Scaramouche

lish guinea - would carry you the seventy and odd miles of the journey in some fourteen hours. Once a week one of the diligences going in each direction would swerve aside from the

n a horse hired from the Breton arme that he set out next morning; and an hour's brisk ride under a grey wintry

some thirty thousand souls, most of whom, he opined from the seething, clamant crowds that everywhere blocked his

th of the equestrian statue of Louis XV, a white-faced young man was excitedly addressing the multitude. His youth and dress pro

–Louis caught a few of the phrase

They arrogate to themselves the whole sovereignty in Brittany. The King has dissol

s popular display of temper was most opportune to his need, he thought. And in the hope that it might serve his turn by disposing to reasonableness the mind of the King's Lieutenant, he pushe

ced a year ago. But he did not pause to ascertain the particular cause of that gathering. He strode on, and thus came presently t

l his heels for a full half-hour after he had found an usher so condescending as to inform the god who presid

e hour. At long length he was escorted up the broad stone staircase, and ushered into a sp

e should say. This consideration made him realize the weakness of the case he propose

decorated door into a fine, well-lighted room furnished with enoug

r the inner court, before a goat-legged writing-table with Watteau panels, heavily encrusted with ormolu, sat that exalted being. Above a scarlet coat with an order flaming on its breast, and a billow of lace in which diamonds sp

f brown cloth, and yellow buckskin breeches, his knee-boots splashed with mud, the scowl upon that a

asting the valuable time of a King's Lieutenant, of whose immense importance it conveyed something more than a hint. M. de Lesdiguieres accounted himself an i

happen to this youthful lawyer fro

hat arrogant poise of the head, that scowling brow, the inflexion of that reverberating voice. Even more difficult than it is for a man to be a hero to his valet - who ha

d boldly - impudently, t

ust lord of life and death that this fellow had the incredible effrontery to address him as on

andsome, sallow face unde

th this infernal insubordinati

not, mo

y intruding upon me at a time when all my attention is bein

me is no less disgrace

assion, and tossing back a cloud of lace from his hand

ry. M. de Lesdiguieres checked in sheer amazement at

said alre

on, relentlessly, interrupting the interruption

res considered

our name?"

Louis M

hear you. But I warn you that I shall be very angry if you fail to j

e shooting of Mabey, and passing thence to the killing of M. de Vilmorin. But he withheld until the end the name of the gre

o. He told his story well, without exaggeration, yet with a force of simple appeal that was irresistible. Gradually the

s the man you ch

is de La T

anger, and an arrogance more utter than before, took the

he stormed on, "to come before me with such a charge against a gentleman of M

" the young man corrected. "An

, do you? My G

r you to sa

man into a more or less succe

to be exact - the gamekeeper may have exceeded his duty; but by so little that it is hardly worth comment. Consider, however, that in any case it is not a matter for the King's Lieutenant, or for any court but the seigneurial court of M

end in the unjust punishment of a wretched gamekeeper, who did no more than carry out his orders, but who none the less would now

God!" he cried out, to add more quietly, on a note

, pleading a case - the case of M. de Vilmorin. It is for h

t was a duel!" cried the Lieutenan

duel. There is a distinction, as I shall s

esdiguieres, whose tenure of office had never yet he

morin never practised fencing in all his life, and it is notorious that M. de La Tour d'Azyr is an exceptional swordsman. Is it a duel

fought on which the same trumper

ice. And in one case, at least,

lly? When

Jeannine was a member of a powerful family, which exerted itself to obtain justice. It put forward just such arguments as now obtain against M. de La Tour d'Azyr. As

ife!" he cried. "Have you the effrontery to suggest t

r it, as I have shown you, and if it can be established that what I

not? Have you teme

s possible for a powerful family like that of La Roche Jeannine to set the law in motion, the law

uld accomplish nothing against this impassive, reso

off at once, and to be thankful for

there will be no inquiry into this case?

minutes it will be very much the worse for you." And M. de

you, the administrator of the King's justice, that duels are against the law, and that it is your duty to hold an inqui

tly. M. de Lesdiguieres, pale with ang

I marvel at my own patience with you. But I give you a last warning, master lawyer; keep a closer guard over that insolent tongue of yours, or you will have cau

ll, indeed, and he a poor knight of rueful countenance. To attack it at closer q

lesser beasts, including the wolf. The wolf, himself a hunter, wearied of being hunted. He took to associating with other wolves, and then the wolves, driven to form p

M. de Lesdiguieres replied. But that he conceived himself witty, it is probable h

guieres. You will," said A

ype="