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well-known faces in a society of whose existence he had till `
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then been ignorant. They questioned him as to his `
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sentiments, but he contented himself with answering, that `
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the letters from the Island of Elba ought to have informed `
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them'" -- `
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Franz interrupted himself by saying, "My father was a `
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royalist; they need not have asked his sentiments, which `
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were well known." `
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"And hence," said Villefort, "arose my affection for your `
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father, my dear M. Franz. Opinions held in common are a `
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ready bond of union." `
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"Read again," said the old man. Franz continued: -- `
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"`The president then sought to make him speak more `
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explicitly, but M. de Quesnel replied that he wished first `
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to know what they wanted with him. He was then informed of `
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the contents of the letter from the Island of Elba, in which `
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he was recommended to the club as a man who would be likely `
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to advance the interests of their party. One paragraph spoke `
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of the return of Bonaparte and promised another letter and `
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further details, on the arrival of the Pharaon belonging to `
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the shipbuilder Morrel, of Marseilles, whose captain was `
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entirely devoted to the emperor. During all this time, the `
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general, on whom they thought to have relied as on a `
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brother, manifested evidently signs of discontent and `
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repugnance. When the reading was finished, he remained `
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silent, with knitted brows. `
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"`"Well," asked the president, "what do you say to this `
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letter, general?" `
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"`"I say that it is too soon after declaring myself for `
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Louis XVIII. to break my vow in behalf of the ex-emperor." `
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This answer was too clear to permit of any mistake as to his `
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sentiments. "General," said the president, "we acknowledge `
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no King Louis XVIII., or an ex-emperor, but his majesty the `
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emperor and king, driven from France, which is his kingdom, `
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by violence and treason." `
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"`"Excuse me, gentlemen," said the general; "you may not `
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acknowledge Louis XVIII., but I do, as he has made me a `
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baron and a field-marshal, and I shall never forget that for `
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these two titles I am indebted to his happy return to `
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France." `
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"`"Sir," said the president, rising with gravity, "be `
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careful what you say; your words clearly show us that they `
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are deceived concerning you in the Island of Elba, and have `
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deceived us! The communication has been made to you in `
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consequence of the confidence placed in you, and which does `
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you honor. Now we discover our error; a title and promotion `
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attach you to the government we wish to overturn. We will `
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not constrain you to help us; we enroll no one against his `
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conscience, but we will compel you to act generously, even `
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if you are not disposed to do so." `
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"`"You would call acting generously, knowing your conspiracy `
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and not informing against you, that is what I should call `
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becoming your accomplice. You see I am more candid than `
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you."'" `
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"Ah, my father!" said Franz, interrupting himself. "I `
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understand now why they murdered him." Valentine could not `
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help casting one glance towards the young man, whose filial `
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enthusiasm it was delightful to behold. Villefort walked to `
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and fro behind them. Noirtier watched the expression of each `
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one, and preserved his dignified and commanding attitude. `
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Franz returned to the manuscript, and continued: -- `
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`
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"`"Sir," said the president, "you have been invited to join `
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this assembly -- you were not forced here; it was proposed `
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to you to come blindfolded -- you accepted. When you `
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complied with this twofold request you well knew we did not `
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wish to secure the throne of Louis XVIII., or we should not `
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take so much care to avoid the vigilance of the police. It `
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would be conceding too much to allow you to put on a mask to `
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aid you in the discovery of our secret, and then to remove `
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it that you may ruin those who have confided in you. No, no, `
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you must first say if you declare yourself for the king of a `
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day who now reigns, or for his majesty the emperor." `
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"`"I am a royalist," replied the general; "I have taken the `
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oath of allegiance to Louis XVIII., and I will adhere to `
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it." These words were followed by a general murmur, and it `
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was evident that several of the members were discussing the `
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propriety of making the general repent of his rashness. `
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`
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"`The president again arose, and having imposed silence, `
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said, -- "Sir, you are too serious and too sensible a man `
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not to understand the consequences of our present situation, `
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and your candor has already dictated to us the conditions `
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which remain for us to offer you." The general, putting his `
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hand on his sword, exclaimed, -- "If you talk of honor, do `
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not begin by disavowing its laws, and impose nothing by `
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violence." `
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"`"And you, sir," continued the president, with a calmness `
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still more terrible than the general's anger, "I advise you `
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not to touch your sword." The general looked around him with `
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slight uneasiness; however he did not yield, but calling up `
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all his fortitude, said, -- "I will not swear." `
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"`"Then you must die," replied the president calmly. M. `
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d'Epinay became very pale; he looked round him a second `
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time, several members of the club were whispering, and `
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getting their arms from under their cloaks. "General," said `
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the president, "do not alarm yourself; you are among men of `
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honor who will use every means to convince you before `
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resorting to the last extremity, but as you have said, you `
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are among conspirators, you are in possession of our secret, `
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and you must restore it to us." A significant silence `
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followed these words, and as the general did not reply, -- `
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"Close the doors," said the president to the door-keeper. `
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`
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"`The same deadly silence succeeded these words. Then the `
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general advanced, and making a violent effort to control his `
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feelings, -- "I have a son," said he, "and I ought to think `
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of him, finding myself among assassins." `
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"`"General," said the chief of the assembly, "one man may `
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insult fifty -- it is the privilege of weakness. But he does `
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wrong to use his privilege. Follow my advice, swear, and do `
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not insult." The general, again daunted by the superiority `
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of the chief, hesitated a moment; then advancing to the `
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president's desk, -- "What is the form, said he. `
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`
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"`"It is this: -- `I swear by my honor not to reveal to any `
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one what I have seen and heard on the 5th of February, 1815, `
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between nine and ten o'clock in the evening; and I plead `
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guilty of death should I ever violate this oath.'" The `
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general appeared to be affected by a nervous tremor, which `
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prevented his answering for some moments; then, overcoming `
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his manifest repugnance, he pronounced the required oath, `
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but in so low a tone as to be scarcely audible to the `
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majority of the members, who insisted on his repeating it `
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clearly and distinctly, which he did. `
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`
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"`"Now am I at liberty to retire?" said the general. The `
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president rose, appointed three members to accompany him, `
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and got into the carriage with the general after bandaging `
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his eyes. One of those three members was the coachman who `
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had driven them there. The other members silently dispersed. `
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"Where do you wish to be taken?" asked the president. -- `
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"Anywhere out of your presence," replied M. d'Epinay. `
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"Beware, sir," replied the president, "you are no longer in `
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the assembly, and have only to do with individuals; do not `
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insult them unless you wish to be held responsible." But `
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instead of listening, M. d'Epinay went on, -- "You are still `
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as brave in your carriage as in your assembly because you `
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are still four against one." The president stopped the `
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coach. They were at that part of the Quai des Ormes where `
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the steps lead down to the river. "Why do you stop here?" `
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asked d'Epinay. `
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`
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"`"Because, sir," said the president, "you have insulted a `
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man, and that man will not go one step farther without `
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demanding honorable reparation." `
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"`"Another method of assassination?" said the general, `
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shrugging his shoulders. `
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"`"Make no noise, sir, unless you wish me to consider you as `
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one of the men of whom you spoke just now as cowards, who `
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take their weakness for a shield. You are alone, one alone `
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shall answer you; you have a sword by your side, I have one `
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in my cane; you have no witness, one of these gentlemen will `
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serve you. Now, if you please, remove your bandage." The `
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general tore the handkerchief from his eyes. "At last," said `
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he, "I shall know with whom I have to do." They opened the `
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door and the four men alighted.'" `
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`
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Franz again interrupted himself, and wiped the cold drops `
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from his brow; there was something awful in hearing the son `
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read aloud in trembling pallor these details of his father's `
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death, which had hitherto been a mystery. Valentine clasped `
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her hands as if in prayer. Noirtier looked at Villefort with `
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an almost sublime expression of contempt and pride. Franz `
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continued: -- `
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`
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"`It was, as we said, the fifth of February. For three days `
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the mercury had been five or six degrees below freezing and `
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the steps were covered with ice. The general was stout and `
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tall, the president offered him the side of the railing to `
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assist him in getting down. The two witnesses followed. It `
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was a dark night. The ground from the steps to the river was `
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covered with snow and hoarfrost, the water of the river `
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looked black and deep. One of the seconds went for a lantern `
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in a coal-barge near, and by its light they examined the `
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weapons. The president's sword, which was simply, as he had `
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said, one he carried in his cane, was five inches shorter `
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than the general's, and had no guard. The general proposed `
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to cast lots for the swords, but the president said it was `
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he who had given the provocation, and when he had given it `
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he had supposed each would use his own arms. The witnesses `
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endeavored to insist, but the president bade them be silent. `
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The lantern was placed on the ground, the two adversaries `
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took their stations, and the duel began. The light made the `
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two swords appear like flashes of lightning; as for the men, `
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