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〃Ah； you are here already；〃 said the notary； perceiving the young
banker Gobenheim； a connection of Gobenheim…Keller； the head of the
great banking house in Paris。
This young man with a livid facea blonde of the type with black
eyes； whose immovable glance has an indescribable fascination； sober
in speech as in conduct； dressed in black； lean as a consumptive； but
nevertheless vigorously framedvisited the family of his former
master and the house of his cashier less from affection than from
self…interest。 Here they played whist at two sous a point； a dress…
coat was not required； he accepted no refreshment except 〃eau sucree；〃
and consequently had no civilities to return。 This apparent devotion
to the Mignon family allowed it to be supposed that Gobenheim had a
heart； it also released him from the necessity of going into the
society of Havre and incurring useless expenses； thus upsetting the
orderly economy of his domestic life。 This disciple of the golden calf
went to bed at half…past ten o'clock and got up at five in the
morning。 Moreover； being perfectly sure of Latournelle's and Butscha's
discretion； he could talk over difficult business matters； obtain the
advice of the notary gratis； and get an inkling of the real truth of
the gossip of the street。 This stolid gold…glutton （the epithet is
Butscha's） belonged by nature to the class of substances which
chemistry terms absorbents。 Ever since the catastrophe of the house of
Mignon； where the Kellers had placed him to learn the principles of
maritime commerce； no one at the Chalet had ever asked him to do the
smallest thing； no matter what； his reply was too well known。 The
young fellow looked at Modeste precisely as he would have looked at a
cheap lithograph。
〃He's one of the pistons of the big engine called 'Commerce；'〃 said
poor Butscha； whose clever mind made itself felt occasionally by such
little sayings timidly jerked out。
The four Latournelles bowed with the most respectful deference to an
old lady dressed in black velvet； who did not rise from the armchair
in which she was seated； for the reason that both eyes were covered
with the yellow film produced by cataract。 Madame Mignon may be
sketched in one sentence。 Her august countenance of the mother of a
family attracted instant notice as that of one whose irreproachable
life defies the assaults of destiny； which nevertheless makes her the
target of its arrows and a member of the unnumbered tribe of Niobes。
Her blonde wig； carefully curled and well arranged upon her head；
became the cold white face which resembled that of some burgomaster's
wife painted by Hals or Mirevelt。 The extreme neatness of her dress；
the velvet boots； the lace collar； the shawl evenly folded and put on；
all bore testimony to the solicitous care which Modeste bestowed upon
her mother。
When silence was； as the notary had predicted； restored in the pretty
salon； Modeste； sitting beside her mother； for whom she was
embroidering a kerchief； became for an instant the centre of
observation。 This curiosity； barely veiled by the commonplace
salutations and inquiries of the visitors； would have revealed even to
an indifferent person the existence of the domestic plot to which
Modeste was expected to fall a victim； but Gobenheim； more than
indifferent； noticed nothing； and proceeded to light the candles on
the card…table。 The behavior of Dumay made the whole scene terrifying
to Butscha； to the Latournelles； and above all to Madame Dumay； who
knew her husband to be capable of firing a pistol at Modeste's lover
as coolly as though he were a mad dog。
After dinner that day the cashier had gone to walk followed by two
magnificent Pyrenees hounds； whom he suspected of betraying him； and
therefore left in charge of a farmer； a former tenant of Monsieur
Mignon。 On his return； just before the arrival of the Latournelles； he
had taken his pistols from his bed's head and placed them on the
chimney…piece； concealing this action from Modeste。 The young girl
took no notice whatever of these preparations； singular as they were。
Though short； thick…set； pockmarked； and speaking always in a low
voice as if listening to himself； this Breton； a former lieutenant in
the Guard； showed the evidence of such resolution； such sang…froid on
his face that throughout life； even in the army； no one had ever
ventured to trifle with him。 His little eyes； of a calm blue； were
like bits of steel。 His ways； the look on his face； his speech； his
carriage； were all in keeping with the short name of Dumay。 His
physical strength； well…known to every one； put him above all danger
of attack。 He was able to kill a man with a blow of his fist； and had
performed that feat at Bautzen； where he found himself； unarmed； face
to face with a Saxon at the rear of his company。 At the present moment
the usually firm yet gentle expression of the man's face had risen to
a sort of tragic sublimity； his lips were pale as the rest of his
face； indicating a tumult within him mastered by his Breton will； a
slight sweat； which every one noticed and guessed to be cold；
moistened his brow。 The notary knew but too well that these signs
might result in a drama before the criminal courts。 In fact the
cashier was playing a part in connection with Modeste Mignon； which
involved to his mind sentiments of honor and loyalty of far greater
importance than mere social laws； and his present conduct proceeded
from one of those compacts which； in case disaster came of it； could
be judged only in a higher court than one of earth。 The majority of
dramas lie really in the ideas which we make to ourselves about
things。 Events which seem to us dramatic are nothing more than
subjects which our souls convert into tragedy or comedy according to
the bent of our characters。
Madame Latournelle and Madame Dumay； who were appointed to watch
Modeste； had a certain assumed stiffness of demeanor and a quiver in
their voices； which the suspected party did not notice； so absorbed
was she in her embroidery。 Modeste laid each thread of cotton with a
precision that would have made an ordinary workwoman desperate。 Her
face expressed the pleasure she took in the smooth petals of the
flower she was working。 The dwarf； seated between his mistress and
Gobenheim； restrained his emotion； trying to find means to approach
Modeste and whisper a word of warning in her ear。
By taking a position in front of Madame Mignon； Madame Latournelle；
with the diabolical intelligence of conscientious duty； had isolated
Modeste。 Madame Mignon； whose blindness always made her silent； was
even paler than usual； showing plainly that she was aware of the test
to which her daughter was about to be subjected。 Perhaps at the last
moment she revolted from the stratagem； necessary as it might seem to
her。 Hence her silence； she was weeping inwardly。 Exupere； the spring
of the trap； was wholly ignorant of the piece in which he was to play
a