The Counts Millions | Page 7

without
either of us speaking, and then he added: 'I am certainly not well. Will
you do me the favor to go to my room for me? Here is the key of my
escritoire; open it, and on the upper shelf you will find a small bottle
which please bring to me.' I noticed with some surprise that M. de
Chalusse, who usually speaks very distinctly, stammered and hesitated
considerably in making this request, but, unfortunately, I did not think
much about it at the time. I did as he requested, and he poured eight or
ten drops of the contents of the vial into a glass of water, and
swallowed it."
So intense was Dr. Jodon's interest that he became himself again. He
forgot to attitudinize. "And after that?" he asked, eagerly.
"After that, M. de Chalusse seemed to feel much better, and retired to
his study as usual. I fancied that any annoyance the letter had caused
him was forgotten; but I was wrong, for in the afternoon he sent a
message, through Madame Leon, requesting me to join him in the
garden. I hastened there, very much surprised, for the weather was
extremely disagreeable. 'Dear Marguerite,' he said, on seeing me, 'help
me to find the fragments of that letter which I flung from the window
this morning. I would give half my fortune for an address which it must
certainly have contained, but which I quite overlooked in my anger.' I
helped him as he asked. He might have reasonably hoped to succeed,
for it was raining when the scraps of paper were thrown out, and
instead of flying through the air, they fell directly on to the ground. We
succeeded in finding a large number of the scraps, but what M. de
Chalusse so particularly wanted was not to be read on any one of them.

Several times he spoke of his regret, and cursed his precipitation."
M. Bourigeau, the concierge, and M. Casimir exchanged a significant
smile. They had seen the count searching for the remnants of this letter,
and had thought him little better than an idiot. But now everything was
explained.
"I was much grieved at the count's disappointment," continued
Mademoiselle Marguerite, "but suddenly he exclaimed, joyfully: 'That
address--why, such a person will give it to me--what a fool I am!'"
The physician evinced such absorbing interest in this narrative that he
forgot to retain his usual impassive attitude. "Such a person! Who--who
was this person?" he inquired eagerly, without apparently realizing the
impropriety of his question.
But the girl felt indignant. She silenced her indiscreet questioner with a
haughty glance, and in the driest possible tone, replied: "I have
forgotten the name."
Cut to the quick, the doctor suddenly resumed his master's pose; but all
the same his imperturbable sang-froid was sensibly impaired. "Believe
me, mademoiselle, that interest alone--a most respectful interest--"
She did not even seem to hear his excuse, but resumed: "I know,
however, monsieur, that M. de Chalusse intended applying to the police
if he failed to obtain this address from the person in question. After this
he appeared to be entirely at ease. At three o'clock he rang for his valet,
and ordered dinner two hours earlier than usual. We sat down to table
at about half-past four. At five he rose, kissed me gayly, and left the
house on foot, telling me that he was confident of success, and that he
did not expect to return before midnight." The poor child's firmness
now gave way; her eyes filled with tears, and it was in a voice choked
with sobs that she added, pointing to M. de Chalusse: "But at half-past
six they brought him back as you see him now----"
An interval of silence ensued, so deep that one could hear the faint
breathing of the unconscious man still lying motionless on his bed.
However, the particulars of the attack were yet to be learned; and it was
M. Casimir whom the physician next addressed. "What did the driver
who brought your master home say to you?"
"Oh! almost nothing, sir; not ten words."
"You must find this man and bring him to me."
Two servants rushed out in search of him. He could not be far away, for

his vehicle was still standing in the courtyard. They found him in a
wine-shop near by. Some of the inquisitive spectators who had been
disappointed in their curiosity by Casimir's thoughtfulness had treated
him to some liquor, and in exchange he had told them all he knew
about the affair. He had quite recovered from his fright, and was
cheerful, even gay.
"Come make haste, you are wanted," said the servants.
He emptied his glass and followed them with very bad grace, muttering
and swearing between his set teeth.