The yellow book: an illustrated quarterly (3.1894)

By Kenneth Grahame 47
her Angers and toes, while the woman's heart beat even more dis-
tressingly.
"I have one little question to ask," he murmured (his arm
was about her now). "Do I understand that you still claim your
bonus ?"
Jeanne felt like water in his strong embrace ; but she nerved
herself to answer faintly but firmly : "Yes ! "
" Then so do I," he replied, as his lips met hers.
x * * x
Executions continued to occur in St. Radegonde; the Rade-
gundians being conservative and very human. But much of the
innocent enjoyment that formerly attended them departed after
the fair Chatelaine had ceased to officiate. Enguerrand, on suc-
ceeding to the post, wedded Clairette, she being (he was heard to
say) a more suitable match in mind and temper than others of
whom he would name no names. Rumour had it, that he found
his match and something over ; while as for temper—and mind
(which she gave him in bits)- But the domestic trials of high-
placed officials have a right to be held sacred. The profession, in
spite of his best endeavours, languished nevertheless. Some said
that the scaffold lacked its old attraction for criminals of spirit;
others, more unkindly, that the headsman was the innocent cause,
and that Enguerrand was less fatal in his new sphere than
formerly, when practising in the criminal court as advocate for
the defence.