They will explain how it was that the thirty or forty muskets which have been so much talked about happened to be in-the Abbé Fortier’s charge,—which muskets had become the object of the ambition of Pitou, and of his two accomplices, Claude and Désiré.
The Abbé Fortier, who had formerly been the almoner or sub-almoner of the château, as we have already had occasion to explain elsewhere, had, in course of time, and above all, with that patient fixity of ideas inherent in ecclesiastics, become sole intendant of what in theatrical language is called the properties of the château.
Besides the sacred vases, besides the library, he had received in charge all the hunting apparatus of the Duke of Orléans, Louis Philippe, the father of Philippe, who was afterwards called Égalité. Some of this apparatus had been in the family as far back as the reigns of Louis XIII. and Henri III. All these articles had been artistically arranged by him in one of the galleries of the chateau, which had been allotted to him for this express purpose. In order to give them a more picturesque appearance, he had formed them into stars, the centre being shields, surrounded by boar-spears, hunting-knives, and short muskets, richly inlaid, and manufactured during the time of the League.
The door of this gallery was formidably defended by two small cannon of plated bronze, given by Louis XIV. to his brother, Monsieur.
Besides these, there were about fifty musketoons, brought as trophies by Joseph Philippe from the battle of Ushant, and presented by him to the municipality of Villers-Cotterets; and the municipality, as we have said, having furnished the Abbé Fortier with a house free of rent, had placed these muskets, not knowing what to do with them, in the collegiate house.
Such was the treasure guarded by the Dragon, named Fortier, and threatened by the Jason, named Ange Pitou.
The little arsenal of the château was sufficiently celebrated in the country to make people desire to obtain possession of it at little cost.
But, as we have said, the abbé, being a vigilant Dragon, did not appear disposed willingly to give up, to any Jason whatsoever, the golden apples which his Hesperides contained.
Having said this much, let us return to Pitou.
He very gracefully bowed to the Abbé Fortier, accompanying his bow with a slight cough, such as we use to attract the attention of persons who are naturally absent, or who are preoccupied.
The Abbé Fortier raised his nose from the newspaper.
“Well, I declare,” said he, “‘t is Pitou.”
“To serve you, should I be capable of doing so,” courteously replied Ange.
The abbé folded up his newspaper, or rather closed it as he would have done a portfolio, for in those happy days the newspapers were still small pamphlets.
Then, having folded up his paper, he stuck it into his belt on the opposite side to his cat-o’-nine-tails.
“Ah, yes! but in that lies the misfortune,” replied the abbé, jeeringly, “seeing that you are not capable.”
“Oh, most worthy abbé.”
“Do you hear me, Mr. Hypocrite?”
“Oh, good abbé!”
“Do you hear me, Mr. Revolutionist?”
“Come now, this is good; for before I have spoken even a single word, you get into a passion with me. This is but a bad beginning, Abbé.”
Sebastien—who well knew what the Abbé Fortier had, for the last two days, been saying to every one who came near him about Pitou, and thinking it better not to be present during the quarrel which must necessarily ensue between his schoolmaster and his friend—stole away as quickly as he could.
Pitou observed Sebastien’s escape with a certain degree of sorrow. He was not a very vigorous ally, but he was a youth of the same political communion with himself.
And therefore, when he perceived him stepping through the door, he could not avoid uttering a sigh; then turning to the abbé:—
“Come now, Monsieur Fortier,” said he, “why do you call me a Revolutionist? Would you insinuate that I am the cause of the Revolution?”
“You have lived with those who are carrying it on.”
“Good Monsieur Abbé,” said Pitou, with supreme dignity, “the thoughts of every man are free.”