Suddenly I remembered Gignoux, but even as I was about to tell her of the incident Antoinette appeared in the doorway.She was very pale, but her lips were set with excitement and her eyes shone strangely.She was still in her riding gown, in her hand she carried a leather bag, and behind her stood Andre with a bundle.
``Quick!'' she said; ``we are wasting time, and he may be gone.''
Checking an exclamation which could hardly have been complimentary to Auguste, the Vicomtesse crossed quickly to her and put her arm about her.
``We will follow you, mignonne,'' she said in French.
``Must you come?'' said Antoinette, appealingly.``He may not appear if he sees any one.''
``We shall have to risk that,'' said the Vicomtesse, dryly, with a glance at me.``You shall not go alone, but we will wait a few moments at the hedge.''
We took the well-remembered way through the golden green light under the trees, Antoinette leading, and the sight of the garden brought back to me poignantly the scene in the moonlight with Mrs.Temple.There was no sound save the languid morning notes of the birds and the humming of the bees among the flowers as Antoinette went tremblingly down the path and paused, listening, under the branches of that oak where I had first beheld her.
Then, with a little cry, we saw her run forward--into the arms of Auguste de St.Gre.It was a pitiful thing to look upon.
Antoinette had led her brother to the seat under the oak.How long we waited I know not, but at length we heard their voices raised, and without more ado Madame la Vicomtesse, beckoning me, passed quickly through the gap in the hedge and went towards them.I followed with Andre.Auguste rose with an oath, and then stood facing his cousin like a man struck dumb, his hands dropped.He was a sorry sight indeed, unshaven, unkempt, dark circles under his eyes, clothes torn.
``Helene! You here--in America!'' he cried in French, staring at her.
``Yes, Auguste,'' she replied quite simply, ``I am here.''
He would have come towards her, but there was a note in her voice which arrested him.
``And Monsieur le Vicomte--Henri?'' he said.
I found myself listening tensely for the answer.
``Henri is in Austria, fighting for his King, I hope,''
said Madame la Vicomtesse.
``So Madame la Vicomtesse is a refugee,'' he said with a bow and a smile that made me very angry.
``And Monsieur de St.Gre!'' I asked.
At the sound of my voice he started and gave back, for he had not perceived me.He recovered his balance, such as it was, instantly.
``Monsieur seems to take an extraordinary interest in my affairs,'' he said jauntily.
``Only when they are to the detriment of other persons who are my friends,'' I said.
``Monsieur has intruded in a family matter,'' said Auguste, grandly, still in French.
``By invitation of those most concerned, Monsieur,'' Ianswered, for I could have throttled him.
Auguste had developed.He had learned well that effrontery is often the best weapon of an adventurer.
He turned from me disdainfully, petulantly, and addressed the Vicomtesse once more.
``I wish to be alone with Antoinette,'' he said.
``No doubt,'' said the Vicomtesse.
``I demand it,'' said Auguste.
``The demand is not granted,'' said the Vicomtesse;``that is why we have come.Your sister has already made enough sacrifices for you.I know you, Monsieur Auguste de St.Gre,'' she continued with quiet contempt.``It is not for love of Antoinette that you have sought this meeting.
It is because,'' she said, riding down a torrent of words which began to escape from him, ``it is because you are in a predicament, as usual, and you need money.''
It was Antoinette who spoke.She had risen, and was standing behind Auguste.She still held the leather bag in her hand.
``Perhaps the sum is not enough,'' she said; ``he has to get to France.Perhaps we could borrow more until my father comes home.'' She looked questioningly at us.
Madame la Vicomtesse was truly a woman of decision.
Without more ado she took the bag from Antoinette's unresisting hands and put it into mine.I was no less astonished than the rest of them.
``Mr.Ritchie will keep this until the negotiations are finished,'' said the Vicomtesse.
``Negotiations!'' cried Auguste, beside himself.``This is insolence, Madame.''
``Be careful, sir,'' I said.
``Auguste!'' cried Antoinette, putting her hand on his arm.
``Why did you tell them?'' he demanded, turning on her.
``Because I trust them, Auguste,'' Antoinette answered.
She spoke without anger, as one whose sorrow has put her beyond it.Her speech had a dignity and force which might have awed a worthier man.His disappointment and chagrin brought him beyond bounds.
``You trust them!'' he cried, ``you trust them when they tell you to give your brother, who is starving and in peril of his life, eight hundred livres? Eight hundred livres, pardieu, and your brother!''
``It is all I have, Auguste,'' said his sister, sadly.
``Ha!'' he said dramatically, ``I see, they seek my destruction.This man''--pointing at me--``is a Federalist, and Madame la Vicomtesse''--he bowed ironically --``is a Royalist.''
``Pish!'' said the Vicomtesse, impatiently, ``it would be an easy matter to have you sent to the Morro--a word to Monsieur de Carondelet, Auguste.Do you believe for a moment that, in your father's absence, I would have allowed Antoinette to come here alone? And it was a happy circumstance that I could call on such a man as Mr.Ritchie to come with us.''
``It seems to me that Mr.Ritchie and his friends have already brought sufficient misfortune on the family.''
It was a villanous speech.Antoinette turned away, her shoulders quivering, and I took a step towards him; but Madame la Vicomtesse made a swift gesture, and I stopped, I know not why.She gave an exclamation so sharp that he flinched physically, as though he had been struck.But it was characteristic of her that when she began to speak, her words cut rather than lashed.