The Chevalier De Maison Rouge (11 page)

of that poison termed love. At other moments, while

listening to the ductile voice, so soft and harmonious,

examining that pure and open countenance, evincing no

fear that he should read every secret of her soul, he arrived at the conclusion that it was utterly impossible that this

matchless creature would descend to deceit ; and then he

found a bitter pleasure in remembering this lovely woman

belonged solely to this good citizen, with his honest

smile and vulgar pleasantries, and would never be to him

more than a passing acquaintance.

They conversed, of course, on politics. How could it

be otherwise at an epoch when politics were mixed up in

everything ? Political subjects were even painted on the

plates, political designs covered the walls, and politics

were daily proclaimed in the streets. All at once, one of

THE CHEVALIER DE MAISON ROUGE. 69

the guests who had hitherto preserved silence inquired

concerning the prisoners of the Temple.

Maurice started, in spite of himself. He had recognized

the voice of that man, a strenuous advocate for extreme

measures, who had first struck him with his dagger, and

then advocated his death. Nevertheless, this man, an

honest tanner, and head of the manufactory, at least so

Dixmer represented him, incited the good humor of

Maurice by the expression of ideas the most patriotic, and

principles the most revolutionary. The young man,

under certain circumstances, was not inimical to these

extreme measures, so much in fashion at this period, of

which Danton was the apostle and hero. In this man's

place, whose voice he had heard, and from the effect of

whose weapon his wound was still smarting, he would not

have attempted to assassinate the man he imagined to be

a spy, but would rather have locked him in the garden,

and there, equally armed, sword to sword, have fought

without mercy, without pity. This is what Maurice

would have done ; but he comprehended soon that this

was too much to expect of a journeyman tanner. This

man of extreme measures, who appeared to possess in hia

political ideas the same violent system as in his private

conduct, then spoke of the Temple, and expressed surprise

that the prisoners were confided to the guardianship of a

permanent council liable to be corrupted, and to munici-

pals whose fidelity had already been more than once

tempted.

" Yes," said the Citizen Morand, " but it must be remembered that on every occasion, up to the present time,

the municipals have fully justified the confidence reposed

in them by the nation, and history will record it is not

only Robespierre who merits the title of ' Incorrupti-

ble.'"

" Without doubt, without doubt," replied the interlocutor ; '"but, because a thing has not yet happened, it would be absurd to suppose it never can happen. As for

the National Guard," continued the principal of the

manufactory, " well, the companies of the different seo-70 THE CHEVALIER DE MAISON ROUGE.

tiojis are assembled, each in their turn, on duty at the

temple, and that indifferently. Will you not admit that

there might be, in a company of twenty or five and twenty

men, a baud of seven or eight determined characters, who,

one fine night, might slaughter the sentinels and carry

off the prisoners ? "

"Bah !" said Maurice, " yon see, citizen, this would be a foolish expedient. It would occupy them three

weeks or a month, and then they might not succeed."

" Yes," replied Morand ; " because one of those aristocrats who composed the patrol had the impudence, in

speaking, to let fall the word monsieur, I do not know

to whom."

" And then," said Maurice, who wished to prove that the police of the Republic did their duty, " because the entrance of the Chevalier de Maison Eouge into Paris was

already known "

" Bah ! " cried Dixmer.

" They knew that Maison Eouge had entered Paris ? "

wildly demanded Moraud ; "and did they know by what

means he entered ? "

" Perfectly."

" Ah ! diable! " said Morand, leaning forward to look at Mauiice, " I should be curious to know that, as up to the present moment, no one can speak positively. But

you, citizen, you, secretary to one of the principal sec-

tions in Paris, ought to be better informed."

" Doubtless ; therefore, what I am about to tell you is the true statement of facts."

All the guests and Genevieve appeared prepared to pay

the greatest attention to this recital.

" Well," said Maurice, " the Chevalier de Maison Rouge came from Vendee ; as it appears, he had traversed

all France with his usual good fortune. Arrived during

the day at La Barriere du Roule, he waited till nine

o'clock at night. At that hour a woman, disguised as a

woman of the people, went out from the barrier, carrying

to the chevalier a costume of chasseur of the National

Guards. Ten minutes afterward she reeatered with

THE CHEVALIER DE MAISON ROUGE. 71

him ; but the sentinel, who had seen her go out alone,

felt rather suspicious when he saw her return with a com-

panion. An alarm was given at the post ; the post turned

out, when the two culprits, knowing whom they were

seeking, flung themselves into a hotel, where a second

door opened into Les Champs Elysees.

" It seemed that a patrol devoted to the tyrants waited for the chevalier at the corner of La Rue Burre-du-Bec.

You are acquainted with the rest."

" Ah, ah ! " said Morand, "this is very strange."

" But positively true," said Maurice.

" Yes, it has an air of truth ; but the female, do you know what became of her ? "

" No ; she has disappeared, and they are quite ignorant who she is or what she is."

The partner of Citizen Dixmer, and Citizen Dixmer

himself, appeared to breathe more freely.

Genevieve had listened to the whole of this recital,

pale, silent, and immovable.

"But," said Morand, with his usual coolness, "who can say that the Chevalier de Maison Rouge made one of

the patrol who caused the alarm at the Temple ? "

" A municipal, one of my friends, that day on duty at

the Temple. He recognized him."

" He knew him from description."

" He had formerly seen him."

" And what sort of man, personally, is this Chevalier

de Maison Rouge ? "

" A man of five or six and twenty, short, fair, and of a pleasing countenance, with magnificent eyes and superb

teeth."

There was a profound silence.

"Well, "said Morand, "if your friend the municipal recognized this pretended Chevalier do Maison Rouge,

why did ho not arrest him ? "

" In the first place, not knowing of his arrival at Paris, he feared being the dupe of a resemblance ; and then,

my friend, being rather lukewarm, acted as the lukewarm

generally act he let it alone."

72 THE CHEVALIER DE MAISON ROUGE.

" You would not have acted thus, citizen ? " said Dixmer, laughing boisterously.

"No," said Maurice; "I confess it; I would rather find myself deceived than allow to escape so dangerous a

man as the Chevalier de Maison Rouge."

" And what would you have done, then, monsieur ?"

timidly inquired Genevieve.

' What would I have done, citoyenne ? " said Maurice.

" I would have walked direct up to the patrol and placed my hand on the chevalier's collar, saying to him,

' Chevalier de Maison Rouge, I arrest you as a traitor to

the nation ; ' and, my hand once upon his collar, I would

not soon release him, I can tell you."

" And what would happen then ?" said Genevieve.

"It would happen he had done thus much for himself

and friends that the same hour they would be guillotined ;

that is all."

Genevieve shuddered, and darted on her neighbor a

look of affright. But the Citizen Morand did not appear

to notice this glance, and phlegmatically emptied his glass.

" The Citizen Lindey is right," said he ; " there was nothing else to do ; but, unfortunately, it was not done."

" And," demanded Genevieve, " do you know what has become of the Chevalier de Maison Rouge ? "

"Bah!" said Dixmer, "in all probability he did not wish to remain longer, and, finding his attempt abortive,

quitted Paris immediately."

" And perhaps France even," added Morand.

" Not at all, not at all," said Maurice.

" AYhat ! has he had the imprudence to remain in

Paris ?" asked Genevieve.

" lie has not stirred."

A movement of general astonishment followed this

assertion, which Maurice had stated with so much confi-

dence.

" This is only a supposition, citizen, on your part," said Morand ; " merely a supposition, that is all."

" No; it is a positive fact that 1 affirm."

" Ah ! " said Genevieve, " 1 acknowledge, for my part, THE CHEVALIER DE MAISON ROUGE. 73

I cannot believe it is as you say ; it would be such an un-

pardonable imprudence."

"You are a woman, citoyenne, and can comprehend,

then, what would outweigh, with a man of such a charac-

ter as the Chevalier de Maison Rouge, all considerations

of personal security ? "

" And what can outweigh the dread of losing his life

in a moment so dreadful ? "

" Eh ! mon Dien! citoyenne/' said Maurice, "love."

" Love ! " repeated Genevie 1 ve.

" Doubtless. Do you not know, then, that the chevalier de Maison Rouge is enamored of Marie Antoinette ? "

Two or three incredulous laughs were faintly heard.

Dixmer looked at Manrice as if he sought to penetrate the

very depths of his soul. Genevieve felt the tears suffuse

her eyes, and a shuddering she could not conceal from

Maurice ran through her frame.

The Citizen Morand poured some wine into his glass,

and at this moment carried it to his lips. His paleness

would have alarmed Maurice, had not all the young man's

attention been at the time centered on Genevieve.

"You are silent, citoyenne, "murmured Maurice.

" Have you not said I should understand this because I was a woman ? Well, we women,' even if opposed to our

princes, feel for such devotion."

" And that of the Chevalier de Maison Rouge is the

height of devotion, as it is said he has never spoken to

the queen."

" Ah ! there now, Citizen Lindey," said the man of extreme measures, " it seems to me. permit me t<> bserve, that you are very indulgent to the chevalier H

" Monsieur," said Maurice, perhaps intentionally making use of a word which had ceased to be in vogue, " 1 love all brave and courageous natures, which do not refuse to

fight when I meet them in the ranks of my enemies. I

do not despair of one day encountering the Chevalier de

Maison Rouge."

" And " said Genevieve.

" If I meet him Well, I shall fight him."

D DUMAS Vol.. XI,

74 THE CHEVALIER DE MAISON ROUGE.

The supper was finished. Genevieve set the example

of retiring by herself rising from table. At this moment

the pendulum struck.

" Midnight ! " said Morand, coolly.

" Midnight ! " said Maurice, "Midnight already ?"

" That exclamation affords me much pleasure/' said

Dixmer ; " it proves you are not ennuye, and induces me to hope we may see you again. It is the door of a true

patriot which opens to receive you ; and, I trust, ere long, you will find it that of a sincere friend."

Maurice bowed, and, turning toward Genevieve :

" "Will the citoyenne also permit me to repeat my visit ? "

demanded he.

" I do more than permit, I request you to do so.

Adieu, citizen ; " and Genevieve retired.

Maurice took leave of all the guests, particularly salut-

ing Morand, with whom he was much pleased ; squeezed

Dixmer's hand, and went away bewildered, but, on the

whole, more joyful than sad, from the various and unex-

pected events of the evening.

" Unfortunate encounter, unfortunate encounter ! "

said the young woman, after Maurice's departure, and then

bursting into tears in the presence of her husband, who

had conducted her to her room.

" Bah ! " said Dixmer, " the Citizen Lindey, a known patriot, secretary to a section, admired, worshiped, and

highly popular, is, on the contrary, v, great acquisition

to a poor tanner who has contraband merchandise on his

premises."

" Do you think so, mon ami ? " asked Genevieve,

timidly.

" I think it is a warrant of patriotism, a seal of absolution, placed upon our house ; and I thought, when part-

ing this evening, that the Chevalier de Maisou Rouge

himself would be safe at our house."

And Dixmer kissed his wife with an affection more pater-

nal than conjugal, and left her in the pavilion set apart

for her special benefit, passing himself into another part

of the building, which he inhabited with the guests we

have seen assembled round his table.

THE CHEVALIER DE MAISON ROUGE. 75

CHAPTER X.

SIMON THE SHOEMAKER.

THE month of May had commenced. A bright, clear

day expanded the lungs tired of inhaling the icy fogs of

winter, and the rays of the sun, warm and exhilarating,

shone upon the back walls of the Temple. At the wicket

of the interior, which separated the tower from the