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In 1846, when the Abbe' Constantin took possession of his little living, the grandfather of Jean was residing in a pleasant cottage on the road to Souvigny, between the picturesque old castles of Longueval and Lavardens. Marcel, the son of that Dr. Reynaud, was finishing his medical studies in Paris. He possessed great industry, and an elevation of sentiment and mind extremely rare.
How happy he was three months ago, when he rode out of that great yard amid the noise of the cannon rolling over the pavement of Souvigny; but how sadly he should ride away to-day! Formerly his life was there; where would it be hereafter? He returned, went to his own room, and wrote to Mrs.
"It is Jean," said he, "my godson, lieutenant of artillery, now quartered at Souvigny. He is one of the family." Jean made two deep bows, the Americans two little ones, after which they foraged in their bags, from which each drew a 'rouleau' of 1,000 francs, daintily inclosed in green sheaths of serpent-skin, clasped with gold. "I have brought you this for your poor," said Mrs. Scott.
Some moments after he stopped by the little carriage, and, addressing the Cure, said: "I have just been to your house, 'mon parrain'. Pauline told me that you had gone to Souvigny about the sale. Well, who has bought the castle?" "An American, Mrs. Scott." "And Blanche-Couronne?" "The same, Mrs. Scott." "And La Rozeraie?" "Mrs. Scott again." "And the forest? Mrs. Scott again?"
It contained only a few lines: "'I have ordered the purchase to-day, for you and in your name, of the castle and lands of Longueval, near Souvigny, on the Northern Railway line. "Then we both burst into a fit of wild laughter at the thought." "No, no, Bettina; you calumniate us both. Our first thought was one of very sincere gratitude, for both my sister and I are very fond of the country.
Some moments after he stopped by the little carriage, and, addressing the Cure, said: "I have just been to your house, 'mon parrain'. Pauline told me that you had gone to Souvigny about the sale. Well, who has bought the castle?" "An American, Mrs. Scott." "And Blanche-Couronne?" "The same, Mrs. Scott." "And La Rozeraie?" "Mrs. Scott again." "And the forest? Mrs. Scott again?"
"Into another regiment! To leave Souvigny!" "Yes, that is just it; I must leave Souvigny for a short time, for a little while only; but to leave Souvigny is necessary, it is what I wish above all things." "And what about me, Jean, do you not think of me? A little while! A little while! But that is all that remains to me of life, a little while.
"Well!" replied M. de Larnac, "we have nothing." "What? Nothing?" cried Madame de Lavardens, very pale and agitated. "Nothing, nothing; absolutely nothing the one or the other of us." And M. de Larnac springing from his carriage, related what had taken place at the sale before the Tribunal of Souvigny. "At first," he said, "everything went upon wheels.
Three weeks have glided by; another day and Jean will be obliged to leave with his regiment for the artillery practice. He will lead the life of a soldier. Ten days' march on the highroad going and returning, and ten days in the camp at Cercottes in the forest of Orleans. The regiment will return to Souvigny on the 10th of August. Jean is no longer tranquil; Jean is no longer happy.
When we realized that we had suddenly become possessed of a castle, without knowing in the least where it was, what it was like, or how much it had cost, it seemed so like a fairy-tale. Well, for five good minutes we laughed with all our hearts, then we seized the map of France, and succeeded in discovering Souvigny.
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