Marguerite De Roberval: A Romance of the Days of Jacques Cartier

by Thomas Guthrie Marquis

  CHAPTER VI

  Winter went swiftly, and towards the spring Claude's strength cameslowly back to him. The physician who waited on him, however, orderedperfect rest during the summer months; and so, when news came thatCartier had his five ships all ready for sea, stored with provisions andfully manned, he had reluctantly to consent to remain behind in France.But he was not to remain alone. De Roberval could not go to make apermanent colonisation in America without abundant firearms, artillery,and munitions of war. But the gay life of the Court had exhausted theroyal treasury, and for the moment it seemed as if all his preparationshad been in vain. King Francis, however, was as eager to colonise theNew World as was Roberval himself, and he despatched a messenger to StMalo, commanding Cartier to start with what preparations he had made,and promising to send Roberval shortly after with three ships fullyequipped with powder to store a magazine, balls to last for years, andguns sufficient and strong enough to ably protect the destined colony.

  De Roberval was not in St Malo when the news arrived, but La Pommerayewas, and the chance to bear the message to Picardy himself was too goodto be lost.

  On reaching the castle he found, to his great disappointment, thatMarguerite had been for some time in Paris, while Claude had long beforereturned to his own home in Rouen. De Roberval was still there, however,completing his final preparations for departure. He went into a whiterage at the news of the enforced delay; but there was no help for it. Sohe sent Charles back to tell Cartier to start at once, and to expect himin the autumn. In the meantime he was to plant seed, build his forts,and make ready platforms for heavy pieces and a well-protected powdermagazine.

  It so happened that Marie was still at the castle. Marguerite had goneto an aunt in Paris, and her friend was to join her with De Roberval assoon as the latter had finally wound up his affairs and arranged for themanagement of his estate.

  During the few days which Charles spent in Picardy he was thrown a gooddeal with Mdlle. de Vignan, and with an almost boyish impulse he tookher into his confidence, and told her his seemingly hopeless love forMarguerite. In his enthusiasm he scarcely noticed how littleencouragement she gave him, or else he interpreted her silence as afavourable sign. But when he was gone, the large-hearted andimpressionable girl stood looking after him till he and his horse were amere speck in the distance, and then she went to her own room, shutherself up, and wept bitterly.

  One week later Cartier was on his way to Hochelaga, and Charles, sunk inreverie, stood by his side on the deck of _La Grande Hermine_, and,with eyes fixed on the shores they were leaving, heard not a word thatCartier uttered. The New World had lost its charms for him. His soulwould know no content till he was once more back in France, or at leasttill he was once more within reach of Marguerite de Roberval.

  Through May and June the vessels swept across the ocean, and withoutmishap entered the Gulf of St Lawrence, and sailed up the broad river ofHochelaga. The explorers landed at Cap Rouge, and began to clear theforest, sow turnip seed, and build forts. When the work was well underway, leaving Vicomte de Beaupre in charge at Cap Rouge, Cartier and LaPommeraye went on a voyage of exploration into the interior of thecountry, hoping on their return to find De Roberval at the fort.

  All this time De Roberval was busy rushing up and down France; but theKing was slow in opening the nation's purse, and winter came without anypreparations having been made to follow Cartier. Roberval chafed underthe disappointment, but was powerless to do anything.

  During the summer he had formed the sudden and surprising resolution oftaking his niece and ward to Canada with him. The announcement of thisplan occasioned a good deal of astonishment, but Roberval would listento no remonstrances. Special accommodation would have to be arranged forthem on board his ship, and they must learn to put up with hardships,and to accustom themselves to the life of colonists. It might be yearsbefore his return to France, and he had fully decided not to leave thembehind. Whatever his purpose may really have been, he had evidentlymade up his mind, and was not to be turned aside from his determination.The girls themselves asked nothing better. Full of the spirit of youthand adventure, they looked forward with delight to the prospect of ashare in an expedition on which the eyes and hopes of half France werecentred, and eagerly they set about making their preparations fordeparture.

  In the meantime, however, one day in the early part of November, DeRoberval was surprised by a request from Claude de Pontbriand--now fullyrestored to health--for permission to pay his addresses to Marguerite.His rejection of the proposal was so prompt, and couched in suchemphatic terms, that Claude was utterly taken aback. He was poor, andhad hesitated long to declare his love, supposing that his poverty wouldnaturally be an objection to him in Roberval's eyes; but in respect ofbirth and position he was fully Marguerite's equal, and now that she wasabout to accompany her uncle to Canada, where, in a new sphere of life,all would be placed upon a more equal footing, he had gained courage tooffer himself as her suitor. But De Roberval not only refused to listento him, but dismissed him in such haughty terms that the young man'spride rebelled, and he demanded an explanation. High words ensued, and aquarrel was only averted by Claude's diplomacy and presence of mind inrecollecting that in the event of a duel his case would indeed behopeless. But he was at a loss for an explanation of the rude receptionwith which his proposal had been met.

  Marguerite, however, had a key to the enigma. She had heard from herold nurse how, years before, her uncle had been madly infatuated withClaude's mother, and how that noble lady had refused his hand, and hadmarried instead the poor but handsome young Captain Maurice dePontbriand. The bitter grudge which Roberval owed the name had seeminglycome to life again at the idea of uniting one of his family with the sonof his successful rival. His temper, too, was irritated by theprotracted delay in getting his expedition under way, and by the manyharassments with which he was forced to contend. The discovery thatClaude had already won his niece's affections added fuel to the fire ofhis wrath, and he forbade all further interviews or communicationsbetween the lovers.

  Marguerite had so long implicitly yielded to the strong will of heruncle--whom she revered as a father, having known no other--that shenever thought of attempting disobedience. She wrote to Claude, who wouldhave persuaded her to meet him by stealth, begging him to wait, even ifshe had to go to America without him. For, since this quarrel with DeRoberval, it would be impossible for Claude to take passage in the sameship, but he could easily follow her. In the New World all theconditions of life would be changed, and, once there, they might hope towin her uncle's consent to their union.

  Claude, though ill-content with this arrangement, saw nothing for it butto bide his time. He made no further effort to see Marguerite for thepresent, but kept a careful watch over De Roberval's movements, that hemight know to a certainty when he intended to sail.

  Winter came, and still the King did nothing. De Roberval was in Pariswith his household, and Claude had taken up his quarters in the samecity. At length tidings came which made De Roberval's heart bound withhope once more. The King had at last roused himself; nay, he had alreadypurchased three ships--three noble vessels--and they even now lay in theharbour of La Rochelle, ready for Roberval to equip and man. This waslate in February. All through March the nobleman superintended thestoring of the powder, the loading of the guns, and the procuring of thecrews. This last was no easy matter. But few of the hardy French sailorswould venture on the voyage, and in despair Roberval was compelled toget together his crews and colonists almost entirely from the prisons.

  Early in April everything was completed; and one bright morning thethree vessels stole out through the surrounding islands, caught the lastglimpse of the lantern tower, and sailed away for America. Margueriteand Marie, with the faithful Bastienne, stood on the deck of DeRoberval's ship, gazing back at the shores of La Belle France. A cloudseemed to hang over their departure, and it had none of the joyousexcitement they had anticipated. Marguerite was torn asunder between herlove for Claude and h
er ideas of duty to her uncle. A message from DePontbriand had assured her that he intended to join the expedition, andshe supposed him to have managed to embark on one of the other ships;but her heart was heavy within her at the thought of her uncle'svengeance when he should find it out. She could not even be certain thathe had embarked at all, and she was leaving France, perhaps for ever,without a farewell word from his lips.

  Marie had her own inward perplexities. In the New World for which theywere bound they would be certain to encounter La Pommeraye, and thesecret she had so faithfully kept for him weighed heavily on her mind.She had several times been on the point of telling Marguerite, but forsome reason or other she shrank from uttering his name. Her feelingstowards him had undergone a change, which had the effect of making hershun all mention of the man whose praises had once been perpetually onher lips. She foresaw that nothing but unhappiness for herself couldresult from meeting him again, and yet she could not restrain a throb ofthe heart when his stalwart form and handsome features rose before her.

  The two girls stood in silence, their eyes fixed on the fast-recedingshore. Old Bastienne, beside them, was dissolved in tears. She would nothave deserted her young mistress; but at her age to leave her nativeland and face the perils of a new and unknown country was a sore trial.

  As the beloved shores faded into a blue haze on the horizon, a familiarstep was heard on the deck approaching the mournful little group.Marguerite turned, with a sudden thrill at her heart, and beheld DePontbriand.

  Astonishment left her no words with which to greet him. Marie recoveredherself first.

  "M. de Pontbriand!" she exclaimed, "how did you get here?"

  "Easily enough," replied Claude. "I simply came on board last night,and kept out of sight till this moment. Now that I am here, and we areso far from land, the Sieur de Roberval can hardly refuse meaccommodation. I suppose he will scarcely go the length of throwing meoverboard."

  "You do not know my uncle, Claude," said Marguerite, anxiously. "Itremble for your first meeting with him. He is not used to beingthwarted. Pray Heaven you and he may not quarrel any further. He is adangerous man, if once his will is opposed."

  Almost as she spoke De Roberval appeared on deck and at once cametowards them. Then followed a stormy scene. Claude begged for aninterview in De Roberval's private cabin. Alone with the indignantnobleman, he tried to calm his wrath, but explanations and persuasionswere alike in vain. At last, anxious on Marguerite's account, andfearing lest her uncle might suspect her of complicity in a plot tosecure his presence on board, and wreak his vengeance on her as well,Claude resolved on a compromise.

  "Hear me, Sieur," he said firmly, in a voice which commanded attention."I love your niece, as you know, and I would follow her though you tookher to the end of the world. But for her sake, and to prove to you thatshe is innocent of all connivance at my being here, I will avoid hersociety for the rest of the voyage. It will be enough to see her at adistance, and to know that she is safe. You need fear no furtherintrusion from me, at all events until the New World is reached. I giveyou my word."

  De Roberval's rage had so completely mastered him that speech seemed tohave almost deserted him. His words came thickly.

  "Go, sir," he said at last, pointing to the door, "and take heed how youbreak your promise. If you dare to address my niece as a lover again onthis voyage, you die. And when we reach the New World I will takeexcellent care that you are sent about your business. Remember what Isay. If I hear that you have disobeyed me I will, despite your nobleblood, hang you to the yard-arm, as the first example of the fate whichwill surely overtake the man who dares to thwart a De Roberval."

  With great difficulty Claude restrained himself under this insultinglanguage, which nothing but his anxiety for Marguerite could haveinduced him to bear. He knew that De Roberval was quite capable ofexecuting his threats; and he was sufficiently cool to reflect that ifhe provoked him farther Marguerite's position would be infinitely worse,while there was no hope that anything could be accomplished by force. Hetherefore compelled himself to bow in silence, and took his departure.

  As he left the cabin, he noticed a sleek, shiftless-looking individual,with spy stamped on every line of his face, standing by the opengangway. He had a sickly-green complexion, and, as if to match its hue,he was clad in a shabby green jerkin, rough green cap, green doublet,and hose of the same colour. It was Michel Gaillon, the first criminalto die on Canadian soil. He had so far escaped the hand of the law, butwas, even as he stood there, being hunted high and low for a brutalmurder. He carried no rapier. Had he possessed such a weapon he wouldprobably have feared to draw it lest he might injure himself; but as apoisoner he was without a peer in France. A crime had been brought hometo him; he saw that it would cost him his neck; and he had contrived tostow himself away on board _L'Heureux_, and was now on his way toexplain his presence to De Roberval, trusting to luck and his sharp witsto win his way into the good graces of that nobleman.

  He had heard every word which had passed, and he saw at once that hewould have a field for his diabolical machinations. Could Claude haveseen the leer with which the ghastly apparition followed him as hepassed, he would have shuddered with a sense of approaching danger. Hedid not look back, however, and the Man in Green, having requested anaudience with De Roberval, was admitted to the cabin.

  De Roberval's hand went to his sword as he beheld the extraordinaryfigure and sinister countenance of his visitor.

  "Who are you, and what brings you here?" said he sternly. "You are notone of my crew."

  "May it please you, most noble Sieur," said the man, bowing low, "I havecome to offer my services as physician to your expedition. I am wellversed in drugs, and with the knife no man in France is more skilful. Ihave restored life to the Duc d'Orleans, when the Court physician gavehim up; and----"

  "Enough!" said De Roberval, who had not removed his keen gaze from theman's face for an instant. "Enough! I have heard of you. You areGaillon, the poisoner!"

  The man leaped back trembling as he heard his own name.

  "I knew you the instant my eyes fell upon you," pursued De Roberval."You have come on board to escape the fate which awaits you in France.If I did my duty I should order you to be thrown overboard this moment."

  The wretch stood cowering.

  "Most noble Sieur," he faltered, "I have fled from France to lead a newlife in a new world."

  "Silence, liar!" thundered De Roberval. "You have fled from France toescape death for the murder of Paul d'Auban. You see I know yourcharacter. But it has occurred to me," he went on, with a grim smile,"that I shall need an executioner in my colony before many months, andyou would probably answer my purpose. Go!" he added, his browcontracting with sudden anger, "leave my sight, and look that you do notattempt any of your schemes while you are on board this vessel. As longas you do as I command you, you need fear nothing; but disobey me, and Iwill wind a devil's cravat round your neck, and be doing God a serviceby sending you from His blessed earth."

  The astonished criminal slunk from the room. As he ascended the gangwayhe reflected to himself that in leaving his pursuers in La Rochelle heseemed to have leaped from the frying-pan into the fire. But he saw hisway clearly before him. He would in the meantime obey Roberval'slightest whim; and when an opportunity presented itself he would soingratiate himself into the good opinion of the nobleman as to be madehis confidant. He had unlimited confidence in his own powers, and anambition which knew no bounds. Fate seemed to favour him. Already he hadoverheard an interview which had put him in possession of some ofRoberval's most intimate affairs. He would bide his time, and wait for achance to make use of his knowledge.

  Some days passed without event. Claude kept carefully to the letter ofhis promise, and avoided as much as possible the society of the twogirls. He shared the quarters of an old school-friend, Paul d'Auxhillon,and rarely went on deck when it was at all probable that the women wouldbe there.

  They had been steering westward over moderately calm sea
s for nearly aweek, when, on a glorious moonlight night, the breeze stiffened, and thelittle vessel began to pitch on the rising waves. The cabin was close atall times, but at night Claude nearly always spent most of his time ondeck. On this particular night he had no desire for sleep, and midnightfound him still pacing to and fro, watching the glitter of the moonlighton the dancing waters.

  Just about twelve o'clock Marguerite, oppressed by the close air betweendecks, and rendered dizzy by the slight pitching of the vessel, stolesoftly from her cabin, without disturbing Marie, and sought the openair. She had not been long on deck before she became aware of thepresence of a man who was not one of the common sailors. For a momentshe thought the motionless figure with its back towards her was heruncle; but a second glance told her it was De Pontbriand. She movednoiselessly towards him, as he stood gazing out on the broad moonlitexpanse, his thoughts occupied with the bitter fate that held him sonear his love, and yet so far apart from her, and, gently touching hisshoulder, she breathed his name.

  He turned: their lips met, and so great was the revulsion of feelingthat for a few moments neither could speak. But they were standing wherethey might have been observed either by the helmsman or the man on thelookout, and Claude presently drew her to the shadow of the forecastle.Here they were sheltered from view, and could give themselves up to therapture of being together once more. Neither noticed a dark figurecrouched on the deck behind a spar not three feet away from them. It wasGaillon. He had seen Marguerite pass up the gangway, and knowing thatClaude was on deck had followed, panther-like, to watch her movements.His quick intelligence at once divined that if a meeting between thelovers had been planned, they would probably seek the shadow afforded bythe forecastle; and in the few moments when their attention was whollyabsorbed in each other he had noiselessly crawled across the deck, andconcealed himself where he could overhear their every word.

  Very little was said, but not a syllable escaped him. Marguerite, forthe first time, allowed Claude to say hard things about her uncle. Buteven yet she tried to find excuses for him.

  "O Claude," she said, "he is mad! I have watched him day by day, andwould not believe it. But his violent ambition, and the thwarting towhich it has been subjected, have unhinged his mind. I am hoping thatthe active life he must necessarily lead in Canada will restore hisreason. But mad he is now, and for my sake bear with him and humour him.He has been cruel to us, unkind to me, brutal to you, but he is not theuncle I once knew and loved. Surely his old nature will return when weare settled in our new home, and he will consent to our marriage."

  Claude could not help thinking that there was small ground forencouragement, but he would not damp her sweet hopefulness. They talkeda little longer in a more cheerful strain, each trying to raise thespirits of the other.

  "Dear," said Claude, at last, "for your sake I will be patient and wait.But you must not stay here. The watch may discover us; and your goodname would become a by-word in our new colony. Say good-night to me andgo."

  The two held each other in a long embrace, which made up for weeks ofseparation.

  "If ever you should want me," said Claude, "you will find me here--everynight--at this hour. But do not come again unless you need me. There aremen on board who would delight in making trouble for us with your uncle.The snake-like eyes of that fellow Gaillon haunt me like a nightmare."

  They separated. Marguerite returned to her cabin; and Claude, with alighter heart, resumed his pacing of the deck, all unconscious that theeyes he had just described were watching him with a fiendish glitterwhich boded ill for his future.

  At last he went below, and Gaillon crept out of the dark corner wherehe had lain crouched, afraid to stir for fear of attracting Claude'sattention. As he emerged from his hiding-place, a hand was laid on hisshoulder, and he found himself face to face with a young sailor fromPicardy, Blaise Perron by name, an honest, kindly young fellow, who hadnoticed the black looks and skulking ways of the green-suited scoundrel,and had determined to keep an eye upon him.

  "What are you doing here?" cried he, as he saw Gaillon crawl from behindthe spar.

  Gaillon replied with an oath, and an admonition to mind his own affairs,and let honest men alone.

  "Honest men do not skulk in corners and watch other people's doings,"replied the young fellow, who, however, had only just come on deck, andwas ignorant of the scene between Claude and Marguerite. "Let me catchyou plotting any villainy against the Sieur de Pontbriand, and I willthrow you overboard first, and report afterwards."

  Gaillon, seeing that his schemes were likely to be thwarted unless heexercised some caution, condescended to explain that he had fallenasleep in his corner, had only just awakened, and was on his way belowto his berth. But as he descended the gangway he cast an evil lookbehind him on the young sailor at his post, and vowed that in his owntime and way he would revenge himself upon him.