Page:Dumas - Tales of Strange adventure (Methuen, 1907).djvu/41

Rh thought that the expression of so much surprise might well imply some reproach to Monsieur de Chauvelin as to his behaviour in the past.

The Marquis frowned in momentary annoyance; then suddenly:

"Have you not sometimes asked God to restore me to my family?" he asked with a smile.

"Oh! yes, sir, constantly."

"Very well, Madame, your prayers have been answered. I seemed to hear a voice calling me; and I have obeyed the voice."

"And you are leaving Court?"

"I am going to settle down at Grosbois," struck in the Marquis, stifling a sigh.

"What bliss for us all,—for me, for the children, for the vassals. Is it true, sir, is it true? Can we credit such happiness? "

"Your satisfaction, Madame, is a balm that heals all my wounds. But now, tell me, are you willing to talk over household matters a little?"

"By all means, by all means," assented the Marquise, pressing her husband's hands.

"I caught a glimpse, I think, of some very sorry nags at the cross roads at the park gates; are they yours?"

"Yes, they are, sir."

"Beasts too old for a lady's use, ugh!"

"Sir, they are the horses you gave me when our boy was born."

"They were rising four and a half then; it is nine years ago, so they are fourteen now! . . Fie, Marquise, is such a team what you ought to have?"

"Ah! sir, when I go to mass, they can still continue to jog along so far."

"I saw three, I think."

"I gave the fourth, being the least broken-down, to my son for his riding lessons."

"Riding lessons on a coach-horse! Oh! Marquise, Marquise, what sort of a horseman do you expect to make of him?"

The Marquise dropped her eyes in some confusion.

"So, you never drive four in hand now? You have eight in all, have you not, and two saddle horses?"

"I had, sir; but as hunting parties and state rides have become things of the past since you went away, I thought if I put down four carriage horses, a couple of grooms and the saddle-horses, it would save at least six thousand livres a year."

"What is six thousand livres after all. Marquise? " growled Monsieur de Chauvelin.

"It is food and keep for a dozen families," she retorted. He took her hand in his. "Always good and kind! Surely God instructs you from on high what to do on earth. Only the Marquise de Chauvelin has no cause to save."

She raised her head and looked her husband in the eyes.

"You mean to say I spend extravagantly," he cried; " yes, I do spend a great deal of money, and you, you feel the want of it?"

"I never said that, sir."

"Marquise, it must needs be so. Noble and generous as you are, you would never have dismissed men in my service except under dire necessity. A groom out of place is a pauper the more. You have lacked money; I will speak to Bonbonne about it. But henceforth you shall have plenty. What I used to spend at Court I will spend at Grosbois; instead of feeding a dozen families, you shall feed two hundred."

"Sir ..."

"And, thank God! I hope there will be coin enough left for a dozen good horses of my own, which from to-morrow shall be lodged in your stables. Have you not been speaking of repairing the chateau?"

"The reception rooms would want refurnishing."

"All my furniture from Paris will arrive this week. I shall invite guests to dinner twice a week . . . there will be hunting ..."

"You know, sir, I am rather shy of society," said the Marquise, terrified at the idea of meeting all her husband's Versailles friends, whom she looked upon much as if they were the deadly sins incarnate.

"You shall write the invitations yourself, Marquise. Now Bonbonne will give you the books; you will have the kindness to amalgamate in one the Paris expenses and the Grosbois ones."

The Marquise, frantic with delight, tried to answer and could not. She seized Monsieur de Chauvelin's hands and kissed them, gazing tenderly in his