CHAPTER XV. THE THUG.
After a moment's silence, Father d'Aigrigny resumed "Read me to-day'sreport on the situation of each of the persons designated."
"Here is that of this evening; it has just come."
"Let us hear."
Rodin read as follows: "Jacques Rennepont, alias Sleepinbuff, was seenin the interior of the debtors' prison at eight o'clock this evening."
"He will not disturb us to-morrow. One; go on."
"The lady superior of St. Mary's Convent, warned by the Princessde Saint-Dizier, has thought fit to confine still more strictly theDemoiselles Rose and Blanche Simon. This evening, at nine o'clock, theyhave been carefully locked in their cells, and armed men will make theirround in the convent garden during the night."
"Thanks to these precautions, there is nothing to fear from that side,"said Father d'Aigrigny. "Go on."
"Dr. Baleinier, also warned by the Princess de Saint-Dizier, continuesto have Mdlle. de Cardoville very closely watched. At a quarter to ninethe door of the building in which she is lodged was locked and bolted."
"That is still another cause the less for uneasiness."
"As for M. Hardy," resumed Rodin "I have received this morning, fromToulouse, a letter from his intimate friend, M. de Bressac, who has beenof such service to us in keeping the manufacturer away for somedays longer. This letter contains a note, addressed by M. Hardy to aconfidential person, which M. de Bressac has thought fit to intercept,and send to us as another proof of the success of the steps he hastaken, and for which he hopes we shall give him credit--as to serve us,he adds, he betrays his friend in the most shameful manner, and acts apart in an odious comedy. M. de Bressac trusts that, in return for thesegood offices, we will deliver up to him those papers, which place himin our absolute dependence, as they might ruin for ever a woman he loveswith an adulterous passion. He says that we ought to have pity on thehorrible alternative in which he is placed--either to dishonor and ruinthe woman he adores, or infamously to betray the confidence of his bosomfriend."
"These adulterous lamentations are not deserving of pity," answeredFather d'Aigrigny, with contempt. "We will see about that; M. de Bressacmay still be useful to us. But let us hear this letter of M. Hardy, thatimpious and republican manufacturer, worthy descendant of an accursedrace, whom it is of the first importance to keep away."
"Here is M. Hardy's letter," resumed Rodin. "To-morrow, we will send itto the person to whom it is addressed." Rodin read as follows:
"TOULOUSE, February the 10th.
"At length I find a moment to write to you, and to explain the causeof the sudden departure which, without alarming, must at least haveastonished you. I write also to ask you a service; the facts may bestated in a few words. I have often spoken to you of Felix de Bressac,one of my boyhood mates, though not nearly so old as myself. We havealways loved each other tenderly, and have shown too many proofs ofmutual affection not to count upon one another. He is a brother to me.You know all I mean by that expression. Well--a few days ago, he wroteto me from Toulouse, where he was to spend some time: 'If you love me,come; I have the greatest need of you. At once! Your consolationsmay perhaps give me the courage to live. If you arrive too late--why,forgive me--and think sometimes of him who will be yours to the last.'Judge of my grief and fear on receipt of the above. I seat instantlyfor post-horses. My old foreman, whom I esteem and revere (the father ofGeneral Simon), hearing that I was going to the south, begged me to takehim with me, and to leave him for some days in the department of theCreuse, to examine some ironworks recently founded there. I consentedwillingly to this proposition, as I should thus at least have some oneto whom I could pour out the grief and anxiety which had been causedby this letter from Bressac. I arrive at Toulouse; they tell me thathe left the evening before, taking arms with him, a prey to the mostviolent despair. It was impossible at first to tell whither he had gone;after two days, some indications, collected with great trouble, put meupon his track. At last, after a thousand adventures, I found him in amiserable village. Never--no, never, have I seen despair like this.No violence, but a dreadful dejection, a savage silence. At first, healmost repulsed me; then, this horrible agony having reached its height,he softened by degrees, and, in about a quarter of an hour, threwhimself into my arms, bathed in tears. Beside him were his loadedpistols: one day later, and all would have been over. I cannot tell youthe reason of his despair; I am not at liberty to do so; but it did notgreatly astonish me. Now there is a complete cure to effect. We mustcalm, and soothe, and heal this poor soul, which has been cruellywounded. The hand of friendship is alone equal to this delicate task,and I have good hope of success. I have therefore persuaded him totravel for some time; movement and change of scene will be favorable tohim. I shall take him first to Nice; we set out tomorrow. If he wishesto prolong this excursion. I shall do so too, for my affairs do notimperiously demand my presence in Paris before the end of March. Asfor the service I have to ask of you, it is conditional. These are thefacts. According to some family papers that belonged to my mother,it seems I have a certain interest to present myself at No. 3, RueSaint-Francois, in Paris, on the 13th of February. I had inquired aboutit, and could learn nothing, except that this house of very antiqueappearance, has been shut up for the last hundred and fifty years,through a whim of one of my maternal ancestors, and that it is to beopened on the 13th of this month, in presence of the co-heirs who, ifI have any, are quite unknown to me. Not being able to attend myself, Ihave written to my foreman, the father of General Simon, in whom I havethe greatest confidence, and whom I had left behind in the departmentof the Creuse, to set out for Paris, and to be present at the openingof this house, not as an agent (which would be useless), but as aspectator, and inform me at Nice what has been the result of thisromantic notion of my ancestor's. As it is possible that my foreman mayarrive too late to accomplish this mission, I should be much obligedif you would inquire at my house at Plessy, if he has yet come, and,in case of his still being absent, if you would take his place at theopening of the house in the Rue Saint-Francois. I believe that I havemade a very small sacrifice for my friend Bressac, in not being in Parison that day. But had the sacrifice been immense, I should have made itwith pleasure, for my care and friendship are at present most necessaryto the man whom I look upon as a brother. I count upon your compliancewith my request, and, begging you to be kind enough to write me, 'tobe called for,' at Nice, the result of your visit of inquiry, I remain,etc., etc.
"FRANCIS HARDY."
"Though his presence cannot be of any great importance, it would bepreferable that Marshal Simon's father should not attend at the openingof this house to-morrow," said Father d'Aigrigny. "But no matter. M.Hardy himself is out of the way. There only remains the young Indian."
"As for him," continued the abbe, with a thoughtful air, "we actedwisely in letting M. Norval set out with the presents of Mdlle. deCardoville. The doctor who accompanies M. Norval, and who was chosen byM. Baleinier, will inspire no suspicion?"
"None," answered Rodin. "His letter of yesterday is completelysatisfactory."
"There is nothing, then, to fear from the Indian prince," saidD'Aigrigny. "All goes well."
"As for Gabriel," resumed Rodin, "he has again written this morning, toobtain from your reverence the interview that he has vainly solicitedfor the last three days. He is affected by the rigor exercised towardshim, in forbidding him to leave the house for these five days past."
"To-morrow, when we take him to the Rue Saint-Francois, I will hear whathe has to say. It will be time enough. Thus, at this hour," said Fatherd'Aigrigny, with an air of triumphant satisfaction, "all the descendantsof this family, whose presence might ruin our projects, are soplaced that it is absolutely impossible for them to be at the RueSaint-Francois to-morrow before noon, while Gabriel will be sure to bethere. At last our end is gained."
Two cautious knocks at the door interrupted Father d'Aigrigny. "Comein," said he.
An old servant in black presented hims
elf, and said: "There is a mandownstairs who wishes to speak instantly to M. Rodin on very urgentbusiness."
"His name?" asked Father d'Aigrigny.
"He would not tell his name; but he says that he comes from M. Van Dael,a merchant in Java."
Father d'Aigrigny and Rodin exchanged a glance of surprise, almost ofalarm.
"See what this man is," said D'Aigrigny to Rodin, unable to concealhis uneasiness, "and then come and give me an account of it." Then,addressing the servant, he added: "Show him in"--and exchanginganother expressive sign with Rodin, Father d'Aigrigny disappeared by aside-door.
A minute after, Faringhea, the ex-chief of the Stranglers, appearedbefore Rodin, who instantly remembered having seen him at CardovilleCastle.
The socius started, but he did not wish to appear to recollect hisvisitor. Still bending over his desk, he seemed not to seen Faringhea,but wrote hastily some words on a sheet of paper that lay before him.
"Sir," said the servant, astonished at the silence of Rodin, "here isthe person."
Rodin folded the note that he had so precipitately written, and said tothe servant: "Let this be taken to its address. Wait for an answer."
The servant bowed, and went out. Then Rodin, without rising, fixed hislittle reptile-eyes on Faringhea, and said to him courteously: "To whom,sir, have I the honor of speaking?"