United States or Somalia ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Chesnel made the draft payable to Sorbier's young successor; and the latter, feeling but little inclination to adopt his correspondent's sentimentality, was delighted to put himself at the Count's orders, and gave Victurnien as much money as he wanted.
"You are not vindictive," pleaded Chesnel; "you are good-hearted, you do not bear us such a grudge that you will not listen to terms. Before daylight the young man ought to be at liberty." "The whole town knows that he has been arrested," returned du Croisier, enjoying his revenge. "It is a great misfortune, but as there will be neither proofs nor trial, we can easily manage that."
"I shall pass over anything in your remarks, sir, which must be offensive to me personally, and obnoxious to justice; for your position with regard to the d'Esgrignons excuses you up to a certain point, but " "Pardon me, sir, if I interrupt you," said Chesnel.
"For you there could be no fairer title," returned Chesnel, meaning to convey a compliment. Poor Mlle. d'Esgrignon reddened. "You have blundered, Chesnel," said the Marquis, flattered by the steward's words, but vexed that his sister had been hurt. "A d'Esgrignon may marry a Montmorency; their descent is not so pure as ours.
So to du Croisier he wrote a very offhand letter, informing him that he had drawn a bill of exchange on him for ten thousand francs, adding that the amount would be repaid on receipt of the letter either by M. Chesnel or by Mlle. Armande d'Esgrignon. Then he indited two touching epistles one to Chesnel, another to his aunt.
"Idiot that I am," thought Chesnel, "why did I shrink from a lie to such a man?"
Grandt without compromising his position? Remember that Louis XIV. took the Widow Scarron for his wife." "He did not marry her for her money," interposed Mlle. Armande. "If the Comtesse d'Esgrignon were one du Croisier's niece, for instance, would you receive her?" asked Chesnel. "Perhaps," replied the Duchess; "but the King, beyond all doubt, would be very glad to see her.
And Maitre Chesnel had known the delights of such high friendship; the Marquis had raised him to his own level. The old noble looked on the good notary as something more than a servant, something less than a child; he was the voluntary liege man of the house, a serf bound to his lord by all the ties of affection.
Is there a woman in the world for whom such a thing has been done? Poor boy! Come, do not lose time, dear M. Chesnel; and count upon me as upon yourself." "Mme. la Duchesse! Mme. la Duchesse!" It was all that he could say, so overcome was he. He cried, he could have danced; but he was afraid of losing his senses, and refrained. "Between us, we will save him," she said, as he left the room.
"O! Mme. la Duchesse, you are an angel!" cried Chesnel, with tears in his eyes. "Then am I going to see a man called Camusot?" she asked.
Word Of The Day