"They are felons, friend," replied the Sergeant. "We've marched them all the way from the Bicerre prison in Paris, and are taking them to Brest. They are to be. put on one of M. de la Perouse's ships. As you may know he is the great explorer, and he is shortly making a voyage to a strange land called New Zealand. 'Tis said that there are fine hardwood trees there for making ships' masts and such-like. 'Twas Admiral de Suffren's idea, I'm told, to dump this lot there as colonists. They'll hew the wood and each year one of our ships will pick it up, then we'll be a move ahead of the English."
Roger thanked the man and turned away. He knew that Captain Cook had hoisted the British flag in New Zealand some fifteen years earlier and this looked as if the French intended making a secret attempt to jump the British claim. The matter certainly seemed worth reporting, so he wrote an account of it to his father's friend, Mr. Gilbert Maxwell, and in due course received a formal acknowledgement.
Austria and the United Provinces were still wrangling over the opening of the Scheldt, while their armies and those of France marked time on the frontiers, but it was now definitely felt that open hostilities would be averted, at least for this summer's campaigning season.
Gradually Roger's grief grew less poignant and he began to take up his amusements of the previous summer. At first he did so only half-heartedly but, finding that the society of other young women gave him a temporary respite from the gnawing longing he felt for Athenais, he plunged recklessly into a bout of dissipation, in an attempt to banish her altogether from his mind.
To a limited degree this violent medicine had the desired effect, but by the middle of July he was both disgusted with himself and utterly wearied of making love to girls for whom he did not give a fig.
One Sunday he went again to St. Mélaine, where Athenais had caused him so many violent heart-throbs, and, after Mass, remained on there when the church had emptied, taking stock of his situation. It was two years, all but a few days, since he had run away from home, and where had he got to? Where were all the fine high hopes with which his dear, ambitious Georgina had imbued him? Where would the road that he was treading lead him? Certainly not to fortune. He had become a lawyer's junior clerk, working for a pittance.
He realised that in some ways he was very fortunate and that few young men of the bourgeoisie would have found any reason to complain at his lot. He lived in reasonable comfort with a family and friends who were kindness itself to him. His salary was small but, actually, more than sufficient for his needs, since life was very cheap in Rennes. As there were no theatres, except for occasional travelling shows, and the French did not either indulge in, or go to watch, any sports the young people were, perforce, thrown back on love-making as almost their sole amusement. They thought and talked of practically nothing else and, as only the girls of the upper classes were at all strictly chaperoned, there was abundant opportunity to indulge in casual affairs. But he, as some variety to that, also had his fencing and his interesting talks with Brochard on politics and international affairs.
He felt that he really had no right to be discontented yet he could not escape the worrying thought that this life of laissez-faire was leading him nowhere. When he had first started in Maitre Leger's office it had been his intention to work there only until such time as he could save enough either to return to England or set out in search of more promising employment. He could have done so many months ago, and he suddenly realised that it was only his love for Athenais which had kept him in Rennes for so long. Now that she had gone why should he remain there longer? He had six louis put by. That was ample to keep him on the road for the best part of two months; and it was high summer again. Before he left the church he had made up his mind to give in his notice to Maitre Leger and set out once more to seek a better fortune.
After dinner that evening he asked the lawyer if he could spare him a few minutes in his office. Immediately they were settled there he went straight to the point, and said:
"I trust you'll not think me ungrateful, Monsieur, for all the kindness and hospitality you have shown me; but I feel that the time has come when I should make a change and seek some other employment."
Maitre Leger placed the tips of his fingers together and regarded Roger thoughtfully through his steel-rimmed spectacles.
"I'll not say that I am altogether surprised to hear this, Rojé. In fact, for some time past I've observed that you have become somewhat unsettled. I need hardly add that I am loath to lose you, and you will leave a sad gap in our little family circle. But you have an excellent intelligence and should go far. I take it that the cause of your wishing to leave us is that you feel there are not sufficiently tempting prospects for you here?"
"I must admit that is the case, Monsieur; but I am deeply touched by the kind things you say, and I, too, shall miss all of you prodigiously, wherever I may go."
"That sounds as if you have no plans as yet?"
Roger nodded. "I have nothing in view at all, but I have saved a few louis; enough to support me for some weeks, and during then I hope to find a fresh opening which at least may add to my experience." I admire your courage, but is that not rather rash?"
"Maybe it is," Roger agreed. "But the urge to try my luck again has come upon me."
"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: