In The Heart of A Traitor

Chapter Three

At Aron's house Marie takes the measurements she needs in between the merry but cautious flow of conversation.

"What is it you do for a living, Aron?" She asks.

"I have some investments," he answers warily.

"Ah, I see. So you are a gentleman of sorts?" she continues unthinkingly. Marie forgets that personal questions are looked down upon with disapproval by her conservative clients, for fear that the tongue can lose the head.

"Most certainly I am not! That would be an injustice to my fellow men, and a grievous lie. I am a . . . secretary of sorts, so I do work like you do, Madame for your living." Aron becomes quiet, and it dawns on Marie that the words which she had meant in no harm could be the undoing of him.

"I did not mean to pry, monsieur. It is merely my way of making conversation. I do regret if I have made bold of myself, I meant no ill to you." She states quickly.

"Those were dangerous words spoken, Madame. We must watch over our words lest by mistake hurt those we mean no harm." Aron replies, changing his icy tinge to a warmer glance, though still very somber. Marie blushed. Unknowingly she had allowed herself to become the tool of the government, the same one she despised. It is almost a curse, it seems. Remembering the words of a client the Master Tailor had once told her: "It is the government's business to know what you do for a living, how well you do it, and every ounce you receive for doing it." Once an official had come to her asking (or rather demanding) that she keep a look out on her neighbor, to ask certain questions and gather information for him and report it. "It is for the good of the people!" he had shouted as he left, and he had seemed hardly sincere if at all. Marie knew that if any man who was not an official made more money then his neighbor and the neighbor complained, that man was a public enemy number one, and soon lost everything that he had, sometimes his very life. Of course, the neighbor who complained didn't receive anything, for then he would have more money then his other neighbor! Marie knew it so well, it had been beaten into her head over and over and over again! She understood Aron's fear of her now, and she bit her lip. Perhaps he thinks that she is like the other people who mouth the empty, hallow shell of the law out of fear for their own safety? To quote the law out of fear? Is that for the people, or against the people? Marie knew, and she sighed.