It was a sum of
twenty thousand francs which the fugitive had robbed from her
benefactress."
"I take the liberty of remarking to you, Mr. President, that you are
there making use of a totally false expression," interrupted the
countess. "It cannot be said that I robbed this sum. It was the
dowry which Madame de Boulainvillier had promised to give me in case
of my marriage, and I only took what was my own, as I was upon the
point of marrying. Madame de Boulainvillier herself justified me in
taking this sum, for she never asked me to return it or filed an
accusation against me."
"Because she wanted to prevent the matter becoming town-talk,"
remarked the president, quietly. "Madame de Boulainvillier held her
peace, and relinquished punishment to the righteous Judge who lives
above the stars."
"And who surely has not descended from the stars to assume the
president's chair of this court," cried Lamotte, with a mocking
laugh.
President L'Aigre, without heeding the interruption, continued:
"The daughter of the laborer Valois married the sub-lieutenant
Lamotte, who lived in a little garrison city of the province, and
sought to increase his meagre salary by many ingenious devices. He
not merely gave instruction in fencing and riding, but he was also a
very skilful card-player--so skilful, that fortune almost always
accompanied him.
Pages:
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162