The
next, as it happened, was the young Vicomte de La Motte-Royau, one
of the deadliest blades in the group.
On the Wednesday morning, coming again an hour or so late to the
Assembly, Andre-Louis announced - in much the same terms as he had
announced the death of Chabrillane - that M. de La Motte-Royau
would probably not disturb the harmony of the Assembly for some
weeks to come, assuming that he were so fortunate as to recover
ultimately from the effects of an unpleasant accident with which he
had quite unexpectedly had the misfortune to meet that morning.
On Thursday he made an identical announcement with regard to the
Vidame de Blavon. On Friday he told them that he had been delayed
by M. de Troiscantins, and then turning to the members of the Cote
Droit, and lengthening his face to a sympathetic gravity:
"I am glad to inform you, messieurs, that M. des Troiscantins is
in the hands of a very competent surgeon who hopes with care to
restore him to your councils in a few weeks' time."
It was paralyzing, fantastic, unreal; and friend and foe in that
assembly sat alike stupefied under those bland daily announcements.
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