Part 32 (2/2)
Lebeau advanced through the gloom, and quietly seated himself in the corner of the fireplace opposite to Graham before he spoke. ”A thousand pardons for disturbing your slumbers, Monsieur Lamb.”
Startled then by the voice so near him, Graham raised his head, looked round, and beheld very indistinctly the person seated so near him.
”Monsieur Lebeau?”
”At your service. I promise to give an answer to your question; accept my apologies that it has been deferred so long. I shall not this evening go to our cafe. I took the liberty of calling--”
”Monsieur Lebeau, you are a brick.”
”A what, Monsieur!--a brique?”
”I forgot; you are not up to our fas.h.i.+onable London idioms. A brick means a jolly fellow, and it is very kind in you to call. What is your decision?”
”Monsieur, I can give you some information, but it is so slight that I offer it gratis, and forego all thought of undertaking further inquiries. They could only be prosecuted in another country, and it would not be worth my while to leave Paris on the chance of gaining so trifling a reward as you propose. Judge for yourself. In the year 1849, and in the month of July, Louise Duval left Paris for Aix-la-Chapelle.
There she remained some weeks, and then left it. I can learn no further traces of her movements.”
”Aix-la-Chapelle! What could she do there?”
”It is a Spa in great request; crowded during the summer season with visitors from all countries. She might have gone there for health or for pleasure.”
”Do you think that one could learn more at the Spa itself if one went there?”
”Possibly. But it is so long,--twenty years ago.”
”She might have revisited the place.”
”Certainly; but I know no more.”
”Was she there under the same name,--Duval?”
”I am sure of that.”
”Do you think she left it alone or with others? You tell me she was awfully belle; she might have attracted admirers.”
”If,” answered Lebeau, reluctantly, ”I could believe the report of my informant, Louise Duval left Aix not alone, but with some gallant; not an Englishman. They are said to have parted soon, and the man is now dead. But, speaking frankly, I do not think Mademoiselle Duval would have thus compromised her honour and sacrificed her future. I believe she would have scorned all proposals that were not those of marriage.
But all I can say for certainty is that nothing is known to me of her fate since she quitted Aix-la-Chapelle.”
”In 1849? She had then a child living.”
”A child? I never heard that she had any child; and I do not believe she could have had any child in 1849.”
Graham mused. Somewhat less than five years after 1849 Louise Duval had been seen at Aix-la-Chapelle. Possibly she found some attraction at that place, and might yet be discovered there. ”Monsieur Lebeau,” said Graham, ”you know this lady by sight; you would recognize her in spite of the lapse of years. Will you go to Aix and find out there what you can? Of course, expenses will be paid, and the reward will be given if you succeed.”
”I cannot oblige you. My interest in this poor lady is not very strong, though I should be willing to serve her, and glad to know that she were alive. I have now business on hand which interests me much more, and which will take me from Paris, but not in the direction of Aix.”
”If I wrote to my employer, and got him to raise the reward to some higher amount, that might make it worth your while?”
”I should still answer that my affairs will not permit such a journey.
<script>