CHAPTER VI

As he returned home Gaspard stopped from time to time, hoping that M. Levrault would send to fetch him back. But it was in vain ; no one came. His despair was complète when, on arriving at his house, he had to sit down before a dinner of stewed rabbit and a morsel of cheese. He was still plunged in gloomy thoughts, when he felt a familiar hand resting on his shoulder. Convinced that it could only be M. Levrault, he turned round and found himself face to face with Jolibois. Well," said the latter, "how are things progressing ? " — "Ail is lost ! repHed the viscount. " What ! " cried Jolibois, thinking of his 80,000 francs, " you are joking." — "I never felt less inclined to do so," said Gaspard ; " ail is lost, I tell you ; the La Rochelandiers have robbed us of our prey." He then told the lawyer, in détail, ail that had happened, explainîng that he had done ail that human ingenuity could suggest to keep the two families apart. Jolibois then pointed out to him that matters were not so desperate as he had thought ; they had the daughter against them, but the father was on their side still. The plan he proposed was that he should work upon M. Levrault, while Gaspard was to throw^ himself at Laure's feet and protest that he had

done everything for love of her. The next morning they set out for La Trélade, Gaspard on foot, Jolibois on horseback in order to arrive first, as had been agreed upon. As the lawyer drew near to the castle, a diabolical idea entered his head.

CHAPTER VÎI

It had occurred to him as he rode along that, since he had introduced Gaspard to the Levraults, he would corne in for a share of the distrust which they had conceived for the viscount, and consequently he would probably lose their patronage. So he determined to act on his own account, to urge his claims on the gratitude of M. Levrault, and to win his daughter's hand for himself. In any case, he would escape ail suspicion of complicity with Gaspard ; and if he could not lay his hand on the millions, he would secure for himself the regard, that is to say the patronage, of the milHonaire.

Pretending that he had galloped ail the way from Nantes to prevent the marriage between Laure and Gaspard, he rushed into M. Levrault's présence covered with mud. After a long preamble, he explained to the astonished father that he had only just learned Gaspard's true character. The viscount was of noble race, but he had dragged his honour in the mud ; he had run through his patrimony ; overwhelmed with debt, he had trafficked with his name, lived at Paris on the proceeds of gambling, and made Jolibois his dupe. The lawyer then begged M. Levrault not to be deceived by the La Rochelandiers.

The marchioness was a dangerous intriguer ; she used ail her influence to support the Legitimists, and she would leave nothing undone to induce M. Levrault to place his millions at the service of her son and of her party. " But," cried the bewildered M. Levrault, " I thought Brittany was the very cradle of uprightness and honour ? " Ah ! " said

Passages for Translation into French 243

the lawyer, "if only I had dared to speak !" — " Well, what would you have said, Jolibois ? " — " I should have said," he replied, " that the aristocracy have had their day, that the new aristocracy of wealth should, in view of the threatening clouds which are gathering around us, seek for alliances among the people — in short, M. Levrault, that you should marry your daughter to an honest republican." At this last suggestion M. Levrault burst out laughing, telling Jolibois that the people were quite satisfied and did not want any more révolutions, and recommending him to take in the newspaper that he was in the habit of reading. Somewhat disconcerted, Jolibois left the castle. In the avenue he met Gaspard, told him he had won over the 61d man in his favour, and that ail he had to do was to propose to Laure, and then rode off.

CHAPTER VIII XIÎI

After Jolibois's departure, M. Levrault confessed to his daughter that she was right about Gaspard. He had ne ver liked him, he said, and he had only encouraged his visits because he thought that Laure found pleasure in his society. He would have nothing more to do with the viscount, and forbade Laure to mention his name again in his présence. At this moment they saw Gaspard coming in through the gâte of the courtyard, and they quickly arranged that it would be better for M. Levrault not to meet him again, and for Laure to receive him and give him his congé. The viscount made a most dramatic entrance into the drawingroom, flung himself at Laure's feet, and poured forth a long taie, couched in the most poetic language, of love, hope, despair, and dévotion. He ended by telHng her that w^hat he loved in her most was her striking resemblance to the lady whom he once loved, but who was now dead. Laure thanked him for his compliments, but told him she would never consent to be for her husband merely a portrait or a

souvenir of some one else, and quietly picking up her hat and gloves she went out of the room. As he left the castle, Gaspard heard a stentorian voice call out, Germain ! order the carriage, we are going to La Rochelandier." Wondering what had happened at La Trélade after Jolibois's departure, the viscount arrived at his house, and found three strangelooking individuals waiting for him on the doorstep. One of them promptly handed him a note from the treacherous JoHbois, which explained everything. The lawyer had sent thèse three bailiffs to demand the payment of the full debt of I 50,000 francs due to him, and if they failed to get it, to arrest the viscount. Turning to his Httle groom, Gaspard asked casually, " Have we 150,000 francs in the house ? ^' — I will go and see," replied the boy. Presently he reappeared, saying, ^' We are only a few thousand crowns short, my lord." — ^' Good-bye, then, my boy ; I leave you in charge of the castle of my ancestors,'' and with that he drove off with the three bailiffs in the direction of Nantes.