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Updated: June 7, 2025
Ah! don't tell me 'I do not mean to touch him. The old rascal has ruined more than one who was just as good as you are. That's his business; and, upon my word! he understands it. Now, forewarned, forearmed. I am going down to make you a soup. I'll be back at night. And above all, you hear, not a word!" By one word Mrs. Chevassat had plunged Henrietta once more into an abyss of profound despair.
Let us make haste to understand each other; for I have been here a long time, and the woman Chevassat must be on needles. Still, it is important she should not suspect that we are acting in concert." As if afraid that an indiscreet ear might be listening at the door, he drew his chair quite close to Henrietta's bed, and whispered in a voice but just audible to her,
"He went there. A tall man opened the door of the sitting-room; and, at the sight of a young lady who sat before the fire, he could not help exclaiming, 'Ernestine, is that you? "But she interrupted him at once, saying, 'You are mistaken: Ernestine Bergot is dead, and buried by the side of Justin Chevassat, my dear M. de Brevan.
He knew the voyage would not be a pleasant one; but the prospect of being tried in France was as good as an escape from capital punishment to his mind. Besides, he delighted in advance in the idea of seeing Chevassat in court, seated by his side as a fellow-prisoner. "Then," he asked again, "they will send me home?" "On the first national vessel that leaves Saigon."
It was this sentiment which inspired her with a thought, which, in its results, was destined to have a decisive influence on her future. It was now the end of June, and she saw with trembling her little treasure grow smaller and smaller; when one day she asked Mrs. Chevassat, who seemed to be of unusually good-humor, if she could not procure her some work.
She opened; and Mrs. Chevassat, the wife of the concierge appeared. "It is I, my pretty young lady," she said as she entered. "Not seeing you come down, I said to myself, 'I must go up to look after her. And have you slept well?" "Very well, madam, thank you!" "Now, that's right. And how is your appetite? For that was what I came up for. Don't you think you might eat a little something?"
He did not fail to present himself next day, accompanied by Mrs. Chevassat. He asked for five hundred and seventy-nine francs. Such a sum for a few second-hand pieces of furniture which adorned that wretched garret! It was a clear swindle, and the impudence so great, that Henrietta was overwhelmed. But still she paid.
Carried away by an irresistible impulse, and no longer mistress of herself, Henrietta rushed down stairs, and broke like a whirlwind into the little box of the concierge, crying out, "How could you dare to send me to such people? You knew all about it. You are a wretch!" Master Chevassat was the first to rise, and said, "What is the matter? Do you know to whom you are talking?"
"Mrs. Chevassat will give me notice, and then the hour will have come." Still, to her great surprise, the worthy woman from below did not scold her for not having the money ready, and even promised she would make the owner of the house give her time. This inexplicable forbearance gave Henrietta a week's respite.
I could not get on land again until I had been carried down two miles or more; and, when I did get on shore, I sank in the mud up to my hips. Now, I humbly beg the lieutenant's pardon; and you shall see if I am going to let Chevassat escape." Thereupon he held out his hands for the handcuffs, with a theatrical gesture, and left the room.
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