A
frightful anger showed upon his face, which turned waxen in tone. He
leaned towards the guest from whom the rocket had started and said, in
a voice that seemed muffled in crape, "Death of my soul! count, is
that true?"
"On my honor," said the count, bowing gravely.
The marquis lowered his eyes for a moment, then he raised them and
looked fixedly at Marie, who, watchful of his struggle, knew that look
to be her death-warrant.
"I would give my life," he said in a low voice, "for revenge on the
spot."
Madame du Gua understood the words from the mere movement of the young
man's lips, and she smiled upon him as we smile at a friend whose
regrets are about to cease. The scorn felt for Mademoiselle de
Verneuil and shown on every face, brought to its height the growing
indignation of the two Republicans, who now rose hastily:--
"Do you want anything, citizens?" asked Madame du Gua.
"Our swords, /citoyenne/," said Gerard, sarcastically.
"You do not need them at table," said the marquis, coldly.
"No, but we are going to play at a game you know very well," replied
Gerard. "This is La Pelerine over again."
The whole party seemed dumfounded. Just then a volley, fired with
terrible regularity, echoed through the courtyard. The two officers
sprang to the portico; there they beheld a hundred or so of Chouans
aiming at the few soldiers who were not shot down at the first
discharge; these they fired upon as upon so many hares.
Pages:
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220