Scaramouche
lish guinea - would carry you the seventy and odd miles of the journey in some fourteen hours. Once a week one of the diligences going in each direction would swerve aside from the
n a horse hired from the Breton arme that he set out next morning; and an hour's brisk ride under a grey wintry
some thirty thousand souls, most of whom, he opined from the seething, clamant crowds that everywhere blocked his
th of the equestrian statue of Louis XV, a white-faced young man was excitedly addressing the multitude. His youth and dress pro
–Louis caught a few of the phrase
They arrogate to themselves the whole sovereignty in Brittany. The King has dissol
s popular display of temper was most opportune to his need, he thought. And in the hope that it might serve his turn by disposing to reasonableness the mind of the King's Lieutenant, he pushe
ced a year ago. But he did not pause to ascertain the particular cause of that gathering. He strode on, and thus came presently t
l his heels for a full half-hour after he had found an usher so condescending as to inform the god who presid
e hour. At long length he was escorted up the broad stone staircase, and ushered into a sp
e should say. This consideration made him realize the weakness of the case he propose
decorated door into a fine, well-lighted room furnished with enoug
r the inner court, before a goat-legged writing-table with Watteau panels, heavily encrusted with ormolu, sat that exalted being. Above a scarlet coat with an order flaming on its breast, and a billow of lace in which diamonds sp
f brown cloth, and yellow buckskin breeches, his knee-boots splashed with mud, the scowl upon that a
asting the valuable time of a King's Lieutenant, of whose immense importance it conveyed something more than a hint. M. de Lesdiguieres accounted himself an i
happen to this youthful lawyer fro
hat arrogant poise of the head, that scowling brow, the inflexion of that reverberating voice. Even more difficult than it is for a man to be a hero to his valet - who ha
d boldly - impudently, t
ust lord of life and death that this fellow had the incredible effrontery to address him as on
andsome, sallow face unde
th this infernal insubordinati
not, mo
y intruding upon me at a time when all my attention is bein
me is no less disgrace
assion, and tossing back a cloud of lace from his hand
ry. M. de Lesdiguieres checked in sheer amazement at
said alre
on, relentlessly, interrupting the interruption
res considered
our name?"
Louis M
hear you. But I warn you that I shall be very angry if you fail to j
e shooting of Mabey, and passing thence to the killing of M. de Vilmorin. But he withheld until the end the name of the gre
o. He told his story well, without exaggeration, yet with a force of simple appeal that was irresistible. Gradually the
s the man you ch
is de La T
anger, and an arrogance more utter than before, took the
he stormed on, "to come before me with such a charge against a gentleman of M
" the young man corrected. "An
, do you? My G
r you to sa
man into a more or less succe
to be exact - the gamekeeper may have exceeded his duty; but by so little that it is hardly worth comment. Consider, however, that in any case it is not a matter for the King's Lieutenant, or for any court but the seigneurial court of M
end in the unjust punishment of a wretched gamekeeper, who did no more than carry out his orders, but who none the less would now
God!" he cried out, to add more quietly, on a note
, pleading a case - the case of M. de Vilmorin. It is for h
t was a duel!" cried the Lieutenan
duel. There is a distinction, as I shall s
esdiguieres, whose tenure of office had never yet he
morin never practised fencing in all his life, and it is notorious that M. de La Tour d'Azyr is an exceptional swordsman. Is it a duel
fought on which the same trumper
ice. And in one case, at least,
lly? When
Jeannine was a member of a powerful family, which exerted itself to obtain justice. It put forward just such arguments as now obtain against M. de La Tour d'Azyr. As
ife!" he cried. "Have you the effrontery to suggest t
r it, as I have shown you, and if it can be established that what I
not? Have you teme
s possible for a powerful family like that of La Roche Jeannine to set the law in motion, the law
uld accomplish nothing against this impassive, reso
off at once, and to be thankful for
there will be no inquiry into this case?
minutes it will be very much the worse for you." And M. de
you, the administrator of the King's justice, that duels are against the law, and that it is your duty to hold an inqui
tly. M. de Lesdiguieres, pale with ang
I marvel at my own patience with you. But I give you a last warning, master lawyer; keep a closer guard over that insolent tongue of yours, or you will have cau
ll, indeed, and he a poor knight of rueful countenance. To attack it at closer q
lesser beasts, including the wolf. The wolf, himself a hunter, wearied of being hunted. He took to associating with other wolves, and then the wolves, driven to form p
M. de Lesdiguieres replied. But that he conceived himself witty, it is probable h
guieres. You will," said A
ype="
Billionaires
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Billionaires
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