When the clouds had, by and large, cleared, Sheldon focused on the eastern slope of the mountain. Close to its southern edge, he noticed a spot which was slightly depressed from its surrounding area. Sheldon wasn’t sure if it was a vent, as the spot wasn’t really round as he had expected. Sheldon gazed at it and tried to speculate the circumference of it. It was approximately five hundred feet. He stood at the center of it. The ground was solid. He didn’t notice any smoke or sulfur in it. It was getting late. He had to return by noon. So, he began retreating to the foot of the mountain where he had kept his horse. The western slope of the mountain was quite steep. Hence, Sheldon had to descend very carefully. At times, descending from the mountain with his boots on became more difficult than it was, while climbing. When he was only twenty to thirty feet from the flat ground of the foothill, he slipped and slid down the slope. Fortunately, he did not sustain any injury, but the rear of his trousers got torn and they were stained by mud. He stood up and slapped his back with his left and right hand to get rid of the dust. He was reluctant to show his family that he had fallen.
At home, Martha was giving her children a lesson on French. While at school, she learned French as an optional subject. It came as handy when she had to teach her children how to speak French. Both Martha and Sheldon could speak the language, which made their business on the Island easier to handle. Martha was thinking, whether they should send their children to the school in French Town or get a private tutor at home. She could tackle English, but she needed someone to help them with science subjects.
Just as the day’s lesson was over, through the open window of their living room, they noticed Sheldon returning. Margaret and Paul ran out to the garden to receive their father. For a while, three of them sat in the wooden bench in their neatly kept garden and talked about Sheldon’s adventure over the mountain, before moving into the mansion. During lunch when Martha learned, where Sheldon had been that morning, she became curious and insisted on the purpose behind Sheldon’s visit to the mountain. Sheldon never told her what his friend Smith had conveyed to him about the mountain, out of fear that it might cause unnecessary alarm in her. He said, he simply wanted to have a bird’s eye view of his ranch, before having an artist for drawing the majestic scene from the top of the mountain. Hence, they concluded their conversation by declaring that they were going to hire not only an artist from French Town, but also a tutor who could teach Paul and Margaret Science and Mathematics.
Marcel Dupont was getting ready to leave the classroom when Claire entered. Claire was a tall and obese lady, genetically who had acquired her father’s physical traits. She was the owner and also the headmistress of the school. On the other hand, her younger sister Pauline looked very much like her mother, with an attractive figure and an unusually pretty face. When her silky auburn hair cascaded down her back, the other women of the town would look at her with envy. Perhaps, she was the most attractive lady in the small French Town. She and her sister Claire took care of the language and literature classes while Marcel and Miss Corinne were responsible for the science subjects. The school was set up five years ago, at the request of the town Mayor Jean Dominique. The town residents who were mostly illiterate farmers and tradesmen, wanted a school so that their children could get proper education. With a total population of the island exceeding not even a thousand, the number of students at the school could not go beyond seventy.
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Marcel was tall and a bit skinny, but his overall handsome appearance, attracted the attention of most ladies of the town. Because of his wit, humor and gentle nature, he could easily win over the hearts of people who were around him. Apparently, he was friendly with both Claire and Pauline. Nevertheless, he was careful not to express his dislike for Claire. Claire never tried to hide her fascination for Marcel. On several occasions, she even openly proposed to him. Every day after school, she would accompany Marcel to his lodging, though Marcel felt uncomfortable when she was around.
Today when Claire had appeared before him, he knew she would want to accompany him to his lodging. Marcel had no intention to go with her. The moment he saw her at the door, he began unpacking his bag. Taking out some copies, he concentrated in checking for errors in the works of his students. Claire ran her fingers through her hair, to make it more attractive. And then, very softly, she said to Marcel, “I thought you were done checking. Can’t you finish it at your lodging?”
“Nope, I’m not done with my work. Can’t concentrate in my work over there, it’s too noisy. I don’t think, I’ll be able to finish my work before noon. Go home, take rest.”
“You know, I don’t go home without you.”
Marcel didn’t try to hide his irritation when he said, “What do you mean you don’t go home without me? Look Claire, I don’t want to lead you into anything. For the last time, let me be clear to you. I have no intention, whatsoever, to have the kind of relation you seek. So please, don’t put your eggs in a bottomless basket.”
“Are you saying, you’re a bottomless basket?”
“What I mean is your hopes are misplaced. You won’t get what you expect of me.”
“Pauline tells me you’re interested in her.”
“So?”
“Do you know she’ll never do anything without my consent? Matter of fact, we have an understanding that whoever gets her, has to take me too, because we two never want to part from each other.”
“I didn’t hear anything like that from Pauline. Besides, what kind of proposition is that? We’re not Muslims. In Christianity there’s no place for polygamy.”
“Have you heard of the Mormons?”
“No, I haven’t heard of the Mormons, who are they?”
“They are a Christian sect in America. They say polygamy is permissible.”
“We’re not Mormons, we’re Catholics. In Catholicism, marriage is one of the most sacred institutions. We mean when we say “Till death do us apart” in our matrimonial vow. That’s why we don’t even allow divorce. So, there’s no question of polygamy either. It violates the sanctity of this sacred institution we know as marriage.”
“Then what will happen to women like me?”
“Oh come on Claire, why do you have to drag yourself to that level? There are plenty of men out there who’ll be happy to settle down with a fine lady like you. Go to Monsieur Beau. Plenty of sailors from all over the world, hang around in that tavern. After being at sea for so long, they are so desperate that they would marry almost anyone who even distantly looks like a woman.”
“These sailors don’t stay in one place.”
“Of course they will. Do you think that kind of life out there at sea is very pretty? It’s the most horrible way of living, living in a confined place, months at a time. There’s nothing to look at, other than water all around, and worst of all, eating nothing but dried foods. They do it because they have nothing better to do at home. If one of those miserable scoundrels can somehow get his hands on a rich lady like you, they’ll be willing to go to hell with you.”
“Are you serious Marcel?”
“Of course I’m serious, just try it. I’m sure you’ll have your man in no time.”
For a few moments, Claire looked through the window panes and quietly weighed the prospect of what Marcel had just said. Then she stood very close to Marcel, gently put her hand on his shoulder and said, “Alright, let me accompany you to your lodge, just for today. Tomorrow evening, I’ll visit Monsieur Beau.”
Marcel smiled at her and then, began wrapping up his work for the day. Certainly, one more day of not so pleasant walk, wouldn’t hurt that much.