Part 23 (1/2)
Round Jean Paulet's door one bright afternoon cl.u.s.tered a troop of the republican soldiers, eyeing indolently the perspiring farmer as he ran to and fro with water for their horses, and sweetening his labours with sc.r.a.ps of the latest news.
”He, Paulet,” suddenly asked the corporal, ”hast heard anything of the rebel General Marigny?”
”No!” replied the farmer hurriedly. ”What should I hear? Is he still alive?”
”Yes, curse him! So, too, is that wretched girl, daughter of a vile aristocrat, that he saved from starvation. Bah! as if starving was not too good a death for her! But there is a price set on Marigny, and a reward would be given for the child too. So some one will soon betray them, and then--why, we will see if they had not rather have starved!”
he said ferociously.
”I--I have heard this Marigny is a brave man,” observed the farmer timidly.
”That is why we want the child! There is nothing would humble him save perchance to find he could not save the child he loves from torture. Ha!
ha! we shall have a merry time then!”
”Doubtless this Marigny is no friend to the republic,” said the farmer hesitatingly.
The corporal laughed noisily as he gathered up his horse's reins. ”Head and front of this insurrection--an accursed rebel! But he shall pay for it, he shall pay; and so will all those fools who have helped him!”
And the little band of soldiers rode away, shouting and jesting, leaving Jean Paulet with a heart full of fear.
With trembling fingers he pushed open the house door, and, stepping into the kitchen, found Rosette crouched beneath the open window. ”Heard you what they said--that they are seeking for you?” he gasped.
Rosette nodded. ”They have done that this long time,” she observed coolly.
[Sidenote: ”They must find You!”]
”But--but--some time they must find you!” he stammered.
Rosette laughed. ”Perhaps--if I become as stupid a coward as Jean Paulet.”
The farmer frowned. ”I am no coward--I am an experienced man. And I tell you--I, with the weight of forty years behind me--that they will find you some time.”
”And I tell you--I,” mimicked Rosette saucily, ”with the weight of my twelve years behind me--that I have lived through so many perils, I should be able to live through another!”
”'Tis just that!” said the farmer angrily. ”You have no prudence; you take too many risks; you expose yourself to fearful dangers.” He shuddered.
”What you fear is that I shall expose you,” returned Rosette cheerfully.
”He, well! a man can but die once, Farmer Paulet.”
”That is just it!” exclaimed the farmer vivaciously. ”If I had six lives I should not mind dying five times; but having only the one, I cannot afford to lose it! And, besides, I have my wife to think of.”
Rosette meditated a moment. ”Better late than never, Farmer Paulet. I have heard tell you never thought of that before.” The sharp little face softened. ”She is a good woman, your wife!”
”True, true! She is a good woman, and you would not care for her to be widowed. Consider if it would not be better if I placed you in safety elsewhere.”
”Jean Paulet! Jean Paulet!” mocked Rosette; ”I doubt if I should do your wife a kindness if I saved your skin.”
Jean Paulet wagged a forefinger at her angrily. ”You will come to a bad end with a tongue like that! If it were not for the respect I owe to Monsieur de Marigny----”
”Marigny's pistol!” interrupted Rosette.