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Updated: June 18, 2025
I walked about with a pistol in my belt, a hunk of bread and cheese in my pocket, and slowly growing despair in my heart. In the evening Mme. la Comtesse de Nolé called for news of Carissimo, and I could give her none. She cried, Sir, and implored, and her tears and entreaties got on to my nerves until I felt ready to fall into hysterics.
Carissimo had been his first serious venture and but for my interference it would have been a wholly successful one. He had worked the whole thing out with marvellous cleverness, being greatly assisted by Madame Sand, the proprietress of the Hôtel des Cadets, who was a friend of his mother's.
Germain, where the gratitude of Mme. de Nolé, together with five thousand francs, were even now awaiting me. After Madame the proprietress had identified Carissimo, I had once more carefully concealed him under my coat. I was ready to seize my opportunity, after which I would be free to deal with the matter of Theodore's amazing disappearance.
I looked up, puzzled, at my fair client. "My darling Carissimo, my dear M. Ratichon," she said in reply to my mute query. "Carissimo?" I stammered, yet further intrigued. "My darling pet, a valuable creature, the companion of my lonely hours," she rejoined, once more bursting into tears. "If I lose him, my heart will inevitably break." I understood at last. "Madame has lost her dog?" I asked.
Mme. la Comtesse de Nolé was, on the third day from this at six o'clock in the evening precisely, to go in person and alone to the angle of the Rue Guénégaud and the Rue Mazarine, at the rear of the Institut. There two men would meet her, one of whom would have Carissimo in his arms; to the other she must hand over the money, whereupon the pet would at once be handed back to her.
For the moment I had even forgotten Carissimo and my vanished five thousand francs. Well, Sir! Aristide Nicolet was marched off to the depot still protesting his innocence.
Having been forced thus to give up Carissimo, and with him all my hopes of a really substantial fortune, I was determined to make the red-polled miscreant suffer for my disappointment, and the minions of the law sweat in the exercise of their duty. I demanded Theodore! My friend, my comrade, my right hand!
He seized the miscreant by the arm and took him downstairs, there to confront him with the proprietress of the establishment, while I with marvellous presence of mind took possession of Carissimo and hid him as best I could beneath my coat. In the hall below a surprise and a disappointment were in store for me.
They have given me three days' grace, as you see in their abominable letter. If after three days the money is not forthcoming, and if in the meanwhile I dare to set a trap for them or in any way communicate with the police, my darling Carissimo will be killed and my heart be broken." "Madame la Comtesse," I entreated, for of a truth I could not bear to see her cry again.
Well, Sir, what could I say? I knew well enough that there was not a tittle of solid evidence against the man Nicolet, nor had I the power to move the police of His Majesty the King from their decision. In my heart of hearts I had the firm conviction that the ginger-polled ruffian knew all about Carissimo and all about the present whereabouts of that rascal Theodore. But what could I say, Sir?
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