"You made a great mistake in not putting yourself on my side," said
Godefroid, returning slowly to the house; "you would have made more
out of me than you will ever get from Barbet and Metivier; from whom,
mark my words, you'll get nothing."
"I am not for them particularly," said Madame Vauthier, shrugging her
shoulders; "Monsieur Barbet is my proprietor, that's all!"
It required two days' persuasion to induce Monsieur Bernard to
separate from his daughter and take her to Chaillot. Godefroid and the
old man made the trip walking on each side of the litter, canopied
with blue and white striped linen, in which was the dear patient,
partly bound to a mattress, so much did her father dread the possible
convulsions of a nervous attack. They started at three o'clock and
reached their destination at five just as evening was coming on.
Godefroid paid the sum demanded for three months' board in advance,
being careful to obtain a receipt for the money. When he went back to
pay the bearers of the litter, he was followed by Monsieur Bernard,
who took from beneath the mattress a bulky package carefully sealed
up, and gave it to Godefroid.
"One of these men will fetch you a cab," said the old man; "for you
cannot carry these four volumes under your arm. That is my book; give
it to your reader; he may keep it the whole of the coming week. I
shall stay at least that time in this quarter; for I cannot leave my
daughter in such total abandonment.
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