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！
showed the utter self…abnegation in which the poor creature lived； and
the affection she still bore to her petty tyrant。
〃Very good；〃 replied Rigou。
〃Shall I wake Annette？〃 she asked。
〃No； let her sleep； she has been up half the night；〃 he replied；
gravely。
The man was always grave； even when he allowed himself to jest。
Annette had in fact opened the door secretly to Sibilet； Fourchon； and
Catherine Tonsard； who all came at different hours between eleven and
two o'clock。
Ten minutes later Rigou； dressed with more care than usual； came
downstairs and greeted his wife with a 〃Good…morning； my old woman；〃
which made her happier than if counts had knelt at her feet。
〃Jean；〃 he said to the ex…lay…brother； 〃don't leave the house； if any
one robs me it will be worse for you than for me。〃
By thus mingling mildness and severity； hopes and rebuffs； the clever
egoist kept his three slaves faithful and close at his heels； like
dogs。
Taking the upper…road； so…called； to avoid the Close of the Cross；
Rigou reached the square of Soulanges about eight o'clock。
Just as he was fastening his rein to the post nearest the little door
with three steps； a blind opened and Soudry showed his face； pitted
with the small…pox； which the expression of his small black eyes
rendered crafty。
〃Let's begin by taking a crust here before we start；〃 he said； 〃we
sha'n't get breakfast at Ville…aux…Fayes before one o'clock。〃
Then he softly called a servant…girl； as young and pretty as Annette；
who came down noiselessly； and received his order for ham and bread；
after which he went himself to the cellar and fetched some wine。
Rigou contemplated for the hundredth time the well…known dining…room；
floored in oak； with stuccoed ceiling and cornice； its high wainscot
and handsome cupboards finely painted； its porcelain stone and
magnificent tall clock；all the property of Mademoiselle Laguerre。
The chair…backs were in the form of lyres； painted white and highly
varnished； the seats were of green morocco with gilt nails。 A massive
mahogany table was covered with green oilcloth； with large squares of
a deeper shade of green； and a plain border of the lighter。 The floor；
laid in Hungarian point； was carefully waxed by Urbain and showed the
care which ex…waiting…women know how to exact out of their servants。
〃Bah！ it cost too much；〃 thought Rigou for the hundredth time。 〃I can
eat as good a dinner in my room as here； and I have the income of the
money this useless splendor would have wasted。 Where is Madame
Soudry？〃 he asked； as the mayor returned armed with a venerable
bottle。
〃Asleep。〃
〃And you no longer disturb her slumbers？〃 said Rigou。
The ex…gendarme winked with a knowing air； and pointed to the ham
which Jeannette； the pretty maid； was just bringing in。
〃That will pick you up； a pretty bit like that；〃 he said。 〃It was
cured in the house； we cut into it only yesterday。〃
〃Where did you find her？〃 said the ex…Benedictine in Soudry's ear。
〃She is like the ham；〃 replied the ex…gendarme； winking again； 〃I have
had her only a week。〃
Jeannette； still in her night…cap； with a short petticoat and her bare
feet in slippers； had slipped on a bodice made with straps over the
arms in true peasant fashion； over which she had crossed a neckerchief
which did not entirely hide her fresh and youthful attractions； which
were at least as appetizing as the ham she carried。 Short and plump；
with bare arms mottled red； ending in large； dimpled hands with short
but well…made fingers； she was a picture of health。 The face was that
of a true Burgundian；ruddy； but white about the temples； throat； and
ears； the hair was chestnut； the corners of the eyes turned up towards
the top of the ears； the nostrils were wide； the mouth sensual； and a
little down lay along the cheeks； all this； together with a jaunty
expression； tempered however by a deceitfully modest attitude； made
her the model of a roguish servant…girl。
〃On my honor； Jeannette is as good as the ham；〃 said Rigou。 〃If I
hadn't an Annette I should want a Jeannette。〃
〃One is as good as the other；〃 said the ex…gendarme； 〃for your Annette
is fair and delicate。 How is Madame Rigou；is she asleep？〃 added
Soudry； roughly； to let Rigou see he understood his joke。
〃She wakes with the cock； but she goes to roost with the hens；〃
replied Rigou。 〃As for me； I sit up and read the 'Constitutionnel。' My
wife lets me sleep at night and in the morning too； she wouldn't come
into my room for all the world。〃
〃It's just the other way here；〃 replied Jeanette。 〃Madame sits up with
the company playing cards； sometimes there are sixteen of them in the
salon； Monsieur goes to bed at eight o'clock； and we get up at
daylight〃
〃You think that's different；〃 said Rigou； 〃but it comes to the same
thing in the end。 Well； my dear； you come to me and I'll send Annette
here； and that will be the same thing and different too。〃
〃Old scamp； you'll make her ashamed；〃 said Soudry。
〃Ha！ gendarme； you want your field to yourself！ Well； we all get our
happiness where we can find it。〃
Jeanette； by her master's order； disappeared to lay out his clothes。
〃You must have promised to marry her when your wife dies；〃 said Rigou。
〃At your age and mine；〃 replied Soudry； 〃there's no other way。〃
〃With girls of any ambition it would be one way to become a widower；〃
added Rigou； 〃especially if Madame Soudry found fault with Jeannette
for her way of scrubbing the staircase。〃
The remark made the two husbands pensive。 When Jeannette returned and
announced that all was ready； Soudry said to her； 〃Come and help me！〃
a precaution which made the ex…monk smile。
〃There's a difference； indeed！〃 said he。 〃As for me； I'd leave you
alone with Annette； my good friend。〃
A quarter of an hour later Soudry； in his best clothes； got into the
wicker carriage； and the two friends drove round the lake of Soulanges
to Ville…aux…Fayes。
〃Look at it！〃 said Rigou； as they reached an eminence from which the
chateau of Soulanges could be seen in profile。
The old revolutionary put into the tone of his words all the hatred
which the rural middle classes feel to the great chateaux and the
great estates。
〃Yes； but I hope it will never be destroyed as long as I live；〃 said
Soudry。 〃The Comte de Soulanges was my general； he did me kindness； he
got my pension； and he allows Lupin to manage the estate。 After Lupin
some of us will have it； and as long as the Soulanges family exists
they and their property will be respected。 Such folks are large…
minded； they let every one make his profit； and they find it pays。〃
〃Yes； but the Comte de Soulanges has three children； who； at his
death； may not agree；〃 replied Rigou。 〃The husband of his daughter and
his sons may go to law； and end by selling the lead and iron mines to
manufacturers； from whom we shall manage t