M. de Rênal understood only too well what Julien was asking, and a painful conflict tore his soul. It happened that Julien, who was really mad with rage, cried out,
"I know where to go, Monsieur, when I leave your house."
At these words M. de Rênal saw Julien installed with M. Valenod. "Well, sir," he said at last with a sigh, just as though he had called in a surgeon to perform the most painful operation, "I accede to your request. I will give you fifty francs a month. Starting from the day after to-morrow which is the first of the month."
Julien wanted to laugh, and stood there dumbfounded. All his anger had vanished.
"I do not despise the brute enough," he said to himself. "I have no doubt that that is the greatest apology that so base a soul can make."
"The children who has listened to this scene with gaping mouths, ran into the garden to tell their mother that M. Julien was very angry, but that he was going to have fifty francs a month."
Julien followed them as a matter of habit without even looking at M. de Rênal whom he left in a considerable state of irritation.
"That makes one hundred and sixty-eight francs," said the mayor to himself, "that M. Valenod has cost me. I must absolutely speak a few strong words to him about his contract to provide for the foundlings."
A minute afterwards Julien found himself opposite M. de Rênal.
"I want to speak to M. Chélan on a matter of conscience. I have the honour to inform you that I shall be absent some hours."
"Why, my dear Julien," said M. de Rênal smiling with the falsest expression possible, "take the whole day, and to-morrow too if you like, my good friend. Take the gardener's horse to go to Verrières."
"He is on the very point," said M. de Rênal to himself, "of giving an answer to Valenod. He has promised me tothing, but I must let this hot-headed young man have time ocool down."
Julien quickly went away, and went up into the great forest, through which one can manage to get from Vergy to Verrières.
