la mere bauche-第7章

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look　indifferent；　but　he　also　was　uneasy　in　his　mind。

Presently　La　Mere　came　in　again；　with　a　quicker　step　than　before；　and
whispered　something；　first　to　Adolphe　and　then　to　the　capitaine；
whereupon　they　both　followed　her　out　of　the　room。

〃Not　in　her　chamber；〃　said　Adolphe。

〃Then　she　must　be　in　yours；〃　said　the　capitaine。

〃She　is　in　neither；〃　said　La　Mere　Bauche；　with　her　sternest　voice；
〃nor　is　she　in　the　house！〃

And　now　there　was　no　longer　an　affectation　of　indifference　on　the
part　of　any　of　them。　　They　were　anything　but　indifferent。　　The
capitaine　was　eager　in　his　demands　that　the　matter　should　still　be
kept　secret　from　the　guests。　　She　had　always　been　romantic；　he　said；
and　had　now　gone　out　to　walk　by　the　river　side。　　They　three　and　the
old　bath…man　would　go　out　and　look　for　her。

〃But　it　is　pitch　dark；〃　said　La　Mere　Bauche。

〃We　will　take　lanterns；〃　said　the　capitaine。　　And　so　they　sallied
forth　with　creeping　steps　over　the　gravel；　so　that　they　might　not　be
heard　by　those　within；　and　proceeded　to　search　for　the　young　wife。

〃Marie！　　Marie！〃　said　La　Mere　Bauche；　in　piteous　accents；　〃do　come　to
me；　pray　do！〃

〃Hush！〃　said　the　capitaine。　　〃They'll　hear　you　if　you　call。〃　　He
could　not　endure　that　the　world　should　learn　that　a　marriage　with　him
had　been　so　distasteful　to　Marie　Clavert。

〃Marie；　dear　Marie！〃　called　Madame　Bauche；　louder　than　before；　quite
regardless　of　the　capitaine'　s　feelings；　but　no　Marie　answered。　　In
her　innermost　heart　now　did　La　Mere　Bauche　wish　that　this　cruel
marriage　had　been　left　undone。

Adolphe　was　foremost　with　his　lamp；　but　he　hardly　dared　to　look　in
the　spot　where　he　felt　that　it　was　most　likely　that　she　should　have
taken　refuge。　　How　could　he　meet　her　again；　alone；　in　that　grotto？
Yet　he　alone　of　the　four　was　young。　　It　was　clearly　for　him　to
ascend。　　〃Marie；〃　he　shouted；　〃are　you　there？〃　as　he　slowly　began　the
long　ascent　of　the　steps。

But　he　had　hardly　begun　to　mount　when　a　whirring　sound　struck　his
ear；　and　he　felt　that　the　air　near　him　was　moved；　and　then　there　was
a　crash　upon　the　lower　platform　of　rock；　and　a　moan；　repeated　twice；
but　so　faintly；　and　a　rustle　of　silk；　and　a　slight　struggle　somewhere
as　he　knew　within　twenty　paces　of　him；　and　then　all　was　again　quiet
and　still　in　the　night　air。

〃What　was　that？〃　asked　the　capitaine　in　a　hoarse　voice。　　He　made　his
way　half　across　the　little　garden；　and　he　also　was　within　forty　or
fifty　yards　of　the　flat　rock。　　But　Adolphe　was　unable　to　answer　him。
He　had　fainted　and　the　lamp　had　fallen　from　his　hands　and　rolled　to
the　bottom　of　the　steps。

But　the　capitaine；　though　even　his　heart　was　all　but　quenched　within
him；　had　still　strength　enough　to　make　his　way　up　to　the　rock；　and
there；　holding　the　lantern　above　his　eyes；　he　saw　all　that　was　left
for　him　to　see　of　his　bride。

As　for　La　Mere　Bauche；　she　never　again　sat　at　the　head　of　that
table；never　again　dictated　to　guests；never　again　laid　down　laws
for　the　management　of　any　one。　　A　poor　bedridden　old　woman；　she　lay
there　in　her　house　at　Vernet　for　some　seven　tedious　years；　and　then
was　gathered　to　her　fathers。

As　for　the　capitainebut　what　matters？　　He　was　made　of　sterner
stuff。　　What　matters　either　the　fate　of　such　a　one　as　Adolphe　Bauche？






End