, 3 April 1886, Page 3

CHAPTER XIII. THE ADIEUS.

Sartilly, since the duel that had been so fatal to him, had been obliged to neglect both his own and Jeanne's affairs, not having been able yet to realiee his plan of selling some of his property in the provinces, but had put a great many obstacles in the way of Jeanne s generous resolution of soiling her house to pay her brother's debt. Yet, in spite of the efforts of the notary, whom Sartilly had taken into his confidence, the day wa3 approaching when the magnificent mansion of Trocade"ro would become the property of a stranger ; and it was said that a company of speculators would buy it, lay it out in lots, and open new streets in this deserted part of Paris. Besides, M. de NorelFs prosecution of his claims against Roger de Mensignac had not ceased one day ; it was conducted with rigour and promptness by a man of business, and the notary, \i . Galmet, suspected, no doubt, of ehovving too much indulgence to his client, no longer doubted that this severity arose from a desire for personal \ engeance. M. de Noreff could not bo ignorant that the Maiquis possessed nothing that could be seized. The notary, wholly inacceesible to waudeiingsof theimagination, believed that Roger de Mensignac was dead — really dead— and the total ruin of his fortune not doubtful : he knew also that the house would bring double the amount of the sum owed to de Noreff, and that Jeanne's approaching marriage would repair her loss ; therefore saw without grief the hour drawing near for the sale of the house, detormininjr to sell it at the highest possible price. Jeanne's lover had very different views and was very far from consenting to this sacrifice, that he seemed to approve, while firmly decided to prevent it if possible, — now, particularly, when he thought he was sure of bringing back from Normandy Roger's fortune, and hoped on his return to ba able to tell the young girl of the success of his expedition, of which as yet he had never breathed a word to her. He was peifectly determined, if he failed in this, to take advantage of his visit to Normandy to raise a loan on his property, thinking Jeanne could be induced to take the money, believing it to be part of her btother's fortune, and hoped, when all this was settled, his marriage would not be delayed. On arriving at the De Mensignac mansion, his heart was beating with impatience and joy ; but the sight of his betrothed, eitting in an arm-chair, pale and depressed, brought back the remembrance of last night's accident, and agitated him deeply. The young girl's face had that peculiar expression indicating hidden suffering, and it could be easily seen that the contraction of her features and sadness of her expression were not caused by physical pain, but by some grevious thought that tormented her. " What is the matter with you, my dear Jeanne?" Edmond asked, in an agitated voice. " Only a little weakness," Miss Georgina, who was sitting beside Jeanne, hastily answered. " The doctor has been here twice this morning, and says there is nothing to be apprehended from yesterday's accident." "Jeanne, 'twas to you that I spoke," began Sartilly ; what are you suffering from ? Tell me, I beg of you." "From my heart, my dear friend. It seems to me at moments as if my life had stopped ; but I will overcome this grief, as at this moment I have not the right to be ill," added she, with a sad smile. " What do you mean, my dear Jeanne ?" *' That I ought to be occupied with my affairs — with our affairs, if you wish. The notary is coming to-day to fix the time for the sale of the house." " So you are still determined upon making this sacrifice? ' "You know very well, my dear Edmond, that it is indispensable ; and, besides, this large, empty house displeases and frightens me. I have in view a little, charming place, in an Irish convent, near the Jardin dcs Pantes, that Miss Georgina has discovered. lam going there with her, and when you come to see us, you will be astonished to find us so comfortably settled." "Indeed, it is a very comfortable house," insinuated Miss Georgina ; " and I do not think Jeanne could find anyfchig that would suit her as well." '•I don'fc doubt it," answered Sartilly coldly ; " but I hope, however, that Mademoiselle de Mensignac's sojourn there will not be long;" and he added: "My dear Jeanne, you k now that I love you, that your brother hirjself approved of our betrothal, and as I am going to start this evening upon a journey that will oblige me to be absent for three or four days at most, promise me that you will do nothing, change nothing in your mode of life, before my return. Our happiness may depend upon the promise I ask of you." •'Our happineee," repeated the young girl, eadly ; "I begin to believe in it no longer ; but since you wish it, I promise you not to leave this house before seeing you again." "Thanke, dear Jeanne ; and now I hope, and I tell you to hope ; but I must go once more into the library, and in an instant I will return to shake hands with you, and say farewell." "Julia has the key; she will take you there, my dear friend," murmured the young girl, who had started on hearing Edmond speak of the library. The maid was continually going and coming in the apartment, often looking stealthily at the Viscount. The commission seemed to give her great pleasure, and Sartilly, on his side, had only desired a pretext to be alone with Julia, whom he believed was sincerely attached to her mistress. " What has been going on here ?" he asked of her as soon as he was out of hearing. "Nothing that I have seen, sir," answered the maid; "and nevertheless, I am Bure there is something that makes my mistress unhappy." " You have never left her ajone with the English woman." " Not a minute. About two o'clock last night, when Mademoiselle Jeanne was asleep, Mies Georgina went with me into the little boudoir next the room, and laid down on the sofa, but I did not shut my eyes all night." "Then what could have happened to Mademoiselle de Mensignac ?" "Nothing but a dream or nightmare, that must have been very distressing, as tfaia morning my mistress was exhausted by fatigue." " And did she say nothing ? did she not speak to you of what jane experienced during the night?" J - " No ; only wij&n she wok,©, efre spoke some disconnected words ,of a womajn - f but

I did not understand her very well, and I think she was a little delirious." " Listen to me. 1 am obliged to leave here this evening ; you are the only one in whom I have confidence. M. De Chateaubrun has promised you twenty-five louis dors for watching the English woman, and 1, who know that you are attached to Mademoiselle Mensignac, tell you simply this, — that, the day she becomes my wife, you shall come into my house with a salary of twelve hundred francs a year, secured by my marriage contract. Therefore, watch over the Viscountes3 de Sartilly." Julia only answered by a look, but it expressed such absolute devotion that the Viscount did not add another word to what he had said, and returned to Jeanne com pletely reassured. The young girl was alone, the English woman having perhaps thouerht it proper to absent herself, but Edmond, fearing to affect her, shortened the interview. "I am going, and I depend upon your promise," said he, holding out his hand to Jeanne. " Return quickly, my dear friend," she answered, in an agitated voice. "Return quickly, for I feel that misfortunes surround me." " Misfortunes ! but then I ought not to go away : I must remain and defend you from them." " No, Edmond, no; go, — you could not defend me from my dreams, —against phantoms," said the young girl, lowering her voice. "Against phantoms?" " Yes ; la9t night, I saw again, — but I cannot believe it, — I saw again the woman in red !"