it is getting terribly late, MariounP So Marie pus|ed
Christpphe gently away, and went off to fetch $£)d
and wine from the kitchen.
§5
Christophe had been deeply impressed by the
legend, and so for the matter of that, had Jan, yet it
led them both into very grave mischief. Into mischief
so enormous that Madame Roustan could but put the
whole affair down to the devil.
As she afterwards said: cHe was listening no doubt,
and he always grows spiteful when the dear saints are
mentioned.'
In any case, it certainly appeared largely to be due
to Jan's pious leanings. He was much addicted to
religious games in which he invariably wished to
play the hero; thus Christophe must be Isaac to Jan's
Abraham; or Goliath to Jan's somewhat boastful
David; or a very bored lion that of course must not
bite, to Jan's complacent and self-righteous Daniel,
so that many a game would begin with a dispute and,
as likely as not, would end with a quarrel. But on the
occasion of the escapade in which Madame Roustan
dete'cted Satan, Christophe had for once got the
upper hand, and he would not relinquish his rights
without a struggle.
He and Jan together with ,le tout petit Loup, had
gone down to the beach, Christophe meaning to
bathe in spite of a rough sea owing to the mistral.
But just as he was about to plunge in, Jan had one of
his sudden inspirations.
CI have thought of a marvellous game;' he an-
nounced, 1 will be Saint Christophe and Loup shall
be our Lord. I will paddle and he shall sit on my
shoulder!5
Christophe frowned: 'Ca non! That I will not
105