As the reader has been in a position to perceive, Emile Gagnepain loved talking to himself – sometimes even he went to extravagant lengths – but the fault was not his. Thrown by chance in a foreign land, only speaking with difficulty the language of the people among whom he found himself, and not having near him any friend to whom he could confide his joys and his troubles, he was to some extent obliged to make a confidant of himself; so true is it that man is an eminently social animal, and that life in common is indispensable to him, through the incessant want which he experiences in each circumstance of his life, of unburdening his heart, and of sharing with some one of his own species the sweet or painful sentiments which it feels.
While he was still reflecting, the young man arrived at the house which, he occupied in common with M. Dubois.
An attendant seemed to be waiting for his arrival. As soon as he perceived the painter, he quickly approached him, and after having respectfully saluted him —
"I beg your pardon, your lordship," said he to him, "my lord duke has several times asked for you today. He has left orders that as soon as you arrive we should ask you to go to his apartment."
"Very well," he answered, "I will go there immediately."
So saying, instead of turning to the right to enter the part of the house which he occupied, he went towards the great staircase situated at the bottom of the court, and which led to the apartment of M. Dubois.
"Is it not strange," murmured he, mounting the staircase, "that this nuisance of a man, of whom I never know how to speak, should just want me at the very moment when I desire to be alone?"
M. Dubois waited for him in a large room rather richly furnished, in which he was pacing up and down, his head lowered and his arms crossed behind his back, like a man occupied with serious reflections.
As soon as he perceived the young man, he advanced rapidly towards him.
"Oh, you have come!" cried he. "For two hours I have been waiting for you. What has become of you?"
"I! Why, I have been walking. What would you have me do? Life is so short!"
"Always the same!" pursued the duke, laughing.
"I shall take good care not to change; I am too happy as I am."
"Sit down, we have to talk seriously."
"The devil!" said the young man, seating himself on a butaca.
"Why this exclamation?"
"Because your exordium appears to me to be of bad omen."
"Come, you who are so brave!"
"That's possible, but, you know, I have an unconquerable fear of politics, and it is probably of politics that you wish to talk to me."
"You have guessed it at the first trial."
"Then, I was sure of it," said he, with a despairing air.
"This is the matter on hand – "
"Pardon, could you not put off this grave conversation to a later period?"
"Why should I do so?"
"Why, because that would be so much gained for me."
"Impossible!" pursued M. Dubois, laughing; "You must take your part in it."
"Then, since it must be so," said he, with a sigh, "what is the question?"
"Here are the facts in a few words. You know that affairs are becoming more and more serious, and that the Spaniards, who, it was hoped, were conquered, have resumed a vigorous offensive, and have gained some important successes for some time past."
"I! I know nothing at all, I assure you."
"But how do you pass your time, then?"
"I have told you – I walk; I admire the works of God – which, between ourselves, I find much superior to those of men – and I am happy."
"You are a philosopher."
"I do not know."
"In a word, here is the matter in question. The Government, frightened, with reason, at the progress of the Spaniards, wish to put an end to it by uniting against them all the forces of which they can dispose."
"Very sensibly reasoned; but what can I do in all this?"
"You shall see."
"I ask nothing better."
"The Government wishes, then, to concentrate all its forces to strike a great blow. Emissaries have already been dispatched in all directions to inform the generals; but while we attack the enemy in front, it is important, in order to assure their defeat, to place them between two fires."
"That is to reason strategically, like Napoleon."
"Now, our general only is in a position to operate on the rear of the enemy, and to cut off his retreat This general is San Martin, who is now in Chili, at the head of an army of 10,000 men. Unhappily, it is excessively difficult to traverse the Spanish lines; but I have suggested to the council an infallible means of doing so."
"You are full of schemes."
"This means consists in dispatching you to St. Martin. You are a foreigner; they will not distrust you; you will pass in safety, and you will remit to the general the orders of which you will be the bearer – "
"Or I shall be arrested and hanged."
"Oh! That is not probable."
"But it is possible. Well, my dear sir, your project is charming."
"Is it not?"
"Yes, but on thorough reflection it does not please me at all, and I absolutely refuse it. The devil! I do not care to be hanged as a spy for a cause which is foreign to me, and of which I know nothing at all."
"What you say to me annoys me to the last degree, for I interest myself very much in you."
"I thank you for it, but I prefer that you should leave me in my obscurity. I am unambitiously retiring."
"I know it. Unhappily it is absolutely necessary that you charge yourself with this mission."
"Oh, indeed! It will be difficult for you to convince me of that."
"You are in error, my young friend; on the contrary, it will be very easy to me."
"I do not believe it."
"In this way: it appears that two Spanish prisoners, arrested some days ago at the Cabildo, and whose trial is proceeding at this moment, have charged you in their depositions, asserting that you are perfectly acquainted with their plans – in a word, that you were one of their accomplices."
"I!" cried the young man, starting with rage.
"You!" coolly answered the diplomatist "It was then a question of arresting you; the order was already signed when, not wishing you to be shot, I intervened in the discussion."
"I thank you for it."
"You know how much I love you. I warmly took up your defence, until – forced into my last retrenchments, and seeing that your destruction was resolved upon – I found no other expedient to make your innocence apparent to all, than to propose you as an emissary to General San Martin, asserting that you would be happy to give this pledge of your devotion to the revolution."
"But it is a horrible murder!" cried the young man, with despair; "I am in a fix!"
"Alas; yes, you see me afflicted at it – hanged by the Spaniards, if they take you – but they will not take you – or shot by the Buenos Aireans, if you refuse to serve them as an emissary."
"It is frightful," said the young man, utterly cast down; "never did an honest man find himself in so cruel an alternative."
"On which do you decide?"
"Have I the choice?"
"Why, look – reflect."
"I accept," said he, expressing a strong wish as to the fate of those who had thus entrapped him.
"Come, come, calm