第86章

A CRUEL SLUR.

Florestan had conducted Tantaine to the sumptuous library, in which the Count had received Mascarin's visit; and, to pass away the time, the old man took a mental inventory of the contents of the room.He tried the texture of the curtains, looked at the handsome bindings of the books, and admired the magnificent bronzes on the mantelpiece.

"Aha," muttered he, as he tried the springs of a luxurious armchair, "everything is of the best, and when matters are settled, I half think that I should like a resting-place just like this----"He checked himself, for the door opened, and the Count made his appearance, calm and dignified, but very pale.Tantaine made a low bow, pressing his greasy hat against his breast.

"Your humble servant to command," said he.

The Count had come to a sudden halt.

"Excuse me," said he, "but did you send up a card asking for an interview?""I am not Mascarin certainly, but I used that highly respectable gentleman's name, because I knew that my own was totally unknown to you.I am Tantaine, Adrien Tantaine."M.de Mussidan gazed with extreme surprise upon the squalid individual before him.His mild and benevolent face inspired confidence, and yet he doubted him.

"I have come on the same business," pursued the old man."I have been ordered to tell you that it must be hurried on."The Count hastily closed the door and locked it; the manner of this man made him feel even too plainly the ignominy of his position.

"I understand," answered he."But how is it that you have come, and not the other one?""He intended to come; but at the last moment he drew back; Mascarin, you see, has a great deal to lose, while I----" He paused, and holding up the tattered tails of his coat, turned round, as though to exhibit his shabby attire."All my property is on my back," continued he.

"Then I can treat with you?" asked the Count.

Tantaine nodded his head."Yes, Count, I have the missing leaves from the Baron's journal, and also, well--I suppose you know everything, all of your wife's correspondence.""Enough," answered the Count, unable to hide his disgust."Sit down.""Now, Count, I will go to the point--are you going to put the police on us?""I have said that I would do nothing of the kind.""Then we can get to business."

"Yes, if----"

The old man shrugged his shoulders.

"There is no 'if' in the case," returned he."We state our conditions, for acceptance or rejection."These words were uttered in a tone of such extreme insolence that the Count was strongly tempted to hurl the extortionate scoundrel from the window, but he contrived to restrain his passion.

"Let us hear the conditions then," said he impatiently.

Tantaine extracted from some hidden recess of his coat a much-worn pocketbook, and drew from it a paper.

"Here are our conditions," returned he slowly."The Count de Mussidan promises to give the hand of his daughter to Henri Marquis de Croisenois.He will give his daughter a wedding portion of six hundred thousand francs, and promises that the marriage shall take place without delay.The Marquis de Croisenois will be formally introduced at your house, and he must be cordially received.Four days afterwards he must be asked to dinner.On the fifteenth day from that M.de Mussidan will give a grand ball in honor of the signing of the marriage contract.The leaves from the diary and the whole of the correspondence will be handed to M.de Mussidan as soon as the civil ceremony is completed."With firmly compressed lips and clenched hands, the Count sat listening to these conditions.

"And who can tell me," said he, "that you will keep your engagements, and that these papers will be restored to me at all?"Tantaine looked at him with a air of pity.

"Your own good sense," answered he."What more could we expect to get out of you than your daughter and your money?"The Count did not answer, but paced up and down the room, eyeing the ambassador keenly, and endeavoring to detect some weak point in his manner of cynicism and audacity.Then speaking in the calm tone of a man who had made up his mind, he said,--"You hold me as in a vice, and I admit myself vanquished.Stringent as your conditions are, I accept them.""That is the right style of way to talk in," remarked Tantaine cheerfully.