The Count's Millions [66]
secret might evaporate from them. It was a mania with him. If he had a letter to write, he barricaded his door, as if he were about to commit some horrible crime. More than once have I seen him----" The words died away on her lips, and she remained motionless and abashed, like a person who has just escaped some great peril. One word more, and involuntarily, without even knowing it, she would have confessed her besetting sin, which was listening at, and peering through, the keyholes of the doors that were closed against her. Still, she deluded herself with the belief that this slight indiscretion of her overready tongue had escaped the magistrate's notice.
He certainly did not seem to be conscious of it, for he was giving his attention entirely to Mademoiselle Marguerite, who seemed to have regained the cold reserve and melancholy resignation habitual to her. "You see, mademoiselle," he remarked, "that I have done all that is in my power to do. We must now leave the search to chance, and to the person who takes the inventory. Who knows what surprise may be in store for us in this immense house, of which we have only explored three rooms?"
She shook her head gently and replied: "I can never be sufficiently grateful for your kindness, monsieur, and for the great service you rendered me in crushing that infamous accusation. As regards the rest, I have never expected anything-- I do not expect anything now."
She believed what she said, and her tone of voice proved this so unmistakably that the magistrate was surprised and somewhat disturbed. "Come, come, my young lady," he said, with almost paternal kindness of manner, "you ought not to despond. Still, you must have certain reasons for speaking as you do; and as I am free for an hour, we are going to have a plain talk, as if we were father and daughter."
On hearing these words, the clerk rose with a cloud on his jovial face. He impatiently jingled his bunch of keys; for as the seals are successively affixed, each key is confided to the clerk, to remain in his hands until the seals are removed.
"I understand," said the magistrate. "Your stomach, which is more exacting in its demands than mine, is not satisfied with a cup of chocolate till dinner-time. So, go and get your lunch; on your return, you will find me here. You may now conclude the report, and request these parties to sign it."
Urged on by hunger, the clerk hastily mumbled over the remainder of the formula, called all the names that he had inserted in the report, and each of the servants advanced in turn, signed his or her name, or made a cross, and then retired. Madame Leon read in the judge's face that she also was expected to withdraw; and she was reluctantly leaving the room, when Mademoiselle Marguerite detained her to ask: "Are you quite sure that nothing has come for me to-day?"
"Nothing, mademoiselle; I went in person to inquire of the concierge."
"Did you post my letter last night?"
"Oh! my dear young lady, can you doubt it?"
The young girl stifled a sigh, and then, with a gesture of dismissal, she remarked, "M. de Fondege must be sent for."
"The General?"
"Yes."
"I will send for him at once," replied the housekeeper; and thereupon she left the room, closing the door behind her with a vicious slam.
VIII.
The justice of the peace and Mademoiselle Marguerite were at last alone in M. de Chalusse's study. This room, which the count had preferred above all others, was a spacious, magnificent, but rather gloomy apartment, with lofty walls and dark, richly carved furniture. Its present aspect was more than ever solemn and lugubrious, for it gave one a chill to see the bands of white tape affixed to the locks of the cabinets and bookcases. When the magistrate had installed himself in the count's arm-chair, and the girl had taken a seat near him, they remained looking at each other in silence for a few moments. The magistrate was asking himself how he should begin. Having fathomed Mademoiselle Marguerite's extreme sensitiveness and reserve, he said
He certainly did not seem to be conscious of it, for he was giving his attention entirely to Mademoiselle Marguerite, who seemed to have regained the cold reserve and melancholy resignation habitual to her. "You see, mademoiselle," he remarked, "that I have done all that is in my power to do. We must now leave the search to chance, and to the person who takes the inventory. Who knows what surprise may be in store for us in this immense house, of which we have only explored three rooms?"
She shook her head gently and replied: "I can never be sufficiently grateful for your kindness, monsieur, and for the great service you rendered me in crushing that infamous accusation. As regards the rest, I have never expected anything-- I do not expect anything now."
She believed what she said, and her tone of voice proved this so unmistakably that the magistrate was surprised and somewhat disturbed. "Come, come, my young lady," he said, with almost paternal kindness of manner, "you ought not to despond. Still, you must have certain reasons for speaking as you do; and as I am free for an hour, we are going to have a plain talk, as if we were father and daughter."
On hearing these words, the clerk rose with a cloud on his jovial face. He impatiently jingled his bunch of keys; for as the seals are successively affixed, each key is confided to the clerk, to remain in his hands until the seals are removed.
"I understand," said the magistrate. "Your stomach, which is more exacting in its demands than mine, is not satisfied with a cup of chocolate till dinner-time. So, go and get your lunch; on your return, you will find me here. You may now conclude the report, and request these parties to sign it."
Urged on by hunger, the clerk hastily mumbled over the remainder of the formula, called all the names that he had inserted in the report, and each of the servants advanced in turn, signed his or her name, or made a cross, and then retired. Madame Leon read in the judge's face that she also was expected to withdraw; and she was reluctantly leaving the room, when Mademoiselle Marguerite detained her to ask: "Are you quite sure that nothing has come for me to-day?"
"Nothing, mademoiselle; I went in person to inquire of the concierge."
"Did you post my letter last night?"
"Oh! my dear young lady, can you doubt it?"
The young girl stifled a sigh, and then, with a gesture of dismissal, she remarked, "M. de Fondege must be sent for."
"The General?"
"Yes."
"I will send for him at once," replied the housekeeper; and thereupon she left the room, closing the door behind her with a vicious slam.
VIII.
The justice of the peace and Mademoiselle Marguerite were at last alone in M. de Chalusse's study. This room, which the count had preferred above all others, was a spacious, magnificent, but rather gloomy apartment, with lofty walls and dark, richly carved furniture. Its present aspect was more than ever solemn and lugubrious, for it gave one a chill to see the bands of white tape affixed to the locks of the cabinets and bookcases. When the magistrate had installed himself in the count's arm-chair, and the girl had taken a seat near him, they remained looking at each other in silence for a few moments. The magistrate was asking himself how he should begin. Having fathomed Mademoiselle Marguerite's extreme sensitiveness and reserve, he said