"
He walked up and down the room casting oblique glances at her,
endeavoring to guess the secret thoughts of the singular woman whose
mere glance had the power of discomfiting at times the cleverest men.
"I foresaw this check," he replied, after a moment's silence. "If you
would be willing to establish your headquarters in this town, I have
already found a suitable place for you. We are in the very centre of
Chouannerie. Will you stay here?"
She answered with an affirmative sign, which enabled Corentin to make
conjectures, partly correct, as to the events of the preceding
evening.
"I can hire a house for you, a bit of national property still unsold.
They are behind the age in these parts. No one has dared buy the old
barrack because it belonged to an /emigre/ who was thought to be
harsh. It is close to the church of Saint Leonard; and on my word of
honor the view from it is delightful. Something can really be made of
the old place; will you try it?"
"Yes, at once," she cried.
"I want a few hours to have it cleaned and put in order for you, so
that you may like it."
"What matter?" she said. "I could live in a cloister or a prison
without caring. However, see that everything is in order before night,
so that I may sleep there in perfect solitude. Go, leave me; your
presence is intolerable. I wish to be alone with Francine; she is
better for me than my own company, perhaps.
Pages:
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241