Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 14, 2025
The last letter shown me simply announced to Madame Gerdy the arrival of Claudine Lerouge, the nurse who was charged with accomplishing the substitution. I know nothing beyond that." "These proofs amount to nothing," muttered the count. "A man may form a plan, cherish it for a long time, and at the last moment abandon it; it often happens so." He reproached himself for having answered so hastily.
Lerouge had scarcely left, when an extraordinary, unheard of, unprecedented event took place in the magistrate's office. Constant, the serious, impressive, immovable, deaf and dumb Constant, rose from his seat and spoke. He broke a silence of fifteen years. He forgot himself so far as to offer an opinion. "This, sir," said he, "is a most extraordinary affair."
He lay perfectly motionless in the dirty, greasy vehicle. His body, which followed every jolt, scarcely allayed by the worn-out springs, rolled from one side to the other and his head oscillated on his shoulders, as if the muse of his neck were broken. He thought of Widow Lerouge. He recalled her as she was when he went with his father to La Jonchere.
They could not stay there, but had to leave the money there, and while Gélin watched, the Marquise, uneasy at finding herself in such a place, unable to leave the yard because the waggon stopped the door, had to assist in unloading it. Two men were very busy about the waggon, one of them held a dark lantern; Lefebre, Lerouge and even Mme.
The men followed, and under Allain's guidance crossed the town; when they reached the extremity of the Faubourg de Vaucelles they stopped and distributed the arms. Lerouge went back to town with the horse, and the little troop disappeared on the highroad.
I heard, afterwards, that they believed I profited by my wife's misconduct; while in reality she paid her lovers. At all events, people wondered where all the money came from that was spent in my house. To distinguish me from a cousin of mine, also named Lerouge, they tacked an infamous word on to my name. What disgrace! And I knew nothing of all the scandal, no, nothing. Was I not the husband?
The researches into the past life of widow Lerouge were no longer difficult. He could not restrain an exclamation of satisfaction, which passed unnoticed by Noel. "This note," resumed the advocate, "closes the count's correspondence with Madame Gerdy." "What!" exclaimed the old fellow, "you are in possession of nothing more?"
"I am not surprised at that," replied the advocate: "we were greatly interested in that poor woman, who was my nurse; and I know that Madame Gerdy wrote to her frequently." "Very well; then you can give me some information about her." "I fear, sir, that it will be very incomplete. I know very little about this poor old Madame Lerouge.
I had suggested his accompanying me to see Widow Lerouge, whose testimony might dispel all doubts; he did not seem to understand me. But he was well acquainted with her, having visited her with the count, who supplied her, I have since learned, liberally with money." "Did not this generosity appear to you very singular?" "No."
Then, after reflecting a moment, he added, "You are joking with me." "No, upon my word. Go and ask him his name; he will tell you that it is Pierre Lerouge." "She wasn't a widow then?" "It appears not," replied Gevrol sarcastically, "since there is her happy spouse." "Whew!" muttered the old fellow. "And does he know anything?"
Word Of The Day
Others Looking