sons of the soil-第40节
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silence。
〃Well； at least the girl is honest； is she not？〃 said the countess； as
if waking from a dream。
〃As honest as I am myself； madame。〃
〃Discreet？〃
〃As the grave。〃
〃Grateful？〃
〃Ah！ madame； she has moments of humility and gentleness towards me
which seem to show an angelic nature。 She will kiss my hands and say
the most upsetting things。 'Can we die of love？' she asked me
yesterday。 'Why do you ask me that？' I said。 'I want to know if love
is a disease。'〃
〃Did she really say that？〃
〃If I could remember her exact words I would tell you a great deal
more；〃 replied Olympe； 〃she appears to know much more than I do。〃
〃Do you think； my dear； that she could take your place in my service。
I can't do without an Olympe；〃 said the countess； smiling in a rather
sad way。
〃Not yet； madame；she is too young； but in two years' time； yes。 If
it becomes necessary that she should go away from here I will let you
know。 She ought to be educated； and she knows nothing of the world。
Her grandfather； Pere Niseron； is a man who would let his throat be
cut sooner than tell a lie； he would die of hunger in a baker's shop；
he has the strength of his opinions； and the girl was brought up to
all such principles。 La Pechina would consider herself your equal； for
the old man has made her； as he says； a republican；just as Pere
Fourchon has made Mouche a bohemian。 As for me； I laugh at such ideas；
but you might be displeased。 She would revere you as her benefactress；
but never as her superior。 It can't be otherwise； she is wild and free
like the swallowsher mother's blood counts for a good deal in what
she is。〃
〃Who was her mother？〃
〃Doesn't madame know the story？〃 said Olympe。 〃Well； the son of the
old sexton at Blangy； a splendid fellow； so the people about here tell
me； was drafted at the great conscription。 In 1809 young Niseron was
still only an artilleryman； in a corps d'armee stationed in Illyria
and Dalmatia when it received sudden orders to advance through Hungary
and cut off the retreat of the Austrian army in case the Emperor won
the battle of Wagram。 Michaud told me all about Dalmatia； for he was
there。 Niseron； being so handsome a man； captivated a Montenegrin girl
of Zahara among the mountains； who was not averse to the French
garrison。 This lost her the good…will of her compatriots； and life in
her own town became impossible after the departure of the French。 Zena
Kropoli； called in derision the Frenchwoman； followed the artillery；
and came to France after the peace。 Auguste Niseron asked permission
to marry her； but the poor woman died at Vincennes in January； 1810；
after giving birth to a daughter； our Genevieve。 The papers necessary
to make the marriage legal arrived a few days later。 Auguste Niseron
then wrote to his father to come and take the child； with a wetnurse
he had got from its own country； and it was lucky he did； for he was
killed soon after by the bursting of a shell at Montereau。 Registered
by the name of Genevieve and baptized at Soulanges； the little
Dalmatian was taken under the protection of Mademoiselle Laguerre； who
was touched by her story。 It seems as if it were the destiny of the
child to be taken care of by the owners of Les Aigues！ Pere Niseron
obtained its clothes； and now and then some help in money from
Mademoiselle。〃
The countess and Olympe were just then standing before a window from
which they could see Michaud approaching the abbe and Blondet； who
were walking up and down the wide； semi…circular gravelled space which
repeated on the park side of the pavilion the exterior half…moon； they
were conversing earnestly。
〃Where is she？〃 said the countess； 〃you make me anxious to see her。〃
〃She is gone to carry milk to Mademoiselle Gaillard at the gate of
Conches； she will soon be back； for it is more than an hour since she
started。〃
〃Well； I'll go and meet her with those gentlemen；〃 said Madame de
Montcornet； going downstairs。
Just as the countess opened her parasol； Michaud came up and told her
that the general had left her a widow for probably two days。
〃Monsieur Michaud；〃 said the countess； eagerly； 〃don't deceive me；
there is something serious going on。 Your wife is frightened； and if
there are many persons like Pere Fourchon； this part of the country
will be uninhabitable〃
〃If it were so； madame；〃 answered Michaud； laughing； 〃we should not be
in the land of the living； for nothing would be easier than to make
away with us。 The peasant's grumble； that is all。 But as to passing
from growls to blows； from pilfering to crime； they care too much for
life and the free air of the fields。 Olympe has been saying something
that frightened you； but you know she is in state to be frightened at
nothing；〃 he added； drawing his wife's hand under his arm and pressing
it to warn her to say no more。
〃Cornevin！ Juliette！〃 cried Madame Michaud； who soon saw the head of
her old cook at the window。 〃I am going for a little walk； take care
of the premises。〃
Two enormous dogs； who began to bark； proved that the effectiveness of
the garrison at the gate of the Avonne was not to be despised。 Hearing
the dogs； Cornevin； an old Percheron； Olympe's foster…father； came
from behind the trees； showing a head such as no other region than La
Perche can manufacture。 Cornevin was undoubtedly a Chouan in 1794 and
1799。
The whole party accompanied the countess along that one of the six
forest avenues which led directly to the gate of Conches； crossing the
Silver…spring rivulet。 Madame de Montcornet walked in front with
Blondet。 The abbe and Michaud and his wife talked in a low voice of
the revelation that had just been made to the countess of the state of
the country。
〃Perhaps it is providential；〃 said the abbe； 〃for if madame is
willing； we might； perhaps； by dint of benefits and constant
consideration of their wants； change the hearts of these people。〃
At about six hundred feet from the pavilion and below the brooke； the
countess caught sight of a broken red jug and some spilt milk。
〃Something has happened to the poor child！〃 she cried； calling to
Michaud and his wife； who were returning to the pavilion。
〃A misfortune like Perrette's；〃 said Blondet； laughing。
〃No； the poor child has been surprised and pursued； for the jug was
thrown outside the path；〃 said the abbe； examining the ground。
〃Yes； that is certainly La Pechina's step；〃 said Michaud； 〃the print
of the feet； which have turned； you see； quickly； shows sudden terror。
The child must have darted in the direction of the pavilion； trying to
get back there。〃
Every one followed the traces which the bailiff pointed out as he
walked along examining them。 Presently he stopped in the middle of the
path about a hundred feet from the broken jug； where the girl's foot…
prints ceased。
〃Here；〃 he said； 〃she turned towards the Avonne； perhaps she was
headed off from the direction of the pavilion。〃
〃But she has been gone more than an hour；〃 cried Madame Michaud。
Alarm was in all faces。 The abbe ran towards the pavilion； examining
the state of the road； while Michaud； impelled by the same thought；
went up the path towards Conches。
〃Good God！ she fell here；〃 said Michaud； returning from a place where
the footsteps stopped near the brook； to that where they had turned in
the road； and pointing to the ground； he added； 〃See！〃
The marks were plainly seen of a body lying at full length on the
sandy path。
〃The footprints which have entered the wood are those of some one who
wore knitted soles；〃 said the abbe。
〃A woman； then；〃 said the countess。
〃Down there； by the broken pitcher； are the footsteps of a man；〃 added
Michaud。
〃I don't see traces of any other foot；〃 said the abbe； who was
tracking into the wood the prints of the woman's feet。
〃She must have been lifted and carried into the wood；〃 cried Michaud。
〃That can't be； if it is really a woman's foot；〃 said Blondet。
〃It must be some trick of that wretch； Nicolas；〃 said Michaud。 〃He has
been watching La Pechina for some time。 Only this morning I stood two
hours under the bridge of the Avonne to see what he was about。 A woman
may have helped him。〃
〃It is dreadful！〃 said the countess。
〃They call it amusing themselves；〃 added the priest； in a sad and
grieved tone。
〃Oh！ La Pechina would never let them keep her；〃 said the bailiff； 〃she
is quite able to swim across the river。 I shall look along the banks。
Go home； my dear Olympe； and you gentlemen and madame； please to
follow the avenue towards Conches。〃
〃What a country！〃 exclaimed the countess。
〃There are scoundrels everywhere；〃 replied Blondet。
〃Is it true； Monsieur l'abbe；〃 asked Madame de Montcornet； 〃that I
saved the poor child from the clutches of Rigou？〃
〃Every young girl over fiften years
