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Madame Gerdy's large arm-chair was near the window; a newspaper, all crumpled, lay before it on the carpet. The amateur detective took in the whole at a glance. "Has any accident happened?" he asked of the girl. "Do not speak of it, sir: we have just had a fright! oh, such a fright!" "What was it? tell me quickly!" "You know that madame has been ailing for the last month.
Madame Gerdy's brother pitied the old man, so severely tried. He held out his hand. "M. de Commarin," he said, in a grave, sad voice, "my sister forgave you long ago, even if she ever had any ill feeling against you. It is my turn to-day; I forgive you sincerely." "Thank you, sir," murmured the count, "thank you!" and then he added: "What a death!"
"Sir," stammered the girl in tears, "this is the third time I have knocked, and you have not answered. Come, I implore you. I am afraid madame is dying!" He followed her to Madame Gerdy's room. He must have found the poor woman terribly changed, for he could not restrain a movement of terror. The invalid struggled painfully beneath her coverings.
"I should speak falsely, sir, if I said I did not feel very bitterly. When one is in the high position I occupied, the fall is terrible. However, I never for a moment entertained the thought of contesting M. Noel Gerdy's rights. I always purposed, and still purpose, to yield, I have so informed M. de Commarin." M. Daburon expected just such a reply; and it only strengthened his suspicions.
"Nothing need prevent the count's entering Madame Gerdy's room," put in the doctor, who purposely saw nothing of all this. "She would probably not notice his presence; and if " "Oh, she would perceive nothing!" said the priest. "I have just spoken to her, taken her hand, she remained quite insensible." The old soldier reflected deeply.
Noel had the courage to speak first. "Sir," he began. "Silence!" exclaimed the count hoarsely; "be silent! Can it be, heaven forgive me! that you are my son? Alas, I cannot doubt it now! Wretch! you knew well that you were Madame Gerdy's son. Infamous villain! you not only committed this murder, but you did everything to cause an innocent man to be charged with your crime!
Seeing that he would learn nothing that evening, he spoke of going to bed, declaring himself tired out by what he had had to do during the day. Noel did not ask him to stop. He was expecting, he said, Madame Gerdy's brother, who had been sent for several times, but who was not at home.
I must ask permission to leave you at once, as Madame Gerdy's condition grows hourly more alarming." Noel had raised his voice a little, in pronouncing these last words; and the count heard them. He started, and made a great effort to restrain the question which leaped from his heart to his lips. "You must however give me a moment, my dear sir," replied the magistrate.
A minute later, he was in the street. Included in Madame Gerdy's lease was a coach-house, which was used by her as a lumber room. Here were heaped together all the old rubbish of the household, broken pieces of furniture, utensils past service, articles become useless or cumbrous. It was also used to store the provision of wood and coal for the winter.
"Did he really say that?" "Almost word for word." "Hypocrite!" growled the old fellow between his teeth. "What did you say?" asked Noel. "I say that he is a fine young man; and I shall be delighted to make his acquaintance." "I did not show him the letter referring to the rupture," added Noel; "it is best that he should ignore Madame Gerdy's misconduct.
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