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Updated: May 25, 2025
"Then how can she ...?" "The asylum," explained M. de Lourtier, "is made up of a number of separate buildings scattered over extensive grounds. The sort of cottage in which Hermance lives stands quite apart. There is first a room occupied by Felicienne, then Hermance's bedroom and two separate rooms, one of which has its windows overlooking the open country.
M. de Lourtier-Vaneau was a man still in the prime of life, wearing a slightly grizzled beard and, by his affable manners and genuine distinction, commanding confidence and liking. "M. de Lourtier," said Renine, "I have ventured to call on your excellency because I read in last year's newspapers that you used to know one of the victims of the lady with the hatchet, Honorine Vernisset."
At last they reached Ville d'Avray. There was a steep, sloping road on the right and walls interrupted by a long railing. "Drive round the grounds, Adolphe. We mustn't give warning of our presence, must we, M. de Lourtier? Where is the cottage?" "Just opposite," said M. de Lourtier-Vaneau. They got out a little farther on. Renine began to run along a bank at the side of an ill-kept sunken road.
Felicienne, my old nurse, who lives not far from Paris on an allowance which I make her, read your advertisement and told Madame de Lourtier of it. For, after all," he added laughing, "I don't suppose that you suspect my wife of being the lady with the hatchet." "No." "Then the incident is closed ... at least on my side.
Her husband insisted: "Tell us, Suzanne. Who gave you the address?" "I was rung up." "By whom?" She hesitated and then said: "Your old nurse." "Felicienne?" "Yes." M. de Lourtier cut short the conversation and, without permitting Renine to ask any more questions, took him back to the study: "You see, monsieur, that pneumatic letter came from a quite natural source.
"Nothing will come of it, I pledge my word, on condition that you save Hortense Daniel. A moment's hesitation may undo us all. Speak. No details, but the actual facts." "Madame de Lourtier is not my wife. The only woman who has the right to bear my name is one whom I married when I was a young colonial official.
All this is horrible!" They were both making for the door, when M. de Lourtier hesitated. The telephone-bell was ringing. "It's from there," he said. "From there?" "Yes, my old nurse gives me the news at the same time every day." He unhooked the receivers and handed one to Renine, who whispered in his ear the questions which he was to put. "Is that you, Felicienne? How is she?" "Not so bad, sir."
He leapt into the room and threw away his revolver in order to seize the madwoman. But she did not wait for him. She rushed to the door, opened it and fled, with a hoarse cry. M. de Lourtier made as though to run after her. "What's the use?" said Renine, kneeling down, "Let's save the victim first." He was instantly reassured: Hortense was alive.
"Why, of course we knew her!" cried M. de Lourtier. "My wife used to employ her as a dressmaker by the day. Poor girl!" "M. de Lourtier, a lady of my acquaintance has disappeared as the other six victims disappeared. "What!" exclaimed M. de Lourtier, with a start. "But I have followed the newspapers carefully. There was nothing on the 18th of October."
"But by day she sees her mistress moving to and fro, doing this and that. Must we not admit a certain complicity?" "Never! Felicienne herself has been deceived by Hermance's hypocrisy." "All the same, it was she who telephoned to Madame de Lourtier first, about that advertisement...." "Very naturally.
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