THE FATE OF THE MARQUIS DE GRAMMONT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CI, Issue 11884, 6 May 1899, Page 3

THE FATE OF THE MARQUIS DE GRAMMONT.

AN INCIDENT OP THE FRENCH REVOLUTION. (HarmswortW c Magazine.) The Marquis Henri Marie Alberto Louis de Grammont, in purple velvet and point lace, well peruked, exquisitely perfumed, ■with silver rapier at his side, and jewelled snuff-box in hand, tripped daintily through tire dark shadow of the Quartier Latin, holding a perfumed mou choir to his nostrils—the neighbouring effluvia rendering itself distressing to him. The Marquis had just the atelier of fitold friend and schoolmate —one who painted for the salons. ’’ . Suddenly qn uproar of excited and angry voices, the rattle of carriage-wheels, .ttye stamping and snorting of horses, and the painful, shriek'of a child, fell upon his ear. Sword in kind,- he followed the sounds, and soon-enoul h found himself in tho midst of a dirty, lo\l'-clasa, quarrelsome, reckless gang. Oaths and cries rent- the air. “Down with the pig ! Down with the aristocrat ! He lolls in his carriage,.he rolls over one of our little- ones, and he is too lazy and too haughty to get out and ask why the carriage bumped-so-” In the light of the oil wicks, Monsieur da Grammont could see-the shining of murderous knives. Suddenly the-door of the carriage-opened, and tbe thin, pale-faced, aristocratic-looking man stepped out. He had no fear of the rabble. He was even careful to adjust his hat that-brushed against tho roof of his coach’ as he left it. “Clear off, you dogs,” he said, quietly. “ Do you know that you are delaying me ? Do you know that I have an audience of the King ? ” “ Do you know,” returned a wine-house keeper, mimicking the thin, refined tones, “ that you have trundled one of our little ones to death “Ay ! Do you know that?” shrieked the mother—a virago, hut a mother for all that. “ Indeed!” said the gentleman,. turning

on her. “ What matter, since the gutters swam with such brats ? But for goodness* sake don’t let the King be kept waiting. See ! hero is a louis with which to drink your sorrow into forgetfulness.” He tossed a golden coin into as he-spoke, but it was caught and burled back into his face, on which he drew his sword. Monsieur,do Grammont, who -despite the dissoluteness of his character, was a man of human mould, here forced his way through the mob, and confronted, the-gen-tleman face to face- “ Monseigneur le Duc -de-Lions, ” hc said,' politely raising' his hat. “My dear do Grammont,” returned the other, extending his hand, “ what brings you here ? ” “Chance,” answered the Marquis, refusing the proffered hand. “ Yon are rude, monsieur.” “ You are inhuman, Monsieur Je Due.” Here the mob howled, and threw up their caps, and cried, “Vive I’Etranger ! Vive FEtranger ! ” “When the .King hears-of this, Monsieur de-Grammont, you will have , cause to regret this night. “ Nay, Monsieur le Due, the. affair must be settled now. You have killed’ a child; you have insulted the -mother while she yet i holds the'dead limbs in her arms. You, are no father; I am. I can feel for and sympathise with so sudden a bereavement.. Draw, sir ! ” ■ , , . “ What ! ” cried the Duke, choking with passion. “ Fight for the brat of this virago of the slums ! No ! “ Then fight for this.” The Marquis struck the Duke-.upoirthe face, so smartly as to draw blood'Next, moment two swords wcre.-crossed, and the motley crowd gathered - eagerly round to watch the-contest—not the, least interested of the onlookers being the woman who held in her arms.the mangled body of her dead child. It was a fine exhibit of carte and-tierce that ensued between these two finished swordsmen, .and an- exhibit new and strange to the .rough cut-throats and pocketfilchers of tbis-dark and congested alley. Like lightning, or the lashes of whips, or writhing serpents that twisted and bent and curled, and-then:shot-straight,.,and then turned," one round the other, the tempered blades of the' two gentlemen, assumed, a hundred shapes in the-flickering glimmer of the adjacent oil lamp. Nothing could now .be heard but the biting hiss of steel to steel, and- the hand, passionate breathing of the combatants. “Blood! Blood! Blood!” suddenly shrieked" the crowd, and the Duc de Lions fell back into the amis of his footman, while Monsieur-de Grammont wiped, something off his blade with his perfumed mouehoir. . As the Duke was assisted into his: chariot he shook bis white; clenched hand atthe triumphant-crowd and at .his-antago-nist, exclaiming, “You dogs! yon shall pay for this. I’ll have yonr honses-nazed, and yourselves whipped at the cart-ta.il and branded! And you, De Grammont—you shall bear from the King.” As a matter of fact, the Duke died-he fore his carriage reached his hotel. When the mob turned to congratulate their champion,- he had gone. In a moment realising the foolishness of his action; he had slipped away into the-dark-ness, while yet thd-attentiomof the- crowd was concentrated on the wounded Duke. “ Fri.ends-'and brothers,” cried'the-'virago, still clutching her dead, love to heipfierce breast, “ the time is nearly ripe-when we shall fall upon these oppressors-iand sweep them from the face of the-earth. We have sworn, and justly sworn, that not -one of them who fails into-our hands shalL escape.

From the King-downwards we haye sworn to annihilate them.”,; ■ “Ay, ay, Mother ‘Brbncheiu—that yre have!” growled the attentive rabble. “Bub let there be one. exception to the vile class; let one life be held sacred: that of tjhe brave ■ gentleman who has fought and conquered in defence of our wrongs 1 this night.”' . “ Ay, ay! w© 1 will spare him when the time comes, if dr this night’s work.” Then they dispersed mysteriously, ea-ph to his own secret den or cellar, like rabbits . running into their warrens; : * “I know, i know,” muttered the virago, as she hurried home to lay out her child straight and decent, “ you say so now, bub I whit till the. time comes. Wait till'you-are ;. drank with blood. You’ll only remember i that he is an- aririricrat then, arid a. friend {; of the King. But I, Mother | Broncheau, will remember. ' I, the-mother jof little Picrre here, will risk my-life as ;he risked his in his behalf.” ’ . , Paris wasrin a bath of blood. It ran in, ’ the gutters,; did this blood, ■ and it dotted- ; in the sunshine--and round the marble steps . of the houses where the aristocrats lived; ' I. When the drums beat, the tumbrils' filled;. when the tumbrils filled, theymoyed,; | and-all Paris followed in their-wake. They! p went full to the- market of La Gufflotinei ’ when the'- sun "was high ; they returned--empty when the -son was low. ! Tho King-'was.-dead; it dangerous thing- te haveiknrown him. ; The Queen.'' was dead.; better to have! \ been the confidante of no one than to : ■ have received the gracious friendship*: of ’this i)l-starred Kcyal lady. Paris was in a bath of blood. . A coat-of-arms procured one a halter,, and a pair of white hands- a-place* in the! tumbrils -at this time. ; Night- had settled down,, the scaffolds! were -slippery and desectedirund smoking! with the recent sacrifices. The moon,! . as it rose, looked crimson,i<as though, it! blushed to gase -on such - enormities arid] the- sun fell -awayrin a -shamefaced fashion.; Through .the -sbadows and the -sSmicei ;thc Marquis Henri Marie Alberte Lotrisl de Grammont -in sorry apparel with! whitened.-visage, ■ straggling, -unkempk-hair,; slouched - chapeau, and.'fearsome- pace,. his: little son, the heir to the marqmsate and! estates, dragging at- his -hand, ■ ran. rather; than tripped through the broad, streets' that aboundedrinstbe'nmghbouihoodsofcsthfi! , . Faubourg St Gtennain, Poor,ManprisS ,] Whither" was -’ierto-rfly? He gazed helplessly and" hopelessly r-up and down the. lixbgi dark- street. The spies oPrihs -Committee of 'Pobfioj Safety were->evEiywhace.’ ■ They could,; see: through walls .and- hear-through them. They were mbiqmtdns. They would gßp; the beadof' theu-'texiihersoir sister: rato-the 1 basket sooner than be -suspected, them-; selves- by Robespierre. The 'Marquis. de Grarnmont'-wooldAnjot trast his own househoM fiw this^Teason. The King was‘demand justice -of. . hum. It whirr of-the-knife-of the .gmSothm -griadingr itseif -for h “ Keep in .-tio - irttle-one,” whispm-edth®. Marquis de Grammont*; our-poor •clothes' wflknaDtnp&eras’walk- like poor ‘ people, , dependuponthat.” “ Where are-we/.going, asked the child. ■ , ; , “God knows!” arrsweredutha Marquis.! - “ But we '-mast'-'bo brKvE. ,His Majesty; , and theaQneeii 'Were ;bnave:” . -1--.

The little foliow=drewxinmself np- to his full height. ‘

\ “I \ronld'XKrf^Mndbito-die-as theJKing; and. Queen dietL” f he said, boldly; “ and: they-can do no Averse harm ±o us than was; -done to them. Besides, father, you have’ your sword.’” , . • ' The Marquis smiled sadly. In the darkness, of the street he drew the tiny form of his-boy into-iris-embrace, . '‘"When, the time comes,” •he whispered, ; “if it should come, say pith your last: breath, ‘Godhbless the King and Queen 11 God rest my soul I God -fill'the throne of ■ France agairt!”” . , ; „ .;. The' boy repeated these words earnestly,, p.ntl lus-itonrafchad scarcely-died -away when a-! v ■great rabble !iad a shouting, drunkeiucrowd; £hoaldiadng.and sinmfaiing into either end of the deserted 1 street. With knives, • and with bludgeons, and with scythes, and: with muskets and sabces they came. They i were still drunk with blood-hut; nor had : ■the lethargy of-sariety set in-after-their 'en-: joyment of the- gruesome gambols round: .the giriitorine. Eresh from the wine shops i : 'were they T -too. . Aidangerous -crew, at. such .a to -encounter. ■' Monsieur de 1 Gcaanmomt encircled the' form of ..his son. with one - arm—and -how \ damning -white ' tit&*«sensiiive fingers were-—: those fingers- of tiro aristocrat. “Arc you- afraid of death, my child?”: 1 asked, he. ’ ... The boy shook his golden curls like a .ahower-of-water from.ihis.brow. , < “No,-father.” ’ “Ibiisrnear to-bctb«of'us'thismoraent!” “Thertilet it come, .father,!” s “Good. With you and me will die an; old name, and an unsullied one. But it; Will die htmouraHy -and fearlessly, thank Godi” ' A big-murderer vlaid his reebweb haipds ifon-th&shonMers oOdonsseurde Grammont. “Hallo, raied he, “what are ynn gkiißrmg in tbw shadows for? Liberty; lowes the light of day, not secrecy.” Tie Marcpris struck him-dbwn, fomeverbefore had'so plebeian a touch roughly: handledsthafc .patrician, i arm. v In a -moment a-babel of voices -shrieked ..forth, “ Aa-aristocEabl An aristocrat!” ; The mob closed round, and tie Marquis and his ix> bay. “Who are you, that skulk in ,'tho . ststriows?” cried the murderer with'the keitwet-hands.. . £ . ■ “ Agenidfiman.’^Eetnmed^the-Maiqms. “"So I thought,” and the crowd howled. - arid hooted, “ Down with the aristocrat's! ..Down, with the aristocrats!” ' Bub ’midst, the striving mass, a woman's eyss—fierce, wodfish- eyes—suddenly fixed' ■flwrr gaa® npcm.thewixite face of the gen-; tfensan, pillowed:om ;li®*Tough-stoae wall,gjjj ■ Th*n a ganrin-jCiied out, “'Why, this-ris the Marquis de 1, Grammont. His stock is as long- and as-anstocratic ashhas of Loins himself.’” . The crowd pressed closer; staves, mus-, bets, sabres, were raised 1 witri murderous intent 11 la anmmeirt made up -her mind. . ' , Pushing her way shouted, “mar me,-citizens, hear me—- (! Mother Brmmheaat”.h ■■■*••■• ; Every-weapon wa^dowered. “ To what purpose. Mother Broncheau?” “To- this; I have-a debt to settle with, Tilm—with this aristocrat. He once did me; a wrong. I will make him right it now.! Clear off, all of you, while-1 talk to-him.” ; All this whale the ,litfck> boy, son of the! Marquis, kept repeating, “God bless'the! King and Queen i God rest my soul! God : fill the throne of Prance again*” Suddenly the woman laid her hand upon-,, the shoulder of tb© Mstqnis. ’ • , - “ Monsieur’ she whispered, hurriedly, i “you drew your sword and risked your life; for my dead chibTs sake some months'ago.; I owe you a debt. How can I repay it?’* . The Marquis shock her off writ-disgust;;! but the woman persisted. “ Shall I sawe yoUT'chiid?” “My God, woman, you promise mucks | but can you -perfonriJ?” ; “.Yes! say the • Word, ■ and your--child l shall live.” • “ HonoriraMy?” ’■ ... v “ Honourably.” “Audi, rnyssll?” “Must die, I cannotr-helpf'yoa.” : The Marquis drew has sword, threw “it; away, kissed his.child, and -rejoined, “Saana 1 my boy at any cost.” , Upon which the virago raised her voice; in an angry howl. “See!” she shouted, 1 pointing to the son of the Marquis, “see,! citizens! that is my own flesh and tdoed.; I nursed the child of.this gentleman, when■ his wife expired, and it died upon my : breast; and ha, villain that be is, had *uy j [ifeijfl one

on. My boy, my Valentine! no one shall lake him from me-now.” And before the astonished and horrified nobleman could interfere—before the boy himself could elude her grasp, she had dragged the little one to her bosom. “ Yon-lie,_you hag !” thundered the Marquis. “You are playing me false'!” Ip the turmoil and uproar Mother Broncheau pushed her ugly visage dose against the delicate white face of the aristocrat. “You fool!” she hissed. “Can’t You not see that I am risking my life with these people for your hoy’s sake? I'swear by the memory ‘of my dead child, in whose cause von drew your sword, that I will see vour child conveyed to someone of his own class beyond the seas ere a week has passed. Trust me in this, or claim him, and let his head drop into, the basket with- yours. ” “I will, trust you, woman.” • “You do well. May the Mother of God comfort you in your last moments, citizen-” ~ - . • Then she raised her voice to a higher pitch, yet in her revilings of the aristocrats, shrieking over the turbulence of the rest, “Down with the stealers of children! My •boy, my Valentine! Flesh of my flesh, bone of my hone!” The Marquis de Grammwnt died with a smile upon .his lips, and a double blessing on his tongue. He blessed a litle gentle-man—-his boy. and successor. He blessed; a virago of the Quartier St Antoine—his boy’s preserver. Years after, people marvelled at the attachment'of the young Marquis de Grammont to.the woman who spoke with the harsh patois' of the slums.