Part 59 (2/2)
”But----”
With a gesture, he interrupted her.
”We must not lose time in discussion--listen to me. Of itself, this letter might be unimportant, but I have arranged matters in such a way that it will produce a powerful effect. I declared before the commission that the Marquis de Sairmeuse was one of the leaders of the movement.
They laughed; and I read incredulity on the faces of the judges. But calumny is never without its effect. When the Duc de Sairmeuse is about to receive a reward for his services, there will be enemies in plenty to remember and to repeat my words. He knew this so well that he was greatly agitated, even while his colleagues sneered at my accusation.”
”To accuse a man falsely is a great crime,” murmured the honest Marie-Anne.
”Yes, but I wish to save my friend, and I cannot choose my means. I was all the more sure of success as I knew that the marquis had been wounded. I declared that he was fighting against the troops by my side; I demanded that he should be summoned before the tribunal; I told them that I had in my possession unquestionable proofs of his complicity.”
”Did you say that the Marquis de Sairmeuse had been wounded?” inquired Marie-Anne.
Chanlouineau's face betrayed the most intense astonishment.
”What!” he exclaimed, ”you do not know----”
Then after an instant's reflection:
”Fool that I am!” he resumed. ”Who could have told you what had happened? You remember that when we were travelling over the Sairmeuse road on our way to the Croix d'Arcy, and after your father had left us to ride on in advance, Maurice placed himself at the head of one division, and you walked beside him, while your brother Jean and myself stayed behind to urge on the laggards. We were performing our duty conscientiously when suddenly we heard the gallop of a horse behind us.
'We must know who is coming,' Jean said to me.
”We paused. The horse soon reached us; we caught the bridle and held him. Can you guess who the rider was? Martial de Sairmeuse.
”To describe your brother's fury on recognizing the marquis would be impossible.
”'At last I find you, wretched n.o.ble!' he exclaimed, 'and now we will settle our account! After reducing my father, who has just given you a fortune, to despair and penury, you have tried to degrade my sister. I will have my revenge! Down, we must fight!'”
Marie-Anne could scarcely tell whether she was awake or dreaming.
”My brother,” she murmured, ”has challenged the marquis! Is it possible?”
”Brave as Monsieur Martial is,” pursued Chanlouineau, ”he did not seem inclined to accept the invitation. He stammered out something like this: 'You are mad--you are jesting--have we not always been friends? What does this mean?'
”Jean ground his teeth in rage. 'This means that we have endured your insulting familiarity long enough,' he replied, 'and if you do not dismount and meet me in open combat, I will blow your brains out!'
”Your brother, as he spoke, manipulated his pistol in so threatening a manner that the marquis dismounted, and addressing me:
”'You see, Chanlouineau,' he said, 'I must fight a duel or submit to a.s.sa.s.sination. If Jean kills me there is no more to be said--but if I kill him, what is to be done?'
”I told him he would be free to depart on condition he would give me his word not to return to Montaignac before two o'clock.
”'Then I accept the challenge,' said he; 'give me a weapon.'
”I gave him my sword, your brother drew his, and they took their places in the middle of the highway.”
The young farmer paused to take breath, then said, more slowly:
<script>