"I don"t see any mystery, I see an insult!"
"Ah! there you are, Roland. That explains why your mother and sister did not write to you. But Josephine thought the matter so serious that you ought to be informed. She writes me this news and asks me to tell you of it if I think best. You see I have not hesitated."
"I thank you sincerely, general. Does Lord Tanlay give any reason for this refusal?"
"A reason that is no reason."
"What is it?"
"It can"t be the true one."
"But what is it?"
"It is only necessary to look at the man and to talk with him for five minutes to understand that."
"But, general, what reason does he give for breaking his word?"
"That your sister is not as rich as he thought she was."
Roland burst into that nervous laugh which was a sign with him of violent agitation.
"Ha!" said he, "that was the very first thing I told him."
"What did you tell him?"
"That my sister hadn"t a penny. How can the children of republican generals be rich?"
"And what did he answer?"
"That he was rich enough for two."
"You see, therefore, that that was not the real reason for his refusal."
"And it is your opinion that one of your aides-de-camp can receive such an insult, and not demand satisfaction?"
"In such situations the person who feels affronted must judge of the matter for himself, my dear Roland."
"General, how many days do you think it will be before we have a decisive action?"
Bonaparte calculated.
"Not less than fifteen days, or three weeks," he answered.
"Then, general, I ask you for a furlough of fifteen days."
"On one condition."
"What is it?"
"That you will first go to Bourg and ask your sister from which side the refusal came."
"That is my intention."
"In that case you have not a moment to lose."
"You see I lose none," said the young man, already on his way to the village.
"One moment," said Bonaparte; "you will take my despatches to Paris, won"t you?"
"Ah! I see; I am the courier you spoke of just now to Bourrienne."
"Precisely."
"Come then."
"Wait one moment. The young men you arrested--"
"The Companions of Jehu?"
"Yes. Well, it seems that they were all of n.o.ble families. They were fanatics rather than criminals. It appears that your mother has been made the victim of some judicial trick or other in testifying at their trial and has called their conviction."
"Possibly. My mother was in the coach stopped by them, as you know, and saw the face of their leader."
"Well, your mother implores me, through Josephine, to pardon those poor madmen--that is the very word she uses. They have appealed their case.
You will get there before the appeal can be rejected, and, if you think it desirable, tell the minister of Justice for me to suspend matters.
After you get back we can see what is best to be done."
"Thank you, general. Anything more?"
"No," said Bonaparte, "except to think over our conversation."
"What was it about?"
"Your marriage."
CHAPTER LII. THE TRIAL
"Well, I"ll say as you did just now, we"ll talk about it when I return, if I do."
"Bless me!" exclaimed Bonaparte, "I"m not afraid; you"ll kill him as you have the others; only this time, I must admit, I shall be sorry to have him die."
"If you are going to feel so badly about it, general, I can easily be killed in his stead."
"Don"t do anything foolish, ninny!" cried Bonaparte; hastily; "I should feel still worse if I lost you."