Красное и черное

Driving a Bargain

           

           "Verywell,Iwillgivehimthirty-fivefrancs,"saidM.deRênal.

           "Iamquitesure,"saidthepeasant,inafawningvoice,"thatarich,generousmanliketheM.mayorwouldgoasfarasthirty-sixfrancs,tomakeupagoodroundsum."

           "Agreed!"saidM.deRênal,"butletthisbefinal."Forthemomenthistempergavehimatoneofgenuinefirmness.Thepeasantsawthatitwouldnotdotogoanyfurther.

           Then,onhisside,M.deRênalmanagedtoscore.HeabsolutelyrefusedtogiveoldSorel,whowasveryanxioustoreceiveitonbehalfofhisson,thethirty-sixfrancsforthefirstmonth.IthadoccurredtoM.deRênalthathewouldhavetotellhiswifethefigurewhichhehadcutthroughoutthesenegotiations.

           "HandmebackthehundredfrancswhichIgaveyou,"hesaidsharply."M.Durandowesmesomething,Iwillgowithyoursontoseeaboutablackclothsuit."

           Afterthismanifestationoffirmness,Sorelhadtheprudencetoreturntohisrespectfulformulas;theytookagoodquarterofanhour.Finally,seeingthattherewasnothingmoretobegained,hetookhisleave.Hefinishedhislastbowwiththesewords:

           "IwillsendmysontotheChâteau."TheMayor’sofficialscalledhishousebythisdesignationwhentheywantedtohumourhim.

           Whenhegotbacktohisworkshop,itwasinvainthatSorelsoughthisson.Suspiciousofwhatmighthappen,Julienhadgoneoutinthemiddleofthenight.HewishedtoplacehisCrossoftheLegionofHonourandhisbooksinaplaceofsafety.

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