Part 20 (1/2)
That was a pleasure of which we determined to deprive ourselves. We mistrusted wedding breakfasts, which are about as amusing as an amateur concert or a parlor reading; we had made up our minds to go to the ball only, when Belan appeared in our apartment.
The little dandy bowed to the floor before my wife, which was not a difficult feat for him; then he shook hands with me and said with an air of triumph:
”Did you receive our invitations?”
”Yes, my dear fellow. First, let us congratulate you.”
”I accept your congratulations with pleasure. I certainly have reason to be flattered by the preference accorded me. I had seventeen rivals, three of whom were millionaires who owned iron foundries, factories or coal mines; and two marquises, one of them with six decorations; but I beat them all; and like Caesar, _veni, vidi, vici_. We may rely upon you, may we not?”
”Oh yes, we shall be at your ball.”
”And at the breakfast?”
”As to the breakfast, we cannot promise.”
”Oh! I beg your pardon, but I insist upon a promise. It would be horrid of you to fail us. We have invited only a small number of people for the morning, but most select. Two of my wife's uncles, three cousins, and five aunts, all of whom are women of my mother-in-law's type. Great heaven! my mother-in-law has done nothing but weep since our wedding day was fixed; she drenches at least four handkerchiefs a day, and she doesn't let her daughter out of her sight. That embarra.s.ses me a little in my effusions of sentiment, but my time will come. However, you must attend all the festivities. I address my entreaties to you, madame; Henri will not refuse you.”
Eugenie had not the heart to refuse; she glanced at me and we promised.
Belan thanked my wife and kissed her hand, then he asked me for two minutes in my office.
”Have you any lawsuit on hand?” I asked him when we were alone.
”No, but I want to consult you. Having just married a woman whom you adored, you will be able to tell me----”
”Tell you what?”
”I don't know just how to put it. You know that I have been, like you, a lady's man, never embarra.s.sed in a _tete-a-tete___. I was like a flash of powder.”
”Well?”
”Well, it is very strange, but with Mademoiselle de Beausire, although I adore her, the effect is entirely different. It seems to me that I dare not squeeze the end of her finger. In short, I do not feel the slightest inclination to be enterprising. I confess that that worries me and makes me anxious; I don't sleep at night; and the nearer my wedding day approaches, the more apprehensive I feel.”
”Ha! ha! Poor Belan! nonsense! don't be afraid! Real love, love that is too ardent, sometimes produces the effect which you complain of; but it does not last. And besides, what have you to fear with your wife? You are sure that she won't escape you. She isn't like a mistress, who often refuses to give you a second a.s.signation when she is not pleased with the first. With one's wife, what doesn't happen the first night, will happen the second.”
”True; it might not happen till the eighth even. You make me feel a little easier in my mind. You see, Mademoiselle de Beausire--such a well-bred young woman as she is--isn't like a grisette. Oh! with a grisette, it goes all alone.--And then the mother-in-law is always there!”
”I imagine that she won't be there on your wedding night.”
”Faith! I wouldn't swear to it. She does nothing but talk about not being parted from her daughter, and says that she can't sleep away from her. I believe that she means to sleep in a closet adjoining our bedroom.”
”That will be very amusing for you!”
”It is that sort of thing that keeps going through my head and takes away my natural ardor. But no matter, between now and my wedding I will have everything I eat flavored with vanilla; I will even have some put in my soup. Adieu, my dear Blemont. We rely upon you. Your wedding was very fine, but just wait till you see mine. That's all I have to say.”
Belan went away. So we were simply compelled to attend the breakfast; we had promised. However, perhaps it would be more amusing than we thought. Indeed, there are parties which are so tiresome that they are actually comical. The only remedy was to make the best of things; they say that there is a good side to everything.
Eugenie gave her attention to her dresses; for she must have two for that day. I urged her not to lace herself too tightly; you can guess why. A woman should think about being a mother rather than try to make herself slender; but that is what she often forgets.
Belan's great day arrived. A carriage came for us, the coachman, and the groom behind, both dressed in apricot livery. I was compelled to admit that that feature already excelled my wedding, and I expected to see some magnificent things. We were to meet at Madame de Beausire's, where I had never been. It was an old house, on Rue de la Roquette. We pa.s.sed an old concierge; we ascended an old staircase, upon which rose leaves had been scattered profusely. I was sure that that was an idea of Belan, and I did not consider it a very happy one, for it nearly caused my wife to fall; but I caught her in time, and she said with a smile: