United States or Angola ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Legrand, whether you are fully aware of Monsieur Bruslart's position and my own?" "I think so, mademoiselle. You were, I believe, to be man and wife." His suggestion that such a thing was now impossible was not lost upon Jeanne and was a little startling. Did he believe that Lucien Bruslart was a scoundrel? "Do you know that the fees paid to you by Lucien Bruslart are paid out of my money?"
Until then, Sabatier, make it your business to believe in Citizen Bruslart's patriotism, discourage as much as you can any questioning of it among those with whom you come in contact. Twice already to-day I have been loud in his praises. For the present he is safe, and we can watch him easily."
Even the porter was a little afraid of such a patriot, and was rather glad to see the back of him as he swaggered away. Bruslart's disappearance was comprehensible. The escape of mademoiselle would naturally draw suspicion upon him. Was Richard Barrington with him? This was the first question Seth asked himself. It gave quick birth to another. What part had Raymond Latour in the scheme?
"Officially I only know that they are paid by a certain person, and I ask no questions. Having some knowledge of Monsieur Bruslart's position, I have imagined that the necessary money was supplied by you." "I have only to authorize the banker who has funds of mine in hand to pay the amount." "Mademoiselle, I naturally thought of that.
Think of her; she is in Bruslart's hands." Latour wrenched himself free, and as he turned sharply there was a pistol in his hand. "Stand where you are! I would shoot you like a dog rather than let you escape." "The devil take you for a fool!" exclaimed Barrington. "I thought I had a man to deal with!" and he turned his back upon Latour, who went out of the room, locking the door after him.
Seth next went to find Lucien Bruslart. He had no intention of being open with him. He had concocted an ambiguous message from his master, so framed as to astonish Bruslart, whether he knew where Richard Barrington was or not, and Seth hoped to read something of the truth in his face. Citizen Bruslart's apartment was closed, and the concierge knew nothing about him. His servants had also gone.
Bruslart's pace was rapid for a short distance, then he went more slowly and thoughtfully; but there was no relapse into the despair in which Barrington had found him that evening. Contact with a strong man, and the compact made with him, had apparently restored his nerves, and no one knew better than he did how necessary it was to have every faculty in working order at the present moment.
"Had you sharp enough eyes to discover anything?" Sabatier asked, turning to his companion. "Nothing, except that one of them was too much like an aristocrat to please me." "He comes to Paris, and may be dealt with there. What of Bruslart's messenger?" "I saw no sign of him." "Yet they journey from the coast and must have passed him on the road. He was beyond moving of his own accord."
"Are you suggesting that he has run away without a thought for me?" "Mademoiselle, the most prominent members of my profession have little knowledge of men's thoughts. Of the working of Monsieur Bruslart's mind I know nothing; I only know that he has left Paris without sending money." "And the consequence to me?" asked Jeanne. "That is what pains me," Legrand answered.
Whether it was a guess, or whether some one recalled her face some time after she had been allowed to pass, I do not know, nor does it matter much. It got wind that Mademoiselle St. Clair had entered Paris, and where in Paris would she be most likely to go? to Citizen Bruslart's. A crowd was quickly on its way there. Bruslart was away from home, but they would go in, and there they found her.
Word Of The Day