Madame de Talmont was terrified by a vehemence so foreign to the character of her son. She interposed, explaining that no harm had been intended, and entreating him to recollect himself. M. de Sartines also hastened to apologize. “I was not aware, monsieur,” he said, “that you were under personal obligations to the Czar. Still I cannot hold myself excused, for I should not have used so much freedom in the presence of M. le Prince. I hope he will be good enough to pardon me.”
“No need of that, monsieur,” returned Ivan. “The more freely the conduct of my sovereign is discussed by every loyal Frenchman the more will be his honour. The Czar,” he added proudly, “has saved Europe once. If need be, he will do so again.”
Shortly afterwards the guests departed. Henri drew Ivan aside. “You will be obliged to leave us?” he said in a low voice.
“Yes,” Ivan answered gravely. “After what we have just heard, I must go immediately to my Czar.”
Henri’s voice dropped still lower, and laying his hand on the shoulder of his friend, he said a few earnest words. Ivan answered in the same tone; then, with a countenance wonderfully brightened, he left the room.
When he was gone, Henri said earnestly, turning to his mother and his aunt, “Clémence and Ivan belong to each other already in the sight of God; why should they not do so also in the sight of man? Months, if not more, may elapse before Ivan can return—a long and dangerous campaign, perhaps two, may intervene—how much better a hasty marriage than the wearing suspense and anxiety of a protracted engagement?”
“What difference can it make?” asked Madame de Salgues. “Clémence must of course remain here until things are settled.”
“A very great difference,” Madame de Talmont answered. “As a wife, he can send for her and she can go to him should anything untoward happen—which God forbid,” she added with a trembling lip. “God alone knows what comfort there is in having the right to tend, or to mourn.—Henri, I entirely agree with you.”
“It occurs to me that there is some one else whose consent will have to be obtained,” Madame de Salgues observed.
Henri smiled. “I believe Ivan is this very moment engaged in obtaining it,” he said.