Part 29 (1/2)

At this unexpected exhibition, all present looked with scorn. They had known Cazeneau to be cruel and unscrupulous; they had not suspected that he was cowardly as well. Pere Michel also preserved an unchanged demeanor.

”You are mistaken, Cazeneau,” he said. ”I feel no desire for vengeance. I seek none. Moreover, I have no influence or authority.

You must direct your prayers elsewhere.”

Upon this the wretched man turned to Florian.

”Come, come,” said Florian, impatiently. ”This will never do. Rise, monsieur. Remember that you are a Frenchman. Bear up like a man. For my part, I can do nothing for you, and have to obey orders.”

Cazeneau's break down was utter, and effectually destroyed all sympathy. His present weakness was compared with his late vindictiveness, and he who had just refused mercy to others could hardly gain pity on himself. He only succeeded in utterly disgracing himself, without inspiring a particle of commiseration. Still Florian was not cruel, and contented himself with keeping his prisoner in a room in the Residency, satisfied that there was no possibility of escape. Some of the officers, however, were loud in their condemnation of Florian's mildness, and a.s.serted that the dungeon and the chains, which had been inflicted by him on the Montresors, should be his doom also. But Florian thought otherwise, and held him thus a prisoner until the Vengeur returned. Then Cazeneau was sent back to be tried and convicted. His life was spared; but he was cast down to hopeless degradation and want, in which state his existence ultimately terminated.

Before the scene with Cazeneau was over, Claude had gone away and found his wife. Already Mimi's strength had begun to return, and her new-born hope, and the rush of her great happiness, coming, as it did, after so much misery and despair, served to restore her rapidly.

”I should have died if this had lasted one day more,” said she.

”But now it is all over, Mimi, dearest,” said Claude, ”and you must live for me. This moment repays me for all my sufferings.”

”And for mine,” sighed Mimi.

Margot saw that her mistress had for the present an attendant who was more serviceable than herself, and now all her thoughts turned to that faithful friend whom she had been compelled for the time to leave, but whom she had not for one moment forgotten. She waited patiently till she could get a chance to speak to Claude, and then told him what he did not know yet--that Zac was still a prisoner. At that intelligence, his own happiness did not allow him to delay to serve his friend. He at once hurried forth to see De Brisset. To him he explained Zac's position in such forcible language, that De Brisset at once issued an order for the release of himself and his schooner, without any conditions, and the recall of his seamen. To make the act more complete, the order was committed to Margot, who was sent in the s.h.i.+p's boat to the schooner.

On the arrival of this boat, Zac seemed quite indifferent to the safety of the schooner, and only aware of the presence of Margot. He held her hand, and stood looking at her with moistened eyes, until after the seamen of the Vengeur had gone. Terry looked away; Jericho vanished below, with vague plans about a great supper. Biler gazed upon Louisbourg with a pensive eye and a half-eaten turnip.

”I knowed you'd be back, little un,” said Zac; ”I felt it; an', now you've come, don't go away agin.”

”O, but I haf to go to ze comtesse,” said Margot; ”zat ees--to-day--”

”Go back to the countess! Why, you ain't goin' to give me up--air you?” said Zac, dolefully.

”O, no, not eef you don't want me to,” said Margot. ”But to-day I moos go to ze comtesse, an' afterward you sall ask her, eef you want me.”

At this, which was spoken in a timid, hesitating way, Zac took her in his arms, and gave her a tremendous smack, which Terry tried hard not to hear.

”Wal,” said he, ”thar's Pere Michel, that's a Moosoo an' a Roman Catholic; but he'll do.”