Part 16 (2/2)
”If the Prefect wants me, as I expect he will, telephone to my address, Place du Palais-Bourbon. I shall be there. Good-bye. It is not necessary for me to a.s.sist at the inquiry; my presence would be out of place.
Good-bye, old chap.”
He turned toward the door of the pa.s.sage.
”Half a moment!” cried Mazeroux.
”Half a moment?... What do you mean?”
The detective sergeant had flung himself between him and the door and was blocking his way.
”Yes, half a moment ... I am not of your opinion. It's far better that you should wait until the Prefect comes.”
”But I don't care a hang about your opinion!”
”May be; but you shan't pa.s.s.”
”What! Why, Alexandre, you must be ill!”
”Look here, Chief,” said Mazeroux feebly. ”What can it matter to you?
It's only natural that the Prefect should wish to speak to you.”
”Ah, it's the Prefect who wishes, is it?... Well, my lad, you can tell him that I am not at his orders, that I am at n.o.body's orders, and that, if the President of the Republic, if Napoleon I himself were to bar my way ... Besides, rats! Enough said. Get out of the road!”
”You shall not pa.s.s!” declared Mazeroux, in a resolute tone, extending his arms.
”Well, I like that!”
”You shall not pa.s.s.”
”Alexandre, just count ten.”
”A hundred, if you like, but you shall not....”
”Oh, blow your catchwords! Get out of this.”
He seized Mazeroux by both shoulders, made him spin round on his heels and, with a push, sent him floundering over the sofa. Then he opened the door.
”Halt, or I fire!”
It was Mazeroux, who had scrambled to his feet and now stood with his revolver in his hand and a determined expression on his face.
Don Luis stopped in amazement. The threat was absolutely indifferent to him, and the barrel of that revolver aimed at him left him as cold as could be. But by what prodigy did Mazeroux, his former accomplice, his ardent disciple, his devoted servant, by what prodigy did Mazeroux dare to act as he was doing?
Perenna went up to him and pressed gently on the detective's outstretched arm.
”Prefect's orders?” he asked.
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