roads of destiny-第40部分

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r　to　Meade　d'Or　to　talk　with　him。　The　two　strolled　out　of　the　house　and　grounds；　crossed　the　road；　and；　mounting　the　levee；　walked　its　broad　path　while　they　conversed。　A　thunder…cloud　was　hanging；　imminent；　above；　but；　as　yet；　no　rain　fell。　At　Grandemont's　disclosure　of　his　interference　in　the　clandestine　romance；　Victor　attacked　him；　in　a　wild　and　sudden　fury。　Grandemont；　though　of　slight　frame；　possessed　muscles　of　iron。　He　caught　the　wrists　amid　a　shower　of　blows　descending　upon　him；　bent　the　lad　backward　and　stretched　him　upon　the　levee　path。　In　a　little　while　the　gust　of　passion　was　spent；　and　he　was　allowed　to　rise。　Calm　now；　but　a　powder　mine　where　he　had　been　but　a　whiff　of　the　tantrums；　Victor　extended　his　hand　toward　the　dwelling　house　of　Meade　d'Or。

〃You　and　they；〃　he　cried；　〃have　conspired　to　destroy　my　happiness。　None　of　you　shall　ever　look　upon　my　face　again。〃

Turning；　he　ran　swiftly　down　the　levee；　disappearing　in　the　darkness。　Grandemont　followed　as　well　as　he　could；　calling　to　him；　but　in　vain。　For　longer　than　an　hour　he　pursued　the　search。　Descending　the　side　of　the　levee；　he　penetrated　the　rank　density　of　weeds　and　willows　that　undergrew　the　trees　until　the　river's　edge；　shouting　Victor's　name。　There　was　never　an　answer；　though　once　he　thought　he　heard　a　bubbling　scream　from　the　dun　waters　sliding　past。　Then　the　storm　broke；　and　he　returned　to　the　house　drenched　and　dejected。

There　he　explained　the　boy's　absence　sufficiently；　he　thought；　not　speaking　of　the　tangle　that　had　led　to　it；　for　he　hoped　that　Victor　would　return　as　soon　as　his　anger　had　cooled。　Afterward；　when　the　threat　was　made　good　and　they　saw　his　face　no　more；　he　found　it　difficult　to　alter　his　explanations　of　that　night；　and　there　clung　a　certain　mystery　to　the　boy's　reasons　for　vanishing　as　well　as　to　the　manner　of　it。

It　was　on　that　night　that　Grandemont　first　perceived　a　new　and　singular　expression　in　Adele's　eyes　whenever　she　looked　at　him。　And　through　the　years　following　that　expression　was　always　there。　He　could　not　read　it；　for　it　was　born　of　a　thought　she　would　never　otherwise　reveal。

Perhaps；　if　he　had　known　that　Adele　had　stood　at　the　gate　on　that　unlucky　night；　where　she　had　followed；　lingering；　to　await　the　return　of　her　brother　and　lover；　wondering　why　they　had　chosen　so　tempestuous　an　hour　and　so　black　a　spot　to　hold　converseif　he　had　known　that　a　sudden　flash　of　lightning　had　revealed　to　her　sight　that　short；　sharp　struggle　as　Victor　was　sinking　under　his　hands；　he　might　have　explained　everything；　and　she

I　know　what　she　would　have　done。　But　one　thing　is　clearthere　was　something　besides　her　brother's　disappearance　between　Grandemont's　pleadings　for　her　hand　and　Adele's　〃yes。〃　Ten　years　had　passed；　and　what　she　had　seen　during　the　space　of　that　lightning　flash　remained　an　indelible　picture。　She　had　loved　her　brother；　but　was　she　holding　out　for　the　solution　of　that　mystery　or　for　the　〃Truth〃？　Women　have　been　known　to　reverence　it；　even　as　an　abstract　principle。　It　is　said　there　have　been　a　few　who；　in　the　matter　of　their　affections；　have　considered　a　life　to　be　a　small　thing　as　compared　with　a　lie。　That　I　do　not　know。　But；　I　wonder；　had　Grandemont　cast　himself　at　her　feet　crying　that　his　hand　had　sent　Victor　to　the　bottom　of　that　inscrutable　river；　and　that　he　could　no　longer　sully　his　love　with　a　lie；　I　wonder　ifI　wonder　what　she　would　have　done！

But；　Grandemont　Charles；　Arcadian　little　gentleman；　never　guessed　the　meaning　of　that　look　in　Adele's　eyes；　and　from　this　last　bootless　payment　of　his　devoirs　he　rode　away　as　rich　as　ever　in　honour　and　love；　but　poor　in　hope。

That　was　in　September。　It　was　during　the　first　winter　month　that　Grandemont　conceived　his　idea　of　the　/renaissance/。　Since　Adele　would　never　be　his；　and　wealth　without　her　were　useless　trumpery；　why　need　he　add　to　that　hoard　of　slowly　harvested　dollars？　Why　should　he　even　retain　that　hoard？

Hundreds　were　the　cigarettes　he　consumed　over　his　claret；　sitting　at　the　little　polished　tables　in　the　Royal　street　cafes　while　thinking　over　his　plan。　By　and　by　he　had　it　perfect。　It　would　cost；　beyond　doubt；　all　the　money　he　had；　but/le　jeu　vaut　la　chandelle/for　some　hours　he　would　be　once　more　a　Charles　of　Charleroi。　Once　again　should　the　nineteenth　of　January；　that　most　significant　day　in　the　fortunes　of　the　house　of　Charles；　be　fittingly　observed。　On　that　date　the　French　king　had　seated　a　Charles　by　his　side　at　table；　on　that　date　Armand　Charles；　Marquis　de　Brasse；　landed；　like　a　brilliant　meteor；　in　New　Orleans；　it　was　the　date　of　his　mother's　wedding；　of　Grandemont's　birth。　Since　Grandemont　could　remember　until　the　breaking　up　of　the　family　that　anniversary　had　been　the　synonym　for　feasting；　hospitality；　and　proud　commemoration。

Charleroi　was　the　old　family　plantation；　lying　some　twenty　miles　down　the　river。　Years　ago　the　estate　had　been　sold　to　discharge　the　debts　of　its　too…bountiful　owners。　Once　again　it　had　changed　hands；　and　now　the　must　and　mildew　of　litigation　had　settled　upon　it。　A　question　of　heirship　was　in　the　courts；　and　the　dwelling　house　of　Charleroi；　unless　the　tales　told　of　ghostly　powdered　and　laced　Charleses　haunting　its　unechoing　chambers　were　true；　stood　uninhabited。

Grandemont　found　the　solicitor　in　chancery　who　held　the　keys　pending　the　decision。　He　proved　to　be　an　old　friend　of　the　family。　Grandemont　explained　briefly　that　he　desired　to　rent　the　house　for　two　or　three　days。　He　wanted　to　give　a　dinner　at　his　old　home　to　a　few　friends。　That　was　all。

〃Take　it　for　a　weeka　month；　if　you　will；〃　said　the　solicitor；　〃but　do　not　speak　to　me　of　rental。〃　With　a　sigh　he　concluded：　〃The　dinners　I　have　eaten　under　that　roof；　/mon　fils/！〃

There　came　to　many　of　the　old；　established　dealers　in　furniture；　china；　silverware；　decorations　and　household　fittings　at　their　stores　on　Canal；　Chartres；　St。　Charles；　and　Royal　Streets；　a　quiet　young　man　with　a　little　bald　spot　on　the　top　of　his　head；　distinguished　manners；　and　the　eye　of　a　/connoisseur/；　who　explained　what　he　wanted。　To　hire　the　complete　and　elegant　equipment　of　a　dining…room；　hall；　reception…　room；　and　cloak…rooms。　The　goods　were　to　be　packed　and　sent；　by　boat；　to　the　Charleroi　landing；　and　would　be　returned　within　three　or　four　days。　All　damage　or　loss　to　be　promptly　paid　for。

Many　of　those　old　merchants　knew　Grandemont　by　sight；　and　the　Charleses　of　old　by　association。　Some　of　them　were　of　Creole　stock　and　felt　a　thrill　of　responsive　sympathy　with　the　magnificently　indiscreet　design　of　this　impoverished　clerk　who　would　revive　but　for　a　moment　the　ancient　flame　of　glory　with　the　fuel　of　his　savings。

〃Choose　what　you　want；〃　they　said　to　him。　〃Handle　everything　carefully。　See　that　the　damage　bill　is　kept　low；　and　the　charges　for　the　loan　will　not　oppress　you。〃

To　the　wine　merchants　next；　and　here　a　doleful　slice　was　lopped　from　the　six　hundred。　It　was　an　exquisite　pleasure　to　Grandemont　once　more　to　pick　among　the　precious　vintages。　The　champagne　bins　lured　him　like　the　abodes　of　sirens；　but　these　he　was　forced　to　pass。　With　his　six　hundred　he　stood　before　them　as　a　child　with　a　penny　stands　before　a　French　doll。　But　he　bought　with　taste　and　discretion　of　other　wines　Chablis；　Moselle；　Chateau　d'Or；　Hochheimer；　and　port　of　right　age　and　pedigree。

The　matter　of　the　cuisine　gave　him　some　studious　hours　until　he　suddenly　recollected　AndreAndre；　their　old　/chef/the　most　sublime　master　of　French　Creole　cookery　in　the　Mississippi　Valley。　Perhaps　he　was　yet　somewhere　about　the　plantation。　The　solicitor　had　told　him　that　the　place　was　still　being　cultivated；　in　accordance　with　a　compromise　agreement　between　the　litigants。

On　the　next　Sunday　after　the　thought　Grandemont　rode；　horseback；　down　to　Charleroi。　The　big；　square　house　with　its　two　long　ells　looked　blank　and　cheerless　with　its　closed　shutters　and　doors。

The　shrubbery　in　the　yard　was　ragged　and　riotous。　Fallen　leaves　from　the　grove　littered　the　walks　and　porches。　Turning　down　the　lane　at　the　side　of　the　house；　Grandemont　rode　on　to　the　quarters　of　the　plantation　hands。　He　found　the　workers　just　streaming　back　from　church；　careless；　happy；　and　bedecked　in　gay　yellows；　reds；　and　blues。

Yes；　Andre　was　still　there；　his　wool　a　little　grayer；　his　mouth　as　wide；　his　laughter　as　ready　as　ever。　Grandemont　told　him　of　his　plan；　and　the　old　/chef/　swayed　with　pride　and　delight。　With　a　sigh　of　relief；　knowing　that　he　need　have　no　further　concern　until　the　serving　of　that　dinner　was　announced；　he　placed　in　Andre's　hands　a　liberal　sum　for　the　cost　of　it；　giving　/carte　blanche/　for　its　creation。

Among　the　blacks　were　also　a　number　of　the　old　house　servants。　Absalom；　the　former　major　domo；　and　a　half…dozen　of　the　younger　men；　once　waiters　and　attaches　of　the　kitchen；　pantry；　and　other　domestic　departments　crowded　around　to　greet　〃M'shi　Grande。〃　Absalom　guaranteed　to　marshal；　of　these；　a　corps　of　assistants　that　would　perform　with　credit　the　serving　of　the　dinner。

After　distributing　a　liberal　largesse　among　the　faithful；　Grandemont　rode　back　to　town　well　pleased。　There　were　many　other　smaller　details　to　think　of　and　provide　for；　but　eventually　the　scheme　was　complete；　and　now　there　remained　only　the　issuance　of　the　invitations　to　his　guests。

Along　the　river　within　the　scope　of　a　score　of　miles　dwelt　some　half…　dozen　families　with　whose　princely　hospitality　that　of　the　Charleses　had　been　contemporaneous。　They　were　the　proudest　and　most　august　of　the　old　regime。　Their　small　circle　had　been　a　brilliant　one；　their　social　relations　close　and　warm；　their　houses　full　of　rare　welcome　and　discriminating　bounty。　Those　friends；　said　Grandemont；　should　once　more；　if　never　again；　sit　at　Charleroi　on　a　nineteenth　of　January　to　celebrate　the　festal　day　of　his　house。

Grandemont　had　his　cards　of　invitation　engraved。　They　were　expensive；　but　beautiful。　In　one　particular　their　good　taste　might　have　been　disputed；　but　the　Creole　allowed　himself　that　one　feather　in　the　cap　of　his　fugacious　splendour。　Might　he　not　be　allowed；　for　the　one　day　of　the　/renaissance/；　to　be　〃Grandemont　du　Puy　Charles；　of　Charleroi〃？　He　sent　the　invitations　out　early　in　January　so　that　the　guests　might　not　fail　to　receive　due　notice。

At　eight　o'clock　on　the　morning　o