white lies-第7章

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y　from　her　chateau；　from　the　little　oratory　where　she　prays　every　day　for　the　departed；　from　her　place　in　the　sun　on　the　south　terrace；　and　from　all　the　memories　that　surround　her　here；　she　would　soon　pine；　and　die。〃

Here　the　savant　seeing　a　hobby…horse　near；　caught　him　and　jumped　on。　He　launched　into　a　treatise　upon　the　vitality　of　human　beings；　and　proved　that　it　is　the　mind　which　keeps　the　body　of　a　man　alive　for　so　great　a　length　of　time　as　fourscore　years；　for　that　he　had　in　the　earlier　part　of　his　studies　carefully　dissected　a　multitude　of　animals；frogs；　rabbits；　dogs；　men；　horses；　sheep；　squirrels；　foxes；　cats；　etc。；and　discovered　no　peculiarity　in　man's　organs　to　account　for　his　singular　longevity；　except　in　the　brain　or　organ　of　mind。　　Thence　he　went　to　the　longevity　of　men　with　contented　minds；　and　the　rapid　decay　of　the　careworn。　　Finally　he　succeeded　in　convincing　them　the　baroness　was　so　constituted；　physically　and　mentally；　that　she　would　never　move　from　Beaurepaire　except　into　her　grave。　　However；　having　thus　terrified　them；　he　proceeded　to　console　them。　　〃You　have　a　friend；〃　said　he；　〃a　powerful　friend；　and　here　in　my　pocketsomewhereis　a　letter　that　proves　it。〃

The　letter　was　from　Mr。　Perrin　the　notary。　　It　appeared　by　it　that　Dr。　Aubertin　had　reminded　the　said　Perrin　of　his　obligations　to　the　late　baron；　and　entreated　him　to　use　all　his　influence　to　keep　the　estate　in　this　ancient　family。

Perrin　had　replied　at　first　in　a　few　civil　lines；　but　his　present　letter　was　a　long　and　friendly　one。　　It　made　both　the　daughters　of　Beaurepaire　shudder　at　the　peril　they　had　so　narrowly　escaped。　　For　by　it　they　now　learned　for　the　first　time　that　one　Jaques　Bonard；　a　small　farmer；　to　whom　they　owed　but　five　thousand　francs；　had　gone　to　the　mayor　and　insisted；　as　he　had　a　perfect　right；　on　the　estate　being　put　up　to　public　auction。　　This　had　come　to　Perrin's　ears　just　in　time；　and　he　had　instantly　bought　Bonard's　debt；　and　stopped　the　auction；　not；　however；　before　the　very　bills　were　printed；　for　which　he；　Perrin；　had　paid；　and　now　forwarded　the　receipt。　　He　concluded　by　saying　that　the　government　agent　was　personally　inert；　and　would　never　move　a　step　in　the　matter　unless　driven　by　a　creditor。

〃But　we　have　so　many；〃　said　Rose　in　dismay。　　〃We　are　not　safe　a　day。〃

Aubertin　assured　her　the　danger　was　only　in　appearance。　　〃Your　large　creditors　are　men　of　property；　and　such　men　let　their　funds　lie　unless　compelled　to　move　them。　　The　small　mortgagee；　the　petty　miser；　who　has；　perhaps；　no　investment　to　watch　but　one　small　loan；　about　which　he　is　as　anxious　and　as　noisy　as　a　hen　with　one　chicken；　he　is　the　clamorous　creditor；　the　harsh　little　egoist；　who　for　fear　of　risking　a　crown　piece　would　bring　the　Garden　of　Eden　to　the　hammer。　　Now　we　are　rid　of　that　little　wretch；　Bonard；　and　have　Perrin　on　our　side；　so　there　is　literally　nothing　to　fear。〃

The　sisters　thanked　him　warmly；　and　Rose　shared　his　hopes；　and　said　so；　but　Josephine　was　silent　and　thoughtful。　　Nothing　more　worth　recording　passed　that　night。　　But　the　next　day　was　the　first　of　May；　Josephine's　birthday。

Now　they　always　celebrated　this　day　as　well　as　they　could；　and　used　to　plant　a　tree；　for　one　thing。　　Dard；　well　spurred　by　Jacintha；　had　got　a　little　acacia；　and　they　were　all　out　in　the　Pleasaunce　to　plant　it。　　Unhappily；　they　were　a　preposterous　time　making　up　their　feminine　minds　where　to　have　it　set；　so　Dard　turned　rusty　and　said　the　park　was　the　best　place　for　it。　　There　it　could　do　no　harm；　stick　it　where　you　would。

〃And　who　told　you　to　put　in　your　word？〃　inquired　Jacintha。　　〃You're　here　to　dig　the　hole　where　mademoiselle　chooses；　not　to　argufy。〃

Josephine　whispered　Rose；　〃I　admire　the　energy　of　her　character。　Could　she　be　induced　to　order　once　for　all　where　the　poor　thing　is　to　be　planted？〃

〃Then　where　WILL　you　have　it；　mademoiselle？〃　asked　Dard；　sulkily。

〃Here；　I　think；　Dard；〃　said　Josephine　sweetly。

Dard　grinned　malignantly；　and　drove　in　his　spade。　　〃It　will　never　be　much　bigger　than　a　stinging　nettle；〃　thought　he；　〃for　the　roots　of　the　oak　have　sucked　every　atom　of　heart　out　of　this。〃　　His　black　soul　exulted　secretly。

Jacintha　stood　by　Dard；　inspecting　his　work；　the　sisters　intertwined；　a　few　feet　from　him。　　The　baroness　turned　aside；　and　went　to　look　for　a　moment　at　the　chaplet　she　had　placed　yesterday　on　the　oak…tree　bough。　　Presently　she　uttered　a　slight　ejaculation；　and　her　daughters　looked　up　directly。

〃Come　here；　children；〃　said　she。　　They　glided　to　her　in　a　moment；　and　found　her　eyes　fixed　upon　an　object　that　lay　on　the　knights'　bough。

It　was　a　sparkling　purse。

I　dare　say　you　have　noticed　that　the　bark　on　the　boughs　of　these　very　ancient　trees　is　as　deeply　furrowed　as　the　very　stem　of　an　oak　tree　that　boasts　but　a　few　centuries；　and　in　one　of　these　deep　furrows　lay　a　green　silk　purse　with　gold　coins　glittering　through　the　glossy　meshes。

Josephine　and　Rose　eyed　it　a　moment　like　startled　deer；　then　Rose　pounced　on　it。　　〃Oh；　how　heavy！〃　she　cried。　　This　brought　up　Dard　and　Jacintha；　in　time　to　see　Rose　pour　ten　shining　gold　pieces　out　of　the　purse　into　her　pink…white　palm；　while　her　face　flushed　and　her　eyes　glittered　with　excitement。　　Jacintha　gave　a　scream　of　joy；　〃Our　luck　is　turned；〃　she　cried；　superstitiously。　　Meanwhile；　Josephine　had　found　a　slip　of　paper　close　to　the　purse。　　She　opened　it　with　nimble　fingers；　it　contained　one　line　in　a　hand　like　that　of　a　copying　clerk：　FROM　A　FRIEND：　IN　PART　PAYMENT　OF　A　GREAT　DEBT。

Keen；　piquant　curiosity　now　took　the　place　of　surprise。　　Who　could　it　be？　　The　baroness's　suspicion　fell　at　once　on　Dr。　Aubertin。　　But　Rose　maintained　he　had　not　ten　gold　pieces　in　the　world。　　The　baroness　appealed　to　Josephine。　　She　only　blushed　in　an　extraordinary　way；　and　said　nothing。　　They　puzzled；　and　puzzled；　and　were　as　much　in　the　dark　as　ever；　when　lo！　one　of　the　suspected　parties　delivered　himself　into　the　hands　of　justice　with　ludicrous　simplicity。　　It　happened　to　be　Dr。　Aubertin's　hour　of　out…a…door　study；　and　he　came　mooning　along；　buried　in　a　book；　and　walked　slowly　into　the　groupstarted；　made　a　slight　apology；　and　was　mooning　off；　lost　in　his　book　again。　　Then　the　baroness；　who　had　eyed　him　with　grim　suspicion　all　the　time；　said　with　well…affected　nonchalance；　〃Doctor；　you　dropped　your　purse；　we　have　just　picked　it　up。〃　　And　she　handed　it　to　him。　　〃Thank　you；　madame；〃　said　he；　and　took　it　quietly　without　looking　at　it；　put　it　in　his　pocket；　and　retired；　with　his　soul　in　his　book。　　They　stared　comically　at　one　another；　and　at　this　cool　hand。　　〃It's　no　more　his　than　it's　mine；〃　said　Jacintha；　bluntly。　Rose　darted　after　the　absorbed　student；　and　took　him　captive。　　〃Now；　doctor；〃　she　cried；　〃be　pleased　to　come　out　of　the　clouds。〃　　And　with　the　word　she　whipped　the　purse　out　of　his　coat　pocket；　and　holding　it　right　up　before　his　eye；　insisted　on　his　telling　her　whether　that　was　his　purse　or　not；　money　and　all。　　Thus　adjured；　he　disowned　the　property　mighty　coolly；　for　a　retired　physician；　who　had　just　pocketed　it。

〃No；　my　dear；〃　said　he；　〃and；　now　I　think　of　it；　I　have　not　carried　a　purse　this　twenty　years。〃

The　baroness；　as　a　last　resource；　appealed　to　his　honor　whether　he　had　not　left　a　purse　and　paper　on　the　knights'　bough。　　The　question　had　to　be　explained　by　Josephine；　and　then　the　doctor　surprised　them　all　by　being　rather　affrontedfor　once　in　his　life。

〃Baroness；〃　said　he；　〃I　have　been　your　friend　and　pensioner　nearly　twenty　years；　if　by　some　strange　chance　money　were　to　come　into　my　hands；　I　should　not　play　you　a　childish　trick　like　this。　　What！　have　I　not　the　right　to　come　to　you；　and　say；　'My　old　friend；　here　I　bring　you　back　a　very　small　part　of　all　I　owe　you？'〃

〃What　geese　we　are；〃　remarked　Rose。　　〃Dear　doctor；　YOU　tell　us　who　it　is。〃

Dr。　Aubertin　reflected　a　single　moment；　then　said　he　could　make　a　shrewd　guess。

〃Who？　who？　who？〃　cried　the　whole　party。

〃Perrin　the　notary。〃

It　was　the　baroness's　turn　to　be　surprised；　for　there　was　nothing　romantic　about　Perrin　the　notary。　　Aubertin；　however；　let　her　know　that　he　was　in　private　communication　with　the　said　Perrin；　and　this　was　not　the　first　friendly　act　the　good　notary　had　done　her　in　secret。

While　he　was　converting　the　baroness　to　his　view；　Josephine　and　Rose　exchanged　a　signal；　and　slipped　away　round　an　angle　of　the　chateau。

〃Who　is　it？〃　said　Rose。

〃It　is　some　one　who　has　a　delicate　mind。〃

〃Clearly；　and　therefore　not　a　notary。〃

〃Rose；　dear；　might　it　not　be　some　person　who　has　done　us　some　wrong；　and　is　perhaps　penitent？〃

〃Certainly；　one　of　our　tenants；　or　creditors；　you　mean；　but　then；　the　paper　says　'a　friend。'　　Stay；　it　says　a　debtor。　　Why　a　debtor？　Down　with　enigmas！〃

〃Rose；　love；〃　said　Josephine；　coaxingly；　〃think　of　some　one　that　mightsince　it　is　not　the　doctor；　nor　Monsieur　Perrin；　might　it　not　befor　after　all；　he　would　naturally　be　ashamed　to　appear　before　me。〃

〃Before　you？　　Who　do　you　mean？〃　asked　Rose　nervously；　catching　a　glimpse　now。

〃He　who　once　pretended　to　love　me。〃

〃Josephine；　you　love　that　man　still。〃

〃No；　no。　　Spare　me！〃

〃You　love　him　just　the　same　as　ever。　　Oh；　it　is　wonderful；　it　is　terrible；　the　power　he　has　over　you；　over　your　judgment　as　well　as　your　heart。〃

〃No！　for　I　believe　he　has　forgotten　my　very　name；　don't　you　think　so？〃

〃Dear　Josephine；　can　you　doubt　it？　　Come；　you　do　doubt　it。〃

〃Sometimes。〃

〃But　why？　for　what　reason？〃

〃Because　of　what　he　said　to　me　as　we　parted　at　that　gate；　the　words　and　the　voice　seem　still　to　ring　like　truth　across　the　weary　years。　He　said；　'I　am　to　join　the　army　of　the　Pyrenees；　so　fatal　to　our　troops；　but　say　to　me　what　you　never　yet　have　said；　Camille；　I　love　you：　and　I　swear　I　will　come　back　alive。'　　So　then　I　said　to　him；　'I　love　you；'and　he　never　came　back。〃

〃How　could　he　come　here？　a　deserter；　a　traitor！〃

〃It　is　not　true；　it　is　not　in　his　nature；　inconstancy　may　be。　　Tell　me　that　he　never　really　loved　me；　and　I　will　believe　you；　but　not　that　he　is　a　traitor。　　Let　me　weep　over　my　past　love；　not　blush　for　it。〃

〃Past？　　You　love　him　to…day　as　you　did　three　years　ago。〃

〃No；〃　said　Josephine；　〃no；　I　love　no　one。　　I　never　shall　love　any　one　again。〃

〃But　him。　　It　is　that　love　which　turns　your　heart　against　others。　Oh；　yes；　you　love　him；　dearest；　or　why　should　you　fancy　our　secret　benefactor　COULD　be　that　Camille？〃

〃Why？　　Because　I　was　mad：　because　it　is　impossible；　but　I　see　my　folly。　　I　am　going　in。〃

〃What！　don't　you　care　to　know　who　I　think　it　was；　perhaps？〃

〃No；〃　said　Josephine　sadly　and　doggedly；　she　added　with　cold　nonchalance；　〃I　dare　say　time　will　show。〃　　And　she　went　slowly　in；　her　hand　to　her　head。

〃Her　birthday！〃　sighed　Rose。

The　donor；　whoever　he　was；　little　knew　the　pain　he　was　inflicting　on　this　distressed　but　proud　family；　or　the　hard　battle　that　ensued　between　their　necessities　and　their　delicacy。　　The　ten　gold　pieces　were　a　perpetual　temptation：　a　daily　conflict。　　The　words　that　accompanied　the　donation　offered　a　bait。　　Their　pride　and　dignity　declined　it；　but　these　bright　bits　of　gold　cost　them　many　a　sharp　pang。　　You　must　know　that　Josephine　and　Rose　had　worn　out　their　mourning　by　this　time；　and　were　obliged　to　have　recourse　to　gayer　materials　that　lay　in　their　gr