Monsieur de Camors -- Volume 3

There are many examples of the extremes to which this kind of intelligence, at once ambitious, grasping, yet impotent, can transport it

xons in the time of Charlemagne, who asked to be baptized every time they wanted new tunics. Madame de la Roche-Jugan had given a kind reception to this sad prodi

d on the widowhood of the Marquise and the heritage of the General. The marriage of M. de Camors had for the moment deceived her, but she was one of those pious persons who always think evil, and whose suspicions

feeling at this deception was immediately joined, in this base soul, a sudden thirst for revenge. It was true she had been badly recompensed for her anonymous letter, by which she had previously attempted to open the eyes of the unfortunate General; for from that moment the General, the Marquise, and M. de Camors himself, without an open rupture, let her feel their marks of contempt, which embittered her heart. She nev

world; and it was natural to suppose he would turn to his young relative Sigismund, if o

de la Roche-Jugan, who had consulted a lawyer on this question, knew that he had the power of alie

uple, therefore, in engaging Vautrot in the meritorious work she meditated. She secured him by some immediate advantages and by promises; she made him believe the General would recompense him largely. Vautrot, smarting st

peculating, through the secret he held, on the great fortune of the General. This secret he had already given to Madame

nd night, with an evil ardor of hate and jealousy. The absolute confidence which the General reposed in his wife and Camors after the latter's marriage with Marie de Tecle, had doubtless allowed them to dispense with much of the mystery and adventure of their intrigue; but that which was ardent, poetic, and theatrical to the Marquise's im

he General wished to obtain information about the crops. Madame de Campvallon and M. de Camors chose the time of these absences for their dangerous interviews at night. Camors, apprised from within by some understood signal, entered the enclosure surrounding the cottage of Mesnil, and thence proceeded to the garden belonging to the house. Madame de Campvallon always charged herself with the peril that charmed her-with keeping open one of the windows on the ground floor. The Parisian custom of lodging the domestics in the attics gave to this hardihood a sort of security, notwithstanding its being always hazardous. Near the end of May, one

st with the General. He remarked that the General was not playing his us

l?" said he, after they

esome affair between two of my people in the country

aside: "My friend," he said, "I deceived you, just now; I have so

er?" said Camors,

-morrow. Come, in any case, to see

cert

hall go-for I am

nd more affection

Camors experienced for some moments a lively disquietude, but the friendly and tender adieus of the General reassure

d whom he loved, or to whom he would have devoted hi

eneral in the course of that evening had been informed of the treachery of his wife-at le

ncountering the blind and obstinate fai

ey again pronounced that name, the General would have repelled the

Hotel Campvallon with the customary precautions; and this time we shall follow him there. In traversing the garde

pened on a rotunda at an elevation of a few feet. He kissed

arquise through the dark and silent salon. She held in her hand a candle, the feeble light of which threw on her delicate features a strange pal

le to look at Camors; then cast on him her inspiring smile, placed her hand on her heart, as if to say, "I am fearful," and went on. The

ght gleam on two or three pictures of the Spanish school, which were

with her feet two cushions before her, on which Camors half reclined; she

e me to-day

upon him. The General paused near the door. As he saw them a shudder passed over his frame, and his face assumed a livid pallor. For an instant his eye rested on Camors with a stupefied surprise and almost bewilderment; then he r

om him, crossed his arms

ward, striking his head against the marble mantelpiece, rolled on the carpet, and remained motionless. There was an ominous silence. A stifled cry from M. de Camors broke it. At the same time he threw himself on his knees by the side of the motionless old man, touched first his hand, then his heart. He saw that he was dead. A thi

have awakened the dead and restored him to life. He had sworn to deliver himself up to him without defence, if ever the old man demanded it of him for forgotten favors, betrayed friendship, and violated honor. Now he had killed him. If he had not slain him with his own hand, the crime was s

been taken suddenly ill, and that on entering he

fore giving the alarm to give Camors sufficient time to escape; and until

ed on leaving the hotel

had a private entr

ery. There was a suite of apartments-first a study, then his sleeping-room. M. de Camors traversed this room with feelings we shall not attempt to describe and gained the street. The surgeon testified that the General