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Montauran is as lean as a nail, while I " and he looked himself over with an air of satisfaction. "At any rate I should save my head." These diplomatic revelations were wasted. The passion the count proposed to feign for Mademoiselle de Verneuil became a violent caprice, which the dangerous creature did her best to heighten.
Francine heard Madame du Gua give a sigh of relief as she felt herself in safety beyond reach of the Blues; an exclamation escaped her when the gates were closed, and she saw the carriage and its occupants within the walls of this natural fortress. The Marquis de Montauran turned hastily to Mademoiselle de Verneuil, divining the thoughts that crowded in her mind.
I know all your great victories the Montauran case, the Simeuse business the battles of Marengo of espionage." "Well," said Corentin, "you have some esteem for the public prosecutor?" "Yes," said Jacques Collin, bowing respectfully, "I admire his noble character, his firmness, his dignity. I would give my life to make him happy.
"'The military citizen commanders of all grades, the district administrators, the procureur-syndics, et cetera, of the insurgent departments, and particularly those of the localities in which the ci-devant Marquis de Montauran, leader of the brigands and otherwise known as the Gars, may be found, are hereby commanded to give aid and assistance to the citoyenne Marie Verneuil and to obey the orders which she may give them at her discretion.
As for the three hundred thousand francs which are always spread before your eyes, I will give them to you in good gold as soon as the marquis is safe." Corentin rose, stepped back a pace or two, and looked at Marie. "You have grown rich in a very short time," he said, in a tone of ill-disguised bitterness. "Montauran," she continued, "will make you a better offer still for his ransom.
"I'll answer that when you tell me why she has not done it already," said Montauran, assuming with a laugh an air of conceit. "My dear fellow, look at that charming girl, watch her manners, and dare to tell me she is not a woman of distinction. If she gave you a few favorable looks wouldn't you feel at the bottom of your soul a respect for her? A certain lady has prejudiced you.
"You know Montauran," Madame du Gua said to them; "he has fallen in love with that worthless girl, and, as you can easily understand, he thinks all my warnings selfish.
But the smuggler had dealt boldly with an important topic, and the calculating, ambitious minds of those present had been too long in suspense as to what they might hope for from the king to allow the scorn of their new leader to put an end to the scene. Rifoel hastily blocked the way before Montauran, and seized his hand to oblige him to remain.
Virtue was to her a new seduction. "Perhaps," she thought, leaving the window without seeing the signal on the rocks of Saint-Sulpice, "I have been too coquettish with him but I knew he loved me! Francine, it is not a dream; to-night I shall be Marquise de Montauran. What have I done to deserve such perfect happiness? Oh! I love him, and love alone is love's reward.
"Florigny?" cried Corentin, turning white; "then the rendezvous is not there! Is Florigny on the road to Mayenne?" he asked. "There are not two Florignys," replied the woman, pointing in the direction of the summit of La Pelerine. "Are you going in search of the Marquis de Montauran?" said Corentin to Hulot. "Perhaps I am," answered the commandant, curtly. "He is not at Florigny," said Corentin.
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