Volume I Part 39 (2/2)
Then the ladies left the house, to return to the railway station, saying to the gardener:
”To-morrow morning we shall see the agent, and doubtless the bargain will soon be concluded.”
”Very good!” said Pere Ledrux, ”and meanwhile, as I told you, you know, I won't show the house to anyone, because sometimes it happens--Well!
someone who happened to want it would only have to offer a little more than you. Men never think of anything but their own interests, you know; and it would slip out of your hands. But the way I'm going to do, there's no danger; it's just between you and me. And then I'm going to keep on with the garden, and I'll keep an eye on the hens; there's one black one that fights the others; hum! I'll watch her! You see, she might keep 'em from laying!”
XV
THE GENTLEMAN WITH THE SARCASTIC LOOK
Chamoureau was in an execrable humor when he left Madame Sainte-Suzanne's. As he could not walk home with his coat all open behind, he had to take a cab, and when he stepped in, the accident that had befallen his trousers was so aggravated that when it was time to alight he was reduced to the necessity of taking off his hat and holding it glued to the unfortunate garment in front.
His concierge, who pa.s.sed a large part of his time in his doorway, stared with all his eyes again when the tenant of the second floor appeared, this time holding his hat in front of his trousers instead of wearing it on his head.
In fact, even Madame Monin, his servant, seeing her master return with his clothes torn from his head to his heels, said to herself:
”In G.o.d's name, what kind of a life is Monsieur Chamoureau leading now, to come home in this state? The man is getting to be very dissipated!”
”She refuses to be my mistress!” reflected our widower, as he changed his clothes. ”And she won't be my wife either! In that case, what does she propose to be to me? And why did she speak to me at the Opera ball?
Why did she herself urge me to call? She gives me permission to be her friend--much obliged! At thirty-five years of age, and with a volcanic temperament like mine, a man isn't content to be the friend of a fascinating woman! Besides, I love the woman. I adore her, since I saw her in her lovely velvet robe de chambre--or was it plush? I am not quite sure, but it doesn't matter. I feel that my pa.s.sion has taken a new flight. It is all over with me; the image of that lovely brunette is here--engraved on my heart; it has replaced Eleonore's.--Poor Eleonore!
If I should want to weep for her now, I could not. That is some compensation. But what am I to do? I am going to be very wretched now.
She has ten thousand francs a year, so of course I am not a very good match for her. But if she adored me! Sapristi! if Freluchon were in Paris, I would go to him and ask his advice; n.o.body but he can tell me how I ought to act now toward Madame de Sainte-Suzanne.”
That evening, Chamoureau did not fail to call at Freluchon's house, to inquire if he had returned. But his dear friend was still at Rouen.
The next day Honorine and Agathe called early at the agent's office.
”We have been to Ch.e.l.les,” said the young woman, ”we have seen Monsieur Courtivaux's house and we like it very much. Be good enough to arrange the matter as quickly as possible, monsieur; we would like to be living there already.”
”Very well, madame. You know that he asks twenty thousand francs?”
”I am ready to give that, monsieur.”
”Yes, but perhaps he would take something off; you pay cash, which is a consideration. Then there are the expenses, the deeds and so forth; they will amount to at least a thousand francs, and are ordinarily paid by the purchaser. If we could induce the vendor to pay them at least----”
”Well, monsieur, do the best you can; I leave it to you.”
”Never fear, madame. I will go to see Monsieur Courtivaux to-day; then I will call on you with his answer. I have your address--Madame Dalmont, Rue des Martyrs.”
”But do not forget us, monsieur.”
”I will devote my whole time to you, mesdames.”
But when the two friends had gone, Chamoureau, after sitting for some time lost in thought, suddenly struck his forehead and exclaimed:
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