"You may as well go, for your long face already attracts attention.Tell master we must wait for the upshot."
The above incident was scarcely perceived in the midst of the growing tumult of the joyous feast.But, among the guests, one alone laughed not, drank not.This was Jacques.With fixed and lurid eye, he gazed upon vacancy.A stranger to what was passing around him, the unhappy man thought of the Bacchanal Queen, who had been so gay and brilliant in the midst of similar saturnalia.The remembrance of that one being, whom he still loved with an extravagant love, was the only thought that from time to time roused him from his besotted state.
It is strange, but Jacques had only consented to join this masquerade because the mad scene reminded him of the merry day he had spent with Cephyse--that famous breakfast, after a night of dancing, in which the Bacchanal Queen, from some extraordinary presentiment, had proposed a lugubrious toast with regard to this very pestilence, which was then reported to be approaching France."To the Cholera!" had she said."Let him spare those who wish to live, and kill at the same moment those who dread to part!"
And now, at this time, remembering those mournful words, Jacques was absorbed in painful thought.Morok perceived his absence of mind, and said aloud to him, "You have given over drinking, Jacques.Have you had enough wine? Then you will want brandy.I will send for some."
"I want neither wine nor brandy," answered Jacques, abruptly, and he fell back into a sombre reverie.
"Well, you may be right," resumed Morok, in a sardonic tone, and raising his voice still higher."You do well to take care of yourself.I was wrong to name brandy in these times.There would be as much temerity in facing a bottle of brandy as the barrel of a loaded pistol."
On hearing his courage as a toper called in question, Sleepinbuff looked angrily at Morok."You think it is from cowardice that I will not drink brandy!" cried the unfortunate man, whose half-extinguished intellect was roused to defend what he called his dignity."Is it from cowardice that I refuse, d'ye think, Morok? Answer me!"
"Come, my good fellow, we have all shown our pluck today," said one of the guests to Jacques; "you, above all, who, being rather indisposed, yet had the courage to take the part of Goodman Cholera."
"Gentlemen," resumed Morok, seeing the general attention fixed upon himself and Sleepinbuff, "I was only joking; for if my comrade (pointing to Jacques) had the imprudence to accept my offer, it would be an act, not of courage, but of foolhardiness.Luckily, he has sense enough to renounce a piece of boasting so dangerous at this time, and I--"
"Waiter!" cried Jacques, interrupting Morok with angry impatience, "two bottles of brandy, and two glasses!"
"What are you going to do?" said Morok, with pretended uneasiness."Why do you order two bottles of brandy?"
"For a duel," said Jacques, in a cool, resolute tone.
"A duel!" cried the spectators, in surprise.