Part 19 (2/2)
Claude a day or two as she had the desire to see ain very soon
She also honouredat seven of the clock This was the first time, I noticed, that the name Fournier was actually used in connexion with any of the people hom I had become so dramatically involved Not that I had ever doubted the identity of the ruffianly Ernest Berty; still it was very satisfactory to have my surmises confirmed I concluded that the fine house in the Avenue du Jura belonged to Muely wondered who he was The invitation to dinner had certainly been given in her name, and the servants had received her with a show of respect which suggested that she was uest in her brother's house
Be that as it may, I betook myself for the nonce to the Hotel des Moines in the centre of the town and killed ti I needed rest after the eht hours Rehts and had spent the last eight hours on the narrow front seat of a jolting chaise So I had a good rest in the afternoon, and at seven o'clock I presented myself once more at the house in the Avenue du Jura
My intention was to retire early to bed after spending an agreeable evening with the faratitude, and at daybreak I would drive back to Gex after I had heard all the latest news from Leroux
I confess that it ith a pardonable feeling of agitation that I tugged at the wrought-iron bell-pull on the perron of the in with I felt so to appear before ladies at this hour inclothes, and then, you will admit, Sir, that it was a sohly sensitive temperament to meet on terms of equality a refined if stout lady whose son he had just helped to send to the gallows Fortunately there was no likelihood of M as yet aware of this unpleasant fact: even if she did know at this hour that her son's illicit adventure had corief, she could not possibly in her mind connect me with his ill-fortune So I allowed the sumptuous valet to take my hat and coat and I followed him with as calm a demeanour as I could assume up the richly carpeted stairs Obviously the relatives of M in the house showed evidences of luxury, not to say wealth I was ushered into an elegant salon wherein every corner showed traces of dainty feminine hands There were embroidered silk cushi+ons upon the sofa, lace covers upon the tables, whilst a work basket, filled with a riot of h the apartered and caressedood fortune to succour
I had waited less than five h the next room, and a second or so later, before I had time to take up an appropriate posture, the door was thrown open and the exquisite vision ofbefore me
”Mademoiselle,” I stammered somewhat clumsily, for of a truth I was hardly able to recover h robbed me of speech, ”how comes it that you are here?”
She only smiled in reply, the most adorable smile I had ever seen on any human face, so full of joy, of mischief--aye, of triuain she sues of her journey I had scarce recovered from my initial surprise when another--more complete still--confronted me This was the appearance of Monsieur Aristide Fournier, who his cri, also extre friends, and who then--I scarce could believe my eyes--placed his arm affectionately round his sister's waist, while she turned her sweet face up to his and gave hi look to him as a brute and a bully and a allows! True his appearance was coht and kindly, his mouth continued to smile, his manner was urbane in the extreme when he finally introduced himself to me as: ”Aristide Fournier, my dear Monsieur Ratichon, at your service”
He knew my name, he kneho I hilst II had to pass my hand once or twice over my forehead and to close and reopen my eyes several times, for, of a truth, it all seemed like a dream I tried to staasp, and the lovely Angele appeared highly aaily, ”after which you may ask as many questions as you like”
In very truth I was in no rip me by the throat and to choke h and to make merry She had cruelly deceived me, played upon the chords of my sensitive heart for purposes which no doubt would presently beof the English files had been successful--as it apparently hat had becoedy had been enacted in the narrow gorge of St Cergues, and what, oh! what had become of my hopes of that five thousand francs for the apprehension of the slers, promised me by Leroux? Can you wonder that for the ht of dinner was abhorrent to me? But only for the -doors, and down the vista of the stately apartlass and silver, whilst a distinctly savoury odour afted to le question,” the fair Angele reiterated with adorable determination, ”until after we have dined”
What, Sir, would you have done in my place? I believe that never until this hour had Hector Ratichon reached to such a sublinity in token of obedience to the fair creature, Sir; then without a word I offered her my arm She placed her hand upon it, and I conducted her to the dining-room, whilst Aristide Fournier, who at this hour should have been on a fair way to being hanged, followed in our wake
Ah! it seeh an excellent and copious dinner, and which turned to delightful reality when, over a final glass of succulent Madeira, Monsieur Aristide Fournier slowly counted out one hundred notes, worth one hundred francs each, and presented these to racious nod
”Your fee, Monsieur,” he said, ”and allow e a su,” I murmured froele and Monsieur Fournier looked at one another, and, no doubt, I presented a very comical spectacle; for both of thehter
”Indeed, Monsieur,” quoth Monsieur Fournier as soon as he could speak coherently, ”you have done everything that you set out to do and done it with perfect chivalry You conveyed 'the toys' safely over the frontier as far as St Claude”
”But how?” I stahed, and through the ripples of her laughter came her ood Monsieur Ratichon? Did you not think she was extraordinarily like lance in her eyes, and they were literally gloith mischief Then all of a sudden I understood She had impersonated a fatwig and an antiquated bonnet, and round her slender figure she had tucked away thousands of packages of English files I could only gasp
Astonishment, not to say admiration, at her pluck literally took my breath away
”But, Monsieur Berty?” Iriot through lishmen, the mules, the packs?”
”Monsieur Berty, as you see, stands before you now in the person of Monsieur Fournier,” she replied ”The Englishmen were three faithful servants who threw dust not only in your eyes, my dear M Ratichon, but in those of the custoage which was taken by your friend and his gendarmes to the custo, equally soleies to M
Fournier, as allowed to proceed unmolested on his way, and who arrived here safely this afternoon, whilst Maman divested herself of her fat and once more became the slender Mme Aristide Fournier, at your service”