The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-03-14
DENIS.
BY GUY DE MAUPASSANT,

Monsieur Marambot opened the letter
handed him by his servant, Denis, and
smiled. Denis, q stocky, jovial little
man, held up throughout the neighbour
ing county as model servant, and who
had lived twenty years in the house,
asked:
Monsieur is pleased, Monsieur has re-
ceived good news?''
III. Marambot was not rich. An elder
" village apothecary, he lived on a tiny
income earned by selling drugs to peas
ants. He answered.:
Eyes, Father Malois, now that he is
threatened with a lawsuit, draws in his
horns. Tomorrow I shall receive the
money. Five thousand francs will do
no mschief in an old bachelors cash
And NJ. Marambot rubbed his hands.
He was Of submissive temperament,
rather sad than gay, incapable of pro-
!!onged exertion, and easy-going about
business. He might undoubtedly have
made more money by taking advantage
established in more important center,
occupying his vacated place and getting
his customers. But the thought of all
the trouble OF moving had always pre-
vented, and after two days of reflection
he would say:
Bah! l shall lose nothing by waiting.
Perhaps next time the chance may be
better"
Denis was on the contrary, very ener-
getic. All that day he was even more
active than usual, washing every Win
dow and singing as he vigorously pol
lshed the glass. On the next morning
the postman gave Denis four letters for
h g cfA nfx os1tx l.
In the afternoon NJ Marambot handed
his servant four envelopes to mail. One,
addressed to NJ. Malois, Denis felt sure
contained receipt for the money. But
he asked no questions. Night came. NJ.
Marambot retired at his usual hour and
fell asleep. He was awakened later by
a singular noise. Sitting up in bed he
listened. Suddenly the door opened and
on the threshold appeared Denis, can
die in one hand, kitchen knife in the
other, his eyes staring, his lips COM
pressed and so pale that he looked like
a ghost.
NJ. Marambot, amazed, thought Denis
about to rise and awaken him, when the
servant, blowing out the candle, rushed
toward the bed. The master held out
his hands to receive knock which threw
him upon his back, and tried to seize the
hands of his servant. who he now
thought had gone mad: But he was
the breast. In the darkness he blindly
struggled, crying:
is the matter, Denis?'
The other, painting, GREATNESS, first re-
pulsed by a kick. then by blow of the
fist, continued to strike. Nj. Marambot
was again wounded. twice in the leg and
once in the stomach. Suddenly an idea
occurred to him and he cried:
"Stop, stop, Denis, l have not received
the money"
The man &; once ceased to STRIKE and
his master heard him breathing hard.
NJ: Marambot continued:
Il have not got anything. NJ. Malois
changed his mind; the lawsuit is to take
place. You may read the letters lying
q, match from his table and lit the can
die. He was covered with blood The
sheets and curtains were red. Denis
also bloody from head to foot. stood
erect. When he saw all this NJ. Maram.
bot tainted.
When he regained consciousness it was
dawn. For some time he was unable to
collect himself, to understand, to remem.
Der: Then his recollections of the at.
tack became suddenly so vivid that to
avoid seeing anything he closed his eyes
He felt weak, very weak He was
cold, wet, uncomfortable, and at the
thought of the blood with which his bed
was soaked ne shivered.
Where was Denis? Probably he had
escaped, thought the wounded man. And
now what should he do? Call for help:
If he moved his wounds would open and
he would bleed to death. Then he heard
the doorknob turned. His heart almost
ceased to beat. OF course, it was Denis
who had come to finish his work. In or.
der that the murderer might think him
already dead he held his breath. The
| sheet was raised and he felt his side
touched. A sharp pain near the hir
made him tremble. Now someone was
gently bathing the wound The crime
then, had been discovered and he was
being cared for. He was overcome by
JOY, but not wishing to show that he was
conscious, he very cautiously opened a
single eye, He recognized Denis stand
He again quickly closed his eye. What
then. was Denis doing? What did he
want? What terrible project had he
now? He was probably washing him tc
remove the traces of blood, and then he
would bury him in the garden ten feet
deep; or: perhaps in the cellar. beneath
the tne,t bottles e OF good vine. And NJ. Ma
| himself: II am lost, lost!' And t.
he kept his eyes firmly closed. The
blow did not fall. Denis had now raised
him and was bandaging the hip. Their
he began tenderly to dress the wound
on the leg. Doubt was no longer posi-
pie; his servant, after attempting 10 mur
der him, was now trying to save his life
| So NJ. Marambot, in a weak voice
gave some practical advice:
wash the wounds in water mixed
win saponaceOus coal tar
Denis replied: "That is what I am do
ing, monsieur
NJ. Marambot opened his eyes. NJ
bloodstains We're to be seen in the room
and on the bed were fresh white sheets
i Inc ~ tWo men men looked at each other. Al
| You have committed a great crime ,
Denis replied: Il am doing nv best
to make amends, monsieur; if You do moi
denounee me will, as in the past, serve
you faithfully"
1t was no time for displeasinp hi,
servant. NJ. Marambot, shuttins HI.
eyes, feebly said: