That Devil's Madness by Dominique Wilson Page B

‘Why?’
    â€˜It was tasteless, M’sieur.’
    Marius helped her up. ‘Go find your mother. Go on, go.’
    â€˜You’re not going to reprimand her? Again? I would have her whipped. You’re too soft with them, Papa. You let them get away with everything.’
    Marius nodded but didn’t bother answering – he’d heard this accusation before. And though he’d never say so, he thought Madeleine had forgotten her origins, thought herself too superior – too much of what she called a ‘lady’ – just because they were now better off. But a lady wouldn’t slap a child for such a small thing, of that he was sure. He had known a real lady – his Pauline – and she would never have treated the girl this way. She may not have had much, but she was proof that class had little to do with how much money you had. Only the fact that Madeleine was soon to give birth prevented him from telling her what he thought of her behaviour. He decided to talk to his son instead.
    â€˜It’s because she wants to live in town,’ Jean explained. ‘She hates it here. She wants us to move to Ampère, to be around other French women.’
    Marius nodded, though he didn’t think it was just a matter of country versus town. ‘And what about you? What do you want?’
    Jean turned from his father and pretended to scrutinise the fence before him.
    â€˜There’s a shop for sale in the main street. Madeleine thinks it would be a good business proposition. The town’s growing, Father – there are more and more houses being built. Madeleine says a more exclusive shop than what there is there now would do well – we could import quality goods.’
    Marius nodded, but didn’t comment.
    â€˜But we can’t really afford it. I have a bit of my savings left, which I can put towards the shop, but we’d need money to get settled as well. A house, of course, and a housekeeper to clean, and a girl to look after the children. And maybe someone to help me in the shop…’
    Marius noticed that Jean had avoided answering his question, and by the sound of things, it seemed these two had planned asking him for money for a while.
    â€˜How much?’
    â€˜Just a few thousand francs. I have the figures in my room.’
    Marius struggled to hide his disappointment; he hadn’t raised his sons to be like that. Initially, when Jean and his family had arrived, he’d thought Jean wanted to join him on the land, but Jean had quickly dissuaded him of that idea. And whilst he had to admit that his son had worked hard when living in France, since coming to Algeria he had done very little, other than lording it over Marius’ workers. It pained Marius to think this, but he realised he no longer wanted Jean or his arrogant wife on this land. A few thousand francs would be well worth the peace it would bring.
    â€˜Show me your figures after dinner. I’ll get the bank to make a transfer.’
    Marius’ prediction proved correct – when Jean and Madeleine left for Ampère shortly after, life at Asif mellul quickly resumed its previous peaceful rhythm.
    #
    If Marius was disappointed in Jean, in Louis he found only hope. At fifteen, the lad had an affinity to this land and its people that was uncommon in one so young. While some of the new colons tut-tutted and whispered, Louis and Imez had become inseparable, to the point where Louis refused boarding school – preferring a tutor instead – but only because he was then able to cut his lessons short and escape with Imez to roam the surrounding valleys and gorges. Marius had tried to encourage his son to study harder by suggesting that Imez join him in his lessons, but this had resulted in the tutor handing in his resignation – he didn’t believe in teaching ‘savages’. In the end Marius agreed to forget about tutors, but told Louis that, instead, he would