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I was grave, cold, indignant, and represented the distressed uncle to perfection. I spoke of the old probity of the Clamerans, and bemoaned that the family honor should be dragged in the dust by a degenerate descendant. For a short time I triumphed at your expense; Mme. Fauvel forgot her former prejudice against me, and soon showed that she esteemed and liked me."
The countess, no less than the marquis, would have found it difficult to tell. It was said that under the reign of Henri IV. or Louis XIII. a La Verberie betrayed the affections of a fair daughter of the Clamerans. This misdeed led to a duel and bloodshed.
The pretty chateau was more modest in appearance than the manor of the Clamerans; but it was equally comfortable, and much better regulated by its proud mistress. It was built in the middle of a beautiful park, one of the wonders of that part of the country.
To find that link Lecoq spent a month in visiting the old home of the De Clamerans, the estate formerly occupied by Gaston de Clameron, who had died a few days before the robbery, and also in a trip to England. When he returned to Paris, dossier No. 113 was complete. III. The Dossier In her extreme youth, Madame Fauvel had been secretly loved by Gaston de Clameron.
"Among your many lovers, you choose the heir of our worst enemy, the son of those detested Clamerans. Among all, you select a coward who publicly boasted of your favors; a wretch who tried to avenge himself for the heroism of our ancestors by ruining you and me an old woman and a child!" "No, mother, you do him wrong. He loved me, and hopes for your consent." "Wants to marry you, does he?
"Ah, my dear uncle, do let me enjoy my present happiness. What is the use of any change? What do I want?" "You want for nothing at present, Raoul; but when your resources are exhausted, and mine, too which will be in a short time what will become of you?" "Bast! I will enter the army. All the Clamerans are born soldiers; and if a war comes " Mme.
"Then, madame, Gaston acknowledged the child. But the Clamerans are poor; my brother died on a pallet in a lodging-house; and I have only an income of twelve hundred francs to live upon. What is to become of Raoul, alone with no relations or friends to assist him? My brother's last moments were embittered by anxiety for the welfare of his child." "Really, monsieur "
Ah, my wife will be happy to see you; she has all her life heard of the Clamerans." Here he ran into the garden, and called: "Toinette! I say, Toinette! Come here quickly!" This cordial welcome delighted Louis. So many years had gone by since he had been greeted with an expression of kindness, or felt the pressure of a friendly hand.
A secret voice cried within him, "Now you are assured of the family fortune, and a marquis's coronet." He was no longer the poverty-stricken younger son, but the sole heir of the Clamerans. The corporal of the gendarmes had said: "I would not be the one to tell the poor old man that his son is drowned." Louis felt none of the tender-hearted scruples of the brave old soldier.
But Louis was not touched by the affecting scene. "Time presses," he said: "you had better hasten." "He is right," cried the marquis: "go, Gaston, go, my son; and God protect the heir of the Clamerans!" Gaston slowly got up and said, with an embarrassed air: "Before leaving you, my father, I must fulfil a sacred duty. I have not told you everything.
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