The Champdoce Mystery | Page 5

loathing. Had he
dared, he would have shown this feeling openly, but the Duke de
Champdoce inspired him with an unconquerable feeling of terror. This
state of affairs continued for some months, and at the end of that time
the Duke felt that he ought to make his son acquainted with his projects.
One Sunday, after supper, he commenced this task. Norbert had never
seen his father so animated as he was at this moment, when all his
ancestral pride blazed in his eyes. He explained at length the acts and

deeds of those heroes who had been the ornament of their house, and
enumerated the influential marriages which had been made by them in
the days when their very name was a power in the land. And what
remained of all their power and rank, save their Parisian domicile, their
old Chateau, and some two hundred thousand francs of income?
Norbert could hardly credit what he heard; he had never believed that
his father possessed such enormous wealth. "Why, it is inconceivable!"
he muttered. And yet, as he looked round, he saw that the surroundings
were those of a peasant's cottage. How could he endure so many
discomforts and wounds to his pride? In his anger he absolutely started
to his feet with the intention of reproaching his father, but his courage
failed him, and he fell back into a chair, quivering with emotion.
The Duke de Champdoce was pacing up and down the room.
"Do you think it so little?" asked he angrily.
Norbert knew that not one of the neighboring nobility who had the
reputation of being wealthy possessed half this annual income, and it
was with a feeling of bitter anger in his heart that he listened to the
broken words which fell from his father's lips. All at once the Duke
halted in front of his son's chair.
"What fortune I have now," said he in a hoarse voice, "is little or
nothing in times like these, when the tradesman contrives to make an
almost unlimited income, and, setting up as a gentleman, imitates, not
our virtues, but our vices; while the nobles, not understanding the
present hour, are in poverty and want. Without money, nothing can be
done. To hold his own against these mushroom fortunes, a Champdoce
should possess millions. Neither you nor I, my son, will see our coffers
overflowing with millions, but our descendants will reap the benefit of
our toil. Our ancestors gained their name and glory by their
determination; let us show that we are their worthy offspring."
As he approached the subject which had occupied his mind entirely for
years, the old noble's voice quivered and shook.

"I have done my duty," said he, calming himself by a mighty effort,
"and it is now your turn to do yours. You shall marry some wealthy
heiress, and you shall bring up your son as I have reared and nurtured
you. You will be able to leave him fifteen millions; and if he will only
follow in our footsteps, he will be able to bequeath to his heir a fortune
that a monarch might envy. And this shall and will come to pass,
because it is my fixed determination."
The strange outburst of confidence petrified Norbert.
"The task is heavy and painful," continued the Duke, "but it is one that
several scores of illustrious houses have accomplished. He who wishes
to revive the fallen fortunes of some mighty house must live only in the
future, and have no thought but for the prosperity of his descendants.
More than once I have faltered and hesitated, but I have conquered my
weakness, and now only live to make the line of Champdoce the most
wealthy in France. You have seen me haggle for an hour over a
wretched louis, but it was for the reason that at a future day one of our
descendants might fling it to a beggar from the window of his
magnificent equipage. Next year I will take you to Paris and show you
our house there. You will see in it the most wonderful tapestry, pictures
by the best masters, for I have ornamented and embellished it as a lover
adorns a house for a beloved mistress, and that house, Norbert, is the
home that your grandchildren will dwell in."
The Duke uttered these words in a tone of jubilant triumph.
"I have spoken to you thus," resumed he, after a short pause, "because
you are now of an age to listen to the truth, and because I wished you to
understand the rules by which you are to regulate your life. You have
now arrived at years of discretion, and must do of your own free will
what you have up to this time done at my bidding.