第19章

"The sheriff will stop proceedings," said he."I can show you his letter to that effect."He turned away, and searched as diligently for the letter as if it had existed anywhere except in his own imagination.

"Dear me," said he at length."I cannot find it.I must have left it in the other room.I have so much to do, that really there are times when I forget everything.I must find it, however.Excuse me, I will be back immediately."His sudden departure from the room had been a mere matter of calculation; for, guessing that an assignation had been planned, he thought that he might know what took place at it by a little eavesdropping.He therefore applied first his ear and then his eye to the keyhole, and by these means acquired all the information he desired.

A moment of privacy with the object of his affections seemed to Norbert an inestimable boon.When Diana had first entered, he was horrified at the terrible alteration that had taken place in the expression of her face.He seized her hand, which she made no effort to withdraw, and gazed fixedly into her eyes.

"Tell me," murmured he in accents of love and tenderness, "what it is that has gone wrong."Diana sighed, then a tear coursed slowly down her cheek.Norbert was in the deepest despair at these signs of grief.

"Great heavens!" cried he."Will you not trust me? Am not I your truest and most devoted friend?"At first she refused to answer him, but at length she yielded to his entreaties, and confessed that the evening before her father had informed her that a young man had sought her hand in marriage, and one who was a perfectly eligible suitor.

Norbert listened to this avowal, trembling from head to foot, with a sudden access of jealousy.

"And did you make no objections?" asked he.

"How could I?" retorted she."What can a girl do in opposition to the will of all her family, when she has to choose between the alternative that she loathes, or a life-long seclusion in a convent?"Daumon shook with laughter, as he kept his ear closely to the keyhole.

"Good business," muttered he."Not so bad.Here's a little girl from a convent.She has a clever brain and a glib tongue, and under my tuition would be a perfect wonder.If this country booby does not make an open declaration at once, I wonder what her next move will be?""And you hesitated," said Norbert reproachfully."Remember you may escape from the walls of the convent, but not from the bonds of an ill-assorted marriage."Diana, who looked more beautiful than ever in her despair, wrung her hands.

"What reason can I give to my father for declining this offer?" said she."Every one knows that I am almost portionless, and that I am sacrificed to my brother, immolated upon the altar erected before the cruel idol of family pride; and how dare I refuse a suitable offer when one is made for my hand?""Have you forgotten me?" cried Norbert."Have you no love for me?

"Ah, my poor friend, you are no more free than I am.""Then you look on me as a mere weak boy?" asked he, biting his lips.

"Your father is very powerful," answered she in tones of the deepest resignation; "his determination is inflexible, and his will inexorable.You are completely in his power.""What do I care for my father?" cried the young man fiercely."Am not I a Champdoce too? Woe be to any one, father or stranger, who comes between me and the woman I love devotedly; for I do love you, Diana, and no mortal man shall take you from me."He clasped Diana to his breast, and pressed a loving kiss upon her lips.

"Aha," muttered Daumon, who had lost nothing from his post of espial, "this is worth fifty thousand francs at least to me."For a moment Diana remained clasped in her lover's embrace, and then, with a faint cry, released herself from him.She then felt that she loved him, and his kiss and caresses sent a thrill like liquid fire through her veins.She was half pleased and half terrified.She feared him, but she feared herself more.

"What, Diana! Would you refuse me?" asked he, after a moment's pause.

"Do you refuse me, when I implore you to be my wife, and to share my name with me? Will you not be the Duchess of Champdoce?"Diana only replied with a glance; but if her eyes spoke plainly, that look said "Yes.""Why, then," returned Norbert, "should we alarm ourselves with empty phantoms? Do you not trust me? My father may certainly oppose my plans, but before long I shall escape from his tyrannical sway, for Ishall be of age."

"Ah, Norbert," returned she sadly, "you are feeding upon vain hopes.

You must be twenty-five years of age before you can marry and give the shelter of your name to the woman whom you have chosen for your wife."This was exactly the explanation for which Daumon had been waiting.

"Good again, my young lady," cried he."And so this is why she came here.There is some credit in giving a lesson to so apt a pupil.""It is impossible," cried Norbert, violently agitated; "such an iniquitous thing cannot be.""You are mistaken," answered Diana calmly."Unfortunately I am telling you exactly how matters stand.The law clearly fixes the age at twenty-five.During all this time will you remember that a broken-hearted girl--"