“I have my suspicions,” answered Monsieur Giraud, “and if we could but discover the party whom the droit is intended for, I think I could find a shaft in the Spaniard’s budget which would pierce him.”
“And if I could find the party whom the droit is intended for,” exclaimed the veteran, “and had him before me at rapier’s length in the pré aux clercs, he would soon have to enter his cause in another court.”
“I have no doubt if steel would do the business my agency would be useless,” rejoined the lawyer, “but the Sieur De Pontis must remember he is now on the brink of total ruin, perhaps even of personal disgrace—that the net is spread on every side—if he retain the droit d’aubaine, this Pedro may recover a decree against him for more than the droit is worth—if Pedro by any chance is defeated, the procureur catches my friend on the penal suit, and sequesters droit, land and everything he has—and adds to it, most likely, imprisonment. All this may be effected without causing our generous king to violate his word.”
“Mort de ma vie!” exclaimed De Pontis, starting up in a rage, “and is not all this done, Monsieur Giraud, to make an old soldier surrender the king’s bounty? If I thrust this morsel of paper,” displaying the sovereign’s sign-manual, “in the fire to boil our coffee, would not the gates open at once—aye! and Pedro’s debt vanish like smoke?”
“They would be glad to make such terms, undoubtedly,” replied the advocate.
“Then, by St. Louis and all the saints!” exclaimed the militaire, raising his arm and letting the clenched fist drop on the board with a bound which did much damage to the breakfast service, “so long as his gracious majesty promises not to abandon his old servant, so long will I resist all the priests and cardinals in France.”
“And will end your days in the Bastille,” uttered Giraud.
“No! no!” cried Marguerite, bursting into tears, “Father! Monsieur Giraud! I will go to the cardinal this morning, and implore him to stay the procureur’s proceedings till we can prepare our defence.”
The idea pleased the advocate much. There was but little refinement or delicacy of feeling in his nature—but he possessed warmth and generosity, and overlooking the trials, and perhaps insults, which a female may undergo in seeking such an audience, he thought good might accrue to the family from the attempt. It was of pressing moment that the procureur should not yet obtain the decree, and no scheme be abandoned which promised to obtain such a result.
“And if Mademoiselle could but obtain an audience of the king, his majesty might know the party whom the cardinal is fighting so hard for,” added the lawyer, “and then I may perhaps spring a mine which will make some people tremble.”