"Does Joubard think the Prefect sent him?"
"I did not consult Joubard on that point," said Monsieur Joseph with dignity. "That is between De Mauves and myself."
"Oh, my little uncle," Angelot said with a low laugh, "you are a very gem among conspirators."
"None of you take me in earnest, I know," said Monsieur Joseph, and he smiled for the first time. "Your father scolds me, Joubard does not half believe in me, Riette takes liberties with me, you laugh at me. It is only that scoundrel of a Prefect who thinks me worth watching."
"I don"t believe he does," said Angelot.
"Then pray tell me, what brought that police rascal here to-day?"
"Some devilry of his own. Don"t you know, Uncle Joseph, these fellows gain credit, and money too, by hunting out cases of disloyalty to the Empire. It is dirty work; officials like the Prefect do not always care to soil their hands with it. I have heard my father tell of cases where whole families were put in prison, just on the evidence of some police spy who wormed himself into their confidence and informed against them."
Monsieur Joseph sat in silence for a minute.
"Peste! France is not fit to live in," he said. "To change the subject--your excellent father proposed to-day that I should send Riette every morning to Lancilly, to learn lessons with Mesdemoiselles de Sainfoy. It seems that Madame de Sainfoy herself proposed this obliging plan. The governess, it seems, is a jewel of the first water. Is that the lady I saw with the children the other day?"
"Yes; Mademoiselle Moineau."
Angelot"s breath came a little short; his heart seemed to beat unreasonably in his throat. How could he express with sufficient restraint his opinion of that sleepy old angel, Mademoiselle Moineau!
He felt himself colouring crimson; but it was growing dark, the gorgeous sunset had faded, the clouds hung blacker and heavier as the oppressive night closed in.
"No doubt a charming lady and a very good woman," said Monsieur Joseph, with his usual politeness, "but she has not the air of a genius. In any case, even if I saw any advantage for Riette in the plan, which I do not, I am too selfish to consent to it. Well, well, I have other reasons; I will tell them to your mother one of these days. I am sorry Madame de Sainfoy should have thought of it, as it seems ungracious to refuse. But I was miserable enough without Riette last year, when she spent those weeks at the Convent at Sonnay. By the by, the good nuns did not find her so ignorant. She knows her religion, she can dance and sing, she can make clothes for the poor, she understands the animals, and has read a little history. Pray what more does a girl want?"
"Nothing, I dare say," said Angelot, dreamily. "I did not think you would like it."
"I do not like it," said Monsieur Joseph. "Your father was astonished when I told him so. We did not discuss it long; the storm interrupted us. But how could I let my child be brought up in a household devoted to the Empire! It is unreasonable."
Angelot started suddenly to his feet.
"Are you going? It will rain again soon," said Monsieur Joseph.
"No, I am not going yet," said Angelot.
He marched up and down two or three times in front of the bench.
"Uncle Joseph," he burst out, "I have something to say to you. I came here to-night on purpose to consult you. You can help me, I think, if anybody can."
"What, what? Are they sending you into the army?" Monsieur Joseph was all interest, all affection. His own annoyances were forgotten. He started up too, standing in his most inspired att.i.tude, with a sweet smile on his face. "Declare yourself, my boy!" he said. "Yes, I will stand by you. You cannot fight for that bloodthirsty wretch. Escape, dearest, if there is nothing else for it. Go and join the Princes. Your mother will agree with me. I will lend you money for the journey."
"Ah, a thousand thanks, Uncle Joseph!" cried the young man. "But no, it is not that at all." He lowered his voice suddenly. "I want to marry,"
he said.
"To marry! Angelot! You! In heaven"s name, why?"
"Because I am in love."
"What a reason!"
Monsieur Joseph sat down again.
"This is serious," he said. "Sit down beside me on the bench, and tell me all about it. It sounds like madness, and I always thought you were a reasonable boy."
"It is madness in one way, I suppose," said Angelot. "And yet stranger things have happened. In fact, of course, nothing else could happen."
Monsieur Joseph frowned and stared. His quick brain was running round the neighbourhood and finding n.o.body; then it made an excursion at lightning speed into the wilds of Brittany, where Angelot had sometimes visited his mother"s relations; but there again, as far as he knew, no likely match was to be found. He was sure that Urbain and Anne had not yet taken any steps to find a wife for Angelot; he also thought it was a subject on which they were likely to disagree. And now the young rascal had hit on somebody for himself. Might Heaven forbid that he had followed modern theories and was ready to marry some woman of a rank inferior to his own--some good-for-nothing who had attracted the handsome, simple-hearted boy!
"No! He would not dare to tell me that," Monsieur Joseph said to himself, and added aloud, "Who is the lady?"
There was a touch of severity in his tone; a foretaste, even from the dear little uncle, of what was to be expected.
"But, dear uncle," Angelot said slowly, "it could only be one person."
"No--no, impossible!" said Monsieur Joseph, half to himself. "Angelot, my boy--not--not there?" and he waved his hand in the direction of Lancilly.
Angelot nodded. "You have seen her," he murmured; "you ought not to be surprised. You have never seen any one half so beautiful."
Monsieur Joseph laughed outright. "Have I always lived at Les Chouettes?" he said. "However, she is a pretty girl, fair, graceful, distinguished. Riette had more to tell me about the younger ones; that was only natural. Of course I have only exchanged a compliment with Mademoiselle Helene. She looked to me cold and rather haughty--or melancholy, perhaps. When have you spoken to her, Angelot? or is it merely the sight of her which has given you this wild idea?"
"Yes, she is melancholy," Angelot said, "but not cold or haughty at all.
She is sad; it is because she is alone, and her mother is hard and stern, though her father is kind, and she has had no peace in life from all their worldly ways. They wanted to marry her to people she detested--her mother did, at least--"
"Yes, yes, I have heard something of that," said Monsieur Joseph. "They expect a great deal from her. She is to make an advantageous marriage--it is necessary for her family. It will happen one of these days; it must. My dear little Angelot, you know nothing of the world--how can you possibly imagine--Besides, I do not care for the Sainfoys." Monsieur Joseph sighed. "I would rather you went to Brittany for a wife, and so would your mother."
"But you will help me, Uncle Joseph?" said Angelot.
"Help you! How can I? Anyhow, you must tell me more. How did you find out all this? When did those people give you an opportunity of speaking to her? From their own point of view, they are certainly very imprudent.
But I suppose they think you harmless."
It is unpleasant to be thought harmless. Angelot blushed angrily.
"They may find themselves mistaken," he muttered. "I will tell you, Uncle Joseph;" and he went on to give a slight sketch of what had happened.
It seemed necessary to convince his uncle that he was not talking nonsense, that the fates had really allowed him a few minutes" talk with Helene. He could only give half an explanation, after all; the old mulberry tree had been the only witness of what was too sacred to be told. He said that Mademoiselle Moineau"s fortunate nap had given them time to understand each other.
"And this is the fine governess to whom they expect me to confide my Riette!" said Monsieur Joseph, laughing; but he became serious again directly. "And in this interview under the tree, my poor Angelot," he said very gravely, "you made up your mind to propose yourself as a husband for Mademoiselle Helene?"
"It sounds solemn, Uncle Joseph, when you say it. But yes, I suppose you are right," said Angelot.
"It _is_ solemn. Most solemn and serious. Something more than a flirtation, an amourette. For life, as I understand you. A real marriage a l"Anglais," said Monsieur Joseph.
For answer, Angelot raved a little. His uncle listened indulgently, with a charming smile, to all the pretty lunacies of the young man"s first love, poured into an ear and a heart that would never betray or misunderstand him.
"And did you tell Mademoiselle Helene all this? Did you ask her what she thought of you?" Monsieur Joseph said at last.
"She knows enough, and so do I," said Angelot.