Part 46 (2/2)
He made up his mind to slip out on to the landing. Despite his efforts, he could not prevent his shoes creaking: it was spring-time, and already the stair carpet had been taken up. He was on the point of going downstairs, when he heard the portress calling from above:
”Who's there?... What do you want?”
Had she heard him leave the flat? Was he to be stupidly caught, just as he was escaping?... He must act at once. He went up a step or two of the next flight of stairs and called out:
”Is Monsieur Mercadier at home?”
”Ah, no, monsieur! He has just this minute gone out! I am surprised you did not meet him!...”
”Very good, madame. I will come another time!”
Fandor turned on his heel, and, whistling, with hands in pockets, he gained the ground floor, pa.s.sed the entrance gate, and found himself in the street. He mingled with the pa.s.sers-by, and learned from the first plaque he came to with the name of the street on it, that he was in rue Lecourbe, Vaugirard....
XX
UNDER THE HOODED MASK
What had happened? By way of what mysterious adventures had the corpse of sugar refiner Thomery reached that empty room in rue Lecourbe, where Jerome Fandor had come across it?
Two days previous, on the afternoon of Elizabeth Dollon's arrest, Monsieur Thomery was working in his study, when a servant came to tell him that a lady wished to speak to him.
”Did she give you her name?” asked Thomery.
”No, monsieur, this person said her name would tell you nothing; but she was sure monsieur would see her, for she would only detain him a minute or two....”
Piles of papers were stacked on the great sugar refiner's study table: typists were laying numerous letters before him, which awaited his signature. Thomery thought to himself:
”I have still a good half-hour's work before me ... deuce take this importunate visitor!” He was on the point of saying he could not see any one, when the servant added:
”This person declares she comes with reference to Madame the Princess Danidoff.”
Though he was a man of business, Thomery was a gallant man also; and very much in love; his approaching marriage with the Princess, which had been kept secret, was now known. The name of Princess Danidoff settled the question.
”Very well, let her come in!”
The manservant disappeared a minute, then ushered into the study a very una.s.suming woman of uncertain age and quite ordinary looking.
Thomery rose to meet her, pointing pleasantly to one of the large arm-chairs in the room. The visitor was profusely apologetic.
”I am so exceedingly sorry, Monsieur Thomery, to disturb you at such an hour, when you must certainly have a great deal to occupy your attention; but the matter I have come about will not wait, and I am sure it will interest you....”
This little person seemed very intelligent, and Thomery was favourably impressed by her manner, which was both simple and decided.
”Madame, I am listening to you. In what way can I be of service to you?”
”I am not here, monsieur,” she protested, ”to pester you with any wants and wishes for myself. I am a diamond broker and ...”
She had not finished her sentence when Thomery, smiling but firm, rose, and said sharply:
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