CHAPTER XXIV.
THE VANISHING BILLS.
Had Andre known a little more of the man he had to deal with, he wouldhave learned that no one could fall like an earthquake upon Van Klopen.Shut up in the sanctum where he composed the numberless costumesthat were the wonder and delight of Paris, Van Klopen made as carefularrangements to secure himself from the interview as the Turk does toguard the approaches to his seraglio; and so Andre and Gandelu wereaccosted in the entrance hall by his stately footmen, clad in gorgeousliveries, glittering with gold.
"M. van Klopen is of the utmost importance," asserted Andre.
"Our master is composing."
Entreaties, threats, and even a bribe of one hundred francs were alikeuseless; and Andre, seeing that he was about to be checkmated, was halftempted to take the men by the collar and hurl them on one side, but hecalmed himself, and, already repenting of his violence at Verminet's, hedetermined on a course of submission, and so meekly followed the footmeninto the famous waiting-room, styled by Van Klopen his purgatory.The footmen, however, had spoken the truth, for several ladies of thehighest rank and standing were awaiting the return of this _arbiterelegantiarum_. All of them turned as the young men entered--all saveone, who was gazing out of the window, drawing with her pretty fingerson the window panes. Andre recognized her in an instant as Madame deBois Arden.
"Is it possible?" thought he. "Can the Countess have returned here afterwhat has occurred?"
Gaston felt that five charming pairs of eyes were fixed upon him, andstudied to assume his most graceful posture.
After a brief time given to arrangement, Andre grew disgusted.
"I wish that she would look round," said he to himself. "I think shewould feel rather ashamed. I will say a word to her."
He rose from his chair, and, without thinking how terribly he mightcompromise the lady, he took up a position at her side. She was,however, intently watching something that was going on in the street,and did not turn her head.
"Madame," said he.
She started, and, as she turned and recognized Andre, she uttered alittle cry of surprise.
"Great heavens! is that you?"
"Yes, it is I."
"And here? I dare say that my presence in this place surprises you," shewent on, "and that I have a short memory, and no feelings of pride."
Andre made no reply, and his silence was a sufficient rejoinder to thequestion.
"You do me a great injustice," muttered the Countess. "I am here becauseDe Breulh told me that in your interests I ought to pardon Van Klopen,and go to him again as I used to do; so you see, M. Andre, that it isnever safe to judge by appearance, and a woman more than anything else."
"Will you forgive me?" asked Andre earnestly.
The lady interrupted him by a little wave of her hand, invisible to allsave to him, which clearly said,--
"Take care; we are not alone."
She once more turned her eyes towards the street, and he mechanicallydid the same. By this means their faces were hidden from observation.
"De Breulh," went on the lady, "has heard a good deal about DeCroisenois, and, as no doubt you can guess, but very little to hiscredit, and quite enough to justify any father in refusing him hisdaughter's hand; but in this case it is evident to me that De Mussidanis yielding to a secret pressure. We must ferret out some hidden crimein De Croisenois' past which will force him to withdraw his proposal."
"I shall find one," muttered Andre.
"But remember there is no time to be lost. According to our agreement, Itreat him in the most charming manner, and he thinks that I am entirelydevoted to his interests, and to-morrow I have arranged to introduce himto the Count and Countess at the Hotel de Mussidan, where the Count andCountess have agreed to receive him."
Andre started at this news.
"I saw," continued the lady, "that you were quite right in the opinionyou had formed, for in the first place the common danger has almostreconciled the Count and Countess affectionately to each other, thoughit is notorious that they have always lived in the most unhappy manner.Their faces are careworn and full of anxiety, and they watch everymovement of Sabine with eager eyes. I think that they look upon her asa means of safety, but shudder at the sacrifice she is making on theiraccount."
"And Sabine?"
"Her conduct is perfectly sublime, and she is ready to consummate thesacrifice without a murmur. Her self-sacrificing devotion is perfectlyadmirable; but what is more admirable still is the way in which sheconceals the suffering that she endures from her parents. Noble-heartedgirl! she is calm and silent, but she has always been so. She has grownthinner, and perhaps her cheek is a trifle paler, but her foreheadwas burning and seemed to scorch my lips as I kissed her. With thisexception, however, there was nothing else about her that would betrayher tortures. Modeste, her maid, told me, moreover, that when night cameshe seemed utterly worn out, and the poor girl, with tears in her eyes,declared 'that her dear mistress was killing herself.'"
Andre's eyes overflowed with tears.
"What have I done to deserve such love?" asked he.
A door suddenly opened, and Andre and the Viscountess turned hastily atthe sound. It was Van Klopen who came in, crying, according to his usualcustom,--
"Well, and whose turn is it next?"
When, however, he saw Gaston, his face grew white, and it was with asmile that he stepped towards him, motioning back the lady whose turn itwas, and who protested loudly against this injustice.
"Ah, M. de Gandelu," said he, "you have come, I suppose, to bespeak somefresh toilettes for that exquisite creature, Zora de Chantemille?"
"Not to-day," returned Gaston. "Zora is a little indisposed."
Andre, however, who had arranged the narrative that he was about to pourinto the ears of the famous Van Klopen, was in too much haste to permitof any unnecessary delay.
"We have come here," said he hurriedly, "upon a matter of some moment.My friend, M. Gaston de Gandelu, is about to leave Paris for somemonths, and, before doing so, is anxious to settle all outstandingaccounts, and retire all his bills, which may not yet have fallen due."
"Have I any bills of M. de Gandelu?" said Van Klopen slowly. "Ah, yes,I remember that I had some now. Yes, five bills of one thousand francseach, drawn by Gandelu, and accepted by Martin Rigal. I received themfrom the Mutual Loan Society, but they are no longer in my hands."
"Is that the case?" murmured Gaston, growing sick with apprehension.
"Yes, I sent them to my cloth merchants at St. Etienne, Rollon andCompany."
Van Klopen was a clever scoundrel, but he sometimes lacked the necessaryperception of when he had said enough; and this was proved to-day, for,agitated by the steady gaze that Andre kept upon him, he added,--
"If you do not believe my word, I can show you the acknowledgment that Ireceived from that firm."
"It is unnecessary," replied Andre. "Your statement is quitesufficient."
"I should prefer to let you see the letter."
"No, thank you," replied Andre, not for a moment duped by the game thatwas being played. "Pray take no more trouble. We shall, I presume, findthat the bills are at St. Etienne. There is no use in taking any moretrouble about them, and we will wait until they arrive at maturity. Ihave the honor to wish you good morning."
And with these words he dragged away Gaston, who was actually about toconsult Van Klopen as to the most becoming costume for Zora to appear inon leaving the prison of St. Lazare. When they were a few doors from theman-milliner's, Andre stopped and wrote down the names of Van Klopen'scloth merchants. Gaston was now quite at his ease.
"I think," remarked he, "that Van Klopen is a sharp fellow; he knowsthat I am to be relied on."
"Where do you think your bills are?"
"At St. Etienne's, of course."
The perfect innocence of the boy elicited from Andre a gesture ofimpatient commiseration.
"Listen to me," said he, "and see if you can comprehend the awfulposition in whi
ch you have placed yourself."
"I am listening, my dear fellow; pray go on."
"You drew these bills through Verminet because Van Klopen would not giveyou credit."
"Exactly so."
"How, then, do you account for the fact that this man, who was at firstdisinclined to trust you, should without rhyme or reason, offer tosupply you now as he did to-day?"
"The deuce! That never struck me. It does seem queer. Does he want toplay me a nasty trick? But which of them is it--Verminet or Van Klopen?"
"It is plain to me that the pair of them have entered into a pleasantlittle plot to blackmail you."
Young Gandelu did not at all like this turn, and he exclaimed,--
"Blackmail me, indeed! why, I know my way about better than that. Theywon't get much out of me, I can tell you."
Andre shrugged his shoulders.
"Then," said he, "just tell me what you intend to say to Verminet whenhe comes to you upon the day your bills fall due, and says to you, 'Giveme one hundred thousand francs for these five little bits of paper, or Igo straight to your father with them'?"
"I should say, of course--ah, well, I really do not know what I shouldsay."
"You could say nothing, except that you had been imposed on in the mostinfamous way. You would plead for time, and Verminet would give it toyou if you would execute a deed insuring him one hundred thousand francson the day you came of age."
"A hundred thousand devils are all the rogue would get from me. That'sthe way I do things, do you see? If people try and ride roughshod overme, I merely hit out, and then just look out for broken bones. Pay thischap? Not I! I know the governor would make an almighty shine, but I'llchoose that sooner than be had like that."
He was quite serious but could only put his feelings into the languagehe usually spoke.
"I think," answered Andre, "that your father would forgive thisimprudence, but that it will be even harder for him to do so than it wasto send a doctor to number the hours he had to live. He will forgive youbecause he is your father, and because he loves you; but Verminet, whenhe finds that the threat to go to your father does not appall you, willmenace you with criminal proceedings."
"Hulloo!" said Gandelu, stopping short. "I say, that is very poor fun,"gasped he.
"There is no fun in it, for such fun, when brought to the notice of acourt of justice, goes by the ugly name of forgery, and forgery means aswinging heavy sentence."
Gaston turned pale, and trembled from head to foot.
"Tried and sentenced," faltered he. "No, I don't believe you, but I holdno honors and will turn up my cards." He quite forgot that he was in thepublic street, and was talking at the top of his shrill falsetto voice,and gesticulating violently.
"The poor old governor, I might have made him so happy, and, after all,I have only been a torment to him. Ah, could I but begin once more; butthen the cards are dealt, and I must go on with the game, and I havemade a nice muddle of the whole thing before I am twenty years of age;but no criminal courts for me, no, the easiest way out of it is a pistolshot, for I am an honest man's son, and I will not bring more disgraceon him than I have already done."
"Do you really mean what you say?" asked Andre.
"Of course I do. I can be firm enough sometimes."
"Then we will not despair yet," answered the young painter. "I thinkthat we shall be able to settle this ugly business, but you cannot betoo cautious. Keep indoors, and remember that I may have urgent need ofyou at almost any time of day or night."
"I agree, but remember this, Zora is not to be forgotten."
"Don't fret over that; I will call and see her to-morrow. And now,farewell for to-day, as I have not an instant to lose," and with thesewords Andre hurried off.
Andre's reason for haste was that he had caught a few words addressed byVerminet to Croisenois--"I shall see Mascarin at four o'clock." Andhe determined to loiter about the Rue St. Anne, and watch the ManagingDirector when he came out, and so find out who this Mascarin was, who hewas certain was mixed up in the plot. He darted down the Rue de Grammontlike an arrow from a bow, and as the clock in a neighboring belfrychimed half-past three, he was in the Rue St. Anne. There was a smallwine-shop almost opposite to the office of the Mutual Loan Society,and there Andre ensconced himself and made a frugal meal, while he waswaiting for Verminet's appearance, and just as he had finished his lightrefreshment he saw the man he wanted come out of the office, and creptcautiously after him like a Red Indian on the trail of his enemy.