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back on foot； and steathily； like burglars。 Before one o'clock in the
morning David was installed in the impenetrable hiding…place prepared
by his wife in Basine Clerget's house。 No one saw him enter it； and
the pity that henceforth should shelter David was the most resourceful
pity of allthe pity of a work…girl。
Kolb bragged that day that he had saved his master on horseback； and
only left him in a carrier's van well on the way to Limoges。 A
sufficient provision of raw material had been laid up in Basine's
cellar； and Kolb； Marion； Mme。 Sechard； and her mother had no
communication with the house。
Two days after the scene at Marsac； old Sechard came hurrying to
Angouleme and his daughter…in…law。 Covetousness had brought him。 There
were three clear weeks ahead before the vintage began； and he thought
he would be on the look…out for squalls； to use his own expression。 To
this end he took up his quarters in one of the attics which he had
reserved by the terms of the lease； wilfully shutting his eyes to the
bareness and want that made his son's home desolate。 If they owed him
rent； they could well afford to keep him。 He ate his food from a
tinned iron plate； and made no marvel at it。 〃I began in the same
way；〃 he told his daughter…in…law； when she apologized for the absence
of silver spoons。
Marion was obliged to run into debt for necessaries for them all。 Kolb
was earning a franc for daily wage as a brick…layer's laborer； and at
last poor Eve； who； for the sake of her husband and child； had
sacrificed her last resources to entertain David's father； saw that
she had only ten francs left。 She had hoped to the last to soften the
old miser's heart by her affectionate respect； and patience； and
pretty attentions； but old Sechard was obdurate as ever。 When she saw
him turn the same cold eyes on her； the same look that the Cointets
had given her； and Petit…Claud and Cerizet； she tried to watch and
guess old Sechard's intentions。 Trouble thrown away！ Old Sechard；
never sober； never drunk； was inscrutable； intoxication is a double
veil。 If the old man's tipsiness was sometimes real； it was quite
often feigned for the purpose of extracting David's secret from his
wife。 Sometimes he coaxed； sometimes he frightened his daughter…in…
law。
〃I will drink up my property； I WILL BUY AN ANNUITY；〃 he would
threaten when Eve told him that she knew nothing。
The humiliating struggle was wearing her out； she kept silence at
last； lest she should show disrespect to her husband's father。
〃But； father；〃 she said one day when driven to extremity； 〃there is a
very simple way of finding out everything。 Pay David's debts； he will
come home； and you can settle it between you。〃
〃Ha！ that is what you want to get out of me； is it？〃 he cried。 〃It is
as well to know！〃
But if Sechard had no belief in his son； he had plenty of faith in the
Cointets。 He went to consult them； and the Cointets dazzled him of set
purpose； telling him that his son's experiments might mean millions of
francs。
〃If David can prove that he has succeeded； I shall not hesitate to go
into partnership with him； and reckon his discovery as half the
capital；〃 the tall Cointet told him。
The suspicious old man learned a good deal over nips of brandy with
the work…people； and something more by questioning Petit…Claud and
feigning stupidity； and at length he felt convinced that the Cointets
were the real movers behind Metivier； they were plotting to ruin
Sechard's printing establishment； and to lure him （Sechard） on to pay
his son's debts by holding out the discovery as a bait。 The old man of
the people did not suspect that Petit…Claud was in the plot； nor had
he any idea of the toils woven to ensnare the great secret。 A day came
at last when he grew angry and out of patience with the daughter…in…
law who would not so much as tell him where David was hiding； he
determined to force the laboratory door； for he had discovered that
David was wont to make his experiments in the workshop where the
rollers were melted down。
He came downstairs very early one morning and set to work upon the
lock。
〃Hey！ Papa Sechard； what are you doing there？〃 Marion called out。 （She
had risen at daybreak to go to her papermill； and now she sprang
across to the workshop。）
〃I am in my own house； am I not？〃 said the old man； in some confusion。
〃Oh； indeed； are you turning thief in your old age？ You are not drunk
this time eitherI shall go straight to the mistress and tell her。〃
〃Hold your tongue； Marion；〃 said Sechard； drawing two crowns of six
francs each from his pocket。 〃There〃
〃I will hold my tongue； but don't you do it again；〃 said Marion；
shaking her finger at him； 〃or all Angouleme shall hear of it。〃
The old man had scarcely gone out； however； when Marion went up to her
mistress。
〃Look； madame；〃 she said； 〃I have had twelve francs out of your
father…in…law； and here they are〃
〃How did you do it？〃
〃What was he wanting to do but to take a look at the master's pots and
pans and stuff； to find out the secret； forsooth。 I knew quite well
that there was nothing in the little place； but I frightened him and
talked as if he were setting about robbing his son； and he gave me
twelve francs to say nothing about it。〃
Just at that moment Basine came in radiant； and with a letter for her
friend； a letter from David written on magnificent paper； which she
handed over when they were alone。
〃MY ADORED EVE；I am writing to you the first letter on my first
sheet of paper made by the new process。 I have solved the problem
of sizing the pulp in the trough at last。 A pound of pulp costs
five sous； even supposing that the raw material is grown on good
soil with special culture； three francs' worth of sized pulp will
make a ream of paper； at twelve pounds to the ream。 I am quite
sure that I can lessen the weight of books by one…half。 The
envelope； the letter； and samples enclosed are all manufactured in
different ways。 I kiss you； you shall have wealth now to add to
our happiness； everything else we had before。〃
〃There！〃 said Eve； handing the samples to her father…in…law； 〃when the
vintage is over let your son have the money； give him a chance to make
his fortune； and you shall be repaid ten times over； he has succeeded
at last！〃
Old Sechard hurried at once to the Cointets。 Every sample was tested
and minutely examined； the prices； from three to ten francs per ream；
were noted on each separate slip； some were sized； others unsized；
some were of almost metallic purity； others soft as Japanese paper； in
color there was every possible shade of white。 If old Sechard and the
two Cointets had been Jews examining diamonds； their eyes could not
have glistened more eagerly。
〃Your son is on the right track；〃 the fat Cointet said at length。
〃Very well； pay his debts；〃 returned old Sechard。
〃By all means； if he will take us into partnership；〃 said the tall
Cointet。
〃You are extortioners！〃 cried old Sechard。 〃You have been suing him
under Metivier's name； and you mean me to buy you off； that is the
long and the short of it。 Not such a fool； gentlemen〃
The brothers looked a