Led Astray and The Sphinx | Page 8

I could not be
responsible. Thanks to these precautions, for over an hour that this hunt
lasted, no accident happened either to the game or to myself.
To speak candidly, I was rather glad to allow the hour to pass when the

hunting-party from the chateau are in the habit of taking the field, not
caring very much, through a remnant of vain glory, to find myself on
their passage that day. Toward two o'clock in the afternoon, I left my
seat of mint and wild thyme, satisfied that I had henceforth no
unpleasant encounter to apprehend. I handed the blunderbuss to the
miller, who seemed somewhat surprised to see me empty-handed, and
more so, probably, to see me alive still. I went to take a stand opposite
the portal, and I undertook to finish a general view of the ruin, a
water-color, which, I feel, is certain to secure the approbation of the
minister.
I was deeply absorbed in my work, when I suddenly fancied I could
hear more distinctly than usual that sound of running horses which,
since my misadventure, was forever haunting my ears. I turned around
sharply, and I discovered the enemy within two hundred paces of me.
This time, he was attired in plain clothes, being apparently equipped for
an ordinary ride; he had obtained, since the previous day, several
recruits of both sexes, and now really formed an imposing body.
Though long prepared for such an occurrence, I could not help feeling a
certain discomfort, and I secretly cursed those indefatigable idlers.
Nevertheless, the thought of retreating never occurred to me; I had lost
all taste for flight for the rest of my days.
As the cavalcade drew nearer, I could hear smothered laughter and
whisperings, the subject of which was but too evident to me. I must
confess that a spark of anger was beginning to burn in my heart, and
while going on with my work with an appearance of unabated interest,
and indulging in admiring motions of the head before my water-color, I
was lending to the scene going on behind me a somber and vigilant
attention. However, the first intention of the party seemed to be to spare
my misfortune; instead of following the path by the side of which I was
established, and which was the shortest way to the ruins, they turned
aside toward the right, and filed by in silence. One alone among them,
falling out of the main group, came rapidly in my direction, and
stopped within ten steps of my studio; though my face was bent over
my drawing, I felt, by that strange intuition which every one knows, a
human look fixed upon me. I raised my eyes with an air of indifference,

dropping them again almost immediately; that rapid gesture had been
sufficient to enable me to recognize in that indiscreet observer the
young lady with the blue feathers, the original cause of all my mishaps.
She was there, boldly seated on her horse, her chin raised, her eyes half
closed, examining me from head to foot with admirable insolence. I
had thought it best at first, out of respect for her sex, to abandon myself
without resistance to her impertinent curiosity; but after a few seconds,
as she manifested no intention of putting an end to her proceedings, I
lost patience, and raising my head more openly, I fixed my eyes upon
her with polite gravity, but persistent steadiness. She blushed; seeing
which, I bowed. She returned me a slight inclination of the head, and
moving off at a canter, she disappeared under the vault of the old
church. I thus remained master of the field, keenly relishing the
triumph of fascination I had just obtained over that little person, whom
there certainly was considerable merit in putting out of countenance.
The ride through the forest lasted some twenty minutes, and I soon
beheld the brilliant fantasia debouching pell-mell from the portal. I
feigned again a profound abstraction; but this time again, one of the
riders left the company and advanced toward me; he was a man of tall
stature, who wore a blue frock-coat, buttoned up to his chin, in military
style. He was marching so straight upon my little establishment, that I
could not help supposing he intended passing right over it for the
amusement of the ladies. I was therefore watching him with a furtive
but wide-awake glance, when I had the satisfaction of seeing him stop
within three steps of my camp-stool, and removing his hat.
"Monsieur," he said, in a full and frank tone of voice, "will you permit
me to look at your drawing?"
I returned his salutation, nodded in token of acquiescence, and went on
with my work. After a moment of silent contemplation, the unknown
equestrian,