The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-03-05 00:00:00

ADRIENNE;

014
THE SHADOW OF THE PAST.
[ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4

CHAPTER XI.
As Father Eustace approached the apartment of M.
Lecour, he stepped very lightly, and when he gained
the door he paused and listened intently. No sound
save the deep breathing of the sleeper came from
within, and with velvet tread he glided through the
entrance, and looked upon the scene the room
presented.
A packet of open letters lay upon the table; and,
without scruple, the inquisitor glanced rapidly over
their contents. His flashing eyes, quivering lips, and
excited expression, showed that he was strongly
moved by their revelations.
Bitter and scornful was the expression with which
he approached the sleeping man, and looked down
Upon his corrugated brow and labouring treast ; for
Lecour exhibited all the painful contortions of a
man suffering intensely from nightmare.
"Even in sleep the wretch is haunted by the
memory of his crimes," was the thought that passed
through the mind of the visitor. "I have not been
able to penetrate to the depths of his seared soul yet.
There is something kept back which I must fathom,
tees;de the hiding-place of no,' quarry. Then I will lay
my hard upon lum and crush him, or strip him of all
his ill-gotten gains."
W'ith a gesture illustrative of the thought, Father
Eustace thrust forth his long, nervous-looking hand
above the prostrate sleeper, and M. Lecour started
from his slumbers just in time to come in collision
with it. The sudden shock effectually awoke him,
end his first impulse was to hurl forth a volley of
curses sndahuge which would have made any other man
quail; kut the priest stood his ground firmly and
calmly. He quietly said:
"My son, I came here on my usual errand, but
methinks this is a singular reception. What does it
mean? Your mind seems in no proper condition for
the confession of sin, and the remission thereof."
The even tones of his voice exerted a marked
power over the listener. He paused in his blasphemous
career, struggled to recover outward composure, and
finally staid—
" Pardon me, father; I did not at first recognise
you. I have suffered much within the last few hours,
and am in no condition to bear intrusion. Why have
you entered without being announced? You have
never done so before, and my servants are very
'negligent to permit you to do so now."
M. Lecour glanced suspiciously toward the table as he
thus spoke, and while his visitor offered his explana-
tions he removed the letters which had-already under-
gone inspection and placed them in a place of safety.
The priest furtively smiled as be said :
"I never before found your door open to admit
ma; but to-day it was unclosed and the way lay open
before me. I knew you would be expecting me, and
I came up without ceremony. A new era seems indeed
to have dawned on Bellair, for as I came across the
lawn I saw the flutter of a woman's garments, and
beard the carol of a girl's voice. What may these
portend, my friend?"
"Nothing that need concern you, sir priest. You
came hither to hear my confession; hearken to it, take
your usual dole, and leave me for another month to
my solitude and my wretchedness."
"Nay, not as," said the priest, sternly. "This day
has brought with it a crisis in our intercourse, and I
insist that all the secrets of this prison-house shall be
Laid bare before me. Where is the helpless child you
spirited away from France just as his friends were
gathering around him? Who instigated you to remove
him? and where do you keep him concealed? Inex-
er.ble as fate itself, I demand the truth, and I can find
means to compel you to divuli se, it."
The marked change in his tone and manner seemed
to take M. Lecour by surprise, but he soon recovered
his usual iron defiance, and laughed aloud as he
replied—
"Ha! ha! You brave the lion well in his den, but
he has not, yet lost all faith in the sharpness of his
own teeth and claws. Why insist always on that ,
chain? The boy is dead years ago. He was devoured
by the scrofula when he passed into my keeping. I
only consented to remove him because I would not
have the throne of St. Louis desecrated by a diseased
idiot."
" What, then, is the origin of the information sent
me from France that you are actually in treaty with
the ambitious First Consul to deliver the boy to him
that another roi faineant may reign over the French
people, while Napoleon, as Mayor of the Palace, rules
the nation ?"
"Who has abused you with such fables? The son
of Louis is dead, I tell you; and if he was not, no
Bourbon will ever again reign in the hearts of French-
men—their day is past."
" That is not certain. If they were now as true
sons of the Church as in the days of St. Louis, their
star might again culminate."
" /I—yes ; but infidel France would scarcely
welcome even her sainted monarch back again on the
same t rms. No: if God really rules the earth, he will
henceforth do it through purer instruments."
The priest interrupted him.
"God does rule the earth, and his Church is the
delegited authority upon it. Do not utter heresy in
my hearing, mon ami. Let us change the subject. It
seems my duty to warn you of the visible failure in
your he lth since I last saw you. Your nervous
system seems to have suffered a terrible shock, for
you are tremulous as a weak woman, and there is an
unsettled glimmer in your sunken eye that seems
ominous of doom. Is it not time, brother, to think
of the final arrangement of your affairs. A vast
responsibility rests upon you in disposing of such an
estate RS yet .s."
A bitte Jx pressi on swept over the sallow face of
M. Lecour, and he coldly replied—
" The law of this comatry is said to be just; why
shall I not leave it to settle with my heirs? My
wealth bas brought me no blessing; then why shall
I desire to transfer it to another as a burden and a
curse ?"
"To a man or woman perhaps it might prove such,
but to an organised heierarchy, to which money is
power, wealth can only become the means of extended
good. I speak in the name of my Church, and de-
mand if you that you make her your heir."
" What ? Do you demand all, to the utter ex-
clusion of my own blood ?" -
"Of your race there is no acknowledged scion, I
believe; then why ask so irrelevant a question?"
M. Lecour regarded him with keen scrutiny as he
slowly asked—
" What has then become of the young girl who was
reared in the convent to which you have told me you
were confessor? Are you not aware of her history?
of her claims upon me? then why should you seek to
repudiate them now ?"
"Mademoiselle Durand is already provided for as
the daughter of heaven," replied the priest, with
perfect self-possession. " Since you have given a
bride to the Church, it becomes doubly your
duty to endow the sister-hood among whom she was
educated with the greater portion of your wealth."
t's But if this young girl will not accept the fate I
have awarded her; if she has already evaded the
vigilance of the superior, has escaped and appealed
to me for protection, what then becomes my duty?
"If it be so," was the emphatic reply, "reclaim her
from the error of her ways; send her back to the holy
mother, and increase the dower which shall purchase
immunity for her sin."
M. Leceur laughed harshly.
"I wish you to understand that I am no longer in
the humour to make the girl a nun. Now she has
come to me, I think I shall retain her with me
awhile."
" What ? Is Mademoiselle Durand actually in this
house? Have you really seen and conversed with
her ?"

"Adrienne Durand is here, and I have no intention
at present of forcing her to return to the captivity of
her convent. Nay, I believe I will provide for her
handsomely, if she continues to please me as well as
1 she has done since her appearance beneath my roof."
.. And have you no conscientious scruples against
'. abet log this young rebel in her contumacy towards
the Church ?" was the stern inquiry of the priest.
/ '` Adrienne shall at least seek happiness in her own
, -way. If the wrath of God smites tier, it will not then
/be my fault"
The mooking spirit of the penitent was arrayed
igainst the priestly authority, but the indomitable
Patience and perseverance of Father Eustace finally
prevailed. The intractable nature with which he had
to deal was partially subdued, and brought into a
irame to utter the confession it was the object of his
i visit to obtain. But in one direction M. Lecour was
I inpone'rable, the secret Father Eustace was most
i anxious to fathom was held too closely to permit a
Welm of light to fall upon it.
Baffled, chagrined, and annoyed, the confesoor
! yet gave his absolution with an expression of calm
benevolet,c, whh h was intended to impose on the
aAute ciimilial, who secretly exulted in obtaining
: Plenary forgiveness for his sins, without betraying
i the one that lay heaviest upon his conscience. The
I two parted apparently on the best of terms, though
each ( no was silently endeavouring to circumvent the
other.
As the priest descended the staircase, he muttered:
~ With me that one crime outweighs all the rest,
li(avy as is the catalogue. If I could gain the cer-
tainty that his hand is red with his blood, I would
drive home the avenging steel to his heart of
hearts 1"
Att( r this last colloquy with Adrienne," FiZther
Eustace rr,de away, and resuming the courage with
which nature had endowed her, the young girl
wiped away her tears, and strolled towards the cabin
of Eady to ascertain how she was employed before
she attempted to invade the tabooed portion ef the
house.
The o'd woman was crooning a doleful hymn while
her busy hands attended to some oilinary duty, and,
unobserved by her, Adrienne succeeded in gaining the
back entrance to the house. Pierre was at work
among his vegetables, hut he scarcely raised his head
U.S Adrienne passed him. Once within the door,
the spt.d with rapid steps towards the foot of the
stairs-we.
Without pausing to consider consequences, she
Sprang up the steps, and in another moment stood
, in front of the door Eady had refused to unclose on
the
previous day, On trying the lock she found it

was fast, but a rapid glance around showed her a key
hanging from a nail within reach of her hand.
With some inward tremour, Adrienne removed this,
and applied it to the lock. It turned easily, and the
door at once yielded to her touch. Her heart beat
audibly as she stepped upon a second flight of steps,
which evidently led to the highest storey of the house.
A few steps brought her to a small ante-chamber, in
which a, few boxes and old trunks were kept. These
were sufficient to give some colour to the assertion of
Eady that it was only a lumber room, but Adrienne
felt assured that the large room in the front of the
house contained the mystery of which she was in
pursuit.
Eager and excited as she had now become, the
young girl girl paused a few moments to listen for
any sounds from below which might indicate the ap-
proach of Fady, for she felt a great repugnance to the
thought of being detected in the secret exploration.
As she stood thus, a series of sounds came from the
inner room which filled her with amazement and fear.
A feeble, dissonant voice was suddenly raised, and a
volume of words which seemed mere senseless chatter
reached her ears. _ _ _ _

What discovery was she on the brink of making?
Should she go on, or retreat before she had for ever
compromised herself with her stern grandfather, by
invading the mystery of his singular household ? She
felt as if was impossible to recede now, and, with
desperate courage, she approached the door, and placed
her hand upon the bolt. Cautiously unclosing it, she
she opened a crevice sufficiently wide to enable her to
scan the interior, and also to obtain a view of the
singular occupant of the apartment.
The room was sumptuously fitted up, and lighted by
a large window inserted in the roof. This window
had been so contrived that the projecting eaves
sheltered it from observation without, while a tre-
mulous light struggled through the yellow glass with
which it was glazed, giving the effect of pale sunshine
to everything it touched.
Immediately beneath this window was a platform
raised about two feet above the floor, which was
covered with rich tapestry. On this was placed a
large arm chair on which the royal arms of France
were carved, and upon the canopy above it was wrought
a crown and sceptre.
One of the compartments of the wall was filled with
a large picture representingthe marriage of Louis XVI.
of France to the unfortunate Marie Antoinette; and
the weird fancy of the painter was shown in the filmy
figures which filled up the background of the painting:
forms shadowy as phantoms, yet full of expression,
"delineated the sad tragedy of these two lives, united
amidst so much pomp, to end in such unparalleled
woe.

The windows of this room were concealed by heavy
curtains of crimson damask, on which the arms of
France were also embroidered, and the drapery around
the couch bore the same insignia of the rank of the
pallid phantom that occupied the chair of state.
A cadaverous, bloated creature, stunted in his
growth, and bearing evidences of imbecility and
disease in every lineament of his prematurely worn
face, crouched upon the seat and played with su.h
toys as are usually furnished to young children. He
vociferously sounded a baby's rattle, and seemed as
much delighted with the noise it made as if he had
not passed beyond the age of infancy. Robes of costly
material clothed his person, and around his head was
a circlet of gold, in which imitation gems glittered in
the same order in which they had been placed in the
crown worn by the Bourbon race in their day of power
and pride.
After a few moments, he threw aside the rattle, and
spoke in a rapid and querulous tone—
"Where is la marquise 1 My negress, my slave,
fails to come. What has become of my lord chancellor?
Oh! lam hungry—l have had no lunch lam hungry
The last word was wailed forthwith an expression of
chi'dish impatience, and as he turned his head toward
the door, his eyes fell upon the pale, astonished face
of the intruder. His features brightened for an in-
stant, and then sunk into an expression of confused
fear and uncertainty. He beckoned Adrienne to come
forward, as he muttered—
" Who is this pale girl? Is it a goblin? No—
no—pretty, too pretty. Come here; let me touch you
I touch everybody that comes about me; how can I
be sure they are real unless I touch 'em? Come hero,;
I say; nobody crosses me in this house for am I not
king? Look : there, and there, and there are signs
of my rank and he pointed to the crown and the
arms which adorned the hangings.
Like one walking in a dream, Adrienne advanced
and stood near enough to him to permit him to stretch
forth his yellow hand and lightly touch her own.
With a vivid thrill of repulsion she snatched it from
the clammy contact and shrank away as she asked:
"Who are you, and why are you shut up here ?"
"Have I not already told you ?" he petulantly
replied. "Am I not king? I am Louis of France,
and this is my hall of state. Pretty, isn't it? grand,
isn't it? Who has as fine things as I have? No one,
I trow ; for am I not king?"
"What insane mockery is this?" exclaimed Adrienne,
"An imbecile prisoner taught to believe himself king
over a great country! Again I ask, who are you, and
who has placed you here, amid the sham evidences of
royalty that surround you ?"
A sparkle of anger lit up his pale eyes, and he
said—

"You had better go away if you doubt my right
to theq3 things. My grand chamberlain shall teach
you better. I will tell him how you have behaved to
me when he comes in. Yes—l shall surely tell
him."

"Who is your grand chamberlain, and when does
he come to see you?"
"Oh. he is a grand man. He comes every day with
my lunch. But he is late to-day and lam hungry—
hungry--h-u-n-g-r-y."
Again that strange discordant wail sounded through
the room, but he suddenly interrupted it to exclaim—
" There ! I hear him coming at last, and I shall see
his grim face glower and flash upon you for comingin
here to insult me."
To her intense terror, Adrienne also heard steps
ascending the stairway, and her first impulse was to
rush out and seek concealment behind some of the
boxes in the anteroom; but the roi faineant seemed
to fathom her intention, for he said--
"You shan't run away now, for I'll tell him you
was here. Since you've come in here once, you shall
come again, for you're the only pretty thing I've teen
since they made me king. Yes, yor?re young and fair,
and I like to see you here."
Summoning all her courage to her aid, Adrienne
saw that it was necessary to stand her ground, and
bear the consequences of her own act, let them be
what they might.
She heard the voice of M. Lecour utter a loud oath
when he found the door unclosed, and he came with
rapid steps towards the upper room, followed by Eady
bearing a waiter upon her head. White with rage,
he rushed into the apartment, wearing a crimson
tunic elaborately emboirdered with gold, and carrying
In his hlnd a chamberlain's wand of office. Be bowed
before the dais, and waved it thrice before he found
utterance for the tide of anger that surged within
He then said—
" Pardon me, my prince, but I am not answerable
for this intrusion. This young person has committed
an unpivalleled outrage in coining into this portion of
the house without my permission. will settle with
her myself, and guard against such an intrusion

agaio." . • •
lie imperiously motioned to Adrienne to retire, aud
she would gladly have made her escape but the
prince nterferei
" Let her stay, my lord, now she is here. lam not
sorry she came, either. Let her come every day, and I
grill be good. I will give you no trouble, if this
protty creature may wait on me, instead of my old
black marquise. She makes very nice cakes, but she
is ugly—ugly, and I like pretty things. If lam king,
it shall he ; yes, yes, it shall be so."
M. Lecour turned fiercely towards Adrienne, as he

hastily said— _
"You see what you have brought on yourself by
your miserable spirit of prying. You may henceforth
consider yourself bound to servitude, for now you are
his slave as well as mine."
"I am willing to bear the yoke that duty imposes,
as long as it can be borne without degradation. If it
is mac)e too burdensome, I will throw it aside, for I
am no born serf," said the girl, with spirit. "It was
wrong perhaps to come hither without permission,
butt do not regret that I have done so."
M. Lemur coldly replied—
"ln making this discovery you have raised& barrier
to your departure from this dreary household,
fir I let no one forth who holds the secret of his ex-
istence."
"Who, then, is it who is mocked by a semblance of
royal state in this desolate prison house."
"it is no moaery, but a faint shadow of that to
which Is was born. Adrienne, the child whose suf-
ferings in the Temple, whose treatment by the in-
famous Simon have filled the civilised world with
horror and indignation, is before you. Louis XVII. of
France is the imbecile who sits upon that mimic
throne, crownless, helpless, yet still a king in name as
long as I have ought left over which he may reign as
my lawful sovereigne.
"I thought him long since dead," replied the young
girl, in bewildered surprise at this singular announce.
ment.
".o all Europe believes; but be is here livirg and
breathing before you. Kneel, and do homage to hire
as your true king."
Tears rushed to the eyes of Adeienne, for she w•-it
familiar with that touching story; and she bent re
verently before the phantom of royalty, and said—
" Unfcrtunate prince, consecrated by suffering,
baptised in blood, receive Via homage of a truly loyal
heart. I rejoice that I came hither. since it gives me
the right to brighten your sal life by consecrating to
u a portion of my own."
he prince started in dull sgrprise, but at kngth he
seen eti to comprehend that in future this fair creature
was to devote herself to his service ; and he put
out his pallid hand and placed it upon her head, as he
said—

"Good child, good ehild—loyul to her king. Yes
—Come and play with me every day. Come when
la marquise brings me food, and you shall eat with
me—it is tiresome eating always alone. You shall
read me to sleep, and I shall be indulgent—oh, 5 es,
very indulgent to you. I will permit you to sit
when you ar,. tired: I will let you talk as long as I am
arnust-d, and you shall cut my hair; old marquise
pulls it, but your dainty fingers will be soft and
tender."
The enthusiasm 01 Adrienne was slialativ cooled by