it was after four o'clock when m. de tregars was at last permittedto return home. he had minutely, and at length, arranged everything with the commissary: he had endeavored to anticipate everyeventuality. his line of conduct was perfectly well marked out,and he carried with him the certainty that on the day which wasabout to dawn the strange game that he was playing must be finallywon or lost. when he reached home,"at last, here you are, sir!" exclaimed his faithful servant.
it was doubtless anxiety that had kept up the old man all night; butso absorbed was marius's mind, that he scarcely noticed the fact.
"did any one call in my absence?" he asked.
"yes, sir. a gentleman called during the evening, m. costeclar, whoappeared very much vexed not to find you in. he stated that he cameon a very important matter that you would know all about: and herequested me to ask you to wait for him to-morrow, that is to-day,by twelve o'clock."was m. costeclar sent by m. de thaller? had the manager of themutual credit changed his mind? and had he decided to accept theconditions which he had at first rejected? in that case, it wastoo late. it was no longer in the power of any human being tosuspend the action of justice. without giving any further thoughtto that visit,"i am worn out with fatigue," said m. de tregars, "and i am goingto lie down. at eight o'clock precisely you will call me."but it was in vain that he tried to find a short respite in sleep.
for forty-eight hours his mind had been taxed beyond measure, hisnerves had been wrought up to an almost intolerable degree ofexaltation.
as soon as he closed his eyes, it was with a merciless precisionthat his imagination presented to him all the events which had takenplace since that afternoon in the place-royale when he had venturedto declare his love to mlle. gilberte. who could have told him then,that he would engage in that struggle, the issue of which mustcertainly be some abominable scandal in which his name would bemixed? who could have told him, that gradually, and by the veryforce of circumstances, he would be led to overcome his repugnance,and to rival the ruses and the tortuous combinations of the wretcheshe was trying to reach?
but he was not of those who, once engaged, regret, hesitate, anddraw hack. his conscience reproached him for nothing. it was forjustice and right that he was battling; and mlle. gilberte was theprize that would reward him.
eight o'clock struck; and his servant came in.
"run for a cab," he said: 'i'll be ready in a moment."he was ready, in fact, when the old servant returned; and, as hehad in his pocket some of those arguments that lend wings to thepoorest cab-horses, in less than ten minutes he had reached thehotel des folies.
"how is mlle. lucienne?" he inquired first of all of the worthyhostess.
the intervention of the commissary of police had made m. fortin andhis wife more supple than gloves, and more gentle than doves.
"the poor dear child is much better," answered mme. fortin; "andthe doctor, who has just left, now feels sure of her recovery. butthere is a row up there.""a row?""yes. that lady whom my husband went after last night insists upongoing out; and m. maxence won't let her: so that they are quarrelingup there. just listen."the loud noise of a violent altercation could be heard distinctly.
m. de tregars started up stairs, and on the second-story landing hefound maxence holding on obstinately to the railing, whilst mme.
zelie cadelle, redder than a peony, was trying to induce him to lether pass, treating him at the same time to some of the choicestepithets of her well-stocked repertory. catching sight of marius,"is it you," she cried, "who gave orders to keep me here against mywishes? by what right? am i your prisoner?"to irritate her would have been imprudent.
"why did you wish to leave," said m. de tregars gently, "at the verymoment when you knew that i was to call for you?"but she interrupted him, and, shrugging her shoulders,"why don't you tell the truth?" she said. "you were afraid totrust me.""oh!""you are wrong! what i promise to do i do. i only wanted to gohome to dress. can i go in the street in this costume?"and she was spreading out her wrapper, all faded and stained.
"i have a carriage below," said marius. "no one will see us.
doubtless she understood that it was useless to hesitate.
"as you please," she said.
m. de tregars took maxence aside, and in a hurried whisper,"you must," said he, "go at once to the rue st. gilles, and in myname request your sister to accompany you. you will take a closedcarriage, and you'll go and wait in the rue st. lazare, oppositeno.25. it may be that mlle. gilberte's assistance will becomeindispensable to me. and, as lucienne must not be left alone, youwill request mme. fortin to go and stay with her."and, without waiting for an answer,"let us go," he said to mme. cadelle.
they started but the young woman was far from being in her usualspirits. it was clear that she was regretting bitterly having goneso far, and not having been able to get away at the last moment.
as the carriage went on, she became paler and a frown appeared uponher face.
"no matter," she began: "it's a nasty thing i am doing there.""do you repent then, assisting me to punish your friend's assassins?"said m. de tregars.
she shook her head.
"i know very well that old vincent is a scoundrel," she said; "buthe had trusted me, and i am betraying him.""you are mistaken, madame. to furnish me the means of speaking tom. favoral is not to betray him; and i shall do every thing in mypower to enable him to escape the police, and make his way abroad.""what a joke!""it is the exact truth: i give you my word of honor." she seemedto feel easier; and, when the carriage turned into the rue st.
lazare, "let us stop a moment," she said.
"why?""so that i can buy old vincent's breakfast. he can't go out to eat,of course; and so i have to take all his meals to him."marius's mistrust was far from being dissipated; and yet he did notthink it prudent to refuse, promising himself, however, not to losesight of mme. zelie. he followed her, therefore, to the baker'sand the butcher's; and when she had done her marketing, he enteredwith her the house of modest appearance where she had her apartment.
they were already going up stairs, when the porter ran out of hislodge.
"madame!" he said, "madame!"mme. cadelle stopped.
"what is the matter?""a letter for you.""for me?""here it is. a lady brought it less than five minutes ago. really,she looked annoyed not to find you in. but she is going to comeback. she knew you were to be here this morning."m. de tregars had also stopped.
"what kind of a looking person was this lady?" he asked.
"dressed all in black, with a thick veil on her face.""all right. i thank you."the porter returned to his lodge. mme. zelie broke the seal. thefirst envelope contained another, upon which she spelt, for she didnot read very fluently, "to be handed to m. vincent.""some one knows that he is hiding here," she said in a tone of uttersurprise. "who can it be?""who? why, the woman whose reputation m. favoral was so anxious tospare when he put you in the rue du cirque house."there was nothing that irritated the young woman so much as this idea.
"you are right," she said. "what a fool he made of me; the old rascal!
but never mind. i am going to pay him for it now."nevertheless when she reached her story, the third, and at the momentof slipping the key into the keyhole, she again seemed perplexed.
"if some misfortune should happen," she sighed.
"what are you afraid of?""old vincent has got all sorts of arms in there. he has sworn to methat the first person who forced his way into the apartments, hewould kill him like a dog. suppose he should fire at us?"she was afraid, terribly afraid: she was livid, and her teethchattered.
"let me go first," suggested m. de tregars.
"no. only, if you were a good fellow, you would do what i am goingto ask you. say, will you?""if it can be done.""oh, certainly! here is the thing. we'll go in together; but youmust not make any noise. there is a large closet with glass doors,from which every thing can be heard and seen that goes on in thelarge room. you'll get in there. i'll go ahead, and draw out oldvincent into the parlor and at the right moment, v'lan! you appear."it was after all, quite reasonable.
"agreed!" said marius.
"then," she said, "every thing will go on right. the entrance ofthe closet with the glass doors is on the right as you go in. comealong now, and walk easy."and she opened the door.
