by Hector Malot
CHAPTER XXI
LETTERS FROM DACCA
The first thing that M. Vulfran did upon reaching his office in themorning was to open his mail. Domestic letters were arranged in one pileand foreign letters in another. Since he had gone blind his nephews orTalouel read the French mail aloud to him; the English letters weregiven to Fabry and the German to Mombleux.
The day following the conversation between Fabry and Mombleux which hadcaused Perrine so much anxiety, M. Vulfran, his nephews and the managerwere occupied with the morning's mail. Suddenly Theodore exclaimed:
"A letter from Dacca, dated May 29."
"In French?" demanded M. Vulfran.
"No, in English."
"What signature?"
"It's not very clear ... looks like Field. Fildes ... preceded by a wordthat I can't make out. There are four pages. Your name occurs in severalplaces, uncle. Shall I give it to Fabry?"
Simultaneously, Theodore and Talouel cast a quick look at M. Vulfran,but catching each other in this act, which betrayed that each wasintensely curious, they both assumed an indifferent air.
"I'm putting the letter on your table, uncle," said Theodore.
"Give it to me," replied M. Vulfran.
When the stenographer had gone off with the replies to the variousletters, M. Vulfran dismissed his manager and his two nephews and rangfor Perrine.
She appeared immediately.
"What's in the letter?" he asked.
She took the letter that he handed to her and glanced at it. If he couldhave seen her he would have noticed that she had turned very pale andthat her hands trembled.
"It is an English letter, dated May 29, from Dacca," she replied.
"From whom?"
"From Father Fields."
"What does it say?"
"May I read a few lines first, please ... before I tell you?"
"Yes, but do it quickly."
She tried to do as she was told, but her emotion increased as she read... the words dancing before her eyes.
"Well?" demanded M. Vulfran, impatiently.
"It is difficult to read," she murmured, "and difficult to understand;the sentences are very long."
"Don't translate literally; just tell me what it is about."
SHE TRIED TO DO AS SHE WAS TOLD, BUT HER EMOTIONINCREASED AS SHE READ.]
There was another long pause; at last she said:
"Father Fields says that Father Leclerc, to whom you wrote, is dead, andthat before dying he asked him to send this reply to you. He wasunable to communicate with you before, as he had some difficulty ingetting together the facts that you desired. He excuses himself forwriting in English, as his knowledge of French is very slight."
"What information does he send?" asked the blind man.
"I have not come to that yet, sir," replied Perrine.
Although little Perrine gave this reply in a very gentle voice, theblind man knew that he would gain nothing by hurrying her.
"You are right," he said; "not being in French, you must understand itthoroughly before you can explain it to me. You'd better take the letterand go into Bendit's office; translate it as accurately as you can,writing it out so that you can read it to me. Don't lose a minute. I'manxious to know what it contains."
He called her back as she was leaving.
"This letter relates to a personal matter," he said, "and I do not wishanyone to know about it ... understand ... no one. If anyone daresquestion you about it, you must say nothing, nor give them any inklingof what it is about. You see what confidence I place in you. I hope thatyou will prove yourself worthy of my trust. If you serve me faithfully,you may be sure that you will be taken care of."
"I promise you, sir, that I'll deserve your trust," said Perrine,earnestly.
"Very well; now hurry."
But hurry she could not. She read the letter from beginning to end, thenre-read it. Finally she took a large sheet of paper and commenced towrite:
"Dacca, May 29.
"Honored Sir:
"It is with great grief that I inform you that we have lost our Reverend Father Leclerc, to whom you wrote for certain important information. When dying he asked me to send a reply to your letter, and I regret that it could not have been sent earlier, but after a lapse of twelve years I have had some difficulty in getting the facts that you desire, and I must ask pardon for sending the information I now have in English, as my knowledge of French is very slight...."
Perrine, who had only read this far to M. Vulfran, now stopped to readand correct what she had done. She was giving all her attention to hertranslation when the office door was opened by Theodore Paindavoine. Hecame into the room, closing the door after him, and asked for a Frenchand English dictionary.
This dictionary was opened before her. She closed it and handed it tohim.
"Are you not using it?" he asked, coming close to her.
"Yes, but I can manage without it," she replied.
"How's that?"
"I really only need it to spell the French words correctly," she said,"and a French dictionary will do as well."
She knew that he was standing just at the back of her, and although shecould not see his eyes, being afraid to turn round, she felt that he wasreading over her shoulder.
"Ah, you're translating that letter from Dacca?" he said.
She was surprised that he knew about this letter which was to be kept asecret. Then she realized that he was questioning her, and that hisrequest for a dictionary was only a pretext. Why did he need an Englishdictionary if he could not understand a word of English?
"Yes, monsieur," she said.
"Is the translation coming along all right?" he asked.
She felt that he was bending over her, that his eyes were fixed on whatshe had translated. Quickly she moved her paper, turning it so that hecould only see it sideways.
"Oh, please, sir," she exclaimed; "don't read it. It is not correct ...it is all confused. I was just trying."
"Oh, never mind that."
"Oh, but I do mind. I should be ashamed to let you see this."
He wanted to take the sheet of paper, but she put both her small handsover it. She determined to hold her own even with one of the heads ofthe house.
Until then he had spoken pleasantly to her.
"Now give it to me," he said briefly. "I'm not playing schoolmaster witha pretty little girl like you."
"But, sir, it is impossible; I can't let you see it," she saidobstinately.
Laughingly he tried to take it from her, but she resisted him.
"No, I will not let you have it," she said with determination.
"Oh, this is a joke!" replied Theodore.
"It is not a joke; I am very serious," said little Perrine. "MonsieurVulfran forbade me to let anyone see this letter. I am obeying him."
"It was I who opened it."
"The letter in English is not the translation."
"Oh, my uncle will show me this wonderful translation presently," hereplied.
"If your uncle shows it, very well; but that won't be me showing it. Hegave me his orders and I must obey him."
He saw by her resolute attitude that if he wanted the paper he wouldhave to take it from her by force. But then, if he did so, she wouldprobably call out. He did not dare go as far as that.
"I am delighted to see how faithfully you carry out my uncle's orders,even in trivial things," he said, sarcastically, leaving the room.
When he had gone and closed the door Perrine tried to go on with herwork, but she was so upset she found it impossible to do so. She knewthat Theodore was not delighted, as he had said, but furious. If heintended to make her pay for thwarting his will, how could she defendherself against such a powerful enemy? He could crush her with the firstblow and she would have to leave.
The door was again opened and Talouel, with gliding step, came into theroom. His eyes fell at once on the letter.
"Well, how is the translation of that le
tter from Dacca coming along?"he asked.
"I have only just commenced it," replied Perrine timidly.
"M. Theodore interrupted you just now. What did he want?"
"A French and English dictionary."
"What for? He doesn't know English."
"He did not tell me why he wanted it."
"Did he want to know what was in the letter?" asked Talouel.
"I had only commenced the first phrase," said Perrine, evasively.
"You don't ask me to believe that you have not read it?"
"I have not yet translated it."
"I ask you if you have read it."
"I cannot reply to that."
"Why not?"
"Because M. Vulfran has forbidden me to speak of this letter."
"You know very well that M. Vulfran and I are as one. All of his orderspass by me; all favors that he bestows are also passed by me. I have toknow all that concerns him."
"Even his personal affairs?"
"Does that letter relate to personal affairs then?" asked Talouel.
She realized that she had let herself be caught.
"I did not say that," she said. "I said that in case it was a personalletter, ought I to let you know the contents?"
"I certainly should know," said Talouel, "if it relates to personalaffairs. Do you know that he is ill from worrying over matters whichmight kill him? If he now received some news that might cause him greatsorrow or great joy, it might prove fatal to him. He must not be toldanything suddenly. That is why I ought to know beforehand anything thatconcerns him, so as to prepare him. I could not do that if you read yourtranslation straight off to him."
He said this in a suave, insinuating voice, very different from hisordinary rough tones.
She was silent, looking up at him with an emotion which made her verypale.
"I hope that you are intelligent enough to understand what I am tellingyou," he continued. "It is important for us, for the entire town, whodepend upon M. Vulfran for a livelihood, to consider his health. Seewhat a good job you have now with him; in time it will be much better.We, every one of us, must work for his good. He looks strong, but he isnot so strong as he appears, so much sorrow has undermined his health;and then the loss of his sight depresses him terribly. He places everyconfidence in me, and I must see that nothing hurts him."
If Perrine had not known Talouel she might have been won by his words;but after what she had heard the factory girls say about him, and thetalk that she had overheard between Fabry and Mombleux, who were menable to judge character, she felt that she could not believe in him. Hewas not sincere. He wanted to make her talk, and he would attempt anydeceit and hypocrisy to gain his object.
M. Vulfran had told her that if she were questioned she must not letanyone know the contents of the letter. Evidently he had foreseen whatmight happen. She must obey him.
Talouel, leaning on her desk, fixed his eyes on her face. She needed allher courage; it seemed as though he were trying to hypnotize her. In ahoarse voice which betrayed her emotion, but which did not tremble,however, she said:
"Monsieur Vulfran forbade me to speak of this letter to anyone."
Her determined attitude made him furious, but controlling himself, heleaned over her again and said gently, but firmly: "Yes, of course; butthen I'm not anyone. I am his other self."
She did not reply.
"Are you a fool?" he cried at last in a stifled voice.
"Perhaps I am," she said.
"Well, then, understand," he said, roughly, "you'd better show someintelligence if you want to hold this job that M. Vulfran has given you.If you haven't any intelligence you can't hold the job, and instead ofprotecting you, as I intended, it will be my duty to pack you off ...fire you! Understand?"
"Yes, sir."
"Well, think about it; think what your position is today and think whatit will be tomorrow, turned out in the streets; then let me know whatyou decide to do. Tell me this evening."
Then as she showed no signs of weakening, he went out of the room withthe same gliding step with which he had entered.
