“I shouldn’t be surprised if there were treasure buried in those cellars,” observed Rigou, cleverly.
“Nonsense!”
“Well, in the wars of the olden time the great lords, who were often besieged and surprised, did bury their gold until they should be able to recover it; and you know that the Marquis de Soulanges-Hautemer (in whom the younger branch came to an end) was one of the victims of the Biron conspiracy. The Comtesse de Moret received the property from Henri IV. when it was confiscated.”
“See what it is to know the history of France!” said Soudry. “You are right. It is time to come to an understanding with Gaubertin.”
“If he shirks,” said Rigou, “we must smoke him out.”
“He is rich enough now,” said Lupin, “to be an honest man.”
“I’ll answer for him as I would for myself,” said Madame Soudry; “he’s the most loyal man in the kingdom.”
“We all believe in his loyalty,” said Rigou, “but nevertheless nothing should be neglected, even among friends—By the bye, I think there is some one in Soulanges who is hindering matters.”
“Who’s that?” asked Soudry.
“Plissoud,” replied Rigou.