Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 16, 2025
"Monsieur," said Cachan, "you are not attached to the Treasury? You may be told all the facts " "Be quite easy," said Corentin, "I give you my word of honor I am not employed by the Treasury." Cachan, who had just signed to everybody to say nothing, gave expression to his satisfaction.
La Peyrade could not have been at heart so violently opposed to this proposal as he seemed, for the vigorous language of the great master of the police and the species of appropriation which he made of his person brought a smile to the young man's lips. Corentin had risen, and was walking up and down the room, speaking, apparently, to himself.
Peyrade's experience and acumen were too valuable to Corentin, who, after the storm of 1820 had blown over, employed his old friend, constantly consulted him, and contributed largely to his maintenance. Corentin managed to put about a thousand francs a month into Peyrade's hands. Peyrade, on his part, did Corentin good service.
If any man should be aware of the uses and sweets of friendship, is it not the moral leper known to the world as a spy, to the mob as a mouchard, to the department as an "agent"? Peyrade and Corentin were such friends as Orestes and Pylades. Peyrade had trained Corentin as Vien trained David; but the pupil soon surpassed his master. They had carried out more than one undertaking together.
Enough has been said to show what were the means of living of the man who at the Cafe David was known as good old Canquoelle, and by what threads he was tied to the terrible and mysterious powers of the police. Between 1817 and 1822, Corentin, Contenson, Peyrade, and their myrmidons, were often required to keep watch over the Minister of Police himself.
"Take them to the nearest hospital," cried Corentin. Hulot took the spy by the arm with a grip that left the imprint of his fingers on the flesh. "Out of this camp!" he cried; "your business is done here. Look well at the face of Commander Hulot, and never find yourself again in his way if you don't want your belly to be the scabbard of his blade " And the older soldier flourished his sabre.
The moon had scattered the fog and was now casting her white light on the muskets and the uniforms, on the impassible Corentin pacing up and down like a jackal waiting for his prey, on the commandant, standing still, his arms crossed, his nose in the air, his lips curling, watchful and displeased. "Come, Marie, leave them and come back to me." "Why do you smile? I placed them there."
He put on a polite manner and the tone of obsequious civility which he had practised since assuming the garb of a priest of a superior Order, and he bowed to the little old man. "Monsieur Corentin," said he, "do I owe the pleasure of this meeting to chance, or am I so happy as to be the cause of your visit here?"
A few contemptuous laughs came from the nearest ranks. "Do you think," said Corentin, sharply, "that the only way to serve France is with bayonets?" Then he turned his back to the laughers, and asked a woman beside him if she knew the object of the expedition. "Hey! my good man, the Chouans are at Florigny. They say there are more than three thousand, and they are coming to take Fougeres."
"Yes, yes," growled the commandant. "'The inn'! 'Come and see me'! Is that how you speak to an officer in command of the army?" and he shook his fist at the carriage, which was now rolling rapidly along the road. "Don't be vexed, commandant, she has got your rank as general up her sleeve," said Corentin, laughing, as he endeavored to put his horse into a gallop to overtake the carriage.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking