Short Stories, vol 4 | Page 8

master.'
"The sad, timid farewell of this old servant, this hopeless resignation to
the inevitable fate which was not far off for her, moved me strangely
each year.
"I dismounted, and while Cavalier, whom I had greeted, was leading
my horse to the little shed which served as a stable, I entered the
kitchen, which also served as dining-room, followed by Celeste.
"Here the gamekeeper joined us. I saw at first glance that something
was the matter. He seemed preoccupied, ill at ease, worried.
"I said to him:
"'Well, Cavalier, is everything all right?'
"He muttered:
"'Yes and no. There are things I don't like.'
"I asked:
"'What? Tell me about it.'
"But he shook his head.
"'No, not yet, monsieur. I do not wish to bother you with my little
troubles so soon after your arrival.'
"I insisted, but he absolutely refused to give me any information before
dinner. From his expression, I could tell that it was something very

serious.
"Not knowing what to say to him, I asked:
"'How about game? Much of it this year?'
"'Oh, yes! You'll find all you want. Thank heaven, I looked out for
that.'
"He said this with so much seriousness, with such sad solemnity, that it
was really almost funny. His big gray mustache seemed almost ready to
drop from his lips.
"Suddenly I remembered that I had not yet seen his nephew.
"'Where is Marius? Why does he not show himself?'
"The "The gamekeeper started, looking me suddenly in the face:
" Well, monsieur, I had rather tell you the whole business right away;
it's on account of him that I am worrying.'
"'Ah! Well, where is he?'
"'Over in the stable, monsieur. I was waiting for the right time to bring
him out.'
"'What has he done?'
"'Well, monsieur----'
"The gamekeeper, however, hesitated, his voice altered and shaky, his
face suddenly furrowed by the deep lines of an old man.
"He continued slowly:
"'Well, I found out, last winter, that someone was poaching in the
woods of Roseraies, but I couldn't seem to catch the man. I spent night
after night on the lookout for him. In vain. During that time they began
poaching over by Ecorcheville. I was growing thin from vexation. But
as for catching the trespasser, impossible! One might have thought that
the rascal was forewarned of my plans.
"'But one day, while I was brushing Marius' Sunday trousers, I found
forty cents in his pocket. Where did he get it?
"'I thought the matter over for about a week, and I noticed that he used
to go out; he would leave the house just as I was coming home to go to
bed--yes, monsieur.
"'Then I started to watch him, without the slightest suspicion of the real
facts. One morning, just after I had gone to bed before him, I got right
up again, and followed him. For shadowing a man, there is nobody like
me, monsieur.
"'And I caught him, Marius, poaching on your land, monsieur; he my

nephew, I your keeper!
"'The blood rushed to my head, and I almost killed him on the spot, I
hit him so hard. Oh! yes, I thrashed him all right. And I promised him
that he would get another beating from my hand, in your presence, as
an example.
"'There! I have grown thin from sorrow. You know how it is when one
is worried like that. But tell me, what would you have done? The boy
has no father or mother, and I am the last one of his blood; I kept him, I
couldn't drive him out, could I?
"'I told him that if it happened again I would have no more pity for him,
all would be over. There! Did I do right, monsieur?'
"I answered, holding out my hand:
"'You did well, Cavalier; you are an honest man.'
"He rose.
"'Thank you, monsieur. Now I am going to fetch him. I must give him
his thrashing, as an example.'
"I knew that it was hopeless to try and turn the old man from his idea. I
therefore let him have his own way.
"He got the rascal and brought him back by the ear.
"I was seated on a cane chair, with the solemn expression of a judge.
"Marius seemed to have grown; he was homelier even than the year
before, with his evil, sneaking expression.
"His big hands seemed gigantic.
"His uncle pushed him up to me, and, in his soldierly voice, said:
"'Beg the gentleman's pardon.'
"The boy didn't say a word.
"Then putting one arm round him, the former gendarme lifted him right
off the ground, and began to whack him with such force that I rose to
stop the blows.
"The boy was now howling: 'Mercy! mercy! mercy! I