Robert Tournay: A Romance of the French RevolutionSage, William
History
Robert Tournay: A Romance of the French Revolution
Sage, William
France -- History -- Revolution, 1789-1799 -- Fiction
The man, thus addressed, looked up. He was tall and broad-shouldered,
with face browned from exposure to the sun. With one arm he supported a
member of the French Guards who had been wounded.
"Flesselle's," he answered. "He has betrayed the people again and again.
He has received a terrible punishment."
The man who had given the chevalier this answer did not move on
immediately, but stood looking up at the balcony. The old nobleman,
following this look, saw that it rested on the Marquis de Lacheville.
The latter, meeting the man's eye at the same moment, recognized Robert
Tournay. He started forward as if about to speak, then noticing the
weapon in Tournay's hand and remembering the recent warning of St.
Hilaire, he checked himself. Neither spoke, but the marquis could not
repress a look of hatred, which was answered by a look of defiance by
Tournay. Then the latter turned away with his companion leaning on his
shoulder. The crowd closed up and he was soon lost to sight.
"They have killed Flesselle, the mayor of Paris," said the chevalier, as
St. Hilaire joined him a moment later. "Well," he continued, as if in
answer to St. Hilaire's shrug, "Flesselle was a fool, but I am sorry for
poor Delaunay. Come, St. Hilaire, let us go in, the crowd is thinning
out now; in a short time the streets will be passable and I must be
going. I have to thank you for a most enjoyable day, marquis."
"The pleasure has been mine," replied the Marquis de St. Hilaire,
bowing.
"Are you going to the duchess's to-night?" inquired the chevalier.
"No, I think not," answered St. Hilaire, putting his hand upon the
window-bar. "After you, my dear chevalier," indicating the way into the
salon. As he was about to step into the room the chevalier turned and
took a final look at the street. The main body of the mob had passed and
their shouts were heard receding in the distance; although underneath
the window were still a number of persons, coming and going in restless
excitement.
"I think, marquis," he said, with his curious smile, "that your friends
need soap and water badly."
"They do, chevalier," said the other, returning the smile, "and the
smell is sickening. Come to my bedroom; I will give you a new perfume."
That evening, after the departure of his guests, the Marquis de St.
Hilaire called in his man of affairs.
"Rignot," he demanded carelessly, "have I a single estate that is
unencumbered?"
"Unfortunately no, monsieur le marquis."
"Think again, Rignot. Is there not some little estate still intact? Some
small farm heretofore overlooked by us?"
"Not a cottage, monsieur le marquis."
"What bills are unpaid?"
"Some three hundred thousand livres are rather pressing."
"Is that the sum total of all my liabilities? I want a full statement
to-night."
"You owe about eight hundred thousand francs, monsieur le marquis."
"Pay them at once."
"But, monsieur le marquis, it will be impossible. Where shall I get the
funds?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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