Selected Writings of Robert Service

Madame La Marquis

Said Hongray de la Glaciere unto his proud Papa:
"I want to take a wife, mon Pere." The Marquis laughed: "Ha!
Ha!
And whose, my son?" he slyly said; but Hongray with a frown
Cried: "Fi! Papa, I mean-to wed. I want to settle down."
The Marquis de la Glaciere responded with a smile:
"You're young, my boy; I much prefer that you should wait
awhile."
But Hongray sighed: "I cannot wait, for I am twenty four
And I have met my blessed fate: I worship, I adore.
Such beauty, grace and charm has she, I'm sure you will ap-
prove, For If I live a century none other can I love."
"I have not doubt," the Marquis shrugged, "that she's a proper
pet;
But has she got a decent dot, and is she of our set?"
"Her dot," said Hongray, "will suffice; her family you know.
The girl with whom I fain would splice is Mirabelle du Veau."

What made the Marquis start and stare, and clutch his perfumed
beard?
Why did he stagger to a chair, and murmer: "As I feared?"
Dilated were his eyes with dread, and in a voice of woe
He wailed: "My son, you cannot wed with Mirabelle du Veau."
"Why not? my parent," Hongray cried. "Her name's without a
slur.
Why should you look so horrified that I should wed with her?"
The Marquis groaned: "Unhappy lad! Forget her if you can,
And see in your respected Dad a miserable man."
"What is the matter? I repeat," said Hongray growing hot.
"She's witty, pretty, rich and sweet.... Then-mille diables!
-What?"
The Marquis moaned: "Alas! that I your dreams of bliss should
banish;
It happened in the days gone-by, when I was Don Juanish.
Her mother was you mother's friend, and we were much to-
gether.
Ah well! You know how such things end. (I blame it on the
Weather.)
We had a very sultry spell. One day, mon Dieu! I kissed her.
My son, you can't wed Mirabelle. She is.....she is your
sister."

So broken-hearted Hongray went and roamed the world around,
Till hunting in the Occident forgetfulness he found.
Then quite recovered, he returned to the paternal nest,
Until one day, with brow that burned, the Marquis he ad-
dressed:
"Felicate me, Father mine; my brain is in a whirl;
For I have found the mate divine, the one, the perfect girl.
She's healthy, wealthy, witching, wise, and lovliness serene.
Ah! Proud am I to win a prize, half angel and half queen."
"'Tis time to wed," the Marquis said. "You must be twenty-
seven.
But who is she whose lot may be to make your life a heaven?"
"A friend of childhood," Hongray cried. "For whom regard
you feel.
The maid I fain would make my bride is Raymonde de la Veal."

The Marquis de la Glaciere collapsed upon the floor,
And all the words he uttered were: "Forgive me, I implore.
My sins are heavy on my head. Profound remorse I feel.
My son, you simply cannot wed with Raymonde de la Veal."
Then Hongray spoke with voice that broke, and corrugated
brow: "Inform me, Sir, why you demur. What is the matter now?"
The Marquis wailed: "My wicked youth! Ah! how it gives me
pain.
But let me tell the awful truth, my agony explain....
A cursed Casanova I; a finished flirt her mother;
And so alas! it came to pass we fell for one another.
Our lives were blent in bliss and joy. The sequel you may
gather:
You cannot wed Raymonde, my boy, because I am... her
father
."

Again sore-stricken Hongray fled, and sought his grief to
smother,
And as he writhed upon his bed to him there came his Mother.
The Marquise de la Glaciere was snowy-haired and frigid.
Her wintry features chiselled were, her manner stiff and rigid.
The pride of race was in her face, her bearing high and stately,
And sinking down by Hongray's side she spoke to him sedately:
"What ails you so, my precious child? What thongs of sorrow
smite you?
Why are your eyes so wet and wild? Come, tell me, I invite
you."
"Ah! If I told you, Mother dear," said Hongray with a shiver,
"Another's honour would, I fear, be in the soup forever."
"Nay, trust," she begged, "my only body, the fond Mama who
bore you."
Perhaps I may your grief alloy. Please tell me, I implore you."

And so his story Hongray told, in accents choked and muffled.
The Marquise listened, calm and cold, her visage quite unruffled.
He told of Mirabelle du Veau, his agony revealing.
For Raymonde de la Veal his woe was quite beyond concealing.
And still she sat without a word, her look so high and haughty,
You'd ne'er have thought it was her lord who had behaved so
naughty
Then Hongray finished up: "For life my hopes are doomed to
Slaughter;
For if I choose another wife, she's sure to be his
daughter."
The Marquise rose. "Cheer up," said she, "the last word is not
spoken.
A Mother cannot sit and see her boy's heart rudely broken.
So dry up your tears and calm your fears; no longer need you
tarry;
To-day your bride you may decide, to-morrow you may marry.
Yes, you may wed with Mirabelle, or Raymonde if you'd
rather....
For as well the truth may tell.... Papa is not your father."

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