by William Sage
CHAPTER XV
THE PRESIDENT'S NOTE
As Tournay entered the doorway of 15 Rue des Mathurins an excited littleman brushed quickly past him, muttered an apology, and ran hurriedly upthe street. Under his arm he carried a handsome coat.
"I'll wager that's some thief who has been plying his trade upstairs,"thought Tournay. "It was clumsy on my part to let him get by me. But I'mtoo tired to run after him. He can wear his stolen finery for all me."And he climbed up the stairs to the fourth landing.
"Welcome, my general!" cried Gaillard, rising up and throwing to oneside the theatrical costume into which he was neatly fitting a patch.
"Not general yet, my little Gaillard," was the reply, as the two friendsembraced warmly.
"How? Not a general yet?" exclaimed the actor. "Why, all the city isringing with news of the victory of Wissembourg and the hero of Landau!"
"That may be, my friend, but I have not received my promotion, and, whatis more, I am not expecting it. I shall be quite satisfied to have theconvention send me to the front again, where there is work to be done."
"Bah! Is the convention mad that it overlooks our bravest and bestofficer?" exclaimed Gaillard in a tone of disgust.
"Wait until you have heard what I have to tell you, and then say whetherI shall not be fortunate if permitted to return to my command, even ifit be but one regiment."
"Danton is right," said Gaillard, when the colonel had finished hisaccount of the day's proceedings. "Undoubtedly there is something behindall this; what it is, the future will show."
"In the mean time let us have something to eat," said Tournay; "I am ashungry as a wolf. Is there any food in the house?"
"An unusual supply," was Gaillard's answer. "We will dine in your honor,colonel, and though the convention has not seen fit to adorn your browwith laurels, I will make some amends by pledging your health in a glassof wine as good as any that can be found in Paris to-day."
"I shall be pleased to eat a dinner in any one's honor, for I have eatennothing since daylight, and it is now four o'clock."
"Sit down for one moment then, while I take a few last stitches in mywork here. I had expected to wear a new costume in the piece to-night,'Le Mariage de Figaro,' but the tailor brought a garment that fittedabominably, and to the insult of a grotesque fit he added the injury ofan exorbitant bill, so I refused the coat and dismissed him with anadmonition."
"I must have encountered your tailor as I came up," said Tournay. "Hewas very pressed for time, and seemed to have taken your admonition muchto heart."
"Not exactly to heart," replied Gaillard, his mouth widening with agrin, "for I emphasized my remarks rather forcibly with my shoe. Ikicked him down one flight of stairs, and he ran down the others."
"I am afraid your dramatic nature causes you to be rather precipitate attimes, Gaillard," remarked Colonel Tournay, smiling.
"On this occasion all the precipitation was on the part of the tailor,"replied Gaillard. "Well, this old costume is mended; it will have toserve me for a few nights. Now for dinner. Take your place at the table.I shall sit at the head, and you, as the guest, shall occupy the placeat my right hand. You will excuse me for one moment, will you not, whileI serve the repast?" and before Tournay could answer Gaillard had leftthe room.
Tournay seated himself at the table, and took from his pocket the letterwhich had been placed in his hands on the street. It was addressed in alarge hand to "Citizen Colonel Robert Tournay." The writing was that ofa person who evidently wielded the pen but occasionally, and he couldnot be sure whether it came from a man or woman. He broke the seal andread:--
CITIZEN COLONEL,--Your attitude toward some of the members of the Convention has made you a number of enemies. Do not take the dismissal of the charges brought against you before the committee as an evidence that these enemies are defeated; they have merely resolved to change their tactics during your present popularity. Had you been defeated at Wissembourg and Landau, you would not now be at liberty. You may be sure these men have your ultimate downfall in view. Distrust them all.
Tournay ran his eyes hastily over a list of a dozen names, among whichwere Couthon, St. Just, and Collot-d'Herbois.
"Here it is, hot and succulent from the kitchen of Citizeness Ribot,"called out Gaillard, appearing from an inner room with a steaming dish,which he placed before him. "What have you got there?" he asked, blowingon his fingers to cool them.
Tournay handed him the paper. "All of them either friends or tools ofRobespierre," was Gaillard's comment. "How did this come into yourhands?"
Tournay told him. His friend stepped to the fireplace.
"What are you going to do?" inquired Tournay.
"I make it a point never to keep anything with writing on it. It may bea tradition of my profession, for on the stage trouble always lurks inwritten documents. We must burn this."
"Do not be so hasty, Gaillard; you may burn it after I have committedthose names to memory."
"Then I will put it here on the chimney-piece for the present. Don'tcarry it about you. It is a dangerous paper in times like these."
"Very well, I will be guided by your counsels. And just at this momentyou advise dining, do you not?" and Tournay turned to the dish on thetable. "It has a very agreeable odor. What is it?"
"The menu, to-day, consists of three courses; bread, salt, and,"--herethe actor removed the cover of the dish with a flourish--"rabbitragout."
"Will you assure me that the rabbit did not mew at the prospect of beingturned into a ragout?" inquired Tournay, holding out his plate whileGaillard heaped it with the stew.
"You will have to ask the cook, my little war-god. When I delivered toher the material in its natural state it consisted of two little graytailless animals with long ears; but to exonerate her, I call yourattention to the house-cat at this moment poking her nose in at thedoor. And let me say further, that whether it be cat or rabbit you seemto be able to dispose of a goodly quantity of it."
"My dear Gaillard, I am a soldier and can eat anything," was Tournay'srejoinder.
"But cast not your eyes longingly upon the poor animal who has come inattracted by the smell of dinner; she is my especial pet. Let me divertyour attention from her by pouring you a glass of wine."
"Gaillard, your dinner is most excellent; your pet shall be safe."
Gaillard filled two glasses with wine.
"Your very good health, Colonel Tournay, of the Army of the Moselle."
"Yours, my dear friend Gaillard."
The two friends rose and touched glasses over the little table.
"That wine is wonderful," said Tournay as he put down the glass. "Whatdo you mean by drinking such nectar? Do you live so near the top of thehouse in order that you may spend your savings on your wine cellar?"
"That bottle is one of six presented to me by our neighbor, Citizen St.Hilaire. He has been living modestly in the attic overhead, but heevidently had a knowledge of good wine."
"Ah, Citizen St. Hilaire," repeated Tournay. "He is a man who shouldwell know good wine; but you said he has been living overhead. Is he notthere now?"
"Three days ago he disappeared. He left a note for the Citizeness Ribotwith the money due for rent, and stated that he should not return. Hisaction was explained next morning when a gendarme from the section madehis appearance and inquired for Citizen St. Hilaire. Since then hischamber is watched night and day. I doubt if he returns."
"He is quite capable of keeping out of danger or getting into it, as thefancy suits him, if he is the man I once knew," remarked Tournay.
Gaillard filled the glasses again. "Let us not talk about him in tooloud a tone," he said, "but quietly pledge him in his own Burgundy."
Tournay took the proffered glass. The gentle gurgle down two throatstold that St. Hilaire's health was drunk fervently if silently.
"With your permission I will propose a toast," said Tournay, as Gaillardemptied the last of the bottle into their glasses. The ac
tor nodded.
"To the French Republic," exclaimed Tournay. "May victory still perchupon her banners."
"To the Republic," echoed Gaillard.
Again the glasses clinked over the small wooden table.
"As long as we have victory," continued Tournay, "what care we whetherwe be colonels, generals, or soldiers of the line? Our victories are thenation's. All are sharers in its glory."
"Long live the Republic!" they cried in concert, and set down theirempty wineglasses.
"Now I must fly to the theatre," exclaimed Gaillard; "you have made melate with your republics"--
"And I must to bed," said Tournay. "This morning's dawn found me in thesaddle in order to reach the convention at an early hour."
"You have made a mistake, citizen sergeant," exclaimed Gaillardsuddenly, as an officer of gendarmerie appeared at the open door. "Thefloor above is where you want to go."
"I want to see the Citizen Colonel Tournay," was the reply.
"I am he," said Tournay.
The sergeant awkwardly gave the military salute. "Here is a letter foryou, citizen colonel."
Tournay took the paper, and the sergeant turned toward the door.
"Is there any answer required?" asked Tournay, as he broke the seal.
"None through me. Good-night, citizen colonel." And the heavy jack-bootswere heard descending the stairs.
Gaillard began hurriedly to make a bundle of his theatrical costume,while Tournay broke the seal and glanced over the contents of theletter.
"Read this," he said, passing the paper to Gaillard, who stood by hisside, bundle under arm.
Gaillard read:--
To CITIZEN COLONEL ROBERT TOURNAY, Rue des Mathurins 15.
Will the patriotic citizen colonel call upon the humble and none the less patriotic citizen, Maximilian Robespierre, this evening at seven, to discuss affairs pertaining to the good of the nation? If the Citizen Tournay can come, no answer need be sent.
(Signed) MAXIMILIAN ROBESPIERRE.
17th Pluviose, Year II. of the French Republic, one and indivisible.
"He evidently takes it for granted that I will come, for his messengerwaited for no answer," added Tournay.
"It's the sequel of this afternoon's inquiry," said Gaillard, as hereturned it, "and too exquisitely polite for a plain citizen. What areyou going to do?"
"I am going to see him, of course," replied Tournay. "It is the only wayto find out what he wants."
Gaillard nodded. "That's true; I almost feel like going with you andremaining outside the door," and Gaillard placed his package on thetable.
"That is unnecessary, my friend; I never felt more secure in my life. Goto your performance of Figaro and on your return you will find me herein this easy-chair, smoking one of your pipes."
Gaillard took up his bundle again. "Very well, but mind, if I do notfind you seated in that arm-chair smoking a pipe I shall know you are introuble."
Tournay laughed. "You will find me there, never fear. And now let us goout together."
"I am abominably late!" exclaimed Gaillard, as they parted at thecorner. "The director will have the pleasure of collecting a fine frommy weekly salary. Good-night--embrace me, my little war god! Au revoir,"and the actor hurried down the street, whistling cheerfully.