Part 33 (1/2)
”I thank you, sir, and you, gentlemen,” said the young aide, surveying the men, their sudden temper abated, now looking at him with admiration, some of them with hands raised in salute. ”The duty you have imposed upon me by your choice is the most painful I shall ever be called upon to perform.”
”This way, Monsieur St. Laurent,” said old Lestoype, stepping through the door with his head high, beckoning the young aide to follow him.
The door had scarcely closed behind the two when the wild confusion broke out again.
”What shall be done now?” cried Captain Grenier, the senior officer present, as soon as he could be heard.
”Messieurs,” said Marteau, striving to gain the attention of all, ”let me speak a moment. I have a plan. Be silent, I beg of you.”
”We will hear Marteau.”
”What have you to suggest?”
”Speak!”
”Be quick.”
”This. I will take the Eagle, I, who brought it.”
”You will throw it into the Isere?”
”No. I know this town like a book. The regiment was once stationed here for a few months. I had time on my hands. I explored many of the ancient buildings. I will---- But ask me nothing. Trust the Eagle to me. I have periled my life for it as have you all. Trust it to me.
It shall come to no dishonor in my hands. Say to the Governor that I came here, that I brought the Eagle, that I was asked to surrender it, that I refused, that I took it away, that you know not where I concealed it, nor whither I am gone. Let Monsieur St. Laurent make his report. You can simply tell the truth. Nothing will be done.”
”It is well thought on,” said Captain Grenier.
”The danger is to you,” said another.
”What of that? I have looked danger in the face often since I have been in the army, like all the rest of you.”
”I like not to s.h.i.+ft the responsibility upon this young man,” said the old port-aigle dubiously. ”He is saving our lives at the risk of his own if they should find him--which is likely.”
”Messieurs,” said Marteau quickly, ”I am not preserving your lives for yourselves.”
”Why, then?” asked an officer.
”That you may be ready,” said the young man, throwing his cloak about his shoulders, seizing the Eagle with his hands, ”when the violets bloom again.”
As they stared at him he saluted, turned on his heel, opened the door and went out.
CHAPTER XXI
LIKE A THIEF IN THE NIGHT
The reception was over. The last guest had departed. The house had been closed. Sir Gervaise Yeovil and his son and the Countess Laure had bidden the old Marquis good night and retired to their several apartments. There were wakeful hours ahead for the Governor, who repaired to his cabinet and got to work. The tidings which had been brought him by the young Baron St. Laurent were sufficiently grave and perturbing to render sleep impossible, even if he had nothing to do.
In great astonishment the Marquis had questioned Major Lestoype closely and from him had received a frank and accurate version of the whole affair. The Major would have died rather than betray a comrade, but in this instance the betrayal had already been effected and there was nothing whatever to be gained, from Marteau's point of view or from anybody's point of view, by an attempt at concealment.
The old Marquis had acted with dazzling prompt.i.tude. His personal escort had consisted of a troop of loyalist cavalry from the King's household guard and it had not yet returned to Paris. He could depend absolutely upon these men. They had none of them been soldiers of the grand armies of the Emperor. They had been recruited in loyal and long-suffering Vendee. He placed them under the command of St.
Laurent, of whose conduct he highly approved, being in ignorance of the offer of secrecy made by that young soldier, Lestoype being too fine a man to attempt to better his case by bringing the Lieutenant into disgrace. This detachment had searched the Major's quarters thoroughly. They had found them, of course, deserted.