The Grey Cloak - Page 137/256

"Monsieur de Leviston, of Montreal, prompted by I know not whom."

"De Leviston. I shall remember that name."

"There was a duel fought."

"A duel? Who were the participants?"

"The Vicomte d'Halluys against the Comte d'Hérouville, and Monsieur de

Saumaise against De Leviston. D'Hérouville and De Leviston are both in

hospital."

"D'Hérouville? What had he to do with the affair?"

"He laughed," said the governor; "he laughed when De Leviston accused

your son of not knowing who his mother was."

"Thank you, Monsieur. I see that you are in great puzzle. Let me

solve the puzzle for you. I have always been a man of quick and

violent temper, and sometimes this temper has been that of the fool.

The wisest of us make mistakes. I have made a grievous one. In a

moment of anger . . ." He ceased, taking up the stem of the broken

glass and twirling it. "In a moment of anger, then, I did Monsieur le

Comte a most grievous wrong, a wrong for which I can never fully atone.

We have never been on friendly terms since his refusal to wed a young

woman of my choice, Mademoiselle de Montbazon. I had never seen this

daughter, nor had my son. Paris life, Monsieur, as doubtless you know,

is ruinous to youth. Monsieur le Comte was much in wine; he gambled

recklessly. It was my desire to change his course, but I went at it

either too late or bunglingly. In February he was exiled from court in

disgrace. I have never ascertained the character of this disgrace.

One night in March we had an exchange of opinions. My faith, your

Excellency, but that boy has a terrible tongue. There was not a place

in my armor that he did not pierce. I shall not repeat to you the

subject of our conversation. Suffice it to say that he roused the

devil and the fool in me, and I told him that he had no right to his

name. I am here to correct that wrong as much as lies within my power.

He did not give me an opportunity at home. It is not sentiment; it is

my sense of justice that brings me here. And I truly admire the lad's

spirit. To plunge into the wilderness without calculation; ah, well,

it is only the fool who stops to weigh the hazards of fortune. The boy

is my son, lawfully; and I want him to know it. I am growing old, and

this voyage has written a shorter term for me."

"Monsieur," said De Lauson, "what you tell me makes me truly happy.

But I am afraid that you have destroyed the Chevalier's trust in

humanity. If you ask me to judge you, I shall be severe. You have

committed a terrible sin, unnatural and brutal, unheard of till now by

me."