United States or Peru ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
The Hotel de Chalusse will be deserted, and Madame Leon and Vantrasson can operate at their leisure." It was ten o'clock when M. Wilkie made his appearance. "Come, my good friends!" said he, "my carriage is below." They started off at once, and five minutes later they were ushered into the presence of Baron Trigault, who received M. Wilkie as if he had never seen him before.
And thereupon M. Fortunat began to draw a vivid and frightful picture of a poor debtor pursued by a rich creditor who harassed him, and tortured him, and hounded him everywhere, until not even a change of clothing was left him. Vantrasson rolled his eyes and brandished his formidable fist in the most defiant manner; but his wife was evidently much alarmed.
His mind was occupied with these thoughts when his door suddenly opened, and he sprang up, exclaiming: "Who is it?" It was Madame Vantrasson, who came to announce that dinner was ready a dinner which she had herself prepared, for on going out Madame Ferailleur had left her in charge of the household.
"And it was Mademoiselle Hermine eloping with a lover?" asked M. Fortunat. Madame Vantrasson seemed as disappointed as an actor who has been deprived of an opportunity of producing a grand effect. "Wait a moment," she replied, "and you'll see. The night passed, morning came, and then the breakfast hour. But Mademoiselle Hermine did not make her appearance.
When he had finished: "That note fell due eighteen months ago," declared Vantrasson. "It is worth nothing now." "You are mistaken a note of this kind is of value any time within five years after the day it goes to protest." "Possibly; but as Barutin has failed, and gone no one knows where, I am released " "Another mistake on your part.
While Madame Vantrasson had been in the room he had scarcely dared to raise his eyes, so great was his dread of encountering the gaze of this woman, whose malignity was but poorly veiled by her smooth-tongued hypocrisy. He really feared he should not be able to resist his desire to strangle her.
She evidently wanted to get rid of Madame Vantrasson, and in fact as soon as the simple dessert had been placed on the table, she turned to her, and said: "You may go home now. I will attend to the rest."
Word Of The Day