Part 25 (1/2)
De Lotbiniere looked methodically at the seal, the handwriting, and the date of the postmark.
”Go,” he said to the servant.
The incoming letter was from Louis de Lery, begging his uncle's advice in the affair of Lecour.
”The horror I have,” wrote he, after relating the circ.u.mstances, ”is not of death, for in that respect I shall not be found unworthy of our ancestors. It is solely the horror--the disgust--of being compelled to measure myself with a being so ill-a.s.sorted. I cannot limit myself in expressions at my comrades who force this upon me, nor of detestation and repugnance towards _the creature itself_.
What am I do? Your experience just now would be invaluable to me.
”LOUIS R. C. DE LeRY.”
”_Peste_, what a fine mess for us all!” de Lotbiniere exclaimed. ”The persistence of this fellow is incredible. They say de Bailleul supports him. I shall begin, then, by removing the support of de Bailleul. Louis must not fight this duel.”
He picked out a sheet from his pile of gilt-edged note-paper, laid it down, selected a quill and tried it, then wrote de Bailleul a sharp letter, as follows--
”MON CHER DE BAILLEUL,--They tell me to my amazement that it is you who are the protector of the young Canadian Lecour, who is just now making such a noise as an adventurer. He has at least obtained a high commission in the Bodyguard by the use of your name. I have no doubt that you are aware that he is the son of Lecour of St.
Elphege, my former _cantineer_. Can it be true that, knowing his birth to be so base, you go so far as to permit him the use of your position in these intrigues? If that be so--for I hesitate to credit it--let me go farther and remark that a most serious consequence has just followed his indiscretion. He challenges my nephew, de Lery, for a date fixed and imminent. We consider you responsible for this situation. I consequently trust that you will find some way to suppress your brazen-faced _protege_.
”And I have the honour to be, sir, &c., ”THE MIS. DE CHARTIER DE LOTBINIeRE.”
”That will end him,” remarked he, and reading it over, he folded, addressed and sealed it, and putting on his hat and gloves proceeded to the General Depot of the Post. There he took out his watch, noted the hour and minute, and handed in the letter.
The Chevalier was then in Versailles, so that Lotbiniere's note reached him quickly, and he replied--
”MY DEAR SIR,--Your note is a great shock to me. I have not slept nor lain down all night, on account of the matter of our young countryman, which is one of the most unfortunate in the world. He is as a son to me; and out of my feelings for him I beseech you to treat him considerately, for you cannot know how sensitive and fine-minded he is; the immediate ruin would kill him. Let us rather combine to withdraw him more gradually from his false position.
Cannot the quarrel between the young men be softened by gentle means? As for myself, I am ready to use my best influence with you in that direction.”
The Marquis read the letter over twice.
”He is asking quarter,” he ultimately p.r.o.nounced; ”clemency is asked of the victor: well, I will be clement. Lecour shall first write a humble retraction of all his claims. This shall be left in my hands by him for thirty days, during which the pretender shall leave France. De Lery will then exhibit the retraction, with attestations both by myself and de Bailleul.”
De Lotbiniere contemplated the cupids frescoed on the frieze urbanely.
He was victor.
A knock came, and the Marquis de Repentigny was ushered in.
”See,” said he, ”what is going all over Paris”; and he gave a newspaper pa.s.sage to de Lotbiniere to read.
The item ran--
”The duel between the two Bodyguards, Monsieur de Lery and the Chevalier de Repentigny, took place this morning at four o'clock in the woods of Bois du Lac. It is said that on account of some provincial quarrel, the former had insulted the latter by denying his gentility, of which, however, the Chevalier had made the amplest proofs on entering his regiment. During the duel, he displayed the firmest yet most amiable spirit, and having disarmed M. de Lery upon the _coup de tierce_, magnanimously refused to draw blood. The seconds then interfered and declared the honour of the combatants satisfied.”
”Devil! _Peste!_ Species of pig!” de Lotbiniere cried, his rage finding too few words.
”I just now heard some more details from an officer of of the Lambesc Dragoons,” Repentigny continued. ”My namesake was perfectly silent; Louis, on the contrary, quite unlike his ordinary manner, made no attempt to control himself. He never ceased to exclaim, 'Clodfoot!
Impostor!' and to taunt the stranger at each stroke with his father's origin. Finally Louis was disarmed, whereupon, with the same silence, Lecour handed back his sword--'with great dignity' said the Dragoon, and Louis refused to receive it.”