It seemed as though they were both inspired at the same time with some horrible thought.`Well, then, a good journey to you,' said Caderousse.-- `Thanks,' replied the jeweller.He then took his cane, which he had placed against an old cupboard, and went out.At the moment when he opened the door, such a gust of wind came in that the lamp was nearly extinguished.`Oh,' said he, `this is very nice weather, and two leagues to go in such a storm.' -- `Remain,' said Caderousse.`You can sleep here.' -- `Yes; do stay,' added La Carconte in a tremulous voice; `we will take every care of you.' -- `No; I must sleep at Beaucaire.So, once more, good-night.' Caderousse followed him slowly to the threshold.`I can see neither heaven nor earth,' said the jeweller, who was outside the door.`Do I turn to the right, or to the left hand?' -- `To the right,' said Caderousse.
`You cannot go wrong -- the road is bordered by trees on both sides.' -- `Good -- all right,' said a voice almost lost in the distance.`Close the door,' said La Carconte; `Ido not like open doors when it thunders.' -- `Particularly when there is money in the house, eh?' answered Caderousse, double-locking the door.
"He came into the room, went to the cupboard, took out the bag and pocket-book, and both began, for the third time, to count their gold and bank-notes.I never saw such an expression of cupidity as the flickering lamp revealed in those two countenances.The woman, especially, was hideous;her usual feverish tremulousness was intensified, her countenance had become livid, and her eyes resembled burning coals.`Why,' she inquired in a hoarse voice, `did you invite him to sleep here to-night?' -- `Why?' said Caderousse with a shudder; `why, that he might not have the trouble of returning to Beaucaire.' -- `Ah,' responded the woman, with an expression impossible to describe; `I thought it was for something else.' -- `Woman, woman -- why do you have such ideas?' cried Caderousse; `or, if you have them, why don't you keep them to yourself?' -- `Well,' said La Carconte, after a moment's pause, `you are not a man.' --`What do you mean?' added Caderousse.-- `If you had been a man, you would not have let him go from here.' -- `Woman!'
-- `Or else he should not have reached Beaucaire.' --`Woman!' -- `The road takes a turn -- he is obliged to follow it -- while alongside of the canal there is a shorter road.' -- `Woman! -- you offend the good God.There --listen!' And at this moment there was a tremendous peal of thunder, while the livid lightning illumined the room, and the thunder, rolling away in the distance, seemed to withdraw unwillingly from the cursed abode.`Mercy!' said Caderousse, crossing himself.
"At the same moment, and in the midst of the terrifying silence which usually follows a clap of thunder, they heard a knocking at the door.Caderousse and his wife started and looked aghast at each other.`Who's there?' cried Caderousse, rising, and drawing up in a heap the gold and notes scattered over the table, and which he covered with his two hands.-- `It is I,' shouted a voice.-- `And who are you?' -- `Eh, pardieu, Joannes, the jeweller.' -- `Well, and you said I offended the good God,' said La Carconte with a horrid smile.`Why, the good God sends him back again.'
Caderousse sank pale and breathless into his chair.La Carconte, on the contrary, rose, and going with a firm step towards the door, opened it, saying, as she did so -- `Come in, dear M.Joannes.' -- `Ma foi,' said the jeweller, drenched with rain, `I am not destined to return to Beaucaire to-night.The shortest follies are best, my dear Caderousse.You offered me hospitality, and I accept it, and have returned to sleep beneath your friendly roof.'
Caderousse stammered out something, while he wiped away the sweat that started to his brow.La Carconte doubled-locked the door behind the jeweller.
