Volume III Part 17 (1/2)
An agent of the police, one of my friends, knowing that I had for a long time tracked this lord, asked me if I could not put him on the scent. I learned too late, at the time of our last writ, which he had escaped, that he was burrowed in a farm at Arnouville, at five leagues from Paris. But when we arrived there it was too late; the bird had flown!
”Besides, he had the following day paid this bill of exchange, thanks to a certain great lady, they say. Yes, general; but no matter, I knew the rest.
He had once been concealed there; he might well enough be concealed there a second time. That is what I said to my friend in the police. He proposed for me to lend a hand, as an amateur, and conduct him to the farm. I had nothing to do--it was a nice party to the country--I accepted.”
”Well! the viscount?”
”Not to be found. After having at first wandered around the farm, and having afterward introduced ourselves there, we returned as wise as we went; and this is the reason I have not been able to render myself sooner to your orders, general.”
”I was very sure there was an impossibility on your part, my good fellow.”
”But, if it is not improper, tell me, how the devil did you get here?”
”Vulgar people, my dear--a herd of riff-raff, who, for the miserable sum of sixty thousand francs, of which they pretend I have despoiled them, have carried a complaint against me for an abuse of confidence, and forced me to give up my commission.”
”Really! general? Ah, well! this is a misfortune! How--shall we work no more for you?”
”I am on half-pay, my good Bourdin; here I am on an allowance.”
”But who is, then, so savage?”
”Just imagine that one of the most severe against me is a liberated robber, who gave me to collect a bill of seven hundred miserable francs, for which it was necessary to prosecute. I did prosecute; I was paid, and I pocketed the money; and because, in consequence of speculations which did not succeed, I have spent this money, as well as that of many others, all the rubbis.h.i.+ng lot have made such a brawling, that a writ was issued to arrest me, and thus you see me here, my good fellow; neither more nor less than a malefactor.”
”Take care that don't hurt you, general.”
”Yes; but what is most curious is, this convict has written to me, some days since, that this money, being his sole resource for rainy days, and that these days had now arrived (I do not know what lie means by that), I was responsible for the crimes he might commit to escape starvation.”
”It is charming, on my word!”
”Is it not? Nothing more convenient. The droll fellow is capable of giving that as an excuse. Happily, the law knows no such accomplices.”
”After all, you are only accused of an abuse of confidence, is it not, my general?”
”Certainly! Do you take me for a thief, Master Bourdin?”
”Oh! general. I meant to say there was nothing serious in all this; after all, there is not enough to whip a cat.”
”Have I a despairing look, my good fellow?”
”Not at all; I never saw you look more cheerful. Indeed, if you are condemned, you will only have two or three months' imprisonment, and twenty-five francs fine. I know my code.”
”And these two or three months I shall be allowed, I am sure, to pa.s.s at my ease in a lunatic asylum. I have one deputy under my thumb.”
”Oh! then your affair is sure.”
”Hold, Bourdin, I can hardly keep from laughing; these fools who have sent me here will gain much by it! They shall never see a sou of the money they claim. They force me to sell my commission--all the same. I am aware of the duty I owe my predecessor. You see it is these m.u.f.fs who will be the geese of the farce, as Robert Macaire says.”
”That produces the same effect on me, general; so much the worse for them.”
”My good fellow, let us come to the subject which made me beg you to come here; it is touching a delicate mission concerning a female,” said Boulard, with a mysterious air.