Ten minutes afterwards the letter was despatched. I then sent for a cabriolet and we drove to Vincennes.
When we reached the cross-paths Lucien said, "We are not far off now, I think."
"No; twenty paces further on we shall be at the spot where we entered the forest."
"Here we are," said the young man, as he stopped the carriage.
It was, indeed, the very spot!
Lucien entered the wood without the least hesitation, and as if he had known the place for years. He walked straight to the dell, and when there turned to the eastward, and then advancing he stopped at the place where his brother had fallen: stooping down he perceived the gra.s.s wore the red tinge of blood.
"This is the place," he said.
Then he lightly kissed the spot where his brother had lain.
Rising with flashing eyes he paced the dell to the spot whence Chateau Renaud had fired.
"This is where he stood," he said, stamping his foot, "and here he shall lie to-morrow."
"How!" I exclaimed. "To-morrow!"
"Yes, unless he is a coward. For to-morrow he shall give me my revenge."
"But, my dear Lucien," I said, "the custom in France is, as you are aware, that a duel cannot take place without a certain reason. Chateau Renaud called out your brother who had provoked him, but he has had nothing to do with you."
"Ah, really! So Chateau Renaud had the right to quarrel with my brother because he offered his arm to a woman whom Chateau Renaud had scandalously deceived, and according to you he had the right to challenge my brother. M. de Chateau Renaud killed my brother, who had never handled a pistol: he shot him with the same sense of security that a man would shoot a hare; and yet you say I have no right to challenge Chateau Renaud. Nonsense!"
I bowed without speaking.
"Besides," he continued, "you have nothing to do with it. You may be quite easy. I wrote to Giordano this morning, and when we return to Paris all will have been arranged. Do you think that M. de Chateau Renaud will refuse?"
"M. de Chateau Renaud has unfortunately a reputation for courage which may serve to remove any doubt you may entertain on that score."
"All the better," said Lucien. "Let us go to breakfast."
We returned to the road, and entering the cabriolet, I told the man to drive to the Rue Rivoli.
"No," said Lucien, "you shall breakfast with me. Coachman, the _Cafe de Paris;_ is not that the place where my brother usually dined?"
"I believe so," I replied.
"Well, that is where I requested Giordano to meet us."
"To the Cafe de Paris, then."
In half an hour we were set down at the restaurant.
CHAPTER XX.
LUCIEN"S appearance created quite a sensation in consequence of his remarkable likeness to his brother.
The news of Louis" death had gone abroad--not, perhaps, in all its details, but it was known, and Lucien"s appearance astonished many.
I requested a private room, saying that we were expecting the Baron Giordano, and we got a room at the end.
Lucien began to read the papers carelessly, as if he were oblivious of everything.
While we were seated at breakfast Giordano arrived.
The two young men had not met for four or five years, nevertheless, a firm clasp of the hand was the only demonstration they permitted themselves.
"Well, everything is settled," he said.
"Then M. de Chateau Renaud has accepted?"
"Yes, on condition, however, that after he has fought you he shall be left in peace."
"Oh, he may be quite easy; I am the last of the de Franchi. Have you seen him, or his seconds?"
"I saw him; he will notify MM. de Boissy and de Chateaugrand. The weapons, the hour and the place will be the same."
"Capital, sit down and have some breakfast."
The Baron seated himself, and we spoke on indifferent topics.
After breakfast Lucien begged us to introduce him to the Commissioner of Police, who had sealed up his brother"s property, and to the proprietors of the house at which his brother had lived, for he wished to sleep that night, the last night that separated him from his vengeance, in Louis" room.
All these arrangements took up time, so it was not till five o"clock that Lucien entered his brother"s apartment. Respecting his grief, we left him there alone.
We had arranged to meet him again next morning at eight o"clock, and he begged me to bring the same pistols, and to buy them if they were for sale.
I went to Devismes and purchased the weapons. Next morning, at eight o"clock I was with Lucien.
When I entered, he was seated writing at the same table, where his brother had sat writing. He smiled when he saw me, but he was very pale.
"Good morning," he said, "I am writing to my mother."
"I hope you will be able to write her a less doleful letter than poor Louis wrote eight days ago."
"I have told her that she may rest happy, for her son is avenged."
"How are you able to speak with such certainty?"
"Did not my brother announce to you his own approaching death? Well, then, I announce to you the death of M. de Chateau Renaud."
He rose as he spoke, and touching me on the temple, said--