Part 6 (1/2)
Some minutes later he was crossing the hall of the Wandering Footsteps (as it is called), giving rapid, cordial greetings to all the barristers of his acquaintance--one never knew when they might impart a special piece of information which let an enterprising journalist into the know, or put him early on to a good thing--and finally reached the lobbies of the Law Courts proper. He was saying to himself as he went along:
”He is a good fellow, Jouet! The news is not known yet! He telephoned me first!”
His friend Jouet met him, with a warm handshake:
”You did not seem to be in a good temper at the telephone just now, although I was giving you a nice bit of information!”
”Yes,” retorted Fandor, ”but information which simply proved how much the administrators of justice, to which you have the misfortune to belong, can make egregious mistakes! When, for once, you succeed in immediately arresting the a.s.sa.s.sin of someone well known, and are in a position to bring into play all the power and rigour of the law, you are clumsy enough to give the fellow a chance of punis.h.i.+ng himself, you let him commit suicide on the very first night of his arrest!”
Fandor had been speaking in a fairly loud voice, as usual, but, at imperative signs made by his friend, he lowered his tones:
”What is it?” he murmured.
His friend rose:
”What we are going to do, old boy, is to take a turn in the galleries!
I have something to say to you, and, joking apart, you are not to breathe a word of it to a soul--sh?”
”Count on me!”
Presently the two friends found themselves in one of the corridors of the Palais, known only to barristers and those accused of law-breaking.
”Come now!” cried Fandor, ”your a.s.sa.s.sin has hanged himself, hasn't he?”
”My a.s.sa.s.sin!” expostulated the junior barrister: ”My a.s.sa.s.sin! Allow me to inform you that Jacques Dollon is innocent!”
”Innocent?” Jerome Fandor shrugged a disbelieving shoulder: ”Innocent!
It is the fas.h.i.+on of the day to transform all murderers into innocents!... What ground have you for making such a declaration of innocence?”
”Here is my ground! I have just copied it out for you! Read!...”
Fandor hastened to read the paper handed to him by his friend. It was headed thus:
”_Copy of a letter brought by Maitre Gerin to the Public Prosecutor, a letter addressed to Maitre Gerin by the Baroness de Vibray._”
”Oh, it's a plant!” cried Fandor.
”Go on reading, you will see....”
Fandor continued:
”_My dear Maitre_,--
_You will forgive me, I am certain of that, for all the inconvenience I am going to cause you; I turn to you because you are the only friend in whom I have confidence._
_I have just received a letter from my bankers, Messieurs Barbey-Nanteuil, of whom I have often spoken to you, who you know manage all my money affairs for me._
_This letter informs me that I am ruined. You quite understand--absolutely, completely ruined._