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"The time has come," said Louis firmly. Raoul turned livid; his teeth chattered, and his limbs trembled so that he was unable to stand on his feet. "Oh, I cannot do it!" he cried in an agony of terror and rage. Clameran's eyes flashed with angry excitement at the prospect of all his plans being ruined at the last moment.
M. Fauvel, being a kind-hearted though quick-tempered man, could appreciate Clameran's feelings; and, knowing that his own high reputation for scrupulous honesty could not be affected by any hasty or abusive language uttered by a creditor, at once calmed down before so frank an apology; and, holding out his hand to Clameran, said: "Let us forget what happened, monsieur."
Fauvel having told him what conditions Madeleine placed on her consent to marriage, Raoul instantly saw how necessary his removal would be, now that he was an impediment in the way of Clameran's success. He recalled a thousand little remarks and events of the last few days, and, on skilfully questioning the marquis, had his suspicions changed into certainty.
Too inexperienced to penetrate this bold, and yet simple plan of Clameran's, Madeleine was dumb with astonishment; all her calculations were upset. Mme. Fauvel, on the contrary, accepted this restitution as salvation sent from heaven. "Oh, thanks, monsieur, thanks!" she cried, gratefully clasping Clameran's hand in hers; "you are goodness itself!" Louis's eye lit up with pleasure.
"Your return is unnecessary, monsieur: I shall tell my husband everything to-night." If Mme. Fauvel had not been so agitated herself, she would have detected an expression of alarm upon Clameran's face. But this uneasiness was only momentary. With a shrug, which meant, "Just as you please," he said: "I think you have sense enough to keep your secret."
It was difficult, however, to choose a profession; and Clameran thought it prudent to wait awhile, and study the bent of the young man's mind. In the meanwhile it was decided that Mme. Fauvel should place funds at Clameran's disposal for Raoul's support. Regarding Gaston's brother in the light of a father to her child, Mme. Fauvel soon found him indispensable.
The appointment pleased Raoul; but, in obedience to Clameran's command, he refused it, saying his vocation was not banking. This refusal so provoked the banker, that he told Raoul, if he was so idle and lazy, not to call on him for money again, or expect him to do anything to assist him.
Anyone would naturally suspect an intrigue, a rendezvous; and her character would be ruined forever. This was the first time since her marriage that she had had occasion for mystery; and her efforts to escape notice were in every way calculated to attract attention. The porter said that the Marquis of Clameran's rooms were on the third floor.
Besides that, I have my own method of working up a case." "Still I don't see what grounds you had to go upon." "To be sure, one needs some light to guide one in a dark affair like this. But the fire in Clameran's eye at the mention of Gaston's name ignited my lantern. From that moment I walked straight to the solution of the mystery, as I would walk to a beacon-light on a dark night."
So strange are the sudden effects of a new passion, that she regarded almost with contempt this unbounded confidence reposed in her. She replied to his jest with a forced calmness, as if her mind were really as free and undisturbed as it had been before Clameran's visit.
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