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Updated: May 5, 2025
Louison's uncle, the Marquis Jean de Fougereuse, had ended his dreary life shortly after the Vicomte de Talizac's death, and it was not difficult for Arthur, with Pierre Labarre's assistance, to maintain Louison's claims as the daughter of Jules de Fougereuse and sole heiress of the legacy.
"Very good!" answered Fernando, shrugging his shoulders indifferently, but as he did not propose to be mixed up in any disagreeable affair in this house, he determined to take himself off. The giantess was not alarmed by Talizac's mad attempt. She calmly lifted him by the collar and landed him on the stairs, half way down. "Robbers! Murderers!" shouted the Vicomte.
"Excuse me, my dear fellow; your opponent spoke so loudly that we were not obliged to exert ourselves to hear his estimate of you. Anyhow I only heard the conclusion of the affair; you will no doubt take pleasure in relating the commencement to me!" The words, and the tone in which they had been said, wounded Talizac's self-love, and he sharply replied: "If it pleases me, Signor Velletri!"
"Is she here?" he asked. "Yes, she is here," answered La Roulante. Talizac rose. "I must repair the disorder of my toilette," he said. "Robeccal, come with me." On Talizac's return, he asked La Roulante where the Marquise was. "Oh! she is asleep," was the reply. "Show me where she is, and move a little faster!" "It strikes me, sir, that you are not over polite," muttered Robeccal.
While Baptiste and the marquise's maid hurried to her assistance, Fougereuse gazed vacantly before him, and then raising his head, he passionately exclaimed: "You lie my son had no duel!" "Would to God you were right, marquis," replied Gaston, sorrowfully; "unfortunately it is the truth. The vicomte and Arthur de Montferrand fought a duel, and the sword of the latter ran through Talizac's heart!"
Neither the marquis nor Madeleine had the courage to raise the cover. In a daze they both stared at the bier and the pallbearers, and only when Gaston de Ferrette, Talizac's friend, stepped on the threshold of the door did life return to the unhappy parents. "Gaston, what has happened?" cried the marquis in despair, as he imploringly held his hand toward the young man.
The young man gave a whistle, upon which signal the friends who had followed him hurried up. When they were near by, Talizac's opponent said: "Vicomte, before I provoke a scene, I wish to lay the matter before my friends; have patience for a moment. Gentlemen," he said, turning to his companions, "this man insulted me. Shall I fight a duel with him? It is the Vicomte de Talizac."
At this moment a portière was lifted, and Magdalena, Talizac's mother, appeared. Fongereues exclaimed: "Madame! your son is a scoundrel. He is ruined, as are we all! This is the result of the education you have given him!" Magdalena looked perfectly unmoved. "Monsieur de Montferrand," she said, "I am aware that my son has been unfortunate enough to quarrel with yours. I come with his apologies."
It was only on his father's account that he came at all, and while Talizac was being surrounded on all sides, Arthur's thoughts went back to the scene of the previous evening. He saw Louison's pleading looks, he heard her contemptuous words, and could never forgive himself for having given her good reason to believe that he was one of Talizac's accomplices.
"My information is at an end," said the old man now, as he advanced a step nearer to the nobleman. "Fanfaro and Jacques Fougeres are identical with the Vicomte de Talizac's son." "It is a lie," hissed Fougereuse, "this Fanfaro was my brother's son; tell your fables to others." Instead of answering, Pierre Labarre searched in his breast-pocket and handed the marquis a package of papers.
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