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Updated: June 4, 2025
Paul, Hortebise, and Catenac examined the letter curiously, but could make nothing of it. "I can't make head or tail of it," said the doctor impatiently. Mascarin smiled as he took back the paper, and remarked,
"Since then," continued Perpignan, "the Duke has never put in an appearance in my office." "But how about Catenac?" "I have seen him three times." "Has he told you nothing more? Do you not even know in which hospital the child was placed?"
"If that fellow Lecoq is to put his nose into your case, I withdraw; I will have nothing to do with it, for it is certain to be a failure." He appeared to be so thoroughly frightened, that Catenac condescended to smile. "Yes, yes," said he, "I can understand your alarm; but be at ease; Lecoq has nothing to do with us."
Eleven was the hour fixed, but the Duke appeared at the banker's house at ten, where he, Catenac, Hortebise, and Paul were assembled together in solemn conclave.
I fear that I cannot look for too much from my companions, Catenac and Hortebise; I have up to now kept them back. Croisenois would never betray me, and as for Beaumarchef, La Candele, Toto Chupin, and a few other poor devils, they would be a fine haul for the police. They couldn't split, simply because they know nothing."
"And where," asked Mascarin quickly, "is this same young man? What is his name, and what does he do for a living?" "He is a painter; his name is Andre, and he lives " A blasphemous oath from Mascarin interrupted him. "This is the third time," said he fiercely, "that this cursed fellow has crossed our path; but I swear that it shall be the last." Hortebise and Catenac were livid with alarm.
A reward of ten thousand francs is offered to any one who will put us on his track. He must have left these parts in August, 1856, and some of you may have seen him." Here Catenac stopped Mascarin. "Wait a moment. Your own words are excellent; I will write them down."
"Catenac," remarked Mascarin, addressing the others, "has received many confidential communications from his noble client, which he has not thought fit to communicate to us; and though he fancied that we were drifting into quicksands and among breakers, he displayed no signal of warning to save us from our danger, hoping, like a true friend, that, by this means, he might get rid of us."
"Try and not miss one word of what I am saying," remarked he, bending his keen glance upon Paul; then, turning to Catenac, he continued, "Can you persuade the Duke de Champdoce and Perpignan to start for Vendome on Saturday?" "Perhaps I may be able to do so." "I want a Yes or No. Can you or can you not make these people go there?" "Well, yes, then." "Very well.
"It seems to me," objected Catenac "Perhaps," broke in Mascarin, "you have forgotten the correspondence which the Countess de Mussidan preserved so carefully both his letters and her own, which Norbert returned to her." "And we have those?" "Of course we have, only there is a perfect romance contained in these letters. What I have read is a mere bald extract from them; and this is not all.
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