Part 34 (1/2)
”You have served the marquis so long?” said the visitor, pausing as he was leaving the room. ”Do you remember the Saint-Prosper family?”
”Well, Monsieur. General Saint-Prosper and my master were distant kinsmen and had adjoining lands.”
”Surely the marquis did not pa.s.s his time in the country?” observed Mauville.
”He preferred it to Paris--when my lady was there!” added Francois, softly.
In spite of his ill-humor, the shadow of a smile gleamed in the land baron's gaze, and, encouraged by that questioning look, the man continued: ”The marquis and General Saint-Prosper were always together. My lady had her own friends.”
”So I've heard,” commented the listener.
Francois' discreet eyes were downcast. Why did the visitor wish to learn about the Saint-Prosper family? Why, instead of going, did he linger and eye the man half-dubiously? Francois had sold so many of his master's secrets he scented his opportunities with a sixth sense.
”The marquis and General Saint-Prosper were warm friends?” asked the land baron at length.
”Yes, Monsieur; the death of the latter was a severe shock to the Marquis de Ligne, but, _mon Dieu_!”--lifting his eyes--”it was as well he did not live to witness the disgrace of his son.”
”His son's disgrace,” repeated the land baron, eagerly. ”Oh, you mean running in debt--gaming--some such fas.h.i.+onable virtue?”
”If betraying his country is a fas.h.i.+onable virtue,” replied the valet.
”He is a traitor.”
Incredulity overspread the land baron's features; then, coincident with the a.s.sertion, came remembrance of his conversation with the marquis.
”He certainly called him that,” ruminated the visitor. Not only the words, but the expression of the old n.o.bleman's face recurred to him.
What did it mean unless it confirmed the deliberate charge of the valet? The land baron forgot his disappointment over his inability to see the marquis, and began to look with more favor on the man.
”He surrendered a French stronghold,” continued the servant, softly. ”Not through fear; oh, no; but for ambition, power, under Abd-el-Kader, the Moorish leader.”
”How do you know this?” said the patroon, sharply.
”My master has the report of the military board of inquiry,” replied the man, steadily.
”Why has the matter attracted no public attention, if a board of inquiry was appointed?”
”The board was a secret one, and the report was suppressed. Few have seen it, except the late King of France and my master.”
”And yourself, Francois?” said the patroon, his manner changing.
”Oh, Monsieur!” Deprecatorily.
”Since it has been inspected by such good company, I confess curiosity to look at it myself. But your master is ill; I can not speak with him; perhaps you--”
”I, Monsieur!” Indignantly.
”For five hundred francs, Francois?”
Like oil upon the troubled waters, this a.s.surance wrought a swift change in the valet's manner.