"Ah! diviner!" she said, putting on the gay expression a woman assumes when she makes an avowal which compromises neither her dignity nor her secret sentiments.
Then, having slipped on a pelisse, she accompanied him as far as the Nid-aux-Crocs.When they reached the end of the path she said, "Monsieur, be absolutely silent on all this; even to the marquis"; and she laid her finger on both lips.
The count, emboldened by so much kindness, took her hand; she let him do so as though it were a great favor, and he kissed it tenderly.
"Oh! mademoiselle," he cried, on knowing himself beyond all danger, "rely on me for life, for death.Though I owe you a gratitude equal to that I owe my mother, it will be very difficult to restrain my feelings to mere respect."He sprang into the narrow pathway.After watching him till he reached the rocks of Saint-Sulpice, Marie nodded her head in sign of satisfaction, saying to herself in a low voice: "That fat fellow has given me more than his life for his life! I can make him my creator at a very little cost! Creature or creator, that's all the difference there is between one man and another--"She did not finish her thought, but with a look of despair she turned and re-entered the Porte Saint-Leonard, where Hulot and Corentin were awaiting her.
"Two more days," she cried, "and then--" She stopped, observing that they were not alone--"he shall fall under your guns," she whispered to Hulot.
The commandant recoiled a step and looked with a jeering contempt, impossible to render, at the woman whose features and expression gave no sign whatever of relenting.There is one thing remarkable about women: they never reason about their blameworthy actions,--feeling carries them off their feet; even in their dissimulation there is an element of sincerity; and in women alone crime may exist without baseness, for it often happens that they do not know how it came about that they committed it.
"I am going to Saint-James, to a ball the Chouans give to-morrow night, and--""But," said Corentin, interrupting her, "that is fifteen miles distant; had I not better accompany you?""You think a great deal too much of something I never think of at all," she replied, "and that is yourself."Marie's contempt for Corentin was extremely pleasing to Hulot, who made his well-known grimace as she turned away in the direction of her own house.Corentin followed her with his eyes, letting his face express a consciousness of the fatal power he knew he could exercise over the charming creature, by working upon the passions which sooner or later, he believed, would give her to him.
As soon as Mademoiselle de Verneuil reached home she began to deliberate on her ball-dress.Francine, accustomed to obey without understanding her mistress's motives, opened the trunks, and suggested a Greek costume.The Republican fashions of those days were all Greek in style.Marie chose one which could be put in a box that was easy to carry.
"Francine, my dear, I am going on an excursion into the country; do you want to go with me, or will you stay behind?""Stay behind!" exclaimed Francine; "then who would dress you?""Where have you put that glove I gave you this morning?""Here it is."
"Sew this green ribbon into it, and, above all, take plenty of money."Then noticing that Francine was taking out a number of the new Republican coins, she cried out, "Not those; they would get us murdered.Send Jeremie to Corentin--no, stay, the wretch would follow me--send to the commandant; ask him from me for some six-franc crowns."With the feminine sagacity which takes in the smallest detail, she thought of everything.While Francine was completing the arrangements for this extraordinary trip, Marie practised the art of imitating an owl, and so far succeeded in rivalling Marche-a-Terre that the illusion was a good one.At midnight she left Fougeres by the gate of Saint-Leonard, took the little path to Nid-aux-Crocs, and started, followed by Francine, to cross the Val de Gibarry with a firm step, under the impulse of that strong will which gives to the body and its bearing such an expression of force.To leave a ball-room with sufficient care to avoid a cold is an important affair to the health of a woman; but let her have a passion in her heart, and her body becomes adamant.Such an enterprise as Marie had now undertaken would have floated in a bold man's mind for a long time; but Mademoiselle de Verneuil had no sooner thought of it than its dangers became to her attractions.
"You are starting without asking God to bless you," said Francine, turning to look at the tower of Saint-Leonard.
The pious Breton stopped, clasped her hands, and said an "Ave" to Saint Anne of Auray, imploring her to bless their expedition; during which time her mistress waited pensively, looking first at the artless attitude of her maid who was praying fervently, and then at the effects of the vaporous moonlight as it glided among the traceries of the church building, giving to the granite all the delicacy of filagree.The pair soon reached the hut of Galope-Chopine.Light as their steps were they roused one of those huge watch-dogs on whose fidelity the Bretons rely, putting no fastening to their doors but a simple latch.The dog ran to the strangers, and his bark became so threatening that they were forced to retreat a few steps and call for help.But no one came.Mademoiselle de Verneuil then gave the owl's cry, and instantly the rusty hinges of the door made a creaking sound, and Galope-Chopine, who had risen hastily, put out his head.
"I wish to go to Saint-James," said Marie, showing the Gars' glove.
