Part 16 (1/2)
With stealthy step the two men drew near the journalist. Fandor walked on unsuspicious at a slow regular pace, his head lowered. The two bandits came up to within a yard of him. Noiselessly, savagely determined, Nibet lifted his arm for a murderous stroke. At this precise moment Fandor stopped at the verge of the exit, by which the sewer discharged its burden steeply into the Seine.
Yet a moment: Nibet's knife was poised for the rapid and terrible stroke; it was about to bury itself in the neck of the journalist up to the hilt, when Cranajour lifted his foot, as if inspired by an idea on the spur of the moment, gave the journalist a violent kick in the lower part of the back, and sent him flying into s.p.a.ce!
They heard his body fall heavily into the Seine.... So roughly sudden had been Cranajour's movement that Nibet stood dumbfounded, arm in air, and staring at Cranajour:
Cranajour smiled his most idiotic smile, nodded, but did not utter one word!...
It was formidable, the rage of Nibet! Here had that cra.s.s fool, Cranajour, kicked away the warder's chance of ridding himself of the journalist for good and all! This. .h.i.t-and-miss made Nibet foam with rage. Of all the exasperating simpletons, this fool of a Cranajour took the cake!
The two made their way back to the store, where Mother Toulouche and big Ernestine anxiously awaited results; and now not only had the two men returned stuttering over their statements and with no news of the boatman, who was generally up to time, but they had missed a fine opportunity chance had offered them!
Nibet hated the journalist like all the poisons. Taunts, jeers, abuse were heaped on the silly head of Cranajour, who, all in vain, raised his eyes to heaven, beat his chest, shrugged his shoulders, stammered, mumbled vague excuses:
”He didn't know exactly why he had done it! He thought he was helping Nibet!”
They disputed and contended for two hours. Suddenly Cranajour broke a long silence and demanded, looking as stupid as a half-witted owl:
”What have I done then? What are you scolding me for?”
Mother Toulouche, big Ernestine, and the wrathful Nibet stared at one another, taken aback--then they understood: two hours had gone by, and Cranajour no longer remembered what had happened!
Decidedly he was more innocent than a new-born babe! There was nothing whatever to be done with such an idiot, that was certain!
VI
IN THE OPPOSITE SENSE
When Jerome Fandor had been precipitated into the Seine so unexpectedly and with such violence he kept control of his wits: he did not utter a cry as he fell head foremost into the darkling river. He was an excellent swimmer: all aching as he was, he let himself go with the current and presently reached the sheltering arch of the Pont Neuf.
There he took breath for a minute:
”Queer!” was all he murmured. Then with regular strokes he made for the steep bank of the Seine opposite. Quitting the river, he secreted himself behind a heap of stones which lay on the quay. He took off his soaked garments and wrung the water out of them. This done, and clad in what looked like dry clothes, Fandor walked along the quay, hailed a pa.s.sing cabman half asleep on his seat, jumped inside, and gave his address to the Jehu.
When he arrived at _La Capitale_ on the Friday morning a boy approached him, and whispered mysteriously:
”Monsieur Fandor, there's a very nice little woman in the sitting-room, who has been waiting for over an hour. She wishes to see you. She will not give her name: she declares that you know who she is.”
”What is she like?” Fandor asked. His curiosity was not much aroused.
”Pretty, fair, all in black,” replied the boy.
”Good. I'll go in,” interrupted Fandor.
He entered the sitting-room and stood face to face with Mademoiselle Elizabeth Dollon. She came forward, her eyes s.h.i.+ning, her face alight with welcome:
”Ah, monsieur,” she cried, taking his hands in hers, a movement of pure grat.i.tude: ”Ah, monsieur, I knew you would come to my help! I have read your article of yesterday. Thank you again and again! But, I implore you, since my brother is alive, tell me where I can see him! For mercy's sake don't keep me waiting!”