"On this morning in 1701, like every morning for nearly 20 years, the Sun King, upon awakening, receives his most favoured courtiers, including Prince Philippe of Gonzague, who was granted the supreme favour of taking part in these morning rituals." "Sir, how did you find the King this morning?" "Ever more domineering." "Led by Madame de Maintenon, and like all who are aging, he thinks only about marriage-broking." "And who is to be his next victim?" "He wishes my cousin, Philippe de Nevers, to marry one of his nieces." "His Majesty has charged me with informing him of these glad tidings." "Dear Philippe, the King knows what he is doing in giving you his niece's hand." "Are you not one of the most fortunate men in the kingdom?" "The most unfortunate." "I don't understand you." "Mademoiselle de Savoie is certainly no Venus, but to become the nephew of the King of France..." "What an honour!" "His Majesty charged me with informing you of this." "This has been done." "Do not forget: "What the King desires, God desires."" "But what God has brought together, the King cannot separate." "What are you trying to say?" "For almost two years, I have been married to Isabelle de Qélus." "You know the enmity that exists between the families of Nevers and Qélus." "We have been forced to keep our love hidden." "We took advantage of her father's absence to be secretly married before God by one of my family's chaplains." " You married... in secret?" " Yes." "We had hoped His Majesty would help us to declare this fact to the old Marquis, and thus obtain from him his belated consent, a most urgent necessity since a daughter has been born." "She is now almost one year old." "Knowing his current disposition, I fear the King will be highly displeased that you married without having consulted him." "Could I have foreseen His Majesty's sudden decision regarding me?" "Poor Philippe, for you this decision is as good as an order of exile." "I know." "I promise to help you overcome this difficulty." "You can count on me." "Thank you." "But what will you tell the King?" "That illness requires you to travel to a region more conducive to your health." "The King cares not for the sick, having been unwell himself too often recently." "In a year or two, matters may well have changed." "You must leave as soon as possible." "I will remain only long enough to embrace my wife and daughter." " How to tell Isabelle?" " I go tomorrow to Qélus." "You know that the old Marquis trusts me." "I will facilitate the meeting." "Thank you, my faithful friend." " Your wallet, sir!" " Get back, churl!" "The "Nevers strike"!" "To remain here would be unwise!" " What are you doing, thief?" " Monsieur Lagardère!" " Ah!" "It's you, Passepoil!" " Yes." " You're trying to borrow my horse?" " No, sir." "I saw ten scoundrels set upon a gentleman down the street..." " So you tried to flee... with my horse." " Yes, but... only to find help faster." " What's done is done." "Let's go." " But there are ten, at least..." "Exactly." "That makes things even." "Show me the way." "Jump to it!" " This way..." " To me, you two!" " Thank you, sir!" " You jest, my Lord!" "You will defeat them single-handedly." "I am merely lessening your work." "If I knew your strike, my Lord, I would dispatch them even quicker." " I will teach you." " You are generous, sir." "My Lord, this one was mine!" "Go and find my horse." "My Lord, at your service." "As you please, sir." " Well parried, sir!" " Hold, sirs!" "Armed men are coming!" "And with all these gentlemen here..." " We will continue later." " Quickly!" " When it suits you, my Lord." " Until the next time, sir." " Look at all this!" " What a massacre!" "Congratulations, Pérol!" "Your hired killers performed wonders." " I don't understand what happened." " It seems that someone assisted him." "Whoever he may be, we shall find him." "At Qélus, it will be simple to make both father and child disappear." "I can't believe that you accepted such a job." "One has to live." "And the guards are so overworked at the moment..." "Those with the means have their own guards." "I am acting honestly when I attack dishonest men." "We were told that this lord is involved in a conspiracy." " A conspiracy?" " Yes." "According to what we were told, he would try to assassinate the Prince of Gonzague unless we killed him." "Who was to pay you for this fine work?" "Pérol, the Prince of Gonzague's Captain of the Guard." "I want to know who wishes ill towards Nevers." "Tomorrow, see this Pérol and find out." "Don't you realise what will happen to me?" "If they discover I've spoken to you..." "Fellows like that don't forgive..." "If I had some advice for you, Passepoil, it would be to serve me faithfully." " Yes." " If not..." "Sir, you have nothing to fear, since you use such convincing arguments..." "In short, my Lord, no one knows of the existence of this child." "If child and father disappear..." "Nevers' inheritance comes to me by law." "You will be the most powerful nobleman in the kingdom." " After the King." " For the time being, my Lord." " Welcome, Monsieur de Gonzague." " Thank you, my Lord." "It pleases me to see you again, Isabelle." "I have important news to give you." "Do not be so unhappy." "I will take care of everything." "Have courage, Isabelle." "Your husband, my cousin, the Duke of Nevers, will arrive tonight." "He will come through the back gate that leads to the moat." " May God protect us!" " Have courage!" "How can we thank you?" "You can count on me." "I am ready to sacrifice my life for your happiness." "Go to the meeting place and find out what your accomplices are planning." "Listen to yourself!" "They are no longer my accomplices." "I am your servant!" " True." "Do as I say!" " And you, my Lord, be careful." "I finally have a good master, so I don't want to lose him!" "Father, it is late." "Will you give me permission to retire?" "Good night, Isabelle." "What most surprised me about Versailles, Monsieur de Pérol, is the immorality which reigns there." "Our principles and traditions are being lost." "A Qélus would prefer to kill his daughter by his own hand rather than to let her be dishonoured." "Leave me." "Lady Marthe!" "You do not believe that we will be exposing little Aurore to grave danger?" "She will never be truly safe except under her father's protection." "But why not confess all to your family?" "You are the wife of Philippe de Nevers before God, and Aurore is your child." "My father is the enemy of Nevers." "You know how proud he is." "His heart is impervious to all human feeling." "If he were to learn of my secret marriage to Philippe and the birth of Aurore, he would be capable of wreaking the cruellest vengeance upon us both." "Perhaps, with time, matters will change..." "Poor child." "Madame, it is late." "It will be midnight soon." "Be brave, Isabelle." "Fate cannot be against us forever." "Have courage." "We will find happiness when this ordeal is over." "My Lord, you must leave immediately!" "Twelve men are heading to the castle to assassinate the Duke of Nevers." "Take her away from the dangers which threaten her in this castle." "There is a piece of paper pinned to her blanket." "It is the page I tore from the chapel register." "It is evidence of our union before God, and proves our child's identity." "I shall pray for you." "Farewell, my love." "May God protect you." "My Lord, do you really think a duel is appropriate with the child present?" " You again, sir." " My Lord." "If I may advise you, entrust the child to this nursemaid here." " You are mad!" " I have followed you from Paris." "You are marked for death." "Twelve men are preparing to attack at any moment." "I beseech you." "Go and wait near the horses." "And don't move!" "Do you hear them?" " Can you hear it, Pérol?" " There is fighting by the moat." "Look, my Lord!" "Someone is fighting by his side!" "Did Nevers suspect something?" "Could one of your men have warned him?" "Truly, one cannot trust anyone in this day and age." "Come, Pérol." "Let us go and observe what happens." "And another!" "Come closer!" "I need a halberd to reach you from here!" "Come, Pérol!" "My Lord, beware!" "Coward!" "Ignoble coward!" "My Lord..." "Assassin!" "Turn and face me, or I shall strike you in the back!" "Hurry, my Lord, this way!" "Coward!" "Whoever you may be, I will recognise you." "I have marked your hand!" "And when the time comes, if you don't come to Lagardère," "Lagardère will come to you!" " My Lord..." "What misfortune!" " Passepoil, let us carry him." "No use." "It is too late." "My Lord, I will avenge you." "My child." "Take care of my child." "Take her away from here." "I will watch over her." "I swear this to you." "Let me pass!" "Madame, great misfortune has overcome us." "Your husband, my dear cousin and best friend Philippe de Nevers, is no more." "He succumbed to a band of ruffians led by a scoundrel called Lagardère." "I spilt my blood defending him, but there were too many of them." " And my child?" " They took her." "Before he died, the Duke entrusted you to my protection." "I swear to do all in my power to return your daughter to you." "Pérol, have our horses saddled and our men armed." "Madame, pray for those whose sole wish is to avenge your husband." "Pray that they may be the instruments of a just cause." "Madame, it is monstrous!" "Leave me." " I think we fooled them." " But I believe they are not far behind." "A chapel!" "It is the best refuge for this little angel." "Let's go." " Still nothing?" " Still nothing, Captain." "Damnation, it's not possible!" "Are you all asleep?" "We found tracks at the roadside cross of St Honorine, but then lost them at St Jean farm." "Bunch of fools!" "Go back!" "We will not sleep until we find these child stealers." "The Prince promises 1,000 crowns to the one who finds them, dead or alive!" "Go, find them!" "The tracks seem to lead in this direction." "Let us follow them!" "*THIS CERTIFIES THE BAPTISM OF AURORE DE NEVERS," "*DAUGHTER OF PHILIPPE, DUKE OF NEVERS" "* AND ISABELLE DE QÉLUS, HIS WIFE BEFORE GOD" " Look at the tracks." " They can't be far." "They have only just passed." "Master, Pérol's men are coming along the river." "They are heading in our direction." "Untie the horses." "I will bring the child." "Go and look inside." "What good luck that I saw them coming." "There's nobody there." "All right, on our way." "I think we can return now, they have gone." "By order of the King, a reward of 5,000 crowns is offered to whomever assists in the arrest of the Chevalier de Lagardère, who is responsible for the assassination of His Royal Highness, the Duke of Nevers." "For this crime he is condemned to be hanged until he is dead." "All provosts are hereby ordered to carry out this sentence immediately notwithstanding any possible reprieve." " She must be thirsty." " Then let us stop." "Go down to that inn by the roadside and bring back a jug of milk." " Keep to yourself!" " Yes." "Learn what you can about crossing the border." "I will do my best." "Welcome, my Lord." "Come in, my Lord." "Here you will find good food, pleasant lodgings and fine wine." "Be seated!" "I never refuse good wine." "But for now, I would prefer a jug of..." "I have an excellent rosé from Béarn." "A jug of rosé for the gentleman!" "Miss, I would like a jug of milk." "Milk, for you?" "What do you want with a jug of milk?" " It's for a thirsty child." " I'll go and see if there is any left." "Welcome, Captain, and your band of gallant companions!" "Hello, you old rogue!" "What can I offer you?" "We are dying of thirst." "Some of your rosé." "Be quick about it." "Two jugs of rosé for these gentlemen!" "To what do we owe the pleasure of your company?" "We seek two bandits attempting to cross the border." "They have stolen a child." " A child?" " A ten-month-old infant." " Have you seen anyone suspicious?" " No." "We'll catch them soon." "The guards have been doubled." "They'll find it difficult to cross into Spain." "Indeed." "Two men with a small child in their arms?" " They'll soon be captured." " I hope so." "After all, who will nurse the child?" "Men aren't wet nurses!" "Get down, you!" "Here, the jug of milk for the little one." "That's it." "I'm dying of thirst." "5,000 crowns for he who brings them back, dead or alive." "5,000 crowns!" "They must be dangerous." "If we find them, we'll kill them on the spot." "No point in my widow receiving the reward!" "You find it amusing that I speak about my widow?" "No, sir." "Laughter is... infectious." " To your health, sir!" " To the King!" " Long live the King!" " Long live the King!" " Good, is it not?" " First-rate!" "Where has my customer gone?" "Here's his rosé." "He drank his rosé." "He even paid for it." "That wasn't wine, that was milk." " Milk?" "He was drinking milk?" " Some still remains." " He wanted it for a thirsty child." " Do you know this fellow?" " First time I've seen him." " That's it!" "Come on!" " Captain!" "Look over there!" " That's them!" "Quick, let's go!" "Passepoil!" "Quick, over here." "Stay right here until I return." "One moment, Sultan." "Wait a moment longer." "Let's go now." "There you are!" "Yes, here I am!" "Don't stop, or you are a dead man!" "Throw the pistol away." "Go on!" "Stop." "Stop!" "Get down from the horse." "I feel like being generous." "Since there is a price on my head, I will give you a chance to claim it." "So, fellow, en garde." "You are acting under orders of the King, so I will spare your life." "Know that I am innocent of the crime of which I am accused." "And remember, all my actions have been for honourable reasons." "All fresh and creamy." "Time to feed Miss Aurore!" "Up to here it's fine, but then..." "I get tangled up." "Let me do it, master." "I know how, I was the oldest of twelve children." "What's this, then?" "A shepherd with his flock of sheep." "Is Spain far from here?" "Good, we're in Spain." "What do I feel down there?" "What's have you done now?" "Come now." "I swear, that's how life is." "If I had been told that night in Paris when I was hired to attack your father that his daughter would pee down my leg in Spain, how I would have laughed!" "Well, that's the way it goes..." "Five years later, in Paris." " Was it a pleasant journey, my Lord?" " Excellent." "We made five leagues a day." "Do you bear good news?" "My trips to Qélus have rarely been joyful." "I've waited patiently for years." "The marquis has finally consented to give me his daughter's hand." "Congratulations, my Lord." "And what does Mademoiselle de Qélus think of her father's decision?" "She will do me the honour of becoming my wife." "In three months we shall be married." "My Lord, your charm guarantees your success." "No, Pérol, she simply believes that we pursue a common goal." "She has conferred on me her cherished hope, to retrieve her daughter Aurore." " We must not disappoint her." " We will not disappoint her, My Lord." "According to news I received from Spain, Lagardère and the child are in Segovia." "Four reliable scoundrels who are devoted to our cause are waiting only for you to give the order to depart." "They need wait no longer." "Do what must be done." "Pérol, be sure to tell them that they serve a very noble cause." "Even rogues aspire to grand ideals." " Segovia?" " That way." " Is it far?" " An hour or two." " And what's that?" " "A"." " "A"." "And that?" " "U"." " And that?" " "R"." ""O", "R", "E"." " And that makes...?" " Aurore!" "Very good!" "And now you've learnt to read your name, you will learn to write it." "Put that in your hand." "Goodbye, Passepoil." "Bring me some oranges." "Yes, as always!" "Don't drink too much, and don't talk!" "As always." "Let's go." "Let's go!" "Come, we have to search the whole market and find anyone who has information about our two fellows." "Hello, sir, would you like some oranges, as usual?" "Who's that fellow over there?" " I've seen his face somewhere before." " You think?" "No..." "Wait, I want to put my mind at rest." "Come." " Who is that man?" " A poor deaf-mute." "I'm still sure I've seen his face before." "Look, he's a local." "You can tell straight away." "Wait." "Let's see if he's mute." "What's going on, then?" "Damnation, I spoke!" " That's our fellow!" " I knew it!" "Let's go!" "This way!" "No, another one." "I don't like this one." "I assure you, this one is very ripe." " No." " This one is better." " Give me another." " But this one is riper..." "My friends, I have an idea." "Let us untie his donkey." "It will undoubtedly lead us back to its home." "We need merely follow." "That way, we will take the other fellow and the child unawares." " Great idea, chief!" " It's not bad, I'd say." "You, take off the baskets." "And you, stay here." "Go back to the market and try to capture him." "Come on, back home." "On your way!" "Come on, get going!" "Look at that!" "Accursed donkey!" "I tell you..." "Is it going to stay there all day?" "So much for that idea..." "Wait, I'm coming!" "Make up your mind, confounded donkey!" "There's nothing we can do." "Don't go so far away!" "Come back!" "You, take care of the child." "Come on!" "Aurore, my little Aurore." "Master, there's not a moment to lose!" "We must leave immediately!" " Why?" " Don't worry, I concealed my tracks." "But I have a feeling that it won't be long before we have visitors." "You have a feeling..." "Finally, we've arrived." " It's Toledo." " It's about time." " Can I help you, sir?" " Señor Don Miguel." "He is here, come in." " Is this the Duke of Alba's sword?" " Yes." "No, not that one." "This one." "Sir, a foreign gentleman has given me this sword to present to you." "Treat this gentleman with the utmost respect." "I will come in a moment." "Señor Don Miguel will receive you soon." "Follow me." "Welcome." "The guest you see here may bring you more trouble than joy." "The law of my country has accused me of a crime I did not commit." "I have chosen to go into exile." "I do not wish to be a cause of discomfort for you." " I would understand..." " Consider this your home, Henri." "My home is yours until you are able to avenge these wrongs." "Look!" "They have not waited for us to make each other's acquaintance." "That delightful child and my daughter Flore will be raised as sisters." "1 7 1 5." "Too early for some, too late for others." "Louis XIV is no longer on the throne." "The court have abandoned Versailles and returned to the Tuileries palace." "Until the young King Louis XV obtains his majority, the Regent, Duke Philippe d'Orléans, rules in his stead." "The high principles of religion, high birth and service to the state have given way to a mania for living in accordance with the Regency style." "The fashion was for extravagance." "Great lords owned private and secret residences where they entertained intimate friends." "They held suppers where fine foods and heady wines were not the only delicacies available." "In his private residence, the Prince of Gonzague hosted the most refined soirees in all of Paris." "The treasury was empty, but there were many wealthy Frenchmen." "Rich in banknotes, rich in hope." "France knew heady days when state bonds increased their value." "The Prince of Gonzague turned the courtyard of his town house into a veritable banking establishment." " 1 0,000 louis profit!" " A good day, Pérol." "We will do even better tomorrow, my Lord." "Confidence reigns." "What is it?" "Her Highness, the Princess of Gonzague, asks if my Lord will receive her." "Yes, inform the Princess that I await her." "Leave me, Pérol." "I must let her state her piece yet again." "Your private life is none of my concern, sir." "However, my astonishment at these libels can hardly surprise you." "How fortunate, our Lord Gonzague Who all our gold invests" "Beauties open wide their arms And husbands, wide their chests" "Slander, naught but slander!" "I do not want the name I bear to be a byword for corruption, dishonesty and debauchery." "Cease these activities for which I could be reproached." "Madame, who would dare imply such a thing?" "Aurore de Nevers, my daughter." "God willing, I will find her one day." "Alas, Madame..." "Could time have caused you to forget your promise, Philippe?" "No, Madame." "For more than 1 6 years, we have moved heaven and earth." " But I fear that to go on hoping..." " Never will I abandon hope." " How beautiful they are." " Yes." "What are you thinking, Aurore?" "Flore, in truth I am most unhappy." "Henri forbids me from leaving the house or seeing anyone." "Except for you." "He seems to fear some danger." " Are these the stirrings of jealousy?" " Jealousy?" "What madness is this?" "Why do you blush so, then?" "Tell me softly, do you love him?" " Why softly?" " Loudly, then, if you wish." " Yes, I love him." " At last!" "And him?" "He loves me..." "like a daughter." " Impossible, he isn't your father." " I'm not entirely certain." "Passepoil raises his eyes to the heavens when I ask." " Why don't you ask Henri?" " You think?" "If he isn't your father and if he isn't madly in love with you, it's because..." " It's because...?" " It's because he loves another." "Another?" "Good morning, Aurore." "You certainly are quiet this morning." "What were you discussing with Flore?" " Nothing." " Truly?" "And you?" "Where were you?" "Whom were you with?" "Since when do well-bred children pose indiscreet questions to adults?" "I don't care about being well-bred!" "It is time that you realise that I am no longer a child." " So she is no longer a child?" " So it would seem." "She is not wrong, Henri." "She is now a beautiful young woman." "Is it not now the time that she learn the truth?" "About her birth, her family, her mother..." "Henri, how happy I am." " You truly are a child." " Not at all." "Indeed!" "It was only a few days ago that you were sad, and wept." "Today you are laughing, and are happy." "Yes, I am happy." "You have barely left my side for the past few days." " That proves to me that..." " What does that prove to you?" " That you do not love another." " What an idea!" "Sit next to me." "Who are you, to have abandoned everything for me?" "To have dedicated your life to me since my infancy?" "Is there some family secret that prevents you from telling me the truth?" "Does some blood tie exist between us?" "No, I am merely a friend." "Henry, how happy I am." "Aurore, try to understand." "One night long ago in the ditches around the castle of Qélus," "I swore to your dying father, the Duke of Nevers, to punish his murderer and return you to your mother, whose only hope is to see you again one day." "She alone has the power to grant or forbid the feelings in your heart." "Master!" " My dear master!" " What do you want?" " I've been looking for you for hours!" " Why?" "Don Miguel has sent me to bring you back immediately." "He has received news from Paris." "It seems that strange things are afoot!" "A family council, or some such thing." "Make haste!" "Be careful, it's fragile." "Here is a list of addresses of friends who can help you along the way." "And my son's papers, which should help you cross the border without trouble." "Thank you, Don Miguel." "Despite the dangers that you face, I approve of your decision to leave." "Yes." "It is imperative that we reach Paris before the family council." "I pray you will arrive in time to prevent the worst." "Good luck, Henri." "Put it there." " Goodbye." " Farewell, for now." " No embrace for me?" " Goodbye, my little Aurore." "Thank you from the depth of my heart." "Thank you for everything." "Tie it down tightly so that it holds." " Flore, goodbye." " Goodbye, Passepoil." "Goodbye, Don Miguel." "Take this." "In Paris, the courtyard of the Gonzague town house has become a playground for speculators." " Another?" " Yes." " I'm selling 1 00 shares." " I'll pay market price." " I'll pay 1 00 more!" " Agreed." "My hump brings luck, sir!" "Signing a transfer on it guarantees good fortune!" "Then come closer, sir, come closer!" "Approach, so I can sign my transfers upon your back!" " That will be two livres, sir." " Two livres!" "That's steep!" " But your profit is assured!" " We shall see..." "His Lordship, the Prince of Gonzague!" "It would please me if any hats still on heads are removed!" "Your Lordship promised to advise me." "Buy!" "Buy today in order to sell more dearly tomorrow!" " Good evening, my Lord." " How are you, hunchback?" "Very well, my Lord." "But..." "If I am a hunchback, you also are one!" " What insolence is this?" " My Lord, you have a hunch when it comes to business!" "I will have to thrash you some day for your impertinence." "My Lord, my hump only brings good luck if you stroke it!" " What's all this fuss, young man?" " They're going to fight over me!" "Young man, I demand..." "Apologise to her." " My apologies, Madame." " That's better." "Go." "Thank you, Mr Passepoil." "Good manners are a rarity nowadays." "In our day, young people respected ladies of quality." "But now..." "You will allow me to accompany you?" "Perfect." "Come in." "Come on, hurry up!" "Your hat!" "My Lord, here are the gypsies whom I spoke to you about." "They have come to thank you for your leniency." " Thank you, my Lord." " May God protect you." "They truly look like false witnesses." "You don't think it will be obvious?" "Quite the contrary." "The fact they look so suspicious will convince the council that we did not chose them ourselves." "So you claim to have proof that the Duke of Nevers' daughter is dead." "We saw her dead body as clearly as we see you." "And what proof do you have of this?" "We discovered in the woods one morning a child's body that had been half-eaten by wolves." "It was terrible, terrible, terrible!" "If you please!" "What led you to believe it was Nevers' daughter?" "She wore a small medal around her neck with her name on the back." ""Aurore de Nevers." There was also a date of birth." " Have you kept this medal?" " No, my Lord." "The medal was made of gold, and we are poor people." "We sold it to buy food." "The child, was she by herself?" "No, my Lord." "We found the body of a cavalier in a ravine, apparently killed in an accident with a horse." "Very good." "If only all that were true." "I feel as though I'm dreaming." "My dear Pérol, ensure that they remain at hand." "Tomorrow, their testimony will convince the family council." "I have no doubt, my Lord." "My dear Pérol, it falls to me to perform a most unhappy task." "I must inform the Princess of this dreadful news." "Go." "Madame, I have waited until now to confirm to you the terrible news for which I have been trying to prepare you for several months." "This very moment, I have received incontestable proof that your little Aurore is no more." " No, it's not possible." "It's not true!" " I fear so, Madame." "Three witnesses, gallant gypsies, discovered her in a forest." "Tomorrow they will provide proofs of her death to the family council." "It is impossible." "Something within me tells me that she still lives." "The details you would learn about her end would only deepen your grief." "For reasons of affection, I advise you not to attend the ceremony." "Yes." "I will obey you, sir." "May the sincerity of my feelings and the assurance of my deep affection be of comfort to you in this ordeal that you are undergoing." "Madame, why are you weeping like this?" "God will protect you." "You must not despair!" "Leave me, I beg of you." "Everything is at an end." " It is all over for me." " Here is a letter for you." "No, I am no longer interested in such things." "My little Aurore is dead." "Leave me." "Her Ladyship, the Princess of Gonzague, care of Lady Marthe" "This is all the chicken you have?" "You'll find none better, not plumper nor fresher." "It was killed this morning." "Hunchback, life goes well?" "Come, how do you like this cloak?" "Bring your hood forward more." "Enemies could be all around." "It seems you resemble your mother somewhat." "One never knows..." "Good, just what I'm looking for." "How much for a plate?" " Look at the hideous hunchback." " Goodness, turn away!" " He frightens you?" " No." "But turn away." "He looks nasty." "Look, he's watching us." "Oh, well..." "No matter." "Come, let's go." "How strange, he lives next door to us." "He's allowed to." "Come, don't dwell upon it." "Come in." "I don't like that hunchback." "I've often seen him roaming the streets." "One time, he was even looking through our windows!" " You must speak about it to Lagardère." " Come help me in the kitchen." "The master will complain once more that we are lunching late." "He won't be in a good mood as it is." " What do you know about that?" " A premonition." "Clean these." " I believe that he's had enough." " You think?" "What ideas you have." "He never spends time with me." "It is certain, he loves another." "So that is how you see matters, my dear Aurore?" "You reveal your youth by talking like that." "What do you know about love, or men?" "When we love, we are often too reserved, this is well known." "Even the great seducers." "Take me, for example." "God knows that I have had my conquests." "Ah, they say love is blind, but what is sure is that it is often mute." "So, the table is not yet set." "We are not dining today, perhaps?" " What are you doing?" "Daydreaming?" " Just that, daydreaming." " Don't be angry, he got home late." " The market was crowded." " One person too many, I'm sure!" " Yes, a hideous hunchback." " With a nasty look." " It gets better!" "Aurore, you went out despite my interdiction." "Well done, Passepoil." "No, she saw him... out the window." "What nonsense am I saying?" " It's not worth me explaining myself." " Hurry." "We'll deal with this later." "It's not his fault!" "If I don't even have the right to leave the house, tell me plainly that I am your prisoner." "Lock me away!" "Listen to me." "You are too old for tantrums." "You must promise me that you will not do anything imprudent." " What are you trying to say?" " I ask you to be a little patient." "In a few days, you will regain your name, your family, your mother." "You are not pleased that you will finally meet your mother?" "It will please me greatly..." "You can finally get rid of me!" "His Highness, the Duke of Orléans." "Good day, my cousin." "Sirs, be brief and swift." "The charges of state weigh down upon us." "On this tenth day of the month of May, 1 7 1 7, in the reign of Louis XV, under the guardianship of the Duke of Orléans, the Regent of the realm, a family council is convened" "at the request of the His Highness, the Prince of Gonzague, for the purpose of ruling upon the existence or non-existence of descendants of the Duke of Nevers, and the distribution of his possessions." " I have a request, my Lord." " We are listening." "The Princess of Gonzague, my unfortunate wife, asks to be excused from these proceedings which will reawaken painful memories for her, and which risk damaging her delicate state of health." "Granted." "At the Prince of Gonzague's request, the family council allows that his wife, born Isabelle de Qélus, be represented by the King's Counsellor." " Is there any opposition?" " Yes." " There is an objection." "Mine." " What is this, Madame?" "My Lord, I can prove that my daughter, Aurore de Nevers, is alive." "If you allow, I shall present her to you at the ball which you are holding tomorrow at your palace." " Has grief unbalanced your senses?" " No, sir." " Has she gone mad?" " Anguish has disturbed her mind." "My Lord, please forgive me for this incident." "But I can provide three witnesses who can confirm that the bandit Lagardère died in an accident with a horse, and that the child he had stolen found its death in the same manner." "May it please the tribunal to hear the witnesses." "Bring in the witnesses." "My Lord, the witnesses have been abducted, and the armed guard who watched them has disappeared." "What a lovely heart line." "I've never seen one like it." "I see women upon this hand." "Yes." "How many women have you caused to suffer?" "Suffering was not the only thing they felt." "Do not exaggerate!" "What a seducer!" " You see all that on my hand?" " No, in your eyes." "Do not use your sorcery to try to hypnotise me!" "My dear Pérol, this is not like you." "You, who wish to be Chief Constable one day." "Allowing genuine prisoners to escape is excusable, but willing prisoners?" "You admit, it's somewhat feeble." "The man watching over them disappeared at the same time." " Where did they go?" " I haven't the slightest idea." "At least try to come up with one idea for finding them." "You are paid for that." "What is it?" " A hunchback desires an audience." " Drive him away!" "No!" "Let him enter." "This clown amuses me sometimes." "His hump has always brought me luck." "I advise you to stroke it as he passes, you have a most urgent need of some." "To what do we owe the honour of your visit?" "It seems you allow yourself great liberties." "My Lord." "It is necessary, in order to obtain what one wants in life, to show a little audacity, sometimes even great audacity, when one possesses neither beauty nor intelligence, nor the power which heaven has lavished upon you, my Lord." "Flatterer." "And what do you hope to gain, my audacious one?" "The love of an incomparable beauty." "I am in love with a heavenly creature." "A true princess." "Possessing neither charm nor fortune, the only path which remains to me for seducing her is illusion." " What illusion?" " The illusion of possessing influence." "You want me to ask the Regent to make you a duke?" "I cannot be a duke, I am already the King of hunchbacks!" "So what do you want from me?" "My Lord, if I could obtain two invitations for the Regent's ball," "I am certain that my princess would no longer be able to refuse me." "I can refuse nothing to so tender a lover." "Here is what you ask from me." "Thank you, my Lord, thank you." "Touch my hump." "Softly, it is painful today." "It will give you twice the good fortune." "I hope you will present me to your princess." "I will not fail to do so." "When something is promised, it must be done!" "You were about to commit a terrible act." "It is foolish to serve the wicked." "You must be witless not to realise that with such people, when you are no longer of use..." "No more gypsies!" "But if you are honest with us, nothing untoward will happen to you." "Here I am!" "If you don't mind, I'll return in a moment." "My Lord, you called me?" "Listen, you will need all your wits, and you don't have many to begin with." "This does not bode well for me, I'm sure!" "This evening, at the Regent's masked ball, before the nobles of the realm, the Duke of Nevers' daughter will meet her mother." "The resemblance between the two women will unmask Gonzague." " Everything has been planned." " But is it in your plans, my Lord, that you could be arrested and hung within the hour?" "Don't forget that there is a price on your head." "To gain 5,000 crowns, there are those who would sell their own parents." "Gonzague is cunning, and an all-powerful nobleman." "Today, my right is my power." " What is happening?" " My dear Aurore." "Tonight will be your first ball." "Here is your dress." "Aurore, look." "I wanted you to be the most beautiful." "It's marvellous!" "This evening, you will be the most elegant." "Your name demands it." "Your name is the only one that I wish to bear." "I understand that a young lady can be whimsical before her first ball, but do not plan a future you do not control." "I will prove to the world that you are the daughter of the Duke of Nevers." "Prove to me that you are worthy of him." "A carriage will come tonight at ten o'clock to take you to the ball." "You, watch for the carriage's arrival, then help her to get in." " And then?" " Then, you wait for my orders!" "And now, no carelessness." "Princess, no time to daydream." "Go make yourself beautiful." "I'll bring this up." "I heard everything, my Lord." "A carriage is coming at ten o'clock to pick up the young girl and take her to the Regent's ball." "I think we have them this time." "My compliments, Pérol, you selected them well." "But might not your disappearance rouse suspicions and compromise everything?" "No, my Lord, my parents remained there with my hat, vest and bag." "They made a figure that looks to be sleeping." " How beautiful you are!" " What value is it, to be beautiful?" "The only man I want to say those words shows only indifference towards me." "Do not believe that!" "I will explain." "One asks a girl's papa for her hand." "As he swore to be a papa to you, he cannot ask himself for your hand." "Not knowing your mother's mind, he will say nothing until he knows she will agree." " Simple, you see?" " You think I will please him like this?" "But you are wonderful, my Aurore." "You have the air of a princess." "The carriage is here." " Goodbye, Aurore." " Goodbye, Passepoil." " What's going on?" " Is Aurore not ready?" " Yes, she was ready." " Then where is she?" " She just departed in the carriage." " Which carriage?" "The carriage which came to pick her up." "Oh, good God!" "Our little one has been kidnapped!" "What is to be done?" "Take this, it is the only proof of Aurore's identity." "If I disappear, make sure it reaches the Princess." "Her child's fate depends upon this torn page." " What will you do, sir?" " I must risk everything." "Willingly or otherwise, I must make Pérol or Gonzague lead me to Aurore." " To the joys of life!" " Yes!" "Let us drink to the joys of life." "Let us drink to a future which has never looked so appealing." "To the joys of our fine country." "We didn't come to discuss the country's greatness." "Women will never appreciate the civic virtues." "Happily." "I believe this soiree brings us more joy than the Regent's ball." "Speaking of which, would it not be best that you make an appearance there?" "I will appear briefly soon after midnight." "Perhaps we will be lucky enough to see the Duke of Nevers' daughter." "I am pleased to welcome you tonight, Princess." "Good evening, Pérol." "The Prince of Gonzague beseeches Your Highness to forgive his tardiness." "It is due to a minor indisposition." "Tell him that I wish him the best of health." "And tell him that I hope he will not do anything imprudent." "Madame, would you do me the pleasure of accompanying me?" "You seem preoccupied, Madame." "May your dearest wish be granted." "Your restored smile will be the loveliest jewel at this ball, and will give me great joy." "But of course, my friend, we shall discuss it later." " The excellent Monsieur de Pérol." " Good evening, hunchback." "What new mischief are you contemplating?" " I seek the Prince of Gonzague." " To present your princess to him." "Just as I promised him, my Lord, and to express my gratitude." " But where is he?" " He suffers from a minor illness." "I go to join him immediately." "I will therefore be your messenger." "Thank you, my Lord." "Go, and do not spare the horses!" "Faster, Passepoil." "Faster!" "Pass them!" "My Lord, to the devil with the Regent!" "Stay with us." "The sooner I leave such fine company, the sooner I shall return." "Farewell, I will not be long." "When the second chime of midnight sounds, I will be on my way back." "Pérol is here." "Artémise, return to our friends." "My Lord, excuse me." "You recognised me in spite of my mask?" " I would recognise you anywhere." " What do you want?" " Who gave you my secret address?" " Monsieur de Pérol." "He charge me with delivering this ring." "Lagardère wore it some few moments ago upon his hand." "Monsieur de Pérol was slightly injured as he fought." "He is dead, my Lord." "Dear Pérol!" "Without a doubt, hunchback, you are our lucky charm!" "Let me run my hand over your back one more time." "This evening, I want you to be the King of my celebrations!" "My ladies, this evening I wish you to lavish your affections upon my friend, the hunchback." "Treat him like a prince." "Let us drink to this bearer of good tidings." "My lords, Lagardère is dead, long live the hunchback!" "Lagardère is dead, killed by dear Monsieur de Pérol." "Celebrate this happy event in a fitting manner." "Let us drink to the health of Monsieur de Pérol, and his messenger." "Long live Pérol!" "Long live the hunchback!" "Amuse yourselves until I return." "Duty calls, but my house is yours." "I leave you with my loveliest friends." "Artémise, be gentle, he is a romantic." "He has told me of his love, it is truly moving." "And you, my Lord, are not an easy man to move!" "His eyes are so lovely, I could never be cruel." "He has a proud bearing, and a noble figure." "He lacks only a sword to be a true gentleman." "If I lack only that, my Lord, this is now rectified!" "In that case, en garde!" "There is a time for everything, my Lord." "When the time comes, I will be ready." " While I wait, I will quench my thirst." " My cellar is yours." " Thank you, my Lord." " Farewell, gallant sir." "But no, not "farewell"." "Until we meet again soon." "We will not finish this evening without you, my Lord." "My Lady!" "I hope you will excuse my tardiness caused by a sudden illness." "I had expected to arrive before midnight." " Have you good tidings to pass on?" " No, my Lord." "I have very bad tidings which will cause you surprise and grief." "Your friend, your faithful confident," "Monsieur de Pérol, has been killed." "He was marked with a deep wound between the eyes." "The "Nevers strike", I have been informed." "You understand, Madame, that I do what duty impels me." "I do not know what impels you, sir." "But I strongly doubt that it is your duty." "Good sir, do you wish for me to die of thirst?" "It's not our fault the hunchback tarries in the cellar!" "He is tasting all the vintages, the lucky devil!" "How ungrateful!" "You should go yourself!" "We all begged him to find us something to drink." "It was he who obligingly suggested it." " He likes drinking more than wooing." " The devil take all drunkards!" "I wager that we shall soon find him in the cellar sleeping under a barrel." "Do not be afraid, I beg of you." "Do not cry out." "I am here to save you." "Do you not recognise my voice?" "Can it then be you?" "Be brave." "Be brave, Aurore." "Control your feelings." "Come with me." "Aurore, go back up!" "Where is the hunchback?" "He must be found." "He will pay dearly for his treachery!" "Come, follow me." "Your deception is revealed." "Commend your soul to God!" "Not before I send yours to hell." "Go back up, protect yourself." "Surrender, hunchback." "You are lost!" "The hunchback is dead." "Long live Lagardère!" "As for you, treacherous Prince, notorious murderer, since you have not come to Lagardère, it is Lagardère who comes to you!" "Attack him!" "You, climb up there." "You, take the secret stairway to the gallery." "I beg you, get behind me!" "He fell into the trap." "Come, we attack from behind!" "His Royal Highness, the Prince of Orléans, Regent of the realm." "What is happening?" "First of all, good sirs, surrender your swords." "Cousin, excuse this inopportune visit." "I note that you have recovered from your indisposition." "One shouldn't be a slave to protocol, don't you think?" "You were late to my ball, so I am early to yours." "It is not my custom to allow an outlaw, a condemned man, to carry a sword!" "We shall speak more about it, sir." "My child, my daughter." "So this young woman lived in your house and you kept it secret." "Her remarkable resemblance to the Princess of Gonzague, this never struck you?" "I was preparing to take her to your ball." "Yes, Madame." " We were leaving when Lagardère..." " Murderer!" "I marked your hand in the ditches around the castle of Qélus." "I was defending Nevers!" "Why deny it?" "You know well that you are lost." "Madame, please give me the paper which my servant gave you." "Before dying, the Duke of Nevers wrote in blood the name of his killer on his daughter's birth certificate." "As you will see, this name is your own!" "I will hear it from your mouth." "Villain!" "You confess your crime!" "There was nothing written on the paper!" "One moment, sirs!" "May my sword and your arms be the instruments of the King's justice." "Let us trust in God's judgment." "En garde, sirs!" "Do not be afraid." "May God bless your union." "Chevalier de Lagardère, the daughter of our sadly-missed friend Nevers could not choose a more worthy or more loyal husband than the one we now make the Count of Lagardère." "The King will soon reach his majority, and he alone can make you a duke." "I always believed that everything would end well."