Suppose that no one strays, after all, into
that carefully constructed labyrinth? Suppose that the ant-lion dies
of hunger and thirst in her pit? Such things may be, but if any
heedless creature once enters in, it never comes out. All the wires
which could be pulled to induce action on the captain's part were
tried; appeals were made to the secret interested motives that always
come into play in such cases; they worked on Castanier's hopes and on
the weaknesses and vanity of human nature. Unluckily, he had praised
the daughter to her mother when he brought her back after a waltz, a
little chat followed, and then an invitation in the most natural way
in the world. Once introduced into the house, the dragoon was dazzled
by the hospitality of a family who appeared to conceal their real
wealth beneath a show of careful economy. He was skilfully flattered
on all sides, and every one extolled for his benefit the various
treasures there displayed. A neatly timed dinner, served on plate lent
by an uncle, the attention shown to him by the only daughter of the
house, the gossip of the town, a well-to-do sub-lieutenant who seemed
likely to cut the ground from under his feet--all the innumerable
snares, in short, of the provincial ant-lion were set for him, and to
such good purpose, that Castanier said five years later, "To this day
I do not know how it came about!"
The dragoon received fifteen thousand francs with the lady, who after
two years of marriage, became the ugliest and consequently the most
peevish woman on earth.
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