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What was he doing in the room where the ropes had been deposited? Martial racked his brain to discover an answer to these questions. The Marquis de Courtornieu himself seemed much disturbed. "How could you be ignorant that there were many sympathizers with this movement in the garrison?" he said, angrily.
Mlle. de Courtornieu was not to be deceived by an explanation like this. Still she added: "Then your conduct is all the more grand, Monsieur." But such was not the opinion of the Duc de Sairmeuse. On returning to the chateau some hours later he reproached his son for his intervention. "Why the devil did you meddle with the matter?" inquired the duke.
It is at the instance of the duke, your father, who is anxious for you to repair at once to the Chateau de Courtornieu." He turned to Chanlouineau, and added: "We will now proceed on our way." But Martial detained him with a gesture. "I am much surprised to hear that they are seeking me," said he.
When they said "Monsieur d'Escorval," they referred to the baron. After the crushing evidence against the accused had been written and signed in her fine and aristocratic hand-writing, Mlle. de Courtornieu bore herself with partly real and partly affected indifference.
He felt twenty years younger the twenty years that had been passed in exile. So, rising before nine o'clock, he went to awaken Martial. On returning from dining with the Marquis de Courtornieu, the evening before, the duke had gone through the chateau; but this hasty examination by candle-light had not satisfied his curiosity. He wished to see it in detail by daylight.
He and Maurice were silent during the remainder of the drive. They reached the city at last, and Maurice saw how wise the abbe had been in preventing him from assuming a disguise. Armed with the most absolute power, the Duc de Sairmeuse and the Marquis de Courtornieu had closed all the gates of Montaignac save one.
Martial's countenance had changed so much during the three minutes he had been absent that there was an exclamation of terror when he reappeared, holding an open letter in one hand and leading with the other a young peasant whom no one recognized. "Where is my father?" he demanded, in a husky voice; "where is the Marquis de Courtornieu?" The duke and the marquis were with Mme.
Hence great was their disappointment when, on opening the carriage-door, they saw within the vehicle only Mlle. Blanche and Aunt Medea, who uttered the most piercing shrieks. But Mlle. de Courtornieu was a brave woman. "Who are you?" she demanded, haughtily, "and what do you desire?" "You will know to-morrow," replied Chanlouineau. "Until then, you are our prisoner."
"In case of trouble, I have many friends among the opposition." The treaty was thus concluded; but M. de Courtornieu took good care not to speak of it to his daughter. If he told her how much he desired the match, she would be sure to oppose it. Non-interference seemed advisable. The correctness of his judgment was fully demonstrated. One morning Mlle. Blanche made her appearance in his cabinet.
Fourteen! for seized by remorse or fright at the last moment, M de Courtornieu and the Duc de Sairmeuse had granted a reprieve to six of the prisoners and at that very hour a courier was hastening toward Paris with six petitions for pardons, signed by the Military Commission. Chanlouineau was not among those for whom royal clemency had been solicited.
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