"Well; this famous Viscount de Saint Remy?"
"Has he not come yet?"
"No."
"His carriage was all ready, and his valet told me that he would come at once; but he did not appear pleased, the domestic said. Oh! that is a fine hotel; one might say it had belonged to the lords of the olden time, as are spoken of in Faublas. Oh! Faublas! he is my hero, my model!" said Chalomel, putting away his umbrella and taking off his overshoes.
"I believe that this viscount is in debt, and there are writs out against him."
"A writ for thirty-four thousand francs, which has been sent here, since it is here he must come to pay it; the creditor prefers it, why, I know not."
"He must be able to pay it now, because he returned last night from the country, where he has been concealed for three days to escape the bailiffs."
"But why did they not levy on his furniture?"
"He is not such an a.s.s! The house is not his; the furniture is in the name of his valet, who is looked upon as hiring him furnished lodgings, in the same way that his horses and carriages are in the name of his coachman, who says he lets them out to the viscount at so much per month. Oh! he is cunning, this Viscount de Saint Remy. But what is that you were talking about? Has anything new happened here?"
"Just imagine--about two hours since, master came in here like a madman: "Germain is not here?" cried he. "No, sir." "Well! the scoundrel has robbed me, last night, of seventeen thousand francs!"
continued the governor."
"Germain steal! Come, come, draw it mild."
"You shall see. "How sir! are you sure? It is not possible!" we all cried.
""I tell you, gentlemen, that I put yesterday in the desk where he works fifteen notes of a thousand francs, besides two thousand francs in gold in a small box; all has disappeared." At this moment Marriton, the porter, came in and said, "The guard is coming.""
"And Germain?"
"Stop a moment. The governor said to the porter. "As soon as Germain comes, send him here, without telling him anything. I wish to confound him before you, gentlemen," continued the governor. At the end of fifteen minutes poor Germain arrived, as if nothing was the matter.
Mother Seraphin came to bring us our breakfast; she saluted the governor, and said good-day to us very tranquilly. "Germain, do you not breakfast?" said M. Ferrand. "No, sir, I am not hungry, I thank you." "You come very late!" "Yes, sir, I have been to Belleville this morning." "To conceal, doubtless the money you have stolen from me,"
cried M. Ferrand with a terrible voice."
"And Germain?"
"Oh! the poor boy became as pale as death, stammering, "Sir, I beg you, do not ruin me."
"He had stolen?"
"Now, do wait, Chalomel. "Do not ruin me," said he to the governor.
"You acknowledge then, wretch?" "Yes, sir; but here is the money that is wanting. I thought I should be able to return it this morning before you were up; unfortunately, a friend, who had a small sum of mine, and whom I thought to find at home last night, had been at Belleville for two days. I was obliged to go there this morning, which has caused my delay. Pardon me, sir, do not ruin me! In taking this money, I knew I could return it this morning. Here are the thirteen hundred francs in gold." "You have robbed me of fifteen notes of one thousand francs each, that were in a green book, and two thousand francs in gold!" "I! never!" cried poor Germain. "I took the thirteen hundred francs, but not one penny more. I have seen no pocket-book in the drawer; there was only two thousand francs in gold in a box." "Oh!
the infamous liar!" cried the master. "You have stolen thirteen hundred francs, you could well steal more; justice will decide. Oh! I shall be without pity for such a frightful breach of confidence. It will be an example." Finally, the guard arrived with an officer to make out a commitment; they carried him off, and that"s all!"
"Can it be possible? Germain, the cream of honest people!"
"It has appeared to us quite as singular."
"After all, it must be confessed, Germain was reserved; he never would tell where he lived."
"That is true."
"He always had a mysterious air"
"That"s no reason why he should steal the money."
"Doubtless. It is a remark I make."
"Ah! well, this is news! It is as if some one had given me a stunner on the head--Germain--who looked so honest; who would have died without confession!"
"One would have said that he had a presentiment of his misfortune."
"Why?"
"For some time past he looked as if something troubled him."
"It was, perhaps, concerning Louise."
"Louise?"
"Oh! I only repeat what Mother Seraphin said this morning,"
"What?"
"That he was the lover of Louise, and the--"
"Oh! the cunning fellow."
"Stop, stop, stop!"
"Bah!"
"It is not true!"
"How do you know that, Chalomel?"
"It is not two weeks since, that Germain told me, in confidence, that he was dead in love with a little sewing girl, whom he had known in the house where he lived; he had tears in his eyes when he spoke to me about her."
"Oh!"
"He says that Faublas is his hero, and yet he is simple enough, stupid enough, not to comprehend that one can be in love with one and the love of another."
"I tell you that Germain spoke seriously."
At this moment the chief clerk entered the office.
"Well," said he. "Chalomel, have you finished all your errands?"
"Yes, M. Dubois, I have been to M. de Saint Remy: he will be here shortly to pay."