CHAPTER XLIII
BACK AT EAUX TRANQUILLES
"I will alter all this," Germain determined.
Wrapping his cloak closely round him and lowering his hat to preventrecognition he mounted his horse in the courtyard of the inn and rodeon.
He might have taken a path directly through his own park to the chateau,but he preferred the highway to Fontainebleau, and, passing the gates ofEaux Tranquilles, entered the great forest.
With what emotions did not the sight of that neighbourhood thrill him.He slacked rein to a walk, rode thoughtfully through the bare butsmiling woods and picturesque openings, and stopped with deep feeling atthe spring where he first met the generous benefactor of his life. Itwas now sparkling like crystal--its basin fringed with ice. Tears rosein his eyes and fell freely as he brought his steed into the sameposition as when the Chevalier had first addressed him, and he eagerlystrained his sorrowful imagination to discern again the kindly featuresof the old man's face and look into his eyes once more.
"I was unworthy of you, my benefactor," he exclaimed. "Oh, may some pathout of my misdoings be yet found which will satisfy your stainlessstandard!" Turning back he retraced his route and entered EauxTranquilles.
MARIE ANTOINETTE D'AUTRICHE
Reine de France
1755-1793]
The gardens were deserted. He tied his horse to a seat and walked about.Amidst his emotions and reminiscences the beauty of the place, even inits wintry garb, gradually introduced into his thoughts a subdued,scarcely conscious strain of delight in its ownership. He came at lastto the chateau, stood before it, and looked contemplatively along itsfacade. It was almost too grand to seem by any possibility his, yet invery truth he was lord of Eaux Tranquilles and all its manors.
Sounds of unseemly revelry within fell upon his ear. He listened amoment, and then stepping up to the great door struck the knocker. Thebutler himself opened. He was half drunk, and as he was a man who hadbeen engaged from Paris since Germain's visit he did not know thelatter.
"What do you want, disturbing gentlemen's diversions?" he exclaimedinsolently. "Who told you to come to this estate?"
"Its master."
"You lie. Do you want me to set the dogs on you?"
"You will neither set the dogs on me nor tell me I lie," Germain saidquietly, and stepped past him into the hall.
"What do you say?" the butler shouted, foaming at the mouth and tryingto seize Germain, who foiled him by drawing his sword. "Jacques! Jovite!Constant! 'Lexandre! here; put a _canaille_ pig out who defies me!"
The door of an adjoining chamber opened, showing a table covered withglasses and bottles of choice wines, and three or four footmen indisordered liveries rushed out with some of the bottles and glasses intheir hands. At the sight of Germain's face one after another stoodstock still and fell upon his knees.
The butler swore savagely. He saw what had happened.
"Who is this man?" asked Germain severely of the footmen.
"Cliquet, the butler, Monsieur," stammered Constant, the oldest. "He wasnot here when your lordship was."
"Take him out of the gates," replied the new master, "and send for myintendant."
Not long after Master Populus entered his presence, bowing and scraping,with a dozen smiles at once on his face.
"So you are the intendant?" said Germain.
"I have the honour, Monsieur le Chevalier--the greatest honour in sevenparishes, Monsieur."
"Be good enough to pardon me--you have no honour at all, sir.'
"How? what?" gasped Populus.
"None whatever. You are a rascal; but as long as I can make you behaveyourself you shall remain intendant. You misrepresent my rent-rolls."
"Not at all----"
"Listen to me. You bargain away my dues with my _censitaires_."
"Nev----"
"You permit my butlers to drink out of my wine cellars. I warrant youhave the pick of them at your own table."
The Attorney did not know whether he was standing on his head or hisheels, for the hit was correct.
"Finally," Germain went on deliberately, "you 'hold the keys of heavenand earth in Grelot,' and snap your fingers at 'this new young fool of aSeigneur who is away all the time at Versailles.'"
Master Populus seemed powerless to move or speak as he stood fiery-facedin the middle of the floor, looking despairingly at Germain, who wasseated, very coolly glancing him over.
"Well, Master Populus, what do you think?" he proceeded, smiling, after,pausing a moment. "Do you wish to continue the holding of the keys ofheaven and earth? If so you must do it on _my_ terms. And _my_ terms arethese--no more lying, no more false accounts, no more stealing from mypoor, no more liberties taken with the property and people in yourcharge. Do you agree?"
The boldness of the opponent of Master Mule had evaporated. Two meek andscarcely whispered words alone left his lips--
"Yes, sir."
"Another thing. Are you willing to choose my intendancy at a fair profitrather than election to the States-General and glory?"
A white wave passed over Populus' countenance. At length, however, heagain whispered--
"Yes, sir."
"Well, then, Monsieur Intendant, we can proceed to business. How muchgrain have I in the granaries? I have the books here."
"About four thousand bushels of wheat."
"In the book are entered two thousand."
"That is my mistake, sir."
"And of barley how much?"
"Seven thousand."
"You entered it four here. Another mistake, no doubt. See that there areno such mistakes in future. My instructions to you then, MonsieurIntendant, are to take the whole of this wheat and distribute it amongour starving people under the instructions of the parish priests.Superintend this at once."