第35章

The property of the house of Troisville lay between Alencon and Mortagne.Josette knew the various branches of the family.A word dropped by mademoiselle as they entered Alencon had put Josette on the scent of the affair; and a discussion having started between them, it was settled that the expected de Troisville must be between forty and forty-two years of age, a bachelor, and neither rich nor poor.

Mademoiselle Cormon beheld herself speedily Vicomtesse de Troisville.

"And to think that my uncle told me nothing! thinks of nothing!

inquires nothing! That's my uncle all over.He'd forget his own nose if it wasn't fastened to his face."Have you never remarked that, under circumstances such as these, old maids become, like Richard III., keen-witted, fierce, bold, promissory,--if one may so use the word,--and, like inebriate clerks, no longer in awe of anything?

Immediately the town of Alencon, speedily informed from the farther end of the rue de Saint-Blaise to the gate of Seez of this precipitate return, accompanied by singular circumstances, was perturbed throughout its viscera, both public and domestic.Cooks, shopkeepers, street passengers, told the news from door to door; thence it rose to the upper regions.Soon the words: "Mademoiselle Cormon has returned!"burst like a bombshell into all households.At that moment Jacquelin was descending from his wooden seat (polished by a process unknown to cabinet-makers), on which he perched in front of the carriole.He opened the great green gate, round at the top, and closed in sign of mourning; for during Mademoiselle Cormon's absence the evening assemblies did not take place.The faithful invited the Abbe de Sponde to their several houses; and Monsieur de Valois paid his debt by inviting him to dine at the Marquis d'Esgrignon's.Jacquelin, having opened the gate, called familiarly to Penelope, whom he had left in the middle of the street.That animal, accustomed to this proceeding, turned in of herself, and circled round the courtyard in a manner to avoid injuring the flower-bed.Jacquelin then took her bridle, and led the carriage to the portico.

"Mariette!" cried Mademoiselle Cormon.

"Mademoiselle!" exclaimed Mariette, who was occupied in closing the gate.

"Has the gentleman arrived?"

"No, mademoiselle."

"Where's my uncle?"

"He is at church, mademoiselle."

Jacquelin and Josette were by this time on the first step of the portico, holding out their hands to manoeuvre the exit of their mistress from the carriole as she pulled herself up by the sides of the vehicle and clung to the curtains.Mademoiselle then threw herself into their arms; because for the last two years she dared not risk her weight on the iron step, affixed to the frame of the carriage by a horrible mechanism of clumsy bolts.

When Mademoiselle Cormon reached the level of the portico she looked about her courtyard with an air of satisfaction.

"Come, come, Mariette, leave that gate alone; I want you.""There's something in the wind," whispered Jacquelin, as Mariette passed the carriole.

"Mariette, what provisions have you in the house?" asked Mademoiselle Cormon, sitting down on the bench in the long antechamber like a person overcome with fatigue.

"I haven't anything," replied Mariette, with her hands on her hips.

"Mademoiselle knows very well that during her absence Monsieur l'abbe dines out every day.Yesterday I went to fetch him from Mademoiselle Armande's.""Where is he now?"

"Monsieur l'abbe? Why, at church; he won't be in before three o'clock.""He thinks of nothing! he ought to have told you to go to market.

Mariette, go at once; and without wasting money, don't spare it; get all there is that is good and delicate.Go to the diligence office and see if you can send for pates; and I want shrimps from the Brillante.

What o'clock is it?"

"A quarter to nine."

"Good heavens! Mariette, don't stop to chatter.The person my uncle expects may arrive at any moment.If we had to give him breakfast, where should we be with nothing in the house?"Mariette turned back to Penelope in a lather, and looked at Jacquelin as if she would say, "Mademoiselle has put her hand on a husband THIStime."

"Now, Josette," continued the old maid, "let us see where we had better put Monsieur de Troisville to sleep."With what joy she said the words, "Put Monsieur de Troisville"(pronounced Treville) "to sleep." How many ideas in those few words!

The old maid was bathed in hope.

"Will you put him in the green chamber?"

"The bishop's room? No; that's too near mine," said Mademoiselle Cormon."All very well for monseigneur; he's a saintly man.""Give him your uncle's room."

"Oh, that's so bare; it is actually indecent.""Well, then, mademoiselle, why not arrange a bed in your boudoir? It is easily done; and there's a fire-place.Moreau can certainly find in his warerooms a bed to match the hangings.""You are right, Josette.Go yourself to Moreau; consult with him what to do; I authorize you to get what is wanted.If the bed could be put up to-night without Monsieur de Troisville observing it (in case Monsieur de Troisville arrives while Moreau is here), I should like it.If Moreau won't engage to do this, then I must put Monsieur de Troisville in the green room, although Monsieur de Troisville would be so very near to me."Josette was departing when her mistress recalled her.

"Stop! explain the matter to Jacquelin," she cried, in a loud nervous tone."Tell HIM to go to Moreau; I must be dressed! Fancy if Monsieur de Troisville surprised me as I am now! and my uncle not here to receive him! Oh, uncle, uncle! Come, Josette; come and dress me at once.""But Penelope?" said Josette, imprudently.

"Always Penelope! Penelope this, Penelope that! Is Penelope the mistress of this house?""But she is all of a lather, and she hasn't had time to eat her oats.""Then let her starve!" cried Mademoiselle Cormon; "provided I marry,"she thought to herself.