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Updated: June 19, 2025
The sobriquet of La Carconte had been bestowed on Madeleine Radelle from the fact that she had been born in a village, so called, situated between Salon and Lambesc; and as a custom existed among the inhabitants of that part of France where Caderousse lived of styling every person by some particular and distinctive appellation, her husband had bestowed on her the name of La Carconte in place of her sweet and euphonious name of Madeleine, which, in all probability, his rude gutteral language would not have enabled him to pronounce.
He passed over my head and I heard the flooring creak beneath his footsteps. The quick, eager glance of La Carconte followed him as he ascended, while Caderousse, on the contrary, turned his back, and seemed most anxiously to avoid even glancing at him.
La Carconte continued to gaze on him for some time, then shrugging her shoulders, she took her seat immediately opposite to him. At this moment the expiring embers threw up a fresh flame from the kindling of a piece of wood that lay near, and a bright light flashed over the room.
'Why, she inquired in a hoarse voice, 'did you invite him to sleep here to-night? 'Why? said Caderousse with a shudder; 'why, that he might not have the trouble of returning to Beaucaire. 'Ah, responded the woman, with an expression impossible to describe; 'I thought it was for something else. 'Woman, woman why do you have such ideas? cried Caderousse; 'or, if you have them, why don't you keep them to yourself? 'Well, said La Carconte, after a moment's pause, 'you are not a man. 'What do you mean? added Caderousse.
"'Wait while I light the lamp, said La Carconte; 'it is growing dark, and there may be some mistake. In fact, night had come on during this conversation, and with night the storm which had been threatening for the last half-hour.
He then began pacing the room with a pensive and gloomy air, glancing from time to time at the jeweller, who stood reeking with the steam from his wet clothes, and merely changing his place on the warm hearth, to enable the whole of his garments to be dried. "'There, said La Carconte, as she placed a bottle of wine on the table, 'supper is ready whenever you are. 'And you? asked Joannes.
"As I noticed the significant manner in which the whole party pointed to my blood-stained garments, I involuntarily surveyed myself, and then I discovered that the thick warm drops that had so bedewed me as I lay beneath the staircase must have been the blood of La Carconte. I pointed to the spot where I had concealed myself. 'What does he mean? asked a gendarme.
The thunder growled in the distance; but it was apparently not heard by the jeweller, Caderousse, or La Carconte, absorbed as they were all three with the demon of gain. I myself felt; a strange kind of fascination at the sight of all this gold and all these bank-notes; it seemed to me that I was in a dream, and, as it always happens in a dream, I felt myself riveted to the spot.
'I don't want any supper, said Caderousse. 'We dined so very late, hastily interposed La Carconte. 'Then it seems I am to eat alone, remarked the jeweller. 'Oh, we shall have the pleasure of waiting upon you, answered La Carconte, with an eager attention she was not accustomed to manifest even to guests who paid for what they took.
At the moment when he opened the door, such a gust of wind came in that the lamp was nearly extinguished. 'Oh, said he, 'this is very nice weather, and two leagues to go in such a storm. 'Remain, said Caderousse. 'You can sleep here. 'Yes; do stay, added La Carconte in a tremulous voice; 'we will take every care of you. 'No; I must sleep at Beaucaire.
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