CHAPTER XX.

ACOMPETENCYwaswhatIwantedacompetencyitwasnowmyaimandresolvetosecurebutneverhadIbeenfartherfromthemark.WithAugusttheschool-year(l’anneescolaire)closed,theexaminationsconcluded,theprizeswereadjudged,theschoolsdispersed,thegatesofallcolleges,thedoorsofallpensionnatsshut,nottobereopenedtillthebeginningormiddleofOctober.ThelastdayofAugustwasathand,andwhatwasmyposition?HadIadvancedastepsincethecommencementofthepastquarter?Onthecontrary,Ihadrecededone.ByrenouncingmyengagementasEnglishmasterinMdlle.Reuter’sestablishment,Ihadvoluntarilycutoff20l.frommyyearlyincomeIhaddiminishedmy60l.perannumto40l.,andeventhatsumInowheldbyaveryprecarioustenure. ItissometimesinceImadeanyreferencetoM.Pelet.Themoonlightwalkis,Ithink,thelastincidentrecordedinthisnarrativewherethatgentlemancutsanyconspicuousfigure:thefactis,sincethatevent,achangehadcomeoverthespiritofourintercourse.He,indeed,ignorantthatthestillhour,acloudlessmoon,andanopenlattice,hadrevealedtomethesecretofhisselfishloveandfalsefriendship,wouldhavecontinuedsmoothandcomplaisantaseverbutIgrewspinyasaporcupine,andinflexibleasablackthorncudgelIneverhadasmileforhisraillery,neveramomentforhissocietyhisinvitationstotakecoffeewithhiminhisparlourwereinvariablyrejected,andverystifflyandsternlyrejectedtoohisjestingallusionstothedirectress(whichhestillcontinued)wereheardwithagrimcalmverydifferentfromthepetulantpleasuretheywereformerlywonttoexcite.ForalongtimePeletborewithmyfrigiddemeanourverypatientlyheevenincreasedhisattentionsbutfindingthatevenacringingpolitenessfailedtothawormoveme,heatlastalteredtooinhisturnhecooledhisinvitationsceasedhiscountenancebecamesuspiciousandovercast,andIreadintheperplexedyetbroodingaspectofhisbrow,aconstantexaminationandcomparisonofpremises,andananxiousendeavourtodrawthencesomeexplanatoryinference.Erelong,Ifancy,hesucceeded,forhewasnotwithoutpenetrationperhaps,too,Mdlle.ZoraidemighthaveaidedhiminthesolutionoftheenigmaatanyrateIsoonfoundthattheuncertaintyofdoubthadvanishedfromhismannerrenouncingallpretenceoffriendshipandcordiality,headoptedareserved,formal,butstillscrupulouslypolitedeportment.ThiswasthepointtowhichIhadwishedtobringhim,andIwasnowagaincomparativelyatmyease.Ididnot,itistrue,likemypositioninhishousebutbeingfreedfromtheannoyanceoffalseprofessionsanddouble-dealingIcouldendureit,especiallyasnoheroicsentimentofhatredorjealousyofthedirectordistractedmyphilosophicalsoulhehadnot,Ifound,woundedmeinaverytenderpoint,thewoundwassosoonandsoradicallyhealed,leavingonlyasenseofcontemptforthetreacherousfashioninwhichithadbeeninflicted,andalastingmistrustofthehandwhichIhaddetectedattemptingtostabinthedark. ThisstateofthingscontinuedtillaboutthemiddleofJuly,andthentherewasalittlechangePeletcamehomeonenight,anhourafterhisusualtime,inastateofunequivocalintoxication,athinganomalouswithhimforifhehadsomeoftheworstfaultsofhiscountrymen,hehadalsooneatleastoftheirvirtues,i.e.sobriety.Sodrunk,however,washeuponthisoccasion,thatafterhavingrousedthewholeestablishment(exceptthepupils,whosedormitorybeingovertheclassesinabuildingapartfromthedwelling-house,wasconsequentlyoutofthereachofdisturbance)byviolentlyringingthehall-bellandorderinglunchtobebroughtinimmediately,fo