Chapter 8- The Story
It was six in the morning as Christina pounded on the door to Collard's room. She was alone, no sense in waking Mr. Johnson when she wanted to be alone. She doubted very much that Coulmier would say anything, if he ever said anything about it, in front of the lawyer.
The doctor opened the door half asleep still with a very unarticulated "What is it?"
"Doctor, may I have the keys to Coulmier's cell straight away. I very much would like to speak to him starting as soon as possible, as I only have a full day to gather information?" she asked, pleased to see he was not in his right mind at the moment.
Mumbling something about going back to bed, he handed her the ring with a dozen keys on it and slammed the door in her face, none of these actions he would have done if he had been awake. Silently, as to not wake up any of the prisoners that could begin to scream and thus fully wake up Collard, she made her way to Coulmier.
She looked in the window in the door and just stared at him for a moment. He was laid on his bed, wide-awake just staring at the ceiling with a dreamy sort of expression on his face. "One would never guess that you were nearly a condemned man," she said softly, opening the door, which quite startled him.
" A but early in the morning Christina, aren't you?" Coulmier questioned, getting to his feet to run over to her.
Taking him in her arms, " I was hoping to catch you off guard so you would tell me things. But I'm guessing you did not sleep."
He shook his head as he looked into her eyes, once again with a dreamy far off look in his own. "I won't tell you anything, but I will tell you a story. The story of how I came to be locked up like this. I've decided that won't harm anything."
He ran his thumb over her bottom lip and breathed her in. Once again they were kissing in one eternal embrace full of fire and passion that would always burn. Falling on the bed, him on top of her, careful though not to crush her, he exploded on to the tale, telling every gory detail. Then he got to the death of the Marquis.
" Well, everyone thought he was dead. A very not so clever trick of mine. You see, a week before Sade's supposed death, I was waiting in Collard's office. He was due any moment and he had summoned me. I knew it was going to be about Madeleine. It was just the previous night of course that she had perished. Papers in his top drawer had caught my eye and I noticed my name. Naturally I went to investigate and found them to be papers committing me to the asylum. I was, to put it in kind words, immensely furious. But I would not have Collard know I knew of his plan. It would only speed things up. If I ran I would be caught. So I formed a plan of my own. I went to the Marquis, his tongue freshly ripped out. I would let him free, framing his death, and he would write the story. He wrote on the parchment I had brought that he agreed. Collard did not know what hit him. I came into his office a week later and told him Sade was dead and buried. He wrote to me and told me his address, which I soon wrote to, asking him to reply with how long the story should take. He wrote back saying he wrote only fictions and a biography was more than I deserved. He knew I couldn't go tell on him and get him captured again or else I would be in even greater trouble. A week later, I was thrown in this prison. And nobody ever guessed that Sade is still alive."
He was in tears thinking about Madeleine but then looked down at Christina whose face was full of that blessed pity and he smiled and kissed her again. "Perhaps we should sit up. After all, the sun is rising and our friends should be here soon."
"So why did Collard frame you?" was the shocking question that escaped Christina's lips.
"Ha! I told you, I snapped and killed that Abbe. I was jealous. That cursed doctor had nothing to do with it," he said nervously and not at all convincingly.
"Coulmier, you don't think me that stupid do you? You would never kill anyone, not even Collard if you had the chance. He framed you and threatened you not to tell me why. There is no use in denying it," she said, sitting on the bed while Coulmier had gotten to his feet to pace.
She was figuring it out on her own! Even then, Coulmier was sure, Collard would have her killed. He had to stop her from going any farther. If he told her that he had threatened to kill her, she would not be deterred, and he was already dead so how could he threaten Coulmier?
"Has he finally spoken on anything yet? Very unwise of you to come and try and question him on your own Miss Chauncer. You haven't any idea of the liability," Mr. Johnson had arrived and walked into the cell. Picking up Christina's hand he kissed it.
Christina shot Coulmier a loving look to calm him down. She got to her feet, "Mr. Johnson, I had hoped that you would be up soon." She shot another look at Coulmier, this time rolling her eyes. Luckily, Mr. Johnson failed to notice this.
"Yes, well, there are many things to do today. Miss Chauncer, I was wondering if I could have a few moments alone with M. Coulmier?" he asked suavely, getting rather close to her.
She made eye contact with Coulmier who smiled and she replied, "Certainly, Mr. Johnson. I'll just be down the hall then." She left kind of worried, longing to be back by her loves side.
"Love, such a strong word that makes people do such very strange things, even risk their lives for the one they love. You, my young cherub, are no exception. I know about you being threatened by Collard. We had a very good chat last night while she, um, conversed with you. Frankly, I have no use for you being alive, and money does not interest me. However, the young Miss Chauncer does. She deserves a life much better than any poor young fellow could ever give her, a life which I could," he paused a moment, letting all that he had said sink in and then went on. " If you have any more showings of your affections to the dear girl I will make sure she dies along side you. It's a lose-lose situation for you, lets just make sure you don't bring anyone down with you."
" I knew I disliked you the moment I laid eyes on you. Now I know you can judge a book by its cover. You are a wicked man, Johnson. May you burn in hell!" Coulmier said this sternly yet quiet enough so as it would not carry down the hall.
"Say what you will, but I love her too. If you have any decency at all, you will see that this marriage will be just what she needs. You're going to die, Coulmier. You must accept that fact," Mr. Johnson grasped his hand around Coulmier's neck. "You are dead."
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"Why do you draw back every time I draw close to you?" Christina asked as she sat next to Coulmier, who was ignoring her by playing with his fingers. " We have spent nearly the entire day and yet it's like you could care less if you live or die."
"I killed a man so I should die. It says it in the bible. Your God says it," he got up and walked to the other side of the room.
Christina threw down the parchment and quill she had in her hand for notes and stormed over to him, "Fine! Die! Why should I care if you don't? I only love you. It really isn't that hard to get over someone." She stormed out of the cell.
"Damn it!" Coulmier whispered to himself, slouching to the floor. If she only knew. He was sure she knew that he loved her. At least he hoped she did. But somehow he had to let her know how he longed to embrace her, make every tear vanish. But he couldn't.
"A bit upset, are we?" Mr. Johnson came into the sitting room Christina had just ran into.
She stared up at him, "Just a little."
"Then it will be terribly hard for me to make you even more upset with what I must tell you. Oh well I must," he stopped and sat down on the couch next to Christina. "I have taken a very keen interest in you over the past few days, and have decided to take you as my wife. Don't start to protest, I can be very persuasive. See this folder here, dear. It contains enough information in it to set Coulmier free, though Collard has no idea. It was a great pleasure tricking him like I did. But any way, back to the deal. You will marry me, or these papers will be destroyed and Coulmier will perish."
It was six in the morning as Christina pounded on the door to Collard's room. She was alone, no sense in waking Mr. Johnson when she wanted to be alone. She doubted very much that Coulmier would say anything, if he ever said anything about it, in front of the lawyer.
The doctor opened the door half asleep still with a very unarticulated "What is it?"
"Doctor, may I have the keys to Coulmier's cell straight away. I very much would like to speak to him starting as soon as possible, as I only have a full day to gather information?" she asked, pleased to see he was not in his right mind at the moment.
Mumbling something about going back to bed, he handed her the ring with a dozen keys on it and slammed the door in her face, none of these actions he would have done if he had been awake. Silently, as to not wake up any of the prisoners that could begin to scream and thus fully wake up Collard, she made her way to Coulmier.
She looked in the window in the door and just stared at him for a moment. He was laid on his bed, wide-awake just staring at the ceiling with a dreamy sort of expression on his face. "One would never guess that you were nearly a condemned man," she said softly, opening the door, which quite startled him.
" A but early in the morning Christina, aren't you?" Coulmier questioned, getting to his feet to run over to her.
Taking him in her arms, " I was hoping to catch you off guard so you would tell me things. But I'm guessing you did not sleep."
He shook his head as he looked into her eyes, once again with a dreamy far off look in his own. "I won't tell you anything, but I will tell you a story. The story of how I came to be locked up like this. I've decided that won't harm anything."
He ran his thumb over her bottom lip and breathed her in. Once again they were kissing in one eternal embrace full of fire and passion that would always burn. Falling on the bed, him on top of her, careful though not to crush her, he exploded on to the tale, telling every gory detail. Then he got to the death of the Marquis.
" Well, everyone thought he was dead. A very not so clever trick of mine. You see, a week before Sade's supposed death, I was waiting in Collard's office. He was due any moment and he had summoned me. I knew it was going to be about Madeleine. It was just the previous night of course that she had perished. Papers in his top drawer had caught my eye and I noticed my name. Naturally I went to investigate and found them to be papers committing me to the asylum. I was, to put it in kind words, immensely furious. But I would not have Collard know I knew of his plan. It would only speed things up. If I ran I would be caught. So I formed a plan of my own. I went to the Marquis, his tongue freshly ripped out. I would let him free, framing his death, and he would write the story. He wrote on the parchment I had brought that he agreed. Collard did not know what hit him. I came into his office a week later and told him Sade was dead and buried. He wrote to me and told me his address, which I soon wrote to, asking him to reply with how long the story should take. He wrote back saying he wrote only fictions and a biography was more than I deserved. He knew I couldn't go tell on him and get him captured again or else I would be in even greater trouble. A week later, I was thrown in this prison. And nobody ever guessed that Sade is still alive."
He was in tears thinking about Madeleine but then looked down at Christina whose face was full of that blessed pity and he smiled and kissed her again. "Perhaps we should sit up. After all, the sun is rising and our friends should be here soon."
"So why did Collard frame you?" was the shocking question that escaped Christina's lips.
"Ha! I told you, I snapped and killed that Abbe. I was jealous. That cursed doctor had nothing to do with it," he said nervously and not at all convincingly.
"Coulmier, you don't think me that stupid do you? You would never kill anyone, not even Collard if you had the chance. He framed you and threatened you not to tell me why. There is no use in denying it," she said, sitting on the bed while Coulmier had gotten to his feet to pace.
She was figuring it out on her own! Even then, Coulmier was sure, Collard would have her killed. He had to stop her from going any farther. If he told her that he had threatened to kill her, she would not be deterred, and he was already dead so how could he threaten Coulmier?
"Has he finally spoken on anything yet? Very unwise of you to come and try and question him on your own Miss Chauncer. You haven't any idea of the liability," Mr. Johnson had arrived and walked into the cell. Picking up Christina's hand he kissed it.
Christina shot Coulmier a loving look to calm him down. She got to her feet, "Mr. Johnson, I had hoped that you would be up soon." She shot another look at Coulmier, this time rolling her eyes. Luckily, Mr. Johnson failed to notice this.
"Yes, well, there are many things to do today. Miss Chauncer, I was wondering if I could have a few moments alone with M. Coulmier?" he asked suavely, getting rather close to her.
She made eye contact with Coulmier who smiled and she replied, "Certainly, Mr. Johnson. I'll just be down the hall then." She left kind of worried, longing to be back by her loves side.
"Love, such a strong word that makes people do such very strange things, even risk their lives for the one they love. You, my young cherub, are no exception. I know about you being threatened by Collard. We had a very good chat last night while she, um, conversed with you. Frankly, I have no use for you being alive, and money does not interest me. However, the young Miss Chauncer does. She deserves a life much better than any poor young fellow could ever give her, a life which I could," he paused a moment, letting all that he had said sink in and then went on. " If you have any more showings of your affections to the dear girl I will make sure she dies along side you. It's a lose-lose situation for you, lets just make sure you don't bring anyone down with you."
" I knew I disliked you the moment I laid eyes on you. Now I know you can judge a book by its cover. You are a wicked man, Johnson. May you burn in hell!" Coulmier said this sternly yet quiet enough so as it would not carry down the hall.
"Say what you will, but I love her too. If you have any decency at all, you will see that this marriage will be just what she needs. You're going to die, Coulmier. You must accept that fact," Mr. Johnson grasped his hand around Coulmier's neck. "You are dead."
*************************************************************
"Why do you draw back every time I draw close to you?" Christina asked as she sat next to Coulmier, who was ignoring her by playing with his fingers. " We have spent nearly the entire day and yet it's like you could care less if you live or die."
"I killed a man so I should die. It says it in the bible. Your God says it," he got up and walked to the other side of the room.
Christina threw down the parchment and quill she had in her hand for notes and stormed over to him, "Fine! Die! Why should I care if you don't? I only love you. It really isn't that hard to get over someone." She stormed out of the cell.
"Damn it!" Coulmier whispered to himself, slouching to the floor. If she only knew. He was sure she knew that he loved her. At least he hoped she did. But somehow he had to let her know how he longed to embrace her, make every tear vanish. But he couldn't.
"A bit upset, are we?" Mr. Johnson came into the sitting room Christina had just ran into.
She stared up at him, "Just a little."
"Then it will be terribly hard for me to make you even more upset with what I must tell you. Oh well I must," he stopped and sat down on the couch next to Christina. "I have taken a very keen interest in you over the past few days, and have decided to take you as my wife. Don't start to protest, I can be very persuasive. See this folder here, dear. It contains enough information in it to set Coulmier free, though Collard has no idea. It was a great pleasure tricking him like I did. But any way, back to the deal. You will marry me, or these papers will be destroyed and Coulmier will perish."