The Counts Millions | Page 3

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THE COUNT'S MILLIONS
Translated from the French of EMILE GABORIAU
A novel in two parts. Part Two of this novel is found in the volume:
Baron Trigault's Vengeance

PASCAL AND MARGUERITE.
1.
It was a Thursday evening, the fifteenth of October; and although only
half-past six o'clock, it had been dark for some time already. The
weather was cold, and the sky was as black as ink, while the wind blew
tempestuously, and the rain fell in torrents.
The servants at the Hotel de Chalusse, one of the most magnificent
mansions in the Rue de Courcelles in Paris, were assembled in the
porter's lodge, a little building comprising a couple of rooms standing
on the right hand side of the great gateway. Here, as in all large
mansions, the "concierge" or porter, M. Bourigeau, was a person of
immense importance, always able and disposed to make any one who
was inclined to doubt his authority, feel it in cruel fashion. As could be
easily seen, he held all the other servants in his power. He could let
them absent themselves without leave, if he chose, and conceal all
returns late at night after the closing of public balls and wine-shops.
Thus, it is needless to say that M. Bourigeau and his wife were treated
by their fellow- servants with the most servile adulation.
The owner of the house was not at home that evening, so that M.
Casimir, the count's head valet, was serving coffee for the benefit of all

the retainers. And while the company sipped the fragrant beverage
which had been generously tinctured with cognac, provided by the
butler, they all united in abusing their common enemy, the master of
the house. For the time being, a pert little waiting-maid, with an odious
turn-up nose, had the floor. She was addressing her remarks to a big,
burly, and rather insolent- looking fellow, who had been added only the
evening before to the corps of footmen. "The place is really
intolerable," she was saying. "The wages are high, the food of the very
best, the livery just such as would show off a good-looking man to the
best advantage, and Madame Leon, the housekeeper, who has entire
charge of everything, is not too lynx-eyed."
"And the work?"
"A mere nothing. Think, there are eighteen of us to serve only two
persons, the count and Mademoiselle Marguerite. But then there is
never any pleasure, never any amusement here."
"What! is one bored then?"
"Bored to death. This grand house is worse than a tomb. No receptions,
no dinners--nothing. Would you believe it, I have never seen the
reception-rooms! They are always closed; and the furniture is dropping
to pieces under its coverings. There are not three visitors in the course
of a month."
She was evidently incensed, and the new footman seemed to share her
indignation. "Why, how is it?" he exclaimed. "Is the count an owl? A
man who's not yet fifty years old, and who's said to be worth several
millions."
"Yes, millions; you may safely say it--and perhaps ten, perhaps twenty
millions too."
"Then all the more reason why there should be something going on
here. What does he do with himself alone, all the blessed day?"
"Nothing. He reads in the library, or wanders about the garden.
Sometimes, in the evening, he drives with Mademoiselle Marguerite to
the Bois de Boulogne in a closed carriage; but that seldom happens.
Besides, there is no such thing as teasing the poor man. I've been in the
house for six months, and I've never heard him say anything but: 'yes';
'no'; 'do this'; 'very well'; 'retire.' You would think these are the only
words he knows. Ask M. Casimir if I'm not right."
"Our guv'nor isn't very gay, that's a fact," responded the valet.

The footman was listening with a serious air, as if greatly interested in
the character of the people whom he was to serve. "And
mademoiselle," he asked, "what does she say to such an existence?"
"Bless me! during the six months she has been here, she has never once
complained."
"If she is bored," added