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Those who had been so harsh to Gervaise were now quite lenient toward Virginie. Gervaise had previously heard numerous reports about Lantier's affairs with all sorts of girls on the street and they had bothered her so little that she hadn't even felt enough resentment to break off the affair.
He had not found his opportunity he had made one! With a malicious smile on his thin, wicked lips the Count de Roannes watched them as they moved across the room toward the conservatory this pair so finely matched that all must needs admire. It was rather amusing in les enfants, he told Ledoux, this "Paul et Virginie" episode. Somewhat bourgeois, of course but harmless, he hoped.
Nevertheless, as one ought to hold out a helping hand, even to folks who don't deserve it, he tried to find her a little work. Thus he had prevailed upon Virginie to let Gervaise come once a week to scrub the shop and the rooms. That was the sort of thing she understood and on each occasion she earned her thirty sous.
In a short time another brig was seen approaching under a perfect cloud of sail, an unmistakably English gun-brig this time, however. Sweeping up on the port quarter of George's prize, an officer sprang into the main-rigging, and hailed "Brig ahoy! What brig is that?" "The Jeune Virginie, French privateer," answered George.
Considerable difficulty was experienced in obtaining a crew for the brig, good men being scarce; but at last this was overcome, and on a bright September morning the anchor was hove up, and the Virginie started upon her cruise.
Virginie, who seemed to read her through and through, asked her what she feared. Was there ever a man more respectful? But out of mischief or worse, the woman contrived to get the two into a corner one day and then led the conversation into a most dangerous direction. Lantier, in reply to some question, said in measured tones that his heart was dead, that he lived now only for his son.
"'Dear Madame de Crequy, said I, 'he will return safely to us; every precaution shall be taken, that either he or you, or my lord, or Monkshaven can think of; but he cannot leave a girl his nearest relation save you his betrothed, is she not? "'His betrothed! cried she, now at the utmost pitch of her excitement. 'Virginie betrothed to Clement? no! thank heaven, not so bad as that!
He came forward and placed his hand on his heart, saying: "You hurt me, Auguste. Discuss, but don't involve personalities." Thereupon Virginie intervened, bidding them stop their row. She didn't care a fig for Europe. How could two men, who shared everything else, always be disputing about politics? For a minute they mumbled some indistinct words.
He was just like the other the beast upstairs who was now snoring, tired out by beating his wife. She was chilled to the heart and desperate. Were all men alike? She thought of Lantier and of her husband and wondered if there was no happiness in the world. The nineteenth of June was the clearstarcher's birthday. Virginie highly commended Gervaise for living luxuriously.
We questioned the servants; but they all denied stoutly. Whether to believe them or not I cannot tell, but I doubt the housemaid. The early afternoon post brought Virginie a note. I inclose it. It tells you all I can tell. I write immediately, distressed by what has occurred, more than I can say. I earnestly trust the poor child has not thrown herself away.
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