“It is something, however, to have such a revenge in my grasp.”
It was better, though, not to make use of it.
Pitou had observed that good actions, not understood, never benefit the actors.
Would it not be well to let Catherine know what he was about? Nothing was easier; he had only to speak to her some day at the dance, and let, fall something to inform her that three persons knew her secret. Was it not worth while to make her suffer a little, to quell her pride?
If, though, he went to the dance, he must appear as the equal of the nobleman,—a thing difficult to do when the object of comparison was one so well dressed.
The pavilion in which Catherine used to meet De Charny was in a kind of grove which was an appendant to the forest of Villers-Cotterets.
A simple ditch divided the property of the count from that of his neighbors.
Catherine, who was every day called for one reason or another to visit the neighbors, found no difficulty in leaping over this ditch. The rendezvous was certainly well selected.
The pavilion was so placed that through the loopholes, set with painted glass, she could overlook the whole grove, while it was itself so secluded that no one could see it, and three springs of a horse would put any one who sought to leave in the forest or in neutral ground.
Pitou had watched Catherine so carefully that he knew whither she went, and whence she came, as well as the poacher knows the track of the hare.
Catherine did not return to the forest with Isidore, who used always to remain some time in the pavilion, in order to see that she was not annoyed, and used then to go in a contrary direction.
Pitou hid himself on Catherine’s pathway, and ascended an immense tree which completely overlooked the pavilion.
Before an hour had passed he saw Catherine come by. She tied her horse in the wood, sprang over the ditch, and went to the pavilion.
She dismounted just below the tree where Pitou was.
He had only to descend and lean against the trunk. He then took from his pocket the “Manual of the National Guard,” and began to read.
An hour atter, Pitou heard a door shut. He heard the rustling of a dress, and saw Catherine look anxiously around, as if to see if she was watched.
She stood within ten paces of Pitou.
Pitou did not move, and kept his book on his knees.
He no longer, however, pretended to read, and looked at Catherine so that she could not misunderstand him.
She uttered a half-stifled cry, and then became pale as death. After another brief moment of indecision, she rushed into the forest and became invisible.
Pitou had arranged matters well, and Catherine was caught in the snare.
Pitou returned half happy and half afraid to Haramont.
As soon as he thought of what he had done, he saw that it might have many consequences which previously had not suggested themselves to him.
The next day was appointed for a military parade.
Being sufficiently instructed, in their own opinion, the National Guards had requested to be assembled in the presence of the public.
Some neighboring villagers, excited by rivalry, who had also paid attention to tactics, were to come to Haramont for a kind of contest.
A deputation from these villagers was present under the command of an old sergeant.
The announcement of such a spectacle brought many persons together, and the parade-ground of Haramont early in the day was occupied by crowds of young children, and at a later hour by the fathers and mothers of the champions.
Four drums beat in four different directions,—those of Largny, Ver, Taillefontaine, and Vivières.
Haramont was a centre, and had its four cardinal points.
A fifth replied; it preceded the thirty-three National Guards of Haramont.
Among the spectators was a portion of the aristocracy and of the bourgeoisie of Villers-Cotterets come to be amused.
There were also many farmers who had come to see.
Soon Catherine and Madame Billot came. Just at this moment the National Guard of Haramont came from the village, headed by Pitou, a drum, and a fife. Pitou was on a great white horse, which Maniquet had lent him for the purpose of making a representation of Marquis de Lafayette ad vivum at Haramont.