Free The Chevalier De Maison Rouge by Alexandre Dumas

search here for a woman."
    THE CHEVALIER DE MAISON ROUGE. 55
    An incredulous murmur followed this assertion. The
    breeze increased, and became a hurricane.
    " You lie ! " said the same voice ; " it is no woman there is no woman in this quarter to follow. Avow your
    intentions, or you die ! "
    " Well, then," said Maurice, "you surely would not kill me for the mere pleasure of doing so, unless you are
    true brigands."
    And Maurice made a second effort, more strenuous than
    the first, to disengage his arms from the cord which
    secured them. It was useless, and at that moment he
    experienced a sharp pain in his breast, which made him
    flinch.
    " Oh ! you feel that ? " said one of the men. " There are eight more similar to this with which you will claim
    acquaintance/'
    " Kill me, then," said Maurice, with resignation; "it will, at least, be finished at once."
    " Who are you ? " said the mild but firm voice.
    "Do you wish to know my name ? "
    " Yes, your name."
    "I am Maurice Lindey."
    " What ! " cried a voice, " Maurice Lindey, the revolu the patriot ; Maurice Lindey, the secretary of the
    section Lepelletier ? "
    These words were pronounced with so much warmth
    that Maurice felt they were decisive. This reply was cal-
    culated to decide his fate. Maurice was incapable of
    fear ; he drew himself up like a true Spartan, and *e-
    plied, in a firm voice :
    " Yes, Maurice Liudey ; yes, Maurice Lindey, secre-
    tary to the section Lepelletier ; yes, Maurice Lindey, the
    patriot, the revolutionist, the Jacobin ; Maurice Lindey,
    in short, whose happiest day will be that on which he
    dies for liberty."
    This reply was received with the silence of death.
    Maurice presented his breast, expecting every moment
    the sword, of which lie had only felt the point, would be
    plunged into his heart.
    56 THE CHEVALIER DE MAISON ROUGE.
    "Is this true ?" said a voice full of emotion ; "let us see, young man, that you lie not."
    "Feel in my pocket," said Maurice, "and you will there find my commission. Look upon my breast, and if
    not effaced by my blood, you will see my initials, an M
    and L, embroidered on my shirt."
    Maurice felt himself immediately raised by strong arms,
    and carried to some distance. He first heard one door
    open, then a second, which he knew was narrower than
    the first, from the trouble the men found in carrying him
    through. The murmuring and whispering continued.
    " I am lost ! " said Maurice to himself ; " they will fasten a stone round my neck, and cast me into the
    Briere."
    In an instant he felt the men who bore him were mount-
    ing some steps. A warmer air fanned his face, and he
    was placed upon a seat. He heard a door double-locked
    and the sound of departing steps. He fancied he was left
    alone. He listened with as much attention as was pos-
    sible in a man whose life hung upon a word, and thought
    he again heard the voice which had already struck upon
    his ear say, with a mixture of decision and mildness :
    " We will deliberate."
    CHAPTER VIII.
    GEXEYIEVE.
    A QUARTER of an hour passed away ; it appeared an
    age to Maurice. And what more natural ? Young, hand-
    some and vigorous, highly beloved and esteemed by a
    hundred devoted friends, with whom lie sometimes
    dreamed of accomplishing great things, he felt himself
    suddenly, without preparation, liable to lose his life the
    victim of a base ambuscade. He knew no one was shut
    in the chamber ; but was he watched ? He again exerted
    all his strength to break his bonds, till his iron muscles
    swelled, and the cords entered his flesh ; but this, like
    all his former efforts, was useless.
    THE CHEVALIER DE MAISON ROUGE. 57
    It was the more terrible his hands being tied behind ;
    he was unable to draw up his bandage. If he were only
    able to see, he might perhaps be able to escape. However,
    as these various attempts were made without opposition,
    and hearing no one stirring, he concluded he was quite
    alone.
    His feet pressed upon something soft and heavy, it
    might be