The young people began housekeeping on the same floor with Cachelin and
Mlle Charlotte, in an apartment similar to theirs from which the tenant
was expelled.
A certain uneasiness, however, disturbed the mind of Lesable: the aunt
had not wished to assure her heritage to Cora by any definitive act. She
had, however, consented to swear "before God" that her will was made and
deposited with Maître Belhomme, the notary. She had promised, moreover,
that her entire fortune should revert to her niece on one sole condition.
Being pressed to reveal this condition she refused to explain herself, but
averred with a little amiable smile that it was very easy of fulfillment.
Notwithstanding these explanations and the stubbornness of the pious old
woman, Lesable thought he ought to have further assurance; but, as the
young woman pleased him greatly, his desire triumphed over his
incertitude, and he yielded to the determined efforts of Cachelin.
Now he was happy, notwithstanding that he was always tormented by a
doubt, and he loved his wife, who had in nowise disappointed his
expectations. His life flowed along, tranquil and monotonous. He became,
in several weeks, perfectly inured to his new position of married man, and
he continued to be the same faithful and accomplished employee as
formerly.
A year rolled away. The first of the year came round again. He did not
receive, to his great surprise, the promotion on which he had counted.
Maze and Pitolet alone passed to the grade above, and Boissel declared
confidentially to Cachelin that he had promised himself to give his two
fellow-clerks a good thrashing at the main entrance before everybody.
But he did nothing.
For a whole week Lesable did not sleep a wink because of the anguish
he felt at not having been promoted, despite his zeal. He had been working
like a dog; he had filled the place of the assistant-chief, M. Rabot, who
had been in the hospital of Val-de-Grâce for nine months; he had been
coming to the office at half past eight every morning, remaining until
half past six in the evening. What more could they ask? If they could not
appreciate such faithful service he would do like the others, that was
all. To everyone according to his deserts. How could M. Torchebeuf, who
had always treated him like a son, have sacrificed him thus? He wanted to
get at the bottom of the thing. He would go to the chief and have an
explanation with him.
On Monday morning, therefore, before the arrival of his comrades, he
knocked at the door of that potentate.
A sharp voice cried: "Come in!" He entered.
Seated before a great table strewn with papers, his little body bent
over a writing-pad which his big head almost touched, M. Torchebeuf was
busily writing. On seeing his favorite employee he said cheerfully: "Good
morning, Lesable; you are well?"
The young man replied: "Good morning, dear master, I am very well; and
you?"
The chief ceased writing and turned about in his revolving chair. His
frail, slender body, clad in a black surtout of severe cut, seemed
ridiculously disproportioned to the great leather-covered chair. The
brilliant rosette of an officer of the Legion of Honour, a hundred times
too large for the small body which it decorated, burned like a live coal
upon his narrow chest. His skull was of considerable size, as though the
entire development of the individual had been at the top, after the manner
of mushrooms.
His chin was pointed, his cheeks hollow, his eyes protruding, and his
great bulging forehead was surmounted with white hair which he wore thrown
backward.
M. Torchebeuf said: "Sit down, my friend, and tell me what brings you
here."
Toward all the other clerks he displayed a military brusqueness,
considering himself to be their captain, for the ministry was to him as
a great vessel, the flag-ship of all the French fleet.
Lesable, somewhat moved, a little pale, stammered: "Dear master, I come
to ask you if I have been lacking in any way."
"Certainly not, my dear fellow; why do you ask me such a question?"
"Because I was a little surprised at not receiving my promotion this
year, as in former years. Allow me to finish my explanation, dear master,
and pardon my audacity. I know that I have obtained from you exceptional
favours and unlooked-for advantages. I know that promotions are only made,
as a general thing, every two or three years; but permit me to remind you
that I furnish the bureau with nearly four times the amount of work of an
ordinary employee, and at least twice as much time. If, then, you put in
the balance the result of labor and the renumeration, you will certainly
find the one far outweighs the other."
He had carefully prepared this speech, which he judged to be excellent.
M. Torchebeuf, surprised, hesitated before replying. At length he said
in a rather cool tone: "Although it is not admissible, on principle, that
these subjects should be discussed between chief and employee, I am
willing to reply for this once to your question regarding your very
meritorious services.
"I proposed your name for promotion as in preceding years. The chief,
however, crossed out your name on the ground that by your marriage your
fortune was assured. You are to come into an inheritance such as your
modest colleagues can never hope to possess. Is it not, therefore, just to
take into consideration the condition of each one? You will be rich, very
rich. Three hundred francs more per year will be as nothing to you,
whereas this little increase will count for a great deal in the pockets
of the others. There, my friend, you have the reason why you remain
stationary this year."
Lesable, irritated and covered with confusion, retired.
That evening at dinner he was disagreeable to his wife. She, however,
was gay and pleasant as usual. Although she was of an even temper, she was
headstrong, and when she desired anything greatly she never yielded her
point. She possessed no longer for him the sensual charm of the early
days, and although he still looked upon her with the eye of desire, for
she was fresh and charming, he experienced at times that disillusion so
near to estrangement which soon comes to two beings who live a common
life. The thousand trivial or grotesque details of existence, the loose
toilettes of the morning, the common linen _robe-de-chambre_, the faded
_peignoir_, for they were not rich, and all the necessary home duties
which are seen too near at hand in a poor household--all these things
took the glamour from marriage and withered the flower of poetry which,
from a distance, is so attractive to lovers.
Aunt Charlotte also rendered herself as disagreeable as possible. She
never went out, but stayed indoors and busied herself in everything which
concerned the two young people. She wished everything conducted in
accordance with her notions, made observations on everything, and as they
had a horrible fear of offending her, they bore it all with resignation,
but also with a suppressed and ever-increasing exasperation.
She went through their apartment with her slow, dragging step,
constantly saying in her sharp, nasal voice: "You ought to do this; you
certainly ought to do that."
When the husband and wife found themselves alone together, Lesable,
who was a perfect bundle of nerves, would cry out: "Your aunt is growing
intolerable. I won't stand her here any longer, do you hear? I won't stand
it!" And Cora would reply tranquilly: "What do you want me to do?" Then
flying into a passion he would say: "It is dreadful to have such a
family!"
And she, still calm, would reply: "Yes, the family is dreadful, but the
inheritance is good, isn't it? Now don't be an imbecile. You have
as much interest as I in managing Aunt Charlotte."
Then he would be silent, not knowing what to say.
The aunt now harried them unceasingly on the subject of a child. She
pushed Lesable into corners and hissed in his face: "My nephew, I intend
that you shall be a father before I die. I want to see my little heir.
You cannot make me believe that Cora was not made to be a mother. It is
only necessary to look at her. When one gets married, my nephew, it is
to have a family--to send out little branches. Our holy mother, the
Church, forbids sterile marriages. I know very well that you are not rich,
and that a child causes extra expense. But after me you will want for
nothing. I want a little Lesable, do you understand? I want him."
When, after fifteen months of marriage, her desire was not yet realized,
she began to have doubts and became very urgent; and she gave Cora in
private advice--practical advice, that of a woman who has known many
things in her time, and who has still the recollection of them on
occasion.
But one morning she was not able to rise from her bed, feeling very
unwell. As she had never been ill before, Cachelin ran in great agitation
to the door of his son-in-law: "Run quickly for Dr. Barbette," he said,
"and you will tell the chief, won't you, that I shall not be at the office
to-day."
Lesable passed an agonizing day, incapable of working himself, or of
giving directions to the other clerks. M. Torchebeuf, surprised, remarked:
"You are somewhat distraught to-day, M. Lesable." And Lesable answered
nervously: "I am greatly fatigued, dear master; I have passed the entire
night at the bedside of our aunt, whose condition is very serious."
The chief replied coldly: "As M. Cachelin is with her I think that
should suffice. I cannot allow my bureau to be disorganized for the
personal reasons of my employees."
Lesable had placed his watch on the table before him, and he waited for
five o'clock with feverish impatience. As soon as the big clock in the
grand court struck he hurried away, quitting the office, for the first
time, at the regular hour.
He even took a cab to return home, so great was his anxiety, and he
mounted the staircase at a run. The nurse opened the door; he stammered:
"How is she?"
"The doctor says that she is very low."