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The rare performances given by travelling acting-companies at La Châtre had been her greatest delight when a girl. At the convent-school she had arranged Molière from memory for representation by herself and her school-fellows, careful so to modify the piece as to avoid all possibility of shocking the nuns.
The captain, taken by surprise in several respects, mechanically grasped the document and read it. "It is a a pass," he said, presently, staring at it and at me in a bewildered manner. "As you see, for myself and all my company," said I; "signed by M. de la Chatre." "Yes, it is his signature." "His seal, also, you will observe." "I do. Yet, it is strange.
It was the Abbe de la Chatre, who for a long time had been chaplain to the King, and who was enraged against everyone who was made bishop before him.
At the same moment Blaise came from the garden and stood beside the bench, curious to hear Frojac's news. "Ah, Frojac!" said I. "From Clochonne? I know your news already. M. de la Chatre is there." And I motioned to him to speak quietly, lest his news, which might be alarming, should reach the ears of mademoiselle through her chamber window.
And yet, if we could but find a way out of this, and save her father as well, what joy life would have! La Chatre cast another jubilant smile at Montignac. The governor was plainly delighted that mademoiselle herself had given up the task, now that he had changed his plans and had no further use for her in them.
Montignac was dressed, in accordance with his pretence of servility, in a doublet of olive-colored cloth, breeches of the same material, and buff boots. He sat entirely motionless, looking across the table at his master with an almost imperceptibly mocking air of profound attention. Monsieur de la Chatre appeared to be in a bad humor. He gulped down his wine hastily, seeming not to taste it.
Riding, then and there, was almost unheard of for ladies, a girl in a riding-habit regarded as simply a Cossack in petticoats, and Mademoiselle Dupin's delight in horse-exercise sufficed to stamp her as eccentric and strong-minded in the opinion of the country gentry and the towns-folk of La Châtre. They had heard of her studies, too, and disapproved of them as unlady-like in character.
She then made off, declaring she would go alone, but it was my duty, nevertheless, to follow and guard her." "Mademoiselle gone to Clochonne, to La Chatre," I repeated, as one in a dream. At that instant there came again from somewhere in the chateau the voice of the gypsy in the song. "False flame of woman's love!" "The devil!" muttered Blaise. "Was De Berquin right?" And he ran into the chateau.
Montignac stood with folded arms and downcast eyes, attending carefully to La Chatre's words, but having too much tact to betray his interest. "And yet," said La Chatre, "you have been of some service to me in this matter, and I would in some measure reward you. You sent me information of La Tournoire's whereabouts, and for so much you deserve to be paid.
Now, I could indeed believe this, for I had overheard the plan suggested by Montignac, and her very talk about the ambush seemed to show that his plan had been adopted without change. In that case, she might not have known of the movement of the troops. La Chatre might have decided, at any time, to change his plan.
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