The Launching of Roger Brook

'When do you wish to depart?'

'As soon as I have tidied up such matters as I have in hand and it is convenient to yourself, Monsieur.'

'Will you seek employment here in Rennes, or elsewhere?'

'I had it in mind to go to Paris, Monsieur, and try my luck there at securing a secretaryship to some rich nobleman.'

For a moment Maitre Leger remained silent, then he said, 'I much dislike the idea of your leaving us so ill- provided, and going to the capital with no security whatever as to some future means of livelihood. I am sure that if I recommend you to my Paris correspondent, Maitre Jeurat, he would be willing to furnish you with similar employment to that which you have had here while you look round for something that may please you better. Would you like me to do so?'

'You overwhelm me,' Roger replied with real gratitude. 'In fact, you make me feel a positive ingrate for proposing that I should leave your service. If that could be arranged it would give me ample time to search for a really promising opening.'

'So be it then,' Maitre Leger smiled, 'I will write to Maitre Jeurat to-morrow. We should hear something from him in a fortnight or so.'

Despite its pleasant termination the interview had been something of a strain on Roger, so he decided to say nothing of his proposed departure for the time being to the other members of the Leger family and, wanting to think things over again, he went early to bed.

He could not help wondering if he had not been a fool to burn his boats like this. As he had never lived in a large city the idea of endeavouring to establish himself in Paris now frightened him a little. True, he would not be altogether without friends there if Maitre Jeurat consented to accept him into his office as a temporary clerk; yet it was too much to expect that he would again have the luck to be adopted into a delightful family; and the memory of his first months in Rennes flooded back to him with horrid clarity. He felt that he would be unlucky indeed if he was forced once more to become a slave to another Hutot, but common sense told him that the best he could anticipate was loneliness in a cheap, uninspiring lodging-house. Beset by renewed uncertainty as to the wisdom of the step he had taken and dark forebodings as to his probable future, he fell asleep.

Yet he was not, after all, destined to go to Paris and work in Maitre Jeurat's office. Fate once again took charge of his affairs in a most unexpected manner. The following afternoon Maitre Leger sent for him and, looking up from his papers with a smile as Roger entered his office, said:

'My young friend, I think you must have been born under a .lucky star. Did you not say only last night that you would like to obtain a secretaryship to someone of importance?'

'Indeed I did, Monsieur,' replied Roger with quick interest.

Maitre Leger picked up a letter from his desk. 'Then I think I have here the very thing for you. One of our most distinguished clients writes to me asking if I will find for him an assistant secretary to undertake some special work. The qualifications required are a certain amount of legal experience and a good knowledge of Latin. Board and lodging will be provided and the remuneration offered is forty louis per annum. If you like the idea I feel confident that I can recommend you for such a position with a clear conscience.'

'I'd like nothing better!' Roger exclaimed with a happy laugh. 'But tell me, Monsieur; where am I to take up this new situation, and what is the name of my proposed master?'

'Ah, yes!' said the lawyer. 'Did I not mention it? You will proceed to the Chateau de Becherel and make your service to Monseigneur le Marquis de Rochambeau.'

CHAPTER XIV

THE BARRIER

FOUR days later Roger arrived at Becherel. The village lay about twenty miles to the north-west of Rennes and some five miles off the main road from the Breton capital to St. Malo. It consisted only of a single street of houses and a small stone church; half a mile beyond it, on the far side of a belt of trees, lay the chateau.

The building was E-shaped and had been designed by Francois Mansard about one hundred and forty years earlier. The two wings of the E formed an open courtyard, and the recessed central block contained the main entrance. It was of three storeys, the windows of the third being set in its high, steeply sloping slate roofs, from which projected an array of tall, symmetrically-placed chimneys. The long facade at its back gave on to a balustraded terrace below which there was a formal garden. Beyond this and to either side stretched wide parklands.

Roger would have liked to make his appearance cavorting grace­fully on a mettlesome horse with a servant riding behind him, or at least, in a hired coach. But he could not afford such luxuries and he hoped that Athenais was not looking out of one of the windows as the one-horse cart, in which he and his heavy sea-chest had travelled from Rennes, slowly ambled past the front of the chateau and drew up at the stable entrance round its east side.

A servant found his old enemy. Monsieur Aldegonde, for him and the pompous major-domo showed considerable surprise on learning that Roger had come to take up his residence at the chateau; but he took the letter for the Marquis that Roger presented and twenty minutes later returned to give orders for his accommodation. A footman named Henri took him up to a bedroom on the third floor, under the Mansard roof, in the east wing, then led him down to a small chamber on the ground floor and told him to make himself comfortable there.

It was already evening and when he had sat there for some time the footman returned bringing him a meal on a tray. This was a sad disappointment, as Roger had thought that, as a private secretary, he would rank with the duenna and tutor, and feed with the family.

When he had eaten he expected to be sent for by the Marquis but two hours drifted by without his receiving any summons. Not knowing whether to wait up or go to bed, he pulled the bell and when the footman came asked to be taken to Aldegonde. Henri led him down several echoing passages and showed him into a room where the major-domo was sitting in a comfortable elbow chair, his wig and coat off, his feet up on a hassock and with a bottle of wine beside him on a small table.

It had already occurred to Roger that he might save himself many minor irritations during his stay at Becherel if he took the trouble to placate the vanity of this arrogant head-servant, so he bowed politely and said:

'Pardon me for disturbing you at this hour, Monsieur Aldegonde, but I wondered if you could give me any idea if Monseigneur is likely to send for me to-night?'

' 'Tis most improbable,' replied the fat major-domo, without stirring from his chair, 'since Monseigneur is five miles away dining with his neighbour, Monsieur de Montauban. Normally, no doubt Monseigneur's secretary, M. L'Abbe d'Heury would have given you your instructions, but he too, is from home, and not expected back from Dinan until Friday.'

'Thank you, Monsieur,' murmured Roger; then, flushing slightly he took the big fence that he thought it wise, however painful, to get over once and for all.

'Last time we met it was in circumstances most embarrassing to myself. As you will recall, M. le Comte Lucien had me thrown out of the house; but I wish you to know, Monsieur, that this was only owing to my ignorance of social observances in this part of the world. You see, I come from one of the German provinces where life is vastly different; but while I am here, I shall endeavour to observe Breton customs, and I should be grateful if I may seek your guidance when I find myself in any difficulty.'

Aldegonde gave him a sharp sideways glance. 'That is a wise decision, Monsieur Breuc, as it is a good thing that senior servants should have a mutual respect for one another. On the score of Count Lucien you need trouble yourself no further, as he left us for the Military School at Brienne over a year ago. For the rest we will do what we can to make you comfortable.'

To Roger, this was most excellent news and, after some further, rather stilted, small talk, Henri was summoned to show him the way up the back stairs to his bedroom.

In the morning Henri called him and said that his petit dejeuner would be served in half an hour in the room where he had eaten the night before. When he had had it he sat there all through the morning. He would have liked to explore the house and grounds, but did not like to do so from fear that, at any moment, he might be sent for.

He was still too excited at the thought that he would soon see his adorable Athenais again to be unduly depressed by this neglect of him, and whiled away the hours by browsing through some books in an old press that occupied one wall of the room. It was not until an hour after the midday meal that a footman he had not seen