CHAPTER III.
We will follow Gaultier into the mill, leaving Marguerite and her brother to pursue their intention of having a walk, and hear what old Pierre has to say. On Jacques entering the room he found the old man in a state of great disquietude—in fact, in a very great rage. He had by no means recovered his daughter's assertion that she would never marry anyone but Charles Heyward.
"Good evening, Jacques, I sent for thee on a matter of great importance to thyself. I know thou did'st love my girl Marguerite, and that thou had'st a desire to marry her. Art thou still of that mind?" Jacques was somewhat surprised both at the old man's manner and at this opening address, but replied, "Truly I am, but I fear she will never consent to take me for her husband; she hates me, and loves that soldier with red cheeks and bold forward air. I wish he were far from here; but perhaps she would still think of him and never look on me. Even to-night she had not a civil word for me, though I stayed at home to make these things for her and lost my place at market."
"And serve thee right. What business hast thou to encourage the girl in her vanities? But thou said'st just now thou would'st like to have that fellow out of this. So would I, and the whole lot of those lawless soldiers. Can'st thou not think of some means to catch him"?
"Well, Father Pierre, I wouldn't like—-
"Wouldn't like what!" shouted the old man, "perhaps thou art afraid of the popinjay in his red coat—eh, thou chicken-hearted fellow? Thou art not the man I took thee for. I wonder not at Marguerite speaking as she does."
"Those are hard words and I like them not," replied Jacques sulkily. He felt the hit contained in Pierre's words all the more as he was not quite innocent of fear of the red coat. "I was going to say," he continued, "I wouldn't like Marguerite to know I was watching for her soldier, as she might warn him and put him on his guard. Ah! the hateful fellow, I wish I had my hands at his throat now."
"Gently, gently, my good Jacques," replied the elder hypocrite, "such language becomes not a follower of our Lord Protector Cromwell. But let us understand one another. Charlie Heyward—(the name hath but an ill savour to me)—must be put out of the way, and Marguerite, like her sex, will doubtless forget that he ever existed, and marry thee. I wonder where they meet? It must be somewhere near here, but I cannot find out. Now that he knows he is unwelcome to me, he comes not in here."
"I will try and find out, Father Pierre, and then we must devise means for putting him out of the way, as thou seem'st to desire it, and, mind, my reward is Marguerite, whether she be willing or not."
"Yea, my son, and here is my hand on it."
After shaking hands over this black bargain, Jacques arose and said he must go, and wishing old Pierre "Good night," he left the mill. Turning round when he had gone a few steps from the door, he clenched his hand and said, "Thou tempt'st me to commit murder, but I'll take care that thou doest the deed thyself; bad as I am I could not take Marguerite's hand in mine after such a foul deed."
It was now getting rather late, but as Jacques had no business of his own on hand, but rather wished, like so many others to be about business that was not his, instead of going home he thought he would go up the cliffs by a path which swept round the side of the hill till it came to fields that led to the Jerbourg fortress. On coming to a corner where the path turned up the hill, he paused to look at the scene before him, which was a lovely one: the moon was very brilliant, and the light of it made a broad pathway across the bay—such a pathway as always makes one wish to walk along in the calm to find a place of rest.
Perhaps the dark rocks which rose with a sort of sullen majesty straight up from the water side, were more to Jacques' fancy than the moon path on the water, for he was gazing intently across the hay at them, while apparently the rest of the beautiful scene was lost on him. So intent was his gaze at the rocks—on the summit of which was the Jerbourg fortress—that he did not observe the presence of two persons who were coming slowly towards him. Evidently they had not remarked him either, which was not so much to be wondered at as they were no other than Marguerite and Charlie!
Suddenly Jacques' attention was drawn to them by a merry laugh from Marguerite. On looking round and seeing who were there he ground his teeth in jealous rage and muttered to himself. "Ha! now I may discover something," and going a few steps round the corner, he turned himself into some bushes that overhung the path and bent down his head, prepared to listen to the conversation of the pair coming along. Ah! Marguerite; Ah, Charlie! how careful you would be did you know of the presence of that dark-faced Jacques with his evil designs.
Unconsciously Jacques had placed himself in an excellent position to hear and see all that was going on, as immediately beneath the bushes in which he had hidden himself there was a large block of granite on which the lovers sat down to await Hirzel, who was coming up from the bay. Little they knew what power they were putting in the hands of one who would not scruple to use it to the utmost.
"So your father is still against me, Marguerite?"
"Yes, Charlie; and that dreadful Jacques is persecuting me as much as ever with his impertinent attentions. Only this evening he brought me some bobbins which I told him he might take elsewhere."
"That reminds me I have brought with me those I have been making; perhaps, though, you prefer those made by our dark friend, eh! Marguerite?"
"Don't jest about him, Charlie; it frightens me even to think of him. I am sure he would work you a mischief if he could."
"Ah! Marguerite, don't alarm yourself. The worst mischief he can work is to bring a shade on your sweet face. All this evening I have noticed a troubled look in those grey eyes of yours, which must be banished ere I see you again. You surely do not think I am frightened at what such a fellow as that can do! But what have I done with the bobbins? I hope I have not dropped them. Ah! well! I suppose I did not bring them with me after all, but I promise you shall have them two nights hence."
"No, Charlie, you must not come near here again for some time, as I am certain there is danger, and I would far rather wait to see you until you can come with safety. I feel there is something wrong going on between my father and Jacques."
"Nonsense, Marguerite; you really must not have these idle fancies. I shall come over in the evening after dark. You come up this path, and show the light of a lantern three times if all is well. Then I will start from our barracks, and come as quickly round the cliffs as I can. You return to the mill, and go to the granary; I will climb up the mill wheel. If I remember rightly, the granary window is just over the wheel. Then I shall be able to speak to you for a few minutes, and bring the precious little bobbins."
"Halloo! Charlie, where are you, and what have you done with my sister?"
"Oh! there is Hirzel. How he frightened me," exclaimed Marguerite, who evidently feared everything to-night.
"She is all right, old fellow. Come along, you are just in time to take her home; I must be off, or black hole for me."
Hirzel now appeared from the midst of the ferns and gorse, and came up on the path and joined his sister and Charlie.
"The fish won't bite to-night, somehow; they are not so easily caught by a dazzling bait as some other things I could mention. Ha! Marguerite, you seem to take it to yourself. Well, perhaps I mean you, and perhaps I don't; but come along, Father will think you are lost."
Hirzel said "Good night" to Charlie, and moved off discreetly, leaving his sister to follow.
"Don't forget Wednesday night, Marguerite; I shall look for your signal about eight, and if all's well, I'll be round by nine. I will get leave to stay out later than usual that night."
"Well, Charlie, I won't prevent your coming this once, but my heart sadly misgives me. I hope nothing will happen to you."
"Don't be foolish, Marguerite, but run away after your brother; he is looking impatient, and you know this is nicer for me than for him! He is a brave good lad, worthy of having such a sister as he has. Good bye till Wednesday. Mind, don't forget the signal. Good night, Hirzel."
"Well! time you said it old fellow," shouted Hirzel, "I have knocked about all the stones in the neighbourhood with my stick, so was beginning to be at a loss for employment. Come quickly. Marguerite."
On the way home Marguerite told her brother how Charlie was to come and see her on Wednesday, and they arranged that Hirzel should stop about the house so fearful of some violence occurring was Marguerite.