Marie-Noel had asked, "What is your plan for yourself?"
Thd day moved on slowly, terribly slowly. What was my plan? I loved the chateau. I loved this my
family: they had come to be mine. I wanted them to be happy, to go on being happy.
Six o'clock came, and passed. What plan could I have? Then I remembered something. I went into the
library and opened the desk. I took the pistol in my hand. I loved this family. What hope was there
that Jean de Jean would keep them happy?
What had Jean de Gue used this pistol for? Perhaps fifteen years ago ... ?But no: this was not the
answer. Two wrongs do not make a right.
I went down to the master's house, and waited. Then I looked out of the window. I saw someone hiding
in the bushes. Then he came and climbed in through the window. He stood with his right hand in his
packet.
"Sit down," I said.
"I thought you might have planned to kill me to so that you could have all the money and keep
yourself here in comfort for the rest of your life."
"You won't believe me," I said, "but I didn't think about the money. I love your family. I thought
of killing you ... but you may take your hand out of your packet. You're quite safe."
"Tell me what has happened. Everything."
I told him everything.
'But my mother: she can't stop the morphine."
"She wants to. She can if you help her."
"So Paul and Renee are leaving. But Blanche will be running the factory. Can she do it?"
"If she starts designing again, you can produce those beautiful little things--the chateau, those
bowls and the rest. You can sell them here to the tourists, and to the art shops in Villars and even
Le Mans, instead of making bottles for Carvalet who can buy them cheaper elsewhere."
"Yes. Yes. I like the idea. What a fool I was not to think of it before."
We changed clothes. He put the dressing on his hand as if he had burnt it. He gave me my papers,
and pocket-book with money in it.
"Just as much money as you left. I had made my own arrangements for when I left Saint Gilles."
He led me into the forest. "There's your car." He smiled, waved his hand and walked away--towards
his home.
Looking towards the chateau I saw Caesar run out and jump up at him. Marie-Noel came to him and he
swung her up in his arms.
I got into the car and drove away.