The Chevalier d'Auriac
by S. Levett Yeats (?–1916)
- Free to read
- 5 hours to read
- 21 chapters
- Reading level: 6th grade
"The Chevalier d'Auriac" by S. Levett Yeats is a historical novel written in the late 19th century. It follows the complex life and adventures of Alban de Breuil, the Chevalier d'Auriac, set against the backdrop of the turbulent political landscape of France during the Wars of Religion. The narrative begins with Alban embroiled in the tensions of the ongoing conflicts, navigating personal rivalries, love, and the broader questions of loyalty and honor amidst war. The opening of the book immerses the reader in a tense scene where d'Auriac and his rival, de Gomeron, engage in a game of chance that soon turns hostile. In the midst of their conflict, they are interrupted by the arrival of prisoners, a man and a woman, who are suspected spies. The beautiful woman’s courageous plea for mercy captivates the soldiers and incites dramatic actions that set the stage for d'Auriac's character development and his evolving motivations. As the story unfolds, themes of bravery, honor, and the challenges of warfare emerge, underscoring the protagonist's journey through both battle and personal turmoil.
- Adventure stories
- France · History · Henry IV, 1589-1610
Read the opening
Chapter I
'Mille diables! Lost again! The devil runs in those dice!' and de Gomeron, with an impatient sweep of his hand, scattered the little spotted cubes on to the floor of the deserted and half-ruined hut, wherein we were beguiling the weariness of our picket duty before La Fere, with a shake of our elbows, and a few flagons of wine, captured from Monsieur the King of Navarre, as we, in our folly, called him still.
A few days before we had cut out a convoy which the Bearnais was sending into the beleaguered town. Some of the good things the convoy bore found their way to the outposts; and on the night I speak of we had made such play with our goblets that it was as if a swarm of bees buzzed in my head. As for de Gomeron, he was in no better case, and his sun-tanned face was burning a purple red with anger at his losses and the strength of the d'Arbois, both of which combined to give a more than usually sinister look to his grim and lowering features. In short, we were each of us in a condition ripe for any mischief: I hot with wine and the fire of five-and-twenty years, and de Gomeron sullenly drunk, a restrained fury smouldering in his eyes.
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About this edition
This free edition of The Chevalier d'Auriac by S. Levett Yeats comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #38323, released 2011-12-17. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Historical Novels, Adventure, French Literature.
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