And then, Monsieur de Lesperon, are we not
fellow-countrymen? Are we not Gascons both? Pardieu, there is no
more respected a name in the whole of Gascony than that of Lesperon,
and that you belong to so honourable a family is alone more than
sufficient to warrant such slight favours as it may be in my power
to show you."
"You have my parole that I will attempt no escape, Monsieur le
Capitaine," I answered, bowing may acknowledgment of his compliments.
"I am Mironsac de Castelroux, of Chateau Rouge in Gascony," he
informed me, returning my bow. My faith, had he not made a pretty
soldier he would have made an admirable master of deportment.
My leave-taking of Monsieur de Lavedan was brief but cordial;
apologetic on my part, intensely sympathetic on his. And so I went
out alone with Castelroux upon the road to Toulouse, his men being
ordered to follow in half an hour's time and to travel at their
leisure.
As we cantered along - Castelroux and I - we talked of many things,
and I found him an amusing and agreeable companion. Had my mood
been other than despairing, the news he gave me might have
occasioned me some concern; for it seemed that prisoners arraigned
for treason and participation in the late rising were being very
summarily treated. Many were never so much as heard in their own
defence, the evidence collected of their defection being submitted
to the Tribunal, and judgment being forthwith passed upon them by
judges who had no ears for anything they might advance in their
own favour.
Pages:
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132