Everything can be managed with money. How much is necessary to terminate these miserable, shuffling tricks?"
Jacques Ferrand was completely astounded with this cavalier and deliberate manner of opening the business.
"They ask a hundred thousand francs," answered he, as soon as he had recovered from his astonishment.
"You shall have your hundred thousand francs; and you will send at once the bad papers to M. de Saint Remy."
"Where are the hundred thousand francs, your grace?"
"Did I not tell you that you should have them, sir?"
"They must be had to-morrow, before noon, madame; otherwise a complaint of forgery will be made."
"Well, give this amount; I will be accountable for it; as for you I will pay you well."
"But, madame, it is impossible."
"You will not tell me, I hope, that a notary like you cannot procure a hundred thousand francs any day?"
"On what security, madame?"
"What does that mean? Explain yourself."
"Who is to be answerable for this amount?" "I."
"But, madame--"
"Is it necessary for me to tell you that I have property yielding eighty thousand livres rent, at four leagues from Paris? That will suffice, I believe, for that which you call guarantee?"
"Yes, madame, by means of a mortgage."
"What does that mean again? Some formality, doubtless. Make it, sir, make it."
"Such a deed cannot be drawn up under two weeks, and it needs the consent of your husband, madame."
"But this is my property, mine--mine alone," said the d.u.c.h.ess, impatiently.
"No matter, madame; you are in the power of your husband, and a deed of mortgage is very long and very minute."
"But once more, sir, you cannot make me believe that it so difficult to procure one hundred thousand francs in two hours."
"Then, madame, apply to your own notary, to your steward; with me, it is impossible."
"I have reasons, sir, to keep this a secret," said Madame de Lucenay, heartily. "You know the rogues who wish to rob M. de Saint Remy; it is on this account I address myself to you."
"Your confidence infinitely honors me, madame; but I cannot do what you ask."
"You have not this amount?"
"I have much more than this sum in bank bills, or in gold--here--here, in my safe."
"Oh, what a waste of words! Is it my signature you wish? I give it you; let us finish."
"In admitting, madame, that you are the d.u.c.h.ess of Lucenay."
"Come in an hour"s time to the Hotel de Lucenay, sir: I will sign at home what is necessary to be signed."
"Will his grace sign also?"
"I do not understand you, sir."
"Your signature alone is of no value to me, madame."
Jacques Ferrand enjoyed with cruel delight the impatience of the d.u.c.h.ess, who, under the appearance of _sang froid_ and disdain, concealed the most painful anguish. She was for a moment at the end of her resources. The evening previous, her jeweler had advanced her a considerable sum on her diamonds, some of which were confided to Morel, the artisan. This sum had served to pay the bills of Saint Remy, and disarm other creditors; Dubreul, the farmer at Arnouville, was more than a year in advance, and besides, time was wanting; unfortunately for Madame de Lucenay, two of her friends, to whom she could have had recourse in an extreme situation, were then absent from Paris. In her eyes, the viscount was innocent; he had told her, and she believed it, that he was the dupe of two rogues; but her situation was none the less terrible. He accused, he dragged to prison! Then, even if he should take to flight would his name be any less dishonored by such a suspicion?
"Since you possess the sum I ask for, sir, and my guarantee is sufficient, why do you refuse me?"
"Because men have their caprices as well as women, madame."
"But what is this caprice, which makes you act thus against your interest? for, I repeat to you, make your conditions; whatever they may be, I accept them!"
"Your grace will accept all the conditions?" said the notary, with a singular expression.
"All! two, three, four thousand francs--more, if you will; for I tell you," added the d.u.c.h.ess, frankly, in a tone almost affectionate, "I have no resource but in you, sir--in you alone. It will be impossible for me to find elsewhere that which I ask you for to-morrow; and it must be--you understand--it must be absolutely. Thus, I repeat to you, whatever condition you impose on me for this service, I accept."
In his blindness, he had interpreted in an unworthy manner the last words of the d.u.c.h.ess. It was an idea as stupid as it was infamous; but we have already said that sometimes Jacques Ferrand became a tiger or a wolf; then the beast overpowered the man. He arose quickly and advanced toward the d.u.c.h.ess. She, thunder-struck, rose at the same moment and regarded him with astonishment.
"You will not regard the cost?" cried he, in a broken voice, approaching still nearer to the d.u.c.h.ess. "Well, this sum I will lend to you on one condition, one single condition--and I swear that----"
He could not finish his declaration.
By one of those strange contradictions of human nature at the sight of the hideous face of M. Ferrand, at the mere thought of what his conditions might be, Madame de Lucenay, notwithstanding her inquietudes and troubles, burst out in a laugh so frank, so loud, so mirthful, that the notary recoiled confounded.
Without giving him time to utter a word, the d.u.c.h.ess, abandoning herself more and more to her hilarity, pulled down her veil, and between two renewed bursts of laughter, said to the notary, who was almost blind with rage, hatred, and fury, "I prefer, upon the whole, to ask this favor openly of the duke." She then went out, continuing to laugh so loudly that, though the door of the cabinet was closed, the notary could still hear her.
Jacques Ferrand returned to his senses only to curse his imprudence bitterly. Yet, by degrees he rea.s.sured himself in thinking that the d.u.c.h.ess could not speak of this interview without gravely compromising herself.
Nevertheless, it was a bad day for him. He was buried in the blackest thoughts, when the private door of his cabinet was opened, and Mrs.
Seraphin entered wildly.
"Oh, Ferrand!" cried she, clasping her hands, "you were right enough in saying that we should some day regret having spared her life!"
"Whose?"
"That cursed little girl"s."
"How?"
"A one-eyed woman, whom I did not know, to whom Tournemine delivered the little girl to rid us of her, fourteen years ago, when we said she was dead. Oh, who would have thought it!"