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Updated: May 29, 2025
"Speaking of Bardelys, Monsieur de Lesperon " "My dear Chevalier, we were no longer speaking of him." He smiled darkly. "Let us speak of him, then." "But are there not a thousand more interesting things that we might speak of?" This he took for a fresh sign of fear, and so he pressed what he accounted his advantage.
"Mon Dieu!" I cried, "will the world never forget that indiscretion? An indiscretion of youth, no doubt much exaggerated outside Court circles." The Vicomte eyed me in some astonishment for a moment. "Monsieur de Lesperon," he said at length, "you appear to hold this Bardelys in high esteem. He has a staunch supporter in you and a stout advocate. Yet me you cannot convince."
Presently, as his eye fell, "Is your business with me, Monsieur de Bardelys?" he asked, and at that utterance of my name there was a commotion on the steps, whilst the Vicomte started, and his eyes frowned upon me, and the Vicomtesse looked up suddenly to scan me with a fresh interest.
You may set all you have against it," I added coarsely, "and yet, I swear, the odds will be heavily in your favour." I remember it was Mironsac who first found his tongue, and sought even at that late hour to set restraint upon us and to bring judgment to our aid. "Messieurs, messieurs!" he besought us. "In Heaven's name, bethink you what you do. Bardelys, your wager is a madness.
To-night, as he assisted me to undress, it wore an expression of supreme woe. "Monseigneur is going into Languedoc?" he inquired sorrowfully. He always called me his "seigneur," as did the other of my servants born at Bardelys. "Knave, you have been listening," said I. "But, monseigneur," he explained, "when Monsieur le Comte de Chatellerault laid his wager "
Believe me, monsieur, I have some acquaintance with Marcel de Bardelys, and his vices are hardly so black as is generally believed; whilst in his favour I think the same may be said that you have just said of his father he is an honest, upright gentleman." "And that disgraceful affair with the Duchesse de Bourgogne?" inquired Lavedan, with the air of a man setting an unanswerable question.
And now, monsieur, if you will have mercy upon me, we will talk of other things. I am so weary of this unfortunate Bardelys and his affairs. He may be the fashion of Paris and at Court, but down here his very name befouls the air. Mademoiselle," I said, turning to Roxalanne, "you promised me a lesson in the lore of flowers."
And a note of disappointment crept into his voice. Before I could make him any answer, he had resumed. "No matter; Marcel de Bardelys is a gentleman, and party signifies little when a man is dying. I am Rene de Lesperon, of Lesperon in Gascony," he pursued. "Will you send word to my sister afterwards?" I bowed my head without speaking. "She is the only relative I have, monsieur.
"But," Mironsac asked his cousin, as he took my hands in his own, "why did you not tell me, Amedee, that it was to Monsieur le Marquis de Bardelys that you were conducting me?" "Would you have had me spoil so pleasant a surprise?" his cousin demanded. "Armand," said I, "never was a man more welcome than are you. You are but come in time to save my life."
It is a great compliment that he pays us in sending hither the handsomest and most accomplished gentleman of all his Court so fame has it yet it is a compliment of whose flattery I am not sensible. Bardelys goes hence as empty-handed as went Chatellerault. Let him but show his face, and my daughter journeys to Auch again. Am I not well advised, Monsieur de Lesperon?"
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