The Count's Millions [159]
not without pleasure, I frankly confess." Then as the magistrate questioned her anxiously as to her resources, she replied: "Oh! I'm not without money. M. de Chalusse was generosity itself, and my tastes are very simple. From the money he gave me for my clothes I saved more than eight thousand francs in less than six months. That is more than sufficient to maintain me for a year."
The magistrate then explained that when the court took possession of this immense estate, it would surely allow her a certain sum. For whether the count was her father or not, he was at any rate her officially appointed guardian, and she would be considered a minor. And in support of his assertion, he quoted Article 367 of the Civil Code, which says: "In the event of the officially appointed guardian dying without adopting, his ward, the said ward shall be furnished during her minority with the means of subsistence from the said guardian's estate," etc., etc.
"An additional reason why I should give up my jewels," said Mademoiselle Marguerite.
The only point that now remained was to decide upon some plan by which she could communicate with her friend, the magistrate, without the knowledge of the General or his wife. The magistrate accordingly explained a system of correspondence which would defy the closest surveillance, and then added: "Now, make haste back to your visitor. Who knows what suspicions your absence may have caused her?"
But Mademoiselle Marguerite had one more request to make. She had often seen in M. de Chalusse's possession a little note-book, in which he entered the names and addresses of the persons with whom he had business transactions. M. Fortunat's address must be there, so she asked and obtained permission to examine this note- book, and to her great joy, under the letter "F," she found the entry: "Fortunat (Isidore), No. 28 Place de la Bourse." "Ah! I'm sure that I shall find Pascal now!" she exclaimed. And after once more thanking the magistrate, she returned to her room again.
Madame de Fondege was awaiting her with feverish impatience. "How long you stayed!" she cried.
"I had so many explanations to give, madame."
"How you are tormented, my poor child!"
"Oh, shamefully!"
This furnished Madame de Fondege with another excuse for proffering her advice. But Mademoiselle Marguerite would not allow herself to be convinced at once. She raised a great many objections, and parleyed for a long time before telling Madame de Fondege that she would be happy to accept the hospitality which had been offered her. And her consent was by no means unconditional. She insisted on paying her board, and expressed the wish to retain the services of Madame Leon to whom she was so much attached. The worthy housekeeper was present at this conference. For an instant she had feared that Mademoiselle Marguerite suspected her manoeuvres but her fears were now dispelled, and she even congratulated herself on her skilfulness. Everything was arranged, and the agreement had been sealed with a kiss, when the General returned about four o'clock. "Ah, my dear!" cried his wife, "what happiness! We have a daughter!"
But even this intelligence was scarcely sufficient to revive her husband's drooping spirits. He had almost fainted when he heard the earth falling on M. de Chalusse's coffin; and this display of weakness on the part of a man adorned with such terrible and ferocious mustaches had excited no little comment. "Yes, it is a great happiness!" he now replied. "But thunder and lightning! I never doubted the dear girl's heart!"
Still both he and his wife could scarcely conceal their disappointment when the magistrate informed them that their beloved daughter would not take her diamonds. "Dash it!" growled the General. "I recognize her father in this! What delicacy! almost too much, perhaps!"
However, when the magistrate informed him that the court would undoubtedly order the restitution of the jewels, his face brightened again, and he went down to superintend the removal of Mademoiselle Marguerite's
The magistrate then explained that when the court took possession of this immense estate, it would surely allow her a certain sum. For whether the count was her father or not, he was at any rate her officially appointed guardian, and she would be considered a minor. And in support of his assertion, he quoted Article 367 of the Civil Code, which says: "In the event of the officially appointed guardian dying without adopting, his ward, the said ward shall be furnished during her minority with the means of subsistence from the said guardian's estate," etc., etc.
"An additional reason why I should give up my jewels," said Mademoiselle Marguerite.
The only point that now remained was to decide upon some plan by which she could communicate with her friend, the magistrate, without the knowledge of the General or his wife. The magistrate accordingly explained a system of correspondence which would defy the closest surveillance, and then added: "Now, make haste back to your visitor. Who knows what suspicions your absence may have caused her?"
But Mademoiselle Marguerite had one more request to make. She had often seen in M. de Chalusse's possession a little note-book, in which he entered the names and addresses of the persons with whom he had business transactions. M. Fortunat's address must be there, so she asked and obtained permission to examine this note- book, and to her great joy, under the letter "F," she found the entry: "Fortunat (Isidore), No. 28 Place de la Bourse." "Ah! I'm sure that I shall find Pascal now!" she exclaimed. And after once more thanking the magistrate, she returned to her room again.
Madame de Fondege was awaiting her with feverish impatience. "How long you stayed!" she cried.
"I had so many explanations to give, madame."
"How you are tormented, my poor child!"
"Oh, shamefully!"
This furnished Madame de Fondege with another excuse for proffering her advice. But Mademoiselle Marguerite would not allow herself to be convinced at once. She raised a great many objections, and parleyed for a long time before telling Madame de Fondege that she would be happy to accept the hospitality which had been offered her. And her consent was by no means unconditional. She insisted on paying her board, and expressed the wish to retain the services of Madame Leon to whom she was so much attached. The worthy housekeeper was present at this conference. For an instant she had feared that Mademoiselle Marguerite suspected her manoeuvres but her fears were now dispelled, and she even congratulated herself on her skilfulness. Everything was arranged, and the agreement had been sealed with a kiss, when the General returned about four o'clock. "Ah, my dear!" cried his wife, "what happiness! We have a daughter!"
But even this intelligence was scarcely sufficient to revive her husband's drooping spirits. He had almost fainted when he heard the earth falling on M. de Chalusse's coffin; and this display of weakness on the part of a man adorned with such terrible and ferocious mustaches had excited no little comment. "Yes, it is a great happiness!" he now replied. "But thunder and lightning! I never doubted the dear girl's heart!"
Still both he and his wife could scarcely conceal their disappointment when the magistrate informed them that their beloved daughter would not take her diamonds. "Dash it!" growled the General. "I recognize her father in this! What delicacy! almost too much, perhaps!"
However, when the magistrate informed him that the court would undoubtedly order the restitution of the jewels, his face brightened again, and he went down to superintend the removal of Mademoiselle Marguerite's