He sent for the chef and ordered supper. Meat tended to make people feel heavy, whereas shell fish were light and their properties stimulated desire; so he ordered lobsters lightly simmered in fresh butter and then flamb6 in cognac, sweetbreads with mushrooms and, as a final course, white truffles cooked in champagne; another natural aphrodisiac. Then he talked with the sommelier and they decided on a glass of pinaud new-made from the last vintage and only procurable in the Bordeaux district, a bottle of Chateau Cheval Blanc, as the nearest approach to Burgundy which, for this occasion, Roger would have preferred, then a magnum of champagne that had lain in bin for twenty years. For two covers was Roger's injunction; and to be served at eight o'clock.
Newly shaved, powdered and immaculate he entered Pauline's sitting room at that hour. The waiter had already laid the places at the table. She was still wearing a light veil. Through it, mistily, with large sad eyes she looked up at him and said:
'Monsieur le Colonel, you must excuse me, but I prefer to eat alone.'
Roger bowed. 'Madame, that I appreciate. But I am under orders from that great man who has remade France anew—your brother. He charged me not only to act as your escort but to do my poor best to persuade you that, despite your tragic loss, life can still hold much happiness for you. I dare not disobey his commands, therefore I pray you at least to permit me to sup with you.'
'As you will, Monsieur,' she replied dully. ‘I have both affection and a great respect for my brother, and have never questioned his judgment. But you must forgive me if I am in no mood to converse.'
Handing her a glass of the aperitif, he said. 'If you have not drunk this before, you will find it quite an experience. It is a kind of wine, but does not travel; so is obtainable only in these parts.'
She drank it down without comment, then they took their places at the table. Roger did the talking and he was extremely able at it. To begin with he spoke gravely of serious things, that he knew perfectly well would not interest her, then went on to talk about the change in Paris that had taken place during the past year: the fetes, the receptions, the foreign nobility and the new fashions in women's clothes. At that a faint flicker of interest showed in her lovely eyes and, breaking her long silence, she began to ask him questions. By the time they got to the truffles served covered with a napkin, she was smiling. Then as the champagne was produced her depression descended on her again, and she said:
'I have had enough wine, and you must excuse me if I now go to bed.'
'No, Madame,' replied Roger firmly. 'Not yet, I pray you. Join me in just one glass while I talk to you about a matter of real importance.'
She shrugged, 'Very well then; but I cannot think what it will be.'
Roger sat back and said with the greatest gravity, 'Madame; your august brother, your family and all your friends are greatly concerned for you. It is only natural that a feeling of loss and desolation should now hang like a dark cloud over your mind, but it will not continue there indefinitely. You are still so young and time is the healer of every sorrow. Sooner or later you will emerge from your widow's weeds to become again your old gay self.'
She shook her head and tears welled up into her big eyes, 'You may be right, Monsieur: but I loved Leclerc dearly and not for a long time yet will I be consoled for his loss.'
Roger made her a little bow, 'Understandably, Madame,' you think that now. But I cannot believe that you wish to continue in this state of despair. Your own well-being and the consideration you owe your friends both demand that you should take any step that will shorten your period of bereavement and enable you to enter fully into the joy of life again.'
'What step could I take?' she asked sadly.
'There is one, the potency of which has been proved many times in cases similar to your own.' Roger paused a moment, then added. 'But it would mean resorting to magic'
Her eyes widened. As a descendant of Corsican peasant’ she had an inbred belief in every sort of superstition and in the powers of witchcraft. A little fearfully she said, 'I would give much to regain my former happy state; but I'll have no dealings with the Devil.'
'The Devil plays no part in this,' Roger assured her earnestly. 'It is of White Magic that I speak: the performance of a simple ceremony in which no sacrifice is made. It is a remedy of great antiquity based on the laws of nature and handed down through countless generations. You have only to imbibe a potion in certain given conditions and when you wake you will think on your tragedy as no more than an event that happened many years ago.'
She leaned forward a little, 'Where can I procure this wondrous draught that will make me forget poor Leclcrc and become my happy self again?'
Roger smiled at her, 'You will recall, Madame, my telling you that your brother charged me to do everything that lay in my power to dissipate your sorrow. So I have this potent medicine with me. Do you consent to participate in this ceremony with me you shall receive it.'
'What are the conditions of which you spoke?' she asked.
'Have you a white garment?' he enquired. 'If not we must procure one for you.'
'My night robes are white.'
'That will serve, but it must be a clean one; and you must wear naught else, even jewellery, so that you must take off your rings and remove those earrings from your ears. We shall need the light of three candles, no more and no fewer. And a bright fire should be burning in your room. A little before midnight I will come to you and, on the hour, administer the potion.'
She gave him an uneasy look. 'Monsieur, I gather that it is to my bedroom that you propose to come. My maid will be sleeping in the adjacent room. Our voices might rouse her, and thinking someone had broken in upon me she would alarm the house. Were you found with me that could provoke a most terrible scandal.'
'Then you must speak to her beforehand and tell her that you are expecting someone. You could say that a courier with a letter from the First Consul is expected to reach Bordeaux tonight, and you have given me instructions that at whatever hour he may arrive I am to bring the letter straight up to you.'
'That would suffice,' Pauline agreed thoughtfully. Then she looked down at her plate and went on in a low voice. But, Monsieur; although I assume your intentions to be honourable, is it essential to the magic that I should appear before you near-naked in a night shift? I'd find that most embarrassing.'
Roger smiled across at her. 'Madame, I appreciate the delicacy of your feelings and am happy to reassure you on that point. You can remain in bed and receive the potion there. Should you feel that modesty demands it, draw the sheets up to your chin. The position you are in will make no difference to the efficacy of what I shall give you.'
For a long moment Pauline hesitated, then she said, 'I would give much to be free of my memories of San Domingo. Will you swear on your heart that this potion of which you speak owes nothing to the Devil?'
Roger crossed his heart. 'Madame. I swear it.'
'Will I find taking it very unpleasant?'
'On the contrary, you will at first find it so stimulating that you may beg of me a second draught; but later you will feel deliciously relaxed and fall into a sound sleep.'