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diff --git a/40913.txt b/40913.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 3ec1734..0000000 --- a/40913.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,14272 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Brother Jacques (Novels of Paul de Kock, -Volume XVII), by Charles Paul de Kock - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - - -Title: Brother Jacques (Novels of Paul de Kock, Volume XVII) - -Author: Charles Paul de Kock - -Release Date: October 2, 2012 [EBook #40913] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BROTHER JACQUES *** - - - - -Produced by Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images available at The Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - -[Illustration] - -_THE REPENTANT HUSBAND_ - - -_Jacques no longer had the strength to spurn him; Edouard approached -Adeline and threw himself at her feet, placing his head against the -ground, and sobbing piteously._ - - - - -NOVELS - -BY - -Paul de Kock - -VOLUME XVII - -BROTHER JACQUES - -[Illustration: PRINTED BY ARRANGEMENT WITH -GEORGE BARRIE'S SONS] - -THE JEFFERSON PRESS - -BOSTON NEW YORK - - - - -I - -A WEDDING PARTY AT THE CADRAN-BLEU.--THE MURVILLE FAMILY - - -It is midnight; whence come these joyful shouts, these bursts of -laughter, these outcries, this music, this singing, this uproar? Pause a -moment on the boulevard, in front of the Cadran-Bleu; follow the example -of those folk who look on at all the wedding parties, all the banquets, -which take place at the restaurants on Boulevard du Temple, by walking -in front of the windows, or in the roadway, and who enjoy comfortably -the spectacle of a ladies' chain, a waltz, or a chocolate cream,--at the -risk, however, of being jostled by passers-by, splashed by carriages and -insulted by drivers. But at midnight the idlers, the loiterers, or the -loungers--whichever you may choose to call them--have returned home; -nothing remains in front of the door of the Cadran-Bleu except cabs or -private carriages, according as the guests choose to assume an air of -greater or less importance; but that is the hour at which the tableau -becomes more interesting, more varied, more animated; for not until then -do the guests begin to become really acquainted. - -But, you will ask me, what is the occasion of this assemblage at the -Cadran-Bleu? Is it a birthday party, an anniversary, or a banquet of -some society? Better than any of these; it is a wedding party. - -A wedding party! What a world of reflections those words arouse! To how -many thoughts, hopes, and memories they give rise! How fast they make -the young girl's heart beat, who sighs for the moment to come when she -will be the heroine of that great day, when she will carry that pretty -white bouquet, that wreath of orange blossoms, the symbols of modesty -and of maidenhood, which have unhappily lied to more than one husband -who has never boasted about it, and for a good reason! But how the -thought of that ceremony saddens the young wife, but a few years -married, who already has ceased to know happiness except in her memory! -She trembles for the lot of the poor child who is pledging herself! She -remembers the day of her own wedding, the ardor and zealous attentions -of her husband; she compares that day with those that have followed, and -realizes how much confidence can be placed in the vows of man. - -But let us leave such reflections. Let us enter the Cadran-Bleu, and -make the acquaintance of the principal persons at this function, whom, -probably, we shall have occasion to see more than once in the course of -this narrative, unless it happens that this chapter has no connection -with the plot, which is quite possible; we read many chapters of that -sort. - -Edouard Murville was twenty-five years of age; he was of medium stature -but well-proportioned; his face was attractive, his voice soft, his -manners distinguished. He had all the social talents, played moderately -well on the violin, sang with expression, and danced gracefully; his -language was well-chosen, he was accustomed to society, and he knew how -to enter and leave a salon, which, be it said in passing, is not so easy -as one might think. What! I hear my readers say, does this fellow -suppose that we do not know how to walk, to enter a room, and to bow -gracefully? God forbid that I should express such a judgment upon the -nation which dances best! But there are degrees in everything, and it is -upon those degrees that I base my judgment. A very clever, but slightly -sarcastic woman, beside whom I was sitting not long ago, in the salon of -a banker, favored me with some of her observations, which in general are -very just. - -"Come," she said, "let us examine together the people who come into this -salon; I will wager that I can guess their dispositions, their humor, by -the way in which they enter.--See that tall lady passing through the -crowd, not deigning to notice anybody with even so much as a nod! Now -she is sitting down in front of the fireplace, she places her feet upon -the screen, and installs herself in the best place, without looking to -see whether she is in the way of the people behind her or not. What do -you think of that woman?" - -"That she is very pretentious and desires to display her fine dress." - -"That is not all,--add that she is a fool. A clever woman has a thousand -ways of attracting attention without assuming ridiculous airs; and when -she desires to create a sensation, she goes about it skilfully at least, -and does not look with disdain upon people who are dressed in an -old-fashioned way, or whose toilet is slightly careless.--But what is -that noise in the reception room? Has some virtuoso arrived? Has a -sideboard been knocked over? The master of the house is hurrying in that -direction, and we shall soon know what the matter is. Ah! I recognize -that voice. It is Monsieur J----. Listen; you can easily hear him from -here." - -"Ah! my dear friend! I am terribly distressed to arrive so late! Upon my -honor, I am covered with confusion! I don't know whether I ought to -come in! I am dressed like a thief! I must hide in some corner!" - -"Well," said my neighbor to me, "what do you think of this gentleman, -who does not want to be seen, and who so declares in such a loud voice -that he makes everybody in the salon turn his head?--Ah! he has made up -his mind to come in, nevertheless." - -I expected to see a young dandy, but I saw a man of between forty and -fifty, with a light wig, come forward with a mincing step, bowing to -right and to left and smiling almost agreeably. - -"Who on earth is this man?" I asked my neighbor. - -"Monsieur J---- is the universal man; he knows all Paris, he belongs to -all the clubs, especially those where they have music. He plays three or -four instruments; there is no amateur concert where he does not take -part; nor is there an artiste who does not know him. You have had an -opportunity of judging, by his method of entering this room, that his -happiness consists in making a sensation; I do not draw from that fact a -very favorable augury of his talents; for, as you know, merit is not in -the habit of seeking a brilliant light. Mediocrity, on the contrary, -makes a great deal of noise, thrusts itself forward, insists upon -pervading everything, and always succeeds in dazzling fools. - -"But I see a new face, that of a young man; he at least makes no noise; -he comes in so softly that one can hardly hear him, he half bows, stands -near the door, then creeps along the wall, and finally seizes a chair, -upon which he seats himself very quickly, and from which he will not -stir throughout the evening, I promise you. Poor fellow, he twists his -mouth, winks and blinks, and does not know what to do with his hands. I -will wager that he thinks that all the women are looking at him and -discussing him. I have noticed, that as a general rule, timidity, yes, -even awkwardness, often results from excessive self-consciousness: the -fear of seeming ridiculous, or of not wearing a sufficiently fascinating -expression, imparts that embarrassment to the bearing, that almost -comical expression to the face; if you wish to convince yourself of it, -examine on the stage some _jeune premier_ who is rather good-looking, -and who would act well, perhaps, if he were not engrossed entirely by -his wig, his cravat, his attitude, and the effect which his face is -likely to produce in the hall." - -My neighbor continued her observations; and I would gladly communicate -them to you, reader, were it not that I am beginning to notice that you -opened this volume, not to hear me talk with her, but to learn of the -adventures of Brother Jacques.--A thousand pardons for taking you to a -banker's salon. I return to the Cadran-Bleu. - -You know now that the marriage of Edouard Murville is being celebrated -there, that the bridegroom is twenty-five years old and a very -good-looking fellow. But you do not yet know his wife, and I must hasten -to repair my neglect in that respect; for she is lovely, sweet, -attractive, and virtuous; it would be impossible to make her -acquaintance too soon. - -Adeline Germeuil was eighteen years old, and she possessed all those -qualities which charm at first sight and attach one thereafter: -beautiful eyes, fine teeth, graceful manners, a fresh complexion, wit -unsullied by ill-temper, gaiety without coquetry, charm without -affectation, modesty without timidity. She knew that she was pretty, but -did not think that for that reason all men ought to do homage to her; -she loved pleasure but did not make that her sole occupation. In short, -she was a woman such as it is very pleasant to meet, especially when -one is a bachelor. - -Adeline was devoted to Edouard, to whom she had given preference over -several much more advantageous offers, for Edouard's only fortune was -the place which he occupied in one of the government departments, while -Adeline had about fifteen thousand francs a year. But Mademoiselle -Germeuil had no ambition, she considered happiness to consist in -delights of the heart, and not in more or less wealth. Moreover, with -fifteen thousand francs a year, one can live without privation, -especially when one is the wife of a man of orderly habits, who knows -how to regulate his household expenses. Now Murville seemed such a man, -he seemed to have all the estimable qualities, and he carried the day. - -Mademoiselle Germeuil had no parent but her mother, a most estimable -woman, who adored her daughter and was never willing to thwart her -desires. However, it was her duty to look after Adeline's future -welfare; and so, as soon as she discovered her daughter's love for -Edouard Murville, she made haste to seek information concerning the -young man's moral character, and concerning his family. - -She found that he was born of well-to-do parents; that his father had -followed the profession of the law with honor, but that several -successive failures had reduced the family to the strict necessaries of -life. Edouard and Jacques were Monsieur Murville's only children. -Jacques was a year younger than Edouard; but Madame Murville had not -divided her affections equally between her two sons. Edouard was the -favorite. A circumstance, apparently most trivial, had influenced Madame -Murville's sentiments; she had little intellect and a great deal of -vanity; so that she was certain to set great store by all the petty, -puerile things which are of such great weight in society. When she first -became enceinte, she put her mind on the rack, to think what name she -should give to her child. Her desire was to find a name which should be -at once graceful, pleasant to the ear and distinguished; after long -discussions and profound reflections, she decided upon Edouard for a -boy, or Celenie for a girl, Monsieur Murville having left her entirely -free to decide that question. - -The first-born was a boy, and he received the name of Edouard, with all -his mother's affection. When she became enceinte again, she did not -doubt for an instant that she should bring into the world a pretty -little Celenie; the birth of a daughter would have filled her cup to -overflowing. But after long suffering, she brought into the world a -bouncing boy. - -It will be understood that this one was not so warmly received as the -first. Moreover, they had not had the slightest expectation of a boy, -and they had not decided what name he should bear. But this time any -previous deliberation upon that subject would have been wasted, for -Monsieur Murville informed his wife that a friend of his desired to be -his son's godfather. This friend was very rich and they were under some -obligation to him, so that they could not refuse him as godfather. So he -held the child at the altar, and to the great scandal of Madame -Murville, gave him the name of Jacques. - -In truth, although Jacques is as good a name as another, it is not very -melodious, and it offended the delicate ear of Madame Murville, who -maintained that it was a name fit for a footman, a Savoyard, a -messenger, and that it was a shame to call her son by it. In vain did -her husband try to make her listen to reason, and recite to her again -and again the history of Scotland, where the throne had been occupied -by many Jacqueses. Madame Murville could never pronounce that name -without a sigh. - -However, there was no way to change it, for the godfather, who was -naturally called Jacques also, and who came often to see his godson, -would have been deeply offended to hear him called by any other name. - -So the little fellow remained Jacques, to the great distress of Madame -Murville. As for Edouard, whether from a spirit of mischief on his part, -or because the name pleased him, he called Brother Jacques every moment -during the day; and when he had done anything naughty, he always shifted -it to Brother Jacques's shoulders. - -The two brothers were entirely different in disposition; Edouard placid, -well-behaved, obliging, was glad to pass his day by his mother's side; -Jacques, noisy, boisterous, quick-tempered, could not keep still, and -never went anywhere without turning everything upside down. - -Edouard learned readily what was told him; Jacques would throw his books -and pens into the fire, and make a hoop or a wooden sword. - -Finally, at sixteen, Edouard went into company with his parents; he had -already learned to listen to conversation and to smile pleasantly at a -pretty woman. At fifteen, Jacques left his parents' roof, and -disappeared, leaving no letter behind, nothing to indicate his plans, or -the purpose of his departure. They made all possible investigation and -search; they put his description in the newspapers, but they never -learned what had become of him; they waited for news of him, but none -ever came. - -Monsieur Murville was deeply grieved at the flight of the hare-brained -young man; even Madame Murville herself realized that she was a mother, -and that a boy might be named Jacques and still be her son; she repented -of her unjust prejudice, she reproached herself for it, but it was too -late. The unfortunate name had had its effect; it had closed to Jacques -his mother's heart; it drew upon him the mockery of his brother; and -perhaps all these causes combined had driven the young man from the home -of his parents. Who knows? There is so much tossing to and fro in life! - -"I caught the measles recently," said a young man to me yesterday, -"because a man who makes shoes for a young lady friend of mine broke his -spectacles." - -"What connection is there?" said I, "between your measles and a -shoemaker's spectacles?" - -"It was like this, my dear fellow; the lady in question had given me her -word to sing with me that evening at the house of one of our -acquaintances. But she expected some pretty cherry slippers in the -morning, to wear with a dress of that color; the shoemaker in question -had broken his spectacles on the day that he took her measure, so that -he brought her some slippers, which, though they were lovely, were too -small. However, she could not resist the desire to try them on; they -hurt a great deal, but the shoemaker assured her that they would be all -right after she had worn them a while. Ladies think a great deal about -having a small foot. She limped a little when she left the house; when -she was on the boulevard, in the presence of some of her acquaintances, -she did not wish to seem to be limping, so she exerted herself to walk -lightly; but the foot became inflamed and swollen; she suffered -horribly, and was obliged to return home. There she threw the infernal -slippers aside, and examined her feet; they were raw and swollen, and -she could not hope to go out for a week. I, knowing nothing about this, -went to our rendezvous, expecting to employ my evening singing. I did -not find the lady; the mistress of the house was alone; she is very -agreeable, but she is forty years old. The time dragged terribly, I -became impatient, and after waiting for an hour, I went out, having no -idea where I should go. I passed a theatre, went in mechanically, and -solely to kill time, for I knew the plays by heart. I saw a pretty face, -and instinctively took a seat beside it; I said a few words and she -answered; she seemed fond of talking, and I was very glad to find an -opportunity to amuse myself. At last the play came to an end and I -offered my pretty talker my arm. After some slight parley she accepted; -I escorted my fair conquest to her home and did not leave her until I -had obtained permission to call upon her. I did not fail to do so the -next day. In a word, I soon became an intimate friend, and in one of my -visits I caught the measles, which the lady had, unknown to me. So you -see, if the shoemaker hadn't broken his spectacles, it wouldn't have -happened." - -My young friend was right: the most important events are often caused by -the most simple distractions, the most trivial circumstances. As for my -hero, there is no doubt that his baptismal name exerted an influence -over his whole destiny. How many men have owed to the splendors of a -famous name, which their ancestors have transmitted to them, a degree of -consideration which would never have been accorded their individuality! -Happy is the man who is able to make his own name famous, and to -transmit it to posterity with glory. But happier perhaps is he who lives -unknown, and whose name will never arouse hatred or envy! - -Now you know the Murville family; it remains for me to tell you of the -death of Edouard's father and mother, who followed each other to the -tomb after a short interval, carrying with them their regret as to the -fate of their son Jacques; and they enjoined upon Edouard to forgive -him his escapade in their name, if he should ever find him. - -Edouard was left master of his actions. He was twenty-two years old, and -had a place worth two thousand francs a year; he could live respectably -by behaving himself. He loved pleasure; but society, music, the theatre, -offered him pleasures which cost him little; it never occurred to him to -gamble. He was fond of ladies' society; but he was not bad-looking and -had no reason to complain of their severity. He allowed himself to be -led astray easily, and had not sufficient strength of character; but -luckily for him, he was not intimate with men of dissolute habits. In a -word, he could not be cited as a model to be followed, but on the other -hand, he had no very great faults. - -So that Madame Germeuil readily decided to give her Adeline to Edouard -Murville. - -"This young man will make my daughter happy," she said to herself; "he -has not much strength of character; very good! then my dear child will -be the mistress, and households where the wives rule are often the best -conducted." - -And that is why there was a wedding party at the Cadran-Bleu. - - - - -II - -GREAT EVENTS CAUSED BY A JIG AND A SNUFF BOX - - -"How pretty she is! What a fine figure she has! What charm and -freshness!" said the young men, and even the fathers, to one another, as -they watched the bride and followed her every motion when she danced. -"Ah! what a lucky fellow that Edouard is!" - -Such was the general opinion. - -Edouard heard all this; he was in fact as happy as a man can be when he -is on the point of becoming entirely happy. To conceal his desires, his -impatience, he skipped and danced about, and did not keep still one -minute. From time to time he went into the corridor to consult his -watch; it was still too early--not for him! but he must spare his wife's -blushes; and what would the company say; what would his wife's mother -say? Well! he must wait; oh! how long that day had been! Poor husband -and wife! It is the brightest day in all your lives, and yet you wish -that it were already passed! Man is never content. - -"The bridegroom looks to be very much in love!" said all the married -ladies; the unmarried ones did not say so, but they thought it. - -"Ah! Monsieur Volenville, that is the way you looked at me twenty-two -years ago," said, with a sigh, to her husband, a lady of forty-five, -overladen with rouge, flowers, laces and ribbons, who sat in a corner of -the ball-room, where she had been waiting in vain since dinner for a -partner to present himself. Monsieur Volenville, formerly a frequent -attendant at the balls at Sceaux, and now an auctioneer in the Marais, -did not answer his wife, but took a pinch of snuff and went into the -next room to watch a game of ecarte. - -Madame Volenville testily changed her place, which she had done already -several times. She placed herself between two young women, hoping -apparently that that side of the room would be invited in a body, and -that she would thus be included in the dancers. But her hope was -disappointed once more; she saw young men coming toward her, she nodded -her head gracefully, smiled, and put out her foot, which was not -unshapely. They approached; but oh, woe! they addressed themselves to -her right or to her left, and seemed to pay no attention to her and her -soft glances and her pretty foot. - -It is really most unpleasant to be a wall-flower, and Madame Volenville, -not knowing what method to employ to attract a partner, deliberated -whether to show the lower part of her leg; it had formerly performed -miracles, and it would be as well to try its power, as the foot produced -no effect. - -She decided to do it; the lower part of the calf was about to be shown -as modestly as possible, when suddenly there was a loud call for a -fourth couple to fill up a quadrille. There were no more ladies -remaining; some had left the party, and all the rest were on the floor. -A young man, well-curled and well-perfumed, glanced about the ball-room; -he spied the auctioneer's wife, resigned himself to his fate, and walked -gravely toward her to ask her to dance. Madame Volenville did not give -the young man time to finish his invitation; she rose, darted toward -him, seized his hand, and squeezed it so that she almost made him cry -out. Our dandy jumped back; he concluded that the poor woman was subject -to hysterical attacks; he gazed at her uneasily, not knowing what course -to pursue; but Madame Volenville gave him little time for reflection: -she dragged him roughly away toward the incomplete quadrille; she took -her place, bowed to her partner, and led him through the cat's tail and -the ladies' chain, before he had recovered from his bewilderment. - -The heroic and free-and-easy manner of Madame Volenville's dancing -created a sensation; a confused murmur ran through the salon and the -young men left the card-table for the place where our auctioneeress was -performing. She considered this eagerness to watch her very flattering, -and was enchanted by it; she danced with redoubled fire and animation, -and tried to electrify her partner, who did not seem to share her -vivacity; flushing with rage when he saw the circle which had formed -about him, and heard the sarcastic compliments which the young men -addressed to him, and the spiteful remarks of the young women, he bit -his lips, clenched his fists, and would have given all that he possessed -to have the quadrille come to a close. But Madame Volenville left him -but little time to himself; she was almost always in the air; she -insisted upon balancing, or going forward and back, all the time, -despite the remonstrances of her partner, who said to her until he was -hoarse: - -"It isn't our turn, madame; in a minute; that figure is finished; pray -stop!" - -But Madame Volenville was started, and she was determined to make up to -herself for five hours of waiting; and when by chance she did pause for -a second, her glance rested complacently upon the large crowd which -surrounded her; and as with her handkerchief she wiped away the drops -of perspiration which stood on her brow, her eyes seemed to say to the -throng: - -"You didn't expect to see such dancing as this, eh? Another time, -perhaps you will ask me!" - -Meanwhile the torture of Belcour--that was the name of Madame -Volenville's partner--was approaching its end; the quadrille was almost -finished; already they had thrice performed the famous _chassez les -huit_; once more, and all would have been over, when a young notary's -clerk, a mischievous joker, who loved a laugh, like most of his fellows, -conceived the idea of running to the orchestra, and asking for a jig in -the name of the whole company. The musicians at a wedding party never -refuse any request, and they began to play a jig at the moment that -Belcour bowed to Madame Volenville and attempted to slink away. - -The voice of Orpheus imploring the gods of the infernal regions did not -produce so much effect upon Pluto as the strains of the violins and the -air of the jig produced upon Madame Volenville. - -"Monsieur! monsieur! it isn't over yet," she cried to Belcour, who was -walking away. He pretended not to hear, and was already near the door of -the salon, when Madame Volenville ran after him, caught him and arrested -his steps. - -"Monsieur, what are you doing? Don't you hear the violins? Ah! what a -pretty tune! it's a jig; come quickly!" - -"A thousand pardons, madame, but I thought----" - -"It is a jig, monsieur, and I love that dance to madness!" - -"Madame, I do not feel very well, and----" - -"You shall see my English steps; it was while dancing the jig that I -used to make so many conquests." - -"Madame, I would like a breath of fresh air----" - -"And indeed that I fascinated--I attracted my husband, at the ball at -Sceaux." - -"But, madame----" - -In vain did Belcour seek to resist; Madame Volenville would not let him -go, but dragged him toward the dance, paying no heed to his excuses. -Seeing that a longer discussion would intensify the absurdity of his -position, he yielded at last and returned to the quadrille. The crowd of -curious onlookers hastily stood aside to make room for the couple upon -whom all eyes were fixed. - -The signal was given and everyone started off, the men to the right, -then the ladies, Madame Volenville among the first. With what ardor she -ran to the other men and swung them round as on a pivot! The -perspiration rolled down her cheeks, and streaked her rouge; two of her -_mouches_ fell from her temple to a spot below the ear; her curls became -loosened, her wreath of roses was detached and took the place of a -collar; but none of those things was capable of stopping her: in an -instant she had made the circuit of the quadrille and had returned to -her place. Belcour was no longer there. He had taken advantage of the -confusion occasioned by the figure, to steal away. But Madame Volenville -must have a partner, and she took the first one who came to hand; it was -an old attorney in a hammer wig, who happened to be standing opposite -her. The excellent man had joined the crowd, impelled by curiosity; he -had forced his way to the front and was gazing enviously at a pretty -little breast of twenty years, as white and fresh and solid as a rock, -that belonged to a pretty dancer. The old attorney remarked, with the -lecherous gaze of a connoisseur, that the exertion of dancing scarcely -shook the two lovely globes; he was amazed thereat, because it was a -long while since he had seen anything of the sort at a ball, whether -fancy dress, public, in fashionable or middle-class society, or even at -open air fetes. Overjoyed by his discovery, and to manifest his -satisfaction to the pretty dancer, he displayed the tip of his tongue -and smiled pleasantly; a method adopted by old rakes to declare their -passion without words. - -But the pretty dancer paid no heed to the attorney and his grimaces, and -he, tired of showing his tongue without obtaining a glance, was -deliberating whether, during a moment of crowding and confusion, he -might venture to take her hand, when Madame Volenville, with the -rapidity of a bomb, arrived between him and the young lady he was -admiring, and began to execute her English steps, accompanied by an -alluring simper. - -The old libertine gazed with a bewildered air at the flushed, disfigured -face, the disordered headdress and the limp form of Madame Volenville; -he tried to retreat; but she took both his hands, whirled him about and -made him jump into the air. - -"Madame, I don't know this!" cried the attorney, struggling to free -himself. - -"Come on, all the same, monsieur! I must have a partner!" - -"Stop this, madame; I never waltzed in my life!" - -"This isn't a waltz, monsieur; it's a jig." - -"Stop, madame, I beg! I am dizzy; I shall fall!" - -"You dance like an angel!" - -Madame Volenville was a very devil; she considered herself still as -fascinating as at twenty; she was persuaded that her steps, her graces, -her vivacity and her little mincing ways were calculated to fascinate -everybody; she did not realize that years entirely change the aspect of -things. That which is charming at twenty becomes affectation at forty; -the frivolity natural to youth seems folly in maturer years, and the -little simpering expressions which we forgive on a childish face, later -are mere absurdities and sometimes downright grimaces. - -It is possible, nevertheless, for a woman of mature years to please; but -she does not succeed in so doing by aping the manners of youth. Nothing -can be more agreeable to the eye, more calculated to attract favorable -notice, than a mother dancing without any affectation of youthful -graces, opposite her daughter; nothing more absurd than an old coquette, -with her hair dressed as if she were sixteen, trying to rival girls of -that age in agility. - -Madame Volenville was, as you see, an indefatigable dancer; she strove -to infect her partner with the ardor that animated her; but the old -attorney, red as a cherry, rolled his eyes wildly, unable to distinguish -objects; everything about him was going round and round; the jig, the -heat and his wrath combined to make him helplessly dizzy. He held his -face as far from his partner's as possible; but, to put the finishing -touch to his discomfiture, his wig came off, fell to the floor, where it -was trampled under foot by the dancers, and the attorney's head was -revealed to the eyes of the guests, as bare as one's hand. - -This last mishap, adding tenfold to the old fellow's rage, gave him the -strength to break loose from his partner; he pushed her away with great -force. Madame Volenville fell into the lap of a stout clerk, who was -sitting peacefully on a bench at the end of the room, running over in -his mind with keen enjoyment the names of all the dishes he had eaten at -dinner. - -The corpulent party uttered a sharp exclamation when Madame Volenville -landed on him; he swore that he was being suffocated; but she did not -stir, because no woman in good society ought to fall upon anyone -without swooning. Monsieur Tourte--that was the clerk's name--called for -help, while Monsieur Robineau--our attorney--loudly demanded his wig, -which he sought in vain in every corner of the room, but could not find, -because the young notary's clerk had obtained possession of it first and -had thrown it out of the window onto the boulevard, where it fell on the -nose of a cab-driver, who was looking at the sky to see if it was likely -to rain the next day. - -Meanwhile Edouard and Madame Germeuil strove to restore tranquillity and -to bring order out of chaos. Adeline, for her part, could not help -laughing, with all the other young women, at Madame Volenville's -attitude, Monsieur Tourte's face and Monsieur Robineau's fury. - -Monsieur Volenville finally left his game of ecarte, went to get a -carafe of water, and approached his wife, whom he did not recognize, so -great was the havoc wrought upon her dress and her face. After taking -his pinch of snuff, he relieved his wife of her wreath of roses and -began to slap her hands, while Madame Germeuil held a phial of salts -under her nose. But nothing availed, nothing had any effect on the -benumbed senses of the formidable dancer. Madame Germeuil was at her -wit's end. Monsieur Tourte swore that he would bite Madame Volenville in -the arm or somewhere else, if somebody did not instantly remove the -burden that was suffocating him, and the auctioneer resorted to his -snuff-box in quest of ideas. - -At that moment Monsieur Robineau was rushing about the ball-room in the -guise of a cherub, and feeling angrily under the furniture and even -under people's feet, in search of his wig. He drew near the group -surrounding the auctioneer's unconscious wife; he spied something gray -under the bench that supported his late partner and the stout clerk. -Instantly he darted forward, pushed aside Monsieur Volenville, who was -in front of him, threw himself on his hands and knees, and put his hand -between the auctioneer's legs to grasp the object which he believed to -be his dear wig. - -Monsieur Robineau's manoeuvre was executed so suddenly that Monsieur -Volenville lost his balance; as he was stooping forward, he fell almost -upon his wife, and the snuff-box, which he had just opened, emptied -itself entirely into his loving better half's nose and mouth. - -This accident recalled Madame Volenville to life; she sneezed five times -in rapid succession, rubbed her eyes, opened her mouth, swallowed a -large quantity of snuff, made such horrible faces that they put to -flight her husband and all the other persons who were near her, squirmed -about and spat violently into the face of Monsieur Robineau, who at that -moment withdrew his hand from under the bench and rose, swearing like -the damned--who swear a great deal in this world, to say nothing of what -they will do when they are roasting in hell like pork pies. - -And why did Monsieur Robineau swear? Why, reader? Because, instead of -putting his hand on his wig, which, as you know, was reposing on the -boulevard, the unlucky attorney had seized the tail of a cat, which, -vexed at being pulled so violently by a sensitive part, had, in -accordance with the custom of its kind, buried its claws in the cruel -hand that had grasped it. - -"It is very unpleasant to be unlucky!" said a worthy bourgeois of the -Marais the other evening at a performance of _La Pie Voleuse_, as he -wept over the misfortunes of Palaiseau's little maid-servant. To -interpret what I presume to be that gentleman's meaning, I will say that -it is very painful to experience so many misfortunes as Monsieur -Robineau did in one evening. When one has danced against one's will and -has lost one's wig; when one has been clawed on the hands and has been -spat upon, one is quite justified in being angry. The poor attorney was -so angry that he turned yellow, red and white, almost at the same -instant; in his frenzy, he had no idea what he was doing, and, -regardless of sex, was about to assault Madame Volenville, when some of -the guests interposed between him and the person whom he justly regarded -as the cause of all his misfortunes. - -They had much difficulty in pacifying Monsieur Robineau and in making -him understand that madame had expectorated without malicious intent. -Edouard succeeded at last in calming him a little; and while he wiped -his face, the young bridegroom took from his pocket a dainty silk -handkerchief, which he offered the attorney to put over his head. -Monsieur Robineau accepted it, covered his head with the handkerchief, -and placed his round hat on top; which gave him the appearance of a -Spanish rebel, or a bandolero, or a guerilla, or battueca; or, if you -prefer, of one of those little dogs, dressed in human garb, which ride -majestically along the boulevard in baskets borne by a learned donkey. - -The attorney left the salon without paying his respects to the ladies, -and without kissing the bride; he hurried from the Cadran-Bleu, but as -he passed the waiters and scullions from the restaurant he could not -help hearing their laughter and jests. He did not take a cab, because he -lived on Rue du Perche; and when he reached home, he went to bed, -cursing waltzes and jigs, and calculating what a new wig would cost him. - -As for Madame Volenville, of whom Monsieur Tourte finally succeeded in -ridding himself, it was most essential to induce her to leave the -ball-room, for the snuff which she had swallowed produced a most -unpleasant effect on her stomach. The expectoration became more -frequent, and began to change to hiccoughs and symptoms of nausea, that -presaged an accident which one is never desirous to witness, and which, -moreover, it is prudent to avert in a room where people are dancing. - -So the poor woman was taken away, almost carried, from the scene of her -exploits. When she passed a mirror, she thought that she would die of -chagrin, or swoon again; in truth, her snuff-besmeared face, her -dishevelled hair, her disordered clothing, were well adapted to drive to -despair a woman with pretensions; and we have seen that Madame -Volenville possessed rather a large supply for her years. - -They looked for her husband, and had some difficulty in inducing him to -go to his wife, upon whom he insisted that someone had put a mask. At -last they were placed in a cab, which took them home, where, if you -please, we will leave them, to return to the newly-married pair. - -Terpsichore had banished cruel Discord, who, since the nuptials of -Peleus and Thetis, to which, foolishly enough, she was not bidden, has -adopted the habit of coming unexpectedly to sow confusion in marriage -festivities; that was the reason, I presume, that she deigned to attend -the bourgeois wedding at the Cadran-Bleu; for it is said that a couple -can never escape a visit from the ill-omened goddess; and if she does -not appear on the first day, she makes up for it during the year. - -But let us leave Terpsichore, Discord and all mythology; let us abandon -metaphors and figures of speech; let us leave to the authors of octavo -romances, flowers, cascades, the moon, the stars, and above all, those -poetical inversions of language which tell you at the end of a sentence -what the hero meant to say at the beginning; those delightful detours, -whereby a father will say: "At last toward me stepped forth my -daughter;" instead of saying simply: "My daughter stepped toward me;" -which, in my judgment, would be much more clear, but which would -resemble the ordinary way of talking in the world, in society; a vulgar -jargon, which should not be employed by persons who live in underground -dungeons without breaking their necks, or who constantly scale -perpendicular cliffs without being tired when they reach the top. - -Moreover, will our lovely women, our _petites-maitresses_ extol a novel -to the clouds, if the hero does not speak another language than that of -their husbands and lovers?--"Bah! that is a book for the servants' -hall!" they will say, as they disdainfully cast aside a novel which is -neither English, nor German, nor romantic! "It is an insufferable sort -of work! forbidden words are used in it! I find the word _cuckold_ -there! Mon Dieu! it is shocking! But our newspaper critic will belabor -that author soundly for us!" - -And in fact the critic reads the work and considers it revoltingly -immoral! The author's cynicism, his obscenity are beyond words! he uses -the word _cuckold_ when he finds it necessary! Did anyone ever hear of -such indecency?--To be sure, Moliere often used the same word, and some -others even stronger, in several of his works; but what a difference! -one must be very careful not to print in a novel what one may say on the -stage before a large audience!--Make your inversions, ye novelists; go -back to the Syntax; adopt a style _ad usum tyronum linguae Latinae_; -monopolize mythology, astronomy, mineralogy, ornithology, zoology, aye, -even conchology; mingle with it all a little ancient and sacred history, -much about dreams and ghosts, minstrels, druids, or hermits, according -to the scene of your plot; indulge in sonorous phrases, which used to be -called fustian, and you will surely have a fashionable success! Some -ladies will faint when they are reading you, others after they read you; -there will even be some who will not understand you; but you will appear -all the nobler to them! To be unintelligible is to be sublime in your -kind. Great geniuses wrap themselves in mystery.--Ask Cagliostro -rather,--he ought not to be dead, as he was a sorcerer,--or Lord Byron, -or Mademoiselle Lenormand. - -As for you, young authors, who claim to be simple and natural, who seek -to arouse laughter or interest with events which may happen any day -before our eyes, and who describe them for us in such wise as to be -readily understood, away with you to oblivion! or go to see _George -Dandin_ and _Le Malade Imaginaire_; those plays are worthy of you; but -you will never be read by our vaporish ladies, and you will not cause -the hundred mouths of Renown to sound. - -Despite all this, we have the unfortunate habit of writing as we should -speak, and we shall continue so to do; you are at liberty, reader, to -drop us here and now if our method does not suit you. - -So the dancing continued at the Cadran-Bleu; but the fete drew toward -its close, to the great satisfaction of Edouard, and doubtless of -Adeline, who blushed and smiled whenever her fond husband glanced at -her. - -At last the clock struck the hour to retire; Madame Germeuil herself -took her daughter away; they entered a carriage, drove off, and in due -time arrived at Boulevard Montmartre, where the young couple were to -live, and with them the dear mamma, who did not wish to part from her -Adeline, who, she hoped, would close her eyes. - -A dainty apartment was all arranged. Madame Germeuil embraced her -daughter lovingly, then went to her own room, not without a sigh. That -was quite natural; the rights of a mother cease when those of a husband -begin! But what do rights matter when hearts remain the same? Nature and -love easily find lodgment in a sensitive heart, and have no power over a -cold and selfish one. Men make the laws, but the feelings are not to be -commanded. - -Luckily for Edouard, the charming Adeline loved him because he pleased -her, and not simply because the Church ordered her to love him. That is -why, when she was alone with her husband, she threw herself into his -arms without a tear; that is why she did not make a great fuss about -allowing herself to be undressed, and why she was so soon in bed; and -lastly, that is why we shall say no more about it. - - - - -III - -DUFRESNE - - -While our young husband and wife abandoned themselves to the -unrestrained enjoyment of their mutual love and indulged the legitimate -passion they felt; while Adeline readily yielded to her new situation, -as young wives do, let us leave them and make the acquaintance of a -person whom we shall meet again in the course of this narrative. - -Among the crowd which had surrounded Madame Volenville and Monsieur -Robineau, and had laughed at the misfortunes of the auctioneer's wife -and the attorney, there was one man who had remained indifferent to the -pranks of the other guests and had taken no part in the jests of the -young clerk and the tricks resorted to in order to prolong the famous -quadrille. - -This man seemed to be not more than twenty-eight or thirty years old; he -was tall and well-shaped; his features were regular, and would have been -handsome if his eyes had been less shifty; but his vague glance, to -which he sought to give an expression of benevolence, inspired neither -friendship nor confidence; and the smile which sometimes played about -his lips seemed rather bitter than amiable. - -Dufresne--such was this young man's name--had been brought to Edouard -Murville's wedding by a stout lady with three daughters, who had for a -long time been in the habit of taking half a dozen young men to all the -parties which she attended with her young ladies. Madame Devaux liked to -entertain a great deal of company, especially young men; and her motive -was easily divined: when one has three daughters, and no dowry to give -them, one does not find husbands for them by keeping them always in -their room; they must be introduced into society, and must wait until -chance inspires a very sincere little passion which ends in marriage. - -Unfortunately, sincere passions are more infrequent in society than in -English novels; and often, in their search for husbands, the young -ladies meet gay deceivers instead, who are strong on the passions, but -weak in virtue! But still, something must be risked in order to catch a -husband. - -So it was that Madame Devaux had received Dufresne, who had been -introduced to her by a friend of one of her neighbors; and as he was -young and rather good-looking, she had included him in the list of the -men whom she proposed to take to Edouard's wedding, in order that her -young ladies might not lack partners. - -Dufresne knew neither the bridegroom nor his wife; but it often happens -at a large party that one does not know the host; and now that our -French receptions are adopting the style of English _routs_, and are -becoming mere mobs, no one pays any heed to his neighbor, and it not -infrequently happens that you leave those noisy functions without even -saluting the host or the hostess. - -Madame Devaux had made a mistake, however, in relying upon Dufresne to -dance with her daughters. He cared little for dancing; he made haste to -pay his debt by inviting each of the Devaux girls to dance once; but -after that, he contented himself with the role of simple spectator, -taking the precaution to go into the card room when the quadrilles were -not full. He cast his eyes over all the guests in the salons, but they -rested most frequently upon Edouard and Adeline; the sight of the -husband and wife seemed to attract all his attention; he followed their -movements; watched their slightest actions, and seemed to be trying to -read the inmost thoughts of their hearts. When Adeline smiled fondly at -her husband, Dufresne, standing a few steps away, observed that smile, -and his eyes eagerly followed its development. - -"Really, mamma," said Cleopatra, the oldest of the daughters, to Madame -Devaux, "we won't take Monsieur Dufresne to a ball again; just see how -he acts! he doesn't dance! he looks like a bear!" - -"That is true, my child! If he would only come and sit down by us and -talk and pretend to be polite!" - -"Oh, yes! why, he doesn't pay the slightest attention to us! I should -like to know what he is doing in that corner, near Madame Germeuil!" - -"He certainly is not agreeable, and I shall not take him to Monsieur -Verdure's the day after to-morrow, where there is to be music, and -perhaps a collation. I will take little Godard; he is rather stupid, but -at all events he will dance as long as anybody wants him to." - -"Yes, and he is always on hand to give us something to drink." - -"By the way, Cleopatra, who will go home with us to-night?" - -"Why, I don't know. Two of our gentlemen have gone away already; one had -a headache, and the other wanted to go to bed early because he had an -appointment for to-morrow morning. But we must have someone." - -"Never fear, I will hide Monsieur Dufresne's hat, and he won't go away -without us, I promise you; that would be too much,--to be taken to a -party by ladies, and let them go home alone!" - -"You know very well, mamma, that it wouldn't be the first time that such -a thing had happened to us." - -"Never mind, Cleopatra, it won't be so to-night, and Monsieur Dufresne -will pay for the cab." - -While the ladies were conversing, Dufresne continued his observations. -He had noticed that Madame Germeuil was on very intimate terms with a -young widow named Madame Dolban; thereafter this Madame Dolban became -the object of Dufresne's attentions, and he easily succeeded in making -her acquaintance; for the widow was not at all pretty, and the homage of -an attractive man was certain to seem all the more flattering to her -because she rarely received anything of the sort. - -When Dufresne wished to go, he fell into the trap which Madame Devaux -had set for him: he did not find his hat until the moment when the -mother and her three daughters were ready to go. It was impossible for -him to avoid the duty. Moreover, Madame Dolban had refused his escort; -but she had given him permission to call and pay her his respects, and -that was all that he wanted. So the young man performed with sufficient -good grace the service which was expected of him; he packed the Devaux -family into a cab, seated himself on the front seat between Cleopatra -and Cesarine, and they started for Rue des Martyrs. - -On the way, Dufresne was compelled to undergo a constant fire of -epigrams discharged by the three girls against men who are not -attentive, who do not do as other men do, who have wretched taste, who -speak to ugly women and neglect pretty ones; and a thousand other -sarcasms inspired by the irritation which it had caused them to see him -devote himself to Madame Dolban. - -Dufresne listened to all this very calmly, or, to speak more accurately, -I believe that he did not listen to it at all; but he cared very little -what the people thought who were chattering by his side, and his mind -was too much preoccupied to heed the prattling of the three young women. - -At last they reached the Rue des Martyrs. Dufresne left the Devaux -family at their door; he received with a bow the curtsy of the mother, -the cold salutation of Cleopatra, the curt good-evening of Cesarine and -the stifled sigh of Cornelie. - - - - -IV - -PROJECTS OF BLISS - - -Adeline woke in Edouard's arms; the young wife felt like an entirely -different person by her husband's side; one night of love is enough to -establish a pleasing confidence, a loving intimacy, and to banish that -feeling of awe, of timidity which naught but sensual enjoyment can -dispel. - -What delightful plans for the future, what a charming existence of -unbroken happiness one devises, when, in the arms of the object of one's -affection, one abandons oneself without reserve to all the illusions -which embellish the imagination of two young lovers. - -Adeline, sweet, sensitive, and loving, was certain that she would always -be happy so long as her Edouard loved her, and that her Edouard would -always love her; she had no doubt of it, nor had he. It is not when a -man has experienced for the first time all the joys of love in the arms -of his wife, that he thinks upon the possibility of changing. Then he is -sincere, he really feels all that he says, and doubtless he would keep -all his promises, if the same joys could always cause the same -pleasures. - -It seems, in those moments of expansiveness which follow the -manifestations of love, that the husband and wife were really born for -each other. They have the same tastes, the same thoughts, the same -desires; what one does, the other approves; the husband was just about -to propose what the young wife has planned, they mutually divine each -other's thoughts, and it seems to them perfectly natural that they -should have but one mind and but one will. Blessed concord! you would -bestow the most perfect happiness, if you might only last forever! - -"And so, my dear love," said Edouard, kissing his wife's pretty little -hands, "we will pass the winter in Paris, and four months of warm -weather in the country." - -"Yes, my dear, that is agreed." - -"But shall I keep my place in the department? That would prevent me from -leaving the city." - -"You must not keep it! What is the use? We have fifteen thousand francs -a year; is that not enough to be happy?" - -"Oh! it is more than we need." - -"Besides, your place would keep you away from me all day and I don't -want that!" - -"Dear Adeline, but your mother--what will she say if I give up my -place?" - -"Mamma has but one desire--to make me happy; she will approve our plans, -for she has no more ambition than we have." - -"All right, then it is decided; I send in my resignation to-morrow." - -"Yes, dear." - -"And we will buy a small country house, simple, but in good taste, where -we will live with your mother. Where shall we buy?" - -"Where you please, my dear." - -"No, it is for you to decide." - -"You know that I am always of your opinion." - -"Very well, then we will visit the suburbs, we will read the -advertisements, we will consult mamma." - -"That is right, my dear." - -"Shall we entertain much?" - -"As you please, my dear." - -"My dear love, that is for you to decide." - -"Very well! then we will receive very few people, for company would -prevent us from being together, from going to walk and to drive alone; -and I feel that that would annoy me terribly!" - -"How sweet you are!" - -"We will receive just a few friends; mamma's, for example." - -"Exactly. In the morning we will walk in the garden--for we must have a -garden, mustn't we?" - -"Oh! yes, my dear! A big garden, with lots of shade,--and thickets!" - -"Ah! you are already thinking of the thickets!" - -"Does that offend you, monsieur?" - -Edouard's only reply was to kiss his wife, press her to his heart, -receive her soft caresses, and--the conversation was interrupted for -several minutes. - -"So we will have a big garden with dense thickets," said Edouard when -they renewed the conversation. - -"Yes, my dear," replied Adeline, smiling, and lowering her eyes, still -glistening with pleasure. "In the evening, we will walk about the -neighborhood, and dance with the village people; or, if the weather is -bad, we will play cards with some of the neighbors. Do you like that -prospect?" - -"Yes, my dear love, very much." - -The doting Adeline was always of her husband's opinion; Edouard refused -to have a will of his own; and they were so in accord that they vied -with each other in seeing who should not be the master, and should not -rule the house. - -The young people had reached a very interesting article in the matter of -conjugal happiness: they were thinking of the children they would have, -of the education they would give them and of the professions which they -would advise them to embrace, when there was a gentle tap at the door of -their chamber. It was Madame Germeuil, come to embrace her daughter and -to enjoy the happiness which she read in her eyes. A pleasant sight for -a mother,--which reminded her of the same period in her own life. - -Adeline blushed as she kissed her mother; the good woman informed them -that breakfast was awaiting them, and breakfast is a very essential -affair. The bride ate little; she was too preoccupied to have any -appetite; the new ideas which thronged through her brain were enough to -banish every other thought; but it was very different with the groom--he -did not eat, he devoured! An additional proof this that men are less -affectionate than women, since the same cause does not produce the same -result. - -During breakfast, the young people spoke to Madame Germeuil of their -plans. The mother made a slight grimace when they told her that Edouard -proposed to give up his place. She attempted to make some objections; -she essayed to prove what a mistake that would be for Murville, who -hoped to be promoted and to become a chief of bureau some day. The young -man said nothing; perhaps he felt in his inmost heart that his -mother-in-law was right; but Adeline entreated her mother with such -grace, she kissed her so lovingly, and drew such a touching picture of -the happiness they would all three enjoy, if they need never part; she -praised so adroitly the pleasures of the country, their scheme of life, -and all the attractions with which they would embellish her existence, -that Madame Germeuil had not the courage to resist her daughter's -entreaties, and the plan was adopted. - -"But," said Madame Germeuil, "Edouard cannot remain idle. Idleness is a -very dangerous business, and one which often leads us to do foolish -things, which would never have occurred to us if we had been occupied." - -"Oh! never fear, mamma! Edouard will always have occupation! I myself -will undertake to provide him with it! In the first place, all the -details of our affairs;--he will have to look after the management of -our little fortune; and then the care of our little country house, the -time in my company and the walks we shall take----" - -"But, my dear love, one cannot walk all the time." - -"Of course not! but then we will rest, or work in the garden. And our -children, to whom you do not give a thought; shall we not have to bring -them up, to look after their education, to guide their first steps?" - -"Ah! you are thinking already of your children?" - -"Yes, mamma; they come into our plans." - -"What a mad creature you are, my dear Adeline!" - -"No, mamma; on the contrary, you will see that I shall be very sensible, -and my husband too." - -Madame Germeuil did not seem altogether convinced of the wisdom of her -daughter's plans; but she proposed to keep constant watch upon the -conduct of her two children, and she knew that Adeline, always given to -building castles in Spain, would be the first to abandon her errors, if -she should ever commit any. As to Edouard, he would do whatever they -wished, so that it was only a question of giving him good advice, and of -not following the example of his wife, who always agreed with him. - -After breakfast they discussed the question where they would live. They -had sent out for a copy of the _Petites-Affiches_; Adeline passed the -paper to her husband, and Madame Germeuil was trying to remember in -which direction the air was likely to be most healthy, when Murville -uttered a cry of surprise and jumped up from his chair. - -"What is it, my dear?" asked Adeline, amazed by her husband's -excitement. - -"It is the very place," said Edouard, still reading the paper; "at -Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, the house looking on the fields, two floors, a -large garden, a summer-house, a courtyard, an iron fence----" - -"Well, my dear, is that what nearly made you upset the breakfast table?" - -"Oh! my dear love! oh! my dear mamma--that house----" - -"Do you know it?" - -"Do I know it! It belonged to my father, and I passed a great part of my -youth there." - -"Is it possible?" - -"Misfortune compelled us to sell it, but I have always regretted it." - -"Why, my dear, you never mentioned it to us." - -"I didn't know that it was for sale now." - -"It is settled, my dear, let us not look any farther; we have found what -we want, the house where you passed a large part of your childhood! Dear -Edouard! Oh! how we shall enjoy living there!--You agree, mamma, do you -not?" - -"Why, my child, if the house is not too dear----" - -"Oh! it can't be too dear; it is Edouard's house; we shall be so happy -there!" - -"Villeneuve-Saint-Georges--yes, I believe that the air is very good -there!" - -"Certainly it's delicious; let us start at once, dear." - -"But it is already late, my child, for you did not get up early; and if -we should wait until to-morrow----" - -"To-morrow! and suppose the house should be sold to-day? Ah! I should -never get over it; nor Edouard either; he says nothing, but he too is -crazy to start." - -"Very well, my children, since it will give you so much pleasure; but it -is four leagues from here!" - -"We have a good country cabriolet, and the horse has been resting for a -fortnight; he will take us there very fast." - -"Where shall we dine?" - -"At Villeneuve-Saint-Georges; there are some very good restaurants -there, aren't there, my dear?" - -"Why, yes. Oh! we shall have no difficulty about getting dinner there." - -"And it will be dark when we come back.--You know, Adeline, that I don't -like to drive after dark." - -"Oh! Edouard will drive, mamma; you know what a prudent driver he is. -Besides, the road is magnificent; isn't it, my dear?" - -"Why, yes; at all events, it was ten years ago." - -"You see, mamma, that there is no danger. Oh! say that you will go!" - -"I must do whatever you want!" - -"How good you are! I will run and put on my hat." - -Adeline ran to her dressing-room, Edouard told old Raymond, their -servant, to put the horse in the cabriolet. Madame Germeuil prepared for -the drive, and Marie, the maid-servant of the new household, was grieved -to learn that they would not taste the dainty dinner which she had -prepared for the day after the wedding. - -The young wife was ready first; a woman takes little time over her -toilet when she is certain to please; doubtless that is why old -coquettes pass two hours in front of the mirror. Adeline wore a simple -muslin dress, with a belt about the shapeliest waist imaginable; a straw -hat, not overladen with feathers and flowers, and a light shawl thrown -carelessly over her shoulders; in that unpretentious costume Adeline was -charming; everything about her was attractive; every feature was -instinct with love and happiness; and pleasure makes a pretty woman even -prettier. - -Edouard gazed at his wife in rapture, and Madame Germeuil looked upon -her daughter with pride; Adeline kissed them both and took her mother's -hand to make her go downstairs at once; the young woman was eager to be -gone, and to see the country house where her Edouard was brought up. He -was no less desirous to revisit the scenes which had witnessed his -childish sports. At last the mother was seated on the back seat of the -carriage, with Adeline by her side; Edouard took the reins, and they -started for Villeneuve-Saint-Georges. - - - - -V - -THE FACE WITH MOUSTACHES - - -Edouard drove the horse at a fast pace, and they reached the village in -a short time. When they had passed through the main street, and turned -in the direction of the country, they discovered the house which they -were anxious to see; thereupon Adeline leaped for joy, and took off her -hat so that she could see better; Edouard urged the horse more eagerly, -and Madame Germeuil shrieked, saying that they would be overturned. - -At last the cabriolet stopped in front of the gate which gave admission -to the courtyard. - -"This is the place, this is the very place," said Edouard, leaping to -the ground; "oh! there is no mistake. I recognize the gate, the -courtyard, and even this bell. It's the same one that was here in my -time. And there is the sign saying that the house is for sale." - -While he was examining with emotion the outside of the house, Adeline -assisted her mother from the carriage; they fastened the horse, and then -entered the courtyard, for the gate was not locked. - -"Oh! how I shall enjoy myself here!" said Adeline, glancing about with a -satisfied expression; "isn't this house fascinating, mamma?" - -"But, one moment, my child; we have seen nothing as yet." - -A tall peasant came out of a room on the ground floor, followed by an -enormous dog. - -"What do you want?" he said, scrutinizing them surlily enough. - -"We want to see this house," Edouard replied. - -"All right," muttered the concierge between his teeth; "come with me, -and I will take you to my master." - -Edouard, with his wife and Madame Germeuil, followed their conductor, -who ascended a staircase and showed them into a dining-room on the first -floor, where he left them, to go to summon his master. - -Soon a shrill little voice arose in the room which the concierge had -entered, and our travellers heard this colloquy: - -"What do you want of me, Pierre?" - -"Some one has come to buy the house, monsieur." - -"Have you come again to disturb me to no purpose, and to bring me some -boorish fellow, as you did just now?" - -"Oh! no, monsieur! these folks look like swells!" - -"That devilish fellow put me into a terrible temper! I shall be sick, I -am sure!" - -"I tell you, monsieur, that these folks have a cabriolet." - -"Oh! that's different! I'll go and speak to them." - -Madame Germeuil and her children were wondering what they should think -of what they had heard, when the door of the adjoining room opened, and -a short, thin, yellow, wrinkled man, in dressing gown and nightcap -appeared and saluted his visitors with an air which he tried in vain to -make amiable. - -"We wish to examine this house," said Edouard; "not that I do not know -it very well; but these ladies would be very glad to see it." - -"It is very strange," said the little man, glancing at the concierge; -"everybody knows my house!--And is it your purpose to buy it?" - -"Why, to be sure, if the price suits us." - -"In that case, I will show you around myself." - -"What an original creature!" whispered Adeline to her husband; "I will -bet that it is some old money-lender, who went into retirement here, and -can't resist the desire to do business in the capital again." - -They went over the house from the ground floor to the attic; the little -man spared them nothing, and Edouard, who was very glad to see his -former home once more, listened patiently to all the details which the -old fellow gave them concerning the advantages of his abode. - -From time to time, our young man glanced at his wife and smiled. - -"Yes," he said as he entered each room, "I recognize this room, this -closet, these wardrobes." - -Thereupon the old gentleman would glance at his servant and smile in his -turn: they seemed to understand each other. - -"So you used to live here, did you, monsieur?" the master of the house -asked him. - -"Yes, monsieur, yes, I passed a large part of my youth here." - -"This is mighty queer!" muttered the concierge. - -"This is surprising!" said the little proprietor to himself. - -Madame Germeuil considered the house convenient and the air good. -Adeline was enchanted. Edouard asked permission to inspect the garden; -the little man apologized for not accompanying them, for he was tired -already; he asked them to follow the concierge, and the young people -were not at all sorry to be rid of him for a moment. - -The peasant walked ahead; Madame Germeuil followed him, and Adeline and -Edouard brought up the rear, hand in hand. Edouard called his wife's -attention to all the spots which reminded him of some period of his -life. - -"This is the place," said Edouard, "where I used to read with my father; -it was on this path that my Brother Jacques used to like to run about -and climb these fine apricot trees." - -"Poor Brother Jacques! you have never heard from him?" - -"No! Oh! he died in some foreign country! Otherwise he would have -returned, he would have tried to see our parents again." - -"That," said Madame Germeuil, "is what comes of not watching over -children! Perhaps he came to a bad end." - -Edouard made no reply; the memory of his brother always made him sad and -thoughtful; he was almost persuaded that poor Brother Jacques was no -more, and perhaps his self-esteem preferred to nourish that idea, in -order to banish those which suggested that Jacques might be wandering -about, wretched and debased. It was especially since his marriage with -Adeline that Edouard had often thought with dread of meeting his brother -amid the multitude of unfortunate wretches; he thought that that might -injure him in the estimation of Madame Germeuil; and whenever a beggar -of about his brother's age stopped in front of Edouard, he felt the -blood rise to his cheeks and he walked rapidly away, without glancing at -the poor devil who begged of him, for fear of recognizing his Brother -Jacques in him. And yet Edouard was not heartless; he would have shrunk -from turning his back upon his brother, and he dreaded to find him in a -degraded condition. That is how men are constituted; their infernal -self-esteem often stifles the most generous sentiments; a man blushes -for his brother, or his sister! Indeed, there are some who blush for -their father or mother; such people apparently think that they are not -sufficiently estimable in themselves to do without a genealogical tree. - -But let us return to our young bride and groom, who investigated every -nook and corner of the garden, and smiled and squeezed each other's -hands as they passed a dark grotto, or a dense clump of shrubbery. The -concierge stopped for a moment to buckle his dog's collar; Madame -Germeuil and her children walked on. They reached the end of the garden, -on that side which adjoined the open country and was surrounded by a -very high wall; but an opening had been made for the convenience of the -tenants, and the gate which closed that opening was covered with boards, -so that people who were passing could not look into the garden. - -But these boards were half rotten and had fallen away in places; and -when the visitors passed the gate, they saw a man's face against the -iron bars, gazing earnestly into the garden, through a place where the -boards were broken. - -Madame Germeuil could not restrain a cry of surprise; Adeline was -conscious of a secret thrill of emotion, and Edouard himself was moved -at the sight of that face which he did not expect to find there. - -The features of the man who was gazing into the garden were in fact -calculated to cause a sort of terror at a first glance; black eyes, an -olive-brown complexion, heavy moustaches, and a scar which started from -the left eyebrow and extended across the forehead, all these imparted to -the face a savage aspect which did not prepossess one in favor of the -man who bore it. - -"Ah! mon Dieu! what on earth is that?" said Madame Germeuil, suddenly -stopping. - -"Why, it is a man who is amusing himself looking through this gate," -replied Edouard, gazing at the stranger, who did not move but continued -to examine the garden. - -"I am almost afraid," said Adeline under her breath. - -"Almost, my dear child! you are very lucky! For my own part, I admit -that I do not feel comfortable yet." - -As Madame Germeuil spoke, she walked away from the gate and moved closer -to her son-in-law. - -"What children you are, mesdames! What is there surprising in the fact -that a man as he passes a garden which looks like a fine one should -amuse himself by examining it for a moment? We have done that twenty -times!" - -"Yes, no doubt. But we haven't faces with moustaches like that, well -calculated to make any one shudder! Just look! he doesn't move in the -least! He doesn't seem to pay the slightest attention to us." - -At that moment the concierge joined the party. As he approached the gate -opening into the fields, he saw the face which had frightened the -ladies. Thereupon he made a very pronounced grimace, and muttered: - -"Still here! so that infernal man won't go away, it seems!" - -The stranger looked up at the concierge, and the ladies read in the -glance that he cast at the peasant an expression of wrath and contempt. -Then, after examining for a moment the other persons in the garden, he -drew back his head from the bars and disappeared. - -"I would like right well to know who that man is," said Adeline, looking -at her husband. - -"Faith! I augur no good for him," said Madame Germeuil, who breathed -more freely since the face had withdrawn from the gate. - -"That man looked as if he had evil intentions, did he not, Edouard?" - -"Oh! my dear mamma, I don't go as far as you do! If we had seen the -whole man, perhaps his face would have seemed less strange than it did -above those old boards." - -"My husband is right, mamma; I think that the way in which we look at -things depends upon the situation in which they strike our eyes at -first. A man clothed in rags often arouses our suspicions; if he should -appear before us well-dressed, we should have no feeling of dread at his -aspect. Darkness, silence, moonlight, and the shadows thrown upon -objects, all these conditions change our way of seeing things and make -our imagination work very rapidly." - -"You may say whatever you please, my dear girl, but that face was not -the face of a man looking into a garden from mere curiosity." - -"That may be, but I should have liked to see this stranger's figure." - -"Parbleu!" said the concierge, "you wouldn't have seen anything very -fine, I assure you." - -"Do you know that man?" asked Adeline quickly. - -"I don't know him, but I have seen him once before this morning; he -looks to me like a scamp who is prowling round about the village to -commit some deviltry. But he better not come back here, or I will set my -dog on him!" - -"And you don't know what he wants in the village?" - -"Faith! I don't care. So long as he don't come to the house, that's all -I ask." - -As they were in front of the house at that moment, and as the proprietor -was waiting for them in his doorway, Adeline did not prolong her -conversation with the concierge. - -"Well! what do you think of these gardens?" the old man asked Adeline. - -"Oh! they are very pretty, monsieur; and they will suit us, will they -not, mamma?" - -"Yes, yes, perhaps they will suit us." - -Since Mamma Germeuil had seen at the end of the garden that face which -seemed to her of ill augury, she did not find so many attractions about -the house, and seemed less delighted with its situation. But as her -children were so intensely eager to purchase it, and as she realized how -childish her own repugnance was, she did not oppose the conclusion of -the bargain. - -The little man tried at first to impose upon the strangers; but when -they proposed to pay cash, he consented to take off something from the -price, and the bargain was concluded. In his delight, the proprietor -invited the ladies to come in and rest, and even went so far as to -offer them a glass of wine and water. But they had no desire to become -better acquainted with the old miser; moreover, the ladies were hungry, -and they had only time to go to the notary's office before dinner. - -The little old man did not insist upon their stopping at his house; he -took off his nightcap, sent the concierge to fetch an old, shabby, felt -hat, which he carried under his arm in order to preserve it longer; he -put on a coat once nut-colored, but of which no one could possibly -divine the color now, and did not forget the bill-headed cane, upon -which he leaned the more heavily, because he thought that by using a -support for part of his weight, he would save the soles of his shoes. - -They went to the office of the local notary; he received the details of -the bargain, and promised to have the deed ready in due form in -twenty-four hours. Edouard agreed to return to the village on the -following day with the purchase money, and Monsieur Renare,--such was -the proprietor's name,--agreed to be punctual and to turn over the keys -of the house. Everything being settled, they separated, each party well -pleased with his bargain. - - - - -VI - -A DINNER PARTY IN THE COUNTRY - - -"Now let us think about dinner," said Edouard, as he and the ladies left -the notary's, "and let us try to find the best restaurant in the place." - -"We ought to have asked Monsieur Renare that, my dear." - -"No indeed! I am sure that the old miser goes to the vilest wine-shop, -in order to dine the cheaper. But I see yonder a very good-looking -house--it is a wine-shop and restaurant,--the _Epee Couronnee_, 'wedding -and other parties.'--What do you say to that, mesdames?" - -"Very good; let us go to the Epee Couronnee." - -They entered the country restaurant; the outer walls were adorned with -hams, pies, turkeys, chickens, game, and bunches of asparagus; but as a -rule the kitchen of a village restaurant never contains more than one -fourth of what is painted on the front wall; and even so, the ovens are -often cold. - -When our Parisians entered the common room of the Epee Couronnee, the -proprietor, who was also chief cook, was occupied in shaving, his little -scullion was playing with a cup-and-ball, the mistress of the house was -knitting, and the two girls who did the heavy work were washing and -ironing. - -"The deuce!" said Edouard in an undertone, "this doesn't indicate a very -well-heated oven! However, in war we must do as soldiers do!" - -"Yes, my dear; besides, appetite is a very good cook." - -At sight of two fashionably-dressed ladies, escorted by a fine -gentleman, and of a cabriolet in front of the door, everybody in the -restaurant was up in arms. The proprietor threw razor and shaving-mug -aside; he partly wiped his face, and came forward, half shaved, to meet -the newcomers, to whom he made repeated bows. His wife hastily dropped -her knitting and rolled it up, as she made a curtsy, and placed it on a -table on which the girls were ironing; whereupon Goton, one of the -servants, who then had in her hand a very hot iron, looked up to examine -the fine ladies who were coming in, and placed the iron on her -mistress's hand, thinking that she was ironing an apron. - -Her mistress uttered a piercing cry when she felt the burn; she jumped -back and overturned the tub; the little scullion, in his fright, -concealed his cup-and-ball in a saucepan, and the ladies recoiled, in -order not to walk in soap-suds, with which the floor was flooded. - -The host confounded himself in apologies, trying at the same time to -pacify his wife. - -"A thousand pardons, mesdames and monsieur; pray walk in.--Hush, wife! -it won't amount to anything; I do much worse things to myself every -day.--We have everything that you can possibly desire, mesdames; the -kitchen is well stocked.--It was that idiot of a Goton, who never looks -to see what she is doing. Put some potato on it, wife.--But step in, -mesdames, and select a bedroom or a private dining-room, whichever you -please." - -The ladies were in no hurry to enter, because they did not want to wet -their feet. At last one of the maids brought a long board, which they -used as a bridge to pass into another room; they made the passage, -laughing heartily, and looked forward to much enjoyment at an inn where -their arrival had already caused such a sensation. - -"Well, monsieur le traiteur, what can you give us?" Murville asked the -cook, who followed them, boasting of his talent in serving a dinner -promptly. - -"Why, monsieur, I can give you a rabbit stew which will please you." - -"Parbleu! Rabbit stew is never missing in these places! But we don't -care much for it; have you any cutlets?" - -"Yes, monsieur, I can easily get some." - -"And a fowl?" - -"I have one which should be excellent." - -"Fresh eggs?" - -"Oh! as to eggs, I don't have any but fresh ones." - -"Well, that is all that we want; with lettuce and some of your best wine -we shall dine very well, shall we not, mesdames?" - -"Yes, but don't keep us waiting, for we are positively starving." - -"Never fear, mesdames, it will take but a moment." - -Master Bonneau returned to his staff. - -"Look alive," he said, tying his handkerchief around his waist, which he -only did on great occasions; "look alive, wife and girls, we have swells -to feed, and we have nothing except the regulation rabbit stew, which -unfortunately they don't want, and that infernal fowl which I roasted a -week ago for a Jew who ate nothing but fresh pork, and which I haven't -been able to do anything with since; I hope that it is going to be eaten -at last. Goton, put it on the spit again; that will be the fifth time, I -believe; but never mind, I will make a gravy with the juice of that beef -_a la mode_, and it will be delicious." - -"Mon Dieu! what a horrible burn! This is the seventh potato that I have -scraped on it." - -"Parbleu! you give me a happy idea: these grated potatoes are all -cooked, put 'em aside, wife, and I will make a souffle for our guests. -You, Fanfan, run to the butcher and get some cutlets, and you, Marianne, -go and buy some eggs, and come back and pick some lettuce. By the way, -light me a candle, as quick as possible, and give me some wax, so that I -can put seals on my bottles; that makes people think that the wine is -better." - -Everyone set about executing Master Bonneau's orders, while he lighted -his fires and turned up his sleeves with an important air, in order to -heat water for the eggs; Goton put the unlucky fowl on the spit, praying -heaven that it might be the last time; Marianne brought eggs and went -out into the garden to pluck lettuce; and Madame Bonneau grated potato -after potato, which she placed upon her burn, and then carefully -collected in a plate, as her husband had directed, because a clever cook -makes use of everything. - -But Fanfan returned from the butcher's with sad news: "there were no -cutlets, because the mayor had bought the last that morning; but if they -could wait a while, the shop-boy, who had gone to sharpen his knives, -would come back, and they would kill a sheep." - -"The devil! this is mighty unpleasant," said Master Bonneau, as he put -his eggs in the water; "well, I must go and consult with the company." - -The host entered the room where the ladies and the young man were -beginning to get impatient for their dinner, while they laughed over the -scene which their unexpected arrival had caused. - -"Well, are we going to dine?" said Edouard when he caught sight of their -host. - -"Instantly, monsieur." - -"Your instants are very long, monsieur le traiteur." - -"I came to get your opinion on the cutlets." - -"What's that?" - -"There aren't any just now at the butcher's; but the man is coming back, -and he is going to kill a sheep; so if you will take a turn in the -garden until they are cooked----" - -"Parbleu! we should have to wait a long while! A pleasant suggestion -that! We didn't come here to inspect your bed of lettuce." - -"Come, come, my dear, don't get excited," said Adeline, laughing at the -placidity of their host, and the irritation of Edouard, "we will do -without cutlets." - -"May I replace that dish with an excellent rabbit stew?" - -"Give us whatever you please, but give us something at least." - -"You shall be served instantly." - -Master Bonneau was well pleased to give them rabbit stew; it was the -dish in which he most excelled, for he had had twenty years' practice in -making good ones. He seized the saucepan containing the remnants of two -rabbits, and placed it over the fire; then after covering it, he -instructed Fanfan to watch it, and went to carry the fresh eggs to his -guests. - -"You see, mesdames, that I am prompt," he said as he gracefully placed -the eggs on the table. "By the way, I thought that a souffle of potatoes -and orange blossoms would not displease the company." - -"What, monsieur, do you make souffles at the Epee Couronnee?" - -"Yes, monsieur, and a good sort too, I flatter myself." - -"Then you are an expert?" - -"Why, monsieur, when one has learned the profession at Paris, at the -Boisseau Fleuri, one is equal to anything." - -"Oho! that makes a difference! If you are a graduate of the Boisseau -Fleuri, we are surprised at nothing, and we await your souffles with -confidence." - -Bonneau retired, all puffed up with the compliments they had paid him. -The ladies tried to crumble their bread into their eggs, but it was -impossible; they were cooked so hard that they had to make up their -minds to remove the shells and eat them from their hands. Adeline -shouted with laughter, Madame Germeuil shook her head, and Edouard -announced that to cap the climax the eggs smelled of straw. - -"This does not give me a very pleasant anticipation of the souffles," -said the mother, placing her egg on the table. - -"Well, madame, let us still hope! Great men, you know, pay no heed to -small matters, and the pupil of the Boisseau Fleuri may well not know -how to cook eggs." - -Bonneau entered the room, carrying in his two hands an enormous dish of -rabbit stew, which he placed in front of Edouard. - -"Monsieur le traiteur, for a man equal to anything, you made rather a -failure of our eggs; they are boiled hard and smell of straw." - -"As for the straw, monsieur, you must know that I don't make the eggs -myself, that depends entirely on the hens; as for the way they were -cooked, that is entirely the fault of the water; I leave the eggs in the -water five minutes; if the watch loses time while the eggs are in the -water, the best cook might be deceived." - -"True, you are right; luckily there are no eggs in a rabbit stew, and it -isn't cooked by the minute." - -"So you must tell me what you think of it; I will go now and make sure -that your fowl is cooked to a turn." - -Bonneau left the room, carrying his hard boiled eggs, which no one had -touched, and which he proceeded to cut up and place on the salad, so -that they would be paid for twice over; that was a clear gain; and in -order that there might not be any further complaint of their smelling of -the straw, the host took from his sideboard a certain oil, the taste of -which was bound to predominate. - -"Well," said Edouard, as he prepared to serve the ladies, "as we -absolutely must eat rabbit stew, let us see if this one does our host -credit. But what the deuce is there in it? It is a string. Can it be -that the pupil of the Boisseau Fleuri puts whole rabbits into his stew? -This is attached to something, and I don't see the end of it. Parbleu! -we shall get the pieces that are tied, later. But what is this I see? -Look, mesdames--is it a thigh, or a head? These rabbits are most -peculiarly constructed." - -"Oh! bless my soul!" said Adeline, examining what Edouard had on his -fork, "it's a cup-and-ball!" - -The young woman dropped her fork, laughing like mad; Edouard did the -same, and even Madame Germeuil could not keep a straight face, at sight -of the toy which her son-in-law had found in the stew. - -The reader will remember that at the time of the arrival of the -fashionable guests from Paris, everything was in confusion in the -restaurant; the scullion was playing with a cup-and-ball; when his -mistress burned herself and upset the tub of water, Fanfan was alarmed, -and fearing to be scolded by his master and mistress, had thrust his -cup-and-ball into the first saucepan that he saw. It happened to be the -one containing the rabbit stew, into which the scullion had put his toy. -When Master Bonneau took the saucepan later, he covered it without -looking in; then the little fellow had watched and stirred the stew, -without a suspicion of what was in it; he was very far from thinking -that he was cooking his own cup-and-ball. - -"Aha!" said the host, "it seems that our friends are satisfied; I was -sure that that rabbit stew would restore their good humor. So much the -better! the result will be that the fowl will pass the more readily. We -must make haste and serve it with the salad. Goton, give me the bottle -of oil. That's it. Have you put the eggs on yet? on the top of the -salad? Good! that's very good. This meal will bring us in enough to last -a week." - -Our man returned to the dining-room, where they had made up their minds -to laugh instead of dining. He placed the fowl on the table and stood -silent, with the air of a man who expects a compliment. - -"On my word, monsieur le traiteur," said Edouard, trying to keep a sober -face, "you treat us very strangely! What kind of a thing is a fricassee -of cup-and-ball?" - -"What do you mean, monsieur?" - -"That we never had such a thing before, Monsieur Bonneau, and that we -don't like it." - -"But what does it mean?" - -"Look, monsieur, is this rabbit?" - -Master Bonneau was thunderstruck when he saw the cup-and-ball covered -with gravy. - -"Here," said Adeline, "take away your rabbit stew; what we found in it -has taken away all desire to taste it." - -"Madame, I am really distressed at what I see! But you must realize that -it is not my fault. If rabbits eat cups-and-balls----" - -"Ah! this is too much; and if your fowl is no better than the rest, we -shall have to go elsewhere to dine." - -The host left the room, without waiting to hear any more; he rushed back -to the kitchen, crimson with rage, and began to pull Fanfan's ears, to -teach him to put cups-and-balls in his stews. - -"What on earth is the matter, my dear?" Madame Bonneau asked her -husband, as she brought him the plate containing the remedy for burns. - -"What's the matter? What's the matter? This little scamp is forever -doing foolish things! He stuffs all sorts of trash into my stews; the -other day I found two corks in a chowder; luckily it was for drunkards -who took them for mushrooms; but to-day we have some people who are very -particular, and he is responsible for their not tasting my rabbit stew; -and that too, just at the moment when I carried them that unlucky fowl! -The little scamp is as dirty as if he were employed in some low -cook-shop! Wife, scrape your burn carefully, you still have some potato -on it. Well! I must repair my reputation with the souffle." - -While Bonneau labored over the souffle, Edouard was trying to carve the -fowl, and Madame Germeuil seasoned the salad. But in vain did the young -man turn and return the old turkey; it was all dried up, because it had -been on the fire so much, and the knife was powerless to pierce it. - -"I must give it up," said Edouard, pushing the dish away. - -"It is impossible to eat this oil," said Madame Germeuil, who had just -tasted the salad. - -"Evidently we shan't dine to-day," said Adeline. - -"Faith, mesdames," said Edouard, rising from the table, "I don't think -it worth while to wait for the potato souffle, in which we should -undoubtedly find pieces of fish. Put on your shawls and bonnets while I -go and say a word to the restaurant keeper, who really seems to have -intended to make sport of us." - -"But pray don't lose your temper, my dear! Remember that the wisest way -is to laugh at everything that has happened; is it not, mamma?" - -"Yes, my daughter; but still we ought not to pay for such a dinner as -this." - -Edouard left the room and went toward the kitchen. As he was about to -enter the common room, the voice of one of the servants reached his ear; -he heard the word souffle, and stopped by the glass door, curious to -learn the subject of their discussion; there he overheard the following -conversation: - -"I tell you, Marianne, I wouldn't eat that stuff that our master's -making now, not even if he would pay me for doing it." - -"Then you're very hard to suit! That's a delicacy that he's making." - -"A pretty kind of delicacy! and it will taste nice!" - -"Oh! you mustn't be so particular as that! If you should see the bread -now, why that's different! They often have the dough in other places -than in their hands! But it cooks all the same! And the wine! Bless my -soul! An uncle of mine is a wine dresser, and he has boils on his rump, -but that don't prevent him from getting into the vats as naked as God -made him, and his wine is good, too." - -"You can say whatever you please, Goton, I don't see wine made nor bread -either; but I did see the potatoes grated on the mistress's hands, and -she don't wash them every day; and I say that a cake made with them -wouldn't take my fancy at all." - -Edouard knew enough; he entered the room abruptly; the two servants were -struck dumb, and allowed him to go on to the kitchen, where he found -Master Bonneau thickening his souffle with molasses. - -Our young man gave the portable oven a kick and sent the entremets into -the garden for the pigeons to eat. The proprietor stared at him with an -air of dismay. - -"What is the matter with monsieur? Why is he so angry?" - -"Ah! you miserable pothouse keeper! You make souffle of potatoes that -have been put on your wife's burned hands!" - -"What do you mean, monsieur?" - -"You understand me perfectly; you deserve to have me give you a -thrashing." - -"Monsieur, I haven't an idea----" - -"We are going now, but I shall return to this neighborhood; and I shall -remember Master Bonneau, pupil of the Boisseau Fleuri, who supplies -wedding and other parties at the Epee Couronnee." - -With that, Edouard left his host and rejoined the ladies, who were -prepared to leave the dining-room. - -"Let us go, mesdames," said Edouard, "let us leave this house at once! -and consider yourselves fortunate that you did not eat the souffle." - -"Why, what was the matter with it?" - -"I will tell you about it later; the most important thing now is to -leave the house of this infernal poisoner." - -Edouard took Adeline's hand, Madame Germeuil followed them, and they -were about to leave the inn, when the proprietor ran after them and -stopped them. - -"One moment, mesdames and monsieur," said Master Bonneau, pushing his -cotton cap to the back of his head, "one moment, if you please; it seems -to me that before leaving a restaurant you ought to pay for your -dinner." - -"Our dinner! Parbleu! monsieur le traiteur, you will be decidedly clever -if you prove to us that we have dined!" - -"I served all that you ordered, monsieur; if you didn't eat it, that's -none of my business!" - -"You are laughing at us, Monsieur Bonneau, when you say that you served -all that we ordered; we ordered soft boiled eggs, you gave them to us -hard; we ordered cutlets, you served us a rabbit stew with a -cup-and-ball in it; for wine you gave us vinegar, lamp oil to dress the -salad, a fowl which I would defy an Englishman to carve, and a souffle -made of--Ah! take my advice, monsieur le traiteur, and don't be ugly, or -I will have you punished for a dangerous man, and have your restaurant -closed." - -"My restaurant!" said Bonneau, bursting with rage; "indeed! we will see -about that! Pay me at once the amount of this bill, forty francs and -fifteen centimes, or I will take you before the mayor." - -Edouard's only reply was to take the bill and throw it into the -wine-dealer's face. Thereupon he made a terrible uproar and the whole -village flocked to the spot. - -"These folks from Paris refuse to pay for their dinner," said the -rabble, always ready to take sides against people from the city; "they -come in a cabriolet, and they haven't got a sou in their pockets!" - -Our young bride and groom laughed at what they heard and made ready to -go before the mayor. Mamma Germeuil followed them into the cabriolet; -all the peasants surrounded Master Bonneau, who marched at their head, -with Fanfan beside him, carrying the famous fowl on a platter, because -Edouard had insisted that it should be submitted to the examination of -experts. The procession passed through the village thus, and on its way -to the mayor's office, was momentarily increased by the curious folk of -the village, to whom that event was a piece of good fortune. - -At last they reached the mayor's house and requested to speak with him. - -"He hasn't time to listen to you now," said the servant; "he is just -going to sit down to dinner." - -"But he must judge our dispute," said Bonneau. - -"And he must judge this fowl," said Edouard with a laugh. - -"Oho! there's a fowl in it, is there?" said the servant; "oh, well! that -makes a difference; I will go and tell monsieur that it is about a fowl, -and that he must attend to it." - -The servant went to her master, and explained the matter so fully that -the mayor, understanding nothing about it, decided at last to leave his -guests for a moment, and to go to his audience room. - -In those days, the mayor of the village was not a genius; he had just -had a summer-house built at the foot of his garden; and as he was -delighted with that little building, the idea of which he himself had -conceived, and which he seemed to fear that people would think that he -had seen somewhere else, he had caused to be written over the door: -"This Summer-House was Built Here." - -Profound silence reigned in the assemblage when the mayor appeared. - -"Where is the fowl which is the subject of dispute?" he asked gravely. - -"Monsieur le maire, it isn't a fowl simply, it is a dinner that they -refuse to pay me for," said Master Bonneau, stepping forward. - -"A dinner! That's a matter of some consequence! Did they eat it?" - -"No, monsieur," said Edouard, "and you see in this fowl a specimen of -it." - -"Examine the bill, monsieur le maire, and you will see that it is -perfectly fair." - -"Let us see the bill--fresh eggs----" - -"They were hard." - -"Never mind, he who breaks the glasses pays for them; consequently he -who breaks the eggs ought to pay for them." - -"Rabbit stew----" - -"We found a cup-and-ball in it." - -"That doesn't concern the rabbits. Besides, cup-and-ball isn't capable -of turning the sauce sour.--Let us go on: a capon----" - -"Here it is, monsieur le maire; just feel it and smell it." - -The mayor motioned to Fanfan to approach; but the little scullion, -abashed at the sight of so many people, held the plate forward with a -trembling hand, and the fowl rolled on the floor. - -The so-called capon made a sound like that of a child's drum when it -falls to the ground. - -"Oho! it seems a little dry," said the mayor, examining it. - -"That's because it was brought here in the sun," said Bonneau; "that -burned it just a bit." - -"Pardieu! I have my friend the notary here, who is a connoisseur in -capons, so his wife tells me. I will get him to give me his opinion." - -The mayor opened the door, and called the notary, who was dining with -him, to come and pass judgment on the capon. Edouard and his wife were -beginning to lose patience; they divined from what the judge had already -said to them that they would have to pay the rascally inn-keeper; and -that worthy also anticipated a victory; he stared at them insolently, -then turned with a smile toward the peasants, who were eagerly awaiting -the moment when they could make sport of the fine gentleman and fine -ladies from Paris, which is a great source of enjoyment to peasants. - -But the notary appeared; he looked at Edouard and his wife, and -recognized them as the purchasers of Monsieur Renare's house; and -instead of looking at the fowl which Bonneau thrust under his nose, he -saluted Murville and his companion most humbly. - -"What! do you know monsieur and madame?" asked the mayor in amazement. - -"I have that honor; monsieur has bought my neighbor Renare's estate, and -pays cash for it. The deeds are being made in my office." - -The notary's words changed the whole aspect of the affair. The mayor -became extremely polite to Edouard and his wife; he begged them to come -into his salon a moment and rest; and then, turning with a stern -expression toward Master Bonneau, who did not know which way to turn, he -cried angrily: - -"You are a scoundrel! You are a knave! You dare to demand payment for a -dinner which was not eaten! You serve dried-up fowls, rotten eggs, and -ask forty francs for them." - -"But, monsieur le maire----" - -"Hold your tongue, or I will make you pay a fine; I know that you mix -drugs with your wine, and that you steal all the cats to make rabbit -stew; but take care, Master Bonneau,--you will be held responsible for -the first plump cat that disappears." - -The inn-keeper retired, covered with confusion, and storming under his -breath at the arrival of the notary, who had made the mayor turn about -like a weathercock. He drove Fanfan before him, returned to the inn -with the wretched fowl in his hand, and in order that everyone might -share his ill-humor, he announced that they would have the capon for -supper. - -The mayor, learning that Edouard and his wife had not dined, absolutely -insisted that they should dine with him; he, himself, offered to fetch -Madame Germeuil, who had remained in the cabriolet; but the young people -declined, declaring that they were expected in Paris early and that they -could not delay their departure any longer. - -So they separated, the mayor protesting that he should have great -pleasure in becoming better acquainted with his constituents, and our -young people thanking him for the zeal he had shown in their behalf -after the notary's arrival. - -The peasants were still in front of the mayor's house when Edouard and -Adeline came out; they stood aside to let them pass; some even ran to -the carriage to tell Madame Germeuil; and one and all bowed most humbly -when they drove away. And yet they were the very same persons upon whom -the clowns had heaped insolent epithets, and at whom they had been -poking fun a moment before; but they did not know then that the mayor -would treat them courteously. Men are the same everywhere. - - - - -VII - -IN WHICH WE SEE THE MAN WITH MOUSTACHES ONCE MORE - - -They reached Paris famished, as you may imagine. They ordered dinner at -once. The servants made all possible haste, jostled one another in order -to move faster, and by jostling and colliding with one another, took one -thing instead of something else, overturned the sauces, let one dish -burn, and served another cold; in a word, they did everything wrong, -which often happens when people try to make too much haste. - -The servants had ceased to expect their masters to dinner; old Raymond -could not understand why they returned hungry; it gave him a very bad -impression of the place where they had been, and the cook was very sorry -that she had not divined their condition. But our travellers found -everything delicious; Master Bonneau's cooking was still foremost in -their thoughts. - -On the day following this memorable excursion, Adeline was too tired to -accompany Edouard to Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, and as they had given -their word to Monsieur Renare, the young wife was obliged to consent to -let her husband go alone. - -Murville promised to be absent only a short time; he intended to return -to dinner. - -"Take care," said Madame Germeuil, "and don't have any unpleasant -experiences." - -"I will wager, mamma, that you are still thinking of that face with the -moustaches that we saw at the end of the garden." - -"Yes, I don't deny it; indeed I will confess, my children, that I -dreamed of it all night." - -"That is not surprising; when something has excited us intensely during -the day, our imagination sees the same thing in a dream. But that does -not mean that we should conceive dismal presentiments from the fact." - -"Really, mamma, you will make me unhappy," said Adeline; "I begin to -wish already that Edouard were home again." - -"And yet one must be very childish to be afraid without any reason! -Come, off with you, my dear, and return quickly; above all things, do -not dine at the Epee Couronnee!" - -Edouard kissed Madame Germeuil's hand; he embraced his wife, as people -embrace on the day after their wedding, when they have found the first -night all that they hoped, or when they think that they have found it -so, which is the same thing, and which happens to many people who know -nothing about it, and who consider themselves very shrewd. - -He arrived in Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, and alighted from the carriage -in front of the house which was soon to belong to him. - -"Is Monsieur Renare in?" he asked the concierge. - -"He is already at the notary's, monsieur." - -"The deuce! what promptitude! I must not keep him waiting." - -Murville left the cabriolet in the courtyard, and walked to the -notary's. The deeds were ready, and Monsieur Renare was impatiently -awaiting the arrival of the purchaser; for, having learned the night -before of the episode at the Epee Couronnee, he had begun to feel some -anxiety concerning the bargain; but Edouard's presence, and especially -the sight of a wallet stuffed with good bank notes, restored all his -tranquillity. - -The deeds were signed, the price paid, and Monsieur Renare smilingly -presented the keys of the house to Edouard. - -"You are the owner now, monsieur; from this moment you can do as you -please with your house and everything that it contains, as I have sold -it to you furnished." - -"I thank you, monsieur, but you may take all the time that you please to -make your preparations for departure. I do not wish to embarrass you in -any way." - -"Oh! my preparations will very soon be made, monsieur. I simply have a -little bundle to pack, and I can carry it under my arm." - -"Then you already have another house in view?" - -"Why," said the notary, "Monsieur Renare has six houses in Paris, and -three more in the suburbs; so he is not likely to be at a loss." - -"Six houses in Paris," thought Edouard, "and he wears a patched coat and -a broken hat! And he is a bachelor, too! and he has no heirs! Does the -man think that he is never going to die?" - -Our young man bowed to the old miser and left the notary's office. He -returned to his newly-acquired property. The concierge was waiting in -the courtyard, and seemed to have some question to ask him. Edouard -guessed the cause of his embarrassment. - -"This house is now mine," he said to the peasant; "here is the deed -stating that I am the owner of it. However, Monsieur Renare will soon -inform you of it himself." - -"Oh, I don't doubt it, monsieur." - -"Are you attached to Monsieur Renare?" - -"No, monsieur, I ain't attached to anything but the house, and if -monsieur doesn't keep me, I shall be out of work." - -"Very well, I will keep you! I do not mean to discharge anybody; from -this moment you are in my employ." - -"Very good, monsieur, I will try to satisfy you." - -Edouard was not greatly pleased with the peasant. He seemed brusque and -rough, and had lived so long with Renare that he had acquired an air of -distrust, that made itself manifest in all his acts. But Edouard did not -desire, on returning to occupy the home of his parents, to create a bad -impression on the people in the village. - -As it was still early, and Edouard had finished his business at the -notary's sooner than he expected, he could not resist the temptation to -inspect his property; he ordered the concierge to give him the key of -the gate at the end of the garden, and left him beside his cabriolet. - -When we know that an estate belongs to us, we are likely to scrutinize -every part of it closely. Edouard noticed that Monsieur Renare had -planted cabbages and lettuces in all the beds intended for flowers; he -had cut down the beautiful acacias, which, to be sure, produced nothing -but shade, and had replaced them by fruit trees. Instead of box as a -border for the paths, he had planted parsley and nasturtiums; and as he -entered a clump of shrubbery, which formerly was bright with lilacs and -roses, Edouard smelled nothing but the odor of chevril and onion. - -"We shall have to make many changes," said Edouard to himself, laughing -at the former owner's parsimony; "but in a week everything will be as it -was, with the exception of the acacias, on which I used to have a -swing; but I have passed the age when I could enjoy it so much." - -He was then at the end of the garden; he approached the gate, saying to -himself: - -"It seems that that appalling face which frightened the ladies so does -not show itself every day;" and he was on the point of putting the key -into the lock, when the face with moustaches appeared above the broken -plank, exactly on a level with the eyes. - -Edouard stopped; he felt that his heart was beating violently; but he -soon recovered himself. - -"What do you want?" he asked the stranger; "and why are you continually -behind this gate, with your eyes fixed upon the garden?" - -"I want nothing," the stranger replied, in a loud voice and with an -abrupt manner. "I am looking at this garden because I choose to, and I -look at it through this gate, because they would not permit me to walk -about inside." - -"If that is what you wish, you may gratify yourself now. Come in, -monsieur; there is nothing now to prevent you." - -As he spoke, Edouard, who was curious to see the whole of the stranger's -face, opened the gate leading into the fields. - -The stranger seemed surprised at Edouard's invitation; however, as soon -as the gate was opened, he did not wait to be asked a second time, but -entered the garden. Murville was then able to contemplate him at his -ease. He saw a man of tall stature, dressed in an old blue frock-coat, -buttoned to the chin, who wore black gaiters and a dilapidated -three-cornered hat, which he carried in his hand. - -As he examined this singular individual, whose pale face, long beard and -neglected dress seemed to indicate misfortune and want, Edouard -remembered his mother-in-law's suspicions, and a feeling of distrust -entered his mind. - -The stranger walked about the garden, pausing from time to time in front -of a clump of shrubs or an old tree, and apparently forgetting that -there was some one with him. - -"Parbleu!" said Edouard to himself, "I propose to have something to show -for my good-nature; I must find out who this man is, and why he planted -himself behind the little gate. I must take the first step, and as he -says nothing, I must begin the conversation; he will have to answer me." - -The stranger had seated himself upon a mound of turf, from which the -front of the house could be seen. Edouard approached and sat down beside -him. - -"Oh! I beg your pardon, monsieur," said the stranger, as if suddenly -arousing himself from his abstraction, "I have not thought yet to thank -you for your kindness. But I was in such a hurry to see this place -again!" - -"Oh! there is no harm done." - -"Are you the son of the owner of this house?" - -"No." - -"So much the better for you." - -"Why so?" - -"Because he is an old money-lender, an impertinent fellow; and so is his -concierge, to whom I was strongly tempted to administer a thrashing, in -order to teach him how to behave!" - -"What have they done to you?" - -"I came to this village for the express purpose of seeing this house. I -arrived here yesterday, utterly tired out; I entered the courtyard, and -sat down on a stone bench to rest. The concierge came to me, and asked -me what I was there for. I told him that I wanted to see the garden. He -asked me if I intended to buy the house. That question was an -impertinence in itself, for I don't look like a person with money to -invest." - -"That is true," thought Edouard. - -"When he learned that I had come here for another reason, he ordered me -to leave; I asked him again to let me walk about this garden for a -moment; he called his master; an old Jew appeared, and the two together -tried to turn me out! Ten thousand thunders! Turn me out! me--a--But, -no! I forgot that I am one no longer! All the same, if it hadn't been -that my memories restrained me, I would have thrashed master and -servant. I didn't do it, however, and as I was able only to look at the -place from a distance, I took my stand behind that gate where you saw me -yesterday." - -"I am very glad that I have been able to atone for the discourtesy of -the concierge, and that I found you again to-day at the same place." - -"Faith! it's a mere chance! If I were not waiting for a comrade, whom I -agreed to meet in this village, I certainly should not have stayed -here." - -"Ah! you are waiting for a comrade?" - -"Yes, monsieur." - -Edouard was silent for a moment; he seemed to be reflecting upon what -the stranger had said; the latter resumed the conversation. - -"Excuse me, monsieur, if I question you in my turn; but how does it -happen that the old villain of a proprietor has intrusted the keys of -his garden to you?" - -"This house no longer belongs to Monsieur Renare; he has sold it to me -this very day." - -"Sold it! Pardieu! I am delighted to hear that. I was distressed to see -this house in the clutches of that Arab!" - -"You seem to be very fond of this house?" - -"I well may be, as I passed a large part of my youth here." - -"You?" - -"I." - -Edouard looked more closely at the stranger; vague suspicions, a secret -presentiment made his heart leap. He observed that the stranger was -young and that it seemed to be fatigue simply that had wasted his -sun-burned features; he desired, yet dreaded to learn more. - -"Yes, monsieur," continued the stranger after a moment's silence, "I -have lived in this house. Indeed I was partly brought up here. At that -time I was with my parents, and the future looked very bright to me. I -had a kind father, I had a brother! I left them all! And I well deserve -what is happening to me now!" - -"Are your parents dead?" asked Edouard in a broken voice, gazing at the -man whom he already feared that he recognized. - -"Yes, monsieur, they are dead,--perhaps of the sorrow that I caused -them! My mother did not love me very much; but my father was devoted to -me! And I shall never see him again! Oh! this accursed temper of mine, -that has made me do so many foolish things!" - -"And your brother?" - -"My brother is still alive, so I learned at Paris; he has just married, -I was told. The person who told me was not then able to give me his -address, but is to give it to me to-morrow; then I shall go to see him. -Poor Edouard, he will be greatly surprised to see me! I will bet that he -thinks that I am dead!" - -Edouard did not reply; he lowered his eyes, uncertain as to what course -he ought to adopt, and not daring to admit to himself that it was his -brother whom he had found. - -Jacques,--for it was he in very truth,--Jacques had relapsed into -meditation; with one hand he fondled his long moustaches, and with the -other rubbed his forehead as if he wished to clear up his ideas. Edouard -stood motionless and silent; his eyes turned sometimes upon the friend -of his childhood, but the shabby coat, the old gaiters, and above all, -the long beard, checked the impulse of his heart which bade him throw -himself into his brother's arms without stopping to consider his dress, -or without wondering what his position might be. - -Suddenly an idea seemed to strike Jacques's mind, and he turned to -Edouard, and said abruptly: - -"It isn't impossible that you may know my brother; you seem to belong to -fashionable society, and you usually live in Paris, do you not?" - -"I do." - -"Perhaps you may have heard of Edouard Murville?" - -"Yes--I--I know him." - -"You know my brother?" - -"I am Edouard Murville." - -Edouard said these words in such a low tone that no one but Jacques -could have heard them; but he was listening closely, and before his -brother had finished his sentence, he had thrown himself on his neck, -and pressed him in his arms. - -Edouard submitted to the embrace with very good grace; but the infernal -moustaches still disturbed him; he did not feel at his ease, and he did -not know whether he ought to rejoice or to be sorry that he had found -his brother. - -"I say, why didn't you tell me your name sooner?" said Jacques, after -embracing Edouard again; "didn't you guess who I was?" - -"Yes, but I wanted to be certain." - -"And you--you seem to be rich and happy?" - -"I--yes." - -"You are married; and where is your wife? I shall be delighted to know -her." - -"My wife----" - -Edouard paused; the thought of Adeline, of Madame Germeuil, the -suspicions which the latter had conceived the night before, when she saw -the face with moustaches; the brusque manners, and the more than -careless garb of Jacques, which was in such striking contrast to his -own, all this tormented the spirit of the young bridegroom, who, at the -best weak and irresolute, tried in vain to harmonize his self-esteem and -the sentiments which the sight of his brother awoke in him. - -"What the devil are you thinking about?" asked Jacques, taking Edouard's -arm. - -"Oh! I was reflecting; it is late, and I must go back to Paris. -Important business demands my presence there." - -Jacques made no reply, but his brow darkened, and he walked a few steps -away from his brother. - -"What are you doing now, Jacques?" - -"Nothing," said Jacques, as he scrutinized Edouard with more attention. - -"Nothing? Then what are your means of existence?" - -"Up to this time I have never asked anyone for anything." - -"However, you do not seem to be very well off." - -"I am not, that is a fact!" - -"What an idea, to wear such moustaches! You don't expect to see my wife, -with those on your face, I fancy?" - -"My moustaches will stay where they are; if your wife is a prude and the -sight of me frightens her, never fear! she won't see me very often!" - -"You misunderstand me, that isn't what I meant. But I must leave you; I -am expected in Paris; I do not ask you to come with me now--indeed you -are expecting to meet someone in this village, I believe." - -"Yes, I am expecting a comrade, a _friend_." - -Jacques emphasized the last word and cast a meaning glance at his -brother. - -"Well, I must leave you," said Edouard, after a moment's hesitation; "we -shall meet again soon, I hope. Meanwhile, here, take this." - -As he spoke, Edouard drew from his pocket his purse, which contained -about ten louis, and offered it with a trembling hand to his brother; -but Jacques proudly pushed Edouard's hand away, pulled his hat over his -eyes, put his hand quickly to the collar of his coat, and seemed to -contemplate baring his breast; but he checked himself and said to -Edouard in a cold tone: - -"Keep your money; I didn't come here to ask alms of you, and I do not -propose to become an object of your compassion; I thought that I had -found a brother, but I made a mistake. I do not seem to you worthy to be -received into your house; my dress and my face frighten you; that is -enough; adieu, you will see me no more." - -Jacques cast an angry glance at his brother, and strode from the garden -through the little barred gate, that had remained open. - -Edouard, like all irresolute people, stood for a moment without moving, -with his eyes fixed upon the gate through which his brother had left the -garden. At last his natural feelings carried the day, he ran to the -gate, went into the fields, and shouted at the top of his voice: - -"Jacques, Brother Jacques!" - -But it was too late; Jacques had disappeared, he was already far away, -and his brother's shouts did not reach his ears. - -Edouard returned sadly to the garden; he paused in the gateway, and -looked out into the fields once more, and as he could see no one, -decided at last to close the gate. - -"Oh! he will come again," he said to himself; "he is a hot-headed -fellow, who loses his temper in an instant. However, I didn't mean to -insult him; I offered him money, because he seemed in great need of it, -and I don't see why he took offence at that. I gave him to understand -that his dress, his aspect, would be out of place in a salon. Was I so -very wrong? Can I conscientiously present to my wife and my -mother-in-law a man who looks like an escaped convict, at the best? It -would be enough to make a man die of shame--and that too on the very -morrow of my marriage! With the money I offered him he might have -dressed decently; but no! he will not shave his moustaches! Faith, he -may do as he pleases; I did what it was my duty to do." - -Edouard strove to convince himself that he had not done wrong; he did -not admit that his cold and constrained manner might well have -humiliated his brother; but a secret voice arose in the depths of his -heart and reproached him for his unkindness. Dissatisfied with himself -and disturbed concerning the outcome of that adventure, Edouard returned -to his cabriolet and drove away from the village, without giving the -concierge any orders. - -When he entered Paris, he was still uncertain as to what he should do. -At last he decided not to mention the encounter to his wife and his -mother-in-law, thinking that it would be time enough to introduce them -to his brother when he should call. When he arrived, his Adeline ran to -meet him, scolded him fondly because he had been away so long, and asked -him about his journey. - -"It is all finished," said Edouard; "the deeds are passed and the pretty -house is ours now." - -"And you had no unpleasant meetings?" asked Adeline with a smile. - -"I--no--as you see." - -"And you did not see that terrible face with the moustaches again?" -asked Madame Germeuil. - -"No, I did not see him again." - -"I am glad of it, for that man really looked like the leader of a band -of robbers, and for my part I have no sort of desire to see him again, I -assure you." - -Edouard blushed; his brother had the appearance of a highwayman! That -thought troubled him; he believed that they would guess his secret, and -he dared not raise his eyes. But his wife's caresses dispelled his -disquietude to some extent. - -"What on earth is the matter, my dear?" asked Adeline; "you seem very -pensive and preoccupied to-night." - -"Nothing is the matter, my dear love; the bore of being away from you so -long has been my only unhappiness." - -"Dear Edouard! May you always think the same, for then you will never -leave me.--By the way, when do we start for our country house?" - -"Oh! in a week." - -"A week! That is a very long while!" - -"We must give the former owner time to pack up." - -"Ah, yes! that is true, my dear." - -Edouard did not tell the truth; another reason caused him to delay his -return to Villeneuve-Saint-Georges. That reason he dared not -communicate to Adeline; and after forty-eight hours of married life, -after their mutual promises of absolute and reciprocal confidence, -behold he already had a secret from his wife! - - - - -VIII - -WE MUST NOT JUDGE BY APPEARANCES - - -Let us leave Edouard and his wife for awhile, and return to Brother -Jacques, with whom we must become better acquainted. - -After his abrupt departure from the garden, Jacques had struck across -the fields, and had walked for a long while without paying any heed to -the road he was following; his only object was to get away from his -brother, whose manners and language had wounded him to the heart. From -time to time Jacques muttered a few words; he raised his eyes, stamped -violently on the ground and seemed intensely excited. Having arrived in -a lovely valley, shaded by ancient walnut trees, Jacques felt the need -of rest; he looked about him as if to make sure that no one was -following him; everything was calm and peaceful. The peasants working in -the fields were the only living things that enlivened the landscape. -Jacques lay down at the foot of a tree, and reviewed in his memory the -conversation which he had just had with Edouard. - -"Because I look as if I were unfortunate, he treats me with contempt! -Because I wear moustaches, he dares not introduce me to his wife! He -offers me money, and does not ask me to live with him! Is that the way a -man should treat his brother? Why that contemptuous air? Have I -dishonored my father's name? If my manners are rough, my speech is frank -and my conscience clear. I may be poor and unfortunate, but never, no, -never, will I commit an action for which I would need to blush. I have -done foolish things,--youthful escapades, it is true; but I have no -shameful offences to reproach myself with, and this that I have here, on -my breast, should guarantee me against all reproach, by commanding me -never to deserve it." - -Thereupon Jacques opened his coat and gazed proudly at the cross of the -Legion of Honor, pinned to an old military jacket which he wore -underneath. That reward of his valor was his sole consolation; and yet -Jacques had concealed the decoration, because he had been for several -days past forced to seek hospitality from peasants, who were not always -hospitable, and Jacques did not wish to show his cross at the risk of -humiliation. He was right; a man who wears a symbol of merit should not -be an object of compassion to other people. - -Jacques had his eyes fixed upon his decoration; he was thinking of the -day when his colonel had pinned it on his breast; he remembered the -battles in which he had taken part, his mind returned to the -battlefield, and he saw himself surrounded by his comrades, and marching -eagerly against the enemy; the memory of those glorious days revived his -depressed spirit, and he forgot his sorrows and his brother's coldness. - -At that moment, a young man, dressed very much like Jacques, but whose -bright and animated face denoted neither depression nor poverty, came -down a hill leading into the valley, whistling a military march, and -marking time with a switch on the gooseberry bushes and lilacs which -lined the road. - -On arriving in the valley, the traveller stopped and looked about in all -directions. - -"What the deuce! not an inn! not a poor little wine-shop even! I wonder -if I have gone astray? I don't see any sign of a village, and I'm as -thirsty as one possessed. But no matter! Forward!" - -And he began to sing: - - "I saw Jeanneton - And her pretty little foot - I even saw her----" - -"Ah! there's someone at last. I say, my friend!" - -The traveller's words were addressed to Jacques, who raised his eyes and -recognized his faithful comrade; he ran toward him, exclaiming: - -"Ah! it is you, is it, my dear Sans-Souci?" - -"Why, it's comrade Jacques! Pardieu! I couldn't have better luck; wait -till I lie down beside you in the shade of your walnut; I would rather -be in the shade of a cask of burgundy; but however, one must accommodate -oneself to everything." - -"Still the same, Sans-Souci! still cheerful, and fond of good living!" - -"Oh! as for that, I shan't change; cheerfulness is the wealth of poor -devils like us. You know that I used to sing when we were going into -battle! They--let me see--what do they call that?" - -"Disbanded." - -"Yes, that's it,--they disbanded us; and instead of being soldiers, here -we are civilians again! Well, we must make the best of it; besides, we -have always behaved well, and if there is any need to defend the country -again some day, why then, forward march!" - -"Yes, but how are we to live meanwhile?" - -"Like other people, by working." - -"My poor Sans-Souci! there are some people that live on the fat of the -land without ever turning their hand; and others, with the best will in -the world to work, can't find any way to earn their living." - -"Bah! you always look at the dark side. Didn't your journey turn out -well? You came into this region for some purpose." - -"Oh! I found more than I expected." - -"And you are not satisfied?" - -"I have no reason to be. I just saw my brother, and he received me like -a beggar." - -"Your brother is a wild Indian, whom I would beat with the flat of my -sword if I still had one." - -"My dress, my face, and my long moustaches--he didn't like any of them." - -"That's a great pity! Didn't he see that token of your valor?" - -"No, it was out of sight, and I am very glad of it; my brother isn't -capable of appreciating what I have here, and I propose to make him -blush for his treatment of me some day." - -"So your brother is a rich man?" - -"Yes, yes." - -"A swell?" - -"Yes." - -"So you have a family, have you?" - -"To be sure." - -"Ah! that's something I haven't got. I never knew father or mother. I am -a natural child; and it doesn't prevent me from going my way with my -head up, because my ancestors' brats don't look at me; and besides that, -in the days of our first parents, there wasn't any notaries, and that -doesn't prevent the descendants of Cain from being very well thought of -in the world. In fact our sergeant, who could talk very well when he -wasn't tight, told me that love children made their way better than -other children; and on that subject quoted a long list of names that I -won't undertake to repeat, because I've forgotten them.--But let's -return to your business. You never mentioned your family or your -adventures to me; we knew each other in the regiment, and we made -several campaigns together; we both had the jaundice in Spain, and -frozen feet in Russia; and I say that such things are very good at -cementing friendship; you won the cross and I didn't--that's the only -difference between us; but you well earned it; you saved the colonel's -life. But, the excellent man! that didn't prevent his being killed the -next day; it was unlucky that you couldn't always be on hand.--Well, -after a great many things had happened, they disbanded us! That's a -pity, for perhaps we might have become marshals of France. In order to -comfort each other, we stayed together, except that you came alone to -this village, while I went to a place nearby to look after a little -brunette, whom I courted long ago and who swore a bullet-proof fidelity -to me!" - -"Well, did you find your brunette?" - -"Pardieu, yes! Oh! I tell you that there's some analogy between our -destinies: while your brother was receiving you so cordially, my -sweetheart came to me with three children she had had during my absence, -and another half way along. You can imagine that there was nothing to -say to that. My first impulse was to give her a good thrashing, but I -reflected that the poor child might well have thought me dead and that -calmed me down. I kissed my faithless one, and while her children were -splashing in the mud with the ducks, and her husband cutting wood, we -made peace; in fact, we did better than that, for I mean to have -something to do with the fourth, which she began while waiting for me; -so we parted good friends and I came off!" - -"Poor Sans-Souci! Women are no better than men, but men are simply less -skilful at concealing their falseness! I have learned to know the world, -I tell you, and I ought to have guessed what sort of welcome my brother -would have given me. But one always hopes, and that is where one makes a -mistake." - -"Come, tell me your adventures; we are in the open air, no one can hear -us, and no one will disturb us; and while I listen to you, I will rest -and smoke a cigar." - -"Well! all right; I will tell you what has happened to me since I was -fifteen years old, for that was the time that I began my cruising." - -Jacques unbuttoned his coat, leaned back against the tree and made ready -to relate his adventures to his comrade; while he, having taken a flint -and steel from his pocket and lighted a cigar, gravely placed it in his -mouth, in order to listen to his companion's narrative with twofold -enjoyment. - - - - -IX - -BROTHER JACQUES'S ADVENTURES - - -I left my father's house at fifteen. My mother did not seem to care much -for me, and she never mentioned my name except with repugnance. But I -remember a stout old fellow with a pleasant face, who used to come to -our house sometimes and who always called me Jacques with all the -strength of his lungs. I believe indeed, that that old fellow was my -godfather and that his name too was Jacques. This much is certain, that -he seemed to be very fond of me and that whenever he came to see me he -gave me toys or bonbons. But in spite of my godfather's kindness, my -father's caresses and my love for my brother, I was horribly bored at -home. I could not keep still a minute. I had no taste for study, and as -I thought of nothing but travelling round the world and fighting, I did -not see the necessity of learning Latin and mathematics. Ah! my dear -Sans-Souci, I have paid already for those errors of my youth, and I have -learned at my own expense that education is always of great service, no -matter in what situation we may find ourselves. If I had had some -education I should not have remained a simple private; and even if my -good conduct had raised me to the rank of captain, it is always -disagreeable when one goes into the society of one's superiors never to -be able to open one's mouth without the fear of making some horrible -slip, and of setting other people laughing at you. But let us return to -our subject: I started off one fine morning without trumpet or drum, or -without thinking in which direction I should go. I had one louis in my -pocket, which I had received a few days before from my godfather, and I -imagined that such a sum would never be exhausted. - -After walking for a very long time, I stopped in a village in front of a -wine shop. I went in and ordered dinner, with the assurance of a -government messenger. I was well treated; I had an open, honest face, -and I jingled my money as I hopped about the kitchen and uncovered all -the dishes in order to select what I wanted. The host watched me -laughingly and let me do as I chose. He served a good dinner and gave me -white wine and red wine. A little hunchback, who was dining at a table -near me, examined me closely. He tried to enter into conversation with -me and find out where I came from and where I was going; but as I have -never liked inquisitive people and as the little hunchback's remarks -displeased me, I looked at him without answering, or whistled and sang -while he was talking. - -When I was well filled, I asked the host how much he wanted; the rascal -asked me fifteen francs for my dinner. I made a wry face; but I paid the -bill and left the inn, reflecting that my louis, which was to last -forever, would not suffice to pay for a second meal, if I chose to -continue to play the nobleman. - -The place where I had dined and which I had taken for a village was -Saint-Germain; I asked the way to the forest and resumed my journey, -stopping only to jump ditches, and to belabor donkeys that I happened to -pass. - -As I was entering Poissy, I heard a horse trotting behind me; I stopped -and recognized my hunchback, who was riding a raw-boned little horse, -which he was obliged to strike constantly with the spur and the whip; -else the animal would have stopped every few steps. He ceased to crack -his whip when he was beside me, and contented himself with a walk, in -order to remain at my side. He tried to enter into conversation, and as -I was beginning to be tired then, and the croup of a horse, however thin -the beast might be, seemed to me a very agreeable seat, I displayed less -pride, and talked with the hunchback. - -"Where are you going at this rate, my dear boy?" he asked me. - -"Why, I don't exactly know. I mean to travel, to see the country and -enjoy myself." - -"Have you no parents?" - -"Oh, yes! But they are in Paris and want me to pass my time in reading -and writing; I got tired of that and I came away." - -"I understand; a piece of folly! a youthful escapade! Oh! I know what it -is. That's about all one sees now.--But have you much money for your -travels?" - -"I have nine francs." - -"Nine francs! Hum! you'll have to eat wild cow."[A] - -[A] _Manger de la vache enragee: i.e._, to endure hunger and privation. - -"What do you mean with your cow? I ate chicken and eels and pigeons and -ducks." - -"Yes, but you spent fifteen francs, and with the nine you've left, you -can't eat three more meals like that." - -I made no reply, but I realized that the hunchback was right; and yet, -as I had a will of my own, and as I was accustomed to make up my mind -quickly, I looked at the little man with a decided air, and said to him -after a moment: - -"All right! I will eat cow." - -"I see that you have pluck," he said; "but still, when a man can find a -chance to live well while travelling, it isn't to be despised; and I -can supply you with the means." - -"You can?" - -"Yes, myself." - -"How so?" - -"I will tell you. But so that you can listen to me at your ease and not -get more tired, wouldn't you like to get up here behind me?" - -"Oh! I ask nothing better." - -Delighted by my new travelling companion's proposition, I jumped -recklessly on the poor horse's back; I slipped, grasped the little man's -hump, fell, and dragged him with me, and we both rolled in the road; but -luckily his placid steed did not stir. - -My new acquaintance rose good-humoredly enough, and simply advised me to -be less eager in the future, because we might not always fall so softly. -I promised. My hunchback put his foot in the stirrup. I too mounted, but -with more precaution; and when we were firmly seated on our saddle and -he had, by dint of blows, induced his nag to walk on, he resumed his -discourse, which I had interrupted so abruptly. - -"My dear boy, everyone in this world tries to make money and earn a -fortune, that is, unless he is born rich; and still, we see millionaires -thinking of nothing but speculation, capitalists engaged in large -undertakings in order to double their wealth; and nobles seeking -alliances which may add to the splendor of their family. I, who am -neither a noble nor a capitalist nor even a merchant, and have no hope -of becoming any one of them, I tried for a long time to think of some -means by which I could, if not make a fortune, at least live at my ease. -I soon found that means. With intelligence one soon learns to know men. -I travelled; I studied men's tastes and characters. I saw that, with a -little address, poor mortals are easily deceived; all that is necessary -is to take them on their weak side, which one can easily divine when one -has tact and penetration, as I have." - -"Ah! so you have tact and penetration?" I said to my companion, as I -buried in the flanks of our steed some pins which I had discovered on -the portmanteau that was between us. - -"Yes, my dear boy, I flatter myself that I have." - -"Then, why is your horse going so fast now?" - -"Because I keep my whip snapping, and he knows that he is soon going to -have his supper." - -"That is true; I see that you have tact.--Well, go on, I am listening." - -"So then, it was by flattering men's passions that I found a way to live -at my ease; moreover, I instructed myself in botany, medicine, -chemistry, and even in anatomy too; and with my knowledge I have not -only composed remedies for all diseases but also philters to arouse -love, hatred, jealousy, and to make well people sick; it is in this last -art that I am particularly proficient." - -"Ah! I understand now. No doubt you sell vulneraries too, like that -tall, red man that I used to see in Paris on the squares and -street-corners. People called him a charlatan, I believe." - -At the name charlatan, my companion leaped in the saddle in such a way -that he nearly threw us both off; luckily I clung firmly to him, and we -got off with merely a fright. - -"My dear boy," he said when he had become a little calmer, "I forgive -you the name of charlatan. You don't know me yet; indeed I admit that -there is a little charlatanism in my business, and that three-quarters -of my remedies and my philters do not produce the effect that is -expected of them; but we make mistakes in medicine as we do in -everything else. We take cathartics and make ourselves sick; we have a -toothache, and we take an elixir which spoils all our teeth; we try to -obtain a position which we are not able to fill; we go into maritime -speculations which a sudden storm destroys; we think that we have -intelligence when we have not the intelligence to succeed, which is the -most important of all; we determine to be prudent and we make fools of -ourselves; we desire happiness, and we marry and have a wife and -children who often cause us untold anxiety!--In short, my little man, -people have made mistakes in all lines, and it is great luck when things -turn out as we had anticipated, or hoped." - -"Look here, monsieur," I said to my little hunchback, whose chatter was -beginning to weary me, "what do you expect to do with me, after all is -said and done?" - -"This: when I stop in a village or small town, I cannot make myself -sufficiently well known alone; I need an assistant, to go about the town -to deliver prospectuses, and to answer for me when I am busy, and make a -memorandum of the questions that people want to ask me." - -"But I don't choose to be your assistant, as I don't want to learn -anything." - -"I understand that very well, my friend. Oh! I don't propose to drive -you crazy with fatiguing work. I will have you make pills, that's all." - -"Pills?" - -"Yes, pills of all sizes and of all colors. Never fear, it won't be -hard; but that isn't all." - -"What else shall I do?" - -"You must be able to sleep when you choose, and to play the sleep-walker -when you please." - -"Oh! as to sleeping, I can do that all right!" - -"When you are asleep, you must answer the questions that are asked you." - -"How do you expect me to answer questions when I am asleep?" - -"Why, you will pretend to be asleep, my boy; I will explain all that to -you. Oh! that is one of the principal branches of my business." - -"When you put people to sleep?" - -"No, but when I make sleep-walkers talk, and when I make them give -remedies to sick people." - -"One moment; I am willing to sleep, but I am not willing to give -remedies or take them.--Indeed, I have been whipped at home for -refusing." - -"Oh! you don't understand; when I say remedies, I mean medicines to -take----" - -"Yes, with a syringe; I know all about that!" - -"I tell you that you don't know what I am talking about. You will talk -while pretending to be asleep; I will teach you your lesson beforehand, -and you will answer the questions asked by invalids or curiosity -seekers." - -"Well, I don't understand at all." - -"Pardieu! I can believe that; nor do those people who question the -somnambulists; and that is just wherein the charm of it lies; if they -knew what to think about it, it would no longer be possible to earn -one's living with magnetism and somnambulism. But will you be my -assistant and help me with my business, or not? I will feed you well, I -will dress you suitably, and you will see the country, for I never stay -long in the same place." - -"And all I shall have to do for that is to make pills and sleep?" - -"Not another thing!" - -"Then, it's agreed, I will go with you." - -So I became the little hunchback's assistant. We reached a village that -night. My patron went to the best inn, and ordered a very good supper. -It seemed to me very pleasant to travel on horseback, without having to -worry about my meals. Moreover, I was always at liberty to leave my -companion when I chose, and that reason was enough to make me enjoy -myself with him; the certainty of being free gives a charm to existence -and makes the most trivial incidents enjoyable; bondage, on the -contrary, throws a tinge of gloom over all our actions; it causes us to -shun pleasure; it takes away all the joy of love, it deprives the heart -of all its strength and the imagination of all its vivacity. - -This that I am saying, Sans-Souci, is not my own; it is a sentence which -my godfather repeated to me often, and which I remembered easily because -it harmonized with my taste. - -When I awoke the next morning, my hunchback, whose name was -Graograicus--a name which he had probably manufactured for himself, and -which no one could pronounce without making a wry face, which made it -altogether impressive--my little hunchback, as I said, suggested giving -me a lesson in somnambulism, which we were to practise in the first -place of any importance in which we might stop. I accepted his -proposition. He made me sit down, told me to stare at vacancy as if I -were looking at nothing, and taught me to sleep with my eyes open; but, -as that tired my eyes, he allowed me to close them when we only had -peasants or poor devils to cure. - -Then came the matter of philters; my companion was out of them, and it -was necessary to prepare more. While I was cleaning a dozen or more -four-ounce phials, which were to contain the charms, Master Graograicus -went out to purchase plants, roots, and such other ingredients as he -needed in the manufacture of the philters. He lighted a fire, and -borrowed from our host all the bowls that he had; and our bedroom, where -everything was turned topsy-turvy, began, in my companion's language, to -be a workshop of chemistry and magic. - -"Look here," I said to my hunchback, while he was pulverizing burdock, -and I was rolling cinnamon, "what are you going to use these things for -that you are making? I am willing to be your assistant, but only on -condition that you teach me your mysteries." - -"You shall know, my boy; we must not have any secrets from each other. I -am now making a philter to arouse love; it is not very difficult to -make, for all I need is tonics, alcohol and stimulants. I boil cinnamon, -cloves, vanilla, pepper, sugar and brandy together. When a person has -swallowed that mixture, that person becomes very amorous; and as soon as -he or she who has administered my philter is with the object of his or -her love, he finds that the charm operates and has no doubt that I am a -magician. Furthermore, this little drug has the property of ruining the -teeth; teeth are not ruined without pain, and as the toothache is -commonly called love-sickness, as soon as it is known that the person -who takes the philter has pains in his teeth, it is presumed that he has -fallen in love. I sell a great deal of this philter, especially to -ladies; we will lay in a good stock of it. - -"Let us go on to the next one, which arouses jealousy. Ah! I confess -that it cost me long study and profound reflection, but I believe that I -have solved the problem successfully. In the first place, what gives -rise to jealousy? The suspicions which one conceives concerning the -fidelity of the object of one's love. Now, these suspicions have a -cause, for there is no effect without a cause; to be sure, a person is -sometimes jealous without cause, but much more frequently with a cause; -so I said to myself: - -"'By making one lover unfaithful, I shall necessarily make the other one -jealous; but how am I to make unfaithful the one who does not take my -drugs?'--Ah! that, my little man, was where a stroke of genius was -required. That is something a fool would never have discovered, and -which I did discover, without the help of any treatises upon medicine. I -compounded this philter of corrosive sublimate and herbs that have an -effect upon the skin. This compound has the property of making the eyes -dull, the complexion leaden and the nose drawn; it brings out a humor, -and the skin is covered with pimples and pustules of all sizes,--while -it makes the breath fit to kill flies at ten yards. So you see that the -man or woman who frequents the person who has taken my philter readily -becomes unfaithful, while the one who has taken it becomes as jealous as -a demon; and the effect lasts through life; for, let him do what he -pleases, he can never again succeed in making himself attractive and in -inspiring love.--Well! what do you say to that? What deep thought, what -a thorough acquaintance with the passions and their effects! But see -what the world is: I sell much less of this philter than of the others; -indeed it rarely happens that the same person takes it twice. - -"As for this last, for which I am pulverizing this burdock, it serves to -arouse anger, hatred, ill-humor, and it never fails to produce its -effect; it is a compound of manna, rhubarb, vinegar, turpentine, and -cacao, to which I add this burdock to form a syrup. This little charm, -at once emollient and astringent, produces the colic and sick headache; -now, when one has a pain in the head and the stomach at the same time, -he is certain not to be in a good humor; he easily loses his temper, -and feels a grudge against the whole world, especially when the pains -are constantly on the increase. It seems to me that that is rather -prettily reasoned out, and that nothing less than my tact and my -penetration would have sufficed to find the means of arousing so many -different passions." - -I listened to my companion with attention, and when he had finished, I -asked him if he expected to try his philters upon me; he said that he -had no such purpose, and that assurance restored my good humor, for I -would not have consented at any price to taste Master Graograicus's -charms. - -"It only remains for me now," he said, "to teach you to make pills; that -is very easy; I make them with the soft part of bread, and roll them in -different powders to give them different colors." - -"And what are they used for?" - -"To cure all diseases." - -"What! you cure diseases with bread?" - -"I sometimes cure them, for many diseases exist in the imagination only, -and when the patient believes that he is taking an infallible remedy, he -is easily persuaded that it is doing him good, and it is that persuasion -that cures him, and not my pills. But at all events they can't do any -harm and that is always something. I sell large quantities of them to -nurses and old women." - - - - -X - -A LESSON IN MAGNETISM - - -Thus I was made acquainted with all my companion's secrets; he required -me to promise not to betray him, and I solemnly swore. But I did not -swear that I would not amuse myself at the expense of the idiots who -might consult him; and that was what I secretly determined to do; for, -although I was only fifteen years old, I was resolute, courageous, -stubborn and reasonably mischievous. - -The village in which we passed the night seemed unlikely to afford my -hunchback an opportunity to put forth his talents and sell his drugs, so -we prepared to leave it. But my crafty companion succeeded none the less -in inducing our host's wife to purchase secretly a box of pills to -prevent her hair from turning white and her teeth from turning black. - -We set out on our travels once more, carrying our fortune tied to our -saddle. The weather was not propitious. We encountered a furious storm -and when we reached the small town which was destined to ring with the -fame of our talents, we were in such a pitiable condition that we were -more likely to be taken for wretched mountebanks than for learned -doctors. - -However, we betook ourselves to the best inn in the place. At first the -inn-keeper paid no attention to us, and did not put himself out to -receive us; but when my companion ordered one of the finest suites and a -splendid repast, he scrutinized us with a hesitating expression which -was eloquent of his doubts concerning the state of our finances. My -crafty hunchback tossed a number of crowns on the table, and requested -the host to take out a week's rent of the apartment in advance. - -This method of beginning operations completely changed the ideas of the -inn-keeper, who concluded that he had to deal with noblemen travelling -incognito. We were given rooms on the first floor and served on the -minute. - -"Monsieur l'aubergiste," said my companion to our host, as we took our -seats at the table, "you don't know who I am; I am going to make myself -known to you for the good of this town. Be good enough to inform the -inhabitants that they have the privilege of entertaining within their -walls, but for only a week, the celebrated Graograicus, -physician-in-chief to the Emperor of China, magnetizer to the favorite -sultana of the Sultan of Damascus, physician by letters patent to the -court of the King of Morocco, chemist to the Grand Vizier of -Constantinople, and astrologer to the Hetman of the Cossacks. Tell them -also that I have with me temporarily the little somnambulist, the most -famous, the most extraordinary that has ever appeared on the face of the -globe. He is a young man of thirty years, who looks less than fifteen, -because he has passed half of his life asleep. This strange young man, -born on the banks of the Indus, knows all languages--not to speak them, -it is true, but he understands them better than you and I do. In his -sleep he discovers your disease, its cause, its effects, the pains that -you feel, the periods of recurrence, and points out the remedies you -should take, even for future sicknesses. He has had the honor of putting -himself to sleep before counts, marquises, dukes, and even royal -highnesses. He has effected, sleeping all the while, cures that would -have passed for miracles under the reign of the great Solomon, and even -under that of King Dagobert. He has cured an Englishman of the spleen, a -German baroness of a cutaneous disease, and her husband of the gout; a -young dancer of hatred for men, and an old woman of her love for her -dog; a courtier of the habit of bending his back, and a courtesan of a -peculiar habit of wriggling; an annuitant of a weakness of the stomach, -and a Prussian of indigestion; an author of a buzzing in his ears, and a -musician of a weakness in his legs; a bailiff of rheumatism in the loins -and an attorney of itching fingers; a lawyer of a defect in his speech, -and a singer of defective respiration; a coquette of her vapors, and an -old libertine of his asthma; a pacha with three tails, of his inability -to secure offspring, and a muleteer of his too bountiful gifts in this -direction; a dissolute husband of the habit of sowing good grain on -stony ground, and an Italian of the habit of whipping small boys; and -many other people, whom I will not name, because it would take too long, -and also because we are not mere charlatans, who simply try to throw -dust in people's eyes.--This little prospectus, which I will beg you to -distribute, will suffice to give the inhabitants of this town an idea of -our learning. Here, monsieur l'aubergiste, take these, and believe." - -The host listened with wide-open eyes to this harangue of the little -hunchback, delivered with extraordinary emphasis and assurance; he took -the prospectuses with a respectful bow, assured us of his devotion, -tried to pronounce my companion's name, failed, made a grimace, took off -his cap, and backed out of our room. - -When he had gone, I asked my companion if I was the somnambulist, thirty -years old, who had cured so many people. - -"Yes, my dear boy," he replied; "don't be surprised at anything; I will -answer for everything. You told me to call you Jacques, but that name is -too far within the reach of everybody; when we have visitors, I shall -call you nothing but Tatouos--don't forget.--I am going to take a walk -about the town and make a few memoranda; while I am gone, amuse yourself -arranging my philters in this cupboard, and making a few boxes of pills; -I will return very soon." - -I was left alone, but, instead of making pills, I amused myself eating -the cacao, cinnamon and other ingredients used in compounding the -so-called charms. I also inspected the valise, which my companion had -left open; I found a long, black gown, a false nose, a scratch wig and a -flaxen beard. I was busily engaged in the examination of these different -objects, when someone tapped softly at our door. - -"Come in," I said, without moving. The door opened very gently and a -young brunette of some twenty years entered our apartment. She was one -of the servants of the inn, and, like most of her class, she was very -inquisitive and passably wanton. She had heard her master exclaim on -leaving our room that he had as guests in his inn the two most -extraordinary men in the universe: a scholar, who treated Frenchmen like -the Chinese, and a somnambulist thirty years old, who looked like a -child of twelve, and who could put the widest awake people to sleep. -When she heard that, Clairette had resolved to be the first one to be -put to sleep, to see what effect it would produce on her; and, presuming -that when we became well known, it would be more difficult to obtain an -audience, she had made haste to come up to our room, on the pretext of -asking whether we wanted anything. - -The girl came forward on tiptoe, like a person moved by fear and -curiosity at the same time. She stopped within two steps of me and -looked at me with close attention. I looked at her in my turn, and found -her most attractive. I had never yet thought about women; indeed, I had -never before been alone with a young girl. The presence of that one, her -close scrutiny of me, and the pleasant expression of her face,--all -those things excited me greatly, and I was conscious of a feeling which -I had never known before. - -We were both silent for some time; Clairette broke the silence: - -"What, monsieur!" she said, staring with all her eyes, "what! are you -thirty years old?" - -"Yes, mademoiselle," I replied at once, recalling what my companion had -told me, and thinking that that falsehood might lead to some amusing -adventures. Moreover, as you must know, a young man of fifteen is always -well pleased to appear older and more mature than he is; whereas at -thirty, he regrets that he is not fifteen still. - -"Bless my soul! why, I can't get over it! Thirty years old! You don't -look half of it!" - -And Clairette examined me more closely; I made no objection and tried to -play the exquisite. - -"You must have some secret, monsieur, to keep you from growing old?" - -"Yes, mademoiselle; and I have many others too." - -"Oh! if you could only tell me that one, monsieur! I'd be so pleased, so -happy--to look young forever! Ah! how delightful that would be! I -promise you that I won't tell your secret. You see, I wouldn't want the -other girls in town to stay young too! 'twould take away all the -pleasure.--Monsieur, will you be kind enough to--I say--if you will, you -can ask me for all you choose!" - -The young servant seemed, in very truth, predisposed in my favor; I -already felt innumerable desires surging in my heart; but I dared not -make them known as yet; I was very green, but I felt a longing to cease -to be, and I wished to receive my first instructions from Clairette. - -However, when you pretend to be thirty years old, you don't want to -appear to be an ignoramus; and, in order to avoid talking and acting -awkwardly, I held my peace and did nothing but look at Clairette. - -The girl, amazed by my silence, was afraid that she had said too much; -however, the desire to remain young tormented her so that she soon -renewed her questions. - -"They say you're a somnambulist, monsieur?" - -"Yes, I am." - -"And that you put everybody to sleep?" - -"I put those people to sleep who believe in my skill." - -"Oh! I believe in it absolutely, monsieur! and if you would put me to -sleep--Perhaps that is what gives the young look?" - -"Why, yes, that's the beginning of it." - -"Oh! begin me, monsieur, please! it will be so much done! Please, while -we're alone and you've got time----" - -"What do you want?" - -"To be put to sleep, monsieur. See, I'm all ready." - -I was terribly embarrassed; I didn't know how to go to work to play the -sorcerer, and I bitterly regretted that I had not asked my little -hunchback for fuller details as to that matter. However, as I did not -desire to be cruel any longer to young Clairette, who appeared to me in -such charming fashion, I said to myself: "Parbleu! I'm not any more -stupid than my hunchback; he hasn't taught me his way of putting people -to sleep, so I'll invent a way of my own, and perhaps mine will be just -as good as his." - -"All right, I consent," I said to Clairette, "I'll give you a lesson; -but it will only be just to give you a little bit of an idea; we'll do -more another time." - -"Oh! just as you say, monsieur." - -The young woman was so pleased with what I had agreed to do for her, -that she jumped about the room like a mad girl. - -"First of all, sit down," I said, trying to assume a very serious -expression. - -"Where shall I sit, monsieur?" - -"Why, here--on a chair by my side." - -"Here I am, monsieur." - -"Give me your hand." - -"Oh! both of 'em, if you want." - -I took both her hands and squeezed them hard; I felt a pleasant warmth -run through my whole being; I was so happy that I dared not stir for -fear of breaking the charm that intoxicated my senses; my eyes were -fixed on Clairette's, and their tender languor aroused my first love. -Instead of giving the girl a lesson, I felt that she could teach me a -thousand things. I trembled, I blushed and turned pale in quick -succession; never was a sorcerer so timid; but I had forgotten my role, -and Clairette had unconsciously assumed it. - -"It's mighty funny," said the girl when I had been squeezing her hand -for five minutes, "it don't make me a bit sleepy." - -"Wait, wait. It doesn't work at once. Now you must shut your eyes." - -"Bless me! shut 'em tight?" - -"Yes, that is absolutely necessary." - -"All right--now I can't see a thing." - -As Clairette was no longer looking at me, I became less timid, and after -contemplating at leisure a lovely bosom, from which I had put the -neckerchief partly aside, I ventured to steal a kiss from the lips of my -pretty pupil. Instantly an unknown flame set my heart on fire, I found -in those kisses an unfamiliar sensation of bliss, I could not take -enough of them, and Clairette made no objection, but murmured brokenly: - -"Ah! why--this is funny--it don't make me sleepy--a single bit." - -I don't know how that first lesson would have ended, had not my -companion suddenly entered the room, just as I embraced Clairette. His -presence confused me so that I reached the other end of the room in one -bound. Clairette seemed less embarrassed than I was; she remained in her -chair, glancing from me to the little hunchback, like a person awaiting -the result of an experiment. - -"What are you doing, my dear Tatouos?" said the crafty hunchback with a -smile, for he easily guessed the cause of my confusion. - -"Why, I--I was trying to put this girl to sleep." - -"Ah! you were going on to that, were you?--But, as you know, there are -some indispensable preliminaries, and besides this is not a propitious -hour. Take my advice, and postpone your lesson in magnetism until -another time." - -As he said this, my companion made signs to me which I understood -perfectly; then he went to Clairette, who was still sitting quietly in -her chair. - -"My dear child, I am glad to see that you desire to obtain instruction, -and that you have faith in our skill. Never fear, we will teach you much -more than you imagine--especially Signor Tatouos, who is extremely well -versed in his art, and whose one aim is to make proselytes. But the -moment has not arrived. Your master wants you in the kitchen; your -fricassees may burn; our supper would be the worse for it, and I should -be very sorry; for I have a good appetite, and I don't like curdled -sauces and overdone meat. Go, my dear girl,--to-morrow we shall begin -our grand experiments! And if you are the sort of person that I hope you -shall be initiated into our mysteries! In a word, to-morrow you shall -sleep and you shall see the light." - -I am not sure that Clairette fully understood my companion's meaning, -but she made a profound reverence and left the room. As she passed me, -she shot a glance at me that completely turned my head. Unable longer to -resist my feeling for her, and heedless of what my companion might say, -I followed her into the corridor. - -"If you want me to teach you all I know," I said to her in an undertone, -"tell me where your room is; I will come to see you to-night." - -"Oh! I don't ask anything better. Look--you go up these stairs, and up -at the very top, the small door to the right; anyway, I'll leave it open -a little." - -"Good!" - -"But you will show me how to keep young?" - -"Never fear." - -Clairette left me and I returned to my companion. As you see, love had -already made me inventive; I was determined to leave no stone unturned -to possess Clairette, and yet I was only fifteen and a few months; but a -resolute will, an ardent temperament and robust health impelled me to -embark upon an adventurous career before the usual age. - - - - -XI - -JACQUES PUTS CLAIRETTE TO SLEEP AND ACCOMPLISHES MARVELS - - -When I returned to my travelling companion, I expected a severe -reprimand for my inconsiderate conduct with the young maid-servant, and -I had determined to reply that I would remain with him only on condition -of doing as I chose; but I was agreeably surprised to see him laugh and -come forward gayly to meet me. - -"It seems to me, my young friend," he said slyly, "that you are already -disposed to work on your own account. Peste! you are beginning rather -young! However, I do not propose to interfere with you in anything; -indeed, I am neither your father nor your guardian, and you wouldn't -listen to me if I should preach virtue to you. Allow me simply to give -you some advice dictated by prudence and by our mutual interest." - -"I am listening." - -"I am a man of great tact; and I believe that you are in love with the -girl who was here just now." - -"Indeed? you didn't need any great tact to discover that." - -"But it's essential to find out whether she likes you." - -"Why shouldn't she?" - -"You are so young!" - -"She thinks I am thirty." - -"True! I had forgotten that. Then you must try to enlist her in our -interest; you understand, my dear Jacques, that to have a great success -in a town, I must make, or find, accomplices." - -"What! can't you do without them? You are not very clever, so far as I -can see." - -"My little Jacques, you are just beginning your pranks and your travels; -you don't know the world as yet; if you had studied it as I have, you -would know that even the most cunning people often require the help of -others to succeed; and that is what I call complicity. The tradesmen -enter into agreements with one another, in order to get better prices -for their wares; the steward makes a bargain with the tradesmen about -paying their bills; the courtiers put their heads together to flatter -the prince and conceal the truth from him; the young dandy plots with a -dancer at the Opera to ruin a farmer-general; the doctor has an -understanding with the druggist, the tailor with the dealer in cloth, -the dressmaker with the lady's maid, the author with the _claqueurs_, -who also have an understanding with one another about selling the -tickets they receive for applauding; stockbrokers make agreements to -raise and lower quotations, cabals to ruin the sale of a work by a man -who is not of their coteries, musicians to play badly the music of a -confrere, actors to prevent the production of a play in which they do -not act; and wives have a most excellent understanding with their -husbands' friends. All this, my dear boy, is complicity. Need you be -surprised then, that a sleight-of-hand man, a manipulator of goblets, -requires accomplices?--So much the worse for the idiots who allow -themselves to be tricked! or rather, so much the better; for if there -were no illusion, there would be very little enjoyment.--As for myself, -I require to know beforehand who the people are who come to consult me; -for you understand that I am no more of a sorcerer than other men. In -order that you, while playing the somnambulist, may divine the pains -that people are feeling, as well as those that they have felt, I must -teach you your lesson in advance. That won't prevent our making cures, -please God! but we must impose on the multitude; and men are so -constituted that the marvelous delights and always will delight them. -Now then, this little servant seems to me very sly and very wide awake, -and we must make her our accomplice; you will give her love, and I -money. With the two, we shall be very unlucky or very bungling if we do -not enlist her in our cause." - -I was overjoyed by my companion's proposition; to give love to Clairette -was my only thought, my only desire! But, as the little hunchback -constantly enjoined prudence upon me, and requested me to do nothing -without consulting him, I did not mention my appointment with the young -servant; he might have considered it too abrupt, too sudden, and not for -anything in the world would I have missed my first rendezvous. - -Master Graograicus proceeded to tell me the result of his walk about the -town; he was already familiar with the gossip, the intrigues, recent -events, the appointments about to be made, the diseases most in vogue, -the persons to be treated with consideration, the marriages soon to take -place and those which were broken off,--in a word, everything of present -interest to the bigwigs of the place. Give me a small town for a place -to learn all the news in a short time! to be informed, all one needs to -do is to stop a moment at the baker's, the hair-dresser's and the -fruit-woman's. - -My companion had a great knack at remembering everything that could -possibly be useful to him; his memory was almost always accurate; it -supplied the place of learning, as in many people it supplies the place -of wit. - -Our supper was served. The host came first himself, to lay the cloth and -take our orders. Clairette appeared finally; she seemed less confident -than on the occasion of her first visit; she kept her eyes on the floor, -and paid no heed to my meaning glances and the little hunchback's sly -smile. I was on pins and needles; I was afraid that she had changed her -mind and her determination. I was a novice in amorous intrigue, and I -did not know that a woman never conceals her wishes so effectively as at -the moment that they are about to be fulfilled. - -She left the room, and I did what I could to hasten the supper; but my -companion, who was not in love, abandoned himself with keen delight to -the pleasures of the table. I had no choice but to watch him linger over -each dish, and to listen to his jests concerning my lack of appetite. He -was very far, however, from suspecting the real cause of my -preoccupation. - -The supper came to an end at last, and we went into our bedroom, where -there were two beds side by side. I made haste to jump into mine, -placing my trousers at my feet, that I might find them more readily. -After making the tour of the room a dozen times, and arranging his -philters and pill boxes, until my nerves fairly tingled with impatience, -my companion finally decided to go to bed. I awaited that moment as the -signal for my happiness, for I knew that he would be sound asleep as -soon as he was in bed. - -At last that instant so ardently desired arrived. My comrade was in bed; -I made certain that he was snoring. I rose, slipped into my trousers, -and, not taking the time to put on my shoes, I hurried to the door, -opened it very softly, and stood on the landing. - -I felt my way upstairs, making no noise, in my bare feet, and holding my -breath, I was so afraid of giving the alarm to the people in the house, -and of seeing that unfamiliar felicity which I burned to know elude my -grasp. At last I reached the appointed place at the top of the stairs; I -heard a faint cough and my heart told me that I was near Clairette. I -found a door ajar, and by the light of a night lamp, I saw the little -servant awaiting me. - -The girl wore nothing but a short petticoat and a jacket, evidently -assuming that an elaborate toilet was not necessary in the mysteries of -somnambulism; but no woman had ever seemed to me so bewitching, nor had -I ever seen a woman look at me in such an expressive fashion. - -"I was waiting for you," she said; "let's go right on with the lesson -your companion interrupted so unpleasantly; I am anxious to know how you -are going to make me young!" - -"You don't need to be made young," I said; "all you need is to stay just -as you are now." - -"Yes, that's what I meant. Let's make haste. See, I'll sit down and shut -my eyes as I did before." - -And without waiting for my reply, Clairette sat down on the foot of her -bed, doubtless because the only chair in the room did not seem to her -strong enough to stand our experiment in magnetism. I was careful not to -urge my pupil to do otherwise, and I went at once and took my place by -her side. I was too excited then to be timid; and Clairette, with her -eyes still closed, contented herself with saying: - -"Oh! is that the way? is that what makes a person young? Why, Pierre and -Jerome have taught me as much already!" - -I had repeated my experiment several times and had fallen asleep in -Clairette's arms, when a great noise woke us both. The uproar seemed to -come from the room beneath; we distinguished a confused murmur of -voices, among others that of the inn-keeper, calling Clairette and -shouting for a light. - -What was I to do? If the inn-keeper himself should come upstairs, where -was I to hide? There was nothing in Clairette's room large enough to -hide me from her master's eyes. The young woman pushed me from the room -and begged me to save her from the anger of her employer, who did not -propose that the servants in his inn should have weaknesses for others -than himself. - -While she blew out her lamp and made a pretence of striking a light, I -went downstairs with no very clear idea what I was going to say. I had -no sooner reached the floor below than someone came to me, grasped my -arm and whispered in my ear: - -"Play the sleep-walker; I had an attack of indigestion, I took our -host's bedroom for the cabinet, and a tureen containing soup-stock for a -night vessel. Don't be alarmed, I will get you out of the scrape." - -I recognized the voice of my companion, and I at once recovered my -courage. The inn-keeper, irritated because no light was brought, went up -himself to Clairette's room, where she was still striking the flint -without using tinder--an infallible method of striking fire without -striking a light. At last our host came down again with two lighted -candles; he was on the point of entering his room, when he saw me -walking about the corridor, in my shirt, with solemn tread, carrying my -trousers under my arm, as I had not had time to put them on. - -"What does this mean?" he demanded, gazing at me with an expression of -surprise mingled with alarm; "what are you doing here, monsieur? who are -you looking for, at this time of night? Was it you who came into my room -and woke me up, with a dull noise that sounded like a drum, and filled -the room with an infernal smell? Answer me!" - -I was careful not to reply and continued to walk slowly along the -corridor; the inn-keeper followed me with his two candles, and Pierre -and Jerome, the two men-servants, attracted by the noise, awaited with -curiosity the upshot of the adventure. At last a groan came from the -inn-keeper's bedroom. - -"Ah! there's someone in my room!" he cried, turning pale; "come here, -you fellows, and go on ahead." - -He pushed Pierre and Jerome before him, and they entered the room where -my companion was, leaving me in the corridor. Soon I heard our host's -voice, who seemed very wroth with Master Graograicus. I concluded that -it was time to make peace between them, and with that end in view I -stalked solemnly into the room where they were quarrelling. - -At my appearance the hubbub ceased. - -"Hush! silence! attention!" said my companion in a low tone; "it's -Tatouos, in a somnambulistic state. I will put him in communication with -myself, and you'll see that he will tell you all I have done to-night." - -The little hunchback came to me at once. He passed his hands in front of -my face several times, put his forefinger on the end of my nose, in -order, he said, to establish communication, and began his questions: - -"What have I had to-night?" - -"Pains in the stomach." - -"And then?" - -"Nausea." - -"And then?" - -"Colic." - -"There! what did I tell you just now?" cried my companion, turning -toward the stupefied audience. "But let's go on; this is nothing; I'll -wager that he will tell you everything I did.--What caused my trouble?" - -"Indigestion." - -"And the indigestion?" - -"From eating too much supper." - -"Surprising! prodigious!" said the host, crowding between his two -servants. - -"Hush!" said my companion; "don't break the spell.--Then what did I do?" - -"You got up." - -"With what purpose?" - -"With the purpose of going to a certain place." - -"Did I take a light?" - -"No, you had none." - -"How did I walk?" - -"Feeling your way." - -"You hear him, messieurs; I felt my way because I had no light; he -doesn't make a mistake as to a single detail.--Let's go on: where did I -go?" - -"Out into the corridor; you forgot that you had been told that it was -the door at the left; you turned to the right and came into this room." - -"Exactly,--and then?" - -"You found a soup-tureen, and you used it for----" - -"Better and better!" - -"The noise woke our host; he yelled and went out to get out a light, and -meanwhile you hid the tureen under the bed." - -"Exactly. Look and see if he is mistaken in a single point!" - -The servants did in fact find the tureen, which they soon returned to -its place, holding their noses. The host was stupefied; but his spoiled -soup-stock made him rather sulky, for he expected to make soup with it -for a whole week. My companion, seeing what disturbed him, came back to -me. - -"What has it been my intention to do, since I discovered my mistake?" - -"To give our host twelve francs as compensation for this accident." - -"Parbleu! exactly! Twelve francs! I told you so a moment ago, my dear -host, to appease your wrath." - -"No, monsieur, I assure you that you never mentioned it." - -"No? Well, I had it on the tip of my tongue. Now you are satisfied, I -hope, and I can wake our young man." - -He came to me and pinched the end of my little finger. I shook my head -and rubbed my eyes, like a person just waking, and naturally asked what -I was doing there. - -My companion glanced at the people of the inn; they were so surprised by -all that they had seen and heard, that they stared at me as at a -supernatural being. - -"Now let's go back to bed," said the crafty hunchback. "Until to-morrow, -messieurs; I promise you that you will see many more wonderful things, -if you allow us to make our experiments in peace." - -My companion took my arm and we returned to our room, leaving the -inn-keeper and his servants assuring one another that all that they had -just seen had really happened. - - - - -XII - -MARVELOUS EXPERIMENTS OF THE LITTLE HUNCHBACK - - -When we were closeted in our room, my companion threw himself into my -arms and embraced me joyfully. - -"My boy, I am delighted with you," he said; "you played your role like -an angel! You are an invaluable fellow, and our fortune is made. -To-night's adventure will create a sensation." - -We went to bed well pleased with the way in which we had extricated -ourselves from a bad scrape. I fell asleep thinking of Clairette, of her -charms, of the pleasure I owed to her, of those I hoped still to enjoy; -and my companion, reckoning what his first seance would be worth to him -in a town where his reputation had obtained such a favorable start. - -The little hunchback was not mistaken in his belief that the adventure -of the night would bring us a crowd of curiosity seekers. The servants -of the inn had risen early, in order to lose no time in telling all that -they had seen and heard. The hair-dressers, the bakers, the grocers were -the first to be informed; but that was quite enough to make it certain -that the whole town would soon know what we were capable of doing. An -adventure becomes so magnified by passing from mouth to mouth that we -sometimes have difficulty in recognizing things that have happened to -ourselves, when we hear others tell them. Everyone takes delight in -adding some strange or marvelous detail, in outbidding his neighbor; -thus it is that a brook becomes a rushing torrent, that a child who -recites a complimentary poem without a mistake is a prodigy, that a -juggler is a magician, that a man who has a soprano voice is a eunuch, -that the man whose love is all for his country is a suspicious person in -the eyes of him who loves only his own interest, and that a comet -announces the end of the world. - -The maid-servant, when she went to buy her ounce of coffee, learned from -the grocer's clerk that there were two most extraordinary men at the -Tete-Noire inn, who were endowed with the power to tell you what you had -done and what you meant to do. - -"Pardieu! I must go and tell my mistress that," said the maid as she -left the shop; "she went to walk with her cousin the other night, and -she don't want her husband to know it; I'll tell her not to go and let -those sorcerers get scent of it." - -"What's the news?" the old bachelor asked the barber, as he took his -seat in the chair and put on his towel. - -"What news, Monsieur Sauvageon! Peste! we have some very peculiar, very -interesting people in town!" - -"Tell me about them, my friend; go on!" - -"Those two strangers, those doctors who arrived at the Tete-Noire last -night, have been making experiments already." - -"Indeed?" - -"It's an absolute fact; I got it from Jerome, the servant at the inn, -who saw it and heard it." - -"The devil." - -"The somnambulist began his nocturnal expeditions last night." - -"Nocturnal expeditions at night! Are these somnambulists nyctalopes?" - -"Yes, monsieur, they're nycta--What do you call it, Monsieur Sauvageon?" - -"Nyctalopes, my friend." - -"They're nyctalopes, for sure.--What does nyctalopes mean?" - -"It means that they see in the dark." - -"Oh! I understand! they're like cats; in fact, somnambulists are as -smart as cats in the dark.--But to return to this one at the Tete-Noire, -you must know that he tells everything anybody's done; and last night he -discovered something that was hidden from all eyes!" - -"I understand! he discovered some intrigue."[B] - -[B] _Le pot aux roses_; lit. the jar of roses. - -"Well, not exactly that! His companion had a pain in the night--he was -doubled up with colic caused by his supper." - -"And perhaps by some badly prepared dish, or a half-scoured saucepan; -for the entertainment is not first-class at the Tete-Noire; I once ate a -_fricandeau_ there that lay on my stomach three days, because it was -seasoned with nutmeg, which always makes me ill. Nutmeg in a fricandeau! -You must agree that that is perfectly horrible!" - -"True, that inn doesn't deserve its reputation; for at my sister's -wedding party, which was held there----" - -"Your sister? which one, pray?" - -"The one who married Lagripe, the sub-prefect's indoor man--you know? -the little man with blue eyes and a red nose?" - -"Oh, yes! the father of the child the little sempstress opposite had." - -"Oh! as to that, I don't believe a word of it! It's all made up by -evil-tongued gossips." - -"Look out, my friend, you are cutting me." - -"That's nothing; it was a bit of straw on your cheek, that caught the -razor.--You must know that if Lagripe had got the sempstress with child, -my sister wouldn't have married him." - -"Why not, pray? Between ourselves, my good fellow, your sister----" - -"What's that? what do you mean, Monsieur Sauvageon?" - -"All right, my friend. Give me a bit of powder, and let us return to the -somnambulist.--You were saying that he cured his companion's colic last -night?" - -"I don't say that he cured him; but I tell you that he discovered the -most hidden things, among others a soup-tureen that was under the -landlord's bed." - -"And which someone had probably stolen and hidden there until the time -came to carry it away." - -"That is quite possible; but this much is certain, that he told -everything that was in the tureen!" - -"Peste! that is rather strong! Did Jerome tell you what the tureen -contained?" - -"Certainly; it contained the supper of the magician, the doctor, the -hunchback one." - -"That is beyond me! To pilfer a supper, and then have it found in its -natural state, after eating it--I confess that that is a most remarkable -trick!" - -"But, Monsieur Sauvageon, I didn't say that the supper was in its -natural state; on the contrary, it was the result of the colic that was -found!" - -"Morbleu! my man, why didn't you say so? You keep me here two hours -about the--Put on a little _pommade a la vanille_." - -And, as our old bachelor was shaved and combed, the hair-dresser left -him, to repeat his story to another of his customers, taking care to -change it or add something to it. It is delightful to many people to -have a piece of news to tell, and to make comments thereon. - -But, talking of anecdotes, master author, you are terribly loquacious, -and you seem to take pleasure in listening to all the tittle-tattle of a -small town. Surely Brother Jacques did not repeat to Sans-Souci the old -bachelor's conversation with his barber, or the maid-servant's with the -grocer's clerk. How could he have known about them? - -True, reader; I plead guilty; I will try not to intrude my own remarks -again in our soldier's narrative of his adventures; and to begin with, I -will allow him to resume at once. - -We had no sooner risen and rung for our breakfast, than the host entered -our room, holding in his hand a large sheet of paper, which he presented -to my companion. - -"Messieurs," he said, bowing to the ground, "here is a list of the -people who wish to consult you this evening, and who have entered their -names here." - -"Very well--give it to me. Have you written the names, titles, age and -occupation of each one?" - -"They are all there, monsieur." - -"Very good. Leave us, and send your servant Clairette to us for a -moment; I have some orders to give her relative to my seance this -evening." - -The host bowed with the respect of a Chinaman passing a mandarin, and -left the room, promising to send the girl to us at once. - -My companion scanned the list; it was quite long and promised numerous -proselytes. The little hunchback was reading it aloud and indulging in -preliminary conjectures concerning the names, when Clairette entered the -room. - -The girl seemed rather embarrassed. She kept her eyes on the floor and -her hands wrapped in her apron. For my part, I was as red as fire, and I -did not know what to say. Clairette's presence caused a revolution in my -whole being; I was honestly in love with her; I felt a genuine passion -for her; and after the proofs of affection which she had given me during -the night, I believed that she loved me sincerely. I think that if I had -been told then that I must marry the little servant, or else give her up -forever, I should not have hesitated to give her my hand! And what I -felt, I will wager that many young men have felt like me. One loves so -earnestly the first time!--Ah! my dear Sans-Souci, I was very young then -and very green! But I have learned since that the more experience one -acquires, the less pleasure one has. - -My companion locked the door. No curious person must overhear our -conversation with Clairette. Then he returned to us and opened the -interview with a roar of laughter, which made me open my eyes in -amazement, while Clairette dropped the corners of her apron. - -"My friends, you are still rather unsophisticated," he said at last; -"you, my dear Jacques, who are in love with a girl who will have -forgotten you to-morrow; and you, my little Clairette, who believe in -witchcraft, and imagine that a person can look young all her life. We -are no more magicians than other men are, my dear girl; but you must -help us to impose on the fools who contend for the pleasure of -consulting us. You must do whatever we want, first, because that will -give you an opportunity to make fun of lots of people, which is always -pleasant; and secondly, because we will pay you handsomely--I with -money, and this young man with love; and if you should refuse to help -us, you would deprive yourself of a large number of little perquisites -that are not often to be had in a small town." - -This speech put us all at our ease. Clairette, who saw that the little -hunchback was acquainted with everything, smilingly accepted a double -louis which he slipped into her hand, and asked nothing better than to -act as our confederate. Everything being arranged, Master Graograicus -took up his list, requested me to write down the girl's replies, so that -we might not make any mistakes, and began his examination, to which -Clairette replied as well as she could. - -"Annette-Suzanne-Estelle Guignard, thirty-six years of age?" - -"She lies; she's forty-five at least. She's an old maid, who'd like to -be married on any terms; but no one will have her; in the first place, -because she's lame; and then because she chews tobacco." - -"Enough.--Antoine-Nicolas La Giraudiere, forty years of age, clerk in -the mayor's office?" - -"He's a fat fellow, as round as a ball; they say that he's not likely to -set the North River on fire; perhaps he wants to consult you about -giving him a little wit." - -"Impossible! People always think that they have enough." - -"Oh! wait a minute: his wife has already had four girls, and she's -furious because she hasn't got any boys." - -"That's it; I understand. He wants me to tell him a way to make -boys.--Next. Romuald-Cesar-Hercule de La Souche, Marquis de -Vieux-Buissons, seventy-five years old, former Grand Huntsman, former -light horseman, former page, former--Parbleu! he needn't have taken the -trouble to put 'former' before all his titles! I presume that he doesn't -ride or hunt any more. What can he want of me?" - -"He has just bought a small estate in the suburbs; he is having a -dispute with his vassals; he claims that they're rabbits----" - -"Rabbits! his vassals?" - -"No--wait a minute; I made a mistake, it's stags--_cerfs_." - -"Ah! very good, I understand what you mean--serfs." - -"And then, whenever there's a marriage among 'em, he insists on having -the bride come and pass an hour alone with him, and bless me! the -peasants don't take to that! The result is he's always quarrelling with -'em." - -"That's all right; I know enough about him.--Angelique Prudhomme, Madame -Jolicoeur, thirty-two years of age, laundress to all the notables of the -town. The deuce! what an honor!" - -"Ah! she's a hussy, I tell you, is Madame Jolicoeur! She keeps the town -talking about her. She launders for the officers in the garrison and -goes to balls with 'em." - -"Is she pretty?" - -"Oh! so-so.--A saucy face, and a bold way--like a cuirassier! She's -already been the means of setting more than twelve people by the ears, -and only a little while ago, on the town holiday, she waltzed with the -drum-major, who quarrelled with a sapper because she'd made an -appointment with the sapper to take a walk in the labyrinth. That would -have been a serious matter, if Monsieur Jolicoeur hadn't turned up! But -he's good-natured; he made peace between the drum-major and the sapper, -swearing to the latter that his wife didn't intend to break her word to -him, and that it was pure forgetfulness on her part." - -"That husband knows how to live.--Let's go on. Cunegonde-Aline -Trouillard, forty-four years old and keeps a very popular cafe." - -"Ah! that's the lemonade woman! She's always having the vapors and sick -headaches and--in short, she always thinks she's sick and passes her -time taking medicine instead of staying at her desk." - -"She must be a very valuable woman to the druggists!" - -"Her husband tries to be smart, to play the chemist; he makes coffee out -of asparagus seed and sugar out of turnips. I'm sure that he'll come to -consult you too." - -I continued to make memoranda of Clairette's answers, and we had almost -exhausted the list, when there was a knock at our door. I answered the -knock; it was our landlord, who had come to inform us that the mayor -wished to see us, and that he expected us at his office. We could not -decline that invitation. My companion donned his best coat and lent me a -pair of black silk knee-breeches that reached to my heels, the little -hunchback having purchased them at secondhand from a great poet, who had -them from an actor at one of the boulevard theatres, who had them from a -member of the Academy who was paying court to a ballet dancer, at whose -rooms he had left them. - -We started, somewhat disturbed concerning the results of our visit. -However, my companion, who was very quick-witted, hoped to find a way -out of the dilemma. We arrived at the mayor's abode and were ushered -into his study. We saw a short, lean man, whose eyes sparkled with -intelligence and animation. From the first questions that he asked us, -my companion saw that he had to do with a redoubtable party. The mayor -was a scholar; he was thoroughly acquainted with several abstract -sciences, among others, medicine, chemistry, botany and astronomy. In -his presence, my poor little hunchback lost his loquacity and his -presumption. The mayor, perceiving our embarrassment, chose to put an -end to it. - -"I have no intention of preventing you from earning your living," he -said, with a smile; "far from it! You practise magnetism, I understand, -and cure all diseases by its means; that is very well. I sincerely -desire the welfare of my constituents, I am especially earnest in trying -to cure them of those absurd prejudices, those ancient superstitions, to -which men are only too much inclined. Magic, witchcraft, magnetism, -somnambulism are certain to present many attractions to lovers of the -marvelous. I know that it is vain to combat the opinions of mankind; -there is but one means to cure them, and that is to allow them to be -duped themselves. That is why I am glad to have charlatans come to this -town. It is always an additional lesson to the inhabitants, for -sorcerers never leave a place without making dupes. So I give you -permission to magnetize my people." - -The mayor's remarks were not complimentary to us; however, my companion -bowed low as he thanked him for his kindness. - -"Doubtless," said the mayor, "you have some remedy that you sell -_gratis_--as the custom is. Let me see what it is." - -The hunchback immediately handed him one of his boxes of pills. The -mayor took one and threw it into a small vessel, where it was -decomposed. He scrutinized the bread for a moment, then returned the box -and said with a smile: - -"Go, messieurs, and sell lots of them; they are not dangerous." - -Thus ended that visit. We returned to our inn, well pleased that we had -not shown monsieur le maire our philters and charms. - -At last the hour for our public seance arrived. My companion had given -me all necessary instructions, and made me rehearse my part several -times. He assumed the regulation costume: the black gown, which makes -thin persons taller, and adds to the deformities of the misshapen, and -in which the little hunchback looked exactly like a sorcerer or -magician, who should never be built like an ordinary mortal; in -addition, the venerable beard and the conventional tall cap--such was -the costume of Master Graograicus. - -As for me, he dressed me in a sort of red tunic studded with yellow -stars, which he had made out of an old coverlet bought at the Temple in -Paris; which tunic was supposed to have come to me from the Great Mogul. -He also insisted upon putting on my head a turban of his own make; but -as I considered it unbecoming, and as Clairette was to see me in my -grand costume, I refused to wear the turban, and my colleague was -obliged to consent to let me brush my hair back _a la_ Charles XII; that -did not go very well with the tunic, but great geniuses do not bother -about such trifles. - -The salon of our suite was prepared for the mysterious things which were -about to take place before everybody. A tub filled with water, an iron -ring, a wand of the same metal, easy-chairs for the clients, plain -chairs for the aspirants, benches for the mere onlookers, and a single -lamp, which diffused only a dim light through the room; such were our -arrangements. - -As soon as my companion had told the host that the people might come in, -a crowd rushed into the room. Some came forward confidently, others with -a frightened air, the great majority impelled by curiosity; but at all -events we had a large number, and that was the essential thing. - -When they had all entered and had taken such places as they could find; -when the first whisperings had subsided and we had been stared at -sufficiently, Master Graograicus saluted the assemblage with much -dignity, and, having no low bench, he mounted a foot-warmer in order -that everybody might see him; then he began the usual harangue. - -"Messieurs, mesdames and mesdemoiselles--that is, if there are any in -the room--you know, or do not know, that there is in nature a material -principle thus far unknown, which acts upon the nerves. If you know it, -I am telling you nothing new; if you do not know it, I will proceed to -explain. We say then that there is a principle, and we start from that; -by means of this principle, and in accordance with special mechanical -laws, there is a reciprocal influence between animate bodies, the earth, -and the heavenly bodies; consequently there are manifested in -animals--observe this, messieurs,--in animals, and especially in man, -properties analogous to those of the magnet. It is this animal magnetism -which I have discovered the secret of applying to diseases, and it is by -this method that I claim to cure them all. The magnetic influence may be -transmitted and propagated by other bodies. That subtle matter -penetrates walls, doors, glass, metals, without losing any perceptible -portion of its power; it may be accumulated, concentrated, and -transmitted through water; it is also propagated, communicated and -intensified by bran; in short, its power has no limits; and all this -that I am telling you, I did not invent; I am simply repeating what such -learned men as Mesmer, Derlon and others would say now if they were not -dead." - -The audience listened in the most profound silence; the young men stared -with all their eyes, the young ladies smiled, the old men shook their -heads, the matrons exchanged glances, and no one dared to tell his -neighbor that he did not understand a word of the new thaumaturgist's -explanation. He noticed this, and continued: - -"I see, messieurs and mesdames, that I have convinced you; therefore I -will develop my arguments no farther. I must add, however, before -beginning my experiments, that there are bodies which are not sensitive -to animal magnetism, and which even have a property diametrically -opposed thereto, by means of which they destroy its efficiency in other -bodies. I flatter myself that we shall find none of those unfortunate -persons here; but I thought it my duty to warn you, in case it should -happen. Raise your minds, if possible, to the level of the sublime -discovery which now occupies our attention. This is no charlatanism; it -is evidence, it is power, it is the secret influence at work; it is----" - -At this point in his harangue, the foot-warmer broke, and the orator -measured his length on the floor; but he instantly sprang to his feet -and cried, addressing his hearers with renewed vigor: - -"Messieurs, I thought that I should conclude with an experiment; while -talking to you just now, I magnetized this foot-warmer with my left -foot, and I was certain of reducing it to powder! As you see, I have -succeeded!" - -A tempest of applause burst forth from all parts of the room. - -"You see," whispered my companion to me, "the man of intellect turns -everything to account, by never losing his head." - -The time for the experiments to begin had arrived; and as effrontery is -more readily imparted than magnetism, I was awaiting impatiently, in my -easy-chair, an opportunity to display my skill. - -Madame Jolicoeur came first, despite the representations of the Marquis -de Vieux-Buissons, who maintained that a man of his rank should take -precedence over everybody else. But the laundress was not the woman to -give way to anyone; moreover, she was young and pretty, the marquis old, -ugly and crabbed; so that Madame Jolicoeur had the first chance. - -The great magnetizer took her by the hand and led her around the tub, -then made her sit down, and magnetized her with the end of his wand. The -young woman did not seem inclined to sleep. - -"I will put you in communication with my somnambulist," he said. The -laundress looked at me and smiled; she did not seem to dislike the idea -of being put in communication with me. - -I knew my role; I had taken notes concerning Madame Jolicoeur. - -"We must take the bull by the horns," my companion whispered to me, "for -this woman is quite capable of making fun of us." - -The laundress was seated facing me; she was enjoined to be silent and to -allow herself to be touched, which she did with much good humor; but she -laughed slyly while I held her hand, and I heard her mutter while -pretending to be asleep: - -"Oh! mon Dieu! how stupid this is! The sapper told me that they'd try -some flim-flam game on me!" - -I at once proclaimed aloud all that Clairette had told us concerning the -laundress's love-affairs. I forgot nothing, neither the drum-major, nor -the waltz, nor the assignation, nor its consequences. At my first words, -the company began to laugh, Madame Jolicoeur was covered with confusion, -and before I had finished my speech, the laundress had left her seat, -elbowed her way through the crowd and rushed from the inn, swearing -that we were sorcerers. - -This first experiment left no doubt in anyone's mind concerning the -virtue of magnetism; so that Monsieur le Marquis de Vieux-Buissons -stalked solemnly toward us, and, in an almost courteous tone, requested -my confrere to put him in communication with me at once. - -The usual preliminaries concluded, the following dialogue took place -between us two: - -"Who am I?" - -"A most high and mighty seigneur in your ancient chateau, of which but -one wing remains; that is why you have recently purchased another small -seigniory in the neighborhood." - -"That is true; but what do I wish to do now?" - -"You wish that your vassals should be submissive, trembling and fearful -in your presence, like lambs before a lion; you wish to be the master of -their destinies; you wish that they should give you their fairest and -best--what they have earned by the sweat of their brow; and in addition -to all that, you wish that they should pay you." - -"That is very true." - -"You would that maidens should not change their state without your -permission." - -"That is the truth." - -"And as you are no longer capable of effecting this, you would, on the -wedding day, put your old bare leg into the bed of the young virgin, who -will shriek and weep at the sight of her lord's calf, a result which -will do great honor to him, as he is very glad now to frighten his -vassals with that, since he can arouse no other sentiment. In short, you -wish to revive the rights of _jambage_, _cuissage_, _marquette_ and -_prelibation_, as they existed in the good old days of chivalry, when a -knight always rode with lance in rest, fighting when neither would -yield to the other, on a narrow road where two could not pass; fighting -when the man whom he met refused to declare aloud that his lady was the -fairest, although he had never seen her; fighting with dwarfs--there -were dwarfs in those days--and with giants who carried off young -maidens, and who, despite their enormous clubs--for a giant never went -abroad without one--allowed themselves to be run through like manikins -by the first knight who appeared on the scene!" - -"That's it, that's it exactly! I mean to have a dwarf at the door of my -dovecote, and to kill the first giant who appears on my land, where one -has never yet been seen." - -"Very well, monsieur le marquis, buy some of Master Graograicus's pills, -take them in large quantities and often; they will make you young, -vigorous, active and lusty; your white hair will turn black again, your -figure will become straight, your wrinkles will disappear, your cheeks -will fill out, your color will come back and your teeth will grow again. -I will guarantee that, when this transformation has taken place, your -vassals will do whatever you wish, and especially that the girls will no -longer avoid you." - -The marquis, delighted by my replies, took twelve boxes of the pills and -paid for them without haggling. He put some in every pocket; he -swallowed half a dozen at once, and started for home, with head erect -and a sparkling eye, and feeling ten years younger already. - -After the marquis, Aline-Cunegonde Trouillard came forward; there was no -need of preliminaries or of harangues to induce Madame Trouillard to -believe in magnetism; the poor woman had such sensitive nerves that she -fell into a trance as soon as my companion touched her with the end of -his wand. In my interview with her I said recklessly whatever came into -my head; she had all the diseases that I mentioned, she felt all the -symptoms that I suggested to her. What a windfall to charlatans such -weak-minded creatures are! Madame Trouillard filled her reticule with -pills and went away, after subscribing to all our seances, public and -private. - -We were awaiting Estelle Guignard, whose name was on our list, when a -sturdy fellow, in wooden shoes and a blue blouse, forced his way through -the crowd and approached us. I had no answers prepared for this new -arrival, so I let him address my companion, who looked about for -Clairette, hoping to obtain from her some indispensable information; but -the girl, thinking that we had no further need of her, had gone down to -the kitchen; so that we had to proceed without a confederate. My -colleague hoped to extricate himself from the difficulty easily, -especially as he had to do with a peasant. He walked up to the man, who -was staring with a surprised expression into the mysterious tub; and -trying to assume a more imposing air than ever, he began to question -him. - -"Who are you?" - -"Pardine! you'd ought to know well enough, as you're a sorcerer." - -"Of course I know; but as I ask you, of course I must have secret -reasons for doing so. Answer then, without tergiversation." - -"Without tergi--without terger--What are you talking about?" - -"I ask you your name." - -"My name's like my brother's, Eustache Nicole." - -"What do you do?" - -"Why, I work in the fields, or else I drive folks' wagons when there's -stuff to carry." - -"Why have you come here?" - -"What! why, I've come like the rest of 'em! to see what a sorcerer looks -like." - -"Who told you that I was a sorcerer?" - -"The barber did, when I got clipped at his place this morning; and as -there ain't been no sorcerers in these parts for a long time, I stayed -in town on purpose to see you." - -"Do you want to be magnetized?" - -"Magne--What do you mean by that?" - -"Do you want me to put the secret agent at work on you?" - -"Pardi! I don't care what you put to work!" - -"Well, what do you wish to know?" - -"Oh! well! lots o' things!--You mean to say that you can't guess 'em?" - -"Yes, indeed; and first of all I am going to magnetize you." - -"All right, I'm willing; will it cost me much?" - -"I charge nothing for that." - -"If that's so, then you must be a sorcerer sure enough, if you do your -business without having your hand greased!" - -My little hunchback seated the peasant in a great easy-chair, then -touched him several times with the magic wand; but the clown let him -keep on, and seemed to be not in the slightest degree under the charm. -Thereupon my companion began to pass his fingers very lightly over his -eyes, in order to communicate the magnetic fluid to him. The peasant -said nothing, but contented himself with turning his chair from time to -time and rubbing his eyes. I felt a strong desire to laugh when I saw -the pains that my poor comrade was taking, perspiring profusely in his -efforts to magnetize Eustache Nicole. - -At last the peasant seemed quieter; he ceased to move and rub his eyes. - -"The charm is working," said Master Graograicus in an undertone, as he -continued his labors; "this fellow has given me a lot of trouble! but I -have succeeded at last! As you see, he is entering the somnambulistic -state; before long he will speak." - -But, instead of speaking, the peasant, who had really fallen asleep, -gave passage to so prolonged a sound that the most dauntless magnetizer -would not have had the courage to continue. My hunchback jumped back, -holding his nose. I roared with laughter and the whole audience followed -suit. - -That sudden noise awoke our peasant; he rose and asked if the experiment -was at an end. - -"You are a boor," said my companion angrily; "you have failed in respect -to the whole company, and you are not worthy to be magnetized." - -The peasant was not long-suffering; he lost his temper, declared that we -were making fools of the poor people and that we were no more sorcerers -than he was. At that, Master Graograicus attempted to expel the insolent -villain who cast a doubt upon his learning. He pushed him with his wand. -The angry peasant turned and seized my illustrious magnetizer by the -beard. The hunchback cried out, the spectators came forward; the women -called for help, the wiser sort contented themselves with laughing, and -the partisans of magnetism rushed to the assistance of the poor -sorcerer. He was fighting with Monsieur Nicole, who would not relax his -grasp on the beard. In their struggles they approached the tub; they -stumbled over it and both fell in, face down. Water cools and allays the -passions. The peasant, on withdrawing his head from the tub, released -his opponent's beard and quietly left the room. My companion, who was -thoroughly drenched, felt that he was no longer in a condition to make -proselytes, and he declared the seance adjourned. - - - - -XIII - -EFFECTS OF THE PHILTERS.--BROTHER JACQUES LEAVES HIS COMPANION - - -Despite the unpleasant conclusion of our first seance in magnetism, we -did a very good business at the Tete-Noire. Clairette gave us all the -information that we desired, and to avoid a repetition of the Eustache -Nicole episode, we admitted only those persons who had entered their -names beforehand. - -But the public curiosity abated, and the effects of our pills did not -always correspond to the expectations of the purchasers. Moreover, I -began to be less in love with Clairette; I had surprised her several -times being rejuvenated by Pierre and Jerome, and that had taken away -all the illusion of a first love. So that I was not disappointed when my -companion suggested that we should go away. - -For six months we lived in that same way, remaining a longer or shorter -time in one place according to the number of dupes we made there. That -worked very well; but we did not always find accomplices, and then we -were likely to make serious mistakes. One day I told a money-lender that -he didn't care for money, a drunkard that he didn't like wine, a gambler -that he didn't care for cards, and a bachelor that his wife was false -to him; you can imagine, Sans-Souci, that we did not make a brilliant -success in that town. - -I began to be tired of that kind of life; I had informed my companion -that I wished to leave him, but he always strove to keep me. But one day -I resolved to give my love of mischief a free rein and to play some -trick on him that would take away all desire on his part to have me for -a partner. - -We were in a small town where we were performing miracles. Magnetism and -somnambulism seemed to have turned everyone's head; people fought for -the privilege of consulting us first, of obtaining private conferences. -I could not fill the orders for pills, and even the charms were selling -very well. It was in that place that I determined to try an experiment -of my own invention on the fools who applied to us. - -An old advocate had been paying court for some time to a coquette of -uncertain age, who refused to respond to his flame, but did not cease to -listen to his tender declarations. The lady was crafty, she was well -pleased to inspire passions, and she was afraid of losing her influence -over her adorer if she yielded to his desires. They both came to consult -us: the advocate to learn how to soften the heart of his charmer, and -she, how to retain the charms that made so many men wretched. My -companion promised Monsieur Gerard--that was the old suitor's name--a -philter that would make the coldest woman amorous; and he promised -Madame Dubelair a charm that would shelter hers from the ravages of -time. - -In the same house with Madame Dubelair lived the deputy mayor of the -town. Monsieur Rose was an excellent man; but his wife complained of one -great failing in him; he was not enough in love with her, and was not -in the slightest degree jealous. So Madame Rose also came to consult us -as to the means she could employ to put an end to her husband's -indifference. To make a husband amorous of his wife after fifteen years -of wedlock was rather difficult. Nevertheless my companion promised -Madame Rose a philter with a marvelous power of causing jealousy, and -the dear soul went away, overjoyed to know that she might still hope to -drive her husband frantic. - -My hunchback made haste to compound the philters, and gave them to me to -carry to their addresses, instructing me to collect the pay for them. On -the way I reflected how amusing it would be to change the destination of -the little phials. - -"Parbleu!" I said to myself, "I am going to see what will happen! I will -give Madame Rose, instead of the charm for jealousy, the one to make a -person amorous; to Monsieur Gerard the one to arouse anger, and to -Madame Dubelair the one for jealousy; the results cannot fail to be -comical." - -I instantly put my plan into execution; I delivered the phials to the -three persons concerned, assuring them of their miraculous effect; then -I returned to the inn and impatiently awaited the result of my prank. - -Monsieur Gerard had solicited and obtained from Madame Dubelair -permission to lunch with her _en tete-a-tete_. I had carried him the -alluring charm early in the morning, and he thought that it would not be -a bad idea for him to take part of it before calling upon his inamorata, -in order to give himself resolution and audacity. Madame Dubelair had -lost no time in tasting the marvelous phial, which was to make her -charms impervious to time; and Madame Rose had poured a large part of -hers into the chocolate that her husband drank every morning. - -You know, my dear Sans-Souci, what my master's drugs were compounded of, -and how he had figured out their inevitable effect. Imagine therefore -the events that occurred during that memorable evening! Monsieur Gerard -betook himself to his adored one's abode; on the way, he felt slight -colicky pains; his head was burning hot. He supposed that the charm was -working and he hastened to Madame Dubelair's. He found her reclining -negligently in a long chair. But imagine his surprise! His charming -friend was unrecognizable; her nose was red and swollen, her skin -tightly drawn; several blotches embellished her brow. - -"How do you think I look this evening, Monsieur Gerard?" she asked with -a sly smile; "I am sure that you find me changed." - -"In truth, madame," replied the poor advocate, holding his hands to his -abdomen and making diabolical faces as he spoke, "I do find you changed. -You are ill, no doubt." - -"Ill, monsieur! ill! when you yourself are writhing and twisting in such -an extraordinary way!" - -"Madame, I admit, that for a minute or two----" - -"My mirror, Fifine; I wish to know if I look sick, as monsieur thinks." - -Poor Gerard could stand it no longer; the philter was working; colic and -headache appeared. The maid brought Madame Dubelair her mirror. The -coquette looked at herself and began to shriek horribly; she broke the -mirror, she had an attack of hysterics, and her poor lover implored -Fifine to give him the key to his mistress's closet. The girl, who was -mischievous and sly, like most soubrettes, roared with laughter when she -saw Monsieur Gerard's plight; and to make the confusion complete, Madame -Rose rushed in, crying that she was betrayed, dishonored; that her -husband was a monster who gave her no children but had just debauched -his concierge. Our amorous philter had raised the deuce with Monsieur -Rose; the poor man had gone home, hoping to find his wife there; she had -hidden in order to make him jealous, and the dear husband, finding -nobody but his concierge at hand, had made her the victim of the flames -that consumed him. - -The cries of Madame Rose, who was frantic with rage, of the concierge, -who pretended to be, of Madame Dubelair, who was trying to tear off her -nose, of Monsieur Gerard, who was holding his stomach, and of Monsieur -Rose, who was weeping over his own perversity, soon attracted the whole -quarter. The neighbors hurried to the spot, asked questions, pushed and -crowded, gave Madame Rose orange-flower water, the concierge cologne, -Madame Dubelair ether, Monsieur Gerard an enema, and Monsieur Rose -extract of water lily. - -When the first outcries had subsided, an attempt was made to ascertain -the cause of so many untoward events. It was clear that there must be -some witchcraft underneath. Madame Dubelair swore that she had never in -her whole life had a pimple on her nose or anywhere else, Monsieur -Gerard never ate too much, and Madame Rose, despite her wrath, admitted -that her husband was not the man to pinch a woman's knee unless he had -been made tipsy. Thus these extraordinary events must have had some -hidden cause. They remembered the philters; they confided in one -another; and the result was that the little hunchback was voted a -sorcerer, a magician, a charlatan, an impostor worthy of hell-fire. But, -pending the time when he should go to hell, they considered that it was -necessary to put him in prison, in order to prevent him from repeating -his infamous incantations. - -Rose, the deputy, went to the mayor and explained the affair to him; he -obtained an order for the culprit's arrest. On his side, the advocate -assembled all the notables of the town; they shared his wrath and -considered that the scoundrel who gave one of the long robe the colic -could not be punished too severely. Madame Dubelair and Madame Rose -stirred up all the women; Madame Dubelair especially had to say no more -than this: "A man who can make the nose red and the complexion -lead-color is a villain who deserves the halter!"--As for the philter of -which Monsieur Rose had drunk, all the ladies begged for a few drops of -it for their private use, thinking that, when thus divided, it could not -fail to produce very pleasant results. - -These events had taken time; it was daybreak when they started for our -lodgings to arrest us. I say us, for I am quite sure that I should have -shared my companion's fate. But since the preceding day I had been on -the alert, walking about the town, watching all that took place, -listening to what people said; in short, I learned that they were coming -to arrest us, and I did not deem it prudent to wait until that time. -While my companion was asleep, I made a little bundle of everything -belonging to me, and of the money I had earned with him, being careful -to take no more than was really mine; then, wishing my little hunchback -much good fortune, I left our lodgings, leaving him to get out of the -scrape as he could. - -I have no idea what happened to him, for I never saw him again; but as -sorcerers are no longer hanged, since it has been discovered that there -are no such things, I am very sure that my poor charlatan got off with a -few months in prison. - - - - -XIV - -END OF JACQUES'S ADVENTURES - - -I had about thirty louis in my purse; for selling pills made of bread is -a very good business; you make few advances and never sell on credit, -which proves that there is nothing that has not some value. You can -imagine, my dear Sans-Souci, that my only idea was to enjoy myself -thoroughly, and that is what I did in several towns where I stopped; but -the adventure that happened to me in Brussels put an end to my -enjoyment. - -I had been living at an inn two days, and I passed my time like all -idlers or strangers, eating much, drinking a great deal, and walking -about without any definite object, but going into all the public places, -and visiting everything that seemed likely to be at all interesting to -me. - -On the second day, having gone to the theatre, I found myself beside a -young man of respectable exterior. He seemed to be three or four years -older than myself and to be thoroughly acquainted with society. We -talked together, and he told me at once that he was from Lyon, and was -travelling for pleasure and to escape from a marriage which his parents -wished to force upon him. His confidence invited mine; so I in my turn -told him all my adventures, the narrative of which seemed to interest -him greatly. - -In a word, by virtue of this similarity of tastes and of temperament, we -became friends. Breville--that was my new acquaintance's name--invited -me to dine with him on the following day, at one of the best -restaurants, and I accepted very gladly; for it is a great pleasure, -when one arrives in a town, to find some one with whom one can form an -intimacy. - -My new friend entertained me handsomely; we lived on the fat of the -land; we walked and drove, and went to the theatre and to all the cafes. -Breville seemed to know the city very well for a stranger; he took me to -all the tap-rooms and public places; I commented upon it laughingly to -him and complimented him on the facility with which he remembered the -way to all the places of amusement. To make a long story short, after -doing the city one night, visiting cafes and frail ladies, we found -ourselves at one o'clock one morning in the street, drunk with punch, -liqueurs, porter, whiskey and faro. - -I could hardly hold myself erect, and I was most desirous to be in my -bed, to which I would have liked to be transported by some kind genie, -for I felt that my legs were but a feeble support to me. Breville seemed -less affected than myself, but he too complained of fatigue. The street -lamps gave a very dim light. For an hour I had been urging my companion -to take me home; but in vain did we walk through streets and squares, I -could not discover my inn. - -At last my guide admitted that he had lost the way and that we were very -far from my lodging; but by way of compensation we were very near his, -where he offered me a bed. As you may imagine, I accepted without -hesitation. I was no longer able to walk, I could hardly see where I was -going,--the inevitable result of the numerous forms of dissipation in -which we had indulged. - -Breville knocked at a door leading into a dark passageway. An old woman -admitted us. I hastened, or rather was carried, up a dirty winding -staircase, and at last I found myself in an almost unfurnished chamber, -which at any other time would not have given me a very brilliant idea of -the situation of my new acquaintance; but at that time I thought of -nothing but sleep, and in two minutes I was lying on a wretched bed and -sleeping soundly. - -Whether it was the effect of the punch, or of the strong liqueurs, I -passed a very restless night; I did not wake however and it was not -until late in the morning that a violent shaking made me open my eyes. - -"I say, my friend! wake up! You have been sleeping a long time, and it -ain't good for you!" - -Such were the words that first fell upon my ears. I opened my eyes to -their fullest extent, looked about me, and made no reply, for the -picture before me left me uncertain as to whether I was really wide -awake. - -Imagine my surprise, my dear Sans-Souci; instead of finding myself in a -bedroom and in the bed on which I had lain down the night before, I -found myself stretched out on a stone bench, in a sort of square, -without coat or hat, and with nothing on but my shirt, trousers and -waistcoat, and surrounded by a number of messengers who were gazing at -me with curiosity. - -"Come, come, comrade," said one of them; "come to yourself; you must -have had a good supper last night, and drunk a great deal! That makes -you sleep sound; I know how it is! And the morning after, you are as -stupid as a fool; you don't know where the deuce your memory has gone -to! But it comes back little by little!" - -The fellow's words recalled all my folly of the night before. An impulse -as swift as thought led me to feel my pockets and my fob. Alas! they -were empty; and like most young men, I had been ass enough to carry all -that I possessed about me. I was the dupe of a swindler. In vain did I -ask the men about me where Breville lived; no one knew him. I looked to -see if I could recognize the house to which the traitor had taken me; I -saw nothing that resembled it. - -I rose, with rage and shame in my heart; if at that moment I had caught -sight of the scoundrel who had swindled me, I don't know what I might -have done! But, as you may imagine, he did not show himself. I asked the -way to my inn, and returned thither sadly enough. But what was I to do? -What would become of me? I had not a sou, and I was dressed like a -beggar. After playing the grand seigneur, after gratifying one's every -wish, to be reduced to ask alms! What a horrible comedown! How bitterly -I then regretted my little hunchback and our seances in magnetism! If -only I had been able to begin that trade alone, I should have felt -better. But I had not even the means to buy what was required to make -pills, and I realized that a somnambulist who had neither coat nor -stockings could never put anybody to sleep. - -However, I was fully decided to die rather than to beg my living, and it -was in that frame of mind that I reached the inn, which I had left the -night before in such a different plight. I entered the room where the -guests were breakfasting. No one recognized me and the waiters were -about to turn me out, when I told them of my melancholy adventures. - -The inn-keeper expressed sympathy for me, but did not invite me to -return to my room, where I had left a few effects which were hardly -sufficient to pay my bill. I stood motionless in the midst of the -guests; I said nothing more, but tears rolled down my cheeks and my very -silence must have been eloquent. - -"Well, young man, what are you going to do now?" asked a voice, which at -that moment went straight to my heart. I turned my head and saw two -soldiers breakfasting at a table near me. - -"Alas! monsieur," I answered, addressing the one who seemed to look at -me with interest, "I have no idea. I have nothing left." - -"Nothing left! a man always has something left when he is a -stout-hearted fellow and has done nothing disgraceful. Come, sit down -here and breakfast with us and pluck up your courage, morbleu! No one -ought to despair at your age." - -These words restored all my good humor; I did not wait to be asked -again, and I ate my full share of a slice of ham and a piece of cheese, -which composed the breakfast of the two soldiers. When my hunger was -somewhat abated, the one who seemed superior in rank addressed me again: - -"My boy, you left your parents to make a fool of yourself; the first -mistake. You formed intimacies with villains; second mistake. And you -allowed yourself to be robbed; third mistake. However, your mistakes are -excusable; but look out--after being a dupe, one sometimes becomes a -knave. That is what happens only too often to the reckless youngsters, -who, like yourself, find themselves without money on the day after a -debauch. Then they give way to their passions, to their inclinations for -dissipation and idleness; then they resort to low tricks to obtain their -living; and at last they become guilty, although they began by simply -being reckless. You are on the way, young man, and you must take a -stand; you won't get a dinner by walking about with your arms folded, -nor a pair of breeches by looking at the stars, when there are any. Have -you a trade?" - -"No, monsieur." - -"In that case, enlist. Take the musket and carry it with honor. You are -young, tall and well-built; be brave, obedient to your superiors, and I -will guarantee that you will make your way." - -This proposition gave me so much pleasure that I leaped for joy on my -chair, and in trying to embrace my protector, I overturned the table, -upon which luckily there was nothing left. - -My eagerness pleased the sergeant and his comrade. They led me away -instantly and took me to their captain, who, after eyeing me from head -to foot with a glance, received me into his company, where I always did -my duty with honor, I venture to say. - -Now, my dear Sans-Souci, you know all my adventures; I will not mention -those which happened to me in the regiment, and which you shared with -me. Indeed, they are common to all brave soldiers: love-affairs, -battles, disputes, reconciliations, feasting, starving, victories, and -defeats.--Those are what always make up a soldier's history. - -Years passed; but I had not forgotten my family; I confess, however, -that I did not want to return to them except with an honorable rank; I -had the hope of obtaining it, and this decoration already made my heart -beat more peaceably, when suddenly events changed their aspect. -Relegated to the civilian class, I thought that an honorable and gallant -soldier could not make his parents blush, and I went to Paris to find -them. There I learned of their death! That was a cruel blow! But the icy -welcome, the cold and contemptuous tone of my brother, put the finishing -touch to the laceration of my heart! It is all over, Sans-Souci, he will -never see me again, the ingrate; he will never hear my name again! - -Thus did Jacques bring to a close the story of his adventures, and a -tear glistened in his eye during the last portion of his narrative; that -tear was for his brother, whom he still loved, despite the way in which -he had received him. - -It was dark; Jacques's story had taken longer than he had at first -supposed it would, and Sans-Souci had listened to it with so much -interest that he had not realized that the dinner hour had long since -passed. But when his comrade had finished, he rose, shook his head, and -tapped his stomach, as he glanced at his companion. - -"Have you told me the whole, comrade?" - -"Yes." - -"Well then, forward!" - -"What for? Where do you mean to go?" - -"No matter where, so long as it is some place where there is something -to eat." - -"Ah! you're hungry, are you?" - -"Yes, ten thousand cartridges! And terribly hungry too! My stomach -doesn't thrive on adventures. Still, yours have amused me very much; but -since you stopped talking, I feel that I need something solid." - -"Do you want me to begin again?" - -"No, no! I want you to come with me." - -"But where shall we go?" - -"Come on; forward!" - -Jacques and his comrade started across the fields. They could not see -very clearly and they did not know which direction to take. Jacques did -not say a word, Sans-Souci sang and swore alternately, frequently -cursing the hedges and bushes which barred their path. At last, after -walking for an hour, they spied a light. - -"Forward toward the light!" said Sans-Souci, doubling his pace; "they -must give us some supper." - -"Have you any money, Sans-Souci?" - -"Not a sou; and you?" - -"No more than you." - -"No matter, let us go on all the same." - -They approached the building from which the light came; it seemed to be -large enough for a farm-house, but it was too dark to distinguish -objects plainly. Sans-Souci felt his way forward and began to knock with -all the strength of his feet and hands at the first door that he found. -In vain did Jacques urge him to make less noise; Sans-Souci was dying of -hunger, and he listened to nothing but his stomach, which shouted as -loud as himself. - -At last two dogs that were prowling about the yard answered the uproar -that he made; their barking awoke the cows, which began to low, and the -donkeys, which began to bray; there was an infernal hurly-burly, in the -midst of which the voice of a woman, who had come to a window, had -difficulty in making itself heard. - -"Who's that? What do you want? answer!" - -"Ah! ten thousand cannonades! I am not mistaken; it's her, it's my -brunette!--Didn't I tell you, Jacques, that we should get a supper; we -are at her farm. Open, my duck, open quick! Love and hunger bring me -back to you!" - -"What? can it be him?" - -"Yes, yes! It is him, it's me, it's us, in fact! Come, Louise, put on -the necessary skirt, and come and let us in. But try to make your beasts -quiet, for we can't hear ourselves talk here!" - -The farmer's wife left the window to come down to admit them, and -thereupon Sans-Souci informed Jacques that they were at the abode of the -unfaithful sweetheart of whom he had spoken that morning, and who was -at heart very kind, very sentimental,--she had given him proofs of it -that morning,--very obliging, and that she made her husband a cuckold -solely because of her temperament. - -"But this husband," said Jacques; "he is the master in his own house, -and----" - -"No; in the first place, Louise is the mistress; in the second place, -he's a good fellow. Oh! she told me all about it this morning; she -wanted me then to pass some time at the farm, as a distant relative of -hers, just back from the army. I didn't accept, because I had promised -to join you, and your friendship goes ahead of everything; but so long -as you are here, and we are our own masters, faith! it's a good wind -that blows us to my old flame's house--Hush! here's the lady herself!" - -Louise did in fact open the door at that moment; she seemed surprised at -sight of Jacques. - -"This is my friend, let me introduce him to you," said Sans-Souci; "he -is a fine fellow, a good comrade, whom I don't ever mean to leave." - -"Oh, well, then it's all right, he's our friend too. By the way, my -husband's asleep, but it don't make any difference,--don't forget that -you're my cousin, Sans-Souci." - -"All right, that's agreed; now let's be off to the kitchen." - -"I will make you an omelet with pork." - -"That will be fine! But are you alone?" - -"Our farm boy's to be married the day after to-morrow, and bless my -soul! he is sleeping all he can beforehand." - -"That's a good idea.--Give me the frying-pan." - -In a short time the supper was prepared, and Sans-Souci and Jacques did -full honor to it; Louise watched them, and laughed at the thought of -her husband's surprise when he should find that two strangers had slept -in his house. - -"I am going to put you into the little cheese room. It is close by, and -you can go into it without going through our room and waking up my man. -We will tell him all about it to-morrow." - -Louise was very particular that they should not wake her husband; she -guided the two newcomers to a small room where the cheeses which they -made were placed on boards along the wall. They did not diffuse a very -pleasant odor through the room, but two soldiers are not particular. -Jacques threw himself on the bed and slept soundly; Sans-Souci -complained that the cheeses disturbed him, and he went out to take the -air or for some other purpose; but the night passed very comfortably, -and the farmer did not wake inopportunely. - -The next day everybody was up early. Farmer Guillot opened his eyes at -his wife's story, when she told him about a cousin of hers having -arrived during the night with one of his comrades. Guillot made haste to -embrace his cousin and his friend; he welcomed them cordially, drank -with them, found them exceedingly pleasant companions, and took them to -see his farm, his hens, his oxen, his wheat and his hay. Our soldiers -declared everything first-class and splendidly kept up; they -complimented the farmer, and they were soon the best friends in the -world. - -Jacques loved the country, the meadows, the woods, and work in the -fields. Sans-Souci loved the farmer's wife and her cooking. In the -evening, Jacques told Guillot about his battles, his sieges and his -adventures. The farmer opened his eyes and held his breath; even -Sans-Souci kept quiet and shared the pleasure of the peasants, which he -prolonged by adding the story of his own experiences. Their adventures -entertained the peasants to such a degree that they went more cheerfully -to the fields in the morning, when the two soldiers had promised them a -story for the evening. - -The people of the village requested as a favor to be allowed to come and -listen to Louise's cousin and his comrade; and as formality and ceremony -are unknown in the country, the great living-room of the farm-house was -crowded with villagers as soon as the work of the day was finished. The -old woman brought her flax and her spinning-wheel, the housekeeper plied -her needle, the maiden bound up the sheaves; in one corner a young -peasant sifted his horse's grain; in another, the old man drank his ale, -while the laborer smoked his pipe, leaning on a barrel; the children -crawled about on the floor or played with Sans-Souci's moustache, while -Louise prepared the soup, Guillot sorted out grains, and one and all had -their eyes fixed upon Jacques, listening attentively to his description -of a battle. When the affair became hot and Jacques grew animated, the -faces of the listeners expressed anxiety, dread, terror; the old woman -stopped her spinning-wheel, the laborer took his pipe from his mouth, -the old man forgot his glass, the young man ceased to shake his sifter, -and everyone, with head stretched forward and mouth wide open, awaited -the result of the battle before resuming his former occupation. - -A week passed thus with great rapidity. Our two companions, who did not -choose to pay for the farmer's hospitality with stories alone, went out -in the morning to assist the peasants in their work. Jacques went with -Guillot to the fields, and plowed and dug with great strength and -good-will. At first the farmer had set his face against his working, -but Jacques had insisted, and in a very short time had become very -skilful. As for Sans-Souci, he preferred to remain in the house. Louise -undertook to supply him with work and she kept him busy. She was a very -capable woman, and a hand never lacked work with her; whether it was in -the attic, or in the cellar, or in the garden, or in the kitchen, she -found some way to employ him always. - -After some time, the farm-hand who had married went to live in his -cottage with his wife. Guillot was in need of some one to take his -place; the farm was an extensive one, and its dependencies considerable, -and the farmer felt that Jacques and Sans-Souci would be none too many -to help him work it. He dared not make the proposition to the two men, -but Louise, who was anxious to keep them, undertook to arrange the -affair. At the first words which she said, Jacques joyfully embraced the -farmer's wife. - -"I was afraid," he said, "of being a burden to you, but you offer me the -means of earning my living honorably and I accept with gratitude. I will -be a farm-hand, and I promise you that Sans-Souci will follow my -example. We have both been soldiers, but whether one carries the musket -or guides the plough, he is still serving his country, is he not?" - -Thus everything was arranged to the perfect satisfaction of everyone. -Jacques devoted himself completely to his new occupation; sometimes, in -the midst of his toil, the thought of his brother came to his mind, and -then his features would become clouded, his hand rest on the spade, and -his eyes turn toward the road to Villeneuve-Saint-Georges. But he -instantly banished his melancholy thoughts, and resumed his work with -renewed zeal, striving to banish Edouard's image from his heart. - - - - -XV - -FOUR MONTHS OF MARRIED LIFE.--NEW PLANS - - -Edouard, his wife and Mamma Germeuil were settled in the pretty house at -Villeneuve-Saint-Georges. Edouard, who had not mentioned his brother, -had trembled with apprehension as he drew near the village, and he was -even more agitated when he stepped inside his parents' former abode. He -thought every instant that he should meet his brother, and on the day of -his arrival he absolutely refused to walk in the garden. However, he had -fully decided to welcome Jacques cordially and to present him to his -wife's family; but while forming this resolution, he was conscious of an -embarrassment, a vague dread, which aroused a secret dissatisfaction in -his heart. - -On the second day after his arrival in the country, he privately -questioned the concierge of his house: - -"Has anybody been here in my absence? Have you seen that stranger again, -that man who was forever standing at the foot of the garden?" - -"No, monsieur, no, I haven't seen him again, and no one has been here to -see you." - -Edouard began to breathe more freely, and became more cheerful with the -ladies. Time passed, and the face with moustaches did not reappear. -Madame Germeuil sometimes referred to it, laughingly, with no suspicion -of the distress which she caused her son-in-law; but they finally forgot -the episode altogether, and Edouard recovered his tranquillity. - -Adeline's heart had not changed; still sentimental and emotional, she -loved her husband with idolatry, she was happy so long as he was with -her, and so long as she could read in his eyes the same sentiments, the -same love, the same happiness. She carried in her bosom a pledge of -Edouard's love; that was a new subject of delight, of hopes, of projects -for the future. Engrossed by that happiness, Adeline was less -thoughtless, less vivacious. - -They had little company in the country, but Edouard was still in love -with his wife, and he was not at all bored. Sometimes, however, the -evenings seemed rather long to him; Madame Germeuil's game of piquet was -endless, and the excursions about the neighborhood impressed him as -being slightly monotonous. But Adeline's caresses were still pleasant to -him, and her kisses as sweet as ever. - -One fine day a carriage stopped in front of Edouard's house, and two -ladies and a gentleman alighted and entered the courtyard. The concierge -asked the strangers' names in order to announce them to the ladies, who -were in the garden. But they desired to surprise the Murville family and -one of the two ladies who seemed to be in command, at once walked toward -the garden, beckoning to her friends to follow her. - -At last they discovered Madame Germeuil and Adeline, who rose in -surprise and ran to meet Madame Dolban. - -"What! is it you, my dear love? How kind of you to come!" - -"I wanted to surprise you; I have been promising myself this pleasure -for a long time, for I am passionately fond of the country. I have -brought my little cousin with me; and as we required an escort, I have -taken the liberty of bringing Monsieur Dufresne, who is delighted to -present his respects to you." - -Monsieur Dufresne bowed low to the ladies, and Mamma Germeuil assured -Madame Dolban that anybody whom she might bring would always be welcome. - -"But monsieur is not a stranger to you," continued Madame Dolban; "he -was at my dear Adeline's wedding; it was Madame Devaux who introduced -him to you." - -"Indeed I believe that I remember," said Madame Germeuil; "but on such -days one is so busy that one may be pardoned for not noticing all the -young people. You know too, how many strange things happened that -evening! Poor Madame de Volenville, and Monsieur Robineau!" - -"Oh! don't speak of them, my dear love, or I shall die of laughter.--But -where is Murville?" - -"He is somewhere in the neighborhood; he will soon return home; -meanwhile, come into the house and rest yourselves." - -They went to the salon; Dufresne offered Madame Germeuil his hand, and -Adeline escorted Madame Dolban and her cousin. Edouard soon returned. He -seemed agreeably surprised to find company. No matter how much a man may -be in love, the most delightful tete-a-tetes become tiresome after a -while; so that a coquette is very careful to be sparing of them, -interrupting them sometimes in order that they may be more eagerly -desired afterwards. But Adeline was not a coquette. - -Let us return to our company. Madame Dolban was still a young woman; she -was not pretty, but her face had character, and she had that quality -which in society is called ease of manner, and plenty of small talk. - -Little Jenny was a girl of eighteen, very sweet and simple-mannered, and -trained to be silent when her cousin was talking. As for Dufresne, we -know him already; imperfectly to be sure, but the sequel will enable us -to judge him better. - -It was at Adeline's wedding that he had made Madame Dolban's -acquaintance. Had he fallen in love with her? That seemed rather -improbable; however, he had acted like a very passionate lover; paying -the most assiduous court to the widow, he had easily triumphed over her. -Madame Dolban was not a prude, but she made a point of concealing her -feelings, in order to be received more willingly in circles where -morality and decency are held in esteem, and Madame Germeuil's house was -one of the small number of which that could be said. - -Dufresne had acquired absolute empire over the mind of Madame Dolban, -who loved him passionately and who would have sacrificed everything for -him. She had soon discovered that that young man, who claimed to be a -business agent, broker, commission merchant, and tradesman, and who -assumed all sorts of titles according to circumstances, was in reality -nothing more than a knight of industry, having no trade, no office, and -no perceptible means of livelihood. - -A prudent woman would have broken with such a character; Madame Dolban -had not the moral courage; on the contrary, she devoted herself -absolutely to him, opened her purse to him, and allowed him to become -absolute master in her house; and Dufresne used his friend's small -fortune without the slightest hesitation, assuring her that he was about -to make a bold stroke in business, and that he would very soon treble -her capital. - -Impelled by some unknown motive, Dufresne often inquired about Adeline -and her husband. At last, he expressed one day a desire to go to their -place in the country. Madame Dolban instantly made her preparations to -go; she took her little cousin, in order to dispel any suspicion of a -too close intimacy with a young man whom she wished to introduce to -Madame Germeuil. - -Dufresne was bright, he was accustomed to society, and could be -entertaining when he chose to be; and in the visit to the young husband -and wife he did whatever he considered most likely to attract the whole -family. Attentive, zealous, even gallant with Madame Germeuil,--for he -knew that gallantry has a fascination even for mothers,--he was -agreeable, reserved and respectful to Adeline; but it was with Edouard -especially that he put forth all the resources of his wit, in order to -obtain Murville's entire confidence; and he at once applied himself to -the study of his disposition, and to finding out his tastes and sounding -his sentiments. - -Everything assumed a festive appearance in the household at -Villeneuve-Saint-Georges. Three additional persons cause much change in -a house. They sang and played, drove, hunted and fished. The time passed -very quickly to Edouard, who longed for company. But it seemed long to -Adeline, who was unable to find a moment in the day to be alone with her -husband. - -On the third day after her arrival, Madame Dolban talked about returning -to Paris. Edouard insisted on keeping his guests a few days longer. He -could not do without Dufresne. They went hunting together, and drove in -the morning before the ladies were up. Murville was delighted with his -new friend; wit, merriment, an even disposition, and a similarity of -tastes made Dufresne's presence a necessity to him, as his friendship -was a delight. - -Adeline could not be jealous of this new intimacy; and yet she felt a -secret pain when she saw that her own affection did not fill her -husband's heart sufficiently to exclude every other sentiment. Love is -often selfish and even friendship offends it; anything which for a -moment attracts the loved one seems a theft to that exacting god. But -this excess of love is always excusable, and it does not seem a burden -except when it ceases to be shared. - -Madame Dolban and her friends took leave of the young couple at last. -Adeline was pleased, for she was about to be alone with Edouard once -more; she could talk to him without reserve as to the future, of the -education of their children, and of all the family joys which were in -store for them. Murville was sorry to see their guests go; but he was -careful to urge Dufresne to come often to see him, and to pass at -Villeneuve-Saint-Georges all the time that his business left him at -leisure. - -In the evening, Adeline took her husband's arm and led him into the -garden; she told him how delighted she felt at being alone with him; she -pressed his hands lovingly in hers; and she fixed her lovely eyes, -filled with love, upon him. But Edouard was distraught and preoccupied; -while replying to his wife, he seemed to be thinking of something else -than what he said. Adeline noticed it; she sighed and the walk came to -an end much earlier than usual. - -The next day when they met at breakfast, Edouard spoke of Dufresne and -of the pleasure it had afforded him to make his acquaintance. He was a -charming man, full of intelligence and talent, who could not fail to -succeed and make a handsome fortune. - -"But, my dear," said Adeline, "it seems to me that you can hardly know -that gentleman as yet." - -"I myself," said Madame Germeuil, "think Monsieur Dufresne a most -agreeable man; he is pleasant in company, and then, too, Madame Dolban -has known him a long time, no doubt. But after all, my dear Edouard, -you never spoke to him until within a week, for we cannot count the day -of your wedding; you were too busy to pay any attention to him then." - -"Oh, yes," said Adeline, with a sigh, "that day he thought of nothing -but me." - -"Really, mesdames, you talk rather strangely; does it require so very -long, pray, to know a person and to form a judgment upon him? For my own -part, two days are enough for me; besides, what interest could Dufresne -have in putting on a false face with us? He has no need of our services, -and you know that in the world we are constantly guided by our own -interests; but aside from that, why should he put himself out? Dufresne -has money, he is in business." - -"What business?" - -"Oh! business on the Bourse, commerce, speculation; in short, very -extensive business, according to what he tells me." - -"Has he an office, or any place? Is he a solicitor--a business agent?" - -"No! no! But a man need not have any of those things now, to make his -way. Moreover, mesdames, allow me to tell you that you know nothing -about it." - -"Upon my word, my dear, you are very amiable! Why do you think that we -are not so well able as men to decide what may be useful to us?" - -"Because you are not brought up to do it." - -"My dear," said Madame Germeuil, "education supplies neither intellect -nor judgment. Believe me, a woman may give very good advice, and men are -almost always wrong to despise it. The only advice that I can give you -myself is not to form too rashly an intimacy with a man whom you have -known only a week. Friendship should not be given so readily." - -"But Edouard is naturally so kind, so easy-going----" - -"Oh! I know how to value people. I promise you that Dufresne's -friendship will be very valuable to me." - -"How so?" - -"Parbleu! I mean to do as he does; and to increase our fortune, I too -will go into business. I feel, moreover, that a man cannot live without -having something to do. When we are in Paris, I can't walk about from -morning till night; I shall neither go hunting nor fishing." - -"That is just what I told you when you insisted on leaving your place," -said Mamma Germeuil; "but then you didn't listen to me." - -"Oh! my dear mamma, if I had remained twenty years nailed to an office -stool, what would that have led me to? To be a deputy chief perhaps, a -year or two before being retired on a pension. A noble prospect! Instead -of that, I may become very wealthy some day." - -"What, Edouard, have you become ambitious now?" - -"I am not ambitious, my dear Adeline; but suppose I were? our family may -be increased, and there is no law against a man's thinking about the -welfare of his children." - -"Of course not! of course not!" said Madame Germeuil; "but sometimes, by -insisting upon running about after vain chimeras, you lose what you have -for certain." - -"Oh! never fear, madame, I shall not run after chimeras. I shall act -only upon certainty; I shall advance only a very little; and besides, -Dufresne will give me good advice." - -Thus ended this conversation. Edouard left the house to meditate upon -his new plans for acquiring wealth; Madame Germeuil returned sadly to -her bedroom, and Adeline went out to muse alone in the garden. - - - - -XVI - -RETURN TO PARIS.--THE BUSINESS AGENT - - -A few days later, Monsieur Dufresne paid another visit to the family in -the country. Edouard received him like an old friend, Madame Germeuil -courteously, and Adeline rather coldly. The newcomer talked much of his -affairs, of his speculations, of his extensive schemes. All this charmed -and dazzled Murville, who was already crazy to start on the career which -his friend was to open to him, and who, hurt by his mother-in-law's lack -of confidence in this method of making his way, was keenly desirous to -prove to her the absurdity of her fears. - -Despite all that Edouard could say, Dufresne stayed but one day with -him. His time was all occupied and his interests recalled him to Paris. -But the season was advancing; they could not remain longer among the -fields, which were already losing their verdure. It was the end of -October, and they had been in the country nearly six months. Edouard -looked forward with delight to the moment for returning to Paris. -Adeline reproached him gently; Madame Germeuil said nothing, but she was -already apprehensive for the future, and everything had not turned out -as she had hoped when she gave her daughter's hand to Murville. The -latter was of a weak, irresolute character, and yet Adeline did whatever -he desired. - -"Ah!" thought the good lady, "my daughter is too loving, too emotional. -She is not the wife that Edouard needed. She knows how to do nothing but -embrace and sigh; and if he ever chooses to make a fool of himself, she -will never have the strength to resist! Let us hope that he will not do -it." - -They returned to Paris. Then Edouard set about realizing the plans that -he had formed. Every day he went to the Bourse and to the cafes where -business men gathered; he did not go into any business at once, but he -listened, walked about, talked and made acquaintances. Dufresne was -often present, and he had promised his friend to let him in for a share -in his brilliant speculations. Moreover, when business was not brisk, -such people passed their time agreeably, laughing, telling one another -the news of the day, talking about theatres, balls, fashions, concerts -and love-affairs. The course of the stock market did not prevent them -from being thoroughly posted as to the course of literature, music and -dancing. While negotiating bills of exchange on Vienna or London, they -enquired the name of the actress who was to play in the new piece; they -undertook to sell shares and to hire a box at the Bouffons; they -extolled the honesty of this or that tradesman, and the eccentricity of -Lord Byron; the punctuality of a commission merchant, and the pirouettes -of Paul; they knew the cause of the latest failure, and the plot of the -melodrama which was then the rage; they knew what had happened at the -last ball given by a banker, and in his wife's curtained box at the -theatre. In fact, they knew everything, for they discussed all subjects. -At all these gatherings they declared war and peace, and settled the -course of the weather; they divided, reunited, and enlarged empires with -the end of a cane or switch; they knew the secrets of the cabinets of -all the powers of Europe!--yet when they returned home to their wives, -they did not notice everything that had taken place during their -absence. - -Adeline sighed for the happy days that she had passed in the country -immediately after her marriage. However, her husband still loved her; -she did not doubt it; but she saw him less frequently, and when he was -with her, he no longer, as formerly, talked of love, of constancy, of -conjugal happiness, but he assured her that he would soon be engaged in -extensive affairs, speculations, in which he would make large profits. - -"But what need have we of so much money, my dear?" said Adeline, -throwing her arms about her husband; "I am soon to be a mother, that is -to me the greatest of all joys; with your love I desire no other----" - -"My dear love, what you say is very pretty; I share your sentiments, but -I see farther than you do. Never fear, we shall be very happy some day." - -"Ah! my dear, never so happy, never more happy than I have been; before -you knew Dufresne, you thought of nobody but me!" - -"Well, now you are going to talk about Dufresne, are you? You don't like -him; you have taken a grudge against him. What has he done to cause -this? He gives me good advice, and he is pushing me along the road to -wealth; I don't see in that any reason for detesting him!" - -"I detest nobody." - -"But you receive him coldly, and Madame Dolban too." - -"I receive him as I do everybody." - -"Oh! no doubt; you would like to live like a bear, and never see any -company." - -"I have not said that; but formerly I was enough for you, and you didn't -need company to be happy in your home." - -"Pshaw! now you are crying! tears are no argument! how childish you are! -you know perfectly well that I love you, that I love nobody but you!" - -"Oh! I won't cry any more, my dear. If it pleases you, I will see a -great deal of company." - -"Oh! I don't say that; we will see if my plans succeed. Dufresne tells -me that it would not be a bad idea for me to give evening parties, -punches, with a violin and an ecarte table. But don't mention this yet -to your mother,--she is so peculiar!" - -"I won't say anything, my dear." - -Edouard went out to his business, and Adeline remained alone. Thereupon, -she gave free vent to her tears, for she could not conceal the fact from -herself, that her husband was not the same. Still he loved her tenderly, -he was not unfaithful; why then should she be disturbed by a change -which was only natural and which nothing could prevent? Eight months of -wedded life had not diminished Adeline's affection. Her love was still -as ardent, as exclusive, her caresses as warm and passionate; but a -man's heart needs a respite in its affections; it is unable to love a -long while with the same passion; it beats violently and then stops; it -blazes and then grows cold; it is a fire which does not burn with equal -intensity; a trifle is sufficient to extinguish or rekindle it. - -The young wife said all this to herself to console herself; above all, -she determined to conceal her grief from her mother; but she could not -change with respect to Dufresne; that man aroused in her a feeling of -repulsion, which her heart could not explain. And yet he was agreeable, -courteous to her; he had never ceased to be respectful in his -attentions: at what then could she take offence? She had no idea, but -she did not like him, and her glance caused him an embarrassment and -confusion which were not natural; she fancied that she detected in him a -sort of constraint which she could not define. When she appeared, -Dufresne seemed ill at ease, and he left the room if Madame Dolban were -present; if chance caused him to be left alone with his friend's wife, -he had nothing to say; but at such times, his eyes followed Adeline's -every movement, and they wore an expression which she could not endure. - -Several days after the conversation he had had with his wife, Edouard -returned home with a triumphant air; his face was radiant, his eyes -gleamed with pleasure. - -"What's the matter, son-in-law, what has happened to you?" said Mamma -Germeuil; "you seem very happy." - -"In truth, I am, and I have good reason to be." - -"Of course you will let us share your joy, my dear." - -"Yes, mesdames, you will cease now, I hope, to say that I delude myself -with chimeras; by the luckiest chance I have recently become acquainted -with a rich foreigner, who proposes to settle in France. He was looking -for a large, pleasant house, all furnished, in one of the best quarters -of the city; I found one for him; he looked at it, was delighted with -it, bought it, and gives me six thousand francs for my trouble; and the -seller gives me as much more for my commission. Well! isn't that rather -pleasant? Twelve thousand francs earned in a moment." - -"True, son-in-law, but you have been running about for three months to -reach that moment!" - -"Twelve thousand francs! That is well worth taking a little trouble -for!" - -"That is true, but such affairs must be rare." - -"I shall find others." - -"They will not all be so fortunate." - -"Oh! if a man earned twelve thousand francs every day, he would be too -lucky." - -"In this matter, you do not seem to have needed Dufresne's assistance?" - -"Oh! he will put me in the way of more profitable ones yet. But in order -to do a good business, I must have an office. You must understand that -when my clients come to see me, I can't receive them in a salon or a -bedroom. I must have an office well stocked with boxes. That makes an -impression; and as it is impossible to have a suitable place here, we -must move." - -"What! do you mean to leave these lodgings, son-in-law?" - -"Ah! my dear! this is where our hands were united by mamma. It was here -that Hymen fulfilled our wishes, and I have been so happy here!" - -"My dear love, one is happy anywhere when one is rich. We will take a -much handsomer apartment. This salon is too small." - -"It is large enough to receive our friends." - -"Yes, but friends are not the only ones to be received; we have -acquaintances too." - -"Son-in-law, don't you think that you are undertaking an establishment -beyond your means?" - -"Madame, I wish to make my fortune; that is a very praiseworthy -ambition, it seems to me; why should I not try what thousands of others -have tried successfully? Have I less merit, less talents than my -predecessors? I propose to prove the contrary to your satisfaction. Who -is this manufacturer, whose name is in every mouth, whose wealth is -immense and his credit unlimited? He came to Paris without a sou; he -simply knew how to write and make figures; he entered, as a petty clerk, -the establishment of which to-day he is the owner; but he was ambitious, -he worked hard, and everything succeeded with him. This financier, who -is engaged in such enormous operations on the Bourse, arrived from his -village, asking hospitality at the taverns along the road, sleeping on -straw, and eating nothing but bread, lucky when he had enough of that to -satisfy his appetite. He stopped at Paris on Place du Peron, hesitating -whether he should ask alms or should jump into the river. A tradesman -happened to notice him and gave him a letter to carry; the promptness -and zeal which he displayed in doing the errand interested people in his -favor. Every one selected him for his messenger; he soon succeeded in -saving some money, and speculated on his own account; the movement of -stocks was favorable to him; and to make a long story short, he has -become a millionaire. I could cite you a hundred similar examples; and -since one may become something from nothing, it seems to me that it is -much easier to become rich when one already has something in hand." - -"When one has nothing, son-in-law, one does not risk ruining oneself." - -"Oh! only the fools ruin themselves, madame!" - -"It is better to be a fool than a knave, and many people have made their -fortunes only at the expense of those of other people." - -"I trust, madame, that you do not consider me capable of enriching -myself in that way?" - -"No, of course not! But before everything else one should be orderly and -economical. By this means the financier and manufacturer whom you -mentioned just now have grown rich, and not by giving extravagant -receptions and balls." - -"Other times, other methods, madame; to-day, men do business and seek -enjoyment at the same time. They negotiate a sale while drinking punch, -and sign a deed at a bouillotte or an ecarte table, and buy consols -while dancing a quadrille. Well, I see no harm in all that. It is what -is called carrying on business gayly." - -"Yes, monsieur, but not substantially.--For my own part, I shall not -choose for my banker the one who gives the most beautiful parties; and -if it is your purpose to leave this lodging in order to live in that -way, I warn you that I shall not live with you." - -Edouard made no reply to his mother-in-law, but took his hat and went -out in a very ill humor, storming against women who insist upon meddling -in business of which they understand nothing. Madame Germeuil remained -with her daughter. - -"Oh! mamma," said Adeline, throwing herself into her mother's arms, -"don't be angry with Edouard. Alas! It is I alone who am guilty. It was -I who urged him to leave the place he had. But could I have anticipated? -It is that Dufresne, it is his advice which turns my husband's head." - -"My dear Adeline, in the early days of your married life, you should -have taken possession of your husband's mind, and accustomed him to do -what you wanted; at that time it would have been very easy for you, but -you did just the opposite." - -"I simply tried to please him, and we had but one will then! But soon I -am going to be a mother. Ah! how impatiently I await that moment! I am -sure that his child's caresses will make Edouard forget all his schemes -of wealth and grandeur." - -"May you say true!" - -The term marked by nature approached. Edouard realized that that was no -time to change his abode, so he said no more of his plans, and Adeline -thought that he had abandoned them. Soon she brought into the world a -pretty little girl, a faithful image of her mother's charms. Edouard -desired that Dufresne should be his child's godfather, but Madame -Germeuil refused him as an associate; so it was necessary to give way, -and to take in his place an old annuitant, most upright, orderly and -methodical, who gave the godmother three boxes of bonbons and two pairs -of gloves, and promised to dine every week with the young mother, in -order to learn how his goddaughter was coming on. - -Edouard did not say a word, but he awaited his wife's entire recovery -before putting his plans into execution; and he secretly hoped that -Madame Germeuil would persist in her refusal to change her lodgings, in -order that he might no longer have beneath his roof a mother-in-law -whose advice and reproaches were beginning to be distasteful to him. - -Adeline was engrossed by the joy of being a mother; she nursed her -child, in spite of all that Edouard could say to prove that that was not -done in good society; but in that matter Adeline resisted her husband, -the mother-love carried the day, and that new sentiment abated in some -degree the force of the sentiment which hitherto had reigned -despotically in her heart. - -For some time Madame Dolban had been a less frequent visitor at the -Murville house; Adeline and her mother did not know the reason, but they -were not sorry to be less often in the company of Dufresne, who -ordinarily accompanied Madame Dolban. They thought that if he saw him -less often, Edouard would pay less heed to the new dreams of wealth -which had been suggested to him by that young man. - -The ladies were mistaken; Dufresne was very careful not to neglect -Murville, with whose character he was now perfectly acquainted. He knew -all that he could hope to gain by his acquaintance. He had, moreover, -extensive projects. Which events will soon place us in a position to -judge, no doubt. But like a clever man, Dufresne waited until the -propitious moment came to carry out his plans. He saw that Madame -Germeuil did not like him; the presence of Adeline's mother interfered -with his designs; so he tried shrewdly to sow discord between her and -her son-in-law; he found a way of separating them, by suggesting to -Edouard to find a larger apartment in order to give handsome parties. -The two friends met everyday, and passed a large part of the morning -together; and when Murville left the house at night, it was to go to -other houses where Dufresne had agreed to meet him. Edouard could not do -without his friend, he was unwilling to do anything without consulting -him, to undertake anything until he had seen him. But if his wife gave -him advice, if his mother-in-law ventured to make a remonstrance, -Edouard lost his temper, flew into a rage, and insisted that he was the -master, whereas he was simply the plaything of the man who had the art -to flatter his tastes. A curious character! naturally weak, unreasonably -obstinate, intending to be firm and not to allow himself to be guided by -others, Edouard abandoned himself to the will of the man who secretly -advised him to be persevering and determined in his plans, because he -was well aware that that was the way to speak to a weak man who in his -eyes was simply a mass of ductile matter, to which he could give -whatever shape he chose. - -Adeline did not suffer from the new duties to which she devoted herself; -on the contrary, her features seemed even lovelier, her eyes more -melting, her bearing more graceful; she was fascinating when she held -her child in her arms, and when she went out in the morning to give her -a breath of air. Another than Murville would have considered Adeline -improved; but a husband rarely makes such observations, he sees only -the contrary. In default of him, others notice his wife's beauty, admire -what he does not see, praise what he has ceased to praise, and rave over -what he neglects; that is something that husbands do not think about, -that they do not trouble themselves about at all, and yet it is the -thing which plays them such cruel tricks. - -One man observed what Edouard no longer observed; he followed Adeline, -without her knowledge, he admired her charms, he divined those which he -could not see and devoured with his eyes all that he could see. A -violent passion had assumed the mastery of him; he was simply waiting -for a favorable moment to try to induce her to share his passion. -However, there was very little hope that he could win her love, and he -knew it. Adeline was virtue personified; she was absolutely devoted to -her husband and to her child. But there was no obstacle, no barrier, -that the man who adored her had not resolved to overturn. Nothing can -check the impetuous torrent swelled by heavy rains; nothing could -discourage his love if we may thus name the unbridled desires, the -delirium, the jealousy that for a long time had filled his heart. He had -decided to attempt everything, to undertake everything, to dare -everything, in order to triumph over Adeline; his passion, long -concealed, was only the more violent on that account; the fire which -devoured him was likely to consume everything when it should break -forth. But who was this mysterious man, whose love thus far had remained -a secret? You know him, reader, and I will wager that you have already -guessed his name. - -Edouard, who had plunged deeper than ever into business, of which he -understood nothing, but which seemed to him all the more attractive on -that account,--Edouard hired a handsome house, a fashionable carriage, -bought magnificent furniture of the latest style, furnished a very -elaborate office, with shelves on all sides, on which were pasteboard -boxes, empty to be sure, but soon to contain the documents relating to -the transactions which could not fail to come to his hands in a -multitude. Pending their arrival, our man hired a clerk, who passed his -time reading the _Gazette_ and cutting quill pens. - -Adeline was installed in her new abode. She looked at everything, sighed -and held her peace. Madame Germeuil, on the contrary, burst forth into -reproaches, and had a violent scene with her son-in-law. She predicted -that he would ruin himself. Edouard was vexed and lost his temper, and a -rupture followed. Madame Germeuil left her son-in-law's house, swearing -never to see him again; she refused to be moved by her daughter's tears, -tears for which the good woman blamed herself in the depths of her -heart; she realized that it would have been better to give her daughter -to a man of firm but sensible character than to a weak, irresolute -creature, who had not enough intelligence to admit his failings, and too -much obstinacy to repair them. But the harm was done. - -After Madame Germeuil's departure there was another scene between the -husband and the wife; for Adeline could not forbear to scold her husband -in her turn, and she begged him to go after her mother and bring her -back. He was obstinate; he persisted in refusing to attempt a -reconciliation, and he informed his wife that he was determined to do as -he chose, that all remonstrance would be fruitless thenceforth and would -not change his line of conduct, in which he did not propose to be guided -by women. - -Thus the splendid abode of the new business agent was christened by -tears; but Murville no longer paid any heed to such trifles; he had -matters of great importance in his head. Dufresne was to put him in the -way of earning fifty thousand francs with a wealthy shipowner who had -just arrived in Paris and was seeking investments for his money, with -which he did not know what to do. In order to become acquainted with -that invaluable man, it was necessary to give an evening party, a ball, -to which he would be brought by a third person. The ball was decided -upon; and in accordance with his friend's advice, Edouard made the most -elaborate preparations for a function which was to give him an -established position in society. To be sure, the expenses of that -function would be enormous. The twelve thousand francs earned some time -before were largely spent; he had had to encroach upon his income to buy -the furniture and to decorate his house; but all that was nothing at -all; in order to reap, one must sow,--that was Dufresne's maxim. And his -example proved that it worked well with him; never had he seemed more -fortunate, more magnificent, more at his ease. He had a cabriolet, a -groom, and such diamonds! Therefore he must be doing an excellent -business. - - - - -XVII - -A GRAND PARTY.--A DECLARATION OF LOVE - - -"My dear love," said Edouard to his wife, one morning, "I am going to -give a party to-morrow--a ball; you must prepare to do the honors." - -"You are going to give a party--to whom, pray? Can it be that you are -reconciled with mamma?" - -"Who is talking about your mother? She is a woman who insists upon -meddling in affairs which she does not understand, and who, because her -tastes lead her to live in a narrow circle, wishes also to prevent us -from going out of it. You must agree that that is utterly absurd. -However, when I have fifty thousand francs a year, I fancy that she will -forgive me for not listening to her advice." - -"That will not be very soon, I take it!" - -"Sooner than you think, madame, and I act accordingly." - -"And is that the reason that you are giving a party?" - -"Exactly." - -"Whom do you expect to have?" - -"Oh! never fear, we shall have lots of people. In the first place, we -must, for it is the fashion now; if one is not crowded and pushed about -in a salon, he does not think that he has enjoyed himself." - -"Oh! what nonsense, my dear! Who told you that?" - -"It is not nonsense, madame. I go into society while you are taking care -of your daughter." - -"Oh! I am well aware that you no longer stay with me." - -"That is necessary; I must show myself in society; that is the place -where a man makes acquaintances." - -"Disastrous ones, sometimes!" - -"Oh! mon Dieu! I am not a child; I know with whom I am dealing! Why, to -hear you and your mother talk, anyone would think that I am not capable -of taking care of myself. - -"I never said that, my dear; but I cannot help regretting the time when -I alone was sufficient for your enjoyment; then you passed all your time -with me,--you did not go into society.--Well! were you not happy?" - -"To be sure I was." - -"Then why have you changed your mode of life?" - -"Why? why? That is a strange question to ask me! a man cannot always be -making love to his wife, can he?" - -"Oh! I have discovered that! But I did not expect to learn it after only -a year of married life." - -"Well, well! are you going to begin your reproaches again? Women are -never reasonable." - -"I am not reproaching you, my dear; give parties, as that gives you -pleasure; I shall never object." - -"You are a love; you are not obstinate like your mother; and I tell you -again that this is all for our good. So make the necessary preparations. -I have already ordered and arranged everything, and all that you will -have to do will be to see that my orders are carried out." - -"Very well. But what shall I say to people whom I do not know?" - -"Oh! don't let that trouble you! You just bow and smile to every one. -With your grace and your wit you will always be fascinating." - -"I would like to be fascinating to you alone." - -"Do you mean that I am unfaithful to you? I am really so good----" - -"That some day you will be laughed at for it." - -"Never fear, I love you only.--I am going to send a few more -invitations; prepare for our party." - -Edouard kissed his wife and left her. Adeline, in order to please him, -inquired about what was to be done on the following day; she was alarmed -at the magnitude of the expense, but it was too late to oppose it. After -giving her orders, the young wife went to see her mother. It was on -Madame Germeuil's bosom that she poured out her grief, though she -concealed much of it, in order not to make her mother more bitter -against her husband. - -"Oh!" said Adeline, "so long as he is faithful to me, I shall have -nothing to complain of. I can forgive him everything except -indifference, which I absolutely could not endure." - -The next day, at daybreak, everything was in confusion in the Murville -establishment. The servants could not attend to the innumerable -preparations which were under way on every side; workmen came to put -carpets and chandeliers in place and vases of flowers along the -stair-rails. The mirror-maker's apprentices, upholsterers, florists and -decorators filled the salons, and got in the way of the footmen and -other servants. Soon the caterers arrived, the pastry cooks and the ice -dealer's men, who took possession of the servants' quarters and began -the decoration of the sideboards, which were to be furnished in the -evening in the most sumptuous way, and to offer everything which could -fascinate the eyes, the nose and the palate at once. Adeline attempted -to pass through several rooms to her husband's office; she was -bewildered by the uproar, the shouts, the tumult; she could not -recognize her own apartments. At last she spied Edouard walking about -the salons, and watching with a self-satisfied air the preparations for -the party. - -"Well, my dear love," he said to his wife as soon as he caught sight of -her, "what do you think of all this?" - -"That I do not understand how anyone can take so much trouble to -entertain people whom one does not know, and who feel no obligation for -the pains which one takes to treat them so handsomely." - -"But, my dear love, you must remember that a man does all this for his -reputation's sake. Parbleu! I care nothing at all for the people whom I -entertain; I am not at all anxious for their friendship, but I am -anxious that people should say in society: 'Monsieur Murville's party -was delightful, nothing was lacking; and everything was in the very best -style. That function must have cost a tremendous sum!'--You will agree -that that will do me credit; people will assume that I have a -considerable fortune, and that I have more business than I desire.--Be -sure to dress handsomely, and wear your diamonds; they are not so fine -as I wish they were, but before long I hope to make you a present of a -superb string of them." - -"My dear, you know perfectly well that I do not want anything of that -kind; your love alone----" - -"It is getting late; go and dress." - -The time fixed for the party arrived; between nine and ten o'clock, the -carriages and the pedestrians--for some people always come on foot, even -to the largest balls--the courtyard of Murville's house in swarms. They -crowded under the porte cochere; the coachmen insulted one another and -disputed for precedence; the young women, wrapped in their pelisses or -cloaks, jumped lightly to the landing, and waited, one for her mother, -another for her husband, to take her up to the salons. The officious -young man mounted the stairs gracefully, his body enveloped in an ample -cloak lined with crimson velvet, which concealed almost the whole of his -face, leaving only the end of his nose visible; he offered his hand to a -young lady whose fear of the horses standing in the courtyard had -separated her from her escort. The young gallant in the cloak saw only a -pair of very expressive eyes and a few curls, for all the rest was -concealed under the hood of a pelisse; but he saw enough to divine -lovely features and the form of a nymph. He gently pressed the hand -which she entrusted to him; he engaged his fair unknown for the first -quadrille, and his hopes were aroused before he had even entered the -reception room. That room was crowded; in one corner the ladies -arranged their dresses, gave a last glance to their finery, which had -become rumpled in the carriage; farther on, in a less brilliantly -lighted spot, a number of economical bank clerks took slippers from -their pockets and put them on in place of their shoes, which they -carefully wrapped in large pieces of paper with their gaiters, and -placed them under some heavy piece of furniture which was not likely to -be moved. After effecting this slight change of costume, they carefully -pulled their ruffs from their waistcoats, retied their cravats, passed -their hands through their hair, rumpling it or smoothing it according as -their style of beauty required, and then, drawing themselves up proudly, -entered the salon with an air of impertinence and conceit which was -calculated to persuade all the other guests that they had come in a -tilbury. - -The salon was already filled with women of all ages; for by the face -only, not by the dress, could the mother be distinguished from the -daughter, the aunt from the niece. The men strolled about, eyeglass in -hand, and despite that little accessory, almost put their noses into the -ladies' faces, as they stopped in front of them, making wry faces when -one was not to their liking; while the ladies themselves smiled at them -instead of spitting in their faces as their insolent manner of staring -at them well deserved. Soon the crowd became so large that one could -hardly move. That was the delightful moment; a young exquisite halted in -front of a girl seated beside her mother, and made the most indecent -gestures, which the poor child avoided only by keeping her own eyes -constantly on the floor, which prevented her from enjoying the spectacle -of the ball; but the young man was persistent; he did not stir from in -front of her, and had the effrontery to interpret in his favor the blush -which covered the brow of her whom he deigned to notice. A few steps -away, another young exquisite pointed out to four or five of his friends -a pretty woman whose husband stood nearby; he told them in confidence -that she had been his mistress for a week; his friends congratulated -him, and asked him for details concerning the lady's secret charms and -her way of making love; he replied, laughing heartily, and gesticulating -like one possessed, which could not fail to attract every eye, and to -arouse the curiosity of those who did not hear him. Luckily the husband -was of the latter number; but he desired to know what was being said, so -he approached and enquired: - -"What are you laughing at so loudly, gentlemen?" - -"Oh! it was nothing, a joke he was telling us." - -"Some rascality, I will wager; you are sad rakes!" - -"You will find out later what it was." - -And the young men dispersed, laughing louder than ever; the husband -laughed with them; he did not know why, but he wanted to seem to be -informed. - -The signal to begin the dance was given, and an excellent orchestra, -directed by Collinet, played several delightful quadrilles, which -invited one to dance; fascinating tunes, selected from the masterpieces -of the great masters, are now used as the theme and motif of a _poule_, -_a trenis_, or a _pantalon_. How can one resist the temptation, when one -has the opportunity to execute a pirouette, a _balance_, or an -_entre-chat_ to passages from Rossini, Mozart, or Boieldieu? The ear is -no less charmed by the method of execution; modern quadrilles are little -concerts for wind and stringed instruments; it requires talent to play -them. We have left to the poor blind men such tunes as the Monaco, the -Perigourdine and the Furstemberg; we need artistes to play the -quadrilles of Weber, Collinet, Rubner, etc. - -There was little room; the guests trod on one another's feet, and -jostled one another; but they danced, and that was the essential thing; -what joy for the young woman who desires to display her charms, and for -the woman on the decline who flatters herself that she is still very -light on her feet! - -Those who were not attracted by the dancing and the music took their -places at an ecarte table; there they abandoned themselves to their -passion for gambling, awaiting a favorable stroke of luck; they tried to -fathom the play of their opponents, to read upon their faces what cards -they had in their hands. They forgot their wives or their daughters; and -very frequently those ladies in the salon forgot those who were at the -ecarte table. - -The bets opened and soon became very considerable; young men, who should -have paid no heed to aught except the ladies and the dance, waited -anxiously to see if their adversary would turn a king; their blood -boiled; the sight of gold, the hope of winning, led them on; and more -than one, who walked away from the tables with empty pockets, would -refuse the next day to give money to his tailor or his bootmaker; while -our economical friends of the shoes and the gaiters, who had allowed -themselves to be led astray by example, observed to one another as they -took off their slippers, that they would have done better to hire a cab -than to bet or play ecarte. - -Others had recourse to the sideboard for consolation and stuffed -themselves with pastry and refreshments; the greatest glutton took the -most delicate sweetmeats, on the pretext that he was taking them to the -ladies. What horrible waste there is in such mobs! Plates overturned, -one dish cast aside to take another, of which three-quarters is left; -the creams that the guests snatch from one another; the bonbons that -disappear before one has time to take one;--such is the ordinary course -of collations at large parties; the sideboard is always being pillaged, -and the young men who surround it act as if they had eaten nothing for a -week. What an extraordinary way for people in good society to behave! - -Adeline tried to discover some acquaintance amid the crowd and the -tumult; but most of the faces were unknown to her. Weary of listening to -insipid or exaggerated compliments, addressed to her by men whom she did -not know, and disgusted at being stared at through the eyeglasses of -these men, the young woman seized a moment when everybody was busy -according to his or her taste, to go to her room, to make sure that her -daughter was asleep, and to enjoy, by embracing her, the only pleasure -that that evening could afford her. - -To reach the room where her little Ermance was in bed, Adeline was -obliged to leave her guests altogether, for she had determined that her -child should not be awakened by the noise; she passed through several -half-lighted rooms and finally reached her daughter's side; she paused -by the cradle and gazed at Ermance, who was sleeping peacefully. With -her mind more at ease, Adeline was going back to her guests; but, as she -entered a dimly-lighted boudoir which adjoined her daughter's bedroom, -she saw some one gliding along the wall. A feeling of alarm took -possession of her. - -"Who is there?" she said instantly. - -"Don't be afraid, madame; I am distressed to have taken you so by -surprise." - -Adeline recovered herself, for she recognized Dufresne's voice, and -asked: "What are you seeking here?" - -"The noise and heat of the salon made me feel uncomfortable; I was very -glad to be able to come away and rest for a moment." - -Adeline went into the next room for a lamp, and brought it into the room -where Dufresne had remained; he followed her every movement with his -eyes, and seemed intensely agitated. - -"If you are not feeling well, I will go and bring you something." - -"Oh, no! stay, madame, I beg you; your presence is a hundred times more -beneficial to me." - -Dufresne had taken Adeline's hand; she, amazed by the extraordinary tone -and by the fire with which he addressed her, did not know what reply to -make, but stood before him sorely embarrassed. Dufresne squeezed -violently the hand that he held in his. Adeline withdrew it at once in -dismay, and started to leave the room, but he stood in front of her and -stopped her. - -"What do you want of me?" she said to him, her voice trembling with a -feeling of terror she could not explain. - -"That you should listen to me, madame, that you should deign to listen -to me." - -"What have you to say to me, pray, that demands so much mystery? We -might talk quite as well in the salon." - -"No, madame, no,--here. Ah! for a long while I have been postponing this -moment; but I feel that it is impossible for me to conceal longer the -passion which consumes me; no, I am no longer able to see you, to -contemplate so many charms, without giving expression to the ardor which -devours me." - -"What are you saying to me, monsieur?" - -"That I love you, that I adore you, lovely Adeline, and that you must be -mine!" - -"Merciful heaven! What do I hear?" - -"Learn all at last; know that from the first moment that I saw you, you -have been the object of all my thoughts, of all my desires, the goal of -all my acts; I became intimate with Madame Dolban only to obtain an -opportunity to be introduced at your house; that hope and the hope of -winning your favor some day alone prevented me from committing some -foolish extravagance between the day of your wedding and the day when I -was introduced to you. But how I suffered then, concealing from everyone -the flame which consumed me! and what torments have I not endured when I -have seen you lavishing upon my fortunate rival all those caresses which -he received with indifference, whereas a single one would have been the -height of felicity to me." - -"This is too much, monsieur; I have restrained my indignation, but I -shall no longer be able to do so, if I listen to you any more." - -"Your indignation! Wherein do I deserve it?" - -"To call my husband your rival, and in return for his friendship to try -to win his wife--such conduct is shocking!" - -"Such conduct is very common, and it only seems shocking to you because -you do not share my sentiments; for, if you loved me, instead of being a -monster, I should be an unhappy wretch consumed by an insurmountable -passion, suffering for a long while and concealing his agony from every -eye, even before her who is the cause of it. Such conduct then would not -seem criminal to you; so much love and constancy would arouse your pity -at least, and you would accord it to me, madame, you would listen to me -without anger, and perhaps a gentler sentiment would plead my cause in -your heart, and would help me to obtain the reward of all my attentions. -That, madame, is what you should consider. I adore you--that is my -crime; it will cease to be a crime if you share my passion; success -insures forgiveness for the most audacious enterprises, and I shall be -guilty only if you hate me." - -"Your speeches, monsieur, will never justify you in my eyes. I might -excuse your love, but not your hope of inducing me to share it. A person -is not master of his heart, I believe, but he is master of his conduct, -and yours is unworthy of a decent man----" - -"Madame----" - -"Never speak to me again of your love; only on that condition do I agree -to forget this conversation and to refrain from repeating it to my -husband." - -"Your husband! He wouldn't believe you." - -"What do you say?" - -"No, madame, he would never believe anything that you might say against -me. Do you suppose that I have not provided against everything? I have -obtained such control over your husband's mind that he no longer sees -except through my eyes, no longer acts except by my will; in fact, he is -a machine, whose movements I govern at my pleasure. But tremble, if you -reject my suit, for the power which I shall exert over the weak-minded -Edouard! You will learn then to know me, and you will repent your unjust -pride; but it will be too late, for my hatred will be as active as my -love is violent." - -"Abominable man! I feel that the horror that you have inspired in me has -increased twofold, but I defy your threats, and I forbid you to come -into my presence again." - -Dufresne's face expressed rage and irony at once; his nerves contracted, -a bitter smile played about his lips, while his eyes darted flashes of -fire. Adeline, in terror, tried to fly; he stopped her, threw his -muscular arms about her, pressed her violently to his breast, and placed -his burning lips upon his victim's heaving breast; he was about to -proceed to the last excess, but the young woman uttered a piercing -shriek; people hurried to the spot, the sound of footsteps drew near. -Dufresne opened a window looking on the garden, jumped out and -disappeared. - -Several servants and young men entered the room; they gathered about -Adeline and inquired the cause of her alarm. Her eyes wandered -distractedly about; the sight of the open window recalled all that had -passed, and she realized the necessity of concealing her emotion. - -"What's the matter, madame, what has happened to you?" was asked on all -sides. - -"I don't know," she said, trying to calm her agitation, "I did not feel -very well, the heat made me uncomfortable. I came to this room to obtain -a breath of fresh air; but as I opened that window, a fit of -dizziness--I tried to call for help, and I had not the strength." - -The explanation seemed very plausible; they urged Madame Murville not to -return to the salon, where the intense heat might make her ill again. -Adeline had no idea of doing so; she would have been unable to endure -Dufresne's presence. So she withdrew to her apartments, requesting -somebody to apologize for her to the rest of the company. - -She asked her maid to tell Edouard that she wished to see him as soon as -he was at liberty. The servant delivered the message. But Murville paid -little heed to it. He had just lost forty louis at ecarte to an -exceedingly pretty young woman, who bestowed very expressive glances -upon him, smiling at him and showing the loveliest teeth in the world; -and, accidentally, no doubt, allowed her little foot to rest upon his, -and her knee to remain between his legs. How could he help allowing -himself to be beaten by so attractive a player? She pouted so sweetly -when he refused to give her cards that it was impossible to resist her. -Edouard felt that he was subjugated; but imagine his sensations when she -asked him to wipe the perspiration from a very white back, which was -moist from dancing! He performed the service with trembling fingers; she -thanked him with a pressure of the hand, and invited him to come to see -her and to take his revenge for the game of ecarte. - -At five in the morning, they danced the regulation quadrille to close -the ball. They laughed and mixed the figures up and tired themselves -out; they made much noise and much dust; and then they took their leave, -one carrying away an old hat in place of the new one he had had when he -came, and which he could not find; another, minus the pretty cane which -he had taken pains to place in a dark corner; very fortunate when the -mackintosh or overcoat or cloak had not been changed. - -Advice to young men who frequent large parties: Do not carry valuable -canes, and wear nothing better than an old hat to leave in the reception -room, unless you choose to keep it in your hand all the time, as many -people do nowadays to avoid the slight vexation which we have just -mentioned. - -Edouard, with a full heart and an empty purse, went to his room, -engrossed by the pretty woman with whom he had played ecarte, and -without a thought for his own wife, who had long been waiting for him in -vain. - - - - -XVIII - -FOLLY.--BLINDNESS.--WEAKNESS - - -Adeline had risen during the night, being anxious concerning her -husband; but on learning that he had gone to his apartment very late, -she decided not to disturb his rest, and waited until he should be awake -to tell him what had taken place in the evening between herself and -Dufresne, whom she hoped to make known to him as he really was. - -Edouard woke and went downstairs to breakfast. Adeline was waiting for -him; she reproached him gently for his indifference of the night before; -but he hardly listened to her; he was distraught, preoccupied, and -complained of a violent headache which he hoped to get rid of by going -out. Adeline detained him, informing him that she had something of great -importance to say. Amazed by his wife's tone, Edouard instinctively -resumed his seat and requested her to hurry because business required -his attention. The servants were dismissed and Adeline repeated to her -husband her conversation with Dufresne on the previous evening. - -Edouard listened at first with indifference; but soon displeasure and -impatience were depicted upon his face. - -"Well, my dear," said Adeline, after she had told him everything, "what -do you think now of your sincere friend?" - -"I think--I think that you make a crime of a trifle, and a matter of -importance of something that amounts to nothing." - -"What! my dear----" - -"Certainly; a declaration to a woman! mon Dieu! is that such a rare -thing, for heaven's sake, a thing for which it is necessary to make so -much fuss? Every day pretty women receive declarations addressed to them -in jest, to which they attach no more importance than they deserve. But -you take fright at a word! a simple compliment seems to you an attempt -at seduction! you shouldn't take things so! But I know you: you don't -like--more than that, you detest Dufresne. For a long time you have been -trying to ruin him in my estimation, and you seize this pretext for -accomplishing your purpose; but I warn you, madame, that you will not -succeed." - -"Is it possible, monsieur? do you accuse me, do you suspect me of being -capable of deceiving you?" - -"Or of being deceived? How do you know that Dufresne did not talk all -that nonsense to you to make sport of you, and to be revenged for your -hatred, which he perceives very plainly?" - -"Was it for that purpose too that he tried to carry his audacity so far -as to kiss me?" - -"Kiss you! Well, I admit that he was wrong to kiss you against your -will, and I shall scold him for it. But a kiss is not a thing which -should irritate you to this point!" - -"You do not intend then, monsieur, to cease to receive Monsieur Dufresne -in your house?" - -"Most assuredly, madame, I do not intend to make myself unhappy, to make -myself ridiculous, and to cause people to point their fingers at me as a -jealous husband, simply because somebody ventured to embrace you in -jest! That would be utterly absurd! But calm yourself, I will forbid -Dufresne to mention his passion to you again!" - -"What, Edouard, you laugh! You think so little of what I have told you?" - -"I do what it is my duty to do, and I know how to behave." - -"Alas! you no longer love me, I see. Formerly you were more jealous." - -"One may love without being jealous; and besides--but it is getting -late, and I have business that I must attend to." - -"What about that rich shipowner for whom you gave the party?" - -"He was not able to come." - -"So all your expense was useless?" - -"Useless! No, indeed; I was very warmly congratulated on my party. It -will do me a great deal of good in the sequel, and I am delighted that I -gave it.--I must leave you, for I have not a moment of my own." - -Edouard hurried away to Dufresne. That gentleman seemed a little -disturbed at sight of him, but he soon recovered himself; it was not to -talk about what his wife had told him that Murville was so eager to be -with him, but to talk about the lovely woman with whom he had played -ecarte the night before, to find out who she was and what position she -held in society; in a word, it was to dilate without reserve upon -desires and hopes which he did not shrink from disclosing to his friend. - -Dufresne gratified Edouard's curiosity by informing him that Madame de -Geran was the widow of a general, that she was absolutely her own -mistress, that she had some means but possessed the art of spending -money rapidly, because she was exceedingly fond of pleasure. Dufresne -took pains to add that many men paid court to the young widow, but that -she received their homage with indifference, treated love as a joke and -made sport of the flames she kindled, and that her conquest seemed to -be difficult of accomplishment. - -All that he learned added to Edouard's newly-born passion. What joy to -carry off the palm from so many rivals,--and Madame de Geran had looked -at him and treated him in such a way as to justify him in forming hopes. -The fact was that she had turned his head; and Dufresne, who had no -difficulty in reading the weak and fickle Murville's heart, seized the -opportunity to broach the subject of his interview with Adeline, taking -pains to represent the thing as a mere pleasantry, which he did not -expect would be so severely reprehended. - -"Yes, yes, I know," said Edouard; "my wife spoke to me about it this -morning." - -"Ah! she told you----" - -"That you were a monster, a villain, a false friend!" - -"Indeed!" - -"And much more too! for I warn you that she is furiously angry with you. -But never fear--I will pacify her; she will see that she took the thing -in the wrong way when she learns that you mentioned it first." - -"I am truly sorry that I amused myself by--But after all, your wife is a -very strange woman!" - -"It's her mother, Madame Germeuil, who has stuffed her head with -romantic ideas." - -"Certainly no one would ever think that she was educated in Paris." - -"Oh! she will have to form herself in good society. Would you believe -that she expressed a purpose not to receive you again?" - -"If my presence is unpleasant to Madame Murville, I shall be careful to -avoid her." - -"Nonsense! that is just what I don't propose to have, or I shall be -angry with you. I mean that you shall come to the house more than ever; -that is my desire and it must suffice. Are you not friendly enough to me -to overlook my wife's eccentric character?" - -"Oh! my attachment to you has no bounds!" - -"Dear Dufresne!--Look you, to prove how much confidence I have in you, -and how little heed I pay to my wife's fairy tales, I am going to -confide a secret to you, and I rely on your friendship to help me in the -matter." - -"I am entirely devoted to you--speak." - -"My friend, I love, I adore, I am mad over Madame de Geran." - -"Is it possible? Why, you have only known her since last night." - -"That is long enough to make me love her.--What would you have--we -cannot control those things. It's a caprice, a weakness, whatever you -choose to call it! But I have lost my head." - -"You, Murville--such a reasonable man! and married, too!" - -"Oh! my dear fellow, are married men any more virtuous than bachelors? -You know very well that the contrary is true; a man can't stick to his -wife forever." - -"If your wife should think as you do!" - -"Oh! so far as that is concerned, I am not alarmed; my wife is virtue -personified, and she does no more than her duty; for a woman--that's a -very different matter." - -"As to the consequences, yes; but morally, and even according to the law -of nature, I consider that the fault is absolutely identical." - -"You are joking! At all events, aren't the consequences everything? Is -the absurdity of it the same? Will any one ever laugh at a wife whose -husband has mistresses? No, nothing is ever said then, because it is -considered a very common occurrence; but if a wife makes her husband a -cuckold----" - -"That is a very common occurrence too." - -"For all that, people laugh at the poor husband and point their fingers -at him!--Besides, what harm can come of the husband's infidelity? None -at all. The fair ones who have yielded to him won't go about boasting of -it! With a woman it is just the opposite; her lovers always ruin her -reputation, either by their words, or by their actions, which never -escape the eyes of curiosity and calumny. In fact, a woman who finds her -husband in another woman's arms can only complain and weep; while a man -who surprises his wife in _flagrante delicto_ has a right to punish the -culprit; so you see, my dear fellow, that the offence is not the same, -as the punishment is different." - -"I see that it was we men who made the laws, and that we treated -ourselves very well." - -"Are you going to preach to me too? Really, Dufresne, you are almost as -savagely virtuous as my wife." - -"No, my dear fellow, you don't know me yet. But before assisting you, I -wanted to find out whether you had fully weighed the consequences of -this intrigue." - -"I have weighed and calculated everything. I love Madame de Geran, and I -wish to be loved in return. I feel that there is no sacrifice of which I -am not capable to attain my object. Do you understand?" - -"Oh! very well. Since your mind is made up, I will second you; but of -course you won't reproach me for leading you on." - -"No, no! On the contrary, I beg you to assist me, and to help me to -conceal this intrigue from my wife's eyes." - -"Don't be alarmed--leave all that to me. I will answer for all. When -will you call on Madame de Geran?" - -"This evening. They play cards there, of course?" - -"Yes, and for rather high stakes." - -"The devil! The fact is that I haven't any money. That party drained me -dry." - -"It is very easy to obtain some. Consols are at a very high premium. -Sell. They cannot fail to drop before long; then, as we shall have -speculated in something else, and you will probably be in funds, you can -buy in again. You see, it is a good thing to do from a business -standpoint." - -"True, you are right. But the consols are in my wife's name." - -"Can't you get her to sign by telling her that you are engaged in a -magnificent operation?" - -"Oh, yes! she will sign, I am sure; she'll sign whatever I want her to." - -"Take advantage of her compliant disposition to sell your consols; I -tell you again, they are on the point of falling, and in a few days you -will be able to buy the same amount with much less money. If it will be -any more convenient for you, I will see to the business for you." - -"You will confer a great favor on me, for I am still rather a bungler in -business, and but for you I should often be embarrassed." - -"Don't be afraid. Act boldly. I assure you that your party last night -added immensely to your credit. If you needed thirty thousand francs, -you could easily obtain them." - -"You delight me. I will go back to my wife. Wait for me at the cafe; I -will be there very soon with the papers in question." - -"I will go there. Be on your guard with your wife." - -"Do you take me for a child?--I won't say adieu, my dear Dufresne." - -Edouard hastened home and went up to Adeline's apartment, where he found -her with her child in her arms. At sight of her husband, who was not -accustomed to come home during the day, a soothing hope made her heart -beat fast; she thought that it was love that led him back to her, and a -smile of happiness embellished her lovely features. - -Edouard was speechless in her presence; he was embarrassed, he was -conscious of a painful sensation; he felt that he was guilty toward her, -but he did not choose to admit it even to himself. - -"Is it you, my dear?" said Adeline in the sweetest of tones; "how happy -I am when I see you! It happens so rarely now!--Come and kiss your -daughter." - -Edouard walked mechanically toward them and kissed the child with a -distraught air, heedless of her infantile graces. He stood like one in a -dream, unable to decide how to broach the subject that had brought him -there. - -"You seem distressed," said Adeline; "is anything troubling you? For -heaven's sake, let me share your trouble--you have no more loving, more -sincere friend than your wife." - -"I know it, my dear Adeline, but nothing is troubling me. No, I am -preoccupied, because I am thinking of a very important transaction in -which I shall make a great deal of money." - -"Always schemes, speculations--and never love, repose and happiness!" - -"Oh! when we are rich--why, then--But I have a request to make of you; I -want to ask you to sign a paper--it has to do with an operation that -will be very profitable." - -"Are you certain of that, my dear?" - -"Yes, perfectly certain; it was----" - -Edouard was going to say that it was Dufresne who gave him that -assurance, but he reflected that that would not be the best way to -convince his wife, and he checked himself. Having taken from his desk -all the papers that he required, he drew up a document by which his wife -assented to the transfer of her consols, and with a trembling hand -presented the pen to Adeline. She, trustful and submissive, signed the -paper which he put before her, without even reading it. - -"That is all right," said Murville as he put the papers in his pocket. -"Now I must hurry to the Bourse, to conclude this important affair." - -He kissed Adeline and hurried from the room. She realized that it was -not to see her that he had come home; but her heart made excuses for -him; she believed him to be entirely engrossed by business. - -"He loves nobody but me," she said to herself; "that is the main thing. -I must forgive this love of work, and this perfectly natural desire to -enrich his wife and children." - -Poor Adeline! she did not know what use her husband proposed to make of -the money that he was in such haste to obtain. - - - - -XIX - -IT WAS NOT HER FAULT - - -Edouard returned in triumph to Dufresne; he was the possessor of a -considerable sum of which he could dispose as he pleased, for his wife -would never ask him for an accounting, and his mother-in-law had ceased -to meddle in his affairs. Dufresne was awaiting Murville impatiently; he -was afraid that Adeline would make some objections. But when he saw the -precious papers, a smile of satisfaction played about his lips; a -sentiment which he tried to dissemble gave to his face a peculiar -expression which would have attracted the attention of anybody but -Edouard; but he did not give Dufresne time to speak; he urged him to go -at once and obtain the funds, and Dufresne made haste to gratify him, -fearing that he might change his mind. - -Adeline waited in vain for her husband to return; the day passed and he -did not come. She thought that he had probably been invited to dine by -some of his new acquaintances; she tried to reconcile herself to it; but -what grieved her most was her husband's blindness with respect to -Dufresne, and the indifference with which he had listened to her story -of the outrageous conduct of the man whom he considered his friend. -Dufresne's threats recurred to Adeline's memory; she thought of her -husband's weakness of will, and she could not help shuddering as she -reflected that her happiness, her repose, and her child's, perhaps, were -in the hands of a wicked man, who seemed to be capable of going all -lengths to gratify his passions. - -It was nine o'clock in the evening; Adeline, absorbed in her -reflections, was sadly awaiting her husband's return, when she heard a -loud knock at the street door. Soon she heard someone coming -upstairs--it was Edouard, of course. She ran to open the door; but it -was not he; one of her servants appeared, bringing a letter which a -stranger had just left at the door with an urgent request that it be -handed to madame at once. The stranger had gone away without waiting for -a reply. The servant handed the letter to his mistress and left the -room. - -Adeline broke the seal; the writing was unfamiliar to her; it seemed the -work of a weak and tremulous hand; the letter was signed by Madame -Dolban. - -"What can she have to write to me?" thought Adeline; "let me see." - - "Madame: - - "I am very ill; I have been unable to leave my room for a long - while, but I am unwilling to delay any longer to give you some most - important advice. I am responsible for all the harm, and it is my - place to try to repair it. I brought a man named Dufresne to your - house. Alas! how bitterly I repent it! but at that time I believed - him to be incapable of doing anything indelicate even. A deplorable - passion had long made me blind, but now it is no longer possible - for me to doubt the ghastly truth. This Dufresne is a miserable - wretch, capable of every villainy. I have only too many proofs of - the infamy of his conduct. He has robbed me of all that I - possessed, but my regret for my money is less than my shame at - having been his dupe. Gambling, debauchery, all sorts of vice are - familiar to him, and he has the art to conceal his shocking - passions. I dare not tell you what I know--but break off instantly - the intimacy he has formed with your husband, or fear the worst for - him from the advice of a monster to whom nothing is sacred. - - "WIDOW DOLBAN." - -Adeline shuddered; her heart was oppressed by secret terror; she read -the fatal letter once more, then raised her lovely tear-bedewed eyes -heavenward. - -"So this is the man on whose account Edouard fell out with my mother! -this is the sort of man that his adviser, his best friend, is! O heaven! -what misery I foresee in the future! but how am I to avert it? My -husband no longer listens to me; he spurns my advice, he is deaf to my -prayers. But he could not be deaf to my tears. No, Edouard is not -hard-hearted; he loves me still, he will not spurn his Adeline. I will -implore him, in our child's name, to cease to see a man who will lead -him on to ruin. This letter will be a sufficient proof, I trust; he will -open his eyes and sever all relations with him who has already caused me -so much unhappiness." - -These reflections allayed Adeline's distress in some measure; fully -determined to show her husband, as soon as he should return, the letter -that she had received, she decided to sit up for him. He could not be -much longer, it was already quite late, and all she needed was a little -courage. Poor woman! if she had known how her husband was occupied, -while she, melancholy and pensive, devoured in silence the torments of -anxiety and jealousy! You who try to read the future,--how you would -deserve to be pitied if your eyes could pierce space, and if your ears -always heard the truth! Illusion was invented for the happiness of -mortals; it does them almost as much good as hope. - -The young woman tried to beguile the time by making plans for the -future. She rejoiced in the approach of the season of fine weather; soon -they might return to the pretty little place in the country. She had -been so happy there in the early days of her married life that she -looked forward to finding there once more the happiness that she had not -found in Paris. Edouard would accompany her; he would have forgotten all -his plans, have given up the business that tormented him, and have -broken entirely with the perfidious Dufresne. Then nothing could disturb -their felicity. Her mother would return to live with them; little -Ermance would grow up and be educated under her parents' eyes, learning -to love and respect them. What a delightful future! How short the time -would seem! how well it would be employed! - -Adeline's heart thrilled with the pleasure caused by the delicious -tableau which her imagination had conjured up. But the clock struck; she -glanced at it and sighed; the image of happiness vanished, the -melancholy reality returned! - -Thus do the unfortunate try to deceive their suffering, to conceal their -grief from themselves. He who has lost a beloved sweetheart has her -image constantly in his thoughts; he sees her, speaks to her, lives -again with her in the past; he hears her voice, her sweet accents, her -loving confession which makes his heart beat fast with bliss; he recalls -those delicious interviews of which love bore the whole burden; he -fancies that he holds his loved one's hands in his; he seeks her burning -lips from which he once stole the sweetest of kisses--but the illusion -vanishes; she is no longer there! Ah! what a ghastly void! what a cruel -return to life! - -Adeline was agitated by all these gleams of hope and fear; twenty times -she went to her daughter's cradle, then returned to her place at the -window and listened anxiously, intently, for the faintest sound; but -only the rumbling of an occasional carriage broke the silence of the -night. Each time that she heard that noise, Adeline's heart beat faster. -It was her husband returning home; yes, it was he--the carriage was -coming nearer; but it passed on, it did not stop. - -Adeline had watched many hours pass; the cold of the night and the -weariness caused by her lonely vigil benumbed her senses. Despite her -desire to wait for her husband, she felt that she could no longer resist -the drowsiness that oppressed her. She decided at last to go to bed; but -she placed Madame Dolban's letter on her night table, so that she might -have it at hand in order to be able to show it to her husband as soon as -she saw him. From that priceless letter she anticipated peace of mind -and happiness. She lighted the night lamp that she used every night. She -went to bed at last--regretfully--and still tried to fight against -sleep; but fatigue triumphed over anxiety; her eyelids drooped, she fell -into a deep sleep. - -Adeline had been asleep an hour; a loud noise, caused by the fall of a -chair, awoke her with a start; she opened her eyes, but could see -nothing. Her lamp was out; she made a movement to rise, but an arm -passed about her body kept her in bed and two kisses closed her mouth. -Adeline knew that her husband alone had a key to her room, that no other -than he could enter there at night; so that it was Edouard who had -returned and was in her arms. - -"Oh! my dear," she said, "I sat up for you a long, long while; I was so -anxious to see you and speak to you. If you knew! I have had a letter -from Madame Dolban, poor woman! she is very unhappy! You will find that -I was not mistaken about Dufresne--the monster! It is he who has ruined -her; he has every failing, every vice. My dear Edouard, I implore you, -do not continue your intimacy with that man--he will be your ruin! You -won't tell me any more that my ideas are chimeras. The letter is here, -on my night table; if the lamp had not gone out, I would read it to you -now." - -Adeline was on the point of rising to light the lamp, but love detained -her in her bed. The most loving caresses, the most ardent kisses were -lavished upon her; she had recovered her husband; she yielded to his -desires, she abandoned herself to his love, shared the intense ardor -with which he was inflamed; her past sorrows were nothing more than a -dream which the most blissful ecstasy dispelled. - -Pleasure is always followed by desire to rest; drunk with love and joy, -Adeline fell asleep in the arms of him who had shared her delirium. A -ray of light was shining through the window when she opened her eyes; -her heart was still palpitating with the pleasure she had enjoyed. She -turned her head to look at her sleeping husband. A shriek of horror -escaped her; she trembled, she could hardly breathe, her eyes assumed a -glassy stare, her heart ceased to beat. It was Dufresne who was by her -side; it was his breast upon which her head had rested; it was he upon -whom she had lavished her caresses; it was in his arms that she had -tasted the ecstasy, the transports of love. - -The young woman's shriek awoke Dufresne; he looked at Adeline, and a -treacherous smile, an expression of savage joy, gleamed in the eyes that -he fastened upon his victim. She seemed bereft of the power to act; she -was completely crushed. Dufresne determined to make the most of the -little time that remained; he moved nearer to her and attempted to -renew his hateful caresses. Adeline came to life again; she recovered -her strength, pushed the monster away with all her might, leaped out of -bed and wrapped her dress about her; and her resolute and haughty -expression seemed to defy him to commit a fresh outrage. - -Dufresne stopped, gazed at her a moment in silence, then said with a -sneering laugh: - -"What, madame! more resistance--more affectation of prudery? Really, you -must agree that, after what has taken place between us during the night, -this is mere childishness. Your pride is sadly misplaced now! Come, take -my advice; let us make peace. I assure you that your husband shall know -nothing about it. A little more or a little less will make him no more -of a cuckold! Indeed, I may as well tell you that he too is in the arms -of another; so you will have nothing to reproach yourself for." - -Dufresne walked toward Adeline, and she recoiled from him in horror. He -reached her side and attempted to satisfy his desires again. Adeline -struggled; she seemed endowed with fresh strength, and her voice, -calling Edouard's name, rang through the apartment. Dufresne stopped and -released her; he realized that the young woman's shrieks might be heard; -the servants might come, and that would upset all his plans. So that he -had no choice but to leave Adeline; but fierce anger blazed in the -glances that he cast at her. He ran to the table, seized Madame Dolban's -letter and brandished it in the face of the woman who defied his wrath -and defeated his renewed attempts to outrage her. - -"Here it is," he said with an ironical smile; "here is the document of -which you hoped to make such good use. You despise, you spurn my love; -tremble before the effects of my hatred and of the revenge I will have -for your contempt. Adieu! I take with me Madame Dolban's letter; she -will not write you any more." - - - - -XX - -THE PASSIONS TRAVEL FAST WHEN ONE DOES NOT RESIST THEM - - -Edouard had received from Dufresne the sum of one hundred thousand -francs; that amount was only one-half of the proceeds of the sale of the -consols; but Dufresne, who was very glad of an opportunity to retain the -other half, told Edouard that he had not sold them all, because he hoped -to dispose of the rest within a few days at a better price; and the -credulous Murville, trusting absolutely in the good faith of the man -whom he believed to be his friend, told him to complete the transaction -whenever he thought best. - -Engrossed by his new passion for Madame de Geran, Edouard betook himself -to the lovely widow's abode, neglecting for her his wife, his child and -his home. He found her whose charms excited his imagination, alone. The -soi-disant widow was in her boudoir; it was a great favor, to begin -with, to be admitted to a tete-a-tete with her. The coquette knew how to -put forth all her graces, to make the most of all her advantages, in -order to complete the conquest of the young business agent; she -accomplished her object with ease; weak people allow themselves to be -beguiled so readily! A smile, a glance makes them amorous; and in that -respect strong-minded folk often resemble their weaker brothers. A -clever woman, who is not in love, artfully delays her surrender; not -until she is certain of commanding, of governing her victim, does she -accord her favors. With a roue, a libertine, Madame de Geran would have -obtained little influence; but with a man who has never loved any woman -but his wife, a coquette is sure to make rapid progress. That is why a -wise woman should preferably marry a man who has sown his wild oats, for -he, at least, is on his guard against seduction. - -It is very certain that for a woman to make a man love her it is not -always necessary that she should love him, but simply that she should -pretend to. True love makes one timid, awkward, bungling, imprudent; -how, with all these failings, can one be attractive? When one truly -loves, one loses all one's attractions. When a girl--observe that I mean -an innocent girl--sees the man she loves enter the salon where she is -surrounded by people, she instantly becomes embarrassed, pensive, -distraught; the blood rises to her cheeks; speak to her and she answers -incoherently; she dares not raise her eyes for fear of attracting -attention; she trembles lest someone may guess what she wants; it seems -to her that all eyes are fastened on her, and that everyone knows her -secret. If two persons speak in low tones, she fancies that they are -talking about her. The slightest thing adds to her confusion. If she is -musical and is escorted to the piano, her fingers get in one another's -way and cannot touch the keys correctly. Does she sing? her voice -trembles, she is afraid of putting too much meaning into the words which -refer to love. Does she dance? she is afraid to dance with the man she -adores; she despairs in secret if he dances with another.--Poor child! -if you were not in love, or if he were not there you would recover your -charm, your good spirits; you would flirt perhaps, but you would be much -more attractive; and your kind girl friends would not laugh among -themselves at your awkwardness and your stupidity. - -In the case of a young man it is even worse, for the timidity and -embarrassment which take possession of a young woman always give her a -certain air of innocence and candor, which induces one to excuse her -awkwardness. But a lovelorn man who sits and sulks in a corner of the -salon if the woman he loves does not look at him fondly enough, who -sighs without speaking when he is seated beside his charmer; who does -not know what to say when an opportunity presents itself to declare his -flame: such a man, it must be confessed, is far from attractive; he is -laughed at in society, and she who is the cause of his blunders is often -the first to make fun of him. Whereas a giddy youngster, who is not in -love, who has no feeling; who takes pleasure in tormenting women, who -turns sentiment into ridicule and constancy into a subject of -derision--a ne'er-do-well, in a word--easily makes himself master of a -heart and triumphs in a day over her for whom the shrinking and -sensitive lover has sighed in vain for many years! To be sure, the -ne'er-do-well is very lively, very pushing, very enterprising in a -tete-a-tete! while the poor lover--The old song is quite right: - -"Ah! how stupid is the man who's in love!" - -But I see many ladies fly into a rage with me and exclaim: - -"What, monsieur l'auteur, you advise men not to love us sincerely? Why, -that is frightful! You have outrageous principles!" - -Calm yourselves, mesdames, for heaven's sake! it must be that I did not -explain my meaning clearly; I do advise men not to love you awkwardly, -foolishly,--that is all; therein you yourselves will agree that I am -right. A lover who can do nothing but sigh is a very uninteresting -creature. I would have men make love to you with spirit and wit, when -they have any; with gayety, because that adds to the charms of love; -with ardor, because that does not displease you, and because life is not -everlasting, and when two people suit each other, I do not see the -necessity of waiting a century before telling each other so; seeing that -it is as well to be happy to-day as to-morrow. - -But let us drop the metaphysics of love, and return to Edouard, who was -very much in love with a woman who had never been in love with anybody, -and who was not likely to begin with him, whom she desired to make her -slave, and whom, for that reason, she did not propose to love; for we do -not put chains on the person we love, but we wear them together. - -A rich and passionate young man like Edouard was a windfall to Madame de -Geran, who, whatever Dufresne might say, was not so cruel as she chose -to appear. If Edouard had taken the trouble to make inquiries concerning -the young widow, he would have learned that his divinity had a more than -equivocal reputation; that she had had intimate liaisons with a great -Russian noble, a stout baronet, a contractor and a dealer in cashmere -shawls; that her house was the rendezvous of young rakes, schemers and -gamblers; and lastly, that no one had ever found at the Ministry of War -the name of the general whose widow she claimed to be. - -Edouard knew nothing of all this. He believed that he possessed a woman -who gave herself to him by virtue of the bond of sympathy that drew them -together; he was as proud as a peacock over a triumph which twenty -other men had won before him; and he went into ecstasies over charms -which he considered far superior to his wife's; for a mistress always -has a softer skin, a firmer breast and a smaller foot than a wife; which -is not true three-fourths of the time; but the wives take their revenge -by allowing connoisseurs to admire them. - -So Edouard passed the day caressing the soft skin, the firm breast and -the tiny foot of Madame de Geran, who allowed him to do as he chose -because she could not resist the force of her love and the voice of her -heart; at all events, that is what she told him as she received his -caresses. Time passes very swiftly in such pleasant occupation. Edouard -entirely forgot his house and his business. He knew that night had -arrived only by the appearance of a dozen or more persons, habitues of -the fascinating widow's house, who came there every evening to play -cards. - -Edouard would have taken his leave, but Madame de Geran objected; she -desired to keep him all the evening; moreover she owed him his revenge -at ecarte. Edouard remained and took his seat at a card table opposite -his beloved, who played ecarte with bewitching grace, as he had good -reason to know. - -Dufresne appeared at Madame de Geran's during the evening; he seemed -surprised to find his friend there. Edouard was then playing with a man -whom he did not know. His dear widow had abandoned the game because she -played with extraordinary good luck, and did not choose, she said, to -take advantage of Murville's unlucky vein. He was no more fortunate -however with the little man who had taken her seat; he lost constantly, -but would not stop playing, because he hoped to recoup. - -Dufresne stood facing Edouard and scrutinized him in silence. A secret -satisfaction was reflected on his features; he detected in his friend -all the symptoms of a passion which, when once fully aroused, would know -no bounds. At sight of Murville's discomposed face, his swollen veins, -his heavy breathing, it was easy to judge of the effect that the game -produced on him. But, recalling the fact that the imprudent young man -was the bearer of a considerable sum, and as he did not propose that it -should pass into the hands of another, Dufresne went to Edouard and -advised him in an undertone not to play any more. But his advice was not -heeded; Murville was already experiencing the ascendancy of the fatal -passion to which he had yielded; moreover, obstinacy and vanity -prevented him from leaving the field. - -"At all events," said Dufresne, "if you insist on continuing to play, -give me your wallet and what it still contains; you have enough money in -front of you, especially as you are playing in hard luck; do not take -the risk of losing such a large amount in one evening." - -From anybody else the counsel would not have been listened to; but -Dufresne had acquired such empire over Murville that he unhesitatingly -handed him his wallet, from which he had already taken several bank -notes. - -"Here," he said in a broken voice, trying to conceal the keen emotion -caused by the loss of his money, "take it. And here is the key to my -apartment; go there and wait for me." - -Dufresne did not wait to have this suggestion repeated. He went to -Murville's during the evening; but the servants were so accustomed to -seeing him that they paid no attention to him. He waited for Edouard far -into the night, alone in his room; and at last, when he found that he -did not return, he conceived the audacious scheme of stealing into -Adeline's bedroom when she was asleep. It was easy for him to do, as he -had noticed where the key was kept; and we have seen how he carried out -his undertaking. - -As for Edouard, luck was not favorable to him. He lost all the money -that he had retained, and three thousand francs more on credit. To -console him, Madame de Geran kept him alone to supper. She assured him -that Chevalier Desfleurets, who had won his money, was a most honorable -man who would give him his revenge whenever he wished and that, as luck -must turn in the end, he might expect to recover his losses sooner or -later. Such convincing arguments caused Edouard to forget the petty loss -he had sustained. He passed the night with his fair enslaver, who -intoxicated him with love and pleasure; and it was very late when he -fell asleep in her arms. He woke the next morning, poorer by ten -thousand francs; that was rather a high price to pay for the favors he -had obtained; but love does not calculate. - - - - -XXI - -THE ROULETTE TABLE - - -Adeline remained for a long time crushed beneath the burden of her -suffering; and several hours after Dufresne's departure, she was still -sitting, half naked, in a corner of her room, having to cover her only -the clothes which she had hurriedly seized, and which she still held -pressed against her breast. - -It was broad daylight; the servants were going and coming in the house. -Adeline arose at last and dressed herself mechanically; then sank back -on the chair she had left; she no longer had any plans, desires, or -hopes; she suffered, but she had ceased to think. - -There came a light tap at her door; she roused herself from her -depression, recalled what had happened, and awoke once more to the -consciousness of her misery. She started to open the door, but paused -near the threshold, detained by a sudden thought: suppose it were her -husband! She felt that she could not endure his glance! she thought that -he would read her shame upon her brow! Poor Adeline! you were not guilty -and yet you trembled. What a contrast to what we see every day in -society! - -She heard a voice; it was her maid's, asking her mistress if she might -come in. Adeline took courage and opened the door. - -"I beg pardon, madame," said the servant, "but I was anxious about your -health; it is very late, but you have not rung for me and you did not -come down to breakfast." - -"Is it late, Marie? Has Monsieur Murville come in?" - -"Yes, madame, monsieur came in a little while ago; he went to his room -for a moment, then went right away again." - -"He has gone out, you say?" - -"Yes, madame." - -Adeline breathed more freely; she felt less agitated; for now she -dreaded the presence of the man for whom she had waited impatiently a -few hours before. - -Marie glanced at her mistress; she saw that she was pale and changed, -and she sighed and pitied her; she thought that her husband's conduct -was the cause of Madame Murville's grief. Servants are the first to -criticise their masters' conduct; they see everything, nothing escapes -them; no man is a hero to his valet, and very few husbands are faithful -in their servants' eyes. - -"Was madame sick in the night?" asked Marie at last in an undertone. - -"No, no, I haven't been sick," replied Adeline, blushing; then she hid -her face in her handkerchief and tried to restrain her sobs. - -"Pardi!" rejoined the kind-hearted Marie, "madame does very wrong to -grieve like this. Mon Dieu! husbands all act the same way; they seem to -have a sort of rage for doing the town! You can't keep them from it. But -they get over it; and madame is so good that----" - -"Leave me." - -The domestic was about to go away, but Adeline recalled her. - -"Marie, did anybody come to the house last night?" - -"Did anybody come--last night!" and the maid looked at her mistress in -amazement, for she could not understand her question. - -"Yes, did you hear anyone knock? Was there any noise?" - -"If anybody knocked at night, it couldn't be anybody but monsieur, but -he did not come in; we were not disturbed, thank God! And everybody -slept soundly; that isn't surprising after the hurly-burly of the night -before last; we were tired out." - -Adeline dismissed her maid, feeling a little more tranquil; she was -certain at all events that her dishonor was a secret; she went to her -little Ermance; she took her in her arms, and sought consolation with -her; a voice within told her that she was not to blame; she felt that it -was true, and recovered a little courage. Intent alone constitutes the -crime, and Adeline felt the most violent hatred for Dufresne; she -nourished that sentiment with delight; it seemed to her that the more -horror she felt for him, the less guilty she was in her own eyes. - -But a crushing thought came to her mind; she remembered Dufresne's last -words: Edouard loved another woman. It was in the arms of a woman that -he had passed that wretched night; he had come home and had not thought -of seeking her; it was all over; he had forgotten her, he was -unfaithful. That certainty filled the cup of poor Adeline's despair; it -took away her last hope of happiness. - -Still bewildered by the day and night that he had passed, Edouard had -left Madame de Geran's house to return home; but a sense of shame, a -secret feeling of remorse prevented him from going to his wife. In vain -does a man make excuses for himself, unless he has long been addicted to -all forms of excess, and accustomed to defy public opinion--he does not -commit a culpable act without feeling an inward dissatisfaction, without -hearing the reproofs of his conscience. Edouard was still too unused to -the paths of vice not to feel the remorse which follows a first sin. A -night passed away from home, his wife neglected, a large sum of money -lost at play in two days! What fruitful subjects for reflections! -Edouard did as most men do who have just committed some foolish act; -instead of determining to be more prudent and more orderly in the -future, he sought to forget himself, and abandoned himself more ardently -than ever to his passions; like those poor wretches who drown themselves -for fear the world's end is at hand. - -With Dufresne, Edouard was sure of finding distraction. So it was to his -lodgings that he betook himself. Dufresne was alone, absorbed in deep -thought. For the first time Murville began to use the familiar form of -address; he felt more at his ease with him since he had ceased to be -happy in his own family. He shared Dufresne's principles and his way of -looking at things to the full, so that all ceremony was naturally -banished between two friends so closely united. Edouard threw himself -into a chair and looked at Dufresne, who waited for him to speak first. - -"Here I am, my dear fellow; I expected to find you at my house." - -"I went there last evening; but as you didn't return and I was tired of -waiting, I came away." - -"Faith! it is quite as well that you did. You would have waited in vain. -I passed the night at Madame de Geran's. You understand me?" - -"Yes, perfectly. I congratulate you; you could not be more fortunate. -That woman adores you!" - -"Oh! she is mad over me!--that's the word; she didn't want me to leave -her this morning; I had difficulty in tearing myself from her arms." - -"Be careful; Madame de Geran has intense passions, a fiery brain, an -exalted imagination! She is capable of dogging your steps all the time." - -"You enchant me! I like such women!" - -"But suppose your wife should discover it?" - -"Bah! she is such an indolent creature! Her way of loving doesn't -resemble Madame de Geran's in the least." - -"If I dared give you some advice----" - -"Speak; but no more of the formal mode of address between us, my dear -Dufresne. Let us banish ceremony." - -"With all my heart." - -"You were saying----" - -"If you take my advice, you will send your wife into the country, in -order to be more free." - -"Parbleu! that is an excellent idea of yours! In truth, she talks to me -every day about the fields and meadows and green grass. I will send her -to pasture, and I will remain in Paris." - -"But you don't mention your game of cards with Chevalier Desfleurets; -did you recoup your losses?" - -"No; on the contrary, I played in the most extraordinary luck; I lost -continually.--By the way, that reminds me that I owe him three thousand -francs, and that I promised to give them to him this morning." - -"Gambling debts are sacred; you must pay up." - -"That is what I propose to do. I made an appointment with him at the -Palais-Royal, at number 9; does he live there?" - -"Ha! ha! ha! how ignorant you are, my dear Murville! Don't you know that -number nine is an _academy_, a roulette establishment?" - -"What! the chevalier frequents a roulette establishment?" - -"Why not? You will see the most fashionable people there; many nobles -who try their hardest to win the money of plebeians, and worthy -bourgeois, who are delighted to play with a chevalier or a viscount; but -always the utmost decency and good-breeding; no disturbance! I assure -you that more than one society gambler might take lessons in deportment -at the academy; people lose their money there without whining; they -swear only under their breath; in short, everything there is most -agreeable." - -"Parbleu! I am curious to see the place; but I thought that a business -man ought not to show himself in such places; I have been told that it -was very injurious to the reputation." - -"You have been misinformed; and the proof is that you will see many -merchants, business agents, brokers, commission merchants there; it is a -very respectable assemblage; the rendezvous of soldiers, foreigners, and -great noblemen travelling incognito; and the police see to it that none -of the riffraff gets in; they leave number 113 to the workmen, the -apprentices, and the petty tradesmen, because those good people must -enjoy themselves also; but number 9 is almost as respectable as -Frascati's." - -"According to that, I may go there without fear." - -"You cannot fail to find Desfleurets there; he is there from the time it -opens till the dinner hour, and indeed he does not always go out for -dinner. He sits at the green table, pricking cards. For ten years he has -been seeking a _martingale_ certain to make his fortune; and he declares -that he will have it before long, and then he will tell it to all his -acquaintances. If one could find that, on my word, it would be -delightful; one would no longer need to worry about anything; we would -enjoy ourselves and lead the gayest lives imaginable." - -"Do you think that it is possible?" - -"Why, certainly! More extraordinary things have been seen; examples are -plentiful. Look you, between ourselves, I know more than twenty people, -who hold an excellent position in society, who spend a great deal of -money, follow the fashions, deny themselves nothing, and who live solely -by gambling; listen to a favorite author: - - "'Tis play brings many lives of ease-- - As hosts of cabbies, chairmen; add to these - The lombard keen, with faded gems supplied - Which every day sees on new fingers tried, - And Gascons loud who sup at game-house board, - Unribboned knights, and misses all ignored - Who, save for lansquenet and gains quite sly, - Their virtue weak would market far from high!" - -"You surprise me; I would not have believed it, for it is always a -matter of chance." - -"Oh! my dear fellow, there is no such thing as chance for the man who -chooses to reason coolly, to reckon the chances, the series of numbers -and the probabilities. However, what I am saying is not meant to induce -you to play; you are not lucky, and you had much better hold on to -something solid." - -"By the way, what about business?" - -"Absolute stagnation; we must wait." - -"All right. Ah! my dear Dufresne, if you should find a reliable -martingale, what sport we would have while my wife is in the country!" - -"Nonsense! take my advice and think no more about that! It is mere -folly, a delusion.--I must leave you." - -"We shall meet this evening." - -"Where?" - -"Parbleu! at Madame de Geran's." - -Dufresne and Edouard parted; the former perfectly certain of the effect -which his remarks had produced upon the feeble brain of Adeline's -husband, and the latter dreaming only of roulette and martingales, and -already forming the most extravagant projects. - -It was in this frame of mind that Edouard sought the place mentioned by -the chevalier; he entered and walked through several rooms, until at -last he reached one where a number of gamblers were assembled around a -roulette table. He felt the blood mount to his cheeks, and he tried to -conceal his embarrassment and to assume the air of an habitue of the -game. Chevalier Desfleurets spied him; he rose, and ran toward him, and -forgot to prick his card, he was in such haste to receive the three -thousand francs. Edouard at once paid his debt; the chevalier was -delighted with his debtor's promptitude, and he invited him to sit down -for a moment beside him. Edouard hesitated; he looked uneasily about -him, fearing to meet someone whom he knew. He did in fact see several -business agents whom he had met with Dufresne, and some other persons -who had come to his party. But they all seemed wholly engrossed by the -green cloth, and paid no attention to him. The chevalier led him, he -allowed himself to be led, and in a moment he was seated at the roulette -table. - -Desfleurets took up his cards and began to prick again, after having -inquired of a tall, lean man in a nut-colored coat, what numbers had -come out. The tall man glanced angrily at him, coughed, spat, blew his -nose, made a grimace, clenched his fists, and did not reply. - -"He is a crank," said the chevalier to Edouard, in an undertone; "he -pricks his card three hours before risking his five-franc piece, and he -almost always waits too long. He was watching the red zero, and I will -wager that it came out before he bet on it. That man will never know the -way to gamble; he is too much of a coward!" - -Edouard looked on and listened with astonishment to what was taking -place before him for the first time; for before his marriage he had -never chosen to enter a gambling house, being prudent enough then to -distrust his own weakness. It is only when one is certain not to yield -to temptation, when one experiences for games of chance the horror which -they should inspire in every sensible man, that one can safely enter a -gambling hell. What a vast field for watching and studying the effects -of that deplorable passion! The result of one's reflections is -melancholy, but it teaches a useful lesson, and a gambling house is the -best place for a young man to correct himself of that fatal taste, if, -instead of abandoning himself to the passion that leads him thither, he -could examine coolly what is taking place about him. - -What vertigo has seized upon those unhappy wretches, who crowd about the -table and devour with their eyes the heaps of silver and gold, and the -bank notes spread out before the croupiers? They do not see that all -that money is there only to allure them, to lead them on; they say to -themselves: "This one wins, that one goes away with his pockets full; -why should not we be as fortunate as they?"--Ah! even if they should, -would the money won in a gambling hell ever serve to enrich a family, to -support a wife; to endow a daughter, to help the unfortunate? No, the -gambler's heart is hard and unfeeling, his mind is sordid and debased by -the passion which dominates it. If they win to-day, they will play again -to-morrow, until they can no longer procure aught to satisfy the -insatiable greed which draws them to the fatal table. If they return -home with their pockets filled with gold, do not imagine that they will -be more generous with their families. Their wives are ill-clad, their -children lack everything, creditors besiege their door; but they will -give nothing, they will pay nobody, they will laugh at the threats of -those whose wages they hold back, and will be indifferent to the voice -of nature. Soon they will lose the money that a lucky chance caused them -to win, and then woe to the poor creatures that surround them! it is -upon them that they vent their rage, which they do not dare to display -before strangers. It is in their own homes that they abandon themselves -to anger, to brutality, even to the last excesses. They must have money; -they seize upon everything that can still produce it; their children's -last garments are sold, the result of a day's work disappears in a -second upon a color or a number. Then they glare darkly about them, -despair is depicted upon all their features; they gaze in frenzy at that -gold which they cannot possess, and at the croupiers, who observe their -despair with the coldest indifference. Then the guiltiest desires and -the basest villainy torment their frantic imagination; they covet their -neighbors' money; they put out their hand toward it, and often, impelled -by the cruel passion which destroys their wits, they commit the most -shameful crimes. Such examples are only too common; gambling has three -results, but they are inevitable: it leads either to suicide, to the -poor-house or to the stool of repentance. - -Edouard did not indulge in these reflections, unfortunately for him. He -watched the game, and after he had mastered its principles, he placed a -twenty-franc piece on the red; that color came out nine times in -succession; and as Edouard had left his stake each time, he won in five -minutes ten thousand two hundred and forty francs. Chevalier -Desfleurets, leaping up and down on his chair in amazement at the sight -of such extraordinary good-fortune, advised Murville in a whisper to -stop there for the time, because, according to the probabilities and the -prickings on his card, the black could not fail to come out next. The -chevalier was very pleased to see the young man win, for he expected to -meet him at Madame de Geran's, and as he played very badly at ecarte and -paid very promptly, it was very satisfactory to know that he was in -funds. - -Edouard did not care about probabilities, but he was conscious of a -great void in his stomach; for the occupation with which his new -conquest had provided him all night made him feel the necessity of -renewing his strength. So he rose and left the table, promising the -chevalier to play with him that evening. - -At that moment the ball stopped in a compartment, and, contrary to -Desfleurets's expectations, it rested on the red. Edouard was terribly -vexed that he had left the game so soon, but he promised to make up for -it at the first opportunity. The tall man in the nut-colored coat, who -had overheard the advice which the chevalier had given Edouard, uttered -a vulgar oath when he saw the red come out; whereat Murville was -slightly astonished, in view of the fact that Dufresne had emphasized -the extreme good breeding which prevailed in that establishment; but he -stuffed his gold in his pockets none the less, and left the place, -radiant because of his good luck. - -He turned his steps homeward; on the way he thought of his wife; she -must be very anxious, and very angry with him; she had not seen him -since the day before. He felt greatly embarrassed about speaking to her, -but he decided to go to her, and, after taking his money to his office, -where he found his clerk asleep over the _Moniteur_, Edouard went up to -his wife's apartment. - -Despite the indifference which Edouard had felt for his wife for some -time past, he was moved when he saw the change which had taken place in -her whole person since the day before. Adeline was pale and depressed; -her swollen, red eyes were still full of tears; every feature bore the -mark of the most intense suffering. Edouard had no doubt that his long -absence was the cause of his wife's grief; so he approached her and -tried to find some excuses to palliate his conduct. - -"Perhaps you sat up for me last night; no doubt you were anxious; but I -was detained against my will at a party where there was card playing; I -was winning, and I could not decently leave." - -"You are the master of your actions, monsieur," replied Adeline, without -looking up at her husband; "you would be very foolish to put yourself -out for me." - -Edouard did not expect to find such submission; he dreaded reproaches, -complaints and tears; but Adeline did not say another word; she seemed -resigned, she sighed and held her peace. This behavior produced more -effect on her husband's heart than outcries and remonstrances; he felt -touched; he was on the point of falling at his wife's feet and asking -her pardon for his misdeed; but Madame de Geran's image presented itself -to his mind and changed all his sensations; he repelled a sentimentality -too vulgar for a man of fashion, and returned to his new plans. - -"Madame, you have expressed a wish to return to the country; the summer -is advancing and you must take advantage of it. Moreover, I believe that -it will be an excellent thing for our child. I advise you to start at -once. I cannot go with you now, for some important matters keep me in -Paris; but I hope to come to see you often." - -"Very well, monsieur; I will make all necessary preparations for going -away and for my stay in the country, where I shall remain until I -receive your orders to return." - -"On my honor," said Edouard to himself, "my wife is charming! such -obedience! It is altogether extraordinary." - -He took Adeline's hand and pressed it lightly; and paying no heed to the -trembling of that once cherished hand, he imprinted a very cold kiss -upon it, and hurried away with the rapidity of a schoolboy when he hears -the bell ring for recess. - -"He wants me to go away," said Adeline to herself when she was alone; -"my presence embarrasses him. Well, we will go. What does it matter to -me now in what part of the world I live, since I shall find happiness -nowhere? I have lost my husband's love, I have lost honor and repose of -mind; I will go away and conceal my melancholy existence; for my -daughter's sake only do I desire to preserve it, and I will devote it -entirely to her. Poor child! What would become of you if you should lose -me?" - -Adeline embraced her daughter; only by reminding herself that she was a -mother could she succeed in reviving her vanishing courage. She made -preparations for her departure for Villeneuve-Saint-Georges; she would -have been glad to induce her mother to accompany her; but Mamma Germeuil -cared very little for the country; she had her own habits, her -acquaintances in Paris, and old age always grows selfish; she felt that -she had but few pleasures left to enjoy, and she did not care to -sacrifice any of them. - -A week was sufficient for Adeline to prepare all that was necessary for -her and her daughter in the country. At the end of that time, during -which she caught a glimpse of her husband at rare intervals, she -prepared to start. But before taking her leave, she determined to make a -last effort, not to recover her husband's love, for she well knew that -that sentiment cannot be commanded, but to show him Dufresne as he -really was. Edouard did not listen to her and refused to believe her -when she mentioned the villain who was leading him on to his ruin; but -Adeline thought of Madame Dolban; she thought that she would not refuse -to write Murville another letter, wherein she would describe in detail -the wickedness of the man whom he called his friend. - -It was for Edouard's honor and his good name that Adeline took this last -step, which could not restore her happiness but would reassure her -concerning the future of her husband. - -The young wife went at once to Madame Dolban's house and asked the -concierge if she could see her. - -"You come too late, madame," the man replied; "Madame Dolban died three -days ago!" - -"She is dead! Why, she wrote to me only nine days ago!" - -"Oh! mon Dieu! that's the way things go in this world! A severe attack -of fever, and then nervous collapse, and I don't know what else. It -carried her off right away." - -"All is lost," said Adeline as she turned away; "there is no hope now of -convincing Edouard. Dufresne triumphs. He will drag him to his -destruction!" - -Discouraged by this fresh disappointment, the griefstricken Adeline made -haste to leave Paris; she started with her daughter for -Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, and as she sat in the carriage, with none but -her child to witness her grief, she thought of the difference between -that journey and the journey of the preceding year, and she wept over -the rapidity with which her happiness had vanished. - - - - -XXII - -THE SCHEMERS.--THE GAMBLERS.--THE SWINDLERS - - -Rid of his wife's presence, the sight of whom was still disturbing to -his conscience, Edouard abandoned himself without restraint to -Dufresne's advice, to his love for Madame de Geran, and to his passion -for gambling. - -Dufresne had kept half of the sum produced by the sale of the consols. -He had always intended to appropriate a portion of Edouard's fortune, -upon whose purse he had already been drawing for some time, because, as -he said, business was not good. But Dufresne added to all his other -vices that of gambling, and the sum that he kept was speedily lost in -the gulf in which he had, in a very short time, squandered Madame -Dolban's fortune. - -Edouard passed a large part of his days in the academies, and his nights -with Madame de Geran, at whose house there was gambling of the wildest -sort. People reasonably well dressed, but whose faces denoted the vilest -sort of characters, resorted every evening to the house of the general's -widow, where they were certain to find Monsieur Murville and some other -dupes, over whom the schemers and kept women disputed. - -But Madame de Geran did not lose sight of her lover; she did not propose -that her slave should escape her; she was an adept at working all the -springs of coquetry; all sorts of stratagems, all methods were employed -to bewilder and blind a man who believed himself to be adored, and who -made every conceivable sacrifice to gratify the wishes of his mistress. - -Madame de Geran led her lovers a rapid pace: cards, theatres, dinners, -drives, select parties, dresses, shawls, jewels, suppers, love, -caresses!--only with the aid of all these could one rely even upon -ostensible fidelity from her. But it must be confessed too, that amid -all these diversions, Edouard had not a moment to himself; he did not -even find time to be bored; and that is rarely the case when one is -surfeited with everything. - -But luck had ceased to be favorable to him. After winning at roulette -several times in succession, he experienced the inconstancy of fortune -and lost considerable sums. Instead of stopping, he persisted -obstinately in going on; that is the inevitable result of a first gain, -which acts as a bait to people who are beginning to frequent gambling -hells; so that the bankers watch with a smile the gambler who goes out -with his pockets full of gold, feeling very sure that the next day the -unfortunate wretch will lose twice what he has won. - - "S'il est quelque joueur qui vive de son gain, - On en voit tous les jours mille mourir de faim."[C] - -[C] - - If some gamblers there be who live by their gains, - We see thousands who but starve for their pains. - - -After trying trente-et-un, dice and roulette, and after losing twenty -thousand francs in an hour, the last remnant of the sum which Dufresne -had handed him before his wife's departure, Edouard returned to his -house, gloomy and anxious; he scolded his servants and talked roughly to -everybody without reason; but he felt the need of venting a part of his -ill-humor upon his people. He entered his office, where he found the -clerk asleep on his desk; he shook him roughly. - -"What are you doing here? Is this the way you attend to your work?" - -The young man yawned, stretched his arms, rubbed his eyes, and gazed at -his employer, who was pacing the floor of the office. - -"Well! do you hear me, monsieur? Why aren't you at work?" - -"Why, monsieur, you know very well that I haven't any." - -"Why aren't you writing circulars for the provinces?" - -"Monsieur knows too that we sent several of his circulars to the same -people, and they haven't answered." - -"You're a fool! You don't know how to manage an affair. And what about -that house that someone wanted to buy?" - -"Monsieur, the person came three times to obtain information, but he -didn't find you." - -"You ought to have given it to him!" - -"But, monsieur, I knew nothing about it." - -"And that investment that someone wanted to make?" - -"The person made two appointments with you that you didn't keep." - -"For heaven's sake, do these people think that I am at their orders?" - -"They say that you should be prompt." - -"Hold your tongue! You are an insolent fellow! I have no need of a -fellow who sleeps on my desk. I discharge you." - -"Monsieur will please pay me my wages first." - -"Your wages! You earn them by sleeping." - -"Monsieur, it isn't my fault that there isn't anything to do in your -office; pay me and----" - -"I'll pay you; leave me." - -Edouard was well aware that he had nothing with which to pay his clerk; -he opened the desk, examined all the drawers, and found nothing. He -relied upon the sum which Dufresne still had in his hands, and -determined to see him and urge him to sell at once at any price; he -absolutely must have money. Fatigued and discomfited by his sitting at -the gaming table, he did not wish to go out before he had changed his -clothes, and he decided to send someone at once to summon Dufresne. He -rang and called his servant, but no one replied. The servants had become -unaccustomed to seeing their master since Adeline had left the house; -Edouard sometimes passed several nights in succession away; the servants -no longer observed any restraint, and spent their time amusing -themselves. Faithful Marie, the only honest one of them all, had left -the house after her mistress's departure. - -Edouard left his office and went over the house; he found the kitchen -empty, but the cellar door was open; he went down and found his -concierge drinking his wine with the cook. The servants were dumfounded -at the appearance of their master. He swore and stormed and seized the -concierge by the ear, while he administered a kick to the cook. - -"Monsieur," stammered the half-tipsy concierge, "you don't eat in the -house any more, and we came here to find out whether the wine was -getting spoiled." - -Edouard drove the servants before him, left the cellar, and returned to -the first floor. Thinking that he heard a noise in his wife's dressing -room, he entered suddenly and found his valet deeply engrossed in close -intercourse with the wife of the concierge, a rather attractive young -woman, who loved love as much as her husband loved wine. - -"Morbleu!" cried Edouard, "what a household! what disorder! Do you think -that I will put up with this, you curs? I discharge you all!" - -"As monsieur pleases," rejoined the valet, with perfect unconcern, as he -attended to his costume, while the concierge's wife held her hands over -her breast and did her utmost to shield herself further from the -observation to which her dear friend had exposed her, "just pay us our -wages, and we'll go." - -Edouard left the room in a passion, and shut himself into his office. -Since his wife's departure, he had not given a sou to his servants, for -he had never had money enough to provide for his own expenses, and now -he was compelled to retain wretches who robbed him, and turned -everything upside down in his house. But he reflected that Dufresne -would supply him with the means to extricate himself from embarrassment; -he was about to go in search of him when Dufresne himself entered the -office, with an air of desperation. - -"Ah! you come most opportunely," cried Edouard; "I was anxious to see -you, my dear fellow! I must have money! I must have some this very day!" - -"That will be rather hard," replied Dufresne in a gloomy voice. - -"What! haven't you the consols?" - -"I have come to tell you of a terrible calamity: the man in whose hands -I had placed them, as well as the blank power of attorney----" - -"Well?" - -"He has sold them, but he has gone off with the money." - -"Gone off?" - -"Yes, he has disappeared; it is impossible to find out anything about -him." - -Edouard was thunderstruck. He threw himself into a chair in despair. - -"I am ruined! I have lost everything!" - -"Ruined! what nonsense! when a man has credit and acquaintances! Come, -be yourself; I give you my word that I will repair this disaster. Trust -to my zeal, my friend; I made the mistake through my over-confidence; I -propose to get you out of the scrape." - -"But how?" - -"There are a thousand ways." - -"Remember that I haven't a sou, and that I need money every moment, -especially with Madame de Geran, from whom I desire to conceal this -disaster." - -"You will be very wise, although I am convinced that she adores you." - -"I have promised her a lovely cashmere shawl, which she is very anxious -to have." - -"You shall give it to her.--Here, sign this." - -"What is it?" - -"Notes to my order for twenty thousand francs." - -"But I don't owe you anything." - -"Of course not; and this is simply to raise money. That is called -'flying kites.'" - -"Ah! is it allowable?" - -"Allowable! parbleu! we don't ask permission to do it." - -"But it's rather a delicate matter to----" - -"Ha! ha! you make me laugh with your scruples. After all, you will pay -them, so what right will anyone have to say anything?" - -"And you hope to discount them?" - -"I am very sure of it; you are thought to be rich, you have an expensive -establishment, and your party did you much good. Never fear; I will -bring you the money to-morrow, and all you will need is a streak of luck -to win twice what you have lost to-day." - -"That infernal roulette,--a long series of odd numbers!" - -"Oh! that was mere luck! It doesn't happen twice. That devil of a -chevalier has found an infallible martingale, he says; but it requires -funds to start it." - -"Perhaps we shall not have enough." - -"Oh! I have resources. But sign quickly, and I will go and attend to -discounting your notes." - -Edouard signed notes amounting to twenty thousand francs; and to divert -his thoughts, went to see his mistress. She pouted a little when she -found that he had not brought the shawl that she coveted, but he -promised it for the next day, and she became charmingly amiable once -more; she scolded her devoted friend for his solemn and distraught air; -he apologized by saying that he was engrossed by an affair of great -importance, and she kissed him and fondled him and caressed him. A man -who is engaged in great speculations, and who is generous--what an -invaluable treasure to preserve! - -The regular company soon arrived. If it was far from select, it was -numerous, at all events: ruined marquises, nobles without a chateau, -landed proprietors without property, knights of industry, business -agents like Edouard, all gamblers or schemers, and some young men of -good family who had nothing left to lose, and some idiots who fancied -themselves in the best society--such in the main were the male guests. -The ladies were worthy of these gentlemen: old _intrigantes_, panders, -kept women, or those who wished to be, habitues of the gambling hells to -which the fair sex is admitted; such was the assemblage at Madame de -Geran's, where they affected decent behavior, grand airs, refined -manners, and severely scrupulous language, which soon became obscene, -when the passions of these ladies and gentlemen were so far excited as -to make them forget their costumes and the rank which they were supposed -to occupy. - -Madame de Geran gave a punch: that is a shrewd way of exciting the -gamblers' brains, and of making the women seem attractive to them. The -imagination heated by liquor attributes charms to superannuated and -withered beauties. The glasses circulate, heads become confused, the -stakes increase in amount, the heat is stifling, the ladies remove their -neckerchiefs; the eye of a connoisseur standing behind the chair of a -fair gambler rests upon a breast which a pitiless corset strives to keep -at a predetermined height; if he looks behind, he sees reasonably white -shoulders, a perfectly bare back, and his wandering vision easily -divines the little that is concealed. How deny the siren who turns and -borrows twenty-five louis, with a glance full of meaning touching the -mode of payment; whereupon you proceed to take an instalment by sitting -down beside your fascinating debtor, and doing whatever you choose; for -she offers no resistance; and thus it is that acquaintances are made at -large parties. Edouard did not admire the breasts and backs of the -ladies, because he was completely subjugated by a single one; but he -took his seat at a table after borrowing thirty louis of his mistress, -because, he said, he had forgotten to bring money. She readily lent it -to him, being certain he would return it with interest the next day. - -A certain Marquis de Monclair, an intimate friend of the Chevalier -Desfleurets, suggested to Edouard a game of ecarte; they took their -places and Desfleurets took his stand behind Edouard, with the purpose, -he said, of bringing him luck. But Murville lost every game; the thirty -louis which he had borrowed were soon gone; then his opponent willingly -played with him on credit, because he was aware how promptly he always -paid. - -Madame de Geran caused the punch to circulate with profusion; she -herself drank several glasses in order to do the honors of her reception -with more grace. Everyone seemed very much engrossed, either by the -cards or by gallantry; the ordinary reserve was replaced by uproar; the -guests generally forgot themselves; artificial modesty gave place to -somewhat indecorous hilarity on the part of the ladies, oaths were heard -in one direction, loud laughter in another; there was quarrelling and -teasing; the card players disputed over the game, there was love-making -on sofas, and the result was a most varied and animated tableau, wherein -each actor had his own private interest to subserve. - -Madame de Geran herself seemed greatly heated, although she was not -playing; she approached Edouard's table for a moment, saw that he was -absorbed with his game, and left the salon, to cool off. - -Edouard was unable to win a single game; rage and despair were rampant -in his heart; he already owed fifteen thousand francs to the marquis, -and constantly doubled his stake, hoping to make up his losses; but his -expectations were always disappointed. Pale, trembling, wild-eyed, he no -longer knew what he was doing; his hands were clenched, his nerves were -on edge, and he could hardly breathe. - -"I will play you for the fifteen thousand francs at one stake," he said -at last to his adversary, in a trembling voice. - -"I agree," replied the marquis; "I am a bold player, as you see; in -truth, I am terribly distressed to see you lose so constantly." - -Edouard made no reply; he was intent upon the game that was about to -begin; his eyes were unswervingly fixed upon the cards which were to -decide his fate; there were no other witnesses than Desfleurets, who -still stood behind Edouard, and an old _intrigante_, who was very -intimate with the marquis and was deeply interested in his play. All the -other guests were engaged at other tables. - -The game began; when the marquis already had three points, he turned a -king. Edouard, incensed by such uninterrupted good fortune, turned -suddenly to complain to Desfleurets; he discovered him, with other -cards, showing to his adversary, behind his back, what he had in his -hand. The chevalier tried to conceal his cards, but Edouard did not give -him time; he snatched them from his hands, realized the rascality of -which he had been the victim, overturned the table and informed the -marquis that he should not pay him. The marquis, accustomed to such -scenes, did not lose his head, but demanded his money. Edouard called -him a swindler; his adversary seized a chair and threatened him, while -the chevalier picked up a number of louis which had fallen to the floor. -The old woman shrieked, and Murville seized a candle-stick which he -threw at his creditor's head. The marquis received the candle in the -face, and lost an eye and part of his nose; he uttered fearful shrieks, -and everybody sprang to his feet; the women fled, some men did the same, -and the swindlers, being in force, surrounded Murville and threatened to -beat him. At that moment Dufresne entered the room, and realized -Edouard's danger at a glance; quick to make the most of circumstances, -he forced his way to his side, pushing everybody out of his way; he -shouted louder than all the rest, and, making a sign to Edouard to leave -the salon, said that he would undertake to settle the affair, and -promised the marquis that he should receive the value of his face, which -was not likely to be a large sum. Dufresne had a tone and manner which -imposed upon those gentry; they became calmer, and Murville, feeling -that he was in a hopeless minority, went out of the salon, leaving -Dufresne to represent him. - -In order to console himself in some degree for this misadventure, -Edouard looked about for Madame de Geran; she was not in the salon; he -passed through the reception rooms without finding her; she had -evidently gone to her bedroom, which was above. He rushed hurriedly up -the stairs; they were not lighted; but he knew the way. He opened the -dressing-room door and saw a light shining beneath the door leading into -the boudoir; the key was in the lock, he entered abruptly; but imagine -his sensations when he saw his dear mistress lying on a couch in company -with her groom, in a situation which clearly denoted the sort of -refreshment that had been provided. - -Edouard stood like a statue for several minutes, unable to believe his -eyes; the groom, a tall youth of eighteen, strong, lusty and well-built, -but as stupid as an ass, whose physical advantages he possessed, had -been selected by Madame de Geran for her private delectation, and he -performed his duties with zeal and promptitude. He was always ready -whenever his mistress sent for him and gave him the preconcerted signal; -and she had had no occasion to do aught but praise his excellent conduct -and his services, which were frequently in demand. But we must say also -that Charlot had been only two months in Madame de Geran's service, -where the food was excellent, but where the grooms were very quickly -worn out. - -The punch had produced its effect on the nerves of the petite-maitresse; -she had felt the need of being refreshed; and after making sure that -Murville was engaged in a serious game, which she thought unlikely to -come to an end so soon, she had passed through the anteroom, where -Charlot was, with her little finger at her ear; the groom, knowing what -that meant, had followed close at his mistress's heels, and we have seen -what happened. - -The boudoir was a long way from the salon; they had heard only a part of -the tumult, to which indeed they were well accustomed. Charlot had -paused a moment to listen, however; but his mistress, whose attention -was not distracted, and who was intent upon her own affairs, had said -lovingly: - -"Go on, imbecile! What do you care for that? Let them fight." - -Edouard's abrupt entrance did not disturb the groom; presuming that it -was one of the gamblers who had been disputing below, and remembering -what his mistress had said to him a moment before, Charlot continued his -work without turning his head. As for Madame de Geran, seeing that it -was no longer possible to deceive Edouard, she made the best of it, at -the same time ignoring the interruption. - -But Murville's wrath, held in check a few seconds by his extreme -surprise, soon burst forth with fury; he seized a fire-shovel and dealt -Charlot several blows. The groom yelled that he was being murdered; -Madame de Geran shrieked and Edouard shouted as loud as they did, and, -weary of striking Charlot, threw the shovel at madame's mirror. - -The mirror was shattered and fell to the floor in splinters. Edouard -swore and stormed, completely beside himself. Charlot wept, pressing his -battered body; Madame de Geran called for help, because she was afraid -for her other furniture and even for herself; in her terror she suddenly -pushed the groom away and he rolled over against a washstand which he -overturned; whereupon sponges, phials, essences and the bowl and pitcher -fell on the floor; and at the uproar, the shrieks, the tears and the -crashing of glass, a large proportion of the guests hurried to the scene -and entered the boudoir. - -They all expressed much surprise at sight of Madame de Geran in such -great excitement, of the groom, in such unusual appearance, sprawling on -the floor amid the debris of the mirror, the bowl and the phials, and of -Edouard, who stalked amid the ruins with flashing eyes, as Achilles -stalked about the ramparts of Troy, and seemed inclined to deluge -everything with blood and fire. - -They inquired what had happened, pushing, jostling, and asking -questions, and by dint of trying to restore tranquillity, increased the -confusion. The Marquis de Monclair held his handkerchief to his face, to -preserve the remains of his nose; he swore that Murville was a madman -who ought to be shut up. Desfleurets followed him, still holding in his -hand a pack of cards with which he was preparing some private _coup_. He -put in his pockets the phials and sponges that he found within reach, -taking advantage of the confusion to restock his toilet table. A number -of old coquettes gathered about Charlot, whose youth and other -attractions interested them greatly. They examined the injuries and -prescribed remedies. The young men assisted Madame de Geran to restore -her composure; those who had retained the most self-possession tried to -pacify Murville and insisted that explanations should precede fighting. -The mistress of the house vouchsafed no other explanation than to demand -the value of her mirror and toilet articles. Edouard called her a hussy -and held everybody at arm's length. Dufresne, who was always on hand in -emergencies, pulled Edouard by the coat-tail and forced him to quit the -boudoir, sorely against his will, leaving the others to laugh or cry as -their private interests might dictate. - -"You are a child!" said Dufresne when they were in the street; "why did -you make such a row?" - -"Why? why? Don't you know that I have been betrayed, shamefully -deceived, by that woman, who as I thought adored me? And for whom? for a -servant!" - -"Bless my soul! is that a reason for turning a house upside down? You -must learn to take things philosophically. A man doesn't smash furniture -for such a trifle. You will find a thousand other women who will adore -you--for your money." - -"After all the sacrifices I have made for her!" - -"Oh! it's unpleasant, I agree! But, my dear fellow, the money one gives -to a woman is always thrown away!--Look you, the most unfortunate -feature in all this is your trouble with Monclair. I was obliged to -give him a large part of the proceeds of your notes, to induce him not -to show his face to a justice of the peace; that would have led to -investigations, to law suits and expenses, which one should always -avoid.--Peste! do you know that you are a terrible fellow?--Cutting one -man's nose off and hammering another man's rump! If I should leave you -to yourself, you'd get into a fine mess! Luckily, I am always on hand to -cool you down. But this evening has cost you a great deal." - -"And so that money that I have been counting on----" - -"Oh! never fear, you shall have it; you must make more notes; and -besides, the luck will change; no one is unlucky all the time; there are -ways of arranging with fortune." - -"There are?" - -"Yes, yes; you shall know them later. But it is beginning to be light, -and it's time to go to bed. Come home with me; to-morrow we will think -about our affairs." - -Dufresne led Edouard away; and he, bewildered, crushed, desperate on -account of his late experiences, was already afraid to cast a glance -behind, or to face what the future had in store for him. - - - - -XXIII - -VIEW OF THE INTERIOR OF A GAMBLING HOUSE - - -"Look here, we must see about settling your affairs now," said Dufresne, -as he rose after the stormy night at Madame de Geran's. "You must make -more notes for about fifteen thousand francs, and I will try to discount -them. I confess, however, that it is more difficult than I thought. -People are none too anxious to have our signatures. They are becoming -more exacting. Only a few Jews will take them, and they demand fifty per -cent. What do you say to that?" - -"That traitress, to betray me for a lackey!" - -"What! you are still thinking of your faithless one! What folly!" - -"If I could revenge myself!" - -"The best revenge is to spend money freely, to live magnificently; then -she will regret you. So you see that you still need money. I am going -out to obtain some. Meanwhile, do not allow yourself to give way to -melancholy, and throw off this languor, which will lead to nothing good. -Go and take a turn at the card tables. That is where you will recover -your nerve and your ideas." - -"I haven't a sou; what sort of figure should I cut there?" - -"You must think up some method of winning. Au revoir; I am going to get -some money." - -Dufresne went out and Murville went home. He found a letter from his -wife there; it was the sixth she had written him since she had gone to -the country, but Edouard had never replied. He had read the first ones; -they contained Adeline's wishes for his welfare, entreaties that he -would take care of his health, but not a word of love; Adeline no longer -dared to mention hers. To speak of one's affection to a faithless lover -is like speaking of colors to a blind man, of music to a deaf man, of -manners to a savage. - -Edouard had ceased to read his wife's letters, because he did not know -what to reply. His heart said nothing, and his conscience said too much. -He hardened the one, and did not listen to the other. The season was -advanced; he was afraid that Adeline would talk of returning, and he -felt that her presence would embarrass him more than ever. He desired to -conceal from her the condition of his affairs, which confirmed only too -fully the fears that his wife and his mother-in-law had manifested. - -On entering his apartments, the business agent was greatly surprised to -find bailiffs proceeding to levy upon his furniture. - -"What does this mean," cried Edouard; "who has sent you to my house?" - -"Monsieur," replied a little man in black, "the owner of the house, of -which you don't pay the rent." - -"You ought to have warned me." - -"Summonses have been sent to you." - -"I did not read them." - -"That isn't my fault." - -"I don't know the forms of procedure." - -"What! monsieur is joking--a business agent!" - -"I am not one now." - -"That doesn't concern us." - -Edouard left the officers of the law and went up to his office; the -clerk was not there. He examined his papers, but he had no knowledge -whatever of his business. He tossed the boxes angrily into the middle of -the room. He went downstairs and called his servants; they had gone. The -concierge alone remained, and he answered Edouard insolently, because he -saw that he was ruined. - -Murville left his home and walked slowly toward the Palais-Royal, having -no idea what course to pursue, or how to rid himself of the bailiffs. He -waited for Dufresne, in order to consult him; he arrived at last; he -seemed content, and announced that he had obtained some money. Edouard -revived at that news, and told Dufresne what was taking place at his -house. - -"Faith," said Dufresne, "if you take my advice, you will let them go -ahead and sell a lot of furniture which is of no use to you now; you -don't need such an establishment, as you are living the life of a -bachelor; it is sleeping property, and we turn it to some use." - -"But if my wife should return----" - -"Bah! she prefers the country; and besides, don't you know that in -Paris, with plenty of money, one can find in an hour's time, a house and -furniture and servants?" - -"That is true; but you advised me to live luxuriously." - -"We will hire some magnificently furnished lodgings." - -"But my reputation----" - -"Never fear, it is making progress. Make your fortune and let the fools -talk--that is the essential thing." - -"Yes, but I am very far from making my fortune!" - -"Because you go about it in the wrong way." - -"I do whatever you tell me." - -"Oh, no! you still have a false delicacy, which does you harm, and which -you must get rid of. But come to a restaurant; let us drink some -champagne and madeira, and snap our fingers at whatever may happen." - -Edouard allowed himself to be led away; he abandoned himself like a -blind man to Dufresne's advice; he followed the torrent which drew him -on; and those people who had seen him at the time of his marriage had -difficulty in recognizing him, so great a change had been wrought in him -by debauchery and gambling. - -What an existence is that of a gambler! Never a moment's repose or -tranquillity! It seems that a permanent fever acts constantly on his -organs; his eyes are hollow and rimmed with red; his complexion pale and -seamed by lack of sleep; his cheeks sunken, all his features drawn; his -dress soiled and in disorder; his gait jerky or uncertain; feverish -anxiety can be read in his eyes; if he smiles, it is with bitterness; it -seems that cheerfulness is a stranger to his mind, which is incessantly -excited by the thirst for gold, by the eagerness for gain, by the -anxiety of the gaming table. - -Such had Edouard become; who could recognize now the young man who, -engrossed by his good fortune and his love, proudly led his charming -bride to the altar? Now his features are worn, the expression of his -face is changed, his very voice is not recognizable, for amid the -passions and agonies of suspense which he endures every day, his -transports of despair and rage, his oaths and imprecations have made his -accents threatening or hoarse; his conversation bears the imprint of the -society which he frequents; not in gambling hells, with swindlers or -abandoned women, does one acquire the tone of refined society; one loses -in such company all courtesy, all modesty, all restraint. Edouard had -acquired the habit of shouting, swearing, flying into a rage on all -occasions; his manners, his bearing, his principles, were like those of -the models which he had constantly under his eyes. A virtuous, upright, -reasonable man has much difficulty in resisting the influence of an evil -companion; what then is likely to become of a weak man, enslaved by his -passions, who is surrounded by none but the offscourings of society? - -The winter arrived; Edouard received no more letters from his wife. He -did not know that Dufresne received them for him and returned them to -Adeline as from her husband. The first notes had been paid with the -money arising from the sale of the furniture; but the second ones were -about to mature, and the two inseparables had no more money. In vain did -Murville, who no longer blushed to put out his hand to borrow in every -direction, go at night, with the small sums he had succeeded in -obtaining, to take his seat at the fatal green cloth; in vain did he too -try to calculate, and to make combinations by pricking cards, or forming -martingales; nothing succeeded. He saw the money that he had deposited -with trembling hand upon a number, pass to the banker's pile; the fatal -rake swept from him the sum which he had hoped to quadruple; he had -nothing left, he turned his eyes in all directions, seeking some -acquaintance from whom he could borrow again, but he saw no one; a -gambler has no friends. Edouard left number 9, and hurried through the -galleries of the Palais-Royal, entering each academy in search of -Dufresne or some other; he found no one who was willing to lend him. He -arrived at number 113, which he had never entered as yet. He saw the -poor mechanic who goes thither, trembling with anticipation, to risk the -fruit of his day's labor; he leaves the place with empty pockets, and -returns to his home, where his wife with her children is waiting for the -return of her husband, to go out to buy something for her little -family's supper; but he brings nothing, the poor children will go to bed -without food, and the unhappy wife will wet her pillow with her tears, -because her husband has been to the gambling house. - -And this tradesman, whom people believe to be engrossed by his -business,--what does he do in this den of iniquity? he squanders his -fortune, his reputation, his honor, the property of his correspondents; -he has to pay on the morrow notes which he has signed, and he resorts to -the roulette table in search of the funds. His gaze is fixed on the -color which he hopes to see come forth, and every time that luck betrays -his hopes, his hand, concealed in his coat, tears his clothing and rends -his breast. But he feels nothing, his sensations are concentrated on the -little ball which is to decide his fate. - -This young man, of respectable exterior and decently dressed, who acts -as if he wished to hide, because he is still sensitive to shame, comes -hither to venture, at the game of chance, a sum which the banker by whom -he is employed has intrusted to him to be taken to a notary. Luck -betrays him, he has lost all! And yet he remains there; he cannot as yet -credit his crime, his misfortune! What will he do upon leaving that vile -den, where he has left honor behind? His family is poor, but honorable; -he cannot make up his mind to bring dishonor upon it, to endure his -father's reproaches; despair takes possession of his soul, and he sees -but one means to avoid the future which terrifies him. He goes forth, he -walks hurriedly in the direction of the river, he arrives there, and -puts an end to his existence by leaping into the waves! And a man who -might have followed a happy and honorable career, a man who should have -assured the happiness of his family, commits suicide at twenty years of -age because he has been to the gambling house. - -Such pictures are only too true; we have examples of them every day; -when will these abodes of crime cease to be tolerated? - -Edouard should have profited by the lessons which he had before his -eyes; instead of that, he took his seat at the game of _biribi_; he -still had ten sous in his pocket; and he hastened to risk them on the -table where the last farthing is extorted from the poor wretches who -resort to it. - -He had been at the table but a moment, seated among people who resembled -beggars, when Dufresne appeared and motioned to him to follow him. - -"I have good news for you," he said with a joyful air; "in the first -place, your mother-in-law died last night of an attack of apoplexy." - -"Is it possible?" - -"It was a young fellow employed here, who lives in her house, who just -told me. Moreover, I have obtained the money on your notes, on condition -that you give a mortgage on your house at Villeneuve-Saint-Georges." - -"My house--but----" - -"Come, come; don't raise objections! In any event, with what little -money you get from your mother-in-law, you will be able to pay your -notes and redeem your house. You see that everything is turning out for -the best. Oh! if only I had thought of your country house before! But -now you are in funds, that is the essential thing; all that you will -need, to obtain what Madame Germeuil has left, is a power of attorney -from your wife." - -"How am I to get it? I shall never dare to tell her of her mother's -death; she will be desperate!" - -"Very well; I will undertake to do it. If you wish, I will go to -Villeneuve-Saint-Georges in your place, and I will tell your wife the -news with all possible precaution." - -"You will do me a great favor. Tell her also that I have not forgotten -her, that I expect to go to see her very soon." - -"Yes, I know all that I must say to her; rely upon my zeal and my -friendship." - -This arrangement being concluded, Dufresne urged Edouard to make haste -to provide him with the necessary papers, that he might go to Adeline, -whom he was burning to see again. As for Edouard, having pledged his -country house, the last shelter of his family, and having obtained the -proceeds of his notes, he abandoned himself anew to the frantic passion -which dominated him. - - - - -XXIV - -KIND HEARTS.--GRATITUDE - - -Adeline was still at the pretty country house. She had arrived there -very unhappy and melancholy; but in due time the peaceful country, and -the first caresses of her daughter, brought a little repose to her soul; -she became resigned to her fate. In the early days after her arrival, -she still hoped that Edouard would join her, that he would weary of the -false pleasures to which he had abandoned himself, and would open his -eyes concerning the people who surrounded him; but she speedily lost -this last hope. She wrote to her husband, but he did not reply; she -received news from Paris through her mother, and that news was most -distressing; she learned in what excesses the man whom she still loved -was indulging; she shuddered as she thought of Edouard's weakness and -Dufresne's vengeance. She wrote again, but her letters were returned to -her unopened. This last mark of indifference and contempt cut Adeline to -the quick; she waited in silence, and without a complaint, for the man -whose joy she had once been, to remember the bonds which attached him to -her. - -As she was walking in the country one day, with her little Ermance in -her arms, Adeline, absorbed by her thoughts, did not notice that she had -gone farther than usual; but at last fatigue compelled her to stop; she -looked about her: not recognizing her surroundings, and fearing that she -would lose her way if she should attempt to return, she bent her steps -toward a farm house, which she saw at some distance, in order to ask her -way, and to obtain a guide if that were necessary. - -She soon arrived at Guillot's, for it was his farm which she had seen. -Louise was in front of her door, driving the ducks and fowls into their -coops; Sans-Souci was in the yard, piling bundles of hay. The children -were wallowing in the mud according to their custom, with the geese and -the chickens. - -This picture brought a smile to Adeline's lips. She regretted that she -had not been born in a village, where the days are all alike, monotonous -perhaps, but at all events free from trouble and bitterness. - -The farmer's wife cordially invited the young lady to enter the house. -She took little Ermance in her arms and dandled her, while answering the -questions of Adeline, who learned that she was more than two leagues -from her home, and who, touched by the frank and hearty welcome of the -villagers, consented to rest for a few moments, and to share the repast -prepared for the men about to return from their work. - -The clock struck six; that was the time when the people at the farm -assembled to partake gayly of their simple but substantial meal, -seasoned always by appetite. - -Guillot appeared, bringing wood according to his custom. Sans-Souci -entered the living room humming a ballad, and Jacques deposited in a -corner the instruments of toil. The farmer examined the young lady with -the stupid expression which was habitual with him; Jacques bowed and -took his seat without paying much attention to Adeline, while she, as -she glanced at the newcomers, tried to remember an incident long ago -dispelled from her memory. - -They took their places at the table; Jacques was seated beside Adeline, -who was surprised by his courtesy, by his frank manners, and by his -gentleness with the children. From time to time she cast a glance at -that stern face, adorned with heavy moustaches, and bearing the scars of -several wounds. Jacques did not notice the young lady's scrutiny; it was -impossible for him to recognize her whom he had seen but once, through -the gate of a garden, and to whom he had paid little heed. But as she -gazed at Jacques's face and especially at his enormous moustaches, -Adeline remembered the place where she had seen him, and she could not -restrain an exclamation of surprise. - -"What! can it be you, monsieur? Ah! I knew that I had seen you before." - -"Does madame refer to me?" said Jacques in amazement. - -"Yes, monsieur, it is surely you; I am certain now." - -"Do you know my comrade, madame?" said Sans-Souci; "if you do, you know -a fine, honest fellow." - -"I don't doubt it, and yet monsieur frightened me terribly." - -"Frightened you, madame; I am very sorry; but how could I have done it?" - -"Do you remember a certain day when you went to -Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, about sixteen months ago? You stood for a long -time at the gate of a garden; that barred gate, partly covered with -boards, made it impossible to see anything from the garden except your -face, and I confess that your eyes, your scars and your moustaches -frightened me terribly." - -"What!" said Jacques, after examining Adeline with interest, "you were -in that garden?" - -"Yes, monsieur, it is the garden of my house. But at that time, I was -visiting it for the first time with my mother and my husband." - -Jacques made no reply; he became gloomy and thoughtful; he passed his -hand across his forehead, toyed with his moustaches, and uttered a -profound sigh. - -"Well," said Guillot, after drinking a large glass of wine, "that shows -that it don't make any difference, and although a face may be or -not,--and I say that it ain't always a moustache behind a gate that does -it; for you see, that when a person is frightened at things like -that--why that's how it is----" - -"That's all right, my man," said the farmer's wife, cutting short -Guillot's eloquence; "but if madame had seen that cross of honor on our -friend Jacques's stomach, I guess she wouldn't have been afraid." - -"Oh!" said Adeline, "I don't need to see it now, to realize my mistake. -But what can you expect? his strange position--for women are timid, you -know, and that face with moustaches, appearing all alone at the end of -the garden----" - -"Oh, yes! that's so," rejoined Guillot; "it ain't surprising, and I -think that I'd have been afraid myself; because the surprise, behind -the gate, and moustaches, in a garden--a body can't help himself." - -"Hold your tongue, my man! You're a coward! Ain't it a shame, cousin?" - -"Ten thousand bayonets!" said Sans-Souci; "if robbers attacked the farm -house, I promise you that I would make 'em turn to the right about and -march!" - -"Is your husband still at Villeneuve-Saint-Georges?" asked Jacques of -Adeline, after a moment's silence. - -"No, he has been in Paris for a long while." - -The young woman seemed so sad after she had said this that Jacques -regretted his question. The more he looked at his brother's wife, the -more he felt drawn toward her and disposed to love her; he did not doubt -that Edouard had said nothing of his meeting with him. - -"She would not have turned me away," he said to himself; "with such -gentleness in the features and the voice, a person cannot have a hard -and unfeeling heart. Edouard alone is guilty. But I will not tell her; I -should distress her to no purpose; and, besides, I have no intention of -going near the ingrate who spurned me." - -It was growing dark; Adeline could not remain at the farm; everyone -offered to escort her, but she selected Jacques, to show him that she -harbored no unpleasant memories against him. He was secretly flattered -by the preference. He took little Ermance on one arm and offered the -other to the young woman, who bade the people at the farm adieu, and, -delighted by their cordial welcome, promised to go again to see them. - -They walked in silence at first. From time to time Jacques embraced -pretty Ermance, who was only eight months old, but who smiled at the -honest soldier, and passed her little hand over his moustaches. - -"I am very sorry to give you so much trouble," said Adeline, "but I did -not think that I had gone so far." - -"Madame, it is a pleasure to me." - -"That child must tire you." - -"Tire me! No! ten thousand cannons!--Ah! I beg pardon; one should not -swear before ladies." - -"It is very excusable in an old soldier." - -"You see, I am very fond of children; and this little one is really so -pretty." - -"Ah me! she is my only consolation!" murmured Adeline. - -Jacques could not hear, but he saw that she was sad, and he changed the -subject. - -"Madame will soon return to Paris, no doubt; it is late in the season, -October is almost here." - -"No, I do not expect to leave the country yet; I may pass the winter -here." - -"This is strange," thought Jacques; "she remains in the country and her -husband in the city; can it be that they do not live happily -together?--In that case," he said aloud, "I hope that we shall have the -pleasure of seeing madame at the farm sometimes." - -"Yes, I look forward with pleasure to going there again. You are a -relative of the farmer, I suppose?" - -"No, madame, my comrade is their cousin, but I am only an old soldier, -without family or acquaintances, whom they have been good enough to -supply with work." - -"I am sure that they congratulate themselves upon it every day.--You are -still young, you cannot have served very long?" - -"I beg your pardon, I enlisted very early." - -"And on your return from the army you had no mother, no sister, to take -care of you and to make you forget the fatigues of war?" - -"No, madame. I have only one relative, and he treated me with so little -affection! I am proud, I have a keen sense of honor, and I rejected -assistance which was not offered by the heart, and which would have -humiliated me." - -"That must have been some distant relative?" - -"Yes, madame." - -"My husband has a brother. By the way, his name is Jacques as yours is. -He left his family many years ago; he is dead, no doubt, but if he were -still alive, if he should return--oh! I am very sure that Edouard would -be overjoyed to see him." - -Jacques made no reply; but he turned his head aside to conceal a tear -that dropped from his eyes. - -At that moment they arrived at Murville's house. Adeline urged Jacques -to come in and rest for a few moments; but he declined; he was afraid of -yielding to his emotions, and of betraying himself. - -"At least," said the young woman, "when you come to -Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, I hope that you will come to see me. I will -show you the gardens which you saw only through the gate." - -"With pleasure, madame; and I urge you not to forget the farm." - -Adeline promised and Jacques went away, after casting a last glance at -the house. - -"That is a fine fellow," said Adeline, as she entered the house, "and -mamma and I judged him very unjustly. I am sure that that rough and -stern exterior conceals a sensitive and honest heart. Ah! appearances -are often deceitful!" - -Some time after, Adeline went to the farm one morning, followed by her -nurse, a stout country girl, who carried her child. The villagers -received her joyfully; Adeline was so amiable, so sweet, so simple with -the people at the farm, that they were quite at their ease with her. -Guillot began sentences that never ended; Louise played with little -Ermance; Sans-Souci swore that he had never seen such a lovely woman in -the regiment, and Jacques manifested the greatest regard for the young -woman, and the deepest interest; his attentions to Adeline were so -considerate, his manners so respectful, that she did not know how to -interpret his affecting yet mysterious conduct; but there was in -Jacques's eyes an expression at which no one could take offence; only -interest and affection could be read in them, and her heart was moved by -those same sentiments, although she could not understand them. - -They all disputed for the honor of escorting the young lady home. -Guillot would offer his arm, Louise insist on carrying the child, -Jacques on acting as guide, and Sans-Souci on going before as -skirmisher. But Adeline, in order to make none of them jealous, returned -alone with her maid when it was not late, unless the weather was very -fine; for in that case, Villeneuve-Saint-Georges was a pleasant walk, -which they insisted upon taking with Madame Murville, who was touched by -the attachment which the peasants showed for her. - -Several months passed in this way. Winter had come, the verdure had -disappeared, the country was dismal. Adeline received no company. She -was alone in her house with her maid and an old gardener, who had -replaced the insolent concierge, dismissed by Adeline because she had -learned that he turned the poor people and beggars harshly away when -they begged a crust of bread at her door. - -Adeline's only diversion was to go to the farm, when the weather was -fine and the air not too sharp for her child. Jacques was conscious of -a feeling of satisfaction as soon as he saw her; but he concealed a -large part of his sensations, in order not to arouse the curiosity of -the peasants. Sans-Souci was the only one who was in Jacques's -confidence; he knew that Adeline was the wife of Jacques's brother; but -he had sworn not to reveal the secret to anyone; and his oath could be -relied upon, although privately he raged at his inability to inform -Adeline of the bond between her and his friend. But Jacques insisted -that it should be so. He had divined a part of his sister-in-law's -griefs, and he did not wish to intensify them by telling her of -Edouard's conduct toward him. - -Meanwhile, they were very far from suspecting at the farm what was -taking place in Paris. Intelligence arrived only too soon, to destroy -such repose as Adeline still enjoyed. It was Dufresne who had taken it -upon himself to wreck the peace of mind of the woman whose scorn he was -unable to forgive. - -One day, Adeline learned that a gentleman just from Paris desired to -speak with her; she went to the salon where the stranger was, and -shuddered with horror when she saw Dufresne, seated in an easy-chair, -and placidly awaiting her arrival. - -"You here, monsieur!" she said, striving to recover her courage; "I did -not suppose that you would dare to appear in my presence again!" - -"I beg pardon, madame," Dufresne replied in a hypocritical tone; "I -hoped time would lessen your hatred." - -"Never, monsieur; you know too well that your outrages can never be -effaced from my memory! Make haste to tell me what brings you here." - -"I am going to cause you distress again; but your husband's orders----" - -"Speak; I am prepared for anything." - -"Your mother, you know, of course----" - -"My mother! Oh heaven! It cannot be that she is sick? But she wrote me -only a short time ago." - -"An attack of apoplexy, a blood vessel----" - -"Great God! she is dead, and I did not see her in her last moments!" - -Adeline fell upon a chair, utterly crushed; two streams of tears flowed -from her eyes, and her sobs, her grief, would have moved the most -insensible of mortals; but gentle sentiments were not made for -Dufresne's heart; he was only moved by the passions which degrade -mankind. He contemplated in silence the despair of a young and lovely -woman, whose unhappiness was his work; he listened to her sighs, he -seemed to count her sobs, and far from feeling the slightest twinge of -repentance, he deliberated upon the fresh torments which he proposed to -inflict on her. - -Dufresne's presence intensified Adeline's grief; before him she could -not even weep freely and think solely of her mother; she tried to summon -a little courage in order to dismiss the contemptible man who fed upon -her suffering. - -"Was your only purpose in coming here to tell me of the cruel loss I -have suffered?" she said, rising and trying to restrain her sobs. - -"Madame, the property which Madame Germeuil left must be administered; I -feared that it would be painful to you to attend to these details which -are indeed your husband's concern, but we require your signature, and I -have brought the papers." - -"Oh! give them to me, give them to me! I will sign anything; I consent -to give up everything! But at least let my retirement no longer be -disturbed by your presence!" - -As she spoke, Adeline seized the papers which Dufresne handed her, she -signed them all blindly, and handed them back to him, and was turning -away, but he grasped her with violence by the arm, just as she was about -to leave the salon. - -"One moment, madame; you are in a great hurry to leave me. For my own -part, I propose to recompense myself for the time I have passed without -seeing you; besides, I have news of your husband for you." - -A cruel smile gleamed in Dufresne's eyes; Adeline shuddered and tried to -escape. - -"Do not detain me," she cried, "or I shall find a way to punish your -audacity." - -"Oh! don't be so proud, my lovely Adeline! Do you suppose that I have -not taken my precautions? Your gardener is busy at the end of the -garden, your maid has gone down to her kitchen, where she cannot hear -you; for I know this house perfectly. You will stay here because I wish -it; you will listen to me, and then we will see." - -"Villain! do not think to frighten me; the hatred which you inspire in -me will double my strength." - -"Ah! so you hate me still; you refuse to be reasonable? I am of better -composition; I would forget your insults if you would consent to love me -at last. But beware; my patience will wear out, and then I shall be -capable of anything." - -"O mon Dieu! must I listen to such infamous words?" - -"Come, no temper! you cannot love your husband any longer, for he -abandons you, forgets you, ruins you, consorts with prostitutes and -haunts gambling houses. He is now almost as much of a rake as of a -gambler, and that is not saying little; he will bring you to the -gutter!--But I will give you riches; nothing will cost too much that -will gratify your desires. Open your eyes! and see if I am not the equal -of your imbecile Edouard! You are silent? Good,--I see that you realize -the justice of my words.--Let us make peace." - -Dufresne walked toward Adeline; she uttered a piercing shriek. - -"What! still the same harsh treatment? Oh! I will not make this journey -for nothing; I must have a kiss." - -"Monster! I would rather die!" - -"Oh, no! one doesn't die for so small a matter." - -In vain did the unhappy woman try to flee, the villain held her fast; he -was about to sully with his impure breath the lips of beauty, when a -loud noise was heard, and in another instant Jacques entered the salon, -followed by Sans-Souci. - -Dufresne had not had time to leave the room; the struggle that Adeline -had sustained had exhausted her strength; she could only falter these -words: - -"Deliver me, save me from this monster!" then she fell unconscious to -the floor. - -Jacques ran to Adeline, shaking his fist at Dufresne. The latter tried -to go out, but Sans-Souci barred his passage, crying: - -"One moment, comrade; you have failed in respect to this young lady, and -you don't get off like this." - -"You are wrong," replied Dufresne, doing his utmost to conceal the -perturbation which had seized him at sight of Jacques. "This lady is -subject to attacks of hysteria; I hurried here in response to her cries; -I came to help her. Let me go for her servants." - -Sans-Souci was hesitating, he did not know what to think; but Jacques, -struck by Dufresne's voice, had turned and was examining him carefully; -he soon recognized him and shouted to Sans-Souci: - -"Stop that villain; don't let him escape; it is Breville,--that -scoundrel who robbed me at Brussels! Ten thousand cartridges! he has got -to pay me for that!" - -"Aha! my comrade," said Sans-Souci, "you didn't expect to be recognized! -It is disagreeable, I agree; but you have got to dance. Forward!" - -Dufresne saw that it was impossible to escape by stratagem; his only -resource was in flight. Jacques was still busy over Adeline, who had not -recovered her senses; therefore there was only Sans-Souci to stop him; -but Dufresne was stout and strong, Sans-Souci small and thin. He at once -made up his mind; he rushed upon his adversary, whirled him about, threw -him down before he had time to realize what was happening, and leaping -over him, opened the door and descended the stairs four at a time. But -Louise had accompanied Jacques and Sans-Souci to Villeneuve-Saint-Georges; -they had come to invite Madame Murville to be one of a small party, -which they were preparing for Guillot's birthday. On entering the -courtyard and not finding the gardener, the farmer's wife had gone to -the kitchen to learn where madame was; and Jacques and his companion -were waiting at the foot of the stairs when they heard shrieks and -hastened up to Adeline's assistance. - -In his flight Dufresne encountered Louise, who was going up to the -salon; he roughly pushed her aside, she stumbled and fell between his -legs. While he was trying to disentangle himself, Sans-Souci, who had -risen, and who was frantic at being worsted by the villain, ran up, -armed with his knotted stick; he overtook Dufresne, and bestowed upon -his head and shoulders a perfect hailstorm of blows, which he had not -time to ward off. Thereupon he ran toward the garden, with Sans-Souci in -pursuit; but Dufresne, who knew all the windings, succeeded in eluding -his enemy. Coming to a wall along which there ran a trellis, he climbed -over, jumped down into the fields, and fled toward Paris, cursing his -misadventure. - -Sans-Souci returned to the house when he found that the man he was -looking for had escaped. Adeline had recovered consciousness, thanks to -the attentions of Jacques, who had not left her. She opened her eyes, -and saw Jacques at her feet and the farmer's wife at her side. - -"Ah! my friends," she said, in a voice trembling with emotion, "without -you I should have been lost!" - -"The villain!" said Jacques; "oh! I have known him for a long time; he -robbed me once; I will tell you about that, madame." - -"Ah! the rascal!" said the farmer's wife in her turn; "he threw me head -over heels just as if I was a dog; but Sans-Souci gave him a fine -beating, I tell you! You couldn't see the stick!" - -At that moment Sans-Souci returned with an air of vexation. - -"Well," said Jacques, "did you stop him?" - -"No; I don't know how he did it, but I lost sight of him in the garden, -which he seems to know. For my part, I didn't know which way to turn; -but no matter, he got a trouncing. If madame wishes, I will beat up the -fields and search the village." - -"No, it is no use," said Adeline; "I thank you for your zeal; but we -will let the villain go; I flatter myself that he will never dare to -show his face here again." - -"Didn't he steal anything, madame?" said Jacques. - -"No, he came here about some business, to get some information; then he -dared to speak to me of love; and flying into a rage at my contempt, he -was about to proceed to the last extremity, when you arrived." - -"The monster! Ah! if I find him----" - -"Pardi! what a miserable scamp! To think of falling in love with a -sweet, pretty woman like Madame Murville! I wouldn't let him touch the -end of my finger!" - -"He had better not think of touching anything of yours, or of looking at -madame," said Sans-Souci; "or by the battle of Austerlitz, the hilt of -my sword will serve him for a watch chain." - -Tranquillity was restored; but Adeline, sorely distressed by the loss of -her mother, and by what the treacherous Dufresne had told her of -Edouard, refused to go to Guillot's party, to the great disappointment -of the people at the farm. In vain did Louise and her companions try to -shake her resolution; they could obtain no promise; they had to return, -sadly enough, without Madame Murville, and to leave her a prey to the -sorrow with which she seemed overwhelmed. - -Jacques and Sans-Souci offered to pass the night in the house, in order -to defend her against any new enterprises on the part of the villain who -had escaped them; but Adeline would not consent; she thanked them, -assuring them that she had nothing more to fear; but urged them to come -often to see her. - -The people from the farm took their leave regretfully, and Jacques -registered an inward vow to watch over his brother's wife. - - - - -XXV - -THE LOTTERY OFFICE - - -"How does it happen that I am ruined, while I see other men win all the -time? Shall I never be able to find a way to grow rich rapidly?" - -Thus did Edouard commune with himself on the day of Dufresne's departure -for Villeneuve-Saint-Georges. He came out of an academy--a decent method -of designating a gambling hell,--where he had lost a large part of the -sum he had borrowed on his house. He strode angrily along the streets of -Paris; he dreamed of cards, of martingales, of series, of _parolis_, and -of all those unlucky combinations which constantly perturb the brain of -a gambler. A noisy burst of music, the booming of a bass drum, the -strains of two clarinets and a pair of cymbals, roused him from his -reverie; he raised his eyes with the intention of walking away from the -musicians, whose uproar tired him, and saw that he was in front of a -lottery office. The music which he heard was produced by one of those -travelling bands which, for a forty-sou piece given them by the keeper -of the office, raise an infernal tumult before the door and attract all -the gossips of the neighborhood to the "lucky office" where the list of -_ambes_, _ternes_, and even _quaternes_, said to have been won, is hung -at the door with an exact statement of the result of the lottery; the -whole embellished with pink and blue ribbons like the sweetmeats in a -confectioner's window. - -Edouard stopped instinctively, and like all the rest, gazed at the -seductive list. Seventy-five thousand francs won with twenty sous! That -was very enticing! To be sure, the winner had had a _quaterne_; that is -very rare; but still it has been seen, and one man's chance is as good -as another's. - -"Ah! neighbor, what a fine drawing!" said a fish dealer to a fruit -woman, who stood near Edouard, copying the result of the lottery; "11, -20, 44, 19, 76.--I ought to be as rich as a queen to-day. Here, for more -than a year I have been following up a _dry terne_ on the first three -numbers that come out; the day before yesterday was the last day. I was -waiting for Thomas, who works at La Vallee; he was going to bring me a -goose stuffed with chestnuts for our supper, with some sixteen-sou wine -from Eustache's at the Barreaux Verts, which has a fine bouquet! It was -my idea to have a nice little supper in a private room--that brings -luck--and to take my ticket when we went home to bed.--But not a bit of -it. Thomas kept me cooling my heels, waiting for him. I got tired of it -and went to his garret, and he had colic in the loins from dancing too -much on Sunday at the _Rabbits_. I had to stay and nurse him, the -closing time passed and I forgot my _dry terne_ while I was giving him -injections." - -"Poor Francoise! that was hard luck.--Well! my poor dead man might have -had pains in his belly--that wouldn't 'a' made me forget my tickets! For -the last ten years I've always paid my rent with number 20; it went a -little by the date this time, but I got it all the same--I put my -counterpane up the spout to do it. You see, I'd rather have sold my -chemise than dropped it, for I was bound to have it." - -"Do you know any of those that won the big prize?" - -"Why, the dry goods dealer's cook. Three numbers taken out of the wheel -at random!" - -"That's what I call luck!" - -"Oh! it ain't to be wondered at; she dreamed that her master used the -soup-kettle for a chamber." - -"Then it was sure money! I'm down on my luck; I've never been able to -dream of nasty things." - -"Oh! as for me, I often used to dream some in my late husband's time." - -Edouard turned away, forcing a passage through the crowd in front of the -office. As he walked along he thought of the numbers that had come out. -It was not so quick a way of getting rich as roulette, the chances were -less favorable; but the results, when one is lucky, are much more -advantageous, as one may win a large sum with a modest coin. - -He passed the day thinking about the lottery, and the next morning he -decided to tempt fortune in that new manner. He entered the first office -that he saw; and he had not to go far, for lottery offices are more -numerous than poor relief offices. - -It was ten o'clock in the morning. It was the last day of a foreign -lottery. The office was full, the crowd was so great that one could -hardly enter, and it was necessary to take one's place at the end of a -long line in order to exchange one's money for some slips of paper. - -Edouard decided to wait. He glanced at the crowd that surrounded him. It -was composed almost entirely of people of the lower classes--street -hawkers, cooks, menders of lace, cobblers, messengers, rag-pickers. - -It is not that the upper classes do not try their luck in the lottery; -but fashionable people send others to buy tickets for them, and the -bourgeois, who are ashamed of what they do, enter only by the private -door. - -Edouard held his nose, for that assemblage of ladies and gentlemen -exhaled an odor anything but agreeable; and the muddy boots of the -Savoyard, the fish-woman's herring, the rag-picker's bag, the cobbler's -wax, and the cook's whiting formed a combination of smells which would -disgust a grenadier. But the purchasers of lottery tickets are engrossed -by their calculations and they smell nothing. - -While awaiting their turn, the habitues form groups and confide their -dreams and ideas to one another. Everyone talks at once; but in that -respect everyone is wise; it is a veritable babel, despite the -remonstrances of the mistress of the place, who shouts every five -minutes, as they do in court: - -"Silence in the corner. Pray be quiet, mesdames, you can't hear yourself -think!" - -Edouard, not being accustomed to it, was bewildered by the chatter of -the gossips, who talked on without stopping; but wealth cannot be bought -too dearly, and he made the best of it, and even determined to profit by -what he overheard. - -"My girl," said an old hag covered with rags, to another who held her -chafing-dish under her arm; "I saw a gray spider behind my bed this -morning before breakfast." - -"Pardi!" replied the other--"spiders! I see 'em every day at home!" - -"No matter, they bring luck; I'm going to put a crown on 9, 30 and 51; -I'm sure they won't all draw blanks." - -And the poor creature, who wore no stockings and whose skirt was full of -holes, took a crown from her pocket to put on her spider. To those who -believe firmly in dreams, numbers cease to be numbers, and become the -objects they have seen in their dreams, all of which are represented by -particular numbers, as set forth in the books of dreams, the _Petit -Cagliostro_, the _Aveugle du Bonheur_, and a thousand nice little works -of about the same value, which the ticket buyers know by heart. The -keeper of the office, who knew her trade, and, when the customer was -worth the trouble, could make calculations on the mists of the Seine, -told them what numbers to take, when they described their dreams to her. - -"Monsieur, give me my oxen," said an oyster woman, presenting her -thirty-sou piece. - -"Monsieur, put twenty-four sous on a white cat for me." - -"My aunt's dressing jacket, monsieur." - -"My little woman, some anchovies, in the first drawing." - -"Give me a _terne_ on artichokes." - -"My child, I saw horses trotting round my room all night, just as if it -was a stable." - -"What color were they?" inquired the agent, with the most comical -gravity. - -"Bless me! wait a minute--I believe they were dappled--no, they were -black." - -"That's 24.--Were they harnessed?" - -"I should say so!" - -"That's 23.--Did they run fast?" - -"Like the Circus!" - -"That's 72." - -"All right! arrange 'em right for me. With such a dream as that, I can't -fail to have a carriage to ride in." - -"I had a funnier dream than that! I was in a country where there was -cows that danced with shepherds and shepherdesses, and houses built of -gingerbread." - -"The deuce you say! You could get fat by licking the walls." - -"Let her go on, saucebox." - -"And I was rowing on a river where the water was boiling and bubbling -like a soup-kettle." - -"And you caught fish all cooked, eh?" - -"Hold your tongue, you magpie!--At last I saw a palace on the other side -of the river, come up out of the ground the way they do at the -Funambules; the roof was made of diamonds, the walls of gold, the -windows of silver and the door of rubies." - -"The devil! that must 'a' made your gingerbread houses look mean." - -"When I sees that, I tells my boatman--and a fine young man he was--I -tells him to take me to the palace; and would you believe that he asks -me to let him make a fool of me as pay for my passage. I said no, sharp, -but he didn't listen to me; he just threw me into the bottom of his -boat--and the rascal overpowered me, my dears!" - -"Well! so that's your fine dream! All that just to come to the climax! -It was your man, of course; while you was asleep, he----" - -"Oh, yes, indeed! Why, not since Saint-Fiacre's Eve, six months ago----" - -"Oho! so you've had a row, have you?" - -"Why, once he made me swallow truffles for the King of Prussia, and -since then, when he comes to me--not if I know it!" - -"Well, you're wrong; yes, you're wrong! refuse and you're left to muse. -He'll just take your property somewhere else. Don't be a fool; once -those dogs have found another kennel, there's no way to bring 'em back; -it's all over!" - -"I believe you're right, Berenice; I'll rub a sponge over it next -Sunday." - -"And you'll do well." - -"You're very good, mesdames," said a cook, stuffing into her basket the -fowl she had just bought, which, from its odor, might have been taken -for game, "you're very good, but my master's waiting for his chocolate; -he wants to go out early and I ain't lighted my fire yet.--Quick, -madame, my regular number; here's thirty-six sous--please hurry up." - -The cook took her ticket and returned to her master, making figures on -the way: the fowl had cost her fifty sous; by calling it eighty-six -sous, she would get her ticket for nothing, which was very pleasant. To -be sure, her master would eat a tainted fowl instead of a delicate bird; -but one must have one's little perquisites, and what was the use of -being a cordon bleu if one did not make something out of the marketing? - -"The _consideres_ are very old combinations," said a little man who had -been gazing at the list for three-quarters of an hour; "they're -excellent to play by extracts." - -"See," said another, "notice that the 6 is a prisoner; it will soon come -out." - -"The 2 has come, that brings the 20." - -"The 39 in a hundred and three drawings--it's an ingot of gold! Zeros -haven't done anything for a long while." - -"That's true; I'll bet that they'll come in a _terne_ or an _ambe_." - -"How often the forties come out! If I'd followed my first idea, I'd have -had an _ambe_ at Strasbourg; I must tell you that, when my wife dreams -that she's had a child, the 44 comes out--that never fails. Well! she -dreamed that the other night. I've got a dog that I've taught to draw -numbers out of a bag; he's beginning to do it very well with his paw. He -drew out 46, and I was going to put it with my wife's dream; we thought -about it all day, and she wanted to put instead of it the number of her -birthday which was very near; and what do you suppose?--my dog's number -came out with her dream!--I wouldn't sell that beast for three hundred -francs." - -"I'm shrewder than you, my dear man," said an old candy woman; "I've got -a talisman." - -"A talisman!" - -"Yes, it's a fact; a fortune-teller told me the secret." - -"What is it?" shouted all the gossips at once. - -"A bit of clean parchment, with letters written on it with my blood." - -"Mon Dieu! that's worse than the play at the Ambigu.--Tell us, what do -your letters say?" - -"Faith! I don't know; they're Hebrew, so she said." - -"Look out, Javotte! don't trust it; it may be an invention of the devil, -and then you'll go straight to hell with your talisman." - -"Bah! I ain't afraid, and I won't let go of my little parchment. I'm a -philosopher!" - -"What a fool she is with her talisman!" said the gossips, when Javotte -had gone. "It beats the devil what luck it brings her! She owes -everybody in the quarter, and she can't pay.--But it's almost market -time, and I haven't put out my goods." - -"And I ought by now to be at the Fontaine des Innocents!" - -"Bless my soul! you remind me that my children ain't up yet, and I'm -sure they're squalling, the little brats! and their gruel has been on -the fire ever since eight o'clock." - -"It'll be well cooked!" - -"I'm off; good-day, neighbor." - -"See you soon; we shall have the list if the sun shines." - -Amid this mob, pushed by one, pulled by another, deafened by them all, -Edouard waited for three-quarters of an hour for his turn to come. At -last he reached the desk; all that he had heard about _consideres_, -prisoners and lucky numbers was running in his head; but as he had no -idea what to choose, he put twenty francs on the first numbers that -occurred to him, and left the office with hope in his pocket. - -On the street he met many individuals most shabbily clad, who offered -him fifty louis in gold for twelve sous. These gentlemen and ladies -apparently disdained for themselves the fortune that they proposed to -sell to the passers-by at such a bargain. But Murville declined their -offers. He had in his pocket what he wanted. He was already building -castles in Spain, for his numbers were excellent--so the agent told -him--and could not fail to draw something. He was about to be released -from embarrassment; he could live in style, and keep the prettiest, aye, -and the most expensive women, which would drive Madame de Geran frantic. -In short, he would deny himself nothing. - -But the sun shone; at three o'clock the list was posted outside the -offices; Edouard, who had been pacing back and forth impatiently in -front of the one at which he had bought his ticket, eagerly drew near; -he looked at the list and saw that he had drawn nothing. - - - - -XXVI - -THE KIND FRIENDS AND WHAT RESULTED - - -Dufresne left the village behind him, with rage in his heart and his -head filled with schemes of revenge. It was no longer the hope of seeing -Adeline share his brutal passion that tormented him; he felt that that -was impossible now; only by the most infamous craft had he succeeded in -gratifying his lust; and Adeline was no less virtuous than before. In -vain had he hoped, by that method, to change the sentiments of Edouard's -wife; she detested him more than ever. What did he propose to do? Was -she not unhappy enough? She wept for a fault which she had not -committed; she had lost the affection of her husband; she would soon -find herself reduced to penury! What other blows could he deal her? - -Dufresne's advice was not needed any longer to lure Edouard to the -gaming table; the unhappy wretch did not pass a single day without -visiting one or more of the gambling hells in which the capital abounds. -He sought there to forget his plight, by plunging deeper and deeper into -the abyss. The proceeds of his last notes went to join his fortune, -which had been divided among Madame de Geran, roulette, trente-et-un, -prostitutes and swindlers. What was he to do now, to procure the means -to gratify his depraved tastes? The maturity of his notes was -approaching; he could not pay them, his country house would be sold, his -wife and child would have no roof to cover their heads, no resource -except in him; but it was not that that preoccupied him; he thought of -himself alone, and if he desired to procure money, it was not to relieve -his family. No, he no longer remembered the sacred bonds which united -him to an amiable and lovely wife. The cards caused him to forget -entirely that he was a husband and father. - -Forced to leave the apartment which he occupied alone in a handsome -house, he went to Dufresne and took up his abode with him. The latter -had been anxious for some days after his return from the country; he was -afraid that Jacques would pursue him to Paris, and, in order to avoid -his search, he changed his name, and urged his companion to do the same. -Dufresne called himself Courval, and Edouard, Monbrun. It was under -these names that they hired lodgings, in a wretched lodging house in -Faubourg Saint-Jacques, having no other associates than blacklegs and -men without means, who like Dufresne had reasons of their own for -avoiding the daylight. - -Three weeks after Madame Germeuil's death, what she had left was already -spent, and they were compelled to have recourse every day to all sorts -of expedients to obtain means of subsistence. - -One evening, when Dufresne and Edouard had remained at home, having no -money to gamble, and cudgeling their brains to think of a way of -procuring some, there was a knock at their door, and one Lampin, a -consummate scamp, worthy to be Dufresne's intimate friend, entered their -room with a joyous air, and with four bottles under his arm. - -"Oho! is that you, Lampin?" said Dufresne, as he opened the door to his -friend, and made certain signs to which the other replied without being -detected by Edouard, who was absorbed in his thoughts. - -"Yes, messieurs, it's me. Come, come, comrade Monbrun, come, stop your -dreaming! I have brought something to brighten you up." - -"What's that?" - -"Wine, brandy and rum." - -"The deuce it is! so you are in funds, are you?" - -"Faith, I won ten francs at _biribi_, and I have come to drink 'em up -with my friends." - -"That's right, Lampin, you're a good fellow. You have come just in time -to cheer us up, for we were as dismal as empty pockets, Monbrun and I." - -"Let's have a drink first; that will set you up, and then we will talk." - -The four bottles were placed on a table; the gentlemen took their places -at it, and the glasses were filled and emptied rapidly. - -"We haven't a sou, Lampin, and that's a wretched disease." - -"Bah! because you are fools!--Here's your health." - -"What do you mean by that, Jean-Fesse?" - -"I mean that if I had your talents, and especially Monbrun's, I wouldn't -be where you are now, but I would have my bread well buttered." - -"What do you mean?" asked Edouard, pouring out a glass of brandy; -"explain yourself." - -"Anybody can understand that, my son; I tell you again that if I knew -how to handle a pen as you do, I would speculate on a large scale! But -you're scared to death!" - -"We have speculated enough, but it hasn't succeeded with us." - -"But that's not what I'm talking about, youngster. Let's take a drink, -messieurs; it's good stuff, at all events." - -"Tell us, Lampin, what you would have done to----" - -"Ah! I'm a blade, I am; I would risk the job! But I write like a cat." - -"But what is it that you'd write?" - -"That depends--sometimes one thing, sometimes another.--Look here, -here's a note that a friend entrusted to me; it is the proceeds of his -father's property, which is to be paid him here in Paris, because he -means to enjoy himself with us." - -"What is it?" - -"A note for twelve hundred francs, accepted by a famous banker of Paris. -Oh! it's good, anyone would discount it for you on the instant; my -colleague knows a man who lives in the suburbs of Paris, and who -proposed to give him _rocks_ for his paper.--Well, my boy, make one like -it, and you can get that discounted too." - -"What? What do you say? Counterfeit this note?" - -"Oh, no, not counterfeit it, for instead of twelve hundred francs I -would make it twelve thousand; it's just an imitation. Here's your -health." - -"Why, you villain! that's forgery!" - -"No, it ain't forgery; it's a note that we put in circulation; it ain't -forgery; is it, Dufresne? In all this, the banker is the only one that's -fooled; but those rascals are rich enough to make us a little present." - -"In fact," said Dufresne, "it isn't exactly a forgery; we create a note, -that's all, and we make someone else pay it." - -"That's just it, my boy, it's only a little joke.--Oh! you understand -such games, you do; but Monbrun is a little dull." - -"No, no, I understand very well, messieurs; but I cannot consent to -resort to such methods. I disapprove of your plan." - -"Is that so? Well, you'll never get ahead, my man, and you'll die of -hunger, like the fleas in winter!" - -"It is true that we have no resources," said Dufresne; "no linen, no -clothes except those we have on!" - -"That's very fine! Just reflect that you have everything to gain and -nothing to lose." - -"What about honor?" said Edouard in a weak voice. - -"Honor! Pardi! I rather guess yours has been roaming the country for a -long while; as for Dufresne, he's like me, never had any, for fear of -losing it." - -"This rascal of a Lampin is always joking! Let's have a drink, -messieurs." - -"Remember, too, that with the twelve thousand francs you will get, you -can make up all your losses. I have discovered a sure way of winning; -you only need three hundred louis to catch a thousand." - -"Really?" - -"On my word as an honest man; I will teach you my scheme, and we will -share the profits." - -"That is really attractive," said Dufresne, examining the note closely, -while Lampin filled Edouard's glass with rum, and he began to lose -command of his wits. - -"You say, Lampin, that you know a man who would discount your friend's -note?" - -"Yes, he knows that it is all right. It can't look suspicious to him, I -tell you; he will think that the inheritance was larger, that's all." - -"True," said Dufresne; "who will ever know about it? It is a secret -between ourselves." - -"And our conscience?" faltered Edouard. - -"Oh! damn! What an ass he is with his conscience! Do you think you're -talking to small boys?" - -"The most essential thing," continued Dufresne, "is to succeed. For my -part, if Monbrun will write the body of the note, I will look after the -signature, and I will take the whole thing on myself." - -"Well! what have you got to say to that, booby? Are you going to make -more fuss? You hear, he takes the whole thing on himself; I should say -that that was acting like a friend?" - -"What! Dufresne, would you----" - -"Faith, I see no other way of extricating ourselves from poverty; I tell -you again, it will not put you forward in any way!" - -"Are you sure of it?" - -"Bah! What's the matter with you, Nicodemus, when he tells you that you -won't be put forward? Look here, colleagues, I happen to have on me a -blank note, all stamped; just cut a quill, Dufresne, and let's amuse -ourselves by making different kinds of letters." - -"My hand trembles, messieurs," said Edouard; "I shall never be able to -write." - -"Go on, go on! that's just right! Ah! how rich I should be if I had been -able to do as much! But my education was rather neglected." - -"Suppose we should be arrested, identified as the authors of----" - -"Bah! it is impossible; and if you should be, you would get off with a -few months in prison; and you are very well off there, you enjoy -yourself and make acquaintances." - -Edouard, led astray by the talk of the villains who were with him, and -having long since lost all sense of delicacy in the haunts of vice and -debauchery, crossed the narrow space which still separated him from the -miserable wretches who are at odds with the laws; he choked back the -last cry of his conscience, and committed the most shameful of crimes. - -The note was written, Dufresne exerted himself to counterfeit the -signatures, and succeeded perfectly, whereat Edouard alone was -surprised. They invented endorsers; the unhappy Murville, who allowed -himself to be led wherever they would, disguised his handwriting and -wrote on the back of the note the names that they gave him. - -Lampin was overjoyed, and for greater safety proposed to carry the note -to the man who had agreed to discount the one for twelve hundred francs, -and who lived in a small town not far from Paris. This plan was agreed -upon: Dufresne was to accompany Lampin, because those gentry did not -trust him sufficiently to leave their note in his hands; and Edouard, -who was less bold than they, was to await at Paris the result of the -affair. - -Everything being arranged, they drank again, Edouard to deaden his -conscience more completely, the others for conviviality's sake. They -formed plans for the use of their future wealth, and ended by falling -asleep with their elbows on the table. - -Edouard, who had drunk more, and who was less able to stand excessive -indulgence in wine and liqueurs than the others, did not wake until -eight o'clock in the morning. The first thought that came to his mind -was that of the dishonorable act he had committed the night before. He -shuddered, for he realized the full extent of his crime; he looked for -Dufresne, to urge him to destroy the false note; but Dufresne was not -there, he had gone away early with Lampin, anticipating remorse on -Edouard's part, and by his own absence making it impossible for him to -retrace his steps. - -Edouard left his room, and went out into the street with no definite -object. But he sought some distraction from the anxiety which beset him. -Already he was afraid of being recognized as a criminal. He glanced -about him fearfully; if anyone looked hard at him as he passed, he -blushed, became confused, and fancied that he was about to be arrested; -he tried in vain to overcome his terror and his weakness, but he could -not succeed, and he already cursed money obtained at so high a price. - -At a street corner, he heard a cry; someone uttered his name. He -quickened his pace, not daring to look back; but someone ran after him, -overtook him and grasped his arm; he trembled, the cold perspiration -stood on his brow; he raised his eyes and saw his wife and daughter -before him. - -"Is it really you? I have found you at last!" said Adeline; "oh! I have -been looking for you for a long, long while." - -"You frightened me," said Edouard, greatly surprised by this meeting. -"But why are you here? Why did you leave the country?" - -"Your creditors have turned me out of the house I was living in; it no -longer belongs to you. Some time ago the notary warned me that your -fortune was impaired; that such property as you possessed was subject to -numerous mortgages." - -"I know all that, madame; spare me your useless complaints and -reproaches." - -"I don't propose to make any complaints or reproaches; and yet--Oh! my -dear, how changed you are!" - -"I have been sick." - -"Why not have written to me? I would have come and nursed you." - -"I needed nobody." - -"And this is the way you treat her whom you have reduced to want! I have -lost my mother, and I no longer have a husband! Chance alone is -responsible for my meeting you; I have asked for you in all the places -where you have lived, but no one has been able to give me any news of -you. For a fortnight I have been here; I was losing hope when at last I -caught sight of you, dear Edouard; and this is the way you speak to me; -and you don't even kiss your daughter!" - -"Do you want me to make a show of myself to the passers-by?" - -"How can the sight of a father kissing his child be absurd, in the eyes -of decent people? But let us go in somewhere, into a cafe." - -"I haven't any time." - -"Where do you live now?" - -"A long way from here; I was in very straitened circumstances, and -Dufresne took me in to lodge with him." - -"You live with Dufresne? A villain who has already been guilty of all -sorts of crimes!" - -"Hold your tongue, and don't bore me with your preaching! I do what I -choose and I see whom I choose; I give you leave to do the same." - -"What a tone, and what manners!" said Adeline to herself, as she -examined Edouard; "but no matter, I must make one last -attempt.--Monsieur," she said aloud, "if it is want that forces you to -remain with that scoundrel who deceives you, come and live with me; let -us leave this city, which would recall painful memories to you, and come -with me to some lonely place in the country; I have nothing, but I will -work, I will work nights if necessary, and I will provide means of -subsistence for us. In a poor cottage we may still be happy, if we -endure adversity with courage, and Heaven, moved by our resignation, -will perhaps take pity on us. You will find the repose which eludes you, -and I shall find my husband. In pity's name, do not refuse me; come, I -implore you; leave this town, with its treacherous counselors and -dangerous acquaintances, or beware lest you become a criminal." - -Edouard was moved; his heart was agitated by pity and remorse, and he -looked at his daughter for the first time. - -"Well," he said to Adeline, "I will see; if I can arrange my affairs, I -will go with you." - -"What detains you now?" - -"A single thing, but a most important one; I must find out--where are -you staying now?" - -"At a hotel in Faubourg Saint-Antoine; see, here is my address." - -"Give it to me; to-morrow I will go to see you." - -"Do you promise?" - -"Yes; until to-morrow. Adieu, I leave you." - -Edouard hurried away, and Adeline returned to her hotel, passing from -hope to fear and from fear to hope. She knew her husband, she knew how -little she could rely upon his promises, so that she awaited the morrow -with anxiety. But on the morrow Dufresne and Lampin returned with money. -The discounter had fallen into the trap; he had thought that he had -recognized the banker's signature. Those men led Edouard away; they -abandoned themselves anew to the pleasures of the table and the gambling -house. They made Murville drunk; they put his remorse and his scruples -to silence; they laughed at his fears; and Adeline, instead of seeing -him whom she expected, received in the morning a note containing only -these words: - - "Do not try to see me again, do not hope that I will go with you to - bury myself in a cottage; that sort of thing does not suit me. - Leave Paris without me; this is the last command that you will - receive from your husband, who leaves you entirely at liberty to do - whatever you please." - -Adeline bathed the letter in her tears. - -"You have no father now," she said to little Ermance; "poor child, what -will your lot be? Let us leave this city, let us follow my husband's -last orders. Let us go back to the honest villagers; at the farm they -will not spurn me. I shall not blush to ask them for work. O mother! If -you were still alive, I should find comfort in your arms. If only I had -followed your advice! Perhaps Edouard then--but it's too late! At all -events, you never knew the full extent of my sorrow." - -Adeline sold all that she thought unlikely to be of use to her in the -situation which she was about to occupy. No more jewels, no more -flowers, no superfluous wardrobe; in a simple dress and a straw hat tied -with a modest ribbon, with her daughter on one arm and a small bundle on -the other,--thus did Madame Murville set out for Guillot's farm. - - - - -XXVII - -ADELINE FINDS A PROTECTOR - - -The farmer's family were in despair at Madame Murville's flight. Since -the day that Dufresne had been driven from the village, Adeline, buried -in the most profound melancholy, had not left her home; she took no -diversion whatever, and the solicitations of the peasants had failed to -induce her to emerge from her retirement. - -Jacques did not know what to think of his brother's conduct. He easily -guessed that he made his wife unhappy; but he was still far from -suspecting the extent of his misbehavior! Edouard's brother dared not -question Adeline, but she read in his eyes his sympathy with her -distress, and her grateful heart rewarded the honest laborer with the -most sincere friendship. Every two days Jacques went to the village to -enquire for Madame Murville's health. One morning when he rang as usual -at the courtyard gate, the old gardener answered the bell, with tears in -his eyes. - -"What's the matter, Pere Foret, what has happened to Madame Murville -now?" Jacques asked anxiously; "can it be that that scamp of the other -day has come again?" - -"Ah! my dear monsieur, more than one scamp has come to-day! And they -have turned my mistress out of doors!" - -"Turned her out! That isn't possible, ten thousand dead men!" - -"It is true, however." - -"What were they? brigands, robbers?" - -"No, no, monsieur, they were bailiffs, creditors, what do I know? They -showed madame some papers, and told her that she wasn't in her own house -any longer. Poor woman! she cried, but she didn't make any answer; she -just did her clothes up in a bundle, took her daughter in her arms, and -left." - -"Left! She has gone away? Is it possible? The villain! he has reduced -her to destitution!" - -"Monsieur Jacques, I tell you there was a lot of them. Look, here's the -placard; this house is for sale now, and they left me here, so that -there might be some one to show it to people." - -"Do you know where Madame Murville has gone?" - -"Bless me! she took the Paris road." - -"She has gone to join him." - -"Yes, no doubt she has gone to her husband; but look you, between -ourselves, they say that he is a regular good-for-nothing; that he -raises the devil at Paris; and you must agree, Monsieur Jacques, that -when one has a pretty, good, young wife like madame--For, bless my soul, -she is virtue and goodness personified! And then a child, which will be -its mother's portrait; well, I say, when a man has all that, and forgets -them all the year round, it ain't right, and it don't speak well for -him." - -Jacques, having taken his leave of the gardener, cast a last glance at -the house and walked sadly away from the village. A thousand plans -passed through his mind; he thought of going to Paris to look for -Adeline; he thought of speaking to his brother, reproaching him for his -evil conduct, and making him ashamed of the destitution in which he had -left his wife; with his mind filled with such thoughts as these, he -arrived at the farm. His friends there questioned him; they grieved with -him, but still they hoped that Madame Murville would come to see them. -Sans-Souci shared that hope; he encouraged his comrade, and urged him to -wait a few days before taking any steps. - -Jacques's patience was beginning to be exhausted; he was on the point of -leaving the farm and going to Paris, when one morning the joyous outcry -of the children announced some good news. It was Adeline, who appeared -at the farm with her little Ermance. - -Everybody ran to meet her; they surrounded her, pressed against her, -embraced her, and manifested the most sincere joy. Adeline, deeply moved -by the attachment of the peasants, found that she could still feel a -sensation of pleasure. - -"Ah!" she said to them, "I have not lost all, since I still have sincere -friends." - -Jacques did not know what he was doing; he seized Adeline's hands, -kissed them, swore, cried, stamped, and turned away to hide his tears. -Sans-Souci, overjoyed by Adeline's return, and by the pleasure which his -comrade felt, leaped and gamboled about among the hens and the ducks, -and played with all the children; which he did only in moments of good -humor. - -"My friends," said Adeline to the people of the farm, as they crowded -about her, "I am no longer what I was; unfortunate events have deprived -me of my fortune, and I have nothing now but courage to endure this -reverse, and my conscience, which tells me that I did not deserve it. I -must work now, to earn my living and to bring up my child; you made me -welcome when I was rich; you will not turn me away now that I am poor; -and I come to you confidently, to beg you to give me work. Oh! do not -refuse me! On no other terms will I consent to remain here." - -While Adeline was speaking, profound emotion was depicted on the -features of those who surrounded her; Louise could not restrain her -tears; Guillot, with wide-open mouth and eyes fastened upon Madame -Murville, heaved profound sighs every moment, and Sans-Souci twisted his -moustaches and passed his hand over his eyes. - -But Jacques, more deeply moved, more touched than they, at sight of the -resignation of a lovely woman, who came to bury herself in a farm-house, -renouncing all the pleasures of the capital and all the customs of -aristocratic society, without uttering a word of reproach against the -man who was responsible for her misfortunes,--honest Jacques could not -restrain himself; he pushed away Louise and Guillot, who stood beside -Adeline, and, shaking the young woman's arm violently, as she gazed at -him in amazement: - -"No, sacrebleu!" he cried; "you shall not work, you shall not risk your -health, you shall not roughen that soft skin by labor beyond your -strength; I will take it upon myself to look after the support of you -and your child. I will take care of you, I will watch over you both; and -morbleu! so long as there is a drop of blood in my veins, I shall find a -way to do my duty." - -"What do you say, Jacques? your duty?" - -"Yes, madame, yes, my duty; my brother has ruined your life, and the -least that I can do will be to devote my life to you, and to try to -repair his villainy." - -"Is it possible? You are----" - -"Jacques Murville, the boy who began his travels at fifteen, giving way -to quick passions, and to his desire to see the world; and I confess, -between ourselves, groaning in secret at his mother's coldness, and -jealous of the caresses which were lavished upon his brother and -unjustly denied to him. But none the less I possessed a heart, -sensitive in the matter of honor, from which I have never departed, even -in the midst of my youthful follies.--That is my story; embrace me; I -feel that I am worthy of your affection, and you can bestow it upon me -without blushing." - -Adeline embraced Jacques warmly; she felt the keenest joy in meeting her -husband's brother, and the peasants exclaimed aloud in surprise, while -Sans-Souci shouted at the top of his lungs as he rubbed his hands: - -"I knew it! I knew it! but my comrade closed my mouth and I wouldn't -have said a word for all of the great Sultan's pipes!" - -"But why conceal from me so long the bond that unites us?" Adeline asked -Jacques; "did you doubt it would please me to embrace my husband's -brother?" - -"No," replied Jacques, somewhat embarrassed, "no; but I wanted first of -all to know you better; people sometimes blush for their relations." - -"Ah! my friend, when a man wears this symbol of honor, can he conceive -such fears?" - -"Ten thousand bombs! that's what I have been killing myself telling him -every day," said Sans-Souci; "but he is a little pig-headed, is my -friend; when he gets a thing into his head, he won't let it go again." - -"You have found me now that I can be useful to you; that is all that is -necessary. Let us embrace again, and look upon me as your brother, as -the father of this poor child; since he who ought to cherish her, and to -adore you, has not a heart like other men; since he is unworthy -to--Well, well! you want me to hold my tongue; you love him still, I -see. Well! I am done; we won't talk about him any more, and we will try -to forget him." - -"Oh! if he had seen you," said Adeline; "if he had found his brother, -perhaps your advice----" - -"If he had seen me!--But I must let that drop.--Let us forget an -ingrate, who is not worthy of a single one of the tears you shed for -him." - -"Yes, yes, let's be merry and joyful," said Guillot; "morgue! we mustn't -be groaning all the time; that makes a body stupid as a fool. Let's sit -down at the table, and to-night Brother Jacques will tell us about one -of his battles, to amuse us. That's amusing, I tell you! When I have -been listening to him, I dream about battles all night long, I take my -wife's rump for a battery of artillery, and her legs for a battalion of -infantry; and I think I hear the cannon." - -"Hold your tongue, my man." - -After the meal, they set about making the preparations required by -Adeline's presence at the farm. Louise arranged for her a small room -looking on the fields; she tried to make it as pleasant as possible, by -carrying thither such pretty things as she could find in the house. In -vain did Adeline try to prevent her; when Louise had determined upon -anything, that thing must be done; she refused to listen to the young -woman when she implored her to look upon her as nothing but a poor -peasant woman; the farmer's wife desired to make Madame Murville forget -her change of fortune, by redoubling her efforts to serve her with zeal -and affection. Jacques did not thank the farmer's wife, but he took her -hands and pressed them fondly every time that she did anything for his -sister, and Sans-Souci cried, bringing his hand down upon Guillot's -back: - -"Morbleu! you have a fine wife, cousin! She manages things right well!" - -"That's so," said Guillot; "that's why I don't meddle with anything, not -even with the children. Well, well, morgue, they come along well, all -the same!" - -Thus Adeline became an inmate of the farm house; she worked rapidly with -the needle, and Louise was obliged to allow her to employ her whole day, -either in sewing or spinning. Jacques felt that his strength was -increased twofold since his brother's wife and his little niece were -with him. He alone was worth three farm hands; having become expert in -the labor of the farm, he added to the farmer's income by the pains that -he took with everything which he did. Sans-Souci for his part imitated -his comrade; he would have been ashamed to remain idle while the others -employed their time to such good purpose. So that everything went well -at the farm; Guillot and his wife scolded Adeline because she worked too -much, and forbade Jacques to do so large a share of the work. But no -heed was paid to them, and they had the agreeable certainty that they -were not a burden to the worthy peasants. - -Several months passed thus, without bringing any change in the situation -of the people at the farm. Adeline would have been content with her lot, -if she could sometimes have heard from her husband; for she still loved -the man who had wrecked her life, and the memory of Edouard constantly -disturbed her repose. "What is he doing now?" she would ask herself each -day; and the thought that Dufresne was with him added to her unhappiness -and redoubled her anxiety. Often she formed the plan of going to Paris -to make inquiries concerning her husband's conduct; but she was afraid -of offending Jacques, who, being bitterly angry with his brother, did -not wish to hear his name mentioned, and had begged Adeline never to -talk to him about Edouard. - -Jacques feigned an indifference which he was far from feeling. In secret -he thought of his brother, and he would have given anything in the world -to know that he had repented of his errors, and to have him return and -beg for a forgiveness which was already accorded him. - -So Adeline and Jacques concealed from each other the thoughts that -engrossed them, because each of them feared to distress the other by -renewing the memory of his or her grief. Sans-Souci was the confidant of -them both; Guillot sometimes had errands to be done in Paris, either to -sell his grain, or to buy things that were needed at the farm; it was -always Sans-Souci who was sent, because Jacques refused to go, lest he -should meet his brother. But every time that Sans-Souci was to pay a -visit to the capital, Adeline took him aside and begged him to ascertain -what her husband was doing; Jacques dared not give the same commission -to his comrade, but he would overtake Sans-Souci a little way from the -farm, stop him a moment and say in an undertone: - -"If you learn anything unpleasant about the man who has forgotten us, -remember to hold your tongue, sacrebleu! If you breathe a word of it to -my sister, you are no longer my friend." - -And Sans-Souci would depart, charged with this twofold commission; but -he always returned without learning anything. As Edouard had changed his -name, no one could tell him what had become of him. - - - - -XXVIII - -THE AUDACIOUS VILLAIN.--THE COWARD.--THE DRUNKARD - - -Fortune seemed to smile anew upon the wretches who, to obtain money, had -been false to honor and had defied all the laws of society; it was a -fresh temptation, which impelled them toward crime and prevented them -from turning back. The first success seems to warrant impunity for the -future; the guilty man grows bolder, and one who enters in fear and -trembling the path of vice soon casts aside all shame and seeks to -surpass those who have led him on to dishonor. - -The gaming table, to which Edouard abandoned himself more madly than -ever, had ceased to be unfavorable to him; he won constantly, and the -wretch congratulated himself upon having found an expedient to restore -his fortune. Dufresne and Lampin taught him all the methods employed by -blacklegs to play, without risk of loss, with such gulls as would play -with them. Then the worthy trio would laugh among themselves at the -expense of the dupes they had ruined, and each of them tried to invent -some more rascally trick, in order to outdo his comrades. - -Lampin lived with his two friends; Dufresne had convinced Edouard that -it was not safe to break with him. Moreover, Lampin was endowed with an -imagination fertile in stratagems and in skilful devices; he was a great -help to swindlers. - -When fortune had been favorable, or they had found some new dupe, they -thought only of enjoying themselves. They would take to their rooms some -of those women who go everywhere, and who, for money, sell themselves to -the mason, the pensioner, the banker, or the bootblack, -indiscriminately. Such women alone were suitable companions for men who -took part in the most horrible orgies, the most unbridled debauchery. - -One evening, when they were waiting for Lampin before taking their seats -at the table, he arrived laughing, and hastened to inform his friends, -as a very amusing piece of news, that a certain note had been declared a -forgery, and that the discounter was out of pocket to the amount of the -note. Edouard was horrified and turned pale; Dufresne reassured him by -declaring that they could never be discovered; they had changed their -names and abode since then, and no one could recognize them; there were -no proofs to be produced against them. Lampin alone might be sought for; -but he was so accomplished in changing his face and his whole person, -that he snapped his fingers at the police. - -Edouard was not reassured; however, he tried to divert his thoughts and -to drive away his fears. Two young women, frequent guests of these -gentlemen, arrived opportunely to enliven the company. - -"Parbleu," said Lampin, "Veronique-la-Blonde must tell us some amusing -story; she always knows the most interesting news; that will brace up -our friend Bellecour--this was Edouard's new name--who is rather in the -dumps to-night." - -"Oh! I am not just in the mood for fooling," replied Veronique, with a -sigh; "I am sort of upside down myself to-day." - -"It seems to me that you ought to be used to that." - -"Oh! don't talk a lot of nonsense. Really, my heart is terribly sore." - -"The deuce you say! Have you had trouble with the beaks?" - -"No, it ain't that; but I've got a friend who's mixed up in a bad piece -of business, and that troubles me." - -"What business is it? Tell us; perhaps we can help her out of it." - -"Oh, no! The law has got its hand on her, and yet the poor child is as -innocent as you and me." - -"The devil! that's saying a good deal; but tell us what it's all about." - -"You must know that my friend, who has only been in the business a -little while, was formerly a servant, a lady's maid in several houses; -among others she worked for a widow lady who died a little while ago. -Well, would you believe that they have taken it into their heads, in the -quarter, that that lady was poisoned! That report came to the ears of -the authorities; they dug up the dead woman, and it seems that the -doctors say the same thing as the neighbors. So they looked into the -matter, and they've arrested my friend, because she worked for the lady -at that time; but the poor child is as pure as this glass of wine, I -swear." - -Dufresne listened attentively to Veronique's story, while Lampin toyed -with the other young woman, and Edouard, who had relapsed into his -reflections concerning a forgery of which he knew that he was guilty, -had thrown himself into an easy-chair in a corner of the room, paying no -heed to a story which did not interest him in the least. - -"This affair seems to me to be a most remarkable one," said Dufresne, -drawing his chair nearer to Veronique's; "but what is your friend's -name?" - -"Suzanne; she is a good child, on my honor, and incapable of tearing a -hair from anybody's head, I don't care whose." - -At the name of Suzanne, Dufresne showed signs of perturbation. But -instantly recovering himself, he glanced about the room, saw that -Murville was not listening, and that Lampin was busy; and he continued -to question Veronique. - -"It seems to me that your Suzanne will have difficulty in getting out of -the scrape, if, as you say, this lady had no other servant than her?" - -"Oh! that don't make any difference; Suzanne suspects who it was that -did the job." - -"Really?" - -"Yes, my friend. A young man, a friend of the widow, her lover, used to -come to see her; he was a gambler, a rascal, a sharper." - -"All right! all right! I understand!--Well?" - -"The poor woman ruined herself for the good-for-nothing!--Wait a minute, -I know her name--Madame Dou--Dol------" - -"No matter! no matter!" said Dufresne, abruptly interrupting Veronique, -"I don't need to know her name." - -"That's so, that don't make any difference about the business. However, -this lady was mad over her lover, who didn't care anything for her and -robbed her all he could. It seems that they had a row toward the end, -and that the monster must have poisoned her to revenge himself because -she proposed to tell about all his goings-on." - -"That is very probable." - -"Ah! men are vile dogs nowadays. They kill a woman as quick as a fly!" - -"What does your Suzanne intend to do?" - -"Oh! she has already told the police all this, so that they can get -track of the criminal, who is now I don't know where." - -"That is very wise, and I hope they will discover the truth." - -Dufresne said these last words in an undertone. Despite the assurance -which he affected, the discomposure of his features betrayed the -sensations that agitated him. - -The evening came to an end earlier than usual. Edouard was anxious, and -Dufresne also seemed greatly excited. They sent the two young women -away. Lampin, who alone had retained his good spirits, poured out bumper -after bumper for his friends, making fun of their gloom. Edouard drank -to forget himself, but Dufresne was not inclined to bear them company, -and Lampin got tipsy alone, trying in vain to make his companions laugh. - -"Come, come, my boys, this won't work," he said, filling the glasses; -"you're as solemn to-night as gallows-birds! I forgive Bellecour, -who is only a chicken-hearted fellow anyway! But you over -there--Vermontre--Courval--Dufresne--or whatever you choose to call -yourself----" - -"Hold your tongue, you idiot!" cried Dufresne angrily; "I forbid you to -call me by that last name now!" - -"You forbid me! Well, upon my soul! what a savage look! You used to call -yourself that, when you lived with that poor Dolban, who thought you -really loved her, and who----" - -"Hold your tongue, I say, you sot!" - -"Sot! ah! it sounds well for you to call me a sot, when you slept under -the table last night! and when you drink punch like a hole in the -ground! But never mind, I don't quarrel with my friends, and we are -friends, after all. It is plain enough that you are both out of temper; -Edouard on account of that scrap of paper which worries him so, and -you--Oh! as to you, I don't know what the matter is; it must be some -martingale that didn't work, or some friend that took you in, or else -it's--But I say, what was that Veronique was telling you, about her -poisoning, and her widow, and the lover who wasn't her lover? Do you -know that's as like your intimacy with old Dolban as one drop of water -is like another! If it was you--Ha! ha! you're quite capable of such a -game!" - -"For heaven's sake, go to bed, Lampin; you see that Edouard is asleep -already, and you will wake him up with your laughter." - -"Well! what's the harm if I should wake him? The deuce! You're terribly -careful of him to-night! But I propose to laugh, to laugh and drink; and -I don't propose to go to bed, do you understand? I feel in the mood for -raising the deuce! I'm sorry I let our girls go; I'm just the man to -deal with 'em.--Tra la la la." - -"Do you mean that you don't propose to go to bed at all to-night?" - -"I will go to bed when I please, you fox. Oh! I see that you're in an -ugly mood, I tell you. You are keeping something from us; Veronique's -story dried you up altogether, my poor Dufresne!" - -"You villain, will you hold your tongue?" cried Dufresne, seizing Lampin -by the throat; he struggled, stepped back and almost fell upon Edouard, -who had fallen asleep in a corner of the room, and who, being awakened -with a start, glanced about him in terror, crying: - -"Here they are! here they are! they have come to arrest me!" - -"To arrest you," said Dufresne; "who, for God's sake?" - -"Ha! ha! what fools you are!" cried Lampin, rising and trying to -maintain his equilibrium; "one of them is dreaming and the other one -doesn't see it!" - -"Ah! it was only a dream," said Edouard, passing his hand across his -brow. - -"Why, yes! you are a couple of babies; but, my boy, don't take it into -your head to grasp my windpipe again, or I shall lose my temper for good -and all." - -"It's getting late, messieurs," said Dufresne; "I'm tired and I'm going -to lie down!" - -"Well, go! Our friend here will keep me company and finish up this -bottle of rum." - -"No, I'm going to bed too; my head is in a whirl already." - -"Go to the devil! I will drink all by myself." - -"Once more, Lampin, don't make so much noise; it may annoy the -neighbors." - -"Let the neighbors go to grass! I don't care a hang, and I'll make more -noise than ever.--Tra la la." - -Lampin sang at the top of his voice, as he drank a large glass of rum. -Edouard and Dufresne had taken candles, to go to their bedroom, when -there came three very loud knocks at the street door. - -Dufresne started back in dismay, Edouard listened, trembling from head -to foot, and Lampin threw himself on a couch. - -"Somebody's knocking," said Edouard, looking at Dufresne. - -"Yes, I heard it." - -"Well! so did I; I ain't deaf, and they knocked loud enough anyway, but -what difference does it make to us? We don't expect anybody, for it's -nearly three o'clock in the morning; unless it's our lady friends come -back to rock us to sleep." - -"Hush! somebody is opening the door, I think." - -"Somebody must open the door to let them in! In a furnished lodging -house, especially one of this kind, don't people come in at all hours of -the night? However, come what may, I snap my fingers at it, and I -propose to keep on drinking." - -"I don't hear anything more," said Dufresne; "it evidently wasn't for -us." - -Edouard put his ear to the door opening on the landing, and listened -attentively. Lampin resumed his singing, and tried to put to his lips a -glass which his hand was no longer strong enough to raise. Suddenly -Edouard seemed to become more excited. - -"What is it?" Dufresne asked in an undertone. - -"I hear several voices whispering; the noise is coming nearer--yes, they -are coming up these stairs. Ah! there is no more doubt; they are coming -to arrest us,--we are discovered!" - -"Silence! what imprudence!" said Dufresne, trying to overcome his own -alarm; "if they are really coming here, let us not lose our heads, and -be careful what you say; above all things, do not call me Dufresne." - -"I don't know where I am," said Edouard, whose terror redoubled as the -noise drew nearer. - -"Well! I--I don't know what my name is, myself," said Lampin, dropping -his glass; "but I tell you that they don't want us." - -At that moment there was a ring at the door on the landing. Edouard -fell, almost lifeless, on a chair; Dufresne remained standing in the -middle of the room, motioning to the others not to stir. Soon there was -another ring, accompanied by violent knocking. - -"There's no one here," cried Lampin; "go to the devil!" - -"Damn!" said Dufresne, "we must open the door now.--Who's there?" - -"Open, messieurs, or we shall be obliged to break in the door." - -"Break away, my friend!" said Lampin; "it's all one to me! The house -ain't mine." - -Dufresne, seeing that there was no way to avoid it, decided to open the -door, after motioning to the others to be prudent; but Lampin could no -longer see, and Murville had lost his head completely. - -Several gendarmes and a sergeant entered the apartment. At sight of them -Dufresne turned pale. Edouard uttered a cry of alarm, and Lampin rolled -from his chair to the floor. - -"You must come with us, monsieur," said the sergeant, addressing -Dufresne. He tried to put a bold face upon the matter and asked -insolently by what right they came to disturb his rest. - -"Yes, by what right do you disturb respectable people in their -pleasures?" stammered Lampin; "why, I will answer for my friend, body -for body!" - -"Your guarantee is of no value; we know you, Master Lampin." - -"Well, then you have a pleasant acquaintance, I flatter myself." - -"You must come with us, too." - -"I? Ah! that will be rather hard; I wouldn't walk a step for a bowl of -punch; judge whether I will go to prison." - -"As for monsieur," said the sergeant, turning to Edouard, "I have no -orders to arrest him, but I advise him to select his acquaintances more -wisely." - -Edouard stood in a corner of the room, trembling, and with downcast -eyes. He did not hear what was said to him, he was so thoroughly -convinced that they were going to take him away that he fancied himself -already confined in a dungeon, and had decided to confess his crime, in -the hope that his outspokenness would move his judges to pity. - -Dufresne was furious to find that he was to be arrested and that Edouard -would not accompany him to prison. - -"You have made a mistake, messieurs," said he; "I have done nothing to -be arrested for." - -"You are Dufresne, who lived with Madame Dolban?" - -"You are mistaken, my name is Vermontre." - -"Oh! that's the truth," said Lampin, trying to stand up without the help -of the gendarmes; "it's at least two months that he's been calling -himself that." - -"It's of no use for you to try to deny it. The police have been watching -you for a long while, and when we heard of the murder of which you are -accused, it was not difficult for us to find you, despite all the false -names you have assumed." - -"Murder! murder!" exclaimed Lampin; "one moment, messieurs, I haven't -got anything to do with that. I thought that you came about the matter -of the scrap of paper, which is only a trifle. But a murder! Damnation! -let us understand each other. I am as white as snow, and Fluet, who's -over there in the corner, will tell you as much. We only worked on the -writings, we two." - -"On the writings?" - -"Yes; when I say we--why it was La Valeur, who stands shaking over -there, that did most of it; but he writes mighty well! Ah! that was a -good job! And the old Jew tumbled into it; so that we've eaten and drunk -the stuff all up. If you would like to join us, I'm your man." - -The sergeant listened attentively, and Edouard's terror, combined with -Lampin's fragments of sentences, led him to guess that those gentry were -the authors of some rascality of a different sort from the affair which -had brought him thither. The crime committed upon Madame Dolban was the -occasion of that midnight visit, undertaken because they wished to make -sure of Dufresne; the forgery had only been discovered the day before, -and the police had not yet found the tracks of the culprits. - -"After what I have heard, you will have to come with us too, monsieur," -said the sergeant to Edouard; "if you are innocent, it will be easy for -you to clear your skirts." - -"Oh! I will confess everything," said Edouard, allowing the gendarmes to -lay hold of him. - -"Well! you're nothing but a fool, on the faith of Lampin! For my part, I -won't confess anything.--Come, my friends, carry me, if you want me to -go with you." - -They dragged away Dufresne, who tried to resist. Edouard, on the -contrary, allowed himself to be led away without uttering a word. As for -Lampin, they were obliged to carry him; for he could not stand on his -legs. The three men passed the rest of the night in prison. - -Taken the next morning before an examining magistrate, in order to -undergo a preliminary examination, Edouard trembled and stammered, but -he had not the courage to deny his crime; in vain did Lampin, now -thoroughly sober, impress upon him the importance of the replies he was -to make, and teach him his lesson; Edouard promised him to be steadfast -and to follow his advice; but in the magistrate's presence the miserable -wretch lost courage, and did not know what he said. - -Edouard was confined with Lampin at La Force, until judgment should be -pronounced upon him for the forgery. Dufresne was not with them; being -accused of having poisoned Madame Dolban, he was to be tried before his -two friends, and he had been taken to the Conciergerie. - -Edouard, who had not taken the precaution to supply himself with money, -was confined with Lampin in a pestilential room, in the midst of a -multitude of wretches, all arrested for theft or offences of that -nature. He slept upon a handful of straw, and his food was that supplied -by the prison to those awaiting trial. Lampin gaily made the best of it; -he sang and shouted and played the devil with the outcasts who -surrounded him. But Edouard had not the courage of crime; he felt -remorse and regret in the depths of his soul. He wept at night on the -stone which served him as a bed, and his tears were a source of jest and -witticisms to the miserable creatures confined with him. - -During the day the prisoners were allowed to walk in a large courtyard; -Edouard did not go with them, in order that he might be alone for a few -moments, and at all events lament at liberty. He saw no one from -outside; he had no friends; his companions in dissipation did not come -to visit him in prison; and yet the other prisoners, who were no better -than he, received visits every day and were not deserted by their worthy -comrades. But Edouard bore the reputation among them of a weak and -pusillanimous creature; men of that description are good for nothing; -the slightest reverse discourages them, and cowards are as much despised -by criminals as they are ignored by respectable people. - -The memory of Adeline and her daughter recurred to Edouard's mind; it is -when we are unhappy that we remember those who truly love us. He had -spurned his wife and child, and had abandoned them without taking pains -to ascertain whether the unfortunate creatures could find means of -subsistence; but he felt sure that Adeline would hasten to his side, to -comfort him, and to mingle her tears with his, if she knew that he was -in prison. Despite all the injury that he had done her, he knew enough -not to doubt the warmth of her heart. - -One day, Lampin approached Murville, and his joyous air seemed to -announce good news. - -"Are we pardoned?" Edouard at once asked him. - -"Pardoned! oh, no! we needn't expect that. Besides, you jackass, you -made our affair so clear, that unless they are blind, they can't help -convicting us. Ah! if you had been another kind of man; if you had -simply recited your lesson, we would have mixed the whole thing up so -that they wouldn't have seen anything but smoke; but you chatter like a -magpie." - -"Do you forget that it was your fault that I was arrested? It was you -who put those officers on the track." - -"Oh! my boy, that's different; I was drunk, like a good fellow; I drank -for you too, and in wine, as the proverb says,--_in vino_--the -truth.--But after all, that isn't what I wanted to talk about: our -friend Dufresne is luckier than we are." - -"Have they given him his liberty?" - -"Oh, no! but he has taken it. In other words, he has escaped from prison -with two other prisoners. Bless my soul! my son, what a fellow that -Dufresne is! He is a solid rascal, I tell you, and not soft like you. I -will bet that he would set the prison on fire rather than stay there. -When a man is like that, he don't lack friends. Dufresne found -acquaintances there; he has escaped, and he has done well; for they say -that he is certain to be sentenced to death." - -"To death! Why, what has he done?" - -"What has he done? Well, well! that's a good one, that is. Have you just -come out of a rat-hole? Do you mean to say that you don't know why they -pinched him?" - -"I thought it was on account of that miserable note,--for the same -reason that they took us." - -"Oh, no! it's something better than that. But I do remember now, that -fright acted on you like wine; you didn't know what was going on. Let me -tell you that Dufresne is accused of poisoning a certain Madame Dolban, -with whom he used to live." - -"Great God! the monster!" - -"It seems that his case is serious; he will be sentenced to death in -default; but you understand that he won't return to these diggings, to -be caught. We shan't see him again; I am sorry for that, for he is a -smart fellow; it's a pity that he went too far." - -"And we?" - -"We are to be transferred to the Conciergerie before long, to be tried. -That's the place, my man, where you will need firmness and eloquence. If -you weep there as you do here, it's all over; we shall take a sea voyage -in the service of the government." - -"You villain! is it possible?" - -"Hush, they're listening to us; enough said." - -While the wretched Edouard was in the throes of all the anguish of -terror and remorse, and, surrounded by vile criminals who plumed -themselves upon their crimes and their depravity, found himself the -object of their contempt, so that not one of them addressed a word of -compassion to him or deigned to sympathize with his sufferings, Adeline -passed peaceful days at Guillot's farm. She watched the growth of her -daughter, who was already beginning to lisp a few words which only a -mother could understand. Jacques, still overflowing with zeal and -courage, insisted upon doing the hardest work; he did more than two farm -hands, and to him toil was a pleasure. At night he returned to Adeline; -he took his little niece on his knees, and danced her up and down to the -refrain of a military ballad. Everybody loved Brother Jacques; for that -is what he was called in the village after he was known to be Madame -Murville's brother-in-law; and the peasants were proud to have under -their humble roof a woman like Adeline, and a fine fellow like Jacques. - -But that peaceful life could not endure; a certain trip of Sans-Souci's -to Paris was destined to cause a great change. Jacques's excellent -comrade set out one day for the great city, intrusted as usual with -secret commissions from Adeline and her brother-in-law, both of whom, -although without communicating with each other, had the same thought, -the same desire, and burned to know what Edouard was doing. - -Hitherto Sans-Souci had been unable to obtain any information, but an -unlucky chance led this time to his meeting a friend whom he had not -seen for a very long time. This friend, after practising divers trades, -had become a messenger at the Conciergerie. He was employed by those -prisoners who were still allowed to communicate with the outside world. -Sans-Souci mentioned the name of Edouard Murville; his friend informed -him that he was in the prison, and that his sentence was to be -pronounced on the following day. - -"In prison!" cried Sans-Souci; "my brave comrade's brother! Ten thousand -cartridges! this will be a sad blow to Jacques." - -The messenger, seeing that Sans-Souci was deeply interested in Edouard, -regretted having said so much. - -"But why is he in prison?" asked Sans-Souci anxiously; "what has he -done? Speak! tell me. Is it for debt?" - -"Yes, yes; I believe it's about a note," replied the messenger, -hesitating, and resolved not to disclose the truth; and he tried, but in -vain, to change the subject. - -"Morbleu! his brother--her husband--in prison! Poor little woman! Poor -fellow!" - -"Don't say anything about it to them, my friend, don't mention it to -them. I am sorry myself that I told you this distressing news." - -"You are right, I will hold my tongue, I won't say anything. After all, -they can't help it. That Edouard is a bad fellow! So much the worse for -him." - -"Oh, yes! he is a very bad fellow, and they will do well to forget him." - -"Yes, of course, we can think that, we fellows; but a wife, a brother, -they have hearts, you see, and when it's a question of someone you love, -the heart always drives you on.--Good-bye, old man; I am going back to -the farm, very sorry that I met you, although it isn't your fault. My -heart is heavy, and the trouble is that I am too stupid to -make-believe." - -Sans-Souci left his friend and returned to the farm. Adeline and Jacques -questioned him according to their custom, and Sans-Souci replied that he -knew no more than at other times; but in vain did he try to dissemble; -his sadness betrayed him; his embarrassment, when Adeline spoke to him -of Edouard, aroused her suspicions; a woman easily divines our secret -thoughts. Edouard's wife, convinced that Sans-Souci was concealing from -her something unpleasant about her husband, was constantly at his heels; -she urged him, she implored him to tell her all. - -For two days the honest soldier's courage held good against Adeline's -prayers. But he reflected upon the plight of Edouard, whom he believed -to be in prison for debt; he thought that his wife might have -acquaintances in Paris, through whom she could probably alleviate -Edouard's situation. Edouard had been guilty; but perhaps misfortune -would have matured his character. And it was not right to deprive him of -help and encouragement. These reflections caused Sans-Souci to decide to -conceal no longer from Adeline what he knew. The opportunity soon -presented itself; the next day the young woman entreated him again to -tell her what her husband was doing; Sans-Souci surrendered, on -condition that she would not mention it to Jacques, by whom he feared to -be scolded. Adeline promised, and then he told her all that he had -learned in Paris. - -As soon as Adeline heard that her husband was in prison, she made up her -mind what course to pursue; she left Sans-Souci, went to her chamber, -collected a few jewels, the last remnant of her past fortune, made a -little bundle of her clothes, and after writing on a sheet of paper that -they must not be disturbed by her absence, she took her little Ermance -in her arms and secretly left the farm house, resolved to leave no stone -unturned to obtain her husband's freedom, or to share his captivity. - -It was then nine o'clock in the morning; Jacques was in the fields, and -the peasants were occupied in different directions. Adeline was on the -Paris road before the people at the farm had discovered her departure. - - - - -XXIX - -THE PLACE DU PALAIS - - -Adeline did not know as yet what method she should employ to obtain -access to her husband; she had formed no plan; she had no idea what -steps she must take in order to speak with a prisoner; a single thought -filled her mind: her Edouard was unhappy, he was languishing in prison, -deprived of all consolation. For Adeline knew the world, she had shrewd -suspicions that those people who crowded about Edouard in his prosperity -would have abandoned him in his distress. Who then would wipe away the -poor prisoner's tears, if not his wife and his daughter? To be sure, he -had cast them aside; he had formerly avoided their caresses. But when -the man we love is crushed beneath the weight of misfortune, a generous -soul never remembers his wrongdoing. - -Sans-Souci had mentioned the Conciergerie; so it was to the Conciergerie -she must go. Adeline believed that her prayers, her tears, and the sight -of her child, would move the jailers; she had no doubt that they would -allow her to see her husband. That hope redoubled her courage. After -walking to Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, carrying little Ermance, who was -not yet a year-and-a-half old, Adeline at last fell in with one of those -wretched carriages which take Parisians into the suburbs, and to the -open-air festivals. For a modest sum the driver agreed to take the young -woman and her child, and headed his nags toward Paris. - -There was a single other traveller in the carriage with Adeline; it was -an old man of about seventy years, but with a pleasant face, and an -open, kindly expression which inspired confidence and respect. His dress -indicated wealth without ostentation, and his manners, while they were -not those of fashionable society, denoted familiarity with good company. - -Adeline bowed to her travelling companion and seated herself beside him, -without speaking. - -The old gentleman scrutinized her at first with attention, then with -interest. Adeline had such a noble and appealing countenance that it was -impossible to look upon her without being prepossessed in her favor, and -without desiring to know her better. - -Little Ermance was on her mother's knees; her childish graces fascinated -the old man, who gave her bonbons and bestowed some caresses upon her. -Adeline thanked the old gentleman for his kindness, smiled at her -daughter, then relapsed into her reflections. - -The traveller tried to engage the young woman in conversation; but her -replies were so short, she seemed so preoccupied, that her companion -feared to intrude. He said no more, but he noticed Adeline's melancholy, -he heard her sighs, and he saw that her lovely eyes were constantly -turned toward Paris, and often wet with tears. He dared not try to -divert her thoughts from her trouble, but he pitied her in silence. - -Adeline found the journey very long; the wretched horses went at their -ordinary pace, nothing on earth could have induced them to gallop. -Sometimes, Adeline, giving way to her impatience, was on the point of -alighting from the vehicle, in the hope that she would reach Paris -sooner on foot. But she would have to carry little Ermance, and her -strength was not equal to her courage. So she remained in the carriage -and reflected that each turn of the wheels brought her nearer to her -husband. - -The old gentleman looked at his watch, and at that Adeline addressed -him: - -"Monsieur, would you kindly tell me what time it is?" - -"Almost one o'clock, madame." - -"Are we still far from Paris?" - -"Why, no, only a short league; in three-quarters of an hour you will be -there." - -"In three-quarters of an hour! Oh! how slowly the time goes!" - -"I see that madame has some important business calling her to Paris?" - -"Yes, monsieur, oh, yes! I long to be there!" - -"Of course madame has friends there? If not, if I could be of any -service to madame----" - -Adeline made no reply; she did not hear her companion; she was once more -absorbed in thought, she was with her husband. - -The old gentleman profited nothing by his offer of his services; but far -from taking offence, he felt all the deeper interest in the young woman, -who seemed beset by such profound sorrow. - -At last they reached Paris, and the carriage stopped. Adeline alighted -hastily, took her child in her arms, and paid the driver; then she bowed -to her companion, and disappeared before the old gentleman had had time -to put his foot on the little stool which a street urchin had placed on -the ground to help him to alight from the vehicle. - -"Poor young woman!" said the old man, looking in the direction in which -Adeline had disappeared; "how she runs! how excited she seems! dear me! -I hope that she will not learn any bad news." - -Adeline went as fast as it is possible to go when one has a child in -one's arms. She asked the way to the Conciergerie; it was pointed out to -her, and she hurried on without stopping. Love and anxiety redoubled her -strength; she drew near at last; she saw a square--it was that in front -of the Palais de Justice. - -That square was surrounded by people; the crowd was so dense that one -could hardly walk. - -"And I must pass through," said Adeline sadly to herself; "well, as -there is no other road, I must make one last effort and try to force my -way through." - -But why had so many people assembled there? Was it a fete-day, some -public rejoicing? Had some charlatan established his travelling booth -there? Was that multitude attracted by singers or jugglers, with their -music or their tricks? No, it was none of those things; our Parisian -idlers would show less interest, if it were a matter of pleasant -diversion only. It was an execution which was to take place; several -miserable wretches were to be branded, and exposed to public view upon -the fatal stool of repentance; and it was to gaze on that spectacle, -distressing to mankind, that those children, those young maidens, those -old men, hastened thither so eagerly! Are you surprised to hear it? Do -you not know that La Greve is crowded, that the windows which look on -the square are rented, when a criminal is to undergo capital punishment -there? And whom do we see gloat with the greatest avidity over these -ghastly spectacles? Women, young women, whose faces are instinct with -gentleness and sensitiveness.--What takes place in the depths of the -human heart, if this excess of stoicism is to be found in a weak and -timid sex? - -But let us do justice to those who shun such abhorrent spectacles, and -who cannot endure to look upon an execution. Adeline was one of these; -she did not know what was about to happen on the square, and she paid no -attention to the cries of the mob that surrounded her. - -"Here they come! here they come!" cried the people; "ah! just wait and -see what faces they will make in a minute, when they feel the red hot -iron!" - -Adeline tried to cross the square, but she could not do it; the crowd -either forced her back or dragged her in the opposite direction; thus, -without intention, she found herself quite near the gendarmes who -surrounded the culprits. She raised her eyes, and saw the miserable -wretches, marked with the brand of infamy. She instantly looked away, -she preferred not to see that horrid spectacle. At that moment a piteous -cry arose; it came from one of the wretches who had just been branded. -That cry went to Adeline's heart, it revolutionized all her senses; she -heard it constantly, for she had recognized the griefstricken tone. A -sentiment which she could not control caused her to turn her eyes toward -the culprits. A man, still young, but pale, downcast, disfigured, was -bound upon the stool in front of her. Adeline gazed at him. She could -not fail to recognize him. The miserable wretch's eyes met hers. It was -Edouard, it was her husband, who had been cast out from society, and -whom she found upon the stool of repentance. - -A shriek of horror escaped from the young woman's lips. The criminal -dropped his head on his breast, and Adeline, beside herself, bereft of -her senses, succumbed at last to the violence of her grief, and fell -unconscious to the ground, still pressing her child to her bosom with a -convulsive movement. - - - - -XXX - -GOODMAN GERVAL - - -The French, especially the lower classes, have this merit, that they -pass readily from one sensation to another; after witnessing an -execution, they will stop in front of a Punch and Judy show; they laugh -and weep with amazing rapidity; and the same man who has just pushed his -neighbor roughly aside because he prevented him from seeing a criminal -led to the gallows, will eagerly raise and succor the unfortunate mortal -whom destitution or some accident causes to fall at his feet. - -The gossips and the young girls who crowded Place du Palais forgot the -pleasant spectacle they had come to see, and turned their attention to -the young woman who lay unconscious on the ground. - -Adeline and her child were carried to the nearest cafe, and there -everything that could be done was done for the poor mother. Everybody -formed his or her own conjectures concerning the incident. - -"Perhaps it was the crowd, or the heat, which was too much for this -pretty young lady," said some. Others thought with more reason that the -stranger's trouble seemed to be too serious to have been caused by so -simple a matter. - -"Perhaps," they said, "she saw among those poor devils someone she once -knew and loved." - -While they all tried to guess the cause of the accident, little Ermance -uttered piercing shrieks, and although she was too young to appreciate -her misfortune, she wept bitterly none the less because her mother did -not kiss her. - -They succeeded at last in restoring the young woman to consciousness. -The unhappy creature! Did they do her a service thereby? Everybody -waited with curiosity to see what she would say; but Adeline gazed about -her with expressionless eyes; then, taking her daughter in her arms, as -if she wished to protect her from some peril, she started to leave the -cafe without uttering a word. - -This extraordinary behavior surprised all those who were present. - -"Why do you go away so soon, madame?" said one kindhearted old woman, -taking Adeline's arm; "you must rest a little longer, and recover your -wits entirely." - -"Oh! I must go, I must go and join him," Adeline replied, looking toward -the street; "he is there waiting for me; he motioned for me to rescue -him from that place, to take off those chains. I can still hear his -voice; yes, he is calling me. Listen, don't you hear? He is -groaning--ah! that heartrending cry! Poor fellow! How they are hurting -him!" - -Adeline fell motionless on a chair; her eyes turned away in horror from -a spectacle which she seemed to have constantly in her mind. All those -who stood about her shed tears; they saw that she had lost her reason; -one and all pitied the unfortunate creature and tried to restore peace -to her mind; but to no purpose did they offer her such comfort as they -could; Adeline did not hear them, she recognized no one but her -daughter, and persisted in her purpose to fly with her. - -What were they to do? How could they find out who the family or the -kindred of the poor woman were? Her dress did not indicate wealth; the -bundle of clothes, containing in addition to her garments the jewels -that she had taken away, was not found by Adeline's side when they -picked her up; doubtless some spectator, observing in anticipation the -place that he was likely to occupy some day, had found a way to abstract -Adeline's property. So she seemed to be without means, and as with many -people, emotion is always sterile, they were already talking of taking -the poor woman to a refuge, and her child to the Foundling Hospital, -when the arrival of a new personage suspended their plans. - -An old man entered the cafe and enquired the cause of the gathering. -Everyone tried to tell him the story. The stranger walked in, forcing -his way through the curious crowd of spectators who surrounded the -unfortunate young woman; he approached Adeline, and uttered a cry of -surprise when he recognized the person with whom he had travelled from -Villeneuve-Saint-Georges to Paris. - -"It is really she!" he cried; and little Ermance held out her arms to -him with a smile; for she recognized the man who had given her bonbons -but a few hours before. - -Thereupon the old man became an interesting character to the crowd, who -were most eager to learn the poor mother's story. They all plied the old -gentleman with questions, and he, annoyed and wearied by their -importunities, sent for a carriage, and after learning from the keeper -of the cafe exactly what had happened to the young stranger, he put -Adeline and her child into the cab, and thus removed them from the -scrutiny of the curiosity seekers. - -Adeline had fallen into a state of listless prostration. She allowed -herself to be taken away, without uttering a word; she seemed to pay no -heed to what was taking place about her, and even her daughter no longer -engaged her attention. - -Monsieur Gerval--such was the old man's name--gazed at the young woman -with deep emotion; he could not as yet believe that she whom he had seen -in the morning, sad, it is true, but in the full enjoyment of her -senses, could so soon be deprived of her reason. He lost himself in -conjectures as to the cause of that strange occurrence. - -The cab stopped in front of a handsome, furnished lodging house. It was -where Monsieur Gerval stopped when he was in Paris. He was well known in -the house, and everyone treated him with the regard which his years and -his character deserved. - -He caused Adeline and her daughter to alight and took them to his -hostess. - -"Look you, madame," he said, "here is a stranger whom I beg you to take -care of until further orders." - -"Ah! mon Dieu! how pretty she is! But what a melancholy expression! what -an air of depression!--Can't she speak, Monsieur Gerval?" - -"She is ill; she has undergone some great misfortune; they say even that -her mind----" - -"Merciful heaven! what a pity!" - -"I hope that with the best care, we shall succeed in calming her -excitement. I commend this unfortunate woman and her child to you." - -"Never fear, Monsieur Gerval, she shall have everything she -needs.--Another unfortunate of whom you have taken charge, I see." - -"What would you have, my dear hostess; a man must needs make himself -useful when he can. I have no children, and I am growing old; what good -would all my wealth do me, if I did not assist the unfortunate? -Moreover, it is a source of enjoyment to myself. I am like Florian's -man: 'I often do good for the pleasure of it.'" - -"Ah! if all the rich men thought as you do, Monsieur Gerval!" - -"Tell me, madame, has my old Dupre come in?" - -"Yes, monsieur, he is waiting for you in your room." - -"I will go up to him. Look after this young woman, I beg you, and see -that she lacks nothing." - -"Rely upon me, monsieur." - -Worthy Monsieur Gerval went up to his apartment, where he found his old -servant Dupre impatiently awaiting his master's return. - -"Ah! here you are, monsieur; I was anxious because you stayed away so -long. Have you had a pleasant journey? Have you learned anything?" - -"No, my friend; the house where the Murville family used to live is now -for sale. I was told that one Edouard Murville lived there for some time -with his wife, but no one knows what has become of them. And you, -Dupre?" - -"I have found out nothing more, monsieur. Your old friends are dead; and -their children are nobody knows where. Several people did mention a -Murville, who was a business agent, then a swindler, and all-in-all a -thoroughly bad fellow. But no one was able or willing to tell me what -has become of him. Perhaps he may have been the younger of the two sons, -the one who ran away from his father's house at fifteen; such an -escapade as that promises nothing good for the future." - -"I should be very sorry if it were so; I would have liked--but I see -that I have returned too late. My travels kept me away from Paris ten -years, and it was only within a year that, on retiring from business, I -was able to return to this city. But what changes ten years have -produced! My friends--to be sure they were quite old when I went -away--my friends are dead or else they have disappeared. That depresses -me, Dupre; there is nothing left for me in this city but memories. I -think we will leave it, and go back to my little place in the Vosges to -live; I propose to end my life there.--But let us drop this subject; I -have something to tell you, for my journey has not been altogether -without fruit; it has made me acquainted with a very interesting young -woman, who seems most unfortunate too." - -"Indeed! Where did monsieur meet her?" - -"We returned to Paris in the same carriage; for notwithstanding your -advice, I made the trip in one of those miserable cabriolets." - -"Oh! the idea of subjecting yourself to such a jolting! That is -unreasonable!" - -"Nonsense! nonsense! I'm perfectly well, and I congratulate myself that -I did not take your advice, as I travelled with a poor woman, whom I -found afterward by chance in a most melancholy plight." - -Monsieur Gerval told the servant what had happened to him, and the -chance which had led to his finding the traveller again in a cafe, just -as those present were talking of taking her to a refuge. Dupre, whose -heart was as soft as his master's, was very impatient to see the young -woman and her pretty little girl; he followed his master, who asked to -be taken to the room which had been given to Adeline. - -Edouard's wife was pacing the floor excitedly, while little Ermance was -lying in an armchair. The entrance of Monsieur Gerval and Dupre caused -Adeline a moment's terror; she ran to her daughter and seemed to be -afraid that it was their intention to take her away from her. - -"Don't be alarmed, madame," said the old man gently, as he approached -her; "it is a friend who has come to comfort you. Tell me your -troubles; I shall be able to lighten them, I hope." - -"What a crowd there is about me!" said Adeline, glancing wildly about; -"what a multitude of people! Why this gathering? Ah! I will not, no, I -will not stop on this square. They have come here to gaze on those poor -wretches. Let me go! But I cannot; the cruel crowd forces me back. Ah! I -must close my eyes, and not look! He is there, close to me!" - -She fell upon a chair and put her hands before her face. - -"Poor woman!" said Dupre; "some horrible thing must have happened to -her. Do you know, monsieur, that it seems to me that this unfortunate -creature belongs to a good family? Her clothes are very simple, almost -like a peasant's; but for all that, I will bet that this woman is no -peasant." - -"Why, of course not; I can see that as well as you. But how are we to -find out who she is? If this child could talk better----" - -"The little girl is waking up, monsieur; give her some bonbons and try -to make out the name she mentions." - -Gerval went to Ermance and kissed her; the child recognized him and went -to him of her own accord. He gave her bonbons, danced her on his knees, -and she lisped the name of Jacques; for it was Jacques who played with -her and danced with her every evening. - -"One would say that she knows you, monsieur," said Dupre to his master; -"I believe it is Jacques she says; just listen." - -"Poor child; it is true. Perhaps that is her father's name. Let us try -to find out if that is really the name she is lisping; if it is, her -mother knows it without any question." - -The old man walked toward Adeline, uttering the name of Jacques in a -loud voice. The young woman instantly arose and repeated the name. - -"Good! she understood us," whispered Dupre. - -"You are looking for Jacques," said Adeline to Monsieur Gerval; "oh! in -pity's name, do not tell him this horrible secret; let him always remain -ignorant of his shame! Poor Jacques! he would die of grief. Oh! promise -me that you will say nothing to him." - -Honest Gerval promised, and Dupre sadly shook his head. - -"It is of no use," he said to his master, "there is no hope.--But what -is your plan?" - -"We must make all possible investigations. You, Dupre, will go to -Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, and inquire about all the Jacqueses there are -in the village; in short, you will try to find out something. If we -cannot discover anything then, I will see what----" - -"Ah! I am very sure, my dear master, that you won't abandon this young -woman and this poor child." - -"No, Dupre, no, I shall not abandon them. But it is late and I am tired. -I am going to bed, and to-morrow we will begin our search." - -Having once more commended Adeline and her daughter to the people of the -house, honest Gerval retired. - -During the night as during the day, Adeline was intensely excited at -times, talking incoherently, and sometimes in a state of the most -complete prostration, seeming to see nothing of what took place about -her. They observed, however, that any noise, the sound of a loud voice, -or the faintest cry, made her jump, and threw her into the wildest -delirium. - -The next day a doctor summoned by Monsieur Gerval came to see the -unhappy young woman, but all his skill could accomplish nothing more -than to calm her a little; he thought that a tranquil existence would -make the alarming outbursts of her mania less frequent. But he gave -little hope of the restoration of her reason, as he knew nothing of the -cause which had led to its being unseated. - -Dupre went to Villeneuve-Saint-Georges and inquired concerning all the -Jacqueses in the neighborhood. Only two peasants bore that name, and -they had no idea what he meant by his questions about the young woman -and her daughter. Dupre was unable to learn anything, and he returned to -his master. - -Monsieur Gerval had made no further progress in his investigations in -Paris; the newspapers did not mention the disappearance of a young woman -and her daughter from their home, and he could obtain no information -concerning the name and family of his protegees. - -Ten days passed, and Adeline was still in the same condition. Her -prostration was less frequently disturbed by violent outbreaks; but when -by chance a cry reached her ear, her delirium became terrible to see, -and her condition was horrifying. Only her daughter's voice never acted -unfavorably upon her; that voice always went to the heart of the poor -mother, who never mistook her child's accents. - -"My dear Dupre," said Monsieur Gerval to his servant, at the end of -those ten days, "I see that we must abandon the hope of ever finding out -who this interesting young woman is. I have made up my mind what to do, -my friend: I have determined to take these unfortunate creatures with -me. As you know, I am going to retire to my estate in the Vosges. That -solitary place, surrounded by woods, is best suited to our poor invalid. -That is the doctor's opinion, and we must be guided by it; and at all -events nothing will disturb the tranquillity which the poor creature -requires. We will look to it that she hears no cries there. We will -bring up her daughter; Catherine, who is so fond of children, will look -after the poor child, and the innocent darling's caresses will pay me -for what I do for her mother.--Well, what do you think of my plan, -Dupre?" - -"It delights me, monsieur, and I recognize yourself in it. Always kind -and always doing good! You give all you have to the unfortunate." - -"That is my pleasure; I have no family, the unfortunate are my children. -As you know, I came to Paris with the hope of learning something of a -certain little boy whom I loved in his infancy, and who besides is -entitled to my protection. But faith, as I can't find him, this little -girl shall take his place. From this moment I adopt her; I take charge -of her mother, and I thank Providence for selecting me to be their -protector." - -The next day honest Gerval put his plan into execution: he bought a -large and commodious berlin, placed in it everything that the young -woman and her daughter would need on the journey; and then, having left -his address with the landlady, so that she might write to him in case -she should learn anything concerning the strangers, the protector of -Adeline and Ermance left Paris with them and his old servant, for the -country residence where he proposed to end his days in peace. - - - - -XXXI - -JACQUES AND SANS-SOUCI - - -While honest Gerval's carriage bore Adeline and her daughter toward the -north of France, what were Jacques's thoughts concerning the sudden -disappearance of the two persons whom he loved best? In order to -ascertain, let us return to the farm. - -On his return from the fields, surprised to find that Adeline and her -daughter, who were always the first to reward his labors with a caress, -did not come to meet him, Jacques looked about for his sister. Disturbed -to find that she was not in the living room, he asked Louise if she were -not well. - -"I hope nothing's the matter with her," said the farmer's wife, "but I -haven't seen her all day; you know sometimes she likes to stay by -herself in her room, and I don't dare to disturb her. But she ought to -be with us before this." - -"I will go and look for her," said Jacques; and he hurried up to -Adeline's room. - -The peasants also began to fear that Adeline was ill. Sans-Souci said -nothing, but he was more anxious than the rest, for he remembered what -he had told Adeline that morning, and he suspected that she had done -something on impulse. They all impatiently awaited Jacques's return. He -came down at last, but grief and melancholy were expressed on his -features, his eyes were moist and his brow was dark. - -"What has happened?" cried the peasants. - -"She has gone, she has left us," said Jacques, pacing the floor, raising -his eyes to the ceiling, clenching his fists, and pausing now and then -to stamp the floor violently. - -"She has gone!" repeated the whole family sadly. - -"Oh! that ain't possible," said Guillot. - -"Here, read this;" and Jacques threw down in front of the farmer the -paper that Adeline had left. Guillot took it and gazed at it earnestly -for some moments. - -"Well!" said Sans-Souci, walking toward him, "what does she say?" - -"You see, I don't know how to read," replied Guillot, still staring at -the paper. Sans-Souci snatched it from his hands and read it aloud. - -"You see she tells us not to be worried about her absence," said Louise; -"she will come back soon, I'm sure." - -"Oh! so far as that goes, I will answer for it too," said Guillot; "she -wouldn't leave us without saying good-bye to us, that's sure!" - -Sans-Souci agreed with the peasants, and he tried to comfort his friend. - -"But where has she gone?" said Jacques. "Why this sudden departure? She -didn't seem to have any idea of it yesterday; and for a young woman, -weak as she is, to travel with a child that has to be carried--She will -make herself sick. Ah! she must have had some news from Paris. Ten -thousand bayonets! If I knew that anything had been kept from me----" - -As he said this, Jacques's eyes turned toward Sans-Souci, who looked at -the floor, twisted his moustache and utterly failed to conceal his -embarrassment. - -"Come, come, Brother Jacques, let us wait before we lose hope," said the -farmer's wife, urging the honest plowman to go to bed; "perhaps she -will be back to-morrow." - -"Yes," said Guillot, "and we will have a famous soup to celebrate, and -we will drink some of last year's wine, which is beginning to be just -right." - -Sans-Souci dared not say anything; he was afraid of becoming confused -and betraying himself; his comrade's glances closed his mouth. - -"I will wait a few days," said Jacques; "but if she doesn't come back, -then I will go to find her, even if I have to go to the end of the -world." - -They parted for the night sadly enough. Several days passed, and Adeline -did not return. All pleasure and peace of mind had vanished from the -farm; Jacques neglected his work, Guillot his fields, the farmer's wife -her household duties; Sans-Souci neglected the farmer's wife, and -everybody was unhappy. No more ballads, merry meals, amusing stories, or -descriptions of battles. Sans-Souci was losing hope of Adeline's return; -he bitterly repented having told her of her husband, and he hovered -about Jacques, but dared not confess the truth to him. - -On the eighth day Jacques announced that he was going to start out in -search of his sister. Sans-Souci decided then to speak; he took his -comrade aside and began by tearing out a handful of hair, and heaving a -profound sigh. - -"What is the meaning of all this groaning?" asked Jacques; "speak, and -stop your nonsense." - -"Look you, comrade, I am an infernal brute! I am corked up like the -barrel of Guillot's gun, and yet I did everything for the best." - -"What do you mean?" - -"I am the cause of your dear sister's leaving the farm." - -"You! you villain!" - -"If you don't forgive me, I'll put five pounds of lead between my -eyebrows." - -"Nonsense! Speak, I implore you." - -"I found out that your brother was in prison; I didn't dare to tell you -and I didn't mean to tell his wife either; but she urged me so hard, and -you know that women do whatever they want to with me, especially the -ones that I respect; and then I thought that she might comfort her -husband a little." - -"And do you think that I have an iron heart? My brother is unfortunate, -that ends it; I forget the way he received me; I too must comfort him." - -"Poor Jacques! I was sure of it." - -"And yet you kept your mouth shut, you idiot, and you left me consumed -with anxiety--Poor woman! Perhaps she is with him!" - -"Parbleu! there's no doubt of that!" - -"Is he in prison in Paris?" - -"Yes--wait--he is at the Conciergerie." - -"He must have spent and sold everything, and his creditors had him -arrested!--Ah! if I were rich, brother, how happy I would be to be of -some use to you! But fate has willed it otherwise.--No matter; I can at -least prove to you that you still have a friend.--Sans-Souci, I am going -to Paris." - -"So am I; morbleu! I will go with you; I don't propose to leave you." - -"Very well. We won't say anything to the peasants about my brother's -imprisonment; those excellent people would be quite capable of insisting -upon doing still more to assist us, and we must not accept it; they have -done enough for us already." - -"You are always right. I agree with you; let us go and say good-bye to -them; forward!" - -Jacques and Sans-Souci embraced the peasants and told them that they -were going to look for Adeline; then they started for Paris, where they -arrived that afternoon. - -"You know the way," said Jacques to his comrade; "take me to the prison. -I will ask to speak to the commander, the captain, the governor; in -fact, to speak to everybody, if necessary; this honorable decoration -will serve as my safe-conduct." - -"Look you, I don't know the prison any better than you do, but I'll take -you to my old friend, who is the messenger to the prisoners; he will -tell us how we must go to work to see your brother." - -"Very well, let us speak to your friend; I trust that we may find him." - -"Yes," said Sans-Souci; "I see him now, over yonder." - -They quickened their pace and accosted the messenger, who recognized his -friend, and shook hands with him, asking him what brought him to Paris. - -"Let us sit down on this stone bench and talk," said Sans-Souci; "this -is my comrade, a fine fellow----" - -"He has some scars and a bit of ribbon which say enough.--Can I help you -in any way, messieurs?" - -"Yes, we have come on important business--we want to see a prisoner. You -know, that Edouard Murville, whom you mentioned to me the last time I -saw you; well, my comrade is his brother." - -"You are his brother?" said the messenger, looking at Jacques with -compassion. "I am sorry for you." - -"I am not the one to be sorry for," said Jacques; "he is the one, since -he is unfortunate; for he has not been guilty of any dishonorable act, I -trust?" - -"What have you come here for?" said the messenger, without answering -Jacques's question. - -"Morbleu! we have come to see my brother; his wife and child have been -here already to console him." - -"No woman has been here to see him, I assure you; in fact, no woman has -attempted to see him." - -"Is it possible?" - -"It would be useless now to try to see him, for--he is no longer at the -Conciergerie." - -"He isn't there? Where is he then?" - -"Why, why--I cannot--tell you exactly." - -"What! Damnation! Can't I find out where my brother is?" - -"Come, come, my poor Jacques, don't be discouraged," said Sans-Souci; -"my friend isn't well posted; we will try to find out something more." - -"I tell you again, messieurs, that Edouard Murville is no longer in this -prison, and that he must have left Paris before this. Adieu, my good -Jacques, take my advice and return to your village; do not try to learn -anything more, and forget a brother who is altogether unworthy of you." - -The messenger, deeply moved, pressed Jacques's hand, and turned away -from the friends, after saying this. - -Jacques stood in deep thought; his brow darkened, his glance became more -stern. Sans-Souci also was silent; he began to fear that it was not -simply for debt that his comrade's brother had been arrested. The two -honest fellows dared not communicate their thoughts to each other, and -the darkness surprised them seated on the stone bench and lost in their -reflections. - -"What are we going to do now?" asked Sans-Souci at last; "we are sitting -here like two lost sentinels; but we must make up our minds to -something." - -"Let us hunt for Adeline and her child," said Jacques, in a gloomy -voice, "and forget Edouard. I am beginning to fear that the wretch--let -us look for Adeline; she will never make me blush." - -"Oh! for her I would rush into the hottest fire." - -"Poor woman! poor little Ermance! Where are they now? Perhaps her grief -at learning that her husband--oh! why did you tell her that, -Sans-Souci?" - -"Don't mention it. I would to God that you would use my tongue for a -cartridge." - -"There is no rest for me until I know what has become of them. Let us -search Paris and enquire at every house if necessary; and if we don't -find them in this city, let us search the whole of France, towns, -hamlets, villages." - -"Corbleu! yes, we will go to the devil if necessary! But we will find -them, comrade, we will find them, I tell you that." - -Jacques and his companion took rooms at a poor inn; they were on foot -with the dawn, and scoured every quarter of the city, enquiring -everywhere for Adeline and her child; but no one could give them any -information concerning the young woman whom they sought. The sight of -unfortunate people is so common that little attention is paid to them. -However, sometimes the abode of some poor mother was pointed out to -them; they would visit her, and find that she was not the object of -their search. - -On the eleventh day after their arrival in Paris, Jacques and Sans-Souci -were walking on the boulevard, always thinking of Adeline and cudgeling -their brains to divine what could have become of her. - -Suddenly the people on the sidewalk pressed toward the driveway, -seemingly awaiting some curious sight. - -"What is going by?" Sans-Souci asked a workman who had stopped near -him. - -"It's the chain of convicts, starting from Bicetre to go to the galleys -at Toulon," was the reply. "See, here, here's the wagon coming now; we -shall see them in a minute." - -"It is hardly worth while to crowd so to see a parcel of villains," said -Sans-Souci. - -"They ask for alms on the road." - -"If they had any pluck, they would ask to be shot.--Come, Jacques, let's -not stay here; I haven't any pity for those fellows." - -"I want to stay," said Jacques with emotion; "I want to see them." - -The vehicle came forward slowly, and Jacques, impelled by a secret -presentiment, drew very near, and took a few sous from his pocket. Soon -the convicts were before him; they held out their crime-stained hands, -imploring the pity of the passers-by. Jacques scrutinized them closely, -and noticed one who did not imitate his companions in infamy, but who -tried on the contrary to avoid the eyes of the crowd; but the villain -with whom he was shackled was one of those who displayed the most -effrontery; he jerked him violently, and that movement afforded Jacques -an opportunity to see the poor wretch's features; it seemed to him that -he recognized his brother. The cold sweat stood on his forehead; and -with a movement swifter than thought, he put his hand to his buttonhole -and removed his decoration, which he instantly thrust into his breast. - -The wagon had gone on, and Jacques followed it with his eyes. Sans-Souci -pulled his arm. - -"Come," he said to him; "how in the devil can you take any pleasure in -looking at those beggars?--But what's the matter with you? Your face is -all distorted." - -"Ah! I am ruined, Sans-Souci! dishonored!" - -"You, dishonored! that is impossible; do be reasonable." - -"My brother----" - -"Well?" - -Jacques dared not utter the fatal words; but with his hand he pointed to -the chain of convicts, who could still be seen in the distance. - -"It wasn't he, my friend, you made a mistake." - -"Ah! would to God I had! But no, it was no mistake; and the words of -that kindhearted messenger, his compassionate air as he spoke to me and -shook my hand.--There is no more doubt; I understand everything now." - -"Well! even if your brother is a miserable villain, is it your fault? -Did you fight for your country any the less, and thrash its enemies? And -have the scars vanished from your face and your breast? Ten thousand -million citadels! Who could ever blush for having known you? I will make -the man swallow ten inches of my sword!" - -"Ah! my name is sullied, my friend. O father! if you knew!" - -"Your father is dead; if he was alive, your glory would console him for -your brother's shame." - -"No, Sans-Souci, consolation for such a calamity is impossible. There is -but one thing left for me to do, and that is to overtake those wretched -creatures, to find some way to approach the man whom I can no longer -call my brother, and to blow his brains out, and then do the same by -myself." - -"That's a very pretty scheme of yours. But you won't carry it out. You -will remember that you have a sister, for that dear Adeline loves you -like a brother; you will remember little Ermance, whom you danced on -your knees; you will not deprive those poor creatures of the last -friend who is left to them; you will forget your grief in order to allay -theirs, and with them you will feel that you have not lost -everything.--But we shall find them, comrade; we will search every -corner of the earth; how do you know that they are not at the farm now, -or in some poor cabin where they need our help? and you would leave this -world when there are unfortunate mortals here who rely upon you? No, -sacrebleu! that shall not be! You surrender, you are touched. Come, -Jacques, be brave in grief as you were under fire, and forward march!" - -Jacques allowed himself to be persuaded by his comrade, who took -advantage of that circumstance to induce him to leave a city where they -had lost all hope of discovering Adeline; and they returned to the farm, -still flattering themselves that they would find the young fugitive -there. - -But that last hope was soon destroyed; the sadness of the peasants left -them in no doubt. Jacques insisted upon starting off again at once in -search of Adeline and her child, and only with great difficulty did they -persuade him to remain one night at the farm. They saw that Brother -Jacques was gloomy and melancholy since he had been in Paris; but the -peasants attributed his gloom to the non-success of his search. - -Sans-Souci made all their preparations for a journey which he thought -with good reason would be likely to last a long while. Louise was -greatly grieved to have her cousin go away, but she realized that he -ought not to abandon his friend. The farmer's wife thrust a well-filled -purse into the bag of each of the travellers. It was simply their wages -for all the time that they had worked at the farm; but she dared not -offer it to them, for she knew that the method that she employed was -the best one to avoid a refusal. Kindhearted folk are always shrewd and -clever, when it is a question of doing a kind act. - -At dawn Jacques was up. Sans-Souci soon joined him. He appeared with his -bag over his shoulder, and a stout staff in his hand, and said to his -comrade: - -"Whenever you are ready, forward march!" - -The two friends were about to start. The farmer and his family came -forward weeping, to bid them adieu. The children, who had long been -accustomed to play with Jacques's moustaches and to roll on the grass -with Sans-Souci, clung to the legs of both travellers, and would not let -them go. Louise held a corner of her apron to her eyes, and her sighs -said much more than her words. Guillot was no less sorrowful than the -rest. - -"I say! I'm going to be left alone with my wife, am I?" he said; "what a -stupid time I shall have!--Here, comrade Jacques, let me give you a -little present for your journey; it may be of some use to you; for you -don't know where you may be." - -As he spoke, Guillot handed Jacques a pair of small pocket pistols. - -"I bought them second-hand in the village not long ago, of an old -soldier; my idea was to give 'em to you on your birthday, but so long as -you're going away, why take 'em now." - -Jacques thanked the honest farmer and accepted his present; then, after -embracing everybody, he set forth with Sans-Souci, swearing not to -return to the farm without Adeline, and to take no rest until he had -found her. - - - - -XXXII - -THE GALLEY SLAVES - - -Jacques was not mistaken when he thought he saw his brother among the -convicts. The unhappy Edouard had undergone his punishment for the crime -which he had allowed himself to be led into committing. His sentence -condemned him to twenty years hard labor, to be branded and exposed to -public view. - -Lampin, who had already been in prison for theft, was sentenced to the -galleys for life. In vain did he repeat to Edouard his lesson, and urge -him to deny everything; Edouard had not enough strength of character to -form a resolution. He contradicted himself, betrayed himself, and -allowed himself to be easily convicted of his crime. The miserable -wretch recognized his wife and child at the moment that he was branded -with the mark of infamy. He saw Adeline fall unconscious before him; -that heartrending picture was long present in his mind; the image of a -woman who adored him and whose life he had wrecked, the sight of a child -whom he condemned to the shame of not being able to mention her father -without a shudder, and the memory of the happiness he had once enjoyed -in his home,--all these overwhelmed the unhappy felon and made him feel -more keenly the horror of his situation. - -Remorse gnawed at Edouard's heart, and led him, so far as he was able, -to avoid the society of the other prisoners, who laughed at his grief -and sneered at his cowardice. A hundred times the poor wretch formed a -plan to put an end to his existence, but only in fear and trembling did -he invent methods which his weak character instantly spurned. In this -frame of mind Murville made the journey from Bicetre to Toulon, without -observing that his brother gave alms to his companions as they passed -through Paris. - -Lampin was always the same; at the galleys he retained his recklessness -and gayety; shame was to him nothing more than an empty word, and he -strove every day to lift Edouard above what he called prejudice. - -The penitent culprit never receives useful advice in the society of -galley slaves. For one criminal who knows the pangs of remorse, how many -are there who become hardened in crime and take pleasure in corrupting -entirely those whom sincere repentance might have led back into the -paths of virtue! - -The image of Adeline and her daughter gradually faded from Edouard's -mind, and gave way to the schemes of which his companions talked to him -day after day. He banished a remorse which they proved to be useless, in -order to invent some plan of escape; and after six months of -imprisonment, distaste for life was replaced in his mind by an ardent -longing for liberty. - -A bold scheme was formed. Even at the galleys, prisoners find a way of -establishing relations with those of their friends who are momentarily -enjoying their freedom; and these latter brave everything to serve their -comrades, because they know that they are likely at any day to demand a -similar service from them. - -It was Lampin who supervised the execution of the plot. Forced to be -sober, he was in full possession of his wits. The day, the moment -arrived. A keeper, who had been bribed, left a door unlocked; the -convicts, supplied with files, removed their fetters; they assembled at -midnight, killed three watchmen, and made their way into a yard, the -wall of which was easily scaled by men accustomed to climb walls. Lampin -went up first; Edouard followed him, clinging to the chain which his -companion still had attached to his feet; several convicts had thus -passed over the wall and jumped into the ditch which was on the other -side. But musket shots were heard, the alarm was given, the garrison was -under arms, soldiers ran to the walls and fired at the prisoners. -Several fell dead, others surrendered, the revolt was put down; but it -was some time before they could ascertain the number of those who had -escaped. - -Lampin and Edouard had heard the report of shots. They succeeded in -getting out of the ditch, but where should they go? How could they make -their escape quickly enough? Already soldiers were scouring the city and -the harbor; soon they would fall into their hands. Edouard was in -despair, and Lampin was cudgeling his brains, swearing that they should -not take him alive. But at that moment they heard the sound of bells on -a horse, and soon an open wagon, loaded with vegetables and driven by a -young peasant, passed them. The peasant was seated in the front of the -wagon, fast asleep, with his reins lying on the back of the horse, which -followed at a slow pace its accustomed road. - -"Do as I do," said Lampin, running after the wagon. "We are saved." - -He climbed up behind, made a great hole in the peas, cabbages and -carrots, and climbed into it, followed by Edouard, leaving hardly enough -space to give them air. The peasant turned, rubbed his eyes, and saw -nothing, for he was still half asleep; and he was preparing to snore -louder than ever, when some soldiers passed the wagon. - -"Did you meet anyone, my friend?" asked the sergeant of the peasant. - -"No, no, no one, messieurs, no one but donkeys, wagons and people from -our place." - -"Be on the lookout; some convicts have escaped; if you see any of them, -call for help and notice which way they go." - -The soldiers passed on. The peasant lay down again, mumbling between his -teeth: - -"Oh, yes! I think I see myself watching convicts! I would much rather -dream about my dear Manette; anyway I ain't afraid of them; those -fellows don't amuse themselves stealing cabbages and carrots." - -"We are saved!" said Edouard to his companion, in an undertone. - -"Not yet," said Lampin; "this peasant is taking his vegetables to -market, and if he should uncover us, I don't believe he would take us -for two bunches of onions." - -"What are we to do then?" - -"Parbleu! we must take to the fields; but let's wait until this rascal -snores well; it won't be long, as he is thinking of his dear Manette." - -In fact, the peasant was soon sound asleep. Thereupon Lampin put one -hand out from under the vegetables, seized the rein, and pulled the -horse to the other side of the road. The beast knew but two roads, the -one to market and the one to his stable. When he was jerked violently -away from the former, he supposed that his master was going home, so he -turned back toward the village without hesitation. - -"Well, we are safe now," said Edouard, softly putting his head out from -under the vegetables which covered him, and seeing nothing but trees and -fields about him,--no houses. - -"You always think that you are safe, you idiot," said Lampin, "but we -are not out of danger yet; we have just left Toulon; this peasant is -taking us to his village, where we shall be pinched." - -"We must get out of the wagon and hide." - -"A fine thing to do! hide! Where, I should like to know? In the trees, -like parrots? We must gain ground first, and with these chains on our -feet, we shan't go far." - -"We will file them." - -"Have we got the time? Come, let's make a bold stroke; we are in a -sunken road, and I don't see any houses, and--first of all, get down, -quick." - -"And then?" - -"Get down, I tell you, and stop the horse quietly; meanwhile I will -begin by searching our driver." - -Edouard got down from the wagon. Lampin drew in the reins, and the horse -stopped. - -"We must unharness him, and escape on him," said Lampin; "let's make -haste." - -As he spoke, he searched the peasant's pockets and took possession of -his knife and a few pieces of money. Edouard, being very awkward and -unskilled in the art of unharnessing a horse, called Lampin to his -assistance. He seemed to be meditating a new plan as he looked at the -peasant's clothes. - -"I am in mortal terror that he will wake," said Edouard. - -"If he wakes, he is a dead man," said Lampin, as he hastily alighted and -unfastened the straps that held the horse in the shafts. But the peasant -was so accustomed to the movement of the wagon that he woke a few -moments after it stopped. - -"Go on, go on, I say!" he said, rubbing his eyes. - -"We are lost!" whispered Edouard. Lampin did not reply, but he darted -toward the wagon, and as the hapless peasant started to rise, he buried -his knife in his breast. - -The man uttered but one feeble cry. Edouard was horrorstruck. - -"You wretch! what have you done?" he said with a shudder. - -"What was necessary," said Lampin; "the worst of it now is that I can't -take his clothes, which are drenched with blood; I must be content with -the hat and the blouse." - -As he said this, the villain stripped his victim, put on his blouse, and -hastily mounted the horse; then he turned toward Edouard, who had not -yet recovered from his stupor. - -"Now, my boy," he said, "get out of it how you can." - -And he at once pricked his horse with the point of his knife, and -disappeared, leaving Edouard beside the unfortunate man whom his -companion had murdered. - - - - -XXXIII - -THE WOOD-CUTTER AND THE ROBBERS - - -The night was drawing toward its close. Edouard was still beside the -wagon, dismayed by Lampin's flight, and so disturbed by all that had -happened to him within a few hours that he had no idea what he had -better do. - -The unfortunate peasant still breathed; from time to time he uttered -feeble groans. Edouard could not decide whether he ought to help him or -to take to flight. He wavered and hesitated and the first rays of dawn -found him in that condition. Glancing at himself, he shuddered at sight -of his coat, which at once identified him as an escaped convict; and he -trembled lest he should be taken for the murderer of the peasant. That -thought froze his blood with terror; the sight of the peasant was -horrible to him, and he walked away as rapidly as his strength -permitted, until he reached a small tract of woodland, where he hoped to -elude pursuit. - -His first care was to file his fetters and throw them away; but he could -not rid himself of his costume also, and he realized that he could not -show himself without risk of being arrested. That thought drove him to -frenzy for an instant. He regretted that he had not stripped the peasant -entirely. - -Day broke, and the peasants began to go to their work. Edouard plunged -into the wood, picked figs and olives and climbed into a tree to await -the return of night. - -But how long that day was! and how many times did he shudder with -apprehension as he saw peasants come into the wood and sit down to rest -not far from the tree in which he was hiding! He heard them talking -about the poor wagoner's murder. - -"It was a convict who did the job," said the peasants; "a number of them -escaped last night from the galleys at Toulon, but they're on their -tracks, and they can't fail to take them soon." - -Edouard realized only too well the difficulty he would have in escaping, -and he abandoned himself to despair. The night arrived at last; he -descended from his protecting tree and resumed his journey. Every time -that the faintest noise reached his ear, he stopped and buried himself -in the thickest bushes. His face and hands were torn by thorns and -brambles; but he did not feel the pain; he would have been glad to hide -in the bowels of the earth. He walked as fast as his strength permitted, -picking up fruit of which he retained some for the following day, -stopping only in the most solitary places, and hiding during the day in -the top of some densely-leaved tree. - -On the fourth day, toward morning, he passed a small cottage surrounded -by a garden; he cast a glance over the wall in the hope of discovering -fruit; but what was his joy when he saw linen and clothes hanging on -lines; the idea of taking possession of them and getting rid of his -convict's costume, at once occurred to his mind; the thought of theft no -longer frightened him; he justified it by his plight. Only a half ruined -wall, four feet high, separated him from the priceless garments; for the -first time, he did not stop to consider the danger. He climbed the wall, -took whatever he needed, and made his escape without the slightest -twinge of remorse; for what he had done seemed to him a mere trifle to -what he had seen done. - -Having reached a dense wood, he removed his accusing costume and donned -the clothes which he had stolen. Thereupon, being a little more at ease -in his mind, and thinking that he must already be very far from Toulon, -he set forth again, determined to ask hospitality for the night of some -peasant, and hoping that they would give him a crust of bread, which -seemed to him a priceless treasure capable of restoring his strength. As -he did not choose, however, to take the risk of entering a village, -where he feared to meet gendarmes who were in pursuit of him, he decided -to knock at the door of an isolated cabin, surrounded by dense woods. - -A peasant answered his knock and asked him what he could do for him. - -"A great deal," said Edouard; "I am an unfortunate man, worn out with -fatigue and hunger; allow me to pass the night in your house, and you -will save my life." - -"It's a fact," said the peasant, scrutinizing him with attention, "you -seem very tired and very sick. But who are you? For a body must know who -he takes in." - -"I am--I am an unfortunate deserter; I trust my secret to you; don't -betray me!" - -"A deserter--the devil! It isn't right to desert! But I'm not capable of -betraying you; come, come in, and you can tell me why you deserted." - -Edouard entered the cabin, conscious of a keen sense of delight in being -once more under a roof. - -"Look you," said the peasant, "I'll give you half of what I have got and -that won't be very good; but you hadn't ought to be hard to suit. I'm a -poor wood-cutter; I ain't rich, I live from day to day, but I am glad to -share my supper and my bed with you. I've got some bread and some cheese -and the remains of a bottle of wine, and we'll finish it. My bed ain't -bad; it's the best thing in my house, and I'll bet you won't wake up. -Come, my friend, tell me your adventures. I have been in the army -myself; yes, I used to be a soldier, and I flatter myself that I didn't -desert; I'd like to know what reason you had for doing such a miserable -thing as that." - -Edouard invented a fable, which he told the wood-cutter, who listened -with attention. - -The strangeness of Edouard's story, the improbability of his adventures, -his embarrassment when his host asked him for details concerning his -regiment and the place where they had been in garrison, all tended to -arouse the wood-cutter's suspicions, and he began to fear that he had -been duped by some vagabond. - -However, as he owned nothing that was likely to tempt cupidity, the -peasant shared his supper with Edouard none the less; then he invited -him to undress and go to bed. Edouard accepted this invitation with a -good heart; he had taken off his jacket and was about to remove his -waistcoat, when a sudden reflection stopped him, and he stood before the -wood-cutter, speechless with confusion. - -"Well, have you got over wanting to go to bed?" said the peasant, -noticing Edouard's sudden terror. - -"I beg pardon; I am going--I am going to lie down." - -"It seems to me that you started to undress yourself, and now you stand -there as if you didn't know what to do." - -"Oh! the fact is, I thought better of it; it will be wiser for me to -stay dressed, so that I can get ready quicker to go away in the -morning." - -"As you please! suit yourself." - -Edouard threw himself on the bed, and the wood-cutter did the same; but -not with the purpose of going to sleep; he was secretly anxious, for he -was afraid that he had offered shelter to a scoundrel, and he was trying -to think how he could set his doubts at rest. - -The miserable wretch, who was overdone with fatigue, and who had not -slept on so soft a couch for a weary while, soon yielded to the sleep -that took possession of him. The wood-cutter, who had pretended to do -the same, rose softly as soon as he was certain that the stranger whom -he had made welcome was asleep. - -He left the room, and struck a light in a small cave. He lighted a lamp, -took his gun, and noiselessly returned to the small room where Edouard -lay. The unhappy man's sleep was disturbed and restless; he struggled -and twisted violently on his couch, and broken sentences escaped from -his lips; the wood-cutter listened and distinctly heard these words: - -"On the road--in the middle of the night--he was murdered--take off -these irons, relieve me of these chains which prevent me from escaping." - -"Murdered!" echoed the peasant between his teeth. "Damnation! I have -taken in a highway robber! And that scoundrel is sleeping on an honest -man's bed! Who knows that he hasn't made an appointment with all his -gang at my house? Indeed, they say that the neighborhood has been -infested with robbers for some time. Perhaps they mean to take -possession of my cabin and turn it into one of their dens. The devil! if -I was sure of it, I'd begin by getting rid of this fellow, while he is -alone. But let me see; I must try to verify this suspicion of mine." - -The wood-cutter walked toward Edouard; with great care he slit the back -of the unfortunate convict's waistcoat, put aside the portion which -covered the shoulder, and held his lamp to it, concealing with the other -hand the rays of light which might have fallen on the stranger's eyes. -Holding his breath, he put his head forward and with a shudder of horror -saw the fatal brand. - -"I wasn't mistaken," said the wood-cutter, setting his lamp down on the -hearth and cocking his gun. "He is a villain, but by all the devils, he -shan't stay in my house any longer! Even if I have to run the risk of -other dangers, I will drive this rascal out of my cabin." - -He returned to the bed and pushed Edouard roughly with the butt of his -gun. The convict woke, sat up in bed and gazed in terror at his host, -who was aiming the gun at him, and whose eyes were blazing with anger. - -"Leave my house this minute!" cried the wood-cutter in a loud voice, -with his gun still leveled at Edouard; "clear out! and don't think of -coming back, or I will blow your brains out." - -"What's the matter? why this outbreak?" said Edouard, gazing about him -in surprise. "Am I no longer in the cabin where I was made welcome? Are -you the man who deigned to share your food and your bed with an -unfortunate fellow-creature? And now you turn me out! What have I done -to be treated like this?" - -"You know well enough, you villain; go and join your comrades on the -highroads, go and rob and murder travellers; but you will find no -shelter under my roof." - -"You are mistaken, monsieur, you are wrong; I swear to you, I am not a -robber, I am not capable of evil designs!" - -"Indeed! and perhaps you're an honest man? What about that mark that you -bear? Was it for your brave acts that you were decorated like that?" - -"Great God!" said Edouard, putting his hand to his waistcoat and -discovering that it was cut; "what--you dared----" - -"I wanted to make sure what you were; your conduct aroused my suspicion -and I had to see if I was right. Come, you can see that your talk and -your stories won't deceive me any longer. Come now, off with you, I -can't sleep with a man like you." - -"Unhappy wretch that I am," said Edouard, leaving the bed and beating -his brow, "I have no resources left; I am lost, cast out by the whole -world. Obliged to shun society, which spurns me, reduced to the -necessity of living in the darkness, this infamous mark drives me to -crime; only among brigands can I find shelter now; only by committing -new crimes can I prolong my existence! The road of repentance is closed -to me; I have no choice but to be a criminal!" - -As he spoke, he threw himself on the ground and writhed in despair at -the wood-cutter's feet. The latter was moved for a moment, when he saw -the mental distress of the wretch before him; he laid down his gun, and -would perhaps have yielded to compassion, when two whistles rang out and -were repeated loudly in different parts of the forest. - -Instantly the wood-cutter's suspicion and rage revived in full force. He -had no doubt that the signal that he had heard was that of the brigands -come to join their comrade. He took his gun again; Edouard tried once -more to implore his compassion; he approached his host, raising his -hands in entreaty; but the wood-cutter, mistaking the meaning of the -miserable wretch, whom he deemed capable of murdering him, stepped back -and pulled the trigger. - -The gun was discharged! being badly aimed, the murderous bullet did not -strike its victim, but whistled over his shoulder as he knelt on the -floor, and buried itself in the wall. Thereupon rage and despair revived -Edouard's courage; he determined to sell his life dearly; he seized an -axe which he saw in a corner of the cabin, and as his host returned -toward him to strike him with the butt of his gun, he dealt him a blow -in the head which stretched him lifeless at his feet. The wood-cutter -fell without uttering a sound; his blood spurted upon Edouard, who was -horrified to find himself covered with it. - -At the same moment the door of the cabin was broken in; four men, -clothed with rags, but armed to the teeth and wearing hideous masks, -appeared in the doorway and put their heads into the room, gazing for -some moments in surprise at the spectacle which met their eyes. - -"Oho!" said the one who seemed to be their chief, "it seems to me that -strange things are happening here, and that we have comrades in the -neighborhood. Thunder and guns! Here's a fellow who looks to me as if he -had done a good job!" - -Edouard was standing motionless in the middle of the room, still holding -in his hand the bloody axe with which he had struck down the -wood-cutter. - -The brigands entered the room. The leader scrutinized Edouard and -uttered an exclamation of surprise and delight. - -"It is he!" he cried at last; "it is really he! Look at him, -comrade,--you should recognize him too." - -"Parbleu! yes, it's our friend; come, Murville, embrace your old -acquaintances, your faithful companions in pleasure and adversity." - -Edouard heard voices which were familiar to him; he raised his eyes and -saw Lampin before him; but he did not recognize the other brigand, whose -voice had caught his attention. The latter took his hand and shook it -violently; Edouard looked at him again, and sought upon the horribly -mutilated face features which were not unknown to him. - -"What," said Lampin; "don't you recognize Dufresne, our old friend?" - -"Dufresne!" cried Edouard; "is it possible?" - -"Yes, Murville, it is himself," said Dufresne, untying a number of bands -which disfigured his face by representing scars, and taking off a -plaster which concealed one eye and a part of his forehead, as well as a -beard which covered his chin and his upper lip. "I'm delighted that you -don't recognize me, for that demonstrates my talent for disguising -myself; and that's something, especially when one has a death sentence -hanging over him. But you, my rascal, you seem to have limbered up a -little since we met. The devil! this does you credit." - -"Comrades," said Lampin, who had been prowling about the cabin, "there's -nothing of any good to us here; the shot we heard may bring people in -this direction, whom we should not be pleased to meet. Take my advice -and let us quit this hovel and go back into the woods; we can talk more -safely there." - -Lampin's advice being adjudged prudent, the robbers left the cabin, -taking with them Edouard, who had hardly recovered from his surprise and -could not believe that he had found Dufresne again in the person of the -chief of a band of outlaws. - -After walking for some time through the thickest part of the forest, the -robbers stopped in a clearing; they built a fire, produced provisions -which they spread on the grass, and having prepared their weapons in -case of surprise, they seated themselves about the flame, which alone -lighted their meal. - -"I don't know," said Dufresne, gazing at Edouard with savage joy, "what -presentiment led me to hope that we should be united some day. In fact, -I have always acted with that end in view; isn't that so, Lampin?" - -Lampin was eating ravenously, and according to his custom, drinking even -more ravenously; he contented himself with a glance at Edouard, -accompanied by a laugh. Edouard observed his new companions, uncertain -as yet if he ought to congratulate himself upon meeting them. - -"How does it happen that I meet you with Lampin in this forest?" he -asked Dufresne at last; "what has led you to embrace such a dangerous -life?" - -"What's that? what other sort of life do you expect a man to embrace -when he is outlawed from society, as we are? You're not going to play -the innocent, are you, you who have just killed a poor wood-cutter, -whose death was of no benefit to you?" - -"I did nothing but defend myself; that man had fired at me and was -threatening me again; I had to parry his blows." - -"The deuce, comrade, you have a pretty way of parrying!--But no matter, -let us return to ourselves. You must know that I have been sentenced to -death; luckily I didn't wait for my sentence before escaping from -prison, thanks to these two faithful friends whom I had helped long ago. -We could not appear in the daylight; so we selected the woods and the -highways to carry on our trade; a man must do something. A little while -ago, we stopped a traveller who was riding through these woods, and I -recognized Lampin, who asked nothing better than to join us. You must -join us too, my dear Murville, for there is nothing else for you to do; -you ought to be enchanted to have met us." - -"Yes, yes," said Lampin, "and I am sure that you no longer bear me a -grudge for leaving you with the wagoner at midnight. What can you -expect, my boy? I saw that the horse wasn't worth much; he would never -have been able to gallop with two men on his back, and I gave myself the -preference; that was natural enough." - -"What a miserable life!" said Edouard, glancing about; "to live in the -woods, in the darkness, to dread being arrested every minute, to risk -one's life for a few gold pieces!" - -"Deuce take it, my little man," said Lampin; "I agree that it was -livelier when we danced with Veronique-la-Blonde, beating time on her -flanks, and drinking madeira or champagne; but, you see, we all have our -ups and our downs." - -"Muster up your courage, my dear Murville," said Dufresne; "we may be -rich yet, and enjoy life under another sky. Meanwhile, I don't propose -any longer to confine myself to living in the woods, and waiting for a -poor traveller now and then; besides, four or five men are not enough to -form a formidable band, equal to stopping well-loaded vehicles. But I -have more extensive projects, and as I possess the talent of making -myself unrecognizable, when necessary, I hope that when my comrades are -thoroughly saturated with my lessons, we shall be able to try some bold -stroke,--either breaking into some wealthy man's house, or assuming -title and rank, according to circumstances." - -"Ah! he's a sly fox! he knows a lot! I would like right well to know the -man who educated him!" - -"I can satisfy you, my friends, by telling you the story of my youth; it -will not take long and it will amuse you. Moreover, Murville will derive -some profit from it; there are some things in it which concern him, and -I have no need now of standing on ceremony with him." - -"Tell on, tell on," said Lampin; "meanwhile, we will drink; in fact, -there's nothing better for us to do in this infernal wood, where we have -drawn blank for two nights. Come, comrades, let us start up the fire and -drink quietly." - -The robbers rekindled the fire, took a bottle each, and gathered about -their leader; while Edouard, with his head resting in his hands, waited -in gloomy silence for Dufresne to begin his story. - - - - -XXXIV - -DUFRESNE'S STORY - - -I was born in a small village in the neighborhood of Rennes. My father, -who had been rich and highly esteemed, was completely ruined by the loss -of a lawsuit which a cousin of his brought against him. Reduced to -poverty and having no friends, he was obliged to accept a place as -game-keeper to an old nobleman who cared more for his game than for his -vassals, and would not forgive the death of a rabbit or a partridge -killed on his land. - -My father, embittered by misfortune, cherished in the depths of his -heart a longing to be revenged upon the man who had stolen his property -from him. He lived in a small cabin in the midst of the woods; he took -me there and kept me with him. I was six years old when my father -retired into that solitude. I was bold, enterprising, brave, wilful, and -even then determined in my resolutions. The almost savage life which I -led for several years did not help to soften my nature. I constantly -roamed about the forests, and climbed mountains and steep cliffs; I -leaped torrents and ravines; and when I returned home to my father, he -would rehearse the story of his misfortune; he taught me to curse men -whose injustice had revolted his heart; he urged me to distrust the -whole world, and never to rely upon the equity or gratitude of my -fellowmen; and to prove what he said, he told me of the services he had -rendered when he was rich, all of which had been repaid with -ingratitude; he told me of the unjust lawsuit which he had lost only -through fraud and bad faith; and finally made me swear to avenge him -upon the man who had ruined him. - -My father's words readily found a lodging in my memory. Perhaps other -advice might have led me to protect and defend those whom I swore to -despise and to hate; but first impressions are all-powerful upon an -inexperienced mind, and the independence of my tastes inclined me to -crush without examination all the obstacles which thwarted my desires. - -An episode which I witnessed served to intensify my aversion for -mankind. I was then thirteen years old, and I had just taken a lesson in -reading from my father; for he had told me that education was essential -to my best interests, and that reason alone had induced me to learn -something. I was walking in the woods when I heard two shots very near -me. I ran in the direction from which the reports came, and I saw two -young men, who had been arrested because they were hunting in the -nobleman's forest. - -One was a well-dressed young man, of aristocratic manners and bearing; -the other was a poor peasant, covered with rags and apparently in the -last stages of want. The first had killed a kid, the other a rabbit, and -yet the young man from the city was laughing and singing among the -keepers, while the peasant, pale-faced and trembling, had hardly -strength enough to stand. - -Curious to learn the sequel of the affair, I followed the crowd to the -chateau; the nobleman was absent at the time, but his steward took his -place; he had full power and represented his master; so the two -prisoners were taken before the steward. I mingled with the crowd and -succeeded thus in making my way into a large hall, to which the poachers -were taken first. The steward arrived; when he saw the young man from -the city, he realized that he had not, as usual, to deal with country -bumpkins who were accustomed to tremble before him. He dismissed -everybody, in order to question the fine gentleman in private. But I, -instead of going out with the others, concealed myself under a table -covered with a cloth, and heard very distinctly the following -conversation: - -"Monsieur, I am distressed to be obliged to act harshly," said the -steward in a wheedling tone, "but my master is very strict, and his -orders are absolute." - -"Bah! old fox, you are joking, I fancy, with your orders," said the -young man, laughing at the steward; "understand that I am a young man of -family, and that if you do not set me at liberty instantly, I will cut -off your ears at the first opportunity." - -"Monsieur, this is a very strange tone, and I cannot allow----" - -"Look you, old Arab, I see what you want! You are the steward, that -tells the whole story; take this purse; there are fifteen louis in it; -that is more than all your master's kids are worth." - -As he spoke, the young man took from his pocket a purse, which the -steward accepted without hesitation. Then, opening a little secret door, -he said in an undertone: - -"Go down this way into the garden; then turn to the right and you can go -out through another gate that leads into the fields. I am endangering -myself for you, but you have such engaging manners!" - -The young huntsman did not wait to hear any more; he was already in the -garden. The steward carefully locked the small door, then rang for a -servant and ordered him to bring the other poacher before him. - -They brought in the peasant, and the steward was left alone with him. - -"Why do you hunt?" he asked the peasant, in a harsh voice and a sharp -tone which bore no resemblance to that which he had assumed with the -other prisoner. - -"My good monsieur," said the poor man, falling on his knees, "pray -forgive me; it is the first time and I swear that it shall be the last." - -"These rascals always say the same thing!" - -"I ain't a rascal, but a poor devil with a wife and five children, and I -can't support 'em." - -"Well, you knave, why do you have children?" - -"Well! monsieur l'intendant, that's the only pleasure a man can get -without money." - -"As if clowns like you ought to have any pleasure! Work, you dog, work; -that's your lot." - -"I haven't got any work, and I earn so little, so little, that it's -hardly enough to keep us alive!" - -"Because you eat like ogres!" - -"I don't ever eat enough, so's to have some to give to the little ones." - -"Your little ones! your little ones! These rascals starve the whole -province with their little ones!" - -"Pardi! monsieur l'intendant, your master raises more than fifty dogs, -and it seems to me that I can raise four or five children." - -"Fancy this wretch daring to compare his disgusting young ones with -monseigneur's greyhounds! Come, no arguing, you were caught poaching, -your case is clear, and the theft is proved. You will be lashed, fined, -and imprisoned!" - -"Oh! mercy, monsieur! it was only a rabbit!" - -"A rabbit, you scoundrel! a rabbit! Do you know what a rabbit is? -Monseigneur preserves rabbits; I must avenge the one that you killed." - -"Morgue! if it was for monsieur's table----" - -"That's a very different matter; it would be too happy to enter its -master's mouth; but you are a poacher." - -"Have pity on my wife and children, monsieur l'intendant! We are so -poor! there ain't a sou in our house!" - -"You deserve to be hanged! Off with you, to prison, and to-morrow the -lash." - -The steward rang, the servants appeared, and the peasant was taken away -despite his prayers and his tears. - -I had remained under the table, where I was fairly choking with -indignation; when everybody had gone, I jumped out of the window and ran -home, to tell my father all that I had heard. My story did not surprise -him. It was only one proof more of the injustice and the barbarity of -men. For my own part, I had my plan. I knew that the nobleman was to -return next day, and I proposed to assure the punishment of the rascally -steward. - -And so at daybreak I started for the chateau. When I arrived there, I -saw the unfortunate peasant in the courtyard being pitilessly beaten by -the servants, while the nobleman watched the spectacle from the balcony, -giving biscuit to his Danish hound and sugar to his greyhound. - -"I am going to avenge you, goodman," I said, as I passed the peasant; -and I at once ran up the stairs four at a time and entered monseigneur's -apartments before the servants had had time to announce me. The steward -was with his master, counting out money; I ran and threw myself at -monseigneur's feet; but in my eagerness I trod upon the paw of one of -his favorites. The hound began to yelp and his master cast an angry -glance at me, asking why I had been allowed access to him. Before anyone -could reply, I began my story and told, almost without stopping for -breath, all that I had heard the day before between the steward and the -aristocratic huntsman. - -The old nobleman seemed a little surprised to learn that another poacher -had been arrested; but the steward, who quivered with anger while I was -speaking, made haste to tell his master that the young man was a -marquis, and that he had thought that he ought not to detain him. - -"A marquis," said the nobleman, taking a pinch of snuff, "a marquis! The -devil! that's so--of course we could not have him beaten; so the peasant -must pay for both." - -"That is what I thought, monseigneur." - -"And you did well; send away this boy, who was awkward enough to tread -on Castor's paw." - -The steward did not wait for the order to be repeated; he took me by the -arm; and I went unresistingly, unable to understand why monseigneur had -not been angry with the rascally servant. On the way, the steward gave -me a number of blows, and as many kicks; that was the only reward which -I received at the chateau. - -I returned home in a frenzy of rage, revolving in my brain a thousand -schemes of revenge. My father, who then realized to what excess my -animosity might lead me, tried, but in vain, to pacify me. - -The next morning, a message from the steward informed my father that he -was no longer monseigneur's game-keeper. That was a result of my action -of the day before; he suspected as much, but did not reproach me. We -left our cabin with no idea of what was to become of us. As for me, my -father's misfortune confirmed me in a plan which I had conceived and -which I was eager to execute. - -During the night, while my father slept at the foot of a tree, I stole -away with a dark lantern and the gun which he always carried with him. - -I hurried in the direction of monseigneur's chateau. When I arrived -there, I made piles of sticks, and set fire to the four corners of the -chateau, taking pains, lest the fire should not burn quickly enough, to -throw blazing brands on the roofs of all the buildings, with particular -attention to the stables. - -I soon had the pleasure of seeing that my revenge was complete; the fire -caught in several places and spread rapidly to all the wings of the -chateau. They sounded the tocsin, the villagers hastened to the spot, -and several of them had the complaisance to throw themselves into the -flames, to save a nobleman who took pleasure in having them beaten. Amid -the confusion and the tumult, I made my way to the private apartments -and found the steward trying to escape, with a little casket which he -held against his breast. I took my stand in front of him and said, -aiming my gun at him: - -"Look you, this is to teach you to strike me and kick me!" - -I fired, and he fell dead at my feet. I threw my gun away, took -possession of the casket, and leaping from a window with my usual -agility, I fled from the chateau, which soon presented nothing but a -pile of ruins. - -I made haste to return to the place where I had left my father. I was -proud of my revenge and overjoyed to possess a casket which I presumed -to be full of gold. I had always noticed that with gold one could -procure everything and make one's escape from all dangers. - -But what was my surprise not to find my father, whom I supposed to be -still sleeping at the foot of the tree! In vain did I search the whole -neighborhood, calling him at the top of my voice; I had to go on to -another village, uncertain what had become of him. Being uneasy -concerning my treasure, I buried it at the foot of an old oak, after -taking out a few pieces of gold of which the casket was full. - -I went to bed at a small inn, thinking justly enough that a child would -not be suspected of setting fire to the chateau. In fact, little -attention was paid to me; everyone was talking about the terrible -calamity that had happened to the nobleman. Everyone formed conjectures -of his own, but during the day a peasant came in and said that the -guilty party was arrested; he was, so he stated, a former game-keeper in -monseigneur's service; he had been discharged, and was bitterly incensed -against the steward, whom he presumed to be responsible for his -disgrace. He had set the fire in order to obtain access to his enemy -more easily, for they had found the latter, killed by a rifle shot, and -had recognized the weapon as belonging to the game-keeper. - -On hearing that story, I had no doubt that my father had been arrested -in my place; I trembled for him, and having determined to sacrifice -myself to save him, I at once left the inn and started for the village -to which he was to have been taken. I did not stop an instant on the -road, for I felt that minutes were precious; I reached the public square -of the village at last, and saw my father hanging on a gallows. - -I abandoned myself, not to grief, for that was not the sensation that I -felt, but to frenzied rage. I would have been glad to be able to set -fire to the village and burn all the inhabitants at once. - -At night, I took down my father's body; I had the strength to carry it -into the forest, where I dug a grave for it; I swore, over his lifeless -remains, to avenge his death and his misfortune upon all mankind, and -never to love those who had unjustly ruined him and put him to death, -although innocent. - -I went to get my precious casket, and I left the country. Thanks to the -treasure which I possessed, I was able to gratify all my tastes and -procure myself all sorts of pleasure. I lived thus for five years, -abandoning myself to all the passions which age had developed within me; -I loved wine, cards and women, and so long as I had money, I denied -myself nothing; but my treasure could not last long with the life I was -leading. At the age of eighteen, I saw the bottom of my treasure chest; -but, far from mourning over that event, I rejoiced at the thought that -the time had come to keep the oath I had taken over my father's grave. - -So I devoted my whole time to making dupes, and that was not difficult -for me; in the best society, to which, thanks to my wealth, I had -succeeded in introducing myself, I had learned good manners; I had, -furthermore, the talent of disguising my features and of changing my -voice when that was necessary; add to that, wit, audacity, resolution, -and eloquence, and you may judge what triumphs were in store for me. - -Under the name of Breville, I knew at Brussels a certain Jacques -Murville, who had run away from home. He was your brother, my poor -Edouard, and I was clever enough to strip him of all that he possessed. -In Paris, assuming a different name, I was present at your marriage; the -name of Murville caught my attention; I made inquiries, I learned that -you had a brother, and it seemed to me a good joke to appropriate the -fortune of the older brother after spending the money of the younger. -But another thought took my heart by storm when I saw your wife. -Adeline's beauty and charms fascinated me; I fell madly in love with -her, and I swore to resort to every means to possess her. - -First of all, it was necessary to obtain access to your house; I -succeeded; then I found a way to sow discord in your family, by leading -you on gently to your ruin, which was the goal of all my plans. I -discovered your inclination for gambling; after that it was not hard for -me to lead you into all imaginable sorts of folly. I desired to enrich -myself at your expense, but the infernal cards were never favorable to -me. I forced you on toward crime, because your wife had spurned me, and -I was determined to revenge myself upon you for all her contempt. In -short, you were simply a machine, which I handled at my pleasure. - -After having tried all methods to overcome Adeline's resistance, I had -recourse to stratagem, and I succeeded one night in making my way to her -apartment and in sharing her bed.--You shudder! Oh! my poor Edouard, -your wife deceived no one but herself! you had a very dragon of virtue! -When she saw who I was, she manifested more detestation of me than ever, -but I had the certainty of having ruined her happiness for all time. - -Now you know me; learn to judge men, at your own expense. As for me, who -have seen everywhere nothing but falseness, cupidity, ingratitude, -injustice, selfishness, ambition, jealousy; and who have always -sacrificed worldly prejudices to my passions,--I should view with -indifference my position as a leader of robbers, if I were able to -gratify all my tastes in this sort of life. But whatever the position -that I occupy, whatever the profession that I embrace, I shall keep the -oath sworn over my father's grave; I shall continue to abhor men; and I -would destroy even you, if you were not, like myself, born for the -misfortune of mankind, according to the vulgar expression. - - * * * * * - -Dufresne concluded his narrative, and the robbers seemed proud of having -such a miscreant to command them. Edouard, appalled by what he had -heard, shuddered at the memory of all that he had done through the -advice of a monster who had sworn his destruction, and who coolly told -him of his own dishonor. But it was too late to look back, especially -with Edouard's weak and reckless nature. He felt that he hated Dufresne, -but he had not the strength to leave him. - -Vice debases and degrades men. Edouard, while he realized the horror of -his situation, had not sufficient energy to try to escape from it. - -The dawn was beginning to whiten the mountain peaks, and to make its way -into the clearings of the forest. The robbers extinguished the fire and -placed the remains of their provisions in their wallet. - -"Comrades," said Dufresne, "we must leave this neighborhood, we are -making nothing here. So let us start; but in the first town of any size -near which we pass, the boldest of us must go and buy some clothes which -will give us the appearance of respectable people, for believe me, it is -the same with our trade as with all others: to be successful, we must -throw dust in people's eyes; and with our torn jackets and trousers we -shall never be able to leave these woods, but shall remain miserable -vagabonds all our lives." - -Dufresne's words were like an oracle to his companions, so they prepared -to follow his advice, and resumed their journey, carefully avoiding -frequented roads by day. Dufresne guided the little troop; Lampin sang -and drank as he walked, while the other two bandits dreamed of crimes -they might commit, and Edouard tried to decide whether he should fly -from his companions or remain with them. - - - - -XXXV - -THE HOUSE IN THE VOSGES - - -A long chain of mountains, covered with forests, separates Alsace and -Franche-Comte from Lorraine, and extends as far as the Ardennes. It was -among these mountains, called the Vosges, that the excellent Monsieur -Gerval's estate was situated, and it was there that he took the -ill-fated creatures whom he had resolved to protect. - -Monsieur Gerval's house was simple, but convenient: a pretty courtyard, -surrounded by a strong fence, led to the ground floor, where there were -only two windows looking out of doors; but these windows were barred, -and supplied in addition with very thick shutters, a necessary -precaution in an isolated house in the woods. The first floor looked -upon the courtyard and also upon a large garden behind the house, -enclosed by a very high wall. The house was on a slope of a hill, not -far from a narrow road leading to the commune of Montigny. And its -picturesque situation, its isolation from other houses, and the unbroken -calm that reigned all about, seemed to stamp that simple retreat as the -abode of repose and peace. - -Monsieur Gerval's household consisted of Dupre, whom we already know; of -Catherine, who performed the duties of cook,--an old woman somewhat -talkative, but faithful, obliging, kindhearted, and deeply attached to -her master; and lastly, of a young peasant named Lucas, who was -gardener, indoor man, and messenger. - -Throughout the neighborhood, within a radius of many leagues, the name -of Gerval was revered and pronounced with emotion by the unfortunate -ones upon whom the good man constantly lavished benefactions. He had not -always occupied his house in the woods; often the exigencies of his -business had kept him away for a long time; but at such times Dupre and -Catherine, who knew their master's heart, continued his beneficent work, -so that the poor could hardly notice the absence of their protector. - -The peasants, when they learned that Monsieur Gerval had gone to Paris, -were afraid that he would not return to them; Catherine herself shared -that feeling, for she knew that her master wished to see some old -friends whom he had been obliged to neglect for a long time, and to whom -he was very much attached. But a letter from Monsieur Gerval brought joy -to the people of the Vosges; they learned that they were to see their -friend, their staff, their father, once more; that he was to return -among them, never to leave them again. This news soon became known -throughout the neighborhood; the people hurried to Catherine to -ascertain if it were true, and she read to each one her master's letter, -announcing his arrival on a certain day. - -That day arrived and everything was in confusion in the house, to -celebrate the goodman's return. Lucas robbed his garden, to decorate the -dining-room; Catherine surpassed herself in the repast which she -prepared; the peasants from round about, and all the unfortunates whom -the kindhearted Gerval had assisted, gathered at the cottage. - -"He hasn't arrived yet," said the old servant, "but he cannot be long -now." - -They strung themselves out along the road, they went up to the hilltops, -in order to descry the carriage sooner. They saw it at last; it was -instantly surrounded, the old man's name passed from mouth to mouth, and -the blessings of the poor celebrated the return of their wealthy -benefactor. - -Gerval shed tears of emotion when he saw the joy of the worthy folk who -regarded him as their father. - -"Ah! my friend," he said to Dupre, "how pleasant it is to be able to do -good!" - -The carriage entered the courtyard; the peasants uttered cries of joy. - -"Hush! hush! my friends," said the old man as he alighted from his -carriage; "do not give such loud expression to your joy; it pleases me, -but it distresses an unhappy woman to whom the slightest noise is a -danger." - -As he spoke, Gerval helped Adeline out of the carriage, while Dupre -lifted little Ermance in his arms. - -Adeline glanced uneasily about; much noise always caused her to shrink -in alarm; the sight of a number of people increased her excitement; she -shuddered and tried to fly. Gerval was obliged to motion to the -villagers to stand a little aside, before he could induce the -unfortunate young woman to enter the house. - -They gazed at Adeline with interest, and joy gave way to sadness when -they realized her condition. - -"Poor woman!" was heard on all sides; "what can have deprived her of her -reason? And that little girl! how beautiful she will be some day! They -are two more unfortunates, whom Monsieur Gerval has taken under his -protection." - -"My children," said Catherine, "as soon as I learn this young stranger's -story, I will tell it to you, I promise you; and I shall know it soon, -for my master keeps nothing from me." - -Unfortunately for Catherine, her master knew no more than she upon that -subject. To satisfy his old servant's curiosity, Monsieur Gerval told -her how he had made Adeline's acquaintance, and the deplorable state in -which he had found her afterward. The servant uttered exclamations of -surprise during her master's narrative, but she declared that she would -be able to learn all the young woman's misfortunes little by little. -Meanwhile, as she already felt drawn to love and cherish her child, she -hastened to prepare one of the pleasantest rooms in the house for them. - -Adeline was given a room on the ground floor, looking on the woods; the -window was supplied with stout iron bars, and there was no danger that -she would run away from the house in one of her fits of delirium. They -left the child with her, for she seemed always to know her daughter, and -often pressed her affectionately to her heart. - -"Those are the only moments of happiness which she seems still to -enjoy," said Monsieur Gerval; "let us not deprive her of them! and let -us not rob the child of her mother's caresses!" - -Catherine undertook with pleasure to take care of the invalid and her -daughter. It was she who accompanied the young woman in her walks about -the neighborhood, when the weather was fine; and Lucas was ordered to -decorate Adeline's room with fresh flowers every morning. It was by dint -of unremitting care and attention that Monsieur Gerval hoped to restore -peace to the hapless woman's soul. - -They knew little Ermance's name, because her mother had called her by it -several times in her delirium; but they did not know the mother's name, -and Monsieur Gerval had decided that she should be called Constance. -That melodious name was approved by Catherine, who declared that the -stranger's misfortunes must be due to love. So that was the name by -which Adeline was called by the people at the house in the woods; but -sometimes Lucas, and the peasants of the neighborhood, called her simply -"the mad woman." - -The peace that reigned in the house in the Vosges, the tranquil life -that they led there, and the affectionate attentions lavished upon -Adeline, seemed to bring a little repose to her mind; she caressed her -daughter and often embraced her; she smiled at her benefactor and at all -those about her; but only incoherent words came from her lips; and she -would relapse almost immediately into a state of sombre melancholy from -which nothing could arouse her. She passed part of the day in the -garden, which was large and well cared for. Sometimes she plucked -flowers and seemed to feel a moment's cheerfulness; but soon the smile -disappeared from her pale features, and she would seat herself upon a -bench of turf and remain whole hours there without a sign of life. - -"What a misfortune!" said honest Gerval, as he contemplated her, while -playing with little Ermance, who already returned his caresses; "I am -inclined to think that there is no hope of her recovery." - -"Why do you say that?" said Catherine; "we must never despair of -anything. Patience, patience; perhaps a salutary crisis may come. Oh! if -we only knew the cause of her trouble!" - -"Parbleu! to be sure, that is what the doctor from Paris says; but that -is just what we shall never know." - -"Pshaw! how can we tell? She talks sometimes. Look, she seems to be -smiling now; she is watching her daughter play; she is much better -to-day than usual, and I am going to question her." - -"Take care, Catherine, and don't distress her." - -"Don't be afraid, monsieur." - -Catherine walked toward the clump of shrubbery under which Adeline was -sitting, and Gerval, Dupre and Lucas stood near by in order to hear the -stranger's replies. - -"Madame," said Catherine in her softest tone, "why do you grieve all the -time? You are surrounded by people who love you; tell us your trouble, -and we will try to comfort you." - -"Comfort me!" said Adeline, gazing at Catherine in amazement. "Oh! I am -happy, very happy! I have no need of comfort. Edouard adores me; he has -just sworn that he does; we are united again, and he will make me happy -now, for he is not wicked!" - -"But why did he leave you?" - -"Leave me! No, he did not leave me; he is with me in the house where he -lived in his youth; my mother, my daughter and his brother are with us. -Oh! I don't want him to go to Paris; he might meet--No! no! don't let -him go!" - -"Take care, Catherine," said Monsieur Gerval in an undertone; "her eyes -are beginning to flash, her excitement is increasing; for heaven's sake, -don't worry her any more." - -Catherine dared not disobey her master, but she burned to know more. -Adeline did in fact seem intensely excited; she rose, walked about at -random, and seemed inclined to fly. The old servant tried to quiet her. - -"Let me alone," said Adeline, shaking herself free, "let me fly! He is -there, he is chasing me! see, look,--do you see him? He follows me -everywhere; he has sworn to ruin me; he dares still to talk to me of his -love! The monster! Oh! in pity's name, do not let him come near me!" - -She hurried away, ran to every corner of the garden, and did not stop -until, exhausted and unable to endure her terror, she fell to the -ground, unconscious and helpless. - -They took her at once to her apartment, and their zealous attentions -recalled her to life. Monsieur Gerval strictly forbade any questioning -of her because it always intensified her disease. - -"All right, monsieur," said Catherine; "but you see that we are certain -now that she is married, that her husband has a brother, and that with -all the rest there is some miserable fellow who makes love to her, and -whom she is afraid of! Oh! I can guess the trouble easily enough! I'll -bet that it's that same fellow who enticed the husband to Paris, where -he forgot his wife and child! Pardi! that's sure to be the result. Oh! -what a pity that I can't make her talk more! We should soon know -everything." - -But as the excellent woman did not wish to arouse the stranger's -excitement, she dared not ask her questions. She often walked with -Adeline in the woods about the house; one or the other of them carried -Ermance; the old servant watched every movement of the young woman, she -listened carefully to the words that fell from her mouth, put them -together, and based conjectures upon them; but after three months, she -knew no more than on the second day. - -Once, however, an unforeseen event disturbed Adeline's monotonous life. -She was walking with her daughter on a hillside a short distance from -the village. Catherine followed her, admiring the graceful figure, the -charming features and bearing of the unfortunate young woman, and saying -to herself: - -"That woman wasn't born in a cabin; her manners and her language show -that she belongs in good society! And to think that we shall never know -who she is! It's enough to drive one mad." - -A young peasant had climbed a tree to steal a nest; his foot slipped, -and a branch at which he grasped broke at the same time; he fell to the -ground, wounded himself badly in the head, and uttered a lamentable cry. - -That cry was heard by Adeline, who was then near the wounded man; she -instantly stopped and began to tremble; terror was depicted upon her -features, and her eyes sought the ground as if they feared to rest upon -an object which horrified her; suddenly she took her child and fled -through the woods. In vain did Catherine run after her, calling to her; -Adeline's strength was redoubled, and Catherine's shouts augmented her -frenzy; she climbed the steepest paths without taking breath; she -scarcely touched the ground; she rushed into the mountains and the old -servant soon lost sight of her. - -Catherine returned to her master in despair, and told him what had -happened. Monsieur Gerval knew that all the peasants were devoted to -him, and he sent Dupre and Lucas to beg them to search the whole -district. The good people made haste to beat up the forest. Success -crowned their zealous efforts; they found Adeline lying at the foot of a -tree; fever had given place to exhaustion, and the fugitive had been -unable to go farther. - -They placed her on a litter hastily constructed of the branches of -trees, and carried her and her daughter back to their benefactor's -house. The old man dismissed the villagers, after lauding their zeal, -and devoted his whole attention to pacifying the poor invalid, whom the -young peasant's plaintive cry had cast into a more violent attack of -delirium than any that she had had since her arrival in the Vosges. - -In the throes of constantly returning terror, Adeline talked more than -usual, and Catherine did not leave her side. But she shuddered at the -broken phrases that the stranger uttered: - -"Take him from that scaffold!" Adeline exclaimed again and again, -putting her hands before her eyes. "In pity's name, do not give him to -the executioners! They are going to kill him! I hear his voice! But no, -that plaintive cry did not come from his mouth; that was another -victim.--Oh! I cannot be mistaken, I recognize his tones; they always go -to my heart!" - -Catherine shed tears; Monsieur Gerval caught a glimpse of a ghastly -mystery, and the old servant repeated to her master: - -"A scaffold! executioners! Ah! that makes one shudder, monsieur!" - -"No matter," said the kindhearted Gerval; "if the young woman's husband -or relatives are criminals I will keep her none the less. She is not -guilty, I am sure; she is only unfortunate!" - -"Yes, monsieur; but the monsters who have brought her to this condition! -they are very guilty; they deserve to be severely punished!" - -"Yes, my poor Catherine; but we do not know them; let us leave to -Providence the duty of avenging this unhappy creature, and let us not -doubt its justice. It would be too horrible to think that the wicked may -enjoy in peace the fruit of an evil deed, while the victim wastes her -life away in tears and despair." - -Monsieur Gerval summoned his servants again, and urged them to redouble -their attention, in order to spare the young mother such dangerous -emotion. - -"No noise, no shouts in the neighborhood of her room! If you come -together to talk and laugh, which I do not wish to forbid you to do, let -it be in some room at a distance from Constance's so that she cannot -hear you. Above all, no more questions; for they lead to no good -result." - -"Oh! I am done, monsieur," said the old servant; "I have no desire to -learn anything more now; it strikes me as altogether too painful a -subject; and I should be terribly distressed to pain a woman whom I -should like to see happy once more." - -Thanks to these precautions, Adeline became calm once more, and -everything went on in its accustomed order. Some time passed before they -dared to let the invalid leave the house; and she no longer walked in -the woods except under the escort of both Lucas and Catherine; and as -soon as the peasants caught sight of her, knowing her condition and the -orders that Monsieur Gerval had given, they quietly moved away from her -path. If she approached, unperceived, a group of peasant girls, who were -engaged in diverting themselves, their games, their dancing or singing -were instantly suspended. - -"It is the mad woman," they would whisper to one another; "let's not -make any noise, for that makes her worse." - -Time flew by without bringing any change in Adeline's condition; but her -little Ermance grew rapidly and her features began to develop. Already -her smile had the sweet expression of her mother's, and her affectionate -heart seemed to have inherited Adeline's sensibility. - -A year had passed since Monsieur Gerval had taken Adeline and her -daughter under his roof. Pretty Ermance loved the old man as she would -have loved her father. Her little white hands patted her protector's -white hair, and he became more and more attached every day to the sweet -child. - -"You have no parents," he said to her one night, taking her on his -knees. "Your mother is dead to you, poor child! Your father is dead too, -no doubt, or else he has abandoned you, and does not deserve your love. -I propose to assure your future; you shall be rich; and may you be happy -and think sometimes of the old man who adopted you, but who will not -live long enough to see you enjoy his gifts!" - -The winter came and stripped the trees of their foliage and the earth of -the verdure which embellished it. The woods were deserted, the birds had -gone to seek shade and water beneath another sky. The snow, falling in -great flakes on the mountains, lay in huge drifts among the Vosges, and -made the roads difficult for pedestrians and impracticable for -carriages. The evenings grew long, and the whistling of the wind made -them melancholy and gloomy. The peasant, who was forced to pass through -the woods, made haste to reach his home, for fear of being overtaken by -the darkness; he hurried along, blowing on his fingers, and his -footprints in the snow often served to guide the traveller who had lost -his way. - -However, ennui did not find its way into honest Gerval's abode; all the -inmates were able to employ their time profitably. The old man read, or -attended to his business and wrote to his farmers. Dupre made up his -accounts, and looked after the wants of the household; Catherine did the -housework and the cooking, and Lucas looked after his garden and tried -to protect his trees and his flowers from the rigors of the season. -Adeline did not leave her room except in the morning, when she made the -circuit of the garden a few times; she was rarely seen in the other -parts of the house. As soon as night came, she withdrew to her room, -sometimes taking her daughter with her; when, by any chance, she -remained with her host in the evening, she sat beside Catherine, who -told the child stories, while Gerval played a game of piquet or -backgammon with Dupre, and Lucas spelled out in a great book a story of -thieves or ghosts. - -When a violent gust of wind made the windows creak, and blew against -them the branches of the trees which stood near the house, Lucas, who -was not courageous, but who loved to frighten himself by reading -terrifying stories, would drop his book and look about him in dismay; -the monotonous noise of the weathercock on the roof, the uniform beating -of an iron hook against the wall, were so many subjects of alarm to the -gardener. - -Sometimes Adeline would break the silence, crying: - -"There he is! I hear him!" and Lucas would jump from his chair, thinking -that someone was really about to appear. Then Catherine would make fun -of the gardener, his master would scold him for his cowardice, and -Lucas, to restore his courage, would take his book and continue his -ghost story. - - - - -XXXVI - -THE TRUTH SOMETIMES SEEMS IMPROBABLE - - -The snow had fallen with more violence and in greater abundance than -usual; the gusts of wind constantly snapped off branches of the trees -and hurled them far away across the roads, which soon became impassable. -The clock struck eight and it had long been dark. - -Adeline, whom the roaring of the tempest made more melancholy than -usual, had not left her room during the day. Catherine had brought -Ermance downstairs and put her to bed beside her mother, who was sitting -in a chair and refused to retire so early, despite the old servant's -entreaties. The master of the house was playing his usual game with -Dupre, and Lucas had just taken up his great book, when the bell at the -gate rang loudly. - -"Somebody is ringing," said Monsieur Gerval; "company so late as this, -and in such weather!" - -"It is very strange!" repeated Lucas. - -"Shall I open the door, monsieur?" asked Dupre. - -"Why, we must find out first who it is; it may be travellers who have -got lost in the mountains and cannot go any farther, or some unfortunate -creature whom the villagers have sent to me, as they sometimes do. I -hear Catherine coming, she will tell us who it is." - -Catherine had been to the door to look out, and she came up again to -take her master's orders. - -"Monsieur," she said, "it is three travellers, three peddlers, it would -seem, for they have bales on their backs. They ask for shelter for -to-night, as they cannot go on, because there are more than two feet of -snow on the road. One of them is a poor old man who seems to suffer much -from the cold. Shall I let them in?" - -"Certainly, and we will do our best for them." - -"But, monsieur," said Dupre, "three men, at night--that is rather -imprudent!" - -"Why so, Dupre? They are peddlers and one of them is old; what have we -to fear? It is perfectly natural that they should seek shelter in bad -weather; ought I to leave people to lose their way among these -mountains, for fear of entertaining vagabonds? Ah! my friend, if it were -necessary to read the hearts of those whom one succors, one would do -good too seldom! Go and let them in quickly, Catherine; do not leave -these travellers at the gate any longer; and do you, Dupre, make a big -fire so that they may dry themselves; and Lucas will prepare the small -room which I always reserve for visitors." - -Catherine went down and opened the gate for the travellers, who -overwhelmed her with thanks. The two younger ones held the old man by -the arms, and only with great difficulty did they succeed in helping him -up the staircase to the first floor, where the master of the house -awaited them in the living-room. - -"Welcome, messieurs," said honest Gerval, inviting them to draw near the -fire. "First of all, let us make this old gentleman comfortable; he -seems completely exhausted." - -"Yes, monsieur," said the aged stranger in a tremulous voice, "the cold -has so affected me that, except for the help of my children, I should -have remained on the road." - -"You will soon feel better, my good man. Messieurs, take off those -bales, which are in your way, and I will send them to the room which you -are to occupy." - -The peddlers deposited in a corner of the room several bundles which -seemed to contain linens, handkerchiefs and muslin; Dupre, who was a -little suspicious, walked to the bundles and examined them; one of the -young men noticed his action, and made haste to open several of them and -exhibit his wares to the old servant. - -"If there's anything that takes your fancy, say so, monsieur," he said; -"we will do our best to please you." - -"Thanks," replied Dupre, seeing that his master appeared displeased by -his inspection of the bundles; "we can see these things better to-morrow -morning." - -The two peddlers returned to the old man, and sat down in front of the -fire. Catherine brought a bottle of wine and glasses, and Lucas took up -the bundles and carried them to the room on the second floor. - -"Here is something that will warm you while your supper is preparing," -said Monsieur Gerval, filling the strangers' glasses. "Drink, -messieurs,--it is very good." - -"With pleasure," said that one of the young men who had already spoken -to Dupre. "An excellent thing is good wine! Here, father; here, Jean; -your health, monsieur." - -"Are these your sons?" Monsieur Gerval asked the old man. - -"Yes, monsieur, they are my support, the staff of my old age. This is -Gervais, my oldest; he is always merry, always ready to laugh; and this -is Jean, my youngest, he isn't so light-hearted as his brother, he -doesn't speak much, but he is a steady fellow, a great worker and very -economical. I love them both, for they are honest and incapable of -deceiving anybody, and with those qualities a man is certain to make his -way." - -"I congratulate you on having such children; but why do you go on the -road with them at your age?" - -"You see, monsieur, we're going to Metz to set up in business; my boys -are going to marry the daughters of a correspondent of theirs, and I am -going to live with them." - -"That makes a difference; but was it chance that brought you to my -house, or did the peasants point it out to you as a good place at which -to pass the night?" - -"Monsieur," said Gervais, "we are not familiar with this neighborhood, -and as we started out rather late, the darkness took us by surprise; -that is why we sought shelter, especially on account of our father, who -is too old to endure severe weather. But for him, we should never have -been able to make up our minds to ask a gentleman for a night's lodging, -and we should have passed the night on the snow, my brother and -I--shouldn't we, Jean?" - -"Yes," said Jean in a low voice, and without removing his gaze from the -fire. - -"You would have done very wrong, messieurs," said Monsieur Gerval, -filling the strangers' glasses; "I like to be useful to my fellowmen, -and I will try to give you a comfortable night." - -"You live in a very isolated house," said Gervais, emptying his glass; -"aren't you ever afraid of being victimized by robbers?" - -"I have never been afraid of that; nothing has ever happened to me thus -far." - -"Besides, there are enough of us here to defend ourselves," said Dupre, -drawing himself up; "and we have weapons, thank God!" - -"Dupre, go and see if Catherine is getting supper ready." - -"Yes, monsieur, and I'll go too and see if Madame Constance and her -daughter want anything." - -Dupre did not go to Adeline's room; but he was glad of an opportunity to -let the strangers know that there were more people in the house, for he -was not at all pleased to find that the strangers were going to pass the -night there. - -He went to the kitchen, and asked Catherine what she thought of the -strangers. - -"Faith! I think they're honest folk; the old man seems very -respectable." - -"For an old man who can hardly stand on his legs, he has very bright -eyes! And his two sons! one of them looks very much like a regular -ne'er-do-well; he always has a sneering laugh when he speaks, and he -drinks--oh! he don't leave any in his glass!" - -"Indeed! that's very surprising, isn't it? A peddler!" - -"And the other one,--such a sombre air! He never lifts his eyes; and so -far the only word he has said is a single 'yes,' and he said it in such -a lugubrious way! I don't like those people." - -"Bah! you are too suspicious, my dear Dupre." - -"No, but I like to know my people." - -"Do we know this poor woman who has been living here for more than a -year?" - -"Oh! but what a difference! A young, beautiful, and interesting woman; -why, her condition alone would make anyone pity her; and that child, -such a sweet, pretty creature! You see, I know something about faces; -and these peddlers--I tell you, Catherine, I shan't sleep sound -to-night." - -"And I shall sleep very well, I trust." - -"For all that, don't forget to lock your door." - -"Well, upon my word! if you're not just like Lucas! I must say that we -have brave fellows here to defend us, if we should be attacked!" - -"You are mistaken, Catherine; I am not a coward; but I realize that I am -more than twenty years old. Oh! if I were only twenty, I wouldn't be -afraid of three men!" - -"Let me get my supper ready, instead of making my ears ache with your -nonsense." - -"Nonsense! Hum! that's easy to say.--And what about our young -woman,--won't she come to supper?" - -"You know very well that it isn't her custom. She is asleep, I hope; I -suppose you would like to wake her, wouldn't you?" - -"Catherine." - -"Well?" - -"It seems to me that I hear a noise in the yard, near the gate." - -"It's the wind waving the trees and shaking the windows. However, go and -see." - -"Yes, I propose to make sure for myself, although you say that I am a -coward." - -Dupre lighted a lantern, and made the circuit of the courtyard. -Everything was in its accustomed order; the gate was securely locked; he -stopped a moment to look through the bars, but the wind blew the snow -into his face. While he was rubbing his eyes, a dull sound reached his -ears, which seemed to come from the room on the ground floor which -Adeline occupied. - -"Poor woman! she isn't asleep yet," said Dupre to himself; "suppose I -should go and find out if she wants anything? But monsieur doesn't want -her to be disturbed at night; he has forbidden it; so I'll go upstairs -again and watch the peddlers." - -The old servant met Lucas on the stairs; the gardener was laughing and -singing, because he was always very cheerful when there was much company -in the house. - -"Have you arranged the bedroom for these strangers?" asked Dupre. - -"Yes, and I've carried their bundles there; and the tall one wanted to -give me a piece of money for my trouble, but I refused it." - -"You did well. For people who travel on foot, they're very generous." - -"Oh! he has the look of a high liver, has that tall fellow with the red -hair; he laughs and drinks and talks for the whole party. If we often -had guests like him, there'd be a little more fun here, I tell you! But -we haven't got anybody but that poor woman; and a lunatic is never very -gay, especially this one." - -"Humph! you don't know how to judge people. I don't say that these -peddlers are scoundrels, but----" - -"But what?" - -"Lock your door tight to-night--do you hear, Lucas?" - -"Yes, Monsieur Dupre, yes, I hear," replied Lucas, whose hilarity -suddenly vanished, and who became pale and perturbed, while Dupre -returned slowly to his master's presence. - -The old man and Gervais were talking with Monsieur Gerval; the other -young man replied only by monosyllables to the questions that were put -to him. - -"My brother is a little serious," said tall Gervais to his host, in an -undertone. "The trouble is, that he is jealous, he's afraid that his -sweetheart has forgotten him in the two years that he has been away, and -that disturbs him." - -"I can understand that, but you don't seem to have the same anxiety!" - -"I? morbleu! woman never worried me! I'm a rake, I am! I snap my fingers -at them all, and I am capable of----" - -"Hush, my son," said the old man, interrupting him abruptly; "you talk a -little too freely; excuse him, monsieur; you see he's been a soldier." - -"Aha! you have been in the army, have you?" - -"Yes, to be sure I have; and when there's any fighting to be done, I am -always on hand; eh, father?" - -"Oh! to be sure! You are a wrong-headed youngster! anybody can see -that!" - -Catherine appeared and announced that supper was served in the next -room. - -"Let us adjourn to the table, messieurs," said Monsieur Gerval, -escorting the newcomers to the dining-room. They took their seats, the -old peddler beside his host. Dupre, as a very old servant, who had -become his master's friend, always ate at his table; he took his place, -but Monsieur Gerval noticed that there was another plate beside him. - -"For whom is this place, Dupre?" asked Monsieur Gerval. - -"It is for our young lady, monsieur, or for her daughter, if either of -them should come." - -"You know very well, my friend, that they are asleep now; Constance -isn't in the habit of sitting up so late." - -"She isn't asleep, monsieur, for I heard a noise in her room." - -The old man cast a glance at his two companions, then addressed his -host: - -"You have ladies in your house? If we prevent them from coming to the -table, we will go up to our room at once." - -"No, indeed! I have only a young woman and a child. The poor mother, -alas! is bereft of her reason. She is an unfortunate creature, who has a -too loving heart." - -"I am sorry for her!" - -"Let us drink to her health, messieurs," said tall Gervais, filling his -glass and his neighbor's. - -"That fellow doesn't stand much on ceremony," thought Dupre, as he -glanced at the peddler, who took the bottle himself; "the devil! he -would exhaust our cellar in short order." - -The old man glanced at his oldest son from time to time; he seemed -displeased to see him drink so often, and reproached him for not being -more temperate. - -"You see, our host's wine is delicious," replied Gervais; "and you know -that I am a good judge, father." - -"Do not spare it," said Monsieur Gerval; "it will give you strength to -continue your journey to-morrow." - -"With pleasure, my dear monsieur; I am inclined to crook my elbow a -bit." - -Dupre made a wry face; it seemed to him that Monsieur Gervais used some -very peculiar expressions, and the more he drank, the less reserve he -manifested. Honest Gerval excused it, and was much amused by the -joviality of the peddler, which did not seem to please the old man so -much. - -"Why don't you drink, Jean?" said Gervais, nudging his neighbor; "you're -a sad fellow! And you, my dear and honored father; you make eyes at me -that shine like salt cellars! Morbleu! I am the only one of the family -that knows how to laugh; eh, monsieur?--Monsieur de Gerval, your health -and your family's and your lunatic's; and yours, you old fox, who look -at us as if we'd come from Arabia Petraea.--Here's everybody's health! I -am not stingy!" - -"Excuse him, monsieur," the old man said to Dupre, "but when he has -drunk a little, he doesn't know what he says." - -Dupre frowned and made no reply. - -"I don't know what I say!" cried Gervais; "ah! ten thousand dogs! you -think that, do you, my dear father? Well! you lie like the blockhead you -are! Isn't that so, Jean? isn't he a blockhead?" - -The old man rose in a rage. - -"If it weren't for the respect that I owe to our host," he said, "I'd -punish you for your insolence; but I take pity on the situation you're -in; come with me, and let us not keep monsieur from retiring any -longer." - -"That's so, that's so, my dear father; I rather think I have been -talking nonsense, and it's more prudent to go to bed; meanwhile I ask -you for your blessing." - -As he said this, Gervais approached the old man, who pushed him away, -and bade Monsieur Gerval good-night, apologizing again for his oldest -son's conduct. - -Lucas took candles and was about to escort the strangers to the room set -apart for them, when they heard a noise in the courtyard. The peddlers -expressed surprise and Dupre ran to the window to look out; he saw -Adeline, dressed in a simple deshabille, holding a light in her hand and -walking excitedly through the drifts of snow in the courtyard. - -"It is she, monsieur," said Dupre to his master; "it's very surprising -that she has left her room so late." - -"Is that the poor woman?" asked the old man. - -"Pardieu! I want to see the mad woman!" cried tall Gervais; "I am -curious to know whether or not she is pretty." - -He ran at once to the window but Adeline had already returned to her -room. - -"Good-night, messieurs," said Gerval to the strangers; "I will see you -to-morrow before you leave." - -The peddlers went up to the second floor, Lucas left them a light, and -hastened down to his room, which adjoined the kitchen, taking care to -barricade the door, from top to bottom, as Dupre had advised. - -The latter, left alone with his master, for the cook had already -retired, communicated to Monsieur Gerval his observations on the subject -of the strangers. - -"You must agree, monsieur," he said, "that that tall fellow has the look -of a vagabond. His way of talking and of behaving, his lack of respect -toward his father----" - -"What do you expect? He had had a little too much to drink!" - -"His peculiar expressions----" - -"He has been in the army." - -"Oh! that isn't the language of a soldier.--God grant, my dear master, -that you do not repent the hospitality you have given to these people!" - -"What are you afraid of?" - -"I don't know, but everything about them looks suspicious to me; even -the silence of that other one, whose sinister expression does not -indicate an honest heart." - -"Nonsense, Dupre! calm your excitement and go to bed. A night is soon -passed." - -"Yes, when you sleep! but it is very long sometimes. What pleases me is -that my room is next to yours; if you hear any noise, you will call me -instantly, won't you, monsieur?" - -"Yes, my good Dupre; go now and don't be frightened." - -Dupre left his master regretfully; the latter went to bed in perfect -confidence, and soon forgot in sleep his old servant's words. - -Dupre's room was on the first floor, adjoining Monsieur Gerval's; but -his door opened on the landing, from which one flight of stairs led up -to the second floor and another down to the courtyard. - -Tormented by an anxiety which he could not overcome, Dupre resolved to -keep awake, and to try to clear up his suspicions. He looked from his -window at the strangers' apartment; the light was still burning. - -"They have not gone to bed," he said; "if I only could hear them -talking! I will try." - -He left his room noiselessly, without a light, and went up to the second -floor; he stopped at the door of the peddlers' room; but he remembered -then that there was a small dressing-room between the hall and the -bedroom, which made it impossible to hear what they said, from the -landing. Dupre was about to go down again, when he remembered that the -top of the chimney of the room where the strangers were was directly in -front of the round window in the loft. He at once went up to the loft, -walking with the utmost precaution. He opened the round window very -softly, crawled out on his stomach, and placed his ear near the top of -the flue; then, thanks to his nearness to the floor below, he easily -heard the following conversation: - -"You are incorrigible, Lampin; your infernal sottishness came near -betraying us a hundred times." - -"Bah! bah; what had we to fear, after all? There's nobody in the house -but three old blockheads, a fool, a mad woman and a child! That's a very -terrible lot, isn't it? If you had taken my advice, once we were in the -house, we would have acted without disguise. For my part, I would look -after the old Croesus and his servant." - -"It is much better to act without risk, and to be able to effect our -retreat without disorder. You may be sure that, before bringing you -here, I made inquiries about the people in the house. The owner is very -rich, he helps everybody." - -"Well, he must help us too, the old Croesus!" - -"He must have much money here; I know that he received remittances from -his farmers a week ago. All that money must be in his room; we can -easily get in there, take possession of the treasure, and escape through -the mad woman's room; for the gate is very strong, and very securely -fastened, and we should have much difficulty in forcing it." - -"Very good! But I saw bars at the ground floor window looking on the -woods. Is that the way that you propose to take us out, my most honored -father?" - -"You idiot! Do you suppose that I haven't thought of everything? Our -comrades have orders to file the bars, and I told them that they could -work without fear, as the woman who occupies the room would watch them -without saying a word." - -"Bravo! That is a most excellent idea; isn't it, Edouard? Speak up, you -infernal dreamer!" - -"Yes, yes, the plan is well devised." - -"It is very lucky that it pleases you! If only that old steward who -looked askance at us doesn't disturb our arrangements." - -"Woe to him, if he should dare!--We will let our comrades in; then we -shall be in force; and those who make trouble for us will soon be -reduced to silence!" - -"That's the talk! strong measures." - -"Luckily I was moderate at table; if I had imitated you, Lampin, we -should have betrayed ourselves." - -"What the devil! you played the old man so well that I nearly choked -with laughter. But if I did drink, it only increased my courage; there -is gold to be got here, and that gives me nerve, my colleagues. Let's -see, how do we distribute our functions?" - -"We will let our friends in, in a few moments; we must give these old -men time to get to sleep. We will leave Edouard on guard with the mad -woman, to see that she doesn't lock the door of her room in a fit of -delirium; for that would cut off our retreat. Our comrades will stand -guard, one over the gardener, the other over the cook; and you, Lampin, -will go with me in search of the money." - -"That's well arranged; this good fellow cannot complain of having a too -dangerous post; to stay with a woman and a child, both asleep! What -prowess!" - -"Very true, but they mustn't wake; if they should make the slightest -sound--remember, Edouard, that our safety, our lives, are at stake." - -"All right, I understand." - -"And so do I," said Dupre to himself, noiselessly withdrawing his head; -"I know enough;--the villains! I was not mistaken! We have given -hospitality to brigands! O my God! inspire me, so that I may save my -master and that poor woman!" - -The old servant crept along the roof and reentered the loft. Despite all -he could do to revive his spirits and his courage, his legs trembled, he -could hardly hold himself erect, and his imagination, thrown into -confusion by all that he had heard, saw nothing but scenes of blood and -death. Dupre was sixty-five years old; at that age, a man is a long time -coming to a decision; and in dangerous crises, the time that he loses in -making up his mind as to what he shall do makes the danger more -imminent. - -Dupre felt his way through the loft. Should he wake his master or Lucas? -But the gardener did not wake easily, he would have to make much noise -at his door, and in the silence of the night, the slightest sound would -be heard by the robbers and would arouse their suspicions. Catherine was -locked into her kitchen, and would be of no assistance to them. But it -was the young woman's apartment through which the comrades of the -brigands were to enter the house; it was most essential to close that -entrance, after removing Constance and her daughter from the room. - -This plan seemed the wisest to the old servant. He decided to go -downstairs, but he trembled and shuddered as he placed his foot on the -staircase. If the villains should come out of their room and meet him, -he would be lost! He listened before venturing upon each step; at the -slightest sound he stopped. He was about to pass the door of the second -floor; but he heard voices and footsteps. The door was thrown open, and -Dupre hurried back to the loft. - -The pretended peddlers had heard a noise above their heads; the old -man's heavy step had made the boards creak and had disturbed the silence -of the night. Dufresne left the room first; he held a torch in one hand -and a dagger in the other. Lampin followed, and they entered the loft -just as the old servant was crawling under a bundle of straw. - -"We are betrayed!" said Dufresne; "someone has been listening to us." - -He instantly plunged his dagger into the old man's bosom, as he clasped -his hands to implore mercy. Dupre expired without uttering a sound; his -blood inundated the floor, and Lampin covered the ill-fated servant's -body with straw. - -"Let us go down," said Dufresne; "and as suspicion has been aroused, let -us make haste to act!" - -"What has happened?" asked Edouard, who had remained on the landing as a -sentinel. - -"Nothing," said Lampin; "only there is one less prying fool." - -"Let us go at once to the mad woman's room; our friends should be at -their post; let us not leave them any longer cooling their heels in the -open air." - -The brigands went down to the ground floor; the key was in the door of -Adeline's room, and they entered. A lamp on the hearth half lighted the -room, the window of which opened on the forest. The child's little bed -was placed beside the mother's, the curtains of which were tightly -drawn. Well assured that she who was in the bed was not awake to spy -upon their acts, Dufresne went at once to open the shutters, and -admitted his companions, who had remained by the window after sawing the -bars. - -"All goes well," said Dufresne; "let us leave these shutters open, and -there will be nothing to interfere with our flight. Edouard, remain -here; above all things, no pity if she wakes.--You, my friends, come -with me, and I will show you your posts; then Lampin and I will look -after the rest." - -During Dufresne's speech, Lampin turned up his sleeves, drew his -weapons, and examined the point of his dagger; a tigerish smile gleamed -in his eyes, and his hideous face, animated by wine and the anticipation -of pillage, seemed to bear with joy the impress of crime. - -The four brigands departed from the room and Edouard was left alone. On -the alert for the slightest noise, he walked constantly from the window -to the bed; he listened to see whether anyone passed in the woods, then -returned to put his ear to the curtains which concealed the young woman -from him. His eyes turned toward the child's crib; she was not in it. -Adeline, more excited than usual, and disturbed by the dull sound she -had heard outside her shutters, had taken her daughter and laid her -across her breast, when she threw herself fully dressed on her bed. -Curious to see the mad woman, Edouard was about to put aside the -curtain when a noise from the woods attracted his attention, and he -returned to the window. He heard footsteps trampling over the dry -branches and crunching the half-frozen snow. The noise drew near, and he -heard voices. If they were gendarmes sent in pursuit of them, if they -should see the window with the broken bars--Edouard trembled; he softly -closed the shutters so that no one could see into the room. He hardly -breathed. Despite his precautions, Adeline had waked; she abruptly -opened her curtains, half rising. - -"Is it you? is it you?" she cried in a loud voice. - -"This miserable creature will betray us," said Edouard to himself; "her -voice will attract those travellers in this direction.--Well! I must do -it!" - -He ran to the bed, dagger in hand; he was about to strike, when he -recognized his wife and child. - -A cry of dismay, of horror, issued from the mouth of the miserable -outcast, who dropped the murderous steel and stood motionless before the -woman he had been about to strike. But that terrible cry had found an -echo in Adeline's soul; she recognized her husband's voice; those same -accents which had destroyed her reason once more revolutionized her -whole being; she tried to collect her ideas; it was as if she were -waking from a hideous dream; she saw Edouard, recognized him, and rushed -into his arms with a cry of joy. - -"Edouard! here, by my side!" cried Adeline, gazing at him lovingly. "My -dear, how does it happen? Ah! I do not know what to think! My head is on -fire!" - -"Come," said Edouard; "give me the child; let us fly, let us fly from -this place, or you are lost." - -"Why should we fly? What danger threatens you? Have you not suffered -enough? Does man's justice pursue you still?" - -"Yes, yes; and you yourself are in danger from the rage of the brigands! -Listen,--do you hear those shrieks in the house? They are murdering an -old man without pity; come, I tell you, or they will kill you before my -eyes! Oh! do not refuse me! I am a monster, a villain, but I long to -save you." - -Adeline allowed herself to be led away by her husband; she took her -child in her arms and was about to follow him, when the shutters were -violently thrown open, while the bell at the gate rang loudly. - -A man appeared in the window, and prepared to leap into the room, -calling to his companion: - -"Here's a breach; this way, comrade, this way! There are villains in the -citadel; let us go in and we'll give them a hiding, ten thousand -cartridges! Forward!" - -At sight of the stranger, Edouard, bewildered and beside himself with -fear, had no doubt that he had come to arrest him and his companions; -seeking to avoid the punishment that awaited him, he dropped Adeline's -hand and pushed her away when she clung to him. - -"You are saved," he said; "let me alone, do not follow me; adieu, adieu -forever!" - -He rushed out through the door at the end of the room, reached the -courtyard, succeeded in climbing over the gate and fled into the woods. -At the same moment Jacques and Sans-Souci entered Adeline's room by the -window; she, exhausted by all the shocks to which her mind had been -exposed, fell unconscious at the moment that her husband disappeared. - - - - -XXXVII - -WHO GOODMAN GERVAL WAS - - -"Oh! what good fortune! Can I believe my eyes?" cried Jacques as he ran -to the assistance of the unfortunate young woman whom he saw on the -floor. "This woman--it is she, Sans-Souci! Come, come and look at her." - -"Why, yes! sacrebleu! It's her! We've found her at last! Didn't I tell -you that a man should never despair of anything?" - -"And her daughter,--see, there she is; yes, I recognize her too." - -"But when I opened those shutters, I thought I saw a man; he has -escaped.--The devil! what a noise! Do you hear? somebody is calling for -help! Stay with her, but give me one of your pistols." - -Jacques gave Sans-Souci one of his weapons; and he, with the pistol in -one hand, and his stick in the other, rushed in the direction of the -shrieks; he went up to the first floor, entered a room the door of which -was broken down, and saw an old man on his knees, imploring the pity of -a miscreant, while another miscreant laden with bags of money was -preparing for flight. Sans-Souci discharged his pistol at Dufresne, who -was on the point of striking Monsieur Gerval; the monster fell at the -old man's feet; his comrade threw down his bags and tried to escape; but -Sans-Souci did not give him time; he overtook him on the stairway and -dealt him such a lusty blow on the head that Lampin staggered, rolled -down several stairs, struck his head against the wall, and expired, -vomiting the most horrible imprecations. - -"You are my savior! my liberator!" cried Monsieur Gerval; while -Sans-Souci relieved him of the cords that bound him. - -"It is true, my dear monsieur, that it was high time; but perhaps there -are other brigands in your house, and I will complete my inspection." - -"I will go with you, I will go with you, monsieur," said the old man; "I -will be your guide. Alas! I do not see my faithful Dupre." - -At that moment they heard a pistol shot. Sans-Souci descended the stairs -four at a time, and joined Jacques at the instant that he blew out the -brains of one of the brigands who was trying to fly through Adeline's -room; while his comrades, being more prudent, escaped by the same road -that Edouard had followed. - -The report of firearms, the uproar and the shrieks had awakened -Catherine and Lucas; but only in obedience to their master's voice did -they dare to leave their rooms. Then they went all together, with -lights, to Adeline's room. She was just recovering her senses and was -gazing with renewed surprise at Jacques, who stood by her. - -"My brother, my friend, have I found you too?" she said at last; "I do -not know if it is a dream, but so many events have succeeded one -another! Just now Edouard was with me." - -"Edouard! Come to yourself, be calm, my dear Adeline, and have no fear; -the brigands are punished." - -Adeline made no reply but her eyes still sought her husband. - -"Victory!" cried Sans-Souci; "I killed two of them, for my part." - -"We owe you our lives, gallant strangers," said Monsieur Gerval, -approaching Jacques; "how can I ever pay my debt to you?" - -"You have evidently taken care of my sister and my niece," Jacques -answered the old man, "and I am still in your debt." - -"His sister! his niece!" exclaimed the good man and his servants. - -"First of all, let us finish inspecting the house," said Sans-Souci; -"there may be some more of the scoundrels hidden in some corner." - -"But Dupre doesn't appear! I am terribly afraid that he has fallen a -victim to his zeal." - -"Let us put our friends in a place of safety, and go and look!" - -Monsieur Gerval, Adeline, her daughter and Catherine were taken to a -room of which the door was securely fastened, and where they had nothing -to fear; then Jacques and Sans-Souci began to inspect the house, guided -by Lucas, who trembled like a leaf, but dared not refuse to accompany -them. The name of Edouard, which Adeline had pronounced, was an enigma -to Jacques, who dared not harbor the suspicions that came to his mind. -They examined every part of the house without finding anybody, except -the body of the unfortunate Dupre in the attic; after making sure that -there was no sign of life about him, Sans-Souci, aided by Lucas, took -him down to the ground floor, where the faithful servant's remains were -destined to stay until the last rites should be performed over them. - -While Sans-Souci and the gardener attended to this melancholy duty, -Jacques entered Monsieur Gerval's apartment. A low groaning came from -one corner of the room. Dufresne was still alive; but the wound that he -had received was mortal and the villain struggled in vain against death. -Jacques put his lantern to the dying man's face and an exclamation of -surprise escaped him. Dufresne also recognized Edouard's brother; a -horrible smile animated his almost lifeless eyes; he mustered what -little strength he had left, to speak for the last time. - -"I am dying; but if you have killed all those who were with me, you have -killed your brother. Tell his wife, tell that Adeline who despised me, -that her husband, after escaping from the galleys, has become by my -advice a robber and an assassin." - -Dufresne breathed his last after uttering these words, well content to -have done someone an injury at the last moment of his life. - -Jacques stood for some moments frozen with horror by the dead body of -the man who had wrecked the happiness of his family. But, overcoming his -dismay, he determined to make sure of the horrible truth; he descended -the stairs, halted beside Lampin's body and held the lantern to his -face, shuddering with apprehension. It was not he! Jacques breathed a -little more freely, and went down to the ground floor, where the man was -whom he himself had killed; and although he was very sure that it was -not his brother, he proceeded to satisfy himself beyond a doubt. - -"Thank heaven!" he said after examining the brigand's features, "my hand -is not wet with my brother's blood! He has escaped. God grant that we -may never see him again! Let us forget a monster who dishonors us, and -devote all our care to the two unfortunate creatures whom I have found -again at last." - -But before returning to Adeline, Jacques carefully examined all the -pockets of all the brigands, especially Dufresne's, fearing that some -paper relating to Edouard would be found upon them. He made sure that -they had only weapons and money about them, and then in a more tranquil -frame of mind returned to Adeline. - -The occupants of the house had discovered with the most intense delight -that the young woman had recovered her reason; and while a thorough -search was being made in his house, Monsieur Gerval told Adeline how he -had found her and taken care of her at Paris, then brought her to his -estate in the country; and lastly, how long a time she had lived under -his roof. - -Adeline threw herself at her protector's knees. She realized now all -that she owed him, although honest Gerval, in his narrative, had spoken -only of the pleasure it had given him to oblige her, passing lightly -over all that he had done for her. - -Adeline then inquired about the events of the preceding night. They told -her that brigands had made their way into the house, and that except for -the unexpected arrival of two travellers, one of whom appeared to be her -brother, they would have been pillaged by the robbers. - -She shuddered; she remembered how Edouard had appeared before her, his -excitement, his terror at the appearance of the strangers; she dared not -continue her questions, but she anxiously awaited Jacques's return. He -appeared at last. - -"Some of the villains have escaped," he said, approaching Adeline, upon -whom he bestowed a glance of which she understood the meaning. "Those -who were killed well deserve their fate." - -"Morbleu!" said Sans-Souci; "they all well deserve to be broken on the -wheel! I have only one regret, and that is that any of them got away." - -"And my faithful Dupre," said Monsieur Gerval; "you tell me nothing of -him." - -"Alas, my dear monsieur, your old servant was, it seems, the first -victim of those monsters; he is no more!" - -"The villains! to murder an old man! Ah, me! if I had heeded his -representations--poor Dupre, my imprudence was the cause of your death! -I shall reproach myself for it always. This house has become hateful to -me and I propose to leave it to-morrow!" - -Monsieur Gerval shed tears over the fate of his old servant; Catherine -mingled her tears with his, and one and all tried to console the good -man, who blamed himself for the loss of his faithful companion. - -The dawn surprised the inhabitants of the cottage in this situation. -Monsieur Gerval consented to take a little rest, while Lucas went to -notify the authorities of the neighboring village of the occurrences of -the night. Catherine, by her master's orders, made preparations for -their departure, and Adeline promised the old man to tell him before -long the story of her misfortunes. - -Jacques found an opportunity to be alone with Adeline. She burned to -question him, but dared not break the silence. He divined her grief, her -tremor, her most secret thoughts. - -"Dufresne is no more," he said to her; "the scoundrel has at last -received the reward of his crimes." - -"Dufresne? What, was Dufresne among those robbers? Unhappy creature that -I am! there is no doubt that he had led him on to the last stages of -crime; Edouard was----" - -"Silence! never let this horrible secret be known to any but ourselves," -said Jacques in a low voice; "the miserable wretch has escaped; let him -drag out his shameful existence in other lands; it is too late for him -to repent, and his presence would be to me, yes, to yourself, the height -of misery. Forget forever a man who did not deserve your love. -Everything combines to make it your bounden duty. The affection which -one retains for a creature so vile, so wretched, is a weakness, a -cowardice, unworthy of a noble and generous heart; live for your -daughter, for me, for all those who love you, and days of peace and -happiness will dawn again for us." - -Adeline threw herself into Jacques's arms and wiped away the tears that -flowed from her eyes. - -"My friend," she said to him, "I will follow your advice, and you will -be content with me." - -The peasants of the neighborhood, who had learned of the melancholy -events that had happened in the house of their benefactor, hastened to -see him; and the stone over Dupre's grave indicated the deplorable way -in which the faithful servant had met his end. - -Monsieur Gerval at last inquired the name of his preserver. - -"My name is Jacques, monsieur," said he, "formerly a soldier, now a farm -hand." - -"Jacques," said the old man, "I bear the same name as you. I gave it -also to my godson, a little rascal who would be about your age now, and -whom I have sought in vain in Paris." - -Jacques looked with more attention at him whose life he had saved; he -seemed to recognize in his venerable face the features of a person who -had always manifested the most affectionate interest in him in his -youth. A thousand memories thronged his mind; he could hardly find -strength to ask the good man his name, to which he had paid no attention -in the excitement of the events of the night. - -"My name is Gerval," said the old man, scrutinizing him in his turn with -evident emotion; "I used to be in business, and I had a large factory in -Paris." - -"Is it possible? You are Jacques Gerval, my godfather, whom I used to -love so dearly?" - -Jacques leaped on the neck of the old man, who embraced him -affectionately and shed tears of pleasure at finding his dear godson; -while all the witnesses of the scene wept in sympathy. - -"Ten thousand squadrons! how people keep finding each other!" said -Sans-Souci; "this is a recognition that I didn't expect, by a long way, -nor you either, comrade." - -"My dear Jacques," said Monsieur Gerval, "I have looked for you in all -directions; I was crazy with longing to see you again. Your escapade of -long ago caused me much pain, for I was innocently the cause of it. The -name of Jacques brought you ill luck, my poor godson; it had an -influence over your whole life; your mother neglected you, your father -dared not utter your name before her; I alone was kind to you, but that -was not enough for your sensitive heart. You left your father's roof, -and I swore to make up for the injustice of your parents if I could ever -find you again. Here you are at last! I recognize you perfectly now! -These scars have not changed the expression of your features. We will -not part again, Jacques; you must close my eyes; you are my child, my -only heir; from this moment my fortune is yours; make use of it to -confer blessings upon all those whom you love." - -Jacques embraced his old godfather once more; he could not credit his -good fortune. - -"Dear Adeline," he said at last, "if I am rich, you shall never know -want again; that is the sweetest pleasure that I shall owe to wealth." - -Adeline and Ermance were wrapped in the old man's arms in turn. - -"So they are your sister and your niece?" he said to Jacques; "are you -married?" - -"No," he replied with some embarrassment; "they are my brother's wife -and daughter." - -"Your brother--why, that is so,--what has become of him?" - -"He is no more. Alas! I no longer have a brother, and she has no -husband." - -"I see that your tears are flowing again, my friends; I have -unintentionally renewed your grief; forgive me; perhaps the memory of -Edouard is painful to you; but I know nothing about your misfortunes; -tell me of them, and then I will try to make you forget them." - -Jacques undertook to tell the old man a part of Adeline's sorrows, but -he did not make known the whole of his brother's conduct, and Monsieur -Gerval believed that Edouard had died at Paris in destitution, after -abandoning his wife and child, and that it was the knowledge of her -husband's unhappy end that had disturbed Adeline's reason. - -The excellent old man felt more than ever inclined to love that young -woman, a model for wives and mothers, and he was determined to become -acquainted with the people at the farm, who had shown so much affection -for Jacques and Adeline. - -"That is very easy," said Sans-Souci; "if you want to make them all -happy, you must go to the farm. Sacrebleu! when they see madame and my -comrade again, I am sure that Louise and Guillot will be happier than -they would if their house was a chateau." - -"Let us go to the farm," said honest Gerval; "let us all go there; the -journey will do us good; it will divert my dear Adeline's thoughts a -little, and it will amuse her little Ermance. Jacques will be able to -help in his turn the people who helped him in his need, and we, my poor -Catherine, we will try, among the people at the farm, to think less of -our old friend Dupre's death." - -Monsieur Gerval's plan made them all happy. Catherine was delighted to -leave a house which reminded her of melancholy events, and in which she -felt that she could never again sleep peacefully. Lucas asked his -master's permission to leave his garden, in order to be his servant; the -old man consented and everybody prepared for departure. - -The house in the Vosges was rented to peasants, who established an inn -there, most acceptable to people who travelled through those mountains; -Monsieur Gerval and his servants left the house, their hearts depressed -by the memory of Dupre. Jacques and Adeline turned their eyes away from -the spot which had witnessed Edouard's infamy, and Sans-Souci looked -back with pride at the apartment where he had saved an old man's life -and slain two villains. - - - - -XXXVIII - -THE SMALL GATE IN THE GARDEN ONCE MORE - - -Sans-Souci rode beside the postilion, despite Monsieur Gerval's request -that he should take a seat in the carriage; but he was fully determined -to act as scout, fearing mishaps on account of the deep ruts and the -wretched roads. His joy was so great at the thought of returning to the -farm with Madame Murville, that he was unwilling to depend upon any -other than himself to avert such accidents as might happen to them on -the way. - -During the journey, Jacques told his old godfather of the adventures of -his youth; the story of the philters and the magnetism amused honest -Gerval and extorted a smile from Adeline. - -"What happy chance brought you to our house so opportunely, with your -brave companion, to save us from the knives of the robbers?" old -Catherine asked Jacques. - -"A few days after my dear Adeline's departure," said Jacques, "as she -did not return to the farm, and as I feared, with good reason, that some -unfortunate accident must have happened to her, I started off with -Sans-Souci, determined to travel all over France if necessary, to find -the mother and child. We went to Paris and stayed there several days, -but all to no purpose; I could not learn anything as to the fate of -those whom I sought. After going back to the farm to bid honest Guillot -and his wife good-bye, we started off again, and we visited one after -another all the provinces of France, stopping in the smallest towns, in -the most modest hamlets, making the most minute inquiries everywhere, -and always disappointed in our hopes. More than a year passed and our -search had come to nothing. But Sans-Souci, whose good spirits never -fail, sustained my courage and revived my hopes when he saw that my -grief and my sadness increased. We at last turned our steps toward this -province, with no expectation of being more fortunate here. After -travelling through part of Franche-Comte, we entered the Vosges. As we -were not afraid of robbers, we often travelled at night, and even more -often slept on the ground, as we did not always find shelter on our -road. Yesterday, however, the weather was so bad, and the snow had -blocked the roads so completely, that we lost ourselves in the woods. I -was numb with cold and almost exhausted, when Sans-Souci spied near at -hand a fine looking house. I dared not ask hospitality, but Sans-Souci -insisted upon stopping; and we were still disputing, when we heard -shrieks inside the house; then we no longer hesitated, but I rang -violently at the gate. Sans-Souci discovered an open window on the -ground floor, from which the bars had been removed, and we jumped into -the room. Imagine my surprise and my joy when I found there the woman -whom I had been looking for so long, and whom I should have left behind -forever, if your cry had not drawn me into the house." - -"My dear Jacques, it was surely Providence that sent you to our help," -said Monsieur Gerval; "but the greatest miracle of all is that that -event has restored our dear Adeline's reason." - -"Well, monsieur, didn't I tell you so?" said Catherine; "all that was -needed was a violent shock, a crisis; and that is just what has -happened." - -The journey was made without accident, and they arrived at Guillot's -farm. Jacques was conscious of a pleasant thrill of emotion as he passed -the fields in which he had worked. - -"Yonder," he said to good Monsieur Gerval, "is the plow with which I -turned up this ground, so often wet with my sweat." - -"My friend," replied the old man, "never forget it even in the lap of -prosperity, and the unfortunate will never apply to you in vain." - -A carriage drawn by four horses is a great event in a country town. The -villagers, the farm hands, left their work, and the people from the farm -drew near with curiosity to look at the travellers; but Sans-Souci's joy -had made itself heard already; he cracked his whip in such a way as to -make the chickens fly a league, while the pigeons took refuge on the -tallest chimneys. - -"It's us, it's him, it's her!" he shouted, as soon as he caught sight of -Louise and Guillot; "give us a big feast, my friends,--cabbage soup and -the light white wine! death to the rabbits and chickens!" - -The villagers surrounded the carriage; Jacques, Adeline and Ermance were -embraced, caressed, and made much of by everybody. Louise wept, Guillot -swore aloud in his joy, and the old man was deeply moved by the sincere -affection which they all manifested for his children; for that was what -he called Jacques, Adeline and her daughter; and they escorted him in -triumph to the farm, where everything was soon turned topsy-turvy to -celebrate the return of those whom they had not expected to see again. - -Amid the joy, the confusion, and the preparations for the feast, -Sans-Souci ran from one to another, tried to help everybody, broke -plates, upset saucepans, and exclaimed at every instant: - -"You don't know all; Jacques is rich now, and this excellent old man is -his godfather; we saved his life; we killed the rascals! I will tell you -all about it." - -"I see," said Guillot, "things seem to be going pretty well; but what -about our friend Jacques's brother?" - -"Hush!" said Sans-Souci, putting his finger to his lips; "if you have -the misfortune to speak of him, gayety will disappear, tears will come -back, and your supper will be for the great Turk; so take my advice, and -turn your tongue over for an hour in your mouth, rather than say another -stupid word on that subject." - -"All right," said Guillot, "I'll chew my cud at the table before I -speak." - -Life at the farm delighted Monsieur Gerval; he drove all about the -neighborhood, admiring the charming sites and the fertile fields which -surrounded him. - -"Morgue, monsieur," said Guillot, "if you knew how pretty it all is in -summer! Bless my soul, you don't see anything now! but if our fields are -worth more, if our farm brings in more, we owe it all to our friend -Jacques; in two years he did more and thought of more things than I -could ever do in six; he's worth three hands all by himself. It is a -pity he's rich now, for it robs me of a fine workman." - -"My dear Jacques," said the old man, "you must love this country, these -fields, which have witnessed your labors, and it would be cruel in me to -take you away from here. We will settle in this neighborhood, my friend, -and I leave it to you to purchase some suitable estate here-about; -arrange it to suit yourself; I am too old to attend to business matters, -and I rely upon you to make a wise choice." - -Jacques joyfully accepted the commission entrusted to him. He already -had a plan in his head, and on the day following his arrival at the -farm, impelled by a secret hope, he went early in the morning to -Villeneuve-Saint-Georges. Trembling with emotion, he approached his -father's house, that spot for which he had always sighed. His dearest -wish was to pass the rest of his life in that house, which recalled -memories which were both pleasant and painful. - -When he reached the gate, he saw a placard pasted on the wall; he read: -"This house for sale or rent." - -"It's ours!" he cried. "I am going to live again in the house where I -passed my childhood; I ran away from it at fifteen years of age, I shall -return to it at thirty; God grant that I may never leave it again! -Adeline, I am sure, will be delighted to return to it; it was here, she -told me, that she passed the happiest days of her life; even if this -place does remind her of a man she loved too well, at all events when -they lived here he was still worthy of her." - -Jacques rang at the gate; no one answered, but a neighbor advised him to -go to the notary's, which was almost opposite. The notary was the same -man who had made the deeds for Edouard Murville four years before. The -house, having fallen into the hands of creditors, had belonged to -several owners in succession. The present owner almost never lived in it -and was very desirous to get rid of it. Jacques inquired the price and -promised to return the next day to conclude the bargain; he dared not do -it without consulting Monsieur Gerval. He hastened back to the farm, and -the old man saw by his pleased expression that he had found a house -which suited him. - -"You will recognize it," said Jacques, "for you often went there in the -old days; it is the house that belonged to my father." - -"And you didn't conclude the bargain? Well! well! I see that I must go -myself and settle the business." - -And the next morning the old man set out in his carriage with his dear -godson. He drove to the notary's and purchased the estate in the name of -Jacques, knowing that he did not intend to bear any other name; but -honest Gerval asked no explanation of that resolution, because he -guessed a part of Edouard's misconduct. - -"Here, my boy," he said to Jacques, as he handed him the deed; "it is -high time that I should make you a present, to recompense you for having -given you such a wretched name. This estate is yours, and my little -Jacques is at home in the house from which his name caused him to run -away long ago." - -Jacques embraced the old man, and they returned to the farm for Adeline -and her daughter. - -"Did I misjudge your heart," Jacques asked his sister-in-law, "in -thinking that you would be glad to find yourself back in the dear old -house at Villeneuve-Saint-Georges?" - -"No, my friend," replied Adeline; "I have been too happy there not to -wish to pass the rest of my life there; happy memories will sometimes -mingle with my sad thoughts; I will banish from my mind all that he has -done elsewhere than there, and I will try to remember only the days of -his affection for me; then I shall at least be able to weep for him -without blushing." - -The Guillot family learned with delight that their friends were not to -leave the country; for the road from Villeneuve-Saint-Georges to the -farm was a pleasant walk, and they promised one another to take it often -in the fine weather. - -Four days after their arrival, our travellers started for the new abode -in which they proposed to establish themselves. Adeline's eyes were wet -with tears when she stood once more in that house, when she saw again -those gardens which had witnessed the first months of her married -life--such pleasant months, which passed so quickly, never to return! - -Catherine took possession of the kitchen, Lucas of the garden and of the -post of concierge. Monsieur Gerval chose a room between Jacques and -Adeline, whom he liked to have near him; and little Ermance remained -with her mother, to cheer her by her prattle, to charm away her -melancholy by her caresses, and to mingle some hopes with her memories. - -Sans-Souci wished to resume his labors at the farm, but Monsieur Gerval -and Jacques remonstrated. - -"You saved my life," said the old man, "and I don't want you to leave -me." - -"You shared my trials and my adversity," said Jacques, "and you must -share my fortune; everything is common between us." - -"Sacrebleu!" said Sans-Souci, passing his hand over his eyes, "these -people do whatever they please with me. I will stay with you, that's all -right, but only on condition that I shall be at liberty to go to walk -when you have company, and that I shan't sit at table with Madame -Adeline; for a man should be respectful to his superiors, and I am as -stupid as a goose in society." - -"You shall go to walk as much as you please," said the old man; "you -shall hunt and fish, and smoke if that will give you pleasure; but you -are going to sit at table with us, because a brave man is out of place -nowhere." - -"All right, ten thousand cartridges! I see I must submit to that too." - -No more misadventures, no more storms, no more misfortunes; tranquil -days had dawned at last for the family at Villeneuve-Saint-Georges. -Adeline's unhappiness had become a gentle melancholy, which the graces -and caresses of her daughter beguiled and made endurable. Little Ermance -grew and improved; her features became sweet and attractive; her voice -was as soft as her mother's, and her sensitive and kindly heart never -turned away the unfortunate. Jacques, proud of his niece, had lost a -little of his brusque manner since he had lived in the bosom of his -family. Sans-Souci still swore, and would have thrown himself into the -fire for any of his friends. Old Gerval was made doubly happy at the -sight of the good that he himself did, and that Jacques did. In short, -one and all enjoyed a peaceable life, and the people at the farm were -often visited by their friends from the village. - -A single thing marred Sans-Souci's happiness; it was that Jacques no -longer wore the decoration that he had won on the battle-field. - -"Why don't you wear it any more?" he would say to him, when they were -alone; "what can prevent you? Morbleu! you act like a fool with your -resolutions." - -"My brother disgraced our name." - -"Well! was it to you or your name that they gave the cross?" - -"It's out of respect for that honorable reward, that I deprive myself of -the pleasure of wearing it." - -"But when you go by the name of Jacques simply----" - -"That doesn't matter; I know none the less that Edouard was a--Why, I -tell you, that ghastly thought would make me blush for that symbol of -honor; I shall never wear it again." - -"You are wrong." - -"That may be; I am and I shall always be a man of honor; but I have no -pride left when I think of my brother's shame." - -The tranquillity enjoyed by the family at Villeneuve-Saint-Georges was -disturbed by a melancholy event which they still believed to be far -away: honest Gerval fell sick and died, and the zealous care of all -those who surrounded him was unavailing to save him. - -"My children," he said to them in his last moments, "I am sorry to leave -you, but at all events my mind is at rest concerning your future. I -hoped to live longer among you, but fate wills otherwise and I must -submit. Think of me, but don't weep." - -The old man left his whole fortune to Jacques and Adeline. He had thirty -thousand francs a year, a large part of which was used in assisting the -unfortunate. Old Catherine survived her master only a few months, and -those two events caused deep sadness among the occupants of Jacques's -house for a long while. - -But time is always successful in calming the bitterest regrets; it -triumphs over everything; it is the Lethe wherein the memories of our -troubles and our pleasures alike are drowned. - -Years passed. Ermance was nine years old; she was Jacques's delight, and -her mother's consolation. In order not to part with her, they caused -teachers to come to the village to begin her education. - -"Ten thousand carbines!" said Sans-Souci as he looked at the little -girl; "that little face will turn a devilish lot of heads! Wit, beauty, -charm, talent, a kind heart,--she will have everything, sacrebleu!" - -"Yes," said Jacques, "but she will never be able to mention her father." - -"Oh! mon Dieu! there are many people in the same plight; that won't -prevent your niece from rousing passions." - -"Morbleu! those same passions are what cause most of the unhappiness of -life; I would much prefer that she should not rouse any." - -"She won't ask your permission for that, comrade." - -Adeline was proud of her daughter, who, being blest with the most happy -disposition, also made rapid progress in everything that she was taught. - -"Dear Ermance!" her mother would say as she gazed at her, "may you be -happier than your parents!" - -At such times, Adeline would devote a moment's thought to Edouard, whom -she believed to have died long since in destitution and despair. "Ah!" -she would say sometimes to Jacques, when their eyes expressed the same -thought, "if only I could think that he died repentant, I feel that I -should have some slight consolation." - -Jacques would make no reply, but he would call Ermance and take her to -Adeline, that the sight of her might dispel a painful memory. Jacques -did not know that a mother always sees in her child the image of the man -she has loved. - -One lovely summer evening, Jacques was walking to and fro pensively at -the end of the garden; Ermance, not very far from her uncle, was amusing -herself by plucking flowers, and Adeline, seated a few steps away on the -turf, looked on in silence at the graceful movements of her daughter. -Suddenly Ermance, as she ran toward a clump of rose bushes, uttered a -cry of alarm and stopped abruptly. Adeline ran to her daughter; Jacques -also drew near, and they both inquired what had frightened her. - -"Look, look!" replied the child, pointing to the end of the garden, -"look, it is still there; that face frightened me." - -Jacques and Adeline looked in the direction indicated by Ermance, and -saw behind the small gate covered with boards, in the same spot where -the face with moustaches had appeared long ago, a man's face gazing into -the garden. - -"What a strange coincidence!" said Adeline, looking at Jacques; "do you -remember, my friend, that at that same spot, ten years ago, you appeared -before us?" - -"That is true," said Jacques; "yes, I remember very well." - -"We must excuse Ermance's alarm, for I remember that then you frightened -me terribly! That man seems to be in trouble; come, my daughter, let us -go and offer help to him, and don't be afraid any more; the unfortunate -should inspire pity and not fear." - -As she spoke, Adeline and Ermance approached the gate. The features of -the man who stood on the other side seemed to become animated; he gazed -at the young woman and her daughter, then he turned his eyes upon -Jacques, passed an arm through the gate, and seemed to implore their -pity. Adeline had drawn near; she scrutinized the beggar, then uttered a -piteous cry, and returned to Jacques, pale, distressed, trembling, and -hardly able to speak. - -"I don't know whether it is a delusion," she said, "but that man--it -seems to me--yes--look--it is he, it is----" - -She could say no more. Jacques ran to the little gate, he recognized his -brother, and threw the gate open. Edouard entered the garden, clad in -rags and tatters, overdone by fatigue and suffering, and presenting a -perfect image of misery and desperation. - -"Help me, save me!" he said, dragging himself toward Jacques, who -scarcely dared believe his eyes; "for God's sake, do not turn me away!" - -"Oh! let's go away, mamma, that man frightens me!" said Ermance, -clinging to her mother. Adeline, standing as still as a statue, gazed at -Edouard, while tears flowed from her eyes and fell on the child's face. - -"Unhappy wretch," said Jacques at last, "why have you come here? Do you -propose to pursue us everywhere? Must your infamy inevitably follow your -family and make this child blush?" - -"Ah!" said Edouard, throwing himself at Jacques's feet, "I am a -miserable wretch indeed! she even hides my child from me, she shields -her from her father's glance!" - -Jacques no longer had the strength to spurn him; Edouard approached -Adeline and threw himself at her feet, placing his head against the -ground, and sobbing piteously. When she heard the unhappy man's groans, -Ermance turned and looked at him; terror yielded to pity. - -"Oh! that poor man looks very unhappy, mamma," she said to Adeline; "he -causes me pain; let me help him to get up; I don't feel afraid of him -any more." - -Thereupon Edouard seized his daughter's hand and pressed it -affectionately in his, looking up at Adeline with an expression of which -she understood the meaning. - -"I forgive you," she said to him; "oh! if you had offended no one but -me! but your child, my daughter, she can never mention your name." - -Jacques checked Adeline, by putting a finger to his lips. At that moment -Sans-Souci ran toward them, and manifested great surprise at finding a -stranger in the garden. - -"What do you want of us?" said Jacques; "why do you come upon us so -suddenly? what has happened?" - -"Faith! comrade, I came to tell you that some gendarmes are searching -the village; they are looking for a vagabond whom they recognized only a -league from here, and they propose to search this house soon. I confess -that I told them that it wouldn't be any use, but sacrebleu! I didn't -know that----" - -"Hush! hold your tongue," said Jacques, "and don't say a word about what -you see here. Go back to the house with the child and my sister.--Go, -have no fear, I will answer for everything.--Sans-Souci, take my sister -to the house; and above all, the most absolute silence." - -Sans-Souci promised, and walked a few steps away, tremendously surprised -by all that he saw. Adeline was terrified by the risks that Edouard ran, -but he himself implored her to abandon him to his unhappy fate. He -pressed her hand to his heart, kissed his daughter's hand, and turned -away from them, while, at a sign from his comrade, Sans-Souci led -Adeline and Ermance toward the house. - -"They have gone and we are alone," said Jacques to his brother, when -Adeline was out of sight; "are you the man they are looking for?" - -"Yes; a little way from here, in a wine shop I had entered to ask for -help, a man who used to be a keeper at the galleys at Toulon, happened -to be drinking at a table; he examined me closely, and I went out, -afraid of being recognized; but I see now that it was too late; my fate -is sealed; but I am less unhappy than I was; I have seen my daughter, my -wife has forgiven me, and you--oh! I entreat you, brother, forgive me -too!" - -"Yes," said Jacques, "I will forgive you; but you must--wretched man! do -you know what the punishment is that awaits you? You must die upon the -scaffold; and the scandal of your infamous death will make our shame -eternal! Will you never have the courage to do anything but commit -crimes? will you never be able to do what the honor of your wife and -your child has made it your duty to do for a long while? You shudder, -weak man! you await the executioner; remember that you cannot avoid -falling into the hands of the law again! Great God! and you are not -weary of a life dragged out in infamy and misery!" - -"I understand you," said Edouard; "be sure that death will be a blessing -to me; but before going down into the grave, I wanted to let you know -that I repent; now give me the means of escaping my punishment; I will -hesitate no longer." - -Jacques motioned to Edouard to wait for him; he hurried to his study, -took his pistols and returned to the garden. He saw his brother kneeling -beside the small barred gate. He handed him the weapons with a firm hand -and Edouard took them. - -"Now," said Jacques, "come, unhappy man! let us embrace for the last -time. Your brother pardons your crimes, and he will come every day to -pray to Heaven on your grave." - -Edouard threw himself into his brother's arms; they embraced a long -while; but at last, Edouard walked a few steps away, a report rang -out,--the miserable wretch had ceased to live. - -Jacques went to his brother's body, and summoning all his courage, -although his tears fell rapidly, he hastily dug a grave at the foot of a -willow tree near the little gate. Sans-Souci arrived and surprised his -comrade in that melancholy occupation. - -"Help me," said Jacques, "it's my brother." - -Sans-Souci tried to send his friend away and to perform that painful -task alone; but Jacques would not consent; he was determined to pay the -last duties to his brother. And not until the earth had concealed him -from his sight did he consent to return to Adeline. - -"Well," she said, "what has become of him?" - -"Have no further fear for him," said Jacques; "he has escaped; and I -give you my word that the law can never lay hold of him now." - -Adeline had faith in Jacques's promise and looked on without -apprehension when the gendarmes, a few hours later, searched the house, -where of course they did not find Edouard. - -After some time, Adeline noticed with surprise a tombstone which Jacques -had caused to be erected under the willow at the end of the garden. - -"For whom is this stone?" she asked him. - -"For my unhappy brother," Jacques replied. - -"Is he dead?" - -"Yes, he is no more; I am absolutely certain of it." - -"Alas! in what part of the earth did he end his days?" - -"He is there," said Jacques at last, pointing to the end of the garden, -at the foot of the willow. - -Adeline shuddered and dared to ask no more; but every day she took her -daughter to pray over the poor beggar's grave, and Ermance never knew -that she was praying for her father. - -And it was at the foot of the willow that Jacques buried his cross -also. - - - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Brother Jacques (Novels of Paul de -Kock, Volume XVII), by Charles Paul de Kock - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BROTHER JACQUES *** - -***** This file should be named 40913.txt or 40913.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/0/9/1/40913/ - -Produced by Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images available at The Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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