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And through these bars Esperance beheld Jane, but what he saw was so terrible that he recoiled and uttered a cry of terror, which was drowned in shrieks of laughter, wild songs and the clatter of glasses. Goutran had entire faith in Carmen, and he was now anxious to communicate with her. He called the former Zouave. "Coucon," he said, "do you know where Monsieur Laisangy lives?"
Again they heard the strange noise. Coucon, born and bred in Paris, had read many novels and seen many plays. He at once announced that the house they were in had subterranean passages. "But there are no doors." "What of that!" He dashed from the room, and came back with hammer and chisel! "What are you going to do?" "Demolish the house, if necessary." Madame wrung her hands.
"And if my manner is cold toward you, my heart is not. Shake hands with me." Coucon, greatly pleased, laid his huge hand into the delicate one of the Vicomte, who pressed it warmly. The Zouave uttered an exclamation. "What is the matter?" "Nothing only " "Only what?" "Well, sir, you have a tremendous squeeze, I must say. Your fingers felt as if they were made of steel."
They heard in their ears like the tolling of a funeral bell, the words, "Too late! Too late!" If they had arrived in time they would certainly have prevented the catastrophe, but this was the result this motionless form with hands crossed on his breast. Coucon and Madame Caraman, down stairs, were weeping and watching.
Coucon appeared bearing two cards on a silver tray. Esperance looked at the cards, and uttered an exclamation of joy. "Lay two more covers," he said, "I will come down at once." Esperance hurried down, and in the dining-room, a marvel of marqueterie and mosaic, was a young man. "My dear Goutran," he said, as the stranger advanced to meet him, "I cannot tell you how obliged I am for this visit."
"I know not," answered Coucon, "and Madame was weeping so bitterly that she was of little use." Fanfar was annoyed that he could elicit so little, knowing well that if Monte-Cristo were there his eagle eye would have discovered something. "Send me the porter," he said. And when the man appeared, he asked at what hour the Vicomte went out last.
Esperance looked at his hands in some surprise. "Yes," he said, in a dreamy voice, "I am strong, I believe." "Strong! I should say you were." "I did not hurt you, I trust?" and Esperance still gazed at his hands in a troubled sort of way. "Where will you breakfast, sir?" asked Coucon. "In the gallery, I think." "And alone?" "I don't know; I do not remember inviting any one."
"You know, Coucon, that I am not a coward, but I tell you I can't make out that sound. I have heard it now for some time." "It seems to come from the cellar." "Yes, that is what I think. But let us tell the friends." They by this time had reached Jane's door, on which they knocked. No reply. Then, after knocking and listening, Madame said: "We must go in!"
"You are a fool, Coucon," he said to himself, "if you don't manage to deliver your own note at the same time!" Our readers must not suppose that Coucon was so simple as to think of penetrating the Laisangy salons, even with the note he had obtained in so abominable a manner from his friend. The plan he had devised was more audacious and more sure.
At first I thought the girl might have been carried to some other room, she was too weak to walk, you understand, and perhaps Coucon had helped, so I went to him and he rubbed his eyes and yawned." "Madame Caraman!" exclaimed Coucon. "Yes, you did, and were as stupid as possible. At all events, he had heard nothing, seen nothing. Then I took it into my head that the Vicomte had taken her away.
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