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Updated: June 19, 2025
And yet somehow I should have to get into the chateau, and obtain private speech with the Countess, for it must be she who had summoned Monsieur de Merri. "In that case," said I, "they must have no visitors at all. But I recall meeting a young gentleman the other day, who was acquainted with some great family near Montoire, and, from certain things, I think it must be this very Lavardin family.
It was her turn now to laugh. The very thought of it was farcical in its very odiousness. Merri, who had embarked on his proposal with grandiloquent phraseology, suddenly paused, almost awed by that strange, hysterical laughter. "By Satan and all his ghouls!" he cried, and jumped to his feet, his cheeks paling beneath the grime. Then rage seized him at his own cowardice.
Esther had been very prudent in deference to Kennard's advice; she also had very few possessions. Nevertheless, when the wretches had turned every article of furniture inside out, one of them asked curtly: "What do we do next, citizen Merri?" "Do?" broke in the cadaverous creature, even before Merri had time to reply. "Do? Why, take the wench to to "
"'Tis simple enough," he said philosophically, "to disparage the goods if you are not able to buy." Then a lusty voice broke in from the far corner of the room: "And now, citizen Merri, 'tis time you remembered that the evening is hot and your friends thirsty!"
"It isn't that I doubt your willingness to help me." "As to my ability, try me, Madame. My zeal will inspire me." "I don't doubt your ability to do brave and difficult things, Monsieur. But it is not that. It happens the circumstances are such alas, nobody but Monsieur de Merri himself can help me! If you but knew! If he but knew!" "Tell me the case, Madame. Trust me, I beg.
All I knew of her was that she was probably at Montoire, that she had been associated in some way with Monsieur de Merri, and that she now thought herself in imminent danger. And I had in my possession a piece of her handwriting, which, however, I should have to use very cautiously if at all.
Perhaps the necessary service was one in which only a gentleman could be accepted. But I feared rather that there might be some circumstance to make Monsieur de Merri the only possible instrument; and my heart fell at this, thinking what I had done. But I hoped for the best, and did not lose sight of the young man ahead of me.
I saw that I must give him up, for that time at least. Perhaps on the road next day his unwillingness to be communicative about Monsieur de Merri would have passed away. But meanwhile, what was the cause of that unwillingness? Did he know, after all, what had occurred at La Flèche, and had he begun to suspect me? I inwardly cursed his reticence, and went soon to bed, that I might rise the earlier.
My friend, citizen Merri, will need strength and wits too, I'll warrant, for, after he has married the aristo, he will have to journey to England to pluck the rich dowry which is said to lie hidden there."
The lot fell to Merri; but the whole gang was to have a share in the putative fortune even Rateau, the wretched creature with the hacking cough, who looked as if he had one foot in the grave, and shivered as if he were stricken with ague, put in a word now and again to remind his good friend Merri that he, too, was looking forward to his share of the spoils.
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