Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 22, 2025
Barlasch had taken the precaution of bolting the huge front door, which was large enough to give passage to a carriage. The man, who exhaled an atmosphere of dust mingled with the disquieting and all-pervading odour of smoke, rushed at the huge door and tugged furiously at its handles. Charles, who was on his heels, grasped his arm, but the man swung round and threw him off as if he were a child.
Barlasch was cleaning a knife, and nodded a silent good morning. Desiree's eyes were red, and Barlasch must have noted this sign of grief, for he gave a contemptuous laugh, and continued his occupation. It was barely daylight when the Grafin's heavy, old-fashioned carriage drew up in front of the house. Mathilde came down, thickly veiled and in her travelling furs.
But for the most part they were not so scrupulous. At first D'Arragon, to whom these horrors were new, attempted to help such as appealed to him, but Barlasch laughed at him. "Yes," he said. "Take the medallion, and promise to send it to his mother. Holy Heaven they all have medallions, and they all have mothers. Every Frenchman remembers his mother when it is too late. I will get a cart.
He had not laid on the table any contribution to a bare larder; and yet his manner was that of one who has prepared a surprise and is waiting to enjoy its effect. He was restless, moving from one foot to another, rubbing together his crooked fingers and darting sidelong glances at her face. "What is it?" she asked suddenly, and Barlasch gave a start as if he had been detected in some deceit.
"New Year's Day," echoed Barlasch. "Good. And we have been on the road since six o'clock; and I, who have forgotten to wish you " He paused and called cheerily to the horses, which had covered more than forty miles since leaving their stable at Thorn. "Bon Dieu!" he said in a lower tone, glancing at her beneath the ice-bound rim of his fur cap, "Bon Dieu what am I to wish you, I wonder?"
D'Arragon glanced at her with a sudden look of relief, and then turned to Barlasch. He took the numbed hand and felt it; then he held a candle close to it. Two of the fingers were quite white, and Barlasch made a grimace when he saw them. D'Arragon began rubbing at once, taking no notice of his companion's moans and complaints.
Papa Barlasch stood aside at attention, and Colonel de Casimir came into the room with a gay word of greeting. Barlasch went out, but he did not close the door. It is to be presumed that he stood without, where he might have overheard all that they said to each other for quite a long time, until it was almost the half-hour when the clocks would strike again.
The wall was taller than Barlasch, but he ran at it like a cat, and Desiree standing below could see the black outline of his limbs crouching on the top. He stooped down, and grasping her hands, lifted her by the sheer strength of one arm, balanced her for an instant on the wall, and then lowered her on the outer side. "Run," he whispered.
In the early morning, long before it was light, the dull thud of steps on the trodden snow called her to the window again. She caught her breath as she drew back the curtain; for through the long watches of the night she had imagined every possible form of return. This must be Barlasch. Louis and Barlasch must, of course, have met Rapp on his homeward journey.
"Yes," answered Desiree gravely, in no wise responding to a sudden forced gaiety in Papa Barlasch, which was only an evidence of the shyness with which rough men all the world over approach the subject of love. The gaiety lapsed into a sudden silence. He waited for her to ask a question, but in vain.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking