Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 26, 2025
But at the same moment, two objects thrown through the tiny opening in the door of his cell fell on the floor in the middle of the room. M. d'Escorval caught them up. Someone had thrown him two files. His first feeling was one of distrust. He knew that there were jailers who left no means untried to dishonor their prisoners before delivering them to the executioner.
An old gentleman had just risen, and proposed that active measures should be taken to rid the neighborhood of the Baron d'Escorval. "The presence of such a man dishonors our country," said he, "he is a frantic Jacobin, and admitted to be dangerous, since Monsieur Fouche has him upon his list of suspected persons; and he is even now under the surveillance of the police."
Have you forgotten all the blood that flows between us? You did not cut the ropes; but who condemned the innocent Baron d'Escorval to death? Was it not the Duc de Sairmeuse? An alliance! You have forgotten that you and yours sent my father to the scaffold! How have you rewarded the man whose heroic honesty gave you back a fortune? By murdering him, and by ruining the reputation of his daughter."
Why they had not succeeded in finding it, he knew equally well. But why were there two persons seeking the child? One was Maurice d'Escorval, of course, but who was the other? Instead of remaining at Sairmeuse a week, Jean Lacheneur tarried there a month; and by the expiration of that month he had traced these inquiries concerning the child to the agent of Chelteux.
He took advantage of the opportunity to draw the baron aside in the embrasure of a window. "What has happened?" he asked. "A disappointment in love," M. d'Escorval replied, with a despairing gesture. "Monsieur Lacheneur has refused the hand of his daughter, which I asked in behalf of my son. Maurice was to have seen Marie-Anne to-day. What passed between them I do not know. The result you see."
"But my work of reparation is not yet accomplished. I have prepared everything for a revision of the judgment that condemned Baron d'Escorval to death, or for procuring a pardon. "You must know where the baron is concealed. Acquaint him with my plans and ascertain whether he prefers a revision of judgment, or a simple pardon.
The magistrate asked a few common-place questions, in a troubled voice, and the prisoner, terribly agitated, replied as best he could. Now, after leaving the cell, M. d'Escorval no doubt said to himself: 'I can't investigate the offenses of a man I hate! He was certainly terribly perplexed.
M. d'Escorval was abashed for a moment; but recovering himself, he took Marie-Anne's hand, and pressing it affectionately, he said: "So Maurice loves you; you love him; you suffer; he has nearly died, and still you reject him!" "It must be so, Monsieur." "You say this, my dear child you say this, and you undoubtedly believe it.
Lacheneur understood it all; and he wished that every ball had pierced his own heart. He put spurs to his horse and galloped to the crossroads. The place was deserted. At the entrance of one of the roads stood the cabriolet which had brought M. d'Escorval and the abbe. At last M. Lacheneur saw the fugitives approaching in the distance.
A large man, with a very florid complexion, and red hair and beard, timidly handed the duke a letter, he broke the seal, and read: "I saved you, Monsieur, by not recognizing the prisoner, May. In your turn, aid me! By noon, day after to-morrow, I must have two hundred and sixty thousand francs. "I have sufficient confidence in your honor to apply to you. "Maurice d'Escorval."
Word Of The Day
Others Looking