Post by jacques on Oct 25, 2020 19:42:40 GMT
1613 - A flop house in Bordeaux - Rap! Rap! Rap! - "Dumont! You misbegotten son of a genteel whore! I know you are in there! Unless you are the most craven coward unlock this door at once!"
The door swung inward slowly to reveal Monsieur Guillarme Francois Dumont holding his rapier at the ready. "Ah if it is not my landlord. What may your humble servant do for you at such an early hour of the morning? Am I behind yet again?"
"When are you ever current in your obligations? But that matter is trivial to what brings me here. The girl has died but her babe yet lives. There is no doubt but that you are the responsible scoundrel. If you do not step up to your duty I shall report your misdeeds to the Magistrate. As you well know there is ample cause for I and my fellows to send you to debtors prison."
"Oh cher, tis a pity your life was so short; another angel has ascended to God's sweet heaven..." Dumont's vain attempt to show contrition was lost on his unexpected guest. Realizing that caring for a child would ensure his lasting liberty, "Of course I shall claim the child. Never let it be said that Dumont does not abide by his family."
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Over the ensuing years Dumont milked his child's poverty to gain food and lodging for the two of them. Eventually young Jacques would help his father with a variety of odd jobs to earn coins for his father's wine. In exchange Dumont taught his son what he could about being a military man, for Dumont had been a young officer prior to his decent into wine bottles too numerous to count.
Then came the day that Jacques decided that being his father's lackey had to come to an end. As Dumont lapsed into his most recent drunken stupor Jacques stole his rapier and two rusty dueling pistols from his father's satchel. He went straight to a local merchant who gave him a few coins for the pistols then set out for the city of Paris to seek his future.
Jacques knew that his father's name could draw unpleasant responses so he threw it away with the rest of his past and decided a blank slate is what he needed and so a blank slate is what he would become. No longer would he be Jacques Dumont, now he would be Jacques de Blanc. A fresh new young gentleman.
The door swung inward slowly to reveal Monsieur Guillarme Francois Dumont holding his rapier at the ready. "Ah if it is not my landlord. What may your humble servant do for you at such an early hour of the morning? Am I behind yet again?"
"When are you ever current in your obligations? But that matter is trivial to what brings me here. The girl has died but her babe yet lives. There is no doubt but that you are the responsible scoundrel. If you do not step up to your duty I shall report your misdeeds to the Magistrate. As you well know there is ample cause for I and my fellows to send you to debtors prison."
"Oh cher, tis a pity your life was so short; another angel has ascended to God's sweet heaven..." Dumont's vain attempt to show contrition was lost on his unexpected guest. Realizing that caring for a child would ensure his lasting liberty, "Of course I shall claim the child. Never let it be said that Dumont does not abide by his family."
---------
Over the ensuing years Dumont milked his child's poverty to gain food and lodging for the two of them. Eventually young Jacques would help his father with a variety of odd jobs to earn coins for his father's wine. In exchange Dumont taught his son what he could about being a military man, for Dumont had been a young officer prior to his decent into wine bottles too numerous to count.
Then came the day that Jacques decided that being his father's lackey had to come to an end. As Dumont lapsed into his most recent drunken stupor Jacques stole his rapier and two rusty dueling pistols from his father's satchel. He went straight to a local merchant who gave him a few coins for the pistols then set out for the city of Paris to seek his future.
Jacques knew that his father's name could draw unpleasant responses so he threw it away with the rest of his past and decided a blank slate is what he needed and so a blank slate is what he would become. No longer would he be Jacques Dumont, now he would be Jacques de Blanc. A fresh new young gentleman.