Le dossier no. 113. English

  XXI

  For more than an hour after Raoul's departure, Mme. Fauvel remained in astate of stupor bordering upon unconsciousness.

  Gradually, however, she recovered her senses sufficiently to comprehendthe horrors of her present situation; and, with the faculty of thought,that of suffering returned.

  The dreadful scene in which she had taken part was still before heraffrighted vision; all the attending circumstances, unnoticed at thetime, now struck her forcibly.

  She saw that she had been the dupe of a shameful conspiracy: that Raoulhad tortured her with cold-blooded cruelty, had taken advantage of hertenderness, and had speculated upon her fright.

  But had Prosper anything to do with the robbery? This Mme. Fauvel hadno way of finding out. Ah, Raoul knew how the blow would strike when heaccused Prosper. He knew that Mme. Fauvel would end by believing in thecashier's complicity.

  The unhappy woman sat and thought over every possible way in which Raoulcould find out the secret word without Prosper's knowledge. She rejectedwith horror the idea that the cashier was the instigator of the crime;but, in spite of herself, it constantly recurred. And finally she feltconvinced that what Raoul said must be true; for who but Prosper couldhave betrayed the word? And who but Prosper could have left so large anamount of money in the safe, which, by order of the banker, was to bealways left empty at night?

  Knowing that Prosper was leading a life of extravagance and dissipation,she thought it very likely that he had, from sheer desperation, resortedto this bold step to pay his debts; her blind affection, moreover, madeher anxious to attribute the crime to anyone, rather than to her darlingson.

  She had heard that Prosper was supporting one of those worthlesscreatures whose extravagance impoverishes men, and whose evil influenceperverts their natures. When a young man is thus degraded, will hestop at any sin or crime? Alas! Mme. Fauvel knew, from her own sadexperience, to what depths even one fault can lead. Although shebelieved Prosper guilty, she did not blame him, but considered herselfresponsible for his sins.

  Had she not herself banished the poor young man from the fireside whichhe had begun to regard as his own? Had she not destroyed his hopes ofhappiness, by crushing his pure love for a noble girl, whom he lookedupon as his future wife, and thus driven him into a life of dissipationand sin?

  She was undecided whether to confide in Madeleine, or bury the secret inher own breast.

  Fatally inspired, she decided to keep silent.

  When Madeleine returned home at eleven o'clock, Mme. Fauvel not only wassilent as to what had occurred, but even succeeded in so concealing alltraces of her agitation, that she escaped any questions from her niece.

  Her calmness never left her when M. Fauvel and Lucien returned, althoughshe was in terror lest her husband should go down to the cash-room tosee that everything was safely locked up. It was not his habit to openthe money-safe at night, but he sometimes did.

  As fate would have it, the banker, as soon as he entered the room, beganto speak of Prosper, saying how distressing it was that so interesting ayoung man should be thus throwing himself away, and wondering what couldhave happened to make him suddenly cease his visits at the house, andresort to bad company.

  If M. Fauvel had looked at the faces of his wife and niece while heharshly blamed the cashier, he would have been puzzled at their strangeexpressions.

  All night long Mme. Fauvel suffered the most intolerable agony. Shecounted each stroke of the town-clock, as the hours dragged on.

  "In six hours," she said to herself, "in five hours--in four hours--inthree hours--in one hour--all will be discovered; and then what willhappen? Heaven help me!"

  At sunrise she heard the servants moving about the house. Then theoffice-shutters opened; then, later, she heard the clerks going into thebank.

  She attempted to get up, but felt so ill and weak that she sank backon her pillow; and lying there, trembling like a leaf, bathed in coldperspiration, she awaited the discovery of the robbery.

  She was leaning over the side of the bed, straining her ear to catch asound from the cash-room, when Madeleine, who had just left her, rushedinto the room.

  The white face and wild eyes of the poor girl told Mme. Fauvel that thecrime was discovered.

  "Do you know what has happened, aunt?" cried Madeleine, in a shrill,horrified tone. "Prosper is accused of robbery, and the police have cometo take him to prison!"

  A groan was Mme. Fauvel's only answer.

  "Raoul or the marquis is at the bottom of this," continued Madeleineexcitedly.

  "How can they be concerned in it, my child?"

  "I can't tell yet; but I only know that Prosper is innocent. I have justseen him, spoken to him. He would never have looked me in the face hadhe been guilty."

  Mme. Fauvel opened her lips to confess all: fear kept her silent.

  "What can these wretches want?" said Madeleine: "what new sacrifice dothey demand? Dishonor Prosper! Good heavens! Why did they not kill himat once? He would rather be dead than disgraced!"

  Here the entrance of M. Fauvel interrupted Madeleine. The banker was soangry that he could scarcely speak.

  "The worthless scoundrel!" he cried; "to think of his daring to accuseme! To insinuate that I robbed my own safe! And that Marquis de Clameranmust needs doubt my good faith in keeping my engagement to pay hismoney!"

  Then, without noticing the effect of his story upon the two women, heproceeded to relate all that had occurred downstairs.

  "I was afraid this extravagance would lead to something terrible," hesaid in conclusion; "you know I told you last night that Prosper wasgrowing worse in his conduct, and that he would get into trouble."

  Throughout the day Madeleine's devotion to her aunt was severely tried.

  The generous girl saw disgrace heaped upon the man she loved. She hadperfect faith in his innocence; she felt sure she knew who had laid thetrap to ruin him; and yet she could not say a word in his defence.

  Fearing that Madeleine would suspect her of complicity in the theft, ifshe remained in bed and betrayed so much agitation, Mme. Fauvel aroseand dressed for breakfast.

  It was a dreary meal. No one tasted a morsel. The servants moved abouton their tiptoes, as silently as if a death had occurred in the family.

  About two o'clock, a servant came to M. Fauvel's study, and said thatthe Marquis de Clameran desired to see him.

  "What!" cried the banker; "does he dare----"

  Then, after a moment's reflection, he added:

  "Ask him to walk up."

  The very name of Clameran had sufficed to arouse all the slumberingwrath of M. Fauvel. The victim of a robbery, finding his safe empty atthe moment that he was called upon to make a heavy payment, he had beenconstrained to conceal his anger and resentment; but now he determinedto have his revenge upon his insolent visitor.

  But the marquis declined to come upstairs. The messenger returned withthe answer that the gentleman had a particular reason for seeing M.Fauvel in the office below, where the clerks were.

  "What does this fresh impertinence mean?" cried the banker, as heangrily jumped up and hastened downstairs.

  M. de Clameran was standing in the middle of the room adjoining thecash-room; M. Fauvel walked up to him, and said bluntly:

  "What do you want now, monsieur? You have been paid your money, and Ihave your receipt."

  To the surprise of all the clerks, and the banker himself, the marquisseemed not in the least offended at this rude greeting, but answered ina deferential but not at all humble manner:

  "You are hard upon me, monsieur; but I deserve it, and that is why I amhere. A gentleman always acknowledges when he is in the wrong: in thisinstance I am the offender; and I flatter myself that my past willpermit me to say so without being accused of cowardice or lack ofself-respect. I insisted upon seeing you here instead of in your study,because, having been rude to you in the presence of your clerks, Iwished them to hear me apologize for my behavior of this morning."

  Clameran's
speech was so different from his usual overbearing, haughtyconduct, that surprise almost stupefied the banker, and he could onlyanswer:

  "I must say that I was hurt by your doubts, insinuations, suspicions ofmy honor----"

  "This morning," continued the marquis, "I was irritated, andthoughtlessly gave way to my temper. Although I am gray-headed, mydisposition is as excitable as that of a fiery young man of twentyyears; and I hope you will forget words uttered in a moment ofexcitement, and now deeply regretted."

  M. Fauvel, being a kind-hearted though quick-tempered man, couldappreciate Clameran's feelings; and, knowing that his own highreputation for scrupulous honesty could not be affected by any hasty orabusive language uttered by a creditor, at once calmed down before sofrank an apology; and, holding out his hand to Clameran, said:

  "Let us forget what happened, monsieur."

  They conversed in a friendly manner for some minutes; and, afterClameran had explained why he had such pressing need of the money atthat particular hour of the morning, turned to leave, saying that hewould do himself the honor of calling upon Mme. Fauvel during the day.

  "That is, if a visit from me would not be considered intrusive," he saidwith a shade of hesitation. "Perhaps, after the trouble of this morning,she does not wish to be disturbed."

  "Oh, no!" said the banker; "come, by all means; I think a visit from youwould cheer her mind. I shall be from home all day, trying to trace thisunfortunate affair."

  Mme. Fauvel was in the same room where Raoul had threatened to killhimself the night previous; she looked very pale and ill as she lay on asofa. Madeleine was bathing her forehead.

  When M. de Clameran was announced, they both started up as if a phantomhad appeared before them.

  Although Louis had been gay and smiling when he parted from M. Fauveldownstairs, he now wore a melancholy aspect, as he gravely bowed, andrefused to seat himself in the chair which Mme. Fauvel motioned him totake.

  "You will excuse me, ladies, for intruding at this time of youraffliction; but I have a duty to fulfil."

  The two women were silent; they seemed to be waiting for him to explain.He added in an undertone:

  "I know all."

  By an imploring gesture, Mme. Fauvel tried to stop him. She saw that hewas about to reveal her secret to Madeleine.

  But Louis would not see this gesture; he turned his whole attention toMadeleine, who haughtily said:

  "Explain yourself, monsieur."

  "Only one hour ago," he replied, "I discovered that Raoul last nightforced from his mother the key of the money-safe, and stole threehundred and fifty thousand francs."

  Madeleine crimsoned with shame and indignation; she leaned over thesofa, and seizing her aunt's wrist shook it violently, and in a hollowvoice cried:

  "It is false, is it not, aunt? speak!"

  "Alas! alas!" groaned Mme. Fauvel. "What have I done?"

  "You have allowed Prosper to be accused," cried Madeleine; "you havesuffered him to be arrested, and disgraced for life."

  "Forgive me," sighed Mme. Fauvel. "He was about to kill himself; I wasso frightened! Then you know--Prosper was to share the money: he gaveRaoul the secret word--"

  "Good Heavens! Aunt, how could you believe such a falsehood as that?"

  Clameran interrupted them.

  "Unfortunately, what your aunt says of M. Bertomy is the truth," he saidin a sad tone.

  "Your proofs, monsieur; where are your proofs?"

  "Raoul's confession."

  "Raoul is false."

  "That is only too true: but how did he find out the word, if M. Bertomydid not reveal it? And who left the money in the safe but M. Bertomy?"

  These arguments had no effect upon Madeleine.

  "And now tell me," she said scornfully, "what became of the money?"

  There was no mistaking the significance of these words: they meant:

  "You are the instigator of the robbery, and of course you have takenpossession of the money."

  This harsh accusation from a girl whom he so passionately loved, when,grasping bandit as he was, he gave up for her sake all the money gainedby his crime, so cruelly hurt Clameran that he turned livid. But hismortification and anger did not prevent him from pursuing the part hehad prepared and studied.

  "A day will come, mademoiselle," he said, "when you will deeply regrethaving treated me so cruelly. I understand your insinuation; you neednot attempt to deny it."

  "I have no idea of denying anything, monsieur."

  "Madeleine!" remonstrated Mme. Fauvel, who trembled at the rising angerof the man who held her fate in his hands, "Madeleine, be careful!"

  "Mademoiselle is pitiless," said Clameran sadly; "she cruelly punishesan honorable man whose only fault is having obeyed his brother'sdying injunctions. And I am here now, because I believe in the jointresponsibility of all the members of a family."

  Here he slowly drew from his pocket several bundles of bank-notes, andlaid them on the mantel-piece.

  "Raoul stole three hundred and fifty thousand francs," he said: "Ireturn the same amount. It is more than half my fortune. Willingly wouldI give the rest to insure this being the last crime committed by him."

  Too inexperienced to penetrate this bold, and yet simple plan ofClameran's, Madeleine was dumb with astonishment; all her calculationswere upset.

  Mme. Fauvel, on the contrary, accepted this restitution as salvationsent from heaven.

  "Oh, thanks, monsieur, thanks!" she cried, gratefully claspingClameran's hand in hers; "you are goodness itself!"

  Louis's eye lit up with pleasure. But he rejoiced too soon. A minute'sreflection brought back all of Madeleine's distrust. She thought thismagnanimity and generosity unnatural in a man whom she consideredincapable of a noble sentiment, and at once concluded that it mustconceal some snare beneath.

  "What are we to do with the money?" she demanded.

  "Restore it to M. Fauvel, mademoiselle."

  "We restore it, monsieur, and how? Restoring the money is denouncingRaoul, and ruining my aunt. Take back your money, monsieur. We will nottouch it."

  Clameran was too shrewd to insist; he took up the money, and prepared toleave.

  "I comprehend your refusal, mademoiselle, and must find another wayof accomplishing my wish. But, before retiring, let me say that yourinjustice pains me deeply. After the promise you made to me, I hadreason to hope for a kinder welcome."

  "I will keep my promise, monsieur; but not until you have furnishedsecurity."

  "Security! And for what? Pray, explain yourself."

  "Something to protect my aunt against the molestations of Raoul aftermy--marriage. What is to prevent his coming to extort money from hismother after he has squandered my dowry? A man who spends a hundredthousand francs in four months will soon run through my little fortune.We are making a bargain; I give you my hand in exchange for the honorand life of my aunt; and of course you must give me some guarantee tosecure the performance of your promise."

  "Oh! I will give you ample securities," cried Clameran, "such as willquiet all your suspicious doubts of my good faith. Alas! you willnot believe in my devotion; what shall I do to convince you of itssincerity? Shall I try to save M. Bertomy?"

  "Thanks for the offer, monsieur," replied Madeleine disdainfully; "ifProsper is guilty, let him be punished by the law; if he is innocent,God will protect him."

  Here Madeleine stood up, to signify that the interview was over.

  Clameran bowed, and left the room.

  "What pride! What determination! The idea of her demanding securitiesof me!" he said to himself as he slowly walked away. "But the proud girlshall be humbled yet. She is so beautiful! and, if I did not so madlylove her, I would kill her on the spot!"

  Never had Clameran been so irritated.

  Madeleine's quiet determination and forethought had unexpectedly thrownhim off his well-laid track; not anticipating any such self assertion onher part, he was disconcerted, and at a loss how to proceed.

  He knew that it
would be useless to attempt deceiving a girl ofMadeleine's character a second time; he saw that she had penetrated hismotives sufficiently to put her on the defensive, and prepare her forany new surprise. Moreover, she would prevent Mme. Fauvel from beingfrightened and forced into submission any longer.

  With mortification and rage, Louis saw that after all his plotting, whensuccess was in his reach, when his hopes were almost crowned, he hadbeen foiled and scornfully set at defiance by a girl: the whole thingwould have to be gone over again.

  Although Madeleine had resigned herself to sacrifice, it was stillevident that she had no idea of doing so blindly, and would not hazardher aunt's and her own happiness upon the uncertainty of a verbalpromise.

  Clameran racked his brain to furnish guarantees; how could he convinceher that Raoul had no idea or desire of annoying Mme. Fauvel in thefuture?

  He could not tell Madeleine that her dowry was to be the bribe receivedby Raoul for his future good behavior and past crimes.

  The knowledge of all the circumstances of this shameful criminalintrigue would have reassured her upon her aunt's peace of mind; butthen it would never do to inform her of these details, certainly notbefore the marriage.

  What securities could he give? Not one could he think of.

  But Clameran was not one of those slow-minded men who take weeks toconsider a difficulty. When he could not untie a knot, he would cut it.

  Raoul was a stumbling-block to his wishes, and he swore to rid himselfof his troublesome accomplice as soon as possible.

  Although it was not an easy matter to dispose of so cunning a knave,Clameran felt no hesitation in undertaking to accomplish his purpose. Hewas incited by one of those passions which age renders terrible.

  The more certain he was of Madeleine's contempt and dislike, the moredetermined he was to marry her. His love seemed to be a sort of insanedesire to possess and call his own the one being whom he recognized ashis superior in every way.

  But he had sense enough to see that he might ruin his prospects by unduehaste, and that the safest course would be to await the result of therobbery and its effect upon Prosper.

  He waited in anxious expectation of a summons from Mme. Fauvel. At lasthe concluded that Madeleine was waiting for him to make the next move inthe direction of yielding.

  He was right; Madeleine knew that after the last bold step theaccomplices would remain quiet for a while; she knew resistance couldhave no worse results than would cowardly submission; and thereforeassumed the entire responsibility of managing the affair so as to keepat bay both Raoul and Clameran.

  She knew that Mme. Fauvel would be anxious to accept any terms of peace,but she determined to use all her influence to prevent her doing this,and to force upon her the necessity of preserving a dignified silence.

  This accounted for the silence of the two women, who were quietlywaiting for their adversaries to renew hostilities.

  They even succeeded in concealing their anxiety beneath assumedindifference; never asking any questions about the robbery, or those inany way connected with it.

  M. Fauvel brought them an account of Prosper's examination, the manycharges brought against him, his obstinate denial of having stolen themoney; and finally how, after great perplexity and close study of thecase by the judge of instruction, the cashier had been discharged forwant of sufficient proof against him.

  Since Clameran's offer to restore the notes, Mme. Fauvel had not doubtedProsper's guilt. She said nothing, but inwardly accused him of havingseduced her son from the path of virtue, and enticed him into crime--herson whom she would never cease to love, no matter how great his faults.

  Madeleine had perfect faith in Prosper's innocence.

  She was so confident of his being restored to liberty that she venturedto ask her uncle, under pretext of some charitable object, to giveher ten thousand francs, which she sent to the unfortunate victim ofcircumstantial evidence; who, from what she had heard of his poverty,must be in need of assistance.

  In the letter--cut from her prayer-book to avoid detection bywriting--accompanying the money, she advised Prosper to leave France,because she knew that it would be impossible for a man of his proudnature to remain on the scene of his disgrace; the greater hisinnocence, the more intolerable his suffering.

  Besides, Madeleine, at that time feeling that she would be obliged tomarry Clameran, was anxious to have the man she loved far, far away fromher.

  On the day that this anonymous present was sent, in opposition to thewishes of Mme. Fauvel, the two poor women were entangled fearfully inpecuniary difficulties.

  The tradesmen whose money had been squandered by Raoul refused to givecredit any longer, and insisted upon their bills being paid at once;saying they could not understand how a man of M. Fauvel's wealth andposition could keep them waiting for such insignificant sums.

  The butcher, grocer, and wine-merchant had bills of one, two, and fivehundred francs only; but, not having even that small amount, Mme. Fauvelhad difficulty in prevailing upon them to receive a part on account, andwait a little longer for the residue.

  Some of the store-keepers threatened to ask the banker for their money,if everything was not settled before the end of the week.

  Alas! Mme. Fauvel's indebtedness amounted to fifteen thousand francs.

  Madeleine and her aunt had declined all invitations during the winter,to avoid purchasing evening dresses; having always been remarkable fortheir superb toilets, seldom appearing in the same ball-dress twice,they dared not give rise to comment by wearing their old dresses, andknowing that M. Fauvel would be the first to ask the cause of thissudden change, as he liked to see them always the best-dressed women inthe room.

  But at last they were obliged to appear in public. M. Fauvel's mostintimate friends, the Messrs. Jandidier, were about to give a splendidball, and, as fate would have it, a fancy ball, which would require thepurchasing of costumes.

  Where would the money come from?

  They had been owing a large bill to their dressmaker for over a year.Would she consent to furnish them dresses on credit? They were ashamedto ask her.

  Madeleine's new maid, Palmyre Chocareille, extricated them from thisdifficulty.

  This girl, who seemed to have suffered all the minor ills oflife--which, after all, are the hardest to bear--seemed to have divinedher mistress's anxiety.

  At any rate, she voluntarily informed Madeleine that a friend of hers,a first-class dressmaker, had just set up for herself, and would be gladto furnish materials and make the dresses on credit, for the sake ofobtaining the patronage of Mme. Fauvel and her niece, which would atonce bring her plenty of fashionable customers.

  But, after this dilemma was settled, a still greater one presenteditself.

  Mme. Fauvel and her niece could not appear at a ball without jewelry;and every jewel they owned had been taken by Raoul, and pawned.

  After thinking the matter over, Madeleine decided to ask Raoul to takesome of the stolen money, and redeem the last set of jewels he hadforced from his mother. She informed her aunt of her intention, andsaid, in a tone that admitted of no contradiction:

  "Appoint an interview with Raoul: he will not dare to refuse you; and Iwill go in your stead."

  The next day, the courageous girl took a cab, and, regardless of theinclement weather, went to Vesinet.

  She would have been filled with consternation had she known that M.Verduret and Prosper were following close behind, and witnessed herinterview from the top of a ladder.

  Her bold step was fruitless. Raoul swore that he had divided withProsper; that his own half of the money was spent, and that he had not anapoleon wherewith to redeem anything.

  He even refused to give up the pledges; and Madeleine had to resortto threats of exposure, before she could induce him to surrender thetickets of four or five trifling articles that were indispensable totheir toilet.

  Clameran had ordered him to refuse positively to give up a singleticket, because he hoped that in their distress they woul
d call upon himfor relief.

  The violent altercation witnessed by Clameran's new valet, JosephDubois, had been caused by the exaction of this promise.

  The accomplices were at that time on very bad terms. Clameran wasseeking a safe means of getting rid of Raoul; and the young scamp,having a presentiment of his uncle's intentions, was determined tooutwit him.

  Nothing but the certainty of impending danger could reconcile them. Thedanger was revealed to them both at the Jandidier ball.

  Who was the mysterious mountebank that indulged in such transparentallusions to Mme. Fauvel's private troubles, and then said, withthreatening significance to Louis: "I was the best friend of yourbrother Gaston?"

  Who he was, where he came from, they could not imagine; but theyclearly saw that he was a dangerous enemy, and forthwith attempted toassassinate him upon his leaving the ball.

  Having been followed and watched by their would-be victim, they becamealarmed--especially when he suddenly disappeared--and wisely decidedthat the safest thing they then could do was to return quietly to theirhotel.

  "We cannot be too guarded in our conduct," whispered Clameran; "we mustdiscover who he is before taking any further steps in this matter."

  Once more, Raoul tried to induce him to give up his project of marryingMadeleine.

  "Never!" he exclaimed fiercely, "I will marry her or perish in theattempt!"

  He thought that, now they were warned, the danger of being caught waslessened; when on his guard, few people could entrap so experienced andskilful a rogue.

  Little did Clameran know that a man who was a hundred-fold more skilfulthan he was closely pursuing him.