“Why, what do you take my daughter for?” cried the old soldier; “Can she change her sex? You will next wish her to plead in court!”
“She may drag you from ruin, which you would never have saved yourself from,” replied the advocate.
“Well, Monsieur Giraud,” said Marguerite, in a livelier tone than she had for a length of time assumed, “as you have spoken so flatteringly of me, allow me to compliment you on your sagacity. I think there is much truth in what you hint about the unfortunate Spaniard’s papers. Since my father has been in prison, our lodging has been searched and every thing in the shape of written paper examined. It strikes me that the documents which you possess have been missed.”
“And this is the first word I have heard of it!” cried De Pontis, darting an angry glance at Marguerite. “What, another search? They ransacked our lodging when they took me—and I could not have believed they would trouble my house again.”
“I did not wish to distress you, father,” said the maiden, deprecating the resentment expressed in his looks.
“Mademoiselle was quite right,” said the advocate, “but she ought to have acquainted me with the fact.”
“I thought it an ordinary proceeding, and was prepared for such visits,” remarked the damsel.
“You alarm me,” said Giraud, “they will visit me next. I must go home and make all secure. I will then escort Mademoiselle to the Palais Cardinal.”
After some further remarks, the advocate, accompanied by Marguerite, left the apartment of the prisoner, who muttered to himself as they closed the door—
“Well, Giraud is a stanch, bold man and a true friend, but he has not as much delicacy and regard for a lady’s feelings as my hack Millefleurs could boast of. I taught the brute to kneel when my poor wife touched his bridle, and he was quiet as a lamb when he carried her. Hang all scoundrels, and may purgatory have the scarlet ones! They fastened on me when I was young, and they are now sucking the blood of my old age. Not so old, though—not so old, but I could pin that scarlet-robed priest to a tree!”