Page:Louise de la Valliere text.djvu/410

Rh 400 LOUISE DE LA VALLIERE. Such were the sinister reflections in which Kaoul in- dulged, when his foot mechanically paused at the door of his own dwelling. He had reached it without remarking the streets through which he had passed, without knowing how he had come; he pushed open the door, continued to advance, and ascended the staircase. The staircase, as in most of the houses at that period, was very dark, and the land- ings very obscure. Eaoul lived on the first floor; he paused in order to ring. Oliviau appeared, took his sword and cloak from his hands; Eaoul himself opened the door which, from the antechamber, led into a small salon, richly fur- nished enough for the salon of a young man, and completely filled with flowers by Olivian, who, knowing his master's tastes, had shown himself studiously attentive in gratifying them, without caring whether his master perceived his attention or not. There was a portrait of La Valliere in the salon, which had been drawn by herself and given by her to Eaoul. This portrait, fastened above a large easy- chair covered with dark-colored damask, was the first point toward which Eaoul bent his steps — the first object on which he fixed his eyes. It was, moreover, Eaoul's usual habit to do so; every time he entered his room this por- trait, before anything else, attracted his attention. This time, as usual, he walked straight up to the portrait, placed his knees upon the armchair, and paused to look at it sadly. His arms were crossed upon his breast, his head slightly thrown back, his eyes filled with tears, his mouth worked into a bitter smile. He looked at the portrait of one whom he so tenderly loved; and then all that he had said passed before his mind again, and all that he had suffered seemed again to assail his heart; and, after a long silence, he murmured for the third time: "Miserable, unhappy wretch that I am!" He had hardly pronounced these words, when he heard the sound of a sigh and a groan behind him. He turned sharply round, and perceived, in the angle of the salon, standing up, a bending veiled female figure, which he had been the means of concealing behind the door as he opened it, and which he had not perceived as he entered. He ad- vanced toward this figure, whose presence in his room had not been announced to him; and as he bowed, and inquired at the same moment who she was, she suddenly raised her head, and removed the veil from her face, revealing her pale and sorrow-stricken features. Eaoul staggered back, as if he had seen a ghost-