“Oh, it is plain enough! Orloff cannot remain in favor forever, and there are certain interests that may come into conflict with his—you understand now? So, then, don’t think of my niece, for you can aspire to a more brilliant fortune; and as, for the moment, you are nothing, not even M. Goefle’s nephew, for he refuses to acknowledge you even for an illegitimate child, I warn you that I will have the door shut in your face if you come to my house with the foolish notion of pleasing Margaret. On the other hand, I shall expect to see you in Stockholm so as to present you to the ambassador, who will take you into his service. Au revoir, then!—or stay—I will take you with me!”
“Really?”
“Certainly I will. I can do so without the least inconvenience, since I am going to leave my niece here. Frightened by the groans of the dying man, she has gone to pass the night at the parsonage, with her friend Mademoiselle Akerstrom; or at least that is what her governess pretends. It doesn’t matter; wherever the little coward has taken refuge, Mademoiselle Potin is to take her back to Dalby to-morrow, under the charge of Peterson, an old family servant. M. Stangstadius has promised me, also, to accompany them. The child will be heart-broken, for she flatters herself that she is coming with me to Stockholm; but she is still too young: she will do nothing but commit blunders in society. Her débût is put off until next year.”
“So,” said Christian, “she must pass still another year all alone in her old manor?”
“Ah, I see that she has been confiding her sorrows to you. It is a very touching story, and it is to save you from being afflicted with it that I shall carry you off in my sleigh. Stay, I will give you an hour to get ready, and will come for you in this gallery. Is it agreed?”
“I am not at all sure,” replied Christian, boldly. “I warn you that I am very much in love with your niece.”
“Well, so much the better, if it lasts!” resumed the countess. “When you have passed several years in Russia, and have won sufficient roubles, and peasants, and estates, I will not say no, if you persist.”
The countess withdrew, persuaded that Christian would be punctual at the rendezvous.
She had no sooner disappeared than Mademoiselle Potin, who had been watching them, slipped up to Christian to remonstrate with him severely. She had been very anxious about Margaret, and had sought her everywhere.
“Luckily,” added the governess, “she has just come in with her friend Martina, whose mother, supposing her detained in our apartment, was not uneasy about her; but it troubles me to have to tell so many falsehoods to conceal Margaret’s imprudences, and I declare to you that I will reveal everything to the countess, unless you give me your word of honor that you will leave the chateau and the country immediately.”