Part 8 (1/2)
It seemed to me I saw another opportunity With a sense of elation I did lass, and I thought his eyes were brighter, and his gestures less careful and alert
”Politics,” he said, ”and politics alone, Henry, are responsible for this evening's entertainlasses, Brutus, watch the glasses! These are parlous tiain--
”Made journey through the provinces, did we not, my lady? It is a pity your father, the Marquis, could not have enjoyed it with us He had a penchant for interesting situations, and in France today anything may happen In a few scant months dukes have turned into pastry cooks, and barbers' boys into generals Tooverns, or some bizarre contrivance that is neither one nor the other Just now it is Napoleon Bonaparte, a very determined little man Ah, you have heard of hio further than un to hear his naun to wonder how soon his influence would be overthrown, for it was in the days before he had consolidated his power He was still existing in aroyalists and revolutionists, all conspiring to seize the reins
”I sohtfully, ”if your friends realized the task before therow interested, nifies Written on this paper are the signatures of fifty natures to an oath to kill Napoleon Bonaparte and to restore a king to France You will agree withdocument”
”So they didn't kill him,” I said
”Indeed not,” he replied; ”quite the contrary They gave him a new lease of life”
”Then why,” I demanded, ”didn't they burn the paper Why--”
”Ah!” said ent smile ”There you have it, to be sure You have hit the root of the whole matter”
”It was the old Marquis's idea He told ned the oath, it would be a dangerous thing indeed for anyone to inform on the rest, because they would iuilty as they There are commendable points in the Marquis's idea, my son Now that the plot has failed, the existence of this paper is all that keeps erous little story In these signatures I read naovernment Somehow Napoleon's police have learned of the existence of this paper It has becoet it already Since it reposed in the strong box at the Chateau of Blanzy, it has cost hi for the Eclipse, and Brutus a disfigured countenance--not that I aa, my son Mr Lawton--have you wondered who he is? He is a very reckless et that paper if he can, if not by force, bythe house Suppose you held the paper in your hands, my son, you still have Mr Lawton”
He folded the paper, and replaced it in his pocket
”It is safer here at present,” said my father ”There will be others ant it presently, and then, perhaps, ill dispose of it”
”In other words, you intend to sell the people who entrusted you with the paper to the highest bidder?” I inquired
He glanced towards Madehtly
”That,” he adht be viewed froles”
I started to speak, but he raised his voice, and for the second ti beca to do with your being in this house tonight You are beco more of a hindrance than I expected, but you are here, and here you will stay for another reason I have heard ood examples parents set their children For ood exa which is even better, and that, uess what it is?”
”There is no need to guess,” I said, ”you have been perfectly clear”
Gossip had it that h perhaps the Green Rooes in his library still attest his propensity He now looked about hihLike a ued by his exertions, he leaned back in his chair
”My son,” he said, ”you have a keenness of wit, and a certain decision, which I confess I overlooked in you at first--”
The h on purpose to prolong it
”You are right,” he continued finally ”I am here to set you a bad example, Henry, and, believe me, it will be no fault of ood one Listen, s, tried s in this life, most of them discreditable I have wasted my days and my prospects in a thousand futilities I have lost h at me, curse me if you wish I shall be the first to conize your position
”But above all things watch s I do
Recall acy, my son What s I do--of course you perceive their value?”
”Only in a negative sense,” I replied pushi+ng the bottle toward hilass ”Their value, as you say, is purely negative Yet, believe me, it does not impair them You have only to place them before you and do exactly opposite It is the best way I can think of for you to beco man And now you have the only reason why I perinal lesson, is it not?”