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Updated: June 28, 2025
"M'sieu' Doltaire speak to her, and they all put up their swords, and M'sieu' Cournal sit down at a table, and he stare and stare up at the balcony, and make a motion now and then with his hand. M'sieu' Doltaire say to her, 'Madame, you must excuse our entertainment; we did not know we had an audience so distinguished. She reply, 'As scene-shifter and prompter, M'sieu' Doltaire, you have a gift.
"At that m'sieu' start up and snatch at his sword, and speak out between his teeth, 'By God, I will kill you to-night! She smile cold and hard, and say, 'No, no, you will not; it is too late for killing; that should have been done before. You sold your right to kill long ago, Argand Cournal. You have been close friends with the man who gave me power, and you gold. Then she get fierce.
I see how, if God had not given me something here" she placed her hand upon her heart "that saves me, I might be like Madame Cournal, and far worse, far worse than she. For I love power I do love it; I can see that!" She did not realize that it was her strict honesty with herself that was her true safeguard.
Madame Cournal now knelt beside him, staring at him as in a kind of dream. I left the room quickly, and met the Sisters of Mercy in the hall. They had heard the noise, and were coming to Alixe. I bade them care for her. Passing rapidly through the corridors, I told a servant of the household what had occurred, bade him send for Bigot, and then made for my own safety.
Your Excellency, she say to the Intendant, 'I will wait for you at the top of the great staircase, if you will be so good as to take me to the ballroom. The Intendant and M'sieu' Doltaire bow, and turn to the door, and M'sieu' Cournal scowl, and make as if to follow; but madame speak down at him, 'M'sieu' Argand' like that! and he turn back, and sit down. I think she forget me, I keep so still.
To this Bigot was by no means averse, for his own position had danger. His followers and confederates, Cournal, Marin, Cadet, and Rigaud, were robbing the King with a daring and effrontery which must ultimately bring disaster. This he knew, but it was his plan to hold on for a time longer, and then to retire before the axe fell, with an immense fortune.
My father has taken anew a strong dislike to Monsieur Doltaire, because of talk that is abroad concerning him and Madame Cournal. I once thought she was much sinned against, but now I am sure she is not to be defended. She is most defiant, though people dare not shut their doors against her. A change seemed to come over her all at once, and over her husband also.
XIV. ARGAND COURNAL. The most meagre intelligence came to me from the outer world. I no longer saw Gabord; he had suddenly been with drawn and a new jailer substituted, and the sentinels outside my door and beneath the window of my cell refused all information. For months I had no news whatever of Alixe or of those affairs nearest my heart.
"Yet I dine with Madame Cournal," rejoined Doltaire, smiling. "One may use more option with enemies and prisoners," she said keenly, and the shot ought to have struck home.
But this we knew from deserters, that Vaudreuil was Governor and Bigot Intendant still; by which it would seem that, on the momentous night when Doltaire was wounded by Madame Cournal, he gave back the governorship to Vaudreuil and reinstated Bigot.
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