Mayeux le bossu Page #3

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a meager consolation,

but the kidnapper,

the assassin, Lagardre,

perished in the river.

Thus, justice has been done.

My God...

My child... Why?

The horror!

For some, evil is the only raoture.

As president of the family council,

I appoint our dear Gonzague

as executor to the estate.

It will be his charge

to manage your assets

for charitable purposes.

I will show you

what manner of man I am.

And you will love me, Madame.

As I love you.

The famous company

of your servant, Paolo Campagnoli...

You all right, dear?

Tell me, Papa...

Hurry, Aurore.

Aurore, continue reading.

"The Art of Fencing

by La Perche du Coudray."

Page 12.

"The provost turns wrist

in septic..."

No, "in septime." Septime! Spell it.

Oh, yes, "septime."

We're spending too much.

- For what?

- Everything.

Our expenses must be lower

than receipts!

But that...

We must save. For the future...

For me, the future is here and now.

It's freezing.

Delicious!

- I'm coming out.

- No, don't move!

I'm coming in!

Show some decency.

You're not a child anymore.

You still treat me like one.

- Look, we're not alone.

- I don't know those men.

What about me? Don't I exist?

Well, don't I?

You're my father.

Fathers aren't men.

Thanks.

But I am decent. Ask Giuseppe

how often I've smacked his face.

What about Marcello?

He's like you, he's my brother.

- So what the hell!

- Don't swear.

I keep trying to educate you...

To do my duty as a father,

morning and night.

True, you put yourself out.

Where are the others?

In town, I think.

Where are your menfolk?

No one to warm your pretty rumps?

And him?

Is he a goat?

More like

an ass!

That one's for you.

Who taught you, Papa?

- Taught me?

- To fight like that.

It's a gift. Once I have a stick...

No.

It's like you were fencing...

Like this!

Stop it, it's not a girl's game.

It's not a game.

Why don't you ever obey?

Why are you so mule-headed,

just like a boy?

- I had no mother to teach me.

- I'm your mother.

Yes, father, mother, everything.

I'll tell you a secret...

a family secret.

What you saw was

the Nevers Attack.

Who's Nevers?

He's... a great lord...

I'll tell you someday.

Someday or never.

I'll teach you the Nevers Attack.

Come on.

First you have to confuse

your enemy.

Then it's all in the finale.

Sit!

Parry in seventh, riposte, lunge,

quarte, envelop, strike forearm,

take blade, disarm,

to the forehead!

You can't pierce the forehead.

You can. There's a weak spot,

between the eyes.

A weak spot...

Let's try it again.

En garde!

He kissed Colombine!

Did you see that?

So with my great sword,

I shall run him through,

I shall run you through

with my great sword.

Wretch!

Now she is punished.

But I am mistaken!

I have killed Colombine!

Don't Parisians ever laugh?

All the time, except at the theater.

Marcello?

Hurry, we're on!

Did you see them?

Children's kisses. Butterfly kisses.

They want to taste

the mysteries of life.

By God, you're jealous!

I won't have Aurore

marrying an acrobat.

I'm sorry, Paolo...

Join us for supper tonight.

Papa! An admirer asked us to supper.

- I'm not ready.

- Not you. Marcello and me.

Where?

In Paris!

Place Royale!

"Sperm of heaven and earth,

Sperm of devil and thunder,

"and the Louvre."

Come, my pet, I will do you

the honors of the house.

Good evening, friends.

D'Argenson, he's yours!

To feed your pretty bird.

If the reverse side matches

the facade, you have a fianc.

Do you like the theater?

What is it, Louis-Joseph?

The bastard is a b*tch!

Don't damage her, Louis-Joseph.

The evening is just beginning.

I'll buy her for 10 gold pieces.

Damnation!

Prepare to die,

hussy!

Not if you die first, rogue!

Confuse enemy!

Seventh, riposte, quarte, envelop,

beat arm,

take blade, disarm...

Dead!

Oh, horror!

He's dead!

What?

Dead?

Louis-Joseph?

Our finest blade?

It would take a thrust...

Like lightning!

Yet the youth didn't look like much.

A shapely leg, but...

Show me the moves! Guard position!

He opened,

parried in seventh,

beat his arm, I think,

and presto! Poor Louis-Joseph...

One more hole. There.

Here?

Where was he from?

Where else?

From a fair... An acting troupe...

- In Paris?

- At a league's distance.

- The village of Chaillot.

- A theater in Chaillot?

Urbain, see the Baron out.

Thank you.

You've been most amusing, as always.

Thank you.

- Did you hear, Aesop?

- It can't be, my lord.

Nevers' secret died with him.

You forget Lagardre.

He knew the secret, too.

But Lagardre

would be an older man now.

To d'Argenson, all men are Apollos.

But that devil Lagardre

drowned 16 years ago!

If he's not dead,

- who's to say that Aurore...?

- But, my lord!

How could she get out

of the Nevers tomb?

Open it.

We've been deceived! She lives!

It's certain:

Nevers' daughter lives!

scheming,

crimes, to come to this!

If the heiress reappears, I'm lost.

She'll claim the heritage.

Lagardre is back.

He's here, the corpse who kills!

Tonight at Chaillot,

tomorrow at the Regent's.

And then my head on the block!

And you, my ignorant rogues,

will be flayed alive!

Flayed alive in the port.

Find him. Kill him.

Music tonight, gentlemen!

A theatrical performance...

Now watch ye, one and all...

'Ods bodkins! Hear that?

The whoreson!

Yes, it's him!

If he's alive, then he's not dead.

- My uncles!

- Half-Pint!

My beloved uncles!

My theater!

A brigand, Lagardre, hides

among you. If I don't have him,

you'll burn -

shops, women, brats and all!

You have 12 hours.

But tomorrow, the torch!

- Take the troupe away.

- Sure, but where?

- The thieves' quarter.

- You're not serious!

Tell the Beggar King I sent you.

Hey, friend...

If it's to buy Mississippi,

you're too late today.

But tomorrow I'm at your service.

I'm lost.

Is this Rue Quincampoix?

Close up.

This isn't a street,

it's a bank. Bank, bank, bank!

The rents are sky-high.

Even for a window.

- 1,000 pounds.

- I'll buy!

- Coming!

- A window contract, quick!

Aesop, I must have an audience

with Count de Gonzague.

I've a major deal to propose.

- You seek?

- Information.

- On what?

- The red kerchief.

Peyrolles? When you ask like that,

I have to answer.

I'm listening.

Dangerous, cruel,

kills without qualms.

- His master?

- Mine,

Count de Gonzague.

- Gonzague is said to be rich.

- As Croesus.

- From what?

- The Nevers heritage.

Did Nevers not have a wife?

She's half mad with grief.

Blanche de Nevers lives?

So to speak.

Since her daughter's death,

she's half-dead.

She won't eat, won't speak.

How sad, a sad and beautiful lady.

A martyr, behind those shutters,

cloistered in her room.

She lives there?

In meditation, under guard.

For 16 years, my master

has sighed for her.

I want to see her.

She sees no one.

I'll force her door.

At her first cry,

ten swords would surround you.

Get me in to see her.

And you'll spare me?

Give me a chance.

Touch your hump!

Tomorrow morning here at eight?

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