Take ten men and place yourself so as to hold the cul-de-sac
in which the house stands; be careful that no one sees either you or
your men."
"Yes, commandant, I know the ground."
"Very good," said Hulot. "I'll send Beau-Pied to let you know when to
play your sabres. Try to meet the marquis yourself, and if you can
manage to kill him, so that I sha'n't have to shoot him judicially,
you shall be a lieutenant in a fortnight or my name's not Hulot."
Gudin departed with a dozen soldiers.
"Do you know what you have done?" said Corentin to Mademoiselle de
Verneuil, in a low voice.
She made no answer, but looked with a sort of satisfaction at the men
who were starting, under command of the sub-lieutenant, for the
Promenade, while others, following the next orders given by Hulot,
were to post themselves in the shadows of the church of Saint-Leonard.
"There are houses adjoining mine," she said; "you had better surround
them all. Don't lay up regrets by neglecting a single precaution."
"She is mad," thought Hulot.
"Was I not a prophet?" asked Corentin in his ear. "As for the boy I
shall send with her, he is the little gars with a bloody foot;
therefore--"
He did not finish his sentence, for Mademoiselle de Verneuil by a
sudden movement darted in the direction of her house, whither he
followed her, whistling like a man supremely satisfied.
Pages:
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421