in their Moorish kings' fortress again."
And Galuchet, recalling with pride his jest of the morning, repeated
complacently and with a cunning smile:
"Those kings must have cut a curious figure! doubtless they wore clogs
and ate with their fingers."
"You are very bright to-night, Galuchet," rejoined Monsieur Cardonnet,
not deigning to smile; "but, smitten as you are, if you were brighter
you would find some pretext for calling on old Châteaubrun from time to
time."
"I need no pretexts, monsieur," replied Galuchet in an important tone.
"I am well acquainted with him; he has often invited me to fish in his
stream, and again to-day he urged me to go to breakfast with him some
Sunday."
"Very well, why don't you go? I am glad to allow you a little recreation
from time to time."
"You are too kind, monsieur; if you don't need me, I will go next
Sunday, for I am very fond of fishing."
"Galuchet, my boy, you are an idiot!"
"What's that, monsieur?" said Galuchet, disconcerted.
"I tell you, my dear fellow, you are an idiot," Cardonnet calmly
repeated. "You think of nothing but catching gudgeons, when you might be
paying court to a pretty girl."
"Oh! I don't know about that, monsieur!" said Galuchet, scratching his
ear with a fatuous air; "I should like the girl well enough, that's
true! she's a jewel! blue eyes, fair hair that's a metre and a half
long, I'll wager, superb teeth, and a mischievous little glance. I could
be dead in love with her, if I chose!"
"And why don't you choose?"
"_Dame!_ if I had ten thousand francs of my own, I might suit her! but
when one has nothing, one is hardly a suitable match for a girl who has
nothing."
"Is your salary equal to her income?"
"Why her income is contingent, and old Janille, who is supposed to be
her mother--I must confess, it would be a little distasteful to me to be
the son-in-law of a servant,--old Janille would certainly insist on a
small sum to begin housekeeping with."
"Do you think ten thousand francs would be enough?"
"I have no idea; but it seems to me that those people have no right to
be very ambitious. Their hovel isn't worth four thousand francs; the
mountain, the garden, a bit of meadow on the edge of the stream, all
overgrown with rushes, and the orchard where there are some fruit trees
good for nothing but to burn,--all those together wouldn't bring in a
hundred francs a year. They say Monsieur Antoine has a little capital in
government securities. It can't be much, judging from the life they
lead. But, if I were sure of a thousand francs a year, I would arrange
matters with the girl. She pleases me and I am old enough to settle
down."
"Monsieur Antoine has twelve hundred francs a year, I know."
"Reverting to his daughter, monsieur?"
"I am sure of it."
"But, although he has recognized her, she is a natural daughter and
entitled to only half of it."
"Well, do you feel that you can aspire to her hand now?"
"Thanks, monsieur! What are we to live on? and bring up children?"
"Of course you would need a little capital. We might be able to find
that for you, Galuchet, if your happiness absolutely depended on it."
"I do not know how to acknowledge your kindness, monsieur, but----"
"But what? come, don't scratch your ear so much, but answer."
"I don't dare, monsieur."
"Why not? don't I talk to you as if I were your friend?"
"I am deeply touched by it," rejoined Galuchet, "but----"
"But you annoy me. Speak, in heaven's name!"
"Well, monsieur, even though you should call me a fool again, I will say
what I think. I think that Monsieur Emile is paying court to that young
lady."
"Do you mean it?" exclaimed Monsieur Cardonnet, feigning surprise.
"If monsieur is not aware of it, I should be very sorry to be the cause
of trouble between him and his son."
"Is there any common rumor to that effect?"
"I don't know whether people are talking about it; I pay little
attention to gossip; but I myself have noticed that Monsieur Emile goes
to Châteaubrun very often."
"What does that prove?"
"That is as monsieur may choose to think, and it is all the same to me.
I simply meant to say that if I had any idea of marrying a young woman,
I should not be very well pleased to come in second."
"I can imagine that. But it is hardly likely that my son would pay
serious attention to a young woman whom he neither would nor could
marry. My son has lofty sentiments, he would never descend to a
falsehood, to false promises. If the girl is virtuous, be assured that
her relations with Emile are entirely innocent. Isn't that your
opinion?"
"I will have whatever opinion monsieur may desire on that subject."
"That is altogether too accommodating! If you were in love with
Mademoiselle de Châteaubrun, wouldn't you try to find out the truth for
yourself?"
"Certainly, monsieur; but I can hardly be in love with her, having seen
her but once."
"Well, listen to me, Galuchet: you can do me a service. What you have
just told me makes me a little more anxious than it makes you, and all
that we have been saying, by way of conjecture and jest, will have at
all events, the serious result of having warned me of certain dangers. I
tell you again that my son is too honorable a man to seduce a penniless,
inexperienced girl; but it might happen to him, if he sees her too
often, to conceive for her somewhat too warm a feeling, which would
expose them both to temporary but unnecessary suffering. It would be
very easy for me to cut the whole thing off short by sending Emile away
at once; but that would interfere with the plan I have formed of
training him to share my occupations, and I regret to be compelled for
so unimportant a reason to part with him under present circumstances.
Consent therefore to help me. You are sure of a warm welcome at
Châteaubrun; go there often, as often as my son; make yourself the
friend of the family. Père Antoine's unsuspecting nature will assist
you. Look about you, observe, and report to me all that happens. If your
presence annoys my son, it will be a proof that the danger exists; if he
tries to have you turned out, stand your ground, and pose unhesitatingly
as an aspirant to the young lady's hand."
"And what if I am accepted?"
"So much the better for you!"
"That depends, monsieur, on how far things have gone between her and
your son."
"You must be very simple if with time and address you can't find out
about that, as you are going there in the quality of an observer."
"And suppose I find that I have arrived too late?"
"You will retire."
"I shall have made a ridiculous campaign, and Monsieur Emile will bear
me a grudge for it."
"Galuchet, I don't ask anything for nothing. Certainly, all this can't
be done without some ennui and some unpleasantness for you; but there's
a good bonus at the end of all the sacrifices I ask you to make."
"That's enough, monsieur, and I have only one other word to say; and
that is that in case the girl should suit me, and I should suit her too,
I should be too poor at this moment to go to housekeeping."
"We have already anticipated that contingency. I would assist you to
make a position for yourself. For example, you undertake to work for me
for a certain time, and I make you an advance of five thousand francs on
your salary, and a bonus of five thousand francs in addition, if
necessary."
"This is no longer a jest, a conjecture, I suppose?" said Galuchet,
scratching his head harder than ever.
"I don't often jest, as you know, and this time I am not jesting at
all."
"Very good, monsieur; you are too kind to me. I will plant myself beside
Monsieur Emile, and he will be very shrewd if I lose sight of him!"
"He will be shrewder than you, and that will not be difficult," thought
Monsieur Cardonnet as soon as Galuchet had retired; "but a rival of your
sort will be enough to make him feel humiliated by his choice, very
soon; and if she prefers a dull lout like you for a husband to a
handsome chance suitor like him, he will have received a useful lesson.
In that event a trifling sacrifice for Monsieur Galuchet's establishment
would not be draining the sea dry, especially as that would keep him in
my service and cut short his ambition to leave me. But that is the worst
possible result of my plan, and Galuchet has twenty chances to one of
being shown the door sooner or later. Meanwhile I shall have had time to
think of something better, and I shall at all events have succeeded in
worrying Emile, in disenchanting him, in fastening to his sides an enemy
whom he will hardly know how to combat--ennui in the shape of Constant
Galuchet."
Cardonnet's idea did not lack depth, and if it had not been too soon or
too late for Emile to renounce his illusions, it might have been
successful. Any sort of competition stimulates vulgar minds, but a
refined mind suffers from an unworthy rivalry. An exalted nature will
infallibly be disgusted with the being who takes pleasure in the homage
of stupidity; the mere fact that the object of his adoration tolerates
such homage too patiently may be enough to cause him to blush and take
himself away. But Cardonnet reckoned without Gilberte's pride.
Emile returned from his excursion more inflamed with passion than ever,
and in such a state of blissful enthusiasm that it seemed to him
impossible that he should not triumph over everything. The generous
Gilberte had powerfully assisted his illusion by sharing it, and therein
she had shown herself, by her lack of prudence and her openness of
heart, the worthy child of Antoine. Emile might well have reproached
himself, however, for having gone so far with her without having first
made sure of Monsieur Cardonnet's consent. That was a terrible
imprudence; indeed it was culpable rashness; for, unless a miracle
should happen, he could reckon on his father's refusal. But Emile was in
that state of delirious excitement in which one reckons on miracles and
deems himself almost a god because he is loved.
However, he returned to Gargilesse without having made up his mind at
what moment he would announce his sentiments to his family; for Gilberte
had insisted that he should do nothing suddenly, and had received his
promise to begin by gradually appealing to the affection of his parents,
by governing his conduct in accordance with their wishes. Thus Emile was
to make amends for an absence which had doubtless caused them some
anxiety, by staying with them all the rest of the week and working
zealously at whatever his father chose to give him to do. "You must not
come to see us until next Sunday," Gilberte had said when they parted,
"and then we will arrange our plans for the following week." The poor
child felt that she must live from day to day, and, like Emile, she
derived infinite pleasure from caressing in her thoughts the mystery of
a love of which they alone realized the charm and the depth.
Emile kept his word. He did not absent himself from home during the
week, and contented himself with writing Monsieur de Boisguilbault an
affectionate letter to set his mind at rest concerning his sentiments,
in case the suspicious old man should take alarm because he did not see
him. He followed his father like a shadow; he even asked him for
employment, and devoted himself to the construction of the factory like
one who took the deepest interest in the success of the undertaking.
But, as it is not natural to do violence to one's own heart for long, it
was impossible for him to push the indolent workmen. Monsieur Cardonnet
derived no sort of benefit from the employment of men of that
description. They lacked energy, and the rivalry of the more active
produced discouragement in them instead of emulation. They were well
paid, but, as they saw, from the master's dissatisfaction, that they
would not be retained long, they determined to make the most of the
present, and consequently economized in their food. When Emile saw them
sitting on the damp stones, with their feet in the mud, eating a piece
of black bread and raw onions, like the Hebrew slaves employed in
building the Pyramids, he had such a feeling of compassion for them that
he would have preferred giving them his own blood to drink, to
abandoning them to that slow death of toil and starvation.
Thereupon, he tried to persuade his father, since he could not save all
those numerous lives, to afford them at all events some temporary relief
by feeding them better than they fed themselves, or by giving them, at
least, a little wine. But Monsieur Cardonnet reminded him, only too
justly, that, as all the vines were frozen in the preceding year, they
could not obtain wine in that country except at a very high price, and
that it was for the table of the bourgeois only. Where no general system
of economy was practised, it was easy to prove that economy in special
directions was powerless to bring about any important amelioration, and
to demonstrate, by the unanswerable evidence of figures, that they must
either abandon the idea of building or compel the mechanic to undergo
the unpleasant necessities of his position. Monsieur Cardonnet did his
utmost to remedy the evil, but that utmost was confined within narrow
limits. Emile submitted and sighed; he could give Gilberte no stronger
proof of his love than to hold his peace.
"Well," said Monsieur Cardonnet, "I see that you will never be very
sharp in the matter of superintending; but when I am no longer in this
world, it will be enough if you realize the need of having a good
superintendent in my place. The material part of the work is the least
poetic; you will find your field of activity in the direction of art and
science, which have their place in manufacturing as in everything else.
Come to my study, help me to understand the things that escape my
comprehension, and place your genius at the service of my energy."
During that week Emile had to read, to study, to comprehend and to
summarize several works on hydrostatics. Monsieur Cardonnet did not
think that he really needed to have that work done, but it was one way
of testing Emile, and he was overjoyed by his rapidity and mental
keenness. Such studies could arouse no disgust in a mind occupied with
theories. Anything connected with science may have some useful
application in the future, and when one has not under his eyes the
deplorable conditions through which social inequality compels the men of
the present day to pass, in the execution of any work, he may well
become deeply interested in the abstract theories of science. Monsieur
Cardonnet recognized Emile's lofty intelligence and said to himself
that, with such eminent faculties, it was not possible that he would
always close his eyes to what he called evidence.
When Sunday arrived, it seemed to Emile that a century had passed since
he had seen that enchanted palace of Châteaubrun, where, in his eyes,
nature was lovelier, the air softer and the light more glorious than in
any spot on earth. He began with Boisguilbault however; for he
remembered that Constant Galuchet was to breakfast at Châteaubrun, and
he hoped that uninteresting individual would have departed or would be
busy with his fishing when he arrived; but he was far from anticipating
Monsieur Constant's Machiavelism. He found him still at table with
Monsieur Antoine, a little overburdened by the native wine, to which he
was not accustomed, shuffling about on his chair and making commonplace
remarks, while Gilberte, sitting in the courtyard, waited impatiently
until a relaxation of vigilance on Janille's part should enable her to
go out on the terrace and watch for her lover's coming.
But Janille did not relax her vigilance; she was prowling about in every
corner of the ruins and was on the spot to receive half the salutation
which Emile addressed to Gilberte. But Emile saw, at the first glance,
that she had said nothing.
"Really, monsieur," she said, lisping with more affectation than usual,
"you are not polite, and you have nearly caused a rivals' quarrel
between my girl and me. What! you lead me to hope that you will come and
keep me company in her absence, you even go so far as to appoint a day,
and then, instead of coming here, you go and enjoy yourself taking an
excursion with mademoiselle, on the pretext that she is forty years
younger than me! as if that was my fault, and as if I am not as light of
foot and as lively to talk with as a mere girl! It was very rude on your
part, and you have done well to let my anger lie for a few days; for if
you had come sooner you would have had a very cold reception."
"Hasn't Monsieur Antoine justified me," rejoined Emile, "by telling you
how entirely unforeseen our meeting at Crozant was, and that our trip to
Saint Germain was suggested by him on the spur of the moment? Forgive
me, dear Mademoiselle Janille, and be sure that nothing less than being
ten leagues away would have induced me to break my appointment with
you."
"I know, I know," said Janille, in a meaning tone, "that it was Monsieur
Antoine who did all the harm; he is so inconsiderate! but I should have
thought that you would be more reasonable."
"I am very reasonable, my dear Janille," replied Emile in the same tone,
"and I have proved it by passing the week with my father, working to
please him, in spite of my longing to come and obtain my pardon."
"And you did well, my boy; for it is a good thing for young men to be
employed."
"You will be satisfied with me hereafter," said Emile, glancing at
Gilberte, "and my father has already forgiven me for the time I have
wasted. He is very kind to me, and I will show my appreciation of his
kindness by forcing myself to undergo the most painful sacrifices, even
that of seeing you a little less frequently henceforth, Mademoiselle
Janille; so scold me to-day, quickly, but not too hard, and forgive me
even more quickly, for I shall probably be able to come here very seldom
for several weeks. I have much work to do, and my courage would fail me
if I knew that you were angry with me."
"Well, well, you are a good boy, and no one can bear you a grudge," said
Janille. "I see," she added with a knowing air, lowering her voice,
"that we understand each other perfectly without any further
explanation, and that it's a good thing to have people of honor and good
sense like you to deal with."
This result of the explanations threatened by Janille relieved Emile
from a great anxiety. His position was quite serious enough, without
being complicated by the alarms and questions of that faithful retainer.
The advice Gilberte had given him, to come more rarely and to let time
do its work, was thus proved to be most judicious, and if she had been a
trained diplomatist, she could not have acted more shrewdly on that
occasion. In very truth, how many marriages between persons of unequal
fortune would become possible, did not the woman, by her exactions, her
pride or her suspicion, involve the man enamored of her in a labyrinth
of suffering and anxiety, amid which his prudence and courage in
overcoming obstacles fail him! With Gilberte's childlike innocence was
blended calm common sense and unselfish courage. She did not look upon
her union with Emile as possible until after several years, and she felt
that her love was strong enough to wait. That cruel future appeared to
her heart, overflowing with faith, like a day radiant with sunshine; and
therein she was not so foolish as some might think. It is faith and not
prudence that moves mountains.
XXIII
THE DEVIL'S ROCK
Emile had forgotten even Constant Galuchet's name when he found himself
once more within the walls of the dear old château; and when he went in
to salute Monsieur Antoine, the stupid features of his father's clerk
produced the same effect upon him that a caterpillar produces upon one
who puts out his hand unsuspiciously to pluck a fruit. Galuchet had
prepared to greet Emile with the assured air of a man who has taken
possession first of a coveted seat, and who can afford an affable
greeting to those who come too late. A little more and he would have
done the honors of the château to Emile. But the young man's cold and
mocking glance, as he replied to his familiar and effusive salutation,
disconcerted him sadly; that glance seemed to say to him:
"What are you doing here?"
Meanwhile Galuchet, who thought much more of earning Monsieur
Cardonnet's liberality than of winning Gilberte's good graces, made a
mighty effort to recover his self-possession, and his face, while not
expressing actual hostility, assumed an unaccustomed air of insolence
which was, under the circumstances, as injudicious as possible.
Emile had determined to make the best of the native wine, and, in order
not to offend Monsieur de Châteaubrun, he did not refuse to drink with
him on his arrival. It may be that, by virtue of the utter fascination
which took possession of him in the place where Gilberte passed her
days, he really considered that thin, sour beverage better than all the
choice wines in his father's cellar. But on this occasion it seemed
bitter to him, when Galuchet, assuming the air of a man who condescends
to howl with the wolves, put out his glass toward his, proposing to
touch glasses after the manner of Monsieur de Châteaubrun. He
accompanied this familiarity with an unpleasantly vulgar movement of the
elbow and shoulder, thinking to imitate in jovial mood Monsieur
Antoine's patriarchal simplicity.
"Monsieur le comte," said Emile, ostentatiously treating Antoine with
even more respect than usual, "I fear that you have induced Monsieur
Constant Galuchet to drink too much. See how red his eyes are and how he
stares! Be careful; I warn you that his head is very weak."
"My head weak, Monsieur Emile! why do you say that my head is weak?"
retorted Galuchet. "You have never seen me drunk, so far as I know."
"This will be the first time that I shall have had that pleasure, if you
continue to drink as you are doing."
"So it would give you pleasure to see me commit an impropriety?"
"I trust that will not happen, if you follow my advice."
"Very good," said Galuchet, rising, "if Monsieur Antoine cares to take a
walk, I shall be glad to offer my arm to Mademoiselle Gilberte, and then
you can see if I walk crooked."
"I prefer not to risk the experiment," said Gilberte, who was sitting at
the door of the pavilion, caressing Monsieur Sacripant.
"So you take sides against me, too, Mademoiselle Gilberte?" rejoined
Galuchet, walking toward her; "do you believe what Monsieur Emile says?"
"My daughter takes sides against no one, monsieur," said Janille, "and I
don't understand why you bother your head about somebody who doesn't
bother her head about you."
"If you forbid her to take my arm," replied Galuchet, "I have nothing to
say. It seems to me, however, that it's no breach of true French
courtesy to offer a young lady your arm."
"My mother does not forbid me to accept your arm, monsieur," said
Gilberte, sweetly but with much dignity; "but I thank you for your
courtesy. I am not a Parisian and I can hardly appreciate the custom of
taking a support in walking. Besides, our paths do not permit that
custom."
"Your paths are no worse than those at Crozant, and the rougher they are
the more need there is for people to help one another. I saw you plainly
enough at Crozant put your lovely hand on Monsieur Emile's shoulder, to
go down the mountain; oh! I saw it, Mademoiselle Gilberte, and I would
have liked right well to be in his place!"
"Monsieur Galuchet, if you had not drunk beyond all reason," said Emile,
"you would not concern yourself so much about me, and I beg you not to
concern yourself about me at all."
"Hoity-toity! now you are losing your temper, are you?" said Galuchet,
trying to adopt a good-natured tone. "Everybody is hard on me here,
except Monsieur Antoine."
"Perhaps that is because you are a little too familiar with everybody,"
retorted Emile.
"What's going on here?" said Jean Jappeloup, entering the room. "Are you
quarreling? Here am I, to make peace. Good-day, _ma mie_ Janille;
good-day, my Gilberte du bon Dieu; good-day, friend Emile; good-day,
Antoine, my master: and good-day, you," he said to Galuchet; "I don't
know you, but it's all the same. Ah! it's Père Cardonnet's man of
business!--Ah! good-day to you, my dear Monsieur Sacripant; I didn't
notice your greeting."