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diff --git a/40491.txt b/40491.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 6aeddad..0000000 --- a/40491.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6064 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's The Red Lottery Ticket, by Fortune Du Boisgobey - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The Red Lottery Ticket - -Author: Fortune Du Boisgobey - -Release Date: August 12, 2012 [EBook #40491] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RED LOTTERY TICKET *** - - - - -Produced by Robert Cicconetti, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - - - - - - - - - - _VIZETELLY'S SIXPENNY SERIES OF AMUSING AND ENTERTAINING BOOKS._ - - XIII. - - THE RED LOTTERY TICKET. - - BY FORTUNE DU BOISGOBEY. - - - LONDON: - _VIZETELLY & CO., 42 CATHERINE STREET, STRAND,_ - 1887. - - - - -THE RED LOTTERY TICKET. - - - - -I. - - -One day early in April, the month when the lilacs flower and when women -begin to display light apparel, a cab could be seen crossing the bridge -which spans the Seine between the Faubourg St. Germain and the Louvre, -and which is known to the Parisians as the Pont des Saints Peres. The -vehicle was going at a quiet trot, and it was driven by a jovial jehu, -who hummed a song as he cracked his whip and jerked his reins. Both -windows were down, and from each of them came a cloud of bluish -smoke--the smoke of the cigars of two young fellows who were gaily -chatting inside, and who, although they came from the so-called "Latin -Quarter" of Paris, were quite unlike the students immortalised by -Gavarni's pencil. They were, indeed, dressed with careful taste, and -displayed none of the questionable manners which may be acquired in the -drinking dens of the Boulevard St. Michel. One of them, a fair-haired -young fellow with soft blue eyes, was named George Caumont, and was the -son of a Norman cattle breeder, who lived on his land, saving up his -cash, and making his only child an allowance of three thousand francs a -year, so that he might complete, in Paris, the study of law which he had -commenced at Caen. The other, a dark young man with curly moustaches and -a bold expression of face, was the son of a petty nobleman of Perigord, -who had left him a heavily mortgaged estate with a somewhat -high-sounding name. He was called Adhemar de Puymirol, and lived upon a -small allowance made him by an aunt who wished him to become a doctor. - -He and George Caumont had met shortly after their arrival in Paris, and -their acquaintance had speedily become intimacy, for they had the same -ambition and much the same tastes. They both regarded their present -situation as a probationary one, hoping sooner or later to contract a -brilliant marriage; and they governed themselves accordingly, merely -attending the courts and the clinical lectures when they had nothing -better to do, and just occasionally passing an examination in order not -to discourage Papa Caumont and Aunt Besseges. But everything comes to an -end, and with their relatives grumbling and their creditors barking -loudly, there were days when the thought of the future filled them with -dismay. Still, on this beautiful spring morning, everything seemed -tinged with a roseate hue, and they even laughed at the enforced -departure for the provinces apparently so near at hand. "Leave Paris!" -said Adhemar, gazing at the scene around him. "Never, George; I would -rather give lessons in anatomy to freshmen than go and bury myself in -Perigord to doctor my aunt's farmers." - -"And I," sighed George, "would rather act as a college tutor than devote -the rest of my life to cattle breeding. We are at the end of our tether, -unfortunately, and if we don't meet two rich girls before the close of -the term, we shall be obliged to decamp, for Paris will be too hot for -us." - -"Ah, well, we will go to one of the watering-places where heiresses are -met." - -"You are always so confident!" - -"That is the only way to succeed. If our friend Pierre Dargental had -become discouraged, we shouldn't now be going to celebrate the close of -his bachelor life at lunch. Dargental is no better than we are, and yet -he has found a widow of title worth more than a million francs." - -"And all he brings her on his side will be his debts--some three hundred -thousand francs." - -"Oh! in this part of the world, a man shrewd enough to obtain credit to -that amount can aspire to anything--" - -"Except to the hand of an honest woman," replied George. "There are some -pretty hard stories about this Countess de Lescombat's behaviour after -her first husband's death." - -"Well, they say she accepted Dargental's offer of marriage before her -period of mourning expired. She consoled herself a little too soon, -perhaps, but that is a matter of no consequence, after all." - -"All the same, I should much prefer a less wealthy and more innocent -girl to a rich lady of rank, with a very doubtful reputation." - -"But one can't always have one's choice in such matters. Dargental is -about to enter a very wealthy set. He will introduce us to it, and we -ought to succeed in finding what we want there. So it does not become us -to find fault with him." - -"Will any of his old flames be at lunch to-day?" inquired George. - -"I believe that Blanche Pornic, the actress, is the only favoured one." - -"She is very amusing." - -"Yes; and thoroughly good-hearted." - -The vehicle had crossed over the Place du Carrousel, and was now behind -five or six others, which had formed into a line to pass through the -narrow passage conducting into the Rue de Rivoli. "Five minutes to -twelve!" exclaimed Puymirol, glancing at his watch. "They will be at -table by the time we reach the Lion d'Or. Why doesn't this idiot of a -cabman drive faster?" - -"It isn't his fault. The block prevents him from doing so. There are at -least half a dozen traps ahead of us." - -As George spoke, he put his head out of the window, and saw that the -passage would not be free for several minutes. Three or four -pedestrians, tired of waiting, had turned to retrace their steps; and -among them Caumont noticed a man wearing a broad-brimmed hat, pulled -down over his eyes, and a full black beard concealing the lower part of -his face. At a distance of ten paces behind him came two unprepossessing -individuals, who seemed anxious not to lose sight of this bearded -individual. Caumont rather lightly concluded that they were detectives -watching the fellow, but as he had no personal interest in the matter he -again ensconced himself in his corner and said to his friend: "Have a -little patience. We shall soon move on." As he spoke, he turned, and -failed to see that the bearded man rested his hand for an instant on the -door of the vehicle, and then without glancing at the occupants, dropped -something that fell upon Puymirol's boot. - -"What is that?" cried Adhemar, "what scoundrel ventures to bombard us in -this style?" - -"I have no idea," replied George, and on hastily turning again, he -caught a fresh glimpse of the bearded man, whose back only was now -visible, for he had passed them, and was slowing proceeding across the -Place du Carrousel. Just then the cab moved on, and in an instant the -pedestrians were left far behind. "Whatever the article is it must have -been thrown in by a man who just passed us," resumed George; "and he -must have done so with extraordinary swiftness and dexterity, for his -movement escaped my notice entirely." - -Meanwhile Puymirol had picked up from the bottom of the cab a handsome -pocket-book, which, with his friend's assent, he now began to open. "The -man who threw that in here," said George, "must be a thief, who in his -anxiety to escape arrest, and to get rid of the stolen article, dropped -it into our cab. When pickpockets find themselves in danger of capture, -they very often resort to that device." - -"Well," rejoined Puymirol, "at least there isn't the slightest vestige -of a bank-note inside, as you can see for yourself. Nor are there any -visiting-cards, nothing but papers, and not many of them. In this -compartment there are some lottery tickets, just look: The Tunisian -Lottery, the Amiens Lottery, and the Lottery of the Decorative Art -Society. And here on the other side there are some letters." - -"Letters!" repeated George. "So much the better. We shall perhaps find -in them some clue that will enable us to discover the person from whom -the pocket-book was stolen." - -"You don't know whether it was stolen," remarked Adhemar. "Besides, who -would think of stealing lottery tickets?" - -"True, but it perhaps contained money, which the thief extracted before -throwing away; besides, a letter is sometimes of great value to its -writer." - -"Hum, these ones were written by women. There are three of them--each in -a different handwriting, and, strange to say, not one of them signed, -not even with a Christian name. The owner of the pocket-book must have -had uncommonly prudent sweethearts. I wonder why he kept these notes in -this case?" - -"Because he intended to make use of them at some future time." - -"You think he was a blackmailer, eh? That's quite possible." - -"That theory would at least explain the robbery. If the women in -question knew that these specimens of their handwriting had fallen into -our hands, they would be more easy in mind, for we don't know them, and -it is not likely that we ever shall." - -"We are not sure of that. Stranger things than that happen in Paris. But -do you think it advisable for us to take the pocket-book to the lost -property office at the Prefecture of Police?" - -"No, I think it would be better to burn it with its contents." - -"Why? I feel strongly inclined to preserve it. One never knows what may -happen, and it would afford me infinite satisfaction to discover one of -these unknown correspondents." - -"Do so if you like, but I don't want to mix myself up in any such -affair. I shall forget the matter, and I beg that you will never remind -me of it." - -"Agreed, on conditions that you say nothing about it to any one at -lunch. There will be a parcel of chatterers present." - -"You need have no fears of that. I will be as silent as a fish." - -"All right, then. Here we are! I must put these letters out of sight," -said Puymirol, and he stowed the Russian leather-case away in his coat -pocket. - -The cab had drawn up in front of the Lion d'Or restaurant in the Rue du -Helder, and the two friends alighted, and asked for the room reserved -for M. Dargental's party. The head-waiter replied that the gentleman -referred to had not yet arrived, though he had ordered lunch to be -served at twelve o'clock precisely; and he then led the friends to an -apartment where they found two people waiting. One of them was a pale -young man, about twenty-eight years of age, as phlegmatic as a -Scandinavian, and as dissipated as a Russian. Although always ready to -drink, to play cards, and to spend his nights in bad company, he never -laughed and rarely smiled. A good-hearted fellow, however, and popular -in the set he mingled with. His name was Charles Balmer, and he was -afflicted with the belief that he was dying from consumption. Beside him -in the private room sat Blanche Pornic, the actress, Dargental's old -flame. Tall, and lithe of form to a degree that had won her the surname -of the Reed, she was very charming, with her pale golden hair, her brown -eyes, sparkling with mischief, her regular features, her graceful -movements, and her silvery voice--a voice that went straight to one's -heart. When Puymirol and Caumont arrived she and Balmer were complaining -of Dargental's non-arrival, and after some comments had been exchanged -concerning his delay, Blanche exclaimed: "We have given him quite -enough grace. Come, Balmer, ring, and tell them to serve us." - -"Nothing would please me better," exclaimed Balmer. "I am as hungry as a -dog." - -"That is a good sign for a sick man," remarked Puymirol. - -"By no means. What, can it be that you, a medical man, are ignorant of -the fact that consumptives eat like ogres?" - -"That is all bosh; besides, you are no more a consumptive than I am." - -"I haven't more than two years to live, as I know perfectly well. If you -wish to satisfy yourself on the point, you only have to examine my -lungs." - -"No, no," cried Blanche. "This is no hospital, and you disgust me with -your medical talk. To table, gentlemen! I will sit opposite Dargental. -He isn't here, but I will imagine that he is. Caumont may take a seat on -my right, and Puymirol on my left. And now let us partake of the -funereal repast." - -"Funereal is the very word," said Adhemar. "The invitations we received -had mourning borders." - -"And the bill of fare also," chimed in George. - -"Pierre made a great mistake," remarked Blanche; "such jokes always -bring bad luck." - -"The fact that he hasn't come is sufficient proof of that. I wonder if -he has broken a leg." - -"No, indeed! Dargental is too lucky to meet with any such accident. His -noble betrothed must have got wind of this breakfast, and have forbidden -him to attend it." - -"In that case, he would, at least, have warned you." - -"Do you regret his absence?" asked Blanche, with a glance at Puymirol. - -"How can I when I am near you?" - -"Nonsense! you always will be a provincial. Confine your attention to -these oysters. They are delicious, and this Sauterne is of the best -quality." - -This preliminary chat was soon interrupted by the lively clatter of -knives and forks, and the tinkling of glasses. All the gentlemen of the -party ate and drank heartily, but Blanche, despite her commendatory -words, did not seem inclined to finish her oysters, and only just -moistened her lips in the Chateau Yquem. "What is the matter with you, -Blanche?" cried Balmer, between two mouthfuls. "I have seen you eat with -a much better appetite. Is Pierre's marriage the cause of this falling -off? You must have been expecting it for several months, however." - -"I was so well prepared for it that I myself urged him to take the step. -And as for being angry, that can hardly be, as I came expressly to lunch -with him. He no longer cares for me; well, no matter, I can only rely on -his wife to avenge me. She has already given conclusive proofs of her -ability in that direction." - -"Indeed?" inquired Balmer, with an air of pretended innocence. - -"If you don't know her story, I will tell it you," rejoined Blanche -abruptly. - -"I know only what Dargental has seen fit to tell us," said Balmer. - -"Well then, once upon a time, as they say in fairy tales, there lived in -Lyons a silk-worker, who had an illegitimate daughter. She was very -beautiful, but she was no better than her mother. Her father vainly -tried to repress her evil tendency, but at the age of fifteen, tired of -being whipped and scolded, she eloped with a mountebank, under whose -tuition she learned a host of things--circus-riding, trapeze-performing, -and so forth." - -"All the elegant accomplishments!" sneered Balmer. - -"Two years afterwards, Octavia Crochard, as she was called, appeared in -a new character. A respectable old gentleman who had fallen in love with -her sent her to a boarding school at Saint Mande, where she passed as -his niece, every one being ignorant of her antecedents. She was so -clever naturally that she soon made up for lost time, and speedily -became a very accomplished young woman. She even learned how to conceal -her proclivities, but she was none the better for that. Not long -afterwards the old gentleman died, leaving her, in his will, an income -of twelve thousand francs, on conditions that she took his name." - -"A nice condition! What an idiot he must have been!" - -"Octavia was shrewd enough to behave herself after she left the -boarding-school. She engaged a companion or chaperon, and, thanks to the -recommendation of the lady-principal of the school which she had just -left, she succeeded in securing an acquaintance with people of position, -and before many months had elapsed, she made a conquest of another old -simpleton, a _blase_ millionaire, who married her shortly afterwards." - -"This is a very interesting story," said Balmer, as he emptied his fifth -glass of champagne; "but what has it to do with the countess?" - -"What! haven't you guessed that this same Crochard girl is now known as -the Countess de Lescombat, and will soon take the name of Madame -d'Argental?--Dargental with an apostrophe, be it understood, for she has -insisted that Pierre should make this change in his name. In fact, to -please her, he has purchased the title of marquis somewhere in Italy. -Octavia does not wish to marry beneath her station." - -"Have you communicated all this information to your friend Dargental?" - -"No, I have taken good care not to do that. He would imagine I had -invented the story, and slandered the countess, from jealousy. But he -will hear it from plenty of others, by and by. He already knows that -Lescombat bequeathed his entire fortune to his wife only about a month -before his death, and he will learn, sooner or later on, that the -pretended attack of apoplexy that killed the count was a plain case of -suicide. The old nobleman felt so much regret at having despoiled his -natural heirs that he poisoned himself with prussic acid." - -"But why didn't he alter his will?" inquired George Caumont. - -"He couldn't; Octavia watched him too closely. Besides, she is a perfect -Circe, in her power to bewitch men. She has poor Dargental completely -under her control, for it is evident she has confiscated him this -morning." - -Adhemar and George could not repress a smile. They plainly realised that -Blanche would never forgive Dargental for deserting her. As for the -story about Madame de Lescombat, they thought it advisable to believe -merely half of it; but even that was quite enough to make them pity the -imprudent man who was about to place himself at the mercy of this wily -widow. However, after all, why should she want to marry him, as he was -not worth a copper? - -"Are you sure that he is at her house now?" inquired Balmer. "Remember, -he may be ill." - -"He lives but a short distance from here, on the Boulevard Haussmann. We -might send a messenger there to inquire after him," suggested George. - -"I object to that proposal," said Blanche. "He would imagine that I -could not get on without him. Balmer, fill my glass. Gentlemen, I drink -to your sweethearts." - -The toast met with no response, for, at that moment, a waiter entered, -bearing a salver upon which a blue envelope was lying. "Here is a -telegram which has just arrived for Monsieur Dargental," said the -attendant. "Shall I lay it beside his plate?" - -"Hand it here!" cried Balmer, seizing hold of the missive. "A telegram -is not a letter, and it will certainly do no harm for me to open this -one. It will perhaps explain why Pierre has left us in the lurch, after -inviting us here." He tore open the envelope as he spoke, and he had -scarcely glanced at the contents, than he exclaimed triumphantly: "It is -from the countess! You see that he is not at her house." - -"Let me see it," said Blanche, holding out her hand; and, glancing at -the missive, she added: "It is from her. Listen, gentlemen: 'My dear -Pierre--I should be very sorry to curtail your farewells to your friends -of both sexes, but I should be greatly obliged to you if you would come -to my house immediately after the lunch.' Both sexes! that is a dig at -me. This countess has a very easy style, and she is as prudent as a -serpent, for she has merely signed her christian name, Octavia, for fear -of compromising herself, I suppose." - -As the actress spoke, she passed the telegram to her left-hand -neighbour. Puymirol, on examining it, at once perceived that it was not -a genuine telegram, but one of those communications, the sender of which -pens as many words as he pleases upon a slip of paper; he then seals the -latter up, and it is despatched by the pneumatic tube service to any -part of Paris. The handwriting of this particular "telegraphic-note" was -therefore the countess's, not a clerk's, and Adhemar noted that it was -peculiarly firm and decided in character. - -"Well," said Blanche, "as the countess hasn't kept Pierre a prisoner, I -begin to think that he must be playing a trick on us." - -"Unless some misfortune has befallen him," suggested Puymirol. - -"A misfortune will befall him when he marries, there is no doubt of -that; but Dargental has no business to treat us like nobodies. If you -take my advice, we will each pay a share of the bill and decamp." - -"Speak for yourself, I am still thirsty," growled Balmer. "You can go if -you like, but I intend to have my coffee and season it with a few -glasses of cognac." - -"Then you can settle the bill, and I will send you my share of it as -soon as I learn the amount. I am going. Who loves me, follows me!" said -Blanche, rising from table. - -Adhemar and George followed her example. "I shall pass Dargental's door -on leaving here, and I will hand his doorkeeper that pneumatic -telegram," remarked Adhemar, placing the missive in his pocket beside -the pocket-book thrown into the cab. - -Balmer declining to move, the three others now went downstairs together. -Blanche then sprang into a cab which stood outside the restaurant and -drove off, saying, "Come and see me one of these days. I should like to -hear the end of this affair." - -"What do you think of it all?" said Caumont to Adhemar, as soon as the -actress had gone. - -"I think," replied Puymirol, "that the countess is an adventuress, -Blanche a viper, and Dargental a fool." - -"Why, not long ago, you proclaimed him to be shrewdness personified!" - -"I must confess that that opinion seems erroneous. But let us go to -Dargental's place; we shall, perhaps, find the solution of the enigma -there. It isn't far off." - -The house in which Dargental lived stood on the Boulevard Haussmann. -They soon reached the door, and the house-porter, on being questioned by -Adhemar, replied that he believed that M. Dargental was at home. At all -events, he had not seen him pass out. Dargental's rooms were situated on -the second floor, to which the two friends duly climbed. Puymirol rang, -but no one answered the summons, and the bell was pulled three times -more, but without any better success. The two friends were, indeed, -about to go off disappointed, when a servant in livery, carrying a -package under his arm, appeared upon the landing. This servant was -Dargental's valet, and he knew Puymirol and Caumont by sight. "I fear -that the marquis has gone out," he remarked. On hearing this title, -which Dargental had never borne before, the two friends exchanged a -smile. "He was to lunch out to-day," continued the valet, "and he was -already dressed when he sent me off on an errand at about eleven -o'clock." - -"It was with us that he meant to lunch, and we haven't seen anything of -him," said Caumont. - -"If you gentlemen would like to come in, I have the key," now suggested -the servant. - -"Very well, open the door, then." - -The valet thereupon ushered them into an ante-chamber which they had -traversed more than once. "Is there a fire in the house?" inquired -Puymirol. "There is a strong smell of smoke here." - -"Of powder, rather," muttered Caumont. - -The valet, apparently quite as surprised by the smell as they were, -opened the dining-room door, crossed the threshold, looked in, and then -suddenly recoiled, exclaiming, in evident terror: "My God! my master is -dead! Monsieur le marquis has killed himself!" - -Puymirol pushed the valet aside, and rushed into the room. It was but -dimly lighted by stained glass windows, and Puymirol did not at first -perceive Dargental, upon whom the valet's eyes had chanced to fall just -as he crossed the threshold. Madame de Lescombat's unfortunate lover was -sitting, or rather reclining, in a large arm-chair. Seen from a -distance, he seemed to be asleep. Puymirol hastened forward, took hold -of his hand, found that it was icy cold, and then perceived that his -face was livid, his eyes half closed, and his mouth distorted. "Open the -window, quick, quick!" he cried, and Caumont, forestalling the valet, -instantly obeyed the order. - -In the full light it was seen that stains of blood tinged Dargental's -shirt front, which was torn and scorched by a bullet in the vicinity of -the heart; his waistcoat was unbuttoned, the lapels of his coat were -pushed back and creased, while on the floor at his feet gleamed the -shining barrel of a revolver. "My master! my poor master!" groaned the -valet. - -"You can not restore him to life, my lad," said Puymirol, who never lost -his presence of mind. "This is no time for weeping. The commissary of -police must be warned. Fetch him immediately, and, on your way out, tell -the doorkeeper what has happened, and ask him to come up. We don't care -to remain alone with the body. Upon the whole, it will be best for us to -go down with you, I think. Our unfortunate friend is beyond all human -aid, and the suicide must be established at once." - -Neither Caumont nor the valet made any objections, and the trio hastened -downstairs. "My master has shot himself," cried the valet to the -doorkeeper. "These gentlemen can testify that I was not present when the -accident occurred! On returning home, a few moments ago, I found them -ringing at the door, so I opened it for them with my key." - -"It is really impossible," said the doorkeeper in alarm. "I saw him this -morning, and he seemed to be in the best of spirits. He even warned me -that he meant to give up his apartments on account of his approaching -marriage." - -"We didn't come here to talk," interrupted Puymirol. "This fellow is -going for the commissary of police; you had better come upstairs with -us, and remain until he brings some official back with him." - -The doorkeeper assented; the valet hastened off; and the two friends, -having again ascended the stairs, this time with the cerberus of the -house, re-entered the apartments where nothing had been disturbed during -their absence. Not caring to approach the body, they all three of them -remained in the ante-chamber. "Are you well acquainted with this valet?" -Puymirol inquired of the doorkeeper. - -"Yes, sir. He has been in Monsieur Dargental's employ for three years. I -assure you that he is quite incapable of a crime, and fully deserves all -the confidence my unfortunate tenant placed in him. This very morning, -Monsieur Dargental gave him a letter for the Countess de Lescombat, his -intended wife. I was standing at my door as he passed out, and Jean -stopped for a moment to chat with me. While we were talking, he said: -'Ah! Monsieur Pinchon, I am so attached to my master that--'" - -The sound of footsteps upon the stairs cut M. Pinchon short. The valet -was returning, bringing with him in lieu of the commissary, who was -absent from his office, that functionary's secretary, an intelligent, -wide-awake-looking young man. Having been enlightened on the way by the -servant, the secretary walked straight to the body, examined it -carefully but without touching it, and said curtly: "This chair is not -in its accustomed place." - -The other chairs were, in fact, arranged in lines along the walls, but -this one stood in the middle of the room, and almost directly opposite -the door. "This is the first time I ever heard of a man sitting down to -shoot himself," continued the official. - -"Do you suspect a crime, then?" inquired Puymirol. - -"I have formed no opinion as yet. A doctor will come with the -commissary, and make a report. In the meantime, gentlemen, will you have -the kindness to give me your names and addresses, for it does not seem -necessary that you should be present at the investigation. You will be -questioned later on, if needful." - -"I am named Adhemar de Puymirol; my friend's name is George Caumont, and -we live together, at No. 14, in the Rue de Medicis." - -"Very well," said the secretary, as he entered the names in his -note-book. "You were very intimate, I believe, with this Monsieur--" - -"Monsieur Pierre Dargental," concluded Puymirol. "We certainly knew him -very well; I especially. He had invited us to lunch with him this -morning in company with Monsieur Charles Balmer, who resides, I believe, -in the Rue Auber, and an actress named Blanche Pornic, who lives in the -Avenue de Messine." - -"Was the lunch ordered by Monsieur Dargental?" - -"Yes, and we ate it without him. Afterwards we called here, my friend -and myself, to ascertain what had become of him, and we were ringing at -his door when the valet, who happened to come upstairs, opened it for -us." - -"I am aware of that. You must have been greatly surprised on entering. -To what cause do you attribute this suicide?" - -"I know no cause for it. Dargental was about to be married; besides, it -seems to me very strange that he should have killed himself just as we -were expecting him to celebrate the close of his bachelor life." - -"Yes, and all the stranger as he was quite ready to go out. See, his hat -has rolled behind the chair, and his cane has fallen upon the floor. All -this does not seem to harmonize with the care he appears to have taken -in seating himself." - -"That is true. The whole affair is incomprehensible. Dargental must have -momentarily lost his mind." - -"In that case he must have had a revolver in his pocket at the time; but -that weapon there is not one of the sort a man usually carries upon his -person. It is too large and too heavy for that." - -"All I can say is that the weapon belonged to him. I have often seen it -hanging, with others, against the wall of his bedroom. I am certain that -it must bear the name of the dealer who sold it to him--Galland." - -"That point will be verified by the commissary, and the doctor will tell -us if the blood could have spouted a distance of two yards from the -arm-chair. See, here is a pool of it upon the floor, almost at my very -feet." Puymirol hastily recoiled, for he perceived, for the first time, -that he was almost stepping in it. "One more question, sir," said the -'secretary.' "Had Monsieur Dargental any enemies?" - -"Not to my knowledge. On the contrary, he had many friends. Besides, no -one could have anything to gain by his death, for he had no fortune." - -"Oh, no," sighed the doorkeeper. "An execution was put in only the other -day by one of his creditors." - -"Nevertheless, he lived in handsome style," replied the secretary, "and -it is very probable that he had more or less money in the house or about -his person; in fact, judging from the apparent disorder of his clothing, -it seems more than likely that his pockets were searched after his -death. But I will detain you no longer, gentlemen. You will hold -yourselves, of course, at the disposal of the authorities--I have your -address." - -"Certainly, sir," said Puymirol, who had had quite enough of this covert -examination. George Caumont was also anxious to get away, for this talk -in the presence of his friend's lifeless body made him sick at heart. -The valet was about to beat a retreat with them, but the dismissal was -not for him, for the secretary remarked drily: "Remain. The commissary -will want to talk with you." - -"I hope you have no further need of me," now said the doorkeeper. - -"Yes, I have, but I shall not keep you long." - -M. Pinchon's dismay was pitiful to behold, and the two friends hastily -availed themselves of the permission to depart. "What do you think of -this catastrophe?" inquired Puymirol, as soon as they reached the -street. - -"I really don't know what to think of it, and I must admit that I shall -make no attempt to solve the mystery. The authorities will take charge -of that." - -"Well, Dargental did me many good turns, and I should like to avenge his -death, for I really believe he was murdered." - -"Indeed! But whom do you suspect? And what do you suppose was the object -of the crime? Robbery?" - -"No, he had nothing but debts. The porter, you recollect, told us that -his furniture had been attached. Some woman committed the murder. A -woman who was or who had been in love with him." - -"Then she killed him from jealousy, you think?" - -"Jealousy or revenge, which amounts to about the same thing. It must -have been one of his recent flames, probably the last one." - -"What, Blanche Pornic? But she lunched with us." - -"It is just because she lunched with us that I suspect her. She came to -the restaurant merely to prove an _alibi_. She may very well have killed -Dargental at eleven o'clock and yet have reached the Lion d'Or before -noon. Balmer can tell us at what hour she arrived. Besides, she may have -hired some other person to commit the crime in her stead. By the way, -have you forgotten what she said during lunch? Despite her sweet words -one could guess that she hated Dargental." - -"Indeed! why should she hate him?" - -"Because he was going to marry Madame de Lescombat. She could not -forgive him for preferring the countess to herself. And by the way, if -the inquiry proves that Dargental has really been murdered, Blanche -would be delighted should her rival be accused of the crime." - -"Well, she certainly didn't act in the right way to divert suspicion -from herself. It is strange that she should have treated us to that -narrative of the countess's career quite unsolicited; and if she is as -shrewd as you pretend--" - -"Did you notice her strange manner during the repast, and her abrupt -departure afterwards? She heard us say that we were going to Dargental's -to find out what had become of him, and she did not care to await the -result. She knew the cause of his absence only too well." - -"You may call these indications, if you like," replied George, "still -they hardly prove that Mademoiselle Pornic instigated the murder, and I -don't think her capable of such baseness. Dargental must have committed -suicide." - -"Oh, a man doesn't kill himself like that with his hat on his head and a -cane in his hand. It occurs to me now that his shirt was not scorched as -much as it would have been if the pistol had been placed against it. The -shot must have been fired from a distance of a few yards, and Dargental -probably fell just where we saw the pool of blood. The murderer -afterwards raised him up and seated him in the arm-chair." - -"That's possible," muttered George, somewhat shaken in his convictions. - -"Ah, you are coming round to my way of thinking, at last. Well, I return -to my first injunction. Look for the woman. Where is the woman?" - -"Well, if you feel so positive that a woman is mixed up in the affair," -said Caumont, after a long pause, "I am surprised that you don't think -of that countess whose first husband ended so badly." - -"That's absurd!" exclaimed Puymirol. "The first husband committed -suicide, and his widow certainly had no reason to make away with the man -she meant to take as his successor." - -"You know nothing about that." - -"Mademoiselle Pornic's inuendoes will rankle in your mind, I see. You -certainly place a deal of confidence in that venomous creature." - -"I might retort that you seem to feel a great deal of confidence in the -countess. Do you think of offering yourself as a substitute for -Dargental?" - -"No, but the countess is no worse than many other women, and your -suspicions are too ridiculous to be entertained for a moment. Don't you -recollect that telegram in which Madame de Lescombat said: 'I don't wish -to interfere with your farewell entertainment to your friends of both -sexes, but come and see me immediately afterwards.' So she must have -known that Dargental was breakfasting with one or more of his old -flames, and feeling no jealousy on that account, she had no grievance -against him." - -"Did she really say 'your friends of both sexes?'" - -"Those were the very words, my dear fellow, as you shall see for -yourself. I put the telegram in my pocket, you recollect, with the -intention of giving it to Dargental. Here it is." And Adhemar, after -rummaging in his pocket, drew from it not only the telegram, but also -the mysterious pocket-book. Then, turning suddenly, he dragged George -behind one of the newspaper kiosks on the boulevard, along which they -were now walking. "Didn't Blanche say that Dargental had just been -invested with the title of marquis?" he asked. - -"Yes, and she must have told the truth, for the valet said, 'Monsieur le -Marquis,' in speaking of his master." - -"Blanche also said, did she not, that Dargental had altered his name to -D'Argental?" - -"To please the Countess de Lescombat. The news did not surprise me. For -ennobling one's self by means of an apostrophe is a very common thing in -these days." - -"Well, look at this pocket-book. Here is a marquis's cornet, and a -capital A; that is to say, Marquis d'Argental." - -"What! you think that this case belonged--" - -"To our friend Pierre. And now I understand his death. He was killed by -some one who wished to regain possession of the letters he kept in this -case. So the crime was committed, or at least instigated, by a woman." - -"I admire your bold reasoning, though I think it decidedly paradoxical. -The scoundrel who stole this pocket-book would not have thrown it into -our cab." - -"You told me yourself that he was closely followed by two persons who -seemed to be watching him. He perhaps feared that he would be arrested -and searched; and he did not know that we were intimate with Dargental. -He thought that we should keep the pocket-book, and burn the letters -which could be of no possible interest to us, and which he was anxious -to get rid of at any cost." - -"Then, according to you, that man intended to return these letters to -the various women they compromised. You must admit that this supposition -is absurd in the extreme." - -"Oh! he was only acting on behalf of _one_ of the women." - -"Which one? There are three letters, but each of them is written in a -different hand. You said so yourself." - -"I may have been mistaken. I think I will examine them more closely. Let -us take a seat in front of that cafe. I see a table in a corner where we -shall be comparatively alone." - -George Caumont assented to the proposal, and as soon as the friends were -seated in a little niche in front of the Cafe Americain, Puymirol opened -the pocket-book. "Let us proceed systematically," he remarked. "Here is -the first letter. It is not long, but it is expressive. 'My adored one,' -it says, 'I am ready to leave everything to follow you, and to -sacrifice, for your sake, all that I prize most in this world, my -children and my good name. When shall we start? Say the word, and I will -join you. Take me to the end of the world, and make me your slave. I -shall be only too happy, for I cannot live apart from you.' I have -skipped the kisses. There are too many of them," concluded Adhemar, -sneering. - -"My children!" repeated George, ironically. "Then Blanche certainly did -not write that letter. She has no children." - -"Nor has Madame de Lescombat any. But let us examine the next missive: -'My friend, I have loved you, I love you still; but if you go on in this -way, I shall no longer love you. I shall even hate you, and I do not -conceal from you that there lurks in my heart a feeling that you would -do well not to arouse. Have you ever seen Sardou's "Hatred" played? -Well, I am a Florentine Parisienne, and I should know how to avenge my -wrongs, as Italian women revenged theirs in the middle ages. These are -no meaningless threats, my dear. To extricate you from a terrible -predicament I once committed an act that might have sent me straight to -the Assizes, and I mean to be rewarded by your devotion. You must choose -between her and me. You understand me, do you not? I await in reply, not -words, but acts. I shall expect you to-morrow, you bad fellow, whom I -love so much. Bring me what you swore to return to me, or there will be -bitter war.'" - -"The deuce!" exclaimed George, "that woman doesn't bandy words. I -should think her quite capable of conniving at Dargental's murder to -regain possession of a letter in which she owns that she had committed a -crime. She does not state what crime, but she may have committed -forgery; and if Dargental profited by the deed, as she says clearly -enough, he certainly had good reason to fear her vengeance." - -"Then, if this letter came from Blanche Pornic, you would be inclined to -think that the murder was committed by her orders, and for her benefit?" - -"I would not swear that such was the case; but it would seem very -probable." - -"Well, I know her; and I am sure that she was the writer of this -threatening missive. 'You must choose between her and me.' 'Her' is -Madame de Lescombat, her rival; and I would wager almost any amount that -the letter is not a week old. A day or two after it was written, -Dargental's intended marriage was announced. He had refused to fulfil -his promise, and Blanche avenged herself accordingly." - -"But if they had quarrelled to that point, he would not have invited her -to lunch with us this morning." - -"There is nothing to prove that she did not invite herself, in order to -throw us off the track. But let us pass on to the third letter." So -saying, Puymirol drew it from the pocket-book, unfolded it, and uttered -an exclamation of astonishment. "What is the matter?" asked George. - -Puymirol, instead of replying, proceeded to unfold the telegram, which -he had drawn from his pocket, with the Russian leather case, and spread -it out upon the table beside the third letter, which he had not yet -read. "This last missive certainly comes from Madame de Lescombat," he -grunted. "The handwriting is precisely the same as that of the -telegraphic note." - -"Then Madame de Lescombat was probably as deeply interested as her -rivals in regaining possession of her correspondence. You must admit -that." - -"Yes; but as Dargental was about to marry her, he would have returned -her the letter, had she desired it." - -"Who knows? Read it, and let me know your opinion afterwards." - -Puymirol complied, though somewhat reluctantly, for he was afraid he -would be obliged to change his first opinion. He read as follows: "'My -king, my love, my life, I am intoxicated with happiness. What blissful -hours I have spent with you! When will they return? Why did I allow you -to depart? I feel a mad desire to hasten after you, and throw myself in -the arms that clasped me so fondly. Before I met you I never knew what -it was to love. Now, however, my happiness is perfect, and I have proved -to you how ardent is my affection. I have placed myself in your power by -confiding my great secret to you. In a word, you might ruin me. And if I -write this, it is in order that you may have in your possession a -proof, a confession. If I deceived you, if I ceased to love you--But I -am blaspheming! I shall love you until my latest breath. But if I ever -give you any cause of complaint, show me no mercy, crush me, deliver me -up; I shall have deserved my fate. Oh, when will the day come when I -shall be able to acknowledge you as my lord and master before all the -world? When shall I bear your name? It seems to me that day will never -come. Eight months longer to wait! Eight months during which we must -conceal our love, and pretend to mourn a being I loathed. And what if -you learned to love another in the meantime? What if your infatuation -should return for the woman I hate the most because it was she whom you -most loved. Ah! I should die. It would kill me; but I should not die -without being avenged upon that creature.'" - -"Well, what do you think of that?" asked George. - -"I think that the lady was desperately in love with Dargental, and that -she was out of her mind when she wrote that letter." - -"It was evidently written just two months after her husband's death, for -she deplores the fact that her happiness must be deferred eight months -longer, and the law does not allow a woman to marry again until ten -months of widowhood have expired." - -"But it is at the least two years since Lescombat died of apoplexy." - -"Or of something else. Well, the marriage was deferred for some reason -or other, which is conclusive proof that the courtship was stormy. The -countess has had plenty of time to change her mind." - -"She did not change it, as she meant to marry Dargental next week." - -"I admit that; but perhaps she was not so much in earnest as formerly. -Dargental, in spite of his promises, had not severed his connection with -Blanche Pornic, and Madame de Lescombat may have regretted saying, and -above all, writing, so much; she herself could not break the engagement, -as he had her completely in his power." - -"And you fancy that she could devise no other means but murder to escape -him. That is absurd, my dear fellow." - -"Less absurd than your suspicions respecting Blanche, for this letter is -certainly from the countess; and we are by no means sure that the other -comes from the actress." Puymirol hung his head. He was obliged to -confess that George was right, though it cost him a struggle to admit -it. "However, I don't see," added Caumont, "why we should devote our -attention to this mystery. The authorities will take charge of that. You -have only to hand the letters to the commissary of police, and state how -you came into possession of them." - -"I shall not do that," said Adhemar quickly. "I don't want to inform on -any one." - -"But you talk about avenging Dargental's death." - -"Quite so, and when I learn who the guilty party is, I will decide on my -course. I shall begin my search after the truth to-morrow. Before doing -so, however, I want to know the result of the inquiry now in progress." - -"How will you learn that result?" - -"We shall be summoned as witnesses; and the questions put to us will -indicate how the magistrate views the affair. But we can not stay here -forever. Shall we go to the club? Balmer will be there by about four -o'clock; and there are some questions that I should like to ask him. He -was very intimate with Dargental, so he may be able to enlighten me -respecting certain circumstances." - -The two friends thereupon rose up and repaired to their club, a -second-rate establishment in the Avenue de l'Opera hard by. They had -been elected members, thanks to Dargental. On arriving, they found that -Balmer had not yet put in an appearance, so they sat down in a corner to -wait for him. Their thoughts followed very different channels. Puymirol, -while regretting Dargental, to whom he was indebted for many little -services, hoped to profit by his death, without knowing exactly how. He -had, however, more ambition than scruples, and though he would not have -stooped to blackmailing, he did not hesitate about fishing in muddy -waters. He said to himself that Madame de Lescombat, whether innocent or -guilty of the murder, would give almost anything to regain possession of -her letter, and that she would be disposed to assist any man who might -restore it to her; now, why should he not be the man? These intentions -were certainly not very laudable; but when a fellow wishes to succeed at -any cost, he must not be over fastidious. Caumont, on his side, did not -feel the slightest interest in the countess, and had only undertaken -Blanche Pornic's defence from a sense of justice. He had never liked -Dargental, though he had seen a good deal of him, having been dragged -into his society by Puymirol. He regretted his untimely death, but felt -no desire to avenge it; indeed, he was sorry that he had become mixed up -in the affair of the pocket-book and the letters. In point of fact, he -had other thoughts in his mind. He had recently met a young lady whom he -greatly admired, and whom he wished to marry. - -While the two friends thus sat side by side on a sofa, smoking in -silence, Charles Balmer suddenly appeared looking considerably excited. -"Do you know what has happened?" he asked, in a husky voice. "I have -just come from Dargental's." - -"We went there in advance of you. He is dead," said Adhemar. - -"He was murdered, my dear fellow. I fell into a nest of detectives, -magistrates, and physicians, and I thought for a while that they were -going to arrest me. They confined themselves to questioning me, -however." - -"Have they discovered the culprit?" asked Adhemar. - -"Well, they have arrested the valet, who stoutly denies any knowledge of -the crime. I know him, and I would stake my life upon his innocence. -Besides, Dargental's pocket-book was stolen, and it certainly was not -Jean who took it, for he was searched, and only thirty-seven sous were -found upon him. They are going to keep him in jail, all the same, but I -am convinced that his innocence will be established sooner or later on." - -"But how do they know that the pocket-book was stolen?" - -"Dargental always carried it in his breast-pocket. Jean himself told the -commissary so, and the pocket was empty. Poor Pierre! when I think how -we blamed him for keeping us waiting! He was just starting off to lunch -with us when he was killed--by whom, no one can tell." With these words -Balmer left the two friends to approach the card tables and inform the -other members present of the violent death which had befallen one of the -boldest players of the club. - -"Well," said George to Puymirol, "after what you have just heard, do you -still persist in your determination to usurp the functions of the -police?" - -"I not only persist in my determination, but I shall begin work this -very evening," replied Adhemar, taking up his hat. "You can return home -if you like; I mean to call on the countess." - - - - -II. - - -Every April the horse-show, held annually at the Palais de l'Industrie -in the Champs Elysees, is one of the favourite resorts of Parisian -society; and on the day when the chargers parade, ridden by lieutenants -and sub-lieutenants, quite prepared to break their necks in order to -attract the attention of the ladies, a large crowd is invariably -present. The attractive gathering took place that year a fortnight after -Dargental's tragical demise. Both George Caumont and Adhemar de Puymirol -were there, having met each other by appointment at the door. Since -their friend's death they had not seen nearly so much of each other as -usual. They still lived in the same house, and upon the same floor, but -in the morning, instead of going out together as formerly, each of them -went his own way, for George had refused to help Adhemar in discovering -the murderer, and spent his time in a manner more congenial to his -tastes. The fact that Dargental had not committed suicide was now -established, but, otherwise, no progress had been made with the -investigation. The valet was still in prison, but stoutly protested his -innocence, and there was really no evidence against him. Puymirol, who -might have furnished a clue as to the truth, remained obstinately -silent. Upon being questioned by the magistrate, on the day following -the crime, he had contented himself with relating the incidents of the -lunch. George Caumont had been equally reticent, and so had Balmer and -Blanche Pornic, who were also questioned; and as the valet persisted in -his denials, it would be necessary to set him at liberty sooner or -later. - -Puymirol's attempts to obtain an interview with the countess had proved -utterly fruitless. Madame de Lescombat received no one, and this was -only natural, after the tragical event which had bereft her of her -betrothed. A letter which Puymirol had written to her, requesting a -private interview, had remained unanswered, and our amateur detective, -greatly vexed, was, therefore, reduced to waiting for an opportunity -which might never present itself. On trying to console himself by -card-playing, he met with a terrible run of ill luck; and finding -himself most embarrassed, it is no wonder if he felt dreadfully out of -sorts as he strolled that day on Caumont's arm through the crowd inside -the Palais de l'Industrie. George, on his side, seemed to be eyeing the -occupants of the benches as if in search of some acquaintance. Indeed, -he suddenly let go of his friend's arm, and Puymirol exclaimed: "Ah! -there's your sweetheart--Well, go and see her. We will meet here during -the intermission that follows the hurdle race." - -"I can not promise to be punctual," replied Caumont, evidently anxious -to start off. - -In another moment he could be seen cautiously making his way towards a -remarkably charming girl, who sat with her friends in one of the -tribunes: but he seemed to be in no hurry to reach her, for he often -paused as he approached the staircase, which he would have to ascend. He -was not far from it when the young lady recognised him and smiled. He -thereupon eagerly bowed, blushing a little as he did so, and then, -quickening his pace, he began to elbow his way through the crowd--no -easy task. Just then, however, he found himself, to his surprise, face -to face with Blanche Pornic. The meeting was very disagreeable to -George, who knew that the eyes of the girl he admired were upon him, so -he endeavoured to turn a little aside and thus avoid Blanche, but she -resolutely barred his way. "I see that you are not particularly glad to -meet me," she remarked, laughing, "but I shall inflict my society upon -you to punish you for failing to call on me as you promised." - -"I did very wrong, I admit," replied George, "and I will atone for my -fault to-morrow; but you will excuse me for leaving you now, as I must -join a friend who is waiting for me." - -"He will have to wait then, for you can't go any further as another -trial is about to take place. Don't you hear the bell?" Blanche spoke -the truth. The promenaders, warned by the signal, had paused, and any -further progress was impossible. "I have you," she continued, "and I -sha'n't let you go, for I want to have a long talk with you about -Dargental's death." - -George resolved to make the best of the situation, so he replied: "Well, -as you insist upon broaching that sad subject, it is said that Dargental -did not commit suicide as was at first supposed." - -"No doubt," replied Blanche. "Suicide was far from his thoughts. He was -murdered, my dear fellow, and I believe I know the culprit." - -George had not expected to hear the person whom Puymirol suspected of -the crime make such a statement as this. "You know the culprit and yet -you have not denounced him," said he. - -"Oh! I make it a principle never to meddle with matters that don't -concern me." - -"But this does concern you. You knew Dargental so well." - -"No doubt; and he has died for having deserted me." - -"I don't understand you." - -"Oh! that doesn't matter. Had I cared to tell what I know, I should have -done so to the magistrate who questioned me; and I deserve some credit -for holding my tongue, for he insinuated that suspicion might fall upon -me. But I have nothing to fear, and I am going to stand my ground. Have -you seen the Countess de Lescombat?" added Blanche, abruptly, "I suppose -you know she is here." - -"Here, a fortnight after Dargental's death? It's impossible!" - -"She is enthroned up there in the stewards' stand, and Dargental's death -has not affected her in the least." - -"It is certainly scandalous," replied George. - -"Oh! she imagines that by showing herself here, she will make people -believe that Dargental was indifferent to her." - -"But all Paris knew of the connection, and she was about to legalise it -by marriage." - -"We knew it, but the banns had not been published, and Madame de -Lescombat will now declare that Pierre was a friend, and nothing more. -And people will end by believing that such was really the case, unless -some of her letters should be found among the poor fellow's papers. But -she is too shrewd to write. It is all very well for me who have nothing -to lose to be prodigal with my signature. If Dargental has not burned my -letters, an interesting collection will be found." - -"Dargental probably destroyed them; still, it isn't likely that they -contained anything that would compromise you," said George, scrutinizing -Blanche's countenance. - -"Well," replied Blanche, quite composed, "I never concealed my fondness -for Pierre, and I did for him what I would never have done for any other -living being. But when I learned to know him well, I deeply regretted -writing him a certain note, which might cause me a deal of trouble, -should it fall into the hands of the authorities. Dargental was quite -capable of keeping this note. I begged of him to return it to me before -his marriage, and if I accepted his invitation at the Lion d'Or, it was -because I hoped he would return it to me at dessert." - -"But in what way could this note compromise you?" inquired George, -trying to smile. "I presume that it didn't contain a confession of any -crime on your part." - -"You know nothing about women," replied Blanche. "The very best of them -are fools when their affections are involved, and I was madly in love -with Dargental. To save him from any danger, I would have stolen or -committed murder, but I did not go to such lengths as that; still I did -him a service that might have cost me dear. I tell you this, because I -know I can trust you; but, pray, say nothing to your friend Puymirol -about the matter, for I have no confidence in him. He sides with the -countess, and I am almost certain that he just left you to go and pay -his respects to her. But what do you think of the show this year?" - -"It is about the same as usual, I fancy." - -"You wonder why I came, probably. Well, I came here to see the officers. -Like all the rest of my sex, I am fond of uniforms. There is one officer -here whom I have taken a special fancy to. Shall I point him out to -you?" - -"Certainly," replied George, although he was not at all interested in -the matter. - -"Step here a moment, then," said Blanche. A hurdle trial was now taking -place, and as the different competitors passed by, she indulged in -lively criticism. "There he is, at last," she continued, pointing to a -young sub-lieutenant and then clapping her hands like a child, she -added: "Isn't he handsome?" - -George looked at the rider, who had excited her admiration, and beheld a -tall, well-built young man, with a handsome and genial face, mounted -upon a half-bred horse, which he managed with wonderful skill and ease. -"Do you know who he is?" Caumont asked of Blanche. - -"No; but I should very much like to know. If he does not receive the -first prize, the judges will be guilty of the grossest injustice. Did -you notice him bow to these ladies over there, that young girl in a lace -bonnet, with an older lady, who must have been very handsome, and who -still has some good looks left her?" George glanced in the direction -indicated, and, on recognising the ladies, blushed so deeply that -Blanche resumed: "So they are friends of yours? You need not blush like -a schoolboy, for they are both charming, the girl especially, and I am -delighted that you know them; for now you can introduce the lieutenant -to me." - -"You had better not count upon that," retorted George, drily. - -"Oh! you need not take offence, I meant no harm. You seem to be deeply -interested in one of the two ladies; and I should never forgive myself -if I prevented you from following the dictates of your heart any longer. -So go, and good luck to you!" - -George now thought of reaching the tribune to join the ladies who -interested him far more than Blanche Pornic's revelations. The trial was -over, the judges had retired for deliberation, and Caumont was about to -climb the stairs when he perceived the people he wished to join coming -down towards him. The daughter was in front, and she smiled as he stood, -with uncovered head, eagerly awaiting her approach. He had been -introduced to herself and her mother by an old schoolmate of his, now a -civil engineer, who had informed him that Madame Verdon was the widow of -an iron manufacturer who had left a fortune of twelve hundred thousand -francs, which would revert, partly to his son and partly to his -daughter, Gabrielle, the young girl who was now descending the stairs. -George had often met her and her mother in the Luxembourg gardens and -had visited them at their residence on the Boulevard St. Michel, very -near his own abode. He had gradually fallen in love with Mademoiselle -Verdon, but being well aware of the objections that might be made to him -as a suitor for the hand of a young lady blessed with an income of -twenty thousand francs, he had carefully abstained from playing the part -of a lover. Still, he had eyes, and he saw very plainly that the -daughter liked him, and that the mother did not seem to discourage his -pretensions. He even fancied that Madame Verdon had been unusually -cordial of late, and he wondered if the time had not come for him to -make some advances. He wished, however, first to have an explanation -with the young girl, and then if he met with any encouragement from her, -to ask her hand of her mother. But a favourable opportunity had not yet -presented itself. Indeed, Dargental's death, and the judicial -proceedings following upon that tragical event, had, for some days, -engrossed George's attention to such an extent that he had scarcely seen -the Verdons. "Good-morning," exclaimed the mother, as she now -approached. "We haven't seen you for a long time past. What have you -been doing with yourself? Gabrielle has lost all fondness for the -Luxembourg garden since you have ceased visiting it." - -"Yes, monsieur," chimed in the young girl, "it is very unkind of you to -desert us, and your conduct is inexcusable, for it cannot be your law -studies that engross you, as you spend your time here." - -"It is the first time I have been here this year, mademoiselle." - -"Oh! I am not scolding you. It is much more amusing here than in our -quiet neighbourhood, especially for you who are probably acquainted with -all these people. I, myself, have eyes only for my brother." - -"Your brother, mademoiselle?" - -"Yes," replied Madame Verdon, "my son, Albert, has just taken part in -one of the trials, and as I am confident that he will receive the first -prize, I came here expressly to enjoy his triumph. You must allow me to -introduce him to you when the awards have been made. He has a three -months' leave, which he will spend with us." - -"I thought your son was still at Saint Cyr," stammered George. - -"He has been promoted to sub-lieutenancy in the Seventh Cuirassiers. -This promotion makes me feel very old, I assure you; and I must confess -that I am rather averse to admitting that I have a son who is twenty-six -years of age." - -"You will see how handsome my big brother is," interrupted Gabrielle. -"All the ladies applauded him enthusiastically when he jumped the last -hurdle. The one who was talking with you must have split her gloves in -her fervour." - -George said nothing, but he blushed to his very ears. He had flattered -himself that Gabrielle Verdon had not noticed his long conversation -with Blanche Pornic, but he could no longer delude himself on the point. -"Doesn't your father ever come to Paris, now?" inquired Madame Verdon. -"He must be very fond of horses?" - -"My father is getting too old to travel about much," replied George, -somewhat astonished by this remark. - -"I understand. When a person has charge of a large estate, it is -difficult for him to absent himself. An estate is like an iron foundry: -it needs constant attention. I know something about that, for I spent -ten years in the valley of the Vosges. My husband only took me to Paris -once a year. You scarcely remember that time, child. Monsieur Jacques -has not forgotten it, however." These concluding words were evidently -addressed to a gentleman whom George had not before noticed, but whom -Madame Verdon now disclosed to view by stepping a little aside. This -person was tall, broad shouldered, and stoutly built. His rather coarse -features gave him a stern air, and he was wanting in elegance of manner, -although he was very neatly dressed. "Let me introduce Monsieur Jacques -Rochas, my husband's former partner, and his successor," resumed Madame -Verdon. "He has just sold the iron works he purchased from us, and has -come to reside in Paris. You will meet him frequently at our house." - -George bowed coldly, and the stranger returned the salute in a somewhat -bearish fashion. Both gentlemen seemed ill at ease, and Madame Verdon -herself appeared rather uncomfortable. "Here are the victors now," cried -Gabrielle. "Albert leads the procession. Let us get a little nearer to -see the party form. Use your elbows, Monsieur George, and make room for -us through the crowd." And without troubling herself as to whether her -mother was following her or not, she turned to the left, followed by -George, who asked no better than to have a private interview with the -young girl. - -"Madame Verdon will think I am running away with you," he said, -jestingly. - -"We shall be able to find her again presently, without any trouble," -replied Gabrielle. "She doesn't worry herself much about me just now. -Here is a good place for a quiet talk, and I wish to speak to you upon a -serious subject." - -"I am entirely at your service, mademoiselle," replied George, who was -greatly astonished. - -The musicians now struck up a triumphal march, and, amid the din, -Gabrielle resumed: "I warn you that I am going to ask you a very strange -and improper question. You have been paying me considerable attention of -late. Do you love me?" - -This question was indeed unexpected--the more so as well-bred young -ladies habitually wait for it to be put to them. Mademoiselle Verdon was -certainly reversing the usual order of things; but George promptly -answered: "Love you, mademoiselle! yes, with my whole heart. I have not -yet dared to tell you so, but--" - -"No protestations. I believe you, and I am going to enable you to prove -the truth of your words. Do you wish to marry me?" - -"Such is my most ardent desire. If I could hope that your mother would -grant me your hand--" - -"She will, if you ask her for it now; that is to say, within a few days. -Later on, she will, perhaps, refuse you." George could not understand -the meaning of all this, as his bewildered mien showed plainly enough. -"The situation is simply this," continued Gabrielle: "My mother wishes -to marry again. This news may surprise you, but it is true, -nevertheless. She wishes to marry again, to enter society. Her children -are in her way, and she does not at all care to keep them with her. My -brother does not so much preoccupy her. An officer goes about from -garrison to garrison when he is not in the field, so she will seldom see -Albert; but as I cannot leave her as long as I remain single, she is in -a hurry to get me married off. She is looking for a husband for me, and -if you do not speak out she will content herself with the first comer." - -"Oh! she will easily secure a much more eligible suitor than myself, for -I have neither money nor prospects." - -"I have money enough for two, and your future depends upon your -intelligence and industry. My mother knows this perfectly well; she also -knows that I like you. Moreover, she has made inquiries respecting you. -She has received information that your family is highly respectable, and -that your father will leave you his estate and some capital. She is in a -hurry to settle the matter, for you see it would not do for both the -mother and the daughter to marry within a few days of each other. She -dreads ridicule, and she is quite right, for all our acquaintances would -laugh at her. But if I now became your wife, she would trouble herself -no further about me. She would leave Paris, and, after travelling -awhile, she would be married in Switzerland or Italy. She told me -yesterday that she wished to leave next month, and that she did not want -to take me with her. The only refuge left for me would be a convent, for -I cannot follow Albert's regiment about, and he is my only relative." -George was so overwhelmed by these disclosures, that he did not know -what to reply, and Gabrielle concluded that he did not care for her. "I -see that you are shocked to hear me talk in this way," she said, sadly. -"I know I do wrong in censuring my mother's conduct in your presence, -and throwing myself in your arms, as it were. But I never could disguise -my feelings, and I always speak straight to the point. I thought you -loved me well enough to do me justice. If I am mistaken I must bear the -penalty of my imprudence; but you at least cannot accuse me of -dissimulation." - -"On the contrary, I sincerely thank you, mademoiselle, for divining the -feelings which I dared not express, and I entreat you not to take my -silence as a sign of coldness or hesitation. My delight overcame me. I -was so little prepared for the happiness you have announced to me." - -"It is not my fault if I did not explain the situation sooner. I have -not seen you for several days. But, now, will you authorise me to inform -my mother that you intend to ask for my hand in marriage--at an early -date?" - -"To-morrow, if I have your consent, mademoiselle." - -"Thank you," replied the girl, earnestly. "I can never do enough to -prove to you my love and gratitude. My brother will be as pleased as I -am when I introduce you to him by-and-by. They are very slow in forming -the procession, it seems to me," continued Gabrielle. "They have no -right to keep a sister waiting so long for her brother's triumphal -entry." - -"Nor a mother who is longing to applaud her son," added George, in a -somewhat questioning tone. - -"Mamma? Oh, yes, she is fond of Albert, but she will wait quite -contentedly, as her intended husband is with her." - -"Her intended husband?" - -"Ah! I forgot to tell you that she expects to marry the person she just -introduced to you, Monsieur Jacques Rochas." - -"Your father's former partner?" - -"That is the title my mother gives him. The truth is, he was formerly a -foreman at the iron works. He subsequently became superintendent, and, -after my father's death, he leased the works. He made a good deal of -money, and finally purchased the place from us. It seems that he has -just disposed of it very advantageously, and is now much richer than we -are." - -"But it cannot be for the sake of his money that your mother wishes to -marry him?" - -"No, though my father only left her one fourth of his property. She -likes Monsieur Rochas, but, for myself, I cannot imagine what attraction -she can possibly find in a man who has a very limited education, and -whom she formerly regarded as an inferior. He looks very like a farrier, -and he is stern and gloomy, as well as taciturn." - -"I noticed that he did not greet me very cordially just now. I am -inclined to think that he will not approve of our marriage." - -"You are very much mistaken there. He suspects that I don't like him, -and he is anxious to separate me from my mother. It matters very little -to him whom I marry, providing I cease to live with her. He wishes to be -absolute master in his own house, and probably thinks that I might rebel -against his authority." - -"But what does your brother say to Madame Verdon's plans?" - -"Oh! I am sure that he will be furious when she announces her intended -marriage to him. He will certainly try to dissuade her, but he won't -succeed, for she has engaged herself to this man, and she is really -afraid of him. But there is my brother Albert passing now." And so -saying, Gabrielle raised herself on tiptoe, and with her gloved hand -began to shower kisses upon the young officer, who seemed blind to this -exhibition of sisterly affection. In fact, he appeared to be gazing with -extraordinary persistence at somebody whom George could not see. Just -then, too, the young lieutenant dexterously caught a little bunch of -violets that was sent flying at him through the air; he smiled at the -sender of this fragrant missile, and then, giving his horse the rein, -galloped off without even seeming to suspect that his mother and sister -were present. "Didn't I tell you that he was turning all the women's -heads?" whispered Gabrielle to George. "He is so handsome! But I should -like to get a look at his latest victim." - -This wish was promptly gratified, for, just then, the crowd divided to -allow Blanche Pornic to pass. She had a triumphant air, and the smile -with which she had just favoured the young lieutenant was still upon her -lips. "Why, it is the same person whom you were talking with when we -came down the steps," remarked Gabrielle. "I am afraid she has bewitched -my brother. Did you notice that he kept the bouquet of violets she flung -at him? But here is my mother coming with Monsieur Rochas. If she were -alone, I should beg of you to remain with us; but this gentleman's -presence would not prove congenial to you, so take leave of my mother, -and meet us in the Luxembourg garden to-morrow. We shall be there at -four o'clock." - -George took his leave as Gabrielle suggested and was about to turn away, -when a hand was placed on his shoulder, and on looking round, he found -himself face to face with Charles Balmer. "I have found you at last!" -exclaimed the latter. "I have some news for you about Dargental's case. -Poor Pierre's valet has spoken at last." - -"How do you know?" inquired George. - -"Why, I am intimate with the magistrate to whom the investigation of the -case is entrusted, and he tells me that Jean now remembers, that at -about nine o'clock on the morning of the murder, a rather -suspicious-looking man rang at the door. Jean answered the bell, and -this man, who seemed greatly annoyed on seeing him, asked for some -person whom Jean had never heard of. He then said that he must have made -a mistake in the number of the house, and went off without insisting any -further. Ten minutes later, Dargental, having completed his toilet, sent -Jean to Madame de Lescombat's with a letter, and Jean, as he left the -house, saw the same man standing in a doorway on the opposite side of -the street. He thought very little about it at the time, but started off -on his errand. The countess resides at some distance from Dargental's -house; besides, our friend had given Jean several other commissions, -which explains why he failed to return until you and Puymirol reached -the scene of the catastrophe. The fact is, that strange man must have -seen Jean leave the house, and then, realising that our unfortunate -friend was alone, he went upstairs again, whereupon Dargental himself -must have opened the door." - -"No doubt; but to what motive does the magistrate ascribe the crime?" - -"To robbery, as Dargental's pocket-book is missing." - -"But are you sure that this pocket-book contained any money?" - -"One cannot be sure, of course, but it seems more than probable. -Dargental was in the habit of carrying all the money he possessed about -him, and Jean declares that his master, on going to bed at night, always -placed his pocket-book under the bolster. Besides, all the drawers have -been carefully examined, and not a penny has been found in the place." - -"And no article of furniture was forced open by the murderer?" - -"None, whatever. He evidently knew exactly where to look for what he -wanted. Besides, he was probably anxious to get away as soon as -possible, as some one might have come in at any moment. It seems that -the only clue the authorities possess consists of a memorandum in -Dargental's handwriting which was found in the ante-room. The murderer -must have dropped it on opening the pocket-book, for the imprint of his -bloody fingers is visible on one corner of it." - -"And what is this memorandum?" - -"Robergeot would not tell me--Robergeot is the magistrate. He has great -confidence in me, as he has known me from my infancy; but he has a very -keen sense of professional duty, so that all I have been able to learn -is that the note in question may prove of great use in discovering the -criminal. I certainly hope the brigand will be apprehended, for if the -murder of my friend Dargental should go unpunished, I believe I shall -really die a year before my time, and that would upset all my -calculations, for I still have money enough left to last me thirty -months longer." - -"Ah, yes, I forgot that you were a chronic consumptive," said George -ironically. "Poor fellow! However, if this is all you have to tell me--" - -"Yes, for the time being; but I shall see Robergeot again, and I will -keep you well informed, though you don't seem to take much interest in -the affair. You are not like Puymirol. He knows that I am acquainted -with the magistrate, and he asks me every day how the investigation is -progressing. But speaking of Puymirol, are you aware that he lost five -hundred louis more at cards last night?" - -"No, I just left him, but he said nothing to me about it," murmured -George, surprised and still more annoyed at this news. "Perhaps he has -not gone off yet. I am going to wait for him at the door." - -"That means, you have had enough of my company, so I will leave you." - -George was now anxious to see Puymirol, for he felt that his friend had -no right to keep a pocket-book and letters which might put the -authorities on the right scent, for he did not believe that the robbery -of any money had had anything to do with the crime. Moreover, he wished -to ask Adhemar how he was situated financially, and ascertain if this -last loss of ten thousand francs would not prove an irreparable -misfortune as he greatly feared. He therefore hurried to the grand -entrance where there was a dense crowd, at sight of which he almost -despaired of finding Puymirol. However, luck favoured him, but, first, -he saw Blanche Pornic pass out, accompanied by a young officer who was -none other than Albert Verdon. She did not stop to speak to George, but -she gave him a mocking smile as she passed by. She had succeeded in her -purpose; the young lieutenant to whom she had taken such a fancy, had -evidently been impressed by her charms. George had not time to think -over the matter, for just then, Puymirol, coming upon him unexpectedly, -caught hold of his arm, and dragged him off, exclaiming: "I want you to -do me a favour." - -"Nothing would give me greater pleasure, but I have not got the amount -you lost at the club last night," replied George. - -"That isn't the question. I have at last succeeded in securing a few -moments' conversation with the countess, and I am now going to see her -at her house, where we shall probably have a decisive interview. Her -letter is a weapon which I have resolved to use, but I don't want to -have it about me during my first visit, so do me the favour to keep the -pocket-book for me until to-morrow." - -"Dargental's pocket-book! Not if I know it!" - -"So you are afraid of compromising yourself. Very well, merely take the -letters, then." And Puymirol, as he spoke, drew all three of them out of -the compartment in which they had been placed, and, after thrusting them -into George Caumont's hand, hastened rapidly away. - - - - -III. - - -The Countess de Lescombat's residence on the Boulevard de Courcelles was -an imposing structure which, in Italy, would certainly have been styled -the Lescombat Palace. Standing majestically between a large court-yard -and spacious grounds, this seigneurial mansion seemed intended to -accommodate some exiled king. M. de Lescombat, who had erected this -residence, had been a _blase_ sceptic, knowing no law save his own -caprice. After amusing himself for several years, he had crowned his -career as an eccentric millionaire by marrying the pretended ward of a -middle class libertine, a certain Octavia Crochard, whose story had been -accurately related by Blanche Pornic, the actress. The result of this -marriage was that M. de Lescombat suddenly took his departure for a -better world after bequeathing his entire fortune to his wife, and -whatever Blanche might say to the contrary, it was scarcely likely that -he had committed suicide, for he had certainly had every reason to -desire to remain alive. However, the countess, as soon as she became a -widow, behaved with the utmost tact. She retained the services of the -old Marchioness de Monastier, a dowager who had long assisted the count -in doing the honours of his princely mansion, and who was now quite -willing to act as chaperon to his widow; and a most complaisant -chaperon she proved, winking at such secret peccadillos as Octavia -indulged in. The countess now meant to lead a quiet, independent life, -but a woman's plans are rarely carried out. Shortly after her husband's -death, Dargental was introduced to her by a mutual friend, and she soon -became so infatuated with him, that she promised to marry him at the -expiration of the ten months' delay prescribed by law. - -This promise had failed to take effect, as her intended husband had been -taken from her by a most terrible, unforeseen catastrophe. It may be -asked, how had she borne this terrible blow? Madame de Monastier alone -could have answered the question, for since Dargental's death Madame de -Lescombat had not left her house, and he had been buried without her -showing herself at the funeral. Moreover, all Puymirol's efforts to -enter into communication with her had proved unavailing. Everything -seemed to indicate that she meant to let a suitable interval elapse -before she emerged from seclusion, and, indeed, when Puymirol met her at -the horse show it was the first time that she had appeared in public -since her lover's death. She had thought it an excellent opportunity to -let people understand that she had no intention of immuring herself -forever, and so she had repaired to the Palais de l'Industrie in a -toilet suited to the occasion. She there received the friends who -approached her with perfect serenity, and cut their expressions of -condolence short by a few well-chosen words. - -Puymirol knew her but slightly. Dargental had taken him to two or three -of her entertainments, and as he was a superb waltzer she had noticed -him at the time; but he feared that she had now well-nigh forgotten him, -and that she would pay no more attention to his remarks than she had -paid to his letters. He was thus agreeably surprised when he saw her -smile upon him in the most engaging manner while he approached the -tribune where she was seated. He then stationed himself at the foot of -the staircase, and, deciding to bide his time, waited for the countess's -departure, when he might have an opportunity of saying a few words to -her in private. Indeed, when the show was about to close for the day, -the countess descended the steps, and leaving the two or three gentlemen -who were in obsequious attendance upon her, came straight towards him, -apologized for not having received him at her house, and inquired if it -would suit him to come and see her that very afternoon. Puymirol eagerly -accepted the invitation, although her unexpected cordiality aroused his -distrust. However, on catching sight of George, he forthwith determined -to place the letters in his keeping as a precaution against a -fascination he feared. He reached the countess's house but a quarter of -an hour after her own return, and a footman at once escorted him through -a suite of magnificent apartments to the boudoir where the lovely widow -usually received her intimate friends. He found her armed for conquest. -She was certainly a superb creature. Tall, with faultless shoulders, she -had a head like that of a Grecian statue, and her white brow was -crowned with heavy coils of ruddy hair, of the tint which the Venetian -masters were so fond of. Puymirol seated himself in a low chair near -her, and was wondering how he should open the conversation when, without -any preamble, she exclaimed: "Let us talk of poor Pierre, shall we not?" - -"Pierre Dargental?" said Puymirol. "Yes, that was what brought me here." - -This was only partially true, however, for he admired the countess -exceedingly, and, besides, now that he was in her presence, he -experienced the wonderful charm that she exercised over all the men who -approached her. She, no doubt, realised it, for, fixing her large green -eyes, full of a strange fire, upon him, she softly said: "I thought you -had called partially on my account." - -"And you are right," exclaimed Puymirol, impulsively. - -"Then I forgive you for your almost rude remark. We are already old -friends, you and I, for it was more than a year ago that poor Pierre -introduced you to me. Do you recollect the ball at which you led the -cotillon?" - -"I remember it as if it were but yesterday." - -"And so do I, for I have never met your equal as a waltzer since. But -you have made no effort to see me since last winter." - -"I feared annoying Dargental." - -"Yes, he was terribly jealous, but, poor fellow, I forgive him. His -terrible death has been a sad blow for me. I see by your face that you -don't believe that--no doubt, because you saw me at the show just now in -a spring toilet. However, a woman is not obliged to put on a black dress -to be deeply afflicted. My heart is in mourning, but I don't deem it -necessary to publish my grief." - -"Oh, I don't presume to criticise you, madame. On the contrary, I bless -the chance that brought about a meeting between us, for you have -repeatedly refused me an interview." - -"I treated everyone alike. I even thought strongly of leaving Paris for -a few months, but I finally came to the conclusion that absence would -not cure my grief, and I summoned up courage to shake off the -prostration to which my loss had reduced me." - -"I trusted that you would at least reply to the letter in which I begged -of you to grant me an interview." - -"You must not be offended with me on account of my failure to do so. I -never write to any one. It is against my principles." - -"But you must break this rule sometimes," said Adhemar, gazing -searchingly at the countess. - -"Not often," was the calm response. "My autograph letters ought to fetch -a good price, for there are certainly very few of them." - -"It would, doubtless, surprise you very much if I told you that I have -one in my possession." - -"Indeed! I should really like to see it." - -"Well, I regret that I haven't got it with me. I should add, however, -that it is a very unimportant document; the telegraphic note you sent to -Pierre at the Lion d'Or." - -"Yes! I recollect that. But I cannot imagine how you came by it." - -"Poor Dargental was dead when it was delivered. We were ignorant of the -fact, and were breakfasting without him, at the time, and Charles -Balmer, who was one of the guests, took the liberty to open the message -and show it to us." - -"That doesn't surprise me. Monsieur Balmer is always doing something -stupid. But I am surprised you kept it." - -"I meant to hand it to Dargental as soon as the lunch was over. But, -alas! I arrived at his place too late." - -"Yes," murmured Madame de Lescombat. "I know the terrible story." - -"I should have returned the note to you if I had been able to see you, -and I will return it now whenever you like, but I have read and re-read -it many times, and I now know your writing as well as if I had received -hundreds of letters from you." - -"And what do you think of the contents of this famous missive?" - -"I think you were most kind and indulgent as regards poor Pierre in -letting him invite to that lunch--" - -"Some of his old flames. Well, I felt tolerably sure of him, but in my -secret heart I was a trifle anxious, as you may judge from the fact that -I begged him to come and see me as soon as the repast was over. How many -ladies were present?" - -"Only one, Blanche Pornic." - -"Ah! he had sworn never to see her again," sighed Octavia. "It grieves -me to think she was there. She nearly ruined poor Pierre. I succeeded in -getting him out of her clutches, and she has never forgiven me for it. -She, no doubt, spoke about me during the lunch?" - -"Yes, madame, and I won't conceal from you the fact that she isn't very -kindly disposed towards you." - -"Oh, I can guess what she said about me. She told you that I was the -daughter of a Lyons' weaver, didn't she? That is the truth, and I'm not -ashamed of it. She also told you that I didn't love my first husband, -and that I deceived him, I suppose. The fact is, he never did inspire me -with any other feeling than gratitude, but he asked nothing more, and he -never had any reason to complain of me." - -"Mademoiselle Blanche pretended that he poisoned himself." - -"I scorn to notice that calumny. It is as unworthy of notice as she is. -Fortunately, I shall never be obliged to hear her name mentioned again." - -"Who knows?" said Puymirol. "She let me understand that she had some -powerful weapons against you--letters." - -"Letters! Why, didn't I tell you just now that I had never written to -anyone but Pierre in my life?" - -"That would be quite enough. A few lines suffice to compromise one at -times, and if Dargental was ever foolish enough to show a note of yours -to that girl, she may have managed to obtain possession of it." - -The countess turned pale, and her assurance failed her. "I will never -believe that," she said, in a voice that trembled in spite of all her -efforts. "Pierre treated me badly at one time, but he was incapable of -intrusting any damaging secret to this creature; besides, she wouldn't -have kept it. I authorize you to tell her, from me, that what she says -is false, and that I'm not afraid of her." - -"Nothing would suit me better but I don't visit her, and there is very -little probability of my meeting her anywhere." - -Madame de Lescombat reflected for a moment, and then said: "But what if -I asked you to see her again? What if I begged of you to question her, -and discover what she referred to when she threatened to produce I don't -know what proofs against me?" - -"I should comply with your request, of course; but if Blanche suspected -that I came on your behalf, she would probably be emboldened, and might -publish your letters if she has any." - -"She hasn't any," was the quick response, "but you are right. It is best -to let the matter drop, and not to trouble ourselves any further about -this creature." - -Puymirol was satisfied. The countess had fallen into the trap set for -her. The anxiety she had failed to conceal conclusively proved how much -importance she attached to the recovery of some particular letter, and -this letter was unquestionably one of those contained in the -pocket-book. - -However, before Puymirol could decide what use he should make of the -advantage thus gained, his companion said, thoughtfully: "It is strange, -but I talk to you exactly as I should talk to an intimate friend. It is -true that I am much better acquainted with you than you suppose, for -although Pierre seldom brought you to see me he was always talking about -you." - -"He was not particularly enthusiastic in his praises, I suppose?" -interrupted Adhemar, smiling. - -"Nor in his censure. He was inclined to be jealous of you; but he liked -you, and could not refrain from doing justice to your qualities. He used -to say that you were always brave, and that you never despaired, either -at the card-table or in your love affairs. It was the same with him; and -it was for that very reason that I loved him, though my love for him -certainly cost me dear. Yes, why should I hide from you the fact that I -have lent him large amounts over and over again. Still, I never even -regretted the inroads that his passion for gambling made in my fortune. -I was only too happy to help him, and I think I should almost have hated -him if he had refused my proffered aid." - -"You are presenting Dargental to me in a new light," said Puymirol, -biting his lips. - -"Oh, I see that you have your prejudices like all the rest of your sex. -You think it perfectly right and natural to deceive a woman and reduce -her to despair by deserting her, and yet your pride revolts at the mere -thought of accepting a pecuniary favour from her. Well, for myself, I -don't dislike the idea that my lover should treat me as an equal. -Dargental, at first, had the same ideas as you have, but I succeeded in -winning him over to my way of thinking; and if I ever pledge myself to -another man, I shall require him to sacrifice the foolish pride you seem -to admire so much." - -"You would have great difficulty in converting me. I would rather resign -you than submit." - -"You are not my lover. If you were, I flatter myself that I should -succeed in overcoming your opposition. I should say to you, 'You lost -ten thousand francs last night, on parole, and you are miserable because -you don't know how you will manage to pay the money. Here it is. Take -it, or I shall know that you do not love me.'" - -Adhemar started. He, himself, had lost exactly ten thousand francs on -the evening before, and Madame de Lescombat's shot told. Was the remark -really intended for him, or was it by a mere chance that she mentioned -such a case, and that exact amount? He did not know, but however that -might be, he must make some reply. "That is a test to which I should not -like to be subjected," he exclaimed. "It would be a cruel alternative, -you must admit." - -"Perhaps so; but come, Fortune has frowned upon you. You admit it, do -you not?" - -"Well, I do admit it. For a fortnight past, I have done nothing but -lose. One would think that Dargental's death had brought me bad luck." - -"It will bring misfortune upon others as well. Your last evening at -baccarat was most disastrous, was it not?" - -"How do you know?" - -"Why, there was a member of your club in the tribune at the horse show, -and on seeing you bow to me he naturally spoke of you, and of the game -you played last evening. He told me that you were an excellent player, -as cool when you lost as when you won. That is all very well; but one -must be able to pay one's debts of honour." - -"I shall pay mine," said Adhemar drily. - -"I have wounded you, I see," replied the countess. "Believe me, the -offence was unintentional. I have a bad habit of not concealing my -feelings, and of imagining that I have a right to oblige those I like. I -heard that you were embarrassed pecuniarily, and my first impulse was to -help you. It was for that reason that I asked you to call here. If you -refuse my offer you will wound me deeply, I assure you." - -"What would you think of me if I accepted it?" - -"I should think that I inspired you with sufficient liking and -confidence to make you willing to become my debtor. I merely propose a -loan. With Pierre, it was different. Pierre was to marry me. We had the -same interests, and my fortune was his; but I shall accommodate you -exactly as one friend accommodates another, and if you insist upon it, -I am willing to accept your note for the amount." - -"My note would not be worth more than a verbal promise, for I have no -security to give, and I should probably be unable to meet the note when -it fell due. If I consented to accept your offer, I should never dare to -set foot here again, and that would be a terrible deprivation for me." - -"You wish to see me again, you say, and yet you hesitate to make this -slight sacrifice of pride? It is not in this way that I wish to be -loved." - -"Then you would be willing to accept my love and devotion?" exclaimed -Puymirol. - -"A coquette might give you an evasive answer. But I am made of different -stuff, and I frankly answer 'Yes.'" - -Acting upon the impulse of the moment, Adhemar made a movement as if to -throw himself at the countess's feet, but she checked him with a -gesture, and said, smiling: "I desire no rash or premature -protestations. Listen to me before you go any further. I have been -sufficiently frank with you for you to believe me when I tell you what I -think, and feel. At my age a woman can hardly resign herself to -perpetual widowhood, and for that reason I was on the point of marrying -Pierre, though I might have done much better, for I had serious reason -to complain of him. But you are not going to ask me to marry you, or -even to engage myself to you forthwith, I suppose?" - -"No, for you would refuse." - -"No doubt; and, besides, the man who cares to win me must be my friend -and my ally against my enemies." - -"Is it possible that you have any enemies?" - -"Have you forgotten Blanche Pornic? She might injure me greatly; and I -cannot contend unaided against a woman who has nothing to lose." - -Puymirol now began to understand the countess's advances, and his -self-possession returned to him, in a measure. It was evident that she -wished to bind him to her at any cost. - -"You may be right," he said, after a moment's silence. "Blanche is -capable of anything; besides, she has good reason to feel anxious, for -the authorities believe that Dargental died by violence, and she has -been closely questioned, and may be examined again." - -"Can she be accused of murdering him?" - -"Not exactly, as she is still at large. But the police are looking for -the murderer; and rumour attributes the crime to one of our friend's -former sweethearts, who hired some one to kill him, so as to regain -possession of certain letters." - -"What did I tell you a moment ago? This creature undoubtedly wrote him -something that revealed her in her true character. I am sure of it; for -Pierre told me one day that he had something in his possession which -would suffice to send her to the Assizes. I am perfectly willing to -repeat that to the magistrate." - -"That would be very imprudent; for Mademoiselle Pornic, in self-defence, -might declare that you also had written to Pierre, and that you were -even more interested than she was in regaining possession of your -correspondence. At the beginning of our conversation, you yourself -admitted that there were some danger in this." - -"And I asked you to try and frighten Mademoiselle Pornic out of the -notion of slandering me. You politely refused. I shall, perhaps, be -obliged to apply to a bolder person. Where does this woman live?" - -"At No. 34, Avenue de Messine. But it would be useless for you to apply -to her. Not a single letter was found at Dargental's. Besides, his -pocket-book had been stolen from him." - -"A Russia-leather pocket-book, with his initial and a marquis's coronet -upon it!" exclaimed the countess, greatly agitated. "I gave it to him." - -"Well, the question is to ascertain into whose hands it has fallen," -remarked Puymirol. "If it has come into Blanche Pornic's possession, she -will have destroyed her own letters, and have preserved yours." - -"I can compel her to return them to me." - -"I doubt it. If I thought it possible, I should not hesitate to make the -attempt." - -"My hand and fortune shall be the reward of the man who will restore my -letters to me," said the countess, boldly. - -It was impossible to declare more plainly that she was at the mercy of -the person who had possession of her missives to Dargental, and -Puymirol, still under the charm of her wonderful beauty, felt anxious to -win the promised reward. "I will do all in my power to serve you," he -said, rising, after he had pressed a kiss upon her soft white hand. - -"Then begin by taking the five hundred louis you need to pay your -gambling debts," was the quick reply. - -"Anything but that," rejoined Puymirol, firmly. "Will you permit me to -call again to-morrow?" - -"At any hour you like. I shall always be at home to you." - -Puymirol certainly deserved some credit for refusing Madame de -Lescombat's offers of pecuniary assistance, for never since the outset -of his struggles in Parisian waters had he found himself in an equally -trying position. A fortnight's continuous ill luck had reduced him to -penury. It is true that he still had twenty-four hours' respite left -him, but if he had had a month at his disposal, he would have been no -better off, for he had nothing to expect from any one. George Caumont -could render him no assistance, and his Aunt Besseges would not send him -a penny, even had he merely asked her to advance him a portion of his -next quarter's allowance. - -There is nothing really better than violent exercise for dispelling -gloomy thoughts, and, being fully aware of this fact, Puymirol, after -taking leave of the countess, repaired to his club, and entered the -fencing-room, in the hope of finding some pleasant company, and of -gaining an appetite by a bout with some foemen worthy of his steel. He -fenced in turn with three of the best swordsmen present, even worsted -the professor, and then having attained a tranquil state of mind, he -began to consider where he should dine, and in what way he should spend -his evening. - -The club dinner not being quite ready, he decided to patronise the Lion -d'Or, where he had not set foot since the catastrophe. He strolled there -and went in without noticing a gentleman who was talking with the -doorkeeper, and who entered immediately behind him. However, the first -person he saw inside was Blanche Pornic, seated at table with a young -and handsome officer. The meeting displeased him, but it was too late to -beat a retreat. Blanche would think he was purposely avoiding her, and -he did not wish to arouse her suspicions. She gave him a friendly smile -as he passed by--a smile which made her companion turn to look at the -new comer who was greeted so familiarly. Puymirol responded by touching -his hat politely, and then walked on to the other end of the room, for -he felt that the right moment for an interview with Blanche had not yet -arrived, and he did not care to be in her immediate neighbourhood. -Having ensconced himself in a corner, he ordered a first-rate dinner, -and under the influence of some generous wine his ideas soon assumed a -roseate hue. It was only when he had finished his dessert and had just -poured himself out a little old brandy, that he noticed that a person -dining in front of him--the gentleman who had followed him into the -restaurant--was staring at him with strange persistency. Puymirol -returned the stare with interest, and perceived that this stranger was a -man considerably older than himself, carefully dressed, but with -somewhat the look of a provincial. He did not once lower his eyes, but -kept them persistently riveted on Puymirol, and the latter, who was by -no means patient, soon called a waiter and ordered him in a loud voice -to go and ask that gentleman why he was staring at him in such an -extraordinary manner. The frightened servant did not seem at all anxious -to deliver this disagreeable message, but the offender had heard the -order, and laying his napkin on the table, he quietly rose, and came -straight towards Puymirol, who prepared himself for an attack. However, -the stranger, probably in order to convince Adhemar that he had no -hostile intentions, began by bowing very politely, and then said, in a -conciliatory tone: "Excuse me, sir, for having looked at you in an -offensive manner. But I was trying to find some excuse for speaking to -you, and now that you have furnished it, I will ask the favour of a -moment's conversation." - -"What have you to say to me?" retorted Puymirol, without abandoning his -threatening attitude. - -"Permit me first to take a seat at your table. If I continue to talk to -you standing, I shall attract the attention of all the people present. -They are already beginning to watch us, and they will think I am trying -to pick a quarrel with you, whereas my intentions are really of the most -peaceable kind. Besides, what I have to say to you is strictly -confidential." - -"Very well, take a seat and explain yourself, but be brief. First of -all, who are you?" - -"My name would have no significance to you," said the stranger, sitting -down. "I don't know yours, nor do I wish to know it." - -"But how can you have any business with me if you don't know my name? -You are fooling me, and I am going--" - -"Pray, grant me a hearing. I was at the door of the restaurant when you -came in, and I asked the door-porter if you had not come here one day, -under circumstances which he was bound to remember. He replied in the -affirmative, so I followed you in, wondering how I should manage to -enter into conversation with you. Pray, believe that I should not have -watched for your coming here during a whole fortnight, if mere idle -curiosity had prompted my desire to make your acquaintance." - -"You dare to admit that you have been playing the spy on me for a -fortnight?" - -"I was not playing the spy, I merely told the doorkeeper that I would -give him two louis if he would point out to me a gentleman who came here -one morning in a cab to lunch with a party in a private room. He was -anxious to secure the promised reward, of course, but you did not make -your appearance until to-night." - -"Well, confine yourself to facts. What do you want with me?" - -"Before explaining myself more fully, I wish to satisfy myself that I am -not making a mistake. So allow me, sir, to ask you one question, only -one. Did you not, on Wednesday, the 9th of April, pass through the Place -du Carrousel in a cab which turned into the Rue de Rivoli?" - -"I have passed through the Place du Carrousel hundreds of times in my -life," said Adhemar, "but I am not at all sure that I passed through it -on the day you mention. I have no reason to recollect such an -insignificant occurrence." - -"You came here to lunch with some friends. You were not alone in the -cab--" - -"Well, say there were two of us, but what difference can that make to -you and why have you taken so much trouble to look me up?" - -"It did, indeed, cost me a deal of trouble. My only clue was the number -of the cab, so I first tried to find the driver and ultimately -succeeded. He remembered you very well on account of the liberal -gratuity you gave him on dismissing him, and he told me he had set you -and your friend down outside the Lion d'Or. I then spoke to the -door-porter of the restaurant, who said that he knew you by sight, but -that he was unable to give me your name or address; and the head waiter -either could not or would not tell me anything. I again applied to the -door-porter, giving him two louis, and promising him two more. He knew -that you dined here sometimes, and he promised to point you out to me -the first time you came if I had patience enough to wait for you every -day between seven and eight. I accepted his offer, and by waiting -patiently, I have at last accomplished my object." - -"Well, well, come to the facts, for although you have been talking ten -minutes or more, we have made no progress whatever." Puymirol had now -abandoned all idea of repulsing the stranger. His curiosity was greatly -excited, and he determined not to part with this man until he had -subjected him to a close examination. - -"I am coming to the facts, sir, and I trust you will not take offence at -the question I am going to ask you. Did you find a pocket-book in the -cab which brought you here a fortnight ago?" - -"Here it comes at last!" thought Puymirol. "I have you now, my fine -fellow." - -"A pocket-book?" he repeated aloud in pretended astonishment. "No, -certainly not. Had there been one in the cab I should of course have -left it there, and as you know the number of the vehicle you should -apply to the authorities, or rather to the driver, as you have succeeded -in finding him." - -"The driver saw nothing of it. He told me so, and I am sure that he told -the truth." - -"Then you may as well abandon all hope of recovering your pocket-book. -It must have been appropriated by one of the persons who hired the -vehicle afterwards. Did it contain any bank-notes?" - -"Not one; nothing, in fact, but a few lottery tickets which amount to -nothing, for no one ever wins anything in the gigantic humbugs that are -so extensively advertised." - -"Then, why do you attach so much importance to the recovery of such -worthless property?" - -The stranger reflected for a moment, and then said, gravely: "I don't -know who you are, sir, but I feel sure that you are an honourable man, -so I do not hesitate to tell you that a woman's reputation is at stake. -The pocket-book also contained several letters." - -"Good! I understand now. You fear that these letters may have fallen -into the hands of some person who will make a bad use of them. That is -improbable, however, as they could hardly interest the finder. But how -the deuce did you happen to leave them in the cab--for I suppose they -were addressed to you?" - -"You are mistaken, sir. The woman who wrote them commissioned me to -claim them from the man who received them. I was fortunate enough to -obtain possession of them, but only after a deal of difficulty. I will -even admit to you that I was obliged to threaten the scoundrel who held -them, and who intended to make use of them. He finally yielded, but he -hoped to regain possession of them, and with that object he had me -followed by two of his hirelings. I found that out, and surmised that -his spies first intended to find out where I was going, then to spring -upon me just as I was entering the house, and wrest the pocket-book from -me." - -"In broad daylight, and in the heart of Paris? Why, you need only have -summoned a policeman or some passer-by to foil the scoundrels." - -"That was exactly what they wanted. Had I called for assistance, my -assailants would have accused me of stealing the pocket-book. A crowd -would have gathered round us, and we should have been taken before a -commissary of police, who would have found the pocket-book upon me. An -examination of its contents would have been enough, and more than -enough, to ruin the person I wished to save." - -"Well, if I had been in your place, I should have crossed the bridge, -and thrown the pocket-book into the Seine." - -"Yes, I might have done that, but the idea did not occur to me. I was -just turning out of the Rue de Rivoli when I saw several cabs waiting to -enter that street. On passing the last one I laid my hand on the ledge -of the open window, and dropped the pocket-book inside." - -"The men who were following you must have seen your gesture." - -"The fact that they continued to follow me is sufficient proof to the -contrary. I amused myself by leading them as far as Montrouge. There I -entered a house that has two doors, and succeeded in escaping from -them." - -"But you must have expected that the occupants of the cab would pick up -the pocket-book." - -"Yes; but as it could not be of the slightest use to them, I hoped I -should regain possession of it. I took good care to note the number of -the cab, and you see I accomplished my object, as I have succeeded in -finding you." - -"That is to say, you suppose I am one of the persons who were in the cab -at the time." - -"I am sure of it, and I am also sure that, touched by the trying -situation in which I am placed, you will return the pocket-book to me." - -"You are too hasty in your conclusions, for even if the article were in -my possession, I should not return it without due consideration. In the -first place, I should have to know whom I have to deal with, for there -is nothing to prove that you are not an emissary of the man, who, as you -pretend, hired some fellows to follow you. You would have to tell me -your name and address, in order that I might make the necessary -inquiries respecting you." - -"My name and address are a secret that I am not free to divulge. Be more -generous. Restore me the letters without demanding my name. It would be -a most kind and noble action, and later on, I shall be able to repay the -debt of gratitude I owe you." Puymirol seemed in no haste to reply. He -now felt sure that Dargental's murderer sat before him, and he was -asking himself what course he had better pursue. "I can now confess that -I fully expected to purchase the pocket-book from the finder," continued -the stranger. "I was ready and willing to give him as many thousand -francs as he chose to ask for it; but, on seeing you, I realised that -such a course was out of the question. One can not offer money to a -gentleman like you. One can only appeal to his feelings, and invoke his -pity for an imprudent woman." - -"You argue exactly as if I had the letters in my pocket," said Adhemar, -in order to gain time. - -"In your pocket, or in your desk at home, which amounts to the same -thing, as it is in your power to restore them to me in either case." - -"You would consent to accompany me home, then?" - -"Instantly, if you wish it." - -"But I don't wish it. You refuse to tell me where you live, so I don't -see why I should tell you where I live." - -"Well, there is nothing to prevent you from making an appointment with -me for to-morrow at this same restaurant." - -"I only make appointments with my friends." - -"Am I to take this as your final answer?" - -"Yes, and I will now state my reasons. I did see this pocket-book. It -fell into my lap. Now that you have enlightened me, there is no reason -why I should deny the fact any longer. But, as for returning the -article, it is impossible, as it is no longer in my possession." - -"You can at least tell me what you have done with it." - -"I did what any one else would have done with it. I left it at the -office of the commissary of police." - -The stranger turned perceptibly paler, but he did not lose countenance. -"At the office of the commissary of the Chaussee d'Antin district?" he -asked. - -"Do you think of claiming the article?" rejoined Puymirol, wishing to -evade this rather embarrassing question. - -"Possibly. Before doing so, however, I must consult the person who is -most interested in the matter. But you, no doubt, opened the pocket-book -before taking it to the commissary's office?" - -"Yes; and on discovering that it only contained some papers, my first -impulse was to throw it out of the window, but on reflection I said to -myself: Russian leather has its value, and I thought that the papers -might furnish a clue to the owner of the article." - -"Did you read the letters?" - -"I glanced at them, and seeing that they bore no signature I replaced -them in the pocket-book," replied Puymirol, at the same time suddenly -noticing the direction of the stranger's glance, which was turned upon -his--Puymirol's chest. Instinctively raising his hand he found that one -end of the pocket-book was now projecting from his breast-pocket. He had -unbuttoned his coat on sitting down to dinner, but he now hastily closed -it again. - -"I am greatly obliged to you," said the stranger, slowly. "For I now -know where the letters are. I am very sorry to have troubled you, and I -will not inflict my company upon you any longer." With these words he -rose, returned to his table, and asked the waiter for his bill. - -"I see your little game," thought Puymirol, "you intend to follow me -when I leave the restaurant. Try it, old fellow, we shall see." And -then, wishing to be quite free in his movements, he also asked for his -score. - -The two bills were brought at the same time. They both paid, and the -stranger rose to go. While he was putting on his overcoat, however, -Puymirol asked in a loud voice for some cigars of a particular brand, -which, as he knew perfectly well, was not kept in the house. This was -done solely for the purpose of convincing the stranger that he did not -intend to leave the table for several minutes, and the fellow fell into -the trap. Puymirol saw him pass down the main staircase, and disappear -behind the curtains of the vestibule. A moment afterwards, he also rose, -slipped on his overcoat, and passed out, not by the main exit, but by a -side-door, communicating with the Hotel du Helder, of which the -restaurant is an adjunct. He duly proceeded to the hotel entrance, and, -peering out, looked up and down the street. It was dark, and no foot -passengers were visible, but, finally, inside a wine-shop, brilliantly -lighted up and only a few yards off, he saw a person standing near the -glass door with his eyes fixed on the restaurant. Puymirol waited ten -minutes or more watching this man, and at last the glass door opened, -and the fellow crossed the street to the Lion d'Or and spoke to the -doorkeeper, who at once darted up the stairs leading to the restaurant. -"Good!" thought Puymirol, "the scoundrel wants to find out if I am still -at table. When he finds that I have left he will decamp without loss of -time. I hope the head-waiter won't tell him which way I went out. But if -he does, this man will never suspect that I am still here, and if he -should come this way, I can easily conceal myself." - -A moment later, the doorkeeper returned and evidently reported the -result of his mission. The stranger slipped a gratuity into his hand, -crossed the street, and then walked slowly towards the Boulevard -Haussmann, without pausing to look around or behind, as he would have -done had he suspected that anyone meant to follow him. "My ruse has -succeeded," muttered Puymirol, "and the rascal can't escape me now. I -certainly mean to follow him, and when I have found out where he lives, -all the rest will be plain sailing." - -On reaching the end of the Rue du Helder, the man paused for an instant, -and then turned down the Rue Taitbout. "Perhaps he isn't going straight -home," thought Puymirol. "When he threw the pocket-book into the cab he -was bound for the left bank of the river, so he must live in that -direction. Perhaps he is now going to see the woman whose cause he has -espoused. I must be careful." - -Puymirol did not at first realize that to follow a man successfully the -pursuer must remain some little distance behind. If he follows him too -closely, he is almost sure to attract his attention, and this almost -happened at the corner of the Rue de Provence, when the stranger was -obliged to stop short to let a carriage pass. He went on his way almost -immediately, but it was a lesson that Puymirol profited by. The stranger -now went up the Rue de la Chaussee d'Antin, as far as the Place de la -Trinite, where he again hesitated, and Puymirol had to hastily conceal -himself behind a vehicle. However, the stranger finally decided to cross -the square and went down the Rue de Londres, but on reaching the Place -de l'Europe he stopped again. A train was passing under the railway -bridge, and he leant over the railing to watch it. One might have -fancied that he had nothing better to do than to kill time by strolling -about the streets. At last, however, he leisurely turned into the Rue de -Madrid, and it suddenly occurred to Puymirol that this street crossed -the Avenue de Messine, where Blanche Pornic resided. True, he had seen -Blanche with an officer at the restaurant, but she might have finished -her dinner and have returned home in a cab before now, so possibly this -man, who had murdered Dargental, was her hireling. But on reaching the -corner of the Avenue de Messine, the stranger, instead of entering that -thoroughfare, walked on as far as the Rue de Vigny, a short street, at -the end of which the Lescombat mansion stands. The mystery was solved. -The stranger was certainly going to the countess's house. He was not in -Blanche's employ but in hers. Puymirol forthwith returned to his first -plan, which was to make a direct attack upon Madame de Lescombat. He now -held her secret, and she could not refuse him anything, for she was at -his mercy. Still, it was necessary for him to make sure that the man -entered her house, and for some minutes past the pursuit had been -attended with much more difficulty. This part of Paris is but little -frequented in the evening, and Puymirol and the man he was following -were the only persons in the street, so that, if the stranger turned, he -could hardly fail to notice his pursuer. However, the stranger did not -turn. On the contrary, he walked on with his head bowed upon his breast, -and a cigar in his mouth, apparently oblivious to everything transpiring -around him. He was already passing the high wall that inclosed the -grounds of the Lescombat mansion. There was here a small gate, but, -instead of ringing at it, he pushed on towards the boulevard, where the -main entrance was situated, and Puymirol finally saw him disappear round -the corner. He followed on in hot haste. Two windows of Madame de -Lescombat's abode were lighted up--those of the boudoir where the -countess usually sat--but the stranger was not in front of the gate. -Puymirol thought he must have already gone in, and he himself was about -to ring, when he perceived the fellow standing in the middle of the -thoroughfare, and gazing at a fountain. However, the light of an -approaching omnibus was visible in the distance, and Puymirol thought -that the stranger might be waiting for it. But he was again mistaken. -The omnibus passed on; the man crossed the boulevard, and turning into -the next street, walked off in an exactly opposite direction to that -taken by the omnibus. "No matter," muttered Puymirol, "I will not lose -sight of him until I see him enter a house. Even then, I must satisfy -myself before I leave, that the house he enters is really the one he -lives in. Baccarat has nearly ruined me, but I still have enough money -about me to bribe a doorkeeper. At all events, I shall persevere until -the end." - -After going a short distance, the man turned suddenly to the right, into -a street that Puymirol was not acquainted with, but which must lead back -to the point they had left a few moments before. "Can he have noticed -me, and is he trying to throw me off the scent?" Puymirol asked himself -for the first time. "Or, has he allowed me to follow him, in order to -draw me into some trap? It would not astonish me on the part of such a -scoundrel as he is." Indeed, the fellow knew that the pocket-book was in -Puymirol's possession, for he had seen it projecting from his coat at -the restaurant, and he had every reason to suppose that the letters were -still inside it. This reflection made Adhemar pause, but only for a -moment. He had gone too far to retreat, so he hurried on again, -soliloquising: "Fortunately, I left the letters with George. There are -only some lottery tickets in the case, and, after all, I don't see why I -should even leave them inside." And, thereupon, he opened the -pocket-book, took out the tickets and slipped them into his waistcoat -pocket, replacing the case in his coat. - -The stranger was now some distance in advance, for the person walking -along so rapidly about half-way up the street must certainly be he, and -Puymirol, seeing him again turn to the right, hastened on regardless of -the noise his boots made on the asphalt. But he had mistaken another -pedestrian for the enemy he wished to overtake, for just as he was least -expecting it, his foe, emerging from an alley in which he had concealed -himself, sprung out upon him, and seized him by the throat. Puymirol was -strong, but the attack was so sudden and so violent, that he had not -time to defend himself. He felt a violent twist, and that was all. His -breath failed him, his arms fluttered, and he lost his footing, falling, -half-fainting, upon the pavement. He did not entirely lose -consciousness, but his sensations were vague and confused. He fancied -that there was a heavy weight upon his chest, that his coat was being -unbuttoned and his pockets searched, but all this was done so quickly -that he was scarcely aware of it. How many minutes elapsed before he -fully regained his senses, he never knew; but when he did recover them, -he perceived that his assailant had disappeared. He rose with -difficulty, and while satisfying himself that he had no bones broken, he -likewise discovered that his pocket-book had disappeared. His watch, his -money, and the lottery tickets were safe, however. His assailant had -merely wanted to get the letters, and he was foiled in his attempt, for -he had not found them. - -Puymirol endeavoured to console himself with this reflection, but -although he still possessed the letters he did not know what use to make -of them. Nothing short of a miracle was now required to extricate him -from his dilemma, but Puymirol was no believer in miracles. - - - - -III. - - -While Puymirol was engaged in these adventures, George Caumont was -dreaming of his love. He had gone to the club after dinner in the hope -of finding his friend, but failing in this, he had comforted himself -with the thought that Puymirol would be sure to return home sooner or -later, and accordingly he went back to the Rue de Medicis where they -occupied separate suites of apartments in the same house. George fell -asleep dreaming of Gabrielle Verdon; but as soon as he awoke in the -morning, he repaired to his friend's rooms of which he had a key, just -as Adhemar had a key to his, and on going in, he found the bed -undisturbed. This discovery made him rather anxious, and after waiting -in vain all the morning, George finally determined to go in search of -Adhemar. He first repaired to the residence of the Countess de -Lescombat, knowing that Puymirol had gone there, but a fresh -disappointment awaited him, for the countess was out, and the -doorkeeper, whilst admitting that M. de Puymirol had called on the day -before, added that he had only remained a short time. George thereupon -left his card, with the announcement that he would call upon Madame de -Lescombat on the following afternoon, and re-entering his cab, was -driven to the club. He learned that his friend had been fencing there on -the day before, but that nothing had been seen of him since then; -whereupon he made a tour of various gambling-houses, where Puymirol -might have spent the night, but no one could give him any news. -Disheartened by this failure, George finally drove back to the Rue de -Medicis with a vague hope of finding that Adhemar had returned. But in -this expectation he was likewise disappointed, and after writing a few -lines, in which he begged Puymirol to wait for him in case he came back -before he did, he made a hasty toilet and repaired to the Luxembourg -garden in search of Gabrielle and her mother. He soon found them seated -alone near a clump of shrubbery, Madame Verdon reading a newspaper, -whilst Gabrielle was busy with some crotchet work. M. Rochas was not -with them, though there were three chairs. George realised that they -were expecting him, and that Gabrielle had chosen this spot so that they -might not be disturbed. She gave a cry of delight on perceiving him, and -her mother greeted him with an encouraging smile. - -"Your coming is most opportune, sir," she graciously remarked. "We were -just speaking of you. Yes; I was just saying to Gabrielle that her -brother is very unlike you. You are faithful to your friends, whereas -that naughty boy ignores me entirely. Would you believe it, we have not -seen him since the horse show, and he reached Paris only yesterday -morning. He will make his appearance sooner or later, I suppose, and -consider himself deeply aggrieved if we do not give him a cordial -reception. But, let us say no more about that, but talk of something -else. My daughter has told me everything." - -George bowed, but remained silent. - -"Come, don't be over modest," continued Madame Verdon. "You have known -ever since yesterday that Gabrielle loves you, and that I approve of her -choice. She has never concealed anything from me, and she has repeated -to me every word that passed between you. It is as well you should know -that I have always told her: 'My dear girl, marry to suit yourself. I -shall have nothing to do with the affair, excepting as regards giving my -consent when you ask me for it. I think you incapable of loving a man -unworthy of you. I shall, therefore, trust to your discernment, and take -care not to thwart your inclinations.'" - -This little speech rather surprised George, but he was obliged to admit -that there was considerable good sense in the lady's theories, and he -was really grateful to her for thus breaking the ice. Besides, he could -not forget that Gabrielle's frankness, far from shocking, had delighted -him, and he could not consistently blame the mother for acting in the -same way. - -Madame Verdon added some remarks as to George's father, his own position -and prospects, and finally exclaimed: "I feel sure that you will make my -daughter happy, and as it does not seem necessary to consult her--" - -"Not at all necessary, mamma. I am already engaged," exclaimed -Gabrielle, gaily. - -"Then," resumed Madame Verdon, "I give my consent. And now, my dear -son-in-law, you can confer with my notary whenever you please. He will -explain my daughter's financial situation to you, and you can explain -yours to him. Gabrielle's fortune is entirely at her own disposal. She -has her share of her father's property, and I shall also give her a -dowry of two hundred thousand francs. Your father will certainly do -something on his side, so you will be able to begin housekeeping with at -least thirty thousand francs a year." - -"You are too generous," murmured George. "I wish mademoiselle were poor. -In that case, she could not doubt my disinterestedness." - -"Do you think that I doubt it now?" asked Gabrielle, quickly. - -"I am sure that I don't," chimed in Madame Verdon, "and as you love each -other, that is enough. Everything else is of little moment, I have -always been of that opinion, and when I was young nothing could have -induced me to marry for money, nor could anything induce me to do such a -thing even now." George pricked up his ears. He realised that the lady's -confession would not be much longer deferred. "The moment has come," she -continued, "to inform you of a project, which my daughter has, perhaps, -mentioned to you. I am about to marry again, and I am sure you will -approve of my resolve, when you become better acquainted with my -intended husband, whom I introduced to you yesterday at the Palais de -l'Industrie. Monsieur Jacques Rochas is several years older than myself, -but I should not care to marry a young man. He is a widower, but he has -no children, and he is wealthy. His disposition and character suit me. -I am perfectly well aware that this is no reason why they should please -every one, and I shall not insist upon my daughter and my son-in-law -living with us. My plans for the future are made. Jacques and I intend -to travel a good deal, and when we settle down, we shall purchase a -chateau not far from Paris, where we can entertain our friends. You will -always be very welcome there, you and Gabrielle, but as neither of you -has much liking for a country life, you had better install yourselves -comfortably inside Paris. Remember that I shall never cease to take an -interest in my dear Gabrielle's welfare and in yours. I even hope to -contribute to your happiness. I was anxious to tell you all this, for I -did not wish you to engage yourself to my daughter without a full -knowledge of all the circumstances. If this explicit statement of my -intentions does not displease you, it will only remain for us to fix the -wedding-day." - -"The earlier the date, the better pleased I shall be," said George, with -an ardent glance at Mademoiselle Verdon. - -"Well, I can not speak for Gabrielle, who maintains a determined -silence, but I should like to leave France for Switzerland--Monsieur -Rochas's birthplace--about the middle of May." - -"A fortnight would be ample time to accomplish all the formalities." - -"Let us say a fortnight, then. I will leave it to you young people to -fix the precise day; still I shall forthwith announce this great event -to Monsieur Rochas, who will feel very glad I'm sure; and that young -rogue, Albert, will condescend, I hope, to lead his sister to the -altar." - -"Are you not afraid that your son may be displeased at not being -consulted?" inquired George. - -"My son has no voice in the matter." - -"And he loves me too well not to rejoice at my happiness," added -Gabrielle, quickly. "He will be our best friend." - -"Well, if he goes on as he has begun, you are not likely to see much of -him," said Madame Verdon, gaily. "But how about your friend, Monsieur de -Puymirol? I hope he will act as your best man, or at least as one of -your witnesses on your marriage-day. He is a very handsome young fellow, -and as you two are inseparable, I hear, I hope you will soon introduce -him to us." - -"Certainly," murmured George. "I haven't seen him to-day, but I shall -meet him this evening, no doubt, and--" - -"Oh, I can very readily understand why you did not bring him with you, -this morning," interrupted Madame Verdon. "On such an occasion the most -intimate friends are in the way. But, speaking of intimate friends, I -must tell you that there is a person whom you will see a great deal of -when Gabrielle becomes your wife, for he cannot bear her out of his -sight. That is our worthy friend, Roch Plancoet." - -George gave the ladies a questioning look as if asking what was the -nature of the bond that united this stranger to Mademoiselle Verdon. -"Roch was my father's foster-brother," said Gabrielle, prompted, -probably, by a desire to reassure her lover. "They were brought up -together, and after my father's death, he could not make up his mind to -abandon my brother and myself, for he had been deeply attached to us -from our infancy. When we came to Paris, he came here as well. He is a -most devoted friend, but he is painfully shy. You have never yet seen -him, and never will see him, in my mother's drawing-room, but not a day -passes without his coming to the house to spend an hour or two with me, -and he would go through fire and water to spare me pain. He is old -enough to be my father, and he loves me as if I were really his -daughter." - -"Yes, you are a great favourite with him," said Madame Verdon, "but -every one is not fortunate enough to be in his good graces. He is very -fond of your brother, too, but he is not at all partial to me, and I am -quite sure that he does not like Monsieur Rochas. By the way, Gabrielle, -I am surprised that we have seen nothing of him since yesterday -morning--" - -"So I have found you at last," at this moment cried a clear, ringing -voice that made all three of the party glance up hastily. "I have been -looking for you fully three quarters of an hour. I met Roch at your -door, and he told me you must be here." - -"Albert!" exclaimed the young girl, springing up and flinging her arms -about the neck of her brother, who embraced her heartily in return. "We -have been so uneasy about you!" she cried. "Where have you been, you bad -fellow?" - -"Oh, I had to dine with some comrades, of course. It would not be worth -while winning a prize, if one didn't celebrate one's good fortune by a -dinner afterwards." - -"Nonsense!" exclaimed Madame Verdon. "Confess that you have been dancing -attendance upon the damsel who threw you some violets." - -"I haven't the slightest idea what you mean, mamma," replied the young -lieutenant, frowning. - -"Oh, well, we will say no more about it," rejoined Madame Verdon. "You -are no longer a schoolboy, and I have no right to keep you tied to my -apron strings, but if I were your colonel, I should put you under -arrest. But I have two pieces of news for you. First, however, allow me -to introduce Monsieur George Caumont, who will soon be your -brother-in-law. We were just deciding upon the wedding-day." - -Albert instantly became serious, but a questioning glance which he gave -Gabrielle elicited from her a happy smile. "Do you remember what I wrote -to you last winter?" she asked. "It is true I did not mention any names, -but--" - -"I should think I did remember!" exclaimed the young officer, "and I was -going to inquire about the happy man this very day. As it is this -gentleman, I must ask him to shake hands with me. I trust we shall be -good friends." - -"I sincerely hope so," replied George, cordially shaking the -lieutenant's proffered hand. - -"You don't belong to the army?" resumed Albert. - -"No, indeed," exclaimed Madame Verdon. "Monsieur Caumont is just -completing his law studies. His father is a landed proprietor in -Normandy." - -"Well, Monsieur Caumont pleases Gabrielle, and that is enough for me, -mamma. If he didn't, I would not take him for a brother-in-law." - -"My preference has always been for marriages of inclination," replied -Madame Verdon; "love matches, if you like--and you will need no better -proof of that than my announcement of my own approaching marriage with -Monsieur Jacques Rochas." Albert turned pale, but did not say a word. It -was evident that he was making a violent effort to control himself. -"Monsieur Rochas was your guardian," continued Madame Verdon, drily, -"and for ten years he has been almost one of the family. Our marriage is -a settled thing, and nothing that you can say, will make any difference. -However, Gabrielle's wedding is the first thing to be considered. I -expect it will take place in about a fortnight's time." - -"And yours, mother?" asked Albert. - -"Mine will come off next month, in Switzerland, probably. On my return -to France, I shall live in the country, and very quietly." - -"That will be best," remarked Albert, gravely. - -George began to look very uncomfortable, and Gabrielle had tears in her -eyes. "I am sorry to leave you, my dear Monsieur Caumont," now said the -mother, "but it is growing chilly, and my daughter and I must return -home. Remember, however, that from this time forth our home is yours. I -leave you with my son, whom you ought to convert to a sensible way of -thinking." - -Madame Verdon rose up as she spoke, and Gabrielle followed her, but not -until she had given her brother and her lover a meaning glance. The two -young fellows, on being left alone, strolled towards a cafe at Albert's -suggestion, and while quaffing a glass of beer, they began to chat like -two old friends. Albert, who showed himself remarkably communicative, -related his adventures with Mademoiselle Blanche Pornic, beginning with -the horse-show and winding up with the announcement that he had dined -with her on the previous evening at the Lion d'Or. - -"At the Lion d'Or! that's singular," muttered George, thinking of the -lunch ordered by Dargental, and at which Blanche had figured so -prominently. - -"Why is it singular? It seems to be a very popular restaurant. We had -scarcely sat down when in came a gentleman whom Blanche knew, and whose -name she told me--a Monsieur de Puymirol." - -"Puymirol! are you sure that you are not mistaken in the name?" cried -George. This was the first news that he had received of his friend for -twenty-four hours, and it seemed strange that tidings should reach him -in such a roundabout way. - -"Perfectly sure, for Blanche told me an interesting story in connection -with this gentleman. He was the intimate friend, it seems, of a -Monsieur Dargental who was murdered a fortnight or so ago." - -"Did she tell you that?" - -"Yes, and a deal more. She pretends to think that the gentleman in -question was murdered by one of his old flames--a Countess de Lescombat, -whom she seems to hate. I even suspect that they must once have been -rivals. But is this story really true? I never saw anything about it in -the newspapers." - -"There is this much truth in it: Dargental was killed by a pistol shot, -but no one knows who fired it." - -"I certainly hope it wasn't Blanche. That would rather dampen my ardour. -Would you believe it, my dear fellow, she wanted me to pay a visit to -this countess and threaten her, but of course, I refused." - -"Threaten her with what?" - -"I didn't very clearly understand. It was something about some letters -that Blanche had written, and which had fallen into the hands of the -countess. Blanche wants to regain possession of them, and she seemed to -think that I could assist her in obtaining them. However, I told her -very plainly that the mission did not suit me, and then she insisted no -further. On the contrary, we parted the best friends in the world." - -"Well, believe me, I don't speak lightly; but I advise you to have -nothing more to do with Blanche Pornic. She is a very attractive woman, -but there are plenty of others equally charming; besides, there are -circumstances that render any intimacy with her undesirable, and even -dangerous just now. Dargental's tragical death has created a good deal -of talk, and the authorities have begun an investigation. I know that -Blanche has been questioned already, and maybe she may still be -implicated in the affair." - -"Hum! that would be serious; but excuse me, I see over there a worthy -man whom I wish to introduce to you--Roch Plancoet, my poor father's -foster brother." - -"Madame Verdon just spoke of him to me." - -"Then you already know that he is the best friend we have in the world. -He has been devoted to my sister and myself from our earliest infancy. -He might have made a fortune in the business--he was in a fair way of -doing so--but he has come to live in Paris on an income of six thousand -francs a year, because he couldn't exist without seeing Gabrielle. We -will have a chat with him if you don't mind. Here, Plancoet!" The -promenader looked up, recognised Albert, and hastened towards him. "How -are you, old fellow?" asked the young lieutenant, slapping him -familiarly on the shoulder. "You must take a glass of beer with us. Sit -down. Do you see this gentleman? Well, he is Gabrielle's intended -husband." - -M. Plancoet did not seem to be very much surprised by this abrupt -announcement, but he looked searchingly at George, who returned the -scrutiny with interest. This faithful friend of the Verdon family seemed -to be about fifty years of age, and he was still strong and hearty. His -strong features bespoke unusual energy, and strength of mind. His eyes -were keen and intelligent, and his smile had much of the patient -sweetness of a man accustomed to sacrifice himself for others. In short, -his appearance was decidedly prepossessing, and George instantly -conceived a strong liking to him. "I trust, sir," he said, almost -affectionately, "that Mademoiselle Verdon's marriage will not part you -from her. You will always be most welcome at my wife's house." - -"I thank you for this assurance," replied M. Plancoet, quietly but -earnestly, "though I must admit that I was not unprepared for it. -Gabrielle has so often spoken of you, and always in such high terms, -that I relied as implicitly upon your hospitality as you can rely upon -my devotion." - -"Monsieur Caumont doesn't doubt that, my dear Roch," interposed Albert. -"I have told him all about you. But I have another piece of news for -you--one that is much less agreeable in its nature." - -"Your mother's intended marriage," said Plancoet, sadly. "That isn't -necessary, my boy. She announced it to me this morning. But what about -yourself, what have you been doing since I saw you last?--more than six -months ago--for our meeting at the door of your mother's house does not -count, as you merely said two or three words to me, and then rushed off -like a madman." - -"Tell you what I have been doing? Being bored to death--that is about -all. If you think military life very enjoyable, you are greatly -mistaken." - -"You doubtless found it very dull while in garrison; but you seem to -have been making up for it since your arrival in Paris. Your sister -vainly expected you all the morning, and she is very cross with you in -consequence." - -"We are reconciled. Besides, although I dined at the Lion d'Or -yesterday, I shall dine at home this evening." - -"At the Lion d'Or!" repeated M. Plancoet, in astonishment. "You dined at -the Lion d'Or yesterday?" - -"Yes, old fellow. What is there so very astonishing about that? It's a -good restaurant. My intended brother-in-law often patronizes it, I'm -sure, though he probably goes alone, whereas I was in company with a -very pretty woman." - -"I don't patronize it often," answered George. "In fact, I have not been -there since the day I lunched with my friend Puymirol." - -"The gentleman whom Blanche pointed out to me yesterday!" exclaimed the -lieutenant. "But she was at that lunch as well. She told me so." - -"Yes, there were four of us. She was the only lady." - -"And it was the very day of Monsieur Dargental's death. Blanche could -talk of nothing else. You may have heard of that gentleman's murder, -Plancoet?" - -"No--that is to say, yes. It seems to me I did see something about it in -the papers," stammered M. Plancoet, with the air of a man suddenly -awakening from a dream. "Were you acquainted with him?" - -"Not at all, but George, here, knew him well." The friend of the family -now looked searchingly at George. "What the deuce is the matter with you -to-day?" continued Albert. "You seem to be amazed at everything. Is -there anything so very extraordinary in the fact that Caumont should -have known that gentleman? His friend Puymirol was also acquainted with -him, and so was the lady who dined with me yesterday." - -"Speaking of my friend Puymirol," said George, turning to the -lieutenant. "I am very uneasy about him, for he didn't return home last -night. We live in the same house, you know, No. 14, Rue de Medicis?" - -"Oh, he will turn up safely, no doubt. It isn't so strange for a young -bachelor to stop out all night in Paris," added Albert, laughing. "By -the way, you must bring him to see my mother. She will find a wife for -him. But I forgot. She won't have time, as she intends to leave Paris -immediately after your wedding." - -"Puymirol will be my best man, probably." - -"And Plancoet will certainly be one of my sister's witnesses, so that -these gentlemen will have an opportunity of making each other's -acquaintance. But the prospect does not seem to please you, Roch. You -look dreadfully gloomy. Have you anything against the gentleman?" - -"I!" exclaimed Plancoet. "Why! this is the first time I ever heard of -him." - -"Then why do you look so sulky? Ever since you have heard that he is -likely to figure at the ceremony, your face has worn the same expression -as it assumes when you see Rochas." - -"You must be dreaming, my boy. The truth is, your proposal did not -strike me very favourably, as I am much too old to serve as Gabrielle's -witness. One of your comrades would be much more suitable. The old bring -misfortune with them." - -"Nonsense! On the contrary, you are a fetish. We have always prospered -since we knew you." - -"That isn't the opinion of every one," remarked M. Plancoet, pointedly. - -George realised that Madame Verdon was the exception referred to, and he -thought it time to conclude the interview. He had seen enough of M. -Plancoet, and it seemed to him that the worthy man stared at him in a -rather objectionable manner; besides, he was anxious to find out if -Puymirol had returned home. "Excuse me for leaving you now," he said, -pleasantly. "But I shall feel very uncomfortable until I see my friend -again, and as I hate suspense, I am going to put an end to it by -interviewing my doorkeeper." - -"Of course," said Albert, "I also must go home if I want to avoid a -scene. My mother is just in the humour to scold me, and Gabrielle may -side with her, for she must be impatiently waiting to know what I think -of you. She will probably subject me to a close examination; still you -need have no fears as regards my replies." - -"But where are you going, Roch? Will you accompany me home?" - -"It's impossible. I have some business to attend to--" - -"As usual. The deuce take me, if I can imagine how you occupy your time. -But it is no affair of mine. Good-bye, my dear brother-in-law, I hope to -see you again soon." - -The two young men exchanged a cordial pressure of the hand, while M. -Plancoet contented himself with bowing to Gabrielle's future husband. -The salute was very pleasant and deferential, but George somehow fancied -that M. Plancoet seemed inclined to hold himself a little aloof, and -that there was a slight cloud between them. - -They separated, and George then hastened to the Rue de Medicis, where he -learnt with no little consternation, that Puymirol had given no sign of -life. Some serious accident must certainly have happened to him. In -fact, it was a much more terrible matter than George supposed. - - - - -V. - - -After his midnight mishap, Puymirol, still suffering from his fall, -slowly and gloomily retraced his steps. What should he do with himself? -He was in no humour to go to bed, and the thought occurred to him that -he might perhaps still retrieve his losses at the gaming-table. The -doors of his own club were closed against him until his outstanding debt -was paid, but he knew other places easy of access, for in Paris there -are plenty of private gambling-dens to which a man can gain admission by -feeing the doorkeeper, as Puymirol was well aware. Thus in his great -need, the idea of again trying his luck occurred to him, and he did not -lose a moment in carrying it into execution. But, alas, the thirty louis -which still remained to him were speedily lost in an establishment of -the Chaussee d'Antin; and Puymirol, disheartened and exhausted, left the -card-room, and passing into an adjoining apartment flung himself upon a -sofa. He felt that irresistible longing to sleep which so often follows -upon great crises. His eyes closed in spite of all his efforts to keep -them open, and in a few moments he fell into a profound slumber which no -one at first disturbed, for at the gaming-table players don't trouble -themselves about the wounded. He was still sleeping heavily when he was -roughly shaken by a footman; and when he opened his eyes in bewilderment -he found that it was broad daylight. "What time is it?" he inquired, -with a yawn. - -"Past eight o'clock," replied the footman sullenly. "All the other -gentlemen left a long while ago; and I must set the room in order. This -isn't a lodging house." - -Puymirol felt strongly inclined to kick the fellow who had so rudely -recalled him to the realities of life, but he restrained his wrath, and -rose up without a word. He found his hat and overcoat in the -cloak-room, and forthwith left the establishment, having decided to -return home at once so as to see George and procure the letters, for his -late reverses had discouraged him so much that he was now inclined to -accept Madame de Lescombat's offer. He accordingly walked towards the -boulevard. Paris was already astir; the passers-by jostled him on the -side walk, and vehicles went rapidly to and fro. As he was hastening -past a doorway he narrowly escaped stumbling over a boy who was lying -there, more than half asleep. At this, he paused, with a muttered oath, -and heard the urchin mumble a few words which he did not at first -understand. Our friend was not in the best of humours by any means, and -he felt highly incensed with the little fellow, whom he suspected of -lying in wait to trip up unwary passers-by. "What did you say, you young -rascal?" he cried savagely. - -"Buy the official list," sleepily responded the lad, rubbing his eyes. - -Seizing the little fellow by his coat collar, Puymirol set him on his -feet in the twinkling of an eye. "Do you know," said he, "you very -nearly broke my neck, and I have a great mind to call a policeman to -take you to the station-house? What do you mean by going to sleep on the -pavement?" - -"It is not my fault, sir," sobbed the boy. "I dared not go home because -I hadn't sold all the lists. Mother would have been sure to beat me. So -I ran about the streets all the evening until I couldn't stand it any -longer, and then I sat down here to rest, and fell asleep. Don't have me -arrested, please don't. I am going to set to work again now, and perhaps -I shall manage to sell what I've got left." - -Puymirol was really kind-hearted, and the sight of the lad's distress so -touched him, that he put his hand in his pocket. He found himself richer -than he had supposed, for his pocket happened to contain a quantity of -small silver, which had escaped the croupier's rake. "What have you got -there?" he asked. - -"Why, sir, I'm selling lists of the winning numbers of the Lottery of -the Decorative Art Society. They cost only two sous apiece; buy one, -sir." - -"Well, here are five francs, my lad. You don't look to me as if you had -much dinner yesterday. Go and get something to eat, and then go home to -bed. You can take the money you have left to your mother, and she won't -beat you." - -The boy took the money, trying to falter out his thanks; and as Puymirol -hastened on, he ran after him, and forced one of the lists of winning -numbers into his hand, saying: "Please take it. It may bring you good -luck, sir." - -In Puymirol's present desperate plight the remark sounded very much like -a sarcasm. Still he took the list, and as he went on his way he glanced -at it mechanically, and beheld in large figures the number of the ticket -which had won the grand prize of one hundred thousand francs. - -"Number 115,815!" he murmured. "That is to say, there is now somewhere -in Paris, or in the provinces, a fortunate mortal who paid a franc for a -scrap of paper which he can now exchange for one hundred thousand francs -in bank notes. And this lucky fellow is perhaps a millionaire who has -more money than he knows what to do with already, whereas if I had one -hundred thousand francs I should consider myself independent for life." -So reflecting, Puymirol crumpled the list in his hand, and was about to -throw it away, when a new idea flashed through his brain. "Why, I still -have those tickets I found in the pocket-book. While I was chasing that -rascal last night, I placed them in my waistcoat pocket. What if I -should find one of the winning numbers among them? Let me see." - -He drew out the little packet of tickets, some two dozen in number, and, -stopping short behind a newspaper kiosk, he slowly unfolded them. As he -glanced at the topmost ticket he could scarcely believe his eyes, for -there was the number--the winning number printed in the centre of it. He -read and re-read it, examined it again and again, and compared it, -figure by figure, with the list in his other hand; but it was all quite -true, he certainly had in his possession No. 115,815, which entitled its -owner to the grand prize. He had nineteen francs in his pocket, nothing -in his desk, and one hundred thousand francs between his fingers. The -shock was so great and so unexpected, that, proof as he had always -considered himself against emotion, he was obliged to lean against the -newspaper kiosk for support. His brain reeled. But suddenly a fresh -thought occurred to him. "Dash it! the ticket isn't mine! It belonged to -Dargental. In fact, it is the only piece of property he left for his -heirs, if he has any. I have no right to appropriate it. It would be a -theft." Puymirol's face lengthened, but he quickly recovered himself. "A -theft, no. I did not steal it; I found it, or rather it was thrown to -me, which amounted to the same thing as giving it to me." - -This sophistry did not deceive him, however. He had invented it to quiet -his conscience; but he realised how shallow it was. Then he thought of -consulting Caumont, but he felt a presentiment that George would advise -him to give up the ticket; and he did not care for advice which he did -not intend to follow. But where and how was this grand prize payable? -Would it only be necessary to show this triumphant No. 115,815 at the -lottery office to convert it into bank notes? One of these questions was -answered on the back of the ticket. He there read that the office of the -Lottery of the Society of Decorative Arts was at the Palais de -l'Industrie, in the Champs Elysees, Door No. 4. Puymirol's position was -too desperate for him to indulge in much reflection. He made a nervous -gesture as if to say: "I must cross the Rubicon," and then he replaced -the tickets in his pocket. However, before going to the lottery office, -he must set his toilet right. Still, this was easily managed. There were -some Turkish baths hard by, and after indulging in the wholesome luxury -of Oriental ablutions, he proceeded in due course to a fashionable -barber's, where he was shaved, cosmetiqued, and perfumed, so that he -would have been presentable anywhere, although he had not changed his -linen. These preparations occupied him until eleven o'clock, and then, -after partaking of a light breakfast, which exhausted his remaining -funds, he hastened to the Palais de l'Industrie. At door No. 4, which -seemed to him very like the gate of Paradise, he found a liveried -footman talking with two men whom he took for favourites of fortune, -who, like himself, had come to receive their money. He explained why he -wished to speak to the secretary, and the attendant having gazed at him -with admiring envy, told him to walk upstairs. The two persons who had -been waiting, followed in his wake, and they all three entered a large -ante-room on the first floor. A clerk rose on seeing them, and Puymirol -was about to repeat his statement when one of the other fellows hastily -approached the clerk, took him aside, and said a few words to him in a -low tone; thereupon the clerk immediately opened a side door, and the -man passed out and disappeared. - -Turning to Puymirol, the clerk then inquired what he wanted, and on -learning that he had come to cash a winning ticket, he at once opened a -door leading into the office proper, where Puymirol found two -prepossessing-looking gentlemen. One of them sat in an arm-chair, while -the other occupied a stool at the end of the same table, and had a large -leather case, such as is employed for the conveyance of documents, -before him. "To whom have I the honour of speaking?" inquired the -gentleman in the arm-chair. - -"I am the holder of ticket No. 115,815, which is mentioned as having won -one hundred thousand francs at your last drawing." - -"I congratulate you, sir. Will you take a seat?" - -Puymirol accepted the invitation; but in spite of his gracious -reception, he felt ill at ease in the presence of these two persons. -When a man has not a clear conscience, he sees danger everywhere, and -Puymirol almost fancied himself a culprit arraigned before an -investigating magistrate and his secretary. It was necessary to exhibit -the ticket, however, so he drew the whole packet from his pocket and -handed it to the gentleman in the arm-chair, who unfolded it, and -examined the tickets one after another. "Here are some that do not -interest us," he remarked: "the Tunisian Lottery, the Amsterdam -Lottery." - -"Yes," replied Puymirol, "I take a chance or two in all of them, but so -far I have never won anything." - -The official continued his examination, and finally lighted upon No. -115,815. This he examined closely, first upon one side, and then upon -the other, and finally passed it to the gentleman seated at the end of -the table. "Excuse this close examination," he remarked to Puymirol. "It -not infrequently happens that spurious tickets are presented to us; that -is to say, tickets of which the numbers have been altered." - -"That is not the case with mine, I suppose?" - -"No, sir. It is a little soiled, but it has not been tampered with." - -"Then I can draw the amount?" - -"There are certain formalities which must be gone through first of all. -Will you give me your name and address?" - -Puymirol coloured slightly. "Is this indispensable?" he asked. "I don't -care to have my name in the papers. If it became known that I had won -this prize," he added, a little nervously, "I should be beset on every -side by requests for money. All my impecunious friends would make -demands upon my purse, and my hundred thousand francs wouldn't last -long." - -"Oh! you need have no fears, sir. We shall not publish your name. This -isn't the first time that winners have requested us not to give their -names, and we have always complied with such requests, although, by -doing so, we miss an excellent advertisement for our lottery. You need -not, therefore, object to giving us your name and address. They will be -recorded upon our books, but no one will be allowed to see them." - -"That is all I ask. My name is Adhemar de Puymirol. I am a medical -student, and I reside at No. 14 Rue de Medicis." - -"Very well, sir, we will make a note of it. I forgot to mention that you -would be obliged to give this information, in any case, for no winner -can draw a penny of his money without giving a receipt to which his -address must be appended." - -"I fancied that it would only be necessary to present the ticket at your -office so as to obtain the money, but I am ready and willing to give a -receipt for it." - -The gentleman took no notice of this hint. He seemed to have become -suddenly absorbed in the examination of some papers; however, the person -whom Adhemar had taken for a secretary, looked up, and, with his eyes -fixed searchingly on the applicant's face, he curtly asked: "How old are -you?" - -"What difference can my age possibly make? I have attained my majority, -as you see, and that is all that is necessary to make my receipt -perfectly valid." - -"Where were you born?" - -"What business is that of yours?" replied Adhemar, exasperated by these -strange questions. - -"You refuse to answer, then?" - -"Yes, certainly. I came here to draw the money due to me. I don't intend -to be cross examined like some criminal." - -"Be careful, I am a commissary of police." - -Puymirol turned pale. He realised, at last, that he had plunged blindly -into a frightful abyss, and that his imprudence was about to cost him -dear. He was resolved to defend himself to the last, however. "I was not -aware that the managers of this popular lottery required the assistance -of police officials in the performance of their duties," he retorted. -"This precaution will hardly favour the sale of tickets, should it -become known to the public, and I will take good care to inform people -about it." - -"You are speaking to a magistrate, remember. Tell me where, and when, -you purchased this ticket?" - -"At a tobacconist's, probably." - -"What tobacconist's?" - -"The deuce take me if I can remember. I purchased between twenty and -thirty tickets, and in a dozen different places. They are all here on -the table." - -"Yes, I see you have brought them all. It is strange that the idea of -detaching the winning ticket did not occur to you. One can not think of -everything, however." - -"I brought the package exactly as I took it from my pocket-book." - -"Have you that pocket-book about you?" - -"No," stammered Puymirol, disconcerted by this question, which he might -have foreseen, however. "I left it at home." - -"Of course, great as your audacity may be, you would hardly dare to -produce that. It bears other initials than yours." - -"Produce it if you can," retorted Puymirol, imprudently. - -"I understand. You have no fear of its being produced; you have -destroyed it." - -This time the commissary had made a mistake, and a suspicion that had -flashed across Puymirol's mind a few moments before, was effectually -dispelled. He had fancied that his assailant of the previous night might -have been set upon his track by the police, who had taken forcible -possession of the pocket-book, by orders of his superiors. "I do not -understand you, unfortunately," said Adhemar. "But let us put an end to -this. What are you aiming at?" - -"Well, a crime was committed in Paris about a fortnight ago. A -well-known gentleman, a man of fashion, was murdered at mid-day, in his -rooms. You must have heard of the affair?" - -"Yes, through the papers." - -"Well, the gentleman's valet was arrested; but, as there was no evidence -against him, he has been released. The murderer has not only escaped -detection so far, but the motive that prompted the crime has not yet -been discovered. All that has been ascertained is that the victim always -carried a pocket-book, of which a full description has been given, and -that this pocket-book has disappeared." - -"All this is very interesting," sneered Puymirol. "The pocket-book -probably contained a large sum of money?" - -"That is the general supposition, but one can not be sure. One thing, -however, is certain; it contained several tickets of this lottery, and -among this gentleman's private papers, a list of these tickets was -found. It occurred to the investigating magistrate that he might utilise -this information in the improbable event of one of these particular -tickets winning a prize, and being presented for payment by the -murderer. It was one chance in a million, and yet it has occurred. As -soon as the investigating magistrate ascertained that one of these -tickets had won the grand prize, he gave me orders to come here with two -detectives. Now, you must understand the situation. What have you to -say?" - -"Nothing." - -"Your silence is equivalent to a confession of guilt. You admit, then, -that you purloined these tickets after killing the man who had them -about his person?" - -"I admit nothing of the kind." - -"Oh! it is patent that you took them from the body of your victim; and -you had the courage to open the pocket-book immediately after murdering -that unfortunate man. Look at this ticket. The mark of your bloody -fingers is still upon it." - -As the commissary spoke he spread the ticket out upon the table and -pointed to a couple of pale red stains upon the back of it and which -Puymirol had not perceived when he had looked at the ticket on the -boulevard. However he made no attempt to refute the commissary's -arguments. He had decided to defend himself in a different way. "So you -really accuse me of murder and robbery?" he asked. - -"I have merely stated the facts and the conclusions one must naturally -draw from them. It is for you to prove that my deductions are false. -Now, do you still persist in declaring that you purchased the tickets in -a cigar shop?" - -"No," was Adhemar's reluctant response. "I found them in a cab a -fortnight ago." - -"And you kept them until now?" - -"I attached very little importance to the occurrence. Lottery tickets -are seldom of any value." - -"Before the drawing, perhaps so; but afterwards when one of them has won -a prize, it is very different." - -"I admit that I yielded to the temptation of trying to profit by what -seemed almost a godsend; I had no idea of doing so until this morning, -however, when a list of the winning numbers happened to fall into my -hands. I had the tickets in my pocket at the time, and impelled by a -very natural curiosity to compare them with the list, I saw that the -first prize had been won by No. 115,815. I yielded to the temptation -which I regret, and I am certainly sufficiently punished." - -"Why did you not inform Monsieur Robergeot of the finding of these -tickets?" inquired the commissary, after a prolonged pause. - -"Who is Monsieur Robergeot?" - -"The investigating magistrate who sent for you on the day after the -murder. I have his report here. You see I know everything." - -"But I had no reason to suppose that this ticket had ever belonged to -Dargental. The magistrate said nothing that would lead me to think so. -He only asked me what I saw on entering the room in which the body was -lying, and what I thought of the valet's connection with the affair." - -"At that time the memorandum had not been found. But from what you say, -the tickets were in your possession when you were first examined." - -Puymirol bit his lip, but it was too late to retract this imprudent -admission. "Yes," he replied at last. "They had been in my possession -since the previous day, though at the time I forgot all about them." - -"You picked them up in a cab you said. In that case, it is natural to -suppose that the murderer dropped them there, or that he left them there -intentionally. He certainly did not murder Monsieur Dargental to obtain -possession of them. However, where did you take this cab?" - -"At the cab-stand near my house outside the Luxembourg." - -"And it took you where?" - -"To the Lion d'Or restaurant where Dargental had asked me to meet him. -He was giving a lunch that day to several friends." - -"At what hour did you reach the restaurant?" - -"About noon." - -"And the crime must have been committed at about eleven o'clock. It is -strange that the murderer should have driven back to the Odeon almost to -your very door." - -Puymirol made no reply. He felt that he was not capable of contending -with the commissary. "Did you take the number of this cab?" added the -official. - -"No. I had no special reason for taking it." - -"Excuse me: had you done so, you might have questioned the driver, and -have ascertained where he had left the passenger who had dropped the -lottery tickets. It is true that you were not anxious to find him, as -you had already decided to keep them." Puymirol flushed, and hung his -head. To clear himself of the charge of murder he had placed himself in -such a position that he could not deny a fraudulent intention. "It is a -great pity," continued the commissary. "The driver's testimony would be -of great importance, for the magistrate is not obliged to take your -word, and if you can produce no witness--Were you alone in the cab?" - -This time Puymirol hesitated. It was too great a risk to mention George -Caumont's name, for George, who was ignorant of the real situation of -affairs, would simply tell the truth, and then the pocket-book, which -Puymirol no longer possessed, would come into question; and besides, -George would probably hand over the letters. Perhaps he would even tell -the magistrate that one of the letters was written by the Countess de -Lescombat, and one of the others probably by Blanche Pornic, in which -case the least that could happen to Puymirol would be a conviction for -perjury; so hoping to avert this new danger by a falsehood, he replied -unblushingly: "I was alone." - -"There is nothing left for us, then, but to try and find the driver," -replied the commissary coldly, "and we may, perhaps, succeed in finding -him. We have the exact date, as well as the point of departure, and the -place of destination. We will make inquiries at the office of the cab -company, and at all the livery stables. If the driver remembers the -occurrence he can give us the clue we want." - -Puymirol knew perfectly well that the driver would recollect the -occurrence, as he had given the mysterious stranger who had purloined -the pocket-book full information about it, so seeing that he was getting -deeper and deeper into the mire, he decided to make a bold attempt to -cut the interview short. "I reproach myself bitterly for having yielded -to a temptation for which I blush," he said. "You must blame me very -severely, but I hope you will not carry matters to extremes. I belong to -a respectable family, and my past life is without a stain. I shall be at -your disposal, of course, but I ask your permission to withdraw." - -"My powers are more limited than you suppose," said the commissary -gravely. "The magistrate will pay due attention to your explanation, but -you must give it to him in person. He must now be at the Palais de -Justice, and I will accompany you there." - -"Nothing would please me better. I thought of calling at his office -to-day, and as you are kind enough to accompany me--" - -"It is my duty." - -The commissary then rang. One of the detectives who had remained in the -ante-room entered, and received orders to fetch a cab: then, taking up -his case of documents, the commissary left the room in company with -Puymirol, whose wonted assurance had nearly deserted him. They found the -cab at the door, and entered it, one of the detectives climbing upon the -box, and seating himself beside the driver. The journey was a silent -one, and ended upon the Quai de l'Horloge, at the entrance to the -court-yard of the Conciergerie. "Where are you taking me?" asked -Puymirol. "Monsieur Robergeot's office is in the building facing the -boulevard." - -"You will soon be summoned there," replied the commissary. "But I must -see him before you do, and in the meanwhile I must consign you to the -depot of the Prefecture of Police." - - - - -VI. - - -On the day following Puymirol's arrest--for Puymirol was really and -truly arrested--George Caumont, who had passed a very restless and -uncomfortable night, was awakened at an early hour by his prospective -brother-in-law. "I have come to propose a morning ride, my dear fellow," -said Albert. "It is generally a thankless task to arouse a friend from -sleep, but when you hear my reasons I am sure that you will forgive me. -You know my mare, Verdurette, that enabled me to win a prize at the -show. Well, I have come here on her back and a friend of mine has lent -me two other mounts,--a very gentle animal suited to a lady, and a hack -which would do very well for you. But I must tell you that last night at -dinner, my sister obtained my mother's permission to take a ride in the -Bois de Boulogne this morning, escorted by her betrothed and by your -humble servant. Fortunately Rochas wasn't there to interfere, and it was -decided that all three of us should start at half-past nine this -morning. So make haste, the three horses are already standing, saddled -and bridled, in our court-yard, and Gabrielle is awaiting you on the -balcony. However, if the proposal doesn't please you--" - -"On the contrary, I should be delighted, only I intended to spend my -morning in trying to ascertain what had become of my friend Puymirol." - -"What! hasn't he made his appearance yet?" exclaimed Albert, gaily. "To -spend two nights out is dissipation, indeed; but I see nothing alarming -it. Besides, you can do nothing. Come with us to the Bois. We can spend -a couple of hours there very pleasantly, and when you return you will -probably find your friend here waiting for you." - -George was not convinced, but he could not tell Albert that Puymirol had -become involved in dangerous schemes which might have terminated in a -catastrophe. "All right," said he, "I should never forgive myself if I -disappointed Mademoiselle Verdon. I will dress at once. If you like to -smoke a cigar, there are some good ones in that box on the -mantel-shelf." And, thereupon, George hastily dressed, and was soon -ready to depart. - -The house where Madame Verdon resided was only a few steps from the Rue -de Medicis, and on turning the corner of the Boulevard Saint-Michel the -two friends perceived the mother and daughter on the balcony. The mother -was arrayed in a showy morning dress, the daughter in a dark green -habit. The three horses were waiting in the court-yard, and George -recognised at a glance the animal intended for him, a tall chestnut, -with a spirit of mischief in his eyes. Gabrielle hastened down, and soon -stood beside the young men. Her eyes were shining, her cheeks rosy, and -her lips smiling. She extended her gloved hand to her betrothed, who -pressed a respectful kiss upon it, as she gaily said: "So here you are -at last. I was becoming so impatient. I began to fear that we should be -obliged to abandon our expedition, and I really believe I should have -cried with disappointment and vexation." - -"I am truly sorry to have kept you waiting, mademoiselle, and--" - -"Come, come; there's no time to lose. Let me mount you, Gabrielle," said -Albert, and in the twinkling of an eye his sister was in the saddle. - -The gentlemen then duly mounted in turn, and having saluted Madame -Verdon they rode out of the yard. To reach the Boulevard St. Germain, -the best road to the Bois, they had to cross the Rue de Medicis, where -George resided, and scarcely were they in sight of that thoroughfare -than the lieutenant turned to Caumont, exclaiming: "Why, what a crowd -there is about your door! Can the house be on fire?" - -It was not a fire, but something unusual was certainly going on. There -were now two cabs in front of the house, and a policeman was waving back -an eager crowd of people. A presentiment that all this commotion was in -some way connected with Puymirol flashed across George's mind. Had his -friend been brought home, wounded, dead, perhaps? "Try to find out what -the matter is!" urged Albert, whereupon George checked his horse and -spoke to a man who was moving away, exasperated by not having seen -anything. - -"Oh! the fools make such a fuss about nothing!" replied the fellow, -shrugging his shoulders. "The police are searching somebody's rooms, -that is all." - -George was struck dumb with astonishment. What could this mean? Whose -apartments were they searching? And as he asked himself this question it -suddenly occurred to him that this search might be for the famous -letters. The magistrate might have learned that they had fallen into -Puymirol's hands, and have decided to institute a search for them. This -thought worried George, for these letters were in his rooms, and if he -entered the house to make any further inquiries he would certainly be -putting his head into the lion's mouth, for the doorkeeper would hardly -fail to inform the police of his arrival. In that case, what should he -say and do to assist his friend? George did not understand Puymirol's -situation, but he realised that an imprudent answer might ruin him. By -keeping out of sight he would at least incur no danger of contradicting -Puymirol's statements. He, Caumont, was as yet in no way connected with -the affair, and in his absence no one would venture to break into his -rooms to search for the letters, whereas, if he showed himself, he might -be plied with questions to which he could only give unsatisfactory -replies, and he might even finally be obliged to let the officials -search his apartments. Worst of all, if he should be detained, Gabrielle -would learn that her betrothed was mixed up in a most unfortunate -affair, and the excursion to the Bois would have to be relinquished, and -perhaps the marriage as well. So it was best not to interfere, at least, -for the present. - -The brother and sister had remained in the middle of the street, -watching the crowd with evident curiosity. "Well!" inquired the -lieutenant, as soon as George resumed his place on Gabrielle's left, -"what is going on?" - -"Nothing that can interest you in the least. The police have made a raid -upon the apartments of some one in the house, it seems." - -"Indeed! Upon whose?" - -"I do not know. The only person that I am acquainted with in the house -is Puymirol." - -"And it can not be his apartments they are searching." - -"Nor mine, as I am not there," responded George. - -"Where are your windows?" asked Gabrielle. - -"On the third floor, mademoiselle." - -"But, then, the police _are_ in your place, for, look, there is a -commissary with his sash at that open window." - -"Oh! my rooms are to the right--on the same floor, it's true," said -George, who, to his horror, had recognised the window, where the -commissary stood, as that of Puymirol's bedroom. - -"Well, let us proceed, then," said Albert. "If we loiter in this way, we -shall never reach our destination, and I am anxious to see the Bois at -its best." - -This proposal was eminently satisfactory to George, who was anxious to -get away from the spot as soon as possible. But all his enjoyment was -spoiled. His cheerfulness had vanished; however, Gabrielle failed to -notice the change, at least, for the time being, as at this moment -Albert asked her: "Have you seen Roch since yesterday?" - -"No, and I am very much afraid that I shall not see much of him until -after my marriage. Monsieur Rochas called this morning expressly to beg -mamma not to receive our old friend any longer." - -"What business is it of his, pray? and what has he to say against -Plancoet, whose little finger is worth more than Rochas's whole body?" - -"He pretends that our old friend is a dangerous character. To hear him, -one would suppose that poor Roch had committed any number of -crimes--Roch who would not harm a mouse, and who has sacrificed himself -for others ever since he came into the world." - -"Well, no matter," rejoined Albert, "we shall soon be rid of Rochas and -have Plancoet all to ourselves. Now, my children, we are upon the -macadamized pavement, and we have plenty of room into the bargain, so -suppose we trot a little." - -They trotted on along the boulevard and up the Champs Elysees without -their progress being impeded. But in the Bois there were scores of -riders of either sex and also a number of carriages. Albert began -disdainfully criticising the horsemanship of those around him, and -Gabrielle laughed heartily at his comments, and began to feel surprised -that George remained so serious. Such was the throng that all along the -Allee des Poteaux they were obliged to walk their horses, which was -hardly to Albert's liking. "Come," said he, at last, "I've had enough of -this. I don't care to stare for ever at all these fine ladies and -swells. Suppose we make for the Allee de Longchamps, and have a canter -there. Verdurette is becoming restive." - -The suggestion was adopted. They turned their horses' heads in the -direction of the lake, but they had hardly proceeded a hundred yards -when George saw his friend Charles Balmer approaching on a handsome -thoroughbred. Balmer expressed his delight at the meeting by an -expressive gesture, and, reining in his horse, he abruptly said to -George: "My dear fellow, I must have a talk with you. It's serious. -Apologize to your friends, and join me at the chalet at the end of the -lake. I will wait for you there." And thereupon he rode off. - -"That gentleman is not very polite," exclaimed the lieutenant. "He -certainly might have touched his hat to Gabrielle. What did he say to -you?" - -Gabrielle, who had heard Balmer distinctly, looked at George -inquisitively. She did not like to question him, but she awaited his -answer with no little anxiety. George, who was greatly embarrassed, -reluctantly replied: - -"He asked me to join him at the end of the lake; and I would much rather -remain with you." - -"Is he a friend of yours?" inquired Gabrielle. - -"No, merely a club acquaintance." - -"But if what he wants to say to you is important, you might leave us, -and join us by-and-by at the Porte Maillot," insisted Gabrielle. "Have -you any idea what he wants to speak to you about?" - -"I have an idea, mademoiselle. He probably wants to give me some -information in reference to Puymirol." - -"The friend whose absence has caused you so much uneasiness?" - -"Yes, mademoiselle. This gentleman is well acquainted with him; and I -fancy he knows what has become of him." - -"You must go, then." - -"Leave you! Oh, no." - -"But you need not leave us for long, and who knows but what M. de -Puymirol may need you. I should never forgive myself for detaining you -if he required your assistance; and this gentleman has perhaps come for -you at his request. Go at once, pray." - -George was greatly perplexed. The idea of leaving his betrothed so -unceremoniously was most distasteful to him; but on the other hand, he -suspected that Balmer had something pressing to communicate. Puymirol's -safety was, perhaps, at stake, for since George had witnessed the raid -upon the house in the Rue de Medicis, he felt almost certain that his -friend had been arrested; now, Balmer, as he well knew, was on excellent -terms with the investigating magistrate, and might speak a good word for -Puymirol if he needed one. "You need not hesitate if the matter is of -the slightest importance, my dear fellow," now exclaimed Albert, seeing -his prospective brother-in-law's embarrassment. "I can see Gabrielle -safely home, without your assistance, and as your conversation with this -gentleman may be a lengthy one, we won't wait for you at the Porte -Maillot. Vulcan, your steed, is quartered at Tattersall's, so just leave -him there in charge of one of the ostlers on your way home." - -"And come and see us as soon as you can," added Gabrielle. "I am anxious -to hear about your friend." Then to make George feel perfectly at ease, -she touched her horse lightly with the whip and cantered away, closely -followed by her brother. - -George decided not to follow them, but turned his horse's head in the -direction which Balmer had taken. In a few moments he had reached the -Chalet Cafe, in front of which sat Balmer, regaling himself with a glass -of absinthe, and smoking a huge cigar. Springing to the ground, George -intrusted his horse to an urchin, and seated himself beside Balmer, of -whom, without the least ceremony, he inquired, "Why do you want to see -me?" - -"Why?" was the reply. "You must surely have guessed that I want to talk -to you about Puymirol. When did you see him last?" - -"On the day before yesterday, at the Palais de l'Industrie." - -"Have you any idea where he went afterwards?" - -"I think he went to Madame de Lescombat's; but he hasn't returned home -since, and I feel very anxious about him." - -"He has had good reasons for not returning. You will recollect that on -the day before yesterday, I told you that my friend Robergeot was in -possession of a document which might assist him in discovering -Dargental's murderer." - -"It seems to me that you did tell me something of the kind," said -Caumont. - -"Well, the document in question was in reality a small memorandum-book. -Dargental, as you know, was an inveterate gambler, but he was also a -very methodical man, and so whenever he won or lost any money or made a -purchase--such as a lottery ticket, he made a note of the number in this -book. He carried several lottery tickets about with him in the -pocket-book which the murderer stole from him, and this was recorded in -his memorandum-book. So Robergeot said to himself: 'If by any -extraordinary chance one of the tickets enumerated in this list should -win a prize, the murderer will perhaps be foolish enough to claim the -money.' Well, this is exactly what has happened. Ticket No. 115,815, -which headed Dargental's list, won a prize of a hundred thousand francs -at the last drawing of the lottery of the Decorative Art Society; so -Robergeot immediately despatched a commissary of police and two -detectives to the lottery office with orders to arrest the holder of the -ticket, if he ventured to present himself. He did present himself -yesterday morning--and in the person of our friend Adhemar de Puymirol." - -"Puymirol!" exclaimed George, "it's impossible!" - -"This much, at least, is certain: Puymirol has been in prison for nearly -two days now." - -"And you haven't told your friend, the magistrate, that Puymirol could -not possibly be Dargental's murderer? You know we were breakfasting with -him at the very time when the crime was committed." - -"Robergeot knows that, but the fact that the missing tickets were in -Puymirol's possession can not be disputed. This attempt at fraud on his -part surprises you, I see, as much as it does me," continued Balmer; -"but I account for it by the fact that Puymirol was most desperately -hard up. He owed ten thousand francs at the club, to my certain -knowledge, and hadn't a penny to meet his obligations with. He must have -lost his senses in consequence, besides, he couldn't know that the -authorities had a list of Dargental's tickets, and that the police were -lying in wait for him at the lottery office. As regards that matter I -can almost excuse him, for, after all, he injured no one as Dargental -was dead; and a man whose past life has always been blameless may be -forgiven for a momentary weakness. Indeed, if this were the only charge -against him, the matter could be hushed up, but there is the murder--" - -"But no one can really believe him guilty of that. An incontestable -_alibi_ can be established." - -"Yes; but it is also necessary to prove that Puymirol had no knowledge -of the murder. Now, everything seems to indicate that he was aware of -it. If not, how did he come into possession of that pocket-book -containing the tickets?" - -An answer rose to George's lips. He merely had to relate the adventure -on the Place du Carrousel to explain the mystery, but the fear of -contradicting some of Puymirol's statements deterred him; besides, he -did not care to tell the story to an erratic person like Balmer. He must -relate it to the investigating magistrate if there were no other means -of saving Puymirol. However, realizing that he, first of all, needed -further information, he asked: "How does Puymirol explain the fact that -these tickets were in his possession?" - -"He pretends that he found them in a cab." - -"Then he denies having seen anything of the pocket-book?" - -"Absolutely; he was searched and it wasn't found on his person; but the -strangest thing about it all is that he says he found the tickets on the -very day of Dargental's death, and in the cab that took him to the Lion -d'Or. He did not notice the number of the vehicle, and he declares he -was alone; but it seems to me that you both arrived at the restaurant at -the same time." - -"It doesn't follow that I drove there with him," replied George, -evasively. - -"You can tell that to Robergeot, for he will certainly question you. I -am surprised that he has not sent for you before now. They are looking -for the cab-driver, and will surely find him sooner or later. As for the -pocket-book, Robergeot thought that Puymirol might have left it at home, -so he ordered his rooms to be searched this morning. I am surprised that -you are ignorant of that point, as you both reside in the same house." - -"I left home very early. But did the officers find anything suspicious?" - -"I don't know yet, but I shall soon; that is, if my friend Robergeot -does not begin to distrust me now that things are looking so badly for -Puymirol. He knows that we are both well acquainted with him, you -especially, and between ourselves, I should not be surprised if your -rooms were searched as well, for Robergeot may suspect Puymirol of -having concealed the pocket-book there." - -"Not with my knowledge and consent," said George. - -"Oh! even if Puymirol were guilty, he wouldn't have made you his -confidant, of course. Still, if I were in your place, I would find out -what occurred in the Rue de Medicis at once, that is, unless you will -come and lunch with me." - -"No, thank you," replied George. "I shall take your advice, and return -home without delay; but I rely upon your assistance in getting Puymirol -out of this scrape." - -"I will do what I can, but it won't be much I'm afraid; you, on the -contrary, may perhaps be able to give evidence which will lead to his -speedy release." - -"You can at least ask your friend, Monsieur Robergeot, to grant me -permission to see Puymirol at the depot." - -"I will do so, of course; but I doubt if he will consent. But there is -nothing to prevent you from calling on him in person if you like. He is -at his office every afternoon." - -"Is the affair known at the club?" - -"Not in all its details, but a rumour of Puymirol's arrest has got -about, and as his debts remain unpaid, you have no time to lose if you -care to prevent a scandal. If you want to see me again I shall be at the -club, between four and seven." - -Springing upon his horse, George then galloped off, leaving Balmer to -finish his absinthe. Ten minutes later, he left his steed at -Tattersall's, and jumping into a cab, ordered the jehu to drive him with -all speed to the Rue de Medicis. He took the precaution to alight at -some distance from his door, however, so as not to attract the attention -of the police, if they should still be about, but he soon had the -satisfaction of finding that the crowd had dispersed, and that the -vehicles which had brought the officers were no longer there. On -entering the house, he went straight to the doorkeeper, who on seeing -him, exclaimed: "Ah, sir, what an unfortunate affair! You had no sooner -gone out this morning than a magistrate, accompanied by a number of -policemen, came here with Monsieur de Puymirol, who was under arrest." - -"Puymirol! arrested!" cried George, feigning surprise. "This is -incredible! What charge can there be against him?" - -"I don't know, sir," replied the porter. "I tried to talk with the -policemen who stood on guard in the street, but they wouldn't give me -any information." - -"But why did they bring Puymirol here?" - -"So that he might be present when his apartments were searched, I -suppose. They entered his rooms with him, and they rummaged about -everywhere, even in the mattresses. I don't know what they were looking -for, but I do know that they found nothing, and that they seemed -terribly disappointed." - -"How did Puymirol look while they searched his place?" - -"He looked as if he were saying: 'Amuse yourself; break open the locks, -and empty the drawers. You will only have your labour for your pains.' -He scarcely deigned to give them an answer when they spoke to him." - -"He must be the victim of some mistake. He is quite incapable of any -crime." - -"That is exactly what I said to the commissary of police, when he asked -me for information about your friend." - -"Did he say anything about me?" inquired George, eagerly. - -"No; your name was not mentioned. He did not even seem to be aware of -your existence. If I might venture to give you a little advice, sir, you -had better not mix yourself up in this affair. Your friend will get out -of the scrape without any assistance; and I have an idea that he prefers -to do so; for if he had wanted your help, he would have inquired where -you were, or have asked to see you." - -This was not a bad argument; at least, it furnished George with abundant -food for reflection. On reaching his rooms, he found them exactly as he -had left them. He hastened to the desk in which he had locked up the -letters. They were still there, and in his perplexity his first idea was -to annihilate them. Indeed, he actually lighted a candle with that -object. On reflection, however, it occurred to him that although the -discovery of these letters, if his--Caumont's--rooms were searched, -might aggravate Puymirol's situation, they might also be the means of -saving him, by forcing him to tell the truth, instead of maintaining a -dangerous silence out of consideration for the Countess de Lescombat, -whose reputation was hardly worth defending. Would it not be better to -take them to the magistrate? But in that case, both Madame de Lescombat -and Blanche Pornic would be mixed up in the affair; and although George -cared but little as to what befell the countess, he could not forget -that Albert, his prospective brother-in-law, was the actress's admirer, -and that he would certainly take her defence. The young officer was -indeed so impetuous that he might fight the police agents sent to arrest -her, and get himself lodged in jail! And what a blow that would be for -Gabrielle. At last in his perplexity, George thought of a plan which -seemed tolerably feasible. He resolved to go and see Blanche Pornic. As -Albert was to lunch with his mother and sister, there was no fear of -meeting him in the Avenue de Messine. "I shall question her, and -question her closely," said Caumont to himself. "It will depend entirely -upon her answers whether I return her letter to her, or hand it over to -the investigating magistrate. At all events I must see that official -to-day. The straight road is always the shortest and safest." Thereupon -putting the letters in his pocket, George started off upon his campaign. - - - - -VII. - - -Blanche Pornic occupied a handsome suite of rooms on the first floor of -a stylish house in the Avenue de Messine, and when George arrived there -he found her reclining upon a divan, studying a part in a new play in -which she was shortly to perform. "So you have come to see me at last!" -she exclaimed. "You have done wisely, for I had about made up my mind to -pay you a visit, even at the risk of meeting your friend Puymirol, who -can't bear the sight of me. Take a seat here, near me," she continued, -"I have a host of things to tell you. I know now that the charming young -girl, who engrossed your attention the other day at the horse-show, is -Albert's sister, and I suppose she has introduced you to her brother." - -"Never mind all that," said George, somewhat harshly. "I have come to -talk with you about Dargental's death. Do you know who is accused of the -murder?" - -"His valet, I heard. But that's absurd unless, indeed, the fellow were -in the pay of that Madame de Lescombat." - -"What! you think it was she who--" - -"I haven't the slightest doubt of it. I told you so the other day, you -recollect?" - -"Upon what is this opinion based?" - -"Upon something I have seen, a letter of hers which Dargental himself -showed me one day after a quarrel he had with this woman. I'm sure too -that he kept it." - -"What were its contents?" - -"Oh! it alluded to a secret which she had confided to him. She had -poisoned her husband, I fancy, and feared that Dargental would denounce -her. It was only from fear that she consented to marry him, for though -she was crazy about him at first, she finally hated him. And so to -escape becoming his wife, she had him murdered, I'm sure of it." - -"By whom, pray?" - -"By some scoundrel who was no doubt instructed to secure the letter, as -Dargental's pocket-book is missing." - -"Haven't you yourself ever written to Dargental?" - -"Oh! yes I have. A hundred times, as I have already told you. I even -confessed to you that he had in his possession a letter which I had -often begged him to return to me, and which he had promised to give me -during the lunch at the Lion d'Or." - -"And did this note contain anything of a compromising nature?" - -"Decidedly. For I acknowledged in it that I had committed--well, a crime -to do him a service." - -"And if this avowal should fall into the hands of an investigating -magistrate, what then?" - -"He would naturally suppose that I instigated Dargental's murder. It -might cause me a great deal of trouble, still I think I should succeed -in proving my innocence. As for the matter to which I was stupid enough -to allude in the letter, would you like to know what it was?" George had -not expected to hear Blanche talk in this strain, but he was all ears. -"I am not trying to make myself out any better than I really am," she -continued, "and I frankly admit that I am capable of almost anything -when I am in love with any one; but what I did was simply this. One day -Dargental, whom I was then dreadfully in love with, came to me in a -state of mind bordering on frenzy. He had just lost forty thousand -francs, and he had not a penny left to meet his obligations. This meant -expulsion from his club, and utter ruin, for he lived by play. At any -other time, I would have given him a cheque upon my banker, as I had -often done before, but this happened just after the crash of two years -ago, when I feared that I myself was ruined, and a rascally picture -dealer had just attached some twenty thousand francs I had in the bank. -However, Dargental absolutely needed the money, and I did not know -which way to turn. To be sure, I might have asked old Prince Sourine for -it--he was an ardent admirer of mine, and worth his millions--but he was -furiously angry with me because I had preferred Pierre to him. His -signature was good for any amount, and I had numerous specimens of it in -my desk, for he was in the habit of writing me the most grandiloquent -epistles. Well, Dargental finally proposed that I should forge the -prince's signature upon a note which he was sure of being able to -discount with this indorsement." - -"And you consented?" asked George in amazement. - -"I would have done even worse, had he asked me. As it was, I forged the -name of Alexis Ivanovitch, Prince Sourine, on the back of the note. -Dargental obtained fifty thousand francs by it, and the money brought -him good luck. He won immense sums at baccarat shortly afterwards, and -was able to take up the note before it became due. But he did not return -it to me. He probably wished to retain it as a weapon against me, in -case I ever quarrelled with him. However, I finally discovered that he -was playing me false with that Madame de Lescombat, so one morning I -paid him a visit, and compelled him to burn the note in my presence. But -I was fool enough at the time not to ask for the letter in which I had -alluded to this affair. When I did remember it, I urged him to return it -to me. Did he really intend to give it to me at the Lion d'Or as he -promised? I doubt it. At all events, death prevented him from doing so, -and I suppose it is locked up somewhere with that note he showed me from -Madame de Lescombat, and it would not surprise me to hear that both of -them had been found." - -"And what if Albert should hear this story?" asked George. - -"You surely do not think of telling him!" cried Blanche. "That _would_ -be mean. But now I understand. You have my letter, and you have come to -sell it to me. How much do you want for it?" - -George started up, pale with anger. "Do you take me for Dargental?" he -asked, sternly. "You have associated so much with scoundrels of his -stamp, that you think all men are like him. I will convince you to the -contrary, and you shall bitterly repent having insulted me in this -manner." - -"Forgive me," replied Blanche. "I care so much for Albert that the fear -of losing him upsets me completely. You mustn't tell him about my former -infatuation for this unscrupulous man, and that I committed a forgery to -save him. I confessed my crime, if crime it be, to you, because I -trusted in your honour." - -"I did not ask you to do so," said George, quickly. - -"That is true. I was imprudent enough to accuse myself, still, I am sure -that you won't betray my confidence. If you have my letter, take it to -the investigating magistrate, if you like, but not one word to Albert, -pray." - -"It will be my duty to enlighten him." - -"Because you expect to be his brother-in-law? Oh, don't deny it. -Mademoiselle Verdon would not have walked about with you, without her -mother, if the marriage was not decided upon. But is that any reason for -blighting my hopes? I, also, might say things against you--tell Albert -that your friend Puymirol isn't much better than Dargental, and that -your intimacy with him has got you into no end of scrapes. But I have no -idea of doing so. You have never injured me, why should I try to injure -you?" - -"So be it," said George, who realised the danger of making an enemy of -Mademoiselle Pornic; "I will be silent so far as Albert is concerned, -but I must reserve my right to act, as I see fit, with other people." - -"In other words, you reserve the right to denounce me if you like. That -amounts to the same thing. If I were arrested, even temporarily, Albert -would be sure to hear of it. What object can you possibly have in -ruining me?" - -"None, but I can not allow an innocent person to be condemned. The truth -is, my friend Puymirol is accused of the crime, he is under arrest, and -I can't abandon him." - -"No, certainly not, but it will be easy to prove his innocence, and I -will help you. I will testify that he was lunching with us when -Dargental was killed. The magistrate is aware of this, however, and I -don't see how any suspicion can possibly attach to Puymirol. If there -must be a victim, why don't you mention the Countess de Lescombat to the -magistrate? She, alone, was interested in having Dargental put out of -the way." - -These words had scarcely passed Blanche's lips, when her maid entered -the room. "Excuse me, madame," she said, "but there is a lady here who -insists upon seeing you--the Countess de Lescombat she calls herself." - -Blanche and George were both overcome with astonishment. The former -hesitated. Her first impulse was to close her doors in the face of the -woman whom she so bitterly hated, but she changed her mind. "Show her -in," she cried to her maid, who instantly turned to obey the order. - -"I had better go," remarked George. - -"No, no," replied Blanche. "It is just because you are here that I -consent to see her. I want you to hear what she says, for I am satisfied -that she has come here about the letters. Go in there, and don't come -out until I call you." As she spoke, she pushed George into an adjoining -boudoir, the entrance of which was screened by a heavy hanging of silken -fabric. George let her do so; the curtain fell; and he considered that -he had a perfect right to remain thus concealed, and listen to the -conversation which was now about to take place. It was, indeed, needful -he should know what part these women had really played in an affair -which was costing his friend Puymirol so dear. Presently he heard -Blanche ask, in a soft voice: "To what am I indebted for the honour of -your visit?" - -"Can't you guess?" replied Madame de Lescombat, in a quiet tone, at once -steady and well modulated. - -"No," replied Blanche, curtly, "though I understand very well that your -coming must be due to some pressing need of my assistance." - -"I require no one's assistance, I assure you. I have simply an -explanation to ask of you." - -"It must be of a decidedly dangerous nature, for you to take the trouble -to come here in person." - -"I am in the habit of attending personally to all matters of a personal -nature." - -"You are quite right, madame. It is always dangerous to write." - -There was a pause, and the two rivals exchanged anything but friendly -glances. Blanche had somewhat the advantage, however, for she was at -home, and the countess, who had called, must speak the first. "We need -not waste any more time on preliminaries," she said, quietly. "I came to -speak of Pierre Dargental, I admit it. That man betrayed us both, and he -has been justly punished. A man cannot trifle with a woman's honour -during years with impunity. Chastisement comes sooner or later. Still, I -foresee certain misfortunes which may result from his death." - -"I do not understand you," replied Blanche, coldly. - -"You think I came here as an enemy," resumed the countess. "What would -you say if I told you that Dargental once boasted to me of possessing a -letter from you, which he had only to show to have you sent before the -assizes?" - -"The assizes!" repeated Blanche, scornfully. "Pierre made such a boast -as that! If he had sent me there, he would have been obliged to -accompany me." - -"He is beyond the reach of justice now, for he is dead," replied Madame -de Lescombat, "but you are still alive." - -"This time, I understand. Why do you use all this circumlocution to tell -me that he had the cowardice to show and give you the letter you speak -of?" - -"And if that were true?" - -"I no more fear you than I feared him. He could not denounce me without -ruining himself, for what I did was done to save him, and he alone -profited by it. With you, madame, the case is very different. If you -venture to send my letter to the public prosecutor I shall send him -yours." - -"Mine!" exclaimed the countess. - -"Yes, madame, you cannot have forgotten that you once sent Pierre an -impassioned missive in which you spoke of a terrible secret you had -confided to him. You placed yourself at his mercy to prove your love." - -"And this letter is in your possession?" - -"Why shouldn't Pierre have taken the same precautions against you as he -took against me? It was not so easy to subjugate me as you, however, for -I was in a position to defend myself if he had ventured to attack me." - -"I also can defend myself," murmured Madame de Lescombat. - -"I hope you will not be reduced to that extremity. Now, let us speak -plainly. You did not come here out of kindness of heart to offer to -restore me my letter; but I will tell you why you did come. You knew -that Pierre had your letter, and you anxiously asked yourself if he -might not have entrusted it to me. Well, your ruse has proved -successful. You know what to think now. What do you propose?" - -"I think we ought to come to an understanding." - -"I think so, too," replied Blanche. "We have nothing to gain by war, so -let us conclude a treaty of peace. We can exchange letters. Give me -mine, and I'll give you yours." - -"I haven't yours about me," murmured the countess, visibly embarrassed. - -"I am surprised that you left it at home. When a person goes to battle -she ought not to forget her weapons." - -"I had no idea that our conversation would take such a turn." - -"Well, as soon as I saw you come in, I guessed the object of your visit; -but, as you are not in a position to carry out your part of the compact, -we had better let the subject drop." - -"You seem to have no confidence in me. Well, as you refuse to give me my -letter until I have returned you yours, why not accompany me home? My -carriage is at the door. Take my letter, and come with me. The exchange -shall take place in my bedroom. Your letter is locked up in my desk -there." - -"I am greatly obliged to you for your kind offer, but it is impossible -for me to leave the house just now. I am expecting a visit." - -"Then name some hour at which it will suit you to come and I will remain -at home." - -"I shall not be at liberty to-day or to-morrow either, and as your -carriage is at the door, it would be better for you to go home and fetch -the letter." - -"Confess that you refuse to accompany me, merely because you are -afraid." - -"I do confess it," replied Blanche, calmly. "You have a crowd of -servants who would not hesitate to take the letter from me by force if -you ordered them to do so. To whom could I complain afterwards? The -police would laugh in my face, if I ventured to demand redress. No, I -shall not be foolish enough to place myself at your mercy." - -"Nor will I place myself at _your_ mercy." - -"The cases are not the same by any means. This house doesn't belong to -me. I am not its only occupant, and my servants are worthy people who -would not dare to lay violent hands upon you, a countess. A fine -countess, indeed! Octavia Crochard, who used to perform at fairs! Ah! if -that were all she ever did! I didn't poison my husband! I did not hire a -rascal to murder my lover!" - -"What! you have the audacity to accuse me of Dargental's death?" - -"I do, and if you persist in holding your head so high, I shall go to -the investigating magistrate and tell him so." - -"You would make a great mistake, my dear. The murderer has already been -discovered--a Monsieur de Puymirol." - -"That is absurd! We all know that Puymirol is innocent. The police have -made a mistake, that's all; and they would soon realise it if I told the -magistrate your story. I should repeat to him the terms of your letter -which Pierre showed to me, and which I know by heart. I would even -repeat the terms of mine, and confess what I did for Dargental's sake. -We should see, then, which of us was in the worst scrape. Take my -advice, and don't try and put the blame on Puymirol. He has never been -my lover, but he is the intimate friend of my lover's brother-in-law, -and if you try to injure him, I swear that you shall repent of it, -countess though you are." - -George listened to all this with great uneasiness. Madame de Lescombat -had just revealed the fact that she was aware of Puymirol's arrest, and -that she was inclined to cast upon him the suspicion which she feared -might fall upon herself. He was grateful to Blanche for defending -Adhemar, and felt a strong desire to interfere, and frighten the -countess into strict neutrality. He had the means of doing so in his -pocket, as he was the custodian of the letters about which the two -rivals were taunting each other. Still he had a lingering fear, that, if -he made use of these weapons, they might somehow be turned against -Puymirol. - -"And now that I see your game," resumed Blanche to the countess, "I -shall just prevent it. As soon as you leave the house you mean to go -straight to the investigating magistrate and fill his ears with the -vilest slander against Puymirol and against me. You shall do nothing of -the kind. Before you leave this room you shall write the confession I -mean to dictate to you." - -"You must be mad!" cried Madame de Lescombat. - -"I am nothing of the kind. I am in my own house, and if you refuse to -obey me, I shall send word to the commissary of police, and inform him -that two old friends of Dargental's have some important revelations to -make to him about the murder on the Boulevard Haussmann. He will come -and find you here. You may rest assured of that." - -"You wretch! do you mean to ruin me?" cried Madame de Lescombat, in -consternation. - -"Oh! you are not quite so arrogant now. You are afraid of being sent to -prison. Ah, well, just state in writing that you came here to entreat me -to return you a letter which was written by you to Dargental, and which -deeply compromised you." - -"No," said the countess, regaining courage. "I will not write a single -line. Send for all the commissaries in Paris, and tell them whatever you -please. No one will believe you." - -"You are very much mistaken. My assertions may not have much weight, but -I will produce a witness to support them." - -"A witness! what do you mean?" exclaimed Madame de Lescombat, turning -perceptibly paler. - -Blanche, instead of replying, hastened to the silken curtain, dashed it -aside, caught hold of George by the arm, and dragged him into the -presence of the now terrified visitor. George was greatly disturbed, for -he had not expected this, and did not know what he should say to the -countess. He must be careful, at any rate, for an imprudent word might -ruin Puymirol. "Who are you, sir?" asked Madame de Lescombat, when she -had partially recovered from her alarm. - -"I am Adhemar de Puymirol's most intimate friend, madame." - -"Then you are George Caumont. I have often heard you spoken of, but I -never supposed that I should find you here, playing the part of a spy." - -"I am no spy, madame. It was against my will that I entered that -boudoir, and that I listened to your conversation, but now I don't -regret having listened." - -"You have the courage of your opinions, I see. Well, have the frankness -to tell me what use you intend to make of the information you have thus -obtained." - -"I shall govern my conduct by yours, madame," replied George, looking -searchingly at the countess. "If you dare to accuse my friend of a crime -he has not committed, I shall accuse you." - -"Oh! I merely mentioned that Monsieur de Puymirol had been arrested -because I was told so; but as for bothering myself about his affairs, I -take no interest in him whatever." - -"Then, why did you ask him to go and see you after the show at the -Palais de l'Industrie? He went to your house, I know, and until I learn -what passed between you two, I have a right to suppose that he has been -compromised through your fault." - -"Suppose whatever you like, but allow me to leave this house, unless you -mean to assist this person in detaining me here by force." - -"That is not my intention, but I think she does right to exact guarantee -from you." - -"I have no idea of writing anything at her dictation, for I scorn her -threats, and I defy you to go and tell a magistrate that you listened at -the door, or to repeat the conversation you just heard. Assertions are -not facts. As for that letter, if it were in mademoiselle's possession, -she would have used it against me long ago. If she has it, let her show -it. She boasted to several people about having it; but, plainly enough, -it was mere brag." - -Madame de Lescombat's blow told this time; for Blanche was utterly -unable to produce the famous letter. "I boasted about having seen it!" -she replied. "Why, where can you have obtained your information? I have -never mentioned your letter to anyone excepting Monsieur Caumont, here." - -"It was Monsieur de Puymirol who informed me," said the countess. - -"Puymirol!" exclaimed George. "That is false!" - -"You might be a trifle less rude, sir," responded Madame de Lescombat, -coldly. "Your friend came to my house after the horse show. He alluded -to his financial worries--which were no news to me, however--and spoke -at some length of Pierre Dargental's tragic death. He gave me to -understand that I might find myself seriously compromised, but that it -was in his power to save me from any serious trouble. I had no fears of -that, however, so I declined his offers, but his manner was so strange -and his language so embarrassed, that it occurred to me, that he, -himself, was afraid of being compromised, and that he was trying to make -me share the responsibility of his own conduct. This explains why the -news of his arrest did not surprise me very much." George hung his head, -for he was afraid that this account of the interview might be true. -"This is what I shall tell the magistrate, if he questions me," -concluded the countess, with an ironical glance at Blanche. "You, sir, -and you, mademoiselle, are at liberty to make use of the weapons you -pretend to hold. But your threats don't alarm me, for I know that you -have no such weapons at all." - -"Are you sure of that?" retorted George. He had already forgotten all -his prudent resolutions, and longed to speak his mind freely to this -audacious creature. "Your language does not intimidate me, madame," he -continued. "You deny that you ever wrote Dargental a letter that might -ruin you. Well, I myself have seen that letter, and I am satisfied that -if the magistrate saw it, he would immediately issue a warrant for your -arrest." - -"Was it Monsieur de Puymirol that showed it to you?" - -"You have guessed correctly. It was Puymirol. In fact he and I found the -pocket-book. Puymirol made a great mistake in trying to profit by one of -the lottery tickets it contained, and he has been severely punished for -doing so. As for myself, I have made no use of the letters as yet, but I -shall, if you force me to do so." - -"The letters! There are several, then?" - -"There are three." - -"Is mine one of them?" asked Blanche, eagerly. - -"Yes," was the laconic reply. - -"Then, madame here told a falsehood when she said that she had it. I -suspected as much," said the actress. - -"You also told an untruth," retorted the countess. "And this gentleman -doubtless intends to exact hush-money from us." - -"I scorn to notice your insults," replied George. "I kept the letters, -because I did not know what else to do with them. But now that my friend -is compromised, I must take them to the investigating magistrate at -once. I shall tell him the whole truth, and though he may blame me, the -worst consequences will fall upon the persons who were so deeply -interested in regaining possession of their letters. One of them, at -least, hasn't shrunk from a crime to recover her property." - -"I'm not that one," said Blanche, "and you need no better proof of -that, than my earnest approval of your plan, and my wish that you should -see the magistrate as soon as possible." - -"Do as you please, sir," said the countess, with pretended indifference. -"You mean to try and exculpate Monsieur de Puymirol and to inculpate me. -I think, however, that you will only aggravate your friend's situation, -for this story of the finding and keeping of the pocket-book does not -redound to his credit or to yours. Besides, a magistrate won't accuse a -person of my rank merely because a letter of hers is shown to him at the -same time as letters from other women of greatly inferior position. If -the magistrate suspects any one, it will be mademoiselle here, or else -the writer of the third letter; that is, unless the three correspondents -are only an invention--I shall only believe your story when I have proof -of it." - -"I will furnish proof," cried George, yielding to a sudden impulse, and -as he spoke he drew the letters from his pocket, and spread them out in -his hand in the form of a fan. "Do you recognise yours?" he said to the -countess. - -Madame de Lescombat turned pale, but made no reply. "I recognise mine," -answered Blanche, promptly. "It is the one on the right. Madame's is the -one to the left. Dargental once showed it to me, and the handwriting is -not of a kind that one is likely to forget." - -At this moment the door of the room opened and Albert Verdon swept in -like a whirlwind. "George!" he exclaimed, in astonishment. "Well, well, -I am delighted to see you! But what the deuce are you doing? Are you -playing cards with Blanche?" - -At sight of a stranger, the countess lowered her veil, and turned -towards the door. As she did so, Albert perceived her, and hastily -doffing his hat, stammered: "Excuse me, madame. But I thought Blanche -was alone with this gentleman, who is my friend, and who will soon be my -brother-in-law." - -The countess gave him a keen glance and reflected: "So this young fellow -is this girl's lover, and Caumont is about to marry his sister. I am -saved. Caumont won't dare to hand the letters to a magistrate." Then, -instead of replying to Albert's apology, she bowed to the entire -company, and left the room. Blanche responded by a gesture that -signified "Good riddance," while George remained so entirely taken by -surprise, that he lacked the presence of mind to conceal the letters -which the young officer had mistaken for playing-cards. "Well, well," -said Albert, "why do you all look so strange? Who was that lady dressed -in black? You seemed to be acting a tragedy, together." - -"You are about right," said Blanche, gaily. "You have just seen the -Countess de Lescombat." - -"The lady to whom you wished to send me as envoy extraordinary? And she -has paid you a visit? Have you signed a treaty of peace?" - -"Oh, no; didn't you notice that she went off in a huff?" - -"That's true. She looked furious; but you spoke the other day of a -letter she refused to return to you. Did she bring it back to you -to-day?" - -"On the contrary, she came to ask me to return a letter of hers. But -don't try to solve the mystery. You will not succeed." - -"But I must. If you won't tell me anything, I shall apply to George." - -"Oh! he's free to tell you what he likes," rejoined Blanche. - -George being thus referred to, felt that he could not remain silent, and -so, with the best grace he could muster, he began: "You have a right to -know the whole truth, my dear Albert. You recollect that I spoke to you -yesterday, and again this morning, about my friend Puymirol, and the -anxiety his prolonged absence caused me? Well, he has been arrested on -the charge of murdering that Monsieur Dargental, who, as you already -know, was formerly one of Blanche's admirers." - -"Indeed! arrested!" exclaimed Albert. "How can that be? How can -suspicion have fallen on him?" - -"Listen to me," said George. "I will explain everything;" and thereupon -he gave Albert a substantial account of all he knew; the dropping of the -pocket-book into the cab; the lunch at the Lion d'Or; the finding of -Dargental's dead body; Puymirol's determination to discover the writers -of the letters contained in the pocket-book; his subsequent -disappearance, his attempt to cash a winning lottery ticket, his arrest, -and the search made in the Rue de Medicis. "It was very foolish on -Puymirol's part," he added, "for him to conceive the idea of conducting -an investigation instead of reporting the facts to the authorities; but -it was in vain that I represented to him that he would place himself in -a very dangerous position. He first went to the house of the Countess de -Lescombat. Ah! I forgot to tell you that one of the letters found in the -pocket-book had evidently come from her." - -"And was one of the others from Blanche?" asked Albert. - -"Yes," replied Mademoiselle Pornic, promptly, "and I will explain it -after you have read it. Monsieur Caumont can show it to you." - -"Are the letters in your possession?" asked the young officer, looking -searchingly at George. - -"I have had them for two days past. Puymirol, before calling upon the -countess, intrusted them to my keeping, and I have not been able to -return them, as I have not seen him since." - -"Read my letter," insisted Blanche. - -"Are you willing to show it to me?" inquired Albert. - -"Perfectly willing," replied George, "and the two others also. Besides, -I want your advice in this matter; but it must be given with a full -knowledge of all the circumstances. Here are the letters," he added -holding them out. "Begin with Mademoiselle Pornic's. The top one won't -be interesting to you, as we have no clue to the writer." - -"It is very strange," exclaimed the officer, "but I am almost sure that -I recognise the handwriting." And at the same time he turned very pale. -George looked at him in surprise, and was suddenly seized with the idea -that the third missive must have been written by some one closely -connected with his future brother-in-law. Accordingly he hastily slipped -it between the others, and lowered his hand. He had not been mistaken, -for Albert, in a voice husky with emotion, resumed: "I am wrong of -course, but give me the letter. I should like to examine it more -closely. Why do you hesitate? You must know who wrote it?" - -"No! I swear I don't." - -"Then show it to me. I have good eyes, and I saw it only too well. I -can't remain in this cruel suspense. Give me the letter, I tell you." - -George turned pale in his turn. He felt that matters were becoming -serious, and he asked himself anxiously how he could get out of the -scrape. "My dear Albert," he said, with an evident effort, "you must see -that you are placing me in a very embarrassing position. Give me, at -least, an explanation that will relieve me of any responsibility. -Convince me that you have some serious reason for reading that letter." - -"It is so serious that if you refuse to give it me, I will have no -further connection with you." - -"But whom do you suppose the writer to be?" - -"I won't answer you--I can't." - -"Then you must excuse me from yielding to a whim which you don't even -take the trouble to justify. You threaten to withdraw your friendship, -well, I appeal to your reason. If need be, I will leave the matter to -umpires of your own selection." - -"I cannot explain here." - -"That means you distrust me," exclaimed Blanche. "Ah, well, my friend, -don't let me stand in your way. I will leave you alone with Monsieur -Caumont, and you can talk without fear of being overheard. There is no -one in the adjoining boudoir, and I will go to my dressing room, at the -other end of the flat." - -George and the young lieutenant were left standing face to face, equally -agitated and embarrassed. "You promised to show me that letter if I -would name the writer," finally said the officer in a hoarse voice. - -"But how can you do that? You scarcely saw the letter, and all feminine -handwriting is more or less alike." - -"This is so familiar, that I cannot possibly be mistaken. It is as well -known to me as my sister's." - -"Pray don't speak of your sister in connection with this matter," said -George entreatingly. - -"Would you rather I spoke of my mother?" - -"Your mother! What do you mean?" - -"She wrote that letter. I am certain of it." - -"Impossible! You must be mistaken." - -"I should recognise the hand among a thousand." - -"You forget that the writer of this missive instigated Dargental's -murder," insisted George, imprudently, "for it seems almost certain that -she was the guilty party, since it was neither Blanche nor the Countess -de Lescombat; and how can you think Madame Verdon capable of such a -crime? You never met Dargental. You never even heard of him prior to -your arrival in Paris." - -"I have not lived with my mother since I was a child." - -"But your sister has never left her, and she only heard of Dargental -through the papers. Your mother obtained her information about his death -from the same source, and it did not affect her in the least." - -"How do you know?" - -"We at least know that Madame Verdon is preparing for her approaching -marriage. Besides, where could she have found a scoundrel willing to -risk his life for her sake, in order to kill Dargental?" - -"Rochas is capable of any crime," said Albert. George hung his head. He -had not been prepared for this reply, and he felt the horror of the -situation more keenly than ever. "I am grateful to you for defending -her," continued the young officer, gravely, "but I entreat you not to -leave me in this cruel uncertainty. Show me the letter." - -"If it comes from her, what shall you do?" - -"I don't know; but one thing is certain, my sister must know nothing of -this." - -"You can depend upon my silence. But really I cannot allow you to read -the letter." - -"So be it," said Albert, with an evident effort. "I shall be satisfied -if you will merely show it to me. A single glance will suffice to dispel -my doubts. That is enough," he said, bitterly, as George held it out for -his inspection, with a trembling hand. "I can no longer doubt." - -"Let me burn it here and now," pleaded George. - -"Why burn it? On the contrary, you must keep it. It will help you in -proving that your friend is innocent." - -"Can you suppose I would show it to the investigating magistrate? I -bless the chance that brought you here. But for this conversation with -you, I should have handed this correspondence to the magistrate in the -hope of saving my friend. Now, I would rather die than show him these -letters. If you insist upon my keeping them, instead of destroying them, -I will submit to your decision; but I fear that they may be taken from -me. The search in Puymirol's apartments may be repeated to-morrow, and -this time perhaps in my rooms as well." - -"You are right; but I am anxious that you should remain armed. Intrust -these letters to some one." - -"To whom could I safely intrust them?" - -"Place them in an envelope, seal it securely, and intrust the packet to -a man who would rather let himself be hacked to pieces than give it up, -or even open it--in short, give it to Roch Plancoet." - -"I scarcely know him." - -"But I know him, and I will send him to you." - -"I will do as you wish, but--" - -"My decision is formed. My mother must leave France immediately, never -to return. I will see that she does so, and I will make Gabrielle -understand that from this day forth, she and I no longer have a mother. -You must devote yourself to your friend. Save him, if you can, and when -he is at liberty, advise him, also, to disappear. If he should be -obliged to speak of the letters in order to get himself out of the -scrape, he can only denounce Blanche and the countess as he does not -know the writer of the other letter. If the magistrate questions you, -tell him you have burned them all. Now go. I must invent some story to -prevent Blanche from guessing the truth. You may expect a visit from me -to-morrow morning. I shall have something fresh to tell you then." - -George, overcome with emotion, made no response, but staggered out of -the house like a drunken man. - - - - -VIII. - - -Roch Plancoet lived in some modest rooms at the corner of the Rue Royer -Collard, but a few steps from the house occupied by Madame Verdon and -her daughter. He might have chosen more expensive quarters, for he -possessed a small fortune, honestly and laboriously acquired during his -long service as superintendent of the Verdon ironworks. But Roch was a -philosopher who scorned luxury and adored solitude. He led a quiet life, -and he devoted his time and attention almost exclusively to his friends, -Gabrielle and Albert--the children of his foster-brother and benefactor. -Gabrielle especially was the object of his almost fatherly solicitude. -He visited her every day, and her portrait hung in his sitting-room. -With her mother, strange to say, he was always very reserved, though he -willingly served her when she asked him to do so, which seldom happened, -however. The only favour he had ever asked of her, was permission to see -her daughter every day, and she had never dared to refuse that, perhaps -because she feared him. Roch had held the position of superintendent at -the ironworks when she married M. Verdon; and he was too well acquainted -with all the incidents of her life, for her to quarrel with him. When -she had informed him of her intention to marry M. Rochas, he had replied -that she was perfectly free to contract a second marriage if she -pleased, and that if she wished to leave her children he would take -charge of them. Then, however, had come the announcement of Gabrielle's -engagement to George Caumont. George had had the rare good fortune to -please Plancoet, and that was a good deal, for the old fellow was very -hard to please as far as his favourite's suitors were concerned. -However, although Roch had abundant cause for rejoicing at this good -news, at least apparently, he returned home thoughtful and preoccupied, -and for twenty-four hours merely set foot out of doors to take his meals -at a neighbouring restaurant. On the following afternoon, while he was -sitting at his window smoking a pipe, Albert Verdon rang at the door. -The young officer seemed to be in a state of great excitement, and Roch -anxiously asked him: "What is the matter?" - -"Ah! my poor friend, you are the only person to whom I can tell the -truth," replied Albert. "You know all about my mother's conduct. Well, I -have just seen a letter written by her to a lover--" - -"To Rochas?" asked Plancoet, eagerly. - -"No, no--to that man Dargental whom I spoke to you about, and who was -killed in his rooms a fortnight ago." On hearing this Plancoet staggered -back to the-wall. "Yes," resumed Albert fiercely, "to a scamp who traded -on women! A professional black mailer! Ah! the truth is so horrible that -on making this discovery I at first thought of flinging myself into the -Seine." - -"You haven't seen your mother since?" asked Plancoet. - -"No, I lacked the courage; I wanted to ask your advice. Come, tell me, -did you ever know that my mother carried on an intrigue with that man -Dargental?" - -"I know all that your mother has done since she became a widow," replied -Plancoet, gravely, and then after a little pressing from Albert he -proceeded to tell the poor fellow the story of Madame Verdon's -profligacy. She had been Dargental's mistress for a time, but he had -deserted her for Madame de Lescombat whom he hoped to marry, not, -however, without having extorted large sums of money from her, by -threatening her with the publication of her correspondence. In fact, -only shortly before his death, he had threatened to send her letters to -Gabrielle. - -Albert was crushed by the sad narrative. At last, however, he mustered -strength enough to inform Plancoet of Puymirol's arrest, of the scene at -Blanche's house, and the attendant discovery, and of Caumont's present -willingness to confide the letters to his keeping. "You must take them," -said the young fellow, "and go and see my mother--force her to leave -Paris in three days' time, and make her promise to marry M. Rochas -abroad, without delay. If she refuses, you may tell her that she will -certainly be implicated in the murder of M. Dargental." - -"And if she consents?" - -"Then you can burn the letters or keep them as you like. But come now, -George is waiting for us to hand you the notes." - -Roch's face had abruptly assumed an expression of resolution. He did not -raise any objection but quietly followed Albert to the Luxembourg -Gardens where Caumont indeed was waiting. "My dear fellow," said young -Verdon to his future brother-in-law, without more ado, "we are all of -the same mind. You know my intentions, and my old friend Roch will see -that they are carried out. Will you therefore give him the envelope -containing the letters?" - -George handed it to Plancoet, who accepted the trust without hesitation. -"Are they all here?" he inquired. - -"Yes, all three of them," replied the lieutenant. "Break the seal and -see for yourself, if you like." - -"That is unnecessary; your word is sufficient. But I should be greatly -obliged to Monsieur Caumont if he would tell me how his friend Monsieur -de Puymirol is getting on." - -"His situation remains unchanged. He has been subjected to repeated -examinations, but the magistrate has so far come to no decision." - -"And your friend has said nothing about the letters?" inquired Plancoet. - -"No; and yet, I fancy they would be the only means of saving him." - -"Then why doesn't he mention them?" - -"Probably because he doesn't wish to compromise the Countess de -Lescombat. Perhaps, also, he doesn't want to mix me up in this -unfortunate affair. If he spoke of the letters the magistrate would -instantly suspect that he had intrusted them to me." - -"And do you think that he will remain silent until the end?--that he -will let himself be sent before the assizes rather than speak out." - -"I feel sure of it. He has many faults, but nothing can subjugate or -intimidate him. I know him so well that yesterday I made up my mind to -interfere and extricate him from his predicament despite himself; but -now I can do nothing for fear of involving Albert's mother in the -scandal. He is lost!" - -Plancoet, visibly agitated, dropped his eyes. "I feel sure that although -Madame Verdon may be very guilty she did not instigate Dargental's -murder," he said after a short silence. - -"Then who could have instigated it--Rochas?" - -"I think not. He would not imperil his life to save a woman's honour. -But Albert has told you, I suppose, what he wishes me to do?" - -"Yes, sir, and I thoroughly approve of his decision." - -"And you are still determined to marry Mademoiselle Verdon?" - -"More determined than ever, if she will have me." - -"But you are aware that two other persons know that the pocket-book has -been found, and are acquainted with the contents of the letters -intrusted to you by your friend." - -"Blanche Pornic will be silent. I can vouch for her," interrupted the -young officer. "And Madame de Lescombat also realizes that it is to her -interest to do the same." - -"I can proceed to act, then," muttered Plancoet, as if talking to -himself. - -"I trust you will do so without delay," replied Albert. "My mother is -now at home and so is Gabrielle, but you can say that you wish to see my -mother alone." - -"If you have an opportunity of exchanging a few words in private with -Mademoiselle Verdon, pray tell her that my feelings are unchanged," said -George to Plancoet. - -"I will readily promise you that; and now, as you are acquainted with -the habits of the investigating magistrate, will you tell me at what -hour I should be likely to find him in his office?" - -"Oh! my friend Balmer assured me that he would be in his office all -day." - -"But why do you wish to know that?" interrupted the lieutenant. "I -suppose you have no idea of requesting him to release Puymirol?" - -"Certainly not," stammered Plancoet. - -"Then hasten to my mother's without delay. Now's your time, but when and -where shall we see you again?" - -"I am afraid the interview will prove a lengthy one." - -"Ah, well, George and I will return here at five o'clock. So good-bye -for the present, old friend." - -"Farewell," replied Plancoet, pressing the hands the two young men held -out to him. - -With his head bowed down, the old overseer walked slowly towards Madame -Verdon's abode. Gabrielle was upon the balcony, and on seeing him she -hastened to the door and let him in. "What is happening?" she asked -anxiously. "Just now I received a letter from Albert who tells me he -shall come and fetch me at nine o'clock to-night to take me to his -colonel's sister, in the Rue de Tournon, for he won't let me stay here -any longer." - -"Listen, my poor girl," replied Roch, "you must do as your brother -asks--besides, it is absolutely necessary, for your mother will leave -Paris to-morrow." - -"To-morrow! but why? That's strange, she surely does not intend to -abscond like a criminal?" - -"Some transgressions have the same consequence as crimes," said Roch -sadly; "believe me--don't try to guess the truth but believe me when I -tell you that you must not remain another day under your mother's roof. -I swear it by your poor father's memory, by your brother's honour and my -own--" - -Gabrielle was beginning to understand and tears gathered in her eyes. -"Ah!" she murmured in a tone of deep grief. - -"But Albert and your future husband will some day tell you more. -However, is your mother at home?" - -"Yes, in her boudoir." - -"Well, I wish to see her and am going there. But before we part let me -kiss you and promise me that you will be brave." Then having pressed the -poor girl to his heart and imprinted a paternal kiss on her brow he -proceeded to Madame Verdon's boudoir. - -His interview with the guilty mother was a stormy one--but finally he -wrung from her an unwilling compliance with Albert's wishes, and -promised her that he would place her letter to Dargental in an envelope -and deposit it with his notary, who would hand it to her in exchange for -her written consent to Gabrielle's marriage with George Caumont. Then -he hastily left the house, returned home, placed Blanche's and Madame de -Lescombat's notes in one envelope addressed to George, and Madame -Verdon's in another, and after writing some instructions for his notary, -he forthwith repaired to the latter's office. When he left it he paused -for an instant, but instead of returning to the Luxembourg to acquaint -his young friends with the success of his mission, he finally crossed -the Pont St. Michel and proceeded towards the Palais de Justice. - - - - -IX. - - -While his friend was trying to save him, Adhemar de Puymirol was in a -cell at the prefecture depot. It was the third day of his imprisonment, -and he was pacing, savagely, up and down, like a captive lion in his -cage, when suddenly he heard a jailer unbolt the door, and for a moment -he deluded himself with the belief that the moment of his release had -arrived. All prisoners are subject to these fits of hopefulness. -However, this one was of short duration. - -"I am ordered to conduct you to the magistrate's office," announced the -jailer. - -"What for?" replied Puymirol, "I won't answer his questions, so it is -not worth while disturbing me." - -"It will be the last time. You came here on the 26th. To-day's the 29th, -and no one stays here more than three days." - -This reply calmed Puymirol. It did not seem to him at all improbable -that his case would end favourably, at all events, he would soon know -his fate, so he silently followed the warder through the corridors, and -up the staircase to M. Robergeot's office. Charles Balmer's friend was -still in the prime of life, and had a prepossessing face. He motioned -Puymirol to a chair, and the prisoner, as he sat down, curtly exclaimed: -"I hope you will put an end to all this, sir." - -"It is with that intention that I sent for you," replied the magistrate, -"though I might have spared myself the trouble, as you have so far -refused to furnish any of the information asked of you; still, I felt it -my duty to give you one more chance to tell the truth." - -"I have told you all I am going to tell you." - -"You have told me nothing. You have even tried to retract the testimony -you gave to the commissary of police at the Palais de l'Industrie. You -have adopted a most deplorable course. I say nothing about the fact that -you presented a lottery ticket that did not belong to you. That is a -trifling offence in comparison with the crime of murder, followed by -robbery, with which you are charged. It is true I am perfectly satisfied -that you did not fire the bullet that killed Dargental, for I admit that -an _alibi_ has been conclusively established, but this does not prove -that you don't know the murderer, and that the crime was not committed -in your interest, or in the interest of some person connected with -you." - -"How can you expect me to prove the injustice of your suspicions? I was -well acquainted with Dargental, it is true, but though he may have had -enemies, I know nothing about them." - -"Well, let me refresh your memory on another point of the case. We have -succeeded in finding the cabman who took you to the Lion d'Or, and his -testimony proves that you were not alone in his cab in which you claim -to have found the lottery tickets. Why did you tell the commissary the -contrary?" - -"You would have done the same, had you been in my place. I do not wish -to subject an innocent person to the same annoyance and discomfort as -myself." - -"But this person's testimony might be of great service to you. Besides, -we shall soon ascertain who your companion was. The cabman already -declares that on the day of the murder, and between the hours of -half-past eleven and half-past twelve o'clock, he drove two young -gentlemen from the Rue de Medicis to the Lion d'Or, and that he had no -other fares that morning. He also declares that before leaving the -stable that day he had carefully examined the interior of his vehicle, -and had not found in it any papers left there by any former passenger. -He also declares that nothing extraordinary occurred during the drive -referred to." - -"We are revolving in the same circle, it seems to me," interrupted -Puymirol, "and if you have nothing fresh to tell me--" - -"This cabman also declares that a few days after the crime a man who had -taken the number of his vehicle came to his residence, which he had -ascertained at the company's office, and after giving him twenty francs, -questioned him at length about this drive on the 9th of April. The -cabman could only tell him what he just told me, viz., that his two -passengers alighted at the Lion d'Or in the Rue du Helder. Now, can you -tell me why this person inquired after you?" - -"No, I can't. Look him up yourself, and ask him the question." - -"We _are_ looking for him, but though we have not yet succeeded in -finding him, I know what he did after his interview with the cabman. I -have questioned the employes of the restaurant, among them the -door-porter, who tells me that this same man offered him a liberal -reward if he would point out either of the two young fellows who -breakfasted there in a private room on the morning of April 9th. The -porter, who did not know your name, though he knew you very well by -sight, promised to do what this person asked, and the latter waited for -nearly three weeks, watching for you. You did not show yourself, -however, until quite recently; in fact, not until the day previous to -your arrest. Then this stranger followed you into the restaurant, and -had a long conversation with you, after which you both left the -restaurant, though not together. Still, the porter noticed that you -followed this stranger up the Boulevard Haussmann. Now, what have you to -say to this story? Do you admit that it is true?" - -"By no means, but even if I did, what conclusions would you draw from -such an admission on my part?" asked Puymirol. - -"That this man was your accomplice; that he was the murderer of -Dargental, and that he was trying to communicate with you in reference -to a crime which he had committed at your instigation." - -"You are going too far, it seems to me. You forget that if this person -had acted by my orders he would necessarily have known who I was, and -where I lived, and would not have applied to the doorkeeper of a -restaurant for information about me." - -"You doubtless had your reasons for concealing your name and address. -When a man hires a scoundrel to commit a murder, he is usually anxious -to keep his identity secret. However, there is a very easy way for you -to prove that I am mistaken. That is, to tell me what this man wanted of -you, what he said to you at the Lion d'Or, and where you went with him -after dinner." This argument was irrefutable, and Puymirol realised it. - -"In short," continued the magistrate, "if you will only tell the truth, -I can almost promise that you would escape indictment." - -Puymirol's eyes flashed. He espied liberty before him--the effacement of -his fault, a bright future; but his face suddenly clouded, his features -contracted, and he said, with a scornful gesture: "Bah! your clemency -could not restore me what I have lost. A man who has spent three days in -prison is dishonoured for life. Besides, I haven't a penny, and the only -future in store for me is starvation." - -"I can prove to you that you have nothing of the kind to fear. You come -from Perigord, don't you, and your relatives reside there?" - -"My only remaining relative is an aunt who allows me two thousand francs -a year; my father left me nothing but debts." - -"Which were long since paid by your aunt, Madame Besseges, who resides -at Montpazier, in the department of the Dordogne." - -"How do you know that?" - -"I have naturally made inquiries about you, and have learned that you -belong to an old and highly respected family." - -"Oh! We have been ruined for centuries." - -"Your aunt made a wealthy marriage, however, and she inherited all her -husband's property." - -"Yes, but I sha'n't inherit her fortune." - -"You have done so already. She died three days ago, after appointing you -her sole legatee; and you consequently possess an income of eighty -thousand francs. Oh! don't think I am jesting! Since your arrest, all -letters addressed to you have been seized at the post-office. This was -done by my orders. I hoped that in your correspondence I might find some -clue to this mystery, but I was disappointed in that respect. This -morning, however, there came a letter from a notary at Montpazier, -announcing your aunt's sudden death, and inclosing a certified copy of -her will. The document will be given to you as soon as you are set at -liberty." - -"Then you intend to set me at liberty?" - -"That depends entirely upon yourself. The affair of the lottery ticket, -and that of the murder, are closely connected, though one is of great, -and the other of trifling importance. If you persist in remaining -silent, I shall be compelled to believe that you are the culprit, in -both cases, for you would not refuse to explain matters if you were -merely guilty of a trifling misdemeanour. If you are innocent of the -capital charge, you have only to tell me the truth about the finding of -the lottery tickets, and I will release you." Puymirol, deeply moved, -evidently hesitated. "Pray, recollect," continued the magistrate, "that -I shall eventually succeed in solving the mystery without your -assistance, so spare me the pain of sending you to Mazas. You are now -rich, and public feeling is always very lenient towards the wealthy. -Your mishap will soon be forgotten, and your life will become a pleasant -one. But, perhaps, you prefer the Assizes? Choose." - -Puymirol's choice was already made. Whilst poor, he had been reticent to -the verge of heroism. He had not thought it worth his while to purchase -freedom by a confession, merely to drag out a miserable existence. He -preferred to take his chances of conviction, and profit by his silence -afterwards, for he felt sure that the Countess de Lescombat would not -fail to reward him eventually. However, he now viewed his situation -under an entirely different light. To re-enter the gay world of Paris, -which so quickly forgets misdemeanours; to begin life again with plenty -of money, that made it well worth his while to yield to the magistrate's -entreaties. Besides, as he was well aware, this magistrate already -suspected the truth, which truth was likely to come to light at any -moment. He had only to question George Caumont, and the latter would -probably tell all he knew, reticent as he had been at first. Puymirol -reasoned thus, being entirely ignorant of all that had occurred since -his arrest. He did not suspect that George was far more deeply -interested than himself in concealing the truth about the letters, since -one of them, and the only one to which Puymirol attached no importance, -had been written by Gabrielle's mother. Being ignorant of this fact, -Adhemar naturally supposed that he might venture to confess the truth, -without injuring his friend, who felt very little interest in Blanche -Pornic, and still less in the Countess de Lescombat. "Well, sir," he -began, "I am deeply touched by the kindness and consideration with which -you have treated me, and I should be ungrateful, indeed, if I longer -resisted your entreaties. I will therefore confess that I know -Dargental's murderer." - -"At last!" exclaimed M. Robergeot, with a meaning glance at his clerk -who had been sitting hard by, idly twirling his pen. - -Puymirol then duly acquainted the magistrate with the precise -circumstances of the finding of the pocket-book in the cab, on the way -to the Lion d'Or, and this point being disposed of he continued: "I am -now coming to the most important incident of my story. On the day -preceding my arrest, I dined at the Lion d'Or, and had scarcely begun -my dinner when I noticed that a gentleman who had taken a seat near me -was staring at me with unusual persistency. This gentleman finally -seated himself at my table, and then made some very strange disclosures. -He began by admitting that he was the person who had thrown the -pocket-book into the cab." - -"What was his object in telling you that, for he must have had an object -in confessing that he had thrown his pocket-book away?" - -"He wished me to return it to him." - -"Did you comply with his request?" - -"No. I replied that I had left it at home, but that I would send it to -him if he would give me his address. That he declined to do. He then -begged of me to make an appointment to meet him somewhere. I refused, -and asked him why he was so anxious to regain possession of an article -that was not worth more than fifteen or twenty francs. He made some very -poor excuse, and, to try him, I told him I had taken it to the -commissary of police in the Chaussee d'Antin, whereupon he seemed -greatly disturbed, and after mumbling out some unintelligible excuse, he -left me." - -"Did you allow the matter to drop there?" - -"Wait a moment. I had a plan, and I proceeded to carry it into -execution. I had the pocket-book about me at the time, and I have since -thought that he must have seen the end of it projecting from my pocket. -I did not suspect it then, however, and I took it into my head to find -out who he was, for I was as anxious to discover Dargental's murderer as -you can be. I thought that by following him at a little distance I -should be able to find out where he lived. I adopted this course, and he -let me follow him till we reached a lonely spot not far from the Avenue -de Villiers; whereupon he turned to the right, into a little street I -had never seen before. Here, I unconsciously ventured too near him, for -he had concealed himself, and just as I least expected it, he seized me -by the throat, throwing me to the ground, and nearly strangling me. When -I regained consciousness, I perceived that he had taken the pocket-book -from me, and that he was already almost out of sight." - -M. Robergeot listened very attentively to this narrative, and when -Puymirol paused, he quietly remarked: "The lottery tickets went as well, -I suppose?" - -"No," murmured Puymirol, slightly embarrassed. "I half suspected that -the rascal intended to attack me, so I took the precaution to remove -them from the pocket-book. I am sorry now that I did not leave them -there, for in that case I should not have been tempted to use them, -whereas, if he had yielded to the temptation, you would now have -Dargental's real murderer in your power." - -"Can you describe this man?" asked M. Robergeot. - -"Certainly," replied Puymirol, delighted at this promising beginning. -"He was about fifty years of age, and of medium height, though rather -strongly built, with a dark complexion, rather keen eyes, and a very -energetic face. There was nothing particularly striking about his -appearance, but I should recognise him among a thousand." - -"Your description agrees with that given by the cabman. But how did this -man act when you spoke to him about the murder?" - -"I did not speak to him on the subject," answered Puymirol, slightly -disconcerted. "The fact is, I was afraid of arousing his suspicions. It -was a part of my plan to let him do all the talking. I hoped he would -betray himself." - -"But you must have asked him why he threw the pocket-book into your -cab?" - -"Of course, and he replied that there were persons following him, and -anxious to rob him, and that he could think of no other way of -outwitting them." - -"The contents of this pocket-book must have been very valuable, judging -by his anxiety to secure possession of it again." - -"Perhaps it had contained some bank-notes, but when it came into my -hands there was nothing in it but the lottery tickets." - -"And it was to recover these lottery tickets that this fellow risked his -head?--for he did risk it by entering into conversation with you in a -public place, as you had only to denounce him to secure his arrest. In -fact, it was your duty to have sent word to a commissary of police while -the scoundrel was seated at your table. Come, sir, complete your -confession. Confess that there were some letters in the -pocket-book--compromising letters, no doubt." - -Puymirol turned pale, and hung his head. He saw that he was caught in -his own trap. There was no course for him now but to make a clean breast -of it. "You are right, sir," he said resolutely, "and I admit that I -have done wrong in hiding that fact. There were some letters which I -entrusted to my friend, Caumont; but I must add that he consented to -accept the trust greatly against his will, and that, from the very -first, he urged me to take the pocket-book and its contents to a -commissary of police." - -"And you say he has these letters?" - -"Unless he has burned them, which is not unlikely. He is well acquainted -with Balmer, and must have heard of my arrest, so that a fear of -injuring me may have led him to destroy the notes." - -"It will be very unfortunate for you, and for him, if these letters have -disappeared. Did you read them?" - -"Yes, and they were all written by women, former sweethearts of -Dargental's, evidently. In fact, I feel almost positive that one of -these women instigated the murder. However, these letters were none of -them signed, so that the best means of getting at the truth would be to -find the man who threw the pocket-book into our cab, and who afterwards -succeeded in taking it from me. When he is once under arrest, it is -probable that he will make a full confession, and name the woman who -hired him to commit the crime, for it will be greatly to his interest to -throw a part of the responsibility upon her." - -M. Robergeot was about to reply, but just then a clerk entered by a -side-door, and approaching the magistrate, said a few words to him in a -low tone. "Very well, show him in," was the response, and an instant -afterwards the door opened for the second time, and George Caumont -appeared. His manner was graver than usual; and it was very evident that -he was trying hard to repress some strong emotion. He bowed politely to -the magistrate, and then walked to Puymirol, with whom he shook hands. - -"I am very glad to see you," said Adhemar. "Your testimony will confirm -the statements I have just made." - -"I will spare you the trouble of questioning this gentleman," -interrupted M. Robergeot, and turning to George, he said: "Take a -chair." - -George silently obeyed, and waited. "Have you brought the letters?" -asked the magistrate point blank. - -"What letters?" asked George, pretending not to understand. - -"The letters that were in the pocket-book." - -"I haven't the slightest idea what you mean." - -"Oh! your friend here intrusted them to your care." - -On hearing this, George, in surprise, glanced at Puymirol, who -exclaimed: "You can speak. I have told everything." - -Caumont turned pale. He forgot that Puymirol did not know Madame Verdon, -so that he could not have mentioned her as one of Dargental's -correspondents. "It would ill become me to contradict a man I like and -esteem," he said in a voice husky with emotion, "and nothing could have -induced me to betray the secret he confided to me, but as he bids me -speak, I admit that on the day I saw Monsieur de Puymirol for the last -time, he intrusted a package of letters to my care, begging me to take -charge of them until his return home. As he failed to make his -appearance, I felt very anxious about him. However, Monsieur Balmer -informed me that my missing friend was in prison. I also learned from -the same source that his rooms had been searched; and as I was perfectly -satisfied in my own mind that this search had been made for the express -purpose of securing the letters in question, I thought it best to burn -them." - -"Indeed! Ah! You have done very wrong;" exclaimed the magistrate. "By -destroying those letters you have made yourself, in a measure, the -accomplice of a murderer." - -Here Puymirol, thinking that George was getting them both into trouble, -deemed it advisable to interfere. "Confess that you haven't burned -them," he interposed, quickly. "You promised to keep them, and your word -can be depended upon. You prevaricate from excess of delicacy, and -because you are afraid of implicating some of Dargental's old flames. -That is absurd. We should be simpletons to compromise ourselves on their -account. I would give up the letters, if I had them, without the -slightest compunction." - -George was suffering terribly. He was on the rack, and his friend seemed -to be deserting him. Ah, how glad he would have been to throw the -letters on the magistrate's desk, if one of them had not come from -Madame Verdon. He now regretted that he had not kept the other two, or, -at least, Madame de Lescombat's, for he hated her with all his heart. "I -repeat that I have not got them," he said, gloomily. - -M. Robergeot was about to put an end to the discussion, when his -messenger reappeared, this time with a note which the magistrate tore -open carelessly, little suspecting its importance. But he had scarcely -glanced at it, when his expression changed. "Who gave you this letter?" -he inquired, eagerly. - -"A man who is waiting for an answer." - -"Very well; go and tell him that I will ring for him in a few moments. -Until then, don't lose sight of him, and if he attempts to go away, -detain him, by force if necessary, even if you have to call upon the -guards for assistance." As soon as the messenger had left the room, M. -Robergeot turned to the two young fellows and said: "To which of you am -I indebted for this mystification? For it is the work of one of you, I -feel certain." Then, seeing them look at each other in very natural -astonishment: "These are the terms of the letter I have just received," -he continued. "'Pierre Dargental's murderer desires an immediate -interview with the magistrate. He gives himself up, but he has some -revelations to make before the magistrate signs the order for his -detention.' Now, have you any knowledge of this strange culprit? Am I -indebted to you for bringing him to light?" - -"What possible motive could we have had?" asked George. - -"Then you have no idea who he is?" - -"Not the slightest." - -"Well, I am now about to send for this man," resumed M. Robergeot, -gravely. "Remain seated, and say nothing, whoever he may prove to be. -You must not speak till I have finished." - -"Very well," replied Puymirol; "but you won't forbid me to look at him, -and if it is my acquaintance of the restaurant, I will warn you by a -sign. If I recognise him, I will raise my hand to my forehead." - -"So be it; but confine yourself to that. As for you, Monsieur Caumont, I -give you permission to do the same, if you recognise this man as the -person who threw the pocket-book into your cab on the Place du -Carrousel." - -George remained silent. He had not yet admitted that he was in the cab -at the time, and he did not deem it advisable to admit it now. M. -Robergeot did not insist, however. He rang, and the stranger entered, -closely followed by the messenger, and advanced towards the desk at -which the magistrate was seated; but on perceiving the two friends, whom -he had failed to notice at first, he turned pale, and stopped short. -Puymirol found it very difficult to keep quiet, for he had recognised -the mysterious stranger of the Lion d'Or at the very first glance. He -restrained himself, however, and, without a word, passed his hand across -his forehead. George Caumont, on his side, remained silent and -motionless; but every vestige of colour had fled from his cheeks, -leaving him even paler than the visitor who declared himself to be -Dargental's murderer. "Come, sir," the magistrate said to the new comer, -without inviting him to be seated, "I do not suppose that you came here -to play a joke on me; but I can not help wondering if you are in your -right mind. I warn you that I have no time to lose. So explain the -meaning of the extraordinary letter I have just received from you. I -should mention that these gentlemen are suspected of being accomplices -in the crime of which you accuse yourself. I, therefore, that they -should hear what you have to say." - -"They accomplices!" exclaimed the stranger. "I declare that they are -both innocent. I had no accomplices." - -"Then you don't know either of these gentlemen?" - -However, instead of falling into the trap set for him, the new comer -coolly replied: "I don't know their names, but I have seen them before. -I have even had a long conversation with one of them. That one," he -added, pointing to Puymirol. - -"Where, and under what circumstances?" - -"At the restaurant known as the Lion d'Or, which I entered for the -express purpose of speaking to him." - -"That is perfectly true!" cried Puymirol, delighted to hear the culprit -confirm the testimony he had given. - -"And where did you see that gentleman?" asked the magistrate, pointing -to George Caumont. - -"I saw him but once in a cab on the Place du Carrousel." - -"Well, why was it that you killed Pierre Dargental, on the 9th of April -last?" - -"Because he refused to surrender to me some letters which he intended to -use against a woman." - -"But why did you interest yourself in her behalf?" - -"I was in love with her. She is a married woman, and Dargental -threatened to denounce her to her husband, who would have killed her, -had he seen those proofs of her infatuation." - -"So you became a murderer through love and devotion?" said M. Robergeot, -ironically. "We will see by-and-by how the jury appreciate these -extenuating circumstances. In the meantime, if you wish me to believe -you, you must give me the name of this woman who was, of course, your -accomplice." - -"No, sir; I acted entirely without her knowledge or consent. She is -absolutely ignorant of what I have done." - -"Then you refuse to give me her name?" - -"Is it likely that I have risked my life, and surrender it to you, in -view of betraying the woman I have sworn to save? Take my life; it is -yours; but I shall carry my secret with me to the grave." - -George's face brightened, and Puymirol could not help showing his -admiration for this heroism on the part of the man he had so bitterly -anathematized. "You fancy that this secret will die with you," replied -the magistrate; "but I think I shall succeed in discovering it. I -believe I am already on the track." And then, gazing searchingly at the -stranger, M. Robergeot said: - -"We will return to this subject presently. You must now give me the -particulars of the murder." - -"It is for that purpose that I came here," replied the new comer, -coldly. "I called on Dargental at about eleven o'clock, on the morning -of April 9th. He admitted me himself, ushered me into the dining-room, -and left me in order to enter his bed-chamber. He returned a moment -afterwards with a pistol in his hand; and I had scarcely begun to -explain the object of my visit, before he began to abuse me in the most -insulting manner. He showered offensive epithets upon me, and uttered -the most violent threats against the person whom I wished to place -beyond the reach of his knavery. He declared that if she did not pay him -the sum of two hundred thousand francs before two days had expired, he -would send the letters she had been so imprudent as to write him, to her -husband. He added that these letters were then in his pocket, ready to -be produced at any moment. Frantic with rage, I sprang at his throat. He -freed himself, and threatened me with his pistol; I tried to wrest it -from him, but during the struggle, and at a moment when the barrel of -the pistol was pointed at his breast, the weapon went off." - -"And the bullet pierced Dargental's heart? This was a most unlucky -chance. You are remarkably clever. You almost convince me that you were -acting only in self-defence, and that the crime you committed was simply -justifiable homicide. Well, what after?" - -"I lifted the body, placed it in an arm-chair, searched all his pockets, -found the note-case he always carried upon his person, opened it, -satisfied myself that the letters were there, placed it in my pocket, -and left the house without even taking the precaution to wash my -blood-stained hands." - -"Which left stains upon the lottery tickets you had handled?" - -"That is true; I recollect now, that there were some lottery tickets in -one of the compartments of the pocket-book." - -"Well, you have not told me all. What occurred afterwards?" - -"I left the house, fully intending to return home and burn the letters, -after showing them to the writer, but, on the Boulevard Haussmann, I saw -two men who pretended to be strolling along, looking into the shop -windows, but whom I instantly recognised, in spite of their disguise, as -two men of a detective agency, whom the lady's husband had hired to -watch his wife. Dargental had sent him anonymous letters about her and -me. They started after me, and at the corner of the Rue de Rivoli and -the Rue des Pyramides one of them stopped to speak to a policeman, while -the other continued to follow me. I watched the movements of the -policeman out of the corner of my eye, and saw that he refused to -interfere. The next one we met might prove less scrupulous, and I might -be arrested and taken to the station-house, where I should certainly be -searched, and the letters found upon me. I realized my danger, and felt -that I had not a moment to lose in getting rid of the letters, so -without stopping to reflect, I adopted the first plan that occurred to -me. I was just passing one of the outlets of the Place du Carrousel. -There was a long line of vehicles. The private detectives were following -me at a little distance, talking together, probably making arrangements -to pick a quarrel with me, in order to attract the attention of the -police, who would take us to the station house. At all events their -conversation was so animated that they forgot to watch my movements. In -the last cab on the line I saw two gentlemen. The window was open, and I -dropped the pocket-book inside, carefully noting the number of the -vehicle as I did so. The two detectives gave me no further trouble, -however, as no policeman would consent to lend them a helping hand, -still they followed me to Montrouge. There is a house there with which I -am familiar, and which has two outsets. I entered it, and made my escape -by one door, while the two rascals were talking with the porter at the -other." - -"Is this all you have to tell me?" inquired M. Robergeot. - -"Yes, sir," the man replied, coldly. "You now merely have to send me to -prison." - -"Which I shall proceed to do so as soon as certain formalities are -complied with. Your disclosures were so unexpected that I quite forgot -to ask your name, profession, age and residence." - -"It is useless to ask me for information that I can not give." - -"And why not?" - -"Because I should betray a secret that is not my own. If I told you who -I am, you would soon know the woman I wish to save." - -"You hope to die like Campi, who was executed without any one having -been able to discover his real name. Your case does not resemble his in -the least, however." - -"No, certainly not, and I shall die in an entirely different way, but I -shall die unknown." - -This was said in a tone that made M. Robergeot wonder if he were not -dealing with a madman. "But your deposition must be signed," said he. - -"Oh! I am quite ready to acknowledge in writing that I have told the -truth, and that I have nothing to retract, but I shall sign the first -name that occurs to me." - -The magistrate felt that it was time to put an end to this discussion. -He knew that time and solitude overcome the most stubborn resistance; -besides, the presence of the two friends was a constraint upon him. "So -be it," said he. "I shall question you again, however, after you have -had time for reflection. In the meantime, you can write your -acknowledgment, after first reading the deposition you have just made." - -The stranger thereupon rose up, approached the clerk's table, took a -pen, and then at the bottom of the last page of the report of his -evidence he wrote these words: "I declare that I persist in my -statements correctly recorded above: that I alone, and of my own free -will, killed Pierre Dargental; that no one prompted me to commit the -crime, and that no one knew I was the perpetrator of the murder, until I -made the above confession in the presence of Monsieur Robergeot, and of -two gentlemen unknown to me." - -He then handed the document to the magistrate, who, after glancing at -it, said quietly: "Very well. You will now be taken to the depot." - -But all at once the man retreated to the wall, which was only three or -four steps from him, put his hand in his overcoat pocket, and drew out a -weapon that elicited an exclamation of dismay from the magistrate. This -weapon was one of those old-fashioned horse pistols, rarely seen -now-a-days, and before any one could reach the stranger, he had raised -this fire-arm to his head and pulled the trigger. A loud explosion shook -the walls; a cloud of smoke filled the office, and drops of warm blood -spurted in Puymirol's face. The murderer was lying motionless at the -foot of the wall--dead. The witnesses of this sudden suicide stood for a -moment overcome with horror. The guard, who had escorted Puymirol into -the room, looked as white as a sheet, though he was an old soldier. The -clerk, in his alarm, had entered the office without waiting for M. -Robergeot to ring. "Fetch the commissary of police on duty here in the -palace," said the magistrate. "I, myself, will summon the public -prosecutor. Your examination is ended for the present, gentlemen. You, -Monsieur Caumont, are at liberty to retire, but you must hold yourself -in readiness to appear before me at any moment, for this affair is not -ended. You, Monsieur de Puymirol, will return to the depot, and remain -there until I send for you which will be in a short time, probably." - -George rushed wildly through the passages, and it was not until he found -himself out of doors that he again breathed freely Where could he find -Albert? They had parted in the Rue de Medicis, after vainly waiting for -Roch Plancoet to join them in the garden of the Luxembourg. George had, -of course, been obliged to follow the messenger sent to conduct him -before the magistrate; and Albert had parted from him with a cheery: -"I'll see you again to-morrow." But George now wanted to see the young -officer at once; for the man who had just blown his brains out in the -presence of the two friends was Roch Plancoet, and it had cost George no -little effort to conceal his emotion on seeing him enter M. Robergeot's -office. Why had he killed himself? and why had he declared to George's -profound astonishment that he was Dargental's murderer? Evidently to -spare Gabrielle the pain of knowing her mother's disgrace. But what a -strange means he had employed! Could he have really believed that the -authorities would always remain ignorant of his name? He had certainly -disfigured himself beyond power of recognition, but justice possesses -other means of establishing a person's identity. Besides, was his -statement really correct? The story of the agents despatched to watch -him by M. Rochas was very extraordinary, and yet, otherwise, why had he -thrown the pocket-book into the cab? Whilst thus reflecting, George -Caumont reached the Place Saint-Michel. Some omnibuses there barred his -passage, and while waiting to pass, he saw Madame Verdon approaching -him. He tried to avoid her, but it was too late. She called to him, and -said: "Well, are you satisfied? You have leagued yourself with Albert -and Gabrielle, I see, so as to force me to leave Paris, and you have -even sent Monsieur Plancoet to me with your orders. You deserve to marry -a girl who rebels against her mother. However, farewell, and good luck -to you," she added, with a sneering laugh. "I have just been to -Plancoet's notary and have left him my written consent to your marriage. -Monsieur Rochas is waiting for me, and I must make haste if I want to -catch the express for Rome, _via_ Florence." - -With these concluding words, she entered a passing cab, leaving George -amazed and indignant beyond expression. On his way up the Boulevard -Saint-Michel he was obliged to pass Madame Verdon's residence, and he -felt strongly tempted to enter it. Gabrielle was there, no doubt, but -what should he say to her? How could he explain to her, her mother's -conduct, and acquaint her with the tragical death of her old friend, -Roch? It would certainly be better to allow her brother time to prepare -her for this blow. Accordingly he walked straight on to the Rue de -Medicis. Here his doorkeeper handed him a note from Albert which ran as -follows: "Everything has been arranged. I have seen my sister, and this -evening I shall take her to the house of Madame de Brangue, my colonel's -wife, who will act as her chaperon for the present. Call on me to-morrow -morning, at nine o'clock, at the Hotel de l'Empereur Joseph, in the Rue -de Tournon. Try to find Plancoet before you come, and bring him with -you. His visit to my mother accomplished wonders. What a friend we have -in him! He has saved us all." - -"At the cost of his life!" murmured George, sorrowfully, for he did not -share the illusions of his future brother-in-law. - -However, he was punctual in keeping the appointment that Albert had made -with him for the following morning, and on reaching the hotel he found -the lieutenant smoking a cigar in his room. The first words that the -young officer articulated were: "Where is Plancoet? Didn't you bring him -with you?" - -George shook his head. He did not know how to break the terrible news to -his prospective brother-in-law. "Plancoet will never come," he at last -said, sadly. - -"Why? has any accident happened to him?" - -George was about to reply that he was dead, when one of the hotel -servants entered with a letter which he handed to Albert. "Why, this -note is from Roch," exclaimed the young officer in astonishment. "How -strange for him to write instead of coming to see me. The letter must -have been posted yesterday evening. Let us see what he has to say." - -He broke the seal, and drew from the envelope two sheets of paper which -George had only to glance at, to recognise the letters of Blanche -Pornic and the countess. Albert laid them on the table and then opening -the missive from Plancoet which accompanied them, he read aloud as -follows: "'My dear boy,--You, as yet, only know a part of the truth, and -you must know it all. You will henceforth be the head of the family; and -until your sister marries, you will be responsible for her, for I shall -not be at hand to watch over her.'" - -"Why, what can he be driving at?" exclaimed the lieutenant. "Roch is the -best fellow in the world, but he has a fondness for making a mystery out -of everything. - -"'I am sure that your mother will yield,'" he continued, resuming his -perusual, "'and it is hardly probable that you will ever see her again. -That is why, before I go to see her, I wish to make you clearly -understand the part she has played in an affair which has proved so -terrible in its consequences to us all, and to me especially. I need not -revert to the past, nor need I speak of your mother's fault. I can only -plead extenuating circumstances on her behalf. While your poor father -lived she did not fail in her duty. She brought you up carefully, your -sister and yourself; she even loved you devotedly. It was her husband's -death that caused all this misery. Left to herself, and transplanted to -Paris, she lacked the strength to resist the many temptations of her new -life; and fate willed that she should meet a scoundrel who only thought -of profiting by her weakness. He wanted to marry her for her money, but -I managed to prevent that, though she fell a willing victim to his -fascinations. She finally discovered, however, that she had several -rivals in his affections, and a rupture followed. She could not escape -from Dargental's persecutions; his demands never ceased, and latterly, -they assumed such a threatening character that I resolved to put an end -to them. I could not choose my means in doing this. It was absolutely -necessary to secure the restitution of a letter which Dargental had -threatened to send to Monsieur Rochas, in case your mother did not -consent to purchase it at a cost of two hundred thousand francs; and I -could not hope to obtain it from Dargental by persuasion. Your mother -was terribly frightened, and wished to marry as soon as possible in -order to have a protector capable of defending her. I took good care not -to say a word to her about the plan which I had formed, and which I -executed without anybody's help. I resolved to kill Dargental, and I did -kill him!' - -"Plancoet a murderer! impossible!" exclaimed the lieutenant. - -"I knew it," murmured George. "Go on to the end, my friend." - -Albert was in consternation, but he, nevertheless, continued: "'I killed -him, after a violent altercation which would almost justify me in -pleading that I only acted in self-defence; but I believe I should have -killed him in any case. This man would have cast a shadow over -Gabrielle's whole life. He was a disgrace to mankind. I secured the -letter which he had intended to use as a weapon against your mother and -yourselves, and I left the house; and we should have all been saved but -for a strange fatality. When you see Monsieur Caumont again, ask him to -explain how he and his friend, Monsieur de Puymirol, came into -possession of the pocket-book I had taken from Dargental, and tell him -that I was the person who threw that pocket-book into their cab. He will -guess the rest, and explain everything to you. I enclose in this note -the letters written by the two ladies I do not know. I keep the third, -which will be useful to me in negotiating with your mother. If she -accepts the conditions we have agreed to impose upon her--as I have no -doubt she will--I shall leave her letter with Monsieur Berlier, my -notary, who resides at No. 7 on the Quai Saint-Michel, with instructions -to give it to your mother in exchange for her written consent to your -sister's marriage with Monsieur Caumont.'" - -"The exchange has been effected," said George. "I met your mother as she -was leaving the notary's office." - -"'And this is what I have resolved to do, whatever the result may be:'" -resumed Albert, still reading Plancoet's letter: "'Monsieur Caumont's -most intimate friend has been arrested, and is still in prison, charged -with a crime of which he is innocent. He shall not remain there any -longer. I will not permit it. I shall call upon the magistrate this very -day, and inform him that it was I who killed Dargental. He will ask me -why I killed him, and I shall be obliged to invent some story that will -screen your mother from suspicion. He will also ask my name; but I shall -refuse to give it, and I shall kill myself in the magistrate's -presence.'" - -"He must have been crazy when he wrote that," said Albert. - -"He did kill himself, I saw him do so," rejoined George. - -"Good heavens! is it true? you were present at the time?" - -"Yes," said Caumont; and he forthwith related all that had taken place -in the magistrate's office. - -"Poor Roch!" murmured the lieutenant, dashing away a tear. "He -sacrificed his life for our sake, I see that. But I have not finished -his letter; let me read on to the end: 'I mean to shoot myself in such a -way that I shall be absolutely disfigured. There are no marks on my -linen, no tailor's name on my clothes: I have even pulled the lining out -of my hat so that my identity will always remain a mystery for the -officials. My notary will hand you a power of attorney enabling you to -attend to my affairs, for I have told him and the doorkeeper at my house -that I am going to America. Nobody will pay any attention to my -disappearance. Believe me when I say that your mother is quite guiltless -in all this. Puymirol also; Rochas, too, knew nothing about it, though -Dargental had sent him anonymous letters, and he was having me watched, -believing me to be your mother's lover. Dargental would have brought -disgrace upon you all. He would not have stopped at anything: he was so -very furious that he could not obtain a large sum of money from your -mother. There was but one course to follow--to put him out of the -way--and I adopted it. And now, God bless you! Think of me sometimes. -Give Caumont Gabrielle's portrait which hangs in my sitting-room. -Good-bye, my dear Albert, my last thought will be for you all.'" - -A spell of silence followed this perusal. There were tears in the young -men's eyes. However, finally, Caumont remarked: "It seems as though -Roch's suicide will really end the investigation. His body will not be -identified, and the affair will be forgotten, providing we prevent any -imprudent act calculated to revive it." - -"An imprudent act! We shall certainly not commit any." - -"No; but we can't foresee what the writers of those letters will do. -Even now, they may be shuddering at the thought of being compromised; -and fear is a bad adviser." - -"You are right, and I think it would be as well to return the letters to -them immediately--the sooner the better. Let us take a cab, and call on -them." - -Caumont assented; and five minutes later, he and Albert were rolling -through the streets of Paris, bound first for Blanche's rooms in the -Avenue de Messine, and thence for the Lescombat mansion near the Parc -Monceau. - - * * * * * - -But little more now remains to be told; Blanche received her letter, and -the countess received hers; and both missives were duly burnt without -delay. Three weeks after Roch Plancoet's death, George and Gabrielle -were married at the church of St. Sulpice. The bride was, perhaps, a -trifle sad as her brother and her happy spouse had been obliged to -inform her of Roch's suicide, and even amid her bliss, she could not -entirely forget the worthy old friend, who had sacrificed himself for -her and hers. M. Robergeot had failed to penetrate the identity of -Dargental's murderer, so thorough had been the precautions which Roch -had taken; and to the authorities, if not to our readers, the crime of -the Boulevard Haussmann still remains a puzzling mystery. - -Madame Verdon is now married. She was united at Florence to M. Rochas, -who rules her with an iron hand. Puymirol, having been duly released, -has converted his Aunt Besseges's property into cash and left for New -York, where he hopes to find a rich wife, but the Americans are shrewd, -and his sanguine expectations may not be realised. Poor Charles Balmer -is furious. A celebrated physician has just informed him that he has -thirty more years to live, and he has only money enough left to last him -eighteen months. Albert is fast becoming an able officer, and is daily -expecting promotion; while as for George and Gabrielle they are really -happy, and still remember Roch Plancoet, who died to insure them a -peaceful, unclouded life. - - -THE END. - -_S. Cowan & Co., Printers, Perth._ - - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's The Red Lottery Ticket, by Fortune Du Boisgobey - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RED LOTTERY TICKET *** - -***** This file should be named 40491.txt or 40491.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/0/4/9/40491/ - -Produced by Robert Cicconetti, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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