The Son of Monte-Cristo

by Jules Lermina

  CHAPTER XXXI.

  TRIUMPH.

  A triumph like this was, of course, to be celebrated by La Roulante andRobeccal after their own fashion. They sat opposite each other at atable covered with bottles. In the centre lay the bag of gold. As theytalked they played with it, making it up in little piles and arrangingit in figures.

  "We will buy a little place in the country, now," said La Roulante, asshe filled her glass.

  "Why does the girl sleep like this?" asked Robeccal.

  "Oh! it is a secret that I learned some time ago--to make little girlssubmissive."

  There was a sudden sound, a long, shivering sigh from above stairs.

  "Did you hear that?" asked Robeccal, in a startled tone.

  "It is nothing!" answered La Roulante, superciliously. "It is only thegirl waking up at last!"

  "But she will scream, I am sure!"

  "Let her, if she dare!" and the giantess clenched her enormous fist. "Iwould crush her to jelly if she did!"

  "And then you would lose the twenty thousand francs!"

  The woman nodded in a tipsy manner.

  "That's so!" she answered. "I had best go and talk to the Princess,anyway."

  Another long sigh.

  "I am coming! I am coming!" grunted La Roulante, slowly feeling her wayup the stairs that creaked under her weight. She drew the key from herpocket with considerable difficulty, and finally succeeded in openingthe door.

  The young girl lay in the same position, but she seemed oppressed by anightmare, for big tears rolled down her cheeks and sighs rent herbreast.

  La Roulante went to the side of the bed.

  "Well, my child," she said, endeavoring to soften her harsh voice, "howare you to-night? Do you want anything?"

  Francine's eyelids fluttered, and then slowly opened. A look of terriblehorror came on her face as she beheld this most repulsive creature.

  "Where am I?" faintly ejaculated the poor child.

  "You are with good friends, who are anxious to make you happy."

  Francine frowned. She was evidently trying to remember what had takenplace.

  La Roulante grew bolder. She seated herself on the foot of the bed.

  "Virtue is a very good thing," she said, "but it neither feeds you norclothes you. And it is rather a hard thing to starve and be cold whenyou are young, and then die in a hospital when you grow old. If a girlonly realized this, she would never refuse what a nice young fellowoffered!"

  Francine started up with a burning face.

  "What are you saying?" she cried. "But I do not wish to understand.Where am I?" She wrung her hands. "I remember now! I was gagged andcarried away. I am not an ignorant child--I know too well the wickednessof this world, and I understand all. A villain, whose name my lips shallnever pronounce, has placed me in this woman's house." Francine graspedLa Roulante's arm. "Move aside," she said, "let me pass!"

  La Roulante now stood in front of the door.

  "Listen to me," said Francine. "I will forgive you if you let me go now.If you refuse, I will call for aid, and I will denounce you to thepolice!"

  "It is too late, little girl, too late! Your lover was here with you allnight!"

  Francine uttered a terrific shriek and rushed to the window. She threwit open, and leaning out, cried:

  "Help! Help!"

  La Roulante immediately seized her and pulled her back. Robeccal ran in.The girl struggled until, breathless and exhausted, she was thrown onthe floor.

  "Give me that bottle!" said La Roulante.

  Robeccal understood, as did poor Francine, who resolutely closed herlips. The man brutally pried them open with his fingers, while the womanpoured a teaspoonful down the girl's throat, who in another moment layunconscious.

  Then La Roulante and Robeccal put the room in order, and going out,closed the door and returned to their wine below. They began to playcards, while waiting for the arrival of Frederic, from whom they hadreceived the note.

  The weather was still stormy, and about six o'clock Frederic, wrapped ina cloak, arrived. As soon as he rapped on the door the giantess openedit, but barred all passage.

  "Have you the money?" she asked.

  "Yes, yes--give me the key!"

  Talizac threw down a pocketbook, and the giantess, with most exaggeratedrespect, pointed to the stairs.

  As soon as Talizac had left the lower floor, she turned to Robeccal.

  "And now we will make ourselves scarce!"

  Hardly had the door closed on their retreating forms than an angry cryrang through the house. Talizac rushed from Francine's room. The girlhad disappeared.