Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-05-27
ooprRERr 300 ~ rat oo6Rc
CHAPTER vi.
Mr aoaha-kERRilIcQ.

sieur le Commandment"
The speaker, the Marquis de Beau
.vilIers, leaned more comfortably back
in his chair in the small, rather barely
furnished barracks sitting-room in
which he found himself later that
night and languidly surveyed the
ford, irate countenance Of the man
in uniform before him.
"No. Monsieur le Marquis" said
the latter, endeavoring tc conceal any
evidence of modification or Ill humor
in the presence Of visitor. so dis
,tinguished; I'VE didn't. But" as If to
turn the conversation, with gesture
toward a well.laden table, Il should
feel honored if"
Thank you, no! After our repast
on the beach-however, stand on no
ceremony yourself. Nay, I insist"
IF Monsieur lie Marquis insists"
. The commandant drew up his chair;
then, reaching for a bottle, poured out
a glass of wine, which he offered his
guest.
4 mo, no." said the marquis. But
as I remarked before, stand on no
ceremony" And daintily opening
snuff-box, he watched his host with
an expression half-amused, half-iron-
ical.
That person ate and drank with lit
tie relish; the wine-so he said-had
spoiled; and the dishes We're without
flavor; it was fortunate Monsieur lie
Marquis had no appetite
Whereupon the marquis smiled;
but, considering the circumstances, in
his own mind excused the command
ant, who had only just come from the
governors palace, and who, after the
interview that undoubtedly had en-
sued, could hardly be expected to find
the pate palatabIe, or the wine to his
liking. This, despite the complaisance
Of the young nobleman whom the
commandant had encountered, while
descending from the governors abode,
and who, adapting his step to the 9TH
er's had accompanied the officer back
to his quarters. and graciously &C
cepted an invitation to enter.
well, you know the old saying"
the marquis closed the box with
snap, There's many slip'-but
how" airily brushing with his hand
kerchiefs imaginary particles from a
long lace cuff. did he get away?"
"He had got away before We were
down on the beach. 1t was a wild.
goose chase, at best. And so told
"a thankless task, no doubt! But
the shots We heard"
IAN imbecile soldier saw a shadow;
fired at it, and"
"Thc others followed suit" laughed
the visitor.
Exactly" The commandments face
grew red; fiercely he pulled his mus
tache. What can one expect, when
they make soldiers out OF every
dunderpate that comes along?"
True" assorted the marquis. But
this fellow, this Black Seigneur-why
Is the governor so anxious to lay
hands on him? Who is he, and what
has he done? confess" languidly,
ito mild curiosity"
Hes privateersman and an out
law, and has done enough to hang
himself dozen times"
when You capture him!" inter-
posed the visitor lightly. A moment
he studied the massive oak beams of
the ceiling. why dc they call him
the Black Seigneur? An odd sobri-
quet!"
Ellis father was a Seigneur-the
last Of the fief Of Desaurac. The
Seigneurs have all been fair men for
generations, while this fellow
"Then he has noble blood in him."
The marquis showed surprise. Where
is the fief?"
The woods on the shore mark the
beginning of It,"
Butt don't understand. The father
was Seigneur; the SON"
Bluntly the commandant explained;
the son was natural child; the
mother a common peasant woman
whom the. former Seigneur had taken
to his house
II see!' The young nobleman
tapped his knee. "And that being the
case"
Under the terms OF the ancient
grant, there being no legal heir, the
lands were contiscated to the crown.
His Excellency, however, had already
bought many of the membranes
against this property, and, in view Of
this, and his services to the king, the
fief, declared forfeited by the courts,
was subsequently granted and decided,
without condition, to tho governor.
ITO the governor" repeated the
marquis.
Who at once began rare clearing
out; forcing the peasants who for
years had not been paying metayage,
to meet this just requirement, or
move away!"
And did some of them object?"
"They did; but his Excellency found
means. The most troublesome were
arrested and taken to the Mount,