Young d’Aillane was perfectly infuriated, and being unable to vent his rage upon a man of my father’s age, he was strongly tempted to vent it upon me. He made some very bitter remarks to me, of which I took no notice, and, continuing to address my father, I answered:
“You are perfectly right in believing that I will not allow myself to be intimidated; but we must pardon M. d’Aillane for having entertained such an idea. Were I to find myself in a similar situation, and your honor in question, reflect, my dear father, that I would not be any more polite or reasonable than necessity required. Have some consideration then for his anxiety, and since we cannot relieve it, do not let us be so harsh as to add to it unnecessarily. I have examined the affair sufficiently to be convinced myself of the extreme delicacy of the entire d’Aillane family, and I shall consider it as much of a pleasure as of a duty to acknowledge this on all occasions.”
“That is all I wanted, monsieur,” cried the young man, grasping my hands, “and now go on and gain your suit, we ask nothing better.”
“One moment, one moment,” replied my father, with the same spirit he showed in his discussions in court. “I do not know exactly, my son, what your ideas about this perfect loyalty may be, but as for myself, if I find circumstances in the history of this affair where it is manifest, there are others that seem suspicious to me, and I beg of you to promise nothing, before weighing the objections that I was engaged in submitting to you when monsieur honored us with his visit.”
“Allow me, my dear father,” I replied with firmness, “to inform you that slight appearances will not be sufficient to make me share your doubts. Without considering M. le comte d’Aillane’s well-established reputation, I have the evidence of certain testimony in his favor.”
I paused, while reflecting that this testimony of my sublime and mysterious friend, was something I would be unable to bring forward without being laughed at. It was nevertheless so serious a consideration with me, that nothing in the world, not even apparent facts, could make me doubt it.
“I know of what testimony you speak,” said my father, “Madame d’Ionis has a great affection——.”
“I hardly know Madame d’Ionis!” interrupted young d’Aillane quickly.
“And I am not speaking of you, monsieur,” my father smilingly replied. “I am speaking of Count d’Aillane and of mademoiselle his daughter.”
“And I, father,” said I, in my turn, “I was not speaking of Madame d’Ionis.”