Arthur W. Marchmont

“ Lucette, Lucette. You treat him villainously. But never mind, Denys. I know what’s in her heart whatever her lips may say.”
“Gabrielle, I——” began Lucette in protest, when Gabrielle interposed.
“Yes, yes, I know what you would say. But I am not Denys. When the sea is very calm some people like to rock a boat to make pretence; but when the storm comes in reality it’s all very different. Wait till there comes a bit of a storm, Denys, and you’ll see the truth. If Lucette had been I just now in the market place and you had been at hand, you would have seen to whom she would have turned.” ”

“ It comes as the last of many wrongs, the crown of so many sorrows;” and a deep and bitter sigh escaped her.
“Forgive me, dearest and truest, forgive me,” whispered Gabrielle.
“It is not you need seek forgiveness, Gabrielle—and he need never ask it. He hid this from me, pleading every other ground—policy, expediency, the good of the people, the needs of Morvaix—anything and everything but this. Ah, Gabrielle, the bitterest hour of a woman’s life is when she wakens to the knowledge that her worst enemy is her own husband.” ”

“ No deed of violence, Gerard?”
“Violence there may have to be; but not of the kind in your thoughts. I am no assassin, whether at Cambrai or here.”
“Then you have some scheme with which to combat him? Can you not tell me that?” she asked with almost wistful eagerness.
“It is one that would speak to your heart, Gabrielle, for it will touch the welfare of all in Morvaix.”
“Now you frighten me. Would you further a revolt here? Heaven knows our wretched people are hot against him and ripe for a movement of the kind. ”

“ You know how the idea of self-sacrifice will sometimes seize upon us women till it becomes almost a desire. It was so with me. I knew it would be so well for Morvaix if he could have some one by his side, heart-warm in the desire to help the people, strong in influence to modify the ever growing sternness of his rule by gentle suasive counsel—he is at heart a man amenable to such influence, Gabrielle—and able to take a due part in the work of government: a helpmeet in all ways. ”

“ He loves me, I know, and is as true as steel in his love. He guards me here and will see I come to no harm.”
He moved uneasily under her glance, and then looking about him lowered his voice.
“He is not true to you, Lucette. He is going to betray you.”
“Jacques, Jacques, how dare you! Would you slander him, too? Have a care lest I tell him.”
“Listen to me; what I say is the truth. He thinks you know where Mademoiselle de Malincourt can be found and the prisoners; there is a price of a thousand crowns on their heads, and he means to use you to find them and win the money.” ”

“ You are the head of a noble house, mademoiselle, whose influence here in Morvaix is too great to be at the mercy of either a treacherous scoundrel or a hireling spy. And while you remain unmarried and at his mercy, because of your gentle trustful heart and of the feeling he has stirred within you, such a man cannot be at large. The interests of all in Morvaix render it impossible. ”

“ Gerard regarded him sternly. “Would you have had me tell that I was brought here to Morvaix to marry Gabrielle in order to ruin her?” he demanded.
“It is false!” cried the Governor.
A flush of anger mounted to Gerard’s face at this insult.
“It accords ill with your reputation for courage, M. le Duc, that you insult a man to whom your position denies the right to call you to account. If you have no other tone to adopt toward me, I will retire. But with M. de Proballe the matter stands otherwise. You will guard your tongue, monsieur, or I shall hold you responsible.” ”

“ At that moment the Castle soldier made a dash for the door to escape, only to be stopped by two of the Bourbon men.
“You should not have driven me to this, monsieur,” said Dubois in a tone of quiet authority. The officer had risen and stood with folded arms, his face flushed with anger and his brow sullen with the chagrin and humiliation of his ignominious failure. “You must accompany me. No harm will come to you if you obey. But we are resolute men, and our lives may be at stake.” He signed to his own soldiers to bring the prisoner along, and all left the room. ”

“ Denys appeared to be almost spent with his effort. He stood leaning against the parapet in such desperate straits that Gabrielle was touched with deep compassion.
“I am passing, I think,” he said. His face was deadly grey as he clung to the marble with one hand while with the other he felt for a paper and drew it out. He seemed so near collapse that Gerard stepped forward to help him; but anger rallied him and he waved away the proffered help with a gesture of contempt.
“Pray God he falls before he can do more mischief, the meddling dog!” muttered de Proballe again. ”

“ Gabrielle’s heart began to beat fast with excitement and hope, and even the men’s pulses quickened as his black shadow crept nearer and nearer to the parapet at the top.
“What is he doing?” whispered Gabrielle; for Babillon stopped suddenly and flattened himself against the black wall.
“It is nothing,” answered Gerard. “See, his head shows above the top now. He is as cautious as he is daring, and does but seek to make sure all is well. Wait, he sees some one. ”

“ Lucette looked him up and down, and her lip curled as she answered with almost savage contempt—
“Who has fallen so low as to fear you, Master Dauban? Have you been trounced by some scullion of the kitchen? You should beware how you offend any one with hands to strike with.”
“It is easy to scoff, mistress,” he returned sullenly, stung by her words.
[23] “Aye, truly, where you are the object. If you do not like the truth, go away; you came of your own will and do not stay by mine. In truth, Malincourt would be none the worse for your going altogether.” ”

“ If it were love it would be selfless, and you would seek my happiness, not your own mere desires. The flame will burn out and die down; and if you will but act as a man should act, you will grow to hate the thing you now desire, and thank me for having kept you true to a man’s better part.”
“Do you mean you would have me see you marry this man? I would see you dead sooner. And he shall die,” he cried fiercely. “My mind is made up. If you will not save him, his blood will be on your head.”
Gabrielle had not hoped to move him, and his decision stirred no surprise. ”

“ Had I never seen Gerard, my answer had been the same.”
The Duchess sighed and shivered slightly in fear.
“The Duke will hear your decision unwillingly, Gabrielle; and it will harden his heart against the man who thus comes between you and him. Your cup of suffering will be full indeed even while you are so young. He had built upon this marriage; thinking by it to join the influence of your house of Malincourt with his.” ”

“ Your passion would cool and you would come to feel the bitterness of the mistake, the galling yoke of the load on your life and would look on me as the cause.”
“You little know me, Gabrielle.”
“Then at least I know myself. I am but a girl and very human; and in the long dark hours of my misery and unavailing remorse, my spirit, unbroken—for we Malincourts are not easily broken—would revolt against you as the cause. Would yours be happier? Have you thought what life would be to be mated with a woman who hated you, as we Malincourts can hate?” ”

“ Lucette with a cry knelt beside him.
Gabrielle had shrunk from his approach, but now stood gazing down on him, pity, pain and distress in her eyes. And Gerard stooped and felt his heart.
“He has but fainted,” he said, looking up. “Let him be carried back to the bed he should never have left. He is a noble faithful fellow and has freely risked his life for what he deems the truth.”
“Good, Gerard! Splendidly played. Did you mark that, my lord?” whispered de Proballe, intensely relieved at Denys’ collapse. “What an actor the villain is, Duke? Said I not he was but acting with Gabrielle? ”

“ But Pascal was as sharp as a dagger’s point, and on the instant detected a change of tone, and was ready for a trick.
“Open it,” he said, curtly, and without turning his head shifted his position just sufficiently to watch the spy. Dauban made a pretence of opening some secret recess and Pascal saw him snatch up something and conceal it.
“It is open, monsieur,” said the spy.
“Good. Fright makes a ready servant of you,” replied Pascal; and as if unsuspicious of treachery, crossed the room turning his back to give the spy his chance. ”

“ As they left the old guard-house they saw the soldiers running back to the Castle in hot haste to obey the call and learn the news; and in a minute the place where they had swarmed in such numbers was deserted except for sentries.
“We must take our chance,” said Dubois, staying for the others. “Come on with me, Pierre;” and the two ran forward, followed at a few paces distance by Gerard and Gabrielle.
The Castle itself was now the scene of great commotion. Lights were flashing everywhere, men hurrying in all directions, trumpets sounding, and guns booming at intervals. ”

“ Of a truth I would as lief dwell in hell as in Morvaix under Bourbon sway though it be in name, and Bourbon as I am to the core.”
“We have had other and weightier matters to occupy us than the troubles of a small province so remote,” said Gerard, with a frown at Pascal’s words. “But if the tale of wrongs be warranted, the Governor, Duke de Rochelle though he be, will answer to me for them.”
“By all reports he will answer to no man but himself.”
“Enough, Pascal,” said Gerard, with a wave of the hand. “There appear to be over many soldiers, Dubois.” ”

“ The pardon for the murder at Cambrai should be withheld, unless—and his eyes gleamed dangerously at a fresh thought and he smiled with a cunning pleasure.
Gabrielle loved this de Cobalt; and the love would put a weapon in his hands powerful enough to break her to his purpose.
His new resolve was quick to take shape. She should be his wife; and the price of her consent should be her new lover’s life. The old scheme should be laid away; and with it would go at a stroke all need for de Cobalt’s services. His next move was soon decided; and he stepped out and joined Gabrielle and her uncle. ”

“ But now he has gone back to the plan; for there is one, a woman among women, Gabrielle, who would be all that Morvaix could desire as his wife. And the one of all others whom I could best bear to see filling my place.”
She paused for Gabrielle to speak; but no response came.
“Her heart, like mine, is for the people’s weal and her influence would be far greater than mine could ever have been with the citizens; real, powerful, active, where mine is now dead. You have often told me how you love the people, Gabrielle.” ”

“ This is against the laws of France, my lord. I cannot make such an announcement.”
The Governor bit his lip and frowned, and said, in a threatening undertone—
“If you wish to leave Morvaix to-night with your head on your shoulders, you will announce it.”
“You are tearing off the mask, then, at last,” said Gerard, as calmly as before, with a smile.
“The Duchess herself has agreed to a divorce, so that this marriage may take place.”
“It is a union I cannot and will not sanction,” declared Gerard in a loud firm voice. “In the name of the Suzerain of Morvaix I forbid it. It must and shall not be.” ”

“ But look down, Gerard, and see what passes.”
“There are several soldiers,” he reported, his head at the casement. “Ah, it is a ruse. Good Pascal.”
The sound of a moment’s struggle came up; a weapon fell with a clang upon the courtyard stones; the press of heavy footsteps; and then again silence.
“Done without bloodshed,” said Gerard; “and well done, Pascal. He sees me and motions. Give me the rope, dearest;” and he flung it out far into the night.
“Go, Gerard, go,” cried Gabrielle, excitedly. ”

“ Don’t I know it?” and she smiled and sighed in turn. “Poor Gabrielle! What a struggle! Heart whispers, ‘I love him’; pride answers, ‘My pledge is given.’ Ah me! he will have to be a manly man, as she says, if he will win her. But she will have a traitor in the fortress after all, if she really love him. Ah me! I know how it would end with me. But Gabrielle—well, she is Gabrielle.”
At that moment a frown chased away the smiles, for Master Dauban, the man she had dubbed a snake, came out from the Maison and approached her. ”

“ Truth and honour are not counted among his parts.”
“You are suspicious. Why?”
“To begin with, he is a man,” and Lucette nodded her head and stamped her foot petulantly.
“Not always a quick path to your disfavour, coz,” said Gabrielle with a smile. “Denys is a man.”
“Denys has a head of wood,” said Lucette, lapsing into her own wrongs for a moment.
“Seeing the infinite uses to which we turn wood, I know not why we always liken it to stupidity. Whatever our good Denys’ head may be, his heart is staunch and true.” ”

“ Of the crime for which he craved the Duke’s pardon fore ever he set foot in the city?”
“My heart is closed to the voice of slander against him, dear,” replied Gabrielle, in the same proud confident tone.
“How like a maiden in love! But alas! my child, I know these things are true. His life is forfeit for the one deed—but one among many in his black life. Oh, Gabrielle, how terrible, how terrible! It will break your life even worse than mine has been broken.”
“I have neither fears for him nor doubts for myself.”
“When the heart is young how easy to be confident. ”

“ My name, as you know, is Pascal, and yours is Lucette, and they are neither of them names to be ashamed of. What say you—Lucette?”
“Just as you wish—Pascal,” and she copied his pause and tone, and laughed.
“Good. Now we must be something to each other, because we may be asked. Strangers don’t go riding about together as we have to; and we’re not strangers either.” ”

“ Dubois and Pascal went out and Gerard stayed a moment with Gabrielle, who had listened with intense interest to the discussion.
“So even Malincourt is not to be a refuge, Gerard,” she said.
“We are far from beaten yet. Have courage.”
“I have courage; but how bitterly I regret that moment of cowardice when I could not face that descent with you.”
“It would have made no difference. The watch was already set on the city walls and we should have come straight here with Pascal—when matters would have been at an even worse pass. We have gained hours that may prove invaluable.” ”

“ But it was to Gabrielle Gerard turned.
“You have no need to shrink from me, mademoiselle,” he said with a smile, “although I can understand you. I fear I must plead guilty to having deceived you. I am not the writer of that letter. I am not your cousin, Gerard de Cobalt.”
“So you see that game is over,” sneered de Proballe. “What lie next, pray? You will not find us so easy to be fooled now.”
[158] “If I am not Gerard de Cobalt, monsieur,” cried Gerard, sternly, “you will still find I am a man who does not take insults lightly. ”

“ He is not worthy of you, child; far, far from it.”
“You have not seen him and spoken with him, or you would not say that.”
“When did he come?”
“But yesterday; or rather, two days past;” and Gabrielle told of the meeting in the market place and after at Malincourt.
“It is a tragedy,” was the Duchess’s comment. “And you love him! Oh, Gabrielle, Gabrielle, what sorrow is there not in store for you!”
“Not through him,” was the confident reply.
“Alas! child, what do you know of men who judge them by a comely face and a fair-speaking tongue? When could a man not speak a maiden fairly? ”

“ She was oppressed by a sense of danger, impalpable and invisible, but yet real.
“That is all,” said Gerard, with a smile to reassure her.
“Of what spoke you together?” asked the Governor.
“May not a man speak even with a monk in Morvaix without the Governor’s permission? ’Twould seem not indeed; for even while we were in converse, those two jackals who sought to take your Denys’ life, Gabrielle, came up with flouts and jeers and sneers, as though licensed to insult even men of a religious life. I think in truth this is a matter that concerns you closely, my lord.” ”

“ A footstep on the terrace disturbed them. It was Pascal.
“I was seeking you, monsieur, to know if you have any other commands for me,” he said aloud in a respectful tone, adding in a whisper, as they stood apart: “I must speak to you at once. There’s a devil of a mess.”
“Wait but a minute,” whispered Gerard; and then aloud: “I will you see directly, good Pascal. It is my faithful fellow in some trouble about me, Gabrielle.”
“Then let us go in. Ah, here is Lucette,” she added, as Lucette, looking very troubled, came out of the maison. “How is Denys, Lucette?” ”

“ This marriage is impossible.” There was less deliberateness and more sternness in the Duke’s tone now, and it provoked Gabrielle’s pride. Unmistakable defiance was in her look and mien as she answered:
“By your lordship’s leave, I am head of my house; and if that part of what you have said be true—that my parents have expressed no wish for my marriage—I am free to choose without let or hindrance from any man. But here comes my cousin. He will know how to answer for himself.” ”

“ This was her cue.
“Master Dauban! How can you!” and she fixed her large dark eyes upon him with a look of pained reproach, changing gradually to indignation as she added, with mounting vehemence, “Did I not say you were a coward? To blame a poor girl for what was none of her fault, and never to have spoken a word to her since. Oh!” and she stamped her foot now almost viciously, “were I not a girl you should pay for the cruel slander and—aye, and all your neglect.” Then as if the thought of his neglect wounded her, her anger passed and she sighed in sore distress. ”