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Updated: May 24, 2025
"And if you are not successful, will you promise me to wait until to-morrow, to do nothing rash to-night?" "I swear it, by my father's memory." "Then take the key and follow me." Pale and trembling, Raoul and Mme. Fauvel passed through the banker's study, and down the narrow staircase leading to the offices and cash-room below. Raoul walked in front, holding the light, and the key of the safe.
"About half-past ten; I had spent the evening at a cafe near by, with monsieur's valet." "Did you hear no noise during the night?" "Not a sound; and still I sleep so lightly, that, if monsieur comes down to the cash-room when I am asleep, I am instantly awakened by the sound of his footsteps." "Monsieur Fauvel often comes to the cash-room at night, does he?" "No, monsieur; very seldom."
The cash-room door suddenly opened, and the cashier appeared before them with tottering step, and a wild, haggard look on his ashy face. "Robbed!" he gasped out: "I have been robbed!" Prosper's horrified expression, his hollow voice and trembling limbs, betrayed such fearful suffering that the clerks jumped up from their desks, and ran toward him.
M. de Clameran was standing in the middle of the room adjoining the cash-room; M. Fauvel walked up to him, and said bluntly: "What do you want now, monsieur? You have been paid your money, and I have your receipt."
No one answered; and M. de Clameran was about to continue, when, turning around, he for the first time saw the banker, and walking up to him said: "Well, monsieur, I congratulate myself upon finding you in at last. I have been here once before this morning, and found the cash-room not opened, the cashier not arrived, and you absent." "You are mistaken, monsieur, I was in my office."
"At any rate, I was told you were out; that gentleman over there assured me of the fact." And the iron-founder pointed out Cavaillon. "However, that is of little importance," he went on to say. "I return, and this time not only the cash-room is closed, but I am refused admittance to the banking-house, and find myself compelled to force my way in.
On the right are the rooms to which the public is admitted, and from which a narrow passage leads to the principal cash-room. The offices of the corresponding clerk, book-keeper, and general accounts are on the left. At the farther end is a small court on which open seven or eight little wicket doors.
Finally the banker, after a long silence, stopped short before Prosper; he had determined upon the line of conduct he would pursue. "We must have an explanation," he said. "Let us go into your office." The cashier mechanically obeyed without a word; and his chief followed him, taking the precaution to close the door after him. The cash-room bore no evidences of a successful burglary.
She attempted to get up, but felt so ill and weak that she sank back on her pillow; and lying there, trembling like a leaf, bathed in cold perspiration, she awaited the discovery of the robbery. She was leaning over the side of the bed, straining her ear to catch a sound from the cash-room, when Madeleine, who had just left her, rushed into the room.
He was told that the cashier had not yet come, and his attention was called to a placard in the entry, which stated that the "cash-room" was opened at ten o'clock. This reply seemed to disconcert and annoy the newcomer. "I expected," he said, in a tone of cool impertinence, "to find someone here ready to attend to my business. I explained the matter to M. Fauvel yesterday.
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