Everything had resulted in accordance with his calculations; it was, in his opinion, a matter of patience.
But when Madame Gerdy read the account of the murder, the unhappy woman divined her son"s work, and, in the first paroxysms of her grief, she declared that she would denounce him.
He was terrified. A frightful delirium had taken possession of his mother. One word from her might destroy him. Putting a bold face on it, however, he acted at once and staked his all.
To put the police on Albert"s track was to guarantee his own safety, to insure to himself, in the event of a probable success, Count de Commarin"s name and fortune.
Circ.u.mstances, as well as his own terror, increased his boldness and his ingenuity.
Old Tabaret"s visit occurred just at the right moment.
Noel knew of his connection with the police, and guessed that the old fellow would make a most valuable confidant.
So long as Madame Gerdy lived, Noel trembled. In her delirium she might betray him at any moment. But when she had breathed her last, he believed himself safe. He thought it all over, he could see no further obstacle in his way; he was sure he had triumphed.
And now all was discovered, just as he was about to reach the goal of his ambition. But how? By whom? What fatality had resuscitated a secret which he had believed buried with Madame Gerdy?
But where is the use, when one is at the bottom of an abyss, of knowing which stone gave way, or of asking down what side one fell?
The cab stopped in the Rue de Provence. Noel leaned out of the door, his eyes exploring the neighbourhood and throwing a searching glance into the depths of the hall of the house. Seeing no one, he paid the fare through the front window, before getting out of the cab, and, crossing the pavement with a bound, he rushed up stairs.
Charlotte, at sight of him, gave a shout of joy.
"At last it is you, sir!" she cried. "Ah, madame has been expecting you with the greatest impatience! She has been very anxious."
Juliette expecting him! Juliette anxious!
The advocate did not stop to ask questions. On reaching this spot, he seemed suddenly to recover all his composure. He understood his imprudence; he knew the exact value of every minute he delayed here.
"If any one rings," said he to Charlotte, "don"t open the door. No matter what may be said or done, don"t open the door!"
On hearing Noel"s voice, Juliette ran out to meet him. He pushed her gently into the salon, and followed, closing the door.
There for the first time she saw his face.
He was so changed; his look was so haggard that she could not keep from crying out, "What is the matter?"
Noel made no reply; he advanced towards her and took her hand.
"Juliette," he demanded in a hollow voice, fastening his flashing eyes upon her,--"Juliette, be sincere; do you love me?"
She instinctively felt that something dreadful had occurred: she seemed to breathe an atmosphere of evil; but she, as usual, affected indifference.
"You ill-natured fellow," she replied, pouting her lips most provokingly, "do you deserve--"
"Oh, enough!" broke in Noel, stamping his feet fiercely. "Answer me," he continued, bruising her pretty hands in his grasp, "yes, or no,--do you love me?"
A hundred times had she played with her lover"s anger, delighting to excite him into a fury, to enjoy the pleasure of appeasing him with a word; but she had never seen him like this before.
She had wronged him greatly; and she dared not complain of this his first harshness.
"Yes, I love you," she stammered, "do you not know it?"
"Why?" replied the advocate, releasing her hands; "why? Because, if you love me you must prove it; if you love me, you must follow me at once,--abandon everything. Come, fly with me. Time presses----"
The young girl was terrified.
"Great heavens! what has happened?"
"Nothing, except that I have loved you too much, Juliette. When I found I had no more money for your luxury, your caprices, I became wild. To procure money, I,--I committed a crime,--a crime; do you understand?
They are pursuing me now. I must fly: will you follow me?"
Juliette"s eyes grew wide with astonishment; but she doubted Noel.
"A crime? You?" she began.
"Yes, me! Would you know the truth? I have committed murder, an a.s.sa.s.sination. But it was all for you."
The advocate felt that Juliette would certainly recoil from him in horror. He expected that terror which a murderer inspires. He was resigned to it in advance. He thought that she would fly from him; perhaps there would be a scene. She might, who knows, have hysterics; might cry out, call for succor, for help, for aid. He was wrong.
With a bound, Juliette flew to him, throwing herself upon him, her arms about his neck, and embraced him as she had never embraced him before.
"Yes, I do love you!" she cried. "Yes, you have committed a crime for my sake, because you loved me. You have a heart. I never really knew you before!"
It had cost him dear to inspire this pa.s.sion in Madame Juliette; but Noel never thought of that.
He experienced a moment of intense delight: nothing appeared hopeless to him now.
But he had the presence of mind to free himself from her embrace.
"Let us go," he said; "the one great danger is, that I do not know from whence the attack comes. How they have discovered the truth is still a mystery to me."
Juliette remembered her alarming visitor of the afternoon; she understood it all.
"Oh, what a wretched woman I am!" she cried, wringing her hands in despair; "it is I who have betrayed you. It occurred on Tuesday, did it not?"
"Yes, Tuesday."
"Ah, then I have told all, without a doubt, to your friend, the old man I supposed you had sent, Tabaret!"
"Has Tabaret been here?"
"Yes; just a little while ago."
"Come, then," cried Noel, "quickly; it"s a miracle that he hasn"t been back."
He took her arm, to hurry her away; but she nimbly released herself.