Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-03-15
DENIS.
BY GUY DE MAUPAssANT,

|
smiled. Denis, a stocky, iovial little
man, held up throughout the neighbor-
ing county as a model servant, and who
had lived twenty years in the house,
| asked:
Monsieur is pleased, Monsieur has re-
ceived good news?''
Nj: Marambot was not rich. An elder
" village apothecary, he lived on tiny
income earned by selling drugs to peas
ants. He answered.:
Yes, Father Malois, now that he is
threatened with lawsuit, draws in his
horns. Tomorrow | shall receive the
money. Five thousand francs will do
no mischief in an old bachelors cash
| box"
And NJ. Marambot rubbed his hands.
lie. 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
of the death of some brother tradesman
established in more important center,
occupying his vacated place and getting
his customers. But the thought of ali
the trouble of moving had always pre-
vented, and after two days of reflection
he would say:
| Bah! / 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
| ished the glass. On the next morning
the postman gave Denis four letters for
his master, one of which was very heavy.
| In the afternoon NJ. Maramb0t handed
| his servant four envelopes to mail. One,
addressed to Nj. Malois, Denis felt sure
contained a 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, n can
die in one hand, kitchen knife in the
| other, his eyes staring, his lips COM
pressed and so pale that he looked like
ghost.
NJ. Marambot, amazed, thought Denis
| must be walking in his sleep, and was
about to rise and awaken him, when the
servant, blowing oat the candle, rushed
| toward the bed. The master held out
his hands TO receive Il 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
| stabbed, first in the shoulder then in
| the breast. In the darkness he blindly
| struggled, crying;
Denis, Denis; are you crazy? What
is the matter, Denis?'
The other, painting. breathess. first re-
| pulsed by a kick then by a 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, | have not received
| the money"
The man Ct once ceased to strike. and
his master heard him breathing hard
| NJ. Marambot continues:
| II have not got anVth hing NJ MOlpis
changed his mind: the lawsuit is to take
| place. You may read the letters living
on my desk" BY supreme effort he took
n 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 recolections of the at
tack became suddenly so vivid that to
avoid seeing anything he closed his eyes
| lie felt weak, very weak. He was
| cold, wet, uncomfortable, and mt 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 :
II 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. 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 8
single eye. lie recognized Denis stand.
ing near him. Denis himself. Mercy
He again quickly closed his eye What
then, was Denis doing? What did he
want? What terrible project had he
now2 lie 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 bottles of good wine. And NJ Ma
rambot began to tremble. He said Il
himself: II am lost, lost" And tC
avoid seeing the last blow of the knife
he kept his eyes firmly closed. The
blow did not fall. Denis had now raised
him. and was bandaging the hip. Then
| he began tenderly to dress the wound
on the leg. Doubt was no longer posi-
bic; his servant, after attempting 10 mur.
| der him, was now trying to save his life
So NJ. Marambot, in weak voice
gave some practical advice:
Wash the wounds in water mixed
with saponaceous coal tar"
Denis replied; ''That is what am do.
ing. monsieur"
NJ Marambot opened his eyes. No
bloodstains were 10 be seen in the room.
and ON the bed We're fresh white sheets.
The two men looked at each other. At
last NJ. Marambot said gently:
I al Il
Denis replied; Il am doing my best
TO make amends, monsieur: if you do not
denounce nue. will, as in the past, serve
you faithfully"
1t was no time for displeasing his
servant, NJ. Marambot, shutting his
eyes, feebly said:
Il solemnly swear not to denounce
you"
Denis saved his masters life, For