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Updated: June 10, 2025
Derues looked calmly at him, and replied "I beg you, sir, not to add insult to the misfortunes you have already caused. If you stood in my place and I were in yours, I should feel some pity and respect for so terrible a position. What do you want me? and why am I brought here?" He did not know the events of last evening, and could only mentally accuse the mason who had helped to bury the chest.
I had seen no one, spoken to no one; a moment before I had no idea of it!" Derues made a gesture of surprise. Monsieur de Lamotte put his hand to his eyes, and said to the cure "Your presentiments were true; mine, happily, are unfounded. But listen, and tell me if in the state of anxiety which oppressed me I had not good reason for alarm and for fearing some fatal misfortune."
A voice heard above all the tumult caused a score of heads to turn, it was the voice of a woman crying: "The abominable history of Leroi de Valine, condemned to death at the age of sixteen for having poisoned his entire family!" Continually crying her wares, the drunken, staggering woman approached the crowd, and striking out right and left with fists and elbows, forced her way to Derues.
He claimed damages from Derues, who declared he had never received any more, and as the honey had been sent in confidence, and there was no contract and no receipt to show, the provincial tradesman could not obtain compensation. As though having risen by the ruin of Madame Legrand and her four children was not enough, Derues grudged even the morsel of bread he had been obliged to leave her.
Listen, Monsieur Derues, listen, I implore you! You see this man, I shall not tell you who he is, I shall not give his name . . . but I loved him long ago; I should have been his wife, and had he not been compelled to leave France, I should have married no one else." Monsieur de Lamotte started, and grew pale. "What is the matter?" the magistrate inquired.
There, sheltered in a shop and safe from the crowd which encumbered the doorway, I recovered my senses, thanks to the assistance of Monsieur Derues, who lives there.
Derues seemed to comprehend the impression it produced, and tuning again to Madame Legrand, he said "We have got a long way from what I came to ask you, my kind friend. I was so ill that I went early to bed, but I cannot sleep, and I have no fire. Would you have the kindness to have this egg mulled for me?" "Cannot your servant do that for you?" asked Madame Legrand.
'My good Monsieur Derues, she said, 'I ask your forgiveness for all the trouble I have caused you. I will give you this deed to-morrow, to-day it is too late; but come to this same place to-morrow, and you shall see me again. I hesitated, I confess, to let her go. 'Ah, she said, grasping my hands, 'do not suspect me of intending to deceive you! I swear that I will meet you here at four o'clock.
The night was a sleepless one for Derues, whose brain was occupied by a confusion of criminal plans. The chance which had caused his acquaintance with Madame de Lamotte, and even more the accident of Brother Marchois appearing in the nick of time, to enlarge upon the praises which gave him so excellent a character, seemed like favourable omens not to be neglected.
Derues received him with the utmost astonishment, appearing convinced that the young man had returned home.
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