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Updated: July 26, 2025
"My lord, in the presence of this corpse which lies before us, I beseech you do not blaspheme, and listen to what I have to say. Do you recollect the village of Sachemont?" "Sachemont?" repeated Fougereuse, pensively. "Yes Sachemont. On the 16th of May, 1804, you and another officer took lodgings in the cottage of a peasant in Sachemont. You were running away from France.
"Ah, I could have thought so; to his death I owe the fact that Pierre Labarre calls me the Marquis of Fougereuse, and that now that no one is living to whom he can give the hidden millions he must necessarily deliver them up to me!" With a mixture of surprise and horror Pierre looked at the man, who could still think of money and money matters in the presence of his dead son.
I would not want the Vicomte de Talizac to go under, because my fate is closely attached to his, and because the vicomte's father, the Marquis de Fougereuse, has done great service for the cause I serve. Therefore if I earnestly ask you not to commit such follies any more, you will thank me for it and acknowledge that this small reciprocation is worth the favor I am showing you."
It was the Marquis of Fougereuse. He looked like a man prematurely old, whose bent back and wrinkled features made him look like a man of seventy, while in reality he was hardly fifty. In the marquis's company was a servant named Simon, who, in the course of years, had advanced from the post of valet to that of steward. "What does the gentleman desire?" asked the host, politely.
This sign hung over the door of the tavern at Leigoutte; your brother, the rightful heir of Fougereuse, was the landlord and the bravest man for miles around. In the year 1805 Jules Fougere, as he called himself, fell. The world said Cossacks had murdered him. I, though, vicomte, I cry it aloud in your ear his murderer was you!"
"Spare your pity," said Fougereuse, proudly; "if anything can console me for the death of my son, it is the knowledge that my brother Jules's son, who was always a thorn in my side, is at last out of the way." "For Heaven's sake be silent: this Fanfaro was not your brother's son!" "So much the worse!"
One of the officers, a German, was repulsed by the young girl he had impudently approached, but the other one, a Frenchman, took advantage of the other sister, and after committing the dastardly outrage, he ran away with his companion. Marquis, shall I name you the man who acted so meanly? It was the then Vicomte de Talizac!" Fougereuse looked at the old servant in amazement.
Several physicians stood about the so suddenly deceased young man, and they declared that death was brought about by the bursting of a vein. Crushed and annihilated, Pierre Labarre hurried to the Fougereuse mansion, and the marquis trembled at sight of him, as if he were a spectre. "Pierre Labarre," he cried in a hollow voice, "you come to gloat over my grief. Ah, you can triumph now.
"Oh, I call that a surprise," cried Fougereuse, more freely, and Montferrand hastened to extend his congratulations. "The Countess of Salves and her daughter have signified their intention of being present," continued Madeleine, "and as soon as my son receives his commission, the engagement of the young couple will be announced."
The marquis sank on his knees beside the dead man, and murmured a silent prayer; how different was the son who had fallen in a duel to the brother whom the father had sacrificed for him. "Marquis, shall I call the carriers?" asked Pierre, gently. The nobleman nodded, and soon Fanfaro's body was laid upon a bier, which was carried to the Fougereuse mansion by four men.
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