CHAPTER XVIII.
AN INFAMOUS TRADE.
Mascarin, who was anxious to make as deep an impression as possible uponCroisenois and Paul, broke off his story abruptly, and paced up and downthe room. Had his intention been to startle his audience, he had mostcertainly succeeded. Paul was breathless with interest, and Croisenoisbroke down in attempting to make one of his usual trivial remarks. Hewas not particularly intelligent, except as regarded his self-interests,and though, of course, he knew that there must be some connectionbetween his interests and the recital that Mascarin had just made, hecould not for the life of him make out what it was. Mascarin seemedutterly careless of the effect that he had produced. But the next timethat his walk brought him to his desk he stopped, and, adjusting hisglasses, said, "I trust, Marquis, that you will forgive this longpreliminary address, which would really make a good sensational novel;but we have now arrived at the really practical part of the business."As he said these words, he took up an imposing attitude, with his elbowresting on the mantelpiece.
"On the night of which I have spoken, I and my friends releasedourselves from all the bonds of virtue and honor, and freed ourselvesfrom all the fetters of duty to our fellow-men. The plan emanated frommy brain complete in all its details in the will I made twenty years agoto my friends. Marquis, as the summer goes on, you know that the ripestand reddest cherries are the fullest flavored, just so, in the noblestand wealthiest of families in Paris there is not one that has not someterrible and ghostly secret which is sedulously concealed. Now, supposethat one man should gain possession of all of them, would he not be soleand absolute master? Would he not be more powerful than a despot onhis throne? Would he not be able to sway society in any manner he mightthink fit? Well, I said to myself, I will be that man!"
Ever since the Marquis had been in relation with Mascarin, he hadshrewdly suspected that his business was not conducted on really fairprinciples.
"What you mention," said he, "is nothing but an elaborate and extendedsystem of blackmail."
Mascarin bowed low, with an ironical smile on his face. "Just so,Marquis, just so; you have hit on the very name. The word is modern, butthe operation doubtless dates from the earliest ages. The day upon whichone man began to trade upon the guilty secret of another was the dateof the institution of this line of business. If antiquity makes a thingrespectable, then blackmailing is worthy of great respect."
"But, sir," said the Marquis, with a flush upon his face, "but, sir--"
"Pshaw!" broke in Mascarin, "does a mere word frighten you? Who has notdone some of it in his time? Why, look at yourself. Do you not recollectthis winter that you detected a young man cheating at cards? You saidnothing to him at the time, but you found out that he was rich, and,calling upon him the next day, borrowed ten thousand francs. When do youintend to repay that loan?"
Croisenois sank back in his chair, overcome with surprise at thisdisplay of knowledge on Mascarin's part. "This is too terrible,"muttered he, but Mascarin went on,--
"I know, at least, two thousand persons in Paris who only exist bythe exercise of this profession; for I have studied them all, fromthe convict who screws money out of his former companions, in penalservitude, to the titled villain, who, having discovered the frailty ofsome unhappy woman, forces her to give him her daughter as his wife.I know a mere messenger in the Rue Douai, who in five years amassed acomfortable fortune. Can you guess how? When he was intrusted witha letter, he invariably opened it, and made himself master of itscontents, and if there was a compromising word in it, he pounced downupon either the writer or the person to whom it was addressed. I alsoknow of one large limited company which pays an annual income to ascoundrel with half a dozen foreign orders, who has found out that theyhave broken their statutes of association, and holds proofs of theirhaving done so. But the police are on the alert, and our courts dealvery severely with blackmailers."
Mascarin went on: "The English, however, are our masters, for in Londona compromising servant is as easily negotiable as a sound bill ofexchange. There is in the city a respectable jeweller, who will advancemoney on any compromising letter with a good name at the foot. His shopis a regular pawnshop of infamy. In the States it has been elevatedto the dignity of a profession, and the citizen at New York dreads theblackmailers more than the police, if he is meditating some dishonorableaction. Our first operations did not bring in any quick returns, and theharvest promised to be a late one; but you have come upon us just aswe are about to reap our harvest. The professions of Hortebise andCatenac--the one a doctor and the other a lawyer--facilitated ouroperations greatly. One administered to the diseases of the body,and the other to that of the purse, and, of course, thus they becameprofessors of many secrets. As for me, the head and chief, it would notdo to remain an idle looker-on. Our funds had dwindled down a good deal,and, after mature consideration, I decided to hire this house, and opena Servants' Registry Office. Such an occupation would not attract anyattention, and in the end it turned out a perfect success, as my friendscan testify."
Catenac and Hortebise both nodded assent.
"By the system which I have adopted," resumed Mascarin, "the wealthyand respectable man is as strictly watched in his own house as is thecondemned wretch in his cell; for no act of his escapes the eyes of theservants whom we have placed around him. He can hardly even conceal histhoughts from us. Even the very secret that he has murmured to his wifewith closed doors reaches our ears."
The Marquis gave a supercilious smile.
"You must have had some inkling of this," observed Mascarin, "for youhave never taken a servant from our establishment; but for all that,I am as well posted up in your affairs as yourself. You have even nowabout you a valet of whom you know nothing."
"Morel was recommended to me by one of my most intimate friends--SirRichard Wakefield."
"But for all that I have had my suspicions of him; but we will talk ofthis later, and we will now return to the subject upon which we havemet. As I told you, I conceal the immense power I had attained throughour agency, and use it as occasion presents itself, and after twentyyears' patient labor, I am about to reap a stupendous harvest. Thepolice pay enormous sums to their secret agents, while I, withoutopening my purse, have an army of devoted adherents. I see perhaps fiftyservants of both sexes daily; calculate what this will amount to in ayear."
There was an air of complacency about the man as he explained theworking of his system, and a ring of triumph in his voice.
"You must not think that all my agents are in my secrets, for thegreater part of them are quite unaware of what they are doing, and inthis lies my strength. Each of them brings me a slender thread, which Itwine into the mighty cord by which I hold my slaves. These unsuspectingagents remind me of those strange Brazilian birds, whose presence isa sure sign that water is to be found near at hand. When one of themutters a note, I dig, and I find. And now, Marquis, do you understandthe aim and end of our association?"
"It has," remarked Hortebise quietly, "brought us in some years twohundred and fifty thousand francs apiece."
If M. de Croisenois disliked prosy tales, he by no means underrated theeloquence of figures. He knew quite enough of Paris to understand thatif Mascarin threw his net regularly, he would infallibly catch manyfish. With this conviction firmly implanted in his mind, he did notrequire much urging to look with favor on the scheme, and, putting on agracious smile, he now asked, "And what must I do to deserve admissioninto this association?"
Paul had listened in wonder and terror, but by degrees all feelings ofdisgust at the criminality of these men faded away before the power thatthey unquestionably possessed.
"If," resumed Mascarin, "we have up to this met with no seriousobstacles, it is because, though apparently acting rashly, we are inreality most prudent and cautious. We have managed our slaves well, andhave not driven any one to desperation. But we are beginning to wearyof our profession; we are getting old, and we have need of repose.We intend, therefore, to retire, but before that
we wish to haveall matters securely settled. I have an immense mass of documentaryevidence, but it is not always easy to realize the value they represent,and I wait upon your assistance to enable me to do so."
Croisenois' face fell. Was he to take compromising letters round tohis acquaintances and boldly say, "Your purse or your honor?" He had noobjection to share the profits of this ignoble trade, but he objectedstrongly to showing his connection with it openly. "No, no," cried hehastily, "you must not depend upon me."
He seemed so much in earnest that Hortebise and Catenac exchangedglances of dismay.
"Let us have no nonsense," returned Mascarin sternly, "and wait a littlebefore you display so much fierceness. I told you that my documentaryevidence was of a peculiar kind. We very often had among our fishmarried people who cannot deal with their personal property. A husband,for instance, will say, 'I can't take ten thousand francs without mywife, knowing of it.' Women say, 'Why, I get all my money through myhusband,' and both are telling the truth. They kneel at my feet andentreat me to have mercy, saying, 'Find me some excuse for using aportion of my funds and you shall have more than you ask.' For a longtime I have sought for this means, and at last I have found it in theLimited Company, which you, Marquis, will float next month."
"Really!" returned the Marquis. "I do not see--"
"I beg your pardon; you see it all clearly. A husband who cannot,without fear of disturbing his domestic peace, put in five thousandfrancs, can put in ten thousand if he tells his wife, 'It is aninvestment;' and many a wife who has not any money of her own willpersuade her husband to bring in the money we require by the proposal totake shares. Now, what do you say to the idea?"
"I think that it is an excellent one, but what part am I to play in it?"
"In taking the part of Chairman of the Company. I could not do so, beingmerely the proprietor of a Servant's Registry Office. Hortebise, as adoctor, and more than all a homeopath, would inspire no confidence, andCatenac's legal profession prevents him appearing in the matter openly.He will act as our legal adviser."
"But really I do not see anything about me that would induce people toinvest," remarked De Croisenois.
"You are too modest; you have your name and rank, which, however we maylook upon them, have a great effect upon the general public. There aremany Companies who pay directors of rank and credible connection verylargely. Before starting this enterprise you can settle all your debts,and the world will then conclude that you are possessed of great wealth,while, at the same time, the news of your approaching marriage withMademoiselle du Mussidan will be the general talk of society. Whatbetter position could you be in?"
"But I have the reputation of being a reckless spendthrift."
"All the better. The day the prospectus comes out with your name at thehead of it, there will be a universal burst of laughter. Men will say,'Do you see what Croisenois is at now? What on earth possessed him to gointo Company work?' But as this proceeding on your part will have paidyour debts and given you Mademoiselle Sabine's dowry, I think that thelaugh will be on your side."
The prospect dazzled Des Croisenois.
"And suppose I accept," asked he, "what will be the end of the farce?"
"Very simple. When all the shares are taken up, you will close theoffice and let the Company look after itself."
Croisenois started to his feet angrily. "Why," cried he, "you intendto make a catspaw of me! Such a proceeding would send me to penalservitude."
"What an ungrateful man he is!" said Mascarin, appealing to hisaudience, "when I am doing all I can to prevent his going there."
"Sir!"
But Catenac now felt it time to interfere. "You do not understand,"remarked he, addressing Croisenois. "You will start a Company for thedevelopment of some native product, let us say Pyrenean marble, forinstance, issue a prospectus, and the shares will be at once taken up byMascarin's clients."
"Well, what happens then?"
"Why, out of the funds thus obtained we will take care when the crashcomes to reimburse any outsiders who may have taken shares in theconcern, telling them that the thing has been a failure, and that we areruined; while Mascarin will take care to obtain from all his clients adischarge in full, so the Company will quietly collapse."
"But," objected the Marquis, "all the shareholders will know that I am arogue."
"Naturally."
"They would hold me in utter contempt."
"Perhaps so, but they would never venture to let you see it. I neverthought that you would make objections; and whose character, howeverdeep, will bear investigation?"
"Are you sure that you hold your people securely?" asked he; "and thatnone of them will turn surly?"
Mascarin was waiting for this question, and taking from his desk thepieces of cardboard which he took so much pains to arrange, he replied,"I have here the names of three hundred and fifty people who will eachinvest ten thousand francs in the Company. Listen to me, and judge foryourself."
He put all three pieces of cardboard together, and then drawing out onehe read,--
"'N---, civil engineer. Five letters written by him to the gentlemanwho procured his appointment for him: worth fifteen thousand francs.'
"'P---, merchant. Absolute proof that his last bankruptcy was afraudulent one, and that he kept back from his creditors two hundredthousand francs. Good for twenty thousand francs.'
"'Madame V---. A photograph taken in very light and airy costume. Poor,but can pay three thousand francs.'
"'M. H---. Three letters from her mother, proving that the daughterhad compromised herself before marriage. Letter from a monthly nurseappended. Can be made to pay ten thousand francs.'
"'X---, a portion of his correspondence with L--- in 1848. Threethousand francs.'
"'Madame M. de M---. A true history of her adventure with M. J---.'"
This sample was quite sufficient to satisfy M. de Croisenois. "Enough,"cried he, "I yield. I bow before your gigantic power, which utterlysurpasses that of the police. Give me your orders."
Before this Mascarin had conquered Hortebise and Paul Violaine, and nowhe had the Marquis at his feet. Many times during this conversation theMarquis had more than once endeavored to make up his mind to withdrawentirely from the business, but he had been unable to resist the strangefascination of that mysterious person who had been laying bare hisscheme with such extraordinary audacity. The few vestiges of honestythat were still left in his corrupted soul revolted at the thought ofthe shameful compact into which he was about to enter, but the dazzlingprospect held out before his eyes silenced his scruples, and he felt acertain pride in being the associate of men who possessed such seeminglyillimitable power. Mascarin saw that there was no longer any necessityfor the extreme firmness with which he had before spoken, and it waswith the most studied courtesy that he replied: "I have no orders togive you, Marquis, our interests are identical, and we must all have avoice in the deliberations as to the best means of carrying them out."
This change from _hauteur_ to suavity gratified Croisenois' prideimmensely.
"Now," continued Mascarin, "let us speak of your own circumstances. Youwrote to me recently that you had nothing, and I am aware that you haveno expectations for the future."
"Excuse me, but there is the fortune of my poor brother George, whodisappeared so mysteriously."
"Let me assure you," answered Mascarin, "that we had better be perfectlyfrank with each other."
"And am I not so?" answered the Marquis.
"Why, in talking of this imaginary fortune?"
"It is not imaginary; it is real, and a very large one, too, abouttwelve or fourteen hundred thousand francs, and I can obtain it, for, byArticles 127 and 129 of the Code Napoleon---"
He interrupted himself, as he saw an expression of hardly-restrainedlaughter upon the features of Dr. Hortebise.
"Do not talk nonsense," answered Mascarin. "You could at first havefiled an affidavit regarding your brother's disappearance, and appliedto the Court to appoint
you trustee, but this is now exactly what youwish to avoid."
"Why not, pray? Do you think----"
"Pooh, pooh, but you have raised so much money on this inheritance thatthere is nothing of it left hardly, certainly not sufficient to pay yourdebts. It is the bait you used to allure your tradespeople into givingyou credit."
At finding himself so easily fathomed, Croisenois burst into a peel oflaughter. Mascarin had by this time thrown himself into an armchair, asthough utterly worn out by fatigue.
"There is no necessity, Marquis," said he, "to detain you here longer.We shall meet again shortly, and settle matters. Meanwhile Catenacwill draw up the prospectus and Articles of Association of the proposedCompany, and post you up in the financial slang of which you mustoccasionally make use."
The Marquis and the lawyer at once rose and took their leave. As soon asthe door had closed behind them, Mascarin seemed to recover his energy.
"Well, Paul," said he, "what do you think of all this?"
Like all men with weak and ductile natures, Paul, after being almostprostrated by the first discovery of his master's villainy, had nowsucceeded in smothering the dictates of his conscience, and adopted acynical tone quite worthy of his companions.
"I see," said he, "that you have need of me. Well, I am not a Marquis,but you will find me quite as trustworthy and obedient."
Paul's reply did not seem to surprise Mascarin, but it is doubtfulwhether he was pleased by it, for his countenance showed traces of astruggle between extreme satisfaction and intense annoyance, while thedoctor was surprised at the cool audacity of the young man whose mind hehad undertaken to form.
Paul was a little disturbed by the long and continued silence of hispatron, and at last he ventured to say timidly,--
"Well, sir, I am anxious to know under what conditions I am to be shownthe way to make my fortune and marry Mademoiselle Flavia Rigal, whom Ilove."
Mascarin gave a diabolical smile.
"Whose dowry you love," he observed. "Let us speak plainly."
"Pardon me, sir, I said just what I meant."
The doctor, who had not Mascarin's reasons for gravity, now burst into ajovial laugh.
"And that pretty Rose," said he, "what of her?"
"Rose is a creature of the past," answered Paul. "I can now see what anidiot I was, and I have entirely effaced her from my memory, and I amhalf inclined to deplore that Mademoiselle Rigal is an heiress, the moreso if it is to form a barrier between us."
This declaration seemed to make Mascarin more easy.
"Reassure yourself, my boy," said he, "we will remove that barrier; butI will not conceal from you that the part you have to play is much moredifficult than that assigned to the Marquis de Croisenois; but if it isharder and more perilous, the reward will be proportionately greater."
"With your aid and advice I feel capable of doing everything necessary,"returned Paul.
"You will need great self-confidence, the utmost self-possession, and asa commencement you must utterly destroy your present identity."
"That I will do with the utmost willingness."
"You must become another person entirely; you must adopt his name, hisgait, his behavior, his virtues, and even his failings. You must forgetall that you have either said or done. You must always think that youare in reality the person you represent yourself to be, for this is theonly way in which you can lead others into a similar belief. Your taskwill be a heavy one."
"Ah, sir," cried the young man, enthusiastically, "can you doubt me?"
"The glorious beam of success that shines ahead of you will take yourattention from the difficulties and dangers of the road that you aretreading."
The genial Dr. Hortebise rubbed his hands.
"You are right," cried he, "quite right."
"When you have done this," resumed Mascarin, "we shall not hesitate toacquaint you with the secret of the lofty destiny that awaits you. Doyou understand me fully?"
Here the speaker was interrupted by the entrance of Beaumarchef, who hadsignified his desire to come in by three distinct raps upon the door.He was now gorgeous to look upon, for having taken advantage of a sparehalf hour, he had donned his best clothes.
"What is it?" demanded Mascarin.
"Here are two letters, sir."
"Thank you; hand them to me, and leave us."
As soon as they were once more alone, Mascarin examined the letters.
"Ah," cried he, "one from Van Klopen, and the other from the Hotel deMussidan. Let us first see what our friend the man-milliner has to say.
"DEAR SIR,--
"You may be at ease. Our mutual friend Verminet has executed your ordersmost adroitly. At his instigation Gaston de Gandelu has forged thebanker Martin Rigal's signature on five different bills. I hold them,and awaiting your further orders regarding them, and also with respectto Madame de Bois Arden,
"I remain your obedient servant,
"VAN KLOPEN."
Tossing it on the table, Mascarin opened the other letter, which he alsoread aloud.
"SIR,--
"I have to report to you the breaking off of the marriage betweenMademoiselle Sabine and M. de Breulh-Faverlay. Mademoiselle is veryill, and I heard the medical man say that she might not survive the nexttwenty-four hours.
"FLORESTAN."
Mascarin was so filled with rage on learning this piece of news, whichseemed likely to interfere with his plans, that he struck his hand downheavily on the table.
"Damnation!" cried he. "If this little fool should die now, all our workwill have to be recommenced."
He thrust aside his chair, and paced hurriedly up and down the room.
"Florestan is right," said he; "this illness of the girl comes on at thedate of the rupture of the engagement. There is some secret that we mustlearn, for we dare not work in the dark."
"Shall I go to the Hotel de Mussidan?" asked Hortebise.
"Not a bad idea. Your carriage is waiting, is it not? You can go in yourcapacity as a medical man."
The doctor was preparing to go, when Mascarin arrested his progress.
"No," said he, "I have changed my mind. We must neither of us be seennear the place. I expect that one of our mines has exploded; that theCount and Countess have exchanged confidences, and that between the twothe daughter has been struck down."
"How shall we find this out?"
"I will see Florestan and try and find out."
In an instant he vanished into his inner room, and as he changed hisdress, continued to converse with the doctor.
"This blow would be comparatively trifling, if I had not so much onhand, but I have Paul to look after. The Champdoce affair must bepressed on, for Catenac, the traitor, has put the Duke and Perpignaninto communication. I must see Perpignan and discover how much hasbeen told him, and how much he has guessed. I will also see CarolineSchimmel, and extract something from her. I wish to heaven that therewere thirty-six hours in the day instead of only twenty-four."
By this time he had completed his change of costume and called thedoctor into his room.
"I am off, now," whispered he; "do not lose sight of Paul for a singleinstant, for we are not sufficiently sure of him to let him go aboutalone with our secret in his possession. Take him to dine at MartinRigal's, and then make some excuse for keeping him all night at yourrooms. See me to-morrow."
And he went out so hurriedly that he did not hear the cheery voice ofthe doctor calling after him,--
"Good luck; I wish you all good luck."