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Updated: May 23, 2025
Voban was bound to Sir John Godric by as strong ties of affection as I. What was more, by a secret letter I had sent to George Washington, who was then as good a Briton as myself, I had been able to have my barber's young brother, a prisoner of war, set free. I felt that he had something to say to me. But he turned away and disappeared among the crowd.
He reached and put the tumbler on a shelf, then turned and opened the door, his face all altered to a grimness. "Attend here, Labrouk!" he called; and on the soldier coming, he blurted out in scorn, "Here's this English captain can't go to supper without Voban's shears to snip him. Go fetch him, for I'd rather hear a calf in a barn-yard than this whing-whanging for 'M'sieu' Voban!"
Possibly he wondered that Voban did not strike, and he himself took a delight in showing him his own wrongs occasionally. Then, again, Doltaire might wish for Bigot's death, to succeed him in his place! But this I put by as improbable, for the Intendant's post was not his ambition, or, favourite of La Pompadour as he was, he would, desiring, have long ago achieved that end.
Voban had told me that his news came from Bigot's valet, who is his close friend. This I knew, and I knew the valet too, for I had seen something of him when my brother lay wounded at the palace. Under the best circumstances General Montcalm could not arrive within two hours. Meanwhile, these miserable men might go on their dreadful expedition. Something must be done to gain time.
But now he stand and turn to me, and then I see I see it is not Bigot, but M'sieu' Doltaire! "I am sick when I see that, and at first I can not speak, my tongue stick in my mouth so dry. 'Has Voban turn robber? m'sieu' say. I put out my hand and try to speak again but no. 'What did you throw from the window? he ask.
We could do so with safety, for Voban knew English; and though he spoke it brokenly, he had freedom in it, and the jailer knew no word of it. At first the fellow blustered, but I waved him off. He was a man of better education than Gabord, but of inferior judgment and shrewdness.
I stood looking at the body of her husband, and said, "Were it not well to have Voban the barber?" "I have sent for him and for Gabord," she replied. "Gabord was Jean's good friend. He is with General Montcalm. The Governor put him in prison because of the marriage of Mademoiselle Duvarney, but Monsieur Doltaire set him free, and now he serves General Montcalm.
Once a wasp got into a honeycomb and died." I knew he was hinting at the barber's resentment of the poor Mathilde's fate. Something strange and devilish leapt into the man's eyes, and he broke out bitterly, "A honey-bee got into a nest of wasps and died." I thought of the Scarlet Woman on the hill. Voban looked for a moment as if he might do some wild thing.
At that moment we were both startled by a sound behind us, and, wheeling, we saw Voban, a mad look in his face, in the act of throwing at Doltaire a short spear which he had caught up from a corner. The spear flew from his hand even as Doltaire sprang aside, drawing his sword with great swiftness.
Who called you, Voban?" "My mother, with the cure's help, m'sieu'." Doltaire paused, with a pinch of snuff at his nose, and replied lazily, "I did not say 'Who called you VOBAN? Voban, but who called you here, Voban?" I spoke up testily then of purpose: "What would you have, monsieur? The citadel has better butchers than barbers. I sent for him." He shrugged his shoulders and came over to Voban.
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