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Updated: June 16, 2025
"Not long before this Monsieur de Merret had had new ceilings made to all the reception-rooms on the ground floor. Plaster is very scarce at Vendome; the price is enhanced by the cost of carriage; the gentleman had therefore had a considerable quantity delivered to him, knowing that he could always find purchasers for what might be left.
"'You can go, Rosalie, said Madame de Merret to her maid; 'I can put in my curl-papers myself. She scented disaster at the mere aspect of her husband's face, and wished to be alone with him.
"Monsieur de Merret made no reply, for at this moment Rosalie came in. This was like a thunder-clap. He walked up and down the room, going from one window to another at a regular pace, his arms folded. "'Have you had bad news, or are you ill? his wife asked him timidly, while Rosalie helped her to undress. He made no reply.
When the wall was half built up the cunning mason took advantage of his master's back being turned to break one of the two panes in the top of the door with a blow of his pick. By this Madame de Merret understood that Rosalie had spoken to Gorenflot. They all three then saw the face of a dark, gloomy-looking man, with black hair and flaming eyes.
"'My dear sir, if you had seen, as I then saw, that vast room, papered and hung with brown, you would have felt yourself transported into a scene of a romance. It was icy, nay more, funereal, and he lifted his hand with a theatrical gesture and paused. "'By dint of seeking, as I approached the bed, at last I saw Madame de Merret, under the glimmer of the lamp, which fell on the pillows.
After all, it was his place to behave so. When a man is a born nobleman, you see "'Still, there must have been some catastrophe for Monsieur and Madame de Merret to part so violently? "'I did not say there was any catastrophe, sir. I know nothing about it. "'Indeed. Well, now, I am sure you know everything. "'Well, sir, I will tell you the whole story.
"Monsieur de Merret, who had never lost sight of his wife while giving his orders, quietly came back to her at the fireside, and began to tell her the details of the game of billiards and the discussion at the club. When Rosalie returned she found Monsieur and Madame de Merret conversing amiably.
"He had to wait for Rosalie. Monsieur de Merret went forward quickly to meet her, led her into the bay of the window that looked on to the garden, and said to her in an undertone: "'I know that Gorenflot wants to marry you, that poverty alone prevents your setting up house, and that you told him you would not be his wife till he found means to become a master mason.
Oh, they were a handsome couple in their day! "'And were they happy together? "'Hm, hm! so-so so far as can be guessed, for, as you may suppose, we of the common sort were not hail-fellow-well-met with them. Madame de Merret was a kind woman and very pleasant, who had no doubt sometimes to put up with her husband's tantrums. But though he was rather haughty, we were fond of him.
She got over her agitation at once; for every woman, from the highest lady to the inn-servant inclusive, has a native presence of mind. "'Yes; you are fresh and good-looking enough never to lack lovers! But tell me, Rosalie, why did you become an inn-servant on leaving Madame de Merret? Did she not leave you some little annuity? "'Oh yes, sir.
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