CHAPTER II.
A DANGEROUS ACQUAINTANCE.
Daumon was not a native of this part of the country, and no one knewfrom whence he came. He said that he had been an attorney's clerk, andhad certainly resided for a long time in Paris. He was a little manof fifty years of age, clean shaved, and with a sharp and cunningexpression of countenance. His long nose, sharp, restless eyes, and thinlips, attracted attention at first sight. His whole aspect aroused afeeling of distrust. He had come to Bevron, some fifteen years before,with all his provisions in a cotton handkerchief slung over hisshoulder. He was willing to make money in any way, and he prosperedand rose. He owned fields, vineyards, and a cottage, which is at thejuncture of the highway to Poitiers and the cross road that leadsto Bevron. His aim and object were to be seen everywhere, to knoweverybody, and to have a finger in every pie in the neighborhood around.If any of the farmers or the laborers wanted small advances, they wentto him, and he granted them loans at exorbitant rates of interest. Hegave most disputants counsel, and had every point of law at hisfingers' ends. He could teach people how to sail as close to the wind aspossible, and yet to be beyond the reach of the law. He affected to beonly too anxious to ameliorate the lot of the peasant class, and yet hewas drawing heavy sums from them by way of interest. He endeavored byevery means in his power to rouse their feelings of animosity againstboth the priesthood and the gentry. His artful way of talking, andthe long black coat which he wore, had given him the nickname of the"Counsellor" in the district. The reason why he disliked the Duke wasbecause the latter had more than once shown himself hostile to him,and had taken him before the court of justice, from which Daumon onlyescaped by means of bribery of suborned witnesses. He vowed that hewould be revenged for this, and for five years had been watching hisopportunity, and this was the man whom Norbert met when he went todeliver his corn to the miller. As he was coming back with his emptywagon, Daumon asked for a lift back as far as the cross road that led tohis cottage.
"I trust, sir," said he with the most servile courtesy, "that you willexcuse the liberty I take, but I am so utterly crippled with rheumatismthat I can hardly walk, Marquis."
Daumon had read somewhere that the eldest son of a Duke was entitledto be styled _Marquis_, and it was the first time that Norbert had beenthus addressed. Before this he would have laughed at the appellation,but now his wounded vanity, and his exasperation at the unhappycondition in which he found himself, tempted him to accept the titlewithout remonstrance.
"All right, I can give you a lift," said he, and the Counsellorclambered into the cart.
All the time that he was showering thanks upon Norbert for his courtesyhe was watching the young man's face carefully.
"Evidently," thought the Counsellor to himself, "something unusual hastaken place at the Chateau de Champdoce. Was not the opportunity forrevenge here?"
Long since he had decided that through the son he could strike thefather. But he must be cautious.
"You must have been up very early, Marquis," said he.
The young man made no reply.
"The Duke," resumed Daumon, "is most fortunate in having such a son asyou. I know more than one father who says to his children, 'See what anexcellent example the young Marquis de Champdoce sets to you all. Heis not afraid of hard work, though he is noble by birth, and should notsoil his hands by labor.'"
A sudden lurch brought the Counsellor's eloquence to a sudden close, buthe speedily resumed again.
"I was watching you as you hefted the sacks. Heavens! what muscles! whata pair of shoulders!"
At any other moment Norbert would have gloried in such laudation, butnow he felt displeased and annoyed, and vented his anger by a sharp cutat his team.
"When people say that you are as innocent as a girl," continued Daumon,"I always say that you are a sensible young fellow after all, and thatif you choose to lead a regular life, it is far better than wasting yourfuture fortune in wine, billiards, cards, or women."
"I don't know that I might not do something of the kind," returnedNorbert.
"What did you say?" answered his wily companion.
"I said that if I were my own master, I would live as other young men."
The lad paused abruptly, and Daumon's eyes gleamed with joy.
"Aha," murmured he to himself; "I have the game in my own hands. I willteach his Grace to interfere with me."
Then, in a voice which could reach Norbert's ears, he continued,--
"Of course some parents are far too strict."
An impatient gesture from Norbert showed him that he had wounded himdeeply.
"Yes, yes," put in the wily Counsellor, "as the head grows bald, and theblood begins to stagnate, they forget,--they forget the days when allwas so different. They forget the time when they were young, and whenthey sowed their wild oats with so lavish a hand. When your fatherwas twenty-five, he was precious wild. Ask your father, if you do notbelieve me."
At this moment the wagon passed the cross road, and Norbert pulled up.
"I cannot thank you enough, Marquis," said the Counsellor as he alightedwith difficulty; "but if you would condescend to come and taste mybrandy, I would esteem it a great honor."
Norbert hesitated for an instant: his reasoning powers urged him todecline the offer, but he refused to listen to them, and, fastening hishorses to a tree, he followed Daumon down the by-road. The cottage wasan excellent one, and extremely well furnished. A woman, who acted asDaumon's housekeeper, served the refreshments. The office--for hecalled his room an office, just as if he was a professional man--wasa strange-looking place. On one side was a desk covered with accountbooks, and against the wall were sacks of seed. A number of books onlegal matters crowded the shelves, and from the ceiling hung a quantityof dried herbs. The Counsellor welcomed the heir to the dukedom ofChampdoce with the greatest deference, seated him in his own capaciousleathern arm-chair, and pressed the brandy which he had refused uponhim.
"I got this brandy from a man down Arcachon way in return for a kindnessthat I did him; for, without boasting, I may say that I have donekindnesses for many people in my time." He raised his glass to his lipsas he spoke. "It is good, is it not?" said he. "You can't get stuff withan aroma like that hereabouts."
The extreme deference of the man, coupled with the excellence of thespirit, opened Norbert's heart in a very short space of time. Up to thepresent the conduct of poor Norbert had been blameless, but now, withoutknowing anything of the Counsellor's character or reputation, he pouredout all the secret sorrows of his heart, while Daumon chuckled secretly,preserving all the time the imperturbable face of a physician called into visit a patient.
"Dear me! dear me!" said he; "this is really too bad. Poor fellow! Ireally pity you. Were it not for the deep respect that I have for theDuke, your father, I should feel inclined to say that he was not quitein his right senses."
"Yes," continued Norbert, the tears starting to his eyes, "this isjust how I am situated. My destiny has been marked out for me, and I amhelpless to alter it. I had better a thousand times be lying under thecold greensward, than vegetate thus above ground."
The peculiar smile on Daumon's lips caused him to pause in hiscomplaint.
"Perhaps," he went on, "you think that I am childish in talking thus?"
"Not at all, Marquis, you have suffered too deeply; but forgive me ifI say that you are foolish to despond so much over the future that liesbefore you."
"Future!" repeated Norbert angrily, "what is the use of speaking to meof the future, when I may be kept in this horrible servitude for thenext thirty years? My father is still hale and hearty."
"What of that? You will be of age soon, and then you will have fullright to claim your mother's fortune."
The extreme surprise displayed by Norbert at this intelligence convincedthe Counsellor that he was much more unsophisticated than he hadsupposed him to be.
"A man," continued he, "can, when he attains his majority, dispose ofhis inheritance as he thinks fit, and you
r mother's fortune will renderyou independent of your father."
"But I should never dare to claim it; how could I venture to do so?"
"You need not make the application personally; your solicitor wouldmanage all that for you; but, of course, you must wait until you are ofage."
"But I cannot wait until then," said Norbert; "I must at once freemyself from this tyranny."
"Luckily there are ways."
"Do you really think so, Daumon?"
"Yes, and I will show you what is done every day. Nothing is more commonin noble families. Would you like to be a soldier?"
"No, I do not care for that, and yet----"
"That is your last resource, Marquis. First, then, we could lay a plaintbefore the court."
"A plaint?"
"Certainly. Do you suppose that our laws do not provide for such a caseas a father exceeding the proper bounds of parental authority? Tell me,has the Duke, your father, ever struck you?"
"Never once."
"Well, that is almost a pity. We will say that your father's propertyis worth two millions, and yet you derive so slight a benefit from thisthat you are known everywhere as the 'Young Savage of Champdoce'!"
Norbert started to his feet.
"Who dares speak of me like that?" said he furiously. "Tell me hisname."
This outburst of passion did not in the smallest degree discomposeDaumon.
"Your father has many enemies, Marquis," he resumed, "for his mannersare overbearing and exacting; but you have many friends, and amongthem all you will find none more devoted than myself, humble though myposition may be. Many ladies of high rank take a great interest in you.Only a day or two ago some persons were speaking of you in the presenceof Mademoiselle de Laurebourg, and she blushed crimson at your name. Doyou know Mademoiselle Diana?"
Norbert colored.
"Ah, I understand," replied Daumon. "And when you have broken thefetters that now bind you, we shall see something one of these days. Andnow--"
But at this moment Norbert's eyes caught a glimpse of the old-fashionedcuckoo clock that hung on the wall in one corner of the room. He startedto his feet.
"Why, it is dinner-time!" said he. "What upon earth will my father say?"
"What, does he keep you in such order as that?"
But, never heeding the sarcastic question of the Counsellor, Norbert hadregained his cart, and was driving off at full speed.