white lies-第8章

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eir　mourning　by　this　time；　and　were　obliged　to　have　recourse　to　gayer　materials　that　lay　in　their　great　wardrobes；　and　were　older；　but　less　worn。　　A　few　of　these　gold　pieces　would　have　enabled　the　poor　girls　to　be　neat；　and　yet　to　mourn　their　father　openly。　　And　it　went　through　and　through　those　tender；　simple　hearts；　to　think　that　they　must　be　disunited；　even　in　so　small　a　thing　as　dress；　that　while　their　mother　remained　in　her　weeds；　they　must　seem　no　longer　to　share　her　woe。

The　baroness　knew　their　feeling；　and　felt　its　piety；　and　yet　could　not　bow　her　dignity　to　say；　〃Take　five　of　these　bits　of　gold；　and　let　us　all　look　what　we　areone。〃　　Yet　in　this；　as　in　everything　else；　they　supported　each　other。　　They　resisted；　they　struggled；　and　with　a　wrench　they　conquered　day　by　day。　　At　last；　by　general　consent；　Josephine　locked　up　the　tempter；　and　they　looked　at　it　no　more。　　But　the　little　bit　of　paper　met　a　kinder　fate。　　Rose　made　a　little　frame　for　it；　and　it　was　kept　in　a　drawer；　in　the　salon：　and　often　looked　at　and　blessed。　　Just　when　they　despaired　of　human　friendship；　this　paper　with　the　sacred　word　〃friend〃　written　on　it；　had　fallen　all　in　a　moment　on　their　aching　hearts。

They　could　not　tell　whence　it　came；　this　blessed　word。

But　men　dispute　whence　comes　the　dew？

Then　let　us　go　with　the　poets；　who　say　it　comes　from　heaven。

And　even　so　that　sweet　word；　friend；　dropped　like　the　dew　from　heaven　on　these　afflicted　ones。

So　they　locked　the　potent　gold　away　from　themselves；　and　took　the　kind　slip　of　paper　to　their　hearts。

The　others　left　off　guessing：　Aubertin　had　it　all　his　own　way：　he　upheld　Perrin　as　their　silent　benefactor；　and　bade　them　all　observe　that　the　worthy　notary　had　never　visited　the　chateau　openly　since　the　day　the　purse　was　left　there。　　〃Guilty　conscience；〃　said　Aubertin　dryly。

One　day　in　his　walks　he　met　a　gaunt　figure　ambling　on　a　fat　pony：　he　stopped　him；　and；　holding　up　his　finger；　said　abruptly；　〃We　have　found　you　out；　Maitre　Perrin。〃

The　notary　changed　color。

〃Oh；　never　be　ashamed；〃　said　Aubertin；　〃a　good　action　done　slyly　is　none　the　less　a　good　action。〃

The　notary　wore　a　puzzled　air。

Aubertin　admired　his　histrionic　powers　in　calling　up　this　look。

〃Come；　come；　don't　overdo　it；〃　said　he。　　〃Well；　well；　they　cannot　profit　by　your　liberality；　but　you　will　be　rewarded　in　a　better　world；　take　my　word　for　that。〃

The　notary　muttered　indistinctly。　　He　was　a　man　of　moderate　desires；　would　have　been　quite　content　if　there　had　been　no　other　world　in　perspective。　　He　had　studied　this　one；　and　made　it　pay：　did　not　desire　a　better；　sometimes　feared　a　worse。

〃Ah！〃　said　Aubertin；　〃I　see　how　it　is；　we　do　not　like　to　hear　ourselves　praised；　do　we？　　When　shall　we　see　you　at　the　chateau？〃

〃I　propose　to　call　on　the　baroness　the　moment　I　have　good　news　to　bring；〃　replied　Perrin；　and　to　avoid　any　more　compliments　spurred　the　dun　pony　suddenly；　and　he　waddled　away。

Now　this　Perrin　was　at　that　moment　on　the　way　to　dine　with　a　character　who　plays　a　considerable　part　in　the　taleCommandant　Raynal。　　Perrin　had　made　himself　useful　to　the　commandant；　and　had　become　his　legal　adviser。　　And；　this　very　day　after　dinner；　the　commandant　having　done　a　good　day's　work　permitted　himself　a　little　sentiment　over　the　bottle；　and　to　a　man　he　thought　his　friend。　　He　let　out　that　he　had　a　heap　of　money　he　did　not　know　what　to　do　with；　and　almost　hated　it　now　his　mother　was　gone　and　could　not　share　it。

The　man　of　law　consoled　him　with　oleaginous　phrases：　told　him　he　very　much　underrated　the　power　of　money。　　His　hoard；　directed　by　a　judicious　adviser；　would　make　him　a　landed　proprietor；　and　the　husband　of　some　young　lady；　all　beauty；　virtue；　and　accomplishment；　whose　soothing　influence　would　soon　heal　the　sorrow　caused　by　an　excess　of　filial　sentiment。

〃Halt！〃　shouted　Raynal：　〃say　that　again　in　half　the　words。〃

Perrin　was　nettled；　for　he　prided　himself　on　his　colloquial　style。

〃You　can　buy　a　fine　estate　and　a　chaste　wife　with　the　money；〃　snapped　this　smooth　personage；　substituting　curt　brutality　for　honeyed　prolixity。

The　soldier　was　struck　by　the　propositions　the　moment　they　flew　at　him　small　and　solid；　like　bullets。

〃I've　no　time；〃　said　he；　〃to　be　running　after　women。　　But　the　estate　I'll　certainly　have；　because　you　can　get　that　for　me　without　my　troubling　my　head。〃

〃Is　it　a　commission；　then？〃　asked　the　other　sharply。

〃Of　course。　　Do　you　think　I　speak　for　the　sake　of　talking？〃

And　so　Perrin　received　formal　instructions　to　look　out　for　a　landed　estate；　and　he　was　to　receive　a　handsome　commission　as　agent。

Now　to　settle　this　affair；　and　pocket　a　handsome　percentage　for　himself；　he　had　only　to　say　〃Beaurepaire。〃

Well；　he　didn't。　　Never　mentioned　the　place；　nor　the　fact　that　it　was　for　sale。

Such　are　all　our　agents；　when　rival　speculators。　　Mind　that。　　Still　it　is　a　terrible　thing　to　be　so　completely　in　the　power　of　any　man　of　the　world；　as　from　this　hour　Beaurepaire　was　in　the　power　of　Perrin　the　notary。


CHAPTER　IV。


Edouard　Riviere　was　unhappy。　　She　never　came　out　now。　　This　alone　made　the　days　dark　to　him。　　And　then　he　began　to　fear　it　was　him　she　shunned。　　She　must　have　seen　him　lie　in　wait　for　her；　and　so　she　would　come　out　no　more。　　He　prowled　about　and　contrived　to　fall　in　with　Jacintha；　he　told　her　his　grief。　　She　assured　him　the　simple　fact　was　their　mourning　was　worn　out；　and　they　were　ashamed　to　go　abroad　in　colors。　　This　revelation　made　his　heart　yearn　still　more。

〃O　Jacintha；〃　said　he；　〃if　I　could　only　make　a　beginning；　but　here　we　might　live　a　century　in　the　same　parish；　and　not　one　chance　for　a　poor　wretch　to　make　acquaintance。〃

Jacintha　admitted　this；　and　said　gentlefolks　were　to　be　pitied。　〃Why；　if　it　was　the　likes　of　me；　you　and　I　should　have　made　friends　long　before　now。〃

Jacintha　herself　was　puzzled　what　to　do；　she　would　have　told　Rose　if　she　had　felt　sure　it　would　be　well　received；　but　she　could　not　find　out　that　the　young　lady　had　even　noticed　the　existence　of　Edouard。　But　her　brain　worked；　and　lay　in　wait　for　an　opportunity。

One　came　sooner　than　she　expected。　　One　morning　at　about　six　o'clock；　as　she　came　home　from　milking　the　cow；　she　caught　sight　of　young　Riviere　trying　to　open　the　iron　gate。　　〃What　is　up　now？〃　thought　she；　suddenly　the　truth　flashed　upon　her；　clear　as　day。　　She　put　her　pail　down　and　stole　upon　him。　　〃You　want　to　leave　us　another　purse；〃　said　she。　　He　colored　all　over　and　panted。

〃How　did　you　know？　how　could　you　know？　you　won't　betray　me？　you　won't　be　so　cruel？　you　promised。〃

〃Me　betray　you；〃　said　Jacintha；　〃why；　I'll　help　you；　and　then　they　will　be　able　to　buy　mourning；　you　know；　and　then　they　will　come　out；　and　give　you　a　chance。　　You　can't　open　that　gate；　for　it's　locked。　But　you　come　round　to　the　lane；　and　I'll　get　you　the　key；　it　is　hanging　up　in　the　kitchen。〃

The　key　was　in　her　pocket。　　But　the　sly　jade　wanted　him　away　from　that　gate；　it　commanded　a　view　of　the　Pleasaunce。　　He　was　no　sooner　safe　in　the　lane；　than　she　tore　up…stairs　to　her　young　ladies；　and　asked　them　with　affected　calm　whether　they　would　like　to　know　who　left　the　purse。

〃Oh；　yes；　yes！〃　screamed　Rose。

〃Then　come　with　me。　　You　ARE　dressed；　never　mind　your　bonnets；　or　you　will　be　too　late。〃

Questions　poured　on　her；　but　she　waived　all　explanation；　and　did　not　give　them　time　to　think；　or　Josephine；　for　one；　she　knew　would　raise　objections。　　She　led　the　way　to　the　Pleasaunce；　and；　when　she　got　to　the　ancestral　oak；　she　said　hurriedly；　〃Now；　mesdemoiselles；　hide　in　there；　and　as　still　as　mice。　　You'll　soon　know　who　leaves　the　purses。〃

With　this　she　scudded　to　the　lane；　and　gave　Edouard　the　key。　　〃Look　sharp；〃　said　she；　〃before　they　get　up；　it's　almost　their　dressing　time。〃

〃YOU'LL　SOON　KNOW　WHO　LEAVES　THE　PURSES！〃

Curiosity；　delicious　curiosity；　thrilled　our　two　daughters　of　Eve。

This　soon　began　to　alternate　with　chill　misgivings　at　the　novelty　of　the　situation。

〃She　is　not　coming　back；〃　said　Josephine　ruefully。

〃No；〃　said　Rose；　〃and　suppose　when　we　pounce　out　on　him；　it　should　be　a　stranger。〃

〃Pounce　on　him？　surely　we　are　not　to　do　that？〃

〃Oh；　y…yes；　that　is　the　p…p…programme；〃　quavered　Rose。

A　key　grated；　and　the　iron　gate　creaked　on　its　hinges。　　They　ran　together　and　pinched　one　another　for　mutual　support；　but　did　not　dare　to　speak。

Presently　a　man's　shadow　came　slap　into　the　tree。　　They　crouched　and　quivered；　and　expected　to　be　caught　instead　of　catching；　and　wished　themselves　safe　back　in　bed；　and　all　this　a　nightmare；　and　no　worse。

At　last　they　recovered　themselves　enough　to　observe　that　this　shadow；　one　half　of　which　lay　on　the　ground；　while　the　head　and　shoulders　went　a　little　way　up　the　wall　of　the　tree；　represented　a　man's　profile；　not　his　front　face。　　The　figure；　in　short；　was　standing　between　them　and　the　sun；　and　was　contemplating　the　chateau；　not　the　tree。

The　shadow　took　off　its　hat　to　Josephine；　in　the　tree。　　Then　would　she　have　screamed　if　she　had　not　bitten　her　white　hand　instead；　and　made　a　red　mark　thereon。

It　wiped　its　brow　with　a　handkerchief；　it　had　walked　fast；　poor　thing！　　The　next　moment　it　was　away。

They　looked　at　one　another　and　panted。　　They　scarcely　dared　do　it　before。　　Then　Rose；　with　one　hand　on　her　heaving　bosom；　shook　her　little　white　fist　viciously　at　where　the　figure　must　be；　and　perhaps　a　comical　desire　of　vengeance　stimulated　her　curiosity。　　She　now　glided　through　the　fissure　like　a　cautious　panther　from　her　den；　and　noiseless　and　supple　as　a　serpent　began　to　wind　slowly　round　the　tree。　　She　soon　came　to　a　great　protuberance　in　the　tree；　and　twining　and　peering　round　it　with　diamond　eye；　she　saw　a　very　young；　very　handsome　gentleman；　stealing　on　tiptoe　to　the　nearest　flower…　bed。　　Then　she　saw　him　take　a　purse　out　of　his　bosom；　and　drop　it　on　the　bed。　　This　done；　he　came　slowly　past　the　tree　again；　and　was　even　heard　to　vent　a　little　innocent　chuckle　of　intense　satisfaction：　but　of　brief　duration；　for；　when　Rose　saw　the　purse　leave　his　hand；　she　made　a　rapid　signal　to　Josephine　to　wheel　round　the　other　side　of　the　tree；　and；　starting　together　with　admirable　concert；　both　the　daughters　of　Beaurepaire　glided　into　sight　with　a　vast　appearance　of　composure。

Two　women　together　are　really　braver　than　fifteen　separate；　but　still；　most　of　this　tranquillity　was　merely　put　on；　but　so　admirably　that　Edouard　Riviere　had　no　chance　with　them。　　He　knew　nothing　about　their　tremors；　all　he　saw　or　heard　was；　a　rustle；　then　a　flap　on　each　side　of　him　as　of　great　wings；　and　two　lovely　women　were　upon　him　with　angelic　swiftness。　　〃Ah！〃　he　cried　out　with　a　start；　and　glanced　from　the　first…comer；　Rose；　to　the　gate。　　But　Josephine　was　on　that　side　by　this　time；　and　put　up　her　hand；　as　much　as　to　say；　〃You　can't　pass　here。〃　　In　such　situations；　the　mind　works　quicker　than　lightning。　　He　took　off　his　hat；　and　stammered　an　excuse〃Come　to　look　at　the　oak。〃　　At　this　moment　Rose　pounced　on　the　purse；　and　held　it　up　to　Josephine。　　He　was　caught。　　His　only　chance　now　was　to　bolt　for　the　mark　and　run；　but　it　was　not　the　notary；　it　was　a　novice　who　lost　his　presence　of　mind；　or　perhaps　thought　it　rude　to　run　when　a　lady　told　him　to　stand　still。　　All　he　did　was　to　crush　his　face　into　his　two　han