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"Fool!" continued Madame d'Argeles, "did nothing warn you that in coming here you would deprive yourself forever of the income you received? Did no inward voice tell you that all would be changed when you compelled me, Lia d'Argeles, to say, 'Well, yes, it is true; you are my son? So long as you did not know who and what I was, I had a mother's right to watch over you.
This clever falsehood, which was not entirely one, would, so the agent thought, be of advantage to him, since it would prove he was acquainted with previous events. But Madame d'Argeles did not seem to notice, or even to hear the remark. She had fallen back in her arm-chair, paler than death. "How did he die?" she asked. "From an attack of apoplexy."
"Your friends are always welcome at my house, my dear viscount," replied Madame d'Argeles. And before Pascal had concluded his bow, she averted her head, and resumed her interrupted conversation. The new-comer, however, was worthy of more than that cursory notice.
He bowed familiarly on entering, and with a rather complacent smile on his lips, he approached Madame d'Argeles, who, half reclining in an easy chair near the fire-place, was conversing with two elderly gentlemen of grave and distinguished bearing. "How late you are, viscount," she remarked carelessly. "What have you been doing to-day?
"Listen to me. About an hour ago, while you were at supper, Madame d'Argeles almost threw herself at my feet as she entreated me to leave this house. Her agitation astonished me. Now I understand it." The gentleman known as the baron turned toward Madame d'Argeles: "Is what this man says true?" She was greatly agitated, but she answered: "Yes." "Why were you so anxious for him to go?"
And I doubted your courage, my Wilkie! At last I can escape from this hell! This very night we will fly from this house, without one backward glance. I will never set foot in these rooms again the detested gamblers who are sitting here shall never see me again. From this moment Lia d'Argeles is dead." M. Wilkie positively felt like a man who had just fallen from the clouds.
She must make up her mind to it, however, if she wishes to receive the count's property and she must make up her mind to it, for my sake, if not for her own." He remained silent, until it seemed to him that Madame d'Argeles was calmer, then: "Excuse me, madame," he began, "for breaking in upon your very natural grief, but duty requires me to remind you of your interests."
The name shook Madame d'Argeles as if she had experienced the shock of an electric battery, and springing to her feet, with flashing eyes: "You say that my brother's daughter was to marry M. de Valorsay?" she asked. "It was decided the marquis adored her." "But she she did not love him confess that she did not love him." M. Fortunat did not know what to reply.
It seemed equally proven that Madame d'Argeles knew the real culprit possibly she had detected him in the act, possibly he had taken her into his confidence. But what he could not fathom was M. de Coralth's motive. What could have prompted the viscount to commit such an atrocious act?
M. Fortunat saw so plainly that Madame d'Argeles did not understand a word of this sentimental exordium that he thought it necessary to add: "I tell you this, not so much to gain your consideration and good-will, as to explain to you how I became acquainted with these matters relating to your family how I became aware of your existence, for instance, which no one else suspected."
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