“Plainly our Lucien has been studying the Georgics also,” commented Artamène.
“An encyclopaedia would be more to the point!” retorted Roland. And raising his voice, he said, “Comte, what is Mirabel?”
The older man heard, even with a little start. He laid down the cards and came out of his reverie.
“Mirabel, gentlemen, is the name of a property and château near Paris, the château that was begun for François I. You may have heard of it. It belongs, or belonged, to the Duc de Trélan.”
“Trélan,” observed the young Chevalier de la Vergne reflectively. “I seem to remember the name in connection with the prison massacres in September, ’92. He was killed in them, I think?”
“No,” replied the Comte de Brencourt sombrely. “He was never in prison. He had emigrated. It was his wife who was butchered—with Mme de Lamballe.”
“Morbleu!” exclaimed Artamène. “And the Duc is still alive, then?”
“I believe so,” replied M. de Brencourt, even more sombrely.
“Where is he now?” asked Roland.
“Somewhere abroad—in England or Germany.”