``Mr.Ritchie,'' said the Baron, ``you are a young man and I an old one.If I tell you that I have a great respect for your astuteness and ability, do not put it down to flattery.I wish that your countrymen, who are coming down the river like driftwood, more resembled you.As for Citizen Gignoux,'' he went on, smiling, and wiping his face, ``let not your heart be troubled.His Majesty's minister at Philadelphia has written me letters on the subject.Iam contemplating for Monsieur Gignoux a sea voyage to Havana, and he is at present partaking of my hospitality in the calabozo.''
``In the calabozo!'' I cried, overwhelmed at this example of Spanish justice and omniscience.
``Precisely,'' said the Baron, drumming with his fingers on his fat knee.``And now,'' he added, ``perhaps Madame la Vicomtesse is ready to tell me of the whereabouts of Mr.Temple and her estimable cousin, Auguste.It may interest her to know why I have allowed them their liberty so long.''
``A point on which I have been consumed with curiosity--since I have begun to tremble at the amazing thoroughness of your Excellency's system,'' said the Vicomtesse.
His Excellency scarcely looked the tyrant as he sat before us, with his calves crossed and his hands folded on his waistcoat and his little black eyes twinkling.
``It is because,'' he said, ``there are many French planters in the province bitten with the three horrors''
(he meant Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity), ``I sent six to Havana; and if Monsieur Etienne de Bore had not, in the nick of time for him, discovered how to make sugar he would have gone, too.I had an idea that the Sieur de St.Gre and Mr.Temple might act as a bait to reveal the disease in some others.Ha, I am cleverer than you thought, Mr.Ritchie.You are surprised?''
I was surprised, and showed it.
``Come,'' he said, ``you are astute.Why did you think I left them at liberty?''
``I thought your Excellency believed them to be harmless, as they are,'' I replied.
He turned again to the Vicomtesse.``You have picked up a diplomat, Madame.I must confess that I misjudged him when you introduced him to me.And again, where are Mr.Temple and your estimable cousin? Shall I tell you? They are at old Lamarque's, on the plantation of Philippe de St.Gre.''
``They were, your Excellency,'' said the Vicomtesse.
``Eh?'' exclaimed the Baron, jumping.
``Mademoiselle de St.Gre has given her brother eight hundred livres, and he is probably by this time on board a French ship at the English Turn.He is very badly frightened.I will give your Excellency one more surprise.''
``Madame la Vicomtesse,'' said the Baron, ``I have heard that, but for your coolness and adroitness, Monsieur le Vicomte, your husband, and several other noblemen and their ladies and some of her Majesty's letters and jewels would never have gotten out of France.I take this opportunity of saying that I have the greatest respect for your intelligence.Now what is the surprise?''
``That your Excellency intended that both Mr.Temple and Auguste de St.Gre were to escape on that ship.''
``Mille tonneres,'' exclaimed the Baron, staring at her, and straightway he fell into a fit of laughter that left him coughing and choking and perspiring as only a man in his condition of flesh can perspire.To say that I was bewildered by this last evidence of the insight of the woman beside me would be to put it mildly.The Vicomtesse sat quietly watching him, the wonted look of repressed laughter on her face, and by degrees his Excellency grew calm again.
``Mon dieu,'' said he, ``I always like to cross swords with you, Madame la Vicomtesse, yet this encounter has been more pleasurable than any I have had since I came to Louisiana.But, diable,'' he cried, ``just as I was congratulating myself that I was to have one American the less, you come and tell me that he has refused to flee.
Out of consideration for the character and services of Monsieur Philippe de St.Gre I was willing to let them both escape.But now?''
``Mr.Temple is not known in New Orleans except to the St.Gre family,'' said the Vicomtesse.``He is a man of honor.Suppose Mr.Ritchie were to bring him to your Excellency, and he were to give you his word that he would leave the province at the first opportunity? He now wishes to see his mother before she dies, and it was as much as we could do this morning to persuade him from going to her openly in the face of arrest.''
But the Baron was old in a service which did not do things hastily.
``He is well enough where he is for to-day,'' said his Excellency, resuming his official manner.``To-night after dark I will send down an officer and have him brought before me.He will not then be seen in custody by any one, and provided I am satisfied with him he may go to the Rue Bourbon.''
The little Baron rose and bowed to the Vicomtesse to signify that the audience was ended, and he added, as he kissed her hand, ``Madame la Vicomtesse, it is a pleasure to be able to serve such a woman as you.''