CHAPTER IV.


When Hirzel and his sister were out of sight, Jacques got down from his
hiding place and walked after them with the intention of telling old
Pierre what he had heard, and also to reveal to him a plan which had
suggested itself to his evil mind for destroying the young soldier when
he came to visit Marguerite on the following Wednesday evening. Jacques
changed his mind about going in when he came near the mill. He saw
through the open door Pierre talking with his children; he thought he
should not be able to see the old man alone that night, and besides, he
had a feeling which kept him back from entering Marguerite's presence
when he was plotting against her happiness in such a deadly manner. So
Gaultier turned his steps homeward, revolving in his mind the plan he
had laid out which was briefly this. The mill wheel was secured by a
rope which passed round the corner of the house and into a room behind
the granary, where it was fastened to a rafter. Now Gaultier thought
that when Charlie was standing on the wheel, if he could get old Pierre
to unfasten the rope, the sudden starting round of the wheel would
precipiate Charlie into the stream below, where he must inevitably be
dashed to pieces. Well thought of, Jacques Gaultier; but it is a pity
thy ingenuity had not been turned to better account!

Jacques spent a most restless night, for the awfulness of the crime
which he was meditating presented itself unceasingly to his mind; but,
on the other hand, he pictured to himself Marguerite Charlie's wife,
therefore lost to him. Not only did he hate Charlie on this score, but
political feeling, as well as the frank pleasant manner of the young
soldier, assisted in making Jacques look hardly on him. He could'nt but
remark the different manner in which he was treated. People rather