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The unhappiness was that this luxury cost her dear, very dear. After having sold the rest of her rents, the countess first mortgaged the estate of La Verberie, and then the chateau itself. In less than four years she owed more than forty thousand francs, and was unable to pay the interest of her debt.
I will finish the story. "On leaving Mihonne, who had given him a full account of the misfortunes of Mlle. Valentine de la Verberie, Clameran hastened to London. "He had no difficulty in finding the farmer's wife to whom the old countess had intrusted Gaston's son. "But here an unexpected disappointment greeted him.
Could this wretched woman crouching at his feet be his beloved Valentine, the pure, innocent girl whom he had found secluded in the chateau of La Verberie, who had never loved any other than himself? Could this be the cherished wife whom he had worshipped for so many years? The memory of his lost happiness was too much for the stricken man.
All things are linked together and dependent upon each other in this world of ours. If Gaston de Clameran had not entered a little cafe at Tarascon to play a game of billiards twenty years ago, your money-safe would not have been robbed three weeks ago. "Valentine de la Verberie is punished in 1866 for the murder committed for her sake in 1840.
Dobbin, the farmer's wife; and these others are the statements of the physician and of several persons of high social position who were acquainted with Mme. de la Verberie during her stay in London. Not a single link is missing. I had great difficulty in getting these papers away from M. de Clameran.
"How much is still owing of the purchase-money of the Verberie?" "Five thousand francs, monsieur," said Eve, "but I have two thousand " "Keep your money," Petit-Claud broke in. "Let us see: five thousand why, you want quite another ten thousand francs to settle yourselves comfortably down yonder. Very good, in two hours' time the Cointets shall bring you fifteen thousand francs "
He was wealthy; a splendid career was open to him, he was free; and he swore that Valentine should be his. He confided all his matrimonial plans to an old friend of Mme. de la Verberie, who was as noble as a Montmorency, and as poor as Job. With the precision of a graduate of the polytechnic school, he had enumerated all his qualifications for being a model son-in-law.
Their manners may have been patriarchal years and years ago; but our mothers and wives nowadays certainly have not such ready hands and quick tongues, and are sometimes, at least, elegant in manner, and choice in their language. Mme. de La Verberie had preserved the manners of the good old times, when grand ladies swore like troopers, and impressed their remarks by slaps in the face.
Attachments and notices to quit poured in at La Verberie, which she would show to Valentine and, with tears in her eyes, say: "God grant we may not be driven from the home of our ancestors before your marriage, my darling!" Knowing that her presence was sufficient to freeze any confession on her daughter's lips, she never left her alone with Andre.
"They insulted in my presence the name of a noble young girl." "And you punished the rascals? Jarnibleu! You did well. Who ever heard of a gentleman allowing insolent puppies to speak disrespectfully of a lady of quality in his presence? But who was the lady you defended?" "Mlle. Valentine de la Verberie." "What!" cried the marquis, "what! the daughter of that old witch!
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