d'Escorval at the gate watching for him. By the way in which
she rushed to meet him, he thought she was about to announce some
irreparable misfortune. But no--she took his hand, and, without uttering
a word, she led him to her son's chamber.
The condition of the poor youth was really very critical; the abbe
perceived this at a glance, but it was not hopeless.
"We will get him out of this," he said, with a smile that reawakened
hope.
And with the coolness of an old practitioner, he bled him freely, and
ordered applications of ice to his head.
In a moment all the household were busied in fulfilling the cure's
orders. He took advantage of the opportunity to draw the baron aside in
the embrasure of a window.
"What has happened?" he asked.
"A disappointment in love," M. d'Escorval replied, with a despairing
gesture. "Monsieur Lacheneur has refused the hand of his daughter, which
I asked in behalf of my son. Maurice was to have seen Marie-Anne to-day.
What passed between them I do not know. The result you see."
The baroness re-entered the room, and the two men said no more.
Pages:
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181