I killed two Prussians once for saying that the
Great Emperor's shirt stuck out below his waistcoat. You'll find me at
the Louis Quinze," he added, before De la Riviere, choking with wrath,
could do more than get to his feet; and, wheeling, he left the room.
The young Seigneur would have followed him, but the avocat laid a
restraining hand upon his arm, and Medallion said: "Dear Seigneur, see,
you can't fight him. The parish would only laugh."
De la Riviere took the advice, and on Sunday, over the coffee, unburdened
the tale to Madame Chalice.
Contrary to his expectations, she laughed a great deal, then soothed his
wounded feelings and advised him as Medallion had done. And because
Valmond commanded the old sergeant to silence, the matter ended for the
moment. But it would have its hour yet, and Valmond knew this as well
as did the young Seigneur.
CHAPTER VII
It was no jest of Valmond's that he would, or could, have five hundred
followers in two weeks. Lagroin and Parpon were busy, each in his own
way--Lagroin, open, bluff, imperative; Parpon, silent, acute, shrewd.
Two days before the feast of St. John the Baptist, the two made a
special tour through the parish for certain recruits. If these could be
enlisted, a great many men of this and other parishes would follow. They
were, by name, Muroc the charcoalman, Duclosse the mealman, Lajeunesse
the blacksmith, and Garotte the limeburner, all men of note, after their
kind, with influence and individuality.
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