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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 56713 ***
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+THE WEIRD ADVENTURES OF PROFESSOR DELAPINE OF THE SORBONNE
+
+
+
+
+ THE WEIRD ADVENTURES
+ OF PROFESSOR DELAPINE
+ OF THE SORBONNE....
+
+ BY
+ GEORGE LINDSAY JOHNSON,
+ M.A., M.D. B.S. F.R.C.S.
+
+ [Illustration: R]
+
+ LONDON
+ GEORGE ROUTLEDGE & SONS, Limited
+ CENTRAL NEWS AGENCY, Limited, SOUTH AFRICA
+ NEW YORK: E.P. DUTTON AND CO.
+
+ 1916
+
+
+
+
+ To
+ My Dear Master
+
+ Edmund Landolt, M.D.
+
+ _HOMMAGE D'AMITIÉ_
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE
+
+
+When travelling in France a few years ago during the summer vacation,
+I made the acquaintance of a professor of world-wide fame, which
+acquaintance soon ripened into a lasting friendship. Among the various
+subjects which we dealt with in our conversation, I happened to mention
+spiritualism. I told him how bitterly disappointed I had been at the
+various séances I had attended. Either the séance had passed off
+without any phenomena at all, or if anything did occur, it had turned
+out invariably to be a palpable fraud, and had left me more sceptical
+than ever--besides, I added, the oracular utterances delivered by the
+medium when in an hysterical condition, which is palmed off to the
+audience as a trance, were so nonsensical and meaningless as to leave
+me in doubt whether to be amused at the gullibility of the public, or
+disgusted at the time I had thrown away in listening to such nonsense.
+
+"Yes," replied the Professor thoughtfully, "that always used to be my
+view of spiritualism, but since I have seriously examined the subject
+for myself I have entirely changed my views on the subject. So far from
+scoffing at it, as I confess I used to, I am now convinced that the
+real phenomena are far and away more astonishing than are these which
+these charlatans profess to exhibit or actually produce by conjuring
+and fraud. Now, if you wish to be convinced that there are genuine
+phenomena, come with me to Paris and we will investigate the subject
+together at the great S.... Hospital. Here we found indeed a rich field
+for our studies. We witnessed there all the phenomena of suggestion,
+second-sight, clair-audience, hypnotism, dual-consciousness, telepathy,
+the movement of objects without contact, and many other occurrences of
+such a surprising nature that in our present state of ignorance they
+appeared to be altogether outside the laws of Nature as we understand
+them; and I went away entirely convinced that certain people possess
+powers such as we ordinary mortals have never even dreamt of."
+
+While I was staying at his hotel, the Professor narrated to me the
+extraordinary history of Professor Delapine, which he assured me was
+true, and which with his permission I committed to writing, and worked
+up into a novel. Observing the intense interest which I exhibited in
+his narrative, he was kind enough to introduce me to the Professor
+himself as well as to several of the other characters, and thereby
+enabled me to fill up the gaps. What I heard certainly bore out the
+adage that "truth is stranger than fiction." For obvious reasons I have
+not given the real names to the characters referred to in the novel,
+since Delapine, Madame Delapine, (Renée), Marcel, and Dr. Riche are
+still hale and hearty, and very distinguished and popular members of
+society.
+
+It is needless to say that the coup at the tables related as taking
+place at Monte Carlo, as well as other events mentioned in these
+chapters, have been disguised so as to prevent identification of the
+parties concerned by the general public, although the actors themselves
+will doubtless recognise and appreciate the details of the narrative.
+
+Should any of our readers be sceptical as to the ability of a person to
+move objects without contact, and to stop a ball at will on a roulette
+table, I can only refer them to the experiments of Dr. Ochorowicz[1]
+which will be found in the June Number of the _Annals of Psychical
+Research_ for the year 1905, wherein will be found an exhausted series
+of experiments made with a Polish medium named "Julie." In this paper
+the doctor demonstrated beyond a shadow of a doubt that "Julie" could
+cause the ball to fall into any of the compartments of the roulette
+table which the doctor selected in a large percentage of the trials,
+and, when it failed to tumble into the right compartment, it usually
+fell into one or other on either side of it.
+
+As regards the trance, I have purposely prolonged its duration to fit
+in with the plot of the novel, and I have also introduced certain
+alterations and additions in order to make the story more complete.
+
+I may remark further that the phantom scene of Renée's mother may
+possibly have been an hallucination on the girl's part, as I have no
+direct proof of its occurrence, and have only the testimony of a highly
+emotional girl wearied out with vigils to rely upon. Of course there is
+the evidence of the lock of hair, which may be seen even to-day, but to
+my mind that is not sufficiently convincing, and would certainly not be
+allowed as evidence in a court of law.
+
+Still others who were present assured me that they saw the same
+phantom (or materialized form) at the séance, and the evidence of
+such materialization has the great support of one of our most eminent
+scientists who has a well-deserved reputation for extreme accuracy of
+statement and cautiousness, and who has assured me personally that he
+has both seen, handled, and conversed with such an apparition, which
+was just as real and clothed with the same flesh and blood as any other
+human being, and he is as certain of its genuineness as he is of his
+own existence. Moreover, he has repeatedly photographed both the medium
+and the spirit-form singly and together, which photographs I have seen.
+Personally I have never witnessed a materialized form, and can only
+reserve my judgment as to the reality of the phenomenon.
+
+But I feel sure all interpolations and additions will be pardoned by
+the reader; since the object aimed at was to clothe the real facts
+with a halo of romance, and thus, without detracting too much from the
+truth, to render the story much more interesting to the reader.
+
+ GEO. LINDSAY JOHNSON,
+
+ _Castle Mansions, Johannesburg_.
+
+
+It is a vulgar mistake, for which science certainly gives no warrant,
+to assert that things are impossible because they contradict our
+experience.
+
+ P. Chalmers Mitchell, M.A., DSc., F.R.S.
+
+_Thomas Henry Huxley: A Sketch of his Life and Work_, p. 245.
+
+
+Whatever is intelligible and can be distinctly conceived implies no
+contradiction, and can never be proved false by any demonstration,
+argument, or reasoning, a priori.
+
+ Hume,
+
+ _On Miracles_.
+
+
+The boundary between the two states--the known and the unknown--is
+still substantial, but it is wearing thin in places; and like
+excavators engaged in boring a tunnel from opposite ends, amid the roar
+of water and other noises we are beginning to hear now and again the
+strokes of the pick-axes of our comrades on the other side.
+
+ Sir Oliver Lodge,
+
+ _The Survival of Man_, p. 337.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 1: Dr. Ochorowicz is professor of Psychology at the
+University of Lemberg (Lvoff). I am a little uncertain as to the year,
+as I cannot get access to the _Annals_, but I believe it is the correct
+date.]
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+  CHAP.                                                       PAGE
+
+     I. The Café at the corner of the "Boule  Mich"              1
+
+    II. The Dinner at the Villebois' House                      19
+
+   III. The Story of The Widow's Mite                           29
+
+    IV. Payot and Duval                                         47
+
+     V. The Wine Cellar                                         69
+
+    VI. The Analyst                                             76
+
+   VII. Renée's Experience in Storm and Sunshine                88
+
+  VIII. Delapine makes an Experiment in Botany                  96
+
+    IX. Céleste tries to fathom Renée's Secret                 104
+
+     X. Delapine Interrupts a Fight                            115
+
+    XI. A Remarkable Conversation                              124
+
+   XII. The Séance                                             138
+
+  XIII. The Debacle                                            148
+
+   XIV. Coming Events cast their Shadow Before                 164
+
+    XV. Dr. Riche makes a Remarkable Discovery                 176
+
+   XVI. The Shadow of Death                                    189
+
+  XVII. Emile Visits his Friend Pierre with most Unpleasant
+        Consequences                                           202
+
+  XVIII. Facilis Descensus Averni                              214
+
+  XIX. The Vigil                                               223
+
+  XX. The New Jerusalem Gold Mine                              239
+
+  XXI. Marcel makes an Unexpected Acquaintance                 256
+
+  XXII. Violette Nursers her Father with Alarming Results      270
+
+  XXIII. At Beaulieu                                           281
+
+  XXIV. The Professor Discourses on Gambling                   297
+
+  XXV. Delapine tries his hand at the Tables                   310
+
+  XXVI. Nemesis                                                324
+
+  XXVII. In which Delapine finds himself Famous,
+  and the Party Breaks up with the Happiest Results            338
+
+
+
+
+The Weird Adventures of Professor Delapine
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+THE CAFE AT THE CORNER OF THE "BOULE MICHE"
+
+The man who cannot wonder, who does not habitually wonder ... is but a
+pair of spectacles, behind which there is no eye.
+
+ Carlyle (_Sartor Resartus_, Bk. I. ch. x.)
+
+ Ships that pass in the night, and speak each other in passing,
+ Only a signal shown, and a distant voice in the darkness;
+ So on the ocean of life we pass and speak one another,
+ Only a look and a voice, then darkness again and a silence.
+
+ Longfellow--_The Dinner at the Villebois' House_, pt. iv.
+
+
+"Comment ça va, monsieur le docteur? Pardon that I interrupt your
+reverie."
+
+The greeting was addressed to a gentleman below middle age who was
+seated before one of the little round tables at the corner of one of
+the side streets leading into the Boulevard Michel. He was idly toying
+with a small glass of eau sucrée between four and five o'clock on a
+glorious afternoon in the autumn of 19--.
+
+Somewhat short in stature, and slightly built, he was favoured by
+nature with a pleasing expression, and bright auburn curly locks which
+matched his bronzed and weather-beaten face. Although his features
+bore traces of hardship and toil, there was nothing in his appearance
+to attract any very special remarks from the passers-by. And yet
+many of them would have turned and looked again at that gentlemanly
+little figure, had they but known who it was who sat there practically
+unnoticed by, and unnoticing, the endless stream of afternoon
+strollers. He had ordered an eau sucrée, and it certainly was that
+simple beverage which stood in that glass before him, but it might as
+well have been tincture of myrrh, or weak tea, or even vinegar, for all
+the great Dr. Riche knew or cared.
+
+About five feet four inches of his slim neatly-dressed body was
+sitting there without a doubt, but his mind was far away debating the
+intricacies of a very delicate operation on the base of the brain,
+at which he had assisted that morning at the Hotel Dieu. An opening
+had been made through the nose into the skull of a patient, and the
+offending tumour had been removed--to all appearances successfully. All
+the same, the doctor was pondering deeply over the probabilities of the
+patient's ultimate recovery, and was mentally arguing the pros and cons
+of this very interesting case, when a gentle tapping of a gold-mounted
+cane on the marble surface of the little round table in front of him,
+accompanied by a jovial laugh and a hearty greeting, brought him
+suddenly down from the regions of the Sella Turcica.
+
+"Well, monsieur le docteur, you have not forgotten me then?"
+
+"Villebois! mon cher, I am delighted to see you. You seem surprised
+to see me here, eh! Well, as a matter of fact, I may tell you I have
+only quite recently returned to Paris for a holiday after five years
+practising in Algiers, and have not yet had time to renew my old
+acquaintances."
+
+"All the more reason why you should begin at once not only to renew the
+old, but to make some new ones," said Villebois. "That reminds me, do
+you remember our discussions in the little room on the third floor at
+the corner of the Rue Saint André des Arts?"
+
+"What, when we nearly came to blows over our differences of opinion
+about what you were pleased to call mysterious psychic forces? Yes, I
+remember, but surely you have outgrown all that?"
+
+"Certainly not. I have had reason lately to be more convinced than
+ever that I was right. You, my dear Riche, have missed some wonderful
+phenomena which have recently startled our circle. Levitations,
+apparitions--"
+
+"Oh, my dear Villebois, remember we are in the twentieth century; and
+it is rather out of date to commence believing too implicitly in that
+sort of thing."
+
+"Out of date? Why, I have seen it with my own eyes. Hardly has the
+séance begun, when the table begins to rise slowly inch by inch, until
+it reaches a height of half a metre from the floor, and then more
+wonderful still----"
+
+"Yes, I know all about it, Palladino, Slade, Home, the Daniels, and the
+rest, with their cabinets and masks, and rubber hands daubed all over
+with luminous paint. Besides they perform all their tricks in the dark,
+lest people should see through their frauds. What I want to know is why
+they cannot do their supernatural performances in a private house which
+is unprovided with trap doors, and other nicknacks and apparatus."
+
+"Still the same unbeliever I see: your five years stay abroad has not
+altered you much in that respect. But if you will allow me to introduce
+you to my friend the professor I think you will alter your opinion."
+
+"But where is this prodigy to be found?"
+
+"When you cease that mocking tone, I'll tell you."
+
+"Proceed, mon cher Villebois: I will be as serious as a clown at the
+pantomime."
+
+"Well, you remember Delapine?"
+
+"What, that youthful professor who gave such a wonderful course of
+lectures on physics in the laboratory at the Sorbonne?"
+
+"The same," answered Villebois. "He is staying for some time with us at
+Passy, and is giving us the most wonderful exhibitions of his powers.
+Talk about a genius, the recitals of his experiences, his inventions,
+and his discoveries fairly dazzles one; and, in addition, he declares
+that he possesses such extraordinary mediumistic powers that he can
+call up spirits at will."
+
+"But I thought that you did not believe in these extraordinary psychic
+forces, that you were too well grounded in natural science to believe
+in any phenomena which are incapable of being treated mathematically,
+or which could not be subjected to the rigid tests of the laboratory."
+
+"That is so," answered Villebois. "If I had not witnessed these
+phenomena with my own eyes, and subjected them to my own tests I should
+have felt disposed to put them down to charlatanism. At first, I was
+inclined to think that he was 'off his head,' but when you hear him
+talk with such brilliancy and logic, and when you see him with your own
+eyes perform the things which I have seen him do, you will agree that
+there is not a saner man to-day in the whole of our beloved Paris. At
+times again, his brain appears to be too big for him, and he is apt
+to go off into fainting fits--or trances, as he calls them--and on
+occasions he remains for hours in that state: you could almost swear
+that he was dead, and yet he wakes up as fresh as the proverbial daisy,
+to amaze us all with the recital of experiences during the trance."
+
+"How extraordinary; forgive my previous mockery, my dear Villebois.
+I assure you I am as anxious now as I was indifferent before about
+meeting your friend. Perhaps he may have some recollection of me."
+
+"Ah, I thought you would want to meet him, and I can assure you that
+you will not regret it. Pack up and come and stay with us at Passy.
+There are several charming people staying with us including Renée, the
+daughter of old Payot. You know whom I mean. Then there is Monsieur
+Marcel, a philosopher and poet, a cynic in a way, but a first-rate
+fellow notwithstanding, and lastly a most inquisitive and argumentative
+young lawyer--Monsieur Duval. With you, my dear colleague, the party
+will be complete, especially as you are an exponent and past master of
+agnosticism combined with a mind open to conviction, and possess an
+aptitude for strictly scientific investigation. I have no doubt that
+between us we ought to be capable of sifting these mysteries to the
+bottom. If there is any trickery about it, I can rely on your finding
+it out and exposing it, but I am fully convinced beforehand that you
+will not find any."
+
+"Que diable, but I have seen enough of Delapine to know that he is
+incapable of humbug or trickery. All the same, my dear confrère, you
+have infected me with your enthusiasm, and the programme that you offer
+me is as tempting as a première at the opera."
+
+"Including the renewal of your acquaintance with the charming
+Mademoiselle Payot," added Villebois with a smile.
+
+"Just so. Is there not some poet who says, 'Beauty lends enchantment to
+the view'?"
+
+Villebois rose slowly and surveyed himself in one of the massive
+mirrors near the window, and smiled complacently at his old friend's
+levity, while carefully smoothing down the large "wings" of his
+professional black cravat.
+
+"Say rather with Goethe 'Das Ewig Weibliche zieht uns hinan,'" said
+Villebois, who knew his German remarkably well for a Frenchman.
+
+"However," he continued, "I must leave you now. Let me assure you once
+more what a pleasure it has been to meet you again after such a long
+absence. We will expect you, then, in two days' time at Passy."
+
+"Very good, I will come with pleasure," replied Dr. Riche, "and please
+pay my respects to Madame Villebois and the others."
+
+"Thanks, thanks, au revoir until the day after to-morrow," called
+out Villebois as he hailed a fiacre, and vanished down the boulevard
+towards the Louvre.
+
+Left to himself, and now fully awakened from the deep reverie which had
+overshadowed him previous to the arrival of his old friend, Dr. Riche
+gently drew from his pocket a large and most un-Gallic looking pipe and
+pouch well supplied with a famous mixture of his own composition, and
+proceeded to enjoy in open daylight that most delightful but, under the
+circumstances, most unprofessional luxury, a good smoke.
+
+"Delapine? Delapine?" he said musingly to himself. "Of course I
+remember Delapine at the Sorbonne. What a genius that fellow was. A
+perfect marvel in making experiments in physics! Developed into an
+exponent of psychic forces has he? Well, well, I must say though, that
+I am not surprised. He certainly gave promise of a great future in the
+world of science. Has he become a Medium I wonder? Perhaps he goes off
+into trances like Swedenborg was said to do. Some one, I cannot just
+remember who it was, told me that Delapine could foretell the future,
+and know what is happening in other parts of the world, or even in the
+Beyond. Well, well, there must be something in it, if Delapine says
+so. He is genuine, there can be no doubt about that. It is certainly
+remarkably interesting, and it would be worth going there if only to
+see him and be present at his séance. Besides, there is Mademoiselle
+Villebois, who is growing up into such a charming girl. I really must
+have a look at her as well. Ah! yes, I well remember how Villebois used
+to twit me about being too susceptible to the charms of the fair sex.
+It will be quite refreshing to find Villebois, Delapine and Payot under
+the same roof again after that long separation. Well, who knows? It is
+quite on the cards----"
+
+At this stage in his meditations something caused Dr. Riche to gaze
+slowly round the adjoining tables, and to take a casual glance for the
+first time that afternoon, at some of those of his fellow-mortals who
+were in his immediate neighbourhood. For a moment, no one in particular
+appeared to cause him any special interest. Then, turning slightly, he
+became aware that two ladies had seated themselves close to him at one
+of the small tables in a little recess.
+
+"Mother and daughter, evidently," he muttered to himself.
+
+That the doctor's surmise was correct was evinced a few seconds later
+when he heard a clear and penetrating voice--
+
+"Mais non, petite mère, ne vous en fâchez-vous. Although it is true
+that I have obtained some very startling results, you must remember
+that there are times when my 'power,' as you call it, seems to vanish,
+and I do not appear to be able to read anything of either the past or
+the future."
+
+"But why do you do it at all, Violette? Why have you not given it up as
+I have so often implored you? You know that it is altogether against
+my wishes, and really I often feel quite afraid that some day some
+misfortune--quelque chose d'un grand malheur--will come of it all."
+
+"Not a bit, you are much too anxious, petite mère."
+
+"Ah, if I could be sure, but I cannot help my anxiety when I see you so
+abstracted, so--what do you say?--so distraite and so enfeebled, after
+you have had one of those long séances; and I notice lately that you
+appear to be suffering from nervous exhaustion especially after you
+have foretold something more than usually startling. Please be guided
+by me, dear, and let me take away that mysterious ring, and lock it
+away from you for a month--for six months. Perhaps if you did not have
+it so much en évidence, you might gradually forget its fascination."
+
+"You dear anxious petite mère, to hear you talk one would imagine I was
+under some evil influence just because I am fond of my lovely antique
+ring, and like to have it always with me. As for being distraite, ma
+mie, it has nothing to do with my ring. I often have little times of
+reverie. Even when I was at the convent the sisters have often rebuked
+me because I was able to tell them such mysterious things that came to
+me in my long day-dreams in the dear old convent grounds."
+
+"But you are no longer a child at the convent," interrupted the elder
+lady, "and you should not encourage these ideas of clairvoyance."
+
+"Don't let us talk about it please, ma mère chérie," replied the
+younger of the two ladies, with a most impressive shrug of the
+shoulders, "let us talk of something else instead. Read this letter
+which I received this morning at the Poste Restante."
+
+Opening her reticule she took out a small and delicately scented
+envelope which she placed at the edge of the table, after having handed
+its contents to her mother.
+
+"Read this and tell me what you think of it."
+
+Doctor Riche, who had been a silent listener to this conversation,
+after consulting his watch, drained his glass of eau sucrée, and rose
+with the intention of departing.
+
+At this moment a garçon, carrying a tray filled with glasses high above
+his head, opened the door, and a sudden gust of wind lifted the little
+envelope off the table where Violette was sitting, and wafted it almost
+to the doctor's feet. Picking up the scented envelope with a dainty
+touch, he handed it to the elder lady with a ceremonious bow:
+
+"Pardon, madame, allow me," said Riche as he glanced in a cursory
+manner at the address written upon it.
+
+If the doctor expected to learn the fair unknown's private, or even
+perhaps her professional address, he was doomed to disappointment. The
+envelope which had unexpectedly fluttered to his feet merely bore the
+inscription, in a woman's handwriting:
+
+ A Mademoiselle Violette Beaupaire,
+ Poste Restante,
+ Paris.
+
+"Merci, monsieur: que vous êtes bien gentil."
+
+The doctor bowed again, and in so doing his eyes rested on the middle
+finger of the younger of the two ladies who had been addressed as
+Violette.
+
+"What a lovely ring, and what a wonderful appearance it has," said the
+doctor, gaining courage as the ladies smiled at him. "Mademoiselle will
+permit that I may regard it, n'est ce pas? That is if mademoiselle will
+pardon a stranger?"
+
+"With all my heart, monsieur, it is quite often that someone asks to be
+allowed to examine my ring, and they nearly all say how peculiar and
+unusual it looks. Then, when they have examined it, they invariably
+remark, 'But is it not too large a ring for mademoiselle to wear,' ah,
+but you see, monsieur, they do not know."
+
+"But I forget something, mademoiselle; permit me to present myself,
+Doctor Riche, just returned from Algiers, entirely at the service of
+madame and mademoiselle."
+
+"We are charmed to make the acquaintance of monsieur le docteur," said
+the other lady "as we know Algiers well and have often heard of his
+skill. Will not monsieur le docteur be seated while my daughter allows
+him to regard the ring?"
+
+Seating himself beside the fair Mademoiselle Violette, the doctor took
+advantage of the kind offer of the two ladies, and began to examine
+carefully the object of their conversation. It was a splendid specimen
+of the scarabæus beetle carved out of a pale-greenish Beryl,[2] and
+fitted into a curiously wrought gold setting.
+
+"What a valuable piece of jewellery, no modern bijoutier fashioned
+this," said the doctor, after a long and interested examination of the
+beautiful object before him.
+
+"It has quite a little history attached to it I expect," said
+Mademoiselle Violette, "if we only knew. It was given to me a few
+years ago by Suleiman Bey who found it in a tomb belonging to one of
+the Pharaohs. Look, when I place it in front of me, so, and gaze at it
+steadily, there are times when I see in its depths the most wonderful
+things and the likenesses of people, some of whom I have never seen,
+and some again whom I seem to recognise."
+
+"But it is quite extraordinary!" replied the doctor.
+
+"Would you like me to look into it for you? Just to see if it will tell
+us something of your past, or what has happened to you, or some of your
+friends perhaps?" asked Violette.
+
+"Ah, mademoiselle, I can see you are a sorceress, but I know my
+past already, alas! too well; would it not be a thousand times more
+interesting if you were to test its wonderful powers by letting me see
+a little way into the future?"
+
+"I do not know whether I can do that, but if you will please to sit
+opposite to me, and be very very still without speaking, and be sure
+and keep your mind quite passive, and believe all the time that I
+really do hold the power, I will try."
+
+Placing the ring on the table in front of her in the centre of a black
+silk handkerchief to avoid reflections, and bidding her companions
+to keep absolutely still and silent, Violette muttered some words in
+a very low tone, as if repeating some weird incantation, and then
+proceeded to concentrate her entire thoughts, and gaze fixedly on the
+ring.
+
+Unconsciously disobeying the instruction to keep his mind quite
+passive, Doctor Riche could not help studying the face of the young
+girl before him, and noticing, as the seconds went by, the gradual
+change that was beginning to come over her. From a half careless
+insouciance when she first placed the ring on the table in front of her
+and began to look into its depths, her whole manner and bearing seemed
+now to have changed to one of most absorbing interest, which gradually
+altered, until her face bore traces of great mental anguish. So strong
+was the appearance of severe distress that the whole reserve of his
+well-known professional tenderness of heart surged to the doctor's
+brain, and was on the point of giving itself vent in speech, when a
+soft, almost entranced voice apparently some distance off was heard, as
+in a whisper:--
+
+"Mon Dieu, it is terrible. Listen. It is a house in one of the suburbs
+of Paris. There is a large room. It opens into a smaller chamber by a
+large door. The door is locked. I see eight people sitting down in a
+half circle. They hold each other's hands. There are, let me see, one,
+two, three, four, five men, and three ladies. One of the ladies is
+young and very pretty, with dark wavy hair, and wonderfully brilliant
+eyes. The other is of middle age, and is wearing a wedding ring. I
+see one of the men, he looks to be about thirty-five years old, he
+is separated from the others. He has long black hair and a pointed
+moustache. His face is very white, and his eyes are slowly closing.
+They are putting him to sleep. He sleeps, oh, mon Dieu, how still he
+is, he looks like the dead. Attendez, attendez, encore une minute. It
+is not so clear now to see him. There is a vapeur, like a big white
+cloud slowly over-wrapping him. Now it is getting smaller--what you
+say, 'condensing'--and is taking a human form, but it is much more
+handsome than the sleeper. Now the form is moving its lips as if it
+were speaking, now it is fading away from the room, and the company
+seems to be afraid, they are all very quiet. There is one of the
+men--he looks like a doctor--he seems very anxious, he is uneasy, he is
+bien faché as he looks at the sleeper. He regards closely, he touches
+him, he takes his wrist and feels the pulse. He calls out, he cries,
+'My God! He is dead!' Everyone rushes up to him and--ah, the picture
+fades."
+
+"Mon Dieu," cried out Riche, "Try again, mademoiselle, can you see
+anything else?"
+
+"Wait. Yes. The picture is forming itself again. Ah, but it is not
+the same room. I see an open drawer in a writing table, there is a
+large envelope in the drawer. There are five large seals, and there is
+something written on the envelope. It is fading--I cannot make it out.
+There is a name, Henri--Henri D--No, I cannot see more. It has faded. I
+see nothing."
+
+Pale as marble, and with a look of strained enquiry in her eyes, the
+young girl leaned back in her chair and appeared quite oblivious to
+all around her. Then slowly closing her eyes, she sighed deeply, and
+turning to her mother said:--
+
+"Oh, but it is too terrible, it is too much."
+
+Thinking that she was about to collapse in a fainting fit, the doctor
+hastened to procure assistance.
+
+Quietly making his way through the open door, so as not to attract
+too much attention to his companions, he called two of the garçons;
+and telling one to carry some eau-de-vie to the ladies, he gave
+instructions for the other to have a fiacre ready.
+
+When he returned to the little table in the recess, the two ladies were
+nowhere to be seen. He enquired of the waiters, but they could give him
+no information as to where they had gone. The bill had been paid, but
+beyond that they knew nothing. Dr. Riche waited for some minutes, and
+at length prepared to leave the café.
+
+"Diable, mille diables!" he exclaimed. "If it was genuine then it was
+extraordinary, but if it was not genuine, it was a clever and a very
+interesting imposture. But the imposture sans motif? That would not be
+the 'sens commun.' The whole thing is very mysterious. I would give
+anything to find out where they live, but it is quite useless to hunt
+for them now. Just my cursed luck again." Picking up his gloves and
+cane in an abstracted and almost dazed manner, the worthy doctor, after
+glancing up and down the street, moved quietly away and joined the
+throng of promenaders.
+
+Doctor Riche was one of those bons viveurs who believe in comfort, and
+was always to be found on his visits to Paris at one of those snug
+and at the same time fashionable little hotels, much frequented by
+married couples, which abound in the neighbourhood of the Louvre or the
+Tuileries along the Rue de Rivoli.
+
+In the evening of the second day after his meeting with his old friend
+Villebois, he might have been seen settling his bill at the bureau of
+the Hotel Chatham, while a couple of porters were transferring his
+luggage to the fiacre.
+
+It was a lovely autumn evening when he left the hotel. A vapour had
+crept up the valley of the Seine, and hid its banks. A warm mist was
+rolling over the city, while here and there were gaps revealing the
+intense turquoise blue of the sky as the fiacre sped past the palace
+and gardens of the Tuileries and the avenue of the Champs Elysées,
+lined by rows of trees all decked in their multi-coloured foliage.
+
+The sun setting behind Meudon illuminated the Bois with its beams which
+strove to struggle through, while as it journeyed west, the windows
+of the Louvre and the Tuileries reflected the golden splendour of its
+rays. The Seine, curving like a huge snake, scintillated with all the
+colours of the rainbow, while through the mist the dark square towers
+of Notre Dame stood up like two silent sentinels mounting guard. Far
+away towards the Bois in sharp relief against the sky, the mighty steel
+scaffolding of the Tower Eiffel rose majestically above the Trocadero,
+looking down from its dizzy height on to the vast city at its feet.
+
+The great dome of the Pantheon on the other side of the river resembled
+a ball of burnished copper. Slowly the colours changed as the vista
+darkened, and the shadows vanished into the gloom, while the clouds
+above the horizon changed into a fiery red bordered by an expanse of
+orange, yellow and purple. The Heights of Montmartre were still bathed
+in rosy sunshine. As the setting sun vanished a deep grey seemed to
+settle over the city, which throbbed with its passing traffic like the
+cadence of the tide on a pebbly beach, as he sped along the Avenue du
+Trocadero and past the Maison Lamartine. Leaving the Bois, he could
+just get a glimpse of the lakes of La Muette nestled behind it, while
+a little to the south, resembling a casket of jewels, lay the charming
+suburb of Auteuil.
+
+ "Auteuil, lieu favori; lieu fait pour les poètes
+ Que des rivaux de Gloire unis sous tes berceaus."[3]
+
+The cocher drove past the church and the red marble pyramid which marks
+the tomb of the noble chancellor d' Aguesseau, and then turning down
+the Boulevard Rossini, he pulled up at a little detached villa near to
+the one at which Rossini died, and the doctor at length found himself
+at the house of his friend Villebois.
+
+Doctor Riche recognised it as one of those delightful little detached
+villas for which Passy and Auteuil are so famous. A wall surmounted by
+ornamental railings, half-screened the garden from the footway, while
+behind the house was a small grass-plot surrounded by a double row of
+damask rose trees. In one corner of the back garden lay a pretty rustic
+summer-house, shut in by creepers among which lovely cyclamen flowers,
+clematis blossoms, and lilac shed their perfume and added their
+brilliant colours to the dense green of the ivy.
+
+As he entered the hall, adorned with the trophies of the chase, Madame
+Villebois came forward to welcome him.
+
+"At last, mon cher docteur, we are all impatient to meet you. My
+husband and I are anxious to hear the stories of your adventures with
+the Arabs in Algeria, and all my friends are here to welcome you. I
+suppose that you have led a bachelor life so long that you will hardly
+feel at home in our family circle."
+
+"Oh, madame, how can you be so cruel? You should rather ask, 'Is it not
+like returning to rest in paradise after having been driven out into
+the wilderness.' I really feel as if I were the prodigal son returning
+home to partake of the fatted calf. You can't imagine what a relief it
+is for me to return to our beautiful Paris after my voluntary exile."
+So saying the doctor was ushered into a large saloon with folding
+doors, which, when opened, converted the two rooms into one.
+
+The walls were covered with a Japanese paper ornamented with patterns
+in old gold on a red background; but so wonderfully were the designs
+made, that they heightened rather than lessened the effect of the
+charming old oil paintings by Hobbema, Jan Van der Heyden, Boucher,
+Claude and Meisonnier. The furniture was of stained oak, rather heavy
+but beautifully carved, and almost as black as ebony with age. In one
+corner was a large "grandfather's" clock, by Vulliamy, and ornamented
+with Louis Quinze panels, whilst on the marble mantle-piece was a Louis
+XVI. timepiece mounted on a wonderful creation of Sèvres porcelain, and
+placed between two exquisite china groups with medallions painted by
+Watteau.
+
+Passing through the folding doors one entered a smaller but much
+brighter room, with a white ceiling ornamented with groups of
+mythological figures. At the further end a door opened into a
+conservatory filled with curious insectivorous plants, choice orchids
+and other rare exotics, many of which exhaled a deliciously sensuous
+perfume. Passing through the hothouse, one stepped immediately on to
+the lawn of the back garden.
+
+As Doctor Riche entered the smaller room, Madame Villebois proceeded to
+introduce him to the company. The moment he glanced round the assembled
+guests, his eyes were riveted on a particularly sweet, dark-haired
+girl, and a tall remarkable looking man, who were chatting together on
+one of the settees in the corner of the room.
+
+"This is Mademoiselle Payot, and Monsieur le Professor Delapine whom
+you have doubtless heard of," said the hostess, smiling.
+
+Although Riche had heard so much of the professor, he had never had
+the opportunity of seeing him in private life before. What attracted
+him was the piercing brilliancy of his eyes. They were of a steel blue
+colour, and seemed to bore one through like an intense auger, making
+the doctor feel conscious that Delapine was peering into his very soul,
+and was reading his most secret thoughts. They turned perpetually here
+and there so that nothing could escape his penetrating glance.
+
+The professor had a habit of nervously playing with his fingers which
+spread over every object they touched like the tentacles of a medusa,
+as if they were eager to come into contact with the ultimate particles
+of matter.
+
+Delapine stood nearly six feet high, with very dark glossy hair falling
+almost to his shoulders, and wearing a moustache with twisted ends
+and a short pointed beard. The professor was invariably attired in
+a black frock coat and cravat, the sombreness being relieved by the
+red ribbon of the Legion of Honour. He was a man who would command
+attention anywhere. Active, alert, with an imposing presence, he stood
+out from the crowd as one born to command. The pale, almost wax-like
+face, the lofty brow, the firm compressed lips ever and anon breaking
+out into a smile, all contributed to form a personality which would be
+both respected and loved. Delapine was slow and measured in speech,
+and possessed a rich voice of peculiar charm and flexibility which
+impressed and delighted his audience. He had that power of modulating
+it to suit the nature of the theme, by which the members of his
+class were enabled to select without effort the essentials from the
+non-essentials of his discourse. At times he would pause, and turning
+his head half round would scan the listeners with his piercing eyes, as
+if to judge the effect of his words. But ever and anon his overpowering
+personality would convey the effect of one inspired, and he could
+elevate the simplest subjects to heights undreamt of, and stamp an
+indelible impression of it on their imagination. A subject, which in
+the hands of most men would sound tame and uninteresting, would, when
+dealt with by him, become illuminated and clothed by the most apt
+illustrations and exalted thought. No wonder that his students became
+permeated with the enthusiasm of the master. He seemed to Riche to be
+the ideal of an experimental philosopher and physicist.
+
+But here the doctor was roused from his reflections by the cheery voice
+of Villebois.
+
+"Hullo, Riche, mon vieux, vous voilà enfin! Come along and let me
+introduce you to Monsieur Marcel, our poet, philosopher and friend; and
+also to Maitre Duval, our youngest member of the bar of whom I told you
+before."
+
+Marcel was a curiosity in his way. A bit of a dandy, and a great
+favourite with the fair sex, he seemed to be always in evidence when
+any function of importance was going on. He rather prided himself on
+the originality of his dress, and invariably appeared at dinner in knee
+breeches, black silk stockings, a white waistcoat, embroidered with
+many coloured flowers, and a velvet coat, while his neck was adorned
+with a blue silk bow of vast and convincing proportions. The back of
+his neck was entirely hidden by the length of his hair, which fell on
+his shoulders in lustrous locks after the manner of the poet Milton.
+Was it not then natural that such a beautiful prize should be competed
+for by the ladies to grace their receptions? But although a fop as
+regards his dress, Marcel showed traces of real genius, and had already
+begun to be talked about for his wit and power of repartee. In fact no
+lady considered her house completely furnished unless a copy of his
+sonnets, or his epigrams bound in the most delightful of plush covers
+was to be found in her boudoir.
+
+Duval was quite another character. Young, clever, pushing, and
+extremely self-opinionated, he was nevertheless very narrow-minded,
+and obstinate and jealous to a degree. When he had made up his mind to
+any course of action he stopped at nothing to carry it out, and threw
+caution to the winds. His clean shaven face save for a slight moustache
+revealed a hard mouth with thin, closely set lips, and a square, firm
+jaw. Truly such a man was more likely to be feared than loved, and few
+would venture to make an enemy of him.
+
+"What did you say that gentleman's name was who is arguing with our
+friend the poet?"
+
+"Pierre Duval, a new advocate just admitted to the bar. Quite a rising
+man, I assure you. A man who is anxious to attain to fame by every
+road, and as cheaply as possible. Oh, by the way, here is my daughter,
+Céleste," exclaimed Villebois, as she came into the room all blushes
+and confusion for being so late.
+
+"What has kept you so long, Céleste?"
+
+"Oh, papa, it's all the fault of those wretched dresses of mine."
+
+"What on earth do you mean, my child?"
+
+"Well, papa, it's this way. I did want to look very nice, and I found
+that I had nothing to wear."
+
+"Nothing to wear? What do you mean, Céleste? Why, I wager you have ten
+times as many dresses as Renée."
+
+"Yes, that may be, but you wanted me to sit next to Marcel, and I had
+nothing that would harmonise with his lovely waistcoat. The moment I
+saw it, I knew at once that it would kill all my dresses. I found I
+could not match it, do what I would. At last I had to put on something,
+and now look at me," and a tear rolled down her cheek.
+
+"My dear Céleste, you look lovely, I assure you. You always seem to
+me to be trying to attempt the impossible. A woman who cannot make
+herself charming loses half the battle in the beauty competition. It
+is far better to appreciate the dresses you cannot have than to have
+the dresses you cannot appreciate. Don't forget that a woman who makes
+herself charming by her manner can afford to wear anything she pleases
+without offending the company."
+
+"Yes, I know you are right, papa, although if you were to ask me I
+could not tell you why."
+
+"I am afraid my daughter imagines that she is out of harmony with
+everyone in the room."
+
+"Not in the least, papa, but you know the greatest pleasure I can have
+is to please our guests, and how can I do that better than by having
+nothing on that can offend the eye."
+
+"Yes," replied the doctor smiling, "half her punishment was already
+removed when Eve was permitted to decorate herself with fig-leaves."
+
+"Oh, papa! How can you say such dreadful things? But I think I
+understand what you meant when you spoke to me about being charming
+as well. You meant that a cheerful, bright, smiling face and nice
+courteous manners count more than a pretty frock."
+
+"Quite right, my little rosebud," said Villebois, tenderly kissing her
+on the forehead, "live up to those ideas, and you will never go far
+wrong. The world, they say, is ever growing old, but youth asserts
+itself on every side, and gives the world the lie. Happy, joyous
+youth," he added with a sigh, "what would we give to feel once more the
+young blood coursing through our veins. Make the most of it, Céleste
+dear, while you possess it. Youth, hope and love are the only things
+that count. We old folks can only enjoy the memory of those sweet days.
+When you know English better I must lend you my volume of Coleridge's
+poems, which I know you will like. If I remember rightly there is a
+charming poem about youth which begins:--
+
+  Verse, a breeze mid blossoms straying,
+      Where Hope clung feeding like a bee,
+  Both were mine, Life went a-maying,
+      With Nature, Hope and Poesy,
+          When I was young.
+
+  Flowers are lovely; Love is flower-like,
+      Friendship is a sheltering tree;
+  O! the joys that came down shower-like
+      Of Friendship, Love and Liberty,
+          When I was young."
+
+"How very pretty," said Céleste. "I must hurry on with my English, as I
+should dearly love to read beautiful poetry like that."
+
+"Yes," said Villebois with a little sigh, "youth is life, but youth
+without faith and hope is worse than death. To grow old and never know
+it, or to have your friends suspect it, that is happiness indeed."
+
+"What are you two people talking about?" said Riche joining them.
+
+"Father is giving me a sermon on youth and happiness," said Céleste,
+smiling. "What is your recipe for happiness, doctor?" she added
+enquiringly after a pause.
+
+"Happiness, my dear mademoiselle, is a habit. You must learn to
+cultivate it. In time, by constant practice, it will become automatic
+and part of yourself."
+
+"A very good answer, my dear Riche, a very good answer," said
+Villebois approvingly. "I must give that prescription to some of my
+patients--they sadly need it."
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 2: The Beryl, and especially this particular shade of Beryl
+was greatly prized by the ancient magicians for its supposed virtues in
+assisting the crystal gazer.]
+
+[Footnote 3: Chénier 'Promenade.']
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+THE DINNER AT THE VILLEBOIS' HOUSE
+
+ Ce qu'il y a de plus beau dans la vie c'est les illusions de la vie.
+
+ Balzac, _Physiologie du Marriage_, Med. iv.
+
+ Since Eve ate apples much depends on dinner.
+
+ Byron, _Don Juan_, Cant. viii.
+
+ Wine whets the wit, improves its native force,
+ And gives a pleasant flavour to discourse.
+
+ Pomfret (_The Choice._)
+
+
+"Allons, allons," said Madame Villebois, "we can discuss all about
+dress while we are having our dinner, although I really think that
+people in these days give too much attention to both dress and eating."
+
+"Ah, no, madame, permit me to disagree," said Marcel, smiling. "It
+seems to me that this is becoming the age of small things. The modern
+man can now without discomfort carry his dinner in a sandwich-case, and
+the modern woman considers her luggage complete if she is carrying her
+latest dress creation in her handbag."
+
+"Dinner is the greatest peacemaker of civilisation yet invented," said
+Villebois; "together with a good glass of red wine it makes us, for the
+time being, friends with all the world. The busy man may consider it a
+trifle, but to my mind it is only the trifles after all which count.
+Nations, for instance, never go to war about important matters. What
+was the cause of the Franco-German war? Merely an absurd argument about
+the candidates for the Spanish throne, a matter that few cared two
+sous about. Is not the entire human race (according to the authority
+of the Holy Church) doomed to everlasting perdition simply because a
+woman ate an apple, or something which she was told not to--goodness
+only knows how many centuries ago? Did not England become a Protestant
+country simply because the Pope refused to allow Henry the Eighth to
+divorce his wife Katherine?"
+
+"But I can give you a better instance," said Riche. "If we are to
+believe Dr. Ross, the decline and fall of the glorious Greek nation was
+due to the merest trifle in the world--a tiny insect--the Anopheles, a
+malaria-carrying mosquito."
+
+"Really, is that a fact?" interposed Marcel, "but talking of trifles,
+what do you think of Napoleon having to abdicate simply because his
+cook roasted a fowl in too great a hurry, and so caused him to have an
+attack of indigestion, whereby he lost the great battle of the Nations
+at Leipzig."
+
+"This sounds like trifling with our common-sense," said Pierre to Renée
+in the hope of attracting her attention away from Marcel.
+
+"Yes," said Delapine who had just caught the word 'trifles,' "I owe
+everything to trifles. They control the essentials of life. The man who
+can see further than other men is doubtless a genius, but he who can
+do that and at the same time attend to trifles and details goes much
+further; he not only rises to the top, but he stays there."
+
+"Details are always vulgar," whispered Pierre to Renée, as he helped
+himself to a slice of pheasant stuffed with truffles.
+
+"Did you say vulgar?" asked Marcel, who had just managed to catch the
+last word of the whispered conversation, "I agree with our friend
+Villebois that our happiness is largely made up of trifles: perhaps
+that accounts for the fact that lovely woman has devoted her life to
+trifling. The divine creatures trifle with our hearts, and then when
+they have stolen them, they make tire-lires of them."
+
+"I have studied the fair sex all my life," said Riche, "and I assure
+you I understand them less now than ever. When a man flatters himself
+that he understands a woman, he----"
+
+"Merely flatters himself?" interposed Marcel laughing.
+
+"Woman generally tries to attract a man's eye, by means of her feminine
+magnetism and then blames him for being caught by prettiness and
+superficial charms. But she rarely tries to appeal to his better self,"
+said Delapine.
+
+"Life, after all," interposed Riche, "is a tragedy to those who feel,
+but to those who think, it is only a huge comedy. My rule is never to
+appear in earnest, except, of course, when seeing my patients. If a man
+is serious, everyone votes him a bore, and the ladies only laugh at
+him. An over-sensitive conscience is simply the evidence of spiritual
+dyspepsia. The man who has it is no better than his fellows."
+
+"A man considers his little weaknesses mere amiable traits," said
+Pierre, "whereas a woman----"
+
+"Will not admit that she has any," said Marcel.
+
+"A woman is invariably right," said Dr. Riche with a sigh. "A woman is
+guided by instinct, a man by reason, and for the good it does him he
+might as well have never thought at all."
+
+"Yes," interrupted Marcel, "and if you prove that she is in the wrong,
+she will become the more convinced that she was right all the time, and
+you will only get laughed at for your pains."
+
+"My dear Marcel," said Villebois, "you will be making enemies of the
+ladies if you say that, and to make them your enemies is worse than a
+crime--it is a folly!"
+
+"The gentle art of making enemies is the only natural accomplishment
+which is common to all sorts and conditions of men," added Riche.
+
+"One can never be too careful in the choice of one's enemies," said
+Marcel, toying with a dish of salted almonds. "I always choose my
+enemies more carefully than I do my friends, and therefore they respect
+and appreciate me. Isn't that so, Monsieur Duval?"
+
+"At any rate," replied the young advocate, "one's enemies are much the
+more useful--they can be counted on to advertise us behind our backs,
+whereas our friends merely flatter us to our faces."
+
+"How tasteless is the soup unless flavoured by the sauce of our
+enemies," said Marcel.
+
+"You seem to be taking a very pessimistic view of mankind," exclaimed
+Villebois. "I believe there is a sub-stratum of good in all bad people,
+and if one makes enemies it is to a great degree one's own fault."
+
+"From all our enemies, and most of our friends, good Lord deliver us,"
+added Riche.
+
+"To my mind," said Villebois, "bad and good men are only a matter of
+degree. It entirely depends upon the point of view, and there is a
+great deal more in the point of view than is generally admitted."
+
+"Yes," said Marcel, "our weaknesses we regard as misfortunes from
+which we cannot escape; whereas the weaknesses of others we consider
+to be shocking crimes. While we all pretend to hate sin, we are only
+charitable to the sinner when we happen to be the one in question."
+
+"Ah, well, the devil is never so black as he is painted, in fact he is
+far more like us than we care to admit," said Delapine. "I feel sure,"
+he added, "if we saw ourselves as others see us, we should refuse to
+believe our own eyes. If we could only combine what others think of us
+with what we think of ourselves we should probably get at the truth."
+
+"Good and bad are only abstracts," interrupted Pierre, "but money, good
+solid tangible money, is, after all, the only thing of real importance
+in this world."
+
+"But surely there are things of more value than money," said Riche
+enquiringly.
+
+"Of course there are," replied Pierre, "and that is why I need all the
+money I can get to acquire them. Take lovely woman, for example. A man
+with money can marry any girl he pleases."
+
+"Ah! you are right there," interrupted Marcel. "I for one believe that
+women only admire the gilded youth because he is a golden calf!"
+
+"Important things are out of fashion," said Delapine. "People
+now-a-days will argue for hours about such things as the flavour of
+wines, the latest novel, or a new way of driving a golf ball; but
+deadly serious matters, such as being married or hanged, or the chances
+of a future life in Heaven or Hell are treated as a huge joke, if they
+are ever referred to at all."
+
+"I still maintain that money comes before everything," said Duval.
+"With money one can buy everything worth having: pleasures, friendship,
+and even love. As Goethe says:
+
+ "Ja! wenn zu Sol sich Luna fein gesellt,
+     Zum Silber, Gold, dann ist es heitre Welt;
+ Das Ubrige ist alles zu erlangen;
+     Paläste, Gärten, Brüstlein, rote Wangen."
+
+"No, no, a thousand times no," cried Delapine, "that I never can agree
+to. Riches will not buy everything, in fact they will scarcely buy
+anything that is genuine, or worth having--neither real pleasures,
+friends, nor genuine love--nor is it essential to success. A man's
+life should be judged by the results obtained, or by the work he has
+achieved, not by the amount of money he has accumulated. Happiness is
+not obtained by money, but is the outcome of conscious usefulness. The
+accomplishment of good work of any kind produces more solid contentment
+and satisfaction than all the money in the world. True happiness
+lies in content, and sweet content finds everywhere enough. Nearly
+all the really great men have been poor, or at least have begun life
+handicapped for want of money," continued the professor. "It looks
+like a decree of nature in order to give them that stimulus and grit
+necessary to carry them over all obstacles."
+
+"I know from my own experiences," said Riche, "the wealthy man does
+not care for the things which only require his filling in a cheque
+to acquire; and to the poor man the most acute pleasure lies in
+anticipation."
+
+"That is quite true," added the professor. "If one possessed all,
+everything would be mere discontent and disillusion. A surfeit of
+happiness is fatal. If there is nothing left to desire, there is
+everything to fear."
+
+"Everything comes to the man who knows how to wait, but it is no
+inducement to wait, for no man wants everything," said Villebois. "Yes,
+he usually wants one thing in particular--just that one thing which he
+never gets, no matter how long he waits," said Marcel, laughing.
+
+"Have you been to the comédie lately?" asked Renée of Madame Villebois
+who was sitting opposite to her, looking extremely bored, and
+apparently utterly unable to follow the conversation.
+
+"Yes, my dear, we went to see Yvette Guilbert, and she looked just too
+lovely in a dress specially created for her by Worth. The gown had a
+white sponge skirt with basque bodice of mulberry satin, and such a
+love of a bodice carried out in pink geranium brocaded crêpe. The right
+hip was swathed in black satin, and the left side had the material
+draped and caught up above the hem with a gold buckle and fringe of
+black silk. Then Mademoiselle Patel had a delightful three piece gown
+of pale green poplin, with a corsage of old filigree tissue showing
+just a touch of chêne ribbon on each side, while the neck ended in a
+creamy white lace ruffle. And, Renée dear, you should have seen her
+hat. It was a perfect poem. Just think of this:--Swathed crêpe de
+chine, with shaded flowers laid flat all along the rim, which she wore
+slightly tilted up at the back so as to show a pale green lining to
+match the gown.
+
+"Oh! how lovely," exclaimed Renée, clapping her hands, "I wish I had
+been there, but what I want most to hear is what the play was about,
+and how you liked it."
+
+"Really, Renée, you should not ask such absurd questions. I was so
+taken up with the dresses that I forgot all about the play. By the way,
+I have just ordered a frock like Mademoiselle Patel's for myself. You
+must come with me and see it tried on."
+
+"Of course, I like pretty frocks, what girl doesn't? But I like a good
+play ever so much more. I get so carried away with the acting that
+I never notice what the people wear so long as they are not out of
+harmony with the play or the music. I went to see Romeo and Juliet for
+the first time last Saturday, and you can't think how I enjoyed it. But
+I was so sorry for poor Juliet, and felt drawn to her right away. I
+even found myself weeping. That speech of Friar Lawrence to her was so
+fine that I learnt it off by heart as soon as I got home. Of course you
+know it--don't you, madame," she asked enquiringly.
+
+"What was it again? I am afraid I have forgotten it," said madame, who
+had not the remotest idea of what Renée was talking about.
+
+"You must remember, in order to stop her marrying Paris whom she
+loathed, the Friar gave her a drug to swallow, which he told her would
+leave her to all appearances dead, and then she would wake up again
+quite well as soon as the danger was over; you know, it runs like
+this:--
+
+ "Hold, then; go home, be merry, give consent
+ To marry Paris; Wednesday is to-morrow;
+ To-morrow night look that thou lie alone
+ Let not thy nurse lie with thee in thy chamber:
+ Take thou this vial being then in bed,
+ And this distilled liquor drink thou off:
+ When, presently through all thy veins shall run
+ A cold and drowsy humour: for no pulse
+ Shall keep his native progress, but surcease;
+ No warmth, no breath shall testify thou liv'st.
+ The roses in thy lips and cheeks shall fade
+ To paly ashes: thy eyes' windows fall
+ Like death, when he shuts up the day of Life.
+ Each part, deprived of supple government,
+ Shall, stiff and stark and cold, appear like death:
+ And in this borrowed likeness of shrunk death:
+ Thou shalt continue two-and-forty hours.
+ And then awake as from a pleasant sleep."
+
+"I have often thought," interrupted Delapine who was listening most
+intently, "how I should like to leave this life, and then after a long
+sojourn in some other world, to wake up and find myself, like Juliet,
+once more at home. What countless problems one could solve, problems
+which have occupied the scientists for years. You cannot imagine,
+Renée, my intense longing to enter into the unknown and penetrate into
+the sealed mysteries of Nature. Alas, that exquisite joys should be
+denied to us, who are the first and last of all things, the Ultima
+Thule of evolution. I feel sometimes that in some extraordinary way
+I shall see it, Renée, but how, where, or when is more than I can
+conceive even in my wildest dreams."
+
+So earnest and so wrapt was the young professor, and so apparently
+far away mentally while giving voice to his feelings, that a silence
+fell upon the assembled guests, and each one in turn leaned forward
+expectantly for what was to follow. The first, however, to break the
+spell was Renée.
+
+"Something tells me, in fact has been telling me for some time, that
+you will have your wish, dear professor. It was only a couple of nights
+ago that I dreamt----"
+
+"Really, Renée, you ought to----"
+
+"Oh, please let me, Madame Villebois, I was only going to say that I
+dreamt that you, professor, had left this world and had gone so far,
+far away, that you were so happy; and then I saw you lying down so
+peacefully and you were fast asleep, and when I went up and spoke to
+you, you never answered, and they told me that you were dead."
+
+"Renée, how can you tell such things," cried Madame Villebois.
+
+"Pray allow her, madame," interjected Riche, deeply interested himself,
+and finding support in the approved murmur around him.
+
+"Oh, how I cried when they told me that," continued Renée, "and then a
+stranger came up and comforted me, and told me to dry my tears, and I
+should soon be quite happy again. I remember turning round to see who
+he was, but he had vanished, and then I woke up."
+
+"My dear Renée," said Madame terribly shocked, "you must not let the
+professor put such dreadful things into your little head, such dreams
+and ideas are only fit for crazy philosophers and not for young ladies
+in good society like yourself."
+
+"I am quite old enough to take care of myself," said Renée, a little
+huffed, especially as she felt the remark was meant as much for
+Delapine as for herself.
+
+Madame Villebois shrugged her shoulders and became suddenly occupied in
+absorbing her crême de vanille glacée. She tried to think of something
+to say in reply, but on looking up she caught Delapine's eye, and
+noticed a peculiar smile on his lips which entirely dumfounded her,
+and caused her to make a sign that dinner was over, as her only way of
+escape from the dilemma.
+
+Doctor Villebois removed his napkin from his chin, whereupon the other
+gentlemen did likewise, and taking the hint from the host, they all
+rose and bowed as the ladies left the room.
+
+"Come, let us follow the ladies to the drawing-room," said Villebois
+after a short pause, for the doctor being an ardent admirer of the
+English, endeavoured, as far as his wife would permit him, to follow
+the English customs. "I like England," he would say, "because there
+every man is allowed the possibility of becoming a gentleman."
+
+"Dreams are mysterious things" said Delapine, nervously fingering
+his cigarette, as soon as the party had reassembled in the next
+room. "Sometimes the cause is purely physiological. Overstudy, an
+attack of indigestion, some disturbance of the circulation, or even
+some physical pressure may cause a dream or a nightmare. But again,
+there are other dreams widely different from these which often prove
+prophetic. In these one's real consciousness may be lost in sleep while
+the subliminal self, the alter-ego which never slumbers nor sleeps,
+rises to the surface and speaks in no uncertain tones. The mind sees
+with the startling clearness as if in a vision. Voices are heard as if
+from another world, while strange figures, and scenes of unknown places
+slowly rise before the dreamer. I can vouch for this, many a time it
+has occurred to me. Only the other day I had worked in vain for many
+hours trying to solve a physical problem, when suddenly I fell asleep,
+and in a dream I saw the changes take place, and the formula plainly
+worked out before my eyes. So clear was it that when I awoke I was able
+to copy what my mental vision had seen, and on trying the experiment, I
+found, to my great delight and relief, that the problem was solved."
+
+"My dear Delapine," said Riche, "you surely do not believe in
+clairvoyance, thought-reading, telepathy, apparitions, and all that
+sort of thing?"
+
+"Why not? Are we to doubt a thing merely because it is contrary to our
+experience? If you had stated thirty years ago that you would be able
+to converse with a friend on board a ship nearly four hundred miles
+away, or that you could see a man's bones in his body, or photograph
+the contents of a sealed wooden box, would not everyone have declared
+you mad? And yet these things are being done every day. Why then should
+the things you have just mentioned be less credible? The evidence in
+their favour is overwhelming. There is hardly a family in the world
+but contains some member who has experienced such things. Nay, I will
+go farther, there is not a tribe in any nation, at any period of the
+world's history which has not believed in these things. As Abraham
+Lincoln once said, 'You may fool all men some time, you may fool some
+men for all time, but you cannot fool all men for all time.' No,
+sir, the things men laugh at to-day as impossible will be improbable
+to-morrow, conceivable the day after, and a little later everyone
+accepts them as a matter of course, and wonders how people could ever
+have been such fools as to have doubted them."
+
+"But what evidence is there," said Riche, "that these apparitions and
+marvellous phenomena really occur? Why are séances held in the dark, or
+in merely a dull red light? If the performers were not tricksters could
+they not show these things in full daylight?"
+
+"Permit me to ask you one question, my dear doctor," said Delapine.
+"Why do you develop your photographic plate in the dark and not in
+broad daylight?"
+
+"The reason is obvious--the light would spoil the plate."
+
+"Well then, might not the light interfere with the success of the
+phenomena of a séance in the same way? The one is just as logical as
+the other."
+
+"Bravo, bravo," cried Renée, clapping her hands.
+
+"Pardon me," said Riche, anxious to justify himself, "but what I
+complain of is the absence of any proof. What I demand is evidence that
+is unimpeachable and crushing before I can believe any of these things.
+All I ask for is some proof, some message purporting to come from the
+other world through spirits who will convince me that the dead live,
+and that they can communicate with us."
+
+"You shall have it, you shall have it," cried the professor, rubbing
+his hands. "Have you ever heard the story of the Widow's Mite?"
+
+"No" they all cried out together.
+
+"Well, then, if you allow me, I will relate it to you."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+THE STORY OF THE WIDOW'S MITE[4]
+
+ Der Feind den wir am tiefsten hassen,
+     Der uns umlagert schwarz und dicht,
+ Das ist der Unverstand der Massen,
+     Den nur des Geistes Schwert durchbricht.
+
+ Arbeiter--_Marseillaise._
+
+ 'Ce n'est pas la vérité qui persuade les hommes,
+ Ce sont ceux qui la disent.'--Nicole.
+
+ Si non è vero, è molto ben trovato. Bruno (Eruici Furori) Part 2, Di 3.
+
+
+"A few years ago I knew a lady in New York who was in the habit of
+giving gratuitous private sittings to her family and a few friends.
+The moment she became entranced in the curtained space in her room,
+one or more of her spirit controls would come and speak through her.
+Among them was a spirit named George Carrol, who, when alive had been
+a friend of the medium and some of her circle. He had a strong manly
+voice, and could be heard distinctly all over the room.
+
+"One evening as her friends were sitting in the circle while the medium
+was entranced, the loud voice of George was heard, 'Has anyone here got
+anything belonging to the late Henry Ward Beecher?'
+
+"'I have a letter in my pocket from Mr. Beecher's successor, if that is
+what you mean?' said a gentleman present.
+
+"'No,' replied George, 'I am informed by another spirit present that
+Mr. Beecher is greatly concerned about an ancient coin "The Widow's
+Mite." This coin is out of place and ought to be returned. It has long
+been missing, and Mr. Beecher looks to you, Mr. Funk, to return it.'
+
+"'But, my dear sir,' replied Mr. Funk, 'the only Widow's Mite I ever
+heard of was the one I borrowed many years ago for the purpose of
+making a copy for the Dictionary, and I am confident that I returned
+it.'
+
+"'It has not been returned,' the voice replied. 'Go to your large iron
+safe and you will find it in a drawer under a lot of papers. It has
+been lost for many years, and Mr. Beecher says he wants it returned.
+That is all I can tell you.'
+
+"The next day Mr. Funk called in the cashier and said 'Do you remember
+an old coin called "The Widow's Mite" which we used for the Dictionary?'
+
+"'Yes, but it was sent back years ago.'
+
+"'Are you sure of this?'
+
+"'Absolutely certain.'
+
+"'Well go and look in our large iron safe, and see if it is there.'
+
+"'Of course I will do it, but I know it is useless, as I have turned
+out the contents hundreds of times.'
+
+"Well, would you believe it, in a short time he returned and handed Mr.
+Funk an envelope containing two Widow's Mites, a smaller light coloured
+one and a black one. The envelope had been found in a little drawer
+in the iron safe under a lot of papers, where it had not been seen or
+disturbed for many years. In fact it had been entirely forgotten.
+
+"Now, the curious part of the affair was that the smaller bright coin
+had been thought to be the genuine one, and had in consequence been
+used for the Dictionary. No one dreamt that the black one could be the
+genuine one. However, at the next séance when George began talking, I
+said to George, 'I find there are two coins in the envelope, tell me
+which of the two is the right one?'
+
+"Instantly he replied, 'Why, the black coin of course.'
+
+"Mr. Funk said, 'I am certain he is wrong there, I know that the black
+coin is spurious.'
+
+"Then he asked George again, 'Can you tell me to whom I have to return
+it?'
+
+"He replied, 'To a friend of Mr. Beecher's, I can't remember his name,
+but I have seen a picture of the college where he resides, and I know
+that it is in Brooklyn.'
+
+"'What part of Brooklyn?' asked Mr. Funk.
+
+"'On Brooklyn Heights.'
+
+"'A gentlemen's or a ladies' school?'
+
+"'A ladies' school.'
+
+"On enquiry Mr. Funk found that a ladies' school was there, and that
+the Principal was a Professor Charles West.
+
+"On consulting his old ledgers, he found that this was the very man to
+whom he had promised to return the coin.
+
+"At a future sitting Mr. Funk said to George, 'Why could you not tell
+me his name right away?'
+
+"'I don't know,' replied George, 'For some reason Mr. Beecher would not
+tell me. He said he was not concerned about the return of the coin, all
+he wanted was to give me a test which would convince me that there was
+a direct communication between the two worlds, and having succeeded in
+that, he cared nothing more about it.'
+
+"After receiving this surprising answer, Mr. Funk sent the two coins
+again to the Mint, and received the reply that the director had
+consulted the assistant in the department of coins in the British
+Museum and was assured that the black coin was the genuine one.
+
+"The most remarkable thing about the whole affair," added Delapine,
+"is that Mr. Funk happened to be the only man present at the séances
+who had ever heard of the Widow's Mite, and he had not the slightest
+conception of any of the facts which George had told him through the
+medium. The incident had occurred nine years before, and the whole
+history of the coin had not only passed completely out of his mind,
+but the fact, which George told him about it, was entirely new to him.
+Hence it was out of the question that the medium could have read his
+mind. How then are we to account for this revelation except by some
+intelligence on the other side of the Veil?"
+
+"It must have been a put-up job--in fact a case of fraud, or else one
+of forgetfulness," said Duval.
+
+"No, my dear sir, that is impossible. Forgetfulness has nothing to
+do with it, as Mr. Funk was certain that his instructions to return
+the coin had been carried out to the letter. Why, even the owners of
+the coin never knew it was missing. Besides, no one except the cashier
+ever had access to the safe, and they had never known or even seen the
+medium."
+
+"Ah, Pierre," replied Villebois, laughing, "confess that Delapine has
+fairly answered your objection."
+
+"Well then," said Duval, nettled at the defeat of his argument, "it
+must have been a case of coincidence, that is certain."
+
+"That explanation won't hold water. As far as I know this is the only
+private coin of its kind in the world, and, excepting a few numismatic
+specialists, no one knew of its existence. How could George have
+guessed the exact place where the person lived who had to receive the
+coin, when you consider the millions of likely places to choose from?
+And how could he have pointed out the exact spot where the coin was
+to be found, a spot where no one ever dreamt of looking for it? And
+lastly, when the two coins were found, why should George have named the
+black one, when no one in the circle except Mr. Funk was aware that
+there was a black one?"
+
+"Bravo, bravo, professor," cried Riche, "these lawyers are very shrewd,
+but they lack scientific training. Ah! Monsieur Duval, you have met
+your match at last. Coincidence is clearly ruled out of the court in
+this case."
+
+Pierre's pride would not allow him to admit the validity of Delapine's
+argument, although he felt its force.
+
+"I have it," exclaimed Riche, "If it was not a fraud or coincidence
+there is only one thing left to explain it, _viz._, telepathy or
+clairvoyance. Both Mr. Funk and the cashier knew that the coin had been
+borrowed, and it was the subconscious memory of one or the other of
+them which influenced the medium."
+
+"If that be your explanation," said Delapine, "how do you overcome the
+difficulty that both Mr. Funk and the cashier were convinced that the
+coin had been returned? No person at the séance knew anything about
+the coin except Mr. Funk. The incident had been entirely forgotten by
+the latter for many years. Again, how could the medium know from Mr.
+Funk's mind that he had not returned it, when he was certain that he
+had done so? And lastly you must remember that the medium had never
+seen the cashier, nor had she ever known of the existence of the drawer
+of the safe."
+
+"No," cried Villebois, rising from the table and spreading out his
+hands with an emphatic gesture to the company, "I am convinced it is
+due to spirit intelligences. They find out everything. Mr. Beecher must
+have had a talk with George about it in the spirit world, and made him
+promise that he would see that the coin was sent back. Oh! it is as
+clear as daylight," he added, thumping the table with his fist.
+
+"Ha! ha! really you are too funny, doctor," said Riche sarcastically.
+"Spirits! Oh mon Dieu! what are we coming to? In the twentieth century
+no sensible man believes in such things."
+
+"Oh! how dreadful," cried Madame Villebois, "to imagine that there are
+spirits about. Really, I think it is most improper to talk about such
+things, especially before ladies. What would my adored mother have
+said to all this? If I had thought that my dear Adolphe had believed
+in spirits I would never have married him, never! Oh! what will my
+confessor say when I tell him?" And the good lady dabbed her eyes with
+her scented handkerchief, as she sat back in her chair perspiring.
+
+"I think the professor and Villebois have clean gone off their heads,"
+said Pierre sotto voce to Marcel. "Much learning hath made them mad."
+
+"I am not so sure about that," replied Marcel. "Spiritualism, you know,
+is becoming quite fashionable, and it is no longer a heresy among
+the ladies to believe in it. I became quite lionised by the adorable
+creatures at a garden-party the other day when I quoted a passage
+from 'Le Livre des Esprits' by Allen Kardec, and they insisted on my
+relating my adventures in a haunted house near the Bois. It was very
+absurd of course, but they all believed it as if it were Holy Writ."
+
+At this moment the door opened and Monsieur Payot was announced. The
+latter was a typical specimen of a well-to-do Bourgeois citizen. He
+possessed a large bald head, smooth and polished like a billiard ball,
+while his blue smiling eyes, and clean shaven double chin bespoke a
+man who seemed well pleased with the world and himself in particular.
+He was attired in faultless evening dress, with the red ribbon of the
+Legion of Honour in his button-hole.
+
+"Mille pardons, madame, but I was detained at the Crédit Lyonnais. I
+have just concluded a most satisfactory deal in the rubber market. So
+important that I was even compelled to defer the pleasure of being with
+you at dinner. Ma foi, you look more charming than ever, madame. I
+trust Renée is well. Ah, there you are, my dear."
+
+M. Payot sat down and beamed with a smile peculiar to one who has
+succeeded in appropriating a large sum of money belonging to his
+fellow-citizens.
+
+"Professor Delapine has just been telling us about a coin which was
+restored to its owner through the agency of spirits," said Villebois.
+
+"Agency of Spirits, did you say? More likely agency of fiddlesticks,"
+said Payot with a grunt. "My dear sir, don't worry your head over such
+things. All we have to concern ourselves with is to enjoy life, and
+make all the money we can, after providing dots for our daughters.
+Believe me, all else is nonsense. I'll never believe in spirits, or in
+anything that we can't explain or understand. Table rapping, mesmerism,
+thought-reading, telepathy, spirit photographs, materialisations,
+are all nonsense. Fraud, my dear sir, pure fraud, and nothing else.
+Masks, rubber bands, double exposures, phosphorised oil, invisible
+wires, knees and thumbs pushing the table along, table raps arranged
+beforehand, confederates hidden in the cabinets playing concertinas
+and ringing bells. You see I know all about them. I can do it--anyone
+can do it. I have exposed them all. Bah! I tell you these things are
+impossible." The great man wiped his face with a vast display of purple
+silk handkerchief, and sat down fully convinced that he had uttered the
+last word that could be said on the matter, and that he had made a most
+profound and impressive speech.
+
+"He who pronounces anything to be impossible outside the field of pure
+mathematics is wanting in prudence," said Delapine quietly.
+
+"Whoever said such nonsense?" enquired Payot.
+
+"François Arago," replied Delapine quietly with a comical smile.
+
+Payot was silent, and a titter went round the room, as Arago was
+considered by common consent to have been the first scientist in France.
+
+"But still, my dear professor, these things are after all merely a huge
+joke," said Riche.
+
+The professor opened his blue eyes very wide and smiled.
+
+"My dear doctor, a learned pedant who laughs at the possible comes very
+near being an idiot. To shun a fact purposely, and turn one's back upon
+it with a supercilious smile, is to bankrupt truth."
+
+"Is that really your opinion?" asked Riche.
+
+"It is, but they are not my words. Besides, do you not remember that
+the great English naturalist Huxley wrote 'I am unaware of anything
+that has the right to the title of an "impossibility" except a
+contradiction in terms. There are impossibilities logical but not
+natural. Walking on the water, turning water into wine, or raising the
+dead are plainly not impossibilities in this sense.'"
+
+Renée's eyes sparkled as she looked up into his face with a sweet smile
+of approval.
+
+The professor gave her a slight squeeze of the hand, and fell into a
+reverie of thought.
+
+"But supposing, for the moment, that these phenomena were true," said
+Riche, "of what use are they? Surely spirits have something better to
+do than to waste their time in rapping tables, playing accordions or
+mandolins, ringing bells, or writing Greek sentences backwards, and
+answering all sorts of absurd questions. These things are only worthy
+of a mountebank, and not of serious people. Besides, these spirits
+never tell one anything new or worth knowing. If they informed us of
+their life on the other side, what they did, what they ate and drank,
+and how they amused themselves, I might think it worth while to examine
+the subject."
+
+"Ah!" said Marcel, laughing, "what I should like them to tell me would
+be the name of the horse that is to win the Grand Prix, or the Derby,
+to tell me the winning number in the State lottery, or to let me know
+what numbers to put my money on at Monte Carlo. Then, I confess, I
+would take up spiritualism with all my heart."
+
+"I think spiritualism is just delightful," interposed Céleste. "I
+always believed that we never really die, and I know that I can feel
+what other people are thinking of without their saying a word. I do
+hope that the professor will show us some of these wonderful things. I
+am longing to know all about it."
+
+"Céleste, I am shocked at you. You ought to know better," said Madame
+Villebois. "I am certain all this talk about spiritualism is very
+wicked. Father Pettavel told me so himself, and he attributes it all to
+the devil and his angels. The very thought that there may be spirits
+about, makes me positively afraid to go to sleep alone. Just suppose
+that they came and killed me in my bed, what would become of me then?
+I remember only the other night I heard strange, weird noises in my
+bedroom when I was in the dark, and saw gleaming eyes and dreadful
+forms prowl about. I called out to Adolphe to see what was the matter.
+Then a fearful spectral form with hollow eyes, and clothed in a sheet,
+came and stood over the end of my bed, and stretched out its thin,
+long, bony hands towards me, and bid me prepare to die. I was too
+afraid to call out, and had barely strength to cross myself and pray to
+the Blessed Virgin for aid. Thank heaven she heard me, and my prayer
+was answered, and the form slowly retreated and vanished, accompanied
+by the most fearful curses and groans. My confessor assured me that it
+was the Devil himself, and nothing but the efficacy of St. Geneviève's
+intercession to our Lady saved me."
+
+Villebois burst into a loud laugh.
+
+"Whatever are you laughing at?" said Madame, looking very shocked. "Was
+it not enough to frighten me to death?"
+
+"Oh dear! Oh dear," said Villebois, almost choking with laughter. "My
+love, you saw nothing of the kind. I was at your side all the time, and
+you buried your head under the bedclothes and screamed with fright. I
+swear I saw nothing until I got up, when I found the whole cause of
+the disturbance was due to a strange black cat which had got locked
+up by accident in Madame's wardrobe. It sprang out as I opened it,
+snarled, and jumped out on our bed, and then bolted out of the room.
+This was the sole origin of your ghostly spectre and gleaming eyes,
+while the awful groans you thought you heard were the squeals which
+came from the little beast as I struck it with my cane when it fled."
+
+Everyone roared with laughter, and Madame Villebois became very red and
+confused, and discreetly held her tongue.
+
+A short silence ensued, and then Delapine awoke out of his reverie.
+
+"The most astonishing thing about psychic phenomena," said Delapine,
+"is that nearly all men are profoundly ignorant of the very elements of
+the subject. The man in the street laughs at them, and the scientific
+man refuses to examine them, and yet the amount of literature which has
+been written on the subject is prodigious. These phenomena have been
+studied, examined, and recorded under strictly scientific conditions
+for upwards of fifty years, and every man who examines them carefully
+with an impartial mind, however sceptical he might be when he commenced
+his investigations, invariably becomes assured of their reality. But do
+not ask me to explain the phenomena. I confess I know nothing of their
+cause. As Fontanelle says 'It shows a great lack of intelligence to
+find answers to questions which are unanswerable.' I am like Faust who
+exclaims:--
+
+ "I've studied now Philosophy,
+       And Jurisprudence, Medicine,
+ And even--alas! Theology,
+       From end to end with labour keen;
+ And here, poor fool! with all my lore
+       I stand no wiser than before.
+
+"Nevertheless I have convinced myself that these extraordinary
+phenomena are absolutely true, and by your leave, ladies and gentlemen,
+I will demonstrate a very few of them, and next time that we meet I
+trust I will show you some far more striking experiments, but that
+is only possible when I have convinced you sufficiently to have
+complete faith in me, otherwise the phenomena will not succeed. It is
+remarkable," he continued, "that whenever anybody makes a discovery,
+or an invention, everyone laughs him to scorn, and derides him either
+as an impostor or a madman. When Galileo looked through his telescope,
+and saw the mountains and valleys of the moon, all the people jeered
+at him. When he directed the instrument on to the planet Venus, and
+observed its phases, which demonstrated the fact that the planet
+revolved round the sun, the philosophers refused to look through his
+telescope. When in 1786 Jouffroy constructed a steamboat, he ascended
+the Saône from Lyons to the island of Barbe, he presented a petition to
+the Academy of Science, and requested the Minister of the Interior to
+take over his boat, but they all refused even to look at his invention.
+Seventeen years later Fulton ascended the Seine in his newly invented
+steamer and the Government officials condescended so far as to be
+present, but they paid no attention to it, and allowed the poor man to
+go away unnoticed and neglected. He went away almost heart-broken to
+the United States, and there made the fortune of thousands of people.
+
+"Professor Graham Bell went all round New York in the vain endeavour to
+sell a half interest in his newly invented telephone for 2,000 dollars.
+Everyone thought that he was mad, and he could not find a single person
+in the whole city who would risk £400 on his invention. To-day the Bell
+Telephone Co. has a capital amounting to millions of dollars, and the
+half interest which he offered would have made the lucky purchaser one
+of the richest men in the world.
+
+"When an Englishman once offered to light the streets of London by
+means of coal-gas conducted through pipes, everyone said that he
+was mad, and the Chancellor (Lord Brougham), writing to a friend in
+Edinburgh, said, 'There is an idiot here in London who says that he can
+light the city with coal-gas conducted through a tube.' Sydney Smith
+even asked the inventor whether he would not like to store his gas in
+the dome of St. Paul's Cathedral?
+
+"But before long all the streets of every capital in Europe were lit up
+by this very means.
+
+"Galvani happened to hang some skinned frogs on an iron railing, with
+the intention of making them into soup, and, as chance would have
+it, tried the experiment of connecting the spinal column with the
+nerve of their legs by means of a bent wire made of tin and copper.
+Then he noticed that the legs twitched violently every time he made
+the connection, although they had been dead for some hours. He had
+no sooner published the account of what had happened than he became
+the laughing stock of Bologna; and no one thought sufficient of the
+experiment to repeat it for himself, and yet Galvani had discovered
+electricity, the greatest and most universally employed force that we
+know of. And if I tell you of this new force which I hope to exhibit
+to you some day, perhaps you will go away laughing at me, and saying,
+'We don't understand what you are saying, and therefore you are talking
+nonsense.' If I 'will' to take this weight and raise it with my arm
+above my head, my will moves matter and overcomes gravity. What is the
+force which enables me to do it? You do not know. Neither do I, and yet
+no one in this room doubts that I have done it, because everyone of us
+performs a similar act a thousand times a day.
+
+"Physiologists will tell you that every object we see forms a little
+image on a nervous layer at the back of our eyes, but they cannot tell
+you how that image is perceived by the mind, nor can they explain why
+the image appears so large--in fact life size--since the image on the
+retina (at the back of the eye) is a mere speck compared with the size
+of the image as it appears to us.
+
+"People tell us that it is impossible that one body can act on another
+at a distance without anything connecting them. It is altogether as
+incomprehensible as a miracle, and yet we can see it happening every
+day of our lives. We call it gravitation, and imagine that by giving
+it a name we know all about it. But you cannot explain it, neither
+can I, and yet there is nothing in spiritualistic phenomena more
+wonderful, more incomprehensible than this. Why then should you take
+the one for granted, and absolutely refuse even to examine the other?
+Is it just to assert that a man must be bereft of his senses who
+believes in it, and has the courage to announce it publicly? You, my
+dear Monsieur Payot, who appear to know everything, assert that all
+the phenomena are the result of fraud, and so easy to perform that
+anyone can imitate them, you might give us physicists credit for some
+little amount of common sense. You seem to imagine that we, who have
+all our lives trained our faculties to observe minutely and to rest
+satisfied with nothing until we have examined it from every conceivable
+point of view, and reflected upon all possible source of error, can
+be deceived by tricks that a six-year-old child could see through in
+a minute. When I began my psychical investigations I not only visited
+all the conjuring exhibitions in Paris, but I underwent a course of
+instruction from Samuel Bellachini, Signor Bosco, Maskelyne and Devant,
+and Harry Kellar, besides mastering the works of Robert Houdin and
+Professor Hoffmann that I might make myself practically acquainted with
+every possible trick that is performed on the stage. But all these
+great conjurers assured me that with all their resources and apparatus
+they were unable to repeat the psychical phenomena which I have both
+witnessed and performed myself from time to time."
+
+"Well, sir," replied Payot, visibly nettled by this speech, "since you
+are so clever, let me see some proof of your conjuring power."
+
+"I am not accustomed to give exhibitions of conjuring either in public
+or private," replied Delapine with some warmth, "but since you have
+challenged me I will for once take up the gauntlet in my defence and
+convince you that I am not uttering idle words. Would you oblige me,
+Monsieur Payot, with the loan of your watch?"
+
+Payot caught hold of his watch chain to remove it, but to his horror
+and amazement no watch appeared. It had gone.
+
+"Oh, dear," he cried, "some one must have stolen it as I was coming
+here, as I remember perfectly well taking the time only a few minutes
+before I entered this house. It was a presentation watch, and a very
+valuable one too. My dear Villebois, will you be good enough to
+telephone to the police at once. I cannot afford to lose it," he added,
+looking very distressed.
+
+"Do you know the number of the watch?" asked Delapine, "as that is most
+important. In fact I don't see how the police will ever be able to
+identify it otherwise, seeing how many thousands of gold watches there
+are in Paris."
+
+"No, I can't say I do, but the watchmaker would be able to tell me."
+
+"That is impossible," said Delapine. "The watch was made in Geneva, and
+the manufacturer has been dead some years now."
+
+"I remember now," said Payot, "you are quite right. I sent it to Geneva
+to be repaired and I received a letter back saying that the maker had
+died two years before. But how Delapine knows these facts passes my
+comprehension. I am certain, now I reflect, that a thief snatched it
+out of my pocket, as I was in the act of stepping out of my carriage.
+In fact, I feel sure I could recognise the man if I were to meet him
+again. What a fool I was not to take the number of the watch; for, as
+the professor rightly says, it affords the only clue to its recovery."
+
+"That is quite easy," said Delapine quietly. "The number is B40479, and
+the name of the maker is Bréguet."
+
+"How can I prove that you are correct?" cried Payot, uncertain whether
+to be angry with the professor for making fun of him, or to be
+nonplussed at his uncanny knowledge.
+
+"Nothing is more simple," answered Delapine. "My dear Villebois, would
+you mind touching the bell?"
+
+"François," said Delapine as the servant entered the room, "will you
+be good enough to go into the spare bedroom, and on a chair near the
+window you will see a tall hat with a gold-mounted cane. Look inside
+the hat and bring me what you find there."
+
+In a couple of minutes the servant returned carrying a gold watch which
+he handed to Delapine.
+
+"Is this your watch?" asked Delapine, as he passed it to Payot with a
+bow.
+
+"Yes," he replied, looking very astonished. "It looks like my watch."
+
+"That is not sufficient proof. Pray observe the number and read it
+aloud."
+
+"B40479," replied Payot, more mystified than ever.
+
+"Well then, it must be your watch. Be good enough to put it in your
+pocket, and take care not to lose it again."
+
+"That I shall never do," replied Payot. "I am much sharper than people
+give me credit for."
+
+Delapine's eyes twinkled with amusement, which did not escape Payot's
+notice.
+
+"Well, I will make a present of it to anyone who can take it away again
+without my being aware of it," Payot replied testily, as he felt his
+amour propre wounded at the professor's display of mirth.
+
+"Be careful what you say. I have a long memory," said Delapine,
+laughing.
+
+Payot examined his watch carefully, and opened the case to make sure
+that the works had not been spirited away.
+
+"This is the work of Satan. I am sure no one can believe in God who
+does such things," said Madame Villebois.
+
+"Do you believe in God?" asked young Duval with a sudden inspiration,
+hoping to depreciate him in Renée's eyes.
+
+"No," replied Delapine, "I do not, because I cannot. My conscience will
+not permit me."
+
+"But surely you believe in a Divine Being?" replied Villebois, looking
+very shocked.
+
+"That too I cannot accept."
+
+"Oh! what a dreadful man," cried Madame Villebois, absolutely
+horrified. "My dear," she whispered to her husband, "how could you
+invite an infidel to our house who does not believe in anything?"
+
+"On the contrary, madame, I believe in many things," said Delapine, who
+overheard her remark, "although, unlike most people, I claim no credit
+for doing so. But one thing we must all admit, whatever we believe
+cannot alter the facts. People believe in a God because it acts as a
+Deus ex machina, to account for the difficulties which surround them
+on every side, and dispenses with their need of thinking. Besides,
+it flatters their vanity when they are told that God made man in His
+own image. Whereas, as a matter of fact, it is the other way about.
+Man made God in Man's own image. The idea of a God is based on that
+of a gigantic man, or at least on something which has dimensions,
+and possesses certain human attributes and passions on a vast scale,
+although if we were to judge by the way the average person prays, his
+God would not make a decent sized man. On the other hand philosophy
+convinces me that the Eternal can have no shape, or attributes, or
+passions, such as we can conceive of. A Divine Being is open to the
+same objection. A Being implies a material form--something which
+exists. Now the Eternal cannot be anything which exists, at least not
+in the same sense that is attached to matter as we know it, since
+everything which exists must have had a beginning, and therefore cannot
+be eternal. Take a bucketful of the ocean, you have water. Take a
+sample of the atmosphere and you have air. Take a handful of space and
+you have Mind.
+
+"This eternal Mind is the 'Fons et Origo' of everything. It is the
+source of all energy and all matter. It alone is eternal. All else
+is evanescent and unsubstantial. Did not Virgil make that profound
+remark:--
+
+ "Mens agitat Molem et magna corpore miscet."[5]
+
+"Do we not find Marian Capella at the beginning of the Christian era
+mentioning Mind as being the fifth or fundamental element? Consider
+these facts well, for they form the key to all spiritualistic
+phenomena. At the end of the eighteenth century we find the great
+Russian poet Derchavin uttering the same idea in the following words of
+which I give the translation:--
+
+  "O Thou Eternal Mind whose presence bright,
+  All space doth occupy, all motion guide;
+  Unchanged through Time's all-devastating flight--
+  Thou only God, there is no God beside.
+  Being above all beings Mighty One,
+  Whom none can comprehend and none explore;
+  Who fills existence with Thyself alone,
+  Embracing all, supporting, ruling o'er;
+  Being whom we call God and know no more.
+
+  "Research in its Divine philosophy,
+  May measure out the ocean deep,
+  May count the stars, or the sun's rays;
+  But God, for Thee there is no weight nor measure.
+  None can search Thy counsels infinite and dark.
+  Reason's brightest spark though multiplied by millions,
+  And arrayed in all the glories of divinest thought;
+  Is but an atom in the balance weighed against Thy greatness
+  Is a cypher wrought against Infinity.
+
+  "And what am I then? Nought!
+  Nought, but the effluence of Thy light divine,
+  Pervading worlds hath reached my spirit too;
+  Yes! In my spirit doth Thy spirit shine,
+  As shines the sunbeam in the drop of dew.
+  Thy chains the unmeasured Universe surround
+  Upheld by Thee, by Thee inspired with breath,
+  Thou the beginning with the end hath bound,
+  And beautifully mingled life and death.
+
+  "As sparks shoot upwards from the fiery blaze
+  So suns are born--so worlds spring forth from thee,
+  And as the spangles from the sunny rays
+  Shine round the glittering snow,
+  So heaven's bright army echoes with Thy praise.
+  What shall we call them--globes of crystal light?
+  A glorious company of golden streams,
+  Lamps of celestial ether burning bright.
+  Suns lighting systems with their glorious beams
+  But Thou to these are as the noon to night.
+
+  "What are ten million worlds compared with thee?
+  And what am I then? Nought,
+  Nought! But I live and on hope's pinions fly
+  Eager towards Thy presence,
+  For in Thee I live and dwell--aspiring high
+  Even to the threshold of Thy Divinity,
+  I am, O God! and surely Thou must be!"
+
+"Bravo!" cried Riche, "I for one pronounce you not guilty of the charge
+of atheism."
+
+Payot felt that Delapine had decidedly the best of the argument, and
+being utterly unable to reply made an excuse to go.
+
+"My dear Villebois," said he, "you cannot think how I have enjoyed this
+pleasant evening, but I have an important engagement with the Minister
+of Finance, and time presses," and so saying he proceeded to pull out
+his watch. A cold shiver went through him. A gold watch was clearly
+there, but it was an open-faced one, whereas his was a hunter.
+
+"Mon Dieu!" he cried, "my watch has gone, and someone has left his own
+in its place."
+
+Everyone immediately felt for his own watch.
+
+"By Jove!" exclaimed Marcel, "here's a funny thing. Why, I've got
+Payot's watch fastened on to my chain. Here's the number right enough,
+B40479. Look!" he exclaimed, "my gold seal has gone too, and my
+toothpick as well. Oh! Oh!! Oh!!!" he cried in three different tones.
+
+"Yes," added Payot, "and what is far more serious, my pocket-book has
+disappeared, and it contains 10,000 frs. in Billets de Banque."
+
+"And now my wedding ring has gone," sobbed Madame Villebois. "Oh you
+wicked, wicked man," she cried to Delapine, "I shall have you put in
+prison for this."
+
+"Do not alarm yourself, my dear madame. It is your husband who is the
+thief, not I."
+
+"What do you mean, sir!" cried Villebois indignantly, hardly knowing
+what he was saying.
+
+"I can see it from here, papa," said Céleste, laughing. "It is hanging
+on your watch-chain."
+
+There it was sure enough, and Villebois, looking very foolish, was
+obliged to release his watch before he could slip off the ring, which
+he handed to Madame.
+
+"Villebois, mon ami," said Delapine, "will you oblige me by ringing the
+bell once more?"
+
+"François," said Delapine solemnly, as the butler entered the room, "I
+am sorry to have to say it, but it is my duty to accuse you of stealing
+Monsieur Payot's pocket-book containing bank-notes to the amount of ten
+thousand francs."
+
+"Me, sir!" replied François in astonishment. "Oh! monsieur, that is
+impossible."
+
+"It is not impossible," replied Delapine severely. "You have it
+secreted on your person. I know it. Pierre, please lock the door, and
+put the key in your pocket. François, I must request you to allow
+Monsieur Payot to search you. If you refuse, I shall at once send for
+the police."
+
+François grew deadly pale, and falling on his knees swore by the Holy
+Virgin and all the Saints that he was innocent.
+
+Delapine appeared insensible to his appeal, and merely said, "Monsieur
+Payot, proceed."
+
+The financier at once commenced to search the butler's pockets, while
+Delapine stood behind him and held his arms. Sure enough the first
+article he pulled out was the pocket-book. "Now, Monsieur Payot, be
+good enough to let me see whether all the notes are there. I wish to
+convince myself," said Delapine. And taking the pocket-book out of
+Payot's hands, he rapidly counted the notes, and subtracting one of
+them said to François, "I acquit you of all blame. It was I who did
+it in order to convince Monsieur Payot of my powers. This gentleman
+offered to make a present of his watch to anyone who could take it away
+from him without his being aware of it. I have succeeded, but I refuse
+to take his watch. Still, as I have been the cause of a great deal of
+unpleasantness to my esteemed friend François, I feel sure Monsieur
+Payot will not object if I present you with this note."
+
+Whereupon the professor handed the butler one of the hundred-franc
+notes, and shaking him by the hand, told him he was a thorough good
+fellow, and at his request Pierre unlocked the door, and bowed the
+bewildered and delighted man out.
+
+"One moment, Monsieur Payot, I perceive you also are a thief. If you
+will be good enough to put your hand in your left-hand waistcoat pocket
+you will find our friend Marcel's gold toothpick and seal. Pray hand
+them back to him with his watch, and he will give you yours in return."
+
+The financier having at length recovered all his personal effects,
+shook hands all round, and bolted as fast as his legs would carry him,
+fully convinced that Delapine was the Devil.
+
+"Well," said Delapine, "are you satisfied now?"
+
+Villebois and his guests looked at one another in mute astonishment,
+much too bewildered to say anything.
+
+"Another evening, with your permission," said Delapine, "I will show
+you some experiments of an entirely different character."
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 4: This story, which actually occurred in New York, is
+related in the late Dr. Isaac Funk's book "The Widow's Mite and
+other Psychic Phenomena," the leading facts of which are given here
+by his son's kind permission. Dr. Isaac Funk was the first editor
+of the famous Funk and Wagnall's Dictionary used throughout the
+English-speaking world, and he was celebrated for his brilliant
+intellect, precision of thought and the extreme accuracy of his
+statements.]
+
+[Footnote 5: "Mind sets matter in motion, and permeates all matter."
+
+ Virgil.--_Æneid_, Bk. vi.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+PAYOT AND DUVAL
+
+ "The best laid schemes o' mice an' men,
+     Gang aft agley,
+ An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain
+     For promised joy."
+
+ Burns.
+
+
+If you turn past the church of Notre Dame de Lorette and walk towards
+the corner of the Rue La Bruyère, you will notice a charming detached
+villa on the right with a little garden all to itself shut in by
+ornamental railings.
+
+It was the third evening after the events related in the last chapter,
+when a military man might have been seen in his cabriolet leaving the
+elaborately wrought iron gates of the villa, and directing his coachman
+to proceed to No--Boulevard Haussmann near the Arc de Triomphe.
+
+It had been raining heavily all the afternoon, and the foot passengers
+could be seen picking their way between the omnibuses, and endeavouring
+to avoid the mud which splashed up on all sides. The cafés and
+restaurants were beginning to light up, and the little marble tables
+outside became more and more crowded with guests. A crowd had assembled
+in one of the small side streets, listening to a trio of musicians who
+were playing outside one of those curious little café-restaurants only
+patronised by a select fraternity of Bohemians who meet nightly year
+in and year out to chat and play dominoes, and take their evening meal
+at 1 fr. 50 c., wine inclusive, with clock-like regularity. A woman
+who had evidently been trained as a public singer, and who had known
+better days, was singing one of those exquisite airs of Charles Gounod
+with a voice which still bore traces of its former richness. But the
+scene was unheeded by the occupant of the carriage, who was mentally
+rehearsing the manoeuvres which would give him the most favourable
+position in the mimic campaign which he was about to undertake.
+
+At length the driver stopped opposite the house indicated, and his fare
+alighted, enquired if Monsieur Payot were at home, as he handed in a
+card bearing the name of General Duval. A footman in livery showed him
+into a large hall decorated with old carved oak furniture and a perfect
+armoury of mediæval weapons and shields interspersed with rows of
+marvellous Delft and Sèvres ware.
+
+"Ah! mon Général, delighted to see you," said Payot, with a beaming
+smile as he entered the room. "I am quite alone this evening, so we can
+have a chat tête-a-tête."
+
+The person addressed was a pompous little man, rather corpulent, with
+a double chin, and immensely impressed with his own importance. He had
+a bald head, and a white moustache with the ends drawn out to a great
+length, and so twisted and waxed that they resembled a pair of skewers.
+This, together with the fact that his eyes were chronically inflamed
+and bulging with a constant tendency to roll, gave him an aspect of
+terrible ferocity. He was a bon vivant, and possessed a high reputation
+for his judgment of wines, an opinion which was always taken as final
+in any dispute at the clubs. He was in his element when reviewing his
+troops, where he might be seen cantering up and down in a state of
+great excitement, spurring his horse to make it rear and plunge to the
+terror and amazement of the nursemaids who formed a rear guard with
+their perambulators. One would have imagined that his men were all
+stone deaf judging by the way he addressed them in tones of thunder.
+In fact he always gave his hearers the impression that he was in a
+towering passion. For admiration and glory he had an insatiable thirst,
+which was only equalled by his greed for gold. Indeed it was a common
+joke amongst his officers that in the next campaign he would be found
+defending himself to the last drop of his blood with his drawn salary
+in his hand. Notwithstanding his absurd vanity, he was, like all French
+officers, brave to the core, and fearless as a lion, and for this
+reason alone he was adored by his men, who felt that he would prove
+his metal and lead them on to victory no matter what odds were against
+them when they were all but defeated, and leading a forlorn hope.
+
+"Well, mon ami, how has the world been treating you since I saw you
+last?" said Duval père.
+
+"So, so, but I must confess I have hardly recovered yet from the shock
+I got at Villebois' house the other night. Didn't you hear of it? Well
+you must know that fellow, Delapine, was staying with them as a guest,
+and he got into a discussion about spiritualism and all that sort of
+nonsense. Amongst other things he gave out that he was a conjurer, and
+so I thought I would put his powers to the test. Whereupon he spirited
+away my watch, and it was found in my hat in the spare bedroom. When I
+got it back again I offered to make him a present of it, if he could
+take it away again without my knowledge.
+
+"After a while all sorts of strange things happened. Rings and
+pencil-cases, watches and pocket-books changed hands all over the room.
+Everybody lost something, and found something else in its place. I lost
+my pocket-book containing bank notes to the tune of 10,000 frs., and in
+some mysterious manner it was found in the butler's breast pocket. I am
+certain it was not the result of pure conjuring, since the professor
+never came near me, and yet all the things I had in my pockets
+vanished, and were found in other people's pockets. I feel convinced
+that he is in league with the devil, and practices the black art. I
+really think he should be exposed. He is certainly a most undesirable
+man to have anything to do with. It seemed to me also that he has some
+sort of sinister spell over my daughter Renée, and I feel it must be
+put a stop to at once."
+
+"Most certainly," replied Duval, delighted to think that the game was
+playing into his hands so nicely. "We must put our heads together and
+see how we can get Villebois to forbid him to come near his house
+again. It is very curious that you should mention this subject, because
+it is closely related with the object of my visit, my dear Payot.
+
+"Of course you are aware what a surprising future is opening up for my
+son Pierre. He is rapidly rising in his profession, and is sure to make
+his mark wherever he goes. I think he would make an ideal husband, he
+is so extremely amiable, so attentive and so thoughtful. Besides, I
+shall leave him nearly all my property, which amounts to considerably
+over a million francs. Now, it seems to me that it would be mutually to
+our benefit if we could arrange a match between your daughter and my
+son. I have great influence with the minister of commerce, and I can
+give you private information as to the Government's policy, so that you
+can manipulate your shares to the greatest advantage in the Bourse,
+before the agents or the public know anything about it. In this way you
+will be able to make a grand coup without any risk of being found out."
+
+Payot slowly raised his gold-rimmed pince-nez and adjusted them to his
+nose with great deliberation, fixing his eyes on the General with a
+cynical smile.
+
+"Hum, hum," he muttered half aloud. "Renée is a great prize, mon cher
+Duval. This is only her first season, and she has already had three
+proposals from young wealthy men in good positions. Why she has refused
+them all is a mystery to me, considering what very advantageous offers
+they all were."
+
+"I am not in the least surprised at that," replied Duval, "seeing that
+my son had known her some months, and has already permitted her to see
+that cupid has severely wounded him with his shaft. A chance, mon ami,
+to have a husband like my son can only come to her once in a lifetime,
+n'est-ce pas?"
+
+The eyeglass came up again as slowly and cautiously as before.
+"Listen, mon ami," said Payot, "Monsieur Ribout, the Minister for
+Foreign Affairs, is, I understand, about to raise a loan for the new
+Morocco-Tunisian Railway. Do you think you can get me the concession
+for flotation?"
+
+"My dear Payot, you anticipate me. I have it in my portfolio?"
+
+"What! Do you mean to say that you actually have it here, in your
+portfolio?" cried Payot in a shrill tremor of delight.
+
+"C'est vrai, mon ami. Just wait a moment and I will show it you. Here
+it is, now we can arrange these things beautifully."
+
+Payot rubbed his hands together in a fever of delight, while his eyes
+sparkled with impatient greed, as he stretched out his hand to clasp
+the precious document.
+
+"Stop, stop, mon vieux, there are a few, just a few little
+preliminaries to arrange before I give it up to you. In the first
+place I must ask you to sign this little paper, undertaking to pay
+me twenty-five per cent. of the net profits which you make over the
+concession. A mere form, of course, but between friends it is always as
+well to attend to these little details."
+
+The eyeglass went up again with more deliberation than ever, and Payot
+calmly surveyed as much of him as was visible above the table. "What is
+his little game now?" he muttered to himself.
+
+"And now," continued Duval, "you have only to sign this, and give me
+your solemn promise that Renée shall marry my son, and the concession
+is yours."
+
+Payot sat still, playing an imaginary tune upon the table, evidently
+thinking intently.
+
+"Twenty-five per cent. is rather a high price to pay, mon vieux. Let
+me see," said he, casting up the figures in his head. "The concession
+is for a capital of 45,000,000 frs., and my profit on the deal will be
+2,000,000 frs. Then there are certain deductions to be made. Yes, to
+be sure," he muttered to himself. "750,000 frs., and 200,000 frs., and
+50,000 frs., that leaves a million francs, and twenty-five per cent. on
+a million is 250,000 frs. Two hundred and fifty thousand francs is a
+lot of money to give away," said Payot, nervously playing with his wine
+glass.
+
+"But you see what you are getting for it," said Duval, "Seven hundred
+and fifty thousand francs."
+
+"A mere bagatelle compared with my daughter. Why, I am simply giving
+her away, sir--giving her away!" and he heaved a sigh as if he had been
+asked to sign away his birthright.
+
+"Well then," said Duval, anxious to strike while the iron was hot, "we
+will call it a bargain," and without any further to-do he pushed the
+paper over to Payot to sign.
+
+Payot seeing that further haggling was useless, took his pen and
+mechanically signed the document.
+
+Duval rang the bell.
+
+"What do you want?" cried Payot, wondering why Duval should take upon
+himself the ordering of his servants.
+
+"Oh, it's all right, mon ami," said Duval, as the butler entered. "I
+merely wanted someone to witness our signatures."
+
+While the butler was signing the document under Duval's directions it
+suddenly struck Payot that this was rather sharp practice on Duval's
+part. But it was too late to interfere now, as the General had neatly
+folded up the paper and put it inside his portfolio.
+
+"My dearest friend," said Duval, "I see you were a little surprised
+at my summoning the butler, but it was a mere habit of mine, my dear
+sir, a mere habit. As an officer I become so accustomed to ringing
+the bell and issuing orders, that it becomes part of my nature," and
+he reached out his hand to Payot with the most bewitching smile that
+he could command on the spur of the moment. "With our two families
+united by marriage, my dear comrade, we shall be able to carry out some
+magnificent projects."
+
+"I admit the combination will be very advantageous to our interests,
+considering the hostile cliques we have to contend with on every side.
+I am a little, just a little bit afraid that that fellow Delapine may
+prove an obstacle to our schemes," Duval rejoined with a broad grin
+which displayed a magnificent set of false teeth.
+
+"I confess, my dear General, I share your views. His impudence, his
+brazen effrontery, and most of all the extraordinary power he seems to
+exercise over other people's minds, will not render my task an easy
+one."
+
+"Oh, you leave him to me," said Duval. "My knowledge of strategy will
+enable me to outmanoeuvre him at every turn. It will be mere child's
+play to me."
+
+"I suppose that Renée will consent to marry Pierre?" added Duval after
+a slight pause.
+
+"My dear General, how can you ask such a question? Why, Renée adores
+Pierre--she can't help it. No girl could withstand his attractions,
+especially when she knows how he worships her. How could any girl be
+insensible to his charms with his wealth and his talents? Don't you
+worry yourself on that score."
+
+"But suppose that she loves Delapine?"
+
+"Oh, oh! you are too funny, mon Général. What an absurd idea! What on
+earth can Renée find to admire in a mad fossil like Delapine? Besides,
+he is as poor as a church mouse; he has nothing in the world beyond his
+pittance from the Government--a mere fifteen thousand francs a year.
+Why, it would hardly keep me in wines and cigars. I give my little girl
+credit for more sense than that. Besides, supposing she did commit the
+folly of refusing your son, when I come to put the situation before
+her, her natural common-sense would soon bring her round to my way
+of thinking. A little well-timed severity, a few threats on my side
+followed by a burst of tears on hers, and then she will surrender
+unconditionally."
+
+"No, no," replied Duval, "I have no fear on that score whatever. You
+can have no possible objection to my retaining the concession until
+the engagement is announced. It will act as a kind of fillip to you,
+and besides, it will be the most potent inducement to Renée to alter
+her mind, and obey you, should she have any affection for Delapine or
+any other man. By the way, mon ami," added Duval, seeing that Payot
+was about to reply, "this Tokay is really quite excellent. It has a
+surprisingly fine bouquet," and he emptied his glass at a draught.
+"Hullo! it is already eight o'clock, and I have an appointment at the
+Elysée with the Minister of Finance in half an hour. Au revoir, mon
+ami, au revoir," and so saying he shook hands, and seizing his hat and
+portfolio, left the house before the bewildered Payot could collect his
+senses and remonstrate.
+
+"Confound that fellow," said Payot, shaking his fist at the retreating
+carriage of the General, "what did he mean by running away with that
+concession? Does he take me for a robber? I will pay you out for that,
+you old villain. I will be even with you yet, see if I don't! Still, it
+does not matter much after all, I know he is as anxious as I am that
+the deal should go through, as he knows that he can no more do without
+me than I can do without him. Yes, yes, it makes no difference. We
+must work together, although he is a rascal, and a damned rascal too."
+
+Payot was a widower past middle age. Thirty years had passed since he
+had left his home near Belfort to enter the military college of St.
+Cyr. Clever, handsome, full of ambition and energy, the young man was
+the pride of his mother's heart, and it was with great misgiving that
+she allowed him to leave the paternal roof.
+
+At college his talents soon prepared the way for promotion, whilst
+his open frankness and engaging manners made him popular with all his
+comrades.
+
+At St. Cyr, he made the acquaintance of young Jaques Duval, an
+acquaintance which soon ripened into friendship, and the two comrades
+in arms became inseparable.
+
+During the Franco-Prussian war Duval gained rapid promotion, and for
+his gallant conduct at Mars-la-Tour he was gazetted General. Payot was
+carried off the field in the same battle, having been struck on the
+head by a fragment of shell. For some weeks he hung between life and
+death, and had it not been for the unceasing care and attention of his
+nurse, he must have died. The devotion of this young girl soon awoke
+a response in his heart, and during his convalescence he declared his
+love for her, and was accepted with equal fervour.
+
+Soon after leaving the hospital he retired from the army, married, and
+went into business.
+
+Two years later his wife bore him a daughter. Nothing could surpass the
+affection of this child for her parents, and especially for her mother.
+As Renée grew up, she became the darling of the parish. Absolutely
+unconscious of any superiority due to her position and wealth, she
+would mingle in the games of the poorest children. Any day she might
+be seen teaching the little girls to trim their hats with woodbine, to
+play puss-in-the-corner, or hide-and-seek. Sometimes she would take
+them into the woods to hear the cuckoo, or the nightingale. It was
+entirely through her entreaties that her father induced the organist of
+the parish church to give singing lessons in the village choir, and she
+herself practised the violin that she might be able to give concerts
+to the villagers, who would assemble in an old barn and join lustily
+in the singing. There was one old fellow in particular named Caillot;
+he lived quite alone in a little cottage and was unable to work at a
+trade owing to a defect in his eyes which rendered him nearly blind. He
+picked up a scanty pittance by playing the violin, which he did with
+uncommon skill. Wherever she was you would invariably find the little
+man playing or singing, and he was of such a cheerful disposition that
+he got the nickname of "Le Pinson" (Chaffinch). His admiration for
+Renée amounted to worship, and the ne plus ultra of happiness was when
+Renée and her governess would consent to enter his little room and play
+a duet with him on the violin.
+
+To see the little Chaffinch chirping and hustling around, placing a
+soft cushion on a chair for Mam'selle Renée to sit on, and looking
+through his well-thumbed collection of music for some piece he knew she
+was especially fond of, was a proof of the most intense devotion. So
+absorbed and wrapped up was he in attending to Mam'selle Renée that the
+poor governess had to find a chair for herself as best she could, and
+it invariably ended in Renée refusing to play a note until Caillot had
+found a cushion and chair for her also.
+
+Whenever a marriage took place in the village, the Chaffinch was
+certain to be sent for, and Renée insisted on being allowed to deck
+him out with gay ribbons in the presence of the bride and bridegroom.
+"Viola, mon p'tit Papa Pinson," she would say with a smile, "you look
+the handsomest man in the village to-day, and here is a new five-franc
+piece which I persuaded my father to give me, because I told him I
+wanted you to put on your brightest smile. N'est ce pas, p'tit papa?"
+But one day the man fell ill, and was unable to earn his rent. Poor
+little man, he was all alone, and might have died of hunger and neglect
+if his illness had not by a pure accident reached the ears of Renée.
+
+"What!" she exclaimed when she heard the tale, "do you mean to say that
+they are going to turn mon pauvre Pinson out of his house, because he
+is unable to pay his rent? Oh! my poor Caillot!"
+
+In spite of her mother's remonstrances she emptied the contents of her
+money-box into her pocket, and ran out of the house as fast as she
+could to his lodgings all alone. Alas! all her little savings were not
+enough to meet the rent which had accumulated for some weeks. What
+could she do? A happy thought struck her, and she went the round of the
+village, begging from the doctor, the priest, and the notary, until she
+had collected enough, not only to pay off the arrears of rent, but to
+purchase a few comforts besides.
+
+"My poor little Pinson, what would you do without your Renée?"
+
+No wonder she was popular owing to her intense sympathy for others,
+her exquisite eyes beaming with love and tenderness, and yet withal
+sparkling with fun, her smile for all, and her light girlish step.
+No wonder the poor looked upon her as something "outre tombe," an
+incarnate angel sent to minister unto them.
+
+Anyone daring to speak disparagingly of Mam'selle Renée would have done
+so at the risk of his life. A fine horse-woman, she usually accompanied
+her father in the chase, and many a time she would run a race across
+country with him and the squire's son at break-neck pace. Ah, those
+were halcyon days indeed.
+
+One day when she was about eighteen years old her mother was suddenly
+taken ill with pneumonia, and died after a short illness. The happiest
+home in all France speedily became the most tragic and miserable. A
+change came over her father. The injury to his head received years
+before on the battlefield, suddenly became rekindled by the shock and
+grief at his wife's death, and from being an ideal husband he grew
+morbid, avaricious, selfish, and dead to all affection. He seemed at
+times to have forgotten the very existence of his daughter. Renée bore
+up as long as she could, but at length Dr. Villebois, who for years had
+been the family physician, insisted on taking her to his home as she
+seemed to be rapidly pining away. It was here that she met Delapine for
+the first time. The awe, akin to worship, which a clever, high-spirited
+young girl sometimes perceives for a man possessing talent of a
+remarkable order--a feeling by the way which is entirely independent
+of age--soon changed into one of deep and lasting love, and although
+she succeeded in concealing it from him and all the world, her womanly
+instinct soon told her that Delapine had the same feeling for her, and
+secretly worshipped the very ground she trod on.
+
+Had they lived in the Middle Ages and had she been condemned to die
+at the stake, Delapine would no more have hesitated to take her place
+at the burning pile, than he would have thought twice about giving
+all the money he had in his pocket to a poor student to purchase his
+class-books.
+
+Delapine possessed that extraordinary magnetic power which attracts
+certain people with a force that defies all reason to explain.
+Shakespeare expounds it in immortal language in Romeo and Juliet.
+Goethe observed it and gave it a name "Wahlverwandschaft," or elective
+affinity. We see it turning up in the most unexpected places; in the
+palace, the cottage, the prison, nay even on the scaffold. Myth and
+lore teem with it. History is ennobled by it. It is the same spirit
+which knit the souls of David and Jonathan, Damon and Pythias, Dante
+and Beatrice, Hermann and Dorothea, Catarina and Camoens. This intense
+affection is the exact opposite of that passion which is popularly
+called love. The former has nothing to do with sex, the latter is
+merely a sexual impulse. The former is the most unselfish thing in the
+world, the latter is entirely selfish. The former is purely spiritual,
+the latter of the earth, earthy.
+
+True love remains when everything else has perished, the latter dies,
+or has wings and flies away.
+
+"Tout ce que touche l'amour est sauvé de la mort."[6]
+
+It was the supreme development of this spiritual power which we call
+love in its purest and highest sense, which led St. Paul to express
+himself in that exquisite ode to charity, in the First Epistle to the
+Corinthians. It is the fruit of this spirit which has produced the
+martyrs, the heroes, and the golden deeds of this and every age.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The next day after the remarkable conversation between the General and
+Payot, Renée was busy writing in her boudoir, when she heard a knock at
+the door.
+
+A servant entered bearing a note which ran as follows:--
+
+ My dear Renée,
+
+ I should be very much obliged if you would come and see me at my
+ house. I have some important news for you. I shall expect you at five
+ o'clock.
+
+ Your affectionate father,
+ Alexandre.
+
+Renée turned the letter over to see whether it contained any news on
+the other side.
+
+"I wonder what my father wants me for in such a hurry. Did he leave any
+message?" she enquired of the servant.
+
+"No, madame. He merely told me to deliver this note, and to let him
+know if the time would be convenient."
+
+"Tell my father I shall be with him at five o'clock this evening, and
+let the coachman know that he is to be here punctually at a quarter to
+the hour, as my father cannot bear to be kept waiting."
+
+The maid bowed and retired, wondering in her mind what could have given
+rise to her icy reply.
+
+"Mademoiselle is generally so sweet to everyone," she said to herself.
+"I never saw her so nervous and reserved before, I wonder what can have
+happened. However, it is no business of mine." And she went downstairs
+to discuss the affair with the cook.
+
+Poor Renée trembled all over, and a deep sigh escaped her as soon as
+she was alone.
+
+"I know my father has only sent for me to make me promise to marry some
+horrid man. It must be for some such reason. What else could he want me
+for? Oh dear, oh dear, why cannot he leave me in peace? I am so happy
+here."
+
+"I wonder who he can have in his mind? I am certain it cannot be anyone
+really nice, all his male friends are such horrid people."
+
+For a long time she lay down in a kind of stupor, until at length
+her maid knocked at the door, and informed her that the carriage was
+waiting. Hurriedly putting on her hat and cloak, she ran downstairs,
+and drove off to her father's house.
+
+The clock had just struck five as she entered the vestibule and handed
+her card to the portier.
+
+The moment she was ushered into the sitting-room her father rose to
+receive her.
+
+"Well, my child," said Monsieur Payot, closing the door after she had
+taken off her things, "sit down and let me talk to you quietly."
+
+Renée sat down, and her father beat a tattoo on the table with his
+fingers, as if he were calling up his troops before charging the enemy.
+
+"I have observed," he said slowly, clearing his throat, "I have
+observed that for some time past, Pierre, the son of my old friend
+General Duval, has evidently expressed a passion for you, and yesterday
+the General called to ask me formally for your hand on his behalf."
+
+Renée's heart thumped so violently that she felt her head beginning to
+swim.
+
+"I felt exceedingly delighted, as you can well imagine, since the
+General is not only one of my oldest friends," continued Payot, "as
+well as one of my former comrades in arms, but the chance of such a
+distinguished alliance will greatly add to my wealth and position.
+Moreover Pierre is not only rich, but he will inherit at least two
+considerable fortunes, besides being a most charming and lovable young
+man with an unbounded future before him. Of his affection for you there
+is not a shadow of doubt."
+
+The girl grew scarlet, and remained too bewildered to reply.
+
+"That's a good girl, Renée, I can see by your blushes," her father
+went on to say, "that you return his affection, and that your silence
+implies your consent to his offer," and he rubbed his hands and
+chuckled with satisfaction.
+
+"But, papa, you don't really mean to say that I have to marry Pierre,"
+said Renée gasping for breath, while the tears began to flow.
+
+"What! What!! What!!! you dare to tell me that you refuse?" said Payot,
+his voice rising almost to a scream. "You silly child, you don't
+appreciate the honour he is doing you. Why, Pierre can have the pick
+of half the girls in Paris. A chance like this will never occur again.
+Consider what it means," and he marked off the points with his fingers
+one by one. "A fine, handsome, devoted husband. A large fortune. A
+magnificent 'Dot.' Carriages and horses. A country chateau. A house
+in the Bois. Jewels. Think of it, Renée, any quantity of diamonds and
+pearls. Dresses and servants to your heart's content. Introductions to
+all the best houses in Paris, and a box at the opera. Why, all your
+girl acquaintances will grow green with envy. In God's name what more
+can you want? Such a lucky girl as you ought to be beside herself with
+joy."
+
+"Please, father, do drop the subject. I will never, never marry
+Pierre--I detest him. Besides, I don't want any diamonds or a box at
+the opera."
+
+"You ungrateful, wretched, hateful minx," shouted Payot, working
+himself up into a rage. "Is this the way you repay me for all my love
+and affection? Have I not toiled all these years to give you, my only
+child, a fortune and a position? And now you dare to refuse to marry
+the son of my best friend. Are you without a spark of gratitude? Are
+you blind to your own interests? Can't you see that I am arranging a
+marriage for you which will at once introduce you into all the best
+circles in Paris? You ought to fall on your knees and thank God that He
+has vouchsafed such happiness to you. You miserable thing, you vile....
+I disown you," said her father, trying in vain to think of a suitable
+epithet. "How dare you disobey your father's wishes?" And he shook her
+violently with both hands until her teeth chattered.
+
+"Don't, don't, you'll kill me," sobbed Renée, trying to escape. "Oh,
+father, why can't you leave me alone to be happy in my own way? Oh,
+what is the matter? How strange you are. You don't look a bit like the
+dear old father you used to be." And she looked at her father with a
+terrified expression.
+
+He stood before her nearly beside himself with passion and hardly able
+to breathe.
+
+Renée slowly rose and held on to the table to steady herself, her heart
+thumping almost audibly, while she strove to hold back her sobs which
+were nearly choking her. Monsieur Payot sat down in his chair, feeling
+keenly the rebuff that his daughter had given him, a defeat which he
+was not accustomed to, especially from his daughter who, as a rule,
+gave way to him at once. He wiped away the perspiration from his brow
+with his red silk handkerchief, while he revolved in his mind what move
+he should take next. At length an idea struck him.
+
+"Look here, my child, be reasonable. Your old father only wishes to see
+you happy," and he tried in vain to smile sweetly, while he patted her
+head affectionately. "You love your father, don't you?"
+
+Renée nodded between her gulps and sobs, and then burst out afresh.
+
+"Well now, listen. Last night the General brought me a concession for
+the sole rights to construct the new Morocco-Algerian Railway, which
+is worth a couple of million francs to me immediately, and he promised
+to hand it over to me to deal with, the moment you became engaged to
+Pierre. Now, just imagine what that means to me. Not only two million
+francs, but indirectly I shall make three or four millions more.
+Besides, with the General's influence, I shall have an entrée to the
+Elysée, and be able to secure the Government contracts through the
+Minister of Finance. Of late several of my schemes have misfired, and
+my credit on the Bourse is nearly gone, but the moment I can secure
+this concession directly from the Government, I can obtain credit for
+as many millions as I require, and then my position is assured for
+ever. You do want to help your old father, don't you? Now, my child,
+consider this marriage carefully, and come and tell me to-morrow
+that you have altered your mind, and that you are sorry that your
+selfishness stood in the way of your father's recovering his lost
+credit and fortune."
+
+Renée did not reply but merely looked at her father with a dazed
+expression, and became as pale as death.
+
+"Well! Well!" said Payot, kissing her forehead, and patting her
+affectionately on the head, "you can leave me now and go home and think
+it over."
+
+At this he got up and handed her her hat and cloak, and conducted her
+to his carriage which he had summoned to take her home. Left to himself
+he paced up and down the room, and said under his breath as he heard
+the carriage roll away, "Drat that girl, one can never do anything
+but a woman gets in the way and upsets one's best schemes--confound
+her!" he muttered, "what an obstinate little fool she is. This is the
+way she repays me for all my love. Has she no natural affection left I
+wonder? I believe that fool Delapine is at the bottom of it all. I must
+checkmate his little game whatever it is. Well, Monsieur Delapine, your
+conjuring tricks will not help you much when I come to deal with you."
+
+Happily unconscious of her father's real hostility and muttered curses,
+Renée leaned back in the carriage and gave way to her grief. Arrived
+at the house of her adopted father, she threw herself on the bed in
+a torrent of weeping. "Oh! mother, darling mother, why did you leave
+me? Everyone seems to have forsaken me now. Mother, dear mother, come
+and help me," and she sobbed again. A couple of hours passed away, but
+Renée seemed oblivious of the time. The gong sounded for dinner, but
+she did not put in an appearance, and everyone wondered what had become
+of her.
+
+At length Madame Villebois excused herself to the guests, and going
+upstairs entered her room.
+
+"Renée, ma chérie," she said, "why are you lying on the bed? Mon Dieu!
+what is the matter--what have they been doing to you?"
+
+"Oh! nothing, Maman, really nothing. I am only a little tired, I
+suppose it must be the heat," said Renée, trying to smile through her
+tears.
+
+"Come downstairs at once, the soup will be quite cold, and we are all
+waiting for you."
+
+Renée washed her face, and followed Madame Villebois downstairs
+into the dining-room, trying to smile all the time, but looking so
+dreadfully miserable that everyone felt distressed and sorry for her.
+Fortunately Pierre was not there, and as soon as she sat down next to
+Delapine she became calm at once.
+
+The professor squeezed her hand under the table, and said something
+which evoked a happy smile.
+
+"Courage, Renée ma chérie," he whispered. "Take courage. Some day it
+will all come right, but not yet--not yet. The night comes, and with
+it much sorrow--much sorrow first. I can see it all clearly--it must
+be; but the joy will be all the greater when the morning breaks. There
+is no rose without a thorn; no crown without a cross; no salvation
+without sacrifice. Remember this, my beloved, for your little bark is
+just entering the storm. You will be shipwrecked first, but when the
+masts are broken, and the sails are blown away, and all hope abandoned,
+then, but not till then will salvation be at hand. Remember, dear, what
+I have said, for I shall not be able to help you, although I shall be
+with you always. Patience, ma chérie, always patience and courage."
+
+A shiver went through her as she heard this, and she could not conceive
+what he meant, but she was too frightened to ask him. When dinner was
+over she went out of doors, and sat in the little summer house, hoping
+that the night breezes might cool her fevered brain.
+
+"Remember what I have said, for I shall not be able to help you,
+although I shall be with you always--what could Henri mean?" And she
+puzzled her little head trying in vain to make sense of it. She sat
+musing for some time looking up at the stars and the fleecy clouds
+which continually floated across the face of the moon, when suddenly
+she became aware of someone stealthily approaching. She saw no one,
+but felt that someone was watching her. She heard a slight cough, and
+looking round saw Pierre approaching behind her.
+
+"Good evening, dear Renée," said Pierre, holding out his hand and
+smiling. "I hope it is not too chilly for you out here? I caught sight
+of you in the summer house, and came to bring you this cloak to wrap
+round you."
+
+Renée suffered him to put the cloak round her shoulders, but she was
+too distracted with the memory of Delapine's words to listen, and too
+indifferent to Pierre's attentions to thank him.
+
+She looked lovely in the moonlight. Her dark wavy hair, her exquisite
+eyes, sparkling like diamonds with the reflection of her tears, and the
+flush of her face reddened with her intense excitement heightened her
+beauty.
+
+Pierre was visibly affected at her loveliness and sat down beside her.
+"What a splendid evening to be sure, how I do enjoy these moonlight
+nights, don't you?" he added, turning towards her.
+
+"Yes," she answered mechanically without turning her head.
+
+"Are you sure you don't feel cold?" he asked, as he began to steal his
+arm around her waist.
+
+Renée never replied, but the fact that she did not remove his arm,
+caused him to grow bolder.
+
+"You don't know how I have longed for this opportunity of declaring my
+love to you, Renée," and suiting his action to his words he bent down
+and implanted a kiss on her lips.
+
+He could not have chosen a worse moment for his caresses. With her
+heart distracted with grief--her father's reproaches ringing in
+her ears, her natural modesty, and Delapine's mysterious words of
+foreboding evil, produced the same effect as the sting of a lash on a
+sleeping tiger.
+
+Springing up with flashing eyes and quivering lips, her whole body
+trembling with excitement, she gave him a blow across the face with all
+her strength.
+
+"How dare you? Let go, do you hear me?" and she stamped her little foot
+on the ground. "Let go this instant," she screamed.
+
+"Damn you, you little beast," he cried, wiping his face which was
+smarting terribly, and he raised his fist as if to strike back; but
+his natural caution, together with the fear that if he pushed matters
+too far he might lose all chance of possessing her, checked him, and
+pausing for a moment he suppressed his anger, and rapidly changed his
+tactics.
+
+"My darling pet!" he exclaimed after a short pause in the mildest
+of voices, "you really look more lovely than ever when you are in a
+temper," and he tried to encircle her waist again.
+
+But she shook him off with a violent effort, while trembling from head
+to foot. "Go! go, and never let me see you again. Henri, Henri," she
+shrieked at the top of her voice as he still continued his attentions.
+"Help me! Help me!"
+
+Renée attempted to escape, and rose up with the idea of doing so, but
+her limbs trembled so much that she was quite unable to walk, and
+dropping into her seat from sheer exhaustion, buried her face in her
+hands, and burst into an uncontrollable flood of tears.
+
+Pierre was becoming really frightened at what he had done, and
+proceeded to apologise for his conduct, but she showed no signs of
+having heard him.
+
+Fearing lest her sobs and cries would attract the household, Pierre
+stepped back shrugging his shoulders, and with a scarcely audible
+adieu, he hurried out of the garden humming an air to himself, and
+disappeared down the street in the direction of the Avenue Rossini, and
+hailing a passing fiacre, ordered the coacher to drive rapidly to his
+father's house.
+
+"Who was that chap she kept calling out to help her," he kept saying
+to himself in the cab. "Henri, Henri--oh, of course, that is the
+Christian name of that humbug Delapine. Now I remember seeing him once
+squeeze her hand under the table when they thought no one was looking.
+I can see it all clearly now. She is in love with the professor. That
+explains why she was so cold to me, and why she was so furious when I
+kissed her. What a fool I was not to see it before. Otherwise she would
+have been only too proud for a wealthy, handsome fellow like me to pay
+her attention. It is Delapine who has drawn her away from me--curse
+him. If it had not been for that interfering fellow she would have
+thrown herself into my arms. Never mind, I will have her yet, in spite
+of all his fine tricks, and that before many days are over." Chuckling
+to himself at the sweet thought of revenge, he entered the house.
+
+"Hullo, Pierre my boy, where have you been?" asked the General, as his
+son entered the room.
+
+"Oh, I've just been over to Dr. Villebois' house."
+
+"Oh fie, so you've been over there to see the pretty bird in its cage,
+have you? Well, I'm only too delighted to hear it. I could not wish
+you to marry a better girl. Payot and I have had a little chat about
+it, and we have come to the conclusion that it will suit our books to
+a 'T,' if you become her fiancé. The whole thing has been arranged
+between us, and all you have to do is to go and propose to her and
+the thing is done. Nothing could possibly be easier. I know she has a
+soft place in her heart for you, and if she hadn't it is not likely
+that she would be such a fool as to refuse a man of your position and
+wealth."
+
+"But, father, I have just seen her, and she not only refused me, but
+she slapped my face, and told me never to speak to her again."
+
+"What!" exclaimed Duval, "Do you mean to tell me that she actually hit
+you?"
+
+"Yes, father, and what is more she shouted at the top of her voice for
+Delapine to come to her assistance. 'Henri, Henri,' she cried, 'help
+me, help me,' and then she went into hysterics and hoped she would
+never set eyes on me again."
+
+The General whistled. After a moment.... "This is a fine state of
+things," he said. "We must put our heads together and see whether we
+should merely watch and wait, or make a counter attack, or fight a
+rearguard action. The fat is in the fire, and no mistake. But, tell me,
+what did you do to her to put her in such a rage?"
+
+"I merely went into the garden with some wraps, and when I had put them
+round her and paid her a few lover's compliments, I kissed her. Nothing
+else, I swear."
+
+"Now tell me, Pierre, as man to man, on your honour that you did
+nothing else."
+
+"Absolutely nothing, on my honour, sir, I swear to you."
+
+"Then the solution of the problem is simple ... she is in love with
+Delapine."
+
+"I am of that opinion too," replied Pierre, "because I have seen them
+billing and cooing together more than once, and besides that, she
+addressed the professor by his Christian name when she called out for
+help. I remembered his Christian name was Henri.
+
+"Now I know for certain that she is in love with Delapine. Well, we
+must outmanoeuvre him, n'est-ce pas?
+
+"But that is easier said than done," said Pierre.
+
+"Tut, tut, my boy, that is nothing for an old soldier like me. When
+you have been through three campaigns as I have, you will laugh at a
+little skirmish like this. A mere trifle, my boy, a mere trifle believe
+me," and so saying he lit a cigarette and puffed away calmly, while
+considering the position of affairs.
+
+"We'll go over and put the matter before old Payot. He is very keen on
+your marrying his daughter, and he intends to raise heaven and earth to
+get her for you. There is no one whatever in the way except Delapine,
+believe me. Get him out of the way, and the girl is yours. I know
+Payot will give her a magnificent dot, because I bargained for that
+last night, and with her income and yours there is nothing you can't
+accomplish."
+
+Pierre felt more in love with her than ever. The rebuff he had
+encountered served to stimulate his passion to fever heat, and the very
+fact that she had struck him with her fist only elicited a mad desire
+in his mind to conquer her and bring her captive to his feet. His
+jealousy grew until it knew no bounds, and the mere fact that his pride
+had met with a severe check, made him all the more eager to have his
+revenge.
+
+"Curse that fellow," he kept saying to himself. "My father is quite
+right. Delapine is the only obstacle, there cannot be a shadow of
+doubt on that score. I have lost a fearful lot lately at the club, and
+I must get some money somehow to pay my debts, or I shall be ruined.
+If I could only marry her, I could pay my debts with her dot, and put
+matters right.
+
+"Look here, father," he said after a pause, "can't we get old Villebois
+to tell the professor he has to leave the house at once?"
+
+"I have thought of that plan, and even suggested it to Payot, but
+after mature reflection I find it won't work. You see, Villebois is
+absolutely infatuated with Delapine, and thinks the world of him.
+Besides, he is so anxious to watch the antics and spirit-rappings and
+all that nonsense that Delapine indulges in, that no consideration
+would induce Villebois to part with him. No, no, that wouldn't do at
+all."
+
+"Well then, can't we send Renée away somewhere? Payot could take her
+away to some place where I could see her from time to time."
+
+"True, but the moment she finds out that you are keen upon seeing her,
+the more determined she will be to prevent you. Besides, if she is sent
+away, she will think of him all the more, and we shall not be able to
+watch her schemes, or stop their writing letters to each other every
+day. You must not forget Renée is no longer a child, but has arrived at
+that time of life when love-intrigues become part of her second nature."
+
+"Well, isn't it possible to get Payot to forbid her speaking to the
+professor?"
+
+"Why, that would be the very way to encourage her to do it all
+the more. They would seek every opportunity to meet each other
+clandestinely. Does not Almanni say 'Le cose victate fan crescere la
+voglia?' You know the proverb, 'You may lead a horse to the water, but
+you can't make him drink.' Oh, I know what women are, believe me. I
+haven't been an old campaigner for nothing. The story of Eve and the
+apple is absolutely true to life. You have only to forbid a girl to
+do something, and she immediately raises heaven and earth in order to
+do it; whereas, if you had said nothing at all she would never have
+dreamt of it. No, no, we must first have a talk with Payot before the
+Professor sees Renée again, and then we will see how we can surprise
+the enemy."
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 6: Romain Rolland.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+THE WINE CELLAR
+
+ "There smiles no Paradise on Earth so fair
+ But guilt will raise avenging phantoms there."
+
+ F. Hemans.
+
+
+If there was one thing in the world that the General prided himself on
+it was his wine cellar. It was a long, cool cave blasted out of the
+solid rock, and extended the whole length of the garden. On each side
+were rows upon rows of shelves, on which whole regiments of bottles
+lay on their sides like batteries of guns ready to be discharged.
+Champagnes from Rheims, Tokay from Hungary, choice vintages from the
+Rhine and Moselle lay in dozens, ornamented with their red, blue and
+yellow labels. Rich wines from Portugal, Greece, Madeira, and the Cape
+might be seen with their noses half hidden in sawdust, while whole
+companies of Mumm, Perrier-Jouet, Spumante d'Asti, and sparkling Hock
+could be distinguished by their wire and gold and silver foil pressed
+round their bulging corks. On each side was a row of casks filled with
+the red wines of France and Italy.
+
+The cellar was quite dark save for a gleam of reflected daylight which
+issued through a ventilating grating near the ceiling. On the afternoon
+following their previous interview, father and son again met in the
+General's study to discuss further their plan of campaign in their
+endeavour to get the hated Delapine out of their path.
+
+"By the way," said the General, "I don't suppose you'll have any
+objection to joining me in a glass of wine? Thoughts and words often
+flow more freely, and ideas spring more quickly under the gentle
+influence.
+
+"Thank you, sir, nothing would please me better."
+
+"Charles," said the General, as the butler appeared in answer to the
+bell, "go down to the cellar and bring a bottle of '89 Berncastler
+Doktor, and please be quick."
+
+Charles bowed and left the room. After waiting a while the General
+pulled out his watch and growled impatiently.
+
+"Confound that fellow, I wonder what he is up to," he shouted, after
+waiting in vain for a quarter of an hour, and going to the bell he
+tugged the cord violently. "Does he suppose that I, a General of the
+French army, am to be kept waiting by a mere servant?"
+
+At this moment his valet, a tall, military-looking man named Robert,
+entered the room and saluted.
+
+"Robert," he thundered, "what the devil does this mean? Mille Tonneres!
+what is that fellow Charles doing? I sent him down for a bottle of wine
+nearly half-an-hour ago. Go and find him at once. Sac--r--re Bleu! This
+is mutiny," he yelled.
+
+Robert saluted and backed out.
+
+Presently he returned with the cook supporting Charles, who was
+trembling from head to foot.
+
+"Nom de Dieu! What on earth does this mean?" said the General
+astonished.
+
+"If you please, mon Général," said the valet, saluting with his
+disengaged hand, "we found him lying on his face in the cellar, moaning
+piteously, and covering his face with his hands."
+
+"Did he fall down the steps then?"
+
+"No, sir, oh no, sir," said the butler in a piteous tone of voice, and
+trembling more than ever. "I got inside the cellar all right, and was
+in the act of lighting a candle to choose your bottle, when I saw a
+tall man staring at me with the most piercing eyes I ever saw."
+
+"A man, did you say? I suppose it was a common thief coming to steal my
+wines, eh? You idiot, why didn't you attack him, or at least run back
+and lock the door after you, and then come and call me? I would soon
+have settled him."
+
+"Oh, mon Général, I was too frightened. I shouted out, but he did not
+move and stood staring at me with his terrible eyes all the time, and
+then I swooned away."
+
+"How did he get in?" said the General, unmoved by his excited cries.
+"Did he pick the lock, or had you forgotten to shut the door when you
+went the time before?"
+
+"Oh, no, mon Général, that would be impossible, as the door shuts by
+itself with a spring lock. I found the door locked as usual when I
+arrived there, and I opened the door myself with the key which I always
+carry about with me."
+
+"Have you ever lent the key to anybody?"
+
+"Never, mon Général, never in my life."
+
+"Then he must have picked the lock."
+
+"That would be no easy task, sir. The lock, as you are aware, is a very
+complicated one, and of the most approved pattern. If you remember, the
+maker guaranteed it burglar-proof."
+
+"How was the fellow dressed?"
+
+"He had on a black coat with the red ribbon of the Legion of Honour, a
+white shirt front, and a black cravat. I also noticed he had a short,
+black, pointed beard, an 'Empereur moustache,' and dark curly hair."
+
+"Mon Dieu!" exclaimed the General. "The red ribbon of a Chevalier of
+the Legion of Honour, eh? A common thief is not usually decorated in
+that way. That looks like Delapine from your description. But what the
+deuce did that fellow want in my cellar? By the way, did you shut the
+door when you left?"
+
+"Pardon me for speaking, mon Général, but I did it for him," interposed
+Robert, "as Charles was incapable of doing anything."
+
+"I suppose it is no use my going to look for him," mused the General,
+"if he got in, he should have no difficulty in getting out again.
+Still, perhaps I had better go and see what has happened. Let the
+butler go to the library and wait there for me, and you, Robert, go and
+bring my revolver."
+
+"I think, father," interrupted Pierre, "we had better go to the cellar
+at once, and see whether anything has been stolen. If anything is
+missing we have a chance of having the thief arrested and taken to the
+Gendarmerie, and if it should prove to be Delapine, then hurrah for
+Renée, eh, mon père?"
+
+"I shall have him arrested in any case," said the General. "But," he
+added as Robert returned with the revolver, "let us go down to the
+cellar."
+
+He then poured out a full measure of cognac, and was in the act of
+swallowing it when he noticed Pierre taking the revolver from the valet.
+
+"No, I will take charge of that," said the General.
+
+"Oh, father, let me have it. I want so much to have a shot at him."
+
+"What are you thinking of, my son? If you shoot the intruder it's
+murder, but if I, a General in the army, shoot him, why, it's nothing.
+Allons, allons, en avant," he shouted, looking very fierce as he led
+the way to the cellar with revolver cocked, followed closely by Pierre
+and Robert, the latter carrying a candle.
+
+Arrived at the cellar, the General opened the door cautiously and
+looked about, but saw nothing.
+
+Suddenly Pierre slipped and bumped against Robert in the semi-darkness,
+knocking the candle out of the valet's hand, and leaving them without a
+light.
+
+Presently as their eyes became more accustomed to the gloom, the
+General thought he saw someone standing a few paces off, and sure
+enough, the form slowly assumed the features of Delapine.
+
+"Halt!" shouted the General, "If you move I fire--" and he covered the
+dim figure with his revolver. "What are you doing here?" he thundered.
+
+The spectre stretched out its hand and pointed at Pierre. A cold
+shudder went through Pierre's frame and his knees shook, but the
+General, doubly fortified by the glass of cognac and the revolver, felt
+courageous enough for anything.
+
+"Down on your knees, and hold your hands up, or I fire," yelled Duval
+in a terrific outburst of passion. "Do you hear me? I am going to pull
+the trigger," he continued as Delapine showed no signs of obeying.
+
+In their excitement both the General and his son imagined they heard
+Delapine speaking.
+
+"It is for you to fall on your knees, not for me," the spectre of the
+professor seemed to say very calmly, and then appeared to add by signs
+"Fire if you like, but I warn you of the consequences."
+
+The spectre stepped forward to within a few feet of the General. The
+General's blood was up, he pulled the trigger, and bang went the pistol
+as he fired point-blank at the professor's heart.
+
+On hearing the shot the chef came running into the cellar, and found
+his master lying on the ground unconscious, with Pierre and the valet
+bending over him. Duval looked ghastly pale, while his arm lay helpless
+at his side, and a small stream of blood began to soak through his
+clothes.
+
+"Lift my father, you two," ordered Pierre, as he turned to look for the
+professor.
+
+Delapine's spectre was nowhere to be seen.
+
+The two servants carried the General to his room and laid him on his
+bed, while Pierre drove over at full speed to Passy for Dr. Villebois.
+Rushing into the vestibule he enquired breathlessly:
+
+"Is the doctor at home? Tell him I must see him at once. It's urgent."
+
+"Hullo, Pierre," said Villebois, coming forward as he heard the
+agitated voice. "What is the matter?"
+
+"Oh, doctor, please come at once. My father shot Delapine a little less
+than half an hour ago, and the professor rounded on him and nearly
+killed him. Don't lose a minute if you want to save my father's life."
+
+"What on earth are you talking about?" enquired Villebois in surprise.
+"Have you lost your senses? Why, man, Delapine has been here during the
+whole evening."
+
+"Do you mean to tell me that Delapine has been here during the whole of
+the last hour?" asked Pierre, pinching himself to make sure that he was
+not dreaming.
+
+"Certainly. He went to lie down a little more than an hour ago, saying
+he felt tired, and I was in the room myself when he woke up. I remember
+the time perfectly. You must have been dreaming, my boy. Come in and
+have a liqueur, it will do you good."
+
+"Thanks. I really feel the need of something to pick me up after all I
+have gone through. But meanwhile tell the coachman to be ready as we
+must lose no time. I am very far from being mad, you have only to see
+father to be convinced of the truth of what I have told you."
+
+As Pierre was passing through the hall a minute later, he caught sight
+of Delapine, and ran up to him.
+
+"Well," said Delapine, "what brings you here in such a state of
+excitement?"
+
+"Excuse me," said Pierre, "but where were you half an hour ago?"
+
+"Why, here of course. Why do you ask?"
+
+"Oh, nothing; but I thought I saw you in my father's wine-cellar."
+
+"In your father's wine-cellar? What on earth gave you that idea?" and
+the professor's eyes twinkled with mischief. "And pray, what was I
+doing there?"
+
+"You know well enough," said Pierre, but a glance at the calm face of
+the professor made him doubtful. He looked scared and began to suspect
+that he had been under an optical illusion, or else a hallucination of
+some kind.
+
+"I trust," said Delapine, "that you will take my words of warning to
+heart which I gave you in the cellar, and please tell your father with
+my compliments not to go shooting people who have done him no harm,
+as the bullet sometimes has the curious habit of turning round and
+striking the firer instead. But you must please excuse me now as I have
+to prepare my lecture for to-morrow at the Sorbonne. Won't you like
+to come and hear it? It commences at eleven sharp. No? Well then, au
+revoir," he said, as he entered his room and shut the door.
+
+"He must be the very devil himself," cried Pierre. "Did you hear what
+he said, doctor?"
+
+"I did. I was standing behind you all the time, as I came here to tell
+you that the carriage is ready."
+
+"Well, how in the name of heaven could he know all this? He must have
+been in the cellar all the time, and yet you say he was here."
+
+"I have already told you so," said Villebois, "Do you doubt my word?"
+
+"Well, I don't know what to think."
+
+"No more do I--of you, sir!" replied Villebois, becoming nettled at his
+reply.
+
+The doctor and Pierre drove rapidly to the General's house, and on
+going to his room they found him lying on his bed groaning, and in
+a state of semi-consciousness. Blood had been slowly trickling down
+his right arm, and had formed a little pool on the ground. Ripping up
+his shirt with a pair of scissors, Villebois noticed that a bullet
+had passed through the fleshy part of his arm. It had struck the bone
+at an angle, and ricochetted off, missing the brachial artery by a
+hairsbreadth, and had passed out again near the shoulder.
+
+After first disinfecting the wound, Dr. Villebois dressed it, and
+fixing the arm in a splint, ordered a hospital nurse to be sent for
+immediately, and gave strict orders that the patient was not to be
+disturbed.
+
+"Is it very serious?" said Pierre.
+
+"Not very, fortunately, but the median nerve is completely divided."
+
+"How do you know that?"
+
+"For two very simple reasons. First, the probe showed me that the nerve
+lay right in the track of the bullet, and in the second place his arm
+is paralysed."
+
+"Will he ever get the use of it again?"
+
+"There is no reason why he should not, if we can manage to sew the ends
+of the nerve together. I have good hopes that I shall succeed in doing
+so, but sometimes the operation proves unsuccessful."
+
+"Well, anyhow, I shall go at once to the police and have him arrested
+for attempting to murder my father."
+
+"You silly boy, how can you? Delapine can bring half a dozen witnesses
+to prove that he was in my house when the shot was fired. Besides, he
+had no revolver."
+
+Pierre put on a puzzled look, and scratched his head as if to awaken
+his thoughts, "I don't know what to make of it."
+
+"No more do I. It is very mysterious," said Villebois.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+THE ANALYST
+
+
+Two days after the episode related in the last chapter, a fiacre
+might have been seen rolling along the embankment of the Seine in the
+direction of Notre Dame.
+
+It had been raining all day, and streams of water descended through
+the long pipes from the roofs of the houses to form miniature
+cascades which flowed with a gurgling noise down the gratings placed
+at intervals along the edge of the kerbstone. The cochers with
+their varnished top hats might be seen from time to time shaking
+off the water which poured from the brims in little streams down
+their overcoats. Everything seemed sodden with rain. Women leading
+little children by the hand, who were crying on account of the rain,
+which streamed from the parental umbrellas down their necks, might
+be observed hurrying along the street, or disappearing into narrow
+passages apparently leading to nowhere. The second-hand bookstalls
+along the river had long since been shut up, or covered with
+tarpaulins to keep off the wet. Here and there a few truant fowls, or
+a half-starved cat would scuttle out of the way of the carriage as it
+splashed along. The driver cracked his long whip in a temper, as if
+attempting to chastise the elements for their bad behaviour. On the
+carriage went, past groups of workmen in their blue blouses, who could
+be seen through the window of the fiacre standing in front of the
+musty smelling bars drinking their absinthe or vin ordinaire, while in
+the larger cafés others, better dressed, were whiling away their time
+playing dominoes, or indulging in a game of billiards with absurdly
+large balls on very small tables.
+
+Suddenly the fiacre turned across the Pont Neuf towards the Rue de
+l'Ecole de Medicine. The solitary passenger poked his head out of the
+window.
+
+"Cocher, drive to the third house on the right round the corner," said
+the fare, and the head instantly disappeared inside the vehicle, which
+a few minutes later drew up at the house.
+
+It was Pierre Duval who alighted from the cab, and entering the house
+knocked at the door on the first floor.
+
+"Ah, this is indeed a surprise, mon ami." The speaker, Paul Romaine,
+was a man nearly middle-aged with a crop of dishevelled hair and teeth
+discoloured from the effects of perpetual cigarette smoking, but a
+charming fellow notwithstanding, and thoroughly straightforward and
+honest.
+
+"Diable! I have not seen you for nearly two years. What brings you in
+here, mon ami, on a filthy day like this of all others?"
+
+"As a matter of fact I have a most important legal case on hand, and I
+really came, mon cher Paul, to ask your advice."
+
+"Nothing could give me greater pleasure, I assure you, but I am no
+lawyer, and I cannot see how I can help you."
+
+"On the contrary you can be of inestimable service to me. You are
+assistant medical analyst to the Government, are you not?"
+
+"That is precisely what I am," replied Paul, "entirely at your service."
+
+"You must know then that I am acting as prosecutor in a medico-legal
+case, which is very obscure, as we suspect foul play--in fact
+poisoning, and it is naturally of the greatest importance that I
+should make myself au fait with the various poisons and their means of
+detection. The case I have to study is a very complicated one as none
+of the doctors could fix on any poisons from the symptoms, and yet the
+autopsy revealed nothing to account for the death of the victim. Of
+course my visit is strictly confidential, as it would not do for anyone
+to know I had been consulting you. I feel sure you will appreciate my
+reason for this."
+
+"Oh, you may rely on me implicitly. I shall be as silent as the
+grave. I think the best thing to do would be to take you over to my
+laboratory and show you how we make these analyses and detect the
+various poisons. But first you must have a glass of wine," said Paul
+as he brought a decanter from the cupboard. "These poisoning cases are
+wonderfully fascinating," he added, as he filled a couple of glasses
+with remarkably fine Beaune. "To feel that a man's life depends on the
+colour of a precipitate in a test tube, or on the appearance of a few
+crystals under the microscope, surrounds one's work with a halo of
+romance which nothing else I know of can give."
+
+"Yes, that is quite true, but we also have our feelings of excitement
+and pride. I remember on one occasion I had to defend a man who had
+been accused of stealing a gold watch, and he confessed to me that he
+had done it. Well, I succeeded in intercepting the principal witness
+for the prosecution through an intermediary, and told him to inform the
+witness that he would not be wanted. I even succeeded in sending him a
+hundred miles into the country with instructions not to return for a
+few weeks. The trial came on the same afternoon, and the prosecuting
+counsel began to state his case. When he had concluded his speech, he
+informed the judge that he would now proceed to call the witness, and
+the usher shouted his name high and low. Oh, it was a joke I assure
+you to watch the counsel's face when the fellow failed to appear. Ha!
+Ha! Of course the case broke down through the absence of the witness's
+evidence. But the best of the joke was when the fellow came to see me
+about paying my fee. I discovered that he had no money, and so I took
+the gold watch which he had stolen as payment instead! I never enjoyed
+a fee so much. Oh, Lord! you should have been there." And Pierre
+laughed again until his sides ached.
+
+Paul opened his blue eyes in undisguised astonishment at the audacity
+of the lawyer of treating a criminal act in such a tone of levity.
+
+"Upon my word, if I did not think you were joking, I should refuse to
+speak to you any more," said Paul in utter disgust.
+
+"Well you know it is only by doing smart things that we are able to
+enhance our reputation--and after all, we are paid to do it. Moreover
+in this case," added Pierre, anxious to repair the bad impression he
+was creating in Paul's mind, "I was really sorry for the fellow as it
+was his first offence, and his wife came and pleaded so hard to me to
+get him off."
+
+"Well, I will forgive you this time," said Paul, "but for God's sake
+don't tell anyone else, or you may get struck off the rolls, or even
+find yourself in the dock one of these fine days."
+
+"My dear Paul, if one wants to get on in one's profession one must not
+have too thin a skin; you must make a little allowance for us lawyers."
+
+"Well, for my part, I think it is simply disgusting. You ought to aim
+at justice being done before everything," replied Paul in a voice of
+indignation.
+
+"Why, my good fellow, if we advocates were to be paragons of virtue,
+like Thomas à Kempis, or St. Francis de Sales we should all starve to
+death."
+
+Paul merely shrugged his shoulders.
+
+"Well," he said at length, anxious to change a subject so repugnant to
+his feelings, "let us go over to the laboratory, and I will show you
+some of our work." So saying they left the flat together. They entered
+a large room reeking with chemical fumes. On one table were scales
+which could weigh a hundred kilos, and on another table a balance so
+delicate, that it would turn with the fifth of a millegramme.
+
+Rows upon rows of bottles were on the shelves containing twice as many
+drugs as are to be found in a chemist's shop.
+
+In another part of the room were glass jars filled with every organ of
+the human body, all furnished with large labels. Beakers, test-tubes,
+mortars, funnels, measuring-glasses, dishes, thermometers, etc., were
+scattered all over the room, in what might be termed orderly confusion,
+but actually just where they were most wanted. On the opposite side
+of the room stood a large spectroscope by Hilger, used for revealing
+the spectrum lines of metals, or examining the absorption bands of
+blood. Near by stood a row of microscopes by Hartnack, furnished with
+objectives of every power, which were screwed on a revolving attachment
+so that they could be brought into position by a single turn of the
+hand.
+
+Pierre was lost in amazement at the prodigious display of apparatus.
+
+"Do you mean to say that you employ all these things?" he asked.
+
+"Oh, my dear sir, you have not seen a fourth part of our apparatus yet.
+Just look behind the curtain."
+
+Pierre pushed aside a thick curtain, and opening a door found himself
+in a "dark room" illuminated by a large red light, and supplied with a
+washing trough and numerous bottles and dishes.
+
+"That is where we make our photographs," said Paul, "and in the room
+next to it we make our enlargements, and reproduce by photography,
+finger prints and blood stains, and make copies of the object seen
+under the microscope."
+
+They passed along a short corridor and entered the bacteriological
+laboratory. Here were bottles filled with dyes and stains of every
+colour. A whole row of copper incubating chambers, each surrounded by
+a water jacket, were ranged along the one side of the wall. Each was
+heated by an automatic burner, so arranged that a constant temperature
+of any degree required could be maintained for days or weeks at a time.
+
+In one part of the room was a centrifugal whirler, holding a couple
+of test-tubes. These were filled with the fluids to be examined which
+contained solids in suspension, and when these tubes were whirled round
+at a prodigious rate the solid contents were forced to the bottom of
+the tubes, and could thus be readily separated. In another part of the
+room were test-tubes filled with serums, jellies, and meat broths of
+various kinds, any of which could be inoculated by touching the surface
+with a sterilized platinum wire which had been previously dipped in the
+fluid supposed to be infected by microbes. When the microbes were thus
+placed in their food, the test-tubes containing them would be labelled
+and placed in the incubator to allow the germs to multiply to their
+heart's content.
+
+"Once more open the door," said Paul, smiling at his friend's
+amazement, and the two passed down some steps into a courtyard. All
+round the walls were hutches filled with guineapigs and rabbits, others
+contained whole families of rats and mice, some white, and some brown.
+Other hutches again contained cats and small dogs, while a large cage
+in the corner was filled with Rhesus and Bonnet monkeys. Lastly in the
+opposite corner was an aquarium containing a varied assortment of frogs
+and toads.
+
+"What on earth do you want this menagerie for?" said Pierre.
+
+"Why, this is the most important part of our laboratory. I will show
+you later what use we make of these animals. Meanwhile let us return to
+the first room, and we will have a chat."
+
+"Do you always succeed in detecting the poison?" asked Duval.
+
+"In the case of acids, alkalies, and metals or their salts, practically
+always, as not only are the tests easy to apply and well known, but the
+doses to be fatal are usually so large that one can find sufficient
+traces in the stomach, intestines, and liver to make a reliable test.
+To take an example. Here is a bottle containing what is left of the
+contents of the stomach of a woman who was poisoned a week ago. We have
+already made our report, so I can quite well use a little of what is
+left.
+
+"Watch me closely. I first stir the contents well, and then filter some
+of it through this filter paper into this little beaker. Now I add a
+few drops of acid, and then allow some of the sulphuretted hydrogen
+gas to bubble through. Observe a bright canary yellow precipitate is
+forming. This shows me that arsenic is probably present. But to make
+quite sure I apply some further tests." Paul then poured another small
+quantity of the suspected fluid into a tiny porcelain dish, to which he
+added a few drops of pure hydrochloric acid and gently warmed it.
+
+"Now," said Paul, "I take this slip of pure polished copper-foil and
+just dip it into the liquid--so, and see, it is slowly becoming covered
+with an iron-grey metallic film. In order to be quite sure that the
+coating is not due to accidental impurity, I repeat the experiment with
+the contents of another stomach which I know is free from any poison,
+and observe when I dip the foil in there is no deposit. This shows me
+that both the acid and the copper-foil are pure, and that in the former
+case the grey deposit was due to arsenic. In order to make doubly sure,
+I take the coated slip of copper, wash it well in water, then in ether
+alcohol, and gently heat it in this reduction tube. Now, let us put it
+under the microscope and tell me what you see."
+
+"I see a number of shiny square crystals like little diamonds."
+
+"Just so," replied Paul. "Those are the crystals of arsenious acid.
+It forms characteristic eight-sided crystals. So you see we have
+determined the presence of arsenic by three independent tests. It
+therefore must be arsenic, as nothing else will give these reactions.
+In the case of alkaloids the tests are much more difficult, because one
+may poison a person with a very small quantity indeed.
+
+"For example, here are the remains of the contents of the stomach of a
+child. In this particular instance we found it extremely difficult to
+detect the poison. We tested for all the ordinary poisons in vain. Here
+our menagerie came to our aid; for on injecting a small quantity of
+the fluid under a guineapig's skin with this Pravaz syringe the little
+animal rapidly died with convulsions and syncope. Hence we knew at
+once that we had to do with a very poisonous alkaloid. By using nearly
+the whole contents of the stomach, and extracting the alkaloid,[7] we
+recovered about the 1/30th part of a grain of a white powder which we
+proved to be Aconitine--one of the most deadly poisons known.
+
+"So you see if anyone tries to poison a person even with these
+alkaloids he is sure to be found out."
+
+"But are there no poisons which are beyond your powers to detect?"
+
+"Undoubtedly there are," replied Paul, warming up with his subject.
+"The ptomaines for example. These are soluble ferments which are formed
+when any animal tissue putrifies. But although we cannot so readily
+test them by chemical means, we can easily prove their presence by
+observing their effect on some one or other of the animals in our
+invaluable menagerie.
+
+"I could give you many more examples if you wanted them. Muscarine,
+for instance, the alkaloids of certain fungi, many snake poisons, and
+countless different microbes."
+
+"But can't you tell me of something which will defy detection even by
+means of your animals?"
+
+Paul puffed away at his cigarette in deep thought, and then,
+slowly removing it from his lips, looked up at Pierre and gave a
+characteristic nod.
+
+"Yes, now I think of it, I can give you one. There is a peculiar fluid
+sent to me from Japan recently," and he pointed to a bottle on the
+top shelf. "This has hitherto defied all detection by chemical means
+or otherwise. I alone have discovered how to detect its presence,
+but I have not had time to publish my discovery, and the poison is
+quite unknown in Europe. I am told it has the property of sending the
+person off into a gentle sleep from which he never wakes, if only a
+teaspoonful be injected under the skin. A friend of mine who is a
+professor of toxicology at Tokio wrote to me about it, and told me of
+several murders that had been committed through some mysterious drug
+which he ultimately managed to get hold of. Being unable to analyse it
+he sent me a sample to see what I could do with it. It arrived only
+about two weeks ago."
+
+"Well," said Duval, rising to go, "thanks very much for the charming
+hour I have spent with you."
+
+"Don't mention it. I see it is nearly dinner time; will you have dinner
+with me? I know of a select restaurant where the viands and wines are
+admirable."
+
+Pierre cordially thanked him, and taking up his hat and stick proceeded
+to follow him out of the room. Before doing so, however, he allowed his
+cigarette case to fall noiselessly on a duster which lay partly hidden
+by the table. On leaving the room, Paul turned round and locked the
+door, and the two left the house together.
+
+"Allow me to offer you one of my cigarettes," said Pierre, as they
+stood in the portico waiting for a fiacre.
+
+"With pleasure, mon ami."
+
+"Diable!" exclaimed Pierre, fumbling in vain for his cigarette
+case. "What have I done with it? Oh, I remember, I left it in your
+laboratory. Pray don't trouble to go back," he added, as Paul turned
+round to enter the house. "Give me the keys, I can find it much quicker
+than you can, as I know exactly where I left it in the laboratory. I
+will be back in a moment."
+
+Suspecting nothing, Paul handed him his bunch of keys, and Pierre ran
+upstairs. He entered the room, shutting the door after him, and then,
+rapidly placing a pair of steps against the shelves he took down the
+bottle which Paul had pointed out. Quick as lightning he poured half
+the contents into an empty bottle which happened to be lying on the
+table, and returned the rest to its place on the shelf. Picking up his
+cigarette case, together with the syringe which Paul had shown him, he
+slipped them into his pocket, locked the door after him, and ran down
+to his friend.
+
+"I must apologise for keeping you so long," said Pierre with superb
+effrontery, "but I could not find it at first as it had dropped on to
+the floor, but here it is," and so saying he offered him a cigarette.
+
+The fiacre coming up at this moment they adjourned to the "Restaurant
+Joseph" for dinner.
+
+Of all the restaurants in Paris there is none that quite comes up
+to "Joseph's." Monsieur Joseph was more than a great chef, he was a
+genius. To his way of thinking there was no art or science in the
+world that could compare with his. "What poetry could be mentioned in
+the same breath with a great dinner," he would exclaim. "And as to
+science, we know that Newton, Leibnitz, Fresnel, Laplace, Pasteur, and
+the rest of them achieved great things, but compared with the victories
+of Béchamel, Robert, Rechaud, Carême, and Mérillion, they are rien,
+monsieur, rien du tout. You boast to me of the moral courage of the
+Christian martyrs who faced death in the arena of the Coliseum rather
+than offer incense to Cæsar; but their courage cannot be mentioned
+in the same breath with that of Vatel, the cook of the great Condé.
+Did any of them bid adieu to life in the superb manner of Vatel? Ah!
+there was a hero for you. He actually put an end to himself because a
+fish he had ordered arrived too late for his master's banquet. What a
+magnificent example to set! How sublime his end!"
+
+The great man wiped the perspiration off his brow and positively panted
+with excitement.
+
+The enthusiasm that the famous chef threw into his work was the wonder
+and admiration of all the leading gourmands of the town. The moment one
+of his favourite customers entered for dinner, the great chef would
+wave away the garçon who came up to take orders of his customer, and
+attend to him himself.
+
+"Now I cannot allow you to choose your own dinner, permit me to suggest
+for the Hors d'Oeuvres some salade d'Anchovis with Hareng Marines and
+just a suspicion of Kets Cavier at the side."
+
+"Yes, that is excellent."
+
+"Now for soup. What do you say to crême d'orge à l'allemande? Oh, you
+prefer 'clear.' Just a little Consommé Julienne en Tasse, as we must
+not spoil the appetite for the fish and entrées. A small glass of gin
+a l'anglaise with it is wonderfully appetising and forms a superb
+apéritif."
+
+"Quite so."
+
+"And for fish, ah, le voilà. Grey Mullets Meunière, or do you prefer
+Escalopes de Mostele écossaise just brought in fresh this morning, with
+a little dry hock? And after that what shall we suggest? Ah! I know, my
+superb dish, a 'Caneton à la presse.' But gently, gently, messieurs,
+you cannot pass over my Poussins Picadilly, and to please the palate a
+demi-bouteille of my special '84 Beaune, it is superb, it will clear
+the brain." And so the worthy man would go on.
+
+To watch him carve a 'Caneton roti a l'anglaise' was a marvel of
+dexterity and skill, and was considered one of the sights of Paris.
+It was a masterpiece of carving. Transfixing the bird by means of
+a large fork, with half-a-dozen rapid strokes of the knife, never
+exceeding one stroke for each limb, slish slash, slish slash, and the
+bird would apparently fall to pieces completely dismembered. "Ah!" he
+would exclaim, "no chef in England or Germany can perform a feat like
+that. There is one God and one Joseph, and the latter is the king of
+chefs, n'est-ce pas?" and smiling in conscious triumph he would place
+the disarticulated fowl before his astonished guests. "Ah, where would
+Paris be without its restaurants, and where would the restaurants be
+without their chefs?"
+
+"Where indeed," replied Pierre and Paul in one breath, as they gazed
+in astonishment at the great man in his white cap jauntily placed on
+his head, as he stood before them with his arms folded, awaiting the
+applause which he knew was sure to follow.
+
+"Yes," replied Joseph, "if only the Emperor Napoleon III. had permitted
+me to cook for him, how different would have been the result. He would
+have led his brave army straight to Berlin. Victory would have followed
+victory."
+
+"And then?" asked Paul amused.
+
+"Why, monsieur, of course we should have dictated terms at Berlin,
+instead of being massacred by the hated Prussians at Sedan."
+
+"But never mind, a time will come--a time will come--les Bosches
+nous les aurons, mon Dieu! Nous avons plus que quinze centmille
+braves--brave comme des lions--Diable!
+
+"But messieurs, they are not eating, and they are positively allowing
+the Mousselmes de Volaille a l'Indienne to get cold," and the great man
+nearly wept in despair.
+
+"Mille tonnerres!" he would exclaim, "Les messieurs have eaten their
+pudding glacé amilcar without blending the flavour with my special
+brand of Veuve Clicot. Mais c'est terrible!" and he ran off to order
+the sommelier to fetch the bottle. "And now," he said, "I will call the
+garçon to fetch you each a cup of my extra special coffee. Such coffee,
+messieurs, you will not obtain in any other house in Paris. I have
+spent years in experimenting with the different varieties of coffee
+beans to discover the most perfect blend."
+
+"Can you give us the recipe?" enquired Pierre and Paul together.
+
+"Oh, messieurs, you would surely not rob a man of the fruit of his
+labours; but I can tell you this much--there are six varieties of the
+coffee berries in it, and the discovery and correct blending of these
+different beans is the outcome of a lifetime of study. The moment I
+become convinced that any chef produces a superior coffee to mine, I
+shall put an end to myself, for I shall be too mortified to survive the
+disgrace."
+
+It was past midnight when our two friends left the restaurant. They
+strolled for some distance along the boulevards watching the merry
+crowds of midnight revellers who seem never to be tired of chatting
+together. Some might be seen in groups round the marble tables under
+the awnings of the cafés facing the pavement, while others again could
+be seen inside the heated rooms listening to the strains of some
+Hungarian band playing their weird Czardas.
+
+Here and there a group of shop girls might be seen hurrying home with
+rapid footsteps, or dawdling in front of the shop windows, while the
+ceaseless flow of vehicles and passengers gave the stranger the idea
+that Paris never went to bed at all.
+
+It was during the early hours of the morning when Paul and Pierre
+entered their respective apartments.
+
+They were thoroughly tired out, and tried to sleep, but the roar of the
+great city, like the roar of the ever-sounding sea, continued to break
+on their ears without a pause.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 7: An alkaloid is an organic crystalline substance containing
+nitrogen usually of vegetable origin. It is generally poisonous, and in
+most cases yields brilliant colours with certain reagents. (Author.)]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+RENÉE'S EXPERIENCE IN STORM AND SUNSHINE
+
+
+The next afternoon about three o'clock, Payot called at the house of
+Villebois, to see his daughter.
+
+"Well, my child, have you made up your mind yet?"
+
+"Yes, father, I have."
+
+"Ah! that's a good girl. I knew you would respect your old father's
+wishes, and take a reasonable view of the matter. A little reflection
+and a little reasoning was doubtless necessary to show that it was
+the only sensible thing you could do. Now you see that nothing
+could further your interests better, and you will always have the
+satisfaction of knowing that you were the means of binding our two
+families together by marrying Pierre, eh Renée?" and he patted her on
+the head.
+
+"Oh, father," she faltered, "I never meant that. You misunderstand me.
+I loathe Pierre. How can you ask me to marry such a brute?"
+
+"What? You dare to tell me that you won't marry the son of my old
+comrade-in-arms?" shrieked Payot. "You obstinate hussy, you vile
+wretch, you bastard, I disown you," he cried in his fury, not thinking
+that his words affected himself as well as her. "I shall cut you out of
+my will entirely--at least," he added, "not a penny beyond what the law
+compels me to leave you. Don't expect anything from me when you marry
+that pauper, that madman Delapine. You may go begging in the streets
+for all I care. Go away and be damned to you, with your father's curses
+on your head--you, you ... I don't know what to call you, you child of
+an abandoned woman."
+
+The poor girl buried her face in her hands and sobbed convulsively.
+
+"Oh, father, father, don't say such dreadful things, you are too cruel
+to me. Why do you treat me in this way? Why do you speak evil of my
+darling mother who is in the grave? Is it because I refuse to marry a
+man I detest?"
+
+Payot worked himself into a terrible rage, and Renée's sobs only added
+fuel to the flames.
+
+"Get out of my presence this instant, and never come near my house
+again. Do you hear what I say?" he added as Renée made no attempt to
+move. "If ever you dare to speak to me again I shall hand you over to
+the police," he shouted, not knowing what he was saying. "Go," he said
+in a voice husky and almost incoherent with rage, and rushing at her,
+shook her violently, and struck her across the face with his fist.
+
+The girl fell on to the ground moaning, and then swooned away. Payot
+tried to raise her and wake her up, but she never moved, and at length
+he became really frightened and rang the bell violently.
+
+"François," he said, trying hard to control his passion and appear
+calm, "my daughter has fainted, I think it must be the heat. Run and
+bring me a glass of cognac."
+
+The butler returned with the brandy, which her father tried in vain to
+make her swallow.
+
+"Come now, come now, don't pretend in this way. You needn't try to
+make me believe that you are hurt. Wake up at once, Renée, and take
+this brandy. Do you hear me? Now then, you little fool, don't sham any
+more," and so saying he tried to force the liquid down her throat by
+main force.
+
+Renée, nearly choked by the fluid going down the wrong way, set up so
+violent a fit of spasmodic coughing that he had to get François to help
+him bring her round.
+
+"I think we had better carry her up to her room, and lay her on her
+bed. The heat has evidently been too much for her," he said to the
+butler. "Go and tell her maid to come and look after her."
+
+Having once more assured himself that she had only fainted, he gave
+the necessary instructions to the maid, and left the house. Stepping
+into his carriage he drove home. "I am afraid I must have lost my
+temper a bit," he said to himself, feeling now that he had calmed down,
+a tinge of remorse for his brutal conduct. "Well, it was entirely her
+fault," he exclaimed. "The obstinacy of that girl after all I have done
+for her is perfectly inconceivable," and consoling himself with his
+magnanimity, he walked up the steps of his house.
+
+Renée, exhausted with weeping, opened her eyes, and sipped the brandy
+which her maid had brought her.
+
+"My poor darling, what have they been doing to her!" she exclaimed.
+
+"Please leave me," she said in a scarcely audible voice, "and don't
+allow anyone to see me on any pretence whatever, do you understand? Now
+pull down the blinds, and leave me alone."
+
+As soon as Marie had gone, Renée rolled over on her face, covering it
+with her hands, and burst out into an uncontrollable fit of weeping.
+
+Dinner was announced, but the young lady did not appear.
+
+"I must go and see what is the matter," said Madame Villebois, as she
+hurried upstairs to Renée's room. She found the door locked. "What is
+the meaning of this?" she asked Marie.
+
+"Please, madame, my mistress has a dreadful headache, and has given
+orders that no one is to be allowed to see her."
+
+Madame ran down to her husband with a terrible story that she was
+dying, and advised a consultation of eminent specialists, and suggested
+bursting the door open.
+
+"Leave her alone, my dear. Something has evidently upset her, she will
+have brain fever if you go and frighten her like that."
+
+"You're a cruel, ungrateful man, Adolphe, that's the plain truth. I
+never heard of anyone with so little feeling as you show, you ought to
+be ashamed of yourself. To think of the poor lamb being neglected in
+this way. I call it perfectly disgraceful. You men are all a set of
+heartless creatures."
+
+"Tut, tut, my dear. Let her have a good cry, there's nothing like it.
+She will soon get over it, and to-morrow she will be all right," and
+taking his wife by the arm, he led her off to dinner.
+
+Renée woke up in the morning with a splitting headache, but feeling
+better towards evening, she rose and dressed, and after removing the
+traces of her crying, walked downstairs into the parlour.
+
+The room was empty, and going to the piano the girl sat down in a dazed
+condition and attempted to play. But her heart was too sad, and Renée
+mechanically passed her hands over the keys, hardly conscious of what
+she was playing.
+
+Renée was about to close the lid of the instrument, when she became
+aware of someone near her, and looking round saw Delapine who had just
+returned from the university, and had silently entered the room for his
+evening cup of coffee.
+
+"Is that you, Henri?" she called out as she rose from the music stool
+and caught hold of him convulsively by the arms.
+
+"My dear child, whatever is the matter with you? You have been crying.
+Come and sit down, my poor little Renée, and let me comfort you."
+
+"Oh, Henri," she cried, "do please help me. Father came to see me
+yesterday, and tried all he could to make me promise to marry Pierre,
+and I flatly refused to have anything to do with him, and so he swore
+at me and vowed he would cut me off with a shilling, and turn me
+into the streets. I did not mind that so much, but when he told me
+my darling mother was an abandoned woman, which you know is a lie,
+and then struck me across the face, and bade me never see him again,
+I broke down, and I think I must have swooned away, because I didn't
+remember anything until I found myself on my bed. And now I am all
+alone in the world, and I have no one to go to in my trouble. Oh, why
+did my poor mother die so soon? You don't know what she was to me,
+Henri," and she sobbed as if her heart would break.
+
+"Renée dear, may I be your protector? Come to me and I will never leave
+you. God knows I love you better than my own life. Yes, a thousand
+times better. Will you share your lot with me, darling? I am not rich,
+but all that I have is yours, and what I have not shall be made up for
+by my love and devotion."
+
+Her heart was too full to reply. She just nestled in his arms, and
+their lips met in one lingering delicious kiss of ecstasy.
+
+"God bless you, my own petite Renée," he answered, "I have given you my
+soul, dear, and in giving you that I have given you everything."
+
+She fell into a reverie of keen delight, so keen that she felt herself
+becoming overwhelmed with the intoxication of love's young dream, and
+with a great effort she woke up to the realities of life.
+
+"But how did you contrive to come here so early? You don't generally
+manage to do so."
+
+"Well, to tell the truth, I knew everything that had happened, and so I
+hurried away from my laboratory in a fiacre, so as to be ready to help
+you the moment you dressed and came downstairs."
+
+"Do you mean to say that you knew that father had been storming at me
+and hit me?"
+
+"Yes, dear. I don't know everything, but I knew that, and I arrived
+here just as you entered this room, and the moment you sat down to the
+piano I stole in on tip-toe, and stood behind you."
+
+Renée opened her large eyes with mingled astonishment and awe, and
+paused in thought.
+
+"Will you always love me, Henri? Even when I am old and wrinkled?" she
+suddenly exclaimed, as if the thought of possessing him was too good to
+be true.
+
+"To the eyes of real love, dear, the loved one never becomes old or
+wrinkled," he replied gravely.
+
+"But will you love me very much?"
+
+"That depends on you as well, Renée," said the professor, amused at
+her question. "Don't you know that Italian saying which I think is
+attributed to Goldoni, 'Amor solo d'amor si pasce,' 'Love feeds on love
+and increases by exchange'? However, let us be happy for this one short
+hour at any rate," he added slowly with a sigh.
+
+"Why do you sigh?" she asked, looking alarmed.
+
+"Have you then so soon forgotten what I told you?"
+
+Of course she remembered the words. But what did they mean?
+
+"I cannot tell you now," he replied, "but, dear one, you know that I
+have opened up my soul to you, so that you might be able to understand
+me."
+
+"I do understand you, Henri, you know I do."
+
+"Then you will trust me, won't you?"
+
+Renée merely squeezed his hand, and looked into his eyes with a smile.
+
+"Of course I will," she added, as a slight cloud passed over Delapine's
+brow. "But does it mean that we shall be separated again?" she enquired
+after a long pause.
+
+"Yes, Renée, for some little time to come. But take courage, ma chérie,
+as I told you before it will all come right. And now, dear, the coffee
+is coming, and I hear Dr. Villebois in the hall."
+
+Renée rushed back to the piano and began turning over her music, while
+the professor sank demurely into an armchair, and was apparently deeply
+engaged in reading the _Petit Journal_ upside down when Villebois
+walked into the room.
+
+"Well, Delapine, mon brave, how is it that you are here so early?"
+
+"As a matter of fact I had some very important business to attend to
+here, and so I came a little earlier than I intended."
+
+"I hope the business proved satisfactory?"
+
+"Very much so indeed," replied Delapine, looking slyly at Renée, who
+blushed like a peony up to the roots of her hair.
+
+"Ha, ha! I see, I see," said Villebois, slyly shaking his finger at
+them both. "Splendid, splendid," he cried. "Take care of her, Delapine,
+my boy, you have won the greatest treasure in all France. And you, my
+dear, have got a man who has not his equal anywhere. He is something
+more than a man, he is a hero, Renée. Mark my words, before we are two
+years older he will be the greatest savant in Europe. Give me your
+hands, both of you, and let me be the first to join them together. 'Pon
+my word, I think I am as pleased as either of you. But, not a word,
+not a word, eh, professor?"
+
+"Thank you ever so much for your congratulations, doctor, and also for
+your hint of caution; were things otherwise, we should ask you to tell
+all the world, but under the circumstances it is better we should keep
+it strictly to ourselves. I have good reasons for believing that more
+than one person is anxious to separate us, and would do anything to get
+us out of the way."
+
+"Do you really mean it, professor? I can't imagine that anyone would
+wish you evil. Surely you don't mean to say that you have enemies who
+come to my house?"
+
+"It is not my habit to mention names, my dear doctor, but I assure you,
+you have a Judas among your disciples. Nay, you have two or three who
+would be delighted to see me dead."
+
+"Come, my dear professor, you don't really mean that. You must be
+joking. Take the people who were at the dinner the other evening,
+Riche, Marcel, the Duvals, father and son. Surely they are all your
+friends and strictly honourable."
+
+"Oh, yes! Brutus is an honourable man, so are they all, all honourable
+men," said Delapine, imitating the mocking sarcasm of Mark Antony.
+
+"Are you not sarcastic, professor, or do you mean it?"
+
+"Yes, doctor," Renée interposed, "Henri is right and he means it. Oh, I
+know it so well," she replied bitterly.
+
+Henri squeezed her hand while she clung close to him for protection.
+
+"As far as I am concerned I am not in the least alarmed," said
+Delapine, "but it is my duty now to defend Renée. I am, as you know, a
+man of peace, but I shall be sorry for the man who attempts any tricks
+on Renée, as he will find out to his cost. You know it is written, 'Be
+wise as serpents, and harmless as doves,' but, ma foi, if anyone comes
+fooling around to hurt my dove, I have a right to set my serpent at
+him. Eh, doctor?"
+
+"Ha, ha! capital, capital, those are my sentiments to a 'T'," said
+Villebois laughing. "But the situation is becoming serious and I
+promise to help you to the best of my power."
+
+"I know you will, doctor," said Delapine, shaking him cordially by the
+hand. "But promise me you will not let anyone know what I suspect.
+Please do me the favour to invite the same guests as you had last time,
+together with any others you may choose to ask, for we must on no
+account let anyone imagine we are suspicious."
+
+"I promise faithfully to do as you wish," said Villebois, pressing his
+hand.
+
+"But you will give us the promised séance at our next party?"
+
+"Certainly, why not?"
+
+Madame Villebois and Céleste entered the room at this moment and the
+conversation ceased.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+DELAPINE MAKES AN EXPERIMENT IN BOTANY
+
+
+Delapine and Villebois left the room arm in arm, and entered the
+library where they found Riche idly glancing over a magazine, and at
+the same time quietly smoking his pipe.
+
+"Hullo, Riche," called out Villebois in his usual cheery tones. "What
+have you been doing with yourself for the last hour?"
+
+"Well, as a matter of fact, I have been amusing myself looking through
+your charming work on Turner's paintings illustrated in colour. Ah,
+Turner was a great artist, a very great artist," said Riche. "He was
+to England what our Claude Lorraine was to France. Between them they
+succeeded in teaching the world the true art of landscape painting.
+Until their time the Dutch and Flemish schools alone had attained
+a moderate degree of success, but when all is said and done Dutch
+and Flemish pictures were in the main--that is, in the majority of
+cases--merely cold, flat, and very conventional. But with the advent of
+Turner, a great change came over art. He not only copied Nature, but he
+improved on it, idealised it, and gave it life, warmth, breadth, and
+depth, such as only Claude before him could conceive. Ma parole, were I
+not a Frenchman, I would place him in the world of painters absolutely
+alone in his glory."
+
+"Right again, Riche, as usual," said Delapine, much interested. "It is
+a pleasure to hear Turner praised and appreciated. Not so very long ago
+it was the fashion to decry him, but all the disparagement could not
+gainsay the revolution he caused in art."
+
+"Look," continued Riche, encouraged in one of his pet hobbies to find
+so sympathetic an enthusiast in Delapine--the man of science and
+psychic phenomena, "look at the picture of Dido building Carthage. See
+the towering marble buildings on either side like fairy castles in the
+air. Look how every figure, every object is so cunningly painted that
+collectively they form graceful curves which insensibly lead the eye
+to the 'point d'apui', which in this case, as you will notice, is the
+setting sun in the infinite distance beyond, giving immense depth and
+plasticity to the scene. Look again at his picture of Venice. Here we
+have a city of pink, and gold, and white, rising like a mist out of an
+emerald sea under a dome of sapphire blue. What a vista of exquisitely
+tender loveliness. How beautifully, and yet almost impossibly real.
+Compare it with the Venice of Canaletti--the same buildings, the same
+Grand Canal, and yet how vast the gulf between the two painters.
+Turner's may be likened to a poetic dream; the other, well--the
+other is merely conventional prose. Take again his 'Ulysses deriding
+Polyphemus.' Look at the huge rugged rocks frowning over the sea, and
+the half-hidden giant heaving a large boulder at the Grecian galley.
+Note the defiant look of Ulysses as he waves a blazing olive tree,
+while his men are climbing the rigging to unfurl the sails. See the
+skilful outlining of the shadowy horses of Phoebus in the slanting rays
+of the rising sun. Could anything tell a tale better? What conception!
+what genius! it is the power of imagination over the stern reality of
+facts."
+
+"Yes, you have seized the keynote of his genius," said Villebois,
+admiring his friend's enthusiasm. "But in my humble opinion his
+'Fighting Temeraire' being towed to her last resting place by the fiery
+little steamtug is the finest picture of them all."
+
+"By the way, what has become of Delapine? I wanted him to have a glass
+of wine or some coffee with us in the summer-house, let us go and look
+for him."
+
+"He cannot be far away," said Villebois, as the latter and Riche left
+the room together. "He was with us a moment ago. How quietly he must
+have slipped out of the library. I expect he has gone to look for
+Renée."
+
+"No, you won't find him with her," said Riche thoughtfully. "He is not
+the kind of man who wastes his time running after a woman. I fancy that
+our friend is far too absorbed and occupied scientifically."
+
+"I am not so very sure about that," replied Villebois, smiling to
+himself, as the scene that he had witnessed about an hour previously
+flitted across his mind.
+
+"Well, you seem to make out that you know him better than I do. Take my
+word for it, he is making an experiment somewhere. Let us go into the
+garden, we are sure to find him playing with some worms, or spiders, or
+something like that. There you are," cried Riche as they approached the
+conservatory, "did I not tell you where we would find him?"
+
+Delapine, fully occupied with some plants, looked up on hearing their
+voices.
+
+"Hullo, what on earth are you doing with that Venus's fly-trap?" called
+out Villebois, as he watched Delapine letting a tiny spider which
+was hanging by the end of its thread drop inside the lobes of the
+carniverous plant, known to science as the Dionaea muscipula, with one
+hand, while he held his watch in the other.
+
+"This is exceedingly interesting, Riche, I am trying an experiment to
+find out how long the trap takes to close again after the spider has
+touched the little hair filaments projecting out from the inside of the
+leafy pair of lobes."
+
+While still speaking, he allowed the spider to fall lower and lower
+until its body touched a hair. Then, before the little fellow had time
+to climb up over the leaf, the two lobes closed together and held him
+prisoner.
+
+"Now let us sit here and watch," said Delapine, thoroughly absorbed in
+the experiment. "Before many minutes have elapsed the animal will be
+killed by the secretion clogging up its spiracles, and then the insect
+will be digested by the juices secreted by the glands."
+
+"And then what will happen?" asked Villebois.
+
+"Wait a moment and you will see."
+
+After a lapse of about fifteen minutes the lobes began slowly to open
+again, and there before the eyes of the deeply interested watchers lay
+the spider, sucked half dry and shrivelled up at the bottom of the
+cavity.
+
+"What I cannot understand, and what I have been trying to discover,"
+said Delapine, "is what makes the leaves close instantly when the hairs
+are touched, and what it is that causes the gastric juices to pour out
+precisely as it does in the stomach when one has taken a meal. In our
+own case the reason is clear enough because the stomach is supplied
+with nerves and nerve-ends. But botanists assure us that plants have
+no traces of nerves. And again, why should the leaves reopen the very
+moment that the plant has had a sufficient meal? Now here is another
+plant which, like a chameleon, devotes all its energies to catching
+flies," continued Delapine as he led them over, and pointed to a fine
+specimen of Drosera.
+
+"You surely recognise the familiar sun-dew with its round head stuck
+all over with little stalk-like tentacles each having a knob at the
+end, the whole reminding one of a round pincushion stuffed with pins.
+Now I have noticed that the heads of these tentacles secrete a sticky,
+treacly juice, and the moment a fly alights to suck that juice its legs
+become entangled, and the fly is at once a prisoner. Immediately this
+happens, all the neighbouring tentacles bend over the captive fly,
+exactly as the tentacles of a sea-anemone bend over their prey, and
+suck its life-blood."
+
+"I have not studied these plant problems," said Riche, "but now
+that you demonstrate some of them so clearly they do indeed appear
+marvellous."
+
+"Ah, my dear doctor," said Delapine, "there are quite a host of
+problems awaiting solution in the actions of that plant. The moment one
+begins to think, and to ask one-self Why and How, one becomes aware of
+one's dense ignorance of the every-day operations of Nature. We are
+accustomed to look upon a plant as if it were an inanimate thing, and
+yet there can be no doubt that it enjoys life, and feels and thinks
+after some sort of fashion. I have often wondered if it ever occurs to
+a girl as she plucks a flower that the plant might decidedly object to
+having its head cut off. Of course I do not lay it down that a plant
+can feel pain in the same way that we do. That it can feel, I have
+amply shown you, and that it has some dim consciousness of existence I
+am fully convinced."
+
+"It is intensely interesting, and must be a splendid relaxation for
+you, Delapine," said Villebois, "but all the same you should not forget
+that there are other relaxations also, and one of them is to come over
+to the summer-house where I see François has just brought some coffee
+and liqueurs."
+
+As they entered the cool shades of the arbour, Duval, who had been
+passing a quiet half hour there in deep thought, rose to meet them.
+
+"Ah, glad to see you, Pierre," called out Villebois in a cheerful tone,
+and mindful of his promise to Delapine. "We have just come over for a
+little refreshment and cool air after the heat of the conservatory.
+Which do you prefer," he continued, "some coffee or a liqueur? I can
+recommend this Curaçao but perhaps you would rather have some coffee,"
+and he proceeded to light the samovar.
+
+"Coffee and a cigarette for me by all means," replied Pierre, "I always
+think the two go so admirably together, each seems to bring out the
+acme of flavour in the other."
+
+"Very true," said Villebois, who delighted in playing the host, as he
+proceeded to fill all the four cups with the fragrant Mocha. At this
+moment Céleste appeared on the verandah.
+
+"Look, papa, what a lovely orchid I am going to bring you," she called
+out, with a wealth of love and laughter shining in her eyes.
+
+"No, no, stay where you are," shouted Villebois, "we'll make it a
+prize." Turning to his companions he added smiling, "Let us race for
+it; physics, medicine and law running for a prize in botany, and the
+privilege of having the decoration placed on his breast by Céleste."
+
+Villebois, Delapine, and Riche, each shouting 'Go' as the word for
+starting, darted off and ran as hard as they could across the lawn,
+while Duval, swift as lightning, seized the opportunity to drop
+something quickly into Delapine's coffee unnoticed by anyone, and then
+with one bound sped after the racers.
+
+"Well done, doctor," called Céleste to Riche, as with a wonderful
+effort he just managed to grasp the girl's skirt a second before
+Delapine, while Villebois and Duval came panting behind, almost on
+their heels.
+
+"Three cheers for the winner of the Great Flower Stakes," called out
+Villebois as Céleste shyly pinned the prize in Riche's button-hole, "I
+think it was a clear case of the favourite winning. Now let us 'return
+to our muttons,' or rather our coffee," and so saying the four men
+moved off in the direction of the summer-house, while Céleste went
+indoors.
+
+"What a pity you were not here earlier," said Villebois, turning to
+Duval, "Delapine has been entertaining us with some experiments on
+feeding insectivorous plants in the conservatory, and began by showing
+us how remarkably susceptible they are to the faintest traces of
+certain drugs. By the way, professor, now that we are all here quietly,
+will you give us an exhibition of your thought-reading powers?"
+
+"Certainly, my dear Villebois, with all the pleasure in the world,"
+said Delapine; "but it is a pity that our amiable friend, Pierre,
+should have missed the experiments in the conservatory. Would you mind
+if we all went back there as I should like very much to let him see the
+effect of this coffee on one of the plants."
+
+So saying he took up the cup, which had been filled for him, and moved
+towards the hothouse followed by his three companions. Edging up
+alongside Delapine, Pierre, with almost murderous thoughts surging in
+his breast, watched for an opportunity either to snatch, or even to
+risk all and dash the tell-tale cup from his rival's hand. Appearing,
+however, not to notice the agitated manner of the man walking so close
+to him, Delapine adroitly handed the cup to Riche while bending over
+to whisper something in his ear. Then turning towards Duval he quietly
+linked arms with him in the most natural and friendly manner in the
+world, without any apparent pressure, but at the same time so skilfully
+that it would have been very difficult for Pierre to have freed himself
+without arousing suspicion.
+
+"My dear Duval," said Delapine, affectionately pressing the arm resting
+against his own, "you will be delighted with what I am going to show
+you, it's a most surprising experiment."
+
+Once more in the conservatory, Riche at a sign from Delapine handed him
+a spoonful of the coffee, and Delapine gently let a few drops of the
+liquid fall on the tentacles of the Drosera.
+
+As Delapine had previously remarked, the effect was surprising, but
+in a totally different manner from what he had meant at the time.
+Immediately the drops touched them the tentacles turned over and lost
+their colour, while the glands changed from a rich purple to a sickly
+pink.
+
+"This is very strange, I cannot for the moment understand it," said
+Delapine. "Whoever would have thought that the coffee would have had
+such an effect?" Then after a minute of deep reflection he turned to
+Villebois--"Doctor, would you mind getting me a fresh cup of coffee,
+this result is so extraordinary that I must repeat the experiment."
+
+So saying, Delapine calmly took the cup from Riche, and poured the
+remaining contents into an empty bottle, corked it, and then calmly put
+it in his pocket.
+
+It was all done so quietly and naturally that Duval, although beside
+himself with suppressed rage, dared not put out a hand to prevent it,
+fearing to awaken the suspicions of the others.
+
+Villebois, impressed with the calmness and with the queer look of
+determination and severity in Delapine's eyes, ran back to the
+summer-house, and brought a fresh cup of coffee.
+
+"Thank you so much: it is always better to repeat an experiment,
+especially when the result is so unexpected," said Delapine as he
+poured a few drops of the fresh coffee on another sun-dew plant. "How
+odd," he muttered, his grey eyes lighting up with a peculiar smile of
+surprise, mingled with severity.
+
+"It is very strange," he continued, "in this case nothing whatever has
+happened--the tentacles have not even moved."
+
+"But look at this plant here," said Riche, pointing to the Drosera on
+which a drop of Delapine's coffee had been poured.
+
+"Why, bless my soul, it is dead."
+
+"This is very interesting," said Delapine, "I must take some of
+the coffee out of my first cup to a friend of mine, a very clever
+analyst--and find out what he thinks of it. This is just the kind of
+delicate experiment that delights my friend Paul Romaine."
+
+At the sound of this name uttered so calmly and apparently so
+casually, Pierre Duval--already alarmed at the turn which events were
+taking--became deathly pale, and felt that he could not restrain
+himself a moment longer, nor prevent his growing agitation from
+betraying him. With a supreme effort, however, he pulled himself
+together, and it was almost with his usual every-day sang-froid that
+he quietly excused himself owing to a legal appointment, and hurriedly
+went back to the house.
+
+"Well," said Riche as the three slowly retraced their steps towards
+the summer-house, "there's no doubt about it but your experiment in
+botany was something out of the common, and besides, it seemed to me
+that there was something in it which so far I cannot fathom, but it has
+not allowed me to forget your promise to give us an exhibition of your
+wonderful powers of thought-reading. When are you going to keep that
+promise?"
+
+"My dear doctor," replied Delapine with a peculiar smile, half sad,
+half severe, "I have just now done so. Are you not satisfied?"
+
+Riche and Villebois looked at each other for a moment, and then at
+Delapine as if seeking an explanation.
+
+Then a sudden thought flashed across Riche's mind, but he said nothing.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+CELESTE TRIES TO FATHOM RENÉE'S SECRET
+
+
+Early in the evening as Céleste was going upstairs to dress for
+dinner--a proceeding which entailed a very great expenditure of both
+thought and time on the part of this particular young lady--she
+encountered her adopted sister, Renée, on the landing.
+
+"Oh, Renée, ma chérie," she called out, "whatever is the matter with
+you? I went to your room yesterday afternoon, and found you moaning and
+sobbing, and you were so cross with me, and asked to be left alone just
+because you had a headache. I know there was some other reason, now
+wasn't there?"
+
+"It was quite true, I did feel upset, and really, dear, my head was
+aching terribly."
+
+"Oh, but, Renée dear, you ought to tell me, your little sister; you
+know that I can keep a secret. I am sure that you had something horrid
+on your mind, because as soon as I had gone you rose and locked the
+door; you cannot deny it, can you?"
+
+"Well, if I did, it was to prevent anyone from disturbing me."
+
+"No, Renée, that won't do. People with headaches do not bury their
+faces in their hands and cry their eyes out, as you were doing. You
+have some trouble," she continued, "and I want to help you to bear it,
+may I? Won't you, let me?"
+
+"Céleste, you are just a darling. If you will promise me faithfully not
+to let a living soul know, I will tell you my secret."
+
+"Of course I won't, you know I always tell the truth. I never tell
+lies--except sometimes to mamma," she added after a pause.
+
+"Well then, Céleste dear, Henri--I mean, Professor Delapine--has asked
+me to be his wife, you cannot think how happy I am," and while she
+spoke, a look of joy came over her face.
+
+"Oh, Renée, I am so glad," cried Céleste, clapping her hands and
+throwing her arms around her sister's neck, while half sobbing and half
+laughing she breathlessly whispered, "I have often wondered if that
+would happen, I know that you two are exactly suited to each other, and
+Renée--he is such a clever darling. Oh, I am so delighted to hear it."
+
+"Don't I know that he is as you say 'such a darling,'" said Renée
+smiling. "I have loved him from the very first moment that I met him,
+without being aware of it, if you can understand my meaning."
+
+"Oh, Renée, you are so good, you deserve to be rewarded with every
+happiness."
+
+"Thank you so much, Céleste, and look here, dear, when we are married
+you must come and stay weeks and weeks with us, won't you?"
+
+"That would be just too lovely altogether. But you have not told me why
+you locked the door, and why you were sobbing and crying. Was it for
+joy?"
+
+"No, dear, not for joy, but for grief," answered Renée.
+
+"For grief! Whatever do you mean?" and as she spoke, Céleste's eyes
+fairly stood out with astonishment. "You are talking in riddles. What
+do you mean? surely you are not sorry that you accepted him?"
+
+"Oh, you dear little goose, of course not, it was only to-day that
+Henri and I confessed our love for each other. You have not seen me
+crying to-day, have you?"
+
+"No, certainly not, but I want to know all about yesterday's trouble."
+
+"What an inquisitive little girl it is," said Renée smiling.
+
+"Do please tell me," pleaded Céleste, "I am dying to find out, and you
+know how faithfully I can keep a secret."
+
+Céleste's curiosity amounted almost to a mania, and this fencing on the
+part of Renée made the young girl fairly boil over with eagerness to
+probe what seemed to her some dreadful mystery.
+
+"So can I keep a secret," replied Renée, half sadly. "But please,
+chérie, do not ask me any more questions. I dare not tell. And, Céleste
+dearie, please, please, promise me that you will not tell anybody about
+my engagement. You cannot understand what terrible harm it might do me
+if it were known. It must be kept a dead secret at present, you do not
+know how much I have suffered, and how frightened I am sometimes of my
+life and Henri's. Oh dear, oh dear, it is really too dreadful," and she
+threw her arms around Céleste and sobbed again.
+
+"Renée, ma mie, it is terrible to see you like this, what can the
+mystery be? I must know," and in her excitement she seized her sister's
+hands, and pulled the girl to her and shook her.
+
+"No, Céleste dearest," sobbed Renée, "help me with your love and
+sympathy to bear it, but do not ask me any more. Hush, I hear someone
+coming, remember not a word to anyone," and she rushed off into her own
+room.
+
+"H'm," muttered Céleste to herself as she heard Renée locking the door
+of her room, "there's a heap of trouble brewing somewhere in all this.
+The mystery seems to become more and more obscure. I shall die if I
+don't get to the bottom of it, I know I shall. Where can I find out
+all about it? Let me think. There's mamma, but she's too stupid to
+have noticed anything. Then there's papa, but he's far too secretive
+and cautious, he's of no use, he will only joke with me and turn the
+question; that is unless I humour him properly. That is the only way
+to deal with him. I certainly might get it out of him by kissing him
+and playing on his vanity. It is worth trying, anyhow. Then there's
+Delapine himself. He, of course, is sure to know. But then I am rather
+frightened of him, I confess. He stands on his dignity a little too
+much for my purpose. Let me see, now what about Marcel? He is more my
+style, but he has not taken much notice of me. When he is not planning
+some new creation in waistcoats, or neckties, or composing a poem, he
+is trying to say something witty. I suppose the things he says are
+really clever, although I don't understand a word of them. No, I can't
+very well confide in him."
+
+Then, as she still meditated, a soft unconscious colour flooded her
+face, and her voice took on a more tender tone as she continued, "Yes,
+he will help me. I know he will. Alphonse Riche is a real, true friend.
+He's more, he's what Renée called her Henri--just a darling--and
+besides I think he is a little bit fond of me, just a little. Yes, I
+will make him my confidant." And she clapped her hands, danced round
+the landing, and actually whistled, which worthy Madame Villebois would
+have considered a most incomprehensible, if not highly indelicate
+proceeding on the part of a young lady of nineteen.
+
+On entering her room she stood before the long cheval mirror of the
+wardrobe, and surveyed herself a little more carefully than usual, then
+turning away as if half-ashamed of the growing admiration for her own
+slender but beautifully-curved figure, she murmured pensively,
+
+"Yes, evidently the first thing to do is to make one-self look as
+charming as possible," and acting on the impulse, she ran across the
+room and rang for her maid.
+
+In answer to her summons, the door opened and Mimi appeared.
+
+"Mademoiselle requires that I dress her?"
+
+"Yes, Mimi, pick out my most becoming frock as I want to look my very
+best this evening."
+
+"Would mademoiselle like the blue trimmed with black velvet? Or perhaps
+the lovely pink gown that Madame Louise said fitted you à merveille?"
+
+"Wait, let me think a moment. Yes, I remember now, Dr. Riche said that
+his favourite flower was the rose,"--this softly to herself--"Yes,
+Mimi, let me have the pink by all means; and oh, Mimi, do you think you
+could get me some dark red roses to match it?"
+
+A few minutes later Mimi returned bearing some freshly cut damask roses.
+
+"Oh, how lovely they are," cried Céleste, "I am sure the doctor cannot
+refuse to tell me anything I like to ask him when he sees me in this
+dress. Now, Mimi, a few drops of Parma Violet--so, that will do."
+
+At the foot of the stair-case, just as she was about to enter the
+drawing-room, she caught sight of Dr. Riche.
+
+"Ah, Mademoiselle Céleste, how charming you look--just like my
+favourite flower, a budding rose."
+
+Céleste blushed almost as red as the roses she was wearing, and shyly
+tripping up to him whispered something in his ear.
+
+"Certainly, my dear mademoiselle. Nothing would give me greater
+pleasure than a little chat tête-a-tête. Let us sit cosily at the shady
+end of the verandah where we can talk at our ease without fear of
+interruption."
+
+As soon as they were comfortably seated Céleste's impatience and
+curiosity could no longer be restrained.
+
+"Oh, doctor," she began impatiently, "I do so want you to find out for
+me whatever is the matter with Renée. She was weeping her heart out
+yesterday, and when I asked her what was the matter she put me off with
+some lame excuse about a headache, and then the moment that I left her
+she jumped up from her bed and locked the door. Of course she may have
+had a real headache, but people don't go into violent fits of weeping
+on that account, do they?"--and Céleste looked very wise (and very,
+very sweet, as Riche thought) while putting her question.
+
+"Perhaps we might be able to look for some other cause," began Riche,
+when his companion broke in--
+
+"I cannot help thinking that young Duval is mixed up in it, but then
+again what has it to do with Renée?"
+
+Riche tapped the arm of the long verandah chair in which he was
+reclining, and remained in deep thought for a moment.
+
+"Yes, I have it. Do you remember pinning the orchid in my button-hole
+to-day?" he asked at length.
+
+"You know very well I do," replied Céleste, blushing in spite of
+herself.
+
+"Did you notice anything peculiar about Pierre Duval's manner?"
+
+"Let me see," said Céleste, trying to recall the events of the morning.
+"Yes, I remember seeing him put something in a cup of coffee, I think
+it was sugar or cream, but I was too excited over the race to notice
+exactly what it was he did."
+
+"Was he finishing his coffee, or what?" asked Riche, watching her face
+carefully.
+
+"No, it was not that. I am certain that he was not drinking it, as he
+certainly did not raise the cup to his lips."
+
+"Are you perfectly sure of that?"
+
+"Certain," said Céleste convincingly, "I told you that I was not
+observing him very carefully, but I feel sure I should have noticed if
+he had been drinking it, because he stood right in front of me at the
+other end of the lawn."
+
+"Oh! Oh!" said Riche, "Please stay here, mademoiselle, I will be back
+in a few minutes. In the meantime please do not breathe a word of our
+conversation to anyone."
+
+"Is it so serious then?" asked Céleste.
+
+"I can't say yet, but please do as I ask you."
+
+Riche looked very grave, and without another word to his companion
+walked slowly away into the house, with his hands clasped behind his
+back.
+
+Meeting one of the servants, Riche enquired if he could tell him where
+his master was to be found.
+
+"Yes, sir, he has just gone into the library."
+
+"Ah, here you are, Villebois. I have been looking for you in order to
+have a little serious talk before dinner."
+
+"Certainly, my dear fellow, but why the word 'serious'?"
+
+"Well, as a matter of fact," said Riche gravely, "there are several
+mysterious things happening here, and I thought that a talk about them
+between us alone might help to clear them up."
+
+"For example?"
+
+"In the first place something has happened to Renée."
+
+"What, something happened to Renée?" ejaculated Villebois.
+
+"No, no, there is no need for anxiety. I do not mean there is anything
+physically the matter. But Céleste has been confiding in me, and has
+told me that she found Renée weeping violently, and when Céleste asked
+the cause of such intense grief, it seems that Renée refused to give
+any explanation or even reply, and immediately locked herself in her
+room."
+
+"Oh, you are referring to her not coming down to dinner?"
+
+"Yes, I cannot imagine what is the reason for it all, but there is more
+besides. Young Duval's conduct has been so peculiar. Of course I have
+no right to criticise your guest, but I am rather uneasy in my mind.
+It seems to me that there is some mystery or some plot on foot. I have
+no proof of anything definite, but I confess that I do not like the
+present state of affairs."
+
+"Tut, tut, my dear Riche, something has evidently upset your digestion.
+All you want is a good dinner, and then you will regard the world
+through less jaundiced spectacles. I saw Renée myself about an hour
+ago, and she was as happy as possible."
+
+"My dear Villebois," replied Riche, "we are both clear-headed
+professional men, and we know that when the thermometer rises to 40 C.
+our patient is in danger, and so we at once set to work to discover the
+seat of the mischief."
+
+"Quite so, my dear Riche."
+
+"Now, please, just come along with me and have a talk with your
+daughter."
+
+So saying, Riche placed his arm in that of his friend, and together
+they strolled out on to the verandah where they found Céleste patiently
+waiting for the return of Riche.
+
+"Oh, papa, I am so glad that you are here, come and sit down and do
+tell me what has come over Renée."
+
+"My dear child, there is nothing the matter with your sister that I
+know of," said Villebois with surprise. "Why do you ask?"
+
+"Now, papa, there is something wrong with her. She was crying all
+yesterday afternoon, and refused to give me any reason for it. Is it
+possible that her father or young Pierre could have said anything to
+her?"
+
+"My dear little girl, why do you worry your pretty head over such
+things? Renée is as happy as she can be."
+
+"She may be now, papa; but she certainly was not so yesterday."
+
+"Do not trouble yourself about what happened yesterday. Sufficient for
+the day is the--you know--headache thereof, as our friend Marcel would
+say."
+
+"Oh, papa, it is nothing to joke about and make fun of" replied Céleste
+pouting.
+
+"I am not joking, my child, I assure you I have not been so deadly
+serious since my last evening at one of the English comic theatres.
+Now, Riche, I have something important to write, so I will leave this
+child in your care till dinner; just see that she gets some of those
+silly ideas about Renée out of her head."
+
+So saying he leaned over and gently kissed his daughter on the
+forehead, and smilingly excusing himself, walked off to the library. As
+soon as her father had left, Céleste feeling that she had been treated
+as if she were still a child, turned to her companion.
+
+"Now, Dr. Riche, you can see for yourself that papa will not tell me
+anything, and is only trifling with me. I want your confidence. I am
+sure that there is some trouble brewing for Renée. Is not that your
+opinion?"
+
+"I must confess that it is, mademoiselle, now that you ask me in
+confidence, but I have no evidence, nothing definite to go on."
+
+"But what can have upset Renée so much as to make her cry like that?"
+
+"What time was it when you found her crying?" asked Riche.
+
+"About half-past five in the afternoon."
+
+"Do you know if anyone called to see her before that hour?"
+
+"Yes, her father called. I remember her maid saying that M. Payot had
+been to see her and had stayed quite a long time."
+
+"Oh! Oh!" exclaimed Riche as a sudden thought flashed through his mind.
+"Now we are getting at facts. I wonder whether Renée's strange conduct
+had anything to do with his coming? But no, I confess that for the
+moment I cannot see any connection. Still, who knows?"
+
+"Oh, please, doctor, do keep an eye on Pierre. I do not really know why
+I ask this, but I feel sure that he means mischief."
+
+"I can't help thinking that you may be right after all. Let us be
+allies in ferreting out this mystery. Will you help me, Mademoiselle
+Céleste? Only mind, you must be very discreet."
+
+"Can I depend on you?" asked Céleste, looking up eagerly into his face.
+
+"Like my own soul, mademoiselle," answered Riche solemnly. "We will
+both keep a watch on Pierre Duval, and on M. Payot as well."
+
+"Oh, thank you, thank you ever so much. It will be just lovely if we
+can work together. I will do everything you ask me."
+
+After this compact Céleste felt more at ease than she had done for
+some time previously, for she knew that Riche was a strong man who
+went to work and did everything calmly, and would not allow himself
+to be hurried or put out in the least, and that he would carry out
+religiously whatever he undertook.
+
+The doctor smiled at her impetuosity, and kissing her hand put his
+fingers to his lips with a wink.
+
+"Allies and silence," said Riche.
+
+"That is agreed," replied Céleste as she walked quietly away towards
+the drawing-room to join the others.
+
+Céleste now felt herself in the seventh heaven of delight at the
+thought that she had become a joint partner with so great a man as
+Dr. Riche, and she accordingly felt herself bursting with pride and
+importance.
+
+After his companion had left him, Riche remained thoughtful for a
+moment or two, and then slowly walked to the drawing-room.
+
+"I am quite looking forward to the treat Delapine is going to give us
+this evening," said Villebois to Riche as the latter joined the group.
+
+"Ah, I am very sorry, mon cher Villebois, to be compelled to disappoint
+you, but I shall have to postpone the séance until another occasion,"
+said Delapine.
+
+"Oh, professor, what a pity. We shall all be so disappointed, as we
+were looking forward to the treat. But why have you changed your mind
+at the last moment?"
+
+"I assure you, mon cher docteur, I am as anxious as anyone to please
+the guests, but it is impossible for me to succeed unless all the
+members of the circle are in complete harmony with each other. If you
+turn to the Acts of the Apostles you will read that when the disciples
+were met together in an upper room to witness certain spiritualistic
+phenomena, that the narrator was careful to mention that they were all
+of one accord. This was the essential condition for the success of all
+the wonderful phenomena which followed. Spiritualism is governed by
+precisely the same laws now as obtained in those days. Do you remember
+the passage I have just quoted?"
+
+"Perfectly," answered Riche, who in reality knew as much about the Acts
+of the Apostles as he did about Chinese. "I am quite as disappointed as
+Villebois that our séance has to be postponed."
+
+At this moment a servant entered the room and handed a note on a silver
+tray to Villebois.
+
+"Excuse me a moment, professor, while I read this."
+
+"I am pleased to say," interrupted Delapine, as Villebois took the
+letter off the tray, "that I have changed my mind. The obstruction is
+now removed, and our séance will be conducted in perfect harmony."
+
+"What has made you change your mind so quickly?" said Villebois.
+
+"The note you have in your hand, of course."
+
+"But I have not opened it yet."
+
+"That is immaterial. Let me read it to you before you open it," said
+Delapine smiling:--
+
+ "Mon cher Docteur,
+
+ "Pray give my best compliments to Madame, and apologise for me, as I
+ just recollect I have a very important meeting to attend to in town,
+ which had quite escaped my memory. If I can possibly return later in
+ the evening, it will afford me infinite pleasure to join your circle,
+ but pray do not wait for me.
+
+ "Accept, my dear doctor, the expressions of my most sincere friendship.
+
+ "Toujours à vous,
+
+ "PIERRE."
+
+"It is word for word correct," said Villebois as he handed the note to
+Riche after reading it.
+
+"Professor, you are a wonder, but how in the name of all that is
+marvellous did you manage to read it? Do you see with Röntgen Rays?"
+they both exclaimed almost in the same breath.
+
+"It is quite simple. My mind's eye penetrates every kind of substance
+where neither light nor "X" rays can find an entrance. But you will
+agree with me that a thing ceases to be wonderful the moment one learns
+how it is done."
+
+"But tell us how you manage to do it," they both exclaimed.
+
+"It is a power which is only vouchsafed to a few," replied Delapine. "I
+cannot explain it to you, and if I were able to do so perhaps you would
+be none the wiser. Some day one or other of you may receive the power."
+
+"How do you do, Payot?" said Villebois, as the former gentleman entered
+the room and joined the group.
+
+"Eh, what was that I heard about a letter that the professor managed to
+read without seeing it?" said Payot in a tone of command, as if he were
+questioning a prisoner at a court martial.
+
+"It was merely a note from your comrade's son, Pierre, regretting that
+he has been suddenly called away on urgent business," and Villebois
+showed him the letter.
+
+"Urgent business! urgent fiddlesticks I should say. And what, pray, is
+the nature of this urgent business that calls him away at this time of
+day I should like to know?"
+
+As no one ventured to supply that information, the financier cleared
+his throat and replied for the doctor.
+
+"These young men are beginning to assume airs that their fathers would
+never dream of doing. They have lost all sense of discipline, sir. If I
+had written a letter like that to my chief when I was a lieutenant in
+the army I should have been put in the cells--put in the cells, sir; do
+you hear me?--for fourteen days on bread and water, and by God, sir, I
+should have deserved it. I must see Pierre, and look into this matter.
+By the way, Villebois, how is the General getting on?"
+
+"Oh, quite as well as can be expected. I sewed the ends of the nerve
+together some days ago, and he is already out of bed. He should be able
+to go out soon."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+DELAPINE INTERRUPTS A FIGHT
+
+
+Madame Villebois had been brought up in a small country town, and as
+her parents had always lacked both the energy and the desire to travel
+a yard beyond Paris or Berck-sur-Mer, these were the only places
+outside her home that she had ever visited in her life. Of the rest of
+France she knew practically nothing, and as for England she only had
+an idea that it was a country of fogs and shopkeepers, where it was
+perpetually raining.
+
+Her parents were profoundly ignorant of everything outside their own
+home-circle, and considered they had carried out their duty to the
+full by confiding the education of their only child after she left
+the convent to the tender mercies of the parish priest. This worthy
+gentleman had a sort of moral Index Purgatorius by which he regulated
+the conduct and instruction of all the children committed to his care,
+and, like Pope Paul IV., he not only forbade any thought or action
+which was forbidden in his index, but even prohibited everything that
+was not entered there-in as permissible. The result of this training
+was that Madame Villebois up to the end of her days considered
+everything absolutely wicked which had not been expressly sanctioned
+by her ghostly confessor. Still, with all her short-comings, she had
+a fair share of every-day common-sense, and her knowledge of dress
+and of cookery went a long way to make up for her dearth of mental
+qualifications. Dinner at the house of the Villebois was always a
+function of vast importance in the eyes of madame. The cuisine and
+wines were certainly above criticism, consequently an invitation to
+dine "chez les Villebois" was greatly prized by their large circle of
+friends, and the well-known bonhommie of the good-natured doctor made
+him an ideal host.
+
+As for madame herself, that worthy dame was absolutely certain that
+her husband's extensive practice was entirely due to her own smart
+attire and her unflagging devotion to the culinary art, and from early
+morn till the afternoon, madame spent the most of her time between
+bargaining with the tradesmen over the details of purchases for the
+larder, and superintending the important culinary operations in the
+kitchen itself.
+
+"A good cook," she used to say, "makes a good wife," and she was
+firmly convinced that the seat of her husband's affections was located
+somewhere in that portly and rotund region of his anatomy which was
+discreetly covered by the lower part of his waistcoat.
+
+"Man is merely a civilised animal," she would remark to certain of her
+intimate female friends, "and if you feed the creature well, you can do
+almost anything with him."
+
+As the guests took their places at the table, the sharp eyes of the
+hostess noticed a vacant seat--
+
+"François," she asked, turning to the butler standing behind her, "who
+was that chair placed for?"
+
+"Monsieur Pierre Duval, madame."
+
+"Compose yourself, ma mie," said Villebois, "our learned friend left a
+note of apology stating that he had to return to his office, but that
+we might possibly see him later."
+
+Doctor Riche gave an almost imperceptible glance at Céleste, who at
+once caught his eye and nodded significantly.
+
+"If Pierre only knew what he is missing," said Riche, tasting the
+turtle soup, "no amount of business would prevent him from being at
+this dinner, eh, Marcel?"
+
+"Oh, don't interrupt me, I beg of you, doctor, I have just swallowed a
+lovely piece of fat without tasting its flavour."
+
+"Marcel, you are incorrigible, you ought to be made to stand up and say
+fifty paternosters before each meal. By the way, Delapine, we are very
+anxious for you to tell us your opinion on some of the fundamental
+points relating to spiritualism."
+
+"Don't you answer him, professor," said Marcel, with his mouth half
+full of caviar sandwich. "Just try my recipe for eating caviar. It
+is positively entrancing, and consists of spreading it between this
+slice of brown bread and butter (it must be brown), with a trace of
+cayenne pepper and a few drops of vinegar, and then laying it on a
+rich green carpet of mustard and cress. By Jove, it is food for the
+gods. I consider a man who discovers a new dish renders a far greater
+service to mankind than one who discovers a new planet. We have planets
+enough already, but we can never have good dishes enough. If I were
+sufficiently rich I should select all my servants from chefs of renown.
+My valets, pages, butler, coachman, courier, and footman should all be
+cooks of the highest reputation, and each should be a specialist in
+some particular dish or entrée. For example, I should be undressed by
+an expert in curries, bathed by my connoisseur of wines, put to bed by
+a specialist in soups, and waited on by a man who had won eternal fame
+by his profound knowledge of Riz de veau à la Financière."
+
+"What does that mean?" asked Céleste.
+
+"A smile of a calf to the banker's wife, mademoiselle," replied Marcel,
+helping himself to some blue trout with sauce Madeire.
+
+Renée looked up and smiled at Delapine who slipped his hand into hers
+under the table-cloth. She felt indescribably happy, but a glance at
+her father, who was looking directly at her, brought her eyes down,
+and her heart thumped violently as she let go her lover's hand. Had
+Payot seen her smile? She dared not look at Delapine again, much as she
+wanted to, and although a moment earlier she had been so happy, she
+now felt crushed like a wounded bird. "Oh, this cruel, cruel world,"
+she said to herself, "why cannot they leave people alone to enjoy
+themselves?" And her appetite seemed to leave her all in a moment.
+
+"Please do not pay any attention to me, or even notice me," she said
+sotto voce to Delapine. "I am so afraid you will betray our secret."
+
+Delapine listened quietly while gazing vacantly at a stream bordered
+by very fuzzy willow trees in the Corot which was hanging on the wall
+opposite, and made some irrelevant remark to his right-hand neighbour
+(who happened to be Madame Villebois) about the way in which pigs are
+trained to dig up truffles. "Large iron rings are inserted through
+their noses," he said, "so that when the pigs dig up the truffles the
+rings prevent their eating them, and so the keeper is able to rescue
+the dainty morsels, and toss them into his basket."
+
+"But is the poor pig never allowed to have any of them?" she enquired.
+"One would think he would soon get disheartened at this treatment, and
+refuse to dig any more. I know I should if I were a pig."
+
+"That you certainly never will be," he answered gallantly. "But I
+assure you, madame, that piggy is allowed to have all the broken and
+spoilt tubers as his reward as soon as the task is finished."
+
+"Well, I am very glad for piggy's sake that it is so," interposed
+Céleste. "It would be very unfair to let him be good for nothing," and
+she suddenly laughed at the little joke which she had unconsciously
+uttered.
+
+"Have you been to see 'Les Fiançailles Forcées' which has just been put
+on at the Vaudeville?" said Riche to Payot.
+
+"No, I confess I have not. What is the plot?"
+
+"Oh, it is quite an amusing play. There is a man named Boucher who
+has a son, and another fellow named Vauban who possesses a charming
+daughter. Well, Boucher promises to give Vauban a very valuable railway
+concession if the latter will persuade his daughter to marry the other
+fellow's son. Of course the daughter is secretly in love with another
+chap, and when Vauban tries to persuade his daughter to marry young
+Boucher, there is a tremendous row. Oh, I forgot to add that Vauban
+is very wealthy, and of course his money is the chief attraction in
+Boucher's eyes, and the way these two old boys haggle over the amount
+of coin that is to change hands when the marriage comes off is a
+caution, I can tell you."
+
+"Stop, father. Father, what are you doing? Oh, Henri, stop him," cried
+Renée. But Payot, blind to all reason and remonstrance, rushed again at
+the young man.
+
+Payot's eyes flashed at the speaker with an angry look, as he poured
+out a large glass of champagne cup and drank it off with a shaky hand
+at a gulp.
+
+"How stupid these plays are becoming," he said, trying to hide his
+embarrassment and fear lest the doctor should read what was passing
+through his mind. "I wonder how people can listen to such nonsense.
+Such plots can only happen in the morbid imagination of the playwright."
+
+Payot was visibly working himself up into a terrible state of
+excitement, and in order to steady his nerves tossed off one glass of
+wine after another.
+
+"I cannot altogether agree with you, sir," said Marcel. "I went to the
+play on the first night, and I thought it 'ripping.' The whole plot was
+so well carried out and so natural that I felt it must have been copied
+from real life."
+
+Payot frowned at the speaker for daring to differ from him, while
+Céleste and Riche simultaneously looked at each other and smiled
+significantly.
+
+The financier caught the glance and began working himself into a rage.
+At first he tried to turn the conversation, and muttered something
+incoherently, much to the amusement of Marcel who was watching him.
+
+"The best of the joke was," continued Marcel, with a wink, "that young
+Mademoiselle Vauban's lover naturally objected to being discarded for
+another man, and endeavoured to stop the marriage by hook or by crook.
+Both father and son on their side try to get rid of Mademoiselle's
+lover, but reckon without their host, and find it a more difficult job
+than they imagine to get this lover out of the way."
+
+This was too much for Payot; what with the wine getting into his head,
+and the extraordinary resemblance between Marcel's account of the plot
+and his own dastardly schemes, the financier, feeling his crime being
+brought home to him, lost all control of himself.
+
+"Damn you!" he yelled, "how dare you insult me in this way," and
+upsetting his chair in his rage he clenched his fist, and rushing at
+Marcel aimed a tremendous blow at his face. Marcel, although by no
+means as powerful as his adversary, was as agile as a tiger-cat, and
+easily parried the blow.
+
+"You villain," he cried, "this is a dastardly plot between you, the
+professor and Villebois to ruin me. Je suis un vieux, but I will show
+you I have not forgotten how to fight," and seizing Marcel by the
+throat he attempted to strangle him.
+
+Madame Villebois screamed and fainted, and Céleste went to her
+assistance.
+
+"Stop, father, stop, you'll kill him," cried Renée wringing her hand in
+terror, but Payot lent a deaf ear to her entreaties.
+
+Meanwhile Marcel slipped on the polished floor, and the two combatants
+rolled over on the ground, locked together in a tight embrace. Marcel,
+with a sudden twist, managed to disentangle himself, and by means of
+a half-turn, rolled over, and springing up, stepped back flushed and
+panting, with his collar torn half off. Almost at the same instant
+Payot got up and made a rush at Marcel who stood on his guard. The
+financier lunged at him with his left, but the poet ducked under his
+right arm like a bantam cock, and caught Payot one on the right ear.
+Before he could recover Marcel was at him again. His blows were feeble
+compared with Payot's tremendous slogging ones. The latter rushed at
+him again, but Marcel danced and dodged and ducked, delivering a rain
+of small but effective blows, like a stream of shots from a three-inch
+quick-firer replying to the ponderous twelve-inch gun of a dreadnought.
+Payot drove him against the wall, and seized him by the throat with a
+deadly grip, which caused Marcel to turn livid, and he struggled to
+unclasp the financier's hold of his throat.
+
+All this happened so quickly, and the guests were so petrified with
+amazement, that they had had barely time to interfere.
+
+Payot was about to give Marcel the coup de grace, but Delapine was too
+quick for him. Stepping up he made a pass with his hand in front of
+Payot's face, and hypnotised him with a long steady gaze in his eyes.
+"Sleep," he said in a calm and penetrating voice. "Sleep on and banish
+all recollection of this deed from your mind for ever. Henceforth be
+friends with Marcel, control your temper, and devote yourself to your
+daughter whom you have so long neglected."
+
+Immediately Payot dropped down as if he had been struck by lightning.
+When the other gentlemen bent over him, as they did an instant later,
+they found him fast asleep and snoring loudly.
+
+"You may shake him as much as you please, gentlemen, but I defy you to
+wake him. Just try and do it, if it amuses you."
+
+They all three shook him, and thumped him with their fists as hard as
+they could, but they might as well have tried to revive a corpse. Not a
+sign of life did he show beyond his rythmic stertorous breathing.
+
+Villebois, Riche, and Marcel looked at one another in amazement.
+
+"Now will two of you gentlemen kindly carry him into the next room and
+lay him on the sofa. You need not have the least anxiety about him, as
+he cannot wake up until I give him permission."
+
+"And what will happen then?" asked Riche.
+
+"Then he will wake up the moment I give the word."
+
+"Do you have to shake him, or what do you do?" asked Marcel.
+
+"I don't even need to be in the house," replied the professor. "He will
+be obliged to obey me wherever I may happen to be at the time. Even if
+I am a thousand miles away it will not make the slightest difference as
+regards the result."
+
+"Great Scott!" replied Marcel, looking at Delapine in astonishment.
+
+"I must ask you as a favour, gentlemen, not to speak of this painful
+incident to anyone again," said the professor, "as Monsieur Payot will
+not have the slightest inkling of it when he wakes up."
+
+"Now," said Delapine, as Riche and Villebois returned from the
+adjoining room, "let us attend to the ladies."
+
+By repeated applications of smelling salts Madame Villebois was soon
+brought round, and she was conveyed to her room by her husband.
+
+During their absence the poet went to his room, and with Villebois'
+assistance, removed all traces of his recent fight, and putting on a
+fresh collar made himself presentable once more.
+
+"I feel as fresh as a fiddle now, thanks to my wash and brush down."
+
+"If you will not mind waiting for me in the library until I have fixed
+things up I should be awfully obliged," said Delapine, "as I must see
+after the two young ladies."
+
+The professor went downstairs and proceeded to pacify Renée by assuring
+her that her father would wake up perfectly calm, and utterly oblivious
+of his terrible outburst of temper.
+
+"Are you quite sure he will not remember what has occurred?" she asked.
+
+"Perfectly," he replied.
+
+Renée was by this time so accustomed to finding Delapine's forecasts
+prove correct, that she felt quite at ease, and even happy.
+
+"Oh, how can I thank you, Henri, for what you have done," said Renée,
+smiling through her tears.
+
+"By not referring to the incident to anybody," replied Delapine with a
+significant look which she thoroughly understood.
+
+"And now, my dear mademoiselle," he said to Céleste, "go upstairs
+and stay with your mother; and you, Renée, go and tell her as soon
+as she has calmed down and is able to listen to you, that Monsieur
+Payot's outburst was entirely the result of the unexpected return of
+his hallucinations and delusions which he contracted when fighting the
+cannibals in Cochin-China."
+
+"But, professor, father never was in Cochin-China, and he never
+suffered from hallucinations or delusions."
+
+"My dear child, what does that matter? I am perfectly aware that your
+father was never in the East, that there are no cannibals there, and
+that he never had any delusions. My chief reason for asking you to
+tell the good lady that your father contracted the mental disease when
+he was in Cochin-China is because I am perfectly certain that she has
+not the remotest idea where that country is. I wish to convince her
+that Payot imagined he was fighting the cannibals when he was fighting
+Marcel. But now, owing to the treatment I have subjected him to, the
+delusions have entirely vanished, and he will wake up quite normal.
+So you must persuade her that she need not have the least fear that
+such a painful scene will ever happen again. Now you understand why I
+want you and Céleste to tell her this story, so that she may welcome
+Monsieur Payot with open arms next time. Besides, a man like Monsieur
+Payot will be a most useful addition to the circle as soon as I have
+convinced him of the reality of my powers, and made him believe in me
+implicitly. For, as I have already told you, until harmony and faith in
+my ability have been established among all the members of the circle,
+I shall not be able to obtain the necessary conditions for producing
+psychic phenomena. Do not imagine that what I say is a mere trifle.
+Even the Master did not many mighty works in Galilee because of their
+unbelief."
+
+Delapine, Riche and Villebois left the unfinished dinner and joined
+Marcel in the library, where coffee had been ordered by Villebois.
+
+"Now that the ladies have all been attended to," said Villebois, "we
+may as well make ourselves comfortable, but we have to thank you,
+professor, for causing the fracas to end so peacefully. Mon Dieu, but
+it was a narrow escape; if you had not stopped it as you did I tremble
+to think what would have happened to Marcel."
+
+"I thank you for the compliment, doctor, but you will all be pleased to
+hear that I have so arranged things that the affair is ended so far as
+the ladies and our absent friends are concerned."
+
+"How did you manage it, professor?" asked Marcel.
+
+"That is my affair," said Delapine, "but you may rest assured that I
+have told you the truth."
+
+"And my wife? Do you mean to say that you have pacified her?" asked
+Villebois.
+
+"Perfectly," answered Delapine, "she has quite forgiven Payot, and will
+welcome him again most cordially."
+
+"What?" cried Villebois, "Is it really a fact that you have succeeded
+in twisting her round your little finger as well?"
+
+"Why not? It was the easiest thing in the world."
+
+"Well, ma foi, I never could all the years I have been married. You are
+a marvel, professor, that's all I can say."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+A REMARKABLE CONVERSATION
+
+ "Who will absolve you bad Christians? 'Study,' I replied, 'and
+ Knowledge.'"
+
+ Conrade Muth in a letter to Peter Eberdach, 1510.
+
+ Sempre di verita non è convinto
+     Chi di parole è vinto
+
+ Guarini (_Il Pastor Fido_, Act v., Sc. v.)
+
+ "I do not doubt the probability of a future life even for a moment.
+ This life is too sad, too incomplete to satisfy our highest
+ aspirations and desires. It is meant to be a struggle to ennoble us.
+ Can that struggle be in vain? I think not! Final perfection, I believe
+ in; a perfection which God has in the end in store for us."--Bismarck.
+
+ _Conversations with Prince Bismarck_,
+ by W.B. Richmond, _North American Review_, Sept., 1914.
+
+
+"At last, gentlemen," said Villebois to his three guests, "we can take
+our coffee in peace. By the way, professor, I want you to explain why
+it is that the vast majority of mankind pooh-pooh all spiritualistic
+phenomena, and declare them to be either fraudulent or impossible?"
+
+"If you will listen to me, gentlemen, I think I can give you an answer,
+but I warn you it will be a long one.
+
+"In the first place there are very few men in the world who will
+accept, or even admit a new or unexplained fact. People will only
+believe in phenomena which are in strict accordance with what they
+have been accustomed to see or hear. In other words, they have a sort
+of mental antipathy against believing anything which is not in perfect
+harmony with known and universally accepted laws. They follow one
+another like a flock of sheep.
+
+"As a teacher of physics I have rarely found a single one among all
+my students who possessed an absolutely independent judgment. Nay, I
+will go further, I have met with only one or two men during the whole
+course of my career who were capable of recording a new observation or
+impression without any preconceived notions, or with even a tithe of
+the accuracy of a photographic camera. People even equipped with all
+the acumen that a scientific training can give them, absolutely refuse
+to believe their senses when they see a phenomenon which appears to run
+contrary to any of the laws of physics which have been instilled into
+them by their teachers. Even if the phenomena are in accordance with
+established laws, unless they can be explained, they doubt, or even
+reject them, and will much sooner believe that they are mistaken, or
+that their judgment is at fault, than accept the phenomena they have
+witnessed.
+
+"Take a familiar instance: In the eighteenth century a savant brought
+a large stone to the Academy of Sciences in France which he declared
+he had seen fall from the sky. The Academy set him down as a lunatic,
+and Laplace, one of the members, declared it to be impossible. They
+all pooh-poohed the fact as ridiculous. There were no stones in the
+sky--therefore none could tumble down from it. Meteorites, which are
+merely stones which once belonged to some other planet, rush along
+through space until they fall into the sphere of the earth's attraction
+and down they tumble. You will find specimens (some of them a ton or
+more in weight) in every geological museum in Europe. Now everyone
+believes in them. I remember well when it was first declared by
+Röntgen that objects wrapped round with several layers of black paper
+and enclosed in a thick cardboard or wooden box could be accurately
+photographed. Scientists laughed at the idea and declared it to be
+impossible. 'How could light penetrate opaque screens?' they asked. But
+to-day every hospital in Europe is equipped with an X-ray photographic
+outfit. If a jar be filled with equal volumes of chlorine and hydrogen
+gases, so long as it is left in the dark nothing happens, but the
+moment a beam of light is directed on to it, the contents will explode
+with a loud report, and hydrochloric acid gas is formed. How? We do
+not know. Therefore, they say it is impossible. A lump of sugar is
+dropped into a glass of water. It dissolves. How? We cannot tell you.
+Hence they say it cannot occur, and we ought to reject these facts as
+impossible. A human being is formed in a pitch-dark cavity from an egg
+almost too small to be seen by the naked eye. How? We cannot explain
+it. Therefore they say we should dismiss the statement as a chimera.
+Hypnotism, or mesmerism as it is called, was first publicly practised
+in England seventy years ago by Dr. Braid. His medical brethren not
+only jeered at him but positively ostracised him, and so persecuted
+the poor man for what they in their ignorance called quackery and
+charlatanism, that he became socially and financially ruined. And
+yet to-day it is practised by hundreds of medical men, and schools
+of hypnotism have been established both at Nancy and here in Paris
+which are recognised by all the medical colleges, and yet it lies on
+the borderland, as it were, of spiritualism and the occult sciences.
+Spiritualistic phenomena are rejected on precisely the same lines of
+reasoning. A medium lays his hands on a heavy table. It rises bodily
+from the ground, or raps in answer to questions, or rocks. It appears
+to be endowed with life since it acts contrary to the laws of inertia.
+Therefore it is said that the medium is a fraud, and the phenomenon
+a mere piece of deception or conjuring. Another medium goes into a
+trance, and hands are seen to project from his body which we can feel
+and handle; or a cloud appears which rapidly condenses into a perfect
+human form identical in all respects with a real person. We can feel
+and handle it. It walks about the room. Often it can converse with the
+people in the room. It has ears and eyes and teeth just as we have. If
+we prick this materialised body, blood flows. We can even photograph
+it. It is clothed in a garment which we are able to handle with our
+fingers. We can even cut pieces out of it and examine the texture under
+the microscope. It is entirely contrary to our experience, therefore
+it must be due to trickery, or else our senses have deceived us and we
+have been hypnotised into believing it. Nevertheless these phenomena
+are attested by hundreds of the most clear-headed and sober-minded
+observers in the world--members of the academy or royal societies of
+Europe, physicists, doctors, chemists, astronomers, etc., etc. A fully
+developed human being takes twenty years to form--a fully developed
+psychic being only twenty seconds. If the one can be formed in twenty
+years, why not the other in twenty seconds? It is merely a question of
+time.
+
+"Until a few years ago, the indestructibility of matter was taught in
+every university and college as one of the most solidly established
+of all facts. I remember when I was a student of chemistry," said
+Delapine, "that the professor carefully weighed a small candle and then
+burnt it away. He collected the products of combustion and demonstrated
+that the elements of which the candle was composed were only separated,
+and recombined again with the oxygen of the air. They weighed exactly
+the same as the candle (after deducting the oxygen which had united
+with them during combustion), nothing was lost. Nothing could be
+destroyed. We were further taught as an indisputable fact that
+all substances, solid, liquid or gaseous consisted of atoms--the
+smallest particles of matter which exist, which were indestructible
+and indivisible--and that there were just as many different kinds of
+atoms as there were elementary bodies, about eighty kinds in all. The
+discovery of Radium has swept all these 'facts' to the winds. So far
+from atoms being the smallest things in existence, they are found to
+contain, or perhaps consist of 'corpuscles' or 'electrons' as they are
+now called, which are a hundred million times smaller, and these are
+merely electrified vortex rings, or forms of energy. Hence matter is
+merely a form of electricity, and electricity, magnetism, light and
+heat are only varieties of energy in the form of minute waves induced
+by electrons which agitate the ether. The world is merely a mass of
+stored-up Force (energy), and this is derived from the Mind of the
+Eternal. We always come back to the same thought of Virgil's:--'Mens
+agitat molem.' Only the two thousand two hundred millionth part
+of the heat and light which issue from the sun--in other words an
+inconceivably small fraction of the whole of its energy--ever reaches
+our earth; and only the one hundred millionth part ever reaches the
+planets of our solar system. What then becomes of the remaining
+stupendous energy? Is it dissipated into illimitable space and lost
+for ever? Not at all. The Eternal Mind makes use of everything, and
+loses nothing. All this vast amount of heat, light, and electricity
+which emerges from the sun collects in different parts of the universe,
+and acts on prodigious swarms of cosmic dust and meteoric matter,
+converting them into vast nebulous accretions filled with potential
+energy. These mighty forces ultimately form the parents of fresh solar
+systems, which in their turn team with life."
+
+"My dear professor," exclaimed Villebois, charmed at his friend's
+words, "you have certainly given us an entirely new view of the
+universe. But tell me, are these psychic forces part of the same
+system?"
+
+"Psychic phenomena," answered Delapine, "and psychic forces are every
+whit as real as chemical and physical phenomena, and are subject to
+just the same unalterable laws. To quote a great American poet:--
+
+ "The Spirit World around this world of Sense
+   Floats like an atmosphere, and everywhere
+ Wafts through these earthly mists and vapours dense
+   A vital breath of more ethereal air."
+
+"But how are we to be sure that the mediums do not cheat?" asked Riche.
+
+"They all do," replied Delapine, "not always of course, but very
+frequently. The reasons are two-fold. In the case of paid mediums they
+naturally are anxious to show something for their money, and if the
+phenomena do not come off, there is a great inducement for them to
+cheat if they can do so without being detected, as it is so much less
+fatiguing than the real thing. Again there is also a great tendency to
+cheat unconsciously when in the hypnotic condition (as they usually
+are), and in such cases no blame can be attached to them. Still,
+many mediums do all they can to help the observers, and many of the
+phenomena are perfectly genuine, and all good experimenters take care
+that the mediums are under conditions in which trickery is impossible."
+
+"To me," said Riche, "what you say is perfectly reasonable, but I would
+like to ask you one question. What is life? When a man dies, will he
+live again? Is his soul destroyed outright or does it escape unaltered
+and manifest itself in other surroundings? Is the soul too subtle for
+the senses to perceive, or is it only seen when it acts through our
+bodies?"
+
+"I will endeavour to answer your question," said Delapine, "but my
+knowledge is too limited to give you really satisfactory answers.
+All attempts to explain life by experiments in the laboratory, by
+chemistry, or by physics are equally futile. Bastian, Tyndall, Büchner,
+Stokes, Haeckel, Kelvin, Butler-Burke, Schaefer, and a host of others
+have essayed to explain life, and all have failed utterly. The
+hypothesis of Arrhenius that life in the first instance was brought to
+this planet from some other world by the pressure of radiation, or the
+theory of Lord Kelvin that the primeval germ travelled here on the back
+of a meteorite can only be received with an incredulous smile as being
+more suited for a romance of the Jules Verne type than a topic for
+serious consideration.
+
+"The relation between life and energy, or between life and electricity
+or magnetism has never been established. I will even go further, I
+maintain that no such relation ever will be established. Nor will
+it ever be possible for the chemist to manufacture life out of any
+substance be it simple or compound. Life, I contend, is eternal, and
+consequently uncreated, for what has an end must of necessity have had
+a beginning. Life seems to be independent of energy, and consequently
+it will never be manufactured in the laboratory by any process, nor can
+Nature produce it 'de novo.' All efforts to describe it are futile. We
+only know that it is a mysterious 'something' which, acting through
+protoplasm, enables an organised substance or 'body' to overcome
+inertia and resist decay. The proof that life is akin to mind lies in
+the fact that as soon as the organized substance is endowed with life,
+it not only transforms other substances outside its body into its own
+substance, but it does more--it even exercises a power of selection or
+choice. It refuses one substance which may be unsuitable to its well
+being, and accepts another which it prefers for private reasons. In a
+word it endows the speck of protoplasm which constitutes the organism
+with a will of its own. It is as if it would say to the organism
+'Eritis sicut Deus scientes bonum et malum.' Is not that a proof of
+mind, eh? One thing is certain, wherever and whenever the conditions
+are such as to render life possible, life will immediately begin to
+assert itself, not by any ultra-scientific process, but through the
+eternal and unchangeable laws by and through which Nature has ever
+worked."
+
+"Is there any purpose in our being born in a frail body like this?"
+asked Riche. "In fact why should we have a body at all?"
+
+"According to my view," replied Delapine after a moment's reflection,
+"the object is to enable a minute particle of the infinite Spirit or
+Mind, which we call a soul, to be detached from our parent, and become
+a separate unit. The moment self-consciousness, or the 'ego,' as it is
+sometimes called, is established during the course of the development
+of the body, it becomes a thinking soul, and is then endowed with its
+own individuality modified by countless ancestral traits which it
+has inherited through an infinitely long series of transformations
+extending throughout the entire animal kingdom. Only in this way can
+a fraction of the Eternal Spirit which is passed on from generation
+to generation become isolated and individualized as a self-conscious
+immortal entity. And the only conceivable use of the body is to allow
+of its faculties becoming formed and developed in its 'ego' or 'self.'
+It is the growth of the body that permits of the soul acquiring the
+experience, knowledge, and attributes which together contribute to
+mould and create our human personality, and which form an essential
+step in the progress of the soul to higher planes of existence.
+
+"These appear to me to be some of the reasons why it is essential that
+the soul should be clothed in a bodily envelope as a preparation for a
+higher existence, and as soon as the soul has acquired these qualities,
+and its vitality has been transmitted to the offspring, the body has
+no further raison d'etre for existing, and therefore remains a mere
+useless shell whose future is but to die. We find the same scheme
+(although I admit it is a very imperfect simile) in the pupa stage of
+many of the insects, which is the necessary prelude to its emergence as
+the Imago, or perfect insect.
+
+"Life is so bound up with, and inseparable from Mind, that it is
+impossible for us in the present state of our knowledge to say whether
+Life is the product of Mind, or whether Mind is the product of Life.
+Our knowledge is so limited that we can hardly explain anything. For
+instance, you may ask me what is light, or electricity, or magnetism,
+or gravity, or matter even? What originates force or energy? You
+see how ignorant I am, I cannot even answer the simplest of these
+questions. You may remember that the great naturalist Ernst Haeckel
+wrote a book entitled _The Riddles of the Universe_. In that book he
+attempted to explain these riddles which I have just asked you. These
+riddles remain exactly as they were before--unanswered."
+
+"But one thing you have not answered yet," interrupted Riche. "Is
+there any absolute proof that we retain our individuality and
+self-consciousness after death, or in other words, shall we not only
+survive death but become aware of the fact."
+
+"All the researches which I and hundreds of other investigators have
+made, point without a shadow of doubt to a reply in the affirmative,"
+answered Delapine, "and yet, on the other hand, we have no absolute
+proof that the communications which mediums deliver in a trance really
+come from those who have died. By absolute proof, I mean proof of the
+same convincing nature as a demonstration in mathematics or physics.
+But if you will have a little patience I will afford you all an
+opportunity of judging for yourselves, gentlemen."
+
+"But how are we to obtain the convincing proof which you seek?"
+interposed Villebois.
+
+"By experiment, by patient research, and by reflection; not in the
+realm of physics, for that only deals with material forces, but by
+employing the utmost care and vigilance to counteract fraud and
+deception of every kind, and only by the accumulation of evidence shall
+we find the solution of the problem. There alone is to be found the
+key which will unlock the door behind which lie at present all these
+mysteries. Ah," he continued, and his eyes flashed with enthusiasm, "I
+can see it coming, I feel it in the air. The day of our salvation is
+drawing near. The Sphinx that has been silent all these centuries is at
+last beginning to move its lips. All our creeds are dead, and all our
+old faiths are dying out. A new revelation is at hand in the world of
+Spiritualism. I am fully convinced that there will be no miracles in
+the world beyond the grave, any more than there are, or (in my opinion)
+ever have been in this world, and I am further convinced that we shall
+have all these questions answered in the future life which I know
+persists beyond the grave. As the poet says:--
+
+ "'There is no death, what seems so is transition,
+ This life of mortal breath is but a suburb of the life Elysian
+ Whose portal we call death.'
+
+"The saying of the ancients, 'Mors janua vitae' (Death is the gate of
+Life) is a solemn truth which runs like a golden thread through the
+entire creative fabric. He that loseth his life shall save it, is not
+a paradox but an eternal fact. 'Follow me,' said the Master, 'and I
+will point out the way of life. I will lead you through the valley of
+death to victory.' 'Death ends all' cries a despairing world, but the
+Spirit throughout the ages answers 'Nay, it ends nothing, for thou, O
+Nazarene, hast conquered death for evermore.'
+
+"Wonders upon wonders will unfold themselves before us, this world
+cannot hold our spirits prisoners, and other worlds will become as
+accessible to us then as the suburbs of this town are at present."
+
+So striking was the personality of the professor, and the conviction
+which his words carried, that the effect on his hearers was electric,
+and for a brief space of time each one held his breath.
+
+"Don't you believe in a hell and eternal damnation?" asked Riche, who
+never believed in anything outside his own profession.
+
+"There is neither hell nor damnation for anyone--there never was, and
+there never will be," Delapine answered. "The only hell that exists is
+the one that man creates for himself, and he can create a heaven just
+as easily as a hell. There are no limitations in the future life. Life
+was meant to be enjoyed, not endured, both in this world and the next."
+
+"And what is your opinion about it all?" said Riche to Marcel.
+
+"Oh, for my part I agree with the fellow who said that life was just
+one damn thing after another."
+
+Villebois burst into a hearty laugh, in which he was joined by Delapine.
+
+"I think," said the professor, "that it is about time we woke up our
+esteemed friend Payot. It is now five minutes to ten. Will you set your
+watches to agree with mine, and then all three of you go and stand
+beside his couch while I stay here. Precisely at ten o'clock I will
+tell him to wake up. But mind it must be distinctly understood, and you
+must promise me, that you will do nothing except carefully look at your
+watches."
+
+All three left the room and crept quietly up to where Payot lay in a
+deep sleep, and took their stand around the insensible figure in front
+of them, each with his watch in his hand.
+
+"Mon Dieu," whispered Marcel to Riche, "this is like 'waking' a corpse,
+as they say in Ireland. It is positively creepy."
+
+They looked at their watches--it was two minutes to the hour.
+
+"Well, the old boy is fast enough asleep now at any-rate," said Riche
+in a half whisper. "I wonder whether Delapine will be able to do it?
+Hadn't we better rouse him up?" and as he spoke he leaned over the
+prostrate figure.
+
+"No, for God's sake, no," said Villebois in a hoarse whisper. "Remember
+what Delapine said, and our promise not to touch him."
+
+Silently the three men stood round the couch watching the second hands
+of their time-pieces rotating in the little circles.
+
+"Half a minute yet," whispered Villebois. Twenty seconds. Fifteen
+seconds. The suspense was beginning to tell upon their nerves. The
+silence in the large room was so great that even the ticking of the
+watches could be heard in the furthest corner.
+
+Ten seconds. Five seconds. Two seconds. And then--the financier gave a
+violent sneeze. One second and he opened his eyes. A moment later and
+all the watches pointed exactly to the hour. Ten o'clock had at last
+arrived.
+
+Payot sat up on the couch and stared round him.
+
+"Where am I?" he exclaimed. "What are you gentlemen doing here, you,
+Villebois, and you, Riche? Tell me what does it all mean, and what am
+I doing here? I cannot remember anything; have I been ill, or what has
+happened?"
+
+"Oh, no, my dear sir," replied Villebois, "you are quite well. Don't
+you remember you said that you felt sleepy. You must have had a little
+too much wine, which no doubt made you drowsy, eh?"
+
+"Hullo, Marcel, you there too. Give me your hand. My dear fellow I am
+delighted to meet you again," said Payot. "I suppose I must have supped
+a little too freely," he continued; "I remember having dinner--a very
+good one it was, Villebois, but what happened afterwards I have not the
+remotest recollection. Well, anyhow, I feel quite refreshed. If you do
+not mind, I will get ready to come downstairs."
+
+The three watchers then left after shaking hands with him, and returned
+to the library.
+
+"Well," said Delapine, "and did our friend wake up?"
+
+"Precisely on the stroke of ten," they all replied together.
+
+"And did he say anything to you, Marcel?"
+
+"Oh, he shook me by the hand and said he was delighted to meet me
+again."
+
+"Did he refer in any way to his fight with you?"
+
+"Not one word on the subject, professor. I am perfectly convinced that
+he has not the slightest idea that he ever had a quarrel with me."
+
+"This is perfectly incomprehensible," said Riche. "'Pon my word,
+Delapine, you make me afraid of you."
+
+A moment later Payot, looking none the worse for his enforced sleep,
+entered the room.
+
+"Hullo, here you all are," he cried. "I have just been looking for
+you. And pray, where is madame?" he continued, as he sat down, while
+Villebois handed him a liqueur.
+
+"My wife had a bad headache and retired to bed," said Villebois, "and
+Céleste went to look after her with a plentiful supply of vinaigre and
+smelling salts."
+
+"And Renée?"
+
+"Oh, Renée, I don't know where she is. I think she has gone to practice
+some music."
+
+"My dear Marcel, what is the matter with your eye?" said Payot. "It
+looks as if you had received a blow there. You have not been fighting
+with anyone surely?"
+
+"Oh dear, no. As a matter of fact I slipped as I was going down
+the steps of the house and struck my eye against the corner of the
+balustrade."
+
+"I hope it is nothing serious, my dear Marcel? It is your duty to see
+to him, Villebois, these little accidents sometimes become serious.
+Anyhow, you could not be in better hands than under the care of my
+excellent friend here. I would not have been the cause of this accident
+for worlds, is that not so, my good friend Marcel? I only wish I could
+have been in time to prevent it."
+
+Marcel looked up at Riche, who winked significantly.
+
+"He will be all right to-morrow morning," said Villebois.
+
+"I remember once when I was a young man in the army," Payot remarked,
+"a rude fellow stood in my way as I was walking along the pavement with
+a young lady on my arm. I promptly hit him on the head with my stick,
+when he replied by giving me a terrible black eye with his fist. I ran
+after him, but the rascal was too quick for me, and he escaped. I had
+arranged to go to a fancy dress ball that night, attired as Romeo, and
+I had the costume specially made for me. Of course the costume had to
+be discarded, as I could not very well appear as a Romeo with a black
+eye. So what do you think I did? I got the costumier to white-wash
+my face all over, and dress me up as a pierrot. And a very handsome
+pierrot I made, I assure you. Ah! I was an uncommonly fine fellow in
+those days. Hullo," he added, looking at his watch, "Good gracious me,
+it is past ten. What have you three been doing since dinner?"
+
+"Oh, we have been entertained by the professor," said Marcel,
+smiling in spite of himself. "He has been giving us a discourse on
+spiritualism."
+
+"Ah, most interesting, most instructive I am sure," replied Payot. "M.
+Delapine knows the immense interest I take in those things. You know I
+have always maintained there is a great deal of truth in it, haven't I,
+Marcel?"
+
+"Oh, Lord, deliver us," said Marcel aside to Riche. "Melted butter
+isn't in it. I wonder what he'll say next. My word, isn't he coming
+round. Surely he's growing dotty," and Marcel screwed his monocle into
+his left eye and gazed at old Payot with a dubious smile.
+
+"Don't you remember Delapine's words when he hypnotised him?" asked
+Riche in a whisper.
+
+"Oh yes, of course I do. How very extraordinary! Everything Delapine
+says seems to come true to the letter. Well, who would have thought
+it," and then he added sotto voce, "It beats Alice in Wonderland."
+
+Delapine shut his eyes and placed his finger-tips together.
+
+"What are you thinking of, my dear professor?" asked Villebois.
+
+"Capital, capital," replied Delapine, rousing himself at the question
+and smiling with great satisfaction. "This is better than I expected.
+We shall have a great séance to-morrow--a great séance. Now I am sure
+of success," he continued as he watched the mental transformation of
+Payot. "The only discord I feared is removed. Harmony will prevail."
+
+"Will you take some more whisky, professor?" asked Villebois.
+
+"No, thanks, I am rather tired."
+
+"I shall 'whisky' to bed," interposed Marcel. "If I don't lie down, I
+shall soon have to lie up," he added with a laugh. "I feel bruised all
+over, like a cake of dough that has been pounded with a rolling-pin."
+
+Payot looked at him in astonishment, wondering what he referred to, and
+turned to Villebois for an explanation.
+
+"Oh, don't pay any attention to Marcel. I think at times he does not
+know himself what he means. You see," he added, "poets are quite
+different from ordinary mortals like us."
+
+"That is why they require a licence, I suppose," said Riche. "We only
+hesitate to believe him when he is speaking the truth."
+
+"You are very unkind to rob a poor poet of his character," said Marcel.
+
+"Impossible in your case," said Riche laughing. "You have none to lose."
+
+"Upon my soul, you will be trying to rob me of my shadow next."
+
+"Then we shall begin to believe you without the shadow of a doubt."
+
+"Well, gentlemen, what do you say to our all going to bed?" asked
+Villebois. "Good-night, Monsieur Payot, and may fortune smile on
+to-morrow's séance. And now, my dear professor," he continued, turning
+to Delapine, "I am sure that you will need a good rest before you start
+your task of calling up the spirits from the vasty deep."
+
+"Upon my word, I am almost afraid to go to bed," said Marcel, as they
+passed upstairs to their rooms which were next to each other. "I shall
+be dreaming of ghosts and goblins all night, and imagining that I see
+the portraits walking out of their frames."
+
+"Believe me you will see more wonderful things than that, my boy,
+before you are a day older," said Villebois as he shook hands with him.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+THE SEANCE
+
+ "It is the unexpected which always happens."
+
+ D'Israeli.
+
+ "Le passage est bien court de la joie aux douleurs."
+
+ Victor Hugo.
+
+
+At last the long-looked-for day of the promised séance arrived, and
+in the evening after dinner Madame Villebois, anxious to carry out
+Delapine's instructions down to the most minute particular, busied
+herself in preparing all the details for the arrangement of the room.
+A sound sleep the previous night had completely restored the good
+lady's nerves, and the professor's assurance that M. Payot had not the
+slightest recollection of what had occurred had quite allayed her fears.
+
+"My dear, I assure you that Marcel and Payot are now the best of
+friends," said the doctor, "and everybody is in the best of spirits."
+
+"But how could that have possibly been brought about?" asked madame a
+little dubiously.
+
+"Ah, I see you don't know Delapine yet," replied her husband. "He is
+a marvel. I really believe that he could tame a Bengal tiger with
+a single gesture, and as for M. Payot, he is just like wax in the
+professor's hands. You need not have the slightest fear about our
+friend Marcel either. He has not only forgiven Payot, but has made him
+positively forget that there ever was a difference between them."
+
+Madame merely shrugged her shoulders, but a glance at the beaming face
+of the poet who happened to enter the room at the moment, entirely
+reassured her.
+
+As for the other members of the house party, needless to say they were
+all on the tip-toe of expectation, not unmixed in the case of Renée
+with a certain amount of anxiety.
+
+Delapine returned from the Sorbonne rather earlier than usual, in
+order to see that all the necessary arrangements were made in strict
+accordance with his wishes.
+
+At his suggestion his host had given up for the séance a large room
+opening into the conservatory, and it was here that Delapine found
+Madame Villebois busy getting everything in readiness. All the blinds
+had been closely drawn down, and only a solitary paraffin lamp threw a
+subdued light over the apartment.
+
+A heavy circular oak table had been placed in the centre of the room,
+and round this table were set some eight or nine chairs. The walls
+had been bared of all pictures and curtains, and with the exception
+of the table and chairs and a short grand piano, the only piece of
+furniture occupying the room was a large lightly built cabinet, which
+had been specially constructed of laths nailed together, and the whole
+surrounded by a green baize curtain. This curtain was so arranged
+that it reached the entire height of the cabinet, and it was simply
+folded in front so that its edges could be hooked back and aside, thus
+allowing the contents of the cabinet to be clearly visible. The result
+of this arrangement of the green curtain was that there was only one
+opening, where its edges nearly met in the middle line facing the
+audience.
+
+This idea had been insisted upon by Delapine in order to obviate all
+possibility of fraud or collusion, so that before he went to sleep
+in the cabinet, every one of those present at the séance might have
+an opportunity of examining every nook and corner. As a further
+precaution, Delapine himself had seen that all the doors and windows
+were securely fastened on the inside, with the exception of the single
+entrance from the dining-room. And to crown all, a camera was fixed
+in position at one end of the room under the special care of Riche to
+enable him to take an indisputable record of any striking phenomena.
+
+The first to arrive was Pierre, who in greeting his hostess, tendered
+his most profuse apologies for his unavoidable absence, explaining that
+nothing but a most urgent call to an appointment at his office could
+have taken him away at such a moment from his charming friends. And
+then, after a few words to each of the other guests, he quietly sat
+down next to Riche.
+
+A moment later M. Payot, fresh and jaunty as if nothing had happened,
+came in beaming and wearing a large floral decoration in his
+button-hole, from behind the shelter of whose foliage he showered
+smiles on everybody.
+
+Villebois nudged his better half and entreated her with a look not to
+broach the subject of the previous evening's quarrel, but she failed to
+take the hint.
+
+"Ah, delighted to see you again, my dear madame," said the financier,
+as he shook hands in the most friendly manner. "I trust you have fully
+recovered from your indisposition of the last evening?"
+
+"Thank you, my dear M. Payot," replied the good lady smiling, "and I
+also hope that you have recovered from your fight."
+
+"My fight, madame. What do you mean? I have not fought anyone since my
+justly celebrated duel with M. Camembert, editor of the _Journal de
+Paris_ fifteen years ago."
+
+"Why, I mean your fight with Marcel last evening."
+
+"My fight with Marcel? My dear madame, surely you must be dreaming? I
+never had a quarrel with my little friend Marcel in all my life. Isn't
+it the truth, Villebois?" and Payot, completely mystified, appealed to
+his host for confirmation.
+
+Poor Villebois looked terrified.
+
+"For God's sake, my dear, do be quiet," he whispered, and then added in
+a louder tone, "Pray excuse my wife, she has been reading a dreadful
+account of a fight between the police and the Apaches. That, I fear,
+added to her nervous headache has completely confused her mind about
+the events of last evening."
+
+The good lady was about to remonstrate with her husband, when Céleste
+with great tact soothed her feelings, and adroitly turned her thoughts
+in another direction.
+
+Payot, apparently satisfied, accepted the explanation, and at length
+order and peace were established, and everyone sat breathlessly waiting
+for the professor.
+
+Seeing that everything was at last quiet, and that all his audience
+were composed and ready, Delapine, who had been assuring himself that
+his instructions with regard to the cabinet had been properly attended
+to, moved towards the centre of the room and said:
+
+"You must not imagine, my friends, that spiritualistic phenomena can
+always be produced at will, like a physical experiment in a laboratory.
+Often no phenomena take place at all, and still more often certain
+unknown influences modify or alter them, so that frequently we obtain
+only imperfect results, or phenomena entirely different from what
+we expected. You should remember that really we are here to observe
+and not to experiment. Let us now join hands round the table," and
+so saying the professor, having lowered the lamp, placed his hands
+wide apart with his fingers lightly resting on the table. The others
+proceeded to do the same in order to complete the circle.
+
+At this moment Riche heard a slight movement, and quietly turning his
+head noticed Pierre getting up from his chair.
+
+In spite of the dim light Pierre saw that Riche was watching his
+movements and walking up to the doctor on tip-toe whispered in his ear,
+"Please tell the company as soon as this performance is over, that I
+was obliged to go to my chambers at once on urgent business, and much
+as I regret it, it will be quite impossible for me to return to-night."
+
+Riche squeezed his hand and nodding assent, Pierre unobserved by the
+others left the room.
+
+Silently, and in a state of expectation bordering almost on excitement
+the eight members of the circle sat round the table; Delapine, Renée,
+Villebois, Madame Villebois, Payot, Céleste, Riche and Marcel, the
+latter completing the circle with Delapine.
+
+The professor was the first to break the silence--
+
+"I must request each one of you," he said authoritatively, "on no
+account to touch any one of the four legs of this table. I have
+specially tied tissue paper round each leg in such a way that if any
+one of you touches it the paper will be soiled or crumpled."
+
+"Why did you put a red screen round the lamp, and turn the light down
+low like that?" asked Riche.
+
+"For the same reason that you use a red light when developing a
+photographic plate," replied Delapine. "Because it is well-known that a
+white light would spoil the plate. And in the same way the vibrations
+of white light interfere with the intensely rapid vibrations which
+produce our phenomena. But hush," he continued in an audible whisper,
+"I feel the presence of some mysterious force."
+
+"Can you perceive anyone besides us, professor?" asked Riche in an awed
+whisper.
+
+"Yes," replied Delapine.
+
+ "The stranger at my fireside cannot see
+ The forms, nor hear the sounds I hear,
+ He but perceives what Is; while unto me
+ All that Has Been is visible and clear.
+
+"Do you suppose for a moment," he continued, "that we are able to be in
+touch with everything that goes on around us, when all our knowledge
+of the outside world is obtained through the five kinds of vibrations
+which reach our senses? I assure you there are a thousand varieties
+of vibrations of which we are entirely unconscious, but they can be
+perceived by the soul when it is freed from its earthly environment.
+Now I will try whether I have the power to move matter by my will.
+All of you keep your hands lightly touching the table, and do not on
+any account break the circuit. Each one of you must endeavour to be
+perfectly convinced of my power."
+
+For a few moments nothing happened, then gradually each one felt a
+tremor run through his fingers, and the table began to heave up and
+down first on one side and then on the other.
+
+"The table seems to be alive," said Renée alarmed. "It moves in spite
+of all my efforts to keep it still."
+
+"Yes," said Marcel, "I have been pressing down with all my might, but
+it is of no use. Look, look, it is rising up."
+
+Slowly, but none the less surely, the table rose bodily, until at last
+the members of the circle were compelled to stand up in order to keep
+their hands still resting on it, as ordered by Delapine.
+
+"Press, press with all your might," cried Delapine loudly, "and see if
+you can overcome my will."
+
+All pressed heavily in their desire to carry out implicitly every
+command of the professor, but their efforts were in vain. At last the
+table rose to such a height that the whole company were compelled to
+stand on their chairs, but even then their united pressure was of no
+avail for the table steadily rose above their heads.
+
+"Now, Riche, quick," called out Delapine, "take a stereoscopic
+photograph that all may see that the table is actually suspended in the
+air above the ground."
+
+"Right," said Riche, as he quickly took a couple of snapshots with
+magnesium flashlight.
+
+Immediately afterwards Delapine, who was standing on tip-toe on his
+chair, suddenly withdrew his hands from the table as it rested poised
+above his head.
+
+"Stand back, stand back," shouted the professor, and as they all obeyed
+the instruction the table, weighing about half a hundredweight, fell
+with a tremendous crash, breaking one of its legs in two.
+
+"Good God!" exclaimed Marcel, "what a smash. It nearly caved my head
+in. I was too much interested watching it to jump back when you
+shouted."
+
+"Anyhow I shall have a couple of good stereo negatives to convince all
+unbelievers," said Riche.
+
+"It just missed my toe," said Payot, laughing, "but all the same I am
+not yet convinced. The professor can make the table rise in spite of
+our united efforts to hold it down, but I defy him to keep it down when
+we all try to raise it up."
+
+"I can do that with the greatest ease," said Delapine.
+
+"The question before the House," said Marcel in English, "is that
+Professor Delapine do exercise his will to prevent us from raising
+up this table while we use all our strength in lifting it. Are the
+honourable members agreed? I think the 'Ayes' have it."
+
+"Now, ladies and gentlemen," he continued, "let us put our fingers
+under the edge of the table. So--yes, that's right. Now then, one, two,
+three, and all together--up she goes," and the four men and the ladies
+strained until their arms ached, but the table refused to budge even
+the fraction of an inch.
+
+Suddenly Delapine removed his hands before any of the circle had time
+to cease pulling, and called out loudly, "I retire, you have your way."
+
+Such was the force exerted by the members of the circle that the table
+seemed to be thrown into the air.
+
+The jerk was so great that it sent them all reeling, and Villebois was
+only just in time to save his wife from falling.
+
+The guests stared at each other in amazement.
+
+"I am sorry your table is broken," said Delapine to the host, "but
+really you must blame the sitters for pulling so hard."
+
+"Oh, that is nothing, my dear Delapine. The carpenter can mend it
+to-morrow, and it will be as good as ever."
+
+"By the way, ladies and gentlemen," said the professor, "what do you
+say to a little music? I think it will calm our nerves, and render us
+in a more favourable state of mind for some far more wonderful things
+which I think I shall be able to show you. Perhaps Mademoiselle Payot
+will favour us with some sweet melody with her violin."
+
+Renée blushed, and the guests signifying their approval, she went and
+fetched her music.
+
+"What shall I play, Monsieur Delapine?" she asked a little nervously.
+
+"Let me see. I think Sarasate's 'Zigeunerweisen' is very charming, but
+no, let us have Schubert's 'Ave Maria' if you approve. It is a very
+sweet, soothing air. Or, if you haven't got that perfect, you might
+give us Chopin's 'Nocturne in E flat.' I think this haunting melody one
+of the most delightful refrains in the world. It is truly an inspired
+air."
+
+Renée turned her violin, which was a very fine specimen of Villaume's
+skill, given her by Dr. Villebois on her last birthday.
+
+"Won't you accompany her?" said Villebois, for Delapine with his
+acutely sensitive nature and remarkable talent had developed a
+technique on the pianoforte which was envied by many of the great
+artistes, and would have secured him a European reputation had he
+turned his gifts in the direction of music instead of physics.
+
+Villebois opened the grand piano which stood at the end of the room.
+
+"No," replied Delapine, "I will take a short sleep with your
+permission." And he folded his hands with his long sensitive
+finger-tips touching each other as was his habit, while he sank back
+in his chair. His face became suddenly transfigured, and changed to an
+almost death-like pallor. Gradually he appeared to go off into a kind
+of trance.
+
+Renée, having tuned up her instrument, began playing.
+
+Suddenly the guests were petrified with astonishment by hearing the
+piano accurately accompanying her all by itself. They could see the
+notes being struck as if by some invisible hand. What they particularly
+noticed was the exquisite touch, the perfect time, and the wonderful
+technique of the inconnu. They looked from the pianoforte to the
+professor, and observed his fingers rapidly twitching in perfect time
+with the corresponding notes on the piano.
+
+"Do you notice Delapine's fingers?" whispered Riche to Villebois. "See,
+they are keeping time with the music."
+
+"It's more than wonderful, it's marvellous," replied Villebois.
+
+But the professor was in a profound state of coma. He never stirred,
+and they could only detect the nervous movements of his fingers, and a
+corresponding tremble of his lips.
+
+Renée felt inspired. The fact that her adored fiancé was accompanying
+her, caused her to redouble her efforts, and she far surpassed her
+extreme powers. Even her teacher, who was very reserved in his
+compliments, would have been unable to have detected a fault had he
+been present.
+
+The conversation which had begun in whispers stopped by common consent,
+and all listened enraptured.
+
+At length the music ceased, and Renée observed the silent approval in
+the faces of all the guests, but the professor never woke. Villebois
+got up with the intention of awakening the professor, but Renée seized
+his arm, and putting her finger to her lips, bade him sit down quietly.
+All the guests remained sitting in profound silence.
+
+Suddenly Renée walked over to where Delapine was sleeping, and clasped
+him by the hand. She evidently felt something, for she relinquished his
+hand and stole softly out of the room, leaving the door wide open.
+
+Riche noticed Renée's departure, and whispered to Céleste, who silently
+left the room to look for Renée. The guests had been waiting in
+silence for about a minute when suddenly they heard the organ (which
+Villebois had erected at the end of the library) pealing out the air
+of the "Marche Funèbre." First came the prelude, then the solemn tones
+of death and the mourners and the funeral service, and gradually the
+Vox Celeste and the Vox Humana pealed forth the triumphant notes
+"Oh, Death, where is thy sting, oh, Grave, thy victory? For Death is
+swallowed up in Victory." The guests were entranced. The organ, which
+had a superb tone, was played as it had never been played before.
+
+"Surely angels must be playing it," said Céleste to Riche, who had
+tracked her to the library, and found her working the bellows with all
+her might. But the keys and stops moved of their own accord. At length
+the air was finished, and the guests who had stood in awe just inside
+the door of the library returned to the séance. Delapine had just woken
+up.
+
+"Well," he said to the astonished guests, "I have had such a curious
+dream. I dreamt that I was in heaven and that I was playing the 'March
+Funèbre' to a select crowd of angels."
+
+"By Jove," said Marcel, "I would go to heaven to-morrow if I could hear
+music like that. Why, my dear professor, I never heard such music in my
+life, and I have heard some pretty good stuff, I assure you. You would
+make Paderewski weep with mingled envy and rapture. His music one can
+only compare to a school-girl strumming after yours."
+
+"Oh, please, professor, give us one more piece," said Madame Villebois
+and Céleste in one breath.
+
+"Well, if I can, you shall have one more, but I shall want a rest
+afterwards, as it fatigues me more than you have any idea of."
+
+He whispered something to Renée, and she at once rose and tuned up her
+violin. Placing the piece of music in front of her, she began playing
+the prelude to 'En Sourdine' by Tellam. Then suddenly the piano took up
+the refrain.
+
+Have you ever read Dumas Fils' 'La Dame aux Camelias'? If you have
+you will understand the piece. You remember where Marguerite has been
+forsaken by her lover owing to the pressure put on him by his good but
+mistaken father. Well, this piece reproduces the scene, and you can
+positively hear, and even feel the poor girl sobbing her heart out. And
+then comes the delightful refrain, and finally the exultant triumph of
+Love. Never was melody more rapturously poured forth. The guests hung
+on the refrain, and at the conclusion Madame Villebois was silently
+weeping.
+
+"I propose," said Marcel, unconsciously imitating the speaker of the
+House of Commons on the conclusion of Sheridan's great speech during
+the debate on Warren Hastings, "that we do now adjourn to the smoking
+room to recover from the sublime effects of Delapine's and Renée's
+melodies."
+
+The professor went to his room to obtain his much needed rest on the
+sofa, while the ladies chatted together.
+
+"Dear ladies," said Marcel, when they had sat down, "what Tennyson
+wrote in the Chorus Song of the 'Lotus Eaters' is quite appropriate to
+what we have just heard:--
+
+ "There is sweet music here that softer falls
+ Than petals from blown roses on the grass,
+ Or night dews on still waters between walls
+ Of shadowy granite, in a gleaming pass;
+ Music that gentlier on the spirit lies,
+ Than tired eyelids upon tired eyes;
+ Music that brings sweet sleep down from the blissful skies."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+THE DEBACLE
+
+ La vie est vaine:
+   Un peu d'amour,
+ Un peu de haine,
+   Et puis--bon jour.
+
+ La vie est brève;
+   Un peu d'espoir,
+ Un peu de rêve,
+   Et puis--bon soir.
+
+ (Monte-Naken).
+
+ Concurritis horae momento cità mors venit.
+
+ (_Horace_, S. 1 1.7).
+
+ "Amer sanz paine rien ne vault."--Old French Proverb.
+
+
+"Professor," said Monsieur Payot after Delapine had had a good rest,
+and the guests had assembled in the room of the séance once more. "Did
+you really play the piano?"
+
+"Of course," said Delapine, "and the organ too. Did you not see me send
+your daughter into the library to work the bellows?"
+
+"Yes, I distinctly remember her tip-toeing out of the room, but I had
+no idea she went for that purpose. Besides she has never learnt to play
+the organ."
+
+"But you remember, papa, I used to work the bellows in the old village
+church."
+
+"That is true, Renée," said Payot, patting her on the head.
+
+Renée looked up, surprised, and her eyes filled with tears, as this was
+the first time she had been caressed by her father since her mother
+died.
+
+"What on earth can Henri have done," she asked herself, "to have
+effected such a wonderful change in my father? I really must ask him
+when we are alone."
+
+"Can you explain how you managed to play?" asked Riche.
+
+"Did you notice my fingers jerking?" replied Delapine.
+
+"Yes," answered both Riche and Villebois together, "and we noticed that
+they kept time with the music."
+
+"I think it would be more accurate to say that the music kept time with
+my fingers, eh?" said Delapine smiling.
+
+"But that does not explain anything," said Riche.
+
+"On the contrary," said Delapine, "it explains a great deal."
+
+"In what way?"
+
+"I will try to point it out to you.
+
+"A nervous impulse or current is generated in my brain which flows
+along my nerves. This current, or series of waves, extends far beyond
+my body, and my will can influence its direction and force. Thus I
+can make it move in any direction I please. I can make it lift, or
+depress, or shift the objects lying in its path. Thus I can cause this
+wave-force to depress the keys of a piano, or an organ either softly
+or loudly. I can even cause it to give rise to taps and noises, and I
+can control these noises, and by generating supplementary overtones I
+can imitate any instrument I please. Since this nervous impulse passes
+down my nerves, it causes the twitching movements in my fingers which
+you observed, and these are synchronous with the movements of the keys
+of the instrument, or in popular language both my fingers and the keys
+move simultaneously."
+
+"What is the nature of this impulse?" asked Riche.
+
+"That I cannot tell you. I only know the vibrations are exceedingly
+rapid. Some people call it odic force, others magnetic fluid, others
+nervo-magnetic impulses. But these terms are worse than valueless, they
+are actually harmful, as they tend to mislead by giving rise to the
+idea that the impulse is known and explained, whereas we are profoundly
+ignorant of the nature of the waves. You will invariably find ignorant
+people ascribing these unknown impulses to magnetism or electricity,
+and calling it magnetic force, but it has nothing in common with
+magnetism, since no magnetic field is developed, nor has it, as far
+as we know, anything to do with electricity. People when they know
+nothing about a force give it a mysterious name, and imagine by so
+doing that they have explained it, whereas they have done nothing of
+the sort. If I guess rightly, this force which emanates from my will
+acts much in the same way that gravity does, by pulling two bodies
+towards each other. When I project the force in a strong current, or
+as we physicists call it an ethereal wave-motion, into the table, I
+can either make this force positive and draw the table away from the
+ground, or make it negative and thus neutralise the combined pulling
+force which you all exerted to raise the table. But this is merely a
+surmise. Future research may upset the theory altogether, or at any
+rate profoundly modify it. You see how ignorant I am. Nevertheless,
+although I cannot explain this force I have the power not only to move
+heavy bodies, but to cause instruments to play, and even apparently
+to create material bodies by causing the molecules of a body to leave
+it and to re-combine to form another body outside. Nor is this power
+confined to the immediate vicinity. I can affect bodies, and cause
+them to appear in phantom form at prodigious distances away. You may
+well shrug your shoulders and shake your heads and smile, but you will
+be compelled to repeat what Tertullian wrote seventeen centuries ago,
+'Certum est quia impossibile est.'"[8]
+
+"Are these wonderful phenomena described in books?" asked Riche.
+
+"Certainly," replied the professor, "they have been recorded in
+innumerable books for thousands of years past."
+
+"I should like to study the subject," added Riche. "Can you recommend
+me a good text book to commence my studies with?"
+
+"Begin by reading the four Gospels, and the Acts of the Apostles," said
+Delapine with a smile.
+
+"Are you serious, professor?" asked Riche.
+
+"Never more so, I assure you. I know no better books to begin your
+studies with. Jesus Christ was not only endowed with the greatest
+amount of psychic power the world has ever known, but all his
+disciples (with one important exception) were specially chosen for
+their mediumistic power. They failed to select psychists to replace
+them, and as they could not transmit the power, the moment they died
+all miracles, _i. e_., supernormal phenomena ceased. And now, my dear
+Villebois, pray bring me another table and remove this broken one."
+
+Villebois did as Delapine requested, and the guests sat down round it
+again.
+
+"I feel the presence of some spirit," Delapine remarked. "Let us put
+our hands on the table and find out if it is so. Everyone present will
+please keep his feet at the back of the chair as no one must touch the
+table with his foot, even by accident."
+
+Having assured himself that his instructions had been obeyed, he asked
+them all to join hands and to wait in silence.
+
+After waiting patiently ten minutes a slight tremor shook the table.
+
+"Three raps will mean 'yes,' two raps 'no.'
+
+"Are there any spirits present?" asked Delapine.
+
+Three knocks were heard and felt by all the sitters.
+
+"What is your name?"
+
+Slowly the raps spelt out M-a-r-i-a L-e-o-n-o-r-a.
+
+"Maria Leonora, why, that is my dear mother's maiden name," whispered
+Renée to Villebois.
+
+Again the raps spelt out M-a-r-i-a L-e-o-n-o-r-a.
+
+The financier turned pale as death, while Renée trembled all over.
+
+"I want Monsieur Delapine to retire to the cabinet, I think I can then
+collect power enough to appear and speak," was rapped out.
+
+Delapine leaned over to Riche and whispered in his ear,
+
+"Whatever you do, you must not disturb me nor touch any materialised
+form you may see without permission from the person. Get the camera
+ready and use your largest plate, and be prepared to expose by the
+magnesium light the instant when you get permission by the voice. Now
+put the red shade over the lamp and turn it down lower."
+
+In the meantime Delapine entered the cabinet and lay down on the couch
+which was the sole piece of furniture inside it.
+
+Immediately he fell into a kind of trance. The curtains were half open,
+and the guests could dimly observe him and hear his slow measured
+breathing.
+
+Slowly a mist seemed to issue forth from the cabinet which gradually
+condensed into the outlines of a woman attired in a black silk dress
+with a white lace collar.
+
+In a few seconds the form could be distinctly seen moving towards the
+guests. She approached Renée who recognised her in the dim light.
+
+"Is that you, darling mother?" she cried, "you don't seem changed a
+bit."
+
+"Yes, Renée, I am your mother, and you don't appear changed either, as
+I have seen you ever so many times since I passed over. I have often
+stood at your bedside and watched over you. Turn the lamp higher,
+I have power enough left to stand it for a few moments. But I must
+envelope myself in a white garment just to prevent the light from
+affecting me."
+
+They turned the light up, and all the guests beheld the features of a
+beautiful woman with light golden-brown wavy hair, enveloped in a white
+gauze-like fabric.
+
+"Pray don't touch me," she said to Payot, who tried to put his arms
+round her. "You will kill my medium if you do."
+
+"What!" said Villebois, "Do you mean to say that it will injure M.
+Delapine?"
+
+"Indeed it will," she replied, "but I cannot tell you the reason."
+
+"Oh, my dear husband," she said, "promise me that you will be kind to
+my little Renée. Your conduct to her since I passed over has caused me
+such intense grief."
+
+"I promise," said Payot, feeling heartily ashamed of himself.
+
+"May I take a photograph with a flashlight?" enquired Riche.
+
+"You may, but you will not see me any more, for it will cause my form
+to melt away. As it is, I can only stay a few minutes."
+
+"Oh, mother dear," said Renée, "give me a kiss--just one kiss before
+you leave me."
+
+"Do not be anxious, Renée. I shall see you again very soon. And now,
+sir, you may take my photograph as I am about to be called away."
+
+Riche, having focused the camera, pressed the ball, and a dazzling
+light followed as the magnesium powder blazed up.
+
+Everyone saw the figure of Renée's mother and Delapine asleep behind
+her in the cabinet.
+
+As the smoke dispersed, the guests observed the figure slowly melting
+away in the air.
+
+She was gone.
+
+A female voice was heard behind the curtain, "Au revoir, Renée, my
+child, I shall soon see you again."
+
+Villebois turned up the light and looked into the cabinet. Delapine was
+sleeping like a child. He stepped up to the professor as if to wake
+him, but Riche remembering his orders, sprang forward and pulled him
+back.
+
+"Don't let anyone wake Delapine," he cried. "He warned me to allow no
+one to disturb him, but to let him wake up naturally."
+
+Suddenly Marcel called out, "Riche, Riche come here quickly. Don't you
+smell something?"
+
+"Yes," said Riche, "you are right, there is something burning, I can
+smell it."
+
+They both ran into the next room, and on opening the door found
+the landing full of dense smoke. Hurrying back they each took one
+of the girls by the arm and rushed out of the room and through the
+conservatory into the garden, followed by Payot, while Villebois ran
+after them with Madame Villebois on his arm. But they were all too
+concerned about their own safety to bestow a thought on the professor,
+who remained in the cabinet.
+
+Villebois and Marcel, having seen the ladies safe in the summer-house,
+ran round to the garden gate and hurried to the nearest fire alarm,
+while the others ran to the house to ascertain the cause of the fire.
+Renée looked round and missed her lover.
+
+"Henri! Henri!" she cried, "where are you? They have left him in the
+cabinet. O God be merciful!"
+
+She ran after Riche in an agony of fear, "Quick, doctor, come and help
+me and get the professor away, he is asleep in the cabinet."
+
+"My dear child, I dare not wake him; he told me on no account to
+disturb him, but we can stand by and remove him as soon as there is any
+danger. It will only be the work of a minute to carry him out into the
+garden. You need not be alarmed, there is nothing to fear." At this
+moment Céleste joined them.
+
+"What can have caused the fire?" she asked.
+
+"Oh, pray don't discuss that now. Let us set to work to put it out,"
+said Riche.
+
+"Do you think Pierre has had anything to do with this?"
+
+"How could Pierre have done it? He is not in the house," replied Riche,
+"He left some time ago; don't you remember his telling us that he had
+to go to his office at once, and asking us to apologise to Madame
+Villebois for him?"
+
+"Of course I do," replied Céleste, "but I am not so sure that he did
+leave the house."
+
+"What do you mean?" asked Renée, who had heard her sister's remark.
+
+"I am afraid he wants to harm Professor Delapine," said Céleste.
+
+"Nonsense," cried Renée, "you surely don't mean to say he wants to
+injure Delapine?"
+
+"No, no," said Riche, getting alarmed in turn, "she didn't mean
+that exactly, she merely meant to say--that we must set to work to
+extinguish the fire if we want to save the house. Now, mademoiselle,
+you go back to the summer-house with Céleste, and don't stir until I
+come back, and I promise you no harm shall come to Delapine. Meanwhile
+I will walk round the house."
+
+With these words he left the two girls, and proceeded to assist the
+others in tracing the source of the fire.
+
+"I wonder if there can be any truth in Céleste's remark," muttered
+Riche to himself. "No, no, what Céleste is saying is all nonsense, I
+will never believe it. I feel convinced that Pierre is in his chambers
+by this time."
+
+On the day before the séance, Pierre had purchased a quantity of
+shavings and a large bottle of naphtha together with some phosphorous
+which he dissolved in it.
+
+"Ah," he said to himself, "this will make a famous blaze, and no one
+will be able to guess who did it."
+
+On arriving at the house of Dr. Villebois some time after dinner on the
+evening of the séance, he availed himself of a favourable opportunity,
+at a moment when the servant was not looking, to deposit a small black
+bag in a corner of the hall. Just at the beginning of the séance, as
+will be remembered, he slipped out of the room and recovering his bag
+from its hiding place, went cautiously upstairs to Riche's bedroom,
+taking extra precautions that no one should see him enter. Quickly
+making a small heap of the shavings under the bed, he soaked them with
+the mixture of naptha and phosphorous. Then making sure that everything
+was in order for his dastardly purpose he left the room as stealthily
+as he had entered it, noiselessly locking the door behind him, and
+placing the key in his pocket. "Now," he muttered, "I must get back to
+the 'spiritualists' and watch their movements from my place of vantage,
+and then mon brave Delapine, we shall see."
+
+Pierre returned to the room adjoining the séance room, which opened
+into the conservatory, and taking up a position behind a curtain from
+where he could see what went on without being observed, he cautiously
+opened the little phial containing some of the liquid he had stolen
+from Paul's laboratory on the evening of his visit to the analyst, and
+proceeded to fill a small hypodermic syringe with the fluid.
+
+"Confound that fire," he muttered. "It seems an uncommonly long time
+in starting. I'll sneak back and see if anything has gone wrong." No
+sooner had he opened the door of the dining-room, when he perceived
+the strong odour of burning wood and naptha, and looking up the stairs
+he observed a bluish cloud of smoke slowly making its way along the
+ceiling, and spreading down the stairs.
+
+"That seems to be all right," he said to himself, as he returned to his
+hiding-place.
+
+In about five minutes' time the smoke began slowly to penetrate the
+room and make its way into the séance chamber.
+
+"Keep calm, keep calm," he said to himself, as he heard a commotion
+among the guests in the adjoining room.
+
+Peeping through the keyhole, Pierre saw the guests hurriedly rise up
+and rush out through the conservatory into the garden.
+
+As soon as he had ascertained that the last person had left the room,
+he cautiously opened the door and crept into the séance room. He first
+adjusted the blinds of the conservatory window and door, so that no
+light could penetrate, and then turned up the lights sufficiently high
+to observe the professor in the cabinet. There he was, clear enough,
+sleeping as calmly as an infant.
+
+Pierre cautiously looked round the room to make sure that no one was
+watching him, and when he had thoroughly satisfied himself on that
+point, he crept into the cabinet, and kneeling down beside the sleeping
+man, paused for a moment. A feeling of fear, almost amounting to
+terror, unnerved him for a few seconds, and then mentally upbraiding
+himself for his cowardice, he cautiously rolled back the professor's
+shirt sleeve and gently picked up a fold of the skin. Holding the
+injection syringe in his other hand, he thrust the point well home into
+the tissues.
+
+The guests in the garden were suddenly startled by an exclamation from
+Riche.
+
+"Look," he cried, pointing to his bedroom window out of which a wreath
+of dense smoke was curling.
+
+"Follow me, there is the fire." The whole party ran round the garden
+into the house. Villebois flew to the telephone to hurry up the fire
+brigade, while the others hastened upstairs through the blinding smoke
+to the source of the mischief in Riche's bedroom. But the smoke was too
+suffocating to effect an entrance, and the guests stood on the landing
+half dazed with fear and excitement. They all tied handkerchiefs round
+their mouths, and following Riche's directions endeavoured to quench
+the flames.
+
+Dr. Riche ran downstairs to obtain help, and passed Villebois, who was
+making his way to the bedroom through the smoke.
+
+"Ma foi!" said Riche to himself, "I can't leave Delapine like this.
+I must get him out of the house in spite of what he said, whether he
+likes it or not," and putting his thoughts into practice he ran down
+into the dining room.
+
+"I'll swear," he said to himself, "there is someone moving about in the
+séance room. I wonder who it can be. I thought everyone had gone into
+the garden. I must go and see who it is."
+
+Pierre was just in the act of pushing the piston home when he heard
+someone walking towards the door of the séance room. In his hurry he
+became nervous and his hand shook, so that the needle of the syringe
+broke off abruptly at the neck of the shaft.
+
+"Damn," said Pierre to himself, as he flung the needle on one side. "I
+have only been able to inject a third of the contents of the syringe
+into his arm."
+
+He let the syringe fall in his haste, and flew to the door, and
+throwing all his weight against it, managed to close it before he
+could be seen by the person opening it. Quickly turning the key in
+the lock, he ran to one of the side windows. To open it and vault on
+to the garden path was the work of an instant, and while Riche was
+endeavouring to force the door, Pierre had gained the garden gate, and
+had passed outside into the street. Quickly running along close to the
+garden wall, he turned down the corner of the first cross street, first
+looking back to make sure that he had not been followed.
+
+"Lucky for me that no one saw me leave the house," he said to himself.
+"Anyhow, I have a good start, and I shall be able to get clean away
+without being seen."
+
+Hailing a passing fiacre, he shouted to the cocher to stop, and opening
+the door he jumped in.
+
+"Where shall I drive to?" asked the coachman.
+
+"Drive straight on, and I will give you an address later on. Mais vite,
+vite!" he shouted, as looking through the small window at the back of
+the coach he caught sight of Riche running after him some distance
+behind.
+
+"See, here is ten francs, and you shall have ten more if you will drive
+quickly."
+
+The cocher, delighted at the idea of so large a pourboire, lashed his
+horse into a gallop, and the cab rapidly out-distancing Riche, soon
+left him far behind and disappeared in the distance.
+
+"Gee! that was a narrow shave, but no one recognised me, thank
+goodness. Another second and Riche must have seen me, but I was just
+too quick for him. I hope I have got that syringe about me." He felt in
+all his pockets, but could not find it anywhere.
+
+"Oh! damn," he exclaimed, "that's awkward. I surely can't have left it
+in old Delapine's room. Yes, I must have dropped it when that fellow,
+whoever he was, came to the door. The worst of it is that someone is
+sure to find it. Well, never mind, it's got no needle in it, so they
+cannot see how it was used. Besides they might think it belonged to
+Riche or Villebois. Confound it. All this trouble comes through my
+helping the professor to see what the other world is like. On second
+thoughts I will call to-morrow and apologise for my having been obliged
+to run away to my chambers, and then I can find out how the land lies.
+I'll back my wits against theirs any day."
+
+"Where shall I drive to now?" said the cocher, looking through the
+window.
+
+"Oh! drive to the Café Américain. No, on second thoughts I prefer
+Maxim's."
+
+The coachman turned his horse round and speedily found his way into the
+Rue Royale, where he drove to the place indicated.
+
+"This is better," said Pierre to himself. "Jolly good thing I had the
+sense not to tell him to drive to my diggings, as they might have found
+out the cocher's number, and got to know where he drove me." Pierre
+paid the cocher, and pushed his way through the great wheeling door
+with its plate glass leaves into the well-known café. The musicians
+had just recommenced playing, and taking a seat he looked around him,
+scowling, and feeling as angry and miserable as he could be. A double
+stream of men and women kept constantly passing in and out through the
+revolving doors which reminded one of a Nile-steamer's paddle-wheel on
+end. A faint sickly smell of cigarette smoke mingled with violet powder
+and patchouli and the vinous breath of a hundred human beings filled
+the air. The whole room was a babel of voices. At one end of the room
+were a group of men and elegantly dressed ladies drinking their café
+noir or sipping iced drinks through straws.
+
+An American with his companion--obviously a young Englishman--entered
+at this moment.
+
+"What a scene," said the younger as he peered around him. "Why, it's
+nothing else but a beastly phallic temple. I feel absolutely ashamed to
+be here."
+
+"Well, I guess I don't agree. See there," and he pointed to a
+respectable bourgeois citizen who had just sat down at one of the
+little marble tables with his wife and daughter on either side of him.
+"Why, they are only here for some music and coffee. They might be part
+of a Fifth Avenue congregation in a New York church. They certainly
+have no consciousness of immorality, and they seem ridiculously happy
+and contented. That sort of thing is quite impossible in my country,
+or yours either I guess. We are conscious of the presence of vice all
+the time, and console ourselves by feeling 'onco guid' as the Scotch
+say, whereas here in France they certainly make vice charming. No
+one observes anything immoral or improper in this place, and that is
+why everybody is happy and gay, and enjoys himself to the full. We
+Americans and Englishmen take our pleasures too seriously, and that is
+why we are nothing but a congregation of highly moral rakes. Virtue
+after all is merely a want of opportunity, and because the opportunity
+is to be found here, we set the place down as immoral. But we forget
+it is we who are immoral not the place. You English imagine that
+everybody will be damned who does not act or think exactly as you do.
+You forget that Paris has made pleasure and its pursuit a fine art.
+After six in the evening the entire town is engaged in nothing else.
+What do you suppose all these telegraph boys are hurrying around with
+'petite bleus' for all day long except to enable Marie for four sous
+to inform her Alphonse that she is quite alone as her father has just
+left the house, or to warn Raoul or Charles that he must put off his
+visit to-night because her husband has unexpectedly returned from the
+country. My dear sir, I assure you that this great city is absorbed in
+toil all day long merely to procure the necessary money to purchase
+diamonds for Madame, to buy a new hat for Suzanne, or to pay the rent
+of Marguerite's flat in the Rue Pigalle."
+
+"Good Lord!" exclaimed the young Englishman, "I had no idea that such
+shocking escapades went on."
+
+"Perhaps that may be so, but it is all the more reason why you want to
+do them."
+
+"But surely, my dear sir! you don't imagine for a moment that I
+would----"
+
+"Yes, you may well say that, you old humbug," he interrupted, "but I
+can see by your eyes that you are just as bad as any of them," and the
+American nudged him and laughed heartily.
+
+A pretty girl, charmingly dressed in evening costume, sided up to them
+at this moment, all laughter with sparkling eyes that beamed with
+merriment. "A bien venue mes enfants, allon boire un coup avec nous,"
+and she dropped a little curtsey.
+
+The American bowed politely and lead his companion away. But the
+younger one turned his head round and looked at her and smiled back.
+
+"Oh, my dear fellow, do let's go and join her."
+
+"I thought you were superior to all that sort of thing."
+
+"Oh, well I've changed my mind."
+
+"So soon!" said the elder, and shaking with laughter, yielded to his
+wishes. Immediately the two, arm in arm, turned round and followed her
+to her table as meekly as lambs.
+
+"Say, sonny, we'll sit down right here with this little daisy and enjoy
+ourselves, I guess we'll have some fun presently."
+
+The younger one blushed up to the roots of his hair, but did not
+apparently offer the slightest opposition.
+
+The whole room glowed with the rosy light of countless electric
+candles which stood on every table. These were thronged with rows
+of fashionably dressed couples all talking, laughing, and drinking,
+between which waiters in evening dress struggled to force a passage,
+holding trays covered with dishes and iced drinks high above their
+heads.
+
+Pierre cautiously glanced around and then sat down. In front of him
+were three men, evidently Frenchmen, who were talking simultaneously
+in very loud tones and laughing immoderately. At another table were
+four girls in evening dress drinking iced champagne, and turning their
+heads to gaze at every lady and gentleman who entered. A smartly
+dressed lady, whom he heard addressed as Julie by the other three sat
+with them. She was adorned with superb jewelry and had on a perfectly
+fitting gown. Undoubtedly very attractive, her finely cut features,
+brilliant eyes and marble-like complexion irresistably attracted
+Pierre, who seeing her glance boldly at him, bowed slightly as he held
+his glass to his lips. This was sufficient encouragement for her, so
+with a slight inclination of her head she gathered up her dress and
+came and sat opposite him.
+
+He at once called one of the waiters and ordered a bottle of champagne.
+Julie tried to draw him into a conversation, but Pierre was too
+perturbed to pay much attention to her, and she could see that it was
+almost an effort for him to be polite.
+
+A woman with a basket of flowers and chocolates done up in little
+packages with coloured silk ribbons, observed Pierre speaking to her,
+and immediately came up to them, and asked the lady if she would like
+a bunch of violets. Julie smiled and looked at the lawyer with one of
+those oblique seductive glances so characteristic of the born coquette.
+
+Pierre tried to look interested and smiled back with a slight nod.
+
+"The violets are only three francs each, lady, but then the lady must
+have a box of chocolates also."
+
+Julie took up one bunch after another and apparently was delighted with
+their perfume, for she ordered the woman to collect the whole lot of
+bunches and wrap them up in a large paper parcel, and took one of the
+largest chocolate boxes as well. Julie thanked Pierre for the flowers,
+and leisurely opened the box and proceeded to eat a few of the creams.
+
+Pierre, who had been too absorbed to follow what had been going on, was
+suddenly startled by the woman asking him to pay for the entire parcel
+of flowers, and chocolates.
+
+"What!" exclaimed the lawyer as the woman demanded eighty-five francs,
+"I don't understand you. Do you expect me to pay over four louis for
+those worthless flowers? Do you take me for a damned fool or what?"
+
+"That is the correct price, monsieur, I cannot accept less."
+
+Pierre stared at her like a search-light, while his lips assumed an
+amused and sarcastic smile.
+
+Julie looked at Pierre and tapped impatiently on the ground with
+her beaded slipper, as Pierre, putting his hand in his pocket, drew
+out a varied collection of gold and silver coins. He looked at them
+thoughtfully for a moment, and then apparently changing his mind, rose
+up and deliberately walked past her, without turning his head, to a
+table in another part of the room.
+
+"Beast," hissed the siren, as she turned round and glared at him with
+clenched fingers. "I shall pay you out for this."
+
+But the compliment was quite lost on Pierre.
+
+He had no sooner sat down than the woman with the flowers went up to
+him.
+
+"Monsieur has forgotten to pay for the flowers and chocolates that he
+bought for the lady."
+
+"I never bought anything for her; just go and tell her to pay for them
+herself."
+
+The flower seller went up to the manager, who straight-way came over to
+where Pierre was sitting.
+
+"Pardon, monsieur, I understand that monsieur bought some flowers and
+chocolates for the lady over there."
+
+"I did nothing of the sort. Look here, monsieur," he added, "if this
+woman gives me any more of her cheek I will inform the police."
+
+Several people got up from their seats, and a crowd began to collect.
+The music which was in full swing suddenly ceased abruptly. Ultimately
+the lady, seeing that there was no help for it, settled the bill.
+
+"Ah, coquin," she said, shaking her finger at Pierre, "you shall pay
+this little bill many times over before I have done with you, just wait
+and see."
+
+Pierre settled down in one of the cosy corners, and ordering a petit
+verre of absinthe, became absorbed in a copy of _Le Soir_.
+
+Julie's fit of temper caused a flush of colour to spread over her
+cheeks, which greatly increased her charms, and Pierre, who happened to
+glance up from his newspaper, could not help admiring her, and tried
+to attract her attention once more, but she disdainfully turned her
+head aside. After hesitating for a few moments Julie called one of the
+waiters, who was evidently on intimate terms with her, and whispered
+something in his ear. He gave a slight nod and returned to his work.
+Nearly an hour passed; and Pierre, feeling tired, put on his hat, and
+after waiting outside for a few minutes hailed a fiacre and drove to
+his chambers.
+
+Had he looked back he would have seen a man running swiftly behind his
+carriage.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 8: It is true because it is impossible.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+COMING EVENTS CAST THEIR SHADOWS BEFORE
+
+ Chi rende alla meschina
+     La sua felicità[9]
+
+ Oh! what a noble heart was here undone,
+   When Science self destroyed her favourite son!
+ Yes, she too much indulged thy fond pursuit,
+   She sowed the seeds, but death hath reaped the fruit.
+
+ Byron, on the death of Kirke White.
+
+ Concurritur: horae
+   Momento cità mors venit.
+
+ _Horace_, S. 1. 1. 7.
+
+
+As Riche turned the handle of the drawing-room door it was violently
+shut in his face. He tried to turn the handle again, but the pressure
+behind was too great, and before he could force the door he heard the
+key click in the lock.
+
+The doctor hurled himself against it several times, but the door was
+well made and would not yield.
+
+"There is some mischief going on inside," he said to himself, and
+shouted to Villebois to come and help him. Fortunately with his
+assistance they managed to burst the door open. As he entered he looked
+round the room.
+
+"I say, Villebois, this is a suspicious state of things. The
+conservatory blinds are down and the gaslights are burning, while the
+window is wide open. Evidently the bird has flown. Quick, follow me,
+we may catch the fellow yet," and so saying he dashed through the
+dining-room into the hall, and out of the front door into the street,
+followed by the rest.
+
+Being the most active of them all, Riche arrived at the corner of the
+cross-street first, just in time to see the door of a fiacre shut, and
+to watch it drive off at a gallop.
+
+"I saw the villain close the door of the fiacre," he said out of breath
+to Villebois and Marcel, who had caught him up, "but I was just too
+late to make out who he was. But no matter, we shall lay our hands on
+him yet."
+
+Evidently it was quite impossible to overtake the fiacre, so after
+shaking their fists in the direction of the retreating vehicle they all
+retraced their steps to the drawing-room. They looked around and saw
+Delapine sleeping peacefully on his couch.
+
+"I wonder," said Marcel, "why the conservatory blinds are drawn?"
+
+"I can't imagine," replied Villebois. "But see, the window is wide
+open. The villain must have escaped through it."
+
+"Mon Dieu, what is this?" said Riche, picking up a hypodermic syringe.
+"It is two-thirds full of some fluid. We will keep this liquid
+gentlemen, its contents may prove extremely useful."
+
+Procuring a small empty phial, he poured the contents into it, and
+corking it up put it into his pocket. "Ah, here is the needle," he
+added, as he picked it up from the floor. "It is evidently broken too,
+and the fracture appears quite recent."
+
+"Riche, come here," said Villebois, looking at Delapine, "do you notice
+anything unusual about him?"
+
+Riche stood with folded arms, gazing silently at the professor. He
+gently shook him, but found that there was no responsive movement in
+the body. Delapine's face had the appearance of marble, and when Riche
+raised one of the arms it dropped down again motionless. No sign of
+pulsation could be detected at the wrist. Riche took up a match and
+waved it in front of the sleeper's eyes. He watched them carefully, but
+the pupils failed to respond.
+
+Dr. Riche was completely nonplussed. Although he was accustomed to
+see death in all its varying forms, both in the hospitals and in
+the battlefield, without his professional calmness being in any way
+perturbed, a sudden horror at the awful fate of his friend seized him
+as he bent over the body. He became ashy pale, and trembling like an
+aspen leaf he cried out aloud, "Oh! my God, Delapine is dead."
+
+Riche carefully examined the parts of the body which were exposed, and
+opened his shirt, but failed to discover any signs of injury. Just as
+he was about to relinquish his search he noticed a spot on one of the
+arms.
+
+"Hullo," he cried, "what's this?" and pulling out a pocket magnifier he
+scrutinized a small red spot a short distance above the wrist. "Come
+here, Villebois, and tell me what you think of this."
+
+Villebois took the magnifier out of Riche's hand, and carefully
+examined the spot. He looked up in an enquiring manner as if he
+expected Riche to speak for him.
+
+"Well, what do you make of it?" said Riche as he looked at him with a
+peculiar expression and curl of the mouth which he always wore when he
+knew beforehand what the answer would be.
+
+"Tell me, what is it?" he repeated as Villebois hesitated.
+
+"I think it is a hypodermic puncture. Isn't that your opinion?"
+
+"I don't think anything about it, I am sure of it; and what's more I
+feel convinced it was made with the needle found on the floor. The
+rascal was evidently injecting the poison at the very moment when we
+interrupted him as he was trying to open the door. Don't you agree with
+me?"
+
+"Yes, you are perfectly right," said Villebois, nodding his head. "How
+fortunate you were to find the syringe, and half full of the poison
+too. Don't lose the fluid whatever you do. It appears to me to be the
+key to the whole mystery."
+
+"You trust me," said Riche, "I am not going to let the matter drop,
+my little bottle will bring the scoundrel to the guillotine yet."
+Meanwhile the firemen had arrived, and as there was an abundance of
+water, the fire was soon under control. Although the contents of
+Riche's room were destroyed, no damage was done outside it except by
+the water. On entering the room the firemen smelt the pungent odour of
+burnt naphtha, and a few shavings still glowing with the heat were to
+be seen in a corner of the room.
+
+"Ei! Ei! this is the work of an incendiary," said one of the firemen.
+"Regardez-la, monsieur," he said to Villebois whom he knew by sight,
+holding up some of the half-burnt shavings, "don't you smell the
+naphtha?"
+
+"I do, but mon Dieu, this is terrible," said Villebois, "We must send
+for the police at once, there's a crime here. It must be investigated
+at all costs."
+
+Villebois ran to the telephone and called for the police to come
+immediately, while the firemen, now satisfied that the fire was
+extinguished, proceeded to take the hose-pipe out of the house. In a
+few minutes they had departed, leaving Villebois and his guests alone
+in the house looking at one another and wondering what it all meant.
+
+Meanwhile Renée and Céleste, unable to control their anxiety, disobeyed
+Riche's instructions and ran back into the séance room where they met
+Riche bending over the professor.
+
+"What is the matter with Delapine?" they both cried with a look of
+terror on their faces.
+
+Riche looked very sad and distressed, but said nothing.
+
+"Oh! doctor, do tell me, is there anything the matter?" said Renée,
+staring at him with her great eyes wide open.
+
+"I am afraid so," said Riche in a subdued voice.
+
+"You don't surely mean--that he is dead?" Renée asked in a broken
+voice, becoming deadly pale. "Oh, doctor, tell me quickly, what is the
+matter?"
+
+"My poor girl--he is dead," he replied very solemnly.
+
+"What!--what did you say, doctor? Dead! no--no--it can't be true."
+
+Renée looked at his face half doubting, half believing, and then
+turning her face towards Delapine she flung her arms round him, and
+covered his face with kisses in an agony of grief.
+
+"Henri! Henri! come back, come back to me, oh my beloved!" and she
+burst into tears, while her whole frame shook convulsively.
+
+Céleste sobbed in sympathy, and even Riche, usually so calm, wiped away
+a tear.
+
+Villebois looked at Renée with a puzzled expression mingled with
+sadness.
+
+"Come, my poor little Renée," he said at length. "Wake up, my child;
+this grief will do you no good;" and he gently patted her head and
+kissed her; but Renée never moved.
+
+The professor lay before them in the calm sleep of death. He looked
+unearthly yet beautiful with his serene, peaceful smile, like some
+newly created being, quietly waiting for the breath of life to be
+transformed into a living soul. Those penetrating eyes of his seemed to
+be piercing through the Veil into the Unseen Universe. All traces of
+pain and sorrow had vanished. One might almost fancy him quietly biding
+his time for the Easter Morn with a sure and certain hope of a joyful
+resurrection. Where was that noble spirit, that great master mind which
+for years had been unfolding the secrets of nature, and directing its
+unalterable laws into channels of usefulness for the benefit of untold
+generations to come? All around him the clang and din of life could be
+heard, the murmur of many voices sounding like some confused discord
+breaking through the leaves of the forest, while here he lay resembling
+some marble effigy carved by a master hand. Was his spirit gazing with
+a prophetic eye through the half-opened portal of death on the vista of
+heaven unfolded before him, or was he joining the music of an angelic
+choir, or listening to the clinging memories of some half forgotten
+tale of happy childhood? Dead to him were all the wranglings of
+jealousy, the bitterness of malice, the aching heart, and the ceaseless
+strife. That mighty unselfish soul overflowing with love and goodwill
+to all, cheerful amid despair, unconquered by obstacles, unfaltering
+in its duty--where was it now? And the answer, like the echo of death,
+came back, "Toll for the mighty dead, he is no more, his soul is gone
+for ever."
+
+Céleste silently slipped out of the room, and then ran as quickly as
+she could and told the others. They all hurried into the chamber,
+Céleste leading the way.
+
+"Oh, papa," she cried, "whatever shall we do, isn't it dreadful? My
+poor darling sister, it will kill her, I know it will. You don't know
+how she loved him," and she knelt down at the foot of the couch and
+sobbed convulsively.
+
+Villebois looked at Payot who was nervously twisting his fingers,
+while at the same time his face betrayed the conflict of emotions
+struggling within him.
+
+It was true the obstacle to Payot's scheme was at length removed, and
+for a moment a feeling of satisfaction thrilled him, but an instant
+after, the latent affection for his only daughter, which Delapine had
+succeeded in fanning into a feeble flame, awoke a better feeling in
+his heart, and the sight of her unutterable grief met with a speedy
+response in his better nature.
+
+He bent down and tenderly kissed his daughter.
+
+Renée turned her head up to her father with a look of surprise, as she
+was quite unaccustomed to receive any tokens of affection from him.
+
+"Villebois, mon cher," said Payot looking at him, "I hear someone
+knocking loudly at the door of the house."
+
+Villebois immediately went out of the room, and François ran up to him
+in an excited manner.
+
+"Monsieur le Commissaire de Police with two sergeants have arrived, and
+demand admittance in the name of the law; what am I to do?"
+
+"Show them immediately into the library, and tell them I will be with
+them in a moment."
+
+When Villebois entered the library a little gentleman, faultlessly
+attired in black, with a pair of gold-rimmed spectacles, walked up to
+meet him.
+
+"I have the honour to address Monsieur le Docteur Villebois, I
+presume?" said the little man as he presented his card.
+
+Villebois took the proffered card which bore the inscription:--
+
+ ADOLPHE BIRON,
+
+ COMMISSAIRE DE POLICE.
+
+"Monsieur le docteur," said the little man with a slight bow, "I have
+come in answer to the telephone message, from which I understand that
+there has been a fire here, and that it is probably the work of an
+incendiary."
+
+"Pardon, monsieur, who told you that?"
+
+"One of the firemen who assisted in extinguishing the flames--am I
+right in my suspicions?"
+
+"Perfectly," replied Villebois, "but that is only a trifle."
+
+"Only a trifle?" replied Monsieur Biron, astonished. "Arson is not
+regarded as a trifling matter by the law."
+
+"That is so, but I fear a murder has been committed as well."
+
+"Oh! oh!! oh!!!" cried the commissaire in an ascending scale, tapping
+his two fingers on the table.
+
+He remained silent for a few moments, and then he called his two
+satellites. "You, Georges, go round to the front gate, and you, Raoul,
+go to the back of the house and see that no one passes out without my
+permission.
+
+"Now, Monsieur Villebois, let us go together and see the victim."
+
+They stepped carefully across the wet, slippery floor, and entered the
+séance room in silence.
+
+Monsieur Biron went up to Delapine's body and carefully examined him.
+
+"He is quite dead," he remarked; "as to that there can only be one
+opinion."
+
+Then, turning to Villebois, he asked him the names and addresses of all
+the guests, and entered them in his official memorandum book.
+
+"These are all guests of mine," said Villebois, "I will make myself
+responsible for them."
+
+"Good," replied the commissaire. "Let them please retire into the next
+room, while we go into the matter privately here."
+
+Dr. Riche took Monsieur Biron aside in order to acquaint him with
+the true facts of the case and of his struggle at the door, but the
+Commissaire of Police interrupted him impatiently.
+
+"Pardon, monsieur, but I am on duty, and you will please excuse me if I
+listen to you later."
+
+"Allow me to present my card, monsieur le commissaire. I am Dr. Riche.
+I was witness of----"
+
+"I regret, monsieur le docteur, but I cannot allow you to interfere
+with me in my investigations."
+
+"Excuse me, monsieur, I am the only person who saw----"
+
+"Please do not interrupt me, monsieur le docteur."
+
+"But time is of the greatest importance," said Dr. Riche, "and I can
+assist----"
+
+"For the last time I shall be obliged if you will postpone your
+explanation," said the little man with an air of official importance,
+and he looked him up and down through his spectacles, until poor Riche
+felt half convinced that he himself must in some way or other have
+committed the crime.
+
+"But, monsieur," interposed Villebois, "my friend, Dr. Riche, saw----"
+
+"Pardon me, but I must request you to stop talking," he replied,
+becoming at length really angry; "you are here to answer questions and
+not to speak to me."
+
+Villebois, somewhat nettled at being addressed in this style, was about
+to remonstrate, but the fierce glance of the commissaire took his
+breath away, and he stammered out something incoherently, and finally
+collapsed utterly cowed.
+
+"Now I must request you all to be good enough to retire immediately
+into the next room, and not to move until I call you," said Monsieur
+Biron as he ordered the guests off with a majestic wave of the hand,
+"and you, Dr. Villebois, will remain here with me."
+
+"Are you acquainted with the deceased?" he enquired of Villebois as
+soon as they were alone.
+
+"He has been my guest for three months now, and is my most intimate
+friend."
+
+"And his name?"
+
+"Professor Henri Delapine."
+
+"What!" he exclaimed, "Professor Delapine, the renowned professor at
+the Sorbonne?"
+
+"The same."
+
+"Mon Dieu! he was one of the most amiable men I ever had the good
+fortune to meet. What reason could anyone have to seek his death? But
+that we can go into later. How long has he been dead?"
+
+"I cannot say. All that I know is that he was alive and well a little
+more than half an hour ago."
+
+"Half an hour ago," said Monsieur Biron, astonished; "but what could
+have killed him?"
+
+"That is what I want to know."
+
+"This is a most extraordinary affair. Let us examine his body at once."
+
+Villebois and the commissaire proceeded carefully to strip him,
+scrutinising each garment as they removed it with the utmost care.
+
+"I see no marks of violence," said Biron as he examined the corpse from
+head to foot. "What makes you think that he has been killed? Can it
+not be a simple case of heart failure?" and the commissaire gave him a
+searching look.
+
+"That is possible," replied Villebois, "but apparently not from natural
+causes."
+
+"Then you mean to say that he really has been murdered?"
+
+"I am sure of it."
+
+"Be careful what you say, doctor. It is a very terrible statement to
+make, and you will have to be confronted with the Juge d'Instruction,
+who will compel you to prove it or suffer the consequences."
+
+Dr. Villebois looked very frightened at the severe glances of Monsieur
+Biron, and twisted his fingers together nervously. "I have every reason
+to suspect it," he said in a tone of apology. "Have you examined his
+arms, monsieur?"
+
+The commissaire looked at Villebois to see if he were joking with him,
+and being convinced of his earnestness, he took up each arm in turn and
+examined them with great care on all sides.
+
+"I see nothing, nothing at all," he replied.
+
+"Look here, monsieur," said Villebois, pointing to a little swollen
+spot just above the wrist of the left arm. "Do you see that?"
+
+Monsieur Biron looked at it carefully, and shrugged his shoulders.
+
+"Ce n'est rien, monsieur; it is only a mosquito bite."
+
+Villebois examined it with a pocket magnifier, and gently squeezed it.
+A drop of glistening fluid came out tinged with blood. The commissaire
+at once became intensely interested. "Lend me the glass," he cried, and
+impatiently taking it from Villebois, he carefully examined the spot.
+
+"H'm," he muttered, "the puncture is certainly too large for an insect
+to make. Can you account for it, doctor?" he said, relinquishing for
+the first time his authoritative tone.
+
+"I can, but Dr. Riche whom you saw just now can tell you more about
+it than I can. It was Dr. Riche who told me that he had heard someone
+moving about the room, and when the doctor ran to the door, before he
+could open it wide enough to see who was inside, it was violently shut
+in his face and locked. Dr. Riche and myself together managed to force
+the door, only to find that the rascal had escaped. Riche raced after
+him, but the fellow was too quick, and before Riche could get near
+enough to recognise him, he had disappeared in a fiacre."
+
+"Mon Dieu, but why didn't you tell me all this before?" asked M. Biron.
+
+"Monsieur, I could not, as the whole affair has altogether unnerved me.
+Besides, Dr. Riche was about to tell you, but you stopped him, if you
+remember, and threatened to arrest him if he spoke."
+
+The little man stamped on the ground with vexation and chagrin.
+
+"Well, well," he replied somewhat mollified, "I trust it is not too
+late yet; bring him here at once."
+
+Villebois opened the door and beckoned to him to come in. Riche had
+taken the commissaire's conduct so much to heart that at first he
+refused to answer.
+
+"A thousand pardons, M. le docteur, for appearing so rude," said the
+commissaire in a very apologetic tone, "but I understand that you are
+able to give some clue to this assassination?"
+
+Dr. Riche, seeing that M. Biron's apology was sincere, slowly thawed
+and became more amiable.
+
+"Yes, monsieur," he replied, "I came downstairs during the fire to
+look after the professor, who was fast asleep on a couch, and just as
+I was about to enter the chamber, the door was shut in my face and
+locked. When I entered the room the bird had flown, but I picked up a
+hypodermic syringe half full of liquid, from the floor."
+
+"But didn't you try to find the fellow?"
+
+"Of course I did. I ran round the house into the street, and on
+arriving at the first corner I saw a man entering a cab, but he was
+half inside, and too far away for me to recognise who he was. I ran
+as hard as I could, and shouted to the cocher, but he lashed his horse
+into a gallop and disappeared. When I returned to the house I searched
+the room again, and found the broken injection needle on the floor,
+and guessing that there was some connection between this needle and
+Professor Delapine's condition, I examined him and discovered that life
+was extinct."
+
+"Excellent, excellent," said the commissaire, delighted, and rubbing
+his hands together as if he had heard a good story.
+
+"Parbleu," he cried, "but, mon ami, this is exceedingly interesting,
+perfectly romantic. Ah, mon cher docteur, our task grows more and more
+delightful. I must instruct my attendants this instant," and excusing
+himself he ran off as fast as his little legs could carry him. In
+the midst of his haste, however, a sudden thought struck him, and he
+returned to Dr. Villebois, and taking him on one side asked:
+
+"Can you tell me, doctor, what was the cause of the fire?"
+
+"It was undoubtedly a case of arson," replied Villebois and Riche
+together.
+
+"Why do you think so?" enquired the commissaire.
+
+"One of the firemen found a handful of half-burnt shavings in a corner
+of Dr. Riche's room which smelt strongly of petroleum, indeed the whole
+atmosphere reeked of it."
+
+"Let us go to the room at once," said M. Biron.
+
+On arriving at Riche's room they found the place in a terrible state.
+Everything was saturated with water, and all the contents were charred,
+and had been piled up by the firemen in a heap. As Dr. Villebois had
+said, the place reeked of naphtha and bore traces of having been
+intentionally set on fire.
+
+"I understand it all," said Riche. "Someone has set fire to my bedroom
+in order to draw the guests away from the séance room, so that he might
+have a free hand to inject the poison unobserved into the arm of the
+sleeping professor."
+
+"Ha, ha, you are a born detective, Dr. Riche. Nothing can be clearer,"
+and the commissaire adjusted his spectacles to his entire satisfaction.
+"A sprat to catch a mackerel, eh?" and he positively beamed with
+professional pride.
+
+M. Biron, having made his inspection of the house, and cross-questioned
+all the guests without obtaining any fresh information, cordially shook
+hands with the two doctors and departed, bubbling over with zeal, and
+feeling intoxicated with the importance of his mission.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 9: Ah, who will give the lost one her vanished dream of
+bliss?]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+DR. RICHE MAKES A REMARKABLE DISCOVERY
+
+ Dal sonno a la morte è un picciol varco.[10]
+ (_Tasso Gerusalemme Liberata_, ix. 18.)
+
+ Perir non lascia chi perir non merita.[11]
+ (_Alfieri Fillipo_, Act iv. Sc. 5.)
+
+ "We are of such stuff as dreams are made of, and our little life is
+ rounded with a sleep."[12]
+
+
+On entering the adjoining apartment Villebois and Riche ran to the
+assistance of Renée who was lying on the sofa in a dead faint. Madame
+Villebois was busy applying the usual restoratives, while Payot in a
+terrible state of excitement had just rushed out of the room to search
+for a bottle of brandy. On opening the door he literally fell into the
+arms of François and the other domestics, who had collected round the
+door to try and discover what was going on.
+
+"Eavesdropping, Hein!" he cried. "How dare you leave your duties and
+gossip like this. Be off with you. Here, François, show me at once
+where you keep the brandy," and seizing him by the arm they ran to the
+cellar to fetch it.
+
+Meanwhile Céleste, half scared to death, was kneeling beside Renée,
+chafing her cold bloodless hands, while she looked up through her tears
+at the other guests who were assembled round the couch, and conversing
+in excited tones.
+
+Villebois and Riche gently pushed them aside, and taking Renée in their
+arms, carried her up to bed.
+
+"We can do nothing more to-night," said Villebois, consulting his
+watch, "see how late it is, and we shall have a heavy day to-morrow."
+
+At length one by one the tired guests departed to their respective
+rooms.
+
+"Monsieur Payot," said Villebois, "I cannot let you leave to-night. If
+you don't mind I will make you up a bed in the library."
+
+"Do you mind, colleague," said Riche, "if I sleep in the séance-room."
+
+"My dear Riche, I cannot permit you to sleep in a room with a dead
+body. Why can't you go to your own room?"
+
+"I am accustomed to be in the presence of death as you know; and my
+room is all burnt out."
+
+"Oh yes, I forgot that. But won't you have a bed made up here?"
+
+"No, please, doctor, come here a moment," and he drew him aside, "I
+have my reasons for sleeping in the room with Delapine," and he added
+something in a whisper.
+
+Villebois opened his eyes widely and nodded.
+
+"Oh! oh! I understand now," he said, looking very alarmed. "Yes, sleep
+there by all means."
+
+Riche had a bed made up on the floor close by the side of Delapine's
+body, and turning down the light, got into bed.
+
+In spite of the fact that he was dead tired with the excitement and
+horror of the recent events, his mind was so distracted that he could
+not sleep. Although his body was weary, his thoughts became abnormally
+active, and he kept tossing in bed, and turning over in his mind the
+strange events he had witnessed.
+
+"Happy Delapine," he said with a sigh, "Death indeed is the only
+evil that can never touch us. When we are, death is not. When death
+comes, we are not, Yes, Cicero was right when he said, 'Death is an
+event either to be entirely disregarded, if it extinguish the soul's
+existence, or, much to be wished, if it convey it to some region where
+it shall continue to exist forever.' What then have I to fear, if after
+death I shall either not be miserable, or shall certainly be happy?"
+
+His thoughts carried him back to the beautiful Greek conception of
+death with its white marble tomb, and the mourners dressed in pure
+white, carrying garlands of flowers, and chanting some soul-stirring
+refrain accompanied by maidens playing on the harp and lute. He
+compared it with a shudder to the gruesome pictures of the Middle Ages,
+which he remembered to have seen in the frescoes of Orcagna on the
+walls of the Campo Santo in Pisa, which depicted the dying souls of the
+damned thrust into the pit of Hell by devils, or the souls of the saved
+(!) writhing in the flames of Purgatory, and whose torments could alone
+be alleviated by donations deposited in the money box by their friends
+on earth.
+
+The moon's rays shining through the window shed a soft light through
+the room, and illuminated the wax-like features of the professor.
+
+Once or twice Riche raising himself up in bed thought he saw a faint
+twitching in Delapine's fingers, but after gazing intently at them he
+lay down again convinced that he had been deceived.
+
+Strange thoughts flitted through his mind. How very different would
+have been his life during the past week, he said to himself, had
+Villebois not met him at the café at the corner of the Boulevard S.
+Michel. What would he be doing now? Perhaps sleeping in his hotel in
+the Rue de Rivoli, perhaps risking a handful of louis on the green
+tables of the Casino, but almost certainly not tossing on a bed by the
+side of a corpse.
+
+The room felt uncanny. He had long been familiar with death in all its
+forms. He had been surgeon in two campaigns in the north of Africa,
+and had seen his comrades die like flies around him from dysentery and
+cholera. He had seen their bodies thrown into pits a hundred at a time,
+but never had he felt such a feeling of awe and terror steal over him
+as he felt to-night. He could not account for it. Delapine would not
+needlessly hurt a fly, and now he was lying in the cold hands of death.
+
+At length he could stand it no longer, and getting up he dressed
+himself and paced up and down the room.
+
+Again he gazed intently on Delapine's face, and thought he detected
+a slight movement of the muscles. Was he mistaken? How could it be
+possible? Delapine was undoubtedly dead, he said to himself. Riche's
+face broke out into a cold sweat, and he attempted to cry out, but his
+voice died away in silence. No; he lifted up the professor's arms, but
+they fell down again by their own weight. The clouds flitting across
+the moon alternately hid and revealed her light, and the black shadows
+in the room seemed as if they formed themselves into imps and monsters.
+The stillness became awful. Would the morning never break? Only the
+clock on the mantel-shelf spoke. Tick-tack, tick-tack, it repeated in a
+monotonous tone, but no sound answered back. He heard a noise outside,
+and creeping up to the window, opened it and listened. Too-hoot,
+too-hoot, it sounded. "It is only the hooting of an owl in the garden,"
+he said, as he shut the window and lay down on the sofa. Doctor Riche's
+thoughts wandered back again to the café and to Mademoiselle Violette
+and her ring. What was it she told him when she steadily gazed on it?
+"I must try and refresh my memory," he said to himself. "I think a sip
+of brandy might help me," and acting on the impulse he turned up the
+light, and entering the next room poured out a liqueur glass of the
+brandy which François had brought for Renée.
+
+"Ah! That does one good," he said as he poured out a second glass. "I
+recollect perfectly now the very words she said. I remember her telling
+me that she saw a house in one of the suburbs of Paris.
+
+"'Yes,' she said, 'I see a large room which opens into a smaller
+room. I see a number of people sitting down in a half circle. There
+are'--what was it she said? Oh! I remember--'there are five men and
+three ladies.' I recollect the number perfectly, because at the time it
+flashed across my mind that there were exactly the same five men and
+three women figures in a Noah's Ark I gave to my nephew last New Year's
+day. Ma foi! but that is curious. The number corresponds exactly to the
+number of guests who were at the séance last night. Let me see. There
+were Villebois, Payot, Delapine, Marcel, and myself--five men; and
+Madame, Céleste and Renée--three ladies."
+
+"By Jove!" he exclaimed, "that is a very curious coincidence, and I
+remember now she said one of the men had a pointed black beard, and
+they were putting him to sleep. And then someone suddenly cried out:
+'Oh! God, he is dead.' Why, that fits Delapine like a glove. Oh yes,
+and I recollect now she spoke of a large envelope sealed with four
+or five seals--I forget which--in a drawer, or writing-table, or
+secretary or something, I must hunt around for it as soon as I have had
+breakfast. Céleste will be only too pleased to help me. Of course it is
+all nonsense--but still as the first part of her version fits so well,
+it is just worth while seeing whether any other part will prove true."
+
+At length fatigue proved too much for him, and flinging himself down on
+his bed, he fell into a deep slumber.
+
+It was not until François brought the café au lait to his bedside next
+morning that Riche awoke.
+
+"By Jove!" he exclaimed, "it's ten o'clock."
+
+"Oui, monsieur," said François, "I came to call you three times, but
+you were so fast asleep that I did not have the heart to wake you."
+
+"And the others?" enquired Riche.
+
+"They are all fast asleep too."
+
+"I don't wonder after all we have gone through."
+
+"Ah! monsieur, it is terrible," said François, and he shook his head
+solemnly. "I have been in Doctor Villebois' service seventeen years
+now, and never have I spent a night so horrible as this one."
+
+"Yes, François. What Bossuet said in his great funeral oration will
+apply equally well here. 'O nuit désastreuse! O nuit effroyable!
+ou retentit tout-à-coup comme un éclat de tonnerre cette étonnante
+nouvelle. Monsieur est mort.'"
+
+"Ah, mon Dieu! Monsieur le professor was indeed a good man. He will go
+straight to heaven without any purgatory."
+
+"Are you sure that he will go to heaven?" asked Riche with a smile at
+the worthy man's earnestness.
+
+"Oh! I think so, I think so. You will pardon me for speaking so
+plainly, mon docteur, but there is a difficulty, yes, just a little
+difficulty. You see he never went to Mass, or even to church, but then
+he was so noble and so good to the poor, that he would be certain to
+go to Paradise. Of course the good God would be obliged to give him a
+little purgatory as a mere matter of form just to keep up appearances,
+but He would be sure to let him out at the end of an hour or two. Don't
+you think so, mon docteur?"
+
+"Let us hope so," said Riche fervently, but with a slight shrug of the
+shoulders, as François bowed and left the room.
+
+In a little while the servant returned with a message. "My master
+requests you to be good enough to come and see him as soon as
+possible," said François, as Riche was putting the finishing touches to
+his toilette.
+
+"Tell your master I will be with him in a few minutes."
+
+"Ah, my dear Riche," said Villebois, as the doctor entered the parlour,
+"I want you to come to Renée's room and hold a consultation with me. I
+fear the poor child has taken Delapine's death too much to heart. She
+appears to be heart-broken, and is making herself ill with sobbing.
+Anyone could see that she was fond of him, but I had no idea that she
+loved him to this degree. It is really very touching, n'est-ce pas?"
+
+They found poor Renée lying in bed, her face flushed with fever, and
+moaning as if in pain. Her maid had applied ice compresses to her head,
+and she barely noticed the doctors as they entered the room. At length
+Villebois persuaded her to sit up, and take a little nourishment.
+
+"By the way, mademoiselle, did Delapine ever give you any packets or
+letters to take care of for him?" said Riche.
+
+"Yes, doctor, two days ago he gave me a large envelope and told me to
+take care of it for him, and to be sure and open it the moment he was
+dead. I was very frightened at what he said, and asked him to explain
+what he meant, but he merely shook his head and assured me there was
+no need for alarm, and all he asked me to promise was to carry out his
+instructions."
+
+"But you have not carried them out, my child," said Villebois, smiling.
+
+"Oh, doctor, how could I? I have been so ill and worried I have been
+unable to think of anything at all."
+
+"Well, never mind," said Riche consolingly, "fortunately no harm has
+been done. Do you remember what the envelope looked like?"
+
+"It was sealed with large red seals."
+
+"What," cried Riche, bounding up from his seat as if he had been shot,
+"did you say it was sealed?"
+
+"Yes, doctor, it had five seals in wax."
+
+"Diable!" cried Riche in such an excited tone of surprise that
+Villebois thought he must be out of his senses. "Tell me quick where it
+is."
+
+"You will find it in my writing-desk, doctor," said Renée, alarmed at
+his excited manner. "What do you want it for?"
+
+"I must have it--I mean, may I bring it to you?"
+
+"Certainly, if you wish to, doctor."
+
+Dr. Riche on hearing this hastily left the room in a great state of
+excitement.
+
+"What is the matter with him?" asked Renée, "why is he so eager to get
+the packet? It is merely a trifle after all."
+
+"I have no idea, but I will go and see for myself."
+
+As Villebois was leaving the room, the servant met him, and whispered
+something in his ear as he handed him a card.
+
+"Shut the door quickly," said Villebois in a low tone. "We must not on
+any account let mademoiselle hear about it."
+
+He followed the servant into the library where a gentleman advanced to
+meet him.
+
+"I am sent from the parquet with orders from the representative of
+the Procureur de la République to carry out an autopsy on the body of
+Monsieur le Professor Delapine."
+
+"Good," replied Villebois, "pray step this way."
+
+Doctor Roux, for that was his name, entered the séance room armed with
+a large black bag, from which he withdrew a white apron extending below
+his knees with long sleeves, and an array of instruments and dishes.
+
+Placing the latter on a table near at hand, he removed his coat,
+and attired himself in his apron. He began operations by displaying
+an immense amount of zeal and activity in his preparations for the
+autopsy. He first ordered a large kitchen table to be brought into
+the middle of the room, and had Delapine's body placed on it. Doctor
+Villebois offered his assistance, which was somewhat reluctantly
+accepted.
+
+Selecting a sharp scalpel Dr. Roux was about to make the first
+incision, when Riche rushed into the room in a state of tremendous
+excitement.
+
+"Stop! For God's sake stop," he shouted, "before it is too late," and
+seizing Dr. Roux' arm he pulled it away so violently that the scalpel
+cut one of the worthy doctor's fingers.
+
+"What is the matter with you, are you mad?" exclaimed Dr. Roux, as he
+tried to stop the blood which spurted from his finger.
+
+"Stop, stop, you must not touch him, it's murder," cried Riche. "See
+here," and he showed Roux a letter which he had just taken out of the
+envelope.
+
+Roux seized the letter and proceeded to read it, while the two other
+doctors read it from over his shoulder:--
+
+ "My beloved Renée," it ran--
+
+ "I have reason to suspect that someone is intending to poison me with
+ a drug of such fearful power that I shall either be killed instantly
+ or, what is more probable, I shall be rendered apparently dead, and
+ show no signs of life. If therefore I am found apparently dead, I
+ enjoin you for the love you bear me, not to permit my autopsy, or
+ burial, until the signs of death are clear and unmistakable, otherwise
+ I may be killed or buried alive."
+
+"There, Dr. Roux, what do you make of that?" asked Riche.
+
+"It is a hoax, sir," said Roux, "the man is dead right enough. I shall
+proceed to do my duty."
+
+"You will not, sir," said Riche in a rage.
+
+"Who are you, sir, that you speak to me in this way, and forbid me to
+obey my orders?"
+
+"I am Dr. Riche, Ancien Interne at the Hotel Dieu, and surgeon to the
+Charité at Algiers," he said, handing over his card.
+
+Dr. Roux looked him up and down from head to foot, and adjusting his
+pince-nez with deliberation took the card and read it carefully. Again
+he paused and looked at Riche, but observing the terrible earnestness
+of his expression, he restrained his feelings. "Dr. Riche," he
+exclaimed with mingled hesitation and astonishment, "forgive me, I
+apologise for my rudeness, I had no idea I was addressing a colleague
+so celebrated," and he offered his hand which Riche shook heartily.
+
+"I also agree with my friend and colleague," said Villebois. "We must
+desist at once and arrange to await events."
+
+Roux gave a slight grunt of disappointment, but yielding to the
+inevitable, packed up his instruments, and putting on his coat, bowed
+profoundly, and prepared to depart.
+
+"No, Dr. Roux, we cannot allow you to go without partaking of our
+hospitality," said Villebois, bowing. "Let us go to the library, and
+break a bottle of wine between us."
+
+The three doctors were soon chatting round the table in the library the
+very best of friends.
+
+"See, doctor, what I have just found in another envelope," said Riche,
+handing Roux a little love-poem which Delapine had evidently written to
+Renée about the same time as the letter.
+
+"Let me read it to you," said Riche, "it's a gentle rhyme of four
+verses such as a lover might write to his lady-love. It has, however,
+a disguised prophetic meaning which shows clearly that Delapine felt
+convinced that his 'death' would only be apparent, and that he would
+eventually return to life.
+
+"Listen, this is what he says:
+
+ "Is it raining little sister?
+     Be glad of rain.
+   Yield not to the doubt sinister,
+     Choose the pain.
+ It will make your burden lighter,
+ It will make your joy the brighter,
+     Renée dear.
+
+ "Does your heart ache, Renée dear?
+     Be glad of pain.
+   The harvest never will draw near,
+     Without rain.
+ Sorrow must prepare the way
+ For the clouds to pass away,
+     Renée dear.
+
+ "Instead of weeping at your loss,
+     Rejoice for him.
+   You cannot see that he is sleeping,
+     With eyes so dim.
+ Death can never reach so far,
+ Peering through the gates ajar,
+     Renée dear.
+
+ "Are you weary of the fight?
+     Struggle on.
+   When all is lost, and dark the night,
+     The victory's won.
+ Love will steer your bark aright,
+ When there is no land in sight,
+     Renée dear."
+
+"It would be interesting to see if we could find any indications of
+life," said Roux, "and I propose that we adjourn to Delapine's bedside
+once more."
+
+"That is quite a good idea," said Villebois and Riche together.
+
+"If you will permit me, gentlemen," said Roux after applying the
+stethoscope over the heart to no purpose, "I will make a prick with
+a needle into the arm." He did so, but no blood flowed. "That is a
+certain proof that he is dead."
+
+"Not so fast, not so fast, sir," said Riche. "Bring me a mirror. This
+is a much more delicate test which I have made with great success in
+Algiers, when all other methods have failed." The doctor held a small
+mirror close to Delapine's mouth, and the three doctors gazed at the
+highly polished surface intensely.
+
+"Look, Villebois, look," said Riche excitedly. "I swear I saw a trace
+of vapour on the surface."
+
+Villebois repeated the experiment without result.
+
+"I think the mirror is too warm," said Villebois, "let us cool it." He
+placed the back of the mirror on a lump of ice for a minute, and wiping
+the surface with a handkerchief, tried again. "See, see, there is a
+trace of moisture--I swear it, look!"
+
+All three doctors repeated the experiment several times. Sometimes they
+failed and sometimes they succeeded, or thought they succeeded, and
+Roux finally departed, unconvinced that he was alive, but at the same
+time unwilling to sign a certificate to the effect that he was dead.
+"We must wait for the post-mortem signs to appear over the abdomen,"
+he said to himself. "Three days will settle it at any rate."
+
+Riche and Villebois, however, were more sanguine, and they went back to
+Renée's room.
+
+They found Payot sitting by her side, applying the iced bandages to her
+head, and ever and anon stroking her hair and kissing her forehead.
+
+Renée recognised her father, and smiled with mingled surprise and
+pleasure at the great change which had come over his conduct towards
+her.
+
+"Cheer up, Renée," Villebois cried aloud as they ran to her bedside,
+"cheer up, we have not abandoned all hope yet."
+
+Renée was so petrified with astonishment that she was unable to speak
+for some moments.
+
+"What did you say? Do you mean that Henri is alive?"
+
+"Well, not exactly that," interposed Riche, "but I could almost swear
+he is not dead."
+
+Renée sat bolt upright in bed, and rubbed her eyes to make sure she was
+not dreaming, and seizing Riche's hand made him repeat his statement.
+
+"Oh, thank you, thank you, doctor, for this good news."
+
+"Read this, Renée, and this as well," he said smiling, and he handed
+her Delapine's message and tender little verses.
+
+"Are these what you found in the envelope?" she exclaimed, when she had
+read the contents. "Now I am certain that he will return to me."
+
+"Oh, father," she cried, putting her arms round him and kissing him,
+"this is the best medicine in the world for me, it will soon make me
+well. See, I feel better already," and she clapped her hands for joy.
+
+"Quick, doctor, run and fetch Céleste that I may be the first to give
+her the good news."
+
+Presently Céleste came in, and Renée told her what she had just heard.
+
+"Oh, Renée, this is almost too good to be true. Won't it be just
+delightful to have him back again. I don't think we half know the value
+of anything until we are deprived of it."
+
+"You are perfectly correct," said Riche, "really I think the
+philosophic mantle of the professor must have descended on you."
+
+"Now I begin to understand what Professor Delapine meant when he said
+the other day 'We shall be separated for a long time, but take courage,
+it will all come right.' It was a riddle to me at the time, but now it
+is quite clear what he meant. Don't you think, papa, that the professor
+must have some wonderful power of seeing into the future? How else
+could he possibly guess what was going to happen to him?"
+
+"I can understand in a sort of vague way," said Payot, "that very
+clever people might be able to discover what had happened in the past,
+but how anyone can tell what is going to happen in the future is a
+mystery to me. Can you explain it to me, doctor?"
+
+"I confess the whole thing is inconceivable to me," said Villebois,
+"and yet I know that it is not impossible, because on more than one
+occasion Delapine has predicted the most minute details of facts and
+events which have occurred since precisely as he said they would
+happen, and I have never once known him wrong."
+
+"When Henri comes back to me I will ask him," said Renée as she looked
+up at Villebois with a slight nod, convinced in her own mind that
+Delapine was only taking a longer sleep than usual, and that he would
+be able to wake up of his own accord like Rip van Winkle. "I am sure he
+will be able to explain it, because he knows everything."
+
+"That is rather a large order, mademoiselle," said Riche, laughing.
+"Even the immortal gods of Homer were not omniscient. If you had read
+your Faust you may recollect that when Mephistopheles is asked if he
+knows everything, replies 'Allwissend bin ich nicht; doch viel ist mir
+bewust.'"[13]
+
+"But you must admit that the professor is frightfully clever," said
+Céleste, looking up at Renée for confirmation.
+
+"There I am entirely with you," said Riche. "He is certainly the most
+gifted man I ever met. His marvellous discoveries are not all of a
+character that meet the public eye, as they are too mathematical and
+too far above the grasp of the general public to be appreciated; but
+you have only to ask any member of the Institute or of any of the
+royal societies of Europe what they think of him, and they will tell
+you he has a remarkable future before him. There is really nothing that
+seems impossible to him, if he only gives his mind to it. Isn't that
+your opinion, Mademoiselle Renée?"
+
+But Renée never answered. The fresh excitement on hearing the good news
+had revived her for the moment, and then the reaction set in, and she
+fell back exhausted, and dropped asleep.
+
+Villebois pointed to Renée, and held his fingers to his lips, then
+beckoning to the others to follow him, he slipped out of the room on
+tip-toe. Riche quickly pulled down the blinds, and made the room dark,
+while Renée was left alone to her slumbers.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 10: Small is the gulf that lies twixt life and death.]
+
+[Footnote 11: Ne'er heaven permits that he should die who does not
+merit death.]
+
+[Footnote 12: The Tempest.]
+
+[Footnote 13: Omniscient am I not, yet much is known to me.
+
+ Faust, part 1, act 4.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+THE SHADOW OF DEATH
+
+ Que l'oumbro, e toujour l'oumbro, es pire que la mort![14]
+ Mistal (_Mireille Chant xii._)
+
+ 'Fleet footed is the approach of woe
+ But with a lingering step and slow
+ Its form departs.'--Longfellow, _Coplas de Manrique_.
+
+
+Dr. Roux was a man who had risen to his present position by strict
+attention to his profession. He was an able man, and thoroughly versed
+in all the mysteries of his art. His reports to the Juge d'Instruction
+were always models of accuracy and precision, and were accepted without
+question by the Parquet. But now he confessed he was in a dilemma.
+"Here is a nice state of things," he soliloquised, "I come to Dr.
+Villebois' house for the purpose of making a post-mortem examination,
+and after getting everything ready to begin, two doctors whom I have
+never seen before persuade me to abandon my task. Now if I say he is
+dead I shall be blamed for not performing the autopsy; but if, on the
+other hand, I state that he is not dead, they will naturally ask me
+what proofs I have, and I must confess I have none. I had better talk
+it over with Paul Romaine. I fancy he will be at leisure during the
+afternoon."
+
+"Well, it is too late now, he will have gone home."
+
+The next day at four o'clock Roux knocked at the door of the Government
+laboratory.
+
+At the moment of Roux's arrival, Paul was busily engaged in tidying up
+the laboratory previous to his going home.
+
+"Well, what brings you here?" called out Paul as his visitor was
+ushered in. "I haven't seen you since we were students together at
+the Salpetrière under old Charcot. It is the unexpected that always
+happens."
+
+"That is quite comprehensible," replied Roux, "the expected only
+comprises one event, whereas the unexpected may be any one of a million
+things. Hence the chances of the unexpected are a million to one
+compared with the expected."
+
+"That is a queer kind of logic," replied Paul, laughing, "I wonder in
+what school of philosophy you were taught."
+
+"The philosophy of the unknown--it is the best of all philosophies
+because no one can dispute it. But to be serious, my dear colleague, I
+want your advice as I am rather in a difficulty. Yesterday I received
+an order to conduct a post-mortem examination on the body of Professor
+Delapine who happened to have been the guest of Dr. Villebois in Passy."
+
+"Whom did you say?" asked Paul becoming interested.
+
+"Professor Delapine."
+
+"What! Professor Delapine of the Sorbonne. I had no idea that he was
+dead. What did he die of?"
+
+"I don't know that he is dead. That is just my difficulty."
+
+"Do you mean to tell me that you were ordered by the Parquet to make a
+post-mortem examination, and you don't know whether he is dead or not?
+My dear fellow, if I did not know you for a serious man I would think
+that you were joking."
+
+"I don't wonder at what you say, but pray listen to me patiently for
+a moment. It seems that the professor is a medium or spiritualist, or
+whatever you choose to call it, and the day before yesterday he was
+lying down in a sleep or trance in a sort of flimsy cabinet, when a cry
+of fire was raised, and the audience rushed out of the room upstairs to
+see where the fire had started. While they were gone a medical man--Dr.
+Riche, I think the name was--remembering that the professor was in
+a deep sleep or trance, ran down to look after him with a view of
+transferring him to a place of safety. As he was in the act of opening
+the door of the room where the professor was lying, it was shut with a
+bang by someone inside who immediately locked the door, and evidently
+got away, for when the door was forced, the intruder was nowhere to be
+seen. But the remarkable thing about it was that a medical hypodermic
+syringe was found lying on the floor half full of liquid, and on
+examining Delapine's body a puncture was discovered in his arm which
+was evidently made by the needle of the syringe. It appears that the
+head of the police was sent for, and he found Delapine lying on the
+couch apparently dead. Yesterday afternoon I arrived at the house in
+answer to a summons, and was about to conduct the autopsy--in fact I
+had the scalpel in my hand--when this Doctor Riche rushed into the
+room in a tremendous state of excitement, and tore the knife out of
+my hand so violently that it cut my fingers. 'Stop, in Heaven's name,
+stop,' he cried, 'do you want to commit murder?' I naturally became
+very indignant, and requested him to leave me to my work. Villebois
+backed up Dr. Riche, and suggested our talking things over in the
+smoking-room."
+
+"That reminds me," said Paul, "won't you take something? I have some
+first-rate Beaune locked up in the cupboard which I only bring out to
+my special friends."
+
+"Well, thanks, I don't mind. But let me offer you one of my
+cigarettes," said Roux. "Mine are a very special brand which I get from
+Prazmouski in Moscow. They send me about twelve boxes every month, and
+they are so delicious I always run short before the month is out."
+
+"For my part," said Paul, "I am so accustomed to smoking Caporals that
+I have lost the taste for any other brand. Still, if I may--thanks.
+Yes, these certainly smell delicious," he added as he tapped the end of
+one on the table.
+
+The two men sat quietly musing in their armchairs as they drank their
+wine and puffed away in silence.
+
+Paul inhaled his smoke, ejecting it in two white whirls through his
+nostrils as he reflected on what his friend had been telling him.
+
+"I wonder," he said, as a sudden thought occurred to him, "what made
+the two doctors stop you in such a hurry? Did they think he was not
+dead?"
+
+"That is the extraordinary part of the tale. Riche happened to open
+a drawer at the request of one of the young ladies in the house, and
+found an envelope sealed up and addressed by Delapine to her. On
+opening it he found a curious message to the effect that if he were
+found dead, his body was not to be buried or opened by anyone as he was
+suspicious of foul play, and it was quite possible that he might not be
+really dead."
+
+"When did he find this envelope?"
+
+"While I was getting my instruments ready for examination."
+
+Paul blew a cloud of smoke out of his nose and whistled. "'Pon my soul,
+this is a most mysterious affair. I have known many mysterious things
+in my life, but I have never come across anything so strange as this.
+And of course you felt it your duty to suspend operations?"
+
+"Naturally I decided to await events."
+
+"But tell me, doctor, what proofs have they that he is not dead?"
+
+"Well, there have been no signs of post-mortem rigidity. If there had
+been any we must have noticed it, as one or the other of us has been at
+his side the whole time."
+
+"How long has he been in that state?"
+
+"Over forty-eight hours, and what is equally curious the body shows no
+signs of discoloration."
+
+"Not even in the dependent parts?"
+
+"Nowhere; not a sign. We have turned him over several times and his
+skin is quite white and clean."
+
+Paul began to hum a tune. "Well, that is certainly most extraordinary.
+If he had been really dead both these signs must have appeared before
+now."
+
+"That is true enough, but I confess I am rather in a difficulty what to
+do. The Parquet expects a detailed report of my medical investigation
+which must be handed in at once, as the law of France demands the
+burial of the deceased within three days."
+
+"Certainement," said Paul. "But I should like to advise you that you
+and Monsieur le Commissaire Biron should deliver a verbal report ad
+interim to the Parquet in which you two describe the extraordinary
+state of affairs, and ask the Parquet the permission for Delapine's
+body to remain in its present position until his demise is ascertained
+without a shadow of doubt. Dr. Villebois, as owner of the house in
+which the strange occurrence happened, is bound to report it to the
+authorities on his behalf. If he will make an application to the
+Parquet in the same sense as I wish you and Monsieur Biron to do I am
+sure he will be allowed to keep Delapine's body in the house until all
+is settled."
+
+"Vous avez raison," answered Roux, "I shall go and see Monsieur Biron
+to-morrow. There is something strange in Delapine's appearance which
+makes me believe that he is still alive, although there is absolutely
+no pulse, no heart sounds, and his temperature is very little, if any,
+above that of the room. In fact there are no signs of life whatever."
+
+Roux looked anxiously at his friend Paul who had been listening
+intently to every word he said.
+
+A sudden thought struck Paul. "Tell me," he said, "what was the fluid
+which the fellow injected into the professor's arm?"
+
+"That I cannot tell you. I know it was a slightly yellowish-looking
+liquid, very brilliant, and possessing a pale bluish opalescense like
+quinine. Dr. Riche showed me what had been left in the syringe which he
+had poured into a small phial."
+
+Paul played with his fingers nervously and poured out another glass of
+wine.
+
+"Excuse me a moment," he said, "while I go into my laboratory."
+
+"Mayn't I come with you?" asked Roux.
+
+"Certainly, certainly, my dear colleague, by all means."
+
+The two entered the laboratory, and Paul took up a well-worn handbook
+on Medical Jurisprudence, and with feverish haste turned up one
+reference after another.
+
+"No," he said to himself, "there is nothing here which can afford
+a clue. I know of no poison which can produce the symptoms of
+death-trance. Stay, wait a minute," and he tapped his forehead. "Yes,
+how stupid of me," he said aloud, and crossing over to the side of
+the room he fetched a short ladder and ran rapidly up the steps. "Mon
+Dieu!" he cried, as he took down the bottle which had been sent him
+from Japan. "Look here, Roux, do you see this little bottle?"
+
+"Yes, what of it?"
+
+"Observe it is half empty, and I swear the other day it was quite full.
+Who could have taken it? I am always so particular to keep the room
+locked. Good God," he suddenly exclaimed, "can it be possible?"
+
+"What is the matter?" asked Roux, as his companion suddenly stopped and
+put his hand to his head. "Are you ill?"
+
+Taking the bottle in his hands he descended the ladder all of a
+tremble. In his excitement he lost his balance, and fell to the ground
+with the steps on top of him. The bottle flew out of his hand and was
+smashed to atoms.
+
+"Oh dear, oh dear," he cried, "all the liquid has escaped. What shall I
+do?" and he wrung his hands in despair.
+
+"What on earth is the matter?" said Roux, running up to the assistance
+of his friend. "Are you hurt?"
+
+"No, no," said Paul testily, "don't mind me--it's the bottle," he
+cried. "It is a priceless treasure. It contained a poison from Japan,
+and some of the contents have been stolen."
+
+"Well, surely that is not of much consequence," said Roux.
+
+"Not of much consequence, you idiot? Don't you see that this contained
+the liquid which the fellow injected into Delapine's arm? I understand
+it all now," said Paul.
+
+"Tell me quickly, have you found out who could have stolen the liquid?
+What was the rascal like, do you know his name?" asked Roux. "I am
+sorry I forgot to ask Dr. Riche about him."
+
+"Still, if he knows he will tell us," answered Paul, anxious to conceal
+his thoughts, but with such a look of hesitancy and in such a strange
+voice that Roux felt certain that Paul knew a great deal more than he
+cared to admit.
+
+"I believe you know who did it, but don't want to tell me. Confess now,
+Paul."
+
+Paul's mind became a whirl of conflicting emotions. If he told Roux,
+the latter would have to put it in his report and communicate with the
+Parquet. And then there would be the greatest trouble. He stammered and
+hesitated while his face turned perfectly scarlet.
+
+"Come now, out with it," said Roux impatiently.
+
+"I cannot, I cannot," replied Paul, "please do not press me, but Dr.
+Villebois will tell you better than I can."
+
+"Is Villebois on the telephone?"
+
+"Yes, of course."
+
+Roux ran over to the telephone and called up 26-230.
+
+"Hullo, is that you, Dr. Villebois?"
+
+"Yes, who are you?"
+
+"Dr. Roux is speaking. I want to know if you have any clue as to the
+man who injected the fluid into Professor Delapine's arm?"
+
+"No," came the reply, "we have no actual proof as to who did it, but we
+believe that the would-be assassin was the same individual who set fire
+to Riche's room."
+
+"What makes you think that?"
+
+"Because by setting fire to Riche's room it would draw the people in
+the house upstairs, so that the fellow could not be interrupted in his
+ghastly work."
+
+"I think that is quite a reasonable explanation, but what a pity the
+scoundrel escaped," said Roux.
+
+"Never mind, we shall find him yet," replied Villebois.
+
+"May we come and see you at once?" asked Roux. "It is most important."
+
+"Certainly, I will wait in for you; au revoir," and the telephone
+ceased.
+
+Roux at once informed Paul what Dr. Villebois had told him.
+
+"My God, what a scoundrel," said Paul. "But the motive--the motive?"
+
+"I am quite in the dark as to his motive, anyhow there can be no doubt
+as to the course we have to pursue," said Roux. "Let us go together
+to Villebois's house, and we will examine the professor and draw up a
+report together."
+
+"I have changed my mind, Dr. Roux, I shall tell you everything when we
+see Villebois. This last piece of villainy has decided me. The criminal
+must be brought to justice. But what a misfortune that I have lost all
+that precious fluid."
+
+"Well, never mind, old chap, Dr. Riche has quite enough left for us to
+test."
+
+"Do you really mean it? Thank God for that. Let us go at once, there
+is no time to lose ... as the proverb has it 'Il faut battre le fer
+quand il est chaud.'"[15]
+
+A few minutes later the two doctors might have been seen walking
+rapidly in the direction of Villebois's house.
+
+Half an hour later Roux and Paul were ushered into the library, where
+Villebois and Riche were awaiting their arrival.
+
+Villebois looked at least ten years older than he did a week ago. He
+was no longer the faultlessly attired active physician of yore, his
+dress was untidy and his face bore traces of sleepless nights and
+constant mental strain.
+
+"Ah, mon cher docteur," said Roux, "I am sorry to see you looking so
+depressed."
+
+"Thank you, I confess I don't feel myself at all. I am so worried over
+this affair. The more I think of it, the more terrible it becomes,
+until it swells up into a Frankenstein. To have a fire in one's
+house is bad enough, but to have a murdered friend lying in one's
+drawing-room day after day is too awful to contemplate. The cook spends
+all her time gossiping with the butcher and the baker, and every person
+who comes to the back door. I found the butler lying dead drunk in the
+pantry for the first time since he has been in my service. Céleste and
+Renée are worn out with watching the professor, and now I am worried
+to death with official visits from the Maire and the police. My house
+is watched by detectives, and all the neighbours hang about outside
+the garden peering in at the windows, and pointing at me with their
+fingers, and whispering to each other. I shall go mad if this affair
+goes on much longer. We must find some way out of it."
+
+"That's the very reason we have come, mon ami," said Roux; "but first
+let me ask you what the Commissaire de Police has done?"
+
+"Nothing as far as I know. He has telephoned up three times to know
+the reason why you have not sent in your report, and has placed two
+detectives here to watch the grounds."
+
+"Has he ordered any arrest to be made?"
+
+"How could he, when we could not inform him who the culprit was? We
+could not charge Pierre with the crime."
+
+"Why not?" asked Roux.
+
+"Why not? My dear doctor, seeing that both he and his father have been
+guests at our house what could we do? We were unable to prove that
+Pierre was concerned in it, and supposing he turned out to be innocent?
+What would the Duvals think of us? The father would probably challenge
+me to fight him, and in any case we should have made them our enemies
+for life. Put yourself for a moment in Pierre's position. Suppose
+someone accused you of first setting fire to his house when you were
+his guest at the time, and then of poisoning a fellow guest who had
+never done you any harm, by means of some fearful drug, and it turned
+out afterwards that you were quite innocent, what would you think of
+him? That is absolutely the case with Pierre."
+
+"Not so fast, doctor," said Paul, "I can prove that he is the person
+who did it. For God's sake do not pose as a miserable sentimentalist."
+
+"What!" they all exclaimed with looks of horror on their faces, "do you
+really mean that Pierre did the dastardly act?"
+
+"Certainly. Do you remember, Dr. Roux, when you called on me this
+afternoon and asked me to help you to draw up your report as you were
+uncertain whether Delapine was dead or not?"
+
+"I do, perfectly."
+
+"Well, you recollect that I searched in my text-books to find some drug
+which would cause a person to lapse into a state of apparent death
+for a long period, and failing to discover it, I suddenly thought of
+something, and climbed up a ladder and took a bottle from the top
+shelf, and to my horror and amazement discovered it to be half empty?"
+
+"I do, and what's more you seemed to have lost your senses for a
+moment, you were so agitated," said Roux.
+
+"Now, I suddenly remembered that two or three weeks ago, Pierre,
+whom I have not seen for two or more years, unexpectedly called and
+cross-questioned me as to the action of certain secret poisons which
+science has been unable to detect, and I showed him a Japanese poison
+which had recently arrived from Tokio. I took the bottle down and
+showed it to him, and I then replaced it on the shelf. The liquid was
+a thick, highly refractive dichromic liquid, which had a very unusual
+appearance something like quinine only much more highly refractive,
+besides being far heavier. When we left the room we waited in the
+passage of the house for a cab, when suddenly Pierre asked for the
+loan of the key of the room as he had forgotten his cigarette case.
+Not suspecting anything, I gave it to him, and waited there until he
+returned. To the best of my recollection, no one except my servant has
+ever had access to the room since, and when I discovered the bottle
+half empty to-day I knew it must have been Pierre who had opened it."
+
+"Yes," said Riche, "and I remember at the séance last week I noticed
+Pierre quietly slip out of the room and disappear. Well, less than half
+an hour afterwards we all noticed the smoke of the fire."
+
+"A strange coincidence that the two events should follow one another so
+soon," said Villebois, who had been listening intently. "Not only that,
+but your daughter called my attention to the fact that Pierre tampered
+with Delapine's coffee when we had the race on the lawn, and I think we
+all noticed how cleverly Delapine excused himself from drinking it, and
+killed a plant with a few drops of the liquid. You see how all these
+facts fit in together and render the evidence of his guilt convincing.
+Lastly, here is the liquid which I emptied out of the syringe I found
+on the floor of the séance-room after the person inside had escaped."
+
+Paul took the bottle out of Riche's hand and examined it carefully.
+
+"Yes," he replied, as he placed it on the table for the others to look
+at. "That is the Japanese liquid which was stolen from my laboratory."
+
+"Are you quite sure?" asked Roux.
+
+"Certainly, I can swear to it as it has a peculiar appearance which no
+other liquid possesses. Examine it for yourselves, gentlemen," and he
+handed the bottle to the others to inspect. The four doctors looked at
+one another for some time in silence. Villebois and Riche exchanged
+glances of surprise and horror.
+
+"Mais, messieurs, this is terrible. What are we to do?" said Villebois,
+breaking the spell. Another silence followed, as if each one was afraid
+to say what he thought. At length Roux got up and said,
+
+"I must do my duty, my dear colleague, and place this evidence in my
+report."
+
+"For my part I should like to keep his name out of it," said Villebois.
+
+"What! Would you screen an incarnate fiend from justice?" cried Paul
+and Roux together. "No, my dear Villebois," added Roux, leaning forward
+with both hands on the table, "there are crimes which we cannot allow
+our feelings to hide. We may be able to forgive injuries done to
+ourselves, but to protect a scoundrel who abuses your hospitality by
+murdering your friend and guest in cold blood, exceeds all the bounds
+of mercy."
+
+"Well," said Villebois with a sigh, "I withhold my objection provided
+you will promise me the police will not be informed before twenty-four
+hours have elapsed. It is now six p.m. Promise me, Dr. Roux, that your
+report will not be handed in before the same time to-morrow."
+
+"I suppose you wish to have time to warn Pierre?"
+
+"Precisely," replied Villebois, "pray respect my feelings, gentlemen, I
+do it more to spare my friends Payot and General Duval."
+
+Roux shook his head and frowned. "I cannot permit my feelings to
+interfere with my duty," he answered.
+
+Paul nodded his head with approval.
+
+"That is quite right," said Villebois, "but surely you will show me,
+your confrère, some mercy as well. If Pierre has time to escape no one
+will suffer, and we shall be effectually rid of him."
+
+"Jamais de la vie," said Roux, his eyes flashing with indignation, and
+banging his fist on the table with such force that the contents of the
+inkpot were spilled. "I regret, my dear doctor," he added in a calmer
+voice, "I cannot oblige you, for I am determined that this unmitigated
+scoundrel shall be brought to justice, and I shall prepare my report
+at once and hand it without delay to the Commissaire de Police."
+
+"And I mean to back you up, Roux," said Paul. "I swear I will not rest
+until this fiend is run to earth."
+
+Paul shook hands with Villebois and Riche, and taking Roux by the arm,
+the two left the house without another word.
+
+"Riche," said Villebois the moment they were alone, "this is a terrible
+business. I'm afraid it's all up with Pierre."
+
+"Well, for my part, I hate the brute, and the sooner he gets his
+deserts the better. I should be only too happy to act the part of
+'Monsieur de Paris' myself, and would not shed a tear when I saw his
+head fall into the basket."
+
+Villebois heaved a sigh, and wiped his forehead with a silk
+handkerchief. "Perhaps they are right after all," he said to himself,
+"but then there is the old General to consider. It will kill him surely
+enough if his son is arrested on a charge of deliberate murder."
+
+"Riche," he called out as a sudden idea struck him, "my nerves are so
+unstrung I feel I need a drop of cognac; will you share a liqueur with
+me?" and without waiting for a reply he rang the bell. "François," he
+said as the butler appeared, "bring a bottle of old liqueur brandy. No,
+you don't know where that special brand is, I will go." So saying, he
+followed François, closing the door behind him.
+
+"François," he added in a hoarse whisper, "not a word, not a word of
+what I do, do you hear me?"
+
+The butler nodded and touched his forehead.
+
+"Now go and fetch the brandy. Stop, wait a minute."
+
+Villebois took an old 'petit bleu' from his pocket, gummed it down and
+handed it to François.
+
+"Hand me this when you bring the cognac, and tell me it has just
+arrived."
+
+François saluted and vanished, while Villebois returned to the library.
+
+Presently François arrived with a tray of glasses and the liqueur, and
+handed him the telegram.
+
+"Why did you not bring me this before?" asked Villebois.
+
+"It has only just arrived, sir," replied François, like a school-boy
+repeating a lesson.
+
+Villebois hastily opened it, and glancing at the contents put it into
+his pocket.
+
+"Excuse me, Riche," he said, swallowing a petit verre of the liqueur,
+"but I have an important appointment to keep. Pray amuse yourself until
+I return. You will find the last number of _La Vie Parisienne_ on my
+table."
+
+Villebois left the room and hurried to the telephone.
+
+"Is Monsieur Pierre at home?"
+
+"No, sir," came the reply, "he has gone to his club in the Avenue de
+l'Opera. He left half an hour ago."
+
+"H'm," said Villebois, "this is very awkward."
+
+"Oh, by the way, Marcel," he added as that little gentleman appeared in
+the passage, "just put on your hat and take a walk with me."
+
+The two gentlemen hurried out of the house, and walked slowly arm in
+arm up and down the garden.
+
+"Marcel, I want to take you into my confidence. Will you do me a
+special favour?" said Villebois, suddenly pausing in his walk and
+facing his companion.
+
+"Certainly," replied Marcel, who loved nothing better than an
+adventure. "Command me and I will obey."
+
+"Well then, I want you to go to the Circle des Italiens in the Avenue
+de l'Opera and ask to see Pierre. Tell him everything is discovered,
+and the game is up. He must leave Paris to-night, and disappear from
+France as quickly as possible. It is absolutely necessary for him
+to leave at once, as an order for his arrest may be issued at any
+moment. If his father learns of it, it will certainly kill him, and the
+disgrace and worry will probably finish me as well."
+
+Villebois slowly walked back to his house, while Marcel ran out into
+the street and hailing a cab drove off towards the city.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 14: For the shadow--yea verily the shadow (of death) is worse
+than Death itself.]
+
+[Footnote 15: One must strike the iron while it is hot.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+EMILE VISITS HIS FRIEND PIERRE WITH MOST UNPLEASANT CONSEQUENCES
+
+ "Tout mal arrive avec des ailes."
+
+ Voltaire.
+
+ "Ben provide i'l cielo,
+ Ch' uom per delitti mai lieto non sia."[16]
+
+
+It was late at night when Pierre left the café and started out for his
+chambers in blissful ignorance that he was being closely followed by a
+man. The night was clear, and the innumerable shops and cafés lit up,
+gave the boulevard that bright and animated appearance which is one of
+the peculiar charms of the gay city.
+
+He pulled out his cigarette case, a silver-gilt one with his monogram
+in blue enamel, a new-year's gift from Payot, and discovered it empty.
+Pierre got out of his fiacre, and dismissing the cocher turned into
+one of the numerous tobacco shops, where he speedily refilled it, and
+was in the act of lifting it up when the man, no other than Emile
+Levasseur, the waiter and lover of the girl whom he had insulted at
+Maxim's, dexterously extracted a pocket-book from Pierre's breast
+pocket. Long practice had made him an expert at this game, and
+watching his opportunity until Pierre had turned down one of the side
+streets, where he could be more easily followed, he opened it under
+one of the street lamps, and hastily looked through its contents.
+After abstracting a billet de banque for five hundred francs which
+he transferred to his own pocket to meet any emergencies that might
+arise, together with a few visiting cards which were evidently
+Pierre's--seeing that they all bore the same address--he left the rest
+of the notes in the pocket-book, and continued to follow Pierre. At
+length he observed Pierre take out his latch key, and running after him
+with the pocket-book in his hand took off his hat with a polite bow.
+
+"A thousand pardons, but has not monsieur forgotten his pocket-book a
+few moments ago?"
+
+Pierre felt in his coat pocket, and not finding it there, turned round
+to look at Emile once more.
+
+"I had the honour to notice it lying on the counter of the tobacco shop
+after monsieur had just left it. But monsieur travelled so fast I had
+some difficulty in reaching him."
+
+Pierre took the pocket-book, and after seeing that the contents had
+apparently not been tampered with, thanked him and offered him a five
+franc piece.
+
+Emile refused the proffered tip with a superb smile, and a majestic
+wave of the hand.
+
+"A thousand pardons, but really I cannot accept anything from monsieur,
+the fact that I have been the humble means of restoring monsieur's
+property is more than ample reward for me."
+
+Pierre grunted with a smile of contemptuous unbelief, and returned the
+piece to his pocket, after scanning him closely from head to foot. His
+inspection was evidently satisfactory for he paused for a few minutes
+and asked him whether he would care to perform a small service for him,
+for which he would pay him handsomely.
+
+"Ah, monsieur is too generous. To serve a patron like monsieur would be
+the supreme desire of my life, and payment would be quite a secondary
+consideration," he said with a greasy supercilious smile.
+
+"What is your name and address?" asked Pierre.
+
+Monsieur Emile opened a small card-case and handed him one of his cards
+which he always kept in readiness for emergencies like these. It bore
+the inscription:--
+
+[Illustration:
+
+ _Emile Deschamps,
+ Traveller and Confidential Agent._
+
+ _Rue du Rhone,
+ Grenoble._]
+
+The inscription on the card had been devised by M. Emile after much
+meditation and reflection, and while drawn up to create confidence in
+the recipient, was really as misleading a document as one could find.
+
+"You see," he would say to his 'copains,' "Grenoble is too far away
+for anyone in Paris to make awkward enquiries, the name of the street
+carries no number, and the fact that I am a traveller explains my
+presence in any city where I may be at the time, and does away with
+the necessity of having a fixed address. Moreover a confidential agent
+imparts a certain tone and air of respectability which cannot fail to
+give me the entire confidence of any patron who may be the favoured
+recipient of this small piece of pasteboard. Besides this, the fact
+that I have been a garçon for several years has enabled me to acquire
+that polished debonair appearance and deportment which can only be
+acquired from constant attendance on the high-born gentlemen and ladies
+whom I have had the honour to serve."
+
+Glancing at the card, Pierre invited him to enter his rooms, and in a
+few moments the pair were settled in a well-furnished and comfortable
+library.
+
+Emile was decidedly well dressed for a waiter, and beyond the fact that
+he wore mutton chop whiskers, a cleanly shaven face, a bald head, and
+had the habit of inadvertently placing his napkin under his arm and
+stepping across the room with his head in the air, no one would have
+suspected that he was in that line of business. He was a coward at
+heart, and was one of those sneaks who are always hanging about street
+corners--in fact he made street corners a speciality--and he was ever
+on the watch for something to turn up which might add to his income.
+These blackmailers--for that is what they really are--abound in all
+large cities, and seem without exception to attach themselves to one
+or more of the fair sex, whose inherited instincts of virtue have long
+since evaporated, and who night after night frequent one or other of
+the music halls or cafés, for the purpose of making fresh conquests.
+These pimps exert an evil influence over the minds of the girls, and by
+slow degrees insidiously drag them down to their own infamous level.
+Always keeping in the background, they are never seen by the gentleman
+who is drawn into the fair charmer's net, and only appear on the scenes
+when they perceive an opportunity of extracting money as the price of
+silence.
+
+"Now, sir," said Pierre, as he poured out a small glass of absinthe
+which M. Emile tossed off at a gulp, "I want you to act as my private
+detective and watch a certain house for me, and to inform me of
+everything that goes on there. You are to call here at least once every
+day, and if I am out you are to leave a written message in a sealed
+envelope. I will pay you well, provided you allow no one to become
+acquainted with your movements, and you are not to tell a single soul
+as to where I am, or what I am doing. Is that well understood?"
+
+"Oh, monsieur, if you only knew me better, you would be convinced that
+you have selected the best private detective in all Paris. I have
+frequently undertaken little commissions of this sort when travelling
+for my firm."
+
+"Good! That will do. Now what do you consider a fair return for doing
+me this service?"
+
+"Ah! I see monsieur is generous--I leave it to him."
+
+"Well," said Pierre, lighting a fresh cigarette, and blowing a few
+whiffs in silence, "let me see. Supposing I pay you ten francs a day.
+What do you say to that?"
+
+"Oh, mon cher monsieur!--"
+
+"Don't address me as 'mon cher,'" Pierre interrupted. "Please remember
+you are my servant, and not my equal."
+
+"Pardon, monsieur, a thousand apologies, it was my great appreciation
+of your nobility of character that warmed my heart towards you and
+impelled me to say this."
+
+"Look here, Monsieur Emile, if you think you are going to get round me
+by that sort of blarney you're jolly mistaken. Tell me what you are
+prepared to accept, and don't try on any more of your monkey-brand soap
+on me, it won't wash. You'll provoke me to say something in a moment
+that you won't like. Now out with it. How much?"
+
+"Ah! Monsieur is too cruel. The last time I undertook a commission like
+this I reluctantly accepted a hundred francs a day, but as I have taken
+a great fancy to you I will make an immense sacrifice and accept fifty
+francs."
+
+"I suppose you think I'm a soft-headed idiot, and that I believe all
+your silly tales. Well, I may as well be frank and tell you that I
+don't believe a word you say. Look here, I'll offer you fifteen francs
+a day, and not a sou more. You may take it or leave it as you please."
+
+Emile Levasseur cowed under the stern voice of Pierre, and seeing that
+the game was up, shrugged his shoulders, and spreading out the palms of
+his hands in a supplicatory fashion with a look of intense resignation
+and reluctance, accepted the offer.
+
+Pierre gave a smile of satisfaction at the success of his
+counter-stroke, and after giving his now engaged detective a few more
+instructions, rang the bell, and ordered his valet to show him out.
+Emile was no match for a determined man, but having extremely plausible
+ways, he generally succeeded in gaining his ends with the lower class
+of women, and especially servant girls. Hence his first manoeuvre to
+establish a footing in Villebois's house was by pandering to the vanity
+of the doctor's female servants. By means of a little subtle flattery,
+a kiss or two, and a few francs carefully invested in scents and cheap
+ribbons, he soon won the favour of the housemaid. From her he learnt
+all the goings-on in the house--the death-like trance of Delapine,
+the interrupted autopsy on the body, the discovery of the hypodermic
+syringe and the needle, and the visits of Messieurs Biron and Roux.
+
+A couple of days later as Emile was loafing round the house during
+the evening, he noticed Villebois and Marcel engaged in earnest
+conversation in the garden. Thinking it might prove useful, he managed
+to climb over the wall and creep up to them in the dusk. He found an
+excellent hiding place quite close to them behind one of the laurel
+bushes. Emile could not catch all they said, but he distinctly heard
+Villebois say to Marcel, "Go to Pierre's club 'the circle des Italiens'
+in the Avenue de l'Opera, and inform him from me that he must quit
+France to-night, or he will be arrested to-morrow for the murder of
+Delapine. All is discovered and the game is up, and if his father hears
+of his arrest it will certainly kill him."
+
+As they moved down the path Emile lost the rest of the conversation.
+He remained concealed until Villebois and Marcel had entered the
+house, and then creeping along the garden wall he succeeded in passing
+unobserved into the street.
+
+Presently he saw Marcel come out of the house and hurry past. Emile
+watched him drive off in a fiacre, and hurried after him on foot,
+seeking all the time in vain for some means of overtaking him. Five
+minutes or more elapsed, but no vehicle could be seen. At length Emile
+threw up his hands in despair, and was on the point of abandoning the
+task as hopeless, when he saw a private motor-car coming along with
+two men inside. As he rushed into the middle of the road and waved his
+hands in front of the advancing car, the chauffeur brought the powerful
+Mercèdes to a stand, and demanded an explanation of the stoppage.
+
+"A thousand pardons, gentlemen," said Emile, assuming a most bewitching
+smile of the very latest pattern, "but my car has broken down, and it
+is imperative that I should reach my club in the Avenue de l'Opera
+immediately. If I might trespass on your kindness, and ask you to drive
+me?"
+
+The two men looked at each other and hesitated, but Emile handed them
+his visiting card with an elegant flourish, and a courtly bow. The card
+handed to the occupants of the Mercèdes bore a crown in the centre,
+and in ornamental copperplate letters appeared underneath:--
+
+[Illustration:
+
+ _Le Comte de Saint-Beuve._
+
+ _Chateau de Forest,
+ Fontainbleau._]
+
+This at once decided the case, and delighted that they had a gentleman
+of such good rank and courtly bearing for a companion, they had no
+hesitation in granting his request, and cordially inviting him to be
+seated, they drove away to the club.
+
+As the car pulled up at the entrance, one of the pages opened the door,
+and Emile, shaking hands with his two friends, majestically stepped
+out. Mounting the steps in a dignified manner, he passed by the portier
+as if the place belonged to him, without even deigning to look round.
+
+Entering one of the writing rooms, he hastily scribbled a note, and
+descending at once he stood at the entrance of the club awaiting the
+arrival of Marcel.
+
+A few minutes afterwards his quarry appeared, and Emile, walking up to
+him, hat in hand: "Excuse me sir, are you Monsieur Marcel?"
+
+"Yes, that is my name. Why do you address me?"
+
+"Because Monsieur Pierre Duval gave me this note for you."
+
+Marcel looked very surprised at receiving a letter from Pierre as he
+could not imagine how Pierre could divine that he would call, but he at
+once took the proffered letter, and tearing open the envelope read as
+follows:--
+
+ "Dear Marcel,
+
+ I much regret to have missed you, but I have just received an urgent
+ telegram calling me away to defend a case at Orleans which will
+ probably detain me for a few days. A letter addressed to the Hotel de
+ la Pucelle will find me. So sorry to have missed you.
+
+ A bientôt,
+ Pierre."
+
+While Marcel was reading the note Emile passed out of the club, and was
+speedily lost to sight.
+
+"This is awkward," muttered Marcel, "still it will give him time to
+escape if Villebois writes him to-night. Well, it can't be helped,
+I must see Villebois, and he can write or send a wire to warn him.
+Anyhow, I can do no good by staying here." So saying he retraced his
+steps, and hailing a taxi soon found himself once more in Passy.
+
+Entirely ignorant of what had just transpired, Pierre went home to
+dinner, followed at a little distance by Emile. Hardly was his meal
+finished when a ring was heard at the door.
+
+"Ah," said Pierre, "I expect that rascal Emile has come to see me. I
+wonder what he has to say this time."
+
+A moment later Emile was shown into the room.
+
+"I have important news for monsieur," was his opening remark as he laid
+his hat and cane on a chair.
+
+"Well, be quick and let me know what it is. I have not much time."
+
+"But, before I begin, perhaps monsieur will settle my little account?"
+said Emile, reflecting that when Pierre heard the news, he would have
+more important matters to think about than the settlement of the little
+bill.
+
+"Well, here are two napoleons, that is all I can spare at the moment,
+and if you don't bring me more news than you have done hitherto you may
+whistle for any more money from me."
+
+"Oh," replied Emile as he pocketed the coins, "monsieur may be certain
+that I will give him plenty of news to-night, plenty of news, he may be
+quite sure."
+
+"Now tell me what you have to say, and be quick about it," said Pierre,
+lighting a fresh cigarette.
+
+"Monsieur will pardon me if I say that my news is not to be told too
+quickly, and perhaps monsieur himself will see when I have finished
+that the need for haste is not a matter for me."
+
+While Emile was speaking Pierre nonchalantly turned his back on his
+visitor and was busying himself with the pages of a railway guide. At
+the totally unexpected words of Emile, uttered in a quiet and almost
+dignified manner, the young advocate turned sharply round, and was
+about to deliver a scathing rebuke to his impertinent employee, but the
+words died on his lips and a sickening feeling of dread crept over him
+when he saw Emile draw up a chair and calmly seat himself alongside the
+small table standing between them. Summoning as much indifference into
+his tone as he was able to under the circumstances, he said:
+
+"Pray, do not consider me, make yourself quite at home. But I may
+remark, however, that up to this moment I was under the impression that
+I was the master here."
+
+"It is my fond hope that monsieur may long remain free to be the master
+in his own house," replied Emile, looking straight into the eyes of
+Pierre. "But," he added slowly, "if monsieur will deign to accept the
+help of his humble ally----"
+
+"Understand me once for all," interrupted Pierre haughtily, "I do
+not make allies of my servants; if you have any news to report, say
+briefly what it is. Have you carried out my instructions and obtained
+information from Dr. Villebois's servants?"
+
+"Yes, monsieur, I have not only gained my news from the servants, but
+I have obtained most valuable information from the lips of the eminent
+Dr. Villebois himself."
+
+"Ah, and what had he to say?" asked Pierre anxiously.
+
+"That is the very matter which I desire to discuss with monsieur,"
+replied Emile.
+
+"How do you mean, discuss?" answered Pierre angrily. "You are not here
+to discuss; your place is to report, and that's what you are paid for.
+You seem to forget yourself when you talk to me about discussing my
+business with me."
+
+Nettled at the tone of superiority adopted by Pierre, Emile put up a
+warning hand to interrupt, "I think monsieur will be very glad to pay
+me a very large sum of money to make me forget. Sit down, monsieur, sit
+down," he added, "and we will come to a little arrangement about what
+Dr. Villebois was good enough to inform your ally and friend."
+
+Something in his visitor's manner and looks caused Pierre to see that
+the time for bravado and bluff was past, and with a contemptuous sneer
+at the figure opposite him, he sat down at the further side of the
+table.
+
+"Monsieur would prefer to smoke perhaps," said Emile insinuatingly.
+"The cigarette has a wonderfully soothing effect on the nerves when
+they are shaken."
+
+"Damn you, say what you have to say," snarled Pierre, "and get out of
+this."
+
+"I would remind monsieur that politeness is not only a great virtue,
+but on occasions like this it is also the best policy."
+
+"What do you mean by occasions like this? Explain yourself, I do not
+understand."
+
+"Monsieur will do better not to adopt that tone with me. I am here as
+his friend if----"
+
+"If what?"
+
+"If it will please monsieur to pay me----"
+
+"Pay you for what?"
+
+"For my devotion to the interests of monsieur in coming to him first
+with my news instead of going to the prefecture and telling the police
+that monsieur has murdered Professor Delapine."
+
+"What! Do you insinuate that I murdered the professor? How dare you,
+scoundrel!" he cried, jumping up from his chair white with passion
+and fear, while his face gradually became ashy pale, and a cold sweat
+broke over him. Reaching forward he poured out a full measure of brandy
+with a trembling hand, and swallowed it down at a gulp. "What are you
+staring at, you idiot?" he said, trembling all over. "Have you nothing
+else to tell me? Well then get out, I have no further use for you; and
+mind, if you breathe a word to a living soul about this, by God, I will
+kill you like a dog. What are you doing standing still like a born
+fool that you are? Get out, I say, do you hear me?" he cried as Emile
+hesitated to depart.
+
+"I wish to assure monsieur," said Emile, who displayed great control
+over his voice, but an extraordinary want of tact, "that it was only my
+great devotion to him that prevented me from informing the police this
+evening, and monsieur would have been arrested immediately. Now, if
+monsieur will make me a little present, just enough to make it worth my
+while----"
+
+"What! you infernal devil," interrupted Pierre, his voice becoming
+husky with passion as he rose from the table and looked at Emile with
+eyes blazing with fury. "Do you mean to tell me that you require me to
+muzzle your mouth with gold in order to secure your silence?"
+
+"Ah! monsieur, we have all got to live, and for a thousand francs--a
+mere trifle to monsieur--I close my eyes, and for another couple of
+thousand more I close my lips, and I will never tell the police, or
+even your father."
+
+"You limb of satan, you hellish fiend. By God, I swear I'll tear your
+lying tongue out of your mouth, and break every bone in your damned
+body," cried Pierre, and seizing a champagne bottle he hurled it with
+all his force at Emile's head as the imp tried to escape from the room.
+Emile ducked, and the bottle just caught the top of his head, causing
+a deep gash, and knocking him down as if he had been pole-axed. The
+blood trickled down his face, and Pierre was afraid for the moment that
+he had killed him. Hurrying out of the room he fetched a pail of water
+and some towels, and tying one of them tightly over the wound he soon
+stopped the bleeding. In a few minutes he had mopped up all the blood,
+and removed every trace of it from the floor, and seeing that Emile was
+not seriously hurt, propped him up in a chair and rang the bell.
+
+"Joseph," he said to his servant, as the latter stared at Emile propped
+up like a Chinese idol with a towel twisted into a turban round his
+head. "Don't be alarmed, my friend has had the misfortune to cut his
+head with a champagne bottle as he was opening it, he will soon be all
+right again. Kindly go and fetch a fiacre as soon as possible, and see
+that he is driven to his diggings. By the way, Joseph," he added, "I
+shan't want you this evening, so you may go out and amuse yourself if
+you like, and remember," he continued, in as calm a voice as he could
+command, "not a word about this to anyone. This accident was purely his
+own fault, and as you see, he is not badly hurt."
+
+"Thank you, sir," said Joseph, as he felt relieved at seeing Emile
+beginning to wake up. "Have you any further orders, sir?"
+
+"No, Joseph, no, that will do, only be quick and get this fellow out of
+the way. His presence is getting on my nerves," added Pierre, becoming
+excited again.
+
+A fiacre was soon brought, and Emile was bundled in.
+
+"Where shall I drive to?" asked the cocher.
+
+"Oh! anywhere you please," said Pierre, who had assisted Joseph in
+getting him in, "only don't bring him back here."
+
+The cocher drove off, and Emile, recovering somewhat, shouted to the
+coachman to turn round and drive to the General's house.
+
+As soon as Joseph had departed, Pierre set to work to pack up his
+possessions, and collect his papers and valuables together.
+
+"Now," he said, consulting a railway time-table, "I shall be able to
+catch the midnight train for Bordeaux. That will suit me nicely, and I
+can alter my appearance so that my own mother would not recognise me."
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 16: "Heaven provides that man shall ne'er by crime to
+happiness attain."]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII
+
+FACILIS DECENSUS AVERNI
+
+ Revenge at first though sweet, bitter ere long back on itself recoils.
+
+ _Paradise Lost._
+
+
+Meanwhile Emile swore in a way that would have turned the English
+dragoons in Flanders green with envy. He was thirsting for vengeance
+and was busy turning over in his mind how he could best pay Pierre back
+in his own coin, when he found himself at the General's house. Thanks
+to Villebois and Riche's skill, Duval's bullet wound was so far healed
+that he was beginning to use his arm, and the movements and sensation
+of feeling showed that repair had set in vigorously. He was sitting in
+an easy chair when Emile was ushered into his presence.
+
+"Well, and pray who are you, and what do you want to see me about at
+this time in the evening?" said Duval, frowning at him and looking very
+red in the face.
+
+The General scrutinized the visiting card which Robert had just handed
+to him on a silver salver. Turning it over he examined it thoughtfully,
+and glanced up at him with a searching gaze.
+
+"What have you been doing to your head?" he enquired.
+
+Emile twisted his fingers, and played with his hat in a nervous
+fashion. "I met with an accident in the street, and a man ran out of a
+house and bound it up for me," he replied, cowed and trembling.
+
+"I suppose you think that is the proper way to call on gentlemen of my
+rank in the evening, is it?"
+
+Emile was beginning to feel faint, and sat down on a chair near the
+General.
+
+"Get up, sir, this instant. How dare you sit down in the presence of
+a General of the French army, and without leave too? Parbleu, in my
+younger days you would have been arrested immediately, and severely
+punished. Ma foi, the service must be going to the devil. Get up this
+instant, do you hear me, sir?" he said, as the wretched man was too
+bewildered and confused to obey the General's orders.
+
+"If you please, mon Général, I have the honour to inform you that--that
+your son has killed Professor Delapine, and that he will be arrested
+to-morrow morning for murder."
+
+"What the devil do you mean, sir? Are you mad or what?"
+
+"A thousand pardons, mon Général, I am telling you the naked truth.
+I have just come from Dr. Villebois's house, and I overheard him say
+that the moment Dr. Roux's report is presented to-morrow morning at the
+Parquet, your son, Monsieur Pierre Gaston Duval, will be arrested on
+the charges of arson and murder."
+
+"What!" exclaimed the General, bounding out of his chair, and seizing
+the bully by his coat collar and shaking him violently. "Do you mean to
+tell me that--that----" he burst out in a voice that became incoherent
+with mingled rage and horror, "that--that--the police intend to--to
+arrest my son on a charge of murder?"
+
+"It is true, mon Général, I heard Dr. Villebois and Dr. Roux both say
+so."
+
+The General's eyes nearly started out of his head, and a profuse
+perspiration collected on his brow. An awful horror seized him, and his
+chest heaved with convulsive emotion. "My God! to think it has come to
+this! My only son, the pride of my heart, the heir to all my property,
+the sole survivor of my family, and to end in disgrace like this," and
+burying his face in his hands, he sobbed convulsively. Emile toyed with
+his hat more nervously than ever, and watched the General intently not
+to miss the effect which his speech had on him.
+
+At length after a painful pause that seemed interminable, Duval stood
+up, and fastened his eyes with a searching gaze on Emile, while his
+face twitched convulsively, and assumed a look which terrified him
+almost out of his wits.
+
+"What were you doing in Delapine's house to overhear this conversation?
+Were you invited there?"
+
+"Oh! no, mon Général. I was paid by M. Pierre to watch the house and
+bring him all the news I could glean."
+
+The General's feelings were working up to the boiling point, and his
+fury was passing beyond all his powers of control. Emile was on the
+point of making a bolt for it, but the furious gleam of Duval's eyes
+rooted him to the spot.
+
+"You infernal sneak, you vile informer, you--you miserable reptile,"
+said the General, with a look of withering contempt on his face, his
+voice rising in pitch until it almost ended in a shriek, "out with you
+before I shoot you dead," and suiting his actions to his words, he
+opened a drawer and pulled out a large army revolver.
+
+But Emile did not wait for Duval to raise the weapon. Before the
+General had time to cock it, Emile had already bolted out of the room,
+and hurrying down the stairs, ran out of the front gate as fast as his
+legs could carry him.
+
+Duval rushed after him and fired several shots, but his wounded arm
+prevented him from taking a steady aim, and Emile was speedily out of
+range.
+
+The General returned to his room, and lay down on the sofa in a state
+of complete exhaustion. Nearly half an hour had elapsed before he was
+sufficiently recuperated to ring the bell and order the carriage to be
+got ready. He slowly went upstairs, and put on his uniform assisted by
+his valet.
+
+"Buckle on my sword as well, Robert, I don't feel my real self without
+my trusty sword and revolver."
+
+Robert appeared terribly scared at the appearance of his master, but
+knew him too well to venture on any remark, or to let him perceive that
+he saw it.
+
+"You need not wait up for me, Robert," he said in a calm and measured
+voice which presented a marked contrast to his previous excited and
+furious tones, and now bore traces of strong determination mingled
+with unutterable sadness. "I don't like to say so, Robert, but I feel
+somehow that I may be addressing you for the last time. You will have
+no reason to forget me, Robert, you have been a faithful servant to
+me, and I have not forgotten you in my will."
+
+"Oh! mon Général, do not talk like that," said Robert, weeping, "I
+cannot bear to think that misfortune could overtake you."
+
+The General was deeply moved at the old servant's words, and pouring
+out a glass of brandy, handed it to him.
+
+Robert for the moment was too astonished to drink it, and looked at his
+master for some explanation of his altogether unusual conduct.
+
+"Drink it, drink it, my good fellow," said Duval, "I do not like
+leaving without some slight token of my regard for you," and so saying
+he filled another glass, and with a nod of approval clinked it against
+his valet's, and drank to his health.
+
+"May le bon Dieu watch over you," said Robert in a solemn but
+respectful tone of voice.
+
+"Merci, merci," replied the General nodding to him. "Now leave me, my
+good man, I am not well," and he shook his head and sighed painfully.
+
+Robert's eyes were filled with tears as he left the room in silence.
+
+It was after nine in the evening when the General arrived at Pierre's
+rooms. The latter looked out of his window to make sure that it was not
+a detective, or a member of the police force who stood at the door, and
+having assured himself on that score, he opened the door and admitted
+his father.
+
+Duval quietly entered the room without saying a word. He sat down in an
+armchair and began by looking at Pierre, who was humming a tune, with a
+steady gaze.
+
+Pierre felt very uncomfortable, and tried to avert his father's looks,
+but in vain. The silence was beginning to become unbearable, and
+picking up a newspaper he attempted to read, but the terrible look on
+his father's face rendered it impossible, and he flung the paper on one
+side.
+
+"Now, sir, pray explain yourself," said his father very solemnly and
+slowly in an almost sepulchral voice. "I understand from a man who
+calls himself Emile Deschamps that you have not only attempted to
+burn Villebois's house down, but you have actually murdered his guest
+Professor Delapine, and that to-morrow morning you will be arrested in
+the name of the law."
+
+"My dear father, what on earth are you talking about? I don't
+understand a word you're saying."
+
+Pierre opened his cigarette-case, and having selected a cigarette to
+his satisfaction, proceeded to offer his father one.
+
+"Don't trifle with me, sir. I have come here to demand an answer to my
+questions, and not to smoke cigarettes with you."
+
+"You can ask me as many questions as you like, but I don't see that I
+am called upon to answer them," replied Pierre in a huff.
+
+"By God, sir, you shall not leave the room until you have answered
+them," replied the General, becoming more and more angry.
+
+"Look here, father, I won't have you talk to me as if I were a naughty
+child. You come here at this absurd hour of the night, and glare at me
+like a hyæna, and expect me to listen to some yarn about my burning
+down Villebois's house and murdering Delapine.
+
+"Really, sir," he continued, "you are too funny for words, you ought to
+have been a comic actor. Ha! ha! ha!" and Pierre shook with laughter.
+
+"How dare you trifle with me in this manner? Are you aware of the
+seriousness of this charge?" cried Duval in an awful voice.
+
+"For goodness' sake stop, father, this conversation is becoming too
+tedious, I really can't stand it any longer," replied Pierre in a
+languid drawl. "By the way, won't you take a glass of port?"
+
+"Hold your tongue, sir! Will you listen to me or not? You have been
+accused of having set fire to Villebois's house, and of murdering
+Professor Delapine. I wish to hear from your own lips; is it true or
+not?"
+
+"Oh, do shut up, father, and don't play the fool with me any more,"
+replied Pierre, his voice rising almost to a scream. "Is it likely that
+I, your own son, would dream of doing mad acts like that? The thing is
+too absurd even to argue about."
+
+"Am I to understand then that you are innocent of both these deeds?"
+
+"Most certainly I am. I swear the whole charge is a dastardly lie, and
+is without a shadow of foundation."
+
+"Are you prepared to swear this to me on oath? Hold up your hand and
+swear then," said his father, as Pierre nodded assent.
+
+"I swear before God that the whole story is nothing but a filthy lie,"
+said Pierre, holding up his hand, "and I solemnly call God to witness
+what I say."
+
+"You are lying, you are deceiving me--I can read it in your face."
+
+"May God strike me dead on the spot if I am deceiving you," replied
+Pierre in a sudden outburst of passion, bringing his fist down on
+the table with a bang in order to carry conviction, although he was
+trembling from head to foot.
+
+"Of course," he continued after a moment's reflection, "if you prefer
+to believe this damned cad whom you call Emile, rather than your own
+son, I have nothing more to say."
+
+Duval remained silent for a few moments, fixing on him one of those
+terrible looks which would have cowed a Bengal tiger, and caused him to
+slink away.
+
+"Come now, father, for goodness' sake change the subject, and don't
+waste my time with these absurd accusations," said Pierre, with
+well-feigned anger, although he was quaking with fear.
+
+"Pierre, I ask you for the last time, do you still persist in your
+statement that it is all a lie?"
+
+"Of course I do; what else could it be?"
+
+"If it is a lie, then explain to me why you have employed a low sneak
+to watch the house and inform you from hour to hour what is going on
+there. Is that a lie also?"
+
+Pierre grew very red in the face and tried to avert his father's gaze,
+but said nothing.
+
+"Answer me, sir," said Duval with another of his searching looks.
+
+"Oh, father, why do you ask me such ridiculous questions?"
+
+"Ridiculous questions indeed. I suppose you will give that reply to
+the Juge d'Instruction when you are arraigned on the charge of wilful
+murder, and when the guillotine is staring you in the face? Hein!" and
+Duval looked at him once more with flashing eyes and tightly clenched
+teeth.
+
+Pierre merely hung down his head.
+
+"Hold up your head, sir," said Duval in a terrible voice, "and look me
+full in the face. I see your sense of guilt makes you ashamed to do it."
+
+Pierre got up and made as if he would leave the room.
+
+"Halt!" cried the General in a voice of thunder, and going quickly
+to the door he locked it and put the key in his pocket. "Now, sir,
+once for all, did you or did you not kill Delapine, and set fire to
+Villebois's house?"
+
+Pierre could see from his father's face that prevarication was useless,
+and however much he denied the deed he would refuse to believe him.
+
+"I see you refuse to believe me even when I do tell the truth. Well,
+as a matter of fact, I did try an _experiment_ on Delapine when he was
+in a trance, with a little liquid which Paul Romaine gave me, and the
+fluid unfortunately proved too strong for him, and it ended fatally."
+
+"Do you imagine for a moment that the jury will believe that story?
+Did you set fire to the house as an _experiment_ to see whether it
+would cause the guests to quit the room and leave you free to murder
+an innocent man? Did you keep away from Villebois's house where you
+were a 'persona grata,' and a welcome guest, and employ a spy as an
+_experiment_ to watch the house for you? Hein!"
+
+"I see it is useless to argue with you, father, so I shall hold my
+tongue."
+
+"You are not only an incendiary and a murderer," said Duval in a voice
+trembling with emotion, "but what, if possible, is worse, you are a
+liar! and a coward, sir! I disown you for ever as my son, but I cannot
+allow you to disgrace my name and that of our family by being put in
+prison, and handed over to the executioner as a felon," and so saying
+he quietly drew his loaded revolver and laid it on the table.
+
+Deliberately rising up, he unlocked the door, saying as he did so, "I
+shall return in a quarter of an hour," and shutting it, locked it on
+the outside.
+
+Duval went out of the house and paced up and down in front of the
+window of the room where his son was standing, and nervously looked at
+his watch from time to time.
+
+Punctually, in a quarter of an hour he returned, and unlocking the
+door, looked at Pierre with a face of unutterable disgust. His eyelids
+were raised to their full extent showing the whites all round, while
+his pupils dilated and glistened with rage and emotion as he stood bolt
+upright with his head in the air like the brave old soldier that he was.
+
+"Coward," he hissed, "so you have not even the courage to preserve your
+father's name. Well then, since you have not the courage, I must do it
+for you," and taking up the revolver he pointed it at Pierre's heart.
+
+But Pierre loved life too well to be despatched without a struggle, and
+before Duval had time to pull the trigger, his son made a sudden dart
+at him and dashed the revolver aside, and at the same time closing with
+the General, threw him on to the ground. Under ordinary circumstances
+Duval's superior strength would have made it an easy task for him to
+render Pierre powerless, but the pain in his injured arm became so
+excruciating that it gave Pierre every advantage over him. Duval still
+held on to his revolver, and endeavoured to fire at his son's body,
+but as he was in the act of pulling the trigger during the heat of the
+struggle, Pierre unintentionally twisted his father's hand round at
+the moment when the revolver was going off. The trigger fell, and the
+bullet passed right through Duval's heart. Pierre instantly released
+him, and getting up observed his father give a few convulsive gasps and
+fall back dead.
+
+He gazed on him with a wild look of terror, and falling on his neck,
+gave way to his feelings of grief. But his remorse soon changed to
+alarm for his own safety, and he fervently thanked his stars that he
+had sent his servant out for the evening.
+
+His first task was to open the window wide, and then taking his
+father's money out of his pocket, he scattered a few coins on the
+floor, and upset some of the furniture. The rest of the money together
+with his father's gold watch, keys, and revolver, he transferred to his
+own pockets.
+
+Pierre carefully locked the door on the inside, and climbing out of
+the window he re-entered the house by the front door, and picking
+up his valaise and portmanteau (which he had previously packed)
+straight-way left the house.
+
+A couple of streets further on he hailed a cab and bid the cocher drive
+to his father's house. He kept the cab waiting while he let himself
+into the house with Duval's latchkey, and made his way to the library
+where his father kept the safe.
+
+It was only the work of a few minutes to open the safe and tumble
+all the bank-notes, securities, and other valuables into a small
+portmanteau. Hurriedly grasping this, he ran downstairs and re-entered
+the fiacre.
+
+"Drive to the Quai D'Orsay Station," he called to the cocher. As soon
+as the fiacre stopped, Pierre went quickly into the lavatory and washed
+off a few traces of blood which had splashed on his clothes.
+
+"Thank God, no one can recognise me now," he muttered, as he proceeded
+to shave off his moustache, and adjust a set of false whiskers and
+a small beard which he had taken the precaution to pack away in his
+valaise. "Ha! Ha! Why, my own mother wouldn't know me," he added as he
+peered into the mirror with a look of satisfaction.
+
+An hour later he bid good-bye to Paris, and found himself rapidly
+travelling in the direction of Bordeaux.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX
+
+THE VIGIL
+
+ "Anche la Speme[17]
+   Ultima Dea, fugge i sepolchri e involve
+ Tutte cose l'Oblio nella sua notte."
+
+ Foscolo.--_Dei Sepolcri._ 16.
+
+ "Nus rein avoir grant joie
+   S'il n'en sueffre paine." (Pierre de Corbie.)
+
+ "The ghost in man, the ghost that once was man,
+   But cannot wholly free itself from man,
+ Are calling to each other thro' a dawn
+   Stranger than earth has ever seen--the veil
+ Is rending, and the voices of the day
+   Are heard across the voices of the dark."
+
+ Tennyson.
+
+
+Delapine had been laid in the spare bedroom which had been partly
+altered into a sitting room and made as comfortable as possible.
+Madame Villebois had placed a small table just behind the head of the
+bed, and covered it with a white cloth. On it she devoutly placed a
+crucifix, together with a large wax candle on each side, which she gave
+directions should be kept burning all night. Two more candles were
+placed on small round tables at the foot of the bed.
+
+"Now, my dear," said the good lady to her spouse, "I have turned the
+room into a little 'chapelle ardente.'"
+
+Doctor Villebois nodded approval--but his mind turned to the practical
+rather than the spiritual needs of the professor.
+
+"Let us put a stove in the room," he added, "so that it may be kept at
+a constant temperature of summer heat."
+
+Renée insisted on sleeping in the room with a Sister of Mercy who had
+been called in to assist at the vigil during the night, while during
+the day Renée and Céleste agreed to take turns in watching.
+
+"Is this the room where the tragedy took place?" asked Paul as the two
+doctors were shown into the room by Villebois.
+
+"No, that was downstairs. This room has been specially prepared for the
+professor."
+
+Paul went up to Delapine, who was lying white as marble and apparently
+lifeless.
+
+"Yes, there is the syringe mark right enough."
+
+Seizing the arm, he inserted a sterilised probe and then forcibly
+squeezed the skin. A few drops of yellowish fluid came out. He
+collected it on a watch glass and warmed it over a spirit flame. A tiny
+white deposit remained.
+
+"Let me put this under your microscope," he said to Dr. Villebois. It
+was brought, and he carefully examined the crystals.
+
+"I thought so. These are the crystals of the Japanese alkaloid right
+enough. There can be no doubt about what his condition is due to."
+
+"What do you think about him?" asked Roux.
+
+"He is either dead or will die very shortly."
+
+Renée looked up with her heart thumping violently, apparently unable to
+grasp the full significance of the calamity.
+
+"Oh! please, doctor," she said, rushing up to him and falling on her
+knees at his feet, "don't say that. Can't you give me any hope?"
+
+Roux and Paul were visibly affected, and the latter patted her on the
+head to try and comfort her.
+
+"I am afraid, mademoiselle, I cannot give you any hope," said Roux with
+a sorrowful look.
+
+"But, Doctor, if he is not really dead, you won't surely allow him to
+be buried, will you?"
+
+"No, no, you may be sure I won't allow that. I promise you that we will
+get an order from the Minister of the Interior to leave him here until
+there can be no question whatever as to his being dead or alive, and
+Roux and I have already sent our report to the Parquet with a request
+to that effect."
+
+"I quite agree," said Paul, "to what you say, in fact, anything else
+would be criminal."
+
+Two days later Dr. Roux received the following letter from Villebois:--
+
+ Mon cher Docteur,
+
+ The Parquet, after hearing the report which you and Monsieur Biron
+ were good enough to give in this extraordinary case, has granted my
+ petition that Delapine's body may remain unburied until it has been
+ ascertained with absolute certainty that he is really dead, but I am
+ sorry to tell you, mon ami, that you and Monsieur Biron are under the
+ obligation to give the Parquet a detailed report every day concerning
+ Delapine's condition, thus giving you both, I regret to say, a
+ considerable amount of work.
+
+ Not only ourselves and the members of the Parquet, but all
+ Paris--France--the whole world, are anxiously awaiting the solution
+ of this wonderful riddle. The strain is telling on my nerves, and
+ I really feel too ill to do any work. The whole house is becoming
+ disorganized. Madame Villebois has been compelled to take to her bed,
+ and my daughter Céleste and Mademoiselle Renée are taking turns to
+ watch the professor in a room we have specially prepared for him.
+ Reporters and other inquisitive people are calling all day long
+ for news. A guard has been stationed at the front door by the kind
+ permission of the Parquet to keep them away as much as possible, but
+ it is needless to add that you, mon cher confrère, will always be
+ welcome at any hour of the day.
+
+ Toujours à vous,
+ Adolphe Villebois.
+
+Dr. Villebois was compelled to abandon his practice for the time being,
+and devote himself to his mysterious patient. Dr. Riche offered to
+share all responsibility with him--an offer which needless to say was
+most cordially accepted.
+
+Almost every hour of the day Riche would enter the bedroom and examine
+the thermometer to make sure that an even temperature was maintained.
+He had just entered the room and looked at Renée who was sitting down
+holding Céleste's hand, the picture of abject misery. Renée closed
+her eyes, her lips trembled while she emitted a half-suppressed sigh,
+feeling too sad to think or speak. From time to time she put her hand
+to her head as if she felt a pain there, and heaved a little sigh. All
+hope seemed extinguished, and left nothing but an empty longing in her
+heart. And now the sun was eclipsed. Her dream of love had become a
+ghastly nightmare. A fearful and unknown terror seemed to possess her.
+"Listen," her heart seemed to say, "listen to the rustling of the wings
+of the Death-Angel as he hovers over you. You have lost your protector.
+Pandora's box is empty. Hope, the sole remaining gift, has escaped and
+fled. There is nothing more to live for. All that remains is black,
+hopeless despair. Why hesitate any longer? Make away with yourself."
+
+With such thoughts of undiluted misery, she lay down on the couch
+longing for comfort which never came, eager for someone to come and
+comfort her, and yet at the same time half hoping that she might be
+left alone.
+
+"Oh! Henri, Henri, my beloved, come back, come back to me or I shall
+die."
+
+She felt like a little wounded bird left alone in the nest to perish.
+
+The next day Riche, who was somewhat of an electrician, brought in a
+couple of dry-cell batteries and fixed the wires so that the faintest
+movement of Delapine's head or limbs would complete the circuit in the
+wires and ring an alarm.
+
+"There," he said to Renée when he had finished, "if the professor moves
+hand or foot as little as the twentieth part of an inch, the alarm
+will be heard ringing all over the house, and will continue until the
+circuit is broken again."
+
+Suddenly the alarm bell, which was one of the largest size, rang with
+an indescribable din. Renée jumped up with a cry, while Céleste, Marcel
+and Payot came rushing into the room.
+
+"What is it, what is it?" they all cried.
+
+"Nothing," replied Riche, "I was merely testing the apparatus. See," he
+continued, "I will move the professor's hand the fraction of an inch."
+Immediately the gong sounded, and everyone started. Then he tested each
+limb in the same way, and always with the same result. Next he examined
+the thermometer which he had placed in Delapine's mouth the day before.
+It showed a temperature of 75° Fahrenheit. Then he looked at the
+thermometer on the wall. It showed 70° Fahrenheit. He smiled and gave
+utterance to an exclamation of pleasure and surprise.
+
+"What's the matter, doctor?" asked Renée, sitting up as she watched
+Riche's face closely.
+
+"I have good news--not very good, but still better than nothing. The
+body is five degrees warmer than the air of the room. If it were only
+the same temperature it would be a serious matter, but for it to be
+higher is a very good sign."
+
+"Oh God, I thank Thee for this small mercy," said Renée, folding her
+hands and bowing her head devoutly. She hurriedly left the room, and a
+few minutes afterwards Riche heard the music of her violin.
+
+He opened the door and listened. He heard the opening notes of
+Beethoven's "Kreutzer Sonata."
+
+"My God," he said to himself, "what feeling, what execution! surely
+the professor's spirit must have entered the child." He listened
+enraptured. Stealing out of the room with Céleste and Marcel, he found
+Villebois and Madame Villebois standing at the half-opened door of the
+library not daring to enter lest they should break the spell.
+
+Then the air changed, and the "Ave Maria of Schubert" caught his
+enraptured ear.
+
+After a pause she laid her violin down, and with closed eyes like a
+blind child she walked across to the organ. The fearful strain of the
+last few days on her nerves had exhausted her feeble frame, and she was
+evidently in a somnambulistic state.
+
+Villebois with his medical training observed it immediately, and not
+daring to break the spell, worked the bellows for her.
+
+She played a few chords, and then caught up that magnificent air of
+Handel's _Messiah_--"I know that my Redeemer liveth."
+
+Riche had never felt so devout before. He had always regarded God
+merely as a convenient substantive when suitably qualified, to express
+his feelings with. Since he was a child he had never entered a church
+unless it were with an opera glass and a Baedecker in his hand, and
+now for the first time he felt a sort of consciousness of some unknown
+influence, some faint divine inspiration filling his soul. Accustomed
+as he had been in Morocco and Algiers to witness terrible scenes of
+cruelty and oppression unmoved, and to mingle in camp life with brutal
+soldiers, Turcos, and men who had been transferred to the frightful
+discipline of the Algerian foreign legion, the sweet almost angelic
+pathos of this girl in her exultation at the faint signs of life in her
+lover which Riche had revealed to her, exercised a subtle influence
+over his soul, which was something weird and strange to him. He felt
+his tears beginning to flow, and ashamed of his weakness he wiped them
+away and struggled to suppress them, but in spite of all his efforts
+they continued to dim his eyes. He looked up half ashamed of himself,
+but discovered the others completely overcome.
+
+Even Marcel, the gay and frivolous cynic, usually all laughter and
+jokes, remained standing behind the others in a deep reverie, while
+Madame Villebois was sobbing convulsively.
+
+At length Renée ceased playing, and the company dispersed, afraid lest
+their presence should break the spell. Silently she glided along, her
+eyes staring widely open, her hands outstretched before her, and her
+head turned upwards. She walked upstairs apparently fast asleep, and
+opening the door of the professor's chamber, proceeded straight to his
+bed. All the company followed breathlessly, and saw her bend over his
+form, and clasping him in her arms implanted a long and passionate kiss
+on his cold lips. Tears streamed down her cheeks and trickled down
+Delapine's face.
+
+The death-like silence was terrible. Not a sound could be heard save
+the ticking of the clock. One could almost hear her breathing. Finally
+she left him, and still half unconscious lay down on her bed in a
+peaceful slumber.
+
+No one dared to break the silence, and at length they all passed out of
+the room one by one to attend to their several occupations, or try and
+collect their thoughts.
+
+A week passed away and then another week, and still Delapine lay
+unconscious in the same position.
+
+Day by day Monsieur Biron called for news.
+
+"Yes," said Villebois one morning in answer to his enquiries, "the
+professor lies there still unchanged in his death-like sleep."
+
+"Do you mean to say he is not dead then?"
+
+"I cannot tell you," replied Villebois, "but if he is not alive there
+are no signs of death."
+
+"C'est une merveille, I cannot comprehend it," exclaimed Biron, holding
+up his hands and shrugging his shoulders.
+
+"May I be permitted to look at him?" he asked.
+
+"With pleasure, monsieur le commissaire."
+
+Monsieur Biron entered the chamber of death with a slow and methodical
+step as became his dignity as an officer of the law, and proceeded
+to place his hat and stick on a chair. "Yes, who can tell?" he said,
+shrugging his shoulders, and looking up at the doctor for some reply.
+"Well, well, we shall see n'est-ce pas?" and he shrugged his shoulders,
+as if he felt somehow that the law wanted remodelling in order to
+be able to deal with such cases. After a short pause he rose and
+shook hands with Villebois in rather a patronising way, and bowing
+profoundly, left the house in an uncertain frame of mind, but fully
+convinced that he had performed a most meritorious duty.
+
+Another day, a few weeks later, Dr. Roux came in, and taking a careful
+note of everything, examined the thermometer which perpetually remained
+in Delapine's mouth. He compared it with the thermometer on the wall,
+which remained at a constant temperature of about 68° F. He compared
+the figures with the chart on which the daily temperature was entered.
+"This is very strange!" he exclaimed, and hastening out of the room he
+ran downstairs to see Villebois.
+
+"Dr. Villebois, are you there? Pray come here at once," he called out
+breathlessly.
+
+"What's the matter?" cried Villebois, laying down his pen, and looking
+up at Roux who ran up to him and laid his hand on his shoulder in a
+state of great excitement.
+
+"Come at once and look, Delapine's temperature has risen to 82°
+Fahrenheit."
+
+Villebois jumped out of his chair with a bound. "C'est une merveille,"
+he said as he flew upstairs after Roux who happened to have just called.
+
+"Is it really true ... what can it mean?" cried Roux in a state
+of great excitement. He ran up to the professor and examined the
+thermometer with impatience. "You are right, doctor, quite right. It
+stands exactly as you said at 82° F. There can be no doubt about that.
+But what does it mean?"
+
+"Who knows. But it looks favourable, doesn't it? His body is certainly
+not undergoing any decomposition, and therefore a rise of temperature
+must imply that the physiological functions of the body are beginning
+to assert themselves once more in some silent mysterious fashion."
+
+The vigil continued day after day without a moment's interruption.
+Riche and Villebois took turns to relieve Céleste and Renée, but the
+latter insisted on always sleeping in the room. Often she would get up
+in the small hours of the morning, and with a night lamp in her hand
+would examine the thermometers, and bending over the professor would
+breathe a tender lover's kiss on his lips, and then creep back into bed.
+
+Paul took an intense interest in the case, and insisted on Villebois
+telephoning him every detail often two or three times a day.
+
+More than three months had passed away since Delapine first became
+unconscious, and still no signs of returning life appeared. One day
+about the middle of January of the following year, Paul happened to
+call, and going up to Delapine distinctly noticed a slight tremor of
+the facial muscles. He stood spellbound, and then happening to examine
+the thermometer found to his surprise that it indicated 90° F. He ran
+into the library where Villebois and Riche happened to be sitting, and
+at once communicated the discovery to them.
+
+A veritable flutter in the dovecot followed. Telephonic messages were
+at once sent to Monsieur Biron, Roux, and to several of the most
+eminent professors and specialists at the various hospitals in Paris,
+for the mysterious case had become the daily topic of conversation
+among all the faculty. A great consultation was held in the library
+among all these learned doctors, and voluminous notes were taken. But
+although a vast amount of erudition was put forth, no one was able to
+offer any practical suggestions, and hence nothing came of it.
+
+"Mais mon Dieu!" said one of the great men, "what can we do? We can
+only wait patiently until something happens."
+
+A few days later Renée was lying in her bed about midnight in a
+semi-drowsy condition, when she suddenly saw a bright light floating
+like a nimbus over Delapine's head. She gave a little scream, and then
+becoming more and more awake gazed on it with intense fascination. At
+first it moved slightly, and then growing larger and larger began to
+condense into the form of a human face. Slowly the features developed,
+until at length it assumed the form of her mother. By degrees the
+entire body appeared clothed in white drapery, and slowly made its way
+towards Renée with a sweet smile on her face. As the light of the room
+increased Renée recognised her features, and springing out of bed she
+ran into her arms. "Oh, mother!" she cried, "Is that really you?"
+
+"Yes, I am your mother, and am come to tell you that Henri will very
+soon wake up, and you will be able to see him as he was, and to hear
+him talk."
+
+Renée seized her by both hands and squeezed them.
+
+"Mother dear, that is too good to be true. Do you really mean it?"
+
+"Of course I do. You know I never told you a lie, and why should I tell
+you one now?"
+
+Renée's eyes fairly danced with delight as she heard the welcome news,
+and she clapped her hands for joy.
+
+"But tell me, how are you, mother? Are you very happy?"
+
+"I am very happy," her mother replied. "The life on the other side is
+merely a continuation of this, only without its limitations."
+
+"Do you suffer pain like you used to so often, mother?"
+
+"No, Renée, there is no pain beyond the grave. Here you are subjected
+to natural laws. You are tied down to the earth by the action of
+gravity. But we are free from all these restrictions. We can go where
+we please at will in an instant of time. Time and space have no
+limitation for us."
+
+"Shall I join you soon, mother?"
+
+"No, Renée, you have a mission to perform and a great deal of work to
+do yet, and I think you will have a long and happy life in company with
+your fiancé."
+
+"But how did you possibly know of our engagement? Has anyone told you?"
+
+"Have I not been by your side off and on ever since I left you, my
+child? Do you suppose a mother can ever forget her daughter?"
+
+"Of course not," replied Renée, "but at the same time I never imagined
+that you would be able to see me."
+
+"You could not see me now but for your lover's presence."
+
+"What do you mean, mother?"
+
+"I mean what I say, dear. Henri has come back to earth, and I have been
+using his body to form materialistic substance to clothe my spirit
+with, so that you are enabled to see me with your own eyes."
+
+Renée jumped up at hearing this with an exclamation of joy as the
+thought of Henri's return began to dawn on her mind. "Do you really
+mean to say that Henri is back again, and that he will be the same old
+darling he was before?"
+
+"Why of course I do. My presence is the proof positive that his spirit
+has returned. To-morrow he will wake up and in a very short time he
+will be quite well again."
+
+Renée clapped her hands for sheer joy, and gave her mother a close
+embrace.
+
+"Oh! mother, how very strange to think that I never knew you were so
+near. Why is it that you have never shown yourself to me before, except
+for a moment when Henri was in a trance?"
+
+"I can only reveal myself to you in the presence of a medium who
+happens to be in a state of trance at the time, because I have to
+clothe myself with the earthly particles of his body which I subtract
+from it when he is in that condition, as I cannot do it when he is
+awake. If you were to weigh Henri now you would find half his weight
+gone."
+
+Renée looked at Delapine's body, and to her horror she saw it had
+shrunk to two-thirds its former size, but her mother calmed her and
+reassured her at once.
+
+"You need not be in the least alarmed, my darling, he will get all his
+substance restored to him the moment I am gone."
+
+"Oh! mother, how you did frighten me," she said, "but do you
+manufacture the drapery you are wearing, as well as your body, out of
+the substance of his body as well?"
+
+"Yes, everything, and in a few moments, without the least difficulty."
+
+"Why do you surround yourself with such thick white stuff?"
+
+"The drapery is thrown out to protect our psychic bodies from the light
+which acts injuriously on us when materialized," her mother replied.
+
+"Now, Renée dear, I must leave you because I cannot hold my power any
+longer, and besides it will injure Delapine if I do, as although he has
+returned to his body, he is so very weak that a very little thing might
+really kill him now. I will come again and see you very soon."
+
+Her mother kissed her affectionately on both cheeks, and then relaxing
+her hold, she slowly melted down into the ground and vanished.
+
+Renée was too excited to sleep any more that night, so she got up and
+lit the lamp.
+
+She held it close to Delapine, and to her surprise she saw that he had
+returned to his former size and weight.
+
+As she continued to gaze on his features, she noticed that the muscles
+of his face twitched. Suddenly Delapine moved his fingers, which caused
+the bell to ring so loudly that it woke up all the household, and they
+all came running into the room attired in their dressing gowns, or the
+first garments that they could lay their hands on.
+
+"What is the matter?" they all exclaimed. "Have any thieves got into
+the house?"
+
+"Oh! no," said Renée, smiling, "it was Delapine who rang the bell. He
+moved his hands, I saw him do it, and immediately the bell sounded."
+
+"Are you sure of this?" they all cried with one voice.
+
+"As certain as that I am standing here," she replied.
+
+They all looked at the professor, and distinctly observed the muscles
+of his face twitch.
+
+"I think we will sit up to-night and watch him, what do you say to
+that, Riche?"
+
+The doctor agreed, and accordingly they made themselves as comfortable
+as they could in a couple of armchairs.
+
+The next morning they examined the thermometer. It had risen to 93° F.
+A faint flush suffused the professor's cheek, and a slight but distinct
+pulsation could be felt.
+
+The event was telegraphed all over Europe, and crowds of savants and
+doctors came and left their cards, but no one was admitted by the
+doctor's orders. The ringing of the bell occurred so often that it
+became a nuisance, and Villebois had it removed.
+
+The next day the temperature touched 98° Fahrenheit and Delapine opened
+and closed his eyes and looked around him. He moved his limbs slowly
+and even attempted to sit up, but the effort was too great, and he sank
+back again on his pillow.
+
+A consultation was arranged forthwith, and half a dozen of the most
+celebrated physicians in Paris came to the house.
+
+Renée was in the seventh heaven of delight as she heard her name
+whispered in her ear as she bent over him that evening. He made
+signs that he wanted food, and the doctors agreed to give him some
+beef-essence. A few days afterwards about three in the morning Renée's
+mother appeared again. "Renée," she said, "I am about to be called
+away, and must leave you for good."
+
+"For good, mother? You don't mean to say that I shall not see you any
+more?" said Renée, looking very distressed.
+
+"I must go, dear, but Henri will take my place. When you pass over to
+the other side you will see me as often as you please, but now I must
+leave you."
+
+"Mother dear, won't you give me some keepsake?"
+
+"Bring me a pair of scissors and I will cut off a lock of my hair."
+So saying her mother snipped off one of her light golden curls, and
+giving her a long tender embrace slowly vanished out of her sight.
+Renée looked around her. She was alone save for the form of her lover.
+It all seemed like a wonderful dream, and she rubbed her eyes to make
+sure she was awake. "I must have been dreaming," she said, but no, here
+was the lock of her mother's beautiful silky hair in her hand. That at
+any rate was no dream, and was proof positive that someone had brought
+it, and that her vision was not a dream but a stern reality. Renée
+kissed the lock of hair, and carefully put it away in one of her little
+treasure boxes.
+
+"Ah! how many happy hours I have spent in playing with that beautiful
+hair, and now to think that I should actually handle it again. Who
+would ever have thought it possible? How sorry I feel for the poor poet
+Cowper when the only thing he had left of his beloved mother was her
+portrait, and which he immortalised in those beautiful lines which my
+governess taught me:--
+
+ "'Oh that those lips had language! Life has passed
+ With me but roughly since I heard thee last.
+ Those lips are thine--thine own sweet smile I see,
+ The same that oft in childhood solaced me;
+ Faithful remembrances of one so dear,
+ O welcome guest, though unexpected here!
+ My mother! When I learnt that thou wast dead,
+ Say wast thou conscious of the tears I shed?
+ Perhaps thou gav'st me, though unfelt, a kiss,
+ Perhaps a tear, if souls can weep in bliss.'"
+
+She showed the lock of hair to Riche and Marcel, but they only smiled
+and shook their heads when she told them that her mother had cut it off
+from her own head only the night before.
+
+"No, no, mademoiselle, you can't make us believe that your mother
+really appeared to you in the flesh and cut off a lock of her hair with
+a pair of scissors, and handed it to you."
+
+"But I assure you, doctor, it is perfectly true."
+
+"The vigil has been too much for Renée, poor child," said Riche to
+Villebois as they were discussing the vision. "Her reason has broken
+down under the strain."
+
+"Yes," said Villebois, "I agree that we must send her away for a change
+somewhere, or she will have brain fever, or lose her reason altogether."
+
+"I am afraid that those visions of her mother show that she has lost
+her senses already," said Riche.
+
+"But how do you account for the lock of hair?" said Villebois.
+
+"Why it's Renée's own hair of course, or else that of her maid."
+
+"Well it can't be that of her maid, because that is raven black."
+
+"I don't believe the tale for a moment," said Riche with a smile of
+contempt for such an ignorant superstition.
+
+"Well look at the two side by side as I have done, and you will change
+your opinion. They are as different as day from night. Renée's hair has
+a brownish colour, whereas her mother's is of a light golden colour."
+He showed them both side by side to Riche but he merely shrugged his
+shoulders. He had seen so many wonderful things lately that he had
+ceased to scoff, but felt it prudent to keep silent.
+
+At the end of the week Delapine's temperature had risen to normal
+(98.4° F.) and he had so far recovered that he was able to walk
+downstairs and sit in the study.
+
+Renée was in constant attendance. No hospital nurse could have looked
+after him better, and certainly no one in the world could have replaced
+her in Delapine's eyes.
+
+"Oh! Villebois, mon ami," he would say as he lay on the sofa a few days
+later, "I have had a most marvellous sleep, and a wonderful recovery,
+but you cannot imagine in your wildest dreams what wonderful adventures
+and experiences I have had."
+
+"Adventures!" they all exclaimed, "What adventures? Why, you have
+been lying down in your bed upstairs for months past watched by us
+in turn day and night without a moment's cessation, and now you talk
+of adventures. It's we who have had the adventures, not you. Strange
+things have happened since that memorable evening when you went off in
+the trance-sleep. Are you aware, professor, that Pierre attempted to
+murder you by injecting a subtle poison into your arm?"
+
+"Enough of that," said Delapine, "I know it all. Didn't you get my
+letter, Renée, in which I pointed it all out to you, and entreated you
+not to allow me to be touched or buried?"
+
+"Rather! Why, Henri, Dr. Riche brought it to me, and it was that letter
+which saved your life by convincing Riche and Villebois that you were
+not dead, and so preventing the autopsy. Oh! how thankful I was when I
+read it. It gave me new life--in fact I am sure if I had not received
+some such encouragement I should have died of grief."
+
+"Thank God that you saw the letter in time," replied Delapine, "I had
+a strange premonition that all this was going to happen, and so I
+prepared for it by giving you the sealed envelope."
+
+"Let us not talk about it now, Henri, you are under my orders and I
+cannot allow my patient to get excited."
+
+"Well, wait a few days until I get stronger, and then I will dictate to
+you my experiences, and you shall write them down, and we will publish
+a book about them. I think they will make good reading. You must know,
+Renée, that the moment I went into the deep sleep or trance, my soul
+(or Ego) left the body and went far away, and only returned to it about
+the 19th January."
+
+"Why that was when dear mother came to see me."
+
+"Precisely," Delapine nodded. "She was watching over you all the time,
+but she was unable to reveal herself in a visible tangible form, unless
+there was a suitable medium who was en rapport with her. Fortunately I
+was such a medium, and the moment I returned to my body she seized the
+opportunity which she had been long waiting for to reveal herself to
+you in bodily form by building herself out of the particles of my body."
+
+"How strange!" they all exclaimed.
+
+"Yes," said the professor, "I have studied these things deeply. I have
+discovered that all spiritualistic phenomena are governed by laws which
+are just as fixed and unalterable as are the laws which govern all the
+phenomena of this visible world. We have only to learn and understand
+how spiritual phenomena are produced and controlled by these laws, to
+extend our conquest over the invisible world of science in the same way
+that we have extended our knowledge over the visible world of science
+during the last three hundred years. Spiritual science is only in the
+same stage of knowledge and advancement in which electricity was at the
+time of Volta, or steam at the time of Watt."
+
+"Oh, do tell us about it," they all said.
+
+But no answer came. The professor's excitement had proved too much
+for him in his weak state, and when they looked at him he was sleeping
+peacefully as a little child with a happy smile on his face.
+
+"Hush," said Renée, and she put her fingers to her lips.
+
+All the guests crept out of the room in silence, leaving Renée alone to
+nurse her lover.
+
+Day by day Delapine grew stronger, thanks to the careful nursing of
+Renée and to the medical skill of Riche and Villebois.
+
+A week later the professor walked out into the garden, for the first
+time, with a stick, and sat down in the summer-house.
+
+"Ah, yes, this is where I had my last cup of coffee, if I remember
+rightly."
+
+"Yes," replied Riche and Céleste together, "and if you had drunk it you
+would not be here to tell the tale."
+
+"But the insectivorous plant would, eh! Renée?" said Delapine with
+a comical smile. "Well I have got to thank Pierre after all. For if
+he had not injected that wonderful liquid into my arm I should never
+have made those wonderful discoveries, and had those extraordinary
+adventures which I have experienced all these months. Yes, I promise
+you I shall have them all in writing before long, and I trust I shall
+be spared to see you all enjoy reading them."
+
+"But before you dictate them, professor, it is imperative that you have
+a change and re-establish your health, and we shall want you to take a
+trip somewhere."
+
+"Yes, yes, I have provided for all that. I intend going to Monte Carlo."
+
+"What!" they all exclaimed, "to Monte Carlo?"
+
+"Why not?" he replied.
+
+"Oh, but you surely do not mean to go there to play at the tables?"
+
+"Why not?" he repeated.
+
+"But, professor, we never knew you were a gambler."
+
+"Well, well, it is part of my programme, and you will see how necessary
+it will be. It is true I am not a gambler, but I have resolved to play
+at the tables. Now, no more questions, or Renée will turn you all out
+of the garden," and Delapine laughed in his own hearty way.
+
+"What a marvellous man," said Riche to Villebois.
+
+"Oh, you don't know him yet, just wait a bit and see."
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 17: "Last of the Gods, e'en Hope the tomb doth flee, and in
+its night Oblivion doth all mortal things enfold."]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX
+
+THE NEW JERUSALEM GOLD MINE
+
+ En vieillissant on devient plus fou et plus sage
+
+ La Rochefoucauld. _Maximes_, 210.
+
+ Quien Mucho abarca poco a prieta. (Spanish Proverb.)
+
+
+Payot's financial schemes had not been flourishing of late. The Morocco
+concessions for very obvious reasons had unavoidably fallen through,
+and the financier's credit was none of the best.
+
+It is a well-known fact that many men finding their business affairs
+going from bad to worse, revert to speculation with a view of
+retrieving their fallen fortunes. The general result of this policy is
+that instead of quietly setting about putting their house in order so
+as to stop the debacle, they get dragged deeper and deeper into the
+mire of financial ruin. Unfortunately for Payot, who was naturally
+rather a weak and credulous character, matters had almost reached that
+acute and alarming stage with him, and he proved no exception to the
+rule.
+
+One day after the termination of his visit to Dr. Villebois's house,
+while sitting comfortably in his armchair after dinner, a portly
+looking gentleman with a clean-shaven, very red and puffy face, was
+announced.
+
+"Monsieur le Baron D'Ormontagne," said the butler, handing M. Payot the
+visitor's card.
+
+The baron appeared to be about forty-five years of age, with a
+digestive apparatus of vast dimensions, which was screened off by a
+white waistcoat carrying a gold chain with links like a cable. His
+nose was very large and decidedly curved, and this, together with his
+fleshy under-lip and double chin, betrayed both his affluence and
+his Hebrew origin. The baron was known among his former associates as
+Moses Goldberg, but fortune having favoured him of late, he felt that
+his position warranted his assuming the more ambitious title of Baron
+D'Ormontagne, which of course meant the same thing, only it sounded
+very differently.
+
+"Pray sit down, baron," said Payot, handing him a chair, and looking
+him up and down as if he were about to measure him for a suit of
+clothes. "What service may I have the pleasure to render you?"
+
+The baron who was very wheezy, commenced operations by drawing a
+large red bandana handkerchief from the recesses of his capacious
+coat pocket, and after a few flourishes, began coughing violently and
+clearing his throat.
+
+"I presume I have the distinguished honour and good fortune to address
+M. Felix Payot, am I correct?"
+
+"Yes, that is my name," said Payot.
+
+"I have here a letter of introduction from M. Armand who has known me
+for years, and he has unbounded faith in my admirable judgment and
+great business capacity," and so saying he handed the letter to the
+financier.
+
+Payot scanned the letter, and carefully folding it, placed it on the
+table.
+
+"You know him well, do you not?"
+
+"Oh, yes," said Payot, "I have known him for many years."
+
+"Ah then, I see we are friends at once," said the baron, rubbing his
+hands in his eagerness to commence his acts of friendship. "To count
+upon a financier like you, my dear monsieur, as one's friend is an
+unexpected pleasure."
+
+At this moment a butler entered and handed him a liqueur on a salver.
+
+"No, thank you," said the baron, throwing forward the palms of his
+hands as if he were pushing a boat from the landing stage, "I have just
+had dinner--well, as you press me--I really cannot refuse. What was I
+saying? Oh, yes, I remember--I have just returned from Mexico where I
+discovered a very valuable gold mine of outstanding richness. You will
+be astonished when I show you the prospectus--and the samples--ah,
+such samples. Voila," and spreading the crimson handkerchief on the
+table, he emptied into it a small heap of quartz rock studded with gold
+nuggets as large as peas. "What do you think of that, mon cher, for a
+gold mine? Is it not superb?" and the baron rubbed his hands together
+as if he were lathering them with air. "Fifty-six, or is it a hundred
+and fifty-six ounces to the ton," he continued, "I really forget
+which. But no matter, you will see it in the prospectus. And there are
+thousands and thousands of tons--in fact a small mountain of it, and
+the reef crops up like currants in a cake. Examine the reef where you
+will, you always find the same thing--quartz studded with gold, or gold
+studded with quartz. It is positively like prospecting the vaults of
+the Bank of France. The mine positively reeks with gold. I discovered
+it purely by accident. I was travelling over the Sierras and lost my
+way. Feeling tired I sat down on an outcrop of rock, and casually
+picked up a loose chunk to throw at a rabbit near me. The piece of
+stone felt so heavy that I examined it, and to my delight and surprise
+I found it simply scintillating with bits of gold. Ma foi, you may be
+sure I marked the place well, and returning with a couple of friends I
+pegged it out and registered my claim in the city of Mexico. Now, here
+is the prospectus I have drawn out. Read it carefully and to-morrow, my
+dear friend, I shall come again, if you will be good enough to fix a
+time?"
+
+"Say the same time to-morrow," said Payot.
+
+"Excellent, excellent, nothing like doing business at once. That is my
+plan, and I owe all my success in business to it. And now, mon ami, I
+will leave you to think over it. I see you are unable to digest any
+more. It is a dream--a dream, n'est-ce pas? Such a mine has never yet
+been seen in the world. But so true--so true. Ah, you will never again
+in your lifetime have such a chance as this. Ah," he said as he rose to
+leave, "you are admiring my watch-chain? Everyone does, it is such a
+marvel. Each link, sir, was forged from gold taken from this very mine.
+Feel its weight, sir, eh?" and he gave a greasy smile of plutocratic
+opulence and contentment. Carefully dusting his white cotton spats
+with the red handkerchief, he took hold of Payot's hands and shook
+them effusively. "My dear monsieur," he continued, "this has been the
+greatest evening of my life. The thought of sharing this find with
+you--so rich that I have christened it the New Jerusalem Mine--just
+causes my happiness to bubble over."
+
+"But why did you call it the New Jerusalem?" asked Payot.
+
+"What name could be more appropriate? New Jerusalem--descending from
+Heaven--gates of pearls--streets of shining gold--my mine to a T. What
+could be finer as an illustration? To-morrow then at eight p.m. Au
+revoir, au revoir, mon brave," he said, as the butler in answer to the
+bell appeared at the door and opened it to its full extent, while the
+wheezy gentleman with his vast display of waistcoat toddled out of the
+room, bowing profusely.
+
+"A queer sort of card that," thought Payot to himself as he opened the
+prospectus and proceeded to examine it.
+
+If Payot thought that the baron was piling on the abnormal richness
+of the mine too thickly, he found to his surprise that the report of
+Monsieur Alexandre Norcier, the mining engineer, went considerably
+further. It was certainly an able report, but the fabulous richness of
+the reef absolutely staggered him. His eyes glistened with excitement
+and greed.
+
+"Ah," he said to himself, "if this mine is only a quarter as rich as
+the old baron makes out, I shall be one of the richest men in all
+Paris. Just think what power it will give me. What would old Duval have
+given to have a third share in it? I believe he would have sold his
+immortal soul to the Devil--aye a hundred times over. Well, there's no
+knowing, it may be true after all. Anyhow, I'll call on Norcier and
+Armand to-morrow and see what they have to say."
+
+When Payot fell asleep that night with his imagination already heated
+by the story told by the baron, he dreamt that he was filling trucks
+with nuggets of gold, and that they were being carted to the Mint every
+day of the year. When his fabulous wealth became known he was invited
+as the piece de resistance to the receptions at every Court in Europe.
+Daughters of royal blood strove in bevies to compete for his hand, and
+the President of the Republic decorated him with the Grand Cordon of
+the Legion d'Honneur, and the King of England with the Order of the
+Garter. Mighty schemes of reform filtered through his brain. He would
+rebuild Paris at his own expense on a scale that would dazzle humanity.
+He would fill the parks with statues rivalling those of Greece. He
+would erect palaces, museums, places of amusement far surpassing the
+Golden House of Nero. He would line the banks of the Seine with the
+choicest trees and flowers that the whole world could offer. He would
+deepen the Seine so as to form a ship-canal with a depth sufficient to
+admit the Oceanics, Imperators, and other sea monsters right up to the
+very quays of Paris.
+
+Next morning he woke with a violent headache, and it required several
+cups of café au rhum, combined with repeated doses of phenacetin to get
+him out of bed.
+
+The fresh air outside revived him, and thinking a walk would do him
+good, he proceeded on foot to Norcier's business offices.
+
+"Pardon me, M. Norcier," he remarked as he sat down, "but I had an
+interview with our friend the Baron D'Ormontagne yesterday, and he gave
+me an account of his new gold mine in Mexico. So I thought you would
+not mind if I asked you for a few details concerning it."
+
+"With pleasure, M. Payot, as a matter of fact I have greatly
+undervalued its richness; to be candid, in my report I have cut down
+everything to half so as to be well on the safe side. Do you not
+approve?"
+
+"Most certainly, Monsieur Norcier, most certainly I do. Do you consider
+it a really safe speculation?"
+
+"My dear sir, I would not recommend it to you at all but for three
+reasons. Firstly, your name is one to play with, it represents such
+honour and integrity that it will give our syndicate great weight,
+and for that reason we intend, should you care to have a stake in it,
+to give you the most favourable terms possible. Secondly, I myself am
+putting in every available penny, and lastly M. Armand and the Baron
+D'Ormontagne, two of the most honourable men in all Paris, take each
+an equal share. By the way, have you met M. Armand?"
+
+"No, I confess I have not seen him for a long time."
+
+"Oh, then you will find him a most charming man, and one who combines
+great business talent with extreme caution." In fact the testimonials
+of these two gentlemen were so high that Payot felt it would be almost
+an insult to call on Armand at all.
+
+Precisely at eight o'clock in the evening the baron, true to his word,
+and looking even more florid than usual, called again.
+
+"Voila, mon ami, we can now arrange everything. We have taken such
+a fancy to you, mon brave, that we feel our consciences will not be
+satisfied until we offer you two hundred shares in our syndicate at the
+absurdly low figure of 1,000 francs each."
+
+"Two hundred thousand francs (£8,000)," said Payot meditatively, "that
+is a great deal of money in these days--a great deal of money."
+
+"But consider, mon ami, what you are going to get for it--a large share
+in the richest mine in the world. Why, in three months when the first
+dividend is declared, each of your two hundred shares will be worth
+50,000 francs, and the first dividend alone will repay you for all you
+have spent, five times over. Such a chance as this only happens once in
+a lifetime."
+
+"But if they are so enormously valuable, why do you sell them at all?"
+
+"For a very simple reason, my dear Payot, we are not selling them to
+you for your money, but for your name. You must remember your name is a
+thing to conjure with. You are held in such esteem that when the public
+sees the prospectus with your name on the list of subscribers, there
+will be an active market at once, and the shares will go to ten or
+twenty times the present price."
+
+Payot felt extremely flattered and firmly persuaded himself that it
+was really the case, and that his name could command capital anywhere.
+After some hesitation he consented to take the shares, and prepared to
+arrange with his bankers to pay D'Ormontagne the purchase money.
+
+He was delighted with his bargain, especially as every few days he
+received a copy of a cable message showing the increasing returns they
+were getting.
+
+A meeting of directors was held at which Payot attended. It was passed
+unanimously that the Company should be floated with a capital of
+10,000,000 francs, and the public was invited to take up shares.
+
+"My dear Payot," said the baron, "now is a chance to underwrite. Each
+of our directors is going to underwrite a million francs, and of course
+we look to you to do the same. You will receive 250,000 shares as a
+bonus, and you will never have to pay for a single share. Why, the
+public will subscribe ten times over. The demand is already so great
+that the secretary has applied for ten extra clerks."
+
+Payot hesitated and said he would think it over.
+
+The next day the baron brought Armand with him, and the latter simply
+boiled over with enthusiasm.
+
+"My dear Payot," he exclaimed, shaking his hand vigorously and patting
+him in a patronising way on the back. "My congratulations, you are a
+multi-millionaire already. Now you see the wisdom of following the
+advice of my esteemed friend the baron. Ah, D'Ormontagne is a great
+financier. Rothschild will have to look to his laurels now, but I am
+afraid he will have to give up the race. You mark my words, Payot, we
+shall all be in the Ministry at the next elections. France simply can't
+get on without us."
+
+Payot sighed and merely shook his head. "I perceive you are an
+optimist, monsieur, and to be candid with you I confess I dread
+optimists. They are only a shade better than the pessimists. The latter
+look only on the dark side of everything, and are so cautious that they
+are afraid to embark on any enterprise at all, the result being that
+they never attempt anything unless it is absolutely devoid of any risk
+whatsoever. But the optimists--believe me, I have had enough of them,
+goodness only knows--the optimist, I repeat, always counts his chickens
+before they are hatched. He sees everything through rose-coloured
+spectacles. He counts on everything going right, and makes no provision
+for anything going wrong. This fanatic has also a curious way of
+calculating the number of tons of ore extracted every month which he
+multiplies by the number of ounces assayed per ton, and sets the total
+down as the amount which will be distributed in dividends. The silly
+fellow overlooks the immense amount of money which has to be sunk in
+working capital on the mine--in transport, food, tools, machinery,
+water, motive power and fuel. The condition of the roads, the proximity
+to a railway, the amount of available horse-power, fuel and water, the
+absence of any one of which is enough to ruin the prospects of the best
+mine--are details which never trouble him in the least. Nothing is set
+aside for reserve, nothing for emergencies, and so his estimate of the
+profits instead of being, let us say for the sake of argument, £10,000
+a month, really works out at £1,000--or a tenth of his estimate when
+it comes to be divided among the shareholders. In a word, he becomes
+saturated with megalomania like a general paralytic."
+
+"My dear Payot, you have almost taken the words out of my mouth, so
+thoroughly do I agree with all that you have just said," replied
+Armand, "but you are entirely mistaken, if you imagine that I am an
+optimist. On the contrary, I am so cautious that my friends nickname me
+the pessimist, a quite inappropriate term, I assure you, since I have
+the reputation of having the dash and boldness of the great Napoleon.
+Is that not so, baron?"
+
+The baron had been nodding approval so violently at every word that his
+friend Armand had been saying, that he had to express his assent by
+patting him on the back instead.
+
+"My dear Payot," said the baron, "excuse me always addressing you in
+this way--but your charm of manner has so won my heart that I feel it
+quite impossible to address you by any other term. If you will be good
+enough to read the prospectus carefully you will see that everyone of
+these items is munificently provided for. No detail has been omitted.
+The sum which our engineer considers ample to meet every possible
+contingency only amounts to £10,000 a month."
+
+"What!" cried Payot, horrified beyond measure as he jumped up with a
+bound. "Do you really mean to say that this blessed mine is going to
+cost us £120,000 a year to keep going? Why, we shall have to close down
+before we can distribute a sou in dividends. Ma foi, we shall all be
+ruined in no time."
+
+"Not so fast, my dear sir," they both shouted together, "not so fast.
+It is quite clear that the magnitude of the undertaking has been too
+vast to enter your brain. You must digest it gradually, and take in
+bits at a time, just as a boa constrictor swallows an antelope. Now
+just follow me very carefully," said the baron, standing up from his
+chair and waving his hands about like a musical conductor, in order to
+give greater emphasis to his remarks. "Let me repeat. The expenses all
+told amount to £10,000 a month. Let us multiply that sum by two to be
+on the safe side, and we arrive at £20,000 a month."
+
+"Stop, my good fellow, you must be mad," cried Payot excitedly.
+
+"Please reserve your remarks, mon ami, until I have done. When our
+stamp battery is in full work, the engineer says we shall crush 20,000
+tons a month, and taking the lowest estimate of the richness of the
+ore at 28 ounces per ton--which is far below our average, as you must
+admit--we shall recover 560,000 ounces of gold a month. Reckon the
+market price of gold at £4 per ounce, the output of the mine amounts
+to £2,240,000 a month! Now, to satisfy the doubts of our mutual friend
+let us suppose the monthly working expenses to come to four times
+what our engineer considers ample, or £40,000, and still we have two
+million two hundred thousand golden sovereigns to distribute among the
+shareholders every month--a fortune amounting to six hundred and sixty
+million francs a year. I can prove that is absolutely correct," added
+Armand, bringing his fist down on the table with a thud, "and you, mon
+cher Payot, with your underwriting shares added to those you already
+possess will enjoy a perpetual income of eighty-eight million francs a
+year. Only think of it, my dear friend, and ask yourself what will all
+this wealth have cost you? A paltry £8,000. Why, in a year's time you
+will be spending more than that in fancy waistcoats and cigars, or tips
+to your servants."
+
+A few days later the _Petit Journal_ appeared with a whole page devoted
+to the Prospectus of the Company.
+
+The _Journal des Mines_ in a scathing article pointed out that the
+whole thing was a fraud from beginning to end, and warned the public
+not to touch a share. It even cast doubts on the very existence of the
+mine, and called attention to the fact that no railway existed within
+a hundred miles of it. But the _Mining Journal_ is not printed for
+the general public, who, after all, comprise the vast majority of the
+subscribers.
+
+_Le Soir_, _Le Petit Journal_, _Le Temps_, _La Patrie_ and all the
+other dailies contained leading articles on the wonderful richness of
+the baron's discovery. But although these newspapers made use of it as
+excellent copy, they one and all ridiculed it as a 'mare's nest,' and
+pointed out that no such mines ever had been, or ever would be found.
+Payot had not only taken up the 100 founders' shares of 1,000 francs
+each in cash which he borrowed on the securities at his bank, and which
+principally found its way into the pockets of the baron and Norcier,
+but he had further committed himself by underwriting 40,000 shares at
+25 francs each.
+
+As he walked along the boulevard his ears were delighted by the hoarse
+cries of the newsvendors--"Discovery of a wonderful mine in Mexico,"
+"The New Jerusalem Mine," "Meeting of the Directors," "Complete copy of
+the Prospectus."
+
+For a few days it was a seven days' wonder.
+
+Payot spent most of the day fingering the paper tape as it poured out
+of the slit of the machine like a serpent's tongue, and formed endless
+coils in a large wicker basket beneath it.
+
+At first the shares began to boom.
+
+He fingered the tape with nervous fingers. 25 francs came out in deep
+blue figures on the tape. Payot watched the tape roll out--French
+Rentes--Suez Canal shares--Messagerie Maritimes--Consols 79.
+
+Then the machine stopped suddenly of its own accord, and as suddenly
+started again only to stop once more.
+
+The financier at length saw the welcome news--New Jerusalem 25.50--26
+francs--27.50--28--30 francs.
+
+"Hurrah! well done, Jerusalem the Golden"--35 francs--40 francs.
+
+"Ah, that's all right," he said, and the machine stopped again.
+
+He waited a long time, but a fresh quotation failed to appear.
+
+"Never mind, I will go to a first-class restaurant and enjoy a good
+dinner. 40 francs," he said to himself. "Well, I have nearly doubled my
+money already. That's good enough business for one day," and so saying
+he took a taxi and drove off to fetch the baron to dine with him and
+drink the health of the New Jerusalem Mine, in a bottle of Perrier
+Jouet.
+
+Early the following morning he took up the tape again. His heart
+thumped with excitement so much that he could hardly hold the tape
+steadily enough to read it.
+
+34 francs, it began--35 francs, ah, that's better--40 francs--45
+francs--50 francs. Payot actually clapped his hands with excitement,
+and caused several Agents de Bourse to turn round and look at what had
+excited him.
+
+"What is amusing you?" he enquired, looking round at a broker who was
+examining the tape over Payot's shoulder.
+
+"Only your excitement over those stupid Jerusalems."
+
+"What!" enquired Payot, "have you not bought any? I should advise you
+to do so immediately. They are climbing up fast, and if you wait you
+will have to pay through the nose for them, I can tell you."
+
+The gentleman to whom Payot spoke so confidently was a delightful
+man, passionately fond of children, somewhat abrupt to strangers,
+but very warm-hearted and sympathetic with those he knew. He bore a
+very remarkable resemblance to Dr. Villebois, with his bald head,
+clean-shaven face and bushy side-whiskers. He had a bourgeois mien,
+very talkative and gay, and usually spoke in a loud voice, which is
+considered so objectionable by the English.
+
+"Bah!" he exclaimed, "I would not touch them with a ten-foot pole. That
+mine is a fraud. I know it."
+
+"And how does monsieur know it?" enquired Payot, his heart thumping for
+a very different reason from that which excited it a few moments ago.
+
+"Wait a bit, and monsieur will see. I notice they stand at 50 frs. now,
+but to-morrow monsieur will find them drop. Oh yes," he added, as
+Payot looked flushed and angry at the man's cynical smile, "you will
+see. Mark my words and you will see them drop to 30 frs. and then to 20
+frs.--10 frs.--5 frs.--and then to this," and he made a circle with his
+forefinger and thumb, and winked his eye with a chuckle.
+
+Payot got very red in the face, and cast a defiant glance at the Agent
+de Bourse.
+
+"Has monsieur got many?" the broker enquired.
+
+"Yes, I am the proud possessor of a million francs worth."
+
+"Holy Virgin," cried the agent in a mocking tone, "what a fool!"
+
+"Does monsieur wish to insult me then?" cried Payot. "I think I know
+what I am doing better than he does. I know the mine and I know the
+promoters."
+
+"I beg monsieur's pardon a thousand times," replied the agent, feeling
+a little ashamed of himself and assuming a kinder tone, "but I also
+know the promoters, and if monsieur will take my poor advice, which I
+give without the least prejudice or self interest, monsieur will sell
+his shares as quickly as he can. See," he added, as he took up the
+tape once more, "regardez-la," and the letters spelt out, 'Jerusalems
+45 frs.--35 frs.--20 frs.--17 frs. 50--15 frs.--10 frs.' Payot gazed
+at them in terror. He shut his eyes and would have fallen but for his
+friend, the agent, who caught hold of him and steadied him.
+
+"Come with me," he said in a kindly voice, and taking him to the
+nearest café gave him a glass of brandy.
+
+The brandy revived him and he thanked his friend.
+
+"Now, my dear sir," he replied, "permit me to sell your shares for you."
+
+Payot squeezed his hand. "Merci, monsieur," he replied, "I would gladly
+do so, but my shares are all underwritten, and I have not received them
+yet."
+
+The broker whistled. "Diable, what a misfortune!" he exclaimed.
+"Anyhow, here is my card. Call on me to-morrow at my office, and if I
+can be of any assistance, you may rely on me."
+
+He looked at the card which bore the name:--
+
+[Illustration: JEAN BEAUPAIRE.
+
+ 99a, RUE ST. HONORE,
+ PARIS.]
+
+The next day the shares dropped--to nine--and finally to eight francs.
+
+Payot felt so ill he sent for Villebois. The worthy doctor did what he
+could, but although an admirable physician for bodily ailments, he was
+almost helpless to cure the mind.
+
+The day after, the shares made a slight recovery. They went to 12 frs.
+50, and finished for the day at 15 frs., but the next day they dropped
+again to 6 frs.--no buyers.
+
+Payot called on M. Beaupaire and implored him to help him.
+
+"Certainly, my dear sir, rely on me. I may save some of the wreckage
+yet. Anyhow, I will do my best."
+
+The financier squeezed his hand and went back to his house.
+
+A few days later he received a very polite note from the baron in which
+he called on him to pay for his underwritten shares, and enclosed a
+polite account.
+
+Payot's eyes swam when he saw the amount, £40,000, which had to be met
+on the making-up day at the end of the month.
+
+He went to his banker's with a sad heart, and was closeted with him for
+a couple of hours, ascertaining the market value of his securities.
+They added up to £36,000 in all. There was nothing left but his house
+and furniture, and he owed £40,000.
+
+"Sell everything I have at once," he replied, "I am ruined," and he
+shook hands with the banker and left the bank with a heavy heart.
+
+He walked, for he was afraid to spend the money on a cab, and arrived
+at Monsieur Beaupaire's house.
+
+How terribly dark the future loomed up before him, what visions floated
+through his fevered brain. He pondered over the dark days of poverty
+which faced him in lurid colours. Where was the dot he promised his
+daughter for her marriage portion? What would she think of him now?
+How could Delapine marry her when she was without a sou? How could she
+earn her living except as a despised and pitied governess? He thought
+of his old comrade Duval--the brave old man in spite of his vanity and
+eccentricities--now lying cold in the grave. He thought of his son
+Pierre, a parricide and an outcast like Ishmael of old, a wild man,
+whose hand was against every man and every man's hand against him, and
+he trembled at the awful vista it awoke in his mind. He looked out of
+the windows and saw the carriages pass with the footmen on the box and
+handsome women inside beautifully dressed, and watched them going to
+the opera with their lovers or husbands, and he shuddered as he felt
+that his poverty would cause all men to forsake him, and he would have
+to face the world alone, uncared-for and despised by all, even his
+nearest friends. How could he face poverty with its lean fleshless
+hands and sunken eyes, the single, cold, comfortless room, and the
+pangs of hunger? He thought of all his friends, wealthy, influential,
+talented, and how they would turn their heads on one side when he
+passed by. Oh, how bitter was the world! He thought of the saying he
+had so often repeated at the festive board--'Laugh and the world laughs
+with you, cry and the world will laugh at you,' and he felt the fearful
+truth and reality of it at last. "When a man is down, kick him. Yes,
+that is the way of the world," he said to himself, "ah, yes, it is a
+cruel, cruel world when the gilding is all brushed off. Alas, the world
+has no sympathy for the gambler who loses."
+
+He was brooding over his terrible blow when M. Beaupaire entered the
+room.
+
+"Bon jour, mon ami, I am delighted to see you."
+
+Payot reached out his hand and turned his face aside.
+
+"Console me, my good friend," he said, "I am a ruined man."
+
+"My dear fellow, don't look so glum as that, things are never so bad
+that they can't be worse. Come along, cheer up, I have promised to
+stick to you and help you, and I mean to do it. Here, have a glass of
+wine with me, and we will see what is the best thing to do now."
+
+"It's all up with me, my friend, you can't help me, I am done for."
+
+"Pray don't say that. Everything is for the best."
+
+"Because everything is for the best, it does not follow that everything
+is for my best," said Payot gloomily.
+
+"My dear sir, don't be down in the dumps. You remember the adage,
+
+ 'For every evil under the sun
+ There's a remedy or there's none.
+ If there is one try and find it,
+ If there isn't----never mind it.'
+
+"Cheer up, old man. Don't you remember the saying of Jean Paul Richter
+'Sorrow is often sent for our benefit, just as we darken the cages of
+the birds in order to teach them to sing.'"
+
+Payot heaved a sigh and said nothing.
+
+"First of all let us sell your shares, mon ami. They have still some
+sort of a value, and we must begin to glean the field. I will be back
+in an hour."
+
+M. Beaupaire went into the Bourse and tried to sell the shares. He
+managed to sell 1,000 at 5 francs, and another 4,000 at 2 frs. 50, but
+after that there were no offers.
+
+He found Payot looking the image of despair.
+
+"Never mind, I have sold 5,000 shares for 19,000 frs. That is better
+than nothing anyhow," cried Beaupaire cheerily. "By the way, have you
+no friends at all who can help you, mon ami?"
+
+"You know what friends are when you have no money."
+
+"Well, well, surely there are some decent ones left?"
+
+"I know the Villebois family, but I don't like to ask assistance of
+him."
+
+"Don't you know anyone else--come now think?"
+
+"No, I know no one. Stop, there is Professor Delapine. Perhaps he
+would not refuse to listen to me because he is engaged to my daughter."
+
+"What? Do you mean Professor Henri Delapine of the Sorbonne?"
+
+"Yes, why do you ask?"
+
+"My dear fellow, don't lose a minute. He is the very man for you. I
+know him intimately--an awfully good sort, and clever! Why he is the
+smartest man in Paris. I'll lay you a wager of any amount you like,
+that Delapine will pull you through. Shake," he said proffering his
+hand to Payot who grasped it warmly.
+
+"Thank you with all my heart," said Payot; "we will see him
+immediately," and M. Beaupaire hailed a taxi, and they drove to the
+Villebois's.
+
+M. Beaupaire and Payot were soon engaged in earnest conversation with
+Delapine, who was propped up in an easy-chair with Renée who sat on a
+footstool beside him.
+
+"You need not leave me, Renée," said the professor, as she was about to
+retire. "I am sure these gentlemen will not mind, and I know she wants
+to know the worst, don't you, Renée?"
+
+Delapine listened quietly to the history of the New Jerusalem bubble,
+and leaning back with his eyes half closed, and with the tips of his
+fingers pressed together after the manner of divines, but said nothing.
+When Payot and Beaupaire had quite finished, Delapine looked up with a
+smile.
+
+"Well," he answered, "I like you to put your confidence in me. You are
+a man after my own heart, and I promise you I will put you straight
+again, in fact all my arrangements for doing it have been completed for
+several days past."
+
+"What do you mean, professor?" the two men called out together.
+
+"Have I not put it clearly then?"
+
+"Yes, but we don't understand you."
+
+"Ah, that is another affair. As a matter of fact I did not intend that
+you should understand me. But I know everything that has happened since
+you first met with that arch-rogue, Baron D'Ormontagne, who by the way
+was a bookmaker's clerk who got dismissed for swindling, and is no
+more a baron than you are."
+
+"My God," said Payot, "how did you learn all these things?"
+
+"A little bird told me," said Delapine, smiling. "Now, my dear Payot,
+all you have to do is to sell everything you have got, and pay off your
+debts like a man of honour as I know you are. I give you fourteen days
+to do it in."
+
+"Good," replied Payot, "and then?"
+
+"Then come and see me again."
+
+Renée nodded significantly to Delapine.
+
+"My lady doctor is in command of the ship, and her orders have to be
+obeyed, and they are that both of you must leave the room at once. Pray
+do not think that I want to get rid of you, gentlemen, but I have no
+option in the matter," said Delapine, smiling.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXI
+
+MARCEL MAKES AN UNEXPECTED ACQUAINTANCE
+
+
+Beaupaire and Payot had no sooner left the house than they encountered
+Marcel walking up and down the garden footpath. He was so absorbed in
+composing aloud a new poem on Christopher Columbus that he was quite
+unconscious that he was being overheard.
+
+"Dis donc, mon cher Marcel, what is that you are saying about a flock
+of parrots?"
+
+"It was a remarkable incident in the great navigator's voyage which
+profoundly affected mankind--but I had no idea that I was declaiming
+aloud."
+
+"Indeed you were, and we were both remarking what charming verses they
+were. But tell us what the parrots had to do in the matter?"
+
+"The parrots had everything to do with it. Although it was apparently
+a mere accident, it changed the history of the world and sealed the
+fate of nations. The story runs as follows:--Columbus, who had been
+tossing about for weeks and weeks in the Atlantic searching for the
+unknown Continent which he believed existed somewhere to the west, at
+length knew from various indications that he was nearing land, and
+while he was debating in his mind what would be the best course to
+pursue, Captain Pinzon, who was in command of the _Pinta_, happened
+to observe a flock of parrots flying in a south-west direction.
+Accordingly Columbus altered the course of his vessels, and steered in
+the direction of the Brazils instead of heading for North America. The
+result was that the southern continent became Spanish and Catholic,
+while the northern one afterwards became Anglo-Saxon and Protestant."
+
+"A most remarkable and momentous incident," replied Payot, "and one
+which teaches us what astonishing results may follow from the most
+trifling causes. By the way, M. Beaupaire, allow me to introduce my
+esteemed and highly gifted friend Monsieur George Marcel, of whom we
+have all heard so much lately."
+
+Marcel took off his hat and bowed gracefully.
+
+Monsieur Beaupaire returned the salutation and expressed his
+unqualified delight in meeting such a distinguished man. He was
+particularly struck with Marcel's unique appearance and charming
+manners, and felt that it would be a great opportunity to invite him
+and Payot to dinner.
+
+"I shall be delighted to accept your kind invitation," said Payot, "and
+I am sure my distinguished friend will be equally honoured by partaking
+of your hospitality with me, eh, Marcel?"
+
+The latter shook hands with Monsieur Beaupaire, and said that it would
+give him immense pleasure.
+
+Payot became so engrossed in listening to his friend Marcel's lively
+and amusing conversation, that he soon recovered his gaiety, and
+actually indulged in a joke.
+
+"Ah! M. Payot," said Marcel, who had been listening to the account
+of Payot's misfortunes, "it does one good to meet a man who can be
+cheerful after having lost everything. There is nothing like a little
+sympathy for cheering a man up. Sympathy is the sum of all the virtues."
+
+"You are a man after my own heart, sir," said Beaupaire, patting
+Marcel on the back, "you have made our friend Payot's face look quite
+cheerful."
+
+"That's right," said Marcel to Payot, "God loveth the cheerful loser.
+Yes," he added, putting his hand on Payot's shoulder and looking up
+into his face,
+
+ "Smile
+       Awhile,
+ And while you smile
+             Others smile,
+ And soon there's miles and miles
+                             Of smiles,
+ And life's worth while
+                     Because you smile."
+
+Payot's face lit up and he actually beamed with inward hope, as the
+world suddenly seemed to him to grow brighter and more beautiful.
+"Where did you get that from, Marcel?" said Payot, smiling.
+
+"You don't suppose I am going to give away the source of all my jokes
+to you?"
+
+Beaupaire looked at Payot and they both laughed.
+
+As they entered Beaupaire's drawing-room he introduced his guests to
+Madame Beaupaire, who rose at once and welcomed them effusively, with
+both hands outstretched.
+
+"Allow me, gentlemen, to introduce you to my daughter Violette."
+
+Marcel and Payot bowed and shook hands. Marcel, who was of a very
+impressionable nature, became visibly affected by her beauty and
+striking personality.
+
+Violette was an uncommon specimen of her race. Born of a French
+father and Spanish mother, she was at the same time an enigma to her
+acquaintances and a revelation to strangers. Her hair was long and
+black with that peculiar bluish lustre of a raven's wing. Her face
+was of ivory whiteness, regular in outline, with a finely chiselled
+nose, which grew out of her face like that of a Greek goddess, and
+just tipped in a most provoking manner to render the nostrils visible,
+while her lips were firm and rosy and delicately curved like cupid's
+bow. Moreover, her brilliant eyes which, like her features, were
+constantly on the move, gave her that charm of expression which is
+at once so fascinating and dangerous to the other sex. At one moment
+she was sweetness itself and polite to a degree, and then suddenly,
+without warning, her mischievous smile would change into a look of
+scorn or disapproval, which would completely upset all the calculations
+of her companions as to her real feelings. Highly gifted herself, she
+delighted in nothing better than a passage-of-arms with a man whom she
+felt to be her superior, but was herself loth to admit it.
+
+"Have you lived a long time in Paris, mademoiselle?" enquired Marcel,
+when they had sat down to dinner.
+
+"Oh, yes, we have been here for some years now, but Paris is not my
+birth-place you know," she answered with a smile.
+
+"And what town, may I ask, has been so fortunate as to claim
+mademoiselle as a citizen?"
+
+"Buenos Aires, monsieur," she replied in a soft, musical voice, and
+darting a quick glance at Marcel, and then lowering her eyelashes in a
+way that sent a thrill of emotion down to his very boots.
+
+"Ah! a most delightful place. I was there some years ago," said Marcel.
+"Yes, I can still picture it in my mind, I remember it so well. I
+shall never forget the charming Avenida Alvear, and the Plaza 25 de
+Mayo overlooking the classical portico of the cathedral. What a lovely
+cathedral it is to be sure. It always reminds me of "La Madeleine,"
+with its twelve stately Corinthian columns and its exquisitely carved
+pediment."
+
+"How delightful to meet a gentleman who is so familiar with my dear old
+birth-place," said Violette. "I feel we are quite old friends already."
+
+Marcel chuckled inwardly with satisfaction. "That chess opening of the
+pawn to King's four followed by the Knight to Bishop three has begun
+the game well," he thought to himself. "I could not very well appear
+ignorant of a town which gave birth to so charming a creature."
+
+"What were you doing there, if it is not a rude question?" Violette
+enquired, warming up with her subject.
+
+"H'm, you see my father had the good fortune to be a man of means,
+and although I was educated at the university, I employed my time in
+cultivating the arts of poetry and music."
+
+"Oh! how delightful, we must invite you to play for us. We have an
+amateur concert here every Sunday evening. I will ask mama to invite
+you. What instrument do you play?"
+
+"Pardon me, mademoiselle, but I am--ahem--afraid you misunderstood me,"
+he answered, feeling that he was treading on dangerous ground already.
+"I am not a musician, I am--ahem--I sing."
+
+"Oh! that's still better. There are so many good musicians now-a-days,
+but so few really good singers. I feel certain you have a good voice.
+You will promise me to come and sing, won't you?"
+
+"Ah, mademoiselle, you flatter me. Unfortunately I am under the
+doctor's orders just now for a slight inflammation of the throat, and I
+am strictly forbidden to sing. It is a terrible trial for one who has
+such a passion for harmony."
+
+"A terrible trial I am sure," replied Violette, watching his face
+closely. "Has monsieur endured this calamity for long?"
+
+"Yes, ahem--for some considerable time now. But to return to Buenos
+Aires."
+
+"Haven't you finished with that place yet? Gracious, I thought you had
+left some time ago."
+
+Marcel looked at her to try and fathom her meaning.
+
+"By the way, monsieur, where did you live in Buenos Aires?" she said a
+little suspiciously.
+
+"Oh, I used to spend most of my time riding up and down the Parque 3 de
+Febrero in Palermo."
+
+"Oh, yes, how well I remember it. I have often driven through that
+beautiful park. I think Palermo the most beautiful spot in the world."
+
+"Ah, there I am with you, mademoiselle--especially if I knew that you
+were living there."
+
+Violette laughed, and her eyes twinkled with roguish fun as she tapped
+him on the knuckles with her fan. "Oh, you men, what flatterers you all
+are."
+
+"And where did you live, mademoiselle, if I may be so bold as to ask?"
+
+"I? Oh, I lived in the Calle Florida, next to a magnificent building,"
+and her eyes twinkled with mischief.
+
+"What a strange coincidence. Why, I lived just on the other side of it."
+
+Monsieur Beaupaire who happened to be listening burst out into a loud
+laugh.
+
+"Sapristi! but that's too funny for words," he exclaimed.
+
+Marcel looked round and saw Violette in fits of laughter as well.
+
+"Checkmated, by Jove," thought Marcel. "I wonder how I put my foot in
+it," he muttered unconsciously half aloud. But the quick hearing of
+Violette caught the muttered exclamation.
+
+"Why, that building is the town jaol," she said laughing.
+
+"Good Lord, deliver us," exclaimed Marcel, trying to conceal his
+vexation.
+
+"Monsieur, I don't believe you have ever been to Buenos Aires. Now
+confess."
+
+"If Mademoiselle will forgive me, I own up to it."
+
+"We will forgive you this time," she said, tapping him once more with
+her fan.
+
+"A penny for your thoughts?" he next enquired.
+
+"To speak plainly, I think you are just a pure romancer," she answered,
+looking very cross and frowning. "I gave you credit for more ability
+than you seem to possess," and she turned her head away from him.
+Marcel felt very angry and nettled at her outspoken criticism, and felt
+inclined to show her his annoyance, but he allowed his discretion to
+overcome his feelings.
+
+"Ah, mademoiselle, you forget--
+
+ "The naked truth and the naked lie
+ Are banned in good society.
+
+"What do you like best among the arts?" added Marcel, anxious to change
+the conversation.
+
+"Oh, I adore music," she replied, turning towards him and becoming more
+amiable, "and I love painting, but I think I enjoy reading best."
+
+"What? Novels?"
+
+"Oh, dear no, poetry and the literature of the great writers. By the
+way, I think you said you had taken to writing poetry?" she said
+sarcastically.
+
+"That is true, mademoiselle."
+
+Violette looked at him incredulously, and bit her lip with a frown.
+
+"I can vouch for the truth of that, mademoiselle," said Payot who had
+been talking to her father and was now listening to Violette. "I assure
+you I know nothing superior to our friend's poetry. It combines the
+sparkle and wit of Alfred de Musset with the intense pathos of Victor
+Hugo, and is not inferior to either."
+
+"What!" cried Violette, "you don't mean to say that I am actually
+talking to George Marcel who wrote the book on epigrams, '_Les poemes
+de ma Jeunesse_,' and '_Le dernier combat dans le Colisée_'?"
+
+"That is the same gentleman, mademoiselle. There is only one George
+Marcel in the world as far as I know."
+
+The change which took place in Violette's features was almost
+ludicrous. She had been under the impression that he was merely an
+ignorant and very conceited fop, who was only pretending that he
+had travelled, and was posing as a poet and author of merit, when
+she suddenly discovered that she had been snubbing one of the most
+promising poets and writers in France.
+
+Marcel watched the struggle going on in her mind, and noted her
+confusion and blushes with an amused expression.
+
+"Since I am unable to play and sing to Mademoiselle, may I perhaps have
+the great pleasure of hearing her play and sing to me?"
+
+Violette blushed again and looked up at her mother who fortunately took
+up the cue.
+
+"Certainly, monsieur," said Madame Beaupaire, "we shall expect you on
+Sunday evening next, if you will take pot-luck with us, and we shall
+then be better prepared for the concert afterwards."
+
+"Queen protects the Knight," said Marcel still with the game of chess
+in his mind, "but renders herself open to attack," thought Marcel to
+himself. "By Jove, I may win the game yet. She plays well and hits
+hard, but I like Violette all the more for that."
+
+"You will be sure and come, won't you?" the young lady asked in a half
+whisper as she lit a cigarette when the coffee had been served, and
+looked up in his face with a roguish smile.
+
+Marcel felt he could have worshipped her. He so far lost himself as
+to squeeze her hand, thinking that he had made sufficient progress
+to warrant it, but Violette gently removed her hand with a look of
+displeasure. He felt he had made a false move, but resolved to turn
+it to his advantage by saying in a low voice which he knew would only
+reach her:--
+
+ "Cinco sentidos tenemos
+     Y los cinco necesitamos
+ Y los cinco nos perdemos
+     Quando nos enamoramos."[18]
+
+To his unbounded delight she replied:--
+
+ Love is strong, but love is blind,
+ No faults can we discover;
+ It is the heart and not the mind,
+ We look for in a lover.
+
+He stayed just long enough for the host and hostess to rise, and then
+with immense self-content and tact nudged Payot to accompany him, and
+bidding them all good-night departed for the Villebois's house dreaming
+of the delight at crossing swords with her at the forthcoming Sunday's
+dinner, and feeling that he was already hopelessly in love with her.
+
+Punctually fourteen days later, Payot and Beaupaire were ushered into
+the library where Delapine was sitting in an easy-chair revising an
+essay which he was preparing for the Academie des Sciences.
+
+On the entrance of his visitors the professor rose to welcome them.
+
+"Delighted to meet you, gentlemen," he said, extending his hand with a
+frank smile. "I suppose you have come in obedience to my request?"
+
+Payot nodded.
+
+"I hope," continued Delapine, "you have sold your property and shares
+to the best advantage, and realized enough money to pay off your
+liabilities?"
+
+"Every one of them," said Payot.
+
+"I can vouch for that," said Beaupaire, "as my friend Payot gave me a
+power of attorney to act for him, since he was too unnerved to rely on
+his own judgment."
+
+"Excellent," said Delapine, stroking his chin and glancing from one to
+the other with his piercing eyes. "Have you anything left?"
+
+"Alas! monsieur, only forty thousand francs."
+
+"Well, that is better than nothing anyhow. You must be thankful for
+small mercies. I suppose you have still kept the house?"
+
+"Well, not exactly. I was obliged to mortgage it, and managed with the
+money I raised to sell everything, and have a few thousand francs over."
+
+"Never mind, however great a misfortune may be, you may always be
+sure it might have been much worse. Forty thousand francs is at least
+something to fall back upon."
+
+"That is true, but I shall not be able to afford any dot for Renée."
+
+"I will see to that."
+
+"What! You, professor? How can you provide a dot out of your slender
+income?"
+
+"I never said I was going to find my fiancée's dowry out of my income,
+nor do I intend to borrow it."
+
+"Then how will you find the money?"
+
+"You need not have any anxiety on that score, the moment the money is
+wanted the money will be here."
+
+"So you have the money ready?"
+
+"Not a sou."
+
+"And you intend to get it almost immediately?"
+
+"Yes, within a week."
+
+"But how? Do tell us," they both exclaimed.
+
+"I make it a rule of my life never to discuss anything I intend to do
+until it is accomplished."
+
+"But, my dear professor, you might at least give us some outline of the
+method you intend to employ, especially as we are such good friends,
+and besides we might be able to help you."
+
+"Can you keep a secret?" he asked them.
+
+"Of course we can," they replied, eager to get the news.
+
+"So can I," he replied with a merry chuckle, and one of his beaming
+smiles.
+
+"What an extraordinary man," said Beaupaire.
+
+"Now, listen," said the professor. "I have already had a talk with
+Dr. and Madame Villebois and with our friends Marcel and Riche, and
+they have all agreed to my plan to take the train on Monday night to
+Beaulieu, which is the next station to Monaco, and I trust that both of
+you gentlemen will be able to accompany us."
+
+Payot rubbed his hands with excitement and they both eagerly assented.
+
+"Why is he going to Beaulieu of all places in the world?" Payot asked
+himself, "I wonder whether it has anything to do with his promise to
+restore my fortune? He can't surely be insane enough to imagine that
+he can recover the money by gambling at Monte Carlo. The professor is
+certainly eccentric, but I credit him with more common-sense than to do
+that. However, we shall see."
+
+"You must both of you pack up and get ready," said Delapine. "I shall
+be away seven days from this evening, and we shall start for Beaulieu
+the day after to-morrow by the nine o'clock Rapide de Nuit from the
+Gare de Lyon. We shall meet at the ticket office at a quarter-past
+eight. C'est entendue?"
+
+"Bien--but is that all you intend to tell us?" said Payot, somewhat
+surprised at his imperious tone.
+
+"Have I not said enough?"
+
+"Yes--but--"
+
+"But you must excuse me, gentlemen, as I have still a great deal
+of work to do before I can leave. I shall expect you the day after
+to-morrow, good-bye till then," and he waved them off with one of his
+choicest smiles.
+
+Wednesday night saw the whole of the party assembled soon after eight
+o'clock near the ticket office of the Gare de Lyon. Delapine had
+reserved a coupé for each of the Villebois and Beaupaire families
+together with Monsieur Payot, so that Marcel and Riche had to shift for
+themselves.
+
+"I say, Marcel," said Riche, "who is that charming young lady I saw you
+chatting with just now?"
+
+"Whom do you refer to?"
+
+"Why that girl over there between Madame Villebois and the professor."
+
+"Oh! don't you know her? Mademoiselle Violette Beaupaire," he replied
+in a half whisper lest the party referred to should overhear him, "she
+is the daughter of M. Beaupaire the stock broker, who is running about
+after the luggage, she's a ripping girl, I assure you, and no mistake."
+
+"Violette Beaupaire," said Riche half aloud to himself, "I know that
+name somehow. Where was it I heard it?" and he tapped his forehead in
+thought. "Oh! yes, I remember now, she was the girl with the wonderful
+ring I met that day at the café near the Ecolle de Medicine. How small
+the world is to be sure."
+
+"Why! You don't mean to say that you know her?" said Marcel, who had
+caught the drift of what he had been saying half aloud to himself.
+"Where did you meet her?" he added with a tinge of jealousy in his
+voice.
+
+The doctor related the curious adventure he had had at the café, and
+the marvellous predictions of Violette which she had made while gazing
+at the ring.
+
+"Have you never seen her since?" enquired Marcel with a tone of anxiety
+in his voice.
+
+"Never my boy, until this very day, I give you my word; but," he added,
+"I have been hunting all over Paris to try and find her ever since that
+afternoon. I would have given a good deal to have had her address."
+
+"Why! are you in love with her then?" asked Marcel as he scrutinized
+his friend's face while waiting for the reply, but could detect nothing
+in his face, not even a muscle moved.
+
+"Lord bless you, no," replied the doctor, "but she is the most
+interesting girl I have ever met in all my life, and I have been simply
+dying to test her extraordinary powers again with her ring."
+
+"Thank God for small mercies," thought Marcel to himself, as he assured
+himself that he was no rival of his, "However it is just as well that
+he and I will be travelling in another part of the train out of the
+reach of temptation."
+
+The departure of the Rapide de Nuit from the Gare de Lyon is one of the
+greatest events of the day. The great glass-roofed station is filled
+with fog, and vibrates with the shrill whistles of innumerable engines
+which perpetually come and go apparently without rhyme or reason.
+At all times the din is ear-splitting, but from half past eight p.m.
+onwards, the noise increases tenfold. The station gets more and more
+packed with people. Here one may notice a company of tired and sunburnt
+soldiers marching up the platform in their blue coats and red baggy
+trousers covered with black leather below the knee, each carrying a
+painfully heavy knapsack and rifle; while hurrying along may be seen
+gay-coloured Turcos, Arabs with their red fezzes, or crowds of peasants
+patiently waiting for the omnibus train, which leaves an hour later
+than the express. The waiting rooms are crowded with tourists, English,
+French, Germans, and Americans.
+
+What a babel! But see, there are more outside hurrying about hither and
+thither in wild confusion, demanding of every official they meet what
+time the train leaves and where they can find it, notwithstanding the
+fact that they have been told a score of times already. Interpreters,
+Cook's men, Gaze's men, and couriers are bustling about collecting
+their flocks together. Porters with trolleys and hand-barrows piled
+up with luggage are to be seen hauling and shoving and struggling to
+push their way through the impenetrable forest of human beings. To the
+casual observer calmly surveying the scene, the entire place seems to
+be a hopeless muddle in which reigns a veritable pandemonium. More
+and more people enter the train, until it seems incapable of being
+moved at all, while the huge filthy-looking black engine, so different
+from the brilliantly painted and exquisitely kept British ones, is
+belching forth a torrent of black smoke, and blowing off steam with
+such violence and din as to render all conversation impossible. Here
+one may see a regular procession of boxes, rugs, and bags all waiting
+to be weighed, while a file of fifty people or more are standing at the
+guichet awaiting the delivery of their luggage checks.
+
+The train was crowded to suffocation, and but for Delapine's foresight
+our friends could not have obtained seats. As it was, Marcel and Riche
+were pushed into a compartment already nearly full, much to the disgust
+and annoyance of the passengers who were arranging their rugs for a
+comfortable sleep during the night.
+
+"That is not good enough for me," said Riche, "I'll bet you a
+five-franc piece we will get a compartment all to ourselves."
+
+"Done," said Marcel, "but you are bound to lose it, my boy."
+
+"Not a bit of it, you watch me."
+
+"Guard," Riche shouted as the bell rang and the doors were being shut,
+"this is a smoking compartment and we greatly object to smoking."
+
+Marcel looked at Riche and gave a low whistle.
+
+"Can't be helped," said the guard, "we're just off."
+
+"Excuse me," said Riche in a commanding voice, "I am Monsieur Faure of
+the Engineering Department, and I must call your attention to Section
+XIII. Paragraph 79 of the byelaws of the Administration."
+
+"I don't know your name, sir."
+
+"Silence, sir, when I speak. I have only recently been appointed
+assistant to M. Demange, the chief engineer."
+
+The guard looked him up and down, and scanned his face critically to
+see if he were joking, but Riche never moved a muscle.
+
+"But, monsieur," said the guard, apologizing profusely, "it is
+impossible, the train is due to start," and he shrugged his shoulders
+and spread out his hands in despair.
+
+"Remember that you are speaking to a high official on the Railway,"
+replied Riche, looking severely at him. "Now you know who I am, look
+sharp, or I shall be obliged to report you."
+
+The guard grumbled, and discussed the matter with several officials.
+Almost immediately afterwards Riche and Marcel saw him walk rapidly
+away. Slowly the huge train steamed out of the station, and various
+shunting movements took place until at length, after ten minutes delay,
+a brand-new first-class carriage was attached to the rear of the train.
+
+"Now get in, gentlemen, quickly," said the guard somewhat testily as he
+blew the whistle.
+
+The moment they were seated, Riche pulled out of his pocket a
+silver-mounted cigar case and handed Marcel a fine Hanava cigar, at the
+same time selecting one for himself. As the train rolled out of the
+station the guard saw to his horror two blue clouds of smoke rolling
+out of the window of the compartment.
+
+"Sacr--r--re bleu?" hissed the guard as he held up his hands and shook
+his fists at the sham officials as they disappeared in the distance,
+while Riche and Marcel waved their handkerchiefs at the frantic guard
+as a parting shot.
+
+"By Jove, you know how to travel," said Marcel as he handed Riche a
+five franc-piece.
+
+"Now for a cosy nap," said Riche, and making a comfortable bed by a
+skilful arrangement of the seats, he wrapped himself in his rug, put
+his ticket in the flap of his cap, and was soon fast asleep.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 18:
+
+ In our heads five senses dwell,
+   In many ways we use them,
+ But when we love a maiden well
+   Alas! we quickly lose them.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXII
+
+VIOLETTE NURSES HER FATHER WITH ALARMING RESULTS
+
+
+The comfort of a long railway journey is largely dependent on the
+number of people travelling in the compartment. Two is the ideal
+number, as one person can lie outstretched on each side. Two is company
+but three is none, and is nearly as bad as four, in fact it verges on
+misery for two out of the three, but five makes comfort impossible.
+
+Such was the state of things in Monsieur Beaupaire's coupé. Monsieur,
+Madame, and Mademoiselle Beaupaire were congratulating themselves on
+travelling undisturbed, when a couple of English tourists clambered
+in--or rather were pushed in just as the train was moving, in spite of
+the protests and remonstrances of the Beaupaires.
+
+The compartment became unbearably stuffy, all the windows being, as is
+usual on the Continent, hermetically sealed.
+
+It is the wonder of all Englishmen that 'Foreigners' insist on
+travelling with all openings for ventilation persistently closed, and
+equally incomprehensible to the foreigner how Englishmen can travel
+with the windows open, and not catch their death of cold.
+
+"Phew! this is awfully stuffy," exclaimed the elder of the two
+Englishmen who answered to the name of Ridgeway, "I can't imagine why
+these foreigners always insist on having the windows closed. There's
+not a breath of air in the place, Charley," he said to the younger of
+the two, "do open the windows, there's a good chap." The young man
+got up and tugged at the strap at the window--it gave way and he fell
+backwards on to the feet of the passengers.
+
+"Sorry," he said as he picked himself up, and he proceeded to open the
+opposite window.
+
+Madame Beaupaire looked daggers at him, and she rubbed the foot on
+which he had fallen.
+
+Charley suddenly uttered a cry of pain. In attempting to open the
+second window, the frame had slipped and jammed his finger.
+
+"Confound these carriages," said Charley, "why can't someone invent a
+fool-proof window which will be provided with a strap that will not
+come off, and that can be opened without reducing one's fingers to
+pulp?"
+
+Violette laughed at the wry face he made.
+
+Charley turned round, and seeing her good-looking face lit up with
+merriment, laughed in concert.
+
+"Well, that's a funny way to introduce yourself," said Violette in good
+English, but with rather a pretty foreign accent.
+
+Violette evidently had the gift of humour, and Charley fell in with it
+at once.
+
+"I hope Mademoiselle does not mind the window being open," he said.
+
+"Not in the least as far as I am concerned," she replied. "I only hope
+papa and mamma will not catch cold."
+
+"Oh, there's no fear of that. May I ask if you are going to Monte Carlo
+to play?"
+
+"We are going there, certainly, but I don't think we are going to play
+at the Casino, if that's what you mean."
+
+"Well, we are going there, and you bet we are going to have a shy at
+the tables."
+
+Violette wondered what the expression could mean.
+
+"How do you shy at the tables?" she asked.
+
+"Surely you know what 'shy' means?" he said.
+
+"Of course I do," she replied, nettled to think he imagined she didn't
+know English. "I know," she continued, "a girl is shy when she hangs
+down her head and blushes and simpers when a gentleman speaks to her,
+but I cannot see how one can shy at the tables at Monte Carlo--unless
+the crowd is so great that it makes one nervous," she added
+reflectively.
+
+"Oh," said Charley, who was warming up and becoming very communicative,
+"shy is one of our wonderful English words, like 'box,' and 'shot' and
+'go' and 'make.' They may mean anything and everything."
+
+"But, monsieur, how is one to know what a word means if it may imply
+anything and everything?"
+
+"That's the beauty of our language. It's a perfect joy. It's so
+tremendously expressive. If you can't get at the meaning by the context
+you have to guess it by the tone of the voice, as one does when
+speaking Chinese. Thus, if you were to say to me '_You're_ a nice young
+man,' it would mean that I was _not_ a nice young man. Whereas if you
+were to say 'you _are_ a nice young man' you imply the exact opposite,
+namely that I _am_ nice."
+
+"Are you fishing for compliments?" asked Violette, laughing.
+
+"Not exactly, but I feel sure you will say that my last illustration
+was correct in every respect."
+
+"Oh, you men, you are as vain as peacocks, you think that every girl
+you meet must at once fall over head and ears in love with you."
+
+"And is not that a very delightful frame of mind to be in?" asked
+Charley, wondering what she would say next.
+
+Violette laughed heartily at the Englishman's egotism.
+
+"But I assure you, mademoiselle, these little Anglo-Saxon words would
+fill a dictionary with their shades of meaning. To take an example: the
+word 'go' has at least a hundred different meanings. Thus we say, 'the
+clock is going,' whereas it is standing still all the time. 'Go' may
+mean 'to die,' as in the phrase (he is going)--to succeed (the scheme
+did not go)--to fare (how goes it?)--to release (let go my hand)--it
+may mean a misfortune (here's a pretty go)--or an attempt (let's have a
+go at it)--or----"
+
+"Please, that's enough," cried Violette, "my poor head is in a whirl
+already. Let us conclude the whole matter by saying that with a dozen
+of these elastic Anglo-Saxon words of yours one may write a book and
+express every sentence in Macaulay, Milton and Shakespeare."
+
+"What a pretty wit," said Ridgeway, laughing. "The remarkable thing
+about the English language," he added, "is that all the words which we
+use most are not to be found in any dictionary."
+
+Violette opened her eyes in amazement.
+
+"It's a fact, I assure you, mademoiselle."
+
+"What a dreadful language," she replied, "I had no idea English was so
+difficult. How on earth is the ordinary person to learn it?"
+
+"One does not learn it," said Charley, "it just grows on one. If you
+try to learn English you never will. The professors of English who are
+paid to teach you don't know the words themselves, that is, the really
+useful ones, such as, 'awful,' 'jolly,' 'ripping,' 'rot,' 'blooming,'
+and thousands of others, and even in the very best French dictionaries
+you will find the English equivalent which is given, as something which
+has not the remotest connection with the word you have looked up."
+
+"Surely you are joking, monsieur," she replied.
+
+"Not in the least I assure you," he answered. "I see you have a Gasc's
+pocket dictionary, mademoiselle, which is one of the very best. Do me
+the favour to turn up the word 'cad.'"
+
+Violette did so and read out, "cad--conducteur d' omnibus."
+
+"There you are," he replied, "what did I tell you? Suppose an
+unfortunate and harmless Frenchman arriving for the first time in
+London, were to rely on the dictionary and address the conductor of
+the first 'bus he entered as a cad, by George, he would probably find
+himself the next moment rolling in the gutter with the conductor on
+the top of him, and his only excuse would be that he trusted to the
+dictionary."
+
+Violette looked at him with a mingled expression of amazement and doubt
+as to whether he was serious or not, and then glanced at her father who
+was snoring in the corner of the carriage, with a night-cap tied over
+his ears, while Madame Beaupaire was taking stock of Charley by the aid
+of a gold-mounted pair of lorgnettes attached to a long tortoise-shell
+handle.
+
+"Evidently you zink ze English language ees vastly superior to ours,
+monsieur," said madame, who had spent a summer in England, and picked
+up enough English to understand the drift of what he had been saying.
+
+"Well, to be candid I do. Just think of its range. Our new dictionary
+contains a million and a half of words, whereas your language has
+only----"
+
+"Oh, come on, Charley, don't pull her leg," said Ridgeway.
+
+"Sir!" said madame, sitting bolt upright, and surveying him through her
+hand magnifiers, "you insult me."
+
+"A thousand pardons, madame. What I said was only a colloquial
+expression for pulling the long bow."
+
+"Pulling ze vot?" she enquired somewhat suspiciously.
+
+"Pulling the long bow--another colloquial expression much employed
+by Englishmen. It merely implied a caution to my young friend not to
+exaggerate so much. I assure you, my dear madame, the remark I uttered
+had no reference whatever to your legs."
+
+"My vot, sir? I think you are egstremely rude."
+
+"Pray forgive me, madame, I crave your indulgence. May I substitute for
+the word 'legs,' 'inferior extremities,' or lower limbs?"
+
+Madame got very wrath and turned herself half round, and looked out of
+the opposite window. Beaupaire had just woken up, and catching the last
+sentence burst out into a hearty laugh, which had the effect of making
+his better half still more angry.
+
+"How can you be so cruel as to laugh at me, Jean," she said to her
+husband, "when you see me insulted like this? Have you no feelings
+left?"
+
+"Pray calm yourself, my dear. Our friend has not the slightest
+intention of insulting you. I know the expression well, it is perfectly
+'en regle.'"
+
+Madame tossed her head as much as to say "I don't believe you a bit."
+"Besides," she added, "it is not your place to instruct me in English,
+and I"--with rising voice--"I vill not sit here quietly vile those
+impudent Englishmen are insulting me and my daughter."
+
+Beaupaire looked at Ridgeway, and gave a wink and a little chuckle half
+to himself.
+
+"Don't mind her," he whispered to Ridgeway, as he offered him a
+cigarette, "the old lady is first rate when you get to know her,
+but she is a great stickler for etiquette--Spanish, you know--very
+proud--sixteen quarterings--father a Don--seventh cousin of the King of
+Spain--and all that sort of thing."
+
+Ridgeway nodded.
+
+"Ha! ha!" continued Beaupaire, laughing, "what you were just saying to
+madame reminds me of an anecdote of Philip the Second of Spain. It is
+said that when his first wife was coming to Madrid to be married to him
+she was met at the frontier by an escort of grandees, and was treated
+with all the stiff ceremonies of the Spanish Court. The lady had
+occasion to mention her legs during the conversation, and was at once
+rebuked by the Grand Chamberlain appointed to wait on her. 'Madame,'
+he said, 'the Queen of Spain is not permitted to have any legs.' On
+hearing this the good dame burst into tears, thinking it would be
+necessary to have them amputated. However, the Grand Chamberlain
+explained to her with profound genuflexions and much bowing, that it
+was highly impolite even to suggest that so exalted a personage as her
+prospective Majesty could possibly possess such parts of her anatomy.
+When this story was related to the King, it is said to have been the
+only occasion when that fanatical and gloomy monarch was ever seen to
+laugh."
+
+Mr. Ridgeway was interrupted by the sudden noise of the brakes--z ... z
+... z ... z ... z ... z ... Z ... Z ... Z ... sh ... sh ... sh ... sH
+... sh ... SH ... H ... H ... H ... H.
+
+The train pulled up in the station just two hours after leaving Paris.
+
+"La Roche," shouted the guard. "Cinque minutes d'arrêt."
+
+It was the first stop. Marcel was snoring vigorously notwithstanding
+the noise.
+
+Riche woke up with the sudden cessation of movement and the noise of
+the brakes against the wheels. He sat up and rubbed his eyes with his
+knuckles.
+
+The door opened, and a man with his buxom wife and two children began
+climbing into the compartment.
+
+"Sh--h," said Riche stepping up to the door and putting his fingers to
+his lips. "You can't come in, my friend down here has just had a fit.
+He is subject to sudden outbursts of madness, and might kill you at any
+moment."
+
+Marcel had just awoke and managed to catch the last sentence of his
+friend. A quiet smile flitted across his lips, and he closed his eyes
+again.
+
+The parents exchanged glances as the guard was pushing them in.
+
+"Be quick and get in," said the guard.
+
+"Mais, monsieur, we dare not. This gentleman says his friend is lying
+down in a fit, and he is quite mad."
+
+The guard hesitated for a moment, and was about to go and call the
+station master, when Dr. Riche handed him his card. It bore the
+inscription:--
+
+[Illustration: DOCTEUR RICHE.
+
+ CHIRURGIEN A L'HOPITAL,
+ ALGER.]
+
+engraved in bold letters. The card decided matters at once, and the
+guard pushing the family away, closed the door and locked it at the
+doctor's request.
+
+"Riche," said Marcel the moment the guard had left, "you are a brick.
+We can now sleep undisturbed until we get to Marseilles."
+
+The next morning they arrived at Marseilles, and everybody got out to
+stretch their legs and enjoy a good cup of café au lait at the buffet.
+
+The party had a refreshing wash and brush up to enable them to enjoy
+the delightful sea views of the Côte d'Azur.
+
+It was the early part of the afternoon when the train pulled up at
+Beaulieu. They drove to the Hotel des Anglais, somewhat tired but in
+the best of spirits.
+
+The feelings of Céleste and Renée on seeing the Côte d'Azur for the
+first time cannot be described. The balmy air was filled with the
+delicious perfumes of a million flowers and fields of new-mown hay.
+They saw the deep blue sky paling to a delicate turquoise where it
+touched the sea at the horizon. They saw the water scintillating with
+the sunlight, and its placid surface broken by the white crests of the
+countless waves. What delighted them most was the exquisite blending
+of colours, the variations of light and shade, and the luxuriance
+and wonderful variety of the foliage. Here they saw the loveliest
+forms of tropical foliage side by side with the more familiar but not
+less beautiful trees of central and northern Europe. The flowers of
+the whole world seemed to contribute to the enchanting loveliness of
+the scene. They saw dense forests of fragrant pine trees, woodland
+footpaths lined with the sweet alyssum, resembling drifts of scented
+snow, while the thyme and rosemary formed fragrant patches over the
+stony sides of the mountains. Higher up the slopes luxuriant groves of
+pistacia lentiscus or mastic trees could be seen, and bushes of the
+members of the quassia family, such as the cneorum tricoccum, with its
+curious triple clusters of berries. In the distance rose the beautiful
+Mount Boron crowned with the Fort of Montalban, and its slopes covered
+with tall cistus trees. Dotted here and there were charming villas
+with delightful gardens, intoxicating the senses with the perfume of
+lemon and orange. Occasionally the carouba tree could be seen with its
+wonderful locust-bean pods credited with being the staple food of John
+the Baptist.
+
+Scattered up and down were olive trees, hoary with age, their trunks
+knotted and gnarled and twisted like the limbs of caliban. Quite close
+to Beaulieu they saw sheltered footpaths with hedges on either side
+lined with roses and geraniums. To the west was the Bay of Villefranche
+with small gunboats and yachts rocking placidly in the harbour.
+
+"Surely," said the professor, "these must be the gardens of Alcinous
+with their perpetual summer hemmed in by the mighty salient battlements
+which form the vanguard of the Alpine chain."
+
+As the members of the party were retiring for the night, Monsieur
+Beaupaire, who had caught a slight chill on the chest, in spite of what
+Charley had told him the day before, developed a fit of uncontrollable
+coughing accompanied with a feeling of oppression on the chest. Dr.
+Villebois immediately offered his services, which were accepted with
+gratitude. He prescribed a cough mixture, and ordered a mustard plaster
+to be applied for five minutes over the whole of the chest.
+
+"Doctor," said Violette, putting her arms in a coaxing way on his
+shoulders, "may I prepare the plaster myself, as I have done it many
+times before, and I know so well how to do it."
+
+"Certainly," said Villebois, "nobody could do it better, get it by all
+means, and put it on as soon as your father is comfortably settled in
+bed."
+
+Violette, as soon as she had obtained the ingredients, set to work to
+prepare the plaster. It was quite late by this time, and the messenger
+had great difficulty in finding a chemist's shop open, to have the
+medicine made up.
+
+Violette loved nursing and felt a keen pleasure in doctoring her
+father. She acted on the principle that if one dose will do a
+certain amount of good, two doses ought to do twice the benefit, and
+accordingly she spread a very liberal amount of mustard on the linen.
+When all was ready she went upstairs to his bedroom, but by this
+time all the lights were turned off, and she crept cautiously along
+the passage to his room. She opened the door, and a faint light just
+enabled her to see where her father was sleeping. He was snoring away
+apparently in a delightful dream, and Violette, unwilling to awake him,
+did not turn up the light. So in the semi-darkness she tenderly laid
+bare his chest, and carefully spread the plaster over the surface. The
+sufferer uttered a groan, but did not wake. Violette wrapped him up
+snugly and bent down and gave her father a kiss on his forehead, when
+the light becoming suddenly brighter, she perceived to her horror that
+it was not her father at all, but Marcel. Terrified at her mistake
+she gave a little scream, and ran out of the room, the perspiration
+streaming from her forehead.
+
+"Oh! dear, oh! dear," she exclaimed, "whatever shall I do? Here I have
+gone into Marcel's room, and kissed him on the forehead and put a huge
+mustard plaster on his chest, and now I dare not take it off again for
+fear of waking him up. Oh! what will become of me?" Violette was in
+despair. Heartily wishing the ground would open and swallow her up, she
+walked up and down the passage wringing her hands in an agony of mind,
+and wondering what the end of it all would be. At length Violette went
+to her bedroom, and falling on her knees burst into a flood of tears.
+But her tears were soon over as the absurdity of the situation dawned
+on her. A few minutes later she undressed and was soon in the arms of
+Morpheus, quite oblivious of the mischief she was creating. Violette
+had not been in bed more than half an hour when she was awakened by
+hearing the most appalling noise. Somebody was shouting at the top of
+his voice, "Help! Help! Murder! Fire! Thieves!" Hastily putting on her
+slippers and dressing-gown, she ran into the passage. By this time
+the entire establishment was aroused, and men and women attired in
+all sorts of costumes came hurrying up the stairs to see what all the
+row was about. Mine host flew to the fire alarm and rang up the fire
+brigade without waiting to ascertain the real cause of the mischief.
+At the same time the portier telephoned to the police. The hubbub and
+confusion increased every moment. Waiters flew wildly up and down
+stairs, each one asking his neighbour what all the noise was about.
+
+A few minutes later a fire engine came dashing up and half a dozen
+firemen with their hatchets and brass helmets ran up the stairs
+followed by three or four gendarmes in uniform. The proprietor ran
+towards them with his arms outstretched gesticulating wildly. Violette,
+who was standing in front of her door, looked up and saw the gentleman
+who was the author of all the scene rush past her clad in pajamas with
+an embroidered cap ornamented with a gold tassel, and almost flinging
+himself into the arms of the landlord. "Voilà!" he shouted, "see
+what some miscreant has done to me," and he laid bare his chest all
+blazing red and fearfully inflamed with the mustard, while he shook
+the offending plaster in monsieur's face. Violette caught sight of his
+face. Oh, horror, it was Marcel sure enough, his eyes gleaming, his
+face flushed, and shouting with a voice almost inarticulate with rage
+and pain.
+
+"If I can only lay my hands on the scoundrel who has done it, I will
+flay him alive no matter who he may be."
+
+Violette turned scarlet and looked away for fear he should see her. She
+hurried back to her bedroom and sank down on the sofa, asking herself
+how she ever dare face him again, and wondering whether he would ever
+forgive her if he found her out. What added to her misery was that she
+felt in her heart she really cared for him. At length a feeling of
+weariness overcame her, and crawling into bed she soon fell asleep.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIII
+
+AT BEAULIEU
+
+ "The sun upon the calmest sea
+ Appears not half so bright as thee."
+
+
+The next morning Madame Villebois, whose slumbers had been disturbed
+by the excitement and noise during the night, and who loved ease, was
+having her chocolate in bed, and studying the menu which the maid had
+brought up for her special benefit.
+
+"Marie," she said, as her maid propped her back up against the
+pillows, "you are to be sure to make friends with the chef and bring
+me a copy of the menus for lunch and dinner as soon as they are
+printed, and, Marie, fetch me my portemonnaie. See, give him this
+and tell him to allow you to see how the entrées are prepared, and
+don't forget the sauces--especially the sauces, do you understand?
+Oh, I forgot--yes--find out whether he wraps the red mullet in paper
+soaked in olive oil or butter, be sure and ask him this, as it is most
+important, and don't forget also to find out how he prepares his gigot
+à la Mailly, and his poulets à la Villeroy. Do you think, Marie, that
+he will tell you all this for a small pourboire?"
+
+"Please, madame, I have seen him already and he is a most charming
+gentleman. He has such a sweet smile and such lovely whiskers. I think
+if you will leave him to me, madame, I will find out all you want. You
+know I have my little ways with gentlemen."
+
+"Marie, what do you mean? How dare you take liberties with men? And
+with cooks of all people! You ought to be ashamed of yourself. I shall
+have to give you notice."
+
+"Oh, but, madame, if you only saw him. He is such a nice gentleman, he
+patted me under the chin and gave me a kiss on my lips."
+
+Madame gave a start that nearly threw her out of bed, and stared at her
+as if she were some new animal at the Zoo.
+
+"Marie, Marie, leave the room this minute. I shall tell my husband the
+moment I get back to Paris, and he will dismiss you at once when he
+hears it. Oh, dear, what shall I do? To think you have disgraced the
+family in this way. I would dismiss you now, you vulgar thing, but--"
+
+"Thank you, ma'am," Marie replied, curtseying with a pout.
+
+"Thank you, indeed. Wait and see what Dr. Villebois will say to you.
+You dare to simper and smile after this?"
+
+Marie readjusted her pillows, and her lips curled in a defiant smile,
+for she knew the doctor would take her part every time. Hadn't he on
+one occasion given her a brooch instead of dismissing her when madame
+drove her out of the room, and on another occasion a pair of turquoise
+ear-rings, when she handed her over to her spouse for reprimand and
+dismissal?
+
+"Can I do anything more for madame?" she replied with her sweetest
+smile.
+
+"Go away, you hussy. I shall send for the doctor immediately."
+
+"Thank you, ma'am," said Marie again, as she bowed herself out of the
+room.
+
+"Of all the impudent, brazen-faced minxes I have ever seen, Marie
+is the worst," said madame to herself, as she heard the door close
+behind her. "The idea of such a thing! I would have sent her about her
+business there and then, only I know I cannot do without her. The airs
+these hussies put on, I don't really know what the world is coming to
+with their scandalous behaviour. Had it been an officer who kissed
+her, it would not have mattered--but a cook, with a double chin and
+whiskers! Holy Mary!" and the good lady crossed herself and sank down
+among the pillows to dream of the wickedness of femmes de chambre in
+general, and her own amazing righteousness. It was half-past nine when
+the rest of the party sat down to breakfast in the salle à manger of
+the hotel. Marcel, flushed and tired, entered the room and looked round
+to see if he could detect the culprit among the numerous guests, and
+failing that, sat down next to Riche who did his best to soothe his
+ruffled feelings.
+
+"I hope, my dear chap, that the pain has gone, and that you are none
+the worse for the practical joke which was played on you last night,"
+said Villebois, standing up and bowing to him as he sat down.
+
+Marcel returned the salutation. "Mon Dieu!" he exclaimed, wiping his
+brow with a gorgeous purple silk handkerchief, "no one can imagine what
+I have suffered. Even Dives could not have experienced worse sensations
+in his tongue in Hades than I did in my chest. I declare a flogging
+would not have hurt half as much. You should see my skin, it is all
+covered with blisters the size of a five-franc piece. If it had not
+been for my friend Riche who spread a handkerchief covered with Carron
+oil and dionine over it, I should not have been here this morning to
+breakfast, that's certain. Oh! if I could only meet the rascal who
+played me that trick, I would compel him to wear a plaster like mine
+for a week."
+
+Just at the moment Monsieur Beaupaire was seized with a furious fit of
+coughing and wheezing. "I am afraid," said Villebois, "the medicine and
+plaster which I prescribed did not do its work as well as I expected."
+
+"Medicine and plaster!" exclaimed Beaupaire with a look of
+astonishment. "I never saw either of them, although I remember you gave
+me the prescription with both remedies written down."
+
+Marcel looked up in surprise and whispered something to Riche, while
+Violette blushed up to the roots of her hair, and bent down to pick up
+her napkin which she had purposely dropped. "Oh dear!" she whispered to
+Céleste who was sitting between her and Riche, "whatever will become of
+me?" and her face expressed unutterable things.
+
+"Why! what have you done?"
+
+Just then Céleste happened to lean back, and Violette turning half
+round, caught Riche's eye just as she was drinking her coffee, which
+caused her to swallow it in such a hurry that it nearly choked her. She
+set her cup down, and whispering into Céleste's ear, walked quickly out
+of the salle a manger followed by Céleste.
+
+The two girls closed the door, ran quickly upstairs, and locked
+themselves in Violette's bedroom.
+
+"Now tell me all about it," said Céleste, as they seated themselves on
+the ottoman.
+
+"Oh! it's too dreadful for words," said Violette. "I asked Dr.
+Villebois to allow me to prepare the plaster for papa, and put it on
+him myself. I made a lovely one, and put three times as much mustard on
+it as I was ordered, as I wanted it to do him ever so much good. Well,
+I uncovered his chest and spread it carefully over and had just tucked
+him up and was about to leave when I discovered to my horror that I had
+entered the wrong room, and had put the plaster on a strange gentleman.
+I dared not take it off for fear of waking him, and so I crept out of
+the room on tip-toe. Later on when the people came rushing upstairs I
+ran to see what was the matter, and found out to my horror that the
+unfortunate man was--whom do you think?"
+
+"Riche?"
+
+"No, my dear--Marcel! Good Heavens! what shall I do? He will never
+forgive me."
+
+Céleste gave a little cry of surprise.
+
+"Good gracious!" she exclaimed, putting her arm round Violette's
+shoulder, "what a dreadful mistake to make, but I am sure, dear, with a
+little tact, you will be able to put matters right."
+
+"Do you really think he will ever forgive me?" Violette asked, looking
+into her face for some gleam of hope.
+
+"Oh yes, of course he will. I know Marcel far better than you do. He
+is really a very nice man, and has far too much sense of humour to be
+angry for long. Besides, you know the Italian proverb 'Ad ogni cosa e
+rimedio fuora ch'alla morte.'"
+
+"Thank you ever so much, dear, for your sympathy and advice. I shall be
+much happier now," and so saying they left the room together.
+
+Meanwhile, Riche had taken in the whole situation.
+
+"I say, my boy," he said to Marcel, "I've found out the culprit at
+last."
+
+"Who? Where?" cried Marcel in an excited voice.
+
+"Why, that young lady who was sitting on the other side of Céleste."
+
+Marcel turned round and looked at the position indicated.
+
+"Why, you surely don't mean Mademoiselle Beaupaire?"
+
+"Yes, of course I do. I saw her blushing furiously a few minutes ago,
+and I noticed her turn her face away the moment you happened to look in
+her direction. Oh, there can be no doubt about it."
+
+"By Jove, I understand it all now, it's as clear as daylight," said
+Marcel, slapping Riche's thigh. "What a fool I was not to see it
+before. The explanation is quite simple; she mistook my bedroom for her
+father's, and as it was dark she put the plaster on the wrong man."
+
+"Ha! ha! you've hit it, my boy, it's immensely funny. Ha! ha!" and
+Riche and Marcel both held their sides and shook with laughter.
+
+"Oh! my chest, my chest," cried Marcel, "don't make me laugh so," and
+the tears streamed down his cheeks with the pain caused by his laughing.
+
+"But I say, Riche," he said as he calmed down, "it's a terrible blow to
+me."
+
+"Why?" asked Riche, looking at him with a curious smile.
+
+"Well, you know I--ahem--have taken quite a fancy to her. She's a
+ripping girl, and as clever as they make them, and I am afraid this
+silly mistake has upset the whole apple-cart."
+
+"Are you really so gone on her as all that?" enquired Riche with a wink
+of his eye.
+
+"Well, I confess I am a bit in love with her. By Jove, Riche, she is
+the finest girl in all France."
+
+"My word, you must be in love with her," Riche replied, "I had not the
+least idea that the little blind god had wounded you so deeply; ma foi!
+but it's becoming serious."
+
+"Really, monsieur, you must not joke at me like this. If you only knew
+what a splendid girl she is, and how my future happiness depends on my
+getting her hand, you would not laugh at me."
+
+Riche gave a low whistle. "By Jove," he said to himself, "he is madly
+in love with her and no mistake."
+
+"Come! let's drop the subject," he said in a voice of despair, "all my
+hopes are shattered by that cursed plaster. It's finished now, and it
+is no good crying over spilt milk."
+
+"What nonsense you are talking. My dear boy, it's the finest thing for
+you that could ever have happened."
+
+"The finest thing that could have happened? What do you mean?"
+
+"My dear fellow, you've got the game in your own hands now. By putting
+that beastly plaster, as you call it, on your chest, she handed you the
+trump card. You have only to appear angry to bring her to her knees,
+and you can name your own conditions of capitulation. Get a diamond
+ring, my boy, and the sooner the better."
+
+"Do you really think she will let me put it on her finger?"
+
+"If she likes you ever so little, and has no one else on her string
+she will, especially if you make your declaration of love at the
+psychological moment."
+
+"And how am I to know when that is?" enquired Marcel in a tone of great
+anxiety.
+
+"When she comes to beg your forgiveness. But," added Riche, "you must
+not forgive her right away, you must first play with your fish. Pay out
+the line until the fish is getting exhausted, and then you will be able
+to haul it in without any difficulty."
+
+"Upon my soul, Riche, you are an artful card. Where did you manage to
+learn these things?"
+
+"Ich habe gelebt and geliebt," replied Riche with a smile, humming
+Schubert's well known air.
+
+Marcel wrung his hand. "Thanks awfully. I will follow your advice to
+the letter," and going into the hall he picked up his hat and stick
+and left the hotel arm in arm with his friend to see the beauties and
+sights of the place, but more especially with the object of purchasing
+the ring to adorn his divinity's hand, so as to be ready for the attack
+when they returned for lunch.
+
+Meanwhile Delapine was walking arm in arm with Monsieur Payot and Renée
+up and down the broad terrace of the hotel.
+
+"Where are we now?" said Payot to Delapine who was well acquainted with
+the Riviera.
+
+"We are at present in the little seaside town of Beaulieu, which may be
+called a suburb of Villefranche, the town you see on the right snugly
+nestled in the little bay formed by the promontory over there," and he
+pointed with his stick.
+
+"What is the town still further away on our right?" said Renée as
+she stood looking at a handsome steam yacht which was making its way
+towards the bay of Villefranche.
+
+"That is Nice which we passed last night in the train, and further away
+you can just catch sight of Var and Antibes. That white streak there
+is the carriage road--the Corniche--one of the most celebrated roads
+in Europe which extends along the entire coast of the Riviera. Dante
+trod the road when an exile from Italy, and it suggested to him a road
+out of purgatory. In those days it was a terrible pass hewn out of the
+solid rock, now rising to giddy heights, and now dropping almost to the
+sea level. At times half hidden by great projecting rocks, and again
+splashed by mountain streams and disappearing into deep gorges covered
+with trees and ferns, it formed a majestic image to Dante of the ascent
+from the Purgatorial Sea."
+
+"But, Henri, it does not seem dreadful at all to me."
+
+"Not now; thanks to modern engineering, instead of being a rugged road
+on which a slip was frequently fatal, it is now a magnificent carriage
+road as smooth as this terrace and quite as safe. We shall walk along
+it this afternoon, when we will inspect the buildings and grounds of
+Monte Carlo, and I think you will say that you could never be tired of
+viewing such lovely scenery as we shall see, such wonderful variety
+does it offer.
+
+"Look," he said, pointing with his stick to the verdure-clad mountains
+which formed the background to the picture, "how beautiful it is. See
+how the slopes are covered with olive, almond, carouba, and pine trees
+which grow here in such perfection as you will seek for elsewhere in
+vain. What could be finer? See far away in the distance the chain of
+the Alpes Maritimes with their summits decked with snow. Now come with
+me round the terrace. Do you see that great isolated rock towards Nice,
+standing out all by itself surmounted by a great ivy-coloured castle?
+That is the castle of Eza. See how brown with age it looks, clothed
+with pellitory and ivy."
+
+"When was it built, Henri?"
+
+"It dates from the time of the Saracens at the beginning of the ninth
+century, just after the death of Charlemagne during the golden age of
+the great Haroun al Raschid."
+
+"Look, Henri, at that immense bank of rhododendrons forming a crimson
+carpet above the Corniche road. What a feast of colour for a painter."
+
+"Yes," said the professor, "and look at that ruined temple with its
+Doric pillars entwined with African ivy. There, don't you see it--just
+above the quaint village of Turbia, or La Turbie as it is generally
+called, between those two limestone peaks, high above the rocky
+promontory of Monaco, and close to the fearful precipices of the Tête
+du chien. That is the triumphal tower, or Trophaea, built by Augustus
+to commemorate his victory over the Ligurians, and which marked the
+boundary between Gaul and Italy. In its perfect condition it formed a
+magnificent tower crowned as it was by a statue of the Emperor over
+twenty feet high. It must have presented an imposing appearance when
+surrounded by the camp of the Roman legions. What a contrast between
+the turmoil of war, the marching to and fro of the soldiers, the
+clashing of arms in those days, and the peaceful single white street
+bordered by houses and inns on either side, as it exists to-day. Now
+only a mighty ruin remains to recall its former greatness."
+
+"Oh, yes," said Renée, "I remember I read about it in Tennyson's
+_Daisy_."
+
+"Why, Renée, what a memory you have!"
+
+"Not at all, Henri. You see I knew I was going to the Riviera, so I
+read up all I could about the place; and now the places seem like old
+friends."
+
+"That is the way to travel, it is the only way to enjoy the scenery."
+
+"Where are we going when the rest of the party returns?" asked Renée.
+
+"Do you see that steep stony path near the funicular railway leading
+down the hill from La Turbie?"
+
+"Yes, I do quite well."
+
+"Well, do you notice where it leads to?"
+
+"Oh yes, it leads down to the rock covered with houses which I see to
+the East."
+
+"That is Monaco. Down below on the West--you cannot see it from
+here--is the bathing beach of Condamine, and the chapel of Saint
+Devote, the patron saint of Monaco, and there on the rocky slopes of
+the Spelugues hard by to the north of the bay are grouped the various
+buildings of the Casino, surrounded by villas, beautiful gardens
+and hotels which are largely patronised by the players. That finely
+decorated building standing on the edge of the cliff by the gardens of
+St. Martin is the Oceanographic museum which is filled by the wonderful
+collection of marine products collected by the Prince of Monaco. A most
+interesting exhibit, I assure you, and one which I am never tired of
+visiting. But that is not what I have come here to see this time.
+
+"Look," said the professor, continuing the conversation as he pointed
+to the Casino, "that is the sole object of our expedition, and when I
+have done my business there, I intend to return to Paris."
+
+"But surely, professor, you are not going to waste your time in playing
+at the Casino?" said Payot and Renée in the same breath. "We never knew
+you gambled."
+
+"I never gamble--when I play, I play with knowledge, and I intend to
+teach the Casino Company and their dupes a lesson which they will never
+forget, and I trust we shall all profit by it."
+
+"You speak in enigmas, professor," said Payot.
+
+"All truth is an enigma, sir," replied Delapine with a quiet and
+somewhat cynical smile, and at the same time throwing at Payot one of
+those piercing glances with which he so frequently electrified his
+audiences.
+
+Renée looked at Delapine with her brown eyes filled with an enquiring
+look of wonderment, and then turned to her father to see what reply he
+would make, but Payot said nothing, he merely evaded a reply by tracing
+figures with his cane on the sand.
+
+The professor sat down on a chair and became absorbed in deep thought.
+Renée looked alarmed, as she fancied he was about to go off in another
+trance. Suddenly he sprang up. "Excuse me," he said, "I perceive that
+our two friends Riche and Marcel are in trouble. I must go and rescue
+them," and without another word he donned his slouch hat and went out
+of the hotel grounds with rapid strides.
+
+"What on earth is he up to?" said Payot.
+
+"I can't imagine, but if Riche and Marcel are in trouble Henri will get
+them out of their mess. Didn't you hear him tell us he would?"
+
+"But how on earth is he able to know when he is not there to see?"
+
+"You must ask Henri that question," said Renée. "He will tell you."
+
+It was a lovely winter's morning. The blue sky covered the deep
+sapphire blue of the Gulf of Genoa like a great turquoise dome painted
+here and there with long fleecy clouds, while the restless sea broke
+into tiny ripples as it lapped against the rocky cliffs of the shore,
+forming feathery waves like the white wings of the seagulls.
+
+Marcel and Riche walked along the broad white carriage road, looking at
+the motor-cars and carriages as they rolled along with gaily dressed
+ladies, shading themselves with parasols of every colour. Here and
+there they encountered women from the country with bronzed, withered
+faces like Normandy pippins, carrying huge baskets to market balanced
+on their heads filled with fruit or vegetables. Then a score of noisy
+children ran pell mell across the road from the national school,
+shouting to each other as they ran with satchels on their backs filled
+with lesson books. A little further on a herd of goats obstructed the
+way, butting each other with their horns, or lingering at the roadside
+to nibble the herbage, while an Italian boy with bare feet ran hither
+and thither urging them forward with a stick, and calling his dog to
+assist him.
+
+The road crossed deep gorges bordered with locust trees, pines and
+castania trees, while here and there were aged olive trees with their
+shrunken, gnarled and twisted trunks filled with the dust of years
+between the crevices of the bark. Wonderful limestone rocks towered up
+the hill on the left like mediæval ruined castles varying from a creamy
+white to pale lilac or deep crimson. At one spot a stream of clear
+water trickled down, besprinkling with its spray soft cushions of
+velvety moss embroidered with lichens, maiden-hair ferns, aspleniums,
+and the beautiful white star-like leucorium nicæense. Here and there
+bunches of convolvuli and cistuses unfolded their crimson and purple
+trumpets.
+
+Further on the village of Roccabrunna could be seen nestling among the
+brown rocks and huge boulders which had fallen ages before, and become
+partly cemented to the hillside with undergrowth and soil. Capping the
+summit half hidden among the houses, the ruins of the mediæval castle
+of the Lascaris arrested his eye, surrounded by lemon and orange trees.
+
+Now the road turns aside through the village of Monaco, and on the
+right he saw in front of him the bold promontory of Monaco rising
+three hundred and fifty feet above the sea, which washed three of its
+sides where they dipped almost perpendicularly into the blue waters.
+All the way along on either side were lovely villas surrounded by
+well-kept gardens filled with flowers of every hue and kind. Cacti,
+palms, aloes, camphor trees, monkey trees, citron and orange trees
+abounded, the latter filling the air with their fragrant perfume. In
+the largest gardens they observed numerous specimens of the cedar of
+Lebanon, flat-topped pines, arancarius, Californian pines--the whole
+contributing to make this spot a veritable garden of Eden.
+
+At length they passed a large jeweller's shop with a magnificent
+display of diamond and ruby rings in a case in the window.
+
+"See here," cried Marcel, "the very thing." He went in and asked to be
+allowed to inspect a selection of engagement rings. Having made his
+choice he became so engrossed with admiring the various objects of art
+that Riche, getting tired, told his friend that he would stroll slowly
+on, and bid him follow on after he had finished.
+
+It was fully half an hour before Marcel had completed his inventory
+of the shop, when looking at his watch was surprised to find how time
+had slipped by. Hurrying out Marcel walked rapidly in the direction
+where he knew he would find his friend. He had not gone more than a
+mile when he suddenly heard a babel of voices, and to his surprise saw
+a large crowd surrounding a Piedmontese beggar holding a brown bear
+by a chain. The man was violently gesticulating at a gentleman who was
+trying to defend himself against the menaces of the crowd, and was
+struggling with two gendarmes who appeared anxious to arrest him.
+
+"Hullo, Riche!" cried Marcel, running breathlessly up and pushing his
+way to him through the crowd. "What's up? What are they pulling you
+about for?"
+
+"I saw this brute of an Italian belabouring his bear over the head with
+a stick, and pulling the chain until his nose was covered with blood,
+and my blood was up, so I gave the fellow a taste of the beating that
+he had given the bear, and then the gendarmes, hearing the row, came up
+and arrested me."
+
+Riche struggled with the gendarmes, tried to get free, and twisting his
+leg between those of one of the gendarmes Jiu-Jitsu fashion, threw him
+on the ground.
+
+Marcel flung himself on the officer, and Riche would have got free, but
+the second slipped a noose of whip-cord over Riche's wrist, and drawing
+it tight, twisted it with a bit of stick so violently that he almost
+fainted with the pain.
+
+Marcel was struggling on the ground with the officer, when a third
+policeman pushed his way through the crowd, and they were promptly
+marched away as prisoners towards the gendarmerie, followed by a crowd
+of idlers.
+
+"What have those Allemands done?" cried a workman in a blouse, to his
+boon companion who was smoking the filthy stump of a cigarette.
+
+"Ma foi, the rascals have been caught pocket-picking--serve them
+jolly well right too. I saw them do it. Come, comrade, we will give
+evidence and get them well lodged in the Violon. Ils sont des sacr--res
+Allemands."
+
+At this moment a carriage and pair came dashing up, and a footman
+arrayed in gorgeous livery descended from his perch and opened the
+door. A general, magnificently attired in full dress uniform with a
+row of orders on his breast, stepped out, carrying his head proudly in
+the air, and looking for all the world like one of the old heroes of
+Gravelotte with his venerable-looking white locks and greyish white
+beard and moustache. The crowd made way for him and cheered as he
+marched with a firm military step towards the struggling prisoners.
+
+"Halt!" he cried in a voice of thunder, as the gendarmes, petrified
+with astonishment, stood at attention immediately and saluted him.
+
+"What are you doing with those two gentlemen?" he demanded in an
+imperious tone.
+
+"We are taking them to the gendarmerie for assaulting this Piedmontese
+with his bear, and for violently resisting us while we were performing
+our duty in arresting him. One of them threw my comrade on to the
+ground and would have killed him had not a third member of the force
+arrived."
+
+"I command you to release them immediately. Are you aware that they
+happen to be particular friends of mine, and belong to the Embassy? I
+shall hold you all three responsible for this. Give me your names at
+once. Do you hear me?" he said, as he stamped his foot on the ground
+with impatience as they hesitated to obey him.
+
+Trembling with fear they wrote their names and numbers on a card, and
+handed it to him.
+
+"Now go," he cried, "and take care not to touch my friends again, or
+beware----" and he shook a warning finger at them.
+
+The three gendarmes stepped back a couple of paces, saluted, and then
+turning round speedily became lost in the crowd.
+
+"Now step into my carriage," said the General as the footman opened the
+door for the two guests.
+
+As soon as they were seated the General ordered the coachman to turn
+back and drive at full speed. Riche and Marcel stared at the General,
+and then looked at each other for an explanation.
+
+"Whom have we the honour of addressing?" they both asked.
+
+"General Alfieri, Commander of the Grand Cordon of the Order of Savoy,
+very much at your service, gentlemen."
+
+"Accept our humble and most sincere thanks, General. We cannot thank
+you sufficiently both for your well-timed help, and for your extreme
+courtesy and attention."
+
+"I accept your thanks, and request you to give me the pleasure of your
+company to lunch. Where may you be staying?"
+
+"At the Hotel des Anglais, Beaulieu."
+
+"Coachman, drive to the Hotel des Anglais, these gentlemen may desire
+to alight in order to arrange their toilette."
+
+Riche and Marcel were more astonished than ever. "General Alfieri,"
+they whispered to each other. "Who on earth could he be--some Italian
+General of high rank evidently. But what could he be doing in the
+territory of the Prince of Monte Carlo, which does not belong to Italy,
+and how could he possibly know us?"
+
+In a few minutes they arrived at the hotel, and all three descended.
+
+"Pray step in," said the General, "and I will follow directly."
+
+As Riche and Marcel entered the hall the General stepped up to the
+coachman, and handing him a bank note dismissed him.
+
+"Now, gentlemen, pray retire to your rooms, and when you are ready you
+will find me waiting for you in the hall."
+
+As soon as Riche and Marcel had retired to their rooms, the General
+entered his, and after completing his ablutions and exchanging his
+military clothes for a civilian costume he returned to the hall. A few
+minutes later Riche and Marcel came down the stairs together.
+
+"I say, professor, where have you sprung from?" said Marcel. "By the
+way, have you noticed a General in full uniform in the hotel?"
+
+"No, I've seen no military man at all here, but I happened to notice a
+General in full uniform drive up to the front and enter the hotel. He
+was a fine, venerable looking man with white hair and a greyish white
+moustache and beard."
+
+"That's the gentleman we want. You have described him exactly. But
+where has he gone to?" they enquired eagerly.
+
+"I can't imagine. I only know that I heard him order the coachman to
+drive away, as he would not be wanted again."
+
+"Surely, professor, you must be mistaken," replied
+
+Marcel, "as the General not only got us out of a terrible scrape, but
+was kind enough to drive us here and actually invited us to lunch. In
+fact he bid us remove the traces of our scrimmage with those beastly
+gendarmes who tried to arrest us, and then meet him here in the hall."
+
+"If he had not been so kind in the first instance," added Riche, "I
+should have imagined that he was playing us a joke."
+
+"But why suggest such things?" said Delapine. "If he said he would wait
+for you here, he must be here."
+
+"Please do not jest like this, professor, it is too serious a thing, we
+must go and look for him at once."
+
+"Are you sure that it is necessary to do that?" said Delapine.
+
+"What do you mean?" they both asked.
+
+"I mean what I say. The General kept his word, and is waiting on you
+now."
+
+"Where, where?" and Riche and Marcel looked up and down the passages in
+vain.
+
+"Why, here, you silly chaps. Can't you recognise me?" and Delapine gave
+a merry twinkle with his eyes.
+
+"What! You don't mean to say that you were the General?"
+
+"Why not?" said the professor, turning his back to them and quickly
+donning his false beard and moustache and wig. "Now look at me," said
+he, turning round and saluting them.
+
+"If this isn't just the top hole," said Marcel and Riche in a duet.
+"Whoever would have thought of it, but tell us, how did you manage to
+know where we were?"
+
+"Oh! that was simplicity itself. I watched you both going out, and
+then I fell into one of those dreamy states in which my subliminal
+or other-self rises above the threshold--as Meyers used to say--and
+then this other-self, partly freed from my animal body, has greatly
+increased powers, which enables me to perceive things which are
+entirely invisible to the eye, since psychic sight is affected by
+altogether different laws from those which govern ordinary vision,
+and moreover it is quite independent of distance. The moment I fell
+into my hypnotic reverie, I saw Marcel sauntering along the Corniche
+in the direction of Monaco with my mind sight as clearly as I see
+you now, and I watched him half kill the Italian with his stick for
+maltreating a bear, and suspecting what would happen I hurriedly left
+the hotel, borrowed a General's uniform, pinned on all the second-hand
+orders I could lay my hands on, and telephoned immediately for the most
+expensive carriage and pair in the place. At the same time I telephoned
+to the Metropole at Monte Carlo for two footmen in livery. They climbed
+up on to the box-seat and I got into the carriage, and the one whom I
+selected as coachman drove as fast as possible to the spot where I knew
+I should meet you--and here we are," said the professor with a beaming
+smile. "Come, gentlemen, let me take you to lunch, as I promised you in
+the carriage. I think our good friends Beaupaire and Payot, as well as
+the ladies are expecting us."
+
+"Great Scott!" whispered Marcel to Riche, "Mephistopheles is a fool
+beside our professor."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXIV
+
+THE PROFESSOR DISCOURSES ON GAMBLING
+
+ "Le hasard n'est rien. Il n'est point de hasard. Nous avons nominè
+ l'effet que nous voyons d'une cause que nous ne voyons pas."
+
+ Voltaire, _Lettres de Memmius, III_.
+
+ Chance is nothing. There is no such thing as chance. What we call by
+ that name is the effect which we see of a cause which we do not see.
+
+ "C'est le profonde ignorance qui inspire le ton dogmatique."
+
+ La Bruyère, _Characteres_.
+
+
+"Well, Monsieur Beaupaire, I hope that you are the better for Dr.
+Villebois's treatment," said Marcel as he shook hands with him in the
+salon while they were waiting for the dejeuner to be served.
+
+"My dear sir, I confess I am better, but I cannot say I owe it to the
+doctor," and Beaupaire gave Marcel a comical look. "Perhaps in my turn
+I may be able to hope that you, my dear Marcel, are also better."
+
+"Well, I am free from pain, but you must confess it was rather a mean
+trick to play on a man who had done your daughter no harm," said
+Marcel, looking at Violette and pretending to be very angry.
+
+"Oh, Monsieur Marcel, please forgive me," said Violette, blushing
+furiously and looking very sheepish. "I really did not mean to do it."
+
+"You didn't mean to do it, then why did you do so? I received a fearful
+shock, and suffered agonies for some hours afterwards."
+
+Before Violette could reply, lunch was announced, and Marcel, following
+his friend Riche's advice, bowed stiffly to Violette and followed
+Beaupaire and Riche to the salle a manger.
+
+Violette felt very uncomfortable and miserable as she puckered up her
+mouth and gave a little sigh. But it did not escape Riche who was
+watching the effect of Marcel's words with the eye of a connoisseur.
+
+"It's all right, my boy," he whispered to Marcel as they sat down
+together, "your case argues well. I can see that you will win her."
+
+"How do you know that?" Marcel enquired.
+
+"Quite simply. Did you not see when she sat down that she gave a little
+sigh? That's one point. Then again I observed the comical look that her
+father gave you when he trusted that you were also better. Now, my boy,
+all you have to do is to keep your head and go steady, and she's yours
+as sure as my name's Riche."
+
+After lunch Marcel arranged to meet Violette at a spot where he could
+talk to her unobserved. It required some manoeuvring as there were
+very few places unoccupied. Riche very cunningly acted as a decoy by
+first luring Violette into an unoccupied room, and then by making way
+for Marcel, who entered the room apparently quite unconscious that
+anyone was there. On seeing Violette he uttered an apology, and bowing
+very politely turned round as if he intended to leave the room, when
+Violette stopped him.
+
+"Pardon me, Monsieur Marcel, I cannot allow you to leave without
+obtaining your forgiveness for the injury I have done you. You will
+forgive me, won't you? I wanted to ask you before lunch but we were
+interrupted."
+
+"Certainly I'll forgive you, and now let us shake hands to show that we
+have made it up."
+
+Violette held out her right hand.
+
+"No," said Marcel, "one hand won't do for me, I must have both."
+
+Violette laughed and held out both.
+
+"That is better," said Marcel, putting his hand in his pocket and
+pulling out a lovely diamond ring which he very adroitly slipped on the
+fourth finger of her left hand, taking care to slip it past the joint.
+
+Violette drew back with a little scream. "How dare you take a mean
+advantage of me like that? You're a horrid man, I hate you," and
+suiting her action to her words she tried to pull it off. But the
+ring which Marcel had carefully selected to ensure its fitting tightly
+refused to budge, much to his delight.
+
+"I believe you selected a tight fitting ring on purpose," she said in
+an angry tone of voice, looking very cross and almost in tears.
+
+Marcel took his scolding with such a good-natured smile that Violette
+felt she would have to laugh if she stayed any longer, so rushing past
+him she ran to her father who was sitting down in an easy chair in the
+next room.
+
+"Father, just look at what Monsieur Marcel has done to me," and she
+held out a very pretty finger for his inspection.
+
+"That's a very charming ring he has given you," he replied with a
+knowing wink.
+
+"But, father, only think of his impudence in slipping the ring on my
+finger by a horrid ruse, without even asking my permission. I think
+it was a very mean trick to take advantage of me like that. Don't you
+agree with me?"
+
+"Well, to tell the truth I confess if I had been in his place I would
+have done exactly the same thing," and Beaupaire burst into a hearty
+laugh.
+
+"Father, I don't like you a bit, I think you are horrid. I don't want
+his ring," and she tried to pull it off once more. "Oh, this wretched
+ring how am I to get it off?"
+
+"Don't be a little goose, keep it on, my dear," and he took hold of her
+hand and patted it affectionately. "I admire Monsieur Marcel's taste.
+It is really a superb ring, and you ought to be very proud of it."
+
+Violette stamped her pretty foot on the floor.
+
+"Why do you always take Monsieur Marcel's part?" she asked with a
+little pout of vexation.
+
+"My dear child, I consider him to be a very charming man, clever,
+highly polished and accomplished, very affectionate, and moreover the
+possessor of a most respectable private income. Why, what more do you
+want? He is a man who would make a most desirable husband. Besides, I
+have every reason to believe that he sincerely loves you."
+
+"But, father, do you really mean it?"
+
+At this moment Marcel, who had been listening with his ear against the
+door, came in.
+
+Beaupaire came up and shook hands with him.
+
+"My boy, I could not wish for a better man for a son-in-law."
+
+"And I could not wish for a better lady for a wife than Violette,"
+replied Marcel, his courage rising to undreamed-of heights.
+
+"Take her, my boy, and if she loves you, as I have no doubt she does,
+you will be a very happy man."
+
+Violette blushed up to the roots of her hair, and Marcel took her by
+the hand and asked her forgiveness.
+
+"Well," she answered, laughing, "we are quits now."
+
+"No, dear," replied Marcel, giving her a kiss on both cheeks, "not
+quits but one."
+
+"Do you really love me, George?" she enquired, looking up into his face.
+
+"I loved you all the time, Violette, from the moment I first saw you."
+
+Violette flung her arms round him and embraced him passionately.
+
+"So did I," she whispered.
+
+"Now, you silly children," said Beaupaire with a smile of satisfaction,
+"you must make haste and get ready as the professor is on the point of
+taking us to Monte Carlo."
+
+Three carriages had been ordered, and at length the party, personally
+conducted by the professor, entered the gardens of Monte Carlo.
+
+"Here we are at last," said Delapine, "but before we enter the Casino
+let us take a short walk round the buildings."
+
+"In my opinion," said the professor, "Monte Carlo is the gem of the
+Riviera. Here art and nature have contested for the palm of beauty.
+To complete this fairy scene it was necessary for man to contribute
+the magic of his art. Everything has been done by art to stimulate
+the imagination. Note how the wild rocks have been blasted and hewn
+out into broad and beautiful terraces, and how these are approached
+by graceful stone steps wrought into exquisite curves and supported
+on either side by numerous carved balustrades. Observe the smooth
+well-kept lawns and terraced gardens and verandahs--the rich colouring
+of the flowers, and the tropical plants and trees, while everything
+is kept in the most perfect order and neatness. But although art has
+contributed such pleasing effects, nature, not to be outdone, has laid
+bare the rugged rocks and stupendous precipices as if to mock the
+carefully thought out works of man. She has carved out the bay, and
+allowed this bold promontory to project into the sea as if to defy the
+elements. Just look at the exquisite fringe of the sea as the waves
+toss their spray against the iron-bound rocks. It is both grand and
+beautiful."
+
+As the party walked round the Casino they heard a number of sharp
+reports as if from a number of men firing.
+
+"Oh! dear," cried Madame Villebois, "to think of these poor fellows
+committing suicide in this dreadful way. I suppose they have all been
+ruined in the Casino, and are now putting an end to themselves."
+
+Villebois and Riche burst out laughing.
+
+"I am ashamed of both of you, and you, Adolphe, ought to know better
+than to laugh at such misery."
+
+"Come this way, madame, and I will show you the suicides," said the
+professor, "and you can then judge for yourself."
+
+He conducted Madame Villebois, with great reluctance on her part, to
+a spot where she could see the pigeon club. A number of members of
+the club attired in the very latest and most approved costumes were
+watching a couple of sportsmen alternately firing at some pigeons which
+were being liberated from a row of traps.
+
+"These are your suicides, madame," said the professor, smiling.
+
+An elegantly dressed young lady, obviously belonging to the demi-monde
+world, walked up to one of the sportsmen.
+
+"Well, monsieur, it is a surprise to see you here. I suppose you have
+come here for the pigeon match?"
+
+"That is so, I am here for the shooting. And what are you here for?"
+
+"Me? Oh! I am here for the pigeons."
+
+The young man looked amused, and offering her his arm they strolled
+together into the club.
+
+Delapine and his party retraced their steps along the terrace to the
+Casino. As they approached they heard the strains of a fine band
+playing near at hand. "Come let us listen, there is nothing to pay, for
+everything is free at Monte Carlo."
+
+"Look! Here are Charley and Ridgeway," said Beaupaire to Violette.
+
+"How do you do," said Charley, taking off his hat to Violette and her
+father. "I suppose you are going into the Casino?"
+
+"Yes, we are going there directly," said the professor, who overheard
+what had just been said.
+
+"May we accompany you?" asked the two Englishmen.
+
+"Certainly, by all means," replied Delapine, "but I would advise you
+not to play unless you can afford to lose."
+
+"But we can afford to lose."
+
+"Then you have no need to play," replied Delapine, smiling.
+
+Charley and Ridgeway said nothing, but looked at each other and laughed.
+
+Before them towered the Casino. They saw a large profusely decorated
+monstrosity, erected regardless of expense, which was surmounted at
+each end by a lofty tower. The building gave one the impression that
+it had been built under the direction of some millionaire pork-packer
+hailing from Chicago, rather than by the great architect of the famous
+Opera House in Paris.
+
+The party ascended the steps, and Delapine procured the tickets of
+admission after a few formalities had been gone through.
+
+"Now let us watch the fools lose their money," said Delapine as they
+entered the Salon du Jeu.
+
+Renée and Céleste opened their eyes wide as they entered the huge
+gilded salon.
+
+"If it were not for the double row of people standing round those
+seated at the tables, it might be an examination hall!" said Marcel.
+
+A row of ladies and gentlemen occupied every side of the dozen or more
+green-covered tables, all intently gazing at a little ball as it hopped
+about the wheel which revolved at the bottom of a large metal basin.
+
+The party looked from one table to another. They were all replicas
+of the first, although the phase of the game was different. Here the
+people gathered around were busy placing coins on one or other of the
+numerous squares marked out on the green cloth.
+
+"Permit me to explain the game," said Delapine, pointing to the table
+in front of him. "Watch the little wheel which the croupier has just
+spun rapidly. You see it is divided into 37 equal compartments, each
+bearing a number from 1 to 36, eighteen are coloured red, and eighteen
+black, the remaining one being white, and is called Zero. The croupier
+has just dropped the ball in the centre wheel which he has caused to
+spin in the reverse direction. Now the wheel is slowing down, and the
+ball rushes hither and thither knocking against various obstructions
+until it drops into one of the 37 pockets. Contrary to the prevalent
+idea you will observe that the players have a large choice in the
+methods of staking their money. They may back red (rouge), or black
+(noir), odd (impair) or even numbers (pair) or they may put their money
+in the square representing any number below 19 (manque), or on the
+square representing any number exceeding 18 (passe). In all these cases
+if they win they receive the same amount as they have staked. Again the
+player may place the stake on any single number which may be chosen,
+including Zero, in which case as the chances are 36 to 1 against him,
+he receives 35 times the stake. If, however, the ball falls into Zero,
+the croupier gathers in every stake on the table, only paying those who
+have backed Zero. The stakes, if they have been made on even chances,
+are put, as they say, 'in prison' until the next throw, when they will
+be returned to the player if the throw is favourable to them, but
+if not, then they lose them. But a player can take such stakes out
+of prison by paying half their value. Moreover you will notice that
+the table is divided into three long columns, and sub-divided by two
+horizontal lines, so that there are nine large squares. The centre
+squares are sub-divided into three smaller ones each bearing one of the
+36 numbers, while the outer large squares represent 'Passe,' 'Pair'
+and 'Noir' on the one side, and 'Manque,' 'Impair' and 'Rouge' on the
+other side, Zero being by itself at the top.
+
+"This is the essence of the game, and the bank plays mechanically,
+but absolutely fairly. The whole secret of the success of the bank
+lies in the Zero. It is a wonderfully thought-out game," continued the
+professor. "Omit Zero and whether you back red or black, odd or even,
+or above or below 18, the chances are exactly even--it is the fatal
+Zero which turns the scale all the time in favour of the bank, and
+no matter what system is adopted the player is invariably beaten by
+the Zero, provided he only plays long enough.[19] It is like the old
+legend of the soul playing a game of chess with death. He may beat his
+adversary time after time--but the fleshless fingers of death always
+gain the victory in the end."
+
+"Look at these fools," continued Delapine as he pointed at the silent
+players. "Watch them with their note books entering the numbers down.
+They all have their pet 'systems.' Some stake their money on their
+birthday number, or the number of black cats they have seen during
+the day, or a certain number they may happen to have dreamt of, or
+any other absurd superstition. The majority, however, cling to the
+Martingale fallacy."
+
+"What is that?" asked Payot.
+
+"A system based on faulty reasoning," said the professor. "It is common
+knowledge that the same number or colour may recur two, three, four,
+or half a dozen times running, and this will probably occur while we
+are looking on, but the players think that the chances become less
+and less for each additional recurrence, for the same colour has
+never been known to recur more than twenty-five times running ever
+since the Casino was started forty years ago, so the players, knowing
+this, watched until the same colour has turned up say six or seven
+times running, and then they back the opposite colour, doubling their
+stakes each time they lose, although each time they run the risk of
+Zero turning up and losing everything. The stupid players imagine that
+they have a much better chance if they start backing the opposite
+colour after a considerable sequence of one colour, under the mistaken
+impression that what has just happened will influence the next throw.
+They forget that they are playing against a soulless mechanical wheel,
+and not against an emotional human being, and that even after red has
+turned up twenty-five times, the probability that black will come up
+next throw is not a bit greater than for red; the chances always remain
+exactly the same.
+
+"Gentlemen," added Delapine gravely, "all systems have invariably
+failed, and always will fail, although they may often succeed for a
+short time."
+
+"I wonder whether Tennyson had this in his mind," said Marcel aside to
+Violette, "when he said:--
+
+ "'Our little systems have their day,
+     They have their day and cease to be,
+ They have no chance to cope with thee,
+     And thou, O Blanc,[20] art more than they.'"
+
+"O go on, Tennyson didn't really write that, did he?" enquired
+Violette, looking at him with a puzzled expression of mingled
+wonderment and doubt.
+
+Marcel said nothing, but chuckled inwardly, and looked very knowingly.
+
+"There is only one infallible way to get the better of the bank,"
+continued Delapine.
+
+"Oh! please, professor, do tell us what that is," they all exclaimed.
+
+"Hush," said Delapine, "not so loud. Only wait until to-morrow and you
+shall all see it for yourselves."
+
+"Just look at that horrid old woman," said Violette in a half whisper.
+"I saw her distinctly grab the winnings of another party who had placed
+her gold piece on the line between two squares (à cheval I think you
+call it.) Look, professor," and she pointed her out to him.
+
+"I will soon stop her little game," said Delapine who had already
+detected her at it.
+
+Taking half a dozen Napoleons from his pocket, he wrote the words 'Je
+suis voleur' (I am a thief) across the face of each in bold black
+letters, and stepping forwards he tossed them with the printed face
+downwards on the lines of several squares near her. The wheel spun
+round, and just before the croupier shouted the usual formula "No
+further play allowed," the woman in question gently pushed one of the
+coins with her sleeve over the border into the "manque" square. The
+ball dropped into number ten. "Dix, noir, pair, et manque," cried the
+croupier. Her piece was pushed towards her by the dealer as at the
+same time he tossed a Napoleon into the manque square. The old lady
+at once picked the two coins up, but Delapine was too quick for her.
+Seizing her closed hand he said very quietly, "Excuse me, these are my
+winnings."
+
+The lady became highly indignant. "How dare you," she cried, "these are
+my coins. One of them I put down myself and the other was added by the
+croupier."
+
+Delapine immediately called one of the officials.
+
+"Open your hand, madame, and let the coin be your judge before this
+official."
+
+The lady stared at Delapine and hesitated to do so, but the look the
+professor gave her caused her to obey him at once.
+
+"Please turn the coins over," said Delapine to the attendant. He turned
+them over and the words "Je suis voleur" stared her in the face.
+
+She dropped the coins and grew pale as death.
+
+The lady was at once escorted to the door by two officials, and
+politely bowed out of the building, vehemently protesting her
+innocence. Four out of the six stakes were in Delapine's favour, and
+handing his winnings to the officials he quietly walked to another part
+of the room.
+
+"Do tell us some more about the game," said Renée to her lover.
+
+"Well, there is not much more to say."
+
+"Are all the people playing, and do they all play the same way?"
+
+"By no means, they are quite different. The players may be divided
+into three classes," said Delapine with a cynical smile. "First, those
+who play in order to retrieve their fortunes with an eye to the main
+chance--such people invariably lose their money. Secondly, those who
+play merely for the fun of the thing--these sometimes win, because
+they know when to leave off. And lastly there are those who look on.
+They enjoy the fun because it costs them nothing, and at the same time
+they flatter their vanity by giving advice--which by the way is always
+wrong, with a superb faith in their own infallibility."
+
+"Where do the plungers come in, professor?" asked Riche.
+
+"The plungers! Oh, they consist of men who have either everything or
+nothing to lose, and women who always play with other people's money.
+Look there," he added, pointing to a beautiful fair woman with a long
+graceful neck ornamented by a diamond necklace ending in a magnificent
+diamond and sapphire pendant. She was very elegantly dressed, and was
+sitting at the table with a sheaf of bank notes and several rolls of
+gold between her hands.
+
+"Which class does she belong to?" asked Violette.
+
+"She is a distinguished member of the first class," replied the
+professor.
+
+"Do you notice that rather handsome young man with fair curly hair, and
+a pointed glossy beard just standing behind her?" said Marcel. "See he
+is whispering something in her ear."
+
+"What a large sum she has put on to black," exclaimed Renée.
+
+"Yes," said Delapine, "it is the maximum stake (6,000 frs.)."
+
+"Look! Look!" said Renée, "she has won," as she saw 12,000 frs. worth
+of notes passed over to her by the croupier.
+
+The curly headed gentleman squeezed her hand, "Didn't I tell you so,"
+he said with a smile.
+
+Delapine's party at once became intensely interested in her, wondering
+what would happen next.
+
+"See she is listening to him again, and now she has put 6,000 frs. on
+'red,' and 6,000 frs. on 'impasse,' and the same amount on 'even.'"
+
+"Lord! what a pile of money," said Marcel, "Wouldn't I look a lovely
+bird if I were to be dressed up at that expense."
+
+"You are quite good-looking enough without spending 18,000 francs on a
+new suit," replied Violette, laughing.
+
+They all watched the little ball with intense eagerness as it jumped
+about as if it were alive, cannoning off one obstacle after another,
+until at length tired of its exertions it tumbled into number 11.
+
+"Onze, noir, impair, et manque," shouted the croupier mechanically.
+
+"Ciel! she has lost everything, what dreadful luck," said Violette, as
+the croupier raked in all her notes with a remorseless movement of his
+little rake.
+
+The lady turned round with quivering lips and clenched hands.
+
+"Beast," she hissed, "why didn't you hold your silly tongue? Look what
+has happened through my following your advice. You assured me that I
+was bound to win--and now see what you have done," and she scowled at
+him again.
+
+At this moment her adviser happened to glance at Delapine and the
+rest of his party, but apparently he was satisfied that none of them
+recognised him, for after giving them another glance he walked rapidly
+to the door and disappeared.
+
+"I seem to know his face," said Riche.
+
+"I was just thinking the same thing," said Marcel. "Did you recognise
+him, professor?"
+
+Delapine's face clouded, and he set his lips firmly together, but did
+not reply.
+
+Renée was looking at her lover, and her hand trembled as she watched
+the change which came over his face. She caught hold of his hand.
+
+"Don't worry your little head, Renée," said Delapine gently. "Riche,"
+he continued, "I should be obliged if you and Marcel will do me the
+favour to follow that gentleman who has just left the salon, and let me
+know what he is doing and where he is living. Come and report to me at
+the hotel. I shall be leaving myself very soon. But be sure and don't
+let him see you, and don't tell a soul."
+
+Riche nodded, and taking Marcel's arm the two hurriedly left the room.
+
+"I think I will take a photo of the scene," said Delapine to the
+others, "if you will allow me." So saying he rapidly focussed his
+camera on the lady who had lost her money, and seizing a favourable
+opportunity when no one was looking at him, pressed the button and
+secured her photograph.
+
+"Why did you take her photograph?" said Renée, looking very anxious.
+
+"You can trust me, can't you?" said the professor.
+
+"Why of course. You know I didn't mean that. It can't be--Monsieur--"
+She saw a quivering of her lover's lips, and never concluded the
+sentence. A deadly pallor swept over her face, and she would have
+fallen had not Delapine steadied her with his arm.
+
+"Now I think we have seen enough for to-day," said the professor, as he
+folded up his camera and led the way out of the Casino.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 19: As there are 36 numbers and one Zero, the chances are one
+in 37 in favour of the bank over those of the player, or 2.7 per cent.,
+but owing to the refait which places the stakes on even chances into
+prison when Zero turns up, it reduces the percentage in favour of the
+bank on those chances to one half that, or 1.35 per cent. As, however,
+the money staked is turned over and over again, the bank makes 90 per
+cent. per annum on its total capital invested, which amounts to about
+twenty million francs annually.]
+
+[Footnote 20: M. Blanc established the tables, and his family hold most
+of the shares.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXV
+
+DELAPINE TRIES HIS HAND AT THE TABLES
+
+ "The ball no question makes of Ayes and Noes,
+   But here or there as strikes the Player goes,
+ And he that tossed you down into the Field,
+   He knows about it all--He knows, He knows."
+
+ _The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyám_, verse lxx.
+
+
+"Where is the professor?" asked Villebois at the breakfast table next
+morning. "Has anyone seen him?"
+
+As no one had apparently done so, a deputation was agreed upon to go in
+search of him and bring him down.
+
+Villebois, Payot, Marcel and Riche were selected, and the quartette
+marched up to his bedroom and knocked.
+
+They found him in his dressing-gown sitting at a table apparently deep
+in thought. All looked at him in amazement. He seemed transformed and
+unearthly. His face was ghastly pale with his brilliant eyes fixed and
+staring, while his fingers were twitching nervously.
+
+"Professor," exclaimed Villebois, "we have come to tell you that
+breakfast is nearly over, and everyone is wondering what has become of
+you."
+
+But Delapine made no movement. A roulette wheel stood before him
+similar to those used in the Casino. Several sheets of paper covered
+with algebraical equations lay on the table, while at his side was
+a well-thumbed copy of Vega's Logarithm Tables and Bertrand's and
+Poincaré's _Calcul des Probabilités_ lay open near it.
+
+"Professor, we are waiting for you," said Riche, giving him a gentle
+slap on the back, but suddenly started back declaring that he had
+received something like an electric shock.
+
+They looked at one another in astonishment.
+
+"What on earth is the matter with him?" they asked. "Is he ill, or in a
+trance, or what?"
+
+Villebois drew Riche on one side, and they held a short consultation in
+hurried whispers.
+
+"Don't be alarmed, Riche," said Villebois. "What would be very serious
+in the case of ordinary people is not so with Delapine. I know him
+well, and whenever he goes into this state he is sure to do something
+surprising and far beyond the powers of common mortals like ourselves.
+My advice is to slip away quietly and return to the ladies. Whatever
+you do, don't wake him, but let him come round by himself."
+
+So saying he withdrew on tip-toe, the others following him silently out
+of the room.
+
+They returned to the breakfast table, and Riche with great forethought
+saw that breakfast was kept hot for Delapine when he should come down.
+
+"What an extraordinary man," said Violette to Marcel who was sitting
+next to her.
+
+"Yes, you would have had reason to say so if you had been in his room
+just now when Riche touched him and actually received a shock. It
+reminded me of an electric eel."
+
+"I was positively frightened when I saw him," said Payot. "He looked
+transfigured and his face was wax-like and quite motionless."
+
+"You need not be frightened, papa," said Renée, looking up. "Henri told
+me last night that he intended to go to the Casino this morning, and he
+would give the directors something to think about for a long time to
+come, and you know by now that when Henri says anything will happen it
+always does happen."
+
+"By Jove, there's nothing more certain," said Marcel. "It reminds me
+of Henry Smith's story of the difference between the judge and the
+bishop. It happened that the Master of Balliol was giving a dinner at
+which the careers of two of the men belonging to the College came up
+for discussion--one of whom had just been made a judge, and the other a
+bishop.
+
+"Which of the two is the greater man?" asked the master.
+
+"Oh," replied Smith, "the bishop of course. A judge after all can only
+say 'you be hanged,' whereas, the bishop can say 'you be damned.'"
+
+"Yes," the master rejoined, "that's all very fine, but when the bishop
+says 'you be damned,' there's no certainty that you will be damned,
+whereas, if the judge says 'you be hanged'--well, you jolly well _will
+be_ hanged."
+
+"Marcel you are incorrigible," said Riche, shaking with laughter.
+
+"But is Delapine really going to play at the Casino?" asked Villebois,
+as soon as they had ceased laughing.
+
+"He told Renée and me so, didn't he, Renée?"
+
+Renée nodded, and then added, "But I am certain of one thing, doctor,
+and that is he won't lose his money there. He has much too scientific
+a mind to take mere chances like the people we saw there yesterday.
+Besides, didn't he point out to us the fallacies of their systems?"
+
+"That's true," said Villebois half to himself. "Well, well, we shall
+see."
+
+At this moment the door opened, and one of the waiters came up with
+a note for Payot, and a message to say that the professor would be
+pleased to meet them in the garden in half an hour.
+
+The note was dated the day before, and ran as follows:
+
+ Dear M. Payot,
+
+ Please hand over to Renée all the money you have brought with you to
+ Beaulieu, and permit me to have the use of it unconditionally for one
+ day. If you have complete confidence in my powers I shall have the
+ pleasure of returning it to-morrow with interest.
+
+ Faithfully yours,
+ Delapine.
+
+Payot, after reading this note, went up to his room and returned in
+a few moments with a letter which he handed to his daughter with
+instructions to give it to Delapine at the very first opportunity.
+Shortly afterwards, according to the appointment made by Delapine, they
+all adjourned to the garden where they found him sitting in a little
+thatched summer-house, still wearing that strange weird look which they
+had noticed earlier in the morning.
+
+Each in turn tried to draw him into conversation, but in vain. He
+remained in a dream-like attitude without speaking, while his face was
+as impassive and mysterious as the Sphinx. The only sign of life was in
+his eyes which occasionally lit up in an almost unnatural way, and then
+closed again.
+
+At length he slowly rose from his seat, and with hands clasped behind
+his back, and with head bent as if in deep thought, walked towards the
+carriage drawn up in front of the hotel.
+
+As soon as Delapine had taken his seat with the rest of the party, the
+coachman, who had already received his instructions, drove rapidly to
+Monte Carlo.
+
+"Have you a letter for me?" asked Delapine, turning to Renée, who sat
+next to him.
+
+"Oh, yes, Henri. Father gave me this for you, but I did not like to
+disturb your reverie, or I would have given it to you before."
+
+Taking the letter from her hand, Delapine opened it, and found that it
+contained 4,000 francs in notes.
+
+They arrived at the Casino in good time so as to enable Delapine to
+secure a seat close to the roulette wheel. He motioned to Renée and
+Payot to sit next to him, while the rest of the party stood round
+behind his chair.
+
+All the people looked at him in wonder, as his vacant gaze and general
+mien were so unearthly, so entirely different from those of the other
+players, that a thrill of mingled awe and expectancy seemed to come
+over the whole assembly.
+
+Delapine slowly turned his head round, fixing his intense gaze on each
+person in turn round the table.
+
+"Look, look at Delapine," said Riche, as he nudged Marcel. "Doesn't
+he remind you of a Bengal tiger lying in ambush and turning his head
+slowly round to watch the movements of his prey? Parbleu, but it makes
+me feel quite creepy. I can imagine him lashing his tail just before
+making a spring."
+
+"He is merely watching the other players, but he hasn't staked a sou
+himself up till now."
+
+Meanwhile Delapine continued passively to watch the play for about
+twenty minutes. At the end of that time he quietly took out of the
+envelope three bank notes of 100 francs each, and placed one on each of
+the three consecutive numbers 7, 28 and 12, while putting a 1,000 franc
+note on each of the squares, red, impair, and manque, and then rapidly
+turning his head concentrated his gaze on the little ball which had
+just fallen on to the larger wheel. The ball bobbed frantically about,
+and at length fell into No. 7.
+
+"Sept, rouge, impair et manque," shouted the croupier, as he raked in
+Delapine's pieces on 28 and 12, and tossed seven notes of 500 frs. each
+on to No. 7, and 1,000 fr. notes on to "rouge," "impair," and "manque."
+Delapine's stake of 3,300 frs. was now increased by 6,300 frs.[21]
+Whispering a few words to Renée, telling her what numbers to back, and
+without troubling himself in the least about his own gains, he once
+more turned his attention to the little ball.
+
+Renée immediately did as he had told her and placed the maximum
+allowed--180 frs.--on number 7, leaving the money with the gains added
+on each of the single chances, rouge, pair and manque.
+
+Round went the wheel again, and the little ball hopped about as before.
+
+Delapine did not move his head but continued to gaze steadily on the
+ball.
+
+Five times running Renée repeated the process, each time leaving the
+maximum--6,000 frs.--on each even chance, and the maximum on the single
+number. At last she ceased for a moment and counted the notes in hand.
+She had won 120,000 francs.
+
+All this time Delapine had remained motionless with his eyes fixed like
+a carved Buddha. At length he leaned over and whispered to Renée, who
+immediately transferred the maximum stakes to three fresh numbers and
+different squares.
+
+The whole thing was done so quietly and so unobtrusively that only an
+onlooker who had been specially regarding him could have noticed that
+Delapine had made the slightest movement.
+
+Occasionally he would take half-a-dozen gold pieces and rapidly throw
+them on to as many squares or numbers, without troubling his head in
+the least as to whether they won or lost.
+
+But Renée was winning so fast that she became the centre of attraction
+for the crowd which grew more and more dense at the table, little
+dreaming that it was the quiet professor at her side and not the player
+herself who was manipulating the stakes, and who was responsible for
+all her marvellous good fortune.
+
+Strangely enough, Delapine lost his own little stakes more often than
+he won, as he allowed them to remain on any squares they chanced to
+fall on. Now and again a coin would drop on the line between two
+squares--à cheval--or covering four numbers--en carré. Sometimes the
+croupier would sweep them into the bank--sometimes Delapine would
+receive eleven or eight times his stake. When this happened he would
+quietly pick up his winnings so as to compensate for his other losses,
+but as often as not he did not trouble to collect his winnings, but
+allowed them to remain on the table until they were swept off by the
+remorseless rake.
+
+"Look at that fool of a man," whispered one of the lady players,
+pointing to Delapine. "He sits there staring at the wheel like an
+idiot, and actually forgot to take up his money, and now it's all swept
+away. What a fool. Well, it serves him right."
+
+"Yes," replied her companion, "he's evidently a bit soft in the head.
+What a pity he didn't ask me to play for him."
+
+During the intervals when the wheel was at rest, or when it had just
+started revolving, Delapine would quietly look round the tables and
+make a mental note of the characters assembled.
+
+Payot's eyes nearly started out of his head when he saw Renée's huge
+pile of notes creeping up minute by minute. He touched the professor
+and spoke to him. Delapine, however, did not for one moment appear to
+notice, and Renée, dreading lest her father should break the spell,
+touched him on the shoulder.
+
+"Please, father, do keep quiet, or you'll spoil everything."
+
+Payot had the good sense to take the hint and made no further attempt
+to interrupt.
+
+It was not long before the news of Renée's amazing good fortune spread
+to the other tables, and soon she found herself surrounded by an eager
+crowd, pushing and jostling each other in their anxiety to see not only
+the numbers she was backing, but the lucky player herself. She had
+just placed the maximum on ten different chances, and several of the
+others, noticing how uniformly successful she was, put their money on
+the same numbers and squares.
+
+Nine out of the ten stakes won, and as the croupiers were paying out
+the money they suddenly stopped. The bank was broken!
+
+The news spread like wild fire all over the room, and a ringing cheer
+rose from the crowd.
+
+Renée's pile had reached 700,000 francs.
+
+A few minutes later two attendants came in carrying a large steel box
+containing a fresh supply of money.
+
+Everyone now resolved to stake his or her cash on the same ventures as
+Renée.
+
+Delapine who was quietly watching the greedy looks of the crowd round
+and in front of Renée, squeezed her hand unnoticed in a peculiar way
+which conveyed to her the hidden meaning. Scribbling a few words on a
+piece of paper which he folded up, Delapine whispered to Renée, and at
+the same time handed the folded paper to Payot.
+
+The latter opened the note and read:--
+
+ "Do not be alarmed at what is going to happen. I know what I am doing,
+ and I have good reason for doing it."
+
+Ten different chances were selected by Renée and a small amount was
+placed on each.
+
+"Zero," cried the croupier, and all the stakes were either raked in or
+placed 'in prison.'
+
+Again Renée staked a couple of hundred francs on six different squares.
+The others followed. Zero came a second time, and all the previous
+stakes were swept into the bank, while a fresh lot went into 'prison.'
+Five times Zero turned up, and Renée lost 12,000 francs. Again and
+again she staked the same amount on different numbers and colours, and
+each time five out of the six stakes were swept into the bank. Most of
+those who had followed her cue dropped away from the table, and many
+left the room looking very downhearted, some indeed not attempting to
+hide their disgust.
+
+At length her bad luck was so pronounced that they all ceased to follow
+her lead, and nearly all those standing round her had either left the
+room or had gone to watch the other tables.
+
+Renée had lost 60,000 francs.
+
+Delapine's eyes glistened and some of his natural colour came back, but
+it was only for a moment. The reaction proved too strong, and leaning
+back in his chair, he appeared to sink into a deep sleep. It was nearly
+half an hour before he woke up again. To his surprise he found himself
+almost alone with Renée. Only the members of his party remained, and
+they were for the most part scattered about the room. It was half-past
+twelve, and the crowd had evidently left for lunch.
+
+"Let us go," said Delapine. "After lunch we will make some money."
+
+"Haven't you made enough already?" they asked, laughing.
+
+"No," he replied, "up till now I have only been skirmishing with the
+ball."
+
+"Good Lord," said Marcel, "he has made nearly three-quarters of a
+million francs, and he calls that skirmishing. I wonder what his
+serious play will be like?"
+
+"Have a little patience," said Delapine, "and you shall see."
+
+While waiting for lunch Renée was privately instructed by Delapine as
+to the plan of campaign for the afternoon's play, and immediately after
+their meal the professor retired to his room to recover his energy.
+Shortly afterwards the carriages were ordered, and the party returned
+to the fray.
+
+On entering the rooms Renée and Delapine resumed the seats which had
+been retained for them by means of a very liberal tip to the croupier
+and chef de partie of his table.
+
+Owing to the heavy losses sustained by those who had followed Renée's
+lead during the later play in the fore-noon, very few people stood
+round the table, and those who were seated were too much afraid to be
+led again by her.
+
+At first Delapine appeared quite normal as he sat watching the game,
+but gradually his manner changed, and he seemed to become oblivious
+to all around him. He stared fixedly at the ball, while Renée, acting
+under previous instructions, placed the maximum stake on every one of
+the eleven chances which the game offered. Sometimes she would place a
+maximum on Zero only, omitting all the other squares, and would leave
+it there four or five times running. At other times she would back two
+numbers of the same colour and put 2,000 francs on each of the even
+chances. In this way half an hour went by, and Renée's pile of notes
+steadily increased.
+
+Twenty minutes later the Administration had to bring a third supply.
+The croupiers began to get anxious. Once more the crowd began to
+collect, and again Delapine started staking small sums at random.
+Whenever the other players showed a disposition to follow Renée's lead,
+her hand would feel a squeeze from Delapine, and she would place her
+stakes on the wrong numbers, or she would suddenly back the first four
+numbers, or put a maximum on Zero which was sure to turn up.
+
+Charley and Ridgeway came in, and seeing Payot and Violette, went up to
+them. Payot whispered a warning to his two friends not to speak to or
+even to notice Delapine. They nodded in acquiescence.
+
+At length the bank 'broke' for the third time, and play was suspended
+while the senior members of the Administration were called in. After
+an anxious consultation a new roulette wheel was brought, and half
+a dozen detectives were ordered to watch the professor and Renée,
+with the result that Delapine became quite reckless and lost several
+thousand francs, while Renée lost her stakes four times in succession.
+Unfortunately Charley and his friend were plunging heavily, and lost
+all they had on them.
+
+"C'est rien," said the croupier to the director, "we shall get it all
+back in an hour--and more," they added significantly. The detectives
+shrugged their shoulders and left the table at the bidding of the
+director, but continued to keep their eyes on Renée and Delapine all
+the same.
+
+Once more Delapine lapsed into his cataleptic condition, and once more
+Renée 'broke' the bank.
+
+Five times the chef de partie had been obliged to send for fresh
+supplies of money, and thrice the roulette wheel was changed.
+
+The chef tore his hair. "C'est terrible. The devil himself must be
+laying against us," and wringing his hands in helpless despair, he left
+the room, returning almost immediately with all the members of the
+Administration.
+
+They all stood round Delapine.
+
+All the players in the room had left their tables and collected in
+a huge crowd round the two tables, near the end of one of which the
+professor was sitting with Renée and Payot alongside of him. The crowd
+made way for the members of the Administration who stood in a half
+circle round Delapine and his two companions.
+
+They watched Renée put a maximum on the eleven chances and one on No.
+4, and saw with their own eyes the little ball tumble into one of the
+little compartments.
+
+All of them craned their necks to see, and yes, sure enough, the
+croupier shouted out--"Quatre, noir, pair et manque."
+
+The directors stared at one another, petrified with astonishment.
+
+One of them slipped away hurriedly and returned with Monsieur Eperon
+the Chef de Police of Monaco and two of his satellites.
+
+"Arrest them," cried the director in a loud voice, pointing to Renée
+and Delapine.
+
+A moment afterwards the chief cashier of the bank came running into the
+room.
+
+"Messieurs," he cried, "the bank is empty--not a sou remains in the
+coffers. Mon Dieu, what are we to do?"
+
+The bank was really broken--for the first time in the history of the
+Casino.
+
+The Administration formally declared the rooms closed, and Delapine
+and Renée were escorted to the police station, followed by the whole
+of their party together with Charley and Ridgeway who formed the
+rearguard. At length they entered one of the large rooms of the
+gendarmerie. Monsieur Eperon and two assistants sat down at a high
+table. Renée and Delapine stood in front of them while the directors
+stood around, and a whole crowd of witnesses filled the room behind.
+
+The police took the names and addresses of the accused.
+
+"Well, gentlemen, what is the crime you charge us with?" said the
+professor, drawing himself up to his full height, and looking at them
+with one of his commanding gestures.
+
+"You are accused of cheating at the tables," said the Chef de Police.
+
+"Cheating at the tables, what do you mean?"
+
+"The Administration of the Bank accuse you of having bribed the
+croupiers and of tampering with the wheel," replied M. Eperon, twirling
+his moustache and looking very fierce.
+
+"That is impossible," replied Delapine, "as the croupiers were changed
+each time they sent for more money."
+
+The croupiers were brought in and cross-examined. They swore that they
+had never spoken a word to either the professor or the lady who was
+playing with him.
+
+In the face of their denial it was seen to be useless to press
+the charge of bribery in connection with the croupiers, so after
+discharging them from further attendance, the Chef de Police decided
+that the solution of the mystery lay in the fact that Delapine and his
+accomplice must have tampered with the roulette wheel.
+
+"But the wheel has been changed no less than three times," asserted
+Delapine, "and on the last occasion I heard it remarked that a new
+wheel was used."
+
+Monsieur Eperon asked if it were true that a perfectly new wheel had
+been used, and on receiving a reply in the affirmative, shrugged his
+shoulders in a helpless manner.
+
+A short consultation was then held, as a result of which a roulette
+wheel was sent for, and the Chef de Police himself spun it round.
+
+"What number would you like the ball to fall into?" enquired Delapine
+quietly.
+
+"No. 29," replied M. Eperon.
+
+"29 be it," said Delapine, smiling, and as the wheel was spun round the
+little ball dropped into 29 as he had predicted.
+
+One director after another repeated the experiment, but always with
+the result that the ball fell into whatever number they suggested.
+Cheer after cheer arose from the witnesses, and the police were either
+unwilling or powerless to suppress the applause.
+
+"Une merveille," said M. Eperon, holding up his hands.
+
+Everyone was absolutely dumbfounded.
+
+As the directors were unable to maintain any of the charges against
+Delapine and Renée, they were requested to retire with the police to
+one of the anterooms, where a further conference was held.
+
+At length they returned, and the Chef de Police asked Delapine how he
+invariably managed to put his stakes on the winning numbers.
+
+"The law cannot compel me to explain my systems of play, gentlemen,
+and I refuse to answer. I have broken no law, I never saw either the
+croupiers or the roulette wheel before. I have not done anything
+against the regulations. I merely pitted my wits against yours, and I
+have won. Therein lies the whole of my offence."
+
+At this all the visitors cheered, and were immediately silenced by the
+police.
+
+M. Eperon was obliged to admit that they could not produce any evidence
+of guilt, and told the directors he was reluctantly compelled to
+dismiss the charge.
+
+"What will you accept now to reveal your system to me?" said the head
+of the Administration in a whisper as he stepped up to the professor.
+
+"If you will first hand over to me 500,000 francs as a reward for
+my disclosure as well as compensation to my fiancée and myself for
+our unjust arrest, I will disclose the secret," he replied, "but not
+otherwise."
+
+At length after some discussion a cheque for the amount asked for by
+the professor was handed over to him.
+
+"Excuse me," replied Delapine, "but I should much prefer to be paid in
+notes."
+
+The head of the Administration gave a grim smile as he ordered the sum
+of half a million francs to be handed to him in crisp bank notes.
+
+"Ah! that is better," replied Delapine as he put them very carefully
+away in his pocket-book.
+
+"The whole secret, gentlemen," said the professor slowly and with great
+deliberation, "lies in my will power. It is the power of Mind over
+Matter. When I concentrate the whole of my will on the little ball, and
+resolve that it shall stop, it is obliged to do so. That is the whole
+secret, gentlemen--'Mens agitat molem' (the mind moves matter) is just
+as true to-day as it was when Vigil wrote these words nearly nineteen
+hundred years ago."
+
+Thereupon Delapine took Renée by the hand, and bowing gracefully to the
+astonished and bewildered officials, and shaking hands with M. Eperon,
+he left the gendarmerie amid the applause of the crowd.
+
+As his party were leaving the police court, Delapine gave a handsome
+present to each of the croupiers, and also paid a couple of detectives
+to assist in carrying the spoils in a large bag to the carriage. On his
+way out he met a young woman sobbing bitterly.
+
+"What is the matter?" asked Delapine.
+
+She told him that her husband was lying ill in Paris, and there being
+no means of supporting him and her children, she had sold everything
+she possessed, and had taken the train to Monte Carlo with the idea of
+winning sufficient money to keep the home going, and now, alas! she had
+lost her all.
+
+Delapine gave her his address and told her to call on him at his hotel
+the next morning, and if he found that her story were true, he would
+send her home well provided for.
+
+When the party arrived at the Hotel des Anglais, Delapine emptied the
+contents of the bag on the table.
+
+The counting and piling up in thousands of all their winnings occupied
+more than an hour, and when at last the task was finished they found
+themselves in possession of no less than three million seven hundred
+thousand and fifty francs (3,700,050 francs).
+
+"Now," said the professor to his friend Payot, "do you still doubt my
+powers? Perhaps this will help to convince you," and after carefully
+counting them he handed him 1,000,000 francs in crisp notes. Payot,
+overcome with emotion and weeping tears of joy, wrung his benefactor's
+hand, but was powerless to speak.
+
+"That is not all," continued Delapine, "here is five hundred thousand
+francs for Renée's 'dot,' she has fairly earned them by the admirable
+way in which she carried out my instructions. Without her I could not
+have succeeded, for had I placed the stakes myself I could not have
+concentrated my mind sufficiently to control the movements of the ball."
+
+Then turning to Villebois he said. "Here, my dear friend, is a gift for
+you," handing him at the same time 350,000 francs, "out of this you
+will be able to provide for Céleste. For you, my dear friend Beaupaire,
+is another 350,000 francs, and pray see that Violette has half of
+it for her 'dot', so that Marcel may be able to display the latest
+fashions in embroidered waistcoats." One hundred thousand and fifty
+francs he divided among the rest of the party, and 50,000 frs. he kept
+for emergencies out of which he paid back Charley and Ridgeway all they
+had lost, on their promise that they would not gamble in the future,
+and sent the poor woman away rejoicing to her sick husband in Paris.
+
+"And what are you keeping for yourself, professor?" they all asked.
+
+"I have my salary, and that is quite enough for me. I am merely
+keeping the remaining one million three hundred and fifty thousand
+francs, the interest of which I shall devote to the purchase of
+scientific instruments to assist my poorer students, and to help the
+poor unfortunates whom I saw were on the verge of being ruined by this
+pernicious gambling concern. And now," he said, smiling, "you must
+excuse me as I am sadly in need of a rest to recover from the strain
+of my mental powers which this game has cost me. I think, ladies
+and gentlemen, the bank will be unable to declare a dividend at the
+next half-yearly meeting. By the way, Riche, did you find out the
+whereabouts of that gentleman I sent you to follow out of the Casino?"
+
+"Oh! yes, we found out he was staying at the Metropole. We saw his name
+in the books under the signature of Monsieur et Madame Paradis."
+
+"Could you find out nothing more?"
+7
+"Nothing whatever," said Riche.
+
+Delapine twirled his moustache meditatively. "Hum, what an odd name!
+Well, au revoir until to-morrow morning, when we shall have to prepare
+for our journey to Paris."
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 21: No. 7 won 3,500 frs., the three even bets won 3,000 frs.:
+nos. 28 and 12 lost 200 frs.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVI
+
+NEMESIS
+
+
+When Pierre Duval left by the night train for Bordeaux it was his
+intention to take one of the Sud Atlantique steamers and sail for South
+America. On alighting at the terminus at Bordeaux he glanced round to
+see that no one was observing him, and being satisfied on that score he
+bid the cocher drive to the Hotel Montesquieu.
+
+"Thank goodness," he said to himself, "I am safe at last, and this day
+week I shall be on board _La Gascogne_, bound for Rio de Janeiro and no
+one will recognise me there."
+
+He busied himself during the morning in arranging his affairs, and
+purchased a first-class ticket at the Compagnie de Navigation Sud
+Atlantique, and spent the rest of the afternoon in seeing the sights
+of the town. After dinner he went out for a stroll and purchased an
+evening paper at one of the kiosks, and to his horror he saw in large
+type a detailed account of the death of General Duval.
+
+The narrative stated that General Duval had been found lying on the
+carpet in Pierre's dining-room shot through the heart. The theory of
+suicide was dismissed as improbable, as although the door was locked
+on the inside, the windows were wide open, and several pieces of
+furniture were broken and scattered about the room along with a few
+coins. It was suggested that some burglars loafing around had seen
+the valet, and later on, Pierre leaving the house, and surmising that
+his chambers were empty, had entered his room through the window, and
+being surprised by the General had shot him during the struggle. The
+thieves, fearing lest someone might have heard the shot, had evidently
+hastily locked the door and escaped by the same window. The police,
+they added significantly, were reticent on the matter as to the origin
+of the crime.
+
+The next day a further article appeared in the newspapers announcing
+that a reward had been offered for any information which might be given
+which would lead to the arrest of the criminal, and pointed out that
+the General's only son, Pierre Gaston Duval, was suspected. All of a
+sudden Pierre passed a hoarding and saw to his horror a police notice
+pasted on it bearing an enlarged print of his own portrait with a full
+description of his person, and below in large letters the statement
+that a reward of five thousand francs would be given to anyone not an
+accessory to the crime who would give such information as would lead to
+his arrest.
+
+"H'm," he thought, "it may be as well to lie low until the departure of
+the steamer, in case there might be someone about who would recognise
+me in my disguise."
+
+Accordingly he kept to his room, merely going out in the evening to
+purchase the latest editions of the papers. As the time passed and
+nothing happened he got more venturesome, and the last evening but
+one before _La Gascogne_ sailed, he said to himself, "I will risk it,
+and go to the theatre and enjoy myself for the last time in France.
+Garçon," he said, after table d'hote was over, "bring me the evening
+paper--are there any good plays at the theatre to-night?"
+
+"I can recommend 'La Debutante,' sir," said the waiter, "I hear it is a
+very spicy play, and is drawing crowds every night."
+
+Pierre took his advice and secured a box near the stage. He looked
+round the theatre, sweeping the rows of sightseers one after another
+with his opera glass, and at length a beautiful woman caught his eye.
+She was seated in a box directly opposite him, and was apparently all
+by herself--at least there was no gentleman there. The lady appeared
+to be half French and half Spanish, and seemed to embody the charms of
+both races. Her beauty had an extraordinary fascination for him, and
+after keeping his opera glasses fixed on her for some time, he noticed
+to his intense delight that he had attracted her attention as well. He
+kissed his hand towards her and observed that she inclined her head
+slightly with a bewitching smile. This was quite enough encouragement
+for Pierre.
+
+His character was a curious mixture of boldness derived from some
+hereditary trait which impelled him to deeds of excessive rashness on
+the spur of the moment, combined with an extreme caution and dread of
+breaking the law which was the outcome of years of legal practice and
+training.
+
+The lady was unquestionably handsome. She possessed those languid dark
+eyes and long silky eyelashes which are the distinguishing feature of
+the Spanish donna. This was a type of beauty which impressed itself on
+a man of the sensuous type of Pierre, so stepping out of his box he
+purchased a magnificent bouquet of flowers, and made his way to the
+lady's box.
+
+On entering the box he received a smile from his fair divinity as she
+graciously accepted the proffered bouquet, and pointed to a chair next
+to her.
+
+"Pray sit down," she said, "it is quite charming to have you by me. We
+shall be able to have a delightful tête-a-tête together."
+
+Pierre at once sat down and squeezed her hand with rapture.
+
+The extreme familiarity of the lady would have frightened any
+sober-minded gentleman away, and would doubtless have made Pierre
+suspicious and put him on his guard; but he had already taken so much
+champagne that it had clouded his wits, and he was further intoxicated
+with her charms. Her voluptuous figure, her winning smiles, her small
+beautifully modelled hands, rendered still more fascinating by the
+well-fitting gloves, her brilliant dark wavy hair coiled up in the
+latest fashion by the art of an expert coiffeur, the delicate perfume,
+all contributed to hypnotize his senses, and prevent his observing the
+entire absence of that reserve of manner, and of those qualities which
+invariably bespeak a real lady in any part of the civilized world.
+
+"I suppose," he said, "you are living by yourself just now?"
+
+"Yes, that is my fate for the present," and then afraid lest he should
+want to know too much of her private life she added, "What is your
+name, monsieur, if I may make so bold as to enquire?"
+
+"My name? Oh, my name is Sylvestre Adam--a humble worshipper of you, my
+divinity," and he put his arm round her waist and gave her a squeeze.
+
+"How very curious," she replied, "my name is Julie Paradis."
+
+"What a pretty name," he answered, "and how appropriate to the
+occasion. Well I hope Adam will be allowed to remain in Paradise, and
+will not be expelled from so fair a spot."
+
+"That depends on his behaviour in the garden of Eden," replied Madame
+Paradis, laughing. "He will be allowed to remain if he does not attempt
+to pluck any of the forbidden fruit."
+
+"May I not be allowed to receive it from your fair hands?" he added,
+looking up in her face with a smile.
+
+"Oh, you tempter," she said, tapping him with her fan. "And where do
+you hail from, Monsieur, I suppose you come from Paris judging from
+your accent?"
+
+"No. There you are mistaken. A few years ago I used to live in Paris,
+but my home is in Montevideo, and I only arrived here a few days ago."
+
+"Entonces usted es Porteno?" she replied, in perfect Spanish.
+
+Pierre muttered something in French quite inappropriate to her
+question. He recognised his fatal mistake, but it was too late.
+
+She looked at his face with a puzzled expression. "Yes, it is something
+like him," she thought, "but I shall soon find out."
+
+"Ah! monsieur, monsieur," she replied with a smile, "I can see that you
+are a born Frenchman, and that you have never been to South America.
+Now confess it, mon ami."
+
+Pierre saw it was no use temporising, so he frankly admitted it
+with a laugh. He had quite lost his head in the presence of this
+charming siren, but although irresistibly attracted by her manners, he
+nevertheless felt afraid of her. Her face lit up with smiles, but her
+lips were thin and compressed, and he could feel that she might become
+a terrible adversary if she had a fit of anger or jealousy.
+
+"You don't seem to be paying much attention to the play, monsieur," she
+remarked with a smile.
+
+"Well, I confess, madame, you possess charms which far surpass those of
+the play, and consequently I have been devoting myself exclusively to
+the enjoyment of your company, instead of watching the actors."
+
+"You flatter me, sir."
+
+"Not at all--not in the least. But if you are not otherwise engaged it
+would give me immense pleasure to take you out to supper."
+
+"Shall we go?" she enquired in a winning voice.
+
+Pierre assented.
+
+"You can go home now, Marie," she added to her maid.
+
+Pierre took her to a fashionable restaurant on one of the boulevards,
+and afterwards saw her home.
+
+"What a pity," he said to himself as he entered his hotel, "I shall
+have no further opportunity of spending an evening in madame's charming
+company--well, it can't be helped, but I must try to see her, once
+more, to-morrow afternoon before I leave."
+
+The next day on opening her newspaper, Madame Paradis's attention was
+drawn to an account of a dreadful murder which had been committed
+in Paris on a retired general of the name of Duval, and also on a
+celebrated professor of science, together with a photograph of the
+suspected criminal.
+
+"Mon Dieu, but this is interesting."
+
+At this moment M. Adam was announced.
+
+"Ah, ma mie," said Pierre, alias Sylvestre Adam, "I trust you are well,
+and that fortune smiles upon you. Diable! what were you so interested
+about when I came in?"
+
+"A terrible murder has been committed in Paris. Haven't you seen it?
+The papers are full of it. General Duval has been brutally murdered by
+his son. See, here is the photograph of the assassin," and she showed
+it to Sylvestre.
+
+A cold shudder went through him as he saw his own likeness in the
+newspaper. He turned very pale, and seizing a decanter on the table, he
+poured himself out a glass of wine and tossed it off.
+
+"What's the matter?" she asked, noticing the change which went over
+him. "Don't you feel well?"
+
+"My dear one," he answered, "no wonder I feel pale, seeing that General
+Duval is my god-father, and one of my dearest friends. He always placed
+his house at my disposal. Ah! many a time he has given me a thousand
+franc note to meet some small debt of honour. Just think of it? To lose
+one's greatest benefactor in this dreadful way," and he pulled out his
+handkerchief and wiped away a tear.
+
+"Good God," he said to himself, "however could the police have found it
+out? I suppose that scoundrel Deschamps, must have given the show away."
+
+"I am really very sorry for you, mon cher," she answered, putting her
+hands on his shoulders and giving him a kiss on the forehead. As she
+did so she observed that he was wearing a wig, and looking closer she
+noticed that his beard was false likewise. Now Pierre's left ear had a
+very peculiar shape, and on glancing at the photograph in the newspaper
+which showed the left side of his face, she recognised the same shaped
+ear at once. Madame gave a little start and dropped the newspaper.
+
+"What is the matter?" said Pierre, carefully scrutinizing her face to
+see if she had observed anything in the photograph which she could
+recognise in his features.
+
+"Nothing, mon cher Sylvestre, but you looked so pale that I got
+frightened. Take another glass of wine, it will do you good."
+
+Pierre seized the decanter, and with a shaking hand poured himself out
+another glass.
+
+He lay down on the sofa while Madame Paradis, going to the piano,
+played several airs.
+
+"Pray go on," he said, as she stopped playing, "I quite enjoy it,
+you play so beautifully. Let us go into the fresh air," he remarked
+at length. "I think it will do us both good. We will take a stroll
+through the public gardens and hear the music, or have some coffee at
+one of the cafés, and then we can afterwards have some dinner together.
+Let us make a good night of it, as I regret to say it is my last night
+in France."
+
+"Why? Where are you going to?" she enquired.
+
+"I have booked my passage by _La Gascogne_ which sails to-morrow
+afternoon for Rio de Janeiro."
+
+"Well," she said, "I will be pleased to see you off if I may."
+
+"That will be delightful," replied Pierre, hoping in his heart that
+something would turn up to prevent her doing it.
+
+Next morning she went to his hotel, and knocking at his bedroom door
+went straight in and shut it.
+
+Pierre felt very much annoyed at seeing her march into his room
+unannounced in this fashion, but he tried to conceal his feelings and
+even attempted to smile when she said she had come to bid him good-bye.
+She bid him sit down on the sofa and took a seat by his side. "Now look
+here, Monsieur Sylvestre, I know quite well who you are. Your real name
+is Pierre Gaston Duval. Now it's no use denying it," she added, as he
+was about to reply. "You insulted me at Maxim's Café only a short time
+ago--do you remember the scene? I know well enough you are the man who
+is wanted by the police, I could read your guilt in your face, even if
+I had no other proofs. Do you see this ear?" said she pointing to the
+photograph with her finger to the print. "Is it not exactly like yours?"
+
+Pierre grew ghastly pale with fear, and trembled from head to foot. He
+was about to deny all knowledge of it, but she interrupted him.
+
+"You need not look so scared. If you will stay with me and meet a few
+of my little bills which my dress-maker and others are pressing me
+with rather inconveniently just now, I promise you I will keep your
+secret--but if you attempt to run away, or step on board the steamer,
+I swear I will inform the captain and the police at once. So long as
+you perform these few favours for me I shall be devoted to you and make
+you very happy. Only remember, the first time you fail to carry out my
+requests, you know what will happen," and she shook her finger in his
+face.
+
+Pierre was furious and raised his fists as if to strike her, but the
+determination in her face made him pause, and after a short period of
+reflection he put his arms round her neck and kissed her ardently.
+
+"Well," he said at length, "I see there is nothing for it but to obey
+you."
+
+"That's a good boy. I see you are beginning to learn your lessons very
+well. You will find me a wonderfully good teacher," and she smiled and
+gave him a kiss in return.
+
+Pierre shrugged his shoulders in helpless fashion and looked very
+gloomy.
+
+Several days passed, and at her request he took a little house near
+Biarritz where they lived together for some weeks.
+
+At length money was beginning to run short and they both felt the need
+of a change, so at her request they took the train for Monte Carlo.
+It was only the second day after their arrival at the Metropole that
+Pierre recognised Delapine and the rest of the party in the Salle de
+Jeu. At once he saw the danger he was running, and so hastily quitting
+the salon he gave Madame the slip and took the night train for Bordeaux.
+
+No sooner had he arrived at Marseilles, and was on the point of
+leaving, when who should step into the compartment but Madame Paradis.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The next day after the distribution of the spoils at the Hotel des
+Anglais, Delapine's party had just finished lunch when Marcel, glancing
+at Violette's ring, asked her if it had a history.
+
+She related to him the same story she had told Riche a few months
+before in the café at the corner of the Boulevard Michel.
+
+Riche left his side of the table and examined the ring with Marcel.
+
+"Please, mademoiselle," said Riche, "try and see whether the ring still
+possesses the power it had when you first showed it to me."
+
+Violette acquiesced, and suggesting that they should adjourn to another
+room, they all followed suit.
+
+"Now," said Violette, "if you will keep quite still I will see whether
+it will tell me anything."
+
+All the party including the professor were standing round her. At
+length she raised her hand as if to command their attention.
+
+"I see a lady and gentleman in a railway carriage all by themselves.
+The lady has dark hair and is very beautiful. She is wearing a lovely
+necklace carrying a large beautiful pendant--the couple are getting
+out. I see the name of the station--it is Agen. Yes, now they are
+entering the train once more--Oh! look--they are quarrelling. The man
+is shaking her terribly. Now they are fighting--Mon Dieu! but it is
+terrible. See he pulls out a pistol and has struck her with all his
+might on the temple--Ah! she has fallen down--he lifts her up--she is
+dead."
+
+Payot, Riche and Marcel looked at one another horrified.
+
+"Try whether you can see anything more," said Delapine quietly.
+
+Violette looked once more at the ring.
+
+"Yes, I see the man opening the carriage door--they are entering a
+tunnel--he has pushed the lady out of the carriage--she has fallen on
+to the line. Now he shuts the carriage door and sits down. Ah, it is
+fading away--yes, it is gone, I see nothing more."
+
+All the party looked at Violette and her ring.
+
+"Can you describe the man?" enquired Delapine.
+
+"Yes, he had shiny curly hair, and a small beard and whiskers."
+
+"Did the lady look like this?" said Delapine, showing the photograph he
+took in the salon the day before.
+
+"Yes, I recognise her at once by the necklace and pendant," said
+Violette.
+
+He rang the bell and asked the garçon to fetch him a time-table.
+
+"It is now about half-past one," said the professor taking out his
+watch, "and as there is no stoppage between Agen and Bordeaux, it is
+evident that Bordeaux is his destination. Bordeaux is the port from
+which steamers sail for South America and the West Indies. South
+America is one of the few spots in the world which the arm of the law
+cannot easily reach, therefore it is most probable that he intends
+going there."
+
+"Waiter," he said, "fetch me the Continental Bradshaw. That will give
+the time of sailings of the various ships."
+
+"Ah, here we have it. _La Gascogne_ leaves Bordeaux February 27th, and
+the _Divona_ February 21st. To-day is February 17th. If, therefore, we
+communicate with the police at once they will have plenty of time to
+arrest him in Bordeaux."
+
+Delapine stepped up to the bureau and asked them to telephone to Nice
+for M. Patrigent, the chief of the police.
+
+Monsieur Patrigent was one of the most intelligent members of the
+force. Active, smart and persevering, he had risen step by step to the
+head of his department by sheer merit. He was a man who always acted
+immediately, believing that to strike quickly was to strike effectively.
+
+On receiving the telephone message he knew from its nature and source
+that it was no ordinary crime he had to deal with. He therefore at once
+ceased work, and sending his messenger to fetch his motor car he drove
+at top speed to the Hotel des Anglais.
+
+Villebois informed him of the previous doings of Pierre, of the twice
+attempted murder of Delapine, of the setting fire to the house, of the
+probable shooting of his own father. Some of the acts were of course
+well known to Patrigent, but Villebois was able to explain the motif,
+and to fill up gaps in the chain of evidence.
+
+The chief of police listened with breathless interest as Villebois
+unfolded the terrible record of crime, but when he told him
+what Violette had seen in the ring he shook his head and smiled
+incredulously.
+
+"These statements are not evidence, they are merely phantasies," he
+exclaimed. "Delusions, or illusions, or whatever you may please to call
+them."
+
+"But I assure you, M. Patrigent," said Riche, "what the young lady
+saw is true, I am certain of it," and he told him of Violette's
+previous vision with the ring, and pointed out how she had foretold
+the attempted murder of Delapine in the séance room, and how her own
+psychic vision saved Delapine's life.
+
+M. Patrigent merely shrugged his shoulders incredulously.
+
+"Well, if you still refuse to believe me I will call Professor Delapine
+himself, who will endorse every word I have said, as it is only a few
+weeks since he woke up from his trance."
+
+At the mention of Delapine's name, the chef de police opened his eyes
+in astonishment, and bowed nearly to the ground as the professor came
+into the room.
+
+M. Patrigent expressed his unbounded delight at meeting him.
+
+"It is indeed an honour to be permitted to shake hands with the
+greatest man in Europe," ... for his recovery from his marvellous
+trance ... followed up by his superb play at Monte Carlo ... his arrest
+... his defence of the charge made against him were becoming the sole
+subjects of conversation in every town in France. One heard nothing
+else but stories of the great seer all day long, and they grew in
+magnitude from hour to hour.
+
+After hearing Delapine's confirmation of Riche's story of the ring,
+and seeing the photograph which the professor took in the salon,
+it was not to be wondered at that M. Patrigent became a convert to
+Violette's psychic powers, and now believed in them as firmly as he was
+incredulous before.
+
+After shaking hands all round he received Delapine's permission to take
+away the precious photograph, and bowing profoundly left the apartment.
+
+In about two hours he returned again to inform them that after leaving
+he had immediately telegraphed to Agen to search the tunnel, and
+that the body of a lady had been found in the tunnel near the place,
+precisely as Violette had predicted.
+
+"It is very wonderful, and I don't pretend to explain it, but I am as
+convinced as you are that the facts are true, and acting solely on
+mademoiselle's statement, I intend to leave at once for Bordeaux, and
+if Dr. Riche will do me the honour to accompany me I will make it my
+business to see that he shall be well rewarded by the Government for
+his trouble."
+
+Riche, who was listening, assented willingly, and the two gentlemen
+departed at once by a special train for Bordeaux. They stopped at
+Marseilles to change engines and have a hurried dinner at the buffet,
+and then travelled right through to Bordeaux, merely stopping to make a
+few enquiries at Agen, and to examine the body which was lying in the
+inspector's room at the station.
+
+M. Patrigent accompanied by Riche enquired at the office of the
+Compagnie de Navigation. Unfortunately, no one answering either to the
+print in the newspapers, or to the description of him given by Violette
+had been discovered there, but all the police were informed, and were
+on the alert to pounce upon him. Detectives were examining the faces
+of every person seen on the landing-stages and wharfs, while others
+inspected the visitors' books at the various hotels--but all to no
+purpose.
+
+For three days every available policeman and detective in Bordeaux was
+hunting up and down the streets examining every hotel, and examining
+every ship and steamer in the port, but no trace of Duval could be
+found.
+
+At length, about two hours before the _Divona_ was notified to sail the
+chef de police received a lengthy telegram from Villebois. It read as
+follows:--
+
+ "Last night Professor Delapine had a psychic vision; he saw Pierre
+ Duval in a room changing his clothes. He disguised himself as a
+ Gascony farmer. Was dressed in his Sunday coat with large buttons,
+ a slouch hat with broad brim, and leggings. He put on a long
+ yellow-brown beard, and the same coloured hair hanging down to his
+ shoulders, blue spectacles and a crooked stick. He left the inn
+ in a cab, with a large wooden box, and went on board steamer as a
+ third-class passenger. Act immediately on this information. Villebois."
+
+M. Patrigent at once had copies of the telegram distributed to the
+chief centres by boys on bicycles, and hastening with Riche on board
+the _Divona_ they inspected the third-class passengers and rooms.
+Suddenly Riche in his excitement called out.
+
+"See, there he is," and he pointed with his finger.
+
+"Where?" asked the chief of the police, trembling with excitement.
+
+But Riche had spoken so loud that the person in question slipped away
+and vanished among the crowd.
+
+At that moment the ship's siren uttered a loud blast, while several
+sailors prepared to unfasten the gangway.
+
+"Keep an eye on him, doctor," said Patrigent, bounding on deck as the
+visitors were leaving the ship.
+
+At length the chef de police shrugged his shoulders in despair, and
+stepped on the gangway to depart.
+
+"You must have been mistaken, doctor, he cannot possibly be on board,
+he must have eluded us and escaped by another route."
+
+"Monsieur, for God's sake stay where you are, I am convinced he is
+hiding on board."
+
+Monsieur Patrigent hesitated for an instant, but observing Riche's look
+of entreaty, turned back behind the sailors, while Riche rushed up the
+gangway and joined him.
+
+A few minutes later the steamer slipped her moorings and slowly steamed
+down the Gironde.
+
+All the officers were on the look-out for the missing man, and the ship
+was searched from stem to stern.
+
+At length they got information that a Gascon peasant had been seen
+entering one of the third-class cabins. The chef de police and Riche
+rushed to the cabin indicated and tried to open the door, but they
+found it locked and bolted.
+
+Riche stood by the door, while Monsieur Patrigent returned with a
+couple of loaded revolvers and an axe.
+
+Handing one of the pistols to Riche, he burst in the panels of the door
+with three or four furious blows of his axe.
+
+"At last we have got you, monsieur," said the police officer as he
+pulled out of his pockets a pair of handcuffs, and struggled to get
+through the broken door.
+
+The peasant uttered a wild cry of mocking laughter.
+
+"Ha, ha! I will defeat you yet," he shouted, "I shall never let you
+take me alive," and taking out a small phial he drank its contents to
+the last drop.
+
+The chef de police and one of the sailors burst in and seized the man,
+while Riche tore off his wig and beard. There stood Pierre with a wild
+look in his eyes, but before they could pinion him, he cried out, "Tell
+Professor Delapine the drug I swallowed was meant for him." He suddenly
+became short of breath, and reeled like a drunken man, and with a last
+shriek he burst from their grasp, and throwing up his hands, fell down
+on the floor of the cabin foaming at the mouth.
+
+The chef de police and Riche stooped down and raised him up, but it was
+too late,--he was dead.
+
+M. Patrigent had the body sewn up in a sack, and dropped it into the
+pilot's boat at the mouth of the river, while he and Riche followed
+immediately afterwards.
+
+Some hours later they returned to Bordeaux where the body was
+identified as that of Pierre Gaston Duval.
+
+The day following it was interred in a nameless grave in the cemetery
+at Bordeaux by permission of the authorities at M. Payot's special
+request.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XXVII
+
+IN WHICH DELAPINE FINDS HIMSELF FAMOUS, AND THE PARTY BREAKS UP WITH
+THE HAPPIEST RESULTS
+
+
+The evening after the departure of Monsieur Patrigent and Riche for
+Bordeaux, Delapine and his party left for Paris. The professor had
+already telegraphed to his colleagues at the Sorbonne informing them
+of the time of his arrival, but his modesty was such that it never
+occurred to him that anyone would ever take the trouble to meet him.
+Imagine, therefore, his astonishment as the train steamed into the
+station to hear a tumultuous hum proceeding from a thousand throats,
+and to find the entire Gare de Lyon decorated with flowers and flags.
+
+"What on earth is this huge crowd here for?" he asked Villebois as he
+looked out of the window.
+
+The doctor had no need to reply, for the moment the crowd caught
+sight of the professor tumultuous shouts of "Vive Delapine, vive le
+professeur," rose up in one mighty laryngeal blast. Scores of people
+stretched out their hands as if to embrace him, while others threw
+bouquets into the carriage. In fact the crowd was so great that it
+required a dozen gendarmes to clear a passage for him and his party. It
+was with great difficulty that he managed to reach the barriers on the
+platform.
+
+"Look, Henri," said Renée, pointing to a magnificent floral arch at the
+gateway on which "VIVE DELAPINE SOYEZ LE BIENVENU" was written in huge
+gilt letters around the curve of the arch.
+
+"I feel the proudest girl in all France," said Renée, beaming.
+
+Delapine was more than surprised, he was electrified, enchanted,
+bewildered. His eyes flashed with excitement, and he was utterly unable
+to express his feelings in words.
+
+Such was the fame that the professor had acquired first by his
+extraordinary and unique recovery from the trance, and then by his
+astounding play at Monte Carlo, that not only was the station crowded
+to suffocation, but the approach to it was lined by an enthusiastic
+crowd, extending as far back as the Column of July, and filling the
+Place de la Bastille.
+
+A magnificent carriage had been brought to the station for the
+professor, and so excited were the students that they had removed the
+horses, and twenty or more of them decorated with red sashes stood with
+ropes over their shoulders ready to drag the carriage to the Sorbonne.
+
+It was evident that the students had abandoned all thought of work
+that day, and the professors catching their enthusiasm joined them in
+a body. Had it been the Czar of all the Russians he could not have
+caused a tithe of the excitement and tremendous cheering that Delapine
+evoked as he stepped from the train on to the platform. On leaving the
+station, Delapine with Renée on his arm and Payot immediately behind
+them were conducted to their carriage by the senior professors of the
+university. Immediately behind followed a second carriage with the
+Villebois family, while Monsieur and Madame Beaupaire with Violette and
+Marcel occupied a third one. Such a sight had not been witnessed for
+many years. The cheering was deafening. Delapine was obliged to keep
+bowing every moment along the route. "Vive Delapine!" could be heard on
+all sides until the cry became a mighty roar of voices all along the
+route.
+
+On arriving at the Sorbonne he was ushered into a large room where a
+special banquet had been prepared for the professor and his party.
+Scientists were present from every part of France. The scene that
+ensued baffled all description.
+
+Speeches were made, songs were sung by celebrated divas and tenors
+specially engaged for the occasion, while the students themselves
+united in singing a song specially composed for the event.
+
+As the dinner drew towards the end, a deputation from his students
+presented Delapine with a beautifully carved silver casket containing
+an illuminated address.
+
+After the health of the hero of the hour had been drunk amid ringing
+cheers from every part of the room, the professor got up to reply.
+
+"Mes honorables collegues et mes amis," said Delapine, quite overcome
+by the enthusiasm and affection displayed by his pupils. "I thank you
+from my heart for these signs of your affection and esteem for my poor
+efforts on your behalf (cries of 'no, no,' on all sides) and also for
+your expressions of sympathy with me during my prolonged state of
+trance, and the pleasure you have shown at my restoration to health.
+I have, like Ulysses, returned from my wanderings, and I rejoice to
+be with you once more. (Great applause and shouts of 'hurrah for
+Delapine!')
+
+"I have not," he continued as soon as silence had been restored, "I
+have not altogether wasted my time since I left you last if I have
+been able to prove that a new era is dawning, and that wonders upon
+wonders are looming up in the horizon of our view. The spirit world
+is approaching nearer and nearer. Things which were inconceivable to
+our fathers are becoming commonplace to-day. Our great-grandfathers
+communicated with each other at a distance by means of beacons and
+flags; our grandfathers by means of mirrors and the semaphore; our
+fathers by the telegraph, while we communicate by means of the
+more convenient telephone and wireless ether waves; but mark me,
+our children or at least our grandchildren, will communicate their
+inmost thoughts by the infinitely more rapid psychic waves of the
+soul. (Deafening cheers followed). Writing and speech will be largely
+replaced by telepathy and thought transference. Both the past and the
+future will become unfolded to our mental gaze like a scroll.
+
+"If we follow nature's laws and search into its hidden mysteries with
+an open mind, we shall march on from victory to victory (shouts of
+'Vive la France!') we shall form a compact army of students who will
+refuse to acknowledge defeat. We shall be able to converse with the
+spirits of those who have gone before, and passed over to the other
+side. As my illustrious colleague, Sir Oliver Lodge, so eloquently
+puts it, 'The boundary between the two states--the known and the
+unknown--is still substantial, but it is wearing thin in places; and
+like excavators engaged in boring a tunnel from opposite ends, amid
+the roar of water and other noises, we are beginning to hear now and
+again the strokes of the pick-axes of our comrades on the other side.'
+Gentlemen, it is our solemn duty to search out the 'raison d'etre' of
+our existence on this planet, and to ascertain whither we are drifting.
+
+"We must find an answer to the questions put by the immortal Heine:
+
+ "Sagt mir was bedeutet der Mensch?
+ Wohin ist er gekommen? Wo geht er her?
+ Wer wohnt dort oben auf goldenen Sternen?[22]
+
+"If you cannot discover the known from the unknown you can at least,
+like the newly discovered elements, Niton, Thorium, and Actinium,
+excite activity in others. We must refuse to acknowledge defeat.
+I do not ask you to waste your precious time in fruitless efforts
+to win the Wolfskehl prize of 125,000 frs. by attempting to find a
+positive solution of Fermat's great theorem, that x^n + y^n = z^n[23].
+You, gentlemen, can well afford to leave such investigations to the
+German professors and the students of Göttingen. We Frenchmen have
+no time for such speculations, so long as rich pastures of fruitful
+and practical facts await discovery on every hand. Organic chemistry
+is only beginning to be unfolded and treated mathematically. We know
+the laws of gravity, but what is the cause of it? How does one body
+attract another at a distance, with nothing but the invisible and
+intangible Ether between them? The questions asked by Hypatia, the
+daughter of Theon, the geometer of Alexandria, fifteen hundred years
+ago, 'Who am I, what am I, whence do I go, and what is the soul of
+man?' remain unanswered to-day. If you study the smallest object, or
+the meanest insect, you cannot help making important discoveries, if
+you only go about it in the right way. The fields are already white
+unto the harvest and the labourers are few. If we would spend our lives
+like men we must work as long as our frail bodies will hold out. Do
+not let us be put to shame by the tiny insects. Look at the Megachile,
+the Anthidium, the Halictes and the wild bee Chalcidoma who, as our
+illustrious naturalist Henri Fabre informed us, work for the very joy
+of it, until they drop dead from sheer fatigue. So eager are they, that
+they even allow themselves to be killed rather than give up their work.
+It is not our business to read history, rather let it be our task to
+make it. (Deafening applause). I am merely a pioneer in the field of
+science, (cries of 'No, no'). I have just peeped behind the veil which
+screens our view from the unknown beyond. It remains for you to tear
+that veil asunder. Truly it has been said 'Labore est orare.' Let us
+then work until we die, and when our work is finished:
+
+ "O, may we join the choir invisible,
+   Of those immortal dead who live again
+ In minds made better by their presence: live
+   In pulses stirred to generosity,
+ In deeds of daring rectitude, in scorn
+   For miserable aims that pierce the night like stars,
+ And with their mild persistence urge man's search
+   To vaster issues.
+
+"Gentlemen," he added, "I have one thing to say before I sit down.
+My illness has not been without its compensations, for it has been
+the means of my winning a lovely bride," and he pointed to Renée, who
+became suffused with blushes.
+
+The rest of his remarks were drowned by terrific applause, intermingled
+with shouts of "Delapine for ever," "Three cheers for the bride,"
+"Good old Delapine," during which the professor sat down.
+
+Other speeches followed, and it was with difficulty that the professor
+and his fiancée ultimately managed to reach their carriage and drive
+away.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+A fortnight later Delapine and Renée, together with Marcel and
+Violette, were married by civil contract at the Mairie, and then a
+little later the next day the religious ceremony was performed at the
+Church of La Trinité.
+
+The breakfast took place in the dining-room and séance-room (which were
+thrown into one for the occasion) at the house of the happy couple's
+old friend, Dr. Villebois.
+
+"Villebois," said Riche at the wedding breakfast, "I owe all my
+happiness to meeting you at the café at the corner of the Boule 'Miche'
+last autumn."
+
+"And I owe all mine to Payot losing his pile," retorted Marcel. "If he
+had not 'plunged' he would not have met Beaupaire, and I should not
+have seen Violette."
+
+"And Renée's marriage is all due to that lucky café, for there it was
+that I met Mdlle. Violette," said Riche.
+
+"You?" said Marcel, astonished, as he ceased for a moment admiring his
+superb silk waistcoat.
+
+"Yes, it was there that she told me what she saw in the ring, half
+an hour after I met Villebois there for the first time. And I fully
+believe it saved Delapine's life, for it was owing to Violette's
+clairvoyance of the sealed envelope that I persuaded Dr. Roux to cease
+performing the autopsy."
+
+"Good gracious," said Marcel, "here are three people who go and get
+married and their wives receive handsome dots all because you happened
+to sit down and smoke a pipe outside a café. Well! if that doesn't beat
+the professor's play at the tables I'm a Dutchman."
+
+"I wonder whether we have heard the last of Delapine," said Violette.
+
+"The last of Delapine!" exclaimed Marcel. "Don't worry, you will hear
+plenty more yet about him."
+
+"Don't you remember he told Renée that when he recovered he intended to
+dictate his memoirs?"
+
+"Yes, I remember, and in his speech at the Sorbonne he said he was
+going to make history instead of learning it."
+
+"By Jove," said Marcel, "you are right. We are going to have some fun
+ahead to look forward to."
+
+"Céleste," said Riche, as he took her little hand in his, "we are
+nobodies just now. The effulgence of Delapine and Marcel is too
+dazzling. I think we had better wait a few weeks until everyone is
+breathing a more sober atmosphere, and then we can have a quiet wedding
+all to ourselves." And they did.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 22:
+
+ "Oh, tell me now what meaning has man,
+ Or whence he comes, and whither he goes,
+ Who dwells beyond upon the golden stars?"]
+
+[Footnote 23: Thus to give a simple case: Let x = 3, y = 4, z = 5,
+and n = 2. Then 3^2 + 4^2 = 5^2. What the professor had in his mind
+was a general expression which would embody all cases, in which n may
+be any integer. It is well-known that Fermat discovered the solution,
+but it was unfortunately lost, although his papers were searched
+through at his death. The prize is still open for competition, 1916.
+All particulars can be obtained from the rector of the University of
+Göttingen. (G.L.J.)]
+
+ The End.
+
+ W. JOLLY & SONS, PRINTERS, ABERDEEN
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Weird Adventures of Professor
+Delapine of the Sorbonne, by George Lindsay Johnson
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 56713 ***