The Broken Cup | Page 7

rich dowry to Marietta But when Marietta brought in the fragments of
the shattered cup, when Manon saw the Paradise lost, the good man
Adam without a head, and of Eve not a solitary limb remaining, the
serpent unhurt, triumphing, the tiger safe, but the little lamb gone even
to the very tail, as if the tiger had swallowed it, then Mother Manon
screamed forth curses against Colin, and said: "One can easily see that
this fall came from the hand of the devil."
She took the cup in one hand, Marietta in the other, and went, about
nine o'clock, to when Monsieur Hautmartin was wont to sit in judgment.
She there made a great outcry, and showed the broken cup and the
Paradise lost. Marietta wept bitterly.

The justice, when he saw the broken cup and his beautiful bride in tears,
flew into so violent a rage toward Colin that his nose was as
violet-colored as Marietta's well-known hat-band, He immediately
despatched his bailiffs to bring the criminal before him.
Colin came, overwhelmed with grief. Mother Manon now repeated her
complaint with great eloquence before justice, bailiffs, and
saribes.--But Colin listened not. He stepped to Marietta and whispered
to hen "Forgive me, dear Marietta, as I forgive thee. I broke thy cup
unintentionally; but thou, thou hast broken my heart!"
"What whispering is that?" cried Justice Hautmartin, with magisterial
authority. "Harken to this accusation, and defend yourself."
"I have naught to defend. I broke the cup against my will," said Colin.
"That I verily believe," said Marietta, sobbing. "I am as guilty as he; for
I offended him--then he threw the ribbon and flowers to me. He could
not help it."
"Well!" cried Mother Manon. "Do you intend to defend him? Mr.
Justice, pronounce his sentence. He has broken the cup, and he does not
deny it."
"Since you cannot deny it, Mr. Colin," said the Justice, "you must pay
three hundred livres for the cup, for it is worth that; and then for--"
"No," interrupted Colin, "it is not worth that. I bought it at Vence for
Marietta for a hundred livres."
"You bought it, sir brazen face?" shrieked the Justice, and his whole
face became like Marietta's hat-hand. He could not and would not say
more, for he dreaded a disagreeable investigation of the matter.
But Colin was vexed at the imputation, and said: "I sent this cup on the
evening of the fair, by your own servant, to Marietta. There stands
Jacques in the door. Speak, Jacques, did I not give thee the box to carry
to Mother Manon?"

Monsieur Hautmartin wished to interrupt this conversation by speaking
loudly. But the simple Jacques said: "Only recollect, Justice, you took
away Colin's box from me, and carried what was in it to Mother Manon.
The box lies there under the papers."
Then the bailiffs were ordered to remove the simpleton; and Colin was
also directed to retire, until he should be sent for again.
"Very well, Mr. Justice," interposed Colin, "but this business shall be
your last in Napoule. I know this, that you would ingratiate yourself
with Mother Manon and Marietta by means of my property. When you
want me, you will have to ride to Grasse to the Governor's." With that,
Colin departed.
Monsieur Hautmartin was quite puzzled with this affair, and in his
confusion knew not what he was about. Manon shook her head. The
affair was dark and mysterious to her. "Who will now pay me for the
broken cup?" she asked.
"To me," said Marietta, with glowing, brightened countenance, "to me
it is already paid for."
Colin rode that same day to the Governor at Grasse, and came back
early the next morning. But Justice Hautmartin only laughed at him,
and removed all of Mother Manon's suspicions by swearing he would
let his nose be cut off if Colin did not pay three hundred livres for the
broken cup. He also went with Mother Manon to talk with Father
Jerome about the marriage, and impressed upon him the necessity of
earnestly setting before Marietta her duty as an obedient daughter in
not opposing the will of her mother. This the pious old man promised,
although he understood not the half of what they shouted in his ear.
When Monday morning came Mother Manon said to her daughter:
"Dress yourself handsomely, and carry this myrtle wreath to Father
Jerome; he wants it for a bride." Marietta dressed herself in her Sunday
clothes, took the myrtle wreath unsuspiciously, and carried it to Father
Jerome.

On the way Colin met her, and greeted her joyfully, though timidly;
and when she told him where she was taking the wreath, Colin said: "I
am going the same way, for I am carrying the money for the church's
tenths to the