Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: September 17, 2025
Before he left he compelled Lagors to refund the £12,000 he had stolen, and in order to avoid a scandal allowed the young man to go free. Then, that nothing should be wanting to his triumph, he obtained the consent of the banker to Bertomy's marriage with Madeline. Hurrying from the banker's house, Lecoq hastened to effect the arrest of the count. He arrived too late.
"Have you not a cousin, a widow lady, who had two daughters, living at St. Remy?" asked Louis. "Yes, Mme. de Lagors." "Precisely so. What fortune has she?" "She is poor, monsieur, very poor." "And, but for the assistance you render her secretly, she would be thrown upon the charity of the world." Mme. Fauvel was bewildered at finding the marquis so well informed of her private affairs.
"How in the deuce," he abruptly asked, "did this Lagors, who is devoted to gay society, come to choose a lonely country house to live in?" "I suppose it was because M. Fauvel's villa is only fifteen minutes' ride from here, on the Seine." "That accounts for his staying here in the summer; but in winter?"
While Lagors and Clameran were anxiously trying to devise some means of discovering the clown's identity, Verduret hurried up the back street, and reached the Archangel as the clock struck three. Prosper, who was watching from his window, saw him in the distance, and ran down to open the door for him. "What have you learned?" he said; "what did you find out? Did you see Madeleine?
"How could you have discovered this?" she asked. "Oh, I know all about this affair, and many others besides. I know, for example, that your husband has never met any of your relatives, and that he is not even aware of the existence of your cousin De Lagors. Do you begin to comprehend my plan?" She not only understood it, but also knew that she would end by being a party to it.
By speculating in stocks, I gained eight thousand francs. The rest I borrowed, and intend repaying out of the fifteen thousand francs which I have deposited in M. Fauvel's bank." The account was clear, exact, and could be easily proved; it must be a true one. "Who lent you the money?" "M. Raoul de Lagors."
Fanferlot was transported with delight at this compliment. "What must I do now, patron?" he inquired. "Nothing difficult for an adroit man: but remember, upon the precision of our movements depends the success of my plan. Before arresting Lagors, I wish to dispose of Clameran. Now that the rascals are separated, the first thing to do is to prevent their coming together."
Fortunately, none of the shots took effect, and before he could fire again Lecoq had rushed into the room and torn the weapon from his grasp. It was the moment of the great detective's triumph. With the dramatic skill of which he was a master, he laid bare the whole story and disclosed the true identity of Raoul Lagors.
Louis dropped his brother's arm, and started back as if he had seen a ghost. "What is the matter?" asked Gaston, with astonishment. "Nothing, except I struck my foot against a stone, and it is very painful." Gaston might have known by the tremulous tones of Louis's voice that this was a lie. Louis de Clameran had reason to tremble; in this workman he recognized Raoul de Lagors.
"Because M. de Clameran had informed me that it would be agreeable, necessary even, for him to have his money early in the morning. He will testify to that fact, if you summon him; and I knew that I should reach my office late." "Then M. de Clameran is a friend of yours?" "By no means. I have always felt repelled by him; but he is the intimate friend of M. Lagors."
Word Of The Day
Others Looking