General de Quesnel’s Initiation
The report outlines General de Quesnel’s initiation into the club: he received an unsigned note summoning him to a meeting the following day, with the condition that he would be blindfolded for the entire journey and not attempt to discover the meeting location. He agreed to the terms, was driven to the meeting by a club member serving as coachman, and upon arrival removed his blindfold to find many familiar faces among the assembled club members.
A Clash of Loyalties
When pressed on his political allegiances, General de Quesnel openly declares himself a royalist loyal to King Louis XVIII, noting the king had granted him a barony and the rank of field marshal. The club president rebukes him, stating the organization only recognizes Napoleon as the rightful ruler of France, and accuses de Quesnel of being sent to infiltrate their ranks.
The Oath Under Duress
The club president informs de Quesnel that as he now knows the club’s secret, he must either swear a binding oath to never reveal any details of the meeting or face execution. De Quesnel initially refuses, citing his oath of loyalty to Louis XVIII, but after being threatened and reminded that he has a young son to consider, he reluctantly takes the coerced oath, promising on his honor to never disclose what he saw or heard between 9 and 10 p.m. on February 5, 1815.
The Duel on the Quai des Ormes
After taking the oath, de Quesnel is allowed to leave the club in a carriage with three members, including the president. During the ride, de Quesnel insults the club members, prompting the president to challenge him to a duel. The carriage stops on the Quai des Ormes, where the president reveals his sword is concealed in his cane, and the two men prepare to fight in the dark, icy conditions with only a lantern for light.
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