“’Let us now examine the question from
another point of view. Either you have misbehaved
yourself—and then so much the worse for
you, my boy; one should not go near a young girl—or
else, being drunk, as you say, you made a mistake
in the room. In this case, it’s even worse
for you. You shouldn’t get yourself into
such foolish situations. Whatever you may say,
the poor girl’s reputation is lost, for a drunkard’s
excuses are never believed. The only real victim
in the matter is the girl. Think it over.’
“He went away, while I cried after him:
’Say what you will, I’ll not marry her!’
“I stayed alone for another hour. Then
my aunt came. She was crying. She used every
argument. No one believed my story. They
could not imagine that this young girl could have
forgotten to lock her door in a house full of company.
The colonel had struck her. She had been crying
the whole morning. It was a terrible and unforgettable
scandal. And my good aunt added: ’Ask
for her hand, anyhow. We may, perhaps, find some
way out of it when we are drawing up the papers.’
“This prospect relieved me. And I agreed
to write my proposal. An hour later I left for
Paris. The following day I was informed that I
had been accepted.
“Then, in three weeks, before I had been able
to find any excuse, the banns were published, the
announcement sent out, the contract signed, and one
Monday morning I found myself in a church, beside a
weeping young girl, after telling the magistrate that
I consented to take her as my companion—for
better, for worse.
“I had not seen her since my adventure, and
I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye with
a certain malevolent surprise. However, she was
not ugly—far from it. I said to myself:
’There is some one who won’t laugh every
day.’
“She did not look at me once until, the evening,
and she did not say a single word.
“Toward the middle of the night I entered the
bridal chamber with the full intention of letting
her know my resolutions, for I was now master.
I found her sitting in an armchair, fully dressed,
pale and with red eyes. As soon as I entered
she rose and came slowly toward me saying: ’Monsieur,
I am ready to do whatever you may command. I will
kill myself if you so desire’
“The colonel’s daughter was as pretty
as she could be in this heroic role. I kissed
her; it was my privilege.
“I soon saw that I had not got a bad bargain.
I have now been married five years. I do not
regret it in the least.”
Pierre Letoile was silent. His companions were
laughing. One of them said: “Marriage
is indeed a lottery; you must never choose your numbers.
The haphazard ones are the best.”
Another added by way of conclusion: “Yes,
but do not forget that the god of drunkards chose
for Pierre.”
We were speaking of adventures, and each one of us
was relating his story of delightful experiences,
surprising meetings, on the train, in a hotel, at
the seashore. According to Roger des Annettes,
the seashore was particularly favorable to the little
blind god.
