The Countess De Charny - Volume II (45 page)

So, on Thursday morning, Pitou went to Villers-Cotterets to pay his aunt another visit. The clocks were just striking nine as he came in sight of the house. Aunt Angelica was not standing in the doorway this time; but when he reached the cottage, he found the door fastened exactly as if his aunt had been expecting him.

Pitou concluded that she must have gone out, and was delighted. He had made his call, and now a respectful letter could take the place of the speech he so dreaded.

But as Pitou was the most conscientious of youths, he rapped on the door; and as no one responded to the summons, he began to shout his aunt’s name.

Attracted by all this uproar, a neighbour appeared.

” Do you know whether my aunt has gone out, Mother Fagot?” inquired Pitou.

“Doesn’t she answer?”

“No, as you can see for yourself. She has gone out, most probably.”

“I’m sure I should have seen her pass if she had,” replied Mother Fagot, shaking her head. “Her door faces mine; and as soon as she gets up she comes into our house to get some warm ashes to put in her sabots, and so keep herself warm all through the day. Is n’t that so, neighbour Farolet?”

This question was addressed to a new-comer, who, having been attracted to his door by the noise, now closed it, and came forward to join in the conversation.

“What is that, Madame Fagot? ” he asked.

” I ‘m almost sure Aunt Angelica has not gone out. Have you seen her pass?”

“No, and I ‘11 venture to say she is still in the liousc; for if she had got u]» and gone out, the shutters would be open.”

372 LA COMTESSE DE CIIARNY.

“True!” exoLiimed Pitou. “Good heavens! I wonder if any thing can liave happened to my poor aunt! “

“That is very possible,” said Mother Fagot.

“It is more than possible; it is probable,” remarked Citizen Farolet, sententiously.

“She wasn’t a very good friend to me,” remarked Pitou; ” but for all that, I should hate most terribly — How can we find out what the matter is? “

“There ‘s no great difficulty about that, it seems to me,” answered another neighbour. ” You ‘ve only got to send for Eigolet the locksmith.”

” There is no need of that delay, for I often used to open the door with my knife,” said Pitou.

So he took out his knife, and in the presence of a group that numbered about a dozen persons now, he began his work with a dexterity which indicated that he had adopted this means of entering the home of his boyhood more than once.

At last the bolt slipped back, and the door opened. The room had been very dark, but now the dull light of a gloomy winter’s morning creeping in through the open door revealed Aunt Angelica lying on the bed.

Twice Pitou called her by name: but the old woman remained motionless, nor did she make the slightest response.

Pitou went up and took hold of her.

” She ‘s cold and stiff! ” he exclaimed.

Some one opened the shutters. Aunt Angelica was dead.

“How terrible! What a misfortune! ” cried Pitou.

“Not such a very great one,” remarked Farolet. “She certainly didn’t love you overmuch, this aunt of yours.”

” That may be, but I was really very fond of her. Poor Aunt Angelica!” and as he spoke, two big tears rolled down the kind-hearted youth’s cheeks, and he fell upon his knees by the bedside.

“Now, Monsieur Pitou, if you ‘re in need of any help, we ‘re at your service,” said Mother Fagot.

EFFECT OF NEWS UPON AUNT ANGELICA. 373

” Thank you, Mother Fagot. Is your boy anywhere around ? “

“Yes. Here, Fagotin.”

A lad about fourteen years of age appeared in the doorway.

“Here I am, Mother Fagot,” he replied.

“Ask him to run to Haramont,” said Pitou, “and tell Catherine not to be uneasy about me, but that I have found Aunt Angelica dead. My poor aunt ! “

And Pitou dashed away a tear.

“Do you hear, Fagotin?” asked his mother.

“Yes.”

“Then be off.”

“Go by Dr. Eaynal’s, and tell him there’s a case of sudden death to be looked into here,” added the practical Farolet.

“Do you understand? ” asked the mother.

“Yes,” responded the urchin, starting off at a run in the direction of the doctor’s house.

The crowd had increased until there were now at least a hundred persons in front of the door. Every one had some theory to expound in relation to Aunt Angelica’s death. Some said apoplexy was the cause, others that it was a rupture of a bloodvessel, while others declared that it was a case of quick consumption; but all whispered under their breath that, if Pitou looked sharp, he would be sure to find a handsome sum of money hidden away on the topmost shelf of a cupboard, in a butter crock, under a mattress, or in an old stocking.

In the midst of all tliis huljbub. Dr. Raynal arrived, accompanied by the Receiver-General. Xow the mystery connected with the old lady’s death would be solved. Dr. Ftaynal entered, approached the bed, examined the body, and then to the profound astonishment of Plcux circles, announced that the old maid had unquestionably died of cold and perhaps starvation as well.

Pitou’s grief was greatly increased by this announcement.

374 LA COMTESSE DE CIIARNY.

“^fy poor aunt! my poor aunt!” he exclaimed; ”‘and I thought she was rich. I was a wretch to leave her! Oh, if I had only known ! It can’t be possible ! Doctor, it can’t be possible! “

” Look in the pantry, and see if there is any food. Look in the woodshed, and see if there is any fuel. I always l^redicted that she would die like this, the old miser! “

They did look, and there was not a shaving in the woodshed, or a crumb of bread in the cupboard.

“Why didn’t she tell me? ” groaned Pitou. “I ‘d have brought her wood from the forest! I ‘d have turned poacher, if need be, to get her food. It was all your fault,” continued the poor fellow, addressing the neighbours. “Why didn’t you tell me she was so poor?”

“We did n’t tell you she was poor for the simple reason that everybody considered her rich,” replied Farolet.

Dr. Eaynal placed a wet cloth on Aunt Angelica’s face and started towards the door. Pitou ran after him.

” Surely you ‘re not going, Dr. Raynal? “

“What can I do here, my friend?”

“Is she really dead? “

The doctor shrugged his shoulders.

“Oh, my God! ” groaned Pitou. “To have died of cold and hunger, think of it! “

“All the same, I advise you to search high and low,” said the doctor, in a whisper. ” Understand?”

“But you say that she died of cold and hunger, Dr. Ptajmal?”

“Plenty of persons have died of cold and hunger, and yet had a good deal of money hidden away. But mum ‘s the word,” he added, placing his finger warningly on his lip as he walked away.

AUNT angelica’s akmchair. 375

CHAPTER III.

aunt axgelica’s armchair.

Pitou might have reflected more deeply-upon what Dr. Ra^‘nal had said to him, had he not seen Catherine hastening towards the house with her child in her arms.

As soon as it became known that Aunt Angelica had probably died of hunger and cold, her neighbours’ desire to render her some last service diminished ver}- perceptibly, so Catherine’s arrival was most opportune. She declared that as Pitou’s affianced wife it was her duty to perform the last sad offices for his aunt; and she rendered them, poor girl ! with the same tender reverence which she had shown to her mother eighteen months before.

Meanwhile, Pitou must make arrangements for the funeral, which would take place the second day afterward; as in case of a sudden death, like Aunt Angelica’s, that delay was required by law.

It was only necessary to see the mayor and undertaker, however, all religious services being forbidden at funerals, as well as weddings.

“My dear,” remarked Catherine, as Pitou picked up his hat to go and notify the mayor, “don’t you think, under the circumstances, it would he well to postpone our marriage a day or two?”

“Tf you wish it, Mademoiselle Catherine.”

“Well, consult Monsieur de Longpré, and do as he thinks best.”

“So be it. Mademoiselle Catherine.”

“You see, it might bring us bad luck to marry so near the time of a funeral in the family.”

37G LA COMTESSE DE ClIARNY.

”Oh, as l’or that, the minute I’m your husband I defy ill luck to get any hold on me.”

”Dear I’itou, ” said Catherine, taking his hand, “wait until Monday. You see I am trying to reconcile our wishes and the proprieties as much as possible.”

“Wait two days, Mademoiselle Catherine? that ‘s a long time!”

” That sounds well from a man who has already waited five years.”

“A great many things may happen in two days,” sighed Pitou.

“It is not likely to happen that I shall love you any less, my dear Pitou; and as you pretend that is the only thing you feel any anxiety about — “

“It is. Mademoiselle Catherine; it is, indeed!”

“Well, in that case — Come here, Isidore.”

“Well, mamma?” said the child.

” Speak to Papa Pitou. Say to him : ‘ Don’t be afraid, Papa Pitou, mamma loves you, and will always love you.’ “

The child repeated, in his soft, childish voice: “Don’t be afraid, Papa Pitou, mamma loves you, and will always love you ! “

After this assurance Pitou made no further objection, but started for the mayor’s. When he returned, at the end of an hour, he had made all the necessary arrangements both for the wedding and the funeral, paying the bills in advance. With the remainder of his money he had purchased fuel and provisions enough to last two days.

It was time for the wood to come, for in such a dilapi-dated old house, where the wind penetrated every nook and crevice, one might easily die of cold; and, in fact, Pitou found Catherine chilled through.

The marriage, in compliance with her wish, had been deferred until Monday. During the time that intervened, Pitou and Catherine did not leave the house at all ; and in spite of the enormous fire Pitou built in the fireplace, the wind would steal in, icy and sharp, chilling them to the

AUNT angelica’s akmchaiii. 377

very marrow of their bones, until Pitou declared that if Aunt Angelica had not died of hunger, she would certainly have perished of cold.

The time for removing the body came. It was a short journey, for Aunt Angelica’s cottage was close to the graveyard.

All the people of the immediate neighbourhood and many of the townsfolk followed the poor woman to her last resting-place. In the country both men and women go to the grave, so Catherine and Pitou acted as chief mourners.

After the ceremony was concluded, Pitou thanked those present, in the dead woman’s name and in his own; and after some holy water had been sprinkled on the grave, the crowd quietly dispersed.

Left alone with Catherine, Pitou turned to the place where he had left her a moment before, but she was no longer there. She was kneeling, with little Isidore, by a slab at each of the four corners of which a small cypress was growing. This was Mother Billot’s grave, and the trees had been brought from the forest and planted by Pitou.

He did not wish to disturb Catherine’s pious meditations; but thinking she would be dreadfully cold when her prayer was ended, he hastened back to the house with the intention of starting a good fire. But, unfortunately, there was a very serious obstacle in the way. The supply of wood was exhausted.

Pitou scratched his head dubiously. He had spent all the money he had , so he looked around to see wliat piece of old furniture he could sacrilice. The bedstead, thougli of no great value, could still be used; but the armcliair was positively worthless. In fact, for a long time no one but the old maid had dared to sit in it, so liojiolossly dis-located was every joint.

So the armchair l)eing condemned, Pitou jirnpiH’dod after the fashion of the Revolutionary Tribunal willi it; that is to say, the execution immediately followed tlie sentence. Placing one knee on the leather seat, black

o,S LA COMTESSE DE CIIAKXY.

Avith age, lie seized a post with both hands, and pulled vigorously. At the third jerk the arm gave way, and the chair, as if to show its grief at this dismemberment, gave forth a strange moan. If Pitou had been superstitious, he would have believed that Aunt Angelica’s soul had its abiding-place in that old armchair, as, in fact, it had!

But Pitou was superstitious in regard to but one thing in the world, — that was Catherine ; and the armchair had been condemned for Catherine’s sake. So even if it had shed as much blood and given forth as many groans as the enchanted trees in Tasso’s forest, that armchair would have been shivered into splinters just the same ; so Pitou grasped the other post with equal determination, and wrenched it from the now dismembered carcass.

Again the armchair gave forth a strange metallic sound. Xevertheless, Pitou still showed it no mercy; but, seizing the mutilated piece of furniture by the leg, he banged it upon the floor with all his might. This time, the armchair was broken in twain, and to Pitou’ s profound astonishment, great clots, not of blood, but of gold, burst from the gaping wound.

It will be remembered that whenever Aunt Angelica collected twenty-four francs in silver she always exchanged those twenty-four francs for a louis, and this louis she hid in her armchair.

Pitou was dumfounded. He fairly trembled with in-credulity and amazement. His first impulse was to rush after Catherine and little Isidore, and bring them back, so they might see the treasure he had discovered ; but a terrible thought flashed across his mind, and deterred him. If Catherine knew he was rich, would she be willing to marry him? He shook his head. “No, she would refuse; I am sure of it,” he said to himself.

For a moment he stood motionless, absorbed in thought. Then a smile illumined his face. He had doubtless discovered a way out of the dilemma in which this unexpected piece of good fortune had involved him.

AUNT angelica’s aemciiaie. 379

He collected all the gold-pieces that were scattered over the floor; then, taking his knife from his pocket, he cut open the seat of the chair, pulling out every particle of the stuffing, and searching every corner carefully. Every part of the chair had been tilled with coin. In fact, there was enough to fill the big pot in which Aunt Angelica had cooked the famous rooster which occasioned the terrible scene between aunt and nephew, described in the volume entitled “Ange Pitou.”