CHAPTER XXV.
THE SPY.
As Verminet swaggered down the street he had the air of a successfulman, of a capitalist, in short, and the Managing Director of a highlylucrative concern. Andre had no difficulty in following his man, thoughdetective's business was quite new to him, which is no such easy matter,although every one thinks that he can become one. Andre kept his man insight, and was astonished at the numerous acquaintances that Verminetseemed to have. Occasionally he said to himself, "Perhaps I am mistakenafter all, for fancy is a bad pair of spectacles to see through. Thisman may be honest, and I have let my imagination lead me astray."
Meanwhile, Verminet who had reached the Boulevard Poisonniere, assumeda totally different air, throwing off his old manner as he cast away hiscigar. When he had reached the Rue Montorgueil he turned underneath alarge archway. Verminet had gone into the office of M. B. Mascarin, andthat person simply kept a Servants' Registry Office for domestics ofboth sexes. In spite of his surprise, however, he determined to waitfor Verminet to come out; and, not to give himself the air of loiteringabout the place, he crossed the road and appeared to be interested inwatching three workmen who were engaged in fixing the revolving shuttersto a new shop window. Luckily for the young painter he had not to waita very long while, for in less than a quarter of an hour Verminet cameout, accompanied by two men. The one was tall and thin, and wore a pairof spectacles with colored glasses, while the other was stout and ruddy,with the unmistakable air of a man of the world about him. Andre wouldhave given the twenty thousand francs which he still had in his pocketif he could have heard a single word of their conversation. He wasmoving skilfully forward so as to place himself within earshot, when nottwo feet from him he heard a shrill whistle twice repeated. There wassomething so strange and curious in the sound of this whistle that Andrelooked round and noticed that the three men whom he was watching hadbeen also attracted by it. The tall man with the colored glasses glancedsuspiciously around him, and then after a nod to his companions turnedand re-entered the office, while Verminet and the other walked away armin arm. Andre was undecided; should he try and discover who these twomen were? Near the entrance he saw a lad selling hot chestnuts. "Ah!"said he, "the little chestnut seller will always be there; but I maylose the others if I stay here." He followed the two men as quickly aspossible. They did not go very far, and speedily entered a fine house inthe Rue Montmartre. Here Andre was for a moment puzzled, as he did notknow to whom they were paying a visit, but noticing an inscription onthe wall of "Cashier's Office on the first floor," he exclaimed,--
"Ah! it is to the banker's they have gone!"
He questioned a man coming downstairs and heard that M. Martin Rigal,the banker, had his offices and residence there.
"I have struck a vein of good luck to-day," thought he; "and now if mylittle friend the chestnut seller can only tell me the names of thesemen, I have done a good day's work. I _do_ hope that he has not gone."
The boy was still there, and he had two customers standing by thechafing-dish which contained the glowing charcoal, and a working ladin cap and blouse was arguing so hotly with the lad that they did notnotice Andre's appearance.
"You can stow that chat," said the boy; "I have told your father theprice I would take. You want my station and stock-in-trade. Hand overtwo hundred and fifty francs, and they are yours."
"But my dad will only give two hundred," returned the other.
"Then he don't need give nothing, for he won't get 'em," answered thechestnut vender sharply. "Two hundred francs for a pitch like this! Why,I have sometimes taken ten francs and more, and that ain't a lie, on theword of Toto Chupin."
Andre was tickled with this strange designation, and addressed himselfto the lad who bore it.
"My good boy," said he, "I think you were here an hour ago. Did you seeanything of three gentlemen who came out of the house and stood talkingtogether for a short time?"
The lad turned sharply round and examined his questioner from tip to toewith an air of the most supreme impertinence; and then, in a tone whichmatched his look, replied,--
"What does it signify to you who they are? Mind your own business, andbe off!"
Andre had had some little experience of this delightful class of streetarab, of which Toto Chupin was so favorable a specimen, and knew theirhabits, customs, and language.
"Come, my chicken," said he, "spit it out, it won't blister your tongue,to answer a man who asks a civil question."
"Well, then, I saw 'em, sharp enough, and what then?"
"Why, that I should like to have their names if they have such anarticle belonging to 'em!"
Toto raised his cap and scratched his head, as if to stimulate hisbrains, and as he brushed up his thick head of dirty yellow hair, heeyed Andre cunningly.
"And suppose I know the blokes' names and tells 'em out to you, whatwill you stand?" asked he.
"Ten sous."
The delightful youth puffed out his cheeks, then expelled the pent-upwind by a sudden slap, as a mark of his disgust at the meanness of theoffer.
"Pull up your braces, my lord," said he sarcastically, "or you'll belosing the contents of your breeches pockets. Ten sous, indeed! Perhapsyou'd like me to lend 'em to yer?"
Andre smiled pleasantly.
"Did you think, my little man, that I was going to offer you twentythousand shiners?" asked he.
"Won again!" cried Toto; "I laid myself a new hat that you weren't afool, and I have collared the stakes."
"Why do you think I am not a fool?"
"Because a fool would have begun by offering me five francs and gone upslick to ten, while you began at a modest figure."
The painter smiled.
"But you were too old a bird to be caught like that," continued thelad; and as he spoke, he stopped, and contracted his brow as if in deepperplexity. Of course he was acquainted with the names, but ought heto give them? Instantly he scented an enemy. Harmless people did notusually ask questions of itinerant chestnut venders, and to openhis mouth might be to injure Mascarin, Beaumarchef, or the guilelessTantaine.
This last thought determined the lad.
"Keep your ten sous, my pippin," said the boy; "I'll tell you what youwant to know all gratis and for nothing, because I've taken a real fancyto the cut of your mug. The tall chap was Mascarin, the fat un DoctorHortebise, and t'other--stop, let me think it out in my knowledge box;ah! I have it, he was Verminet."
Andre was so delighted that, drawing from his pocket a five-franc piece,he tossed it to the boy.
"Thanks, my noble lord," said Chupin, and was about to add somethingmore in a similar vein, when he glanced down the street. His lookchanged in an instant, and he fixed his eyes upon the painter's facewith a very strange expression.
"What is the matter, my lad?" asked Andre, surprised at this suddenchange.
"Nothing," answered Chupin; "nothing at all; only as you seem adecentish sort of chap, I should recommend you to keep your wits aboutyou, and to look out for squalls."
"Eh, what do you mean?"
"I mean--why--be careful, of course. Hang me if I exactly know what Ido mean. It is just an idea that came to me all of a jump. But there, beoff; I ain't going to say another word."
With much difficulty Andre repressed his astonishment. He saw thatthis young scamp was the possessor of many secrets which might be ofinestimable value to him; but he also saw that he was determined to holdhis tongue, and that it would at present be a waste of time to try andget anything out of him; and an empty cab passing at this moment, Andrehailed it, and told the coachman to drive fast to the Champs Elysees. Inobedience to the warning that he had just received from Toto, he did notgive the name of the _cafe_ where he was to meet De Breulh, for he madeup his mind to be careful, yes, extremely careful. He recollected thetwo odd whistles which had seemed to make Mascarin wince, and whichcertainly broke off the conference of the three men, and he rememberedthat it was after a glance down the street that Toto had become lesscommunicative and
had given him that curt warning. "By heaven," said he,as the recollection of a story he had read not long ago dawned onhim, "I am being followed." He lowered the front glass of the cab, andattracted the coachman's attention by pulling him by the sleeve.
"Listen to me," said he, as the man turned, "and do not slacken yourspeed. Here, take your five francs in advance."
"But look here----"
"Listen to me. Go as sharp as you can to the Rue de Matignon; turn downit, and, as you do, go a bit slower; then drive on like lightning, andwhen you are in the Champs Elysees do what you like, for your cab willbe empty."
The driver chuckled.
"Aha," said he; "I see you are being followed, and you want to give 'emleg bail."
"Yes, yes; you are right."
"Then listen to me. Take care when you jump, and don't do it on thepavement, for t'other is the safest."
Andre succeeded in alighting safely, and turned down a narrow courtbefore his pursuer had entered the street; but it was vain for the youngpainter to lurk in a doorway, for after five minutes had elapsed therewas nothing to be seen, and no spy had made his appearance.
"I have been over-cautious," muttered he.
More than a quarter of an hour had elapsed, and Andre felt that hemight leave his hiding-place, and go in quest of De Breulh; and as heapproached the spot chosen for their meeting-place, he saw his friend'scarriage, and near it was the owner, smoking a cigar. The two men caughtsight of each other almost at the same moment. De Breulh advanced togreet the young man with extended hand.
"I have been waiting for you for the last twenty minutes," said he.
Andre commenced to apologize, but his friend checked him.
"Never mind," returned he; "I know that you must have had some excellentreasons; but, to tell you the honest truth, I had become rather nervousabout you."
"Nervous! and why, pray?"
"Do you not recollect what I said the other evening? De Croisenois is adouble-dyed scoundrel."
Andre remained silent, and his friend, putting his arm affectionatelythrough his, continued,--
"Let us walk," said he; "it is better than sitting down in the _cafe_.I believe De Croisenois capable of anything. He had the prospect beforehim of a large fortune,--that of his brother George; but this he hasalready anticipated. A man in a position like this is not to be trifledwith."
"I do not fear him."
"But I do. I am, however, a little relieved by the fact that he hasnever seen you."
The painter shook his head.
"Not only has he seen me, but I half believe that he suspects mydesigns."
"Impossible!"
"But I am sure that I have been followed to-day. I have no actual proof,but still I am fully convinced that it was so."
And Andre recounted all that had occurred during the day.
"You are certainly being watched," answered De Breulh, "and every stepthat you take will be known to your enemies, and at this very momentperhaps eyes are upon us."
As he spoke he glanced uneasily around; but it was quite dark, and hecould see no one.
"We will give the spies a little gentle exercise," said he, "and if wedine together they will find it hard to discover the place."
De Breulh's coachman was dozing on the driving-seat. His master arousedhim, and whispered some order in his ear. The two young men then got in,and the carriage started at a quick pace.
"What do you think of this expedient?" asked De Breulh. "We shall go atthis pace for the next hour. We will then alight at the corner of theChaussee d'Autin, and be free for the rest of the night, and those whowish to follow us to-night must have good eyes and legs."
All came to pass as De Breulh had arranged; but as he jumped out he sawa dark form slip from behind the carriage and mingle with the crowd onthe Boulevard.
"By heavens," said he; "that was a man. I thought that I was throwing aspy off the track, and I was in reality only treating him to a drive."
To make sure, he took off his glove and felt the springs of thecarriage.
"See," said he, "they are still warm from the contact with a humanbody."
The young painter was silent, but all was now explained: while he jumpedfrom the cab, his tracker had been carried away upon it. This discoverysaddened the dinner, and a little after ten Andre left his friend andreturned home.