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The Avocat sat in his little office, feebly fumbling among his papers, as Medallion entered on him and called to him cheerily: "We are coming to see you to-night, Garon the Cure, our Little Chemist, and the Seigneur; coming to supper." The Avocat put out his hand courteously; but he said in a shrinking, pained voice: "No, no, not to-night, Medallion. I would wish no visitors this night of all."
"Had you the inkling?" "Perhaps, monsieur," replied Medallion seriously. They eyed each other. "We will have Parpon in after the will is read," said Armand suddenly, looking at the Avocat. The Avocat drew the deed from his pocket. He looked up hesitatingly, and then said to Armand: "You insist on it being read now?" Armand nodded coolly, after a quick glance at Medallion.
It opened, the garcon mumbled something, and Madame Chalice entered slowly. Her look had no particular sympathy, but there was a sort of friendliness in the rich colour of her face, in the brightness of her eyes. "The avocat was to have accompanied me," she said; "but at the last I thought it better to come without him, because " She paused. "Yes, madame because?" he asked, offering her a chair.
The Cure and the avocat kept within doors; for they had talked together, and now that the day of fate was at hand, and sons, brothers, fathers, were to go off on this far crusade, a new spirit suddenly thrust itself in, and made them sad and anxious. Monsieur De la Riviere was gloomy. Medallion was the one comfortable, cool person in the parish.
The avocat was thinking deeply, and as, in the dusk, he left the Cure at his own door, all that he ventured was: "Singular a most singular person!" "We shall see, we shall see," said the Cure abstractedly, and they said good-night.
"I will tell you, and in so doing, beg you to accept my friendship hereafter, on one condition. In the course of the day, write or dictate a few civil words of apology to M. Hennequin. Ma foi! every one will praise you for a generosity so becoming in a man who has given such proofs of courage and skill to an avocat who has never handled a sword nor fired a pistol."
On the fly-leaf was written: "From Victor to Lulie, September 13th, 18-." Presently she came back to him quite recovered and calm, inquired how the Avocat was cared for, and hoped he would have every comfort and care. Medallion grew on the instant bold. He was now certain that Victor was the Avocat, and Lulie was Madame Lecyr.
This fox, this cunning avocat, this guardian, is no doubt in love with his own ward! She is young, rich, beautiful, a belle, and he old, ugly, mean, and contemptible; but what of that? He does not think himself either one or the other; and she bah! he may even hope: far less reasonable hopes have been crowned with success. He knows the world; he is a lawyer; he knows at least her world.
The officer came up: M. Marouin informed him that he was an avocat, attached to the law courts of Toulon, and told him that he had arranged to meet someone on the Champs de Mars, not knowing that it was prohibited, and that he was still waiting for that person. After this explanation, the officer authorised him to remain, and went back to his quarters.
They were picturesque and able and simple, doing good things in disguise, succouring distress, yielding their lives without thought for a cause, or a woman, and loving with an undying love. Charley was of these people from the first instant she saw him. The Cure, the Avocat, and the Seigneur were also of them, but placidly, unimportantly.
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