CHAPTER XXXIV.
Leaving the Vengeance to keep watch off the Port of Havre, a thing at that period not at all a hazardous affair, whilst Vice-Admiral Colpoys was with his fleet off Brest or Isle Dieu, and few if any French vessels of war showed out of their harbours, we return to Château Coulancourt.
Rather more than an hour after the departure of our hero and Bill Saunders for Lyon Head, Jean Plessis returned from Havre, looking anxious and thoughtful as he proceeded towards that part of the château inhabited by Madame Coulancourt and her daughter, and entered the saloon where he found mother, son, and daughter, and his own daughter, all conversing earnestly upon their intended plan of escape.
“Where is Monsieur Thornton?” inquired Jean Plessis, looking at Julian, who was nursing his leg on a chair, in a state of great vexation at not having been able to accompany his friend.
“He went to the sand hills and Lyon Head,” replied Julian. “This stupid leg of mine keeps me here. Have you heard anything alarming, Monsieur Plessis, or that annoys you? You look very thoughtful.”
Mabel turned her eloquent eyes anxiously upon the intendant, as he answered—
“Why, yes. I have heard intelligence that makes me wish Monsieur Thornton had not gone out to-day. I will send Joseph, the gardener’s grandson, this minute after him, to tell him to come back.”
“What alarms you, Monsieur Plessis?” said Mabel. “Mon Dieu! I hope nothing serious——”
“Nay,” interrupted the intendant, soothingly. “I do not feel alarmed at all, but merely anxious to let Monsieur Thornton know what I heard to-day, and to put him on his guard. I was told when in Havre that an English frigate or corvette was seen close in with the coast off Lyon Head this morning, and that some days before a very fine armed brig was chased by that vessel, but that, aided by a thick fog, the brig got into Palos Creek, and was at anchor in the pool, where the Vengeance lies. Ten or twelve of the coast-guard had at once set out for Lyon Head, at the instigation of some person residing with Monsieur Gramont who is at Rouen, and thirty or forty men belonging to an infantry regiment were to march for Palos Creek, to protect the Vengeance and the brig, should this frigate discover them to be within the creek. It would be just as well that Monsieur Thornton did not meet or fall in with the coast-guard.”
“Then do not lose a moment,” cried both mother and daughter, anxiously, “in sending Joseph; he can run through the village, which is a mile shorter, and probably overtake him.”
“Deuce take my leg, I was going to say!” said Julian, with a flush on his cheek from vexation; “but I mean deuce take the stone that caused me to sprain my ankle. Now that I might be of service I’m no more use than an old woman!”
“But old women are sometimes very useful, Monsieur Julian,” returned Julia, with a smile, and a look at the handsome speaker, trying to rouse the mother and daughter from their sombre thoughts.
“I perfectly agree with you, mademoiselle,” answered Julian. “So they are, provided they are not guardians to very pretty grand-daughters, then they are no longer old women, but dragons, Ah, here is your father again. You have dispatched Joseph?”
“Yes, I made him take the post pony; he will go the quicker,” replied the intendant. “I have not mentioned my plans to you as yet, madame,” continued Jean Plessis, turning to the Duchess, “because I was not quite certain I could carry them out, but now I think I can effect what we wish.”
“I felt certain,” observed Madame Coulancourt, in reply, “that you were planning something, by your frequent visits to Havre.”
“Yes, madame, you have conjectured correctly. It will not do to remain too long here whilst Monsieur Gramont is, with his spies, watching our movements.”
“Spies!” repeated Julian; “then you suspect this Gramont is watching us?”
“Yes, Monsieur Julian; I do. There is a very suspicious person residing in his château—a most repulsive-looking man, I am told—and I know very well that Monsieur Gramont’s bland manner and specious speeches are not to be depended on.”
“I always said so,” exclaimed Mabel, her eyes sparkling; “I detest that man.”
“What have you been about at Havre, Jean?” inquired Madame Coulancourt.
“Suspecting something might occur that no one could foresee, I wrote to Monsieur Barras, telling him that, for certain reasons, madame wished to return to Paris, with Mademoiselle de Tourville, and I requested him to send me a written order, signed by Fouché, that she and her party should be permitted to proceed to Paris in whatever way she pleased. I received an answer to this effect:—‘Madame Coulancourt shall have a protection, signed by Fouché and myself, so that no person willdare, after seeing that order, to molest her or the persons with her; but money is scarce, and, between ourselves, Fouché requires his pen to be gilded—send an order for twenty thousand francs, and you will have the safe conduct back by your messenger.’”
“What a despicable character!” cried Julian, indignantly, “for a ruler of France.”
“True,” returned Jean Plessis; “but at this moment, if Barras was not one of the three directors, it might be embarrassing to your mother. I did not consult you, madame,” continued Jean Plessis, looking at the ex-Duchess.
“There was no need, my kind friend,” replied Madame Coulancourt; “you sent the money, of course?”
“I sent an order, madame, for the sum, by a trusty messenger, yesterday; and now I will unfold to you my plans, which may readily be combined with those of Monsieur Thornton. With a passport signed by Barras and Fouché, no one dares obstruct us. I have engaged the captain of a fast-sailing chasse-mare—he is a smuggler, I confess, but that does not matter—who is apparently to take us to Rouen. We shall sail in the day as if for Rouen, and when some miles up the river, he will come to an anchor. In the night, he will up anchor, and drop down with the tide, and put to sea; and if this English vessel of war is the one Monsieur Thornton expects, the smuggler will place us all on board; if not, he engages to land us safely on the coast of England.”
“This is an admirable idea,” said Julian; “but how shall we manage—that is, Lieutenant Thornton and myself?”
“That is easily arranged. You will go on to a place I will fix upon, before us; and there we will pick you up. As Philip de Tourville, your cousin will, of course, be included in the passport.”
Some further conversation then ensued, and time passed on, till Mabel became anxious concerning the return of Lieutenant Thornton. It was getting late when Julia beheld Joseph galloping the pony up the avenue leading to the back of the château.
“There is Joseph, and seemingly in a hurry,” she exclaimed, running out to hear the news, her father and Julian hastily following. The boy had just dismounted in the yard; his face was flushed, and his manner quite excited.
“Well, boy,” asked Monsieur Plessis, “did you see Monsieur de Tourville?”
“Oui, monsieur, I did,” said the lad; “but I arrived near the head only time enough to behold a party of the coast-guard running down the side; getting off the pony, I hastened to the edge of the cliff, to see what the men were running after, and then, all of a sudden I heard a cannon, and then musket shots,and by the time I got to a place to see what was going on, the coast-guard were running away, dragging a wounded man with them; and below, I saw a boat with several persons in it, and I recognised Monsieur de Tourville’s man; and off at sea, about a mile, I saw a large ship. I watched the boat, and saw them pull out to the ship, and then, as I could see or do nothing more, I returned to you as fast as I could.”
Julian Arden and Julia had listened to this account of the lad with both surprise and alarm; and then the latter ran to let Mabel and Madame Coulancourt know that, at all events, Lieutenant Thornton and Bill had got safe on board the corvette. Luckily, the lad had not seen Bill carrying the insensible body of his master; therefore, Mabel’s feelings were spared much anxiety.
“Oh,” exclaimed mother and daughter, “what an escape! Then they actually fired upon them; this proves they were watched, and suspected of having communication with the English vessel of war. Who knows what may be the consequence of this untoward affair?”
Anxious to hear what Jean Plessis thought of this event, they proceeded to the saloon. The intendant was himself disturbed; he had questioned the boy minutely, and he allowed he did not recognise Monsieur de Tourville in the boat; but he was certain he saw Bill, or, as he called him, Pierre Bompart. All the sailors in the boat wore white trousers, short jackets, and glazed hats; therefore he could clearly distinguish the tall figure of Bill.
Jean Plessis was puzzled; if Bill got safe into the boat, surely so did Lieutenant Thornton; then he suddenly recollected the man the coast-guard men were carrying. “Did you see the wounded man?” he demanded.
“Yes,” returned Joseph, “the wounded man was the gentleman who lives with Monsieur Gramont. I am sure of that, for I saw his long beard and great bushy eyebrows.”
This assertion relieved Monsieur Plessis’ anxiety with respect to the safety of Lieutenant Thornton; who, amongst the crew in the boat, he supposed, escaped the boy’s notice. Still it proved to him that Philip de Tourville was discovered to be an Englishman; Julian had better, therefore, get out of the way, for fear of a search for him.
“This is a most unfortunate affair, Jean,” said Madame Coulancourt, as the intendant entered the saloon, looking serious and perplexed.
“It is unfortunate, madame,” replied Monsieur Plessis, “so far as it may draw on us the attention of Monsieur Gramont, who is expected home to-day, to the château; but it is fortunate that Lieutenant Thornton has escaped.”
“But,” said Mabel, eagerly, “suppose he attempts to land again; his life would be endangered.”
“He will not attempt to do that, depend upon it, mademoiselle, after the escape he had; but I think it not at all unlikely that this night the crew of the corvette will attempt to sink or burn the Vengeance and the brig in Palos Pool. They cannot cut the former out; for I understand she can be fastened by an immense chain to a huge anchor, if they think any danger is to be apprehended.”
“Will any suspicion be attached to us, do you think, Jean?”
“It is very possible Monsieur Gramont may pay us a visit, madame,” answered the intendant, thoughtfully; “therefore I really think if Monsieur Julian was to go to Dulong, where he could remain, or cross over to the village on the other side, and wait till we came up the river, it would be better.”
“I can easily do that in my assumed name of Louis Lebeau,” returned Julian; “but is there any need of my separating from those I would fain stay to protect?”
“My dear boy,” said the anxious mother, “having once more pressed you to my heart, let me not have the agony of again losing you. You could not render us the slightest service. When this passport has arrived from Monsieur Barras, we may consider ourselves safe from this Monsieur Gramont, whose design is, I am sure, to possess himself of Coulancourt by exciting suspicion against me.”
“If I had an opportunity, and I found him plotting against your happiness, or seeking to betray you into the hands of the Government, I would put a pistol to his head,” exclaimed Julian, with impetuosity.
“Do not be rash, dear Julian,” said Mabel, putting her arm round her brother’s neck; “far better leave us to the care of good Monsieur Plessis, who has hitherto protected us with such marvellous devotedness and courage. Suppose suspicion is excited, and they send to search the château, what a terrible blow it would be to us all to see you arrested, carried off, and imprisoned. You must spare us that sorrow, dear Julian.”
“God knows, dear Mabel, I should think little of life, if, by sacrificing it, I ensured my beloved mother and you a certainty of happiness and safety.”
“Then suppose you proceed to Dulong at once on the pony,” said Jean Plessis. “If this alarm passes off, in two or three days at the furthest, we shall be ready to embark in the chasse-mare for Rouen. I can say madame prefers going as far as possible towards Paris by water, on account of that affair of the robbers, which frightened her from travelling that roadagain, especially as the country is really said to be infested with robbers.”
“Well, though it grieves me to leave you both,” said Julian, “I will, as soon as it is dusk, set off for Dulong. Joseph will bring back the pony and let me know then how things go on, and whether they succeed in burning the Vengeance; I feel sure Thornton will make the attempt.”
Mabel’s cheek grew pale; she did not like to believe in the cutting-out business, though she probably felt it was just the kind of adventure her lover would like, especially against the Vengeance, having heard him often say—“If I could only destroy that craft, I should feel great satisfaction. Her brute of a captain richly deserves punishment; but on account of his relationship to Dame Moret, I should do all I could to preserve his life.”
Julian Arden, seeing it would make his mother’s and sister’s minds easy, determined to proceed to Dulong for the night. He therefore, after an affectionate leave-taking, mounted the pony, taking Joseph for a guide.
It was well he did so; for scarcely an hour after his departure, the inhabitants of the château were alarmed by hearing the tramp of horses’ feet, both at the front and back of the mansion. It was Sergeant Perrin, with twelve mounted gendarmes.
“Ah! my beloved child,” said Madame Coulancourt, “I thought this affair would not pass off so easily. Thank God, Julian has got out of the way! Had he stayed, he would have been arrested.”
Whilst mother and daughter, and Julia Plessis were waiting in anxious suspense, Jean Plessis, followed by Sergeant François Perrin, entered the room.
“Sorry to disturb you, madame,” said the sergeant, civilly; “I am only obeying the orders of Monsieur le Maire. At the same time he has requested me to say that you need not be under any alarm, as he has no intention of disturbing you or your family. My orders are to search the château for a person calling himself Louis Lebeau, who has been traced to this mansion. There is every reason to believe that this Louis Lebeau is an Englishman and a spy; and my orders are to arrest him, and to place a guard round this house during the night.”
Though Madame Coulancourt knew she was very pale, she replied, calmly—
“You are at perfect liberty to search the château, Monsieur le Sergeant.”
The sergeant bowed.
“May I request, madame, to see this young lady’s brother, Monsieur Philip de Tourville?”
Madame Coulancourt and Mabel looked at each other, and then at Jean Plessis, with a feeling of intense vexation and dismay; but Monsieur Plessis very quietly said—
“You should have come yesterday, Sergeant Perrin; Monsieur de Tourville is gone, and we intend in a day or two to proceed, by water, as far as madame can conveniently travel, on our way to Paris.”
“Oh! Monsieur de Tourville is gone, is he?” said Sergeant Perrin, without a change of countenance; “I was only desired to inquire if he was at the château. Did he take that worthy man Pierre Bompart with him?”
“Certainly,” returned Monsieur Plessis. “Would you wish to refresh yourself and men, sergeant, after your long ride?”
“I shall have no objection,” said the sergeant, civilly; “and if madame will order a chamber for the use of myself and men for the night, I shall feel obliged; it is not my wish or that of Monsieur le Maire to put the family to any inconvenience. No doubt in the morning Monsieur Gramont will have the pleasure of visiting madame himself, and set all things to rights.”
So saying, Sergeant Perrin followed Monsieur Plessis and Julia from the chamber.
For a moment mother and daughter sat without uttering a word, each busy with her own thoughts. Mabel was thinking what a lucky escape her brother and lover had had; and Madame Coulancourt was reflecting upon the many sorrows she had experienced, and dismayed at the thought of the trials apparently before her.
“How very fortunate and providential,” said Mabel, coming close to her mother’s side, and taking her hand in hers with fond affection, “that our dear Julian got away before these horrid men came to look for him.”
There were tears in the mother’s eyes as she bent down and kissed the pale cheek of her loving child.
“I could wish, my beloved girl,” said madame, “that you had remained in happy England, great as has been my delight in pressing you to my heart after years of separation. Yet I would that you were there, and not exposed to the chances of detection.”
“Dear, dear mother,” interrupted Mabel, earnestly and fondly, “why regret that which has given so much happiness to me? My life would have been miserable when once I knew the possibility of rejoining you. I fear neither captivity nor privation; I have but one wish—to live and die with you.”
“And where is poor William to look for consolation?” said the mother, parting the hair from her daughter’s fair brow as it rested on her shoulder; “is there not a little nook inthat fond heart that beats in unison with his? Does no thought of his agony, if he thought you were torn from him for ever, touch your heart?”
“Ah! dear William,” said the fair girl, her cheeks glowing and her heart throbbing with the excitement of her feelings, “dear William knows all the love that woman can give to the object of her heart’s choice is given to him; but there is no selfish feeling in his noble soul. He is quite as capable of sacrificing all the fondest wishes of his heart, if thereby he could secure your safety and happiness.”
“I know it, Mabel; a strong conviction of confidence and affection stole over me the very first time I looked into his fine youthful features. I confided you to his care with a feeling of trust and security, that, though young as he was, he would risk life to fulfil the confidence reposed in him; and nobly and faithfully he followed up his word.”
“I cannot retire to rest to-night,” said Mabel; “I feel such a painful anxiety respecting the attempt that may be made to destroy that detestable Vengeance. If there was any firing in Palos Creek, we should hear it here distinctly, should we not?”
“Yes, on a fine night like this,” said Madame Coulancourt.
Just then Julia entered.
“What have you done, dear Julia,” said Madame Coulancourt, “with our troublesome guests?”
“Eh! mon Dieu! they are troublesome,” said Julia. “They have posted sentinels within twenty yards of each other round the château, whilst the sergeant and the rest who will relieve the guard have settled themselves and their weapons in the lower hall. I have ordered them refreshments. Sergeant Perrin is very polite and agreeable, and by no means taciturn. He says there are forty or fifty men, besides coast guards, gone down to Palos Creek to watch, lest an attempt should be made on the Vengeance. They would have taken her up the creek to Grantain, but it is low neap-tides, and she draws too much water; so they have chained her to a huge anchor, nearly two tons weight, and riveted the chains. Captain Pierre Gaudet swears he will burn or blow her up before the English shall have her.”
“Ah!” said Mabel, her cheeks flushing, though she shuddered as she spoke; “if William has determined to take her, he will do so; but I trust in God he will not attempt it, for many lives must be lost, I dread to think it, on both sides.”