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Desclavettes, who was in bed, half dead of the fright she had had during the last convulsions of the Commune. She could not help, however, but feel that this was a bold and most venturesome step for her to take; and, when her mother went out, she had not yet fully decided what to do. But her bonnet was within reach, and Marius' letter was in her pocket. She went to sit at the window.
Oh, I know very well that this is not exactly the hour to call at a house; but I thought, that, after what took place this evening, you would not be in bed yet. I could not sleep myself. You understand a friendship of twenty years' standing! So I took Mme. Desclavettes home, and here I am." "We feel very thankful for your kindness," murmured Mme. Favoral. "I am glad you do.
He did not even deign to defend himself. "Go on," he uttered, "go on. When a poor dog, carried away by the current, is drowning, men of heart cast stones at him from the bank. Go on!" "You should have told us that you speculated," screamed M. Desclavettes. On hearing these words, he straightened himself up, and with a gesture so terrible that the others stepped back frightened.
They have been followed in their retreat by Mme. Favoral and by General Count de Villegre. The greater portion of his father's fortune, Marius had applied to pay off all the personal creditors of the former cashier of the Mutual Credit, all the trades-people, and also M. Chapelain, old man Desormeaux, and M. and Mme. Desclavettes.
"'Tis he, 'tis that wretch " But he interrupted himself, and more gently: "Put away those bank-bills," said he to his wife, "and let Maxence take them back to M. de Thaller to-morrow." The bell rang violently. "The police!" groaned Mme. Desclavettes, who seemed on the point of fainting away. "I am going to negotiate," said M. Desormeaux. "Fly, Vincent: do not lose a minute."
And to-day . . . "Ah! I catch you this time, father!" exclaimed the girl. Meantime, Mme. Favoral, whispering to Mme. Desclavettes: "Positively," she said in a troubled voice, "something serious must have happened to my husband. He to forget! He to fail in one of his habits! It is the first time in twenty-six years." The appearance of Maxence at this moment prevented her from going on.
I have not invited him to dinner: he will only spend the evening with us." And he mistook for a disposition to yield the cold tone in which she answered: "I beg you to believe that this introduction is wholly unnecessary." Thus, the famous day having come, he told his usual Saturday guests, M. and Mme. Desclavettes, M. Chapelain, and old man Desormeaux: "Eh, eh!
Gilberte being vacant, M. Costeclar occupied it promptly. "He understands his business," growled M. Desormeaux. "Surely," said M. Desclavettes, "if I had some funds to dispose of just now." "I would be most happy to have him for my son-in-law," declared M. Favoral. He was doing his best. Somewhat intimidated by Mlle. Gilberte's first look, he had now fully recovered his wits.
"All we had," he said, "would be as a grain of sand in an ocean. But we have no longer anything; we are ruined." "Ruined!" exclaimed M. Desormeaux, "ruined! And where are the forty-five thousand francs I placed into your hands?" He made no reply. "And our hundred and twenty thousand francs?" groaned M. and Mme. Desclavettes.
"A nice-looking man, isn't he? a really nice-looking man," whispered Mme. Desclavettes. And indeed he really thought so himself. Gesture, attitude, smile, every thing in M. Costeclar, betrayed the satisfaction of self, and the assurance of a man accustomed to success.
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