This time the baron got angry: “Doggone
it! you will have the marriage contract. That
is the best kind of paper.”
But the peasant was stubborn: “Meanwhile
I might take a little turn; it will not be dark for
a while.”
The baron rose to make an end of the matter:
“Answer yes or no at once. If you do not
wish her, say so; I have another suitor.”
The fear of a rival terrified the crafty Norman.
He suddenly made up his mind and held out his hand,
as after buying a cow, saying: “Put it
there, M’sieu le Baron; it is a bargain.
Whoever draws back is a skunk!”
The baron shook his hand, then called out: “Ludivine!”
The cook appeared at the window. “Bring
us a bottle of wine.” They clinked glasses
to seal the matter and the young peasant went off with
a light tread.
Nothing was said to Julien about this visit.
The contract was drawn up with all secrecy and as
soon as the banns were published the wedding took
place one Monday morning.
A neighbor carried the child to church, walking behind
the bride and groom, as a sure sign of good luck.
And no one in all the district was surprised; they
simply envied Desire Lecocq. “He was born
with a caul,” they said, with a sly smile into
which there entered no resentment.
Julien was terribly angry and made such a scene that
his parents-in-law cut short their visit to the “Poplars.”
Jeanne was only moderately sad at their departure,
for little Paul had become for her an inexhaustible
source of happiness.
* * * *
*
DEATH OF LA BARONNE
As Jeanne’s health was quite restored, they
determined to go and return the Fourvilles’
visit and also to call on the Marquis de Coutelier.
Julien had bought at a sale a new one-horse phaeton,
so that they could go out twice a month. They
set out one fine December morning, and after driving
for two hours across the plains of Normandy, they
began to descend a little slope into a little valley,
the sides of which were wooded, while the valley itself
was cultivated. After an abrupt turn in the valley
they saw the Chateau of Vrillette, a wooded slope
on one side of it and a large pond on the other, out
of which rose one of its walls and which was bounded
by a wood of tall pine trees that formed the other
side of the valley.
Julien explained all the portions of the building
to Jeanne, like one who knows his subject thoroughly,
and went into raptures over its beauty, adding; “It
is full of game, this country. The comte loves
to hunt here. This is a true seignorial residence.”
The hall door was opened and the pale comtesse appeared,
coming forward to meet the visitors, all smiles, and
wearing a long-trained dress, like a chatelaine of
olden times. She looked a fitting lady of the
lake, born to inhabit this fairy castle.
