The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1913-08-21
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Thank you. no! After our repast
OF the beach-however, stand on no
ceremony yourself. Nay, insist"
IF Monsieur lie Marquis insists!-"
The commandant drew up his chair;
then, reaching for q bottle, poured out
a glass OF wine, which he offered his
guest.
mo. no." said the marquis. But
as remarked before, stand on no
ceremony" And daintily opening q
snuf-box, he watched his host with
an expression half-amused, half-iron-
ical.
That person ate and drank with lit.
tlc relish; the wine-so he said-had
spoiled; and the dishes were without
flavor; It was fortunate Monsieur 10
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 palatable, 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 ac.
cepted an invitation to enter.
We'll, you know the old saying"
the marquis closed the box with q
snap, There's many a slip'-but
how" airily brushing with his hand
kerchief imaginary particles from a
long lace cuff. did he get awayT
He had got away before we were
down on the beach. 1t was a wild.
goose chase, at best. And so told
his Excellency, the governor"
"A thankless task, no doubt! But
the shots we heard"
An imbecile soldier saw a shadow;
fired at 1t. and"
The others followed suit" laughed
the visitor.
Exactly" The commandant's face
grew red; 1iercely he pulled his mus
tache. What can one expect, when
they make soldiers out of every
dunderpate that comes along?"
"True!" assented the marquis. But
this fellow, this Black Seigneur-why.
Is the governor so anxious to Iax.
hands on him? Who is he, and what
has he done? I confess" languidly,
Ito a mild curiosity"
He's a privateersman and an out-'
law, and has done enough to hangs
himself dozen times"
When you capture him!" inter-
posed the visitor lightly. A moments
he studied the massive oak beams Off
the ceiling. why do they call him,
the Black Seigneur? An odd sobri-
quet!"
His 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 tief?"
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
Il 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 We're conflscated 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
flef, declared forfeited by the courts,
was subsequently granted and decided, |
without condition, to the 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,
where they have had time to reflect
his Excellency believes in no halfway
with peasants"
"A rich principality, no doubt!"
half to himself spoke the marquis.
II have heard" blurted the CON-
hes going to give it to the
Lady Elise; restore the old castle and |
turn the grounds surrounding 1t into
a noble park"
The visitor frowned, as If little Iik-