Volume II Part 19 (1/2)

Louise continued: ”This morning, before any one was up, I came here with the money, but it was not sufficient; and, without your generosity, he would not have escaped the bailiffs. Probably, after my departure, some one had gone to my room and discovered some traces which had led to this discovery. A last service I ask of you, sir,”

said Louise, drawing out the rouleau of gold from her pocket; ”will you hand this money to M. Germain? I promised him not to tell any one that he was employed at Ferrand's; but since you know it, I have not been indiscreet. Now, sir, I repeat, before G.o.d, who hears me, and before you, I have not said a word that is not true. I have not sought to ”--but, interrupting herself suddenly, Louise, much alarmed, cried, ”Oh, sir! look at my father! look at him! What is the matter with him?”

Morel had listened to the last part of this narrative with somber indifference, which Rudolph had explained to himself by attributing it to the overwhelming grief of this unhappy man. After so many violent shocks, so oft repeated, his tears were dried up, his sensibility blunted--he has not even strength enough left to vent his indignation, thought Rudolph.

He was mistaken. Like the flickering light of a lamp about to expire, the reason of Morel, already strongly shaken, vacillated for some time, showed forth now and then some last rays of intelligence, and then suddenly became obscured.

Absolutely a stranger to what was said, to what pa.s.sed around him, for some moments the artisan had become mad!

Although his wheel was placed the other side of his work-table, and he had in his hands neither diamonds nor tools, the artisan, attentively occupied, imitated his ordinary occupations. He accompanied this pantomime with a clacking noise with his tongue, like the wheel when in operation.

”Oh, sir!” said Louise, with increased alarm; ”look at my father!”

Then, approaching him, she said, ”Father! father!”

Morel looked at his daughter with that vacant stare peculiar to lunatics. Without ceasing for a moment his imaginary occupation, he answered, in a soft and mournful voice, ”I owe thirteen hundred francs to the notary, the price of Louise's blood. I must work, work, work!

Oh! I will pay, pay, pay!”

”This is not possible! This cannot last! He is not altogether mad is he?” cried Louise, in a heart-rending tone, ”He will come to himself-- it is only momentary----”

”Morel, my friend,” said Rudolph, ”we are here. Your daughter is alongside of you; she is innocent.”

”Thirteen hundred francs,” said the artisan, without looking at Rudolph, and continuing his imaginary occupation.

”Father,” cried Louise, throwing herself at his feet, and taking hold of his hands, ”it is I, Louise!”

”Thirteen hundred francs,” repeated he, endeavoring to disengage himself from Louise; ”thirteen hundred francs, or else,” added he, in a low and confidential tone, ”or else Louise is guillotined,” and he began to turn his wheel.

Louise uttered a piercing cry. ”He is mad,” cried she, ”he is mad! and it is I--I--who am the cause. Oh, yet it Is not my fault; I did not wish to do wrong; it is this monster!”

”Come, poor child, courage!” said Rudolph, ”let us hope. This madness will be but momentary. Your father has suffered too much, his reason has become weakened, he will get better.”

”But my mother--my grandmother--my brothers and sister! what will become of them?” cried Louise. ”See, they are deprived of both my father and myself. They will die with hunger, with poverty, and despair!”

”Am I not here? Be calm, they shall want for nothing. Courage, I pray you: your revelation will cause the punishment of a great criminal.

You have convinced me of your innocence; it shall certainly be known and acknowledged.”

”Oh, sir, you see dishonor--madness--death; these are the evils he has caused--this man; nothing can be done to him--nothing. Ah, this thought completes all my troubles!”

”Far from that; let a contrary thought aid you in supporting them.”

”What do you say, sir?”

”Carry with you the certainty that you shall be avenged.”

”Avenged!”

”Yes, I swear to you,” answered Rudolph, with solemnity, that, his crimes proved, this man shall severely expiate the dishonor, madness, and death he has caused. If the laws are powerless, if his cunning and address equal his misdeeds, to his cunning shall be opposed cunning-- to his misdeeds, misdeeds--but which shall be to them what the just and avenging punishment, inflicted on the culpable by an inexorable hand, is to the cowardly and concealed murder.”