CHAPTER XXIV
A CURIOUS PROFESSION
It so happened that about midnight Germain crossed the Seine by thePetit-Pont, a bridge not so public as the Pont-Neuf, and, regardless ofthe robberies always occurring, plunged among the crooked streets of theLatin Quarter. He had not walked far before a carriage, driving swiftlyaway from a small lane or passage, attracted his notice. At the bottomof the passage was a door having a lamp over it; upon the lamp someletters and a device. He stopped and read--
"MTRE. GILLES, GENEALOGIST."
The street in which he stood was a small cross street. He walked on andleft it, but the lamp, the inscription and the carriage haunted him likeone of those things which so often takes part in our reasoning before wesee its drift. All at once it became clear, he clutched at the hope,retraced his steps to the small street, arrived at the passage, and wentup it to the door. The genealogist himself, a little red-faced man withan agreeable air, a brown periwig, and a smart suit of black Lyons'silk, was taking in his sign and preparing to put out the light in it.
"An instant, Monsieur Gilles," said Lecour, stopping him.
"With pleasure, sir," Gilles answered without surprise, and returningthe lamp, opened the door, showing a narrow stair.
Germain mounted and passed into a chamber, whose furniture was ofconsiderable elegance, and the gloom of which was relieved by a singlewax candle on a brass-footed table.
On the table were a mass of parchments which the genealogist had beenexamining and tall cupboards, open drawers, and bookcases full of hislibrary stood around. A host of old portraits of all kinds and sizesgave rich colour to the walls.
The stately manner of Germain caught his glance at once, and bowingdeferentially he inquired the name.
"It does not matter," said Germain.
"A Normandy squire," thought the genealogist, from something in theaccent. He invited his visitor to seat himself in the chair facing histable, and took his own seat at the opposite side.
"I am newly arrived at Court," said Germain. "What is the best way tobecome acquainted with the history of the great families?"
"Not in the least likely you come to me for that," thought the expert."It is simple," said he aloud. "Read my _Repertory of Genealogy_, whichis to be had for fifty livres of the bookseller Giraud, No. 79, PalaisRoyal, and which is the infallible standard upon the subject, and isread by the whole of the Court, the _noblesse_, the magistrature, and ingeneral the French nation."
"Very well, I shall obtain it," answered Germain; "but can you nowanswer questions about some of the less conspicuous lines?"
"I have only, sir, to be told a name, and I guarantee for twenty livresto relate in written abstract the history of every branch of it whichwas ever noble. I also, for a fee, according to the difficulties, make aspecialty of resuscitating genealogies which have been dimmed by lapseof time or by those misfortunes which often make it seem to theinexperienced that such blood is ignoble--an impression which is withoutquestion in itself the most deplorable misfortune of all in such cases.I have discovered barons in chair-menders, and viscounts incheese-hawkers," and he looked at Germain cheerfully.
"Such things do not concern me," was the haughty reply. "I am interestedin a family named Lecour. I desire an account of the titles now orheretofore possessed by persons of that name."
The professional consulted a register "L" on a shelf behind.
"The name is a common one, sir, yet the list is not long. Indeed socommon is the name, and so short the list of its stocks of distinctionthat there have been but two. One is the well-known family of Amiens,the other is now obscure."
"What branch is the latter?"
"The LeCours de Lincy, formerly a conspicuous race in the annals ofPoitou and very ancient. Their device: a golden lion rampant on an azureshield."
"A golden lion rampant on an azure shield," repeated Germain musing.
"By chance the last of the de Lincys is known to me, and sleeps not farfrom where we are sitting--a noble so old and poor that he never enjoysfirewood, and apparently lives solely on the sight of his preciousproofs of _noblesse_; a food which, excuse me, Monsieur, is, in myopinion, very innutritious."
A ray of hope crossed Germain's mind.
"Would he sell these proofs?"
The genealogist at once understood Germain's position, but he would takeno mean advantage; he was honourable within his calling. He merelyanswered--
"No, sir."
"Could you not obtain copies?"
"For fifteen louis."
"Here they are," replied Lecour, opening his purse and handing over thegold.
The genealogist's ruddy face twinkled.
"Now," said Germain, "this gentleman of whom you spoke is my relative. Idesire to see him."
"To some men," replied the other, "I would say Monsieur de Lincy is partof my professional plant, and I cannot give you the information. To you,sir, it shall be different, for I take you for a man of honour, and allI desire is your word that nothing will be done by you without paymentof such fees as I may ask."
"Agreed," returned Germain, repressing his expectancy.
"Then you can be conducted to him in the morning, and it must be bymyself, for otherwise he would not trust you. Will you accept a lodgingwith me, a plain room, but no worse than at an inn."
Lecour only too gladly accepted the refuge; but before retiring hesaid--
"My name is Lecour."
"I knew it," returned the genealogist. "Have no fear of my confidence. Iam not like the vipers who throng my profession. To proceed a stepfurther, I venture boldly the theory, sir, that you are the MonsieurLecour de Repentigny about whose title there has just been some littlequestion."
Germain's heart jumped, and he sat for a moment speechless.
"It is true," he said at last.
"You wish me to advise you?"
Lecour nodded.
"With my advice, then, the thing will be simple. First quit the name ofRepentigny, which will always create jealousies. I leave to yourself theexcuses you will make for having borne it--that you bought the seignioryof that name or that you possess another of the same appellation, orthat it was very anciently a possession of your family. The armorialsshow there were LeCours de Tilly; there were also LeGardeurs de Tilly,related to the LeGardeurs de Repentigny. You might thus claim possiblerelationship. But, as I have said, I leave to yourself the choice ofexcuses on that point. Secondly, we must carry out your design ofallying yourself with old de Lincy, who is in such horrible need of afriend, that it will be a benefit to you both; and thirdly, you must seeto the correction of all marriage contracts, baptismal and deathcertificates, and other registers by the insertion of the nobleappellation which will then belong to your family. This is your case inbrief."
Lecour looked at him, heaving a deep breath of relief, and rising,allowed himself to be shown to the sleeping chamber.
When about to breakfast the next morning, on the rolls and wine sent upby the genealogist, he found a tiny package on his plate, opening whichhe saw a handsome old watch-seal fitted with a newly-cut stone inintaglio, showing a lion rampant on a shield.
The genealogist had had a jeweller cut on an old seal during the nightthe arms of the de Lincys.
Speculating much, but saying little in reply to Gille's garrulity, heset off with him to the old noble's attic. A voice, broken by asthma,feebly called upon them to enter, and Germain's eyes fell upon, lyingon a tattered mattress by the window, the last wreck of a gentleman,with whom he instantly felt the greatest sympathy. The rotten wood floorand partitions of the room were bare of furniture except a worn box andhalf a dozen dingy oil portraits of ancestors. The occupant's featureswere pinched with sadness and starvation. His hair was white. He raisedhimself with dignity to a sitting position, however, and received themwith a grave courtesy.
"Pardon us, Monsieur de Lincy!" the genealogist exclaimed; "I have madea discovery which will be so interesting to you that I have hastened tobreak it without w
aiting for the sun to rise higher."
"The hour is nothing," de Lincy replied; "I have always receivedvisitors in bed."
"But not always relatives."
A lofty look passed over the other's face.
"I am the only de Lincy."
"Will Monsieur lend me his seal?" said Maitre Gilles to Lecour. Then,handing it to the de Lincy, he exclaimed, "Here is a discovery of mine!"
"What, are these my arms?" cried the old man.
"Yes, sir, preserved for generations in a distant colony by a branchthat does you honour. Permit me, sir, to introduce you to your cousin,Monsieur LeCour de Lincy, of Canada, officer of the Bodyguard, and wholongs to make the acquaintance of the head of his family."
De Lincy bowed ceremoniously, and, glancing again at the ring, examinedit with avidity.
"The arms are those of my ancestors; and you say, sir, that this is anheirloom of your family in Canada."
Lecour nodded.
"Your name is really----"
"LeCour."
"Discovered to be your cousin by Maitre Gilles, the expert in genealogy,remember, Chevalier."
"You are very good, I admit," the old noble replied. "Yes, yes," hemused aloud on recovering, permitting his eyes to rest on Germain'sface, "he resembles the portrait of my grandfather--that portrait on theright. There is a tradition that a lost branch was flourishing somewherein distant countries. Maitre Gilles, under my pillow you will find thekey of my box--my muniment chest. Please to open it and hand me thegenealogical tree which is on the top of the parchments. Very good; herethen is the branch of which I speak, the progeny of Hippolyte,lieutenant in the marine in 1683: it must be this line. The saints bepraised that the grandeur of our fortunes still has so worthy arepresentative, and that I set my eyes once more upon a LeCour de Lincy.To you these precious portraits of our forefathers and the pricelesstitles to our nobility and to the ruins of our chateau shall descend.They shall not be lost, despised and scattered. _O mon Dieu!_ I thankthee."
With tears he reached his arms to Germain and embraced him, and sostrange is human nature that Germain, enclosed in that pathetic embrace,began to believe himself really a scion of the lost branch of the deLincys, descendants of Hippolyte.
Gilles departed, Germain remained. He insisted on aiding the Chevalierto dress, and on supporting his trembling footsteps down the stairwayand to the nearest _cafe_, where they fittingly celebrated the occasion.The Chevalier eagerly brought Germain back to look over the chest ofdocuments, and gave him permission with joy to obtain authenticatedcopies, and on parting, towards the end of the day, actually pressedupon him one of those portraits, precious to him as his life-blood.