Part 26 (2/2)
”The devil it does! The devil it does!” said La Ra to tell me that, my lord I shall have to watch the men who pick up balls”
The duke smiled
”But,” resu”
”And that is a great deal, it seeh”
”Pardon me; for instance, I say to my friends, Be on a certain day, on a certain hour, at the other side of the an to be uneasy; ”unless the horses have wings to mount the ramparts and come and fetch you”
”That's not needed I have,” replied the duke, ”a way of descending from the ramparts”
”What?”
”A rope ladder”
”Yes, but,” answered La Rah, ”a ladder of ropes can't be sent around a ball, like a letter”
”No, but itelse--in so else? In what?”
”In a pate, for example”
”In a pate?” said La Ra,” replied the duke ”let us suppose, for instance, that my maitre d'hotel, Noirmont, has purchased the shop of Pere Marteau----”
”Well?” said La Raourmand, sees his pates, thinks them more attractive than those of Pere Marteau and proposes to me that I shall try them I consent on condition that La Ramee tries them with uards, keeping only Grimaud to wait on us Grimaud is theThe moment for my escape is fixed--seven o'clock Well, at a few minutes to seven----”
”At a few minutes to seven?” cried La Ramee, cold sweat upon his brow
”At a fewthe action to the words), ”I raise the crust of the pie; I find in it two poniards, a ladder of rope, and a gag I point one of the poniards at La Ramee's breast and I say to him, 'My friend, I am sorry for it, but if thou stirrest, if thou utterest one cry, thou art a deadthese words, suited, as we have said, the action to the words He was standing near the officer and he directed the point of the poniard in such a manner, close to La Ramee's heart, that there could be no doubt in the mind of that individual as to his determination Meanwhile, Grimaud, still mute as ever, drew fro
La Ramee followed all these objects with his eyes, his alar
”Oh, my lord,” he cried, with an expression of stupefaction in his face; ”you haven't the heart to kill ht”
”But, my lord, if I allow you to escape I am a ruined man”
”I will compensate thee for the loss of thy place”
”You are determined to leave the chateau?”
”By Heaven and earth! This night I am determined to be free”
”And if I defend myself, or call, or cry out?”
”I will kill thee, on the honor of a gentleman”
At this moment the clock struck
”Seven o'clock!” said Grimaud, who had not spoken a word
La Ramee made one movement, in order to satisfy his conscience The duke frowned, the officer felt the point of the poniard, which, having penetrated through his clothes, was close to his heart
”Let us dispatch,” said the duke
”My lord, one last favor”
”What? speak, make haste”
”Bind my arms, my lord, fast”
”Why bind thee?”
”That I may not be considered as your accomplice”
”Your hands?” asked Grimaud
”Not before me, behind me”
”But hat?” asked the duke
”With your belt, my lord!” replied La Raave it to Grimaud, who tied La Ramee in such a way as to satisfy him
”Your feet, too,” said Gris, Grimaud took a table-cloth, tore it into strips and tied La Raether
”Now, oisse I ask for it; without it I should be tried in a court of justice because I did not raise the alarm Thrust it into my mouth, my lord, thrust it in”
Grimaud prepared to con as if he had so to say
”Speak,” said the duke
”Now, et, if any harm happens to me on your account, that I have a wife and four children”
”Rest assured; put the gag in, Grimaud”