Part 28 (1/2)
”I do not know any such person.”
”His stolen appellation is Lecour de Repentigny.”
”Repentigny? ah, I know, I know.”
”As I have said, sir, the man is a cheat. Here in my hands are proofs of it, and I, myself, am personal witness against him.”
”Ah, this is serious, this is serious,” repeated the Prince in a disturbed tone.
”Your Excellency will, then, order his expulsion from the company?”
”Ah, you ask much, you ask much. I refer you to my adjutant. He manages those things,” and with a slightly impatient gesture the Prince bowed, and de Lotbiniere knew that he must go.
He next proceeded to Troyes to see Collinot. That officer examined particularly the Genealogist's certificate, went to the records, compared it with the former attestation, arrived at a conclusion. He treated the matter as of its full importance, and the only respect in which he disappointed de Lotbiniere was that he did not share the latter's violent feelings.
”The young man has been an efficient officer,” he said regretfully, ”and his conduct that of a gentleman. He is very unfortunate at an age when a man feels such misfortune keenly. It is regrettable for all of us. But, no doubt, we must do our duty.”
”And preserve our young officers from consorting with the sc.u.m of the people, Monsieur Adjutant.”
”He is scarcely sc.u.m, sir. One must allow that in point of form he is _parfaitement bien_. It is likely that the fortune of his father has led him quite naturally to believe himself fit for the regiment.”
”He ought, instead, to have been standing ap.r.o.ned in a pork-market. He deserves the galleys.”
”You are interested, Monsieur, and look at the affair with personal annoyance. As for me, I am guided solely by the royal ordinance requiring proofs of sixteen quarterings for entry into the Bodyguard. If Monsieur Lecour--who is now de Lincy--not Repentigny--cannot show them satisfactorily, he does not fulfil the ordinance, that is all. He is to-day at a shooting party.”
”This Lincy name is a worse imposture than the other. I tell you, Monsieur Adjutant, it is _impossible_ for such folk to have n.o.bility.”
”Pardon me, sir,” said Collinot, taking out his watch. ”May I invite you to review the force?”
”I must deny myself this great honour, inasmuch as I am not ready with your new infantry drill,” returned de Lotbiniere, intensely flattered at an invitation to review Bodyguards.
Besides, he had at last, he said to himself, effected his point. So he ordered his carriage and departed for Paris to pursue the rest of his plans.
CHAPTER x.x.x
THE HEAVENS FALL
When Germain returned from the shooting party, he was sent for from Collinot's office, and upon his entering, the door was closed.
As the closing of Collinot's door was an unusual proceeding, and was known among the regiment to denote something very particular, speculation and excitement immediately became rife, and the news that Lecour was closeted with Collinot spread like wildfire.
Germain, rosy and active, saluted his superior gallantly. The latter returned the action with a non-committal countenance.
”A gentleman calling himself the Marquis de Lotbiniere has just been here. Do you know him?”
Germain braced himself.
”I have heard of him in Canada,” he said, ”but his Marquisate is not believed in there.”