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Updated: June 15, 2025
It is a good jest, monsieur, that while you visit me at Maury by proxy, I return the visit at Clochonne in person and find your chateau unguarded. To complete the jest, I need only take possession. But I am for elsewhere. Frojac, come here."
What a weight was on me while we rode towards Clochonne, the knowledge that I was to betray the man whom I then thought your friend, the friend of the gentleman who protected me and was so solicitous for my happiness! How glad I was when you told me the man was no great friend of yours, that you would sacrifice him for the sake of the woman you loved!
How beautiful is the world! I am too happy!" I heard rapid footsteps from outside the gate, and presently one of my men ran into the courtyard from the forest. It was Frojac, who had been all day in Clochonne in search of information. Seeing me, he stopped and stood still, out of breath from his run.
"It is the town and chateau of Clochonne," said Frojac. "Who occupies the chateau?" "It belongs to M. de la Chatre, the governor of the province, who sometimes comes there. A part of it is occupied by a garrison." We resumed our progress through the forest, now descending the northern slope of the ridge.
"The troops of the garrison at Clochonne have not yet found the way to it," I replied. "The chateau was abandoned twenty years ago. Its master is an adventurer in the new world, if he is not dead. Its very existence has been forgotten, for the land pertaining to it is of no value. The soldiers from Clochonne could find it only by scouring this almost impenetrable wilderness."
From the faces of the others, I knew that they, too, were willing to tell anything, true or false, to avoid torture, and so I could not but believe their story. Therefore, said I to myself, Montignac's plan not adhered to. De Berquin sent no one to the governor with information concerning my hiding-place. La Chatre had come to Clochonne without having awaited such information.
You dare to suspect " Without finishing the sentence, I struck him across the face with the back of my hand. He drew a deep breath, but made no movement. "I shall not trouble myself to suspect," he went on, with no change of tone, "until we know that M. de la Chatre is at Clochonne, " "We know that already," I broke in, hotly. "Marianne brought the news this afternoon."
I remembered what course Montignac had advised him to take: to wait until his spy should have located me and sent him word of my hiding-place, then to come to Clochonne, whither the spy, on learning of his presence, should send him the information that would enable him to lay an ambuscade for me.
This was a good plan, for a premature arrival of the governor at Clochonne might give me time to flee before my whereabouts should be known to the spy; but, knowing my exact whereabouts, La Chatre could first take measures for cutting off my flight, and then risk nothing by coming to Clochonne.
"It was my duty, when I followed to protect her," the boy said. "Mlle. de Varion was mad, I think, to go alone at this hour." "Mademoiselle?" I echoed, in great mystification. "Alone? Whither?" "To Clochonne, to M. de la Chatre," was the reply. It took away from me for a moment the very power of speech. I stared at the boy in dumb amazement. "Clochonne! La Chatre! Mademoiselle!"
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