CAUSES CELEBRES. XIX. DESRUES. [1777.] Continued. IMMEDIATELY upon his return to Paris, after his journey to Versailles, Desrües proceeded to take such steps as he consid ered necessary to establish fully his claim to Buisson-Soiief. He knew that M. de la Motte would not relinquish the estate with out a struggle; and with an ingenuity worthy of a better cause, he so arranged matters that, as the result of his scheming, he was enabled to place in the hands of M. Prevost, a notary, an instrument reciting the sale of Buisson; in which the payment of 104,600 livres by Desrües was acknowledged, and all prior contracts made in the matter were annulled. This instrument was signed by Desrües and his wife, and bore also a third signature : " Marie Perier, wife of SaintFaust de la Motte." Thus strongly fortified, Desrües felt that he had only to demand the property of M. de la Motte; and on the 1st of March the little man presented himself at BuissonSoiief. On seeing him, M. de la Motte cried, " In the name of God, M. Desrües, tell me what you have done with my wife and son." "What have I done, my dear sir? Nothing that I know of. My wife and I advised you of their departure for Versailles. I have not the honor to be the guardian of your wife or of your son. I have no doubt that they are both well." "I do not believe it," replied M. de la Motte, angrily; " I do not believe this tale. No, this journey to Versailles could not have entered her mind. My poor wife loves me too dearly to disappear thus, without a word to tell me of her plans. We never did any thing without consulting each other. Some terrible thing has happened to them, I feel
it. Wretch, answer me! what have you done with my wife and son?" "M. de la Motte," replied Desrües, gently, "grief has affected your mind. But to busi ness. I am legally and incontestably the pro prietor of Buisson-Soiief." La Motte made a movement of indignation. "Yes," repeated Desrües, firmly, " I am the only master here. But [glancing at those who stood near] God, who sees the depths of my heart, knows that I am not a man to take advantage of your embarrass ment. Everything here belongs to me, but I know too well how much I owe to myself to drive out the old master. No, M. de la Motte, I do not wish to cause you pain. Unjust as you have been towards me, you shall remain here as long as you please. I swear, before God, and before all those here present, that I will allow you 3,000 livres a year, and I will care for you as for a brother." "May the devil take you, infamous scoun drel! " cried La Motte, beside himself with rage. " Restore my wife and my son, you wretch! As for this estate, do not dare to lay a finger on it. Nothing shall go out of my hands until you present my wife and my son to me!" "You will see them both, my poor man, in good health, I hope, and before long." La Motte advanced threateningly toward Desrües. Two of the witnesses of this scene interposed. " Come, calm yourself!" said one of them. " M. Desrües himself conducted your wife and son to Versailles. It seems to me that nothing can be easier than to find a trace of them. It concerned the purchase of a position in the War De partment, did it not?"
