One evening I felt a shudder;the wind had turned an old rusty weathercock,and the creaking sounded like a cry from the house,at the very moment when I was finishing a gloomy drama to account for this monumental embodiment of woe.I returned to my inn,lost in gloomy thoughts.When I had supped,the hostess came into my room with an air of mystery,and said,'Monsieur,here is Monsieur Regnault.'
'Who is Monsieur Regnault?'
'What,sir,do you not know Monsieur Regnault?--Well,that's odd,'said she,leaving the room.
On a sudden I saw a man appear,tall,slim,dressed in black,hat in hand,who came in like a ram ready to butt his opponent,showing a receding forehead,a small pointed head,and a colorless face of the hue of a glass of dirty water.You would have taken him for an usher.
The stranger wore an old coat,much worn at the seams;but he had a diamond in his shirt frill,and gold rings in his ears.
'Monsieur,'said I,'whom have I the honor of addressing?'--He took a chair,placed himself in front of my fire,put his hat on my table,and answered while he rubbed his hands:'Dear me,it is very cold.--Monsieur,I am Monsieur Regnault.'
I was encouraging myself by saying to myself,'/Il bondo cani!/Seek!'
'I am,'he went on,'notary at Vendome.'
'I am delighted to hear it,monsieur,'I exclaimed.'But I am not in a position to make a will for reasons best known to myself.'
'One moment!'said he,holding up his hand as though to gain silence.'Allow me,monsieur,allow me!I am informed that you sometimes go to walk in the garden of la Grande Breteche.'
'Yes,monsieur.'
'One moment!'said he,repeating his gesture.'That constitutes a misdemeanor.Monsieur,as executor under the will of the late Comtesse de Merret,I come in her name to beg you to discontinue the practice.
One moment!I am not a Turk,and do not wish to make a crime of it.
And besides,you are free to be ignorant of the circumstances which compel me to leave the finest mansion in Vendome to fall into ruin.
Nevertheless,monsieur,you must be a man of education,and you should know that the laws forbid,under heavy penalties,any trespass on enclosed property.A hedge is the same as a wall.But,the state in which the place is left may be an excuse for your curiosity.For my part,I should be quite content to make you free to come and go in the house;but being bound to respect the will of the testatrix,I have the honor,monsieur,to beg that you will go into the garden no more.
I myself,monsieur,since the will was read,have never set foot in the house,which,as I had the honor of informing you,is part of the estate of the late Madame de Merret.We have done nothing there but verify the number of doors and windows to assess the taxes I have to pay annually out of the funds left for that purpose by the late Madame de Merret.Ah!my dear sir,her will made a great commotion in the town.'
The good man paused to blow his nose.I respected his volubility,perfectly understanding that the administration of Madame de Merret's estate had been the most important event of his life,his reputation,his glory,his Restoration.As I was forced to bid farewell to my beautiful reveries and romances,I was to reject learning the truth on official authority.
'Monsieur,'said I,'would it be indiscreet if I were to ask you the reasons for such eccentricity?'
At these words an expression,which revealed all the pleasure which men feel who are accustomed to ride a hobby,overspread the lawyer's countenance.He pulled up the collar of his shirt with an air,took out his snuffbox,opened it,and offered me a pinch;on my refusing,he took a large one.He was happy!A man who has no hobby does not know all the good to be got out of life.A hobby is the happy medium between a passion and a monomania.At this moment I understood the whole bearing of Sterne's charming passion,and had a perfect idea of the delight with which my uncle Toby,encouraged by Trim,bestrode his hobby-horse.
'Monsieur,'said Monsieur Regnault,'I was head-clerk in Monsieur Roguin's office,in Paris.A first-rate house,which you may have heard mentioned?No!An unfortunate bankruptcy made it famous.--Not having money enough to purchase a practice in Paris at the price to which they were run up in 1816,I came here and bought my predecessor's business.I had relations in Vendome;among others,a wealthy aunt,who allowed me to marry her daughter.--Monsieur,'he went on after a little pause,'three months after being licensed by the Keeper of the Seals,one evening,as I was going to bed--it was before my marriage--I was sent for by Madame la Comtesse de Merret,to her Chateau of Merret.Her maid,a good girl,who is now a servant in this inn,was waiting at my door with the Countess'own carriage.Ah!one moment!I ought to tell you that Monsieur le Comte de Merret had gone to Paris to die two months before I came here.He came to a miserable end,flinging himself into every kind of dissipation.You understand?
'On the day when he left,Madame la Comtesse had quitted la Grand Breteche,having dismantled it.Some people even say that she had burnt all the furniture,the hangings--in short,all the chattels and furniture whatever used in furnishing the premises now let by the said M.--(Dear,what am I saying?I beg your pardon,I thought I was dictating a lease.)--In short,that she burnt everything in the meadow at Merret.Have you been to Merret,monsieur?--No,'said he,answering himself,'Ah,it is a very fine place.'