the crystal stopper-第12章

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Without　further　hesitation；　he　stated：

〃My　object　is　simple　enough。　　It　is　the　release　of　my　friends　Gilbert　and　Vaucheray。〃

〃Is　that　true？　　Is　that　true？〃　she　exclaimed；　quivering　all　over　and　questioning　him　with　an　anxious　glance。

〃If　you　knew　me。。。　〃

〃I　do　know　you。。。　I　know　who　you　are。　　For　months；　I　have　taken　part　in　your　life；　without　your　suspecting　it。。。　and　yet；　for　certain　reasons；　I　still　doubt。。。　〃

He　said；　in　a　more　decisive　tone：

〃You　do　not　know　me。　　If　you　knew　me；　you　would　know　that　there　can　be　no　peace　for　me　before　my　two　companions　have　escaped　the　awful　fate　that　awaits　them。〃

She　rushed　at　him；　took　him　by　the　shoulders　and　positively　distraught；　said：

〃What？　　What　did　you　say？　　The　awful　fate？。。。　Then　you　believe。。。　you　believe　。。。　〃

〃I　really　believe；〃　said　Lupin；　who　felt　how　greatly　this　threat　upset　her；　〃I　really　believe　that；　if　I　am　not　in　time；　Gilbert　and　Vaucheray　are　done　for。〃

〃Be　quiet！。。。　Be　quiet！〃　she　cried；　clutching　him　fiercely。　　〃Be　quiet！。。。　You　mustn't　say　that。。。　There　is　no　reason。。。　It's　just　you　who　suppose　。。。　〃

〃It's　not　only　I；　it's　Gilbert　as　well。。。　〃

〃What？　Gilbert？　　How　do　you　know？〃

〃From　himself？〃

〃From　him？〃

〃Yes；　from　Gilbert；　who　has　no　hope　left　but　in　me；　from　Gilbert；　who　knows　that　only　one　man　in　the　world　can　save　him　and　who；　a　few　days　ago；　sent　me　a　despairing　appeal　from　prison。　　Here　is　his　letter。〃

She　snatched　the　paper　greedily　and　read　in　stammering　accents：

〃Help；　governor！。。。　I　am　frightened！。。。　I　am　frightened！。。。　〃

She　dropped　the　letter。　　Her　hands　fluttered　in　space。　　It　was　as　though　her　staring　eyes　beheld　the　sinister　vision　which　had　already　so　often　terrified　Lupin。　　She　gave　a　scream　of　horror；　tried　to　rise　and　fainted。


CHAPTER　V

THE　TWENTY…SEVEN


The　child　was　sleeping　peacefully　on　the　bed。　　The　mother　did　not　move　from　the　sofa　on　which　Lupin　had　laid　her；　but　her　easier　breathing　and　the　blood　which　was　now　returning　to　her　face　announced　her　impending　recovery　from　her　swoon。

He　observed　that　she　wore　a　wedding…ring。　　Seeing　a　locket　hanging　from　her　bodice；　he　stooped　and；　turning　it；　found　a　miniature　photograph　representing　a　man　of　about　forty　and　a　lad　…　a　stripling　rather　…　in　a　schoolboy's　uniform。　　He　studied　the　fresh；　young　face　set　in　curly　hair：

〃It's　as　I　thought；〃　he　said。　　〃Ah；　poor　woman！〃

The　hand　which　he　took　between　his　grew　warmer　by　degrees。　　The　eyes　opened；　then　closed　again。　　She　murmured：

〃Jacques。。。　〃

〃Do　not　distress　yourself。。。　it's　all　right　he's　asleep。〃

She　recovered　consciousness　entirely。　　But；　as　she　did　not　speak；　Lupin　put　questions　to　her；　to　make　her　feel　a　gradual　need　of　unbosoming　herself。　　And　he　said；　pointing　to　the　locket：

〃The　schoolboy　is　Gilbert；　isn't　he？〃

〃Yes；〃　she　said。

〃And　Gilbert　is　your　son？〃

She　gave　a　shiver　and　whispered：

〃Yes；　Gilbert　is　my　son；　my　eldest　son。〃

So　she　was　the　mother　of　Gilbert；　of　Gilbert　the　prisoner　at　the　Sante；　relentlessly　pursued　by　the　authorities　and　now　awaiting　his　trial　for　murder！

Lupin　continued：

〃And　the　other　portrait？　

〃My　husband。〃

〃Your　husband？〃

〃Yes；　he　died　three　years　ago。〃

She　was　now　sitting　up。　　Life　quivered　in　her　veins　once　more；　together　with　the　horror　of　living　and　the　horror　of　all　the　ghastly　things　that　threatened　her。　Lupin　went　on　to　ask：

What　was　your　husband's　name？〃

he　hesitated　a　moment　and　answered：

Mergy。〃

He　exclaimed：

〃Victorien　Mergy　the　deputy？〃

Yes。〃

There　was　a　long　pause。　　Lupin　remembered　the　incident　and　the　stir　which　it　had　caused。　　Three　years　ago；　Mergy　the　deputy　had　blown　out　his　brains　in　the　lobby　of　the　Chamber；　without　leaving　a　word　of　explanation　behind　him；　and　no　one　had　ever　discovered　the　slightest　reason　for　that　suicide。

〃Do　you　know　the　reason？〃　asked　Lupin；　completing　his　thought　aloud。

〃Yes；　I　know　it。〃

〃Gilbert；　perhaps？〃

〃No；　Gilbert　had　disappeared　for　some　years；　turned　out　of　doors　and　cursed　by　my　husband。　　It　was　a　very　great　sorrow；　but　there　was　another　motive。

〃What　was　that？〃　asked　Lupin。

But　it　was　not　necessary　for　Lupin　to　put　further　questions。　　Madame　Mergy　could　keep　silent　no　longer　and；　slowly　at　first；　with　all　the　anguish　of　that　past　which　had　to　be　called　up；　she　told　her　story：

〃Twenty…five　years　ago；　when　my　name　was　Clarisse　Darcel　and　my　parents　living；　I　knew　three　young　men　at　Nice。　　Their　names　will　at　once　give　you　an　insight　into　the　present　tragedy：　they　were　Alexis　Daubrecq；　Victorien　Mergy　and　Louis　Prasville。　　The　three　were　old　acquaintances；　had　gone　to　college　in　the　same　year　and　served　in　the　same　regiment。　Prasvile；　at　that　time；　was　in　love　with　a　singer　at　the　opera…house　at　Nice。　　The　two　others；　Mergy　and　Daubrecq；　were　in　love　with　me。　　I　shall　be　brief　as　regards　all　this　and；　for　the　rest；　as　regards　the　whole　story；　for　the　facts　tell　their　own　tale。　　I　fell　in　love　with　Victorien　Mergy　from　the　first。　　Perhaps　I　was　wrong　not　to　declare　mysell　at　once。　But　true　love　is　always　timid；　hesitating　and　shy；　and　I　did　not　announce　my　choice　until　I　felt　quite　certain　and　quite　free。　Unfortunately；　that　period　of　waiting；　so　delightful　for　those　who　cherish　a　secret　passion；　had　permitted　Daubrecq　to　hope。　　His　anger　was　something　horrible。〃

Clarisse　Mergy　stopped　for　a　few　seconds　and　resumed；　in　a　stifled　voice：

〃I　shall　never　forget　it。。。　The　three　of　us　were　in　the　drawing…room。　Oh；　I　can　hear　even　now　the　terrible　words　of　threat　and　hatred　which　he　uttered！　　Victorien　was　absolutely　astounded。　　He　had　never　seen　his　friend　like　this；　with　that　repugnant　face；　that　bestial　expression：　yes；　the　expression　of　a　wild　beast。。。　Daubrecq　ground　his　teeth。　　He　stamped　his　feet。　　His　bloodshot　eyes　…　he　did　not　wear　spectacles　in　those　days　　…　rolled　in　their　sockets；　and　he　kept　on　saying；　'I　shall　be　revenged　。。。　I　shall　be　revenged。。。　Oh；　you　don't　know　what　I　am　capable　of！。。。　I　shall　wait　ten　years；　twenty　years；　if　necessary。。。　But　it　will　come　like　a　thunderbolt。。。　Ah；　you　don't　know！。。。　To　be　revenged。。。　〃　To　do　harm　。。。　for　harm's　sake。。。　what　joy！　　I　was　born　to　do　harm。。。　　And　you　will　both　beseech　my　mercy　on　your　knees；　on　your　knees；　yes；　on　your　knees。。。　　At　that　moment；　my　father　entered　the　room；　and；　with　his　assistance　and　the　footman's；　Victorien　Mergy　flung　the　loathsome　creature　out　of　doors。　　Six　weeks　later；　I　married　Victorien。〃

〃And　Daubrecq？〃　asked　Lupin；　interrupting　her。　〃Did　he　not　try。。。　〃

〃No；　but　on　our　wedding…day；　Louis　Prasville；　who　acted　as　my　husband's　best　man　in　defiance　of　Danbrecq's　opposition；　went　home　to　find　the　girl　he　loved；　the　opera…singer；　dead；　strangled。。。

〃What！〃　said　Lupin；　with　a　start。　　〃Had　Daubrecq。。。　〃

〃It　was　known　that　Daubrecq　had　been　persecuting　her　with　his　attentions　for　some　days；　but　nothing　more　was　known。　　It　was　impossible　to　discover　who　had　gone　in　or　out　during　Prasville's　absence。　　There　was　not　a　trace　found　of　any　kind：　nothing；　absolutely　nothing。〃

〃But　Prasville。。。　〃

〃There　was　no　doubt　of　the　truth　in　Prasville's　mind　or　ours。　　Daubrecq　had　tried　to　run　away　with　the　girl；　perhaps　tried　to　force　her；　to　hustle　her　and；　in　the　course　of　the　struggle；　maddened；　losing　his　head；　caught　her　by　the　throat　and　killed　her；　perhaps　without　knowing　what　he　was　doing。　　But　there　was　no　evidence　of　all　this；　and　Daubrecq　was　not　even　molested。〃

〃And　what　became　of　him　next？〃

〃For　some　years　we　heard　nothing　of　him。　　We　knew　only　that　he　had　lost　all　his　money　gambling　and　that　he　was　travelling　in　America。　　And；　in　spite　of　myself；　I　forgot　his　anger　and　his　threats　and　was　only　too　ready　to　believe　that　he　had　ceased　to　love　me　and　no　longer　harboured　his　schemes　of　revenge。　　Besides；　I　was　so　happy　that　I　did　not　care　to　think　of　anything　but　my　happiness；　my　love；　my　husband's　political　career；　the　health　of　my　son　Antoine。〃

〃Antoine？〃

〃Yes；　Antoine　is　Gilbert's　real　name。　　The　unhappy　boy　has　at　least　succeeded　in　concealing　his　identity。〃

Lupin　asked；　with　some　hesitation：

〃At　what　period　did。。。　Gilbert。。。　begin？〃

〃I　cannot　tell　you　exactly。　　Gilbert　…　I　prefer　to　call　him　that　and　not　to　pronounce　his　real　name　…　Gilbert；　as　a　child；　was　what　he　is　to…day：　lovable；　liked　by　everybody；　charming；　but　lazy　and　unruly。　　When　he　was　fifteen；　we　put　him　to　a　boarding…school　in　one　of　the　suburbs；　with　the　deliberate　object　of　not　having　him　too　much　at　home。　　After　two　years'　time　he　was　expelled　from　school　and　sent　back　to　us。〃

〃Why？〃

〃Because　of　his　conduct。　　The　masters　had　discovered　that　he　used　to　slip　out　at　night　and　also　that　he　would　disappear　for　weeks　at　a　time；　while　pretending　to　be　at　home　with　us。〃

〃What　used　he　to　do？〃

〃Amuse　himself　backing　horses；　spending　his　time　in　cafes　and　public　dancing…rooms。〃

〃Then　he　had　money？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Who　gave　it　him？〃

〃His　evil　genius；　the　man　who；　secretly；　unknown　to　his　parents；　enticed　him　away　from　school；　the　man　who　led　him　astray；　who　corrupted　him；　who　took　him　from　us；　who　taught　him　to　lie；　to　waste　his　substance　and　to　steal。〃

〃Daubrecq？〃

〃Daubrecq。〃

Clarisse　Mergy　put　her　hands　together　to　hide　the　blushes　on　her　forehead。　She　continued；　in　her　tired　voice：

〃Daubrecq　had　taken　his　revenge。　　On　the　day　after　my　husband　turned　our　unhappy　child　out　of　the　house；　Daubrecq　sent　us　a　most　cynical　letter　in　which　he　revealed　the　odious　part　which　he　had　played　and　the　machinations　by　which　he　had　succeeded　in　depraving　our　son。　　And　he　went　on　to　say；　'The　reformatory；　one　of　these　days。。。　Later　on；　the　assize…court　。。。　　And　then；　let　us　hope　and　trust；　the　scaffold！'〃

Lupin　exclaimed：

〃What！　　Did　Daubrecq　plot　the　present　business？〃

〃No；　no；　that　is　only　an　accident。　　The　hateful　prophecy　was　just　a　wish　which　he　expressed。　　But　oh；　how　it　terrified　me！　　I　was　ailing　at　the　time；　my　other　son；　my　little　Jacques；　had　just　been　born。　　And　every　day　we　heard　of　some　fresh　misdeed　of　Gilbert's　…　forgeries；　swindles　　…　so　much　so　that　we　spread　the　news；　in　our　immediate　surroundings；　of　his　departure　for　abroad；　followed　by　his　death。　　Life　was　a　misery；　and　it　became　still　more　so　when　the　political　storm　burst　in　which　my　husband　was　to　meet　his　death。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃

〃A　word　will　be　enough：　my　husband's　name　was　on　the　list　of　the　Twenty…seven。〃

〃Ah！〃

The　veil　was　suddenly　lifted　from　Lupin's　eyes　and　he　saw；　as　in　a　flash　of　lightning；　a　whole　legion　of　things　which；　until　then；　had　been　hidden　in　the　darkness。

Clarisse　Mergy　continued；　in　a　firmer　voice：

〃Yes；　his　name　was　on　it；　but　by　mistake；　by　a　piece　of　incredible　ill…luck　of　which　he　was　the　victim。　　It　is　true　that　Victorien　Mergy　was　a　member　of　the　committee　appointed　to　consider　the　question　of　the　Two…Seas　Canal。　　It　is　true　that　he　voted　with　the　members　who　were　in　favour　of　the　company's　scheme。　　He　was　even　paid　…　yes；　I　tell　you　so　plainly　and　I　will　mention　the　sum　…　he　was　paid　fifteen　thousand　francs。　But　he　was　paid　on　behalf　of　another；　of　one　of　his　political　friends；　a　man　in　whom　he　had　absolute　confidence　and　of　whom　he　was　the　blind；　unconscious　tool。　　He　thought　he　was　showing　his　frien