And Varhely could not help smiling at the nervous feeling a letter received under odd circumstances or an unexpected despatch sometimes causes.  The envelope alone, of some letters, sends a magnetic thrill through one and makes one tremble.  The rough soldier was not accustomed to such weaknesses, and he blamed himself as being childish, for having felt that instinctive fear which was now dissipated.

He shrugged his shoulders, and turned toward the church.

From the interior came the sound of the organ, mingled with the murmur of the guests as they rose, ready to depart.  The wedding march from the Midsummer Night’s Dream pealed forth majestically as the newly-married pair walked slowly down the aisle.  Marsa smiled happily at this music of Mendelssohn, which she had played so often, and which was now singing for her the chant of happy love.  She saw the sunshine streaming through the open doorway, and, dazzled by this light from without, her eyes fixed upon the luminous portal, she no longer perceived the dim shadows of the church.

Murmurs of admiration greeted her as she appeared upon the threshold, beaming with happiness.  The crowd, which made way for her, gazed upon her with fascinated eyes.  The door of Andras’s carriage was open; Marsa entered it, and Andras, with a smile of deep, profound content, seated himself beside her, whispering tenderly in the Tzigana’s ear as the carriage drove off: 

“Ah! how I love you! my beloved, my adored Marsa!  How I love you, and how happy I am!”

CHAPTER XXI

“The Tzigana is the most loved of all!”

The chimes rang forth a merry peal, and Mendelssohn’s music still thundered its triumphal accents, as the marriage guests left the church.

“It is a beautiful wedding, really a great success!  The bride, the decorations, the good peasants and the pretty girls—­everything is simply perfect.  If I ever marry again,” laughed the Baroness, “I shall be married in the country.”

“You have only to name the day, Baroness,” said old Vogotzine, inspired to a little gallantry.

And Jacquemin, with a smile, exclaimed, in Russian: 

“What a charming speech, General, and so original!  I will make a note of it.”

The carriages rolled away toward Marsa’s house through the broad avenues, turning rapidly around the fountains of the park, whose jets of water laughed as they fell and threw showers of spray over the masses of flowers.  Before the church, the children disputed for the money and bonbons Prince Andras had ordered to be distributed.  In Marsa’s large drawing-rooms, where glass and silver sparkled upon the snowy cloth, servants in livery awaited the return of the wedding-party.  In a moment there was an assault, General Vogotzine leading the column.  All appetites were excited by the drive in the fresh air, and the guests did honor to the pates, salads, and cold chicken, accompanied by Leoville, which Jacquemin tasted and pronounced drinkable.