wanted with him. He was then informed of the contents of the letter
from the Island of Elba, in which he was recommended to the club as
a man who would be likely to advance the interests of their party.
One paragraph spoke of the return of Bonaparte and promised another
letter and further details, on the arrival of the Pharaon belonging
to the shipbuilder Morrel, of Marseilles, whose captain was
entirely devoted to the emperor. During all this time, the general,
on whom they thought to have relied as on a brother, manifested
evidently signs of discontent and repugnance. When the reading was
finished, he remained silent, with knitted brows.
"`"Well," asked the president, "what do you say to this letter,
general?"
"`"I say that it is too soon after declaring myself for Louis
XVIII. to break my vow in behalf of the ex-emperor." This answer
was too clear to permit of any mistake as to his sentiments.
"General," said the president, "we acknowledge no King Louis
XVIII., or an ex-emperor, but his majesty the emperor and king,
driven from France, which is his kingdom, by violence and
treason."
"`"Excuse me, gentlemen," said the general; "you may not
acknowledge Louis XVIII., but I do, as he has made me a baron and a
field-marshal, and I shall never forget that for these two titles I
am indebted to his happy return to France."
"`"Sir," said the president, rising with gravity, "be careful
what you say; your words clearly show us that they are deceived
concerning you in the Island of Elba, and have deceived us! The
communication has been made to you in consequence of the confidence
placed in you, and which does you honor. Now we discover our error;
a title and promotion attach you to the government we wish to
overturn. We will not constrain you to help us; we enroll no one
against his conscience, but we will compel you to act generously,
even if you are not disposed to do so."
"`"You would call acting generously, knowing your conspiracy and
not informing against you, that is what I should call becoming yournot informing against you, that is what I should call becoming your
accomplice. You see I am more candid than you."'"
"Ah, my father!" said Franz, interrupting himself. "I understand
now why they murdered him." Valentine could not help casting one
glance towards the young man, whose filial enthusiasm it was
delightful to behold. Villefort walked to and fro behind them.
Noirtier watched the expression of each one, and preserved his
dignified and commanding attitude. Franz returned to the
manuscript, and continued: —
"`"Sir," said the president, "you have been invited to join this
assembly — you were not forced here; it was proposed to you to come
blindfolded — you accepted. When you complied with this twofold
request you well knew we did not wish to secure the throne of Louis
XVIII., or we should not take so much care to avoid the vigilance
of the police. It would be conceding too much to allow you to put
on a mask to aid you in the discovery of our secret, and then to
remove it that you may ruin those who have confided in you. No, no,
you must first say if you declare yourself for the king of a day
who now reigns, or for his majesty the emperor."
"`"I am a royalist," replied the general; "I have taken the oath
of allegiance to Louis XVIII., and I will adhere to it." These
words were followed by a general murmur, and it was evident that
several of the members were discussing the propriety of making the
general repent of his rashness.
"`The president again arose, and having imposed silence, said, —
"Sir, you are too serious and too sensible a man not to understand
the consequences of our present situation, and your candor has
already dictated to us the conditions which remain for us to offer
you." The general, putting his hand on his sword, exclaimed, — "If
you talk of honor, do not begin by disavowing its laws, and impose
nothing by violence."
"`"And you, sir," continued the president, with a calmness still
more terrible than the general's anger, "I advise you not to touchmore terrible than the general's anger, "I advise you not to touch
your sword." The general looked around him with slight uneasiness;
however he did not yield, but calling up all his fortitude, said, —
"I will not swear."
"`"Then you must die," replied the president calmly. M. d'Epinay
became very pale; he looked round him a second time, several
members of the club were whispering, and getting their arms from
under their cloaks. "General," said the president, "do not alarm
yourself; you are among men of honor who will use every means to
convince you before resorting to the last extremity, but as you
have said, you are among conspirators, you are in possession of our
secret, and you must restore it to us." A significant silence
followed these words, and as the general did not reply, — "Close
the doors," said the president to the door-keeper.
"`The same deadly silence succeeded these words. Then the
general advanced, and making a violent effort to control his
feelings, — "I have a son," said he, "and I ought to think of him,
finding myself among assassins."
"`"General," said the chief of the assembly, "one man may insult
fifty — it is the privilege of weakness. But he does wrong to use
his privilege. Follow my advice, swear, and do not insult." The
general, again daunted by the superiority of the chief, hesitated a
moment; then advancing to the president's desk, — "What is the
form, said he.
"`"It is this: — `I swear by my honor not to reveal to any one
what I have seen and heard on the 5th of February, 1815, between
nine and ten o'clock in the evening; and I plead guilty of death
should I ever violate this oath.'" The general appeared to be
affected by a nervous tremor, which prevented his answering for
some moments; then, overcoming his manifest repugnance, he
pronounced the required oath, but in so low a tone as to be
scarcely audible to the majority of the members, who insisted on
his repeating it clearly and distinctly, which he did.
"`"Now am I at liberty to retire?" said the general. The