Page:The Count of Monte-Cristo (1887 Volume 2).djvu/313

Rh the end of the table, and placed on it the slender remains of their dinner, to which she added three or four fresh-laid eggs. Caderousse had replaced once more the bank-notes in the pocket-book, the gold into the bag, and the whole in the cupboard; he then commenced pacing the room with a pensive and gloomy air, glancing from time to time at the jeweler, who stood steaming before the fire, and who, as he became dry on one side, turned around to dry the other.

"'Now, then, my dear sir,' said La Carconte, as she placed a bottle of wine on the table, 'supper is ready whenever you are inclined to partake of it.'

"'But you?' asked Joannes.

"'I shall not take any supper to-night,' said Caderousse.

"'We dined so very late,' hastily interposed La Carconte.

"'Then it seems I am to eat alone,' remarked the jeweler.

"'Oh, we shall have the pleasure of waiting upon you,' answered La Carconte, with an eager attention she was not accustomed to manifest even to guests who paid for what they took.

"From one minute to another, Caderousse darted on his wife glances, rapid as lightning. The storm still continued.

"'There! there!' said La Carconte, 'do you hear that? Upon my word, you did well to return hither.'

"'Nevertheless,' replied the jeweler, 'if by the time I have finished my supper the tempest has at all abated, I shall start again.'

"'Oh,' said Caderousse, shaking his head, 'it is the mistral, and that will be sure to last till to-morrow morning.' He then sighed heavily.

"'Well,' said the jeweler, as he placed himself at table, 'so much the worse for those who are out in it.'

"'Ah!' chimed in La Carconte, 'they will have a wretched night of it.'

"The jeweler commenced eating his supper, and the woman, who was ordinarily so querulous and indifferent, was transformed into the most smiling and attentive hostess. Had the jeweler been previously acquainted with her, so sudden an alteration would have greatly astonished him, and certainly aroused suspicions. Caderousse, meanwhile, continued in silence to pace the room, sedulously avoiding the sight of his guest; but as soon as the stranger had completed his repast, the agitated aubergiste went eagerly to the door and opened it.

"'The storm seems over,' said he.

"But, as if to contradict his statement, at that instant a violent clap of thunder seemed to shake the house to its very foundation, while a sudden gust of wind, mingled with rain, extinguished the lamp he held in his hand.