Part 59 (1/2)
x.x.xVII
WHO GOODMAN GERVAL WAS
”Oh! what good fortune! Can I believe my eyes?” cried Jacques as he ran to the a.s.sistance of the unfortunate young woman whom he saw on the floor. ”This woman--it is she, Sans-Souci! Come, come and look at her.”
”Why, yes! sacrebleu! It's her! We've found her at last! Didn't I tell you that a man should never despair of anything?”
”And her daughter,--see, there she is; yes, I recognize her too.”
”But when I opened those shutters, I thought I saw a man; he has escaped.--The devil! what a noise! Do you hear? somebody is calling for help! Stay with her, but give me one of your pistols.”
Jacques gave Sans-Souci one of his weapons; and he, with the pistol in one hand, and his stick in the other, rushed in the direction of the shrieks; he went up to the first floor, entered a room the door of which was broken down, and saw an old man on his knees, imploring the pity of a miscreant, while another miscreant laden with bags of money was preparing for flight. Sans-Souci discharged his pistol at Dufresne, who was on the point of striking Monsieur Gerval; the monster fell at the old man's feet; his comrade threw down his bags and tried to escape; but Sans-Souci did not give him time; he overtook him on the stairway and dealt him such a l.u.s.ty blow on the head that Lampin staggered, rolled down several stairs, struck his head against the wall, and expired, vomiting the most horrible imprecations.
”You are my savior! my liberator!” cried Monsieur Gerval; while Sans-Souci relieved him of the cords that bound him.
”It is true, my dear monsieur, that it was high time; but perhaps there are other brigands in your house, and I will complete my inspection.”
”I will go with you, I will go with you, monsieur,” said the old man; ”I will be your guide. Alas! I do not see my faithful Dupre.”
At that moment they heard a pistol shot. Sans-Souci descended the stairs four at a time, and joined Jacques at the instant that he blew out the brains of one of the brigands who was trying to fly through Adeline's room; while his comrades, being more prudent, escaped by the same road that Edouard had followed.
The report of firearms, the uproar and the shrieks had awakened Catherine and Lucas; but only in obedience to their master's voice did they dare to leave their rooms. Then they went all together, with lights, to Adeline's room. She was just recovering her senses and was gazing with renewed surprise at Jacques, who stood by her.
”My brother, my friend, have I found you too?” she said at last; ”I do not know if it is a dream, but so many events have succeeded one another! Just now Edouard was with me.”
”Edouard! Come to yourself, be calm, my dear Adeline, and have no fear; the brigands are punished.”
Adeline made no reply but her eyes still sought her husband.
”Victory!” cried Sans-Souci; ”I killed two of them, for my part.”
”We owe you our lives, gallant strangers,” said Monsieur Gerval, approaching Jacques; ”how can I ever pay my debt to you?”
”You have evidently taken care of my sister and my niece,” Jacques answered the old man, ”and I am still in your debt.”
”His sister! his niece!” exclaimed the good man and his servants.
”First of all, let us finish inspecting the house,” said Sans-Souci; ”there may be some more of the scoundrels hidden in some corner.”
”But Dupre doesn't appear! I am terribly afraid that he has fallen a victim to his zeal.”
”Let us put our friends in a place of safety, and go and look!”
Monsieur Gerval, Adeline, her daughter and Catherine were taken to a room of which the door was securely fastened, and where they had nothing to fear; then Jacques and Sans-Souci began to inspect the house, guided by Lucas, who trembled like a leaf, but dared not refuse to accompany them. The name of Edouard, which Adeline had p.r.o.nounced, was an enigma to Jacques, who dared not harbor the suspicions that came to his mind.
They examined every part of the house without finding anybody, except the body of the unfortunate Dupre in the attic; after making sure that there was no sign of life about him, Sans-Souci, aided by Lucas, took him down to the ground floor, where the faithful servant's remains were destined to stay until the last rites should be performed over them.
While Sans-Souci and the gardener attended to this melancholy duty, Jacques entered Monsieur Gerval's apartment. A low groaning came from one corner of the room. Dufresne was still alive; but the wound that he had received was mortal and the villain struggled in vain against death.
Jacques put his lantern to the dying man's face and an exclamation of surprise escaped him. Dufresne also recognized Edouard's brother; a horrible smile animated his almost lifeless eyes; he mustered what little strength he had left, to speak for the last time.
”I am dying; but if you have killed all those who were with me, you have killed your brother. Tell his wife, tell that Adeline who despised me, that her husband, after escaping from the galleys, has become by my advice a robber and an a.s.sa.s.sin.”