"You have a letter."
"Yes; have you a light?"
"Yes."
"Lower the string."
Gaston tied on the letter, which was drawn up.
"It is for you and not for me," said Dumesnil.
"Never mind, read it, and tell me what it is; I have no light, and it would lose time to send me one."
[Ill.u.s.tration: MADEMOISELLE DE LAUNAY.--Page 538.]
"You permit me?"
"Certainly."
A moment"s silence.
"Well," said Gaston.
"Diable!"
"Bad news, is it not?"
"Judge for yourself."
And Dumesnil read:
"MY DEAR NEIGHBOR--Some judge extraordinary has arrived at the a.r.s.enal this evening. I recognized D"Argenson"s livery. We shall know more soon, when I see the doctor.
A thousand remembrances to Dumesnil."
"That is what La Jonquiere told me; it is I that am condemned."
"Bah, chevalier," said Dumesnil; "you are too easily alarmed."
"Not at all. I know well what to think, and then--hark!"
"What!"
"Silence; some one is coming." And Gaston went away from the chimney.
The door opened, and the major and lieutenant, with four soldiers, came for Gaston, who followed them.
"I am lost," murmured he. "Poor Helene."
And he raised his head with the intrepidity of a brave man, who, knowing death was near, went boldly to meet it.
"Monsieur," said D"Argenson, "your crime has been examined by the tribunal of which I am the president. In the preceding sittings you were permitted to defend yourself; if you were not granted advocates, it was not with the intention of inquiring your defense, but, on the contrary, because it was useless to give you the extreme indulgence of a tribunal charged to be severe."
"I do not understand you."
"Then I will be more explicit. Discussion would have made one thing evident, even in the eyes of your defenders--that you are a conspirator and an a.s.sa.s.sin. How could you suppose that with these points established indulgence would be shown you. But here you are before us, every facility will be given for your justification. If you ask a delay, you shall have it. If you wish researches, they shall be made. If you speak, you have the reply, and it will not be refused you."
"I understand, and thank the tribunal for this kindness," replied Gaston. "The excuse it gives me for the absence of a defender seems sufficient. I have not to defend myself."
"Then you do not wish for witnesses, delays, or doc.u.ments?"
"I wish my sentence--that is all."
"Do not be obstinate, chevalier; make some confessions."
"I have none to make, for in all my interrogatories you have not made one precise accusation."
"And you wish--?"
"Certainly--I should like to know of what I am accused."
"I will tell you. You came to Paris, appointed by the republican committee of Nantes, to a.s.sa.s.sinate the regent. You were referred to one La Jonquiere, your accomplice, now condemned with you."
Gaston felt that he turned pale at these true accusations. "This might be true, monsieur," said he, "but you could not know it. A man who wishes to commit such a deed does not confess it till it be accomplished."
"No; but his accomplices confess for him."
"That is to say, that La Jonquiere denounces me."
"I do not refer to La Jonquiere, but the others."
"The others!" cried Gaston; "are there, then, others arrested beside La Jonquiere and myself?"
"Yes. Messieurs de Pontcalec, de Talhouet, du Couedic, and de Montlouis."
"I do not understand," said Gaston, with a vague feeling of terror--not for himself, but for his friends.
"What! do you not understand that Messieurs de Pontcalec, de Talhouet, du Couedic, and de Montlouis are now being tried at Nantes?"
"Arrested!" cried Gaston, "impossible!"
"Yes," said D"Argenson, "you thought that the province would revolt rather than allow its defenders--as you rebels call yourselves--to be arrested. Well, the province has said nothing. The province has gone on singing, laughing, and dancing, and is already asking where they will be beheaded, in order to hire windows."
"I do not believe you, monsieur," said Gaston, coldly.
"Give me that portfolio," said D"Argenson to a man standing behind him.
"Here, monsieur," continued he, "are the writs of arrest. Do you doubt their authenticity?"
"That does not say that they have accused me."