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meaning； earned a severe look from Laurence。 The elder Simeuse was
confident that Malin would restore Gondreville for an indemnity。 These
rash youths were determined to do exactly the contrary of what the
Marquis de Chargeboeuf had advised。 Robert； who shared these hopes；
was thinking of them when he gave utterance to the fatal words。
〃Not a word of this； old friend；〃 said Michu to Beauvisage； waiting
behind the others to lock the gate。
It was one of those fine mornings in March when the air is dry； the
earth pure； the sky clear； and the atmosphere a contradiction to the
leafless trees； the season was so mild that the eye caught glimpses
here and there of verdure。
〃We are seeking treasure when all the while you are the real treasure
of our house； cousin；〃 said the elder Simeuse； gaily。
Laurence was in front； with a cousin on each side of her。 The
d'Hauteserres were behind； followed by Michu。 Gothard had gone forward
to clear the way。
〃Now that our fortune is restored； you must marry my brother；〃 said
the younger in a low voice。 〃He adores you； together you will be as
rich as nobles ought to be in these days。〃
〃No； give the whole fortune to him and I will marry you；〃 said
Laurence； 〃I am rich enough for two。〃
〃So be it；〃 cried the Marquis； 〃I will leave you； and find a wife
worthy to be your sister。〃
〃So you really love me less than I thought you did？〃 said Laurence
looking at him with a sort of jealousy。
〃No； I love you better than either of you love me；〃 replied the
marquis。
〃And therefore you would sacrifice yourself？〃 asked Laurence with a
glance full of momentary preference。
The marquis was silent。
〃Well； then； I shall think only of you； and that will be intolerable
to my husband；〃 exclaimed Laurence； impatient at his silence。
〃How could I live without you？〃 said the younger twin to his brother。
〃But； after all； you can't marry us both；〃 said the marquis； replying
to Laurence； 〃and the time has come；〃 he continued； in the brusque
tone of a man who is struck to the heart； 〃to make your decision。〃
He urged his horse in advance so that the d'Hauteserres might not
overhear them。 His brother's horse and Laurence's followed him。 When
they had put some distance between themselves and the rest of the
party Laurence attempted to speak； but tears were at first her only
language。
〃I will enter a cloister；〃 she said at last。
〃And let the race of Cinq…Cygne end？〃 said the younger brother。
〃Instead of one unhappy man； would you make two？ No； whichever of us
must be your brother only； will resign himself to that fate。 It is the
knowledge that we are no longer poor that has brought us to explain
ourselves；〃 he added； glancing at the marquis。 〃If I am the one
preferred； all this money is my brother's。 If I am rejected； he will
give it to me with the title of de Simeuse； for he must then take the
name and title of Cinq…Cygne。 Whichever way it ends； the loser will
have a chance of recoverybut if he feels he must die of grief； he
can enter the army and die in battle； not to sadden the happy
household。〃
〃We are true knights of the olden time； worthy of our fathers；〃 cried
the elder。 〃Speak； Laurence； decide between us。〃
〃We cannot continue as we are；〃 said the younger。
〃Do not think； Laurence； that self…denial is without its joys；〃 said
the elder。
〃My dear loved ones；〃 said the girl； 〃I am unable to decide。 I love
you both as though you were one beingas your mother loved you。 God
will help us。 I cannot choose。 Let us put it to chancebut I make one
condition。〃
〃What is it？〃
〃Whichever one of you becomes my brother must stay with me until I
suffer him to leave me。 I wish to be sole judge of when to part。〃
〃Yes； yes；〃 said the brothers； without explaining to themselves her
meaning。
〃The first of you to whom Madame d'Hauteserre speaks to…night at table
after the Benedicite； shall be my husband。 But neither of you must
practise fraud or induce her to answer a question。〃
〃We will play fair；〃 said the younger； smiling。
Each kissed her hand。 The certainty of some decision which both could
fancy favorable made them gay。
〃Either way； dear Laurence； you create a Comte de Cinq…Cygne〃
〃I believe；〃 thought Michu； riding behind them； 〃that mademoiselle
will not long be unmarried。 How gay my masters are！ If my mistress
makes her choice I shall not leave； I must stay and see that wedding。〃
Just then a magpie flew suddenly before his face。 Michu； superstitious
like all primitive beings； fancied he heard the muffled tones of a
death…knell。 The day； however； began brightly enough for lovers； who
rarely see magpies when together in the woods。 Michu； armed with his
plan； verified the spots； each gentleman had brought a pickaxe； and
the money was soon found。 The part of the forest where it was buried
was quite wild； far from all paths or habitations； so that the
cavalcade bearing the gold returned unseen。 This proved to be a great
misfortune。 On their way from Cinq…Cygne to fetch the last two hundred
thousand francs； the party； emboldened by success； took a more direct
way than on their other trips。 The path passed an opening from which
the park of Gondreville could be seen。
〃What is that？〃 cried Laurence； pointing to a column of blue flame。
〃A bonfire； I think；〃 replied Michu。
Laurence； who knew all the by…ways of the forest； left the rest of the
party and galloped towards the pavilion； Michu's old home。 Though the
building was closed and deserted； the iron gates were open； and traces
of the recent passage of several horses struck Laurence instantly。 The
column of blue smoke was rising from a field in what was called the
English park； where； as she supposed； they were burning brush。
〃Ah！ so you are concerned in it； too； are you； mademoiselle？〃 cried
Violette； who came out of the park at top speed on his pony； and
pulled up to meet Laurence。 〃But； of course； it is only a carnival
joke？ They surely won't kill him？〃
〃Who？〃
〃Your cousins wouldn't put him to death？〃
〃Death！ whose death？〃
〃The senator's。〃
〃You are crazy； Violette！〃
〃Well； what are you doing here； then？〃 he demanded。
At the idea of a danger which was threatening her cousins； Laurence
turned her horse and galloped back to them； reaching the ground as the
last sacks were filled。
〃Quick； quick！〃 she cried。 〃I don't know what is going on； but let us
get back to Cinq…Cygne。〃
While the happy party were employed in recovering the fortune saved by
the old marquis； and guarded for so many years by Michu； an
extraordinary scene was taking place in the chateau of Gondreville。
About two o'clock in the afternoon Malin and his friend Grevin were
playing chess before the fire in the great salon on the ground…floor。
Madame Grevin and Madame Marion were sitting on a sofa and talking
together at a corner of the fireplace。 All the servants had gone to
see the masquerade； which had long been announced in the
arrondissement。 The family of the bailiff who had replaced Michu had
gone too。 The senator's valet and Violette were the only persons
beside the family at the chateau。 The porter； two gardeners； and their
wives were o