The Seven Cardinal Sins: Envy and Indolence. Эжен Сю

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      "Is perfect."

      "That is what Raoul told me after he met her in the fields the other day. But who is that big sallow boy who was with her? Some scallawag of a brother probably. It might be a good idea to get him out of the way by giving him a position as clerk in the steward's office with a salary of twelve or fifteen hundred francs a year."

      "Good heavens, madame!" exclaimed Zerbinette, springing up in alarm, "there's somebody in the cave. Didn't you hear that noise?"

      "Yes, I heard it," replied the intrepid dowager, "what of it?"

      "Oh, madame, let us get away as quick as we can."

      "I sha'n't do anything of the kind."

      "But that noise, madame."

      "He, he!" laughed the countess. "Perhaps it is the soul of the poor president come back to count one, two, three, four, etc. Sit down, and don't interrupt me again."

      "You have always had the courage of a dragon, madame."

      "There's no cause for alarm, you goose. Some osprey or some wild animal may have sought shelter there. I want to know who that big hulking boy was that Raoul saw with that Bastien woman, – her brother, eh?"

      "No, madame, her son."

      "Her son; why, in that case – "

      "She was married when she was very young, and she is so admirably preserved that she doesn't look a day over twenty."

      "That must be so, for Raoul took a desperate fancy to her. 'She has big, dark blue eyes, grandmother,' he said to me, 'a waist one can span with his two hands, and features as regular as those on an antique cameo. Only these plebeians are so little versed in the customs of good society that this one opened her big eyes in astonishment, merely because I was polite enough to take her a mantle she had dropped.' 'If she is as pretty as you say, you young simpleton, you ought to have kept the mantle, and taken it to her house. That would have gained you an entrance there.' 'But, grandmother,' replied the dear boy, very sensibly, 'it was by returning the mantle I found out that she was so pretty.'"

      "Oh, well, M. Raoul could easily have gone to her house a few days afterward. She would have been delighted to see him, even if it were only to make all the bourgeoisie in the country, wild with envy."

      "That is exactly what I told the dear child, but he did not dare to venture."

      "Give him a little time, and he'll get his courage up, never fear."

      "I tell you, my girl," resumed the dowager, after quite a long silence, as she slowly and thoughtfully took another pinch of snuff, "I tell you that the more I think of it, the more convinced I am that for many reasons this little Bastien would just suit the dear boy, that she would be a perfect godsend to him, in fact."

      "I think so, too, madame."

      "So we had better strike while the iron is hot," continued the dowager. "What time is it, Zerbinette?"

      "Half-past four, madame," said the attendant, glancing at her watch.

      "That gives us plenty of time. This morning when my grandson left to spend the day with the Merinvilles at Boncour, I promised him I would meet him at the lake at five o'clock, so we must make haste."

      "But, madame, you forget that M. Raoul sent his groom to tell you that he was going to pay a call at Montel after leaving Boncour, and that he would not return to the château before seven."

      "Yes, yes, you are right, girl. I must give up seeing him immediately then, for to return from Montel he will have to take the Vieille Coupe road, and that is too steep for me, for I'm a perfect coward in a carriage; besides, as it is only half-past four, I should have to drive too far to meet him, so I will postpone my conversation on the subject of the hermitess until this evening. Give me your arm, Zerbinette, and let us start, but first let me take another look at this famous rock."

      "Don't go too near though, madame, for Heaven's sake."

      But in spite of Zerbinette's protest she walked up to the rock, and, casting an almost melancholy glance at the wild spot, exclaimed:

      "Ah, there is no change in the rocks. They look exactly as they did sixty years ago."

      Then after a moment's silence, turning gaily to Zerbinette, who was holding herself prudently aloof, the dowager added:

      "That story of the osprey has recalled hundreds of other pleasant reminiscences. I've a great mind to amuse myself by writing my memoirs some day. They might serve both to instruct and edify my grandson," the octogenarian continued, with a hearty laugh, in which Zerbinette joined.

      For several minutes the sound of their laughter could be distinctly heard as the two slowly wended their way down the path.

      When the sound had entirely died away, Frederick, his face livid, his expression frightful to behold, emerged from the cave where he had heard every word of the conversation between the dowager-marquise and Zerbinette, and, gun in hand, hastened toward another part of the forest.

      CHAPTER XIII

      THE Vieille Coupe road, which Raoul de Pont Brillant would be obliged to take on his return from the Château de Montel homeward, was a sort of deep hollow way, with high banks covered with tall pine-trees, whose heads formed such an impenetrable dome that the light was dim there even at noontime, and at sunset it was so dark that two men who met there would not be able to distinguish each other's features.

      It was about six o'clock in the evening when Raoul de Pont Brillant turned in this path, which seemed all the darker and more gloomy from the fact that the highway he had just left was still lighted by the rays reflected from the setting sun. He was alone, having sent his groom to the château to inform the marquise of his change of plans.

      He had proceeded only twenty yards when his vision became sufficiently accustomed to the obscurity to enable him to distinguish a human being standing motionless in the middle of the road, a short distance in front of him.

      "Hallo there, get to one side of the road or the other," he shouted.

      "One word, M. le Marquis de Pont Brillant," responded a voice.

      "What do you want?" asked Raoul, checking his horse and leaning over upon his saddle, in a vain effort to distinguish the features of his interlocutor. "Who are you? What do you want?"

      "M. de Pont Brillant, did you receive a note this morning requesting you to meet some one at Grand Sire's Rock?"

      "No; for I left Pont Brillant at eight o'clock; but once more, what does all this mean? Who the devil are you?"

      "I am the writer of the letter sent you this morning."

      "Ah, well, my friend, you can – "

      "I am not your friend," interrupted the voice, "I am your enemy."

      "What's that you say?" exclaimed Raoul, in surprise.

      "I say that I am your enemy."

      "Indeed!" retorted Raoul, in a half-amused, half-contemptuous tone, for he was naturally very brave. "And what is your name, Mister Enemy?"

      "My name is a matter of no consequence."

      "Probably СКАЧАТЬ