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display of temper was most opportune to his need； he thought。 And in
the hope that it might serve his turn by disposing to reasonableness
the mind of the King's Lieutenant； he pushed on up the wide and
well…paved Rue Royale； where the concourse of people began to diminish。
He put up his hired horse at the Come de Cerf； and set out again； on
foot； to the Palais de Justice。
There was a brawling mob by the framework of poles and scaffoldings
about the building cathedral； upon which work had been commenced
a year ago。 But he did not pause to ascertain the particular cause
of that gathering。 He strode on； and thus came presently to the
handsome Italianate palace that was one of the few public edifices
hat had survived the devastating fire of sixty years ago。
He won through with difficulty to the great hall； known as the Salle
des Pas Perdus； where he was left to cool his heels for a full
half…hour after he had found an usher so condescending as to inform
the god who presided over that shrine of Justice that a lawyer from
Gavrillac humbly begged an audience on an affair of gravity。
That the god condescended to see him at all was probably due to the
grave complexion of the hour。 At long length he was escorted up
the broad stone staircase； and ushered into a spacious； meagrely
furnished anteroom； to make one of a waiting crowd of clients；
mostly men。
There he spent another half…hour； and employed the time in
considering exactly what he should say。 This consideration made
him realize the weakness of the case he proposed to set before a
man whose views of law and morality were coloured by his social
rank。
At last he was ushered through a narrow but very massive and richly
decorated door into a fine； well…lighted room furnished with enough
gilt and satin to have supplied the boudoir of a lady of fashion。
It was a trivial setting for a King's Lieutenant； but about the
King's Lieutenant there was … at least to ordinary eyes … nothing
trivial。 At the far end of the chamber； to the right of one of the
tall windows that looked out over the inner court； before a
goat…legged writing…table with Watteau panels； heavily encrusted
with ormolu； sat that exalted being。 Above a scarlet coat with an
order flaming on its breast； and a billow of lace in which diamonds
sparkled like drops of water； sprouted the massive powdered head
of M。 de Lesdiguieres。 It was thrown back to scowl upon this
visitor with an expectant arrogance that made Andre…Louis wonder
almost was a genuflexion awaited from him。
Perceiving a lean； lantern…jawed young man； with straight； lank
black hair； in a caped riding…coat of brown cloth； and yellow
buckskin breeches； his knee…boots splashed with mud； the scowl upon
that August visage deepened until it brought together the thick
black eyebrows above the great hooked nose。
〃You announce yourself as a lawyer of Gavrillac with an important
communication；〃 he growled。 It was a peremptory command to make
this communication without wasting the valuable time of a King's
Lieutenant； of whose immense importance it conveyed something more
than a hint。 M。 de Lesdiguieres accounted himself an imposing
personality； and he had every reason to do so； for in his time he
had seen many a poor devil scared out of all his senses by the
thunder of his voice。
He waited now to see the same thing happen to this youthful lawyer
from Gavrillac。 But he waited in vain。
Andre…Louis found him ridiculous。 He knew pretentiousness for the
mask of worthlessness and weakness。 And here he beheld
pretentiousness incarnate。 It was to be read in that arrogant
poise of the head； that scowling brow； the inflexion of that
reverberating voice。 Even more difficult than it is for a man to
be a hero to his valet … who has witnessed the dispersal of the
parts that make up the imposing whole … is it for a man to be a
hero to the student of Man who has witnessed the same in a different
sense。
Andre…Louis stood forward boldly … impudently； thought M。 de
Lesdiguieres。
〃You are His Majesty's Lieutenant here in Brittany；〃 he said … and
it almost seemed to the August lord of life and death that this
fellow had the incredible effrontery to address him as one man
speaking to another。 〃You are the dispenser of the King's high
justice in this province。〃
Surprise spread on that handsome； sallow face under the heavily
powdered wig。
〃Is your business concerned with this infernal insubordination of
the canaille？〃 he asked。
〃It is not； monsieur。〃
The black eyebrows rose。 〃Then what the devil do you mean by
intruding upon me at a time when all my attention is being claimed
by the obvious urgency of this disgraceful affair？〃
〃The affair that brings me is no less disgraceful and no less urgent。〃
〃It will have to wait！〃 thundered the great man in a passion； and
tossing back a cloud of lace from his hand； he reached for the
little silver bell upon his table。
〃A moment； monsieur！〃 Andre…Louis' tone was peremptory。 M。 de
Lesdiguieres checked in sheer amazement at its impudence。 〃I can
state it very briefly。。。 〃
〃Haven't I said already。。。 〃
〃And when you have heard it；〃 Andre…Louis went on； relentlessly；
interrupting the interruption； 〃you will agree with me as to its
character。〃
M。 de Lesdiguieres considered him very sternly。
〃What is your name？〃 he asked。
〃Andre…Louis Moreau。〃
〃Well； Andre…Louis Moreau； if you can state your plea briefly； I
will hear you。 But I warn you that I shall be very angry if you
fail to justify the impertinence of this insistence at so
inopportune a moment。〃
〃You shall be the judge of that； monsieur；〃 said Andre…Louis； and
he proceeded at once to state his case； beginning with the shooting
of Mabey； and passing thence to the killing of M。 de Vilmorin。 But
he withheld until the end the name of the great gentleman against
whom he demanded justice； persuaded that did he introduce it earlier
he would not be allowed to proceed。
He had a gift of oratory of whose full powers he was himself hardly
conscious yet； though destined very soon to become so。。 He told
his story well； without exaggeration； yet with a force of simple
appeal that was irresistible。 Gradually the great man's face relaxed
from its forbidding severity。 Interest； warming almost to sympathy；
came to be reflected on it。
〃And who； sir； is the man you charge with this？〃
〃The Marquis de La Tour d'Azyr。〃
The effect of that formidable name was immediate。 Dismayed anger；
and an arrogance more utter than before； took the place of the
sympathy he had been betrayed into displaying。
〃Who？〃 he shouted； and without waiting for an answer； 〃Why； here's
impudence；〃 he stormed on； 〃to come before me with such a charge
against a gentleman of M。 de La Tour d'Azyr's eminence！ How dare
you speak of him as a coward。〃
〃I speak of him as a murderer；〃 the young man corrected。 〃And I
demand justice against him。〃
〃You demand it； do you？ My God； what next？〃
〃That is for you to say； monsieur。〃
It surprised the great gentleman into a more or less successful
effort of self…control。
〃Let me warn you；〃 said he； acidly； 〃that it is