the first place, sir, in Bourg executions do not take place at the Bastion; they execute on the Fair grounds.”
“Now, sir – these last fifteen or twenty years, it is true – since Peytel. But before, especially during the Revolution, they executed on the Place du Bastion.”
“That is possible.”
“It is so. These four young men were called Guyon, Leprêtre, Amiet, and Hyvert.”
“This is the first time I have heard those names.”
“Yet their names made a certain noise at Bourg.”
“Are you sure, sir, that these men were executed here?”
“I am positive.”
“From whom have you derived your information?”
“From a man whose uncle, then in command of the gendarmerie, was present at the execution.”
“Will you tell me this man’s name?”
“Charles Nodier.”
“Charles Nodier, the novelist, the poet?”
“If he were a historian I would not be so insistent, sir. Recently, during a trip to Varennes, I learned what dependence to place upon historians. But precisely because he is a poet, a novelist, I do insist.”
“You are at liberty to do so; but I know nothing of what you desire to learn, and I dare even assert that, if you have come to Bourg solely to obtain information concerning the execution of – what did you call them?”
“Guyon, Leprêtre, Amiet, and Hyvert.”
“You have undertaken a futile voyage. For these last twenty years, sir, I have been searching the town archives, and I have never seen anything relating to what you have just told me.”
“The town archives are not those of the registrar, sir; perhaps at the record office I may be able to find what I am seeking.”
“Ah! sir, if you can find anything among those archives you will be a very clever man! The record office is a chaos, a veritable chaos. You would have to spend a month here, and then – then – ”
“I do not expect to stay here more than a day, sir; but if in that day I should find what I am seeking will you permit me to impart it to you?”
“Yes, sir; yes, sir; and you will render me a great service by doing so.”
“No greater than the one I asked of you. I shall merely give you some information about a matter of which you were ignorant, that is all.”
You can well understand that on leaving my magistrate, my honor was piqued. I determined, cost what it might, to procure this information about the Companions of Jehu. I went back to Milliet, and cornered him.
“Listen,” he said. “My brother-in-law is a lawyer.”
“He’s my man! Let’s go find the brother-in-law.”
“He’s in court at this hour.”
“Then let us go to court.”
“Your appearance will create a sensation, I warn you.”
“Then go alone – tell him what we want, and let him make a search. I will visit the environs of the town to base my work on the localities. We will meet at four o’clock at the Place du Bastion, if you are agreed.”
“Perfectly.”
“It seems to me that I saw a forest, coming here.”
“The forest of Seillon.”
“Bravo!”
“Do you need a forest?”
“It is absolutely indispensable to me.”
“Then permit me – ”
“What?”
“I am going to take you to a friend of mine, M. Leduc, a poet who in his spare moments is an inspector.”
“Inspector of what?”
“Of the forest.”
“Are there any ruins in the forest?”
“The Chartreuse, which is not in the forest, but merely some hundred feet from it.”
“And in the forest?”
“There is a sort of hermitage which is called La Correrie, belonging to the Chartreuse, with which it communicates by a subterranean passage.”
“Good! Now, if you can provide me with a grotto you will overwhelm me.”
“We have the grotto of Ceyzeriat, but that is on the other side of the Reissouse.”
“I don’t mind. If the grotto won’t come to me, I will do like Mahomet – I will go to the grotto. In the meantime let us go to M. Leduc.”
Five minutes later we reached M. Leduc’s house. He, on learning what we wanted, placed himself, his horse, and his carriage at my disposal. I accepted all. There are some men who offer their services in such a way that they place you at once at your ease.
We first visited the Chartreuse. Had I built it myself it could not have suited me better. A deserted cloister, devastated garden, inhabitants almost savages. Chance, I thank thee!
From there we went to the Correrie; it was the supplement of the Chartreuse. I did not yet know what I could do with it; but evidently it might be useful to me.
“Now, sir,” I said to my obliging guide, “I need a pretty site, rather gloomy, surrounded by tall trees, beside a river. Have you anything like that in the neighborhood?”
“What do you want to do with it?”
“To build a château there.”
“What kind of a château?”
“Zounds! of cards! I have a family to house, a model mother, a melancholy young girl, a mischievous brother, and a poaching gardener.”
“There is a place called Noires-Fontaines.”
“In the first place the name is charming.”
“But there is no château there.”
“So much the better, for I should have been obliged to demolish it.”
“Let us go to Noires-Fontaines.”
We started; a quarter of an hour later we descended at the ranger’s lodge.
“Shall we take this little path?” said M. Leduc; “it will take us where you want to go.”
It led us, in fact, to a spot planted with tall trees which overshadowed three or four rivulets.
“We call this place Noires-Fontaines,” M. Leduc explained.
