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Updated: June 23, 2025
What was the life of a peasant more than that of any other animal of the land, that the concern of it should perturb the sereneness of your aristocratic being? Mesdames, that Charlot Tardivet am I; that Marie Tardivet was my wife. I knew not whom you were when I bade you sup at my table but now that I know it what do you look for at my hands?" It was the Marquise who answered him.
He had become intimate with him in the old days in Paris, whither Tardivet had gone, and where, fired by the wrongs he had suffered, he had been one of the apostles of the Revolution.
They sat facing each other across the little deal table, whose stains were now hidden by a cloth, and to light them they had four tapers set in silver candlesticks of magnificent workmanship, and most wondrous weight, which Tardivet informed his guest had been the property of a ci-devant prince of the blood. As the night wore on Captain Charlot grew boisterous and more confidential.
There was but one thing to be done, to ride out himself to meet her along the road from Soignies to Oudenarde, and to escort her into France. She should go ostensibly as his prisoner, and he was confident that not all the brigands of Captain Tardivet would suffice to take her from him.
Before the fellow could make any answer the corporal in command of La Boulaye's escort entered to inform Caron that the men were in the saddle. At that the Deputy hurriedly took his leave of Tardivet, and wrapping his heavy cloak tightly about him he marched out into the rain, and mounted.
"It is an ancient and honoured custom that is falling somewhat into neglect. Go up to the Chateau with Blaise and Jean there. This good Tardivet must curb his impatience until to-morrow." He turned in his saddle, and beckoning the two servants he had named, he bade Marie to mount behind Blaise. She drew back now, her cheeks white as those of the dead.
I almost wish that I could undo it, and go back to that little room at Boisvert the prisoner of that fearful man, Tardivet, or else that " Again she paused, and the Marquise turned towards her with a gasp. "Or else that what?" she demanded. "Ma foi, it only remains that you should wish you had kept your promise to this scum." "I almost wish it, Madame. I pledged my word to him."
They returned indoors, and without more ado Tardivet set himself to plan the pursuit. He knew, he announced, that Prussia was their destination. He had discovered it at the time of their capture from certain papers that he had found in a portmanteau of the Marquise's.
I will despatch these at once..." La Boulaye looked up at that. "If they have resolved to continue their journey?" he echoed. "What else should they have resolved?" Tardivet stroked his reddish hair and smiled astutely. "In organising a pursuit," said he, "the wise pursuer will always put himself in the place of the fugitives, and seek to reason as they would probably reason.
Perhaps it is my nature; perhaps it is that in youth sorrow is seldom long-enduring; perhaps it is the strenuous life I have lived and the changes that have been wrought in me for, after all, there is a little in this Captain Tardivet that is like the peasant poor Marie took to husband, four years ago.
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