Dross | Page 7

not inform him that I had fallen
in love with a tone in his daughter's voice, with a light in her eyes--I,
who had never made serious love to any woman yet. He would only
think me mad.
There were in truth many matters with which I ought to have made the
Vicomte acquainted. My quarrel with my father, for instance, had
originated in my refusal to marry Isabella Gayerson--a young lady with
landed estates and a fortune of eighty thousand pounds. I merely
informed Monsieur, I confess, that my father and I had fallen out over
money matters. Cannot most marriages arranged by loving parents be
so described? To my recitation the old gentleman listened with much
patience, and when I had partially eased my soul he merely nodded,
saying:
"My question is not yet answered, mon ami. Do you know aught of
French politics?"
"Absolutely nothing," was my answer, made in all honesty. And I
thought I was speaking my own dismissal.
Monsieur de Clericy leant back in his chair with a shrug of the
shoulders.

"Well," he muttered, half to himself, "perhaps it is of little consequence.
You understand, Monsieur," he continued in a louder tone, looking at
me kindly, "I like you. I may say it without impertinence, because I am
an old man and you are young. I liked you as soon as I saw you
yesterday. The duties for which I require a secretary are light. It is
chiefly to be near me when I want you. I have my little estates in the
South, in the Bourbonnais, and near to Orleans. I require some one to
correspond with my agents, to travel perhaps to my lands when a
question arises which the bailiffs cannot settle unaided."
Thus he spoke for some time, and my duties, as he detailed them,
sounded astonishingly light. Indeed, he paused occasionally as if
seeking to augment them by the addition of trivial household tasks.
"Madame, the Vicomtesse," he said, "will also be glad to avail herself
of your services."
The existence of this lady was thus made known to me for the first time.
I have wondered since why, in this conversation, we with one accord
ignored the first question in such affairs--namely, the salary paid by
Monsieur to his secretary.
"I should require you," he said finally, "to live in the Hôtel Clericy
while we are in Paris."
Some years earlier, during a hunting expedition in Africa, I had stalked
a lion all night and far into the following day. On finally obtaining a
sight of my prey, I found him old, disease-stricken and half-blind. The
feelings of that moment I have never forgotten. A sensation near akin to
it--a sort of shame attaching to a pursuit unworthy of a
sportsman--came to me again now, when I was told that I might live
under the roof that sheltered Mademoiselle de Clericy.
"You hesitate," said the Vicomte. "I am afraid it is an essential. I must
have you always at hand."
Chapter III

Madame
"En paroles ou en actions, être discret, c'est s'abstenir."
It is to be presumed that the reader knows the usual result of such a
tussle with the conscience as that upon which I now entered. At various
turning points in a chequered career I have met my conscience thus
face to face, and am honest enough to confess that the victory has not
always fallen to that ghostly monitor.
After favouring me with his ultimatum, the Vicomte looked at me
expectantly. I thought of Mademoiselle de Clericy's presence in that old
house. Who was I to turn my back on the good things that the gods
gave me? I hate your timid man who looks behind him on an unknown
road.
"As Monsieur wills," I said, and with a sigh, almost of relief I thought,
my companion rose.
"We will seek the Vicomtesse," he said. "My wife will have pleasure in
making your acquaintance. And to-morrow you shall have my answer."
"Ah!" thought I; "the Vicomtesse decides it."
And I followed Monsieur de Clericy towards the door.
"It is half-past eleven," he said, looking at his modest silver watch. "We
shall find Madame in her boudoir."
This apartment, it appeared, was situated beyond the drawing-room, of
which we now passed the door. Below us was the great square hall,
dark and gloomy; for its windows had been heavily barred in the old
stirring times, and but little light filtered through the ironwork. At the
head of the stairs was a gallery completely surrounding the quadrangle,
and from this gallery access was gained to all the dwelling rooms.
The Vicomte tapped at the door of Madame's room, and without
waiting for an answer passed in. I, having purposely lingered, did not

hear the few words spoken upon the