"Other careers are possible in other countries," he answered, with a lightness he did not feel. "Who knows perhaps the English or the Prussians might be amenable to a change of government. I shall seek to induce one or the other of them to became a republic, and then I shall become once more a legislator."
With that, and vowing that every moment he remained their chances of leaving France grew more slender, he took his leave of her, expressing the hope that he might be back within a couple of hours.
Mademoiselle watched him to the garden gate, then closing the door she returned within.
She discovered her betrothed - he whom La Boulaye had called her lover - standing with his back to the fire, his hands clasped behind him, the very picture of surliness. He made none of the advances that one might look for in a man placed as he was at that moment.
He greeted her, instead, with a complaint.
"Will you permit me, Mademoiselle, to say that in this matter you have hardly chosen the wiser course?"
"In what matter?" quoth she, at a loss to understand him.
"In the matter of my release. I advised you in my letter to purchase my *******. Had you done so, we should now be in a position to start for the frontier - for you would have made a passport a part of your bargain. Instead of this, not only are we obliged to run the risk of waiting, but even if this fellow should return, we shall be affronted by his company for some days to come." And the Vicomte sniffed the air in token of disgust.
Suzanne looked at him in an amazement that left her speechless for a moment. At last:
"And this is your gratitude?" she demanded. "This is all that you have to say in thanks for the discomfort and danger that I have suffered on your behalf? Your tone is oddly changed since you wrote me that piteous, pitiable letter from Belgium, M. le Vicomte."
He reddened slightly.
"I am afraid that I have been clumsy in my expressions," he apologised. "But never doubt my gratitude, Mademoiselle. I am more grateful to you than words can tell. You have done your duty to me as few women could."
The word "duty" offended her, yet she let it pass. In his monstrous vanity it was often hopeless to make him appreciate the importance of anything or anybody outside of himself. Of this the present occasion was an instance.
"You must forgive me my seeming thanklessness, Mademoiselle," he pursued. "It was the company of that sans-culotte rascal that soured me. I had enough of him a month ago, when he brought me to Paris.
It offended me to have him stand here again in the same room with me, and insolently refer to his pledged word as though he were a gentleman born."
"To whom do you refer?" quoth she.
"Ma foi! How many of them are there? Why, to this fellow, La Boulaye?"
"So it seemed, and yet I could not believe it of you. Do you not realise that your ingratitude approaches the base?"
He vouchsafed her a long, cold stare of amazement.
"Mordieu!" he ejaculated at last. "I am afraid that your reason has been affected by your troubles. You seem, Mademoiselle, to be unmindful of the station into which you have had the honour to be born."
"If your bearing is to be accepted as a sign that you remember it, I will pray God that I may, indeed, forget it - completely and for all time."
And then the door opened to admit the good Henriette, who came to announce that she had contrived a hasty meal, and that it was served and awaiting them.
"Diable!" he laughed. "Those are the first words of true wit that I have heard these many days. I swear," he added, with a pleasantness that was oddly at variance with his sullen humour of a moment back," that I have not tasted human food these four weeks, and as for my appetite - it is capable of consuming the whole patrimony of St. Peter. Lead the way, my good Henriette. Come, Mademoiselle."