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But having resolved to appear a dupe, she concealed her real feelings under an air of surprise, and was astonished and even ashamed to find that she could dissemble so well. "Besides," continued Madame de Fondege, "a marriageable young girl should never shut herself up like a nun. She will never find a husband if she remains at home and she must marry.
Persuaded that Madame de Fondege was about to throw her arms round her neck and kiss her, she was imposing the most terrible constraint upon herself, in order to conceal her horror and aversion. But she was unnecessarily alarmed. The hypocrisy of the General's wife was superior to that of Madame Leon.
"Besides, it is the same with lace as with diamonds, you should purchase them when you can then you have them. It isn't an outlay it's an investment." Subtle reasoning that has cost many a husband dear! On her side, Madame Leon proudly showed her dear young lady a very pretty present which Madame de Fondege had given her.
Madame de Fondege sprang forward. "What is the matter, my dearest?" Alas! the poor girl was utterly overcome. "It is but a trifle," she faltered. But her eyes closed, her hands clutched wildly for some support, and she would have fallen to the ground if the baron had not caught her in his arms and carried her to a sofa. "Help!" cried Madame de Fondege, "help, she is dying! a physician!"
The worthy housekeeper was greatly excited, and not without cause. As there were no relations, it had been decided that M. de Fondege, the count's oldest friend, should do the honors of the mansion to the persons invited to attend the funeral; and he had sworn that he would be under arms at daybreak, and that they might positively depend upon him.
A few moments later he got into the cab in which he was stricken down with apoplexy." Extraordinary as Pascal's explanations must have seemed to her, Marguerite did not doubt their accuracy in the least. "Then it is the copy of this letter which you saw in the possession of the Marquis de Valorsay?" "Yes." "And the original?" "M. de Fondege alone can tell what has become of that.
Acting upon their confession, the authorities will force an entrance into Valorsay's house, where they will find your father's will and the receipt given by M. de Fondege in a word, all the proofs of their guilt. And while this search is going on, all your enemies, reassured by your arrest, will be at a grand soiree given by Baron Trigault. I shall be there as well."
But the events of the next few days dispelled these apprehensions. That very afternoon, although it was Sunday, it became evident that a shower of gold had fallen on the General's abode. The door-bell rang incessantly for several hours, and an interminable procession of tradesmen entered. It looked very much as if M. de Fondege had called a meeting of his creditors.
However, as soon as the brilliant hussar had approved the noble scheme concocted by his parents, a servant had been dispatched with the letter. All these surmises were surely very plausible; but it was difficult to reconcile them with the opinion advanced by the magistrate that M. de Fondege must know what had become of the missing millions. Mademoiselle Marguerite did not think of this, however.
I am sure her bill at Van Klopen's is not less than a hundred thousand francs a year and that is saying enough, is it not?" And with genuine pride, she added: "The baroness is my friend. I will introduce you to her." Having once started on this theme, Madame de Fondege was not easily silenced.
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