按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
on。 In spite of himself； the sheriff allowed his face to show the
species of bewilderment which a man feels at an unexpected meeting
with a person whom he hates and is plotting against； and he speedily
withdrew into the billiard…room。
〃Adieu； Pere Socquard；〃 said Rigou。
〃I'll get your carriage；〃 said the innkeeper； 〃take your time。〃
〃How shall I find out what those fellows have been saying over their
pool？〃 Rigou was asking himself； when he happened to see the waiter's
face in the mirror beside him。
The waiter was a jack at all trades； he cultivated Socquard's vines；
swept out the cafe and the billiard…room； kept the garden in order；
and watered the Tivoli； all for fifty francs a year。 He was always
without a jacket； except on grand occasions； usually his sole garments
were a pair of blue linen trousers； heavy shoes； and a striped velvet
waistcoat； over which he wore an apron of homespun linen when at work
in the cafe or billiard…room。 This apron； with strings； was the badge
of his functions。 The fellow had been hired by Socquard at the last
annual fair； for in this valley； as throughout Burgundy； servants are
hired in the market…place by the year； exactly as one buys horses。
〃What's your name？〃 said Rigou。
〃Michel； at your service；〃 replied the waiter。
〃Doesn't old Fourchon come here sometimes？〃
〃Two or three times a week； with Monsieur Vermichel； who gives me a
couple of sous to warn him if his wife's after them。〃
〃He's a fine old fellow； Pere Fourchon； knows a great deal and is full
of good sense；〃 said Rigou； paying for his lemonade and leaving the
evil…smelling place when he saw Pere Socquard leading his horse round。
Just as he was about to get into the carriage； Rigou noticed the
chemist crossing the square and hailed him with a 〃Ho； there； Monsieur
Vermut！〃 Recognizing the rich man； Vermut hurried up。 Rigou joined
him； and said in a low voice：
〃Are there any drugs that can eat into the tissue of the skin so as to
produce a real disease； like a whitlow on the finger； for instance？〃
〃If Monsieur Gourdon would help； yes；〃 answered the little chemist。
〃Vermut； not a word of all this； or you and I will quarrel； but speak
of the matter to Monsieur Gourdon； and tell him to come and see me the
day after to…morrow。 I may be able to procure him the delicate
operation of cutting off a forefinger。〃
Then； leaving the little man thoroughly bewildered； Rigou got into the
carriole beside Marie Tonsard。
〃Well； you little viper；〃 he said； taking her by the arm when he had
fastened the reins to a hook in front of the leathern apron which
closed the carriole and the horse had started on a trot； 〃do you think
you can keep Bonnebault by giving way to such violence？ If you were a
wise girl you would promote his marriage with that hogshead of
stupidity and take your revenge afterwards。〃
Marie could not help smiling as she answered：
〃Ah； how bad you are！ you are the master of us all in wickedness。〃
〃Listen to me； Marie； I like the peasants； but it won't do for any one
of you to come between my teeth and a mouthful of game。 Your brother
Nicolas； as Aglae said； is after La Pechina。 That must not be； I
protect her； that girl。 She is to be my heiress for thirty thousand
francs； and I intend to marry her well。 I know that Nicolas； helped by
your sister Catherine； came near killing the little thing this
morning。 You are to see your brother and sister at once； and say to
them： 'If you let La Pechina alone； Pere Rigou will save Nicolas from
the conscription。'〃
〃You are the devil incarnate！〃 cried Marie。 〃They do say you've signed
a compact with him。 Is that true？〃
〃Yes；〃 replied Rigou； gravely。
〃I heard it； but I didn't believe it。〃
〃He has guaranteed that no attacks aimed at me shall hurt me； that I
shall never be robbed； that I shall live a hundred years and succeed
in everything I undertake； and be as young to the day of my death as a
two…year old cockerel〃
〃Well； if that's so；〃 said Marie； 〃it must be DEVILISHLY easy for you
to save my brother from the conscription〃
〃If he chooses； that's to say。 He'll have to lose a finger；〃 returned
Rigou。 〃I'll tell him how。〃
〃Look out； you are taking the upper road！〃 exclaimed Marie。
〃I never go by the lower at night；〃 said the ex…monk。
〃On account of the cross？〃 said Marie； naively。
〃That's it； sly…boots；〃 replied her diabolical companion。
They had reached a spot where the high…road cuts through a slight
elevation of ground； making on each side of it a rather steep slope；
such as we often see on the mail…roads of France。 At the end of this
little gorge； which is about a hundred feet long； the roads to
Ronquerolles and to Cerneux meet and form an open space； in the centre
of which stands a cross。 From either slope a man could aim at a victim
and kill him at close quarters； with all the more ease because the
little hill is covered with vines； and the evil…doer could lie in
ambush among the briers and brambles that overgrow them。 We can
readily imagine why the usurer did not take that road after dark。 The
Thune flows round the little hill； and the place is called the Close
of the Cross。 No spot was ever more adapted for revenge or murder； for
the road to Ronquerolles continues to the bridge over the Avonne in
front of the pavilion of the Rendezvous； while that to Cerneux leads
off above the mail…road； so that between the four roads；to Les
Aigues； Ville…aux…Fayes； Ronquerolles； and Cerneux；a murderer could
choose his line of retreat and leave his pursuers in uncertainty。
〃I shall drop you at the entrance of the village；〃 said Rigou when
they neared the first houses of Blangy。
〃Because you are afraid of Annette； old coward！〃 cried Marie。 〃When
are you going to send her away？ you have had her now three years。 What
amuses me is that your old woman still lives； the good God knows how
to revenge himself。〃
CHAPTER IV
THE TRIUMVIRATE OF VILLE…AUX…FAYES
The cautious usurer compelled his wife and Jean to go to bed and to
rise by daylight； assuring them that the house would never be attacked
if he sat up till midnight； and he never himself rose till late。 Not
only had he thus secured himself from interruption between seven at
night and five the next morning but he had accustomed his wife and
Jean to respect his morning sleep and that of Hagar； whose room was
directly behind his。
So； on the following morning； about half past six； Madame Rigou； who
herself took care of the poultry…yard with some assistance from Jean；
knocked timidly at her husband's door。
〃Monsieur Rigou；〃 she said； 〃you told me to wake you。〃
The tones of that voice； the attitude of the woman； her frightened air
as she obeyed an order the execution of which might be ill…received；
showed the utter self…abnegation in which the poor creature lived； and
the affection she still bore