CHAPTER XII
GERMAIN GOES TO PARIS
It appears from the foregoing letter that Germain, before hispresentation, had vacillated in his purpose, so far as his using thename Repentigny was concerned. All such vacillation vanished in theexcitement of his taste of Court life. The fresh fact--of which Granceyinformed him--that Cyrene had been carried off to Versailles by thePrincess (which he interpreted to mean by the Abbe) only enriched with apensive strain, and allowed him to lend an undivided attention to, thefascinating scenes which surrounded him, full of rich life and colourlike the splendid pictorial tapestries adorning the halls ofFontainebleau.
On his return to Eaux Tranquilles, the Chevalier advanced at the gate,where he had doubtless been waiting some time, and, drawing a smallnewspaper out of his coat, said in grave fashion--
"Germain, there is something in the _Gazette de France_, which, I fear,means mischief."
Lecour took the paper with a heart-throb and read--
"The Marquis de Gruchy, the Count de Longueville, the Chevaliers desTrois-Maisons and de Refsentigny, who had previously the honour of beingpresented to the King, had, on the 8th instant, that of entering thecarriages of of his Majesty and following him to the chase."
His face crimsoned. He looked at the Chevalier.
"I have mentioned," said the latter, a troubled look appearing on hissensitive face, "that the name of Repentigny was that of an officer whomI knew when our army was in Canada. He was a Canadian of the family ofLe Gardeur, who still lives, bearing the title of Marquis, and is, Ibelieve, Governor of Pondicherry or Mahe in our Indian possesions.Should the name reach him through the _Gazette_ as being worn by you, itmight lead to the Bastille. That I would not willingly see befall you,dear boy."
Germain was touched with the kindness in his friend's voice.
"What should I do?" he asked, faltering.
"Remain at Eaux Tranquilles, resume your own name, and enjoy lifequietly, with all I possess yours."
Tears rose in the young man's eyes. "Your goodness, my second father, isincredible."
"You remain, then?" asked de Bailleul eagerly. The conflict of themoonlight night was once more going on in Lecour's breast. The forces onboth sides were strong.
"Give me an hour to think, sir. See, this paragraph does not contain anyrisk; the word is printed 'Refsentigny.'"
The Chevalier scanned it anew.
"True," said he. "But," he continued, "did you not know there is ashadow over this name? Have you heard the story of the 'Golden Dog'?"
"Of Quebec?"
"Yes."
Germain's eyes opened with interest.
"I have passed a great stone house there with a golden dog and aninscription above its door. I could not but remember it, the more sothat my father refused to utter a word concerning it, though it wasclear he knew some explanation. It was a curious black-faced housethree stories high, eight windows wide, a stiff row of peaked dormersalong the attic. From the edge of the cliff it looked over the wholecountry. There were massive steps of stone before it as if gushing outof the door and spreading on every side; above the door, which was talland narrow, was the stone with the sculpture of the dog. Is that thegolden dog you mean?"
"It is. There happened the most luckless deed in New France. The man whobuilt that house was the citizen Nicholas Philibert, who had risen towealth out of his business of baker, and was respected throughout thewhole town. Bigot, the Intendant of the colony, was bringing the publicfinances to appalling ruin by his thefts and extravagances--for we allknew he was a robber--and was driving the people to madness. TheBourgeois Philibert was their mouthpiece. If the chateau of St. Louisstood out as the castle of the military officialdom and the IntendantsPalace as the castle of the civil officialdom, the house of theBourgeois Philibert was the castle of the people, standing against themperched upon the cliff at the head of the artery of traffic which unitedthe Upper and Lower towns. It was too marked a challenge. Bigotdetermined to harass him. He sent Pierre de Repentigny, then alieutenant in the provincials and a young fellow of the rashest temper,to billet in Philibert's house, though he had no right to do so, asPhilibert, being a King's Munitioner, was exempt from billeting. Bigotknew there would be a quarrel. It turned out as he had foreseen.Philibert stood at his door and refused to allow Repentigny to enter.Repentigny insisted. Philibert loudly claimed his right, and theprotection of the law from the outrage. Repentigny covered him withsneers, and pushed inward across the threshold. The merchant upbraidedhim for his want of respect for grey hairs and the rights of the people.Repentigny thereupon flew into a rage. He rushed on Philibert, drew hissword with a curse and thrust him through the body, which fell out ofthe door upon the street, and the citizen died in a few minutes."
"How frightful!"
"Philibert's remains were followed into the cathedral by a weepingmultitude. A number of us officers attended as a protest against Bigot.In the evening Repentigny was burnt in effigy by the masses in thesquare of Notre Dame des Victoires in the Lower Town. Philibert's sonswore eternal vengeance, and had inserted the great stone over the doorof the mansion which bore the figure that you have seen, of the goldendog crouching and gnawing a bone, and underneath it the legend:
"_I am a dog who gnaws a bone, In gnawing it I take my rest; A day will come which has not come, When I shall bite him who bit me._"
"Subsequently Repentigny was always held in disgrace, and after the lossof Canada he took refuge on the other side of the world. They say youngPhilibert has followed him thither. What do you think of the story?"
Germain shuddered and did not answer.
"Are you willing to wear the name?"
He shuddered again and hesitated. Finally he answered with a whiteface--
"I am willing to wear it long enough to see Versailles. But with yourpermission only."
"Not so, Germain, I entreat you as a free man."
"It is hard. It is to give up so much for ever."
"This sacrifice is the call of Honour, which stands above everyconsideration. Promise to remember that in deciding."
"I promise it," exclaimed Germain, who stood pondering. "Yet, sir, tellme one thing."
"Willingly."
"That should I decide to go, I am at least not to lose your affection."
"No, no, Germain, you have it for ever. Have no fear of that, whateverelse. The heart of the father changes not towards the son. Nor shallever your secret be lost through me. But, alas! I see you alreadyresolving to do that that my honour, to which I refer every question,does not commend."
The old man turned away leaving him agitated and unable to answer. Thetide of love swept over his miserable heart and the form of Cyrene rosein his thoughts. Her eyes turned the balance. How vast to him was theirargument.
"I cannot," he exclaimed desperately.
The more he dwelt upon it the more he found this a settled point. Of uswho think ourselves stronger, how many ever had such a temptation?
In a few hours he had left Eaux Tranquilles for Paris.
Dominique brought him to a house in the Quartier du Temple where therewas an apartment which de Bailleul often occupied: there they installedthemselves.
During the morning Germain would have in some obscure fencing ordeportment master whose instructions he would adapt to suit himself. Inthe afternoon he would stroll off among the pleasure seekers who crowdedthe ramparts or the arcades of the Palais Royal, or would study theexternals of high life in the Faubourg St Germain. His evenings werelargely spent in the _parterre_ of the opera.
His signature, in place of plain "Germain Lecour" now read: "LeCour deRepentigny," with the capital "C," or "Repentigny" alone, in a boldhand, with a paraph. And there appeared on his fob a seal cut with acoat of arms highly foliaged--azure with silver chevrons and threeleopards' heads gold, which he had discovered to be the Repentignydevice. With it he sealed the wax on his letters. He had bought indeed apocket _Armorial_, the preface to which was as follows:--
&nbs
p; "_To the Incomparable French Noblesse._
"The Author presents to you, valiant and courageous Noblesse, the _Diamond Armorial_, which, despite the malice of the Times and the Flight of Centuries, will carefully preserve the Lustre of your name and the Glory of your Arms emblazoned in their true colours. This glorious heraldic material is a Science of State. Though it is not absolutely necessary that all gentlemen should know how to compose and blazon arms, it is Very Important for them to know their Own and not be ignorant of Those of Others. It is the office of the Heralds to form, charge, break, crown and add Supporters to, the coats of those who by some Brave and Generous action have shown their High and Lofty virtues; whereof Kings make use to recompense to their gentry this mark of Honour and Dignity; that so they may Impel each to goodly conduct on those occasions where Men of Stout Hearts acquire Glory for themselves, and Their Posterity...."
In his chamber, on the day when he bought it, he left it on the tableand the open page began--
"The glorious house of _MONTMORENCY_ beareth a shield of gold with ascarlet cross, cantoned with sixteen azure eagles, four by four."