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demon has been loosed against his family。 It is enough to turn one's
head。 First of all； I am sure that the anonymous letters have begun
again。〃
〃What letters； father？〃
〃The anonymous letters。〃
〃But what are they about？〃
〃You know how the marshal hated that renegade； the Abbe d'Aigrigny。 When
he found that the traitor was here； and that he had persecuted the two
orphans； even as he persecuted their mother to the deathbut that now he
had become a priestI thought the marshal would have gone mad with
indignation and fury。 He wishes to go in search of the renegade。 With
one word I calmed him。 ‘He is a priest；' I said； ‘you may do what you
will； insult or strike himhe will not fight。 He began by serving
against his country； he ends by becoming a bad priest。 It is all in
character。 He is not worth spitting upon。''But surely I may punish the
wrong done to my children； and avenge the death of my wife；' cried the
marshal； much exasperated。‘They say； as you well know； that there are
courts of law to avenge your wrongs；' answered I； 'Mdlle。 de Cardoville
has lodged a charge against the renegade； for having attempted to confine
your daughters in a convent。 We must champ the bit and wait。〃'
〃Yes；〃 said Agricola； mournfully； 〃and unfortunately there lacks proof to
bring it home to the Abbe d'Aigrigny。 The other day； when I was examined
by Mdlle。 de Cardoville's lawyer； with regard to our attempt on the
convent； he told me that we should meet with obstacles at every step； for
want of legal evidence； and that the priests had taken their precautions
with so much skill that the indictment would be quashed。〃
〃That is just what the marshal thinks； my boy； and this increases his
irritation at such injustice。〃
〃He should despise the wretches。〃
〃But the anonymous letters！〃
〃Well； what of them； father？〃
〃You shall know all。 A brave and honorable man like the marshal； when
his first movement of indignation was over； felt that to insult the
renegade disguised in the garb of a priest； would be like insulting an
old man or a woman。 He determined therefore to despise him； and to
forget him as soon as possible。 But then； almost every day； there came
by the post anonymous letters； in which all sorts of devices were
employed； to revive and excite the anger of the marshal against the
renegade by reminding him of all the evil contrived by the Abbe
d'Aigrigny against him and his family。 The marshal was reproached with
cowardice for not taking vengeance on this priest； the persecutor of his
wife and children； the insolent mocker at his misfortunes。〃
〃And from whom do you suspect these letters to come； father？〃
〃I cannot tellit is that which turns one's brain。 They must come from
the enemies of the marshal； and he has no enemies but the black…gowns。〃
〃But； father； since these letters are to excite his anger against the
Abbe d'Aigrigny； they can hardly have been written by priests。〃
〃That is what I have said to myself。〃
〃But what； then； can be their object？〃
〃Their object？ oh； it is too plain！〃 cried Dagobert。 〃The marshal is
hasty； ardent； he has a thousand reasons to desire vengeance on the
renegade。 But he cannot do himself justice； and the other sort of
justice fails him。 Then what does he do？ He endeavors to forget； he
forgets。 But every day there comes to him an insolent letter； to provoke
and exasperate his legitimate hatred； by mockeries and insults。 Devil
take me！ my head is not the weakestbut； at such a game； I should go
mad。〃
〃Father； such a plot would be horrible； and only worthy of hell！〃
〃And that is not all。〃
〃What more？〃
〃The marshal has received other letters； those he has not shown mebut；
after he had read the first； he remained like a man struck motionless；
and murmured to himself： ‘They do not even respect thatoh！ it is too
muchtoo much！'And； hiding his face in his hands he wept。〃
〃The marshal wept！〃 cried the blacksmith； hardly able to believe what he
heard。
〃Yes；〃 answered Dagobert； 〃he wept like a child。〃
〃And what could these letters contain； father？〃
〃I did not venture to ask him； he appeared so miserable and dejected。〃
〃But thus harassed and tormented incessantly； the marshal must lead a
wretched life。〃
〃And his poor little girls too！ he sees them grow sadder and sadder；
without being able to guess the cause。 And the death of his father；
killed almost in his arms！ Perhaps； you will think all this enough； but；
no！ I am sure there is something still more painful behind。 Lately； you
would hardly know the marshal。 He is irritable about nothing； and falls
into such fits of passion； that〃 After a moment's hesitation； the
soldier resumed： 〃I way tell this to you； my poor boy。 I have just been
upstairs； to take the caps from his pistols。〃
〃What； father！〃 cried Agricola； 〃you fear〃
〃In the state of exasperation in which I saw him yesterday； there is
everything to fear。〃
〃 What then happened？〃
〃Since some time； he has often long secret interviews with a gentleman；
who looks like an old soldier and a worthy man。 I have remarked that the
gloom and agitation of the marshal are always redoubled after one of
these visits。 Two or three times； I have spoken to him about it； but I
saw by his look； that I displeased him； and therefore I desisted。
〃Well！ yesterday； this gentleman came in the evening。 He remained here
until eleven o'clock； and his wife came to fetch him； and waited for him
in a coach。 After his departure； I went up to see if the marshal wanted
anything。 He was very pale； but calm； he thanked me； and I came down
again。 You know that my room is just under his。 I could hear the
marshal walking about as if much agitated； and soon after he seemed to be
knocking down the furniture。 In alarm； I once more went upstairs。 He
asked me； with an irritated air； what I wanted； and ordered me to leave
the room。 Seeing him in that way； I remained； he grew more angry； still
I remained； perceiving a chair and table thrown down； I pointed to them
with so sad an air that he understood me。 You know that he has the best
heart in the world； so； taking me by the hand； he said to me： ‘Forgive me
for causing you this uneasiness； my good Dagobert； but just now； I lost
my senses； and gave way to a burst of absurd fury； I think I should have
thrown myself out of the window； had it been open。 I only hope； that my
poor dear girls have not heard me；' added he； as he went on tip…toe to
open the door which communicates with his daughters' bedroom。 When he
had listened anxiously for a moment； he returned to me； and said：
〃Luckily； they are asleep。'Then I asked him what was the cause of his
agitation； and if； in spite of my precautions； he had received any more
anonymous letters。 ‘No；' replied he； with a gloomy air； ‘but leave me；
my friend。 I am now better。 It has done me good to see you。 Good
night； old comrade！ go downstairs to bed。'I took care not to contradict
him； but； pretending to go down； I came up again； and seated myself on
the top stair； listening。 No doubt； to calm himself entirely； the
marshal went to embrace his children； for I heard him open and shu