The Winslow mail., 1900-12-06

J left miraculously at the chateau
of her ancestors, the naughty old Mar
quise du Faouet would cry aloud that
it was a disgrace to their order that
the mobiles should fear the sans
culottes. "Those dregs of humanity,
she would say, scornfully, ''were for
merly our slaves; our indulgence has
made them our lackeys. 1t will take
more than one generation to purge
them of their servile instincts. They
refuse to obey because we, their nat
ural masters, no longer know how to
command. Address them sternly, in
a tone that brooks no reply, and they
will continue to cringe their backs,
and their serfs' blood will flow less
quickly. The boasts and arrogant as
sertions of the proud old marquise
alarmed me for her safety, the more
so that Citoven Felicien Ravaud, gen
eral administrator of the department,
in residence at Vannes, and the son of
old servants of the marquise. This
young man was born in the chateau,
had played about the kitchens and
supped in the servants hall until of
an age for schooling, when Nine. du
Faouet had placed him with the Ora
torian fathers at her own expense.
There he had learned well and quick
ly, and had since made his way in the
world without seeking assistance from
anyone. His parents dead, the mar
Quise had never since seen him; and,
doubtless, he troubled little to testify
his gratitude. Nevertheless L imag-
ined that Nine. du Faouet maintained
her position and proclaimed aloud her
contempt for those in power by the
influence of the young commissaire.
Still, l knew Ravaud's power to be
limited; l knew also that his patience
would wear out. l entreated the mar
quise to moderate her language until
better times.
''Nonsense!" she would eXclaim.
"Ravaud would never dare to defy
me. 1t is my manner that imposes
upon the little lackey. When he thinks
l fear him he will presume upon it,
and l shall be lost.
Her imprudence had the result that
/ had feared. Some unknown enemy
wrote to the Conite de Salut Public
denouncing Ravaud's clemency and the
old aristocrat's insolence. 1 received
secret intelligence that warrant of
arrest was out against the marquise,
that it had arrived at the municipalite,
and that doubtless when the news
would reach me Ravaud would have it
in hand. 1 hastened to the Chateau
du Faouet, and, only vaguely explain
ing the danger for fear of alarming
the marquise, begged her to fly with
out delay and without warning her
servants.
81 will CO." she said, ''but with my
gates flung open, with my lackeys, my
baggage and with all my suite. And
I will pass before the municipalite at
full gallop."
Vainly protested against her folly
I was forced at last to. tell her that
Ravaud had received warrant for
her arrest, and that nothing could
prevent his putting it into execution
Still she persisted.
sit is impossible!" The little lackey
would not dare! All, we shall see.
And, summoning her suisse. she said,
imperiously: go to the municipalite
and tell Commissaire Ravaud that
Nine. le Marquise du Faouet wishes
to speak with him, and authorizes him
to come up to the chateau without de-
lay"
1t was not probable that the general
administrator would copdescend to re-
spond to the mildly imperious COM
mand of the old marquise, whom he
was about to arrest and to throw into
prison, and 1 was endeavoring once
more to persuade her to immediate
flight, when, to my surprise, Felicien
Ravaud made his appearance on the
threshold of the drawing-room. He
was a handsome, pale young man,
with intelligent eyes. He came for
ward politely, hat in hand, but with
out the slightest sign of servility.
Nine. du Faouet remained seated in
the armchair close to the chimney,
where the big logs were burning. She
lOOk6Q at the cOmm1SSalfS nduGltllV.
and without asking him to be seated
she addressed him Il her usual impe-
rious tone:
Unpleasant circumstances for us
both, Monsieur Ravaud, compel me to
recall the fact that your family were
under some obligation to me. From
the scullery, where your mother
washed up, l had her raised in grades
to my apartments; as for your father
1 forgot what position he originally
held in my stables"
The marquise had evidently expect
ed that Ravaud would be humiiiate6
and confused, and that he would in.
terrupt the conversation, but he lis
tened with quiet Difference, his arm
resting upon the chimney, only speak
ing when she paused.
''Allow me, madame, to aid youl
memory" he replied, in calm voice
"My father entered your service as &
stable lad; it was after his marriage
with my mother, then your maid, that
you did him the honor of making hin