Finally, the business being concluded, they took their departure, and, driving to the Market Place, put up the horse and cart at an old-fashioned, dingy inn, where they took their breakfast in the public room at a table where the wagoners were having a violent quarrel over their meal.The Duke, however, had other business to transact than the investment of his money, for he wanted to find the whereabouts of a miller who was somewhat in his debt.Norbert waited for him in front of the inn, and could not help feeling rather uncomfortable at finding himself alone.All at once some one came up and touched him lightly on the shoulder.He turned round sharply, and found himself face to face with a young man, who, seeing his look of surprise, said,--"What! have you entirely forgotten your old friend Montlouis?"Montlouis was the son of one of the Duke's farmers, and he and Norbert had often played together in past years.They had driven their cows to the meadows together, and had spent long days together fishing or searching for birds' nests.The dress now worn by Montlouis had at first prevented Norbert from recognizing him, for he was attired in the uniform of the college at which his father had placed him, being desirous of making something more than a mere farmer of his son.
"What are you doing here?" asked Norbert.
"I am waiting for my father."
"So am I.Let us have a cup of coffee together."Montlouis led his playmate into a small wine shop near at hand.He seemed a little disposed to presume upon the superior knowledge of the world which he had recently acquired.
"If there was a billiard-table here," said he, "we could pass away the time with a game, though, to be sure, it runs into money."Norbert never had had more than a few pence in his pocket at one time, and at this remark the color rose to his face, and he felt much humiliated.
"My father," added the young collegian, "gives me all I ask for.I am certain of getting one, if not two prizes at the next examination; and when I have taken my degree, the Count de Mussidan has promised to make me his steward.What do you think that you will do?""I--I don't know," stammered Norbert.
"You will, I suppose, dig and toil in the fields, as your father has done before you.You are the son of the noblest and the richest man for miles round, and yet you are not so happy as I am."Upon the return of the Duke de Champdoce some little time after this conversation, he did not detect any change in his son's manner; but the words spoken by Montlouis had fallen into Norbert's brain like a subtle poison, and a few careless sentences uttered by an inconsiderate lad had annihilated the education of sixteen years, and a complete change had taken place in Norbert's mind, a change which was utterly unsuspected by those around him, for his manner of bringing up had taught him to keep his own counsel.
The fixed smile on his features entirely masked the angry feelings that were working in his breast.He went through his daily tasks, which had once been a pleasure to him, with utter disgust and loathing.His eyes had been suddenly opened, and he now understood a host of things which he had never before even endeavored to comprehend.He saw now that his proper position was among the nobles, whom he never saw except when they attended Mass at the little chapel in Bevron.The Count de Mussidan, so haughty and imposing, with his snow-white hair; the aristocratic-looking Marquis de Laurebourg, of whom the peasants stood in the greatest awe, were always courteous and even cordial in their salutations, while the noble dames smiled graciously upon him.Proud and haughty as they were, they evidently looked upon his father and himself as their equals, in spite of the coarse garments that they wore.The realization of these facts effected a great change in Norbert.He was the equal of all these people, and yet how great a gulf separated him from them.While he and his father tramped to Mass in heavy shoes, the others drove up in their carriages with powdered footmen to open the doors.Why was this extraordinary difference? He knew enough of the value of crops and land to know that his father was as wealthy as any of these gentlemen.
The laborers on the farm said that his father was a miser, and the villagers asserted that he got up at night and gazed with rapture upon the treasure that was hidden away from men's eyes.
