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〃The women and little Michu； who found me unconscious。〃
〃So！〃 thought Corentin： 〃evidently they didn't go to bed。 The corporal
was not shot at； nor struck by any weapon； for an assailant must have
been at his own height to strike a blow。 Something； some obstacle； was
in his way and that unhorsed him。 A piece of wood？ not possible！ an
iron chain？ that would have left marks。 What did you feel？〃 he said
aloud。
〃I was knocked over so suddenly〃
〃The skin is rubbed off under your chin；〃 said Corentin quickly。
〃I think；〃 said the corporal； 〃that a rope did go over my face。〃
〃I have it！〃 cried Corentin； 〃somebody tied a rope from tree to tree
to bar the way。〃
〃Like enough；〃 replied the corporal。
Corentin went downstairs to the kitchen。
〃Come； you old rascal；〃 Michu was saying to Violette； 〃let's make an
end of this。 One hundred thousand francs for the place； and you are
master of my whole property。 I shall retire on my income。〃
〃I tell you； as there's a God in heaven； I haven't more than sixty
thousand。〃
〃But don't I offer you time to pay the rest？ You've kept me here since
yesterday； arguing it。 The land is in prime order。〃
〃Yes； the soil is good；〃 said Violette。
〃Wife； some more wine；〃 cried Michu。
〃Haven't you drunk enough？〃 called down Marthe's mother。 〃This is the
fourteenth bottle since nine o'clock yesterday。〃
〃You have been here since nine o'clock this morning； haven't you？〃
said Corentin to Violette。
〃No； beg your pardon； since last night I haven't left the place； and
I've gained nothing after all； the more he makes me drink the more he
puts up the price。〃
〃In all markets he who raises his elbow raises a price；〃 said
Corentin。
A dozen empty bottles ranged along the table proved the truth of the
old woman's words。 Just then the gendarme who had driven him made a
sign to Corentin； who went to the door to speak to him。
〃There is no horse in the stable；〃 said the man。
〃You sent your boy on horseback to the chateau； didn't you？〃 said
Corentin； returning to the kitchen。 〃Will he be back soon？〃
〃No； monsieur；〃 said Michu； 〃he went on foot。〃
〃What have you done with your horse； then？〃
〃I have lent him；〃 said Michu； curtly。
〃Come out here； my good fellow；〃 said Corentin； 〃I've a word for your
ear。〃
Corentin and Michu left the house。
〃The gun which you were loading yesterday at four o'clock you meant to
use in murdering the Councillor of State； but we can't take you up for
thatplenty of intention； but no witnesses。 You managed； I don't know
how； to stupefy Violette； and you and your wife and that young rascal
of yours spent the night out of doors to warn Mademoiselle de Cinq…
Cygne and save her cousins； whom you are hiding here；though I don't
as yet know where。 Your son or your wife threw the corporal off his
horse cleverly enough。 Well； you've got the better of us just now；
you're a devil of a fellow。 But the end is not yet； and you won't have
the last word。 Hadn't you better compromise？ your masters would be the
better for it。〃
〃Come this way； where we can talk without being overheard；〃 said
Michu； leading the way through the park to the pond。
When Corentin saw the water he looked fixedly at Michu； who was no
doubt reckoning on his physical strength to fling the spy into seven
feet of mud below three feet of water。 Michu replied with a look that
was not less fixed。 The scene was absolutely as if a cold and flabby
boa constrictor had defied one of those tawny； fierce leopards of
Brazil。
〃I am not thirsty；〃 said Corentin； stopping short at the edge of the
field and putting his hand into his pocket to feel for his dagger。
〃We shall never come to terms；〃 said Michu； coldly。
〃Mind what you're about； my good fellow； the law has its eye upon
you。〃
〃If the law can't see any clearer than you； there's danger to every
one；〃 said the bailiff。
〃Do you refuse？〃 said Corentin； in a significant tone。
〃I'd rather have my head cut off a thousand times； if that could be
done； than come to an agreement with such a villain as you。〃
Corentin got into his vehicle hastily； after one more comprehensive
look at Michu； the lodge； and Couraut； who barked at him。 He gave
certain orders in passing through Troyes； and then returned to Paris。
All the brigades of gendarmerie in the neighborhood received secret
instructions and special orders。
During the months of December； January； and February the search was
active and incessant； even in remote villages。 Spies were in all the
taverns。 Corentin learned some important facts： a horse like that of
Michu had been found dead in the neighborhood of Lagny； the five
horses burned in the forest of Nodesme had been sold； for five hundred
francs each； by farmers and millers to a man who answered to the
description of Michu。 When the decree against the accomplices and
harborers of Georges was put in force Corentin confined his search to
the forest of Nodesme。 After Moreau； the royalists； and Pichegru were
arrested no strangers were ever seen about the place。
Michu lost his situation at that time； the notary of Arcis brought him
a letter in which Malin； now made senator； requested Grevin to settle
all accounts with the bailiff and dismiss him。 Michu asked and
obtained a formal discharge and became a free man。 To the great
astonishment of the neighborhood he went to live at Cinq…Cygne； where
Laurence made him the farmer of all the reserved land about the
chateau。 The day of his installation as farmer coincided with the
fatal day of the death of the Duc d'Enghien； when nearly the whole of
France heard at the same time of the arrest； trial； condemnation； and
death of the prince；terrible reprisals； which preceded the trial of
Polignac； Riviere； and Moreau。
PART II
CHAPTER X
ONE AND THE SAME； YET A TWO…FOLD LOVE
While the new farm…house was being built Michu the Judas； so…called；
and his family occupied the rooms over the stables at Cinq…Cygne on
the side of the chateau next to the famous breach。 He bought two
horses； one for himself and one for Francois； and they both joined
Gothard in accompanying Mademoiselle de Cinq…Cygne in her many rides；
which had for their object； as may well be imagined； the feeding of
the four gentlemen and perpetual watching that they were still in
safety。 Francois and Gothard； assisted by Couraut and the countess's
dogs； went in front and beat the woods all around the hiding…place to
make sure that there was no one within sight。 Laurence and Michu
carried the provisions which Marthe； her mother； and Catherine
prepared； unknown to the other servants of the household so as to
restrict the secret to themselves； for all were sure that there were
spies in the village。 These expeditions were never made oftener than
twice a week and on different days and at different hours； sometimes
by day； sometimes by night。
These precautions lasted until the trial of Riviere； Polignac； and
Moreau ended。 When the senatus…consultum； which called the dynasty of
Bonaparte to the throne and nominated Napoleon as Emperor of the
French； was submitted to the French people for acceptance Monsieur
d'Hauteserre signed the paper