white lies-第15节

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e　Commandant　Raynal；　will；　I　am　sure；　advance　me　the　remaining　third　at　an　hour's　notice；　and　so　Beaurepaire　chateau；　park；　estate；　and　grounds；　down　to　the　old　oak…　tree；　shall　be　saved；　and　no　power　shall　alienate　them　from　you；　mademoiselle；　and　from　the　heirs　of　your　body。〃

The　baroness　clasped　her　hands　in　ecstasy。

〃But　what　are　we　to　do　for　this？〃　inquired　Josephine　calmly；　〃for　it　seems　to　me　that　it　can　only　be　effected　by　a　sacrifice　on　your　part。〃

〃I　thank　you；　mademoiselle；　for　your　penetration　in　seeing　that　I　must　make　sacrifices。　　I　would　never　have　told　you；　but　you　have　seen　it；　and　I　do　not　regret　that　you　have　seen　it。　　Madame　mademoisellethose　sacrifices　appear　little　to　me；　will　seem　nothing；　will　never　be　mentioned；　or　even　alluded　to　after　this　day；　if　you；　on　your　part；　will　lay　me　under　a　far　heavier　obligation；　if　in　short〃here　the　contemner　of　things　unsubstantial　reopened　his　coat；　and　brought　his　ribbon　to　light　again〃if　you；　madame；　will　accept　me　for　your　son…in…lawif　you；　mademoiselle；　will　take　me　for　your　husband。〃

The　baroness　and　her　daughter　looked　at　one　another　in　silence。

〃Is　it　a　jest？〃　inquired　the　former　of　the　latter。

〃Can　you　think　so？　　Answer　Monsieur　Perrin。　　He　has　just　done　us　a　kind　office；　mother。〃

〃I　shall　remember　it。　　Monsieur；　permit　me　to　regret　that　having　lately　won　our　gratitude　and　esteem；　you　have　taken　this　way　of　modifying　those　feelings。　　But　after　all；〃　she　added　with　gentle　courtesy；　〃we　may　well　put　your　good　deeds　against　thisthis　error　in　judgment。　　The　balance　is　in　your　favor　still；　provided　you　never　return　to　this　topic。　　Come；　is　it　agreed？〃　　The　baroness's　manner　was　full　of　tact；　and　the　latter　sentences　were　said　with　an　open　kindliness　of　manner。　　There　was　nothing　to　prevent　Perrin　from　dropping　the　subject；　and　remaining　good　friends。　　A　gentleman　or　a　lover　would　have　so　done。　　Monsieur　Perrin　was　neither。　　He　said　bitterly；　〃You　refuse　me；　then。〃

The　tone　and　the　words　were　each　singly　too　much　for　the　baroness's　pride。　　She　answered　coldly　but　civilly；

〃I　do　not　refuse　you。　　I　do　not　take　an　affront　into　consideration。〃

〃Be　calm；　mamma；　no　affront　whatever　was　intended。〃

〃Ah！　here　is　one　that　is　more　reasonable；〃　cried　Perrin。

〃There　are　men；〃　continued　Josephine　without　noticing　him；　〃who　look　to　but　one　thinginterest。　　It　was　an　offer　made　politely　in　the　way　of　business：　decline　it　in　the　same　spirit；　that　is　what　you　have　to　do。〃

〃Monsieur；　you　hear　what　mademoiselle　says？　　She　carries　politeness　a　long　way。　　After　all　it　is　a　good　fault。　　Well；　monsieur；　I　need　not　answer　you；　since　Mademoiselle　de　Beaurepaire　has　answered　you；　but　I　detain　you　no　longer。〃

Strictly　a　weasel　has　no　business　with　the　temper　of　a　tiger；　but　this　one　had；　and　the　long　vindictiveness　of　a　Corsican。　　〃Ah！　my　little　lady；　you　turn　me　out　of　the　house；　do　you？〃　cried　he；　grinding　his　teeth。

〃Turn　him　out　of　the　house？　what　a　phrase！　where　has　this　man　lived？〃

〃A　man！〃　snarled　Perrin；　〃whom　none　ever　yet　insulted　without　repenting　it；　and　repenting　in　vain。　　You　are　under　obligations　to　me；　and　you　think　to　turn　me　out！　　You　are　at　my　mercy；　and　you　think　I　will　let　you　turn　me　to　your　door！　　In　less　than　a　mouth　I　will　stand　here；　and　say　to　you；　Beaurepaire　is　mine。　　Begone　from　it！〃

When　he　uttered　these　terrible　words；　each　of　which　was　like　a　sword…stroke　to　the　baroness；　the　old　lady；　whose　courage　was　not　equal　to　her　strength；　shrank　over　the　side　of　her　arm…chair；　and　cried　piteously〃He　threatens　me！　he　threatens　me！　I　am　frightened；〃　and　put　up　her　trembling　hands；　for　the　notary's　eloquence；　being　accompanied　with　abundance　of　gesture；　bordered　upon　physical　violence。　　His　brutality　received　an　unexpected　check。　Imagine　that　a　sparrow…hawk　had　seized　a　trembling　pigeon；　and　that　a　royal　falcon　swooped；　and　with　one　lightning…like　stroke　of　body　and　wing；　buffeted　him　away；　and　sent　him　gaping　and　glaring　and　grasping　at　pigeonless　air　with　his　claws。　　So　swift　and　majestic；　Josephine　de　Beaurepaire　came　from　her　chair　with　one　gesture　of　her　body　between　her　mother　and　the　notary；　who　was　advancing　with　arms　folded　in　a　brutal；　menacing　waynot　the　Josephine　we　have　seen　her；　the　calm　languid　beauty；　but　the　demoiselle　de　Beaurepaireher　great　heart　on　fireher　blood　upnot　her　own　only；　but　all　the　blood　of　all　the　De　Beaurepairespale　as　ashes　with　great　wrath；　her　purple　eyes　on　fire；　and　her　whole　panther…like　body　full　of　spring。　　〃Wretch！　you　dare　to　insult　her；　and　before　me！　　Arriere　miserable！　or　I　soil　my　hand　with　your　face。〃　　And　her　hand　was　up　with　the　word；　up；　up；　higher　it　seemed　than　ever　a　hand　was　raised　before。　　And　if　he　had　hesitated　one　moment；　I　really　believe　it　would　have　come　down；　not　heavily；　perhapsthe　lightning　is　not　heavy。　　But　there　was　no　need。　　The　towering　threat　and　the　flaming　eye　and　the　swift　rush　buffeted　the　caitiff　away：　he　recoiled。　　She　followed　him　as　he　went；　strong；　FOR　A　MOMENT　OR　TWO；　as　Hercules；　beautiful　and　terrible　as　Michael　driving　Satan。　　He　dared　not；　or　could　not　stand　before　her：　he　writhed　and　cowered　and　recoiled　all　down　the　room；　while　she　marched　upon　him。　　But　the　driven　serpent　hissed　horribly　as　it　wriggled　away。

〃You　shall　both　be　turned　out　of　Beaurepaire　by　me；　and　forever；　I　swear　it；　parole　de　Perrin。〃

He　had　not　been　gone　a　minute　when　Josephine's　courage　oozed　away；　and　she　ran；　or　rather　tottered；　into　the　Pleasaunce；　and　clung　like　a　drowning　thing　to　Rose；　and；　when　Edouard　took　her　hand；　she　clung　to　him。　　They　had　to　gather　what　had　happened　how　they　could：　the　account　was　constantly　interrupted　with　her　sobs　and　self…　reproaches。　　She　said　she　had　ruined　all　she　loved：　ruined　her　sister；　ruined　her　mother；　ruined　the　house　of　Beaurepaire。　　Why　was　she　ever　born？　　Why　had　she　not　died　three　years　ago？　　（Query；　what　was　the　date　at　which　Camille's　letters　suddenly　stopped？）　　〃That　coward；〃　said　she；　〃has　the　heart　of　a　fiend。　　He　told　us　he　never　forgave　an　affront；　and　he　holds　our　fate　in　his　hands。　　He　will　drive　our　mother　from　her　home；　and　she　will　die：　murdered　by　her　own　daughter。　　After　all；　why　did　I　refuse　him？　　What　should　I　have　sacrificed　by　marrying　him？　　Rose；　write　to　him；　and　saysayI　was　taken　by　surprise；　II〃a　violent　flood　of　tears　interrupted　the　sentence。

Rose　flung　her　arms　round　her　neck。　　〃My　beautiful　Josephine　marry　that　creature？　　Let　house　and　lands　go　a　thousand　times　sooner。　　I　love　my　sister　a　thousand　times　better　than　the　walls　of　this　or　any　other　house。〃

〃Come；　come；〃　cried　Edouard；　〃you　are　forgetting　ME　all　this　time。　Do　you　really　think　I　am　the　sort　of　man　to　stand　by　with　my　hands　in　my　pockets；　and　let　her　marry　that　cur；　or　you　be　driven　out　of　Beaurepaire？　　Neither；　while　I　live。〃

〃Alas！　dear　boy；〃　sighed　Josephine；　〃what　can　you　do？〃

〃I'll　soon　show　you。　　From　this　hour　forth　it　is　a　duel　between　that　Perrin　and　me。　　Now；　JosephineRosedon't　you　cry　and　fret　like　that：　but　just　look　quietly　on；　and　enjoy　the　fight；　both　of　you。〃

Josephine　shook　her　head　with　a　sad　smile：　but　Rose　delivered　herself　thus；　after　a　sob；　〃La；　yes；　I　forgot：　we　have　got　a　gentleman　now；　that's　one　comfort。〃

Edouard　rose　to　the　situation：　he　saw　that　Perrin　would　lose　no　time；　and　that　every　day；　or　even　hour；　might　be　precious。　　He　told　them　that　the　first　thing　he　must　do　for　them　was　to　leave　the　company　he　loved　best　on　earth；　and　run　down　to　the　town　to　consult　Picard　the　rival　notary：　he　would　be　back　by　supper…time；　when　he　hoped　they　would　do　him　the　honor；　in　a　matter　of　such　importance；　to　admit　him　to　a　family　council。

Josephine　assented　with　perfect　simplicity；　Rose　with　a　deep　blush；　for　she　was　too　quick　not　to　see　all　the　consequences　of　admitting　so　brisk　a　wooer　into　a　family　council。


It　was　a　wet　evening；　and　a　sad　and　silent　party　sat　round　a　wood　fire　in　the　great　dining…hall。　　The　baroness　was　almost　prostrated　by　the　scene　with　Perrin；　and　a　sombre　melancholy　and　foreboding　weighed　on　all　their　spirits；　when　presently　Edouard　Riviere　entered　briskly；　and　saluted　them　all　profoundly；　and　opened　the　proceedings　with　a　little　favorite　pomposity。　　〃Madame　the　baroness；　and　you　Monsieur　Aubertin；　who　honor　me　with　your　esteem；　and　you　Mademoiselle　de　Beaurepaire；　whom　I　adore；　and　you　Mademoiselle　Rose；　whom　I　hoped　to　be　permittedyou　have　this　day　done　me　the　honor　to　admit　me　as　your　adviser。　　I　am　here　to　lay　my　plans　before　you。　　I　believe；　madame；　I　have　already　convinced　you　that　your　farms　are　under…let；　and　your　property　lowered　in　value　by　general　mismanagement；　this　was　doubtless　known　to　Perrin；　and　set　him　scheming。　　Well；　I　rely　on　the　same　circumstance　to　defeat　him。　　I　have　consulted　Picard　and　shown　him　the　rent…roll　and　balance…sheet　I　had　already　shown　you。　　He　has　confessed　that　the　estate　is　worth　more　than　its　debts；　so　capitalists　can　safely　advance　the　money。　To…morrow　morning；　then；　I　ride　to　Commandant　Raynal　for　a　week's　leave　of　absence；　then；　armed　with　Picard's　certificate；　shall　proceed　to　my　uncle　and　ask　him　to　lend　the　money。　　His　estate　is　very　small　compared　with　Beaurepaire；　but　he　has　always　farmed　it　himself。　　'I'll　have　no　go…between；'