white lies-第16章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ile　she　blushed　and　hesitated；　lo　and　behold　a　rival　referee　hove　in　sight。　　Raynal　saw　him；　suddenly　opened　a　window；　and　shouted；　〃Hallo　come　in　here：　you　are　wanted。〃

Perrin　had　ridden　up　to　complete　the　exodus　of　the　De　Beaurepaires；　and　was　strolling　about　inspecting　the　premises　he　had　expelled　them　from。

Here　was　a　pretty　referee！

Josephine　almost　screamed〃What　are　you　doing？　that　is　our　enemy；　our　bitterest　enemy。　　He　has　only　sold　you　the　estate　to　spite　us；　not　for　the　love　of　you。　　I　hadwe　hadwe　mortified　his　vanity。　It　was　not　our　fault：　he　is　a　viper。　　Sir；　pray；　pray；　pray　be　on　your　guard　against　his　counsels。〃

These　words　spoken　with　rare　fire　and　earnestness　carried　conviction：　but　it　was　too　late　to　recall　the　invitation。　　The　notary　entered　the　room；　and　was　going　to　bow　obsequiously　to　Raynal；　when　he　caught　sight　of　Josephine；　and　almost　started。　Raynal；　after　Josephine's　warning；　was　a　little　at　a　loss　how　to　make　him　available；　and　even　that　short　delay　gave　the　notary's　one　foible　time　to　lead　him　into　temptation。　　〃Our　foibles　are　our　manias。〃

〃So；〃　said　he；　〃you　have　taken　possession；　commandant。　　These　military　men　are　prompt；　are　they　not；　mademoiselle？〃

〃Do　not　address　yourself　to　me；　sir；　I　beg；〃　said　Josephine　quietly。

Perrin　kept　his　self…command。　　〃It　is　only　as　Commandant　Raynal's　agent　I　presume　to　address　so　distinguished　a　lady：　in　that　character　I　must　inform　you　that　whatever　movables　you　have　removed　are　yours：　those　we　find　in　the　house　on　entering　we　keep。〃

〃Come；　come；　not　so　fast；〃　cried　Raynal；　〃bother　the　chairs　and　tables！　that　is　not　the　point。〃

〃Commandant；〃　said　the　notary　with　dignity；　〃have　I　done　anything　to　merit　this？　have　I　served　your　interests　so　ill　that　you　withdraw　your　confidence　from　me？〃

〃No；　no；　my　good　fellow；　but　you　exceed　your　powers。　　Just　now　I　want　you　to　take　orders；　not　give　them。〃

〃That　is　only　just；〃　said　Perrin；　〃and　I　recall　my　hasty　remark：　excuse　the　susceptibility　of　a　professional　man；　who　is　honored　with　the　esteem　of　his　clients；　and　favor　me　with　your　wishes。〃

〃All　right；〃　said　Raynal　heartily。　　〃Well；　thenI　want　mademoiselle　and　her　family　to　stay　here　while　I　go　to　Egypt　with　the　First　Consul。　　Mademoiselle　makes　difficulties；　it　offends　her　delicacy。〃

〃Comedy！〃　said　the　notary　contemptuously。

〃Though　her　mother's　life　depends　on　her　staying　here。〃

〃Comedy！〃　said　Perrin。　　Raynal　frowned。

〃Her　pride　（begging　her　pardon）　is　greater　than　her　affection。〃

〃Farce！〃

〃I　have　pitched　upon　you　to　reconcile　the　two。〃

〃Then　you　have　pitched　upon　the　wrong　man；〃　said　Perrin　bluntly。　　He　added　obsequiously；　〃I　am　too　much　your　friend。　　She　has　been　talking　you　over；　no　doubt；　but　you　have　a　friend；　an　Ulysses；　who　is　deaf　to　the　siren's　voice。　　I　will　be　no　party　to　such　a　transaction。　　I　will　not　co…operate　to　humbug　my　friend　and　rob　him　of　his　rights。〃

If　Josephine　was　inferior　to　the　notary　in　petty　sharpness；　she　was　his　superior　in　the　higher　kinds　of　sagacity；　and　particularly　in　instinctive　perception　of　character。　　Her　eye　flashed　with　delight　at　the　line　Perrin　was　now　taking　with　Raynal。　　The　latter　speedily　justified　her　expectations：　he　just　told　Perrin　to　be　off；　and　send　him　a　more　accommodating　notary。

〃A　more　accommodating　notary！〃　screamed　Perrin；　stung　to　madness　by　this　reproach。　　〃There　is　not　a　more　accommodating　notary　in　Europe。　Ungrateful　man！　is　this　the　return　for　all　my　zeal；　my　integrity；　my　unselfishness？　　Is　there　another　agent　in　the　world　who　would　have　let　such　a　bargain　as　Beaurepaire　fall　into　your　hands？　　It　serves　me　right　for　deviating　from　the　rules　of　business。　　Send　me　another　agentoh！〃

The　honest　soldier　was　confused。　　The　lawyer's　eloquence　overpowered　him。　　He　felt　guilty。　　Josephine　saw　his　simplicity；　and　made　a　cut　with　a　woman's　two…edged　sword。　　〃Sir；〃　said　she　coolly；　〃do　you　not　see　it　is　an　affair　of　money？　　This　is　his　way　of　saying；　Pay　me　handsomely　for　so　unusual　a　commission。〃

〃And　I'll　pay　him　double；〃　cried　Raynal；　catching　the　idea；　〃don't　be　alarmed；　I'll　pay　you　for　it。〃

〃And　my　zeal；　my　devotion？〃

〃Put　'em　in　figures。〃

〃And　my　prob？〃

〃Add　it　up。〃

〃And　my　integ？〃

〃Add　them　together：　and　don't　bother　me。〃

〃I　see！　I　see！　my　poor　soldier。　　You　are　no　match　for　a　woman's　tongue。〃

〃Nor；　for　a　notary's。　　Go　to　h…；　and　send　in　your　bill！〃　roared　the　soldier　in　a　fury。　　〃Well；　will　you　go？〃　and　he　marched　at　him。

The　notary　scuttled　out；　with　something　between　a　snarl　and　a　squeak。

Josephine　hid　her　face　in　her　hands。

〃What　is　the　matter　with　you？〃　inquired　Raynal。　　〃Not　crying　again；　surely！〃

〃Me！　　I　never　cryhardly。　I　hid　my　face　because　I　could　not　help　laughing。　　You　frightened　me；　sir；〃　said　she：　then　very　demurely；　〃I　was　afraid　you　were　going　to　beat　him。〃

〃No；　no；　a　good　soldier　never　leathers　a　civilian　if　he　can　possibly　help　it；　it　looks　so　bad；　and　before　a　lady！〃

〃Oh；　I　would　have　forgiven　you；　monsieur；〃　said　Josephine　benignly；　and　something　like　a　little　sun　danced　in　her　eye。

〃Now；　mademoiselle；　since　my　referee　has　proved　a　pig；　it　is　your　turn。　　Choose　you　a　mutual　friend。〃

Josephine　hesitated。　　〃Ours　is　so　young。　　You　know　him　very　well。　You　are　doubtless　the　commandant　of　whom　I　once　heard　him　speak　with　such　admiration：　his　name　is　Riviere；　Edouard　Riviere。〃

〃Know　him？　he　is　my　best　officer；　out　and　out。〃　　And　without　a　moment's　hesitation　he　took　Edouard's　present　address；　and　accepted　that　youthful　Daniel　as　their　referee；　then　looked　at　his　watch　and　marched　off　to　his　public　duties　with　sabre　clanking　at　his　heels。

The　notary　went　home　gnashing　his　teeth。　　His　sweet　revenge　was　turned　to　wormwood　this　day。　　Raynal's　parting　commissions　rang　in　his　ear；　in　his　bitter　mood　the　want　of　logical　sequence　in　the　two　orders　disgusted　him。

So　he　inverted　them。

He　sent　in　a　thundering　bill　the　very　next　morning；　but　postponed　the　other　commission　till　his　dying　day。

As　for　Josephine；　she　came　into　the　drawing…room　beaming　with　love　and　happiness；　and　after　kissing　both　her　mother　and　Rose　with　gentle　violence；　she　let　them　know　the　strange　turn　things　had　taken。

And　she　whispered　to　Rose；　〃Only　think；　YOUR　Edouard　to　be　OUR　referee！〃

Rose　blushed　and　bent　over　her　work；　and　wondered　how　Edouard　would　discharge　so　grave　an　office。

The　matter　approached　a　climax；　for；　as　the　reader　is　aware；　Edouard　was　hourly　expected　at　Beaurepaire。

He　did　not　come；　but　it　was　not　his　fault。　　On　receiving　Rose's　letter　he　declined　to　stay　another　hour　at　his　uncle's。

He　flung　himself　on　his　horse；　and；　before　he　was　well　settled　on　the　stirrups；　the　animal　shied　violently　at　a　wheelbarrow　some　fool　had　left　there；　and　threw　Edouard　on　the　stones　of　the　courtyard。　He　jumped　up　in　a　moment　and　laughed　at　Marthe's　terror；　meantime　a　farm…servant　caught　the　nag　and　brought　him　back　to　his　work。

But　when　Edouard　went　to　put　his　hand　on　the　saddle；　he　found　it　would　not　obey　him。　　〃Wait　a　minute；〃　said　he；　〃my　arm　is　benumbed。〃

〃Let　me　see！〃　said　the　farmer；　and　examined　the　limb　himself；　〃benumbed？　yes；　and　no　wonder。　　Jacques；　get　on　the　brute　and　ride　for　the　surgeon。〃

〃Are　you　mad；　uncle？〃　cried　Edouard。　　〃I　can't　spare　my　horse；　and　I　want　no　surgeon；　it　will　be　well　directly。〃

〃It　will　be　worse　before　it　is　better。〃

〃I　don't　know　what　you　mean；　uncle；　it　is　only　numbed；　ah！　it　hurts　when　I　rub　it。〃

〃It　is　worse　than　numbed；　boy；　it　is　broken。〃

〃Broken？　nonsense：〃　and　he　looked　at　it　in　piteous　bewilderment：　〃how　can　it　be　broken？　it　does　not　hurt　except　when　I　touch　it。〃

〃It　WILL　hurt：　I　know　all　about　it。　　I　broke　mine　fifteen　years　ago：　fell　off　a　haystack。〃

〃Oh；　how　unfortunate　I　am！〃　cried　Edouard；　piteously。　　〃But　I　will　go　to　Beaurepaire　all　the　same。　　I　can　have　the　thing　mended　there；　as　well　as　here。〃

〃You　will　go　to　bed；〃　said　the　old　man；　quietly；　〃that　is　where　YOU'LL　go。〃

〃I'll　go　to　blazes　sooner；〃　yelled　the　young　one。

The　old　man　made　a　signal　to　his　myrmidons；　whom　Marthe's　cries　had　brought　around；　and　four　stout　fellows　took　hold　of　Edouard　by　the　legs　and　the　left　shoulder　and　carried　him　up…stairs　raging　and　kicking；　and　deposited　him　on　a　bed。

Presently　he　began　to　feel　faint；　and　so　more　reasonable。　　They　cut　his　coat　off；　and　put　him　in　a　loose　wrapper；　and　after　considerable　delay　the　surgeon　came；　and　set　his　arm　skilfully；　and　behold　this　ardent　spirit　caged。　　He　chafed　and　fretted　sadly。　　Fortitude　was　not　his　forte。

It　was　two　days　after　his　accident。　　He　was　lying　on　his　back；　environed　by　slops　and　cursing　his　evil　fate；　and　fretting　his　soul　out　of　its　fleshly　prison；　when　suddenly　he　heard　a　cheerful　trombone　saying　three　words　to　Marthe；　then　came　a　clink…clank；　and　Marthe　ushered　into　the　sickroom　the　Commandant　Raynal。　　The　sick　man　raised　himself　in　bed；　with　great　surprise　and　joy。

〃O　commandant！　this　is　kind　to　come　and　see　your　poor　officer　in　purgatory。〃

〃Ah；〃　cried　Raynal；　〃you　see　I　know　what　it　is。　　I　have　been　chained　down　by　the　arm；　and　the　leg；　and　all：　it　is　deadly　tiresome。〃

〃Tiresome！　it　isit　isoh；　dear　commandant；　Heaven　bless　you　for　coming！〃

〃Ta！　ta！　ta！　　I　am　come　on　my　own　business。〃

〃All　the　better。　　I　have　nothing　to　do；　that　is　what　kills　me。　　I'm　eating　my　own　heart。〃

〃Cannibal！　　Well；　my　lad；　since　you　are　in　that　humor；　cheer　up；　for　I　bring　you　a　job；　and　a　tough　one；　it　has　puzzled　me。〃

〃What　is　it；　commandant？　　What　is　it？〃

〃Well；　do　you　know　a　house　and　a　family　called　Beaurepaire？〃

〃Do　I　know　Beaurepaire？〃

And　the　pale　youth　turned　very　red；　and　stared　with　awe　at　this　wizard　of　a　commandant。　　He　thought　he　was　going　to　be　called　over　the　coals　for　frequenting　a　disaffected　family。　　〃Well；〃　said　Raynal；　〃I　have　been　and　bought　this　Beaurepaire。〃

Edouard　uttered　a　loud　exclamation。　　〃It　was　YOU　bought　it！　she　never　told　me　that。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Raynal；　〃I　am　the　culprit；　and　we　have　fixed　on　you　to　undo　my　work　without　hurting　their　pride　too　much；　poor　souls；　but　let　us　begin　with　the　facts。〃

Then　Raynal　told　him　my　story　after　his　fashion。　　Of　course　I　shall　not　go　and　print　his　version；　you　might　like　his　concise　way　better　than　my　verbose；　and　I'm　not　here　to　hold　up　any　man's　coat…tails。　Short　as　he　made　it；　Edouard's　eyes　were　moist　more　than　once；　and　at　the　end　he　caught　Raynal's　hand　and　kissed　it。　　Then　he　asked　time　to　reflect；　〃for；〃　said　he；　〃I　must　try　and　be　just。〃

〃I'll　give　you　an　hour；〃　said　Raynal；　with　an　air　of　grand　munificence。　　The　only　treasure　he　valued　was　time。

In　less　than　an　hour　Edouard　had　solved　the　knot；　to　his　entire　satisfaction；　he　even　gave　the　commandant　particular　instructions　for　carrying　out　his　sovereign　decree。　　Raynal　received　these　orders　from　his　subordinate　with　that　simplicity　which　formed　part　of　his　amazing　character；　and　rode　home　relieved　of　all　responsibility　in　the　matter。


COMMANDANT　RAYNAL　TO　MADEMOISELLE　DE　BEAUREPAIRE。

Mademoiselle；Before　I　could　find　time　to　write　to　our　referee；　news　came　in　that　he　had　just　broken　his　arm；


〃Oh！　oh；　dear！　our　poor　Edouard！〃

And　if　poor　Edouard　had　seen　the　pale　faces；　and　heard　the　faltering　accents；　it　would　have　reconci