Part 67 (2/2)
What is the use of his going to the Prime Minister, though we all know that Valenglay protects you?
”There are others besides the Prefect of Police! There are others besides the Prime Minister! There's the whole of the detective office, there's the public prosecutor's staff, there's the examining magistrate, the press and, above all, public opinion, which has to be satisfied and which calls for and expects a culprit. That culprit is yourself or Florence Leva.s.seur. Or, rather, it's you and Florence Leva.s.seur.”
Don Luis did not move a muscle of his face. Mazeroux waited a moment longer. Then, receiving no reply, he made a gesture of despair.
”Chief, do you know what you are compelling me to do? To betray my duty.
Well, let me tell you this: to-morrow morning you will receive a summons to appear before the examining magistrate. At the end of your examination, whatever questions may have been put to you and whatever you may have answered, you will be taken straight to the lockup. The warrant is signed. That is what your enemies have done.”
”The devil!”
”And that's not all. Weber, who is burning to take his revenge, has asked for permission to watch your house from this day onward, so that you may not slip away as Florence Leva.s.seur did. He will be here with his men in an hour's time. What do you say to that, Chief?”
Without abandoning his careless att.i.tude, Don Luis beckoned to Mazeroux.
”Sergeant, just look under that sofa between the windows.”
Don Luis was serious. Mazeroux instinctively obeyed. Under the sofa was a portmanteau.
”Sergeant, in ten minutes, when I have told my servants to go to bed, carry the portmanteau to 143 _bis_ Rue de Rivoli, where I have taken a small flat under the name of M. Lecocq.”
”What for, Chief? What does it mean?”
”It means that, having no trustworthy person to carry that portmanteau for me, I have been waiting for your visit for the last three days.”
”Why, but--” stammered Mazeroux, in his confusion.
”Why but what?”
”Had you made up your mind to clear out?”
”Of course I had! But why hurry? The reason I placed you in the detective office was that I might know what was being plotted against me. Since you tell me that I'm in danger, I shall cut my stick.”
And, as Mazeroux looked at him with increasing bewilderment, he tapped him on the shoulder and said severely:
”You see, Sergeant, that it was not worth while to disguise yourself as a cab-driver and betray your duty. You should never betray your duty, Sergeant. Ask your own conscience: I am sure that it will judge you according to your deserts.”
Don Luis had spoken the truth. Recognizing how greatly the deaths of Marie Fauville and Sauverand had altered the situation, he considered it wise to move to a place of safety. His excuse for not doing so before was that he hoped to receive news of Florence Leva.s.seur either by letter or by telephone. As the girl persisted in keeping silence, there was no reason why Don Luis should risk an arrest which the course of events made extremely probable.
And in fact his antic.i.p.ations were correct. Next morning Mazeroux came to the little flat in the Rue de Rivoli looking very spry.
”You've had a narrow escape, Chief. Weber heard this morning that the bird had flown. He's simply furious! And you must confess that the tangle is getting worse and worse. They're utterly at a loss at headquarters.
They don't even know how to set about prosecuting Florence Leva.s.seur.
”You must have read about it in the papers. The examining magistrate maintains that, as Fauville committed suicide and killed his son Edmond, Florence Leva.s.seur has nothing to do with the matter. In his opinion the case is closed on that side. Well, he's a good one, the examining magistrate! What about Gaston Sauverand's death? Isn't it as clear as daylight that Florence had a hand in it, as well as in all the rest?
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