They were all silent.
There had been a discourtesy, and it lay like a cloud on the coterie.
De la Riviere opened the door to go out, after bowing to the Cure and the
avocat, who stood up with mannered politeness; but presently he turned,
came back, was about to speak, when, catching sight of a miniature of
Valmond on the avocat's desk, before which was set a bunch of violets,
he wheeled and left the room without a word.
The moon had not yet risen, but stars were shining, when the young
Seigneur and the member came to Dalgrothe Mountain. On one side of the
Rock of Red Pigeons was a precipice and wild water; on the other was a
deep valley like a cup, and in the centre of this was a sort of plateau
or gentle slope. Dalgrothe Mountain towered above. Upon this plateau
Valmond had pitched his tents. There was water, there was good air, and
for purposes of drill--or defence--it was excellent. The approaches were
patrolled, so that no outside stragglers could reach either the Rock of
Red Pigeons or the valley, or see what was going on below, without
permission. Lagroin was everywhere, drilling, commanding, browbeating
his recruits one minute, and praising them the next. Lajeunesse,
Garotte, and Muroc were invaluable, each after his kind. Duclosse the
mealman was sutler.
The young Seigneur and his companions were not challenged, and they
passed on up to the Rock of Red Pigeons.
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