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Updated: June 7, 2025
"Here is a criminal charge on the face of it. . . . You may be accused of suppressing the will," Fraisier made answer drily. La Cibot started. "Don't be alarmed; I am your legal adviser. I only wished to show you how easy it is, in one way or another, to do as I once explained to you. Let us see, now; what have you done that this simple German should be hiding in the room?"
With something of a coxcomb's manner, Fraisier fastened this refractory article of dress, tightening the girdle to define his reedy figure; then with a blow of the tongs, he effected a reconciliation between two burning brands that had long avoided one another, like brothers after a family quarrel. A sudden bright idea struck him, and he rose from his chair. "Mme. Sauvage!" called he. "Well?"
"I will try," said La Cibot. Fraisier drew her back into his sanctum. "Look here, old lady, I know M. Trognon, the notary of the quarter, very well. If M. Pons has not a notary, mention M. Trognon to him. Make him take M. Trognon " "Right," returned La Cibot. And as she came out again she heard the rustle of a dress and the sound of a stealthy, heavy footstep.
Schmucke was driven passively along the road, as some unlucky calf is driven in a butcher's cart to the slaughter-house. Fraisier and Villemot sat with their backs to the horses. On these occasions those who feel least begin to talk soonest, and in the end the saddest listen, and their thoughts are diverted. "M. le President had already started for the Court."
At four o'clock that afternoon several people were gathered together at Berthier's office; Fraisier, arch-concocter of the whole scheme, Tabareau, appearing on behalf of Schmucke, and Schmucke himself. Gaudissart had come with him.
He might have actually heard the conference between Fraisier and the portress: "Did I not guess exactly how it would be?" his eyes seemed to say as he glanced at Schmucke, and, turning a little, he seemed to be fast asleep. I vas opliged to play to keep him kviet, and the virst-floor lodgers vas komm up to tell me to be kviet! . . . It was frightful, for der life of mein friend vas at shtake.
"When I come to look for No. 7," continued Fraisier, "I find a portrait of a lady, signed 'Chardin, without a number on it!
Be easy. I will give Mme. Chapoulot a dressing down. . . . To think of a retired haberdasher's wife giving herself such airs!" Schmucke went to his room and took up his post in the closet. La Cibot had left the door ajar on the landing; Fraisier came in and closed it noiselessly as soon as he heard Schmucke shut his bedroom door.
The young clerk took Schmucke's orders for the funeral, the interment, and the burial service; undertaking that he should not be troubled again in any way, nor asked for money. "I vould gif all dat I haf to be left in beace," said the unhappy man. And once more he knelt beside the dead body of his friend. Fraisier had triumphed.
Ah! if I had but known the value of his gimcracks, and if I had known what I know now about his amours, I should be easy in my mind this day " "Keep on, in fact," broke in Fraisier. "Dying folk have queer fancies, my dear madame; they disappoint hopes many a time. Let him make his will, and then we shall see. And of all things, the property must be valued.
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