United States or British Indian Ocean Territory ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Is there anyone within?" "Mice, I think," I answered softly. "Perhaps a cat." And he dropped his voice to the lowest whisper. "Whoever they are I must empty that room ere we speak, for I have, I think, as much for you as you for me." With this he knocked twice sharply at the door. After a moment it was opened, and putting the curtains aside Le Brusquet slipped into the room.
Once in Le Brusquet's apartments the reaction set in, and flinging myself in a chair I covered my face with my hands for the first time in my life I had broken down utterly. After a while I somewhat recovered myself. Lorgnac was standing with his back to me, looking out of the window, and Le Brusquet was by my side, a glass of cordial in his hand. "Drink this," he said.
Her eyes they are blue-black, not black met mine, with a laugh in them, as she said: "'Well, Le Brusquet, have you lost your ape, or has some jest failed you? you look so sad." "'Neither, madame, I answered; 'but I have lost my heart. "'Tell me, she said, 'who is it? Is it La Beauce? or, perhaps, Madame de Montal? "'Neither, madame; it has strayed much higher.
Out of the tail of my eye I had been watching Le Brusquet. All this time he had been engaged in examining the silver cup from which he had drunk his wine a relic of my past splendour. He toyed with it this way and that, looking at the arms engraved thereon, and comparing them with those on the flagon.
Poor Le Brusquet was in disgrace for a whole day for suggesting a new device for the Duke a weathercock on a steeple." And he laughed as he added: "The Duke came back almost a week ago, with five hundred gentlemen in his train amongst others the late rebel De Ganache, for whom he has obtained a pardon." "De Ganache!"
But a new obstacle had arisen. "I forgot," she said, "the guard at the door." "Reassure yourself, mademoiselle. It is a friend Orrain." "The hero!" And she clapped her hands. "Come, De Lorges." And, with a little nod to Le Brusquet, she ran to the door, followed by the page. As the two came forth she stopped. "Monsieur d'Orrain, you will not betray us?" "Not I, mademoiselle."
To show that my authorities in this respect are beyond reproach I have but to mention the names of my friends Blaise Ste. Marie de Lorgnac, now, as all know, the Maréchal Duc de Lorgnac; and Nicholas d'Ayen, Sieur de Besme, of the Quercy, who acted so strange a part in his day under the name of Le Brusquet.
"It was impossible to come sooner, madame; I had a little affair, and it was necessary to change my attire." "A successful affair, I trust, Monsieur le Vidame." Simon was about to answer, but a high-pitched voice broke in: "More successful than even the Vidame's great feat of arms in the forest of Fontevrault." And Le Brusquet made his way through the press, and stood behind the prince's chair.
It will, at any rate, enable you to leave Paris in safety, in broad day if you will, though out of Paris you may have to look to your skin." Like an old war-horse I scented the battle, and my blood flamed through me. Le Brusquet was right. With cunning knowledge he had pulled at my heart-strings, and laid bare my secret to myself.
At a word from De Lorgnac I lifted mademoiselle into the saddle though wearied the great grey was well able to bear so light a burden and holding her there we made our way with all the speed we could out of the Passage of Pity, Le Brusquet holding the horse. When we reached the river face Le Brusquet turned back and pointed to the sky. There were dark clouds of smoke rolling over the Mathurins.
Word Of The Day