The Count had lately had all the ceilings of his reception rooms on the ground floor repaired. Plaster of Paris is difficult to obtain in Ven- dome; the carriage raises its price. The Count had therefore bought a good deal, being well aware that he could find plenty of purchasers for whatever might remain over. This circumstance inspired him with the design he was about to execute.
“Sir, Gorenflot has arrived,” said Rosalie in low tones.
“Show him in,” replied the Count in loud tones.
Madame de Merret turned rather pale when she saw the mason.
“Gorenflot,” said her husband, “go and fetch bricks from the coach¬house, and bring sufficient to wall up the door of this closet; you will use the plaster I have over to coat the wall with.” Then calling Rosalie and the workman aside:
“Listen, Gorenflot,” he said in an undertone, “you will sleep here to-night. But to-morrow you will have a passport to a foreign country, to a town to which I will direct you. I shall give you six thousand francs for your journey. You will stay ten years in that town; if you do not like it, you may establish yourself in another, provided it be in the same country. You will pass through Paris, where you will await me.
Conditions of our bargain
There I will insure you an additional six thousand francs by contract, which will be paid to you on your return, provided you have fulfilled the conditions of our bargain. This is the price for your absolute silence as to what you are about to do to-night. As to you, Rosalie, I will give you ten thousand francs on the day of your wedding, on condition of your marrying Gorenflot; but if you wish to marry, you must hold your tongues; or—no dowry.”
“Rosalie,” said Madame de Merret, “do my hair.”
The husband walked calmly up and down, watching the door, the mason, and his wife, but without betraying any insulting doubts. Madame de Merret chose a moment when the workman was unload¬ing bricks and her husband was at the other end of the room to say to Rosalie: “A thousand francs a year for you, my child, if you can tell Gorenflot to leave a chink at the bottom.” Then out loud, she added coolly:
“Go and help him!”
Monsieur and Madame de Merret were silent all the time that Go¬renflot took to brick up the door. This silence, on the part of the hus¬band, who did not choose to furnish his wife with a pretext for saying things of a double meaning, had its purpose; on the part of Madame de Merret it was either pride or prudence.
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