"Accept, monsieur le marquis, the deep respect of "GILBERTE DE CHÂTEAUBRUN." XXXIV RESURRECTION "Was it you who brought this package and letter, Jean?" queried Monsieur de Boisguilbault. "No, monsieur, I brought nothing at all, and I don't know what they are," replied the carpenter, with the accent of truth. "How am I to believe you?" rejoined the marquis, "when you lied to me so coolly the day before yesterday, when you introduced one person to me under the name of another?" "The day before yesterday I lied, but I wouldn't have sworn to what I said; to-day, I swear that I saw no one come in and I do not know who brought those things. But, as you choose to mention what happened the day before yesterday, let me tell you something that I wouldn't have dared to speak of otherwise: that the poor child cried all the way home, thinking of you, and that----" "I beg you, Jean, don't talk to me about that young woman or her father! I promised you that I would mention them when it was necessary, and on that condition you agreed not to torment me. Wait till I question you." "All right! but suppose you keep me waiting too long and I lose patience?" "Perhaps I shall never mention them to you and you will hold your tongue forever," said the marquis in a tone of very marked ill-humor. "The deuce you say!" retorted the carpenter, "that wasn't our agreement." "Off with you!" said Monsieur de Boisguilbault tartly. "Your day's work is finished, you refuse to take supper here, and no doubt Emile is waiting for you impatiently. Tell him to have courage and that I will come and see him soon--to-morrow perhaps." "If you treat him as you do me, if you refuse to talk to him or let him talk about Gilberte, what good do you suppose a visit from you will do him? That's not the kind of thing that will cure him." "Jean, you wear out my patience, you make me ill! Be off, I say!" "Oho! the wind has changed," thought the carpenter. "I must wait till the sun comes out again." He put on his jacket and walked across the park. Monsieur de Boisguilbault accompanied him, to close the gate after him. It was still light. The marquis noticed on the recently raked gravel the prints of a woman's tiny foot going to and coming from the chalet. He did not call the attention of the carpenter, who failed to notice the marks. Meanwhile Gilberte had waited longer than she intended. The sun had set ten minutes before and the time seemed mortally long to her. As the approach of night and the fear of meeting some one from the château who might recognize her, increased her uneasiness and impatience, she ventured to leave the place where she was hiding and go down a little way toward the stream, so that she would still be near enough to recognize the carpenter. But she had not taken three steps in the open when she heard footsteps behind her, and, turning hurriedly, she saw Constant Galuchet, armed with his fishing-pole, going toward Gargilesse.