Chapter 43

           RELIEVED,ALMOSTelated,hesprangfromhisbed,pulledthebellrope,andorderedthedrowsyvaletwhostaggeredintohisroomtopackclothesandprovisionsbecauseatdaybreakheintendedtosetoutforGrenobleinthecompanyofhisdaughter.Thenhedressedandchasedtherestoftheservantsfromtheirbeds.Inthemiddleofthenight,thehouseontherueDroiteawokeandbustledwithlife.Thefireblazedupinthekitchen,excitedmaidsscurriedalongthecorridors,servantsdashedupanddownthestairs,inthevaultedcellarsthekeysofthestewardrattled,inthecourtyardtorchesshone,groomsranamongthehorses,otherstuggedmulesfromtheirstalls,therewasbridlingandsaddlingandrunningandloading—onewouldhavealmostbelievedthattheAustro-Sardinianhordeswereonthemarch,pillagingandtorching,justasin1746,andthatthelordofthemanorwasmobilizingtofleeinpanic.Notatall!Thelordofthemanorwassittingathisofficedesk,assovereignasamarshalofFrance,drinkingcafeaulait,andprovidinginstructionsfortheconstantstreamofdomesticsbarginginonhim.Allthewhile,hewroteletterstothemayor,tothefirstconsul,tohissecretary,tohissolicitor,tohisbankerinMarseille,tothebarondeBouyon,andtodiversebusinesspartners.Byaroundsixthatmorning,hehadcompletedhiscorrespondenceandgivenalltheordersnecessarytocarryouthisplans.Hetuckedawaytwosmalltravelingpistols,buckledonhismoneybelt,andlockedhisdesk.Thenhewenttoawakenhisdaughter.Byeighto’clock,thelittlecaravanwasonthemove.

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