The eye-glass came like lightning to the eye, and a caustic, questioning phrase was on the tongue, but Charley stopped himself in time. For, apart from all else, this priest had been his friend in calamity, had acted with a charming sensibility. The eye-glass troubled the Cure, and the look on Charley’s face troubled him still more, but it passed as Charley said, in a voice as simple as the Cure’s own:
“You may still help me as you have already done. I give you my word, too”—strange that he touched his lips with his tongue as he did in the old days when his mind turned to Jean Jolicoeur’s saloon—“that I will do nothing to cause regret for your humanity and—and Christian kindness.” Again the tongue touched the lips—a wave of the old life had swept over him, the old thirst had rushed upon him. Perhaps it was the force of this feeling which made him add, with a curious energy, “I give you my word, Monsieur le Cure.” At that moment the door opened and Jo entered.
“M’sieu’,” he said to Charley, “a registered parcel has come for you. It has been brought by the postmaster’s daughter. She will give it to no one but yourself.”
Charley’s face paled, and the Cure’s was scarcely less pale. In Charley’s mind was the question, Who had discovered his presence here? Was he not, then, to escape? Who should send him parcels through the post?
The Cure was perturbed. Was he, then, to know who this man was—his name and history? Was the story of his life now to be told?
Charley broke the silence. “Tell the girl to come in.” Instantly afterwards the postmaster’s daughter entered. The look of the girl’s face, at once delicate and rosy with health, almost put the question of the letter out of his mind for an instant. Her dark eyes met his as he came forward with outstretched hand.
“This is addressed, as you will see, ‘To the Sick Man at the House of Jo Portugais, at Vadrome Mountain.’ Are you that person, Monsieur?” she asked.
As she handed the parcel, Charley’s eyes scanned her face quickly. How did this habitant girl come by this perfect French accent, this refined manner? He did not know the handwriting on the parcel; he hastily tore it open. Inside were a few dozen small packets. Here also was a sheet of paper. He opened and read it quickly. It said:
Monsieur, I am not sure that you have recovered your memory and your
health, and I am also not sure that in such case you will thank me
for my work. If you think I have done you an injury, pray accept my
profound apologies. Monsieur, you have been a drunkard. If you
would reverse the record now, these powders, taken at opportune
moments, will aid you. Monsieur, with every expression of my good-
will, and the hope that you will convey to me without reserve your
feelings on this delicate matter, I append my address in Paris, and
I have the honour to subscribe myself, with high consideration,
Monsieur, yours faithfully,
MARCEL LOISEL.
The others looked at him with varied feelings as he read. Curiosity, inquiry, expectation, were common to them all, but with each was a different personal feeling. The Cure’s has been described. Jo Portugais’ mind was asking if this meant that the man who had come into his life must now go out of it; and the girl was asking who was this mysterious man, like none she had ever seen or known.