The Counts Millions | Page 9

accused. But if the key is
destroyed, it will be impossible to suspect any one."
However, the physician's conjectures were of an entirely different
nature. "What can there be in that escritoire which she desires to
conceal?" he thought.
But there was no excuse for prolonging his visit. Once more he
examined the sick man, whose condition remained unchanged; and then,
after explaining what was to be done in his absence, he declared that he
must leave at once, as he had a number of important visits to make; he
added, however, that he would return about midnight.
"Madame Leon and I will watch over M. de Chalusse," replied
Mademoiselle Marguerite; "that is sufficient assurance, monsieur, that
your orders will be obeyed to the letter. Only--you will not take offence,
I trust, if I ask the count's regular physician to meet you in
consultation."
Such a proposal was anything but pleasing to M. Jodon, who had met
with the same misfortune in this aristocratic neighborhood several
times before. When an accident happened, he was summoned because
he chanced to be close at hand, but just as he was flattering himself that
he had gained a desirable patient, he found himself in presence of some
celebrated physician, who had come from a distance in his carriage.
Accustomed to such disappointments, he knew how to conceal his
dissatisfaction.
"Were I in your place, mademoiselle, I should do precisely what you
suggest," he answered, "and should you think it unnecessary for me to

call, I----"
"Oh! monsieur, on the contrary, I shall certainly expect you."
"In that case, very well." Thereupon he bowed and left the room.
But Mademoiselle Marguerite followed him on to the landing. "You
know, monsieur," she said, speaking rapidly in an undertone, "that I am
not M. de Chalusse's daughter. You may, therefore, tell me the truth. Is
his condition hopeless?"
"Alarming--yes; hopeless--no."
"But, monsieur, this terrible unconsciousness----"
"It usually follows such an attack as he has been the victim of. Still we
may hope that the paralysis will gradually disappear, and the power of
motion return after a time."
Mademoiselle Marguerite was listening, pale, agitated, and
embarrassed. It was evident that she had a question on her lips which
she scarcely dared to ask. At last, however, summoning all her courage,
she exclaimed: "And if M. de Chalusse should not recover, will he die
without regaining consciousness--without being able to speak?"
"I am unable to say, mademoiselle--the count's malady is one of those
which set at naught all the hypotheses of science."
She thanked him sadly, sent a servant to summon Madame Leon, and
returned to the count's room.
As for the doctor, he said to himself as he went downstairs, "What a
strange girl! Is she afraid that the count will regain consciousness? or,
on the contrary, does she wish him to speak? Is there any question of a
will under all this? What else can it be? What is at stake?" His
preoccupation was so intense that he almost forgot where he was going,
and he paused on every step. It was not until the fresh air of the
courtyard blew upon his face, reminding him of the realities of life, that
the charlatanesque element in his nature regained the ascendency. "My
friend," he said, addressing M. Casimir, who was lighting him out,
"you must at once have some straw spread over the street so as to
deaden the sound of the vehicles. And to-morrow, you must inform the
commissary of police."
Ten minutes later a thick bed of straw had been strewed across the
thoroughfare, and the drivers of passing vehicles involuntarily
slackened their speed, for every one in Paris knows what this signifies.
M. Casimir personally superintended the work which was intrusted to

the grooms, and he was about to return indoors again, when a young
man, who had been walking up and down in front of the mansion for
more than an hour, hastily approached him. He was a beardless fellow
with a strangely wrinkled face, as leaden-tinted as that of a confirmed
absinthe-drinker. His general expression was shrewd, and at the same
time impudent, and surprising audacity gleamed in his eyes. "What do
you want?" asked M. Casimir.
The young fellow bowed humbly, and replied, "Ah, don't you recognize
me, monsieur? I'm Toto--excuse me--Victor Chupin, employed by M.
Isidore Fortunat."
"Oh, yes. I recollect."
"I came, in obedience to my employer's orders, to inquire if you had
obtained the information you promised him; but seeing that something
had happened at your house, I didn't dare go in, but decided to watch
for you----"
"And you did quite right, my lad. I have no information to give you--ah,
yes! stop! The Marquis de Valorsay was closeted with the count for
two hours yesterday. But what