"
"De Leviston will not die. Such men as he do not die honestly in bed.
But he was only a puppet in this instance."
"A puppet? Explain."
"There was another who prompted him from behind."
"Who?" sharply.
"I am afraid that at present I can not name him."
"D'Herouville? Be careful, Monsieur; this is a grave accusation you
are making. You will be forced to prove it." The governor looked
worried; for to him the Comte d'Herouville was a great noble.
"I did not name him. There was a woman behind all this; a woman who is
the innocent cause."
"Ha! a woman?" The governor leaned forward on his elbows.
"Yes."
"Who?"
"Mademoiselle de Longueville. D'Herouville insulted her and the
Chevalier took up her cause."
"Why, then, did you not pick your quarrel with the count?"
"The vicomte had some prior claim."
The governor got up and walked about, biting his mustache. Victor eyed
him with some anxiety.
"But the Chevalier; why did he not defend himself?"
Victor breathed impatiently. "Frankly, Monsieur, how can he defend
himself?"
"True." The governor scrubbed his beard. He was in a quandary and
knew not which way to move.
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