When Hirzel and his sister were out of sight, Jacques got down from his
hiding place and walked after them with the intention of telling old
Pierre what he had heard, and also to reveal to him a plan which had
suggested itself to his evil mind for destroying the young soldier when
he came to visit Marguerite on the following Wednesday evening. Jacques
changed his mind about going in when he came near the mill. He saw
through the open door Pierre talking with his children; he thought he
should not be able to see the old man alone that night, and besides, he
had a feeling which kept him back from entering Marguerite's presence
when he was plotting against her happiness in such a deadly manner. So
Gaultier turned his steps homeward, revolving in his mind the plan he
had laid out which was briefly this. The mill wheel was secured by a
rope which passed round the corner of the house and into a room behind
the granary, where it was fastened to a rafter. Now Gaultier thought
that when Charlie was standing on the wheel, if he could get old Pierre
to unfasten the rope, the sudden starting round of the wheel would
precipiate Charlie into the stream below, where he must inevitably be
dashed to pieces. Well thought of, Jacques Gaultier; but it is a pity
thy ingenuity had not been turned to better account!
Jacques spent a most restless night, for the awfulness of the crime
which he was meditating presented itself unceasingly to his mind; but,
on the other hand, he pictured to himself Marguerite Charlie's wife,
therefore lost to him. Not only did he hate Charlie on this score, but
political feeling, as well as the frank pleasant manner of the young
soldier, assisted in making Jacques look hardly on him. He could'nt but
remark the different manner in which he was treated. People rather
avoided than courted the society of "Dark Jacques Gaultier," as he was
called by the boys round his neighbourhood, with the disagreeable
honesty of "small boy" youth.
Jacques was one of those unhappy beings who live with their blinds down
and windows shut, morally speaking; and yet who wonder that they don't
get the bright light and pure air into their minds, which cause some of
their brethren to be such refreshing bits in the way through life. One
of these was Charlie: he went happily through life, carrying sunshine
with him wherever he went: he felt sorry for Jacques, and would
willingly have been friends with him, but in their relative positions
this was impossible. All his overtures were received with decided
rudeness on the part of Jacques, when they received any notice at all,
so Charlie gave up, and took the situation as inevitable. When morning
came Jacques rose very early and went down to the mill. He judged the
early morning to be the best time to see the old man by himself. In this
he was correct, for when he got there he found Pierre was the only one
down. He was standing in the little garden in the front of the house.
After they had exchanged the customary greetings of the place, the old
miller asked Jacques "what had brought him out so early."
The latter told him all he had overheard the preceding evening, and then
he unfolded his plan, for Charlie's destruction, but tried to impress on
the old man that he had better loosen the rope himself.
This Pierre would not listen to; said his courage might fail him; then
pleaded his age, failing strength, and many other things; finally, he
said, he would not do it, adding, "One would think I wanted the girl for
my wife; no, do thy own business unless thou art very anxious to give
Marguerite to this fine soldier. I warrant me that will be the end of
it."
"Father Pierre, thou well know'st I would sooner die a thousand times
than _he_ should have her, so I will do the thing myself; but how shall
I give reason for my presence here? Marguerite, for days, even weeks
past, has been looking at me with suspicion in her eyes, as though she
divined my thoughts towards that lover of hers?"
"Leave all to me. Can I not have whom I like in my own house? I see
that though thou may'st not dread other things, thou art well
frightened at a woman's looks. Well, well, there's something in that,
too."
"Yes, Father Pierre, there is; much sometimes."
"But leave looks to mind themselves now, and I will show you what to do,
and where to go. You can well be in the room behind the granary, as one
or two of the rafters need mending. Let Marguerite see you leave your
work and start for home; then when she goes to show her light say 'All
is well,' thou can'st come back and be ready for the bird with his
bright plumage. Ha! he would go elsewhere and pipe his song, did he know
the manner in which we are preparing his perch!"
"That is all well; the popinjay can't escape us now."
"Come in, Jacques, and have some breakfast with us; I think I hear
Marguerite busy at it now."
"Marguerite will not have a welcome for me, I know; but as she is to be
my wife, she may as well get used to my presence now."
When they entered Marguerite turned round wondering who could be with
her Father at such an early hour. On seeing who it was, her face
clouded, and she immediately experienced that same feeling of fear come
over her as she always had of late when she saw her Father and Jacques
Gaultier together. She said "good morning" to them, and then resumed the
preparation for the morning meal. Jacques' dark eyes followed her all
about the room; doubtless he was thinking of the time when she would be
performing the same duties under his roof, while she--Well, we will not
penetrate into her thoughts; no doubt she would prefer keeping them to
herself, so we will let her, in the certainty that the train of thought
was very different to that of Jacques Gaultier.
Hirzel now appeared, announcing that he was ready to eat up all, his
sister included. Breakfast being ready, they all drew their chairs near
the table, Marguerite begging Hirzel to come and sit near her, as she
wanted to speak to him. The boy saw that she wished to keep Gaultier
off, and with his usual teasing way, he made signs behind that worthy's
back to the effect that his sister ought to ask him to sit by her.
However, when Hirzel saw that his sister looked really troubled, he came
immediately like a good brother and did what his sister wished. All this
was not lost on that wretched Jacques, who between present
circumstances, and his own thoughts of what must come before he gained
Marguerite, had by no means an enviable position.
During the repast Pierre informed Hirzel that on the afternoon of the
following day he had a particular message to send him on, as it was one
some way off, he might take the cart or ride if he preferred it.
"Very well, Father, I'll go for you; riding is best if I have nothing
to carry."
"And thou, Jacques," said old Pierre, "will come after thy fishing is
past and mend the rafters I told thee of in the room behind the
granary." "But Father," said Hirzel, "why not let me do that work for
you? I would like to, and ride for this message the day after."
Hirzel said this, because he remembered his sister's arrangement with
Charlie, and he knew that she particularly wished him to be at home,
especially now that there was some chance of Jacques being about.
"Thou would'st like to work indoors? Why what has come to thee Hirzel?"
"You had better do what Father wishes Hirzel," said Marguerite. She saw
her brother was troubled as to what was best to be done; also, she was
very much afraid lest he should say something to betray matters. So she
thought she would settle it quietly, especially when she remembered that
Charlie would not come until she had shown the light, which she firmly
resolved should not be shown until Jacques was well out of the place.
Breakfast being over, Jacques took his leave, and the others dispersed
to their various occupations--each of the four with very different
thoughts and hopes as to what the morrow might bring forth, but at
present, like all the rest of mankind, their first business was to get
through "to-day" as well as they could.