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Updated: May 29, 2025
He saw the look of Madame l'Etiquette, the ribaldry of acquaintances at Versailles, the studious oblivion of the Princess de Poix, d'Estaing, Bellecour, and even Grancey; the mess-table derisive over the career of the pseudo-noble; Major Collinot striking his name from the list of the company; his arrest by Guardsmen disgusted at having to touch him; the stony visages of the court-martial; the Bastille; the oar and chain of the galleys.
"Monsieur de Lincy," continued he, addressing the latter, with an alteration from his severe tone to the kindest of voices, "it almost moves me to tears to think of the indignities to which you have been subjected. Your honour is absolved, and Major Collinot is requested to make entry of this fact on the registers of the company, to avail you in case these charges should ever be repeated.
They locked me in the inner chamber of the tower; Morton kept guard without. At length I heard him leave the room; I heard him descend the stairs, and lock the gate of the tower. Ha! ha! little dreamed he of the wit of Jean Desmarais! Thy friend must scorn bolt and bar, Bertrand Collinot.
In it he placed a long "Extract from my journal," written with care in his beautiful handwriting and bound with a tiny ribbon. Next, he added some letters of Collinot to himself and de Léry. These were followed by copies of his own to the latter. His epistle of reproach to de Bailleul came next. Then a genealogical memorandum of the family of LeGardeur.
Collinot assented. Germain bowed and turned ghostly white. "Have you examined his credentials, and how do you find them?" "They appear correct, my Lord Duke." "Are the accusers not here?" "Perhaps they are delayed, my Lord." "It is a grave thing to keep a man in suspense over an accusation." All waited silently several minutes.
I came, I gave it you, and I discovered, in that moment, when the Abbe entered, that this Julian Montreuil was an old acquaintance of my own, was one of the two young men who I told you were such deuced clever fellows. Like many other adventurers, he had changed his name on entering the world and I had never till now suspected that Julian Montreuil was Bertrand Collinot.
He neared the cave; he paused; he was within a few paces of me; I was about to rise, when another figure suddenly glided from the mouth of the cave itself. "Ha!" cried the latter, "it is Bertrand Collinot: Fate be lauded!" Had a voice from the grave struck my ear, it would have scarcely amazed me more than that which I now heard.
My position, as representing and protecting the regiment, therefore, is that I hold no proper proofs that you possess the generations of descent which you are aware are necessary. I now have the honour of calling upon you to produce such proofs." "Very well, sir," answered Germain, and leaving the room, strode to his quarters and returned with the de Lincy copies. Collinot scanned them carefully.
As soon as he could he made his way to Collinot, and asked that a time be fixed for the hearing of his case. "This day fortnight at ten of the clock before noon," Collinot said in his decisive, military manner. Lecour saluted and retired, and the Adjutant wrote a notice for de Léry to prepare his counter-proof. Both sides entered into the contest with the utmost activity.
"It is not that which troubles me, lieutenant," Collinot answered, "but the certificates in themselves are incomplete in lacking the links I mention. Without them," he said, rising to his feet and looking at Lecour calmly, "you can no longer serve in the Prince's company." The blow fell hard. Germain sank down in a chair and turned his face aside. "My God, she is lost to me," he murmured.
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