Part 20 (2/2)
He smiled, glanced around to see that no one was within hearing, and then said in a low voice,--
”It is about the bottle of poison.”
She recoiled, as though some venomous reptile had started up in front of her.
”What do you mean?” cried she. ”How dare you speak to me thus?”
All his servile manner had now returned to him, and he uttered a string of complaints in a whining tone of voice. She had played him a most unfair trick, and had stolen a certain little gla.s.s bottle from his office; and if anything had leaked out, his head would have paid the penalty of a crime in which he had no hand. He was quite ill, owing to the suspense and anxiety he had endured; sleep would not come to his bed, and the pangs of remorse tortured him continually.
”Enough,” cried Diana, stamping her foot angrily on the ground. ”Enough, I say.”
”Well, mademoiselle, I can no longer remain here. I am far too nervous, and I wish to go to some foreign country.”
”Come, let me hear the real meaning of this long preface.”
Thus adjured, Daumon spoke. He only wished for some little memento to cheer his days and nights of exile, some little recognition of his services; in fact, such a sum as would bring him in an income of three thousand francs.
”I understand you,” replied Diana. ”You wish to be paid for what you call your kindness.”
”Ah, mademoiselle!”
”And you put a value of sixty thousand francs upon it; that is rather a high price, is it not?”
”Alas! it is not half what this unhappy business has cost me.”
”Nonsense; your demand is preposterous.”
”Demand!” returned he; ”I make no demand. I come to you respectfully and with a little charity. If I were to demand, I should come to you in quite a different manner. I should say, 'Pay me such and such a sum, or I tell everything.' What have I to lose if the whole story comes to light? A mere nothing. I am a poor man, and am growing old. You and M.
Norbert are the ones that have something to fear. You are n.o.ble, rich, and young, and a happy future lies before you.”
Diana paused and thought for an instant.
”You are speaking,” answered she at last, ”in a most foolish manner.
When charges are made against people, proofs must be forthcoming.”
”Quite right, mademoiselle; but can you say that these proofs are not in my hands? Should you, however, desire to buy them, you are at liberty to do so. I give you the first option, and yet you grumble.”
As he spoke, he drew a battered leather pocket-book from his breast, and took from it a paper, which, after having been crumpled, had been carefully smoothed out again. Diana glanced at it, and then uttered a stifled cry of rage and fear, for she at once recognized her last letter to Norbert.
”That wretch, Francoise, has betrayed me,” exclaimed she, ”and I saved her mother from a death by hunger and cold.”
The Counsellor held out the letter to her. She thought that he had no suspicion of her, and made an attempt to s.n.a.t.c.h it from him; but he was on his guard, and drew back with a sarcastic smile on his face.
”No, mademoiselle,” said he; ”this is not the little bottle of poison; however, I will give it to you, together with another one, when I have obtained what I ask. Nothing for nothing, however; and if I must go to the scaffold, I will do so in good company.”
Mademoiselle de Laurebourg was in utter despair.
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