第23章

FortwentyyearsDenishasbeenaservantinthishouse.Hewasashort，stout，jovialman，whowasknownthroughoutthecountrysideasamodelservant.Heasked：

"Ismonsieurpleased？Hasmonsieurreceivedgoodnews？"

M.Marambotwasnotrich.Hewasanoldvillagedruggist，abachelor，wholivedonanincomeacquiredwithdifficultybysellingdrugstothefarmers.Heanswered：

"Yes，myboy.OldmanMaloisisafraidofthelaw—suitwithwhichIamthreateninghim.Ishallgetmymoneyto—morrow.Fivethousandfrancsarenotliabletoharmtheaccountofanoldbachelor."

M.Marambotrubbedhishandswithsatisfaction.Hewasamanofquiettemperament，moresadthangay，incapableofanyprolongedeffort，carelessinbusiness.

Hecouldundoubtedlyhaveamassedagreaterincomehadhetakenadvantageofthedeathsofcolleaguesestablishedinmoreimportantcenters，bytakingtheirplacesandcarryingontheirbusiness.Butthetroubleofmovingandthethoughtofallthepreparationshadalwaysstoppedhim.

Afterthinkingthematteroverforafewdays，hewouldbesatisfiedtosay：

"Bah！I’llwaituntilthenexttime.I’llnotloseanythingbythedelay.Imayevenfindsomethingbetter."

Denis，onthecontrary，wasalwaysurginghismastertonewenterprises.

Ofanenergetictemperament，hewouldcontinuallyrepeat：

"Oh！IfIhadonlyhadthecapitaltostartoutwith，Icouldhavemadeafortune！Onethousandfrancswoulddome."

M.Marambotwouldsmilewithoutansweringandwouldgooutinhislittlegarden，where，hishandsbehindhisback，hewouldwalkaboutdreaming.

Alldaylong，Denissangthejoyfulrefrainsofthefolk—songsofthedistrict.Heevenshowedanunusualactivity，forhecleanedallthewindowsofthehouse，energeticallyrubbingtheglass，andsingingatthetopofhisvoice.

M.Marambot，surprisedathiszeal，saidtohimseveraltimes，smiling：

"Myboy，ifyouworklikethattherewillbenothingleftforyoutodoto—morrow."

Thefollowingday，ataboutnineo’clockinthemorning，thepostmangaveDenisfourlettersforhismaster，oneofthemveryheavy.M.Marambotimmediatelyshuthimselfupinhisroomuntillateintheafternoon.

Hethenhandedhisservantfourlettersforthemail.OneofthemwasaddressedtoM.Malois;itwasundoubtedlyareceiptforthemoney.

Denisaskedhismasternoquestions;heappearedtobeassadandgloomythatdayashehadseemedjoyfulthedaybefore.

Nightcame.M.Marambotwenttobedasusualandslept.

Hewasawakenedbyastrangenoise.Hesatupinhisbedandlistened.

Suddenlythedooropened，andDenisappeared，holdinginonehandacandleandintheotheracarvingknife，hiseyesstaring，hisfacecontractedasthoughmovedbysomedeepemotion;hewasaspaleasaghost.

M.Marambot，astonished，thoughtthathewassleep—walking，andhewasgoingtogetoutofbedandassisthimwhentheservantblewoutthelightandrushedforthebed.Hismasterstretchedouthishandstoreceivetheshockwhichknockedhimoveronhisback;hewastryingtoseizethehandsofhisservant，whomhenowthoughttobecrazy，inordertoavoidtheblowswhichthelatterwasaimingathim.

Hewasstruckbytheknife;onceintheshoulder，onceintheforeheadandthethirdtimeinthechest.Hefoughtwildly，wavinghisarmsaroundinthedarkness，kickingandcrying：

"Denis！Denis！Areyoumad？Listen，Denis！"

Butthelatter，gaspingforbreath，keptuphisfuriousattackalwaysstriking，alwaysrepulsed，sometimeswithakick，sometimeswithapunch，andrushingforwardagainfuriously.

M.Marambotwaswoundedtwicemore，onceinthelegandonceinthestomach.But，suddenly，athoughtflashedacrosshismind，andhebegantoshriek：

"Stop，stop，Denis，Ihavenotyetreceivedmymoney！"

Themanimmediatelyceased，andhismastercouldhearhislaboredbreathinginthedarkness.

M.Marambotthenwenton：

"Ihavereceivednothing.M.Maloistakesbackwhathesaid，thelaw—

suitwilltakeplace;thatiswhyyoucarriedtheletterstothemail.

Justreadthoseonmydesk."

Withafinaleffort，hereachedforhismatchesandlitthecandle.

Hewascoveredwithblood.Hissheets，hiscurtains，andeventhewalls，werespatteredwithred.Denis，standinginthemiddleoftheroom，wasalsobloodyfromheadtofoot.

Whenhesawtheblood，M.Marambotthoughthimselfdead，andfellunconscious.

Atbreakofdayherevived.Itwassometime，however，beforeheregainedhissenses，andwasabletounderstandorremember.But，suddenly，thememoryoftheattackandofhiswoundsreturnedtohim，andhewasfilledwithsuchterrorthatheclosedhiseyesinordernottoseeanything.Afterafewminuteshegrewcalmerandbegantothink.

Hehadnotdied’immediately，thereforehemightstillrecover.Hefeltweak，veryweak;buthehadnorealpain，althoughhenoticedanuncomfortablesmartingsensationinseveralpartsofhisbody.Healsofelticycold，andallwet，andasthoughwrappedupinbandages.Hethoughtthatthisdampnesscamefromthebloodwhichhehadlost;andheshiveredatthedreadfulthoughtofthisredliquidwhichhadcomefromhisveinsandcoveredhisbed.Theideaofseeingthisterriblespectacleagainsoupsethimthathekepthiseyesclosedwithallhisstrength，asthoughtheymightopeninspiteofhimself.

WhathadbecomeofDenis？Hehadprobablyescaped.

Butwhatcouldhe，Marambot，donow？Getup？Callforhelp？Butifheshouldmaketheslightestmotions，hiswoundswouldundoubtedlyopenupagainandhewoulddiefromlossofblood.

Suddenlyheheardthedoorofhisroomopen.Hisheartalmoststopped.

ItwascertainlyDeniswhowascomingtofinishhimup.Heheldhisbreathinordertomakethemurdererthinkthathehadbeensuccessful.

Hefelthissheetbeingliftedup，andthensomeonefeelinghisstomach.

Asharppainnearhishipmadehimstart.Hewasbeingverygentlywashedwithcoldwater.Therefore，someonemusthavediscoveredthemisdeedandhewasbeingcaredfor.Awildjoyseizedhim;butprudently，hedidnotwishtoshowthathewasconscious.Heopenedoneeye，justone，withthegreatestprecaution.

HerecognizedDenisstandingbesidehim，Denishimself！Mercy！Hehastilyclosedhiseyeagain.

Denis！Whatcouldhebedoing？Whatdidhewant？Whatawfulschemecouldhenowbecarryingout？

Whatwashedoing？Well，hewaswashinghiminordertohidethetracesofhiscrime！Andhewouldnowburyhiminthegarden，undertenfeetofearth，sothatnoonecoulddiscoverhim！Orperhapsunderthewinecellar！AndM.Marambotbegantotremblelikealeaf.Hekeptsayingtohimself："Iamlost，lost！"Heclosedhiseyessoasnottoseetheknifeasitdescendedforthefinalstroke.Itdidnotcome.Deniswasnowliftinghimupandbandaginghim.Thenhebegancarefullytodressthewoundonhisleg，ashismasterhadtaughthimtodo.

Therewasnolongeranydoubt.Hisservant，afterwishingtokillhim，wastryingtosavehim.

ThenM.Marambot，inadyingvoice，gavehimthepracticalpieceofadvice：

"Washthewoundsinadilutesolutionofcarbolicacid！"

Denisanswered：

"ThisiswhatIamdoing，monsieur."

M.Marambotopenedbothhiseyes.Therewasnosignofbloodeitheronthebed，onthewalls，oronthemurderer.Thewoundedmanwasstretchedoutoncleanwhitesheets.

Thetwomenlookedateachother.

FinallyM.Marambotsaidcalmly：

"Youhavebeenguiltyofagreatcrime."

Denisanswered：

"Iamtryingtomakeupforit，monsieur.Ifyouwillnottellonme，I

willserveyouasfaithfullyasinthepast."

Thiswasnotimetoangerhisservant.M.Marambotmurmuredasheclosedhiseyes：

"Iswearnottotellonyou."

Denissavedhismaster.Hespentdaysandnightswithoutsleep，neverleavingthesickroom，preparingdrugs，broths，potions，feelinghispulse，anxiouslycountingthebeats，attendinghimwiththeskillofatrainednurseandthedevotionofason.

Hecontinuallyasked：

"Well，monsieur，howdoyoufeel？"

M.Marambotwouldanswerinaweakvoice：

"Alittlebetter，myboy，thankyou."

Andwhenthesickmanwouldwakeupatnight，hewouldoftenseehisservantseatedinanarmchair，weepingsilently.

Neverhadtheolddruggistbeensocaredfor，sofondled，sospoiled.

Atfirsthehadsaidtohimself：

"AssoonasIamwellIshallgetridofthisrascal."

Hewasnowconvalescing，andfromdaytodayhewouldputoffdismissinghismurderer.Hethoughtthatnoonewouldevershowhimsuchcareandattention，forheheldthismanthroughfear;andhewarnedhimthathehadleftadocumentwithalawyerdenouncinghimtothelawifanynewaccidentshouldoccur.

Thisprecautionseemedtoguaranteehimagainstanyfutureattack;andhethenaskedhimselfifitwouldnotbewisertokeepthismannearhim，inordertowatchhimclosely.

Justasformerly，whenhewouldhesitateabouttakingsomelargerplaceofbusiness，hecouldnotmakeuphismindtoanydecision.

"Thereisalwaystime，"hewouldsaytohimself.

Deniscontinuedtoshowhimselfanadmirableservant.M.Marambotwaswell.Hekepthim.

Onemorning，justashewasfinishingbreakfast，hesuddenlyheardagreatnoiseinthekitchen.Hehastenedinthere.Deniswasstrugglingwithtwogendarmes.Anofficerwastakingnotesonhispad.

Assoonashesawhismaster，theservantbegantosob，exclaiming：

"Youtoldonme，monsieur，that’snotright，afterwhatyouhadpromisedme.Youhavebrokenyourwordofhonor，MonsieurMarambot;thatisnotright，that’snotright！"

M.Marambot，bewilderedanddistressedatbeingsuspected，liftedhishand：

"IsweartoyoubeforetheLord，myboythatIdidnottellonyou.I

haven’ttheslightestideahowthepolicecouldhavefoundoutaboutyourattackonme."

Theofficerstarted：

"Yousaythatheattackedyou，M.Marambot？"

Thebewildereddruggistanswered：

"Yes——butIdidnottellonhim——Ihaven’tsaidaword——Iswearit——hehasservedmeexcellentlyfromthattimeon——"

Theofficerpronouncedseverely：

"Iwilltakedownyourtestimony.Thelawwilltakenoticeofthisnewaction，ofwhichitwasignorant，MonsieurMarambot.IwascommissionedtoarrestyourservantforthetheftoftwoduckssurreptitiouslytakenbyhimfromM.Duhamelofwhichacttherearewitnesses.Ishallmakeanoteofyourinformation."

Then，turningtowardhismen，heordered：

"Comeon，bringhimalong！"

ThetwogendarmesdraggedDenisout.

Thelawyerusedapleaofinsanity，contrastingthetwomisdeedsinordertostrengthenhisargument.Hehadclearlyprovedthatthetheftofthetwoduckscamefromthesamementalconditionastheeightknife—woundsinthebodyofMaramlot.Hehadcunninglyanalyzedallthephasesofthistransitoryconditionofmentalaberration，whichcould，doubtless，becuredbyafewmonths’treatmentinareputablesanatorium.Hehadspokeninenthusiastictermsofthecontinueddevotionofthisfaithfulservant，ofthecarewithwhichhehadsurroundedhismaster，woundedbyhiminamomentofalienation.

Touchedbythismemory，M.Marambotfeltthetearsrisingtohiseyes.

Thelawyernoticedit，openedhisarmswithabroadgesture，spreadingoutthelongblacksleevesofhisrobelikethewingsofabat，andexclaimed：

"Look，look，gentlemanofthejury，lookatthosetears.WhatmorecanI

sayformyclient？Whatspeech，whatargument，whatreasoningwouldbeworththesetearsofhismaster？They，speaklouderthanIdo，louderthanthelaw;theycry：’Mercy，forthepoorwanderingmindofawhileago！Theyimplore，theypardon，theybless！"

Hewassilentandsatdown.

Thenthejudge，turningtoMarambot，whosetestimonyhadbeenexcellentforhisservant，askedhim：

"But，monsieur，evenadmittingthatyouconsiderthismaninsane，thatdoesnotexplainwhyyoushouldhavekepthim.Hewasnonethelessdangerous."

Marambot，wipinghiseyes，answered：

"Well，yourhonor，whatcanyouexpect？Nowadaysit’ssohardtofindgoodservants——Icouldneverhavefoundabetterone."

Deniswasacquittedandputinasanatoriumathismaster’sexpense.

MYWIFE

Ithadbeenastagdinner.Thesemenstillcametogetheronceinawhilewithouttheirwivesastheyhaddonewhentheywerebachelors.Theywouldeatforalongtime，drinkforalongtime;theywouldtalkofeverything，stirupthoseoldandjoyfulmemorieswhichbringasmiletothelipandatremortotheheart.Oneofthemwassaying："Georges，doyourememberourexcursiontoSaint—GermainwiththosetwolittlegirlsfromMontmartre？"

"IshouldsayIdo！"

Andalittledetailhereortherewouldberemembered，andallthesethingsbroughtjoytothehearts.

Theconversationturnedonmarriage，andeachonesaidwithasincereair："Oh，ifitweretodooveragain！"GeorgesDuportinadded："It’sstrangehoweasilyonefallsintoit.Youhavefullydecidednevertomarry;andthen，inthespringtime，yougotothecountry;theweatheriswarm;thesummerisbeautiful;thefieldsarefullofflowers;youmeetayounggirlatsomefriend’shouse——crash！allisover.Youreturnmarried！"

PierreLetoileexclaimed："Correct！thatisexactlymycase，onlythereweresomepeculiarincidents——"

Hisfriendinterruptedhim："Asforyou，youhavenocausetocomplain.

Youhavethemostcharmingwifeintheworld，pretty，amiable，perfect！

Youareundoubtedlythehappiestoneofusall."

Theotheronecontinued："It’snotmyfault."

"Howso？"

"ItistruethatIhaveaperfectwife，butIcertainlymarriedhermuchagainstmywill."

"Nonsense！"

"Yes——thisistheadventure.Iwasthirty—five，andIhadnomoreideaofmarryingthanIhadofhangingmyself.Younggirlsseemedtometobeinane，andIlovedpleasure.

"DuringthemonthofMayIwasinvitedtotheweddingofmycousin，Simond’Erabel，inNormandy.ItwasaregularNormandywedding.Wesatdownatthetableatfiveo’clockintheeveningandateleveno’clockwewerestilleating.Ihadbeenpairedoff，fortheoccasion，withaMademoiselleDumoulin，daughterofaretiredcolonel，ayoung，blond，soldierlyperson，wellformed，frankandtalkative.Shetookcompletepossessionofmeforthewholeday，draggedmeintothepark，mademedancewilly—nilly，boredmetodeath.Isaidtomyself：’That’sallverywellforto—day，buttomorrowI’llgetout.That’sallthereistoit！’

"Towardeleveno’clockatnightthewomenretiredtotheirrooms;themenstayed，smokingwhiletheydrankordrinkingwhiletheysmoked，whicheveryouwill.

"Throughtheopenwindowwecouldseethecountryfolksdancing.Farmersandpeasantgirlswerejumpingaboutinacircleyellingatthetopoftheirlungsadanceairwhichwasfeeblyaccompaniedbytwoviolinsandaclarinet.Thewildsongofthepeasantsoftencompletelydrownedthesoundoftheinstruments，andtheweakmusic，interruptedbytheunrestrainedvoices，seemedtocometousinlittlefragmentsofscatterednotes.Twoenormouscasks，surroundedbyflamingtorches，containeddrinksforthecrowd.Twomenwerekeptbusyrinsingtheglassesorbowlsinabucketandimmediatelyholdingthemunderthespigots，fromwhichflowedtheredstreamofwineorthegoldenstreamofpurecider;andtheparcheddancers，theoldonesquietly，thegirlspanting，cameup，stretchedouttheirarmsandgraspedsomereceptacle，threwbacktheirheadsandpoureddowntheirthroatsthedrinkwhichtheypreferred.Onatablewerebread，butter，cheeseandsausages.Eachonewouldstepupfromtimetotimeandswallowamouthful，andunderthestarlitskythishealthyandviolentexercisewasapleasingsight，andmadeonealsofeellikedrinkingfromtheseenormouscasksandeatingthecrispbreadandbutterwitharawonion.

"Amaddesireseizedmetotakepartinthismerrymaking，andIleftmycompanions.ImustadmitthatIwasprobablyalittletipsy，butIwassoonentirelyso.

"Igrabbedthehandofabig，pantingpeasantwomanandIjumpedheraboutuntilIwasoutofbreath.

"ThenIdranksomewineandreachedforanothergirl.Inordertorefreshmyselfafterward，Iswallowedabowlfulofcider，andIbegantobouncearoundasifpossessed.

"Iwasverylightonmyfeet.Theboys，delighted，werewatchingmeandtryingtoimitateme;thegirlsallwishedtodancewithme，andjumpedaboutheavilywiththegraceofcows.

"AftereachdanceIdrankaglassofwineoraglassofcider，andtowardtwoo’clockinthemorningIwassodrunkthatIcouldhardlystandup.

"Irealizedmyconditionandtriedtoreachmyroom.Everybodywasasleepandthehousewassilentanddark.

"Ihadnomatchesandeverybodywasinbed.AssoonasIreachedthevestibuleIbeganto，feeldizzy.Ihadalotoftroubletofindthebanister.Atlast，byaccident，myhandcameincontactwithit，andI

satdownonthefirststepofthestairsinordertotrytogathermyscatteredwits.

"Myroomwasonthesecondfloor;itwasthethirddoortotheleft.

FortunatelyIhadnotforgottenthat.Armedwiththisknowledge，I

arose，notwithoutdifficulty，andIbegantoascend，stepbystep.InmyhandsIfirmlygrippedtheironrailinginordernottofall，andtookgreatpainstomakenonoise.

"Onlythreeorfourtimesdidmyfootmissthesteps，andIwentdownonmyknees;butthankstotheenergyofmyarmsandthestrengthofmywill，Iavoidedfallingcompletely.

"AtlastIreachedthesecondfloorandIsetoutinmyjourneyalongthehall，feelingmywaybythewalls.Ifeltonedoor;Icounted：’One’;

butasuddendizzinessmademelosemyholdonthewall，makeastrangeturnandfallupagainsttheotherwall.Iwishedtoturninastraightline：Thecrossingwaslongandfullofhardships.AtlastIreachedtheshore，and，prudently，IbegantotravelalongagainuntilImetanotherdoor.Inordertobesuretomakenomistake，Iagaincountedoutloud：

’Two.’Istartedoutonmywalkagain.AtlastIfoundthethirddoor.

Isaid：’Three，that’smyroom，’andIturnedtheknob.Thedooropened.

Notwithstandingmybefuddledstate，Ithought：’Sincethedooropens，thismustbehome.’Aftersoftlyclosingthedoor，Isteppedoutinthedarkness.Ibumpedagainstsomethingsoft：myeasy—chair.Iimmediatelystretchedmyselfoutonit.

"Inmyconditionitwouldnothavebeenwisetolookformybureau，mycandles，mymatches.Itwouldhavetakenmeatleasttwohours.Itwouldprobablyhavetakenmethatlongalsotoundress;andeventhenI

mightnothavesucceeded.Igaveitup.

"Ionlytookmyshoesoff;Iunbuttonedmywaistcoat，whichwaschokingme，Iloosenedmytrousersandwenttosleep.

"Thisundoubtedlylastedforalongtime.Iwassuddenlyawakenedbyadeepvoicewhichwassaying：’What，youlazygirl，stillinbed？It’steno’clock！’

"Awoman’svoiceanswered：’Already！Iwassotiredyesterday.’

"InbewildermentIwonderedwhatthisdialoguemeant.WherewasI？WhathadIdone？Mymindwaswandering，stillsurroundedbyaheavyfog.Thefirstvoicecontinued：’I’mgoingtoraiseyourcurtains.’

"Iheardstepsapproachingme.Completelyatalosswhattodo，Isatup.Thenahandwasplacedonmyhead.Istarted.Thevoiceasked：

’Whoisthere？’Itookgoodcarenottoanswer.Afuriousgraspseizedme.Iinturnseizedhim，andaterrificstruggleensued.Wewererollingaround，knockingoverthefurnitureandcrashingagainstthewalls.Awoman’svoicewasshrieking：’Help！help！’

"Servants，neighbors，frightenedwomencrowdedaroundus.Theblindswereopenandtheshadesdrawn.IwasstrugglingwithColonelDumoulin"Ihadsleptbesidehisdaughter’sbed！

"Whenwewereseparated，Iescapedtomyroom，dumbfounded.Ilockedmyselfinandsatdownwithmyfeetonachair，formyshoeshadbeenleftintheyounggirl’sroom.

"Iheardagreatnoisethroughthewholehouse，doorsbeingopenedandclosed，whisperingsandrapidsteps.

"Afterhalfanhoursomeoneknockedonmydoor.Icried：’Whoisthere？’Itwasmyuncle，thebridegroom’sfather.Iopenedthedoor：

"Hewaspaleandfurious，andhetreatedmeharshly：’Youhavebehavedlikeascoundrelinmyhouse，doyouhear？’Thenheaddedmoregently’But，youyoungfool，why’thedevildidyouletyourselfgetcaughtatteno’clockinthemorning？Yougotosleeplikealoginthatroom，insteadofleavingimmediately—immediatelyafter.’

"Iexclaimed：’But，uncle，Iassureyouthatnothingoccurred.Iwasdrunkandgotintothewrongroom.’

"Heshruggedhisshoulders！’Don’ttalknonsense.’Iraisedmyhand，exclaiming：’Isweartoyouonmyhonor.’Myunclecontinued：’Yes，that’sallright.It’syourdutytosaythat.’

"Iinturngrewangryandtoldhimthewholeunfortunateoccurrence.Helookedatmewithabewilderedexpression，notknowingwhattobelieve.

Thenhewentouttoconferwiththecolonel.

"Iheardthatakindofjuryofthemothershadbeenformed，towhichweresubmittedthedifferentphasesofthesituation.

"Hecamebackanhourlater，satdownwiththedignityofajudgeandbegan：’Nomatterwhatmaybethesituation，Icanseeonlyonewayoutofitforyou;itistomarryMademoiselleDumoulin.’

"Iboundedoutofthechair，crying：’Never！never！’

"Gravelyheasked：’Well，whatdoyouexpecttodo？’

"Iansweredsimply：’Why—leaveassoonasmyshoesarereturnedtome.’

"Myunclecontinued：’Pleasedonotjest.Thecolonelhasdecidedtoblowyourbrainsoutassoonasheseesyou.Andyoumaybesurethathedoesnotthreatenidly.Ispokeofaduelandheanswered："No，ItellyouthatIwillblowhisbrainsout."

"’Letusnowexaminethequestionfromanotherpointofview.Eitheryouhavemisbehavedyourself——andthensomuchtheworseforyou，myboy;oneshouldnotgonearayounggirl——orelse，beingdrunk，asyousay，youmadeamistakeintheroom.Inthiscase，it’sevenworseforyou.Youshouldn’tgetyourselfintosuchfoolishsituations.Whateveryoumaysay，thepoorgirl’sreputationislost，foradrunkard’sexcusesareneverbelieved.Theonlyrealvictiminthematteristhegirl.Thinkitover.’

"Hewentaway，whileIcriedafterhim：’Saywhatyouwill，I’llnotmarryher！’

"Istayedaloneforanotherhour.Thenmyauntcame.Shewascrying.

Sheusedeveryargument.Noonebelievedmystory.Theycouldnotimaginethatthisyounggirlcouldhaveforgottentolockherdoorinahousefullofcompany.Thecolonelhadstruckher.Shehadbeencryingthewholemorning.Itwasaterribleandunforgettablescandal.Andmygoodauntadded：’Askforherhand，anyhow.Wemay，perhaps，findsomewayoutofitwhenwearedrawingupthepapers.’

"Thisprospectrelievedme.AndIagreedtowritemyproposal.AnhourlaterIleftforParis.ThefollowingdayIwasinformedthatIhadbeenaccepted.

"Then，inthreeweeks，beforeIhadbeenabletofindanyexcuse，thebannswerepublished，theannouncementsentout，thecontractsigned，andoneMondaymorningIfoundmyselfinachurch，besideaweepingyounggirl，aftertellingthemagistratethatIconsentedtotakeherasmycompanion——forbetter，forworse.

"Ihadnotseenhersincemyadventure，andIglancedatheroutofthecornerofmyeyewithacertainmalevolentsurprise.However，shewasnotugly——farfromit.Isaidtomyself：’Thereissomeonewhowon’tlaugheveryday.’

"Shedidnotlookatmeonceuntil，theevening，andshedidnotsayasingleword.

"TowardthemiddleofthenightIenteredthebridalchamberwiththefullintentionoflettingherknowmyresolutions，forIwasnowmaster.

Ifoundhersittinginanarmchair，fullydressed，paleandwithredeyes.AssoonasIenteredsheroseandcameslowlytowardmesaying：

’Monsieur，Iamreadytodowhateveryoumaycommand.Iwillkillmyselfifyousodesire’

"Thecolonel’sdaughterwasasprettyasshecouldbeinthisheroicrole.Ikissedher;itwasmyprivilege.

"IsoonsawthatIhadnotgotabadbargain.Ihavenowbeenmarriedfiveyears.Idonotregretitintheleast."

PierreLetoilewassilent.Hiscompanionswerelaughing.Oneofthemsaid："Marriageisindeedalottery;youmustneverchooseyournumbers.

Thehaphazardonesarethebest."

Anotheraddedbywayofconclusion："Yes，butdonotforgetthatthegodofdrunkardschoseforPierre."

THEUNKNOWN

Wewerespeakingofadventures，andeachoneofuswasrelatinghisstoryofdelightfulexperiences，surprisingmeetings，onthetrain，inahotel，attheseashore.AccordingtoRogerdesAnnettes，theseashorewasparticularlyfavorabletothelittleblindgod.

Gontran，whowaskeepingmum，wasaskedwhathethoughtofit.

"IguessParisisaboutthebestplaceforthat，"hesaid."Womanislikeaprecioustrinket，weappreciateherallthemorewhenwemeetherinthemostunexpectedplaces;buttherarestonesareonlytobefoundinParis."

Hewassilentforamoment，andthencontinued：

"ByJove，it’sgreat！Walkalongthestreetsonsomespringmorning.

Thelittlewomen，daintilytrippingalong，seemtoblossomoutlikeflowers.Whatade