VI.
On the day following Puymirol's arrest--for Puymirol was really andtruly arrested--George Caumont, who had passed a very restless anduncomfortable night, was awakened at an early hour by his prospectivebrother-in-law. "I have come to propose a morning ride, my dear fellow,"said Albert. "It is generally a thankless task to arouse a friend fromsleep, but when you hear my reasons I am sure that you will forgive me.You know my mare, Verdurette, that enabled me to win a prize at theshow. Well, I have come here on her back and a friend of mine has lentme two other mounts,--a very gentle animal suited to a lady, and a hackwhich would do very well for you. But I must tell you that last night atdinner, my sister obtained my mother's permission to take a ride in theBois de Boulogne this morning, escorted by her betrothed and by yourhumble servant. Fortunately Rochas wasn't there to interfere, and it wasdecided that all three of us should start at half-past nine thismorning. So make haste, the three horses are already standing, saddledand bridled, in our court-yard, and Gabrielle is awaiting you on thebalcony. However, if the proposal doesn't please you--"
"On the contrary, I should be delighted, only I intended to spend mymorning in trying to ascertain what had become of my friend Puymirol."
"What! hasn't he made his appearance yet?" exclaimed Albert, gaily. "Tospend two nights out is dissipation, indeed; but I see nothing alarmingit. Besides, you can do nothing. Come with us to the Bois. We can spenda couple of hours there very pleasantly, and when you return you willprobably find your friend here waiting for you."
George was not convinced, but he could not tell Albert that Puymirol hadbecome involved in dangerous schemes which might have terminated in acatastrophe. "All right," said he, "I should never forgive myself if Idisappointed Mademoiselle Verdon. I will dress at once. If you like tosmoke a cigar, there are some good ones in that box on themantel-shelf." And, thereupon, George hastily dressed, and was soonready to depart.
The house where Madame Verdon resided was only a few steps from the Ruede Medicis, and on turning the corner of the Boulevard Saint-Michel thetwo friends perceived the mother and daughter on the balcony. The motherwas arrayed in a showy morning dress, the daughter in a dark greenhabit. The three horses were waiting in the court-yard, and Georgerecognised at a glance the animal intended for him, a tall chestnut,with a spirit of mischief in his eyes. Gabrielle hastened down, and soonstood beside the young men. Her eyes were shining, her cheeks rosy, andher lips smiling. She extended her gloved hand to her betrothed, whopressed a respectful kiss upon it, as she gaily said: "So here you areat last. I was becoming so impatient. I began to fear that we should beobliged to abandon our expedition, and I really believe I should havecried with disappointment and vexation."
"I am truly sorry to have kept you waiting, mademoiselle, and--"
"Come, come; there's no time to lose. Let me mount you, Gabrielle," saidAlbert, and in the twinkling of an eye his sister was in the saddle.
The gentlemen then duly mounted in turn, and having saluted MadameVerdon they rode out of the yard. To reach the Boulevard St. Germain,the best road to the Bois, they had to cross the Rue de Medicis, whereGeorge resided, and scarcely were they in sight of that thoroughfarethan the lieutenant turned to Caumont, exclaiming: "Why, what a crowdthere is about your door! Can the house be on fire?"
It was not a fire, but something unusual was certainly going on. Therewere now two cabs in front of the house, and a policeman was waving backan eager crowd of people. A presentiment that all this commotion was insome way connected with Puymirol flashed across George's mind. Had hisfriend been brought home, wounded, dead, perhaps? "Try to find out whatthe matter is!" urged Albert, whereupon George checked his horse andspoke to a man who was moving away, exasperated by not having seenanything.
"Oh! the fools make such a fuss about nothing!" replied the fellow,shrugging his shoulders. "The police are searching somebody's rooms,that is all."
George was struck dumb with astonishment. What could this mean? Whoseapartments were they searching? And as he asked himself this question itsuddenly occurred to him that this search might be for the famousletters. The magistrate might have learned that they had fallen intoPuymirol's hands, and have decided to institute a search for them. Thisthought worried George, for these letters were in his rooms, and if heentered the house to make any further inquiries he would certainly beputting his head into the lion's mouth, for the doorkeeper would hardlyfail to inform the police of his arrival. In that case, what should hesay and do to assist his friend? George did not understand Puymirol'ssituation, but he realised that an imprudent answer might ruin him. Bykeeping out of sight he would at least incur no danger of contradictingPuymirol's statements. He, Caumont, was as yet in no way connected withthe affair, and in his absence no one would venture to break into hisrooms to search for the letters, whereas, if he showed himself, he mightbe plied with questions to which he could only give unsatisfactoryreplies, and he might even finally be obliged to let the officialssearch his apartments. Worst of all, if he should be detained, Gabriellewould learn that her betrothed was mixed up in a most unfortunateaffair, and the excursion to the Bois would have to be relinquished, andperhaps the marriage as well. So it was best not to interfere, at least,for the present.
The brother and sister had remained in the middle of the street,watching the crowd with evident curiosity. "Well!" inquired thelieutenant, as soon as George resumed his place on Gabrielle's left,"what is going on?"
"Nothing that can interest you in the least. The police have made a raidupon the apartments of some one in the house, it seems."
"Indeed! Upon whose?"
"I do not know. The only person that I am acquainted with in the houseis Puymirol."
"And it can not be his apartments they are searching."
"Nor mine, as I am not there," responded George.
"Where are your windows?" asked Gabrielle.
"On the third floor, mademoiselle."
"But, then, the police _are_ in your place, for, look, there is acommissary with his sash at that open window."
"Oh! my rooms are to the right--on the same floor, it's true," saidGeorge, who, to his horror, had recognised the window, where thecommissary stood, as that of Puymirol's bedroom.
"Well, let us proceed, then," said Albert. "If we loiter in this way, weshall never reach our destination, and I am anxious to see the Bois atits best."
This proposal was eminently satisfactory to George, who was anxious toget away from the spot as soon as possible. But all his enjoyment wasspoiled. His cheerfulness had vanished; however, Gabrielle failed tonotice the change, at least, for the time being, as at this momentAlbert asked her: "Have you seen Roch since yesterday?"
"No, and I am very much afraid that I shall not see much of him untilafter my marriage. Monsieur Rochas called this morning expressly to begmamma not to receive our old friend any longer."
"What business is it of his, pray? and what has he to say againstPlancoet, whose little finger is worth more than Rochas's whole body?"
"He pretends that our old friend is a dangerous character. To hear him,one would suppose that poor Roch had committed any number ofcrimes--Roch who would not harm a mouse, and who has sacrificed himselffor others ever since he came into the world."
"Well, no matter," rejoined Albert, "we shall soon be rid of Rochas andhave Plancoet all to ourselves. Now, my children, we are upon themacadamized pavement, and we have plenty of room into the bargain, sosuppose we trot a little."
They trotted on along the boulevard and up the Champs Elysees withouttheir progress being impeded. But in the Bois there were scores ofriders of either sex and also a number of carriages. Albert begandisdainfully criticising the horsemanship of those around him, andGabrielle laughed heartily at his comments, and began to feel surprisedthat George remained so serious. Such was the throng that all along theAllee des Poteaux they were obliged to walk their horses, which washardly to Albert's liking. "Come," said he, at last, "I've had enough ofthis. I don't care to star
e for ever at all these fine ladies andswells. Suppose we make for the Allee de Longchamps, and have a canterthere. Verdurette is becoming restive."
The suggestion was adopted. They turned their horses' heads in thedirection of the lake, but they had hardly proceeded a hundred yardswhen George saw his friend Charles Balmer approaching on a handsomethoroughbred. Balmer expressed his delight at the meeting by anexpressive gesture, and, reining in his horse, he abruptly said toGeorge: "My dear fellow, I must have a talk with you. It's serious.Apologize to your friends, and join me at the chalet at the end of thelake. I will wait for you there." And thereupon he rode off.
"That gentleman is not very polite," exclaimed the lieutenant. "Hecertainly might have touched his hat to Gabrielle. What did he say toyou?"
Gabrielle, who had heard Balmer distinctly, looked at Georgeinquisitively. She did not like to question him, but she awaited hisanswer with no little anxiety. George, who was greatly embarrassed,reluctantly replied:
"He asked me to join him at the end of the lake; and I would much ratherremain with you."
"Is he a friend of yours?" inquired Gabrielle.
"No, merely a club acquaintance."
"But if what he wants to say to you is important, you might leave us,and join us by-and-by at the Porte Maillot," insisted Gabrielle. "Haveyou any idea what he wants to speak to you about?"
"I have an idea, mademoiselle. He probably wants to give me someinformation in reference to Puymirol."
"The friend whose absence has caused you so much uneasiness?"
"Yes, mademoiselle. This gentleman is well acquainted with him; and Ifancy he knows what has become of him."
"You must go, then."
"Leave you! Oh, no."
"But you need not leave us for long, and who knows but what M. dePuymirol may need you. I should never forgive myself for detaining youif he required your assistance; and this gentleman has perhaps come foryou at his request. Go at once, pray."
George was greatly perplexed. The idea of leaving his betrothed sounceremoniously was most distasteful to him; but on the other hand, hesuspected that Balmer had something pressing to communicate. Puymirol'ssafety was, perhaps, at stake, for since George had witnessed the raidupon the house in the Rue de Medicis, he felt almost certain that hisfriend had been arrested; now, Balmer, as he well knew, was on excellentterms with the investigating magistrate, and might speak a good word forPuymirol if he needed one. "You need not hesitate if the matter is ofthe slightest importance, my dear fellow," now exclaimed Albert, seeinghis prospective brother-in-law's embarrassment. "I can see Gabriellesafely home, without your assistance, and as your conversation with thisgentleman may be a lengthy one, we won't wait for you at the PorteMaillot. Vulcan, your steed, is quartered at Tattersall's, so just leavehim there in charge of one of the ostlers on your way home."
"And come and see us as soon as you can," added Gabrielle. "I am anxiousto hear about your friend." Then to make George feel perfectly at ease,she touched her horse lightly with the whip and cantered away, closelyfollowed by her brother.
George decided not to follow them, but turned his horse's head in thedirection which Balmer had taken. In a few moments he had reached theChalet Cafe, in front of which sat Balmer, regaling himself with a glassof absinthe, and smoking a huge cigar. Springing to the ground, Georgeintrusted his horse to an urchin, and seated himself beside Balmer, ofwhom, without the least ceremony, he inquired, "Why do you want to seeme?"
"Why?" was the reply. "You must surely have guessed that I want to talkto you about Puymirol. When did you see him last?"
"On the day before yesterday, at the Palais de l'Industrie."
"Have you any idea where he went afterwards?"
"I think he went to Madame de Lescombat's; but he hasn't returned homesince, and I feel very anxious about him."
"He has had good reasons for not returning. You will recollect that onthe day before yesterday, I told you that my friend Robergeot was inpossession of a document which might assist him in discoveringDargental's murderer."
"It seems to me that you did tell me something of the kind," saidCaumont.
"Well, the document in question was in reality a small memorandum-book.Dargental, as you know, was an inveterate gambler, but he was also avery methodical man, and so whenever he won or lost any money or made apurchase--such as a lottery ticket, he made a note of the number in thisbook. He carried several lottery tickets about with him in thepocket-book which the murderer stole from him, and this was recorded inhis memorandum-book. So Robergeot said to himself: 'If by anyextraordinary chance one of the tickets enumerated in this list shouldwin a prize, the murderer will perhaps be foolish enough to claim themoney.' Well, this is exactly what has happened. Ticket No. 115,815,which headed Dargental's list, won a prize of a hundred thousand francsat the last drawing of the lottery of the Decorative Art Society; soRobergeot immediately despatched a commissary of police and twodetectives to the lottery office with orders to arrest the holder of theticket, if he ventured to present himself. He did present himselfyesterday morning--and in the person of our friend Adhemar de Puymirol."
"Puymirol!" exclaimed George, "it's impossible!"
"This much, at least, is certain: Puymirol has been in prison for nearlytwo days now."
"And you haven't told your friend, the magistrate, that Puymirol couldnot possibly be Dargental's murderer? You know we were breakfasting withhim at the very time when the crime was committed."
"Robergeot knows that, but the fact that the missing tickets were inPuymirol's possession can not be disputed. This attempt at fraud on hispart surprises you, I see, as much as it does me," continued Balmer;"but I account for it by the fact that Puymirol was most desperatelyhard up. He owed ten thousand francs at the club, to my certainknowledge, and hadn't a penny to meet his obligations with. He must havelost his senses in consequence, besides, he couldn't know that theauthorities had a list of Dargental's tickets, and that the police werelying in wait for him at the lottery office. As regards that matter Ican almost excuse him, for, after all, he injured no one as Dargentalwas dead; and a man whose past life has always been blameless may beforgiven for a momentary weakness. Indeed, if this were the only chargeagainst him, the matter could be hushed up, but there is the murder--"
"But no one can really believe him guilty of that. An incontestable_alibi_ can be established."
"Yes; but it is also necessary to prove that Puymirol had no knowledgeof the murder. Now, everything seems to indicate that he was aware ofit. If not, how did he come into possession of that pocket-bookcontaining the tickets?"
An answer rose to George's lips. He merely had to relate the adventureon the Place du Carrousel to explain the mystery, but the fear ofcontradicting some of Puymirol's statements deterred him; besides, hedid not care to tell the story to an erratic person like Balmer. He mustrelate it to the investigating magistrate if there were no other meansof saving Puymirol. However, realizing that he, first of all, neededfurther information, he asked: "How does Puymirol explain the fact thatthese tickets were in his possession?"
"He pretends that he found them in a cab."
"Then he denies having seen anything of the pocket-book?"
"Absolutely; he was searched and it wasn't found on his person; but thestrangest thing about it all is that he says he found the tickets on thevery day of Dargental's death, and in the cab that took him to the Liond'Or. He did not notice the number of the vehicle, and he declares hewas alone; but it seems to me that you both arrived at the restaurant atthe same time."
"It doesn't follow that I drove there with him," replied George,evasively.
"You can tell that to Robergeot, for he will certainly question you. Iam surprised that he has not sent for you before now. They are lookingfor the cab-driver, and will surely find him sooner or later. As for thepocket-book, Robergeot thought that Puymirol might have left it at home,so he ordered his rooms to be searched this morning. I am surprised thatyou are ignorant of that point, as you
both reside in the same house."
"I left home very early. But did the officers find anything suspicious?"
"I don't know yet, but I shall soon; that is, if my friend Robergeotdoes not begin to distrust me now that things are looking so badly forPuymirol. He knows that we are both well acquainted with him, youespecially, and between ourselves, I should not be surprised if yourrooms were searched as well, for Robergeot may suspect Puymirol ofhaving concealed the pocket-book there."
"Not with my knowledge and consent," said George.
"Oh! even if Puymirol were guilty, he wouldn't have made you hisconfidant, of course. Still, if I were in your place, I would find outwhat occurred in the Rue de Medicis at once, that is, unless you willcome and lunch with me."
"No, thank you," replied George. "I shall take your advice, and returnhome without delay; but I rely upon your assistance in getting Puymirolout of this scrape."
"I will do what I can, but it won't be much I'm afraid; you, on thecontrary, may perhaps be able to give evidence which will lead to hisspeedy release."
"You can at least ask your friend, Monsieur Robergeot, to grant mepermission to see Puymirol at the depot."
"I will do so, of course; but I doubt if he will consent. But there isnothing to prevent you from calling on him in person if you like. He isat his office every afternoon."
"Is the affair known at the club?"
"Not in all its details, but a rumour of Puymirol's arrest has gotabout, and as his debts remain unpaid, you have no time to lose if youcare to prevent a scandal. If you want to see me again I shall be at theclub, between four and seven."
Springing upon his horse, George then galloped off, leaving Balmer tofinish his absinthe. Ten minutes later, he left his steed atTattersall's, and jumping into a cab, ordered the jehu to drive him withall speed to the Rue de Medicis. He took the precaution to alight atsome distance from his door, however, so as not to attract the attentionof the police, if they should still be about, but he soon had thesatisfaction of finding that the crowd had dispersed, and that thevehicles which had brought the officers were no longer there. Onentering the house, he went straight to the doorkeeper, who on seeinghim, exclaimed: "Ah, sir, what an unfortunate affair! You had no soonergone out this morning than a magistrate, accompanied by a number ofpolicemen, came here with Monsieur de Puymirol, who was under arrest."
"Puymirol! arrested!" cried George, feigning surprise. "This isincredible! What charge can there be against him?"
"I don't know, sir," replied the porter. "I tried to talk with thepolicemen who stood on guard in the street, but they wouldn't give meany information."
"But why did they bring Puymirol here?"
"So that he might be present when his apartments were searched, Isuppose. They entered his rooms with him, and they rummaged abouteverywhere, even in the mattresses. I don't know what they were lookingfor, but I do know that they found nothing, and that they seemedterribly disappointed."
"How did Puymirol look while they searched his place?"
"He looked as if he were saying: 'Amuse yourself; break open the locks,and empty the drawers. You will only have your labour for your pains.'He scarcely deigned to give them an answer when they spoke to him."
"He must be the victim of some mistake. He is quite incapable of anycrime."
"That is exactly what I said to the commissary of police, when he askedme for information about your friend."
"Did he say anything about me?" inquired George, eagerly.
"No; your name was not mentioned. He did not even seem to be aware ofyour existence. If I might venture to give you a little advice, sir, youhad better not mix yourself up in this affair. Your friend will get outof the scrape without any assistance; and I have an idea that he prefersto do so; for if he had wanted your help, he would have inquired whereyou were, or have asked to see you."
This was not a bad argument; at least, it furnished George with abundantfood for reflection. On reaching his rooms, he found them exactly as hehad left them. He hastened to the desk in which he had locked up theletters. They were still there, and in his perplexity his first idea wasto annihilate them. Indeed, he actually lighted a candle with thatobject. On reflection, however, it occurred to him that although thediscovery of these letters, if his--Caumont's--rooms were searched,might aggravate Puymirol's situation, they might also be the means ofsaving him, by forcing him to tell the truth, instead of maintaining adangerous silence out of consideration for the Countess de Lescombat,whose reputation was hardly worth defending. Would it not be better totake them to the magistrate? But in that case, both Madame de Lescombatand Blanche Pornic would be mixed up in the affair; and although Georgecared but little as to what befell the countess, he could not forgetthat Albert, his prospective brother-in-law, was the actress's admirer,and that he would certainly take her defence. The young officer wasindeed so impetuous that he might fight the police agents sent to arresther, and get himself lodged in jail! And what a blow that would be forGabrielle. At last in his perplexity, George thought of a plan whichseemed tolerably feasible. He resolved to go and see Blanche Pornic. AsAlbert was to lunch with his mother and sister, there was no fear ofmeeting him in the Avenue de Messine. "I shall question her, andquestion her closely," said Caumont to himself. "It will depend entirelyupon her answers whether I return her letter to her, or hand it over tothe investigating magistrate. At all events I must see that officialto-day. The straight road is always the shortest and safest." Thereuponputting the letters in his pocket, George started off upon his campaign.
Le billet rouge. English Page 6