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"Then," said Prosper, "from all this I judge that M. de Clameran was very poor when I met him for the first time at M. Fauvel's?" "Evidently." "And about that time Lagors arrived from the country?" "Precisely." "And about a month after his appearance Madeleine suddenly banished me?" "Well," exclaimed M. Verduret, "I am glad you are beginning to understand the state of affairs."
Fauvel's resistance grew weaker and more faint, as her niece pointed out the line for her to pursue: the path of wifely duty. "But," she faintly argued, "I cannot accept your sacrifice. What sort of a life will you lead with this man?" "We can hope for the best," replied Madeleine with a cheerfulness she was far from feeling; "he loves me, he says; perhaps he will be kind to me."
I don't know what the judge told her, but she came home quite beside herself with anger. She wanted to go and make a fuss at M. Fauvel's; then she wrote a letter which she told Jean to post for her; but I kept it to show you." "What!" interrupted Fanferlot, "you have a letter, and did not tell me before? Perhaps it contains the clew to the mystery. Give it to me, quick." Obeying her husband, Mme.
Five movable steel buttons, upon which are engraved all the letters of the alphabet, constitute the real power of this ingenious safe. Before inserting the key into the lock, the letters on the buttons must be in the exact position in which they were placed when the safe was locked. In M. Fauvel's bank, as everywhere, the safe was always closed with a word that was changed from time to time.
But at last they were obliged to appear in public. M. Fauvel's most intimate friends, the Messrs. Jandidier, were about to give a splendid ball, and, as fate would have it, a fancy ball, which would require the purchasing of costumes. Where would the money come from? They had been owing a large bill to their dressmaker for over a year. Would she consent to furnish them dresses on credit?
Raoul feared that he would never be able to overcome Mme. Fauvel's resistance. And, even if she yielded the key, would she not go directly and confess everything to her husband? She was fond of Prosper, and would hesitate a long time before sacrificing him. But Louis felt no uneasiness on this score.
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."
The tradesmen whose money had been squandered by Raoul refused to give credit any longer, and insisted upon their bills being paid at once; saying they could not understand how a man of M. Fauvel's wealth and position could keep them waiting for such insignificant sums.
Nothing seemed wanting to insure Valentine's felicity. When her husband and sons were at their business, her solitude was cheered by the intelligent, affectionate companionship of a young girl whom she loved as her own daughter, and who in return filled the place of a devoted child. Madeleine was M. Fauvel's niece, and when an infant had lost both parents, who were poor but very worthy people.
It was indeed M. Fauvel's niece, looking more beautiful than ever. Hers was that calm, dignified beauty which imposes admiration and respect. Standing in the middle of the room, near a table covered with silks and satins, she was arranging a skirt of red velvet embroidered in gold; probably the dress she was to wear as maid of honor to Catherine de Medicis.
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