The Milkmaid of Montfermeil Part 76

"Oh, no! it's very pretty."

"Would you like to travel?"

"I don't know, my friend."

"Have you never been away from Paris?"

"Oh, yes! I've been to Saint-Cloud and Pa.s.sy."

"Would you like to go to Italy?"

"If it would gratify you."

"But what about the gentleman who's expecting you at Lyon?"

"Oh! I don't know whether he's waiting for me!"

"I may be compelled by circ.u.mstances to leave you."

"Oh! but I won't leave you, my friend."

"But suppose I should return to Paris?"

"I would go there."

"But what about your husband, who beat you?"

"Oh! I wouldn't tell him that I had returned."

"I see that I shan't be able to get rid of this woman!" said Auguste to himself. "Infernal diligence! That great hood, those knees against mine, that night on the road--all those things go to one's head. You imagine that you have made a glorious conquest; you fancy yourself in love, and for twenty-four hours you are! But after that! Mon Dieu! what a mess I have got into!"

Bertrand, who had overheard a part of the conversation between Adele and Auguste, leaned over to the latter and said in his ear:

"I beg pardon, lieutenant, but this woman seems to me as stupid as a pot."

"So she seems to me, Bertrand."

"Are we going round the world with a doll like that?"

"I'm afraid so, my friend. She has determined never to leave me."

"I promise you that I will make her change her mind."

Bertrand said no more. They drove for some time in silence. From time to time the leather dealer cast a furtive, lady-killer's glance at Madame Florimont, and said to Bertrand whenever they pa.s.sed through a hamlet or village:

"I once knew a pretty woman here. I had an intrigue here. I set people's tongues to wagging here."

"It seems that you're a sad rake."

"Oh, yes! I'm well known in this region."

At nightfall they stopped at a small place where they were to pa.s.s the night. They alighted at a wretched inn; the leather dealer went out to attend to some business, and after supper Auguste, thinking that the most sensible course to pursue with the emotional Adele was to go to bed, withdrew with her, leaving Bertrand with his pipe at a table.

The tradesman returned in due time and Bertrand invited him to drink; he was not the man to decline such an invitation. He was almost as accomplished a drinker as Schtrack; after the second bottle they became confidential and Bertrand said to his companion:

"You look to me like a good fellow."

"You're very kind!"

"You might do us a great favor, my lieutenant and me."

"If it won't cost me anything, I'm your man."

"It not only won't cost you anything, but I'll give you fifty crowns bonus."

"Say it quick, then!"

"Judging from all that you've told me, you're not a foe of the fair s.e.x?"

"On the contrary, I am their dearest friend."

"What do you think of that young woman who's travelling with us?"

"Why----"

"Come, speak frankly."

"Faith, I think she's very fine! she's got a pair of eyes that she knows how to work mighty well!"

"So she takes your eye, does she?"

"To be sure, she would if she was free; but you understand I can't think of----"

"Well, listen to me; the very greatest service you could do us would be to rob us of that beauty."

"You're joking, aren't you?"

"No; this is how it is: my master is a reckless fellow; he is travelling to learn how to be prudent, and you can understand that the way to do that isn't to travel with a little woman who, as you say, works her eyes so well that she makes him long for her. But I must have common sense for him: now the best thing that I can see to do is to separate him from this highway heroine, who, I am sure, pretends to be devoted to him only because she thinks he's rich."

"So she didn't come from Paris with you?"

"Oh, no! it was a fine chance encounter we had in the Lyon diligence. It would have done a hundred times better to upset us than to contain that princess! But you, who are always on the road--she won't be in your way in your wagon; besides, I fancied that I saw you looking her over like a connoisseur."

"I don't say no; but how do you expect----"

"You're a fine man, an attractive-looking fellow!"

"I certainly am not very ill-looking," said the tradesman, complacently viewing himself in a fragment of looking-gla.s.s on the chimney-piece.