Colombe--for the influence of a confessor, you see, reveals itself in the whole conduct of life, and I should wish to be fully edified by the proceedings of my friend, without his being aware of it--or, if anything blameable were to strike you, I should be immediately informed of it by this weekly correspondence."
"But, sir--that would be to act as a spy?" exclaimed the unfortunate bailiff.
"Now, my dear M.Dupont! how can you thus brand the sweetest, most wholesome of human desires--mutual confidence?--I ask of you nothing else--I ask of you to write to me confidentially the details of all that goes on here.On these two conditions, inseparable one from the other, you remain bailiff; otherwise, I shall be forced, with grief and regret, to recommend some one else to Madame de la Sainte-Colombe."
"I beg you, sir," said Dupont, with emotion, "Be generous without any conditions! -I and my wife have only this place to give us bread, and we are too old to find another.Do not expose our probity of forty years'
standing to be tempted by the fear of want, which is so bad a counsellor!"
"My dear M.Dupont, you are really a great child: you must reflect upon this, and give me your answer in the course of a week."
"Oh, sir! I implore you--" The conversation was here interrupted by a loud report, which was almost instantaneously repeated by the echoes of the cliffs."What is that?" said M.Rodin.Hardly had he spoken, when the same noise was again heard more distinctly than before.
"It is the sound of cannon," cried Dupont, rising; "no doubt a ship in distress, or signaling for a pilot."
"My dear," said the bailiffs wife, entering abruptly, "from the terrace, we can see a steamer and a large ship nearly dismasted--they are drifting right upon the shore--the ship is firing minute gulls -it will be lost."