"Who doubts it! But lies can't be left to grow unmolested."
"What proof can he have?"
"None, of course. I suppose he hopes some foolish trumped-up story will
do instead; but you can't pass it by. M. Rodoin said it had gone too
far. The man has dared to speak of it." Her voice dropped.
There was silence. Nathalie looked at him uneasily. She read weakness
in the hesitation, and that dislike to facing what was painful which she
knew to be part of his character. He said at last:
"It may cost a lot."
"Let it. We will economise." She pressed her eyes on his with a force
under which he moved fretfully, and added: "For the sake of your
family--most of all, for Raoul's sake--it is impossible to ignore the
slander."
"Very well, very well!" he spoke with petulance; "you don't understand,
but you shall have your way. Only don't blame me if things go wrong."
"Do I ever blame you?" she said, tenderly. "And they will not go wrong;
how should they? Show a firm front, and you will see how the absurd
attempt at extortion will melt away. I wrote to my father this morning,
as you advised, in case rumours reached Tours, and I am sure we shall
have a letter advising you to be very determined. How angry he will be!
I believe he thinks more of the De Beaudrillarts and Poissy than you
do."
Leon began to laugh.
"Perhaps he will go off to Poissy."
"And we not there to keep the peace! Oh, Leon!"--her face was
tragic--"I ought to have thought of that, and to have warned him."
Leon's good-humour had come back; he teased his wife, compared her with
the other women they met, and told her ridiculous tales. They laughed
and chatted so gayly that, more than once, people with sad stories in
their lives looked at them enviously, and wished for a little of the
same happiness. Then they drove to a restaurant, dined, and afterwards
went to the play. Seemingly, the young baron's anxieties had slipped
from his shoulders. Even the next morning, when he sent off a special
messenger to request Monsieur Rodoin to come to the hotel, it was done
with a jest, and Nathalie looked at him with delight. To her the whole
affair had seemed so trivial and impossible that only its strange effect
on her husband had given her uneasiness. Now that had passed, and she
made no doubt that threat of strong action would oblige M. Lemaire to
offer ample reparation.
M. Rodoin arrived with speed--a grave, hatchet-faced man, with hair
already slightly grizzled, although his fortieth birthday had only
lately been passed. He bowed formally to Mme. Leon, whom he had not
yet seen, and whose appearance, after what he had heard of her family,
surprised him, and to the baron. Without waiting for him to speak, Leon
said, abruptly:
"Well, Monsieur Rodoin, you find me decided. Threaten this Lemaire with
as many penalties as you will."