These Old Shades (13 page)

“His Grace sent for me a few moments back to tell me that he is leaving for London to-morrow. I come to warn you, Léon, that you must be ready to accompany him.”

“Bah! He had told me that this morning,” said Léon scornfully.

Madame nodded.

“Yes, and he comes to eat a last cake with me,
le petit
.” She sighed gustily. “Indeed, my heart is heavy to think I must lose thee, Léon. But thou—thou art glad, little ingrate!”

“I have never been to England, you see,” apologized Léon. “I am so excited,
ma mère
.”

“
Ah, c’est cela
! So excited that you will forget fat old Madame Dubois.”

“No, I swear I will not! Walker, will you have some of Madame’s cake?”

Walker drew himself up.

“No, I thank you.”

“
Voyons
, he insults your skill,
ma mère
!” chuckled Léon.

“I assure you, madame, it’s no such thing.” Walker bowed to her and withdrew.

“He is like a camel,” remarked the page placidly.

He repeated this observation to the Duke next day, as they sat in the coach, bound for Calais.

“A camel?” said his Grace. “Why?”

“We-ll . . .” Léon wrinkled his nose. “I saw one once, a long time ago, and I remember it walked along with its head very high, and a smile on its face, just like Walker. It was so full of dignity, Monseigneur. You see?”

“Perfectly,” yawned his Grace, leaning farther back into the corner.

“Do you think that I shall like England, Monseigneur?” asked Léon presently.

“It is to be hoped that you will, my infant.”

“And—and do you think that I shall feel sick upon the ship?”

“I trust not.”

“So do I,” said Léon devoutly.

As it chanced, the journey was quite uneventful. They spent one night on the road to Calais, and embarked next day on a night boat. Much to Léon’s disgust, the Duke sent him into his cabin, with orders to remain there. For perhaps the first time in all his Channel crossings Avon remained on deck. Once he went down to the tiny cabin, and, finding Léon fast asleep in a chair, lifted him, and put him gently into a bunk, covering him with a fur rug. Then he went out again to pace the deck until morning.

When Léon appeared on deck next morning he was shocked to find that his master had remained there all night, and said so. Avon pulled one of his curls, and, having breakfasted, went below to sleep until Dover was reached. Then he emerged, and with becoming languor went ashore, Léon at his heels. Gaston had disembarked one of the first, and by the time the Duke arrived at the inn on the quay had roused the landlord to activity. A private parlour awaited them, with lunch set out on the table.

Léon eyed the meal with some disapproval and not a little surprise. A sirloin of English beef stood at one end of the table, flanked by a ham and some capons. A fat duck was at the other end, with pasties and puddings. There was also a flagon of burgundy, and a jug of foaming ale.

“Well, my Léon?”

Léon turned. His Grace had entered the room, and stood behind him, fanning himself. Léon looked sternly at the fan, and seeing the condemnation in his eyes Avon smiled.

“The fan does not find favour with you, infant?”

“I do not like it at all, Monseigneur.”

“You distress me. What think you of our English meats?”

Léon shook his head.

“Terrible, Monseigneur. It is—it is
barbare
!”

The Duke laughed, and came to the table. At once Léon went to him, intending to stand behind his chair.

“Child, you will observe that two places are laid. Seat yourself.” He shook out his napkin, and picked up the carving-knife and fork. “Will you essay the duck?”

Léon sat down shyly.

“Yes, please, Monseigneur.” He was served, and began to eat, rather nervously, but daintily, as Avon saw.

“So—so this is Dover,” remarked Léon presently, in a politely conversational tone.

“You are right, infant,” replied his Grace. “This is Dover. You are pleased to approve?”

“Yes, Monseigneur. It is queer to see everything English, but I like it. I should not like it if you were not here, of course.”

Avon poured some burgundy into his glass.

“I fear you are a flatterer,” he said severely.

Léon smiled.

“No, Monseigneur. Did you remark the landlord?”

“I know him well. What of him?”

“He is so little, and so fat, with such a bright, bright nose! When he bowed to you, Monseigneur, I thought he would burst! It looked so droll!” His eyes twinkled.

“A horrible thought, my child. You would appear to have a slightly gruesome sense of humour.”

Léon gave a delighted chuckle.

“Do you know, Monseigneur,” he said, wrestling with a stubborn joint, “I had never seen the sea until yesterday! It is very wonderful, but just for a little while it made the inside of me go up and down. Like that.” He described the motion with his hand.

“My dear Léon! Really, I cannot have that topic discussed at meal time. You make me feel quite ill.”

“Well, it made me feel ill, Monseigneur. But I was not sick. I shut my mouth very tightly——”

Avon picked up his fan and dealt Léon a smart rap with it across the knuckles.

“Continue to keep it shut, infant, I beg of you.”

Léon rubbed his hand, looking at the Duke in aggrieved wonderment.

“Yes, Monseigneur, but——”

“And do not argue.”

“No, Monseigneur. I was not going to argue. I only——”

“My dear Léon
,
you are arguing now. I find you most wearisome.”

“I was trying to explain, Monseigneur,” said Léon, with great dignity.

“Then please do not. Confine your energy to the duck.”

“Yes, Monseigneur.” Léon continued eating in silence for perhaps three minutes. Then he looked up again. “When do we begin to go to London, Monseigneur?”

“What an original way of putting it!” remarked his Grace. “We begin in about an hour’s time.”

“Then when I have finished my
déjeuner
may I go for a walk?”

“I am desolated to have to refuse my permission. I want to talk to you.”

“To talk to me?” echoed Léon.

“Madness, you think? I have something of import to say. What is the matter now?”

Léon was examining a black pudding with an expression akin to loathing on his face.

“Monseigneur, this—” he pointed disdainfully at the pudding—“this is not for
people
to eat! Bah!”

“Is aught amiss with it?” inquired his Grace.

“Everything!” said Léon crushingly. “First I am made to feel sick upon that ship, and then I am made to feel sick again by an evil—pudding, you call it? Voyons, it is a good name! Pig-pudding! Monseigneur, you must not eat it! It will make you——”

“Pray do not describe my probable symptoms as well as your own, infant. You have certainly been prodigiously ill-used, but endeavour to forget it! Eat one of those sweetmeats.”

Léon selected one of the little cakes, and started to nibble it.

“Do you always eat these things in England, Monseigneur?” he asked, pointing to the beef and the puddings.

“Invariably, my infant.”

“I think it would be better if we did not stay very long here,” said Léon firmly. “I have finished now.”

“Then come here.” His Grace had moved to the fire, and was sitting on the oaken settle. Léon sat beside him obediently.

“Yes, Monseigneur?”

Avon started to play with his fan, and his mouth was rather grim. He was frowning slightly, and Léon racked his brains to think how he could have offended his master. Suddenly Avon clasped his hand on Léon’s and held it in a cool, strong clasp.

“My infant, it has become necessary for me to put an end to the little comedy you and I have been playing.” He paused, and saw the big eyes grow apprehensive. “I am very fond of Léon, my child, but it is time he was Léonie.”

The little hand in his quivered.

“Mon-seigneur!”

“Yes, my child. You see, I have known from the very first.”

Léonie sat rigid, staring up into his face with the look of a stricken creature in her eyes. Avon put up his free hand to pat her white cheek.

“It is no such great matter after all, infant,” he said gently.

“You—you won’t send me—away?”

“I will not. Have I not bought you?”

“I—I may still be your page?”

“Not my page, child. I am sorry, but it is not possible.”

All the rigidity went out of the slight frame. Léonie gave one great sob, and buried her face in his coat sleeve.

“Oh please! oh please!”

“Infant, sit up! Come, I object to having my coat ruined. You have not heard all yet.”

“I won’t, I won’t!” came the muffled voice. “Let me be Léon! Please let me be Léon!”

His Grace lifted her.

“Instead of my page you shall be my ward. My daughter. Is it so terrible?”

“I do not want to be a girl! Oh please, Monseigneur, please.” Léon slipped from the settle to the floor, and knelt at his feet, gripping his hand. “Say yes, Monseigneur ! Say yes!”

“No, my babe. Dry your tears and listen to me. Don’t tell me you have lost your handkerchief.”

Léonie drew it from her pocket, and mopped her eyes.

“I don’t w-want to be—a girl!”

“Nonsense, my dear. It will be far more pleasant to be my ward than my page.”

“No!”

“You forget yourself,” said his Grace sternly. “I will not be contradicted.”

Léonie gulped down another sob.

“I—I am sorry, Monseigneur.”

“It’s very well. As soon as we have come to London I am going to take you to my sister—no, do not speak—my sister, Lady Fanny Marling. You see, infant, you cannot live with me until I have found some lady to act as—ah— duenna.”

“I will not! I will not!”

“You will do as I say, my good child. My sister will clothe you as befits your new position, and teach you to be—a girl. You will learn these things——”

“I will not! Never, never!”

“—because I command it. Then, when you are ready, you shall come back to me, and I will present you to Society.”

Léonie tugged at his hand.

“I won’t go to your sister! I will be just Léon! You cannot make me do as you say, Monseigneur! I will not!”

His Grace looked down at her in some exasperation.

“If you were still my page I should know how to deal with you,” he said.

“Yes, yes! Beat me, if you like, and let me still be your page! Ah, please, Monseigneur!”

“Unhappily it is impossible. Recollect, my infant, that you are mine, and must do as I say.”

Léonie promptly collapsed into a crumpled heap beside the settle, and sobbed into the hand she held. Avon allowed her to weep unrestrainedly for perhaps three minutes. Then he drew his hand away.

“You want me to send you away altogether?”

“Oh!” Léonie started up. “Monseigneur, you would not! You—oh no, no!”

“Then you will obey me. It is understood?”

There was a long pause. Léonie stared hopelessly into the cold hazel eyes. Her lip trembled, and a large tear rolled down her cheek.

“Yes, Monseigneur,” she whispered, and drooped her curly head.

Avon leaned forward, and put his arm about the childish figure, drawing it close.

“A very good infant,” he said lightly. “You will learn to be a girl to please me, Léonie.”

She clung to him, her curls tickling his chin.

“Will—will it please you, Monseigneur?”

“Above all things, child.”

“Then—I’ll try,” said Léonie, a heartbroken catch in her voice. “You won’t 1-leave me with y-your sister for 1-long, will you?”

“Only until I can find someone to take care of you. Then you shall go to my house in the country, and learn to curtsy, to flirt with your fan, to simper, to have the vapours——”

“I—won’t!”

“I hope not,” said his Grace, smiling faintly. “My dear child, there is no need for such misery.”

“I have been Léon for so—so long! It will be so very, very hard!”

“I think it will,” said Avon, and took the crumpled handkerchief from her. “But you will try to learn all that you are taught, that I may be proud of my ward.”

“Could you be, Monseigneur? Of-of me?”

“It is quite possible, my infant.”

“I should like that,” said Léonie, more happily. “I will be very good.”

The Duke’s fine lips twitched.

“So you may be worthy of me? I wish Hugh could hear.”

“Does—does he know?”

“It transpired, my child, that he always knew. Allow me to suggest that you rise from your knees. So. Sit down.”