The False Chevalier
CHAPTER XXIX
THE LETTRE DE CACHET
Lecour had succeeded for a time in baffling the forces arrayed againsthim.
The next turn was made by de Lotbiniere, who entered in his journal hisintention of now speaking to the following persons, in their order--
The Minister,Repentigny,The Chevalier de Villerai,Vaudreuil,The Genealogist of France,The Prince de Poix,The Marechale de Noailles,The Baroness de la Roche Vernay.
He went to the first on the list and obtained an interview in privatewith his chief secretary, from which he issued with a large sealedenvelope, which contained a handsome parchment in blank, signed "Louis."It was a _lettre de cachet_, one of those warrants by which a man might,without warning to his friends or any charge laid, be arrested andimprisoned in one of those fortresses whose walls were so many livinggraves. He took it to the lodgings of Repentigny.
"Pierre, I am on the campaign against your namesake!" exclaimed he.
"Then you have heard the latest news?"
"Not if it is fresh to-day."
"An hour old. There has been a second duel between our Louis and Lecour.What a pity!"
"A pity? it is an infernal outrage! Another duel? Oh, my God!"
"Lecour became impatient----"
"_Impatient_, forsooth!"
"And exclaimed among his companions that _Lery_----"
"Curse his insolence!"
"That _Lery's_ family were skin-merchants."
"The pig and scoundrel! he shall sting for this. Why do you holdyourself so calm, Repentigny, when your family is insulted?"
"Frankly, because it is not altogether untrue."
"_We_ in trade? Our nobles skin-merchants? Is it thus that you willallow the King's permission to our order to engage in the fur trade tobe stigmatised?"
"I have, Michel, seen the ways of many peoples. I have learned to lookon the castes of our Canada with the same eyes as I look on those ofIndia, the eyes of amusement, for I find in mankind everywhere the sametendencies and the same pretensions."
"But this beast of a Lecour is a liar and impostor."
"Both."
"Then I will show you your duty. Open this envelope. You have only tofill Lecour's name into the warrant it contains, and he goes under lockand key in the Bastille."
"I cannot."
"Why?"
"He is a brave man."
"Tut, you madden me, Pierre. The worst felons are bold."
"But not generous. Lecour saved Louis's life from the blade of a madmanat this duel. I know too well how that madman would have thrust. We areboth mad--he and I, pursuer and pursued--I have brought it down on both.Poor Louis! have I pulled down the wrath of God also upon you? What isthis, Michel, that you have brought? Consider what you ask me to do? Tothink that any man of our free colony would use a _lettre de cachet_,and against a brother Canadian! The thing is damnable," and he flung theparchment into the fire, where it curled up instantly as if sensitive tothe flame, and cracked loudly with bursting blisters.
"Pierre, you are a cursed fool!" de Lotbiniere retorted violently, andleft, while Repentigny's face became clouded with an unspeakable tortureof sadness.
The Chevalier de Villerai, who was next on de Lotbiniere's list, was oneof the quartermasters of Louis' company, and de Lotbiniere, to see him,would have had to journey to Chalons, some fifty miles away. Being arelative, he instead wrote him. He received a reply, enclosing one fromde Lery, who was lying ill of his wound. From the embittered sentencesof his nephew, de Lotbiniere learned of the insistence of his comradeson his sending Lecour the challenge, and of the result to de Lery'sright arm. Louis vowed that he would more willingly seek him the nexttime, and that the fight would be at sight without any formalities. Hetold nothing of Lecour's act of mercy, of which he was apparentlyuninformed.
The quartermaster was an easy-going, large-framed man who regarded mostthings as an occasion for drinking and joking. He willingly undertookto assist de Lotbiniere to act for the de Lery party among theGuardsmen, and to take charge of any petitions which might need to bepresented to a military court. He protested good-humouredly, however,that "he was a _sabreur_, not an advocate." De Lotbiniere, having madethese arrangements, went to Versailles and saw the Count de Vaudreuil.The Count blandly alleged himself "ready to oblige Monsieur deLotbiniere in any manner in his power."
The Genealogist of France was much interested in the Marquis's story,and certified in writing that the family name of the Repentignys was notLecour, but Le Gardeur.
The Marquis now went to the Prince. He asked for a private audience andwas admitted. Though Poix had not the remotest idea in the world who hewas, yet he received him with obliging courtesy, combined with a certaincustomary hauteur.
"'Lecour,' you say, Monsieur? Is that the name?"
"Yes, Prince," the Marquis returned.
"I do not know any such person."
"His stolen appellation is Lecour de Repentigny."
"Repentigny? ah, I know, I know."
"As I have said, sir, the man is a cheat. Here in my hands are proofs ofit, and I, myself, am personal witness against him."
"Ah, this is serious, this is serious," repeated the Prince in adisturbed tone.
"Your Excellency will, then, order his expulsion from the company?"
"Ah, you ask much, you ask much. I refer you to my adjutant. He managesthose things," and with a slightly impatient gesture the Prince bowed,and de Lotbiniere knew that he must go.
He next proceeded to Troyes to see Collinot. That officer examinedparticularly the Genealogist's certificate, went to the records,compared it with the former attestation, arrived at a conclusion. Hetreated the matter as of its full importance, and the only respect inwhich he disappointed de Lotbiniere was that he did not share thelatter's violent feelings.
"The young man has been an efficient officer," he said regretfully, "andhis conduct that of a gentleman. He is very unfortunate at an age when aman feels such misfortune keenly. It is regrettable for all of us. But,no doubt, we must do our duty."
"And preserve our young officers from consorting with the scum of thepeople, Monsieur Adjutant."
"He is scarcely scum, sir. One must allow that in point of form he is_parfaitement bien_. It is likely that the fortune of his father has ledhim quite naturally to believe himself fit for the regiment."
"He ought, instead, to have been standing aproned in a pork-market. Hedeserves the galleys."
"You are interested, Monsieur, and look at the affair with personalannoyance. As for me, I am guided solely by the royal ordinancerequiring proofs of sixteen quarterings for entry into the Bodyguard. IfMonsieur Lecour--who is now de Lincy--not Repentigny--cannot show themsatisfactorily, he does not fulfil the ordinance, that is all. He isto-day at a shooting party."
"This Lincy name is a worse imposture than the other. I tell you,Monsieur Adjutant, it is _impossible_ for such folk to have nobility."
"Pardon me, sir," said Collinot, taking out his watch. "May I invite youto review the force?"
"I must deny myself this great honour, inasmuch as I am not ready withyour new infantry drill," returned de Lotbiniere, intensely flatteredat an invitation to review Bodyguards.
Besides, he had at last, he said to himself, effected his point. So heordered his carriage and departed for Paris to pursue the rest of hisplans.