Little Andree, meanwhile, grew ever stronger, and thus La
Catiche rose higher and higher, with the whole house bending low beneath
her tyrannical sway.
On the day when Mathieu called to sign the deed which was to insure him
the possession of the little pavilion of Chantebled with some fifty acres
around it, and the privilege of acquiring other parts of the estate on
certain conditions, he found Seguin on the point of starting for Le
Havre, where a friend, a wealthy Englishman, was waiting for him with his
yacht, in order that they might have a month's trip round the coast of
Spain.
"Yes," said Seguin feverishly, alluding to some recent heavy losses at
the gaming table, "I'm leaving Paris for a time--I have no luck here just
now. But I wish you plenty of courage and all success, my dear sir. You
know how much I am interested in the attempt you are about to make."
A little later that same day Mathieu was crossing the Champs-Elysees,
eager to join Marianne at Chantebled, moved as he was by the decisive
step he had taken, yet quivering also with faith and hope, when in a
deserted avenue he espied a cab waiting, and recognized Santerre inside
it.
Pages:
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306