That gentleman, with Madame, had hurried back from Pointe Coupee at a message from the Vicomtesse, and had gone first to Les Iles to see Antoinette.Then he had come, in spite of the fever, to his own house in New Orleans to see Nick himself.What their talk had been I never knew, for the subject was too painful to be dwelt upon, and the conversation had been marked by frankness on both sides.Monsieur de St.Gre was a just man, his love for his daughter was his chief passion, and despite all that had happened he liked Nick.I believe he could not wholly blame the younger man, and he forgave him.
Mrs.Temple, poor lady, had died on that first night of my illness, and it was her punishment that she had not known her son or her son's happiness.Whatever sins she had committed in her wayward life were atoned for, and by her death I firmly believe that she redeemed him.
She lies now among the Temples in Charleston, and on the stone which marks her grave is cut no line that hints of the story of these pages.
One bright morning, when Nick and I were playing cards, we heard some one mounting the stairs, and to my surprise and embarrassment I beheld Monsieur de St.Gre emerging on the gallery.He was in white linen and wore a broad hat, which he took from his head as he advanced.He had aged somewhat, his hair was a little gray, but otherwise he was the firm, dignified personage Ihad admired on this same gallery five years before.
``Good morning, gentlemen,'' he said in English; ``ha, do not rise, sir'' (to me).He patted Nick's shoulder kindly, but not familiarly, as he passed him, and extended his hand.
``Mr.Ritchie, it gives me more pleasure than I can express to see you so much recovered.''
``I am again thrown on your hospitality, sir,'' I said, flushing with pleasure at this friendliness.For I admired and respected the man greatly.``And I fear I have been a burden and trouble to you and your family.''
He took my hand and pressed it.Characteristically, he did not answer this, and I remembered he was always careful not to say anything which might smack of insincerity.
``I had a glimpse of you some weeks ago,'' he said, thus making light of the risk he had run.``You are a different man now.You may thank your Scotch blood and your strong constitution.''
``His good habits have done him some good, after all,''
put in my irrepressible cousin.
Monsieur de St.Gre smiled.
``Nick,'' he said (he pronounced the name quaintly, like Antoinette), ``his good habits have turned out to be some advantage to you.Mr.Ritchie, you have a faithful friend at least.'' He patted Nick's shoulder again.
``And he has promised me to settle down.''
``I have every inducement, sir,'' said Nick.
Monsieur de St.Gre became grave.
``You have indeed, Monsieur,'' he answered.
``I have just come from Dr.Perrin's, David,''--he added, ``May I call you so? Well, then, I have just come from Dr.Perrin's, and he says you may be moved to Les Iles this very afternoon.Why, upon my word,'' he exclaimed, staring at me, ``you don't look pleased.One would think you were going to the calabozo.''
``Ah,'' said Nick, slyly, ``I know.He has tasted freedom, Monsieur, and Madame la Vicomtesse will be in command again.''
I flushed.Nick could be very exasperating.
``You must not mind him, Monsieur,'' I said.
``I do not mind him,'' answered Monsieur de St.Gre, laughing in spite of himself.``He is a sad rogue.As for Helene--''
``I shall not know how to thank the Vicomtesse,'' Isaid.``She has done me the greatest service one person can do another.''
``Helene is a good woman,'' answered Monsieur de St.
Gre, simply.``She is more than that, she is a wonderful woman.I remember telling you of her once.I little thought then that she would ever come to us.''
He turned to me.``Dr.Perrin will be here this afternoon, David, and he will have you dressed.Between five and six if all goes well, we shall start for Les Iles.And in the meantime, gentlemen,'' he added with a stateliness that was natural to him, ``I have business which takes me to-day to my brother-in-law's, Monsieur de Beausejour's.''
Nick leaned over the gallery and watched meditatively his prospective father-in-law leaving the court-yard.
``He got me out of a devilish bad scrape,'' he said.
``How was that?'' I asked listlessly.
``That fat little Baron, the Governor, was for deporting me for running past the sentry and giving him all the trouble I did.It seems that the Vicomtesse promised to explain matters in a note which she wrote, and never did explain.She was here with you, and a lot she cared about anything else.Lucky that Monsieur de St.Gre came back.
Now his Excellency graciously allows me to stay here, if Ibehave myself, until I get married.''
I do not know how I spent the rest of the day.It passed, somehow.If I had had the strength then, I believe I should have fled.I was to see her again, to feel her near me, to hear her voice.During the weeks that had gone by I had schooled myself, in a sense, to the inevitable.I had not let my mind dwell upon my visit to Les Iles, and now I was face to face with the struggle for which I felt I had not the strength.I had fought one battle,--I knew that a fiercer battle was to come.
In due time the doctor arrived, and while he prepared me for my departure, the little man sought, with misplaced kindness, to raise my spirits.Was not Monsieur going to the country, to a paradise? Monsieur--so Dr.Perrin had noticed--had a turn for philosophy.Could two more able and brilliant conversationalists be found than Philippe de St.Gre and Madame la Vicomtesse? And there was the happiness of that strange but lovable young man, Monsieur Temple, to contemplate.He was in luck, ce beau garcon, for he was getting an angel for his wife.
Did Monsieur know that Mademoiselle Antoinette was an angel?
At last I was ready, arrayed in my best, on the gallery, when Monsieur de St.Gre came.Andre and another servant carried me down into the court, and there stood a painted sedan-chair with the St.Gre arms on the panels.
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