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"Come," said Julien, huskily, "confess that you are in love with her." "Well! suppose I am," said Claudet, angrily, "yes, I love her! There, are you satisfied now?" Although de Buxieres knew what he had to expect, he was not the less affected by so open an avowal thrust at him, as it were. He stood for a moment, silent; then, with a fresh burst of rage: "You love her, do you?
It just crossed his mind that perhaps Claudet had thrown out her name as a bait and an argument in favor of his theories on the facility of love-affairs in the country. However that might be, the allusion to the probable presence of Mademoiselle Vincart at the coming fete, rendered young Buxieres more tractable, and he made no further difficulties about accompanying his cousin.
He recalled Reine's visit to the chateau, and how cleverly she had managed to inform him of the parentage existing between Claudet and the deceased Claude de Buxieres; how she had by her conversation raised a feeling of pity in his mind for Claudet; and a desire to repair the negligence of the deceased.
"Would you wish me to become the servant of the man who has cheated me out of my inheritance?" protested Claudet, indignantly. "His servant no, indeed! but his companion why not? And it would be so easy if you would only make up your mind to it, Claude. I tell you again, he is not ill-natured-he looks like a man who is up to his neck in devotion.
Then, shrugging her shoulders and raising her head, she said slowly, while still avoiding Claudet's eyes: "Perhaps you are right both of you. Well, let it be so! I authorize you to go to Monsieur le Cure and arrange the day with him." "Oh, thanks, Reine!" exclaimed Claudet, rapturously; "you make me very happy!"
As soon as they had drunk their coffee, they turned back on the Vivey road; but, when they had got as far as the great limetree, standing at the entrance to the forest, Julien touched Claudet lightly on the shoulder. "Here," said he, "we must part company. You will return to Vivey, and I shall go across the fields to La Thuiliere.
The days also seemed longer since Claudet had taken upon himself the management of all details. Julien found that re-reading his favorite books was not sufficient occupation for the weary hours that dragged slowly along between the rising and the setting of the sun.
"That is a singular proposition," exclaimed he, after awhile; "do you take me for a libertine?" "Don't get on your high horse, Monsieur de Buxieres! There would be no one hurt. The girls I allude to are not so difficult to approach." "That has nothing to do with it, Claudet; I do not enjoy that kind of amusement." "It is the kind that young men of our age indulge in, all the same.
As they entered the dining-room, young de Buxieres noticed that covers were laid for five people; he began to wonder who the fifth guest could be, when an accidental remark of the clerk showed him that the unknown was no other than Claudet.
Claudet, too much excited to perceive that the young girl's impassiveness was only on the surface, said to himself: "It is all over; she accepts my departure as an event perfectly natural; she treats me as she would Theotime, the coal-dealer, or the tax-collector Boucheseiche. A glass of wine, two or three unimportant questions, and then, good-by-a pleasant journey, and take care of yourself!"
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