“To be sure.” Andre-Louis spoke indifferently.
“Au revoir, Isaac! You’ll come and
see me — 13 Rue du Hasard. Come soon.”
“As soon and as often as my duties will allow.
They keep me chained here at present.”
“Poor slave of duty with your gospel of liberty!”
“True! And because of that I will come.
I have a duty to Brittany: to make Omnes Omnibus
one of her representatives in the National Assembly.”
“That is a duty you will oblige me by neglecting,”
laughed Andre-Louis, and drove away.
AT MEUDON
Later in the week he received a visit from Le Chapelier
just before noon.
“I have news for you, Andre. Your godfather
is at Meudon. He arrived there two days ago.
Had you heard?”
“But no. How should I hear? Why
is he at Meudon?” He was conscious of a faint
excitement, which he could hardly have explained.
“I don’t know. There have been fresh
disturbances in Brittany. It may be due to that.”
“And so he has come for shelter to his brother?”
asked Andre-Louis.
“To his brother’s house, yes; but not
to his brother. Where do you live at all, Andre?
Do you never hear any of the news? Etienne de
Gavrillac emigrated years ago. He was of the
household of M. d’Artois, and he crossed the
frontier with him. By now, no doubt, he is in
Germany with him, conspiring against France.
For that is what the emigres are doing. That
Austrian woman at the Tuileries will end by destroying
the monarchy.”
“Yes, yes,” said Andre-Louis impatiently.
Politics interested him not at all this morning.
“But about Gavrillac?”
“Why, haven’t I told you that Gavrillac
is at Meudon, installed in the house his brother has
left? Dieu de Dieu! Don’t I speak
French or don’t you understand the language?
I believe that Rabouillet, his intendant, is in charge
of Gavrillac. I have brought you the news the
moment I received it. I thought you would probably
wish to go out to Meudon.”
“Of course. I will go at once —
that is, as soon as I can. I can’t to-day,
nor yet to-morrow. I am too busy here.”
He waved a hand towards the inner room, whence proceeded
the click-click of blades, the quick moving of feet,
and the voice of the instructor, Le Duc.
“Well, well, that is your own affair.
You are busy. I leave you now. Let us dine
this evening at the Café de Foy. Kersain will
be of the party.”
“A moment!” Andre-Louis’ voice arrested
him on the threshold. “Is Mlle. de
Kercadiou with her uncle?”
“How the devil should I know? Go and find
out.”
He was gone, and Andre-Louis stood there a moment
deep in thought. Then he turned and went back
to resume with his pupil, the Vicomte de Villeniort,
the interrupted exposition of the demi-contre of Danet,
illustrating with a small-sword the advantages to be
derived from its adoption.
