"I only put you on your guard."
"Well, then, put up your "larding-pin" into your pocket; you have no chicken to lard now. I am an old c.o.c.k, and know my game as well as most," said Rodolph. "But, to our business."
"Yes, let us talk of business; but do not speak against my "larding-pin;" it makes no noise, and does not disturb anybody."
"And does its work as should be; doesn"t it, _fourline_?" added the old beldam.
"By the way," said Rodolph to the Chouette, "do you really know the Goualeuse"s parents?"
"My man has in his pocket two letters about it, but she shall never see them,--the little s.l.u.t! I would rather tear her eyes out with my own hands. Oh, when I meet her again at the _tapis-franc_, won"t I pay her off--"
"There, that"ll do, Finette; we have other things to talk of, and so leave off your gossip."
"May we "patter" before the "mot?"" asked Rodolph.
"Most decidedly! She"s true as steel, and is worth her weight in gold to watch for us, to get information or impressions of keys, to conceal stolen goods or sell them,--nothing comes amiss to her. She is a first-rate manager. Good Finette!" added the robber, extending his hand to the horrid hag. "You can have no idea of the services she has done me. Take off your shawl, Finette, or you"ll be cold when you go out; put it on the chair with your basket."
The Chouette took off her shawl.
In spite of his presence of mind, and the command which he had over himself, Rodolph could not quite conceal his surprise when he saw suspended by a ring of silver, from a thick chain of metal which hung round the old creature"s neck, a small Saint Esprit in lapis lazuli, precisely resembling that which the son of Madame Georges had round his neck when he was carried off.
At this discovery, a sudden idea flashed across the mind of Rodolph.
According to the Chourineur"s statement, the Schoolmaster had escaped from the Bagne six months ago, and had since defied all search after him by disfiguring himself as he had now; and six months ago the husband of Madame Georges had disappeared from the Bagne. Rodolph surmised that, very possibly, the Schoolmaster was the husband of that unhappy lady. If this were so, he knew the fate of the son she lamented,--he possessed, too, some papers relative to the birth of the Goualeuse. Rodolph had, then, fresh motives for persevering in his projects, and, fortunately, his absence of mind was not observed by the Schoolmaster, who was busy helping the Chouette.
"_Morbleu!_ What a pretty chain you have!" said Rodolph to the one-eyed woman.
"Pretty, and not dear," answered the old creature, laughing. "It is only a sham till my man can afford to give me a real one."
"That will depend on this gentleman, Finette. If our job comes off well, why then--"
"It is astonishing how well it is imitated," continued Rodolph. "And what is that little blue thing at the end?"
"It is a present from my man, which I shall wear until he gives me a "ticker." Isn"t it, _fourline_?"
Rodolph"s suspicions were thus half confirmed, and he waited with anxiety for the reply of the Schoolmaster, who said:
"You must take care of that, notwithstanding the "ticker," Finette; it is a talisman, and brings good luck."
"A talisman!" said Rodolph, in a careless tone; "do you believe in talismans? And where the devil did you pick it up? Give me the address of the shop."
"They do not make them now; the shop is shut up. As you see it, that bit of jewelry has a very great antiquity,--three generations. I value it highly, for it is a family loom," added he, with a hideous grin; "and that"s why I gave it to Finette, that she might have good fortune in the enterprises in which she so skilfully seconds me. Only see her at work!
only see her! If we go into "business" together, why--But let us now to our affair in hand. You say that in the Allee des Veuves--"
"At No. 17 there is a house inhabited by a rich man, whose name is--"
"I will not be guilty of the indiscretion of asking his name. You say there are sixty thousand francs in gold in a cabinet?"
"Sixty thousand francs in gold!" exclaimed the Chouette.
Rodolph nodded his head in the affirmative.
"And you know this house, and the people in it?" said the Schoolmaster.
"Quite well."
"Is the entry difficult?"
"A wall seven feet high on the side of the Allee des Veuves, a garden, windows down to the ground, and the house has only the ground floor throughout."
"And there is only the porter to guard this treasure?"
"Yes."
"And what, young man, is your proposed plan of proceeding?"
"Simple enough: to climb over the wall, pick the lock of the door, or force open a shutter or lock. What do you think of it?"
"I cannot answer you before I have examined it all myself,--that is, by the aid of my wife; but, if all you tell me is as you say, I think it would be the thing to do it at once this evening."
And the ruffian looked earnestly at Rodolph.
"This evening!--impossible!" replied he.
"Why, since the occupier does not return until the day after to-morrow?"
"Yes, but I--I cannot this evening--"
"Really? Well, and I--I cannot to-morrow."
"Why not?"
"For the reason that prevents you this evening," said the robber, in a tone of mockery.
After a moment"s reflection, Rodolph replied:
"Well, then, this evening be it. Where shall we meet?"
"We will not separate," said the Schoolmaster.
"Why not?"
"Why should we?"
"What is the use of separating? The weather has cleared up, and we will go and walk about, and give a look at the Allee des Veuves; you will see how my woman will work. When that is done, we will return and play a hand at piquet, and have a bit of something in a place in the Champs Elysees that I know, near the river; and, as the Allee des Veuves is deserted at an early hour, we will walk that way about ten o"clock."
"I will join you at nine o"clock."
"Do you or do you not wish that we should do this job together?"