Page:Georges Eekhoud - Escal Vigor, a novel.djvu/247

Rh that once outside he dared not follow up his conspiracy and divulge what he had seen, or at least, speak of what he suspected.

In the village, he asserted that he had left Escal-Vigor of his own accord in order to establish himself, and, as his version was not contradicted from the château, this unexpected event did not occasion any great amount of gossip.

Not daring yet to break openly with his former master, he attempted to undermine his popularity. Accordingly, he paid assiduous court to Claudie, whom his free-handed joviality had always amused, and he flattered the vanity of the farmer of Les Pélérins. Rejected by Blandine, he pitched his choice on the rich heiress of the farm, but this new caprice he meant to employ in the service of the inextinguishable hatred which he bore henceforth to the Dykgrave's mistress,—one of those hates which represent the aberration of love. For he began madly to desire the woman, who had escaped and outwitted him.

Landrillon put in appearance also at the services and sermons of Dom Balthus. He insinuated himself into the good graces of the pastor's wife and of the two old maids, the sisters of the Les Pélérin's farmer.