"They told all we wanted to know, and your culpability is the result."
"In that case, if they have told all you want to know, you have no need of my confession."
"Is that your final answer?"
"Yes."
"Officer, read the sentence."
The officer read--
"As the result of the investigation commenced on the 19th of February, that M. Gaston de Chanlay came from Nantes to Paris with the intention of committing the crime of murder on the person of his Royal Highness Monseigneur the Regent of France, which was to have been followed by a revolt against the authority of the king, the extraordinary commission inst.i.tuted to inquire into this crime has adjudged the Chevalier Gaston de Chanlay worthy of the punishment for high treason, the person of the regent being as inviolable as that of the king. In consequence--We ordain that the Chevalier Gaston de Chanlay be degraded from all his t.i.tles and dignities; that he and his posterity be declared ign.o.ble in perpetuity; that his goods be confiscated, his woods cut down to the height of six feet from the ground, and he himself beheaded on the Greve, or wheresoever it shall please the provost to appoint, saving his majesty"s pardon."
Gaston was pale, but still as marble.
"And when am I to be executed?" asked he.
"As soon as it may please his majesty."
Gaston felt a cloud pa.s.s before his eyes, and his ideas became confused; but this soon vanished, and the serenity of his bearing returned, the blood rushed back to his cheeks, and a contemptuous smile settled on his lips.
"It is well, monsieur," said he; "at whatever moment his majesty"s order may arrive, it will find me prepared; but I wish to know whether I may not see some persons who are very dear to me before I die, and I wish to ask a favor of the king."
D"Argenson"s eyes glistened with malignant joy. "Monsieur," said he, "I told you that you would be treated with indulgence. You might therefore have spoken sooner, and perhaps his highness"s kindness might not have waited for a prayer."
"You mistake me, monsieur," said Gaston, with dignity; "neither his majesty"s honor nor mine will suffer from the favor which I shall ask."
"What would you ask?" said D"Argenson; "speak, and I will tell you at once if there be a chance of your request being granted."
"I ask, first, that my t.i.tles and dignities--which are not very great--should not be canceled, as I have no posterity. I am alone in the world; my name only survives me; but as that name is only n.o.ble, and not ill.u.s.trious, it would not survive long."
"This is quite a royal favor, monsieur. His majesty alone can and will reply. Is that all you wish to ask?"
"No; I have another request to make, but I do not know to whom I should apply."
"First to me, monsieur, in my character of lieutenant of police. I shall see if I can grant it, or if I must refer it to his majesty."
"Well, then, monsieur, I desire to see Mademoiselle Helene de Chaverny, ward of his excellency the Duc d"Olivares, and also the duke himself."
D"Argenson, at this request, made a singular gesture, which Gaston interpreted as one of hesitation.
"Monsieur," said Gaston, "I would see them in any place, and for as short a time as may be thought advisable."
"You shall see them," said D"Argenson.
"Ah! monsieur," said Gaston, stepping forward as though to take his hand, "you lay me under the greatest obligation."
"On one condition, however, monsieur."
"What is it? there is no condition compatible with my honor that I will not accept in exchange for so great a favor."
"You must tell no one of your condemnation, and this on your word as a gentleman."
"I accede to that all the more willingly," said Gaston, "as one of the persons named would certainly die if she knew of it."
"Then all is well; have you anything further to say?"
"Nothing, monsieur, except to beg that you will record my denials."
"They are already firmly attached--officer, hand the papers to Monsieur de Chanlay, that he may read and sign them."
Gaston sat down by a table, and, while D"Argenson and the judges chatted around him, he carefully perused the papers and the report of his own answers to the interrogatory--then, finding all correct, he signed.
"Monsieur," said he, "here are the doc.u.ments. Shall I have the pleasure of seeing you again?"
"I do not think so," said D"Argenson, with that brutality which was the terror of those who were subjected to him.
"Then to our meeting in another world, monsieur."
The major led Gaston to his own room.
CHAPTER x.x.x.
THE FAMILY FEUD.
When Gaston returned to his room, he was obliged to answer the questions of Dumesnil and Pompadour, who were waiting to hear news from him; but, in compliance with his promise made to D"Argenson, he did not mention his sentence, but simply announced a severer interrogatory than before--but as he wished to write some letters, he asked Dumesnil for a light. Dumesnil sent him a candle--things were progressing, it may be remarked; Maison-Rouge could refuse nothing to Mademoiselle de Launay, and she shared all with Dumesnil, who, in his turn, again shared with his neighbors, Gaston and Richelieu.
Gaston doubted whether, in spite of D"Argenson"s promise, he would be allowed to see Helene, but he knew that at least he should see a priest before he died; there could be no doubt that the priest would forward two letters for him.
As he began to write, Mademoiselle de Launay made a signal that she had something to send him; it was a letter. Gaston read:
"Our friend--for you are our friend, and now we have no secrets from you--tell Dumesnil of the famous hope I conceived after the word that Herment said to me."
Gaston"s heart beat. Might not he also find in this letter some ground for hope? Had they not said that his fate could not be separated from the others? It is true that those who had said so did not know of his conspiracy. He read on:
"An hour ago the doctor came, accompanied by Maison-Rouge; from the latter"s manner I drew the most favorable augury; however, when I asked to speak in private, or, at least, to whisper to the doctor, he made some difficulties, which I removed with a smile. "At least," said he, "no one must know that I am out of hearing. I should lose my place if it were known how weak I am." This tone of love and interest combined seemed to me so grotesque that I laughingly promised him what he asked; you see how I keep my promise. He went to a distance, and Herment approached. Then commenced a dialogue, wherein the gestures meant one thing while the voice declared another. "You have good friends," said Herment; "friends in good places, who are greatly interested for you." I naturally thought of Madame de Maine. "Ah, monsieur," I cried, "have you anything for me?" "Hush," said Herment. Judge how my heart beat."
Gaston felt his own beating vigorously.
""And what have you to give me?" "Oh, nothing myself: but you will have the object agreed upon." "But what is the object? Speak!" "The beds in the Bastille are known to be bad, and particularly badly covered, and I am commissioned to offer you--" "What?" "A coverlet." I burst out laughing; the devotion of my friends was shown in preventing my catching cold. "My dear Monsieur Herment," said I, "in my present position it would be better if my friends were to occupy themselves less about my feet and more about my head." "It is a female friend," said he. "Who is it?" "Mademoiselle de Charolais," said Herment, lowering his voice, so that I could scarcely hear him. Then he withdrew. I, my dear chevalier, am now waiting for Mademoiselle de Charolais"s coverlet. Tell this to Dumesnil; it will make him laugh."
Gaston sighed. The gayety of those around him weighed heavily on his heart. It was a new torture which they had invented, in forbidding him to confide his fate to any one; it seemed to him that he should have found consolation in the tears of his two neighbors. He had not the courage to read the letter to Dumesnil, so he pa.s.sed it on to him, and a moment after heard shouts of laughter.
At this moment Gaston was saying adieu to Helene.