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"But he came to you during the interval?" "No, we did not see him until we were going out." "There is no doubt of that?" "None at all." "Very well, madame. I will tell you the result of my efforts in an hour's time. But above all, don't wake up Madame Aubrieux." "And suppose she wakes of her own accord?" "Reassure her and give her confidence. Everything is going well, very well indeed."
Downstairs, in the street, Renine asked Hortense Daniel to take the car, go to Madeleine Aubrieux and tell her what had happened. "And you?" asked Hortense. "I have a lot to do ... urgent appointments...." "And you deny yourself the pleasure of bringing the good news?" "It's one of the pleasures that pall upon one. The only pleasure that never flags is that of the fight itself.
Renine said: "Since you want specific details, we will get them from Madame Aubrieux herself. She's on the telephone. Let's go downstairs. We shall know all about it in a minute." Dutreuil shrugged his shoulders: "As you please; but what a waste of time!" He seemed greatly irritated. His long wait at the window, under a blazing sun, had thrown him into a sweat.
"The man from the prefecture will be here," he said, "in twenty minutes at latest." "And if no one comes?" Hortense objected. "That would surprise me. Of course, if I had sent a message to M. Dudouis saying, 'Aubrieux is innocent, I should have failed to make any impression.
Renine brought down his hand on Dutreuil's shoulder: "No more talk! Facts! Gaston Dutreuil, you are the only person who on that day knew two essential things: first, that Cousin Guillaume had sixty thousand francs in his house; secondly, that Jacques Aubrieux was not going out. You at once saw your chance. The motor-cycle was available. You slipped out during the performance. You went to Suresnes.
"To hide the proceeds of his theft, the sixty bank-notes." "How do you mean? Where?" "In a flat of which he had the key, on the fifth floor." Gaston Dutreuil exclaimed, in amazement: "But there's only one flat on the fifth floor and that's the one I live in!" "Exactly; and, as you were at the cinema with Madame Aubrieux and her mother, advantage was taken of your absence...." "Impossible!
Renine, without a moment's hesitation, had picked up the paper. After casting a swift glance down the page, he read, under his breath: "Maitre Dourdens, the counsel for the defence in the trial of Jacques Aubrieux, has been received at the Elysee. We are informed that the President of the Republic has refused to reprieve the condemned man and that the execution will take place to-morrow morning."
"Yes, but Jacques is a friend whom I have known from childhood." "You're in love with his wife." The young man gave a sudden, infuriated start: "You dare!... What! You dare make such an infamous suggestion?" "I have proof of it." "That's a lie! I have always respected Madeleine Aubrieux and revered her...." "Apparently. But you're in love with her. You desire her. Don't contradict me.
After crossing the terrace, the young man found himself faced, at the entrance to the garden, by a lady and gentleman who blocked his way; and the latter said: "Excuse me, sir, but I noticed your agitation. It's about Jacques Aubrieux, isn't it?" "Yes, yes, Jacques Aubrieux," the young man stammered. "Jacques, the friend of my childhood. I'm hurrying to see his wife.
It's not the least use, on the eve of an execution, to attempt to convince the gentry of the police or of the law that a man condemned to death is innocent. No. From henceforth Jacques Aubrieux belongs to the executioner. But the prospect of securing the sixty bank-notes is a windfall worth taking a little trouble over.
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