" He held up a hand as though taking an oath.
"Name of God, is it not enough what there has been?" whispered the little
Clerk.
"Oh, as you think, and as you say! It is quite enough for me after
to-day. I'm a teetotaller, but I'm not so fond of water as to want to
take my eternal bath in it." He shuddered slightly. "Bien sur, I've had
my fill of the Manor Cartier for one day, my Clerk of the Court."
"Bien sur, it was enough to set you thinking, monsieur," was the dry
comment of M. Fille, who was now recovering his composure.
At that moment there came a knock at the door, and another followed
quickly; then there entered without waiting for a reply--Carmen Barbille.
CHAPTER XII
THE MASTER-CARPENTER HAS A PROBLEM
The Clerk of the Court came to his feet with a startled "Merci!" and the
master-carpenter fell back with a smothered exclamation. Both men stared
confusedly at the woman as she shut the door slowly and, as it might
seem, carefully, before she faced them.
"Here I am, George," she said, her face alive with vital adventure.
His face was instantly swept by a storm of feeling for her, his nature
responded to the sound of her voice and the passion of her face.
"Carmen--ah!" he said, and took a step forward, then stopped. The hoarse
feeling in his voice made her eyes flash gratitude and triumph, and she
waited for him to take her in his arms; but she suddenly remembered M.
Pages:
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149