"Have you
heard that the Intendant wishes to bestow an important and honorable
post in the Palace upon Le Gardeur--my brother wrote to that
effect?"
"An important and honorable post in the Palace?" The old soldier
emphasized the word HONORABLE. "No, I had not heard of it,--never
expect to hear of an honorable post in the company of Bigot, Cadet,
Varin, De Pean, and the rest of the scoundrels of the Friponne!
Pardon me, dear, I do not class Le Gardeur among them, far from it,
dear deluded boy! My best hope is that Colonel Philibert will find
him and bring him clean and clear out of their clutches."
The question that had trembled on her lips came out now. For her
life she could not have retained it longer.
"Who is Colonel Philibert, godfather?" asked she, surprise,
curiosity, and a still deeper interest marking her voice, in spite
of all she could do to appear indifferent.
"Colonel Philibert?" repeated La Corne. "Why, do not you know? Who
but our young Pierre Philibert; you have not forgotten him, surely,
Amelie? At any rate he has not forgotten you: in many a long night
by our watch-fires in the forest has Colonel Philibert passed the
hours talking of Tilly and the dear friends he left there.
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