Gerfaut -- Volume 2

, and alone, took his departure through a door opening from the stable-yard into the park. He wore a long travelling redingote trimmed with bra

der's lungs; for the latter, during this rapid ride, had sung without taking breath, so to speak, the whole overture to Wilhelm Tell. We must admit that the voice in which he sang the andante of the Swiss mountaineer's chorus resembled a reed pipe more than a haut

and, entering the woods on the right, stopped at the foot of a large tree. Near this tree was a very small brook, which took its source not far away and descended with a sweet murmur to the river, making a narrow bed in the clayey ground which it watered. Such was the modesty of its course that a l

time-honored custom of lovers, the cavalier struck his foot upon the ground three or four times

looks as if the clocks at La Fauconnerie were not very well regulated

quittai la

ds-j'at

y for a virtue, she was not one of those little exacting creatures always ready to faint or whose delicate nerves make them intolerant of their lovers' imperfections. Plunging his han

s this palliative, like the fi

irls! I shall see her appear presently as spruce and conceited as if she had been playing the finest trick in the world. It will do for once; but if we sojourn in these quarters some time yet, she must be educated and taught to say, 'If you please' and 'Thanks.' Ah! ha! she has no idea what sort of man she is dealing with! Half past eight! If she is not here in five minutes I shall go to La Fauconnerie and raise a terrible uproar. I will break every bit of crockery there is in the 'Femme-sans-Tete' with blows fro

s eyes; "you have made me dance attendance for an hour and now

eine, turning as red as a cherry as she threw the remainder of

e, for he realized the ridiculousness of his anger; "since you have hurt me,

the kind-I don't like

make a movement as if to go; he put his arm abou

hall stain my dress," said

ground, in lieu of a carpet, by the lover

ll me why you come so late? Do you know that for

th a malicious glance at Marillac, whose head was powdered

if he were crying; and, acting upon the principle of retaliation les

illac! you know very wel

reature," said he, in the voice of a c

instinct which prescribes changing the subject of conversation after too direct an avo

ou did not hear me coming. You were so droll; you waved yo

hinking

to do that, to strike your head wi

claimed the artist,

I had known I would not have come h

eart! No! do not expect to do th

in coming! I told mamma that I was going to the mill to see my uncle; but that horrid old Lambernier met me just as I entered the woods. What shal

, or to hear the nightingale sing; Mother Gobillot w

er. You saw him at ou

interest, "the one who was t

l to do it, too; he is

eim. Tell me the story. Your mother interrupted us yesterday

y. One can not believe

did he t

roness?" replied the young girl, rather spitefully, as she saw

l the Baron what he knew, and that the latter would

what he told me. Ask h

at the chateau if you

e you in lov

now! How shall I make her talk?] I am of the same opinion as you," he repl

and watches everything that one does or says in order to report it at cross-purposes

st, with affectation, "is certainly far ab

p her lips, bu

ties and virtues for people

ng the Parisian ladies as well as elsewhe

have it now. I'd wager my last f

emphasizing each word, "is such a go

isengaging herself from the arm which was still about her waist. "A great lady who has her carriag

air of affected modesty, an

f three days' acquaintance, and in the depths of

's lovers," she continued, raising her head and tr

are fal

ll you that I know wha

er is no

which seemed to come from the cavity of the tree under which

d pair with his brown coat thrown over his shoulders, as usual, and his broad-brimmed gray hat pulled d

d seen Satan rise up from the ground at her feet

t fellow," said he, in

our

ustified the epithet which had just been bestowed upon him; "we ar

ce," said the artist, becoming purple w

th an air of bravado. "My face is not afraid of your whip; you can not frighten me b

comparison; a blow from the whip cut him in t

ce like thunder, "may I lose my nam

hands and rubbed them together, assuming the

d uttered two or three inarticulate cries; but, instead of throwing herself b

with his fists on a level with his shoulders, resembled, somewhat, a cat ready to bound upon its prey. The artist stood with his body thrown backward, his legs on a tension, his chin buried up to his moustache in the fur collar of his coat, with whip lowered, watching

I'll fin

carpenters use, and opened it with a rapid movement. He then seized it in the centre and was th

is whip to his left hand and, arming himself with his Co

orter than yours, but it pricks better. If you take one step near

n vigor, and whose moustache and sparkling eyes gave him a rather formidable aspect at thi

old looks had produced their effect, "you are a Prove

u have put my eye almost out. Do you imagine that I am well provided for like yourself and have nothing to do bu

d his attitude assume a less threatening character; "pick up your compass and return to your work. Here," he added, taking two f

better do, and was weighing his chances of success in case of a hostile resolve. After a few moments' reflection, prud

he whip! I know a good many people who would offer you their cheek twelve hours o

ist, "he would not have had to seek so long for his model for the face of Judas. On

I have been told that you were sent away from the chateau against your will. I am intimate en

s horse to mount, eyes which seemed filled with hatred to their very depths. His face suddenly changed its expression

turned me away like a dog; all right. Let them laugh that win. It was that old idiot of a Rousselet and that old s

. I have seen your work at the chateau; there are some rooms yet unfinished; there must have been

Madame caused me to be discharged. She is mistress there

riosity, left ungratified by Mademoiselle Reine, was growing more an

could only whisper two or three words in her ear, she would give me more

your place, I would say those

by that band of idle fel

have my own scheme; let

erb, the workman uttered

n very strange speeches that you have made within the last few days. Do y

prove what he says?" replied

dertake to prove?" excl

aron-" he did not continue, but with a coarse

n prove

courts, if

is talk and never open your mouth about all this, whatever it may be, and will giv

ed at the artist with a sin

he country, a married woman and this poor girl," said he, in a jeer

ou mean to

re more cl

other in silence, trying to

efaced impudence of his kind; "if I were to tell him what I know, my vengea

strong in diplomacy," said Marillac to himself; "but

ntinued the carpenter, after a moment's silence;

h he had not looked until now. "Bah!" said he to himself, in order to quiet his conscience, "if this rascal really knows anything it is much better that I should buy the secret than anybody else.

he proof you want,"

he

the afternoon at the cross-roads

end of t

ttle above

l then, you will not s

since you buy the go

anded him the silver pieces he still held in his hand; Lambernier to

at four

reat haste as if eager to take leave of his companion. He turned when he reached the roa

. Bah! I have nothing to reproach myself with. Of two evils choose the least; it remains to be seen whether Gerfaut is the dupe of a coquette or w

orn and hatred, he watched the traveller disappear. "I should be a double idiot to refuse. But this does not pay