XVI.
Stupefied with astonishment, M. Wilkie stood for a moment silent andmotionless. "Allow me," he faltered at last; "Allow me--I wish toexplain." But Madame d'Argeles did not even turn her head; the doorclosed behind her and he was left alone.
However strong a man's nature may be, he always has certain moments ofweakness. For instance, at the present moment Wilkie was completely ata loss what to do. Not that he repented, he was incapable of that; butthere are hours when the most hardened conscience is touched, and whenlong dormant instincts at last assert their rights. If he had obeyed hisfirst impulse, he would have darted after his mother and thrown himselfon his knees before her. But reflection, remembrance of the Viscount deCoralth, and the Marquis de Valorsay, made him silent the noblest voicethat had spoken in his soul for many a long day. So, with his headproudly erect, he went off, twirling his mustaches and followed bythe whispers of the servants--whispers which were ready to change intohisses at any moment.
But what did he care for the opinion of these plebeians! Before he wasa hundred paces from the house his emotion had vanished, and he wasthinking how he could most agreeably spend the time until the hourappointed for his second interview with M. de Valorsay. He had notbreakfasted, but "his stomach was out of sorts," as he said to himself,and it would really have been impossible for him to swallow a morsel.Thus not caring to return home, he started in quest of one of his formerintimates, with the generous intention of overpowering him with thegreat news. Unfortunately he failed to find this friend, and eagerto vent the pride that was suffocating him, in some way or other, heentered the shop of an engraver, whom he crushed by his importance,and ordered some visiting cards bearing the inscription W. deGordon-Chalusse, with a count's coronet in one of the corners.
Thus occupied, time flew by so quickly that he was a trifle late inkeeping his appointment with his dear friend the marquis. Wilkie foundM. de Valorsay as he had left him--in his smoking-room, talking withthe Viscount de Coralth. Not that the marquis had been idle, but it hadbarely taken him an hour to set in motion the machinery which he had hadin complete readiness since the evening before. "Victory!" cried Wilkie,as he appeared on the threshold. "It was a hard battle, but I assertedmy rights. I am the acknowledged heir! the millions are mine!" Andwithout giving his friends time to congratulate him, he began todescribe his interview with Madame d'Argeles, presenting his conduct inthe most odious light possible, pretending he had indulged in all sortsof harsh rejoinders, and making himself out to be "a man of bronze," or"a block of marble," as he said.
"You are certainly more courageous than I fancied," said M. de Valorsaygravely, when the narrative was ended.
"Is that really so?"
"It is, indeed. Now the world is before you. Let your story be noisedabroad--and it will be noised abroad--and you will become a hero.Imagine the amazement of Paris when it learns that Lia d'Argeles was avirtuous woman, who sacrificed her reputation for the sake of her son--amartyr, whose disgrace was only a shameful falsehood invented by two menof rank to increase the attractions of their gambling-den! It will takethe newspapers a month to digest this strange romance. And whom will allthis notoriety fall upon? Upon you, my dear sir; and as your millionswill lend an additional charm to the romance, you will become the lionof the season."
M. Wilkie was really too much overwhelmed to feel elated. "Upon myword, you overpower me, my dear marquis--you quite overpower me," hestammered.
"I too have been at work," resumed the marquis. "And I have madenumerous inquiries, in accordance with my promise. I almost regret it,for what I have discovered is--very singular, to say the least. I wasjust saying so to Coralth when you came in. What I have learned makesit extremely unpleasant for me, to find myself mixed up in the affair;accordingly, I have requested the persons who gave me this informationto call here. You shall hear their story, and then you must decidefor yourself." So saying, he rang the bell, and as soon as a servantanswered the summons, he exclaimed: "Show M. Casimir in."
When the lackey had retired to carry out this order, the marquisremarked: "Casimir was the deceased count's valet. He is a cleverfellow, honest, intelligent, and well up in his business--such a manas you will need, in fact, and I won't try to conceal the fact that thehope of entering your service has aided considerably in unloosening histongue."
M. Casimir, who was irreproachably clad in black, with a white cambrictie round his neck, entered the room at this very moment, smilingand bowing obsequiously. "This gentleman, my good fellow," said M. deValorsay, pointing to Wilkie, "is your former master's only heir. Aproof of devotion might induce him to keep you with him. What you toldme a little while ago is of great importance to him; see if you canrepeat it now for his benefit."
In his anxiety to secure a good situation, M. Casimir had ventured toapply to the Marquis de Valorsay; he had talked a good deal, and themarquis had conceived the plan of making him an unsuspecting accomplice."I never deny my words," replied the valet, "and since monsieur is theheir to the property, I won't hesitate to tell him that immense sumshave been stolen from the late count's estate."
M. Wilkie bounded from his chair. "Immense sums!" he exclaimed. "Is itpossible!"
"Monsieur shall judge. On the morning preceding his death, the counthad more than two millions in bank-notes and bonds stowed away inhis escritoire, but when the justice of the peace came to take theinventory, the money could not be found. We servants were terriblyalarmed, for we feared that suspicion would fall upon us."
Ah! if Wilkie had only been alone he would have given vent to his truefeelings. But here, under the eyes of the marquis and M. de Coralth,he felt that he must maintain an air of stoical indifference. He ALMOSTsucceeded in doing so, and in a tolerably firm voice he remarked: "Thisis not very pleasant news. Two millions! that's a good haul. Tell me, myfriend, have you any clue to the thief?"
The valet's troubled glance betrayed an uneasy conscience, but he hadgone too far to draw back. "I shouldn't like to accuse an innocentperson," he replied, "but there was some one who constantly had accessto that escritoire."
"And who was that?"
"Mademoiselle Marguerite."
"I don't know the lady."
"She's a young girl who is--at least people say--the count'sillegitimate daughter. Her word was law in the house."
"What has become of her?"
"She has gone to live with General de Fondege, one of the count'sfriends. She wouldn't take her jewels and diamonds away with her, whichseemed very strange, for they are worth more than a hundred thousandfrancs. Even Bourigeau said to me: 'That's unnatural, M. Casimir.'Borigeau is the concierge of the house, a very worthy man. Monsieur willnot find his equal."
Unfortunately, this tribute to the merits of the valet's friend wasinterrupted by the arrival of a footman, who, after tapping respectfullyat the door, entered the room and exclaimed: "The doctor is here, anddesires to speak with Monsieur le Marquis."
"Very well," replied M. de Valorsay, "ask him to wait. When I ring, youcan usher him in." Then addressing M. Casimir, he added:
"You may retire for the present, but don't leave the house. M. Wilkiewill acquaint you with his intentions by and by."
The valet thereupon backed out of the room, bowing profoundly.
"There is a story for you!" exclaimed M. Wilkie as soon as the door wasclosed. "A robbery of two millions!"
The marquis shook his head, and remarked, gravely: "That's a merenothing. I suspect something far more terrible."
"What, pray? Upon my word! you frighten me."
"Wait! I may be mistaken. Even the doctor may lie deceived. But youshall judge for yourself." As he spoke, he pulled the bell-rope, and aninstant after, the servant announced: "Dr. Jodon."
It was, indeed, the same physician who had annoyed MademoiselleMarguerite by his persistent curiosity and impertinent questions, atthe Count de Chalusse's bedside; the same crafty and ambitious man,constantly tormented by covetousness, and ready to do anything togratify it--the man of the
period, in short, who sacrificed everythingto the display by which he hoped to deceive other people, and who wasalmost starving in the midst of his mock splendor.
M. Casimir was an innocent accomplice, but the doctor knew what he wasdoing. Interviewed on behalf of the Marquis de Valorsay by Madame Leon,he had fathomed the whole mystery at once. These two crafty natures hadread and understood each other. No definite words had passed betweenthem--they were both too shrewd for that; and yet, a compact had beenconcluded by which each had tacitly agreed to serve the other accordingto his need.
As soon as the physician appeared, M. de Valorsay rose and shook handswith him; then, offering him an arm-chair, he remarked: "I will notconceal from you, doctor, that I have in some measure prepared thisgentleman"--designating M. Wilkie--"for your terrible revelation."
By the doctor's attitude, a keen observer might have divined the secrettrepidation that always precedes a bad action which has been conceivedand decided upon in cold blood.
"To tell the truth," he began, speaking slowly, and with somedifficulty, "now that the moment for speaking has come, I almosthesitate. Our profession has painful exigencies. Perhaps it is now toolate. If there had been any of the count's relatives in the house, oreven an heir at the time, I should have insisted upon an autopsy. Butnow----"
On hearing the word "autopsy," M. Wilkie looked round with startledeyes. He opened his lips to interrupt the speaker, but the physicianhad already resumed his narrative. "Besides, I had only suspicions,"he said, "suspicions based, it is true, upon strange and alarmingcircumstances. I am a man, that is to say, I am liable to error. Inthe kingdom of science it would be unpardonable temerity on my part toaffirm----"
"To affirm what?" interrupted M. Wilkie.
The physician did not seem to hear him, but continued in the samedogmatic tone. "The count apparently died from an attack of apoplexy,but certain poisons produce similar and even identical symptoms whichare apt to deceive the most experienced medical men. The persistentefforts of the count's intellect, his muscular rigidity alternating withutter relaxation, the dilation of the pupils of his eyes, and more thanaught else the violence of his last convulsions, have led me to askmyself if some criminal had not hastened his end."
Whiter than his shirt, and trembling like a leaf, M. Wilkie sprangfrom his chair. "I understand!" he exclaimed. "The count wasmurdered--poisoned."
But the physician replied with an energetic protest. "Oh, not so fast!"said he. "Don't mistake my conjectures for assertions. Still, I oughtnot to conceal the circumstances which awakened my suspicions. Onthe morning preceding his attack, the count took two spoonfuls of thecontents of a vial which the people in charge could not or would notproduce. When I asked what this vial contained, the answer was: 'Amedicine to prevent apoplexy.' I don't say that this is false, but proveit. As for the motive that led to the crime, it is apparent at once.The escritoire contained two millions of francs, and the money hasdisappeared. Show me the vial, find the money, and I will admit that Iam wrong. But until then, I shall have my suspicions."
He did not speak like a physician but like an examining magistrate, andhis alarming deductions found their way even to M. Wilkie's dull brain."Who could have committed the crime?" he asked.
"It could only have been the person likely to profit by it; and only oneperson besides the count knew that the money was in the house, and hadpossession of the key of this escritoire."
"And this person?"
"Is the count's illegitimate daughter, who lived in the house withhim--Mademoiselle Marguerite."
M. Wilkie sank into his chair again, completely overwhelmed. Thecoincidence between the doctor's deposition and M. Casimir's testimonywas too remarkable to pass unnoticed. Further doubt seemed impossible."Ah! this is most unfortunate!" faltered Wilkie. "What a pity! Suchdifficulties never assail any one but me! What am I to do?" And in hisdistress he glanced from the doctor to the Marquis de Valorsay, and thenat M. de Coralth, as if seeking inspiration from each of them.
"My profession forbids my acting as an adviser in such cases," repliedthe physician, "but these gentlemen have not the same reasons forkeeping silent."
"Excuse me," interrupted the marquis quickly; "but this is one of thosecases in which a man must be left to his own inspirations. The mostI can do, is to say what course I should pursue if I were one of thedeceased count's relatives or heirs."
"Pray tell me, my dear marquis," sighed Wilkie. "You would render me animmense service by doing so."
M. de Valorsay seemed to reflect for a moment; and then he solemnlyexclaimed: "I should feel that my honor required me to investigate everycircumstance connected with this mysterious affair. Before receiving aman's estate, one must know the cause of his death, so as to avenge himif he has been foully murdered."
For M. Wilkie the oracle had spoken. "Such is my opinion exactly," hedeclared. "But what course would you pursue, my dear marquis? How wouldyou set about solving this mystery?"
"I should appeal to the authorities."
"Ah!"
"And this very day, this very hour, without losing a second, I shouldaddress a communication to the public prosecutor, informing him of therobbery which is patent to any one, and referring to the possibility offoul play."
"Yes, that would be an excellent idea; but there is one slightdrawback--I don't know how to draw up such a communication."
"I know no more about it than you do yourself; but any lawyer or notarywill give you the necessary information. Are you acquainted with anysuch person? Would you like me to give you the address of my businessman? He is a very clever fellow, who has almost all the members of myclub as his clients."
This last reason was more than sufficient to fix M. Wilkie's choice."Where can I find him?" he inquired.
"At his house--he is always there at this hour. Come! here is a scrapof paper and a pencil. You had better make a note of his address. Write:'Maumejan, Route de la Revolte.' Tell him that I sent you, and he willtreat you with the same consideration as he would show to me. He lives along way off, but my brougham is standing in the courtyard; so take it,and when your consultation is over, come back and dine with me."
"Ah! you are too kind!" exclaimed M. Wilkie. "You overpower me, my dearmarquis, you do, upon my word! I shall fly and be back in a moment."
He went off looking radiant; and a moment later the carriage which wasto take him to M. Maumejan's was heard rolling out of the courtyard.
The doctor had already taken up his hat and cane.
"You will excuse me for leaving you so abruptly, Monsieur le Marquis,"said he, "but I have an engagement to discuss a business matter."
"Indeed!"
"I am negotiating for the purchase of a dentist's establishment."
"What, you?"
"Yes, I. You may tell me that this is a downfall, but I will answer,'It will give me a living.' Medicine is becoming a more and moreunremunerative profession. However hard a physician may work, he canscarcely pay for the water he uses in washing his hands. I have anopportunity of purchasing the business of a well-established andwell-known dentist, in an excellent neighborhood. Why not avail myselfof it? Only one thing worries me--the lack of funds."
The marquis had expected the doctor would require remuneration for hisservices. Before compromising himself any further, M. Jodon wished toknew what compensation he was to receive. The marquis was so sure ofthis, that he quickly exclaimed: "Ah, my dear doctor, if you have needof twenty thousand francs, I shall be only too happy to offer them toyou."
"Really?"
"Upon my honor!"
"And when can you let me have the money?"
"In three or four days' time."
The bargain was concluded. The doctor was now ready to find traces ofany poison whatsoever in the Count de Chalusse's exhumed remains. Hepressed the marquis's hand and then went off, exclaiming: "Whateverhappens you can count upon me."
Left alone with the Viscount de Coralth, and consequently freed from allrestraint, M. de Valorsay rose
with a long-drawn sigh of relief. "Whatan interminable seance!" he growled. And, approaching his acolyte, whowas sitting silent and motionless in an arm-chair, he slapped him onthe shoulder, exclaiming: "Are you ill that you sit there like that, asstill as a mummy?"
The viscount turned as if he had been suddenly aroused from slumber."I'm well enough," he answered somewhat roughly. "I was only thinking."
"Your thoughts are not very pleasant, to judge from the look on yourface."
"No. I was thinking of the fate that you are preparing for us."
"Oh! A truce to disagreeable prophecies, please! Besides, it's too lateto draw back, or to even think of retreat. The Rubicon is passed."
"Alas! that is the cause of my anxiety. If it hadn't been for mywretched past, which you have threatened me with like a dagger, I shouldlong ago have left you to incur this danger alone. You were useful tome in times past, I admit. You presented me to the Baroness Trigault, towhose patronage I owe my present means, but I am paying too dearlyfor your services in allowing myself to be made the instrument of yourdangerous schemes. Who aided you in defrauding Kami-Bey? Who bet for youagainst your own horse Domingo? Who risked his life in slipping thosecards in the pack which Pascal Ferailleur held? It was Coralth, alwaysCoralth."
A gesture of anger escaped the marquis, but resolving to restrainhimself, he made no rejoinder. It was not until after he had walked fiveor six times round the smoking-room and grown more calm that he returnedto the viscount's side. "Really, I don't recognize you," he began. "Isit really you who have turned coward? And at what a moment, pray? Why,on the very eve of success."
"I wish I could believe you."
"Facts shall convince you. This morning I might have doubted, but now,thanks to that vain idiot who goes by the name of Wilkie, I am sure,perfectly, mathematically sure of success. Maumejan, who is entirelydevoted to me, and who is the greediest, most avaricious scoundrelalive, will draw up such a complaint that Marguerite will sleep inprison. Moreover, other witnesses will be summoned. By what Casimir hassaid, you can judge what the other servants will say. This testimonywill be sufficient to convict her of the robbery. As for the poisoning,you heard Dr. Jodon. Can I depend upon him? Evidently, if I pay withouthaggling. Very well; I shall pay."
But all this did not reassure M. de Coralth. "The accusation will fallto the ground," said he, "as soon as the famous vial from which M. deChalusse took two spoonfuls is found."
"Excuse me; it won't be found."
"But why?"
"Because I know where it is, my dear friend. It is in the count'sescritoire, but it won't be there any longer on the day afterto-morrow."
"Who will remove it?"
"A skilful fellow whom Madame Leon has found for me. Everything has beencarefully arranged. To-morrow night at the latest Madame Leon will letthis man into the Hotel de Chalusse by the garden gate, which she haskept the key of. Vantrasson, as the man is called, knows the managementof the house, and he will break open the escritoire and take the vialaway. You may say that there are seals upon the furniture, placed thereby the justice of the peace. That's true, but this man tells me that hecan remove and replace them in such a way as to defy detection; andas the lock has been forced once already--the day after the count'sdeath--a second attempt to break the escritoire open will not bedetected."
The viscount remarked, with an ironical air: "All that is perfect; butthe autopsy will reveal the falseness of the accusation."
"Naturally--but an autopsy will require time, and that will suit myplans admirably. After eight or ten days' solitary confinement andseveral rigid examinations, Mademoiselle Marguerite's energy and couragewill flag. What do you think she will reply to the man who says to her:'I love you, and for your sake I will attempt the impossible. Swear tobecome my wife and I will establish your innocence?'"
"I think she will say: 'Save me and I will marry you!'"
M. de Valorsay clapped his hands. "Bravo!" he exclaimed; "you havespoken the truth. Remember, now, that your dark forebodings are onlychimeras! Yes, she will swear it, and I know she is the woman to keepher vow, even if she died of sorrow. And the very next day I will go tothe examining magistrate and say to him: 'Marguerite a thief! Ah, whata frightful mistake. A robbery has been committed, it's true; but I knowthe real culprit--a scoundrel who fancied that by destroying a singleletter he would annihilate all traces of the breach of fidelity he hadcommitted. Fortunately, the Count de Chalusse distrusted this man, andproof of his breach of trust is in existence. I have this proof inmy hands.' And I will show a letter establishing the truth of myassertion."
No forebodings clouded the marquis's joy; he saw no obstacles; it seemedto him as if he had already triumphed. "And the day following," heresumed, "when Marguerite becomes my wife, I shall take from a certaindrawer a certain document, given to me by M. de Chalusse when I wason the point of becoming his son-in-law, and in which he recognizesMarguerite as his daughter, and makes her his sole legatee. And thisdocument is perfectly en regle, and unattackable. Maumejan, who hasexamined it, guarantees that the value of the count's estate cannot beless than ten millions. Five will go to Madame d'Argeles, or her sonWilkie, as their share of the property. The remaining five will be mine.Come, confess that the plan is admirable!"
"Admirable, undoubtedly; but terribly complicated. When there are somany wheels within wheels, one of them is always sure to get out oforder."
"Nonsense!"
"Besides, you have I don't know how many accomplices--Maumejan, thedoctor, Madame Leon, and Vantrasson, not counting myself. Will all thesepeople perform their duties satisfactorily?"
"Each of them is as much interested in my success as I am myself."
"But we have enemies--Madame d'Argeles, Fortunat----"
"Madame d'Argeles is about to leave Paris. If Fortunat is troublesome Iwill purchase his silence; Maumejan has promised me money."
But M. de Coralth had kept his strongest argument until the last. "AndPascal Ferailleur?" said he. "You have forgotten him."
No; M. de Valorsay had not forgotten him. You do not forget the man youhave ruined and dishonored. Still, it was in a careless tone that illaccorded with his state of mind that the marquis replied: "The poordevil must be en route for America by this time."
The viscount shook his head. "That's what I've in vain been trying toconvince myself of," said he. "Do you know that Pascal was virtuallyexpelled from the Palais de Justice, and that his name has been struckoff the list of advocates? If he hasn't blown his brains out, it is onlybecause he hopes to prove his innocence. Ah! if you knew him as well asI do, you wouldn't be so tranquil in mind!"
He stopped short for the door had suddenly opened. The interruptionmade the marquis frown, but anger gave way to anxiety when he perceivedMadame Leon, who entered the room out of breath and extremely red in theface.
"There wasn't a cab to be had!" she groaned. "Just my luck. I came onfoot, and ran the whole way. I'm utterly exhausted;" and so saying, shesank into an arm-chair.
M. de Valorsay had turned very pale. "Defer your complaints untilanother time," he said, harshly. "What has happened? Tell me."
The estimable woman raised her hands to heaven, as she plaintivelyreplied: "There is so much to tell? First, Mademoiselle Marguerite haswritten two letters, but I have failed to discover to whom they weresent. Secondly, she remained for more than an hour yesterday eveningin the drawing-room with the General's son, Lieutenant Gustave, and,on parting, they shook hands like a couple of friends, and said, 'It isagreed.'"
"And is that all?"
"One moment and you'll see. This morning Mademoiselle went out withMadame de Fondege to call on the Baroness Trigault. I do not know whattook place there, but there must have been a terrible scene; for theybrought Mademoiselle Marguerite back unconscious, in one of the baron'scarriages."
"Do you hear that, viscount?" exclaimed M. de Valorsay.
"Yes! You shall have the explanation to-morrow," answered M. de Coralth.
"And last, but not
least," resumed Madame Leon, "on returning home thisevening at about five o'clock, I fancied I saw Mademoiselle Margueriteleave the house and go up the Rue Pigalle. I had thought she was illand in bed, and I said to myself, 'This is very strange.' So I hastenedafter her. It was indeed she. Of course, I followed her. And what did Isee? Why, Mademoiselle paused to talk with a vagabond, clad in a blouse.They exchanged notes, and Mademoiselle Marguerite returned home. Andhere I am. She must certainly suspect something. What is to be done?"
If M. de Valorsay were frightened, he did not show it. "Many thanks foryour zeal, my dear lady," he replied, "but all this is a mere nothing.Return home at once; you will receive my instructions to-morrow."