Evening journal., 1922-07-07
CHAPTER vi

CHAPTER vi
S~ 1t was on a horse hired from the
~,Breton Arme that Andre-Louis set
out next morning; and an hours
brisk ride brought him to the city OF
-1Rennes.
~ He rode into the upper and prin-
cipal part of that important city OF
some thirty thousand souls and
.leame at last to the Place Royale,
-Ywhere he found the crowd to be
.-most dense. From the plinth of the
equestrian statue OF Louis XIV a
.white-faced young man was exeit-
aedly addressing the multitude. His
,youth and dress proclaimed the stu
dent. and a group Of his fellows
\ acting as a guard of honor TO him
kept the immediate precincts OF the
statue.
over the heads OF the crowd
sAndre-Louis caught a few OF the
ssphrases flung forth by that eager
Voice.
-, 1T was the promise of the King
=. 1t is the Kings authority they
ffout They arrogate to them
SELVES the whole sovereignty n Brit
4tany. The King has dissolved them
l. These insolent mobiles defying
their sovereign and the people :"
Had he not known already of the
events which had brought the Third
slEstate to the point OF active revolt.
a-hose few phrases would fully have
Informed him. This popular display
4of temper was most opportune TO
his need, he thought. He put up his
hired horse at the Corne de Cert,
and set out to the Palias de Justice.
That the Kings lieutenant conde-
scended TO see him at all was prob
ably due 10 the grave complexion OF
nc hour. At last he was ushered
into a fine. well-lighted room fur
n!shed with enough gilt and satin to
have supplied the boudoir of lady
of fashion.
1t was trivial setting for a
Kings Lieutenant. but about the
Kings Lieutenant there was-at
least TO ordinary eyes-nothing triv-
1ial. At the far end Of the cham
Der. before a goat-legged writing
table with Wstteau panels, sat that
exalted being. Above scarlet coat
with an order flaming on its breast.
and a billow OF lace in which dia-
nonds sparkled like drops OF water.
sprouted the massive powdered
head of NJ. de Lesdiguieres. It was
thrown back TO scowl with expect
ant arrogance.
M de LesdiEuiefes considered him
very sternly.
What Is your name2" he asked.
"Andre-Louis Moreau."
"Wen, Andre-Louis Moreau, II
you can state your plea briefly. l
will hear you"
"You shall be the Judge OF that,
monsieur" said Andre-Louis, and
he proceeded at once TO state his
case. beginning with the shooting
of Mabey. and passing thence to the
killing of Il. de Vilmorin. But he
withheld until the end the name of
the great gentleman against whom
he demanded justice.
And who sir, is the man you |
charge with this?"
THE Marquis de La Tour d'Azyrs"
"Who2" he shouted, and without |
waiting for an answer. why, here's
inpudence," he stormed on, ito
come before me with such a charge |
against a gentleman OF NJ. de La /
Tour d'Azyrs eminencel How dare
you speak of him as a coward ="
Il speak of him as a murderer"
the young man corrected. And 1
demand justice against him."
you demand it, do you?" My God,
Hwhat next2"
Il have informed you, monsieur,
that a duel-so-called-has been
fought. and a man killed. 1t seems
that must remind you. the admin
is;rator OF the Kings justice, that
duels are against the law. and that
IL is your duty to hold an inquiry"
The door behind Andre-Louis