"Not a scratch! A surgeon who was there, with the lieutenant of police--for the lieutenant had come in person to examine the victim--the surgeon said, after looking at the wounds:
""This young man was struck from behind, evidently when he was seated; he received a sword thrust in the back, which went completely through his body, and then another in the heart; but the latter when he had already fallen to the ground and lost consciousness. There cannot have been any struggle; death must have been instantaneous, and the unfortunate man had no time to defend himself.""
"But did no one recognize the young man?" said Valentine; "his rank or his profession must have been indicated by his clothing. Did the lieutenant of police discover anything to put him on the track?"
"Mon Dieu! mademoiselle, it was very difficult to guess. In the first place, the victim had been robbed of his cloak and hat and belt. The poor young man had nothing on him but his doublet and short-clothes, both of black cloth, and boots of a very common sort. But there was nothing in his pockets--neither money, nor papers, nor weapons; absolutely nothing! How is it possible, then, to guess who he is?--The lieutenant of police, after a careful examination of the body and the clothes, said:
""Evidently this young gentleman had just arrived in Paris, for we do not remember having seen him before. He must have been attacked and robbed by Giovanni, who took his money, his papers, his weapons, and even a part of his clothes. Yes, such a crime can have been committed by none but that bold Italian, who then hurled the body of his victim into the moat, so that this latest crime might be less quickly discovered.""
"Giovanni!" cried Miretta; "always Giovanni! As soon as a murder is committed, everyone agrees to charge it to his account! What is there to prove that it was he who killed this young man?"
"Hoity-toity! here is the little brunette defending the robber again!"
exclaimed Bahuchet, with a laugh. "Really, my dear, I begin to think that you are one of his band!"
Miretta flushed crimson.
"I say that," she faltered, "because people tell so many lies, and invent so many stories that----"
"Mon Dieu! you do not need to justify yourself!" said Valentine, smiling at her.--"But is that all, Monsieur Bahuchet? Is your terrible story at an end?"
"Yes, mademoiselle, that is all. The lieutenant of police has had a search made in the neighborhood, hoping that something might be found belonging to the victim; but what is the use of searching now, when the crime was committed perhaps three weeks ago? If it had not been for a dog, nothing would have been discovered! But those excellent beasts are often much cleverer and more cunning than we are, and they have a most astonishing scent! This one stopped on the edge of the Fosses Jaunes, and his master called him in vain--he would not budge. As such persistence on the dog"s part seemed very strange, his master went to him to find out what he was doing. By peering intently into the high gra.s.s in the moat, he finally discovered something that looked like a man"s arm; he ran for a ladder, and they found the unfortunate victim.
But that was all; for they have not succeeded in finding anything in the fields round about, or in the moat where the poor young man lay!
Doubtless he was coming to Paris for enjoyment and diversion, and he met death before he had put his foot in the city.--But so it goes!"
"I am very, very sorry for the poor fellow who perished so miserably!"
said Valentine; "but I did not know him; and as I can do nothing to avenge him, you will allow me, Monsieur Bahuchet, to turn my attention now to the subject that led me to ask you to call here."
"I am listening, mademoiselle; I am entirely at your service; I desired simply to prove to you that if I returned late to the office, I was not without some excuse. That idiot of a Plumard began at once to make remarks!"
"Enough, monsieur!--Listen: I expect a service from you. Are you disposed to oblige me, and, above all things, never to say a word which may lead anyone to suspect that you have acted by my orders?"
"Mademoiselle, I am entirely devoted to you; and as for my discretion---- Oh! there is no danger!"
"But you are very fond of talking, monsieur, and of telling everything you have learned!"
"Everything! That depends; I know many things now that n.o.body else knows--secrets; for instance, when Plumard----"
"Well! do you propose to betray them now, monsieur?"
"No, mademoiselle, no! I was about to say; even if Plumard should question me, he would learn nothing.--But what sort of service does mademoiselle require of me?"
"Something very simple and very easy," said Valentine, opening a small desk and taking from it the white plume that Bahuchet had sold her.
"Look, Monsieur Bahuchet, do you recognize this plume?"
"Perfectly: it is the one I picked up on Rue Dauphine, under the balcony which Monsieur Leodgard de Marvejols had just scaled."
"That is right. Well, I wish you to go to Landry"s bathing establishment, and ask to see the fascinating Bathilde"s mother. I know that she has returned home. You will hand this white plume to that woman and say to her: "Your daughter"s lovers lose their plumes at night when they scale balconies to join her; here is one belonging to a n.o.ble lord, whose name Mademoiselle Bathilde will be able to give you."--Then you will bow and take your leave; and that is all. As I do not wish to put you out for nothing, be kind enough to accept this purse as compensation for the trouble I cause you."
The little clerk observed at a glance the plumpness of the purse which Valentine offered him with the plume; but he hesitated about taking them.
"Well?" continued the n.o.bly born maiden, testily; "are you not willing to do what I ask?"
"Pardon, pardon, mademoiselle; a.s.suredly, I am too fortunate in the confidence which you manifest in me."
"Then take this plume and this purse!"
"But, you see, I am wondering in my own mind how Dame Ragonde will take it--that is young Bathilde"s mother"s name. I know the family. Dame Ragonde is a very bad one, they say; and when I tell her that her daughter receives lovers at night, that will not afford her great pleasure! What if she should fall on me with fists and claws?"
"What, Monsieur Bahuchet! You, who claim to be so brave, afraid of a woman"s anger?"
"Because with a woman one must accept anything without retaliating; whereas, with a man--what a difference! If he ventures to lack respect, to strike us, why, we fall on him and pay him back twice or thrice what we have received."
"Very well, monsieur; instead of taking the plume to this Bathilde"s mother, hand it to her father, Landry the bath keeper; then, if he resorts to violence, you can pay him back twice or thrice."
The little clerk scratched his ear and opened his nostrils wider than ever; he saw that the young lady had no faith in his courage; however, he made up his mind at last and took both plume and purse, saying:
"I will do as you first suggested, mademoiselle; I will hand this plume to Dame Ragonde; I think that that will be the better way; and as for her claws, I will brave them without a tremor."
"And if she should ask who sent you?"
"No one! I am acting on my own account. I picked up the plume, and I bring it back; and that will be no falsehood."
"Very good; discretion so far as I am concerned, monsieur, is what I especially enjoin upon you. You will carry this plume to the bath keeper"s to-day?"
"It shall be handed to Dame Ragonde to-day."
"If my errand is left undone, I warn you that I shall know it!"
"It shall be done; I swear it by the Basoche!"
"Au revoir, Monsieur Bahuchet!"
"Mademoiselle, I have the honor to present my respectful homage.--Bonsoir, pretty brunette! Oh! what eyes you make at me, my dear!--Come, come! be calm! I won"t speak ill of robbers again!"
"Well!" said Valentine to Miretta, who sat as if lost in thought after the solicitor"s clerk had gone. "You say nothing, Miretta; is it because you do not approve of what I have done?"
"That poor girl! She will be very unhappy when her parents know of her fault!" murmured Miretta, with a sigh.
"And suppose another woman should become the mistress of the man you love?" rejoined Valentine, seizing her maid"s arm; "would not you be revenged?"
"Oh, yes! yes! You have done well!"
And Miretta raised her eyes, which seemed to emit flames.
XXVIII