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Updated: September 20, 2025
One night a courier arrived at Montaignac, bearing the following laconic despatch: "The twenty-one convicted prisoners must be executed." That is to say, the Duc de Richelieu, and the council of ministers, headed by M. Decazes, the minister of police, had decided that the petitions for clemency must be refused. This despatch was a terrible blow to the Duc de Sairmeuse and M. de Courtornieu.
The Montaignac chasseurs were climbing the steep foot-path slowly, but surely. Chupin walked in advance, urging them on with voice, gesture and example. An imprudent word from the little shepherd-boy, whom M. Lacheneur had questioned, had decided the fugitive's fate.
He and Maurice were silent during the remainder of the drive. They reached the city at last, and Maurice saw how wise the abbe had been in preventing him from assuming a disguise. Armed with the most absolute power, the Duc de Sairmeuse and the Marquis de Courtornieu had closed all the gates of Montaignac save one.
All the household were really delighted at his return; the son of the commander of the military forces at Montaignac, and the prospective son-in-law of the provost-marshal, Martial was a most valuable instrument. "Through him, we shall have an eye and an ear in the enemy's camp," said Lacheneur. "The Marquis de Sairmeuse will be our spy."
The peasants shunned him as they would the plague; and in case of sickness always sent for the cure. M. d'Escorval followed their example, knowing that the physician from Montaignac could not arrive until nearly morning.
"Have you seen him?" "No, I have not seen him, but someone else has seen him for me, and has spoken to him. And this someone is Monsieur Laugeron, the proprietor of the Hotel de France at Montaignac. I was passing the house this morning, when he called me.
But he, passing them with an air of the utmost indifference, and apparently without observing them, hastily dropped these words: "I have seen Chanlouineau. Be of good cheer; he promises to save Monsieur d'Escorval!" In the citadel of Montaignac, within the second line of fortifications, stands an old building known as the chapel.
"The poor young man has lost his reason!" was the almost universal opinion. And those who doubted it, doubted it no longer when it became known that Jean Lacheneur had formed an engagement with a company of strolling players who stopped at Montaignac for a few days. But the young man had not wanted for good advice and kind friends.
Five minutes later the house was in flames. In the distance the baron and his companion saw the windows of the citadel at Montaignac illuminated by a red glare, and upon every hill-side glowed the light of other incendiary fires. The country was responding to Lacheneur's signal. Ah! ambition is a fine thing!
And, if the day is clear, one can easily distinguish the spires of Montaignac in the distance. This was the path traversed by M. Lacheneur after Chupin had delivered his message. But what did he care for the beauties of the landscape!
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