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Updated: May 26, 2025
Swearing that they should pay dearly for it, if they were deceiving him, he again called Bavois. "I must continue my search," said he. "You, with two men, will remain here, and render a strict account of all that you see and hear. If Monsieur d'Escorval returns, bring him to me at once; do not allow him to escape. Keep your eyes open, and good luck to you!"
All the gallants of the neighborhood are in the ranks; Chanlouineau, young d'Escorval, your son " M. de Sairmeuse was pouring forth a torrent of curses upon Marie-Anne when his valet re-entered the room. He suddenly checked himself, put on his uniform, and ordering Chupin to follow him, hastened from the house.
Some were of the opinion that the crowd should disperse; others wished to march against Montaignac without Lacheneur, and that, immediately. But these deliberations were interrupted by the furious gallop of a horse. A carriage appeared, and stopped in the centre of the open space. Two men alighted; Baron d'Escorval and Abbe Midon. They were in advance of Lacheneur.
"I must go and take possession of my cottage," he remarked to Chanlouineau; "you will accompany me; I have a proposition to make to you." M. and Mme. d'Escorval endeavored to detain him, but he would not allow himself to be persuaded, and he departed with his daughter. But Maurice did not despair; Marie-Anne had promised to meet him the following day in the pine-grove near the Reche.
While they were deliberating as to whether they should take possession of my person and pillage my carriage, I overheard one of these men say to another, speaking of me: 'She must get out, must she not, Monsieur d'Escorval? I believe that the brigand who uttered these words was a peasant named Chanlouineau, but I dare not assert it on oath."
And finally, at the bottom of the casket, he found the marriage-certificate of Marie-Anne Lacheneur and Maurice d'Escorval, drawn up by the Cure of Vigano and signed by the old physician and Corporal Bavois. The truth was as clear as daylight. Stunned, frozen with horror, Martial scarcely had strength to return the letters to the casket and restore it to its place.
Indeed, he would have gone through fire and water for the magistrate who had received him so kindly, and his enthusiasm sparkled so plainly in his eyes that M. Segmuller could not restrain a smile. "I have strong hopes of it myself," he responded; "but we are far from the end. Now, what have you been doing since yesterday? Did M. d'Escorval give you any orders?
He found himself again alone; but his conversation with the soldiers had been of service to him. His weakness had passed; his sang-froid had returned; he would now reflect. He was surprised that he had heard nothing from Mme. d'Escorval and from Maurice. Could it be that they had been refused access to the prison?
What a difference between this friendly, benevolent magistrate and M. d'Escorval, so taciturn and haughty. This man, at least, understood, appreciated, and encouraged him; and it was with a common theory and an equal ardor that they were about to devote themselves to a search for the truth.
The cure and Maurice could act. Abbe Midon's plan, which he explained to young d'Escorval, as the horses dashed along, was as simple as the situation was terrible. "If, by confessing your own guilt, you could save your father, I should tell you to deliver yourself up, and to confess the whole truth. Such would be your duty. But this sacrifice would be not only useless, but dangerous.
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