Volume Ii Part 3 (1/2)
She handed her letter to her friend and said:
”It's on Place Royale; you will find the place, won't you?”
”Never fear,” Ambroisine replied, placing the paper in her bosom. ”Place Royale is not very hard to find; I pa.s.sed through it not so long ago, on my way home from Vincennes, where I had been to see my G.o.dmother; she gave me a message for somebody who lives on Place Royale.--Ah! I shall never forget that day; for on the road that I took---- But, great heaven! here I am telling you things that don't interest you; and I read in your eyes that you wish that I had started before this with your letter. That is natural enough, since what you have written is sure to interest the count so deeply.--Come, be calm, I am going--I am going at once!”
”Dear Ambroisine! what torment, what trouble I cause you!”
”Will you be kind enough not to say that? I tell you once more that your not being in your father's house now is my fault. If it had not been for that infernal idea of mine of taking you to see the Fire of Saint-Jean, you would still be on Rue Dauphine, working by your mother's side. As I am the prime cause of the trouble, the least that I can do is to try to repair it.”
Ambroisine left the house, walked very fast, did not stop on the way, and reached Place Royale in less than half an hour. She asked at a shop where the Hotel de Marvejols was; it was pointed out to her, and in a moment the girl saw the heavy gate leading into the courtyard swing open before her.
”What do you want?” cried the concierge, in a rough voice, and without leaving the large armchair in which he sat at the back of his lodge.
”I would like to speak to Monsieur le Comte Leodgard de Marvejols.”
”He is not in.”
”Will you have the kindness to tell me at what hour I can find him?”
”Never!”
”What! never?”
”No; monsieur le comte no longer lives here, he doesn't sleep in monsieur le marquis his father's house, and he never comes here; so, you see, you will never find him here.”
”Then, monsieur le concierge, will you kindly tell me where monsieur le comte lives now, and I will go there.”
”I don't know where monsieur le comte lives; besides, it is none of my business to give his address!”
”But, monsieur, I must speak with monsieur le comte; it is absolutely necessary!”
”That is none of my business.”
And the concierge closed the door of his lodge with a most unamiable air.
Ambroisine remained in the courtyard, in despair at the unsuccess of the step she had taken, and unable to make up her mind to go away. At that moment old Hector, the marquis's valet, came from a porch at the rear and crossed the courtyard. He saw Ambroisine, and as beauty always exerts a charm, even over old men, he approached the comely girl and said, observing her distressed look:
”What is the matter, my pretty maid? Do you wish something here?”
”Yes, monsieur; I hoped to find someone, and I am told that he is no longer here.”
”Whom do you seek, my child?”
”I desire to see the young gentleman of the house, monsieur--Comte Leodgard.”
”My master's son!” rejoined old Hector, with a profound sigh. ”Ah! this is no longer the place to look for him; Monsieur le Comte de Marvejols is no longer to be found under his father's roof. Nearly a month ago he ceased entirely to come to the house; and monsieur le marquis, although he tries not to show it, is deeply grieved, I can see.”
”But, monsieur, if monsieur le comte no longer lives here, he must live somewhere, unless--mon Dieu!--unless he has left Paris--France?”
”No, no, my child, don't be alarmed!” replied the old servant, compressing his lips with an expression in which there was a faint suggestion of cunning; ”monsieur le marquis's son has not left Paris.