When Nathalie, by a strong effort of will, succeeded in calling back her
thoughts from following her husband, her eyes fell upon M. Rodoin, who
sat respectfully opposite to her in his own carriage. The change in the
lawyer's manner was indeed remarkable. When Leon had consulted him
before, in spite of his outward politeness her keen intuition had
detected a certain veiled distrust which had annoyed her, while it was
too impalpable to be openly noticed. She had been convinced that he
disbelieved his client's story; and twenty times had wished that her
husband's case had been in other hands. She had looked at him with
disfavour, taking exception to the coldness of his expression and the
eccentricity of his nose, which, starting on a straight line, suddenly
towards the end developed an upward turned knob, on which the eye
fastened itself to the exclusion of his other features, and which seemed
to accentuate the air of incredulity which displeased her. The knob, it
need hardly be said, remained, but it had acquired so different an
expression that although she read anxiety in the look with which he
regarded her, its general tenor was that of unmistakable pity and
good-will.
When he saw that she was giving him her attention, he leaned forward and
said, abruptly:
"Yes, my dear lady, I congratulate you. Your husband is acting with
extreme courage, but you should not be alone."
"Servants talk," she said, quietly.
"There are his sisters?"
"Ah, but they were strongly opposed to his coming. So was my father,
and you yourself, Monsieur Rodoin, permit me to say, did not suggest
it."
He put up his hand. "Your reproach is quite justified. Honestly, I did
not believe that Monsieur de Beaudrillart would ever run so counter to
the traditions of his family as to take so sensible a course. No,
madame, do not suppose I am speaking offensively. No Beaudrillart would
be deficient in courage; but this required another form of courage--one
which they would be slow to recognise as such; it surprised me beyond
words when your telegram was put into my hands. If it was your doing,
madame--"
He bowed respectfully, his knowledge of men recognising in the new lines
in Nathalie's beautiful face what the struggle had cost her; but she
scarcely heard his words. She put her head out of the window as they
rattled over the stones, trying to catch a last glimpse of the carriage
which contained her husband. It was but of sight, and her next question
was almost a sob:
"Where do they take him, monsieur?"
"To the Palais de Justice." And as she shuddered, he added: "You will
have ample opportunities of seeing him. Do not fear."
"To-night?"
"To-morrow, I hope."
"Meanwhile we must think, we must act for him," she said, driving back
her own anguish. "Who do you suggest for his counsel!"
"Madame, there can be no better than Maitre Barraud, and I went to him
on receipt of your telegram. He was so touched by the baron's action
that he at last consented. The Procureur de la Republique is Maitre
Miron."
"He is terribly formidable!" cried Nathalie.
"It is impossible to deny it; both are of the first rank, and I own
frankly that I do not think there is a sou to choose between them. But
I am quite content to have secured my man. One thing is necessary, and
I should like you to impress it strongly upon monsieur le baron: that he
must be absolutely frank with Maitre Barraud, place the matter clearly
in his hands, and permit himself no reservations."
She smiled faintly.
"Reservations are at an end, Monsieur Rodoin."
"All the better. Our one chance lies in perfect openness. We tell our
story as it happened; it is for the jury to judge of the probabilities.
Unfortunately, we must bear in mind that it is not always truth which
carries the most innocent face. This Lemaire has a lie tucked away
somewhere, and he will naturally take more pains with it than with any
other part of his case. But if once Maitre Barraud gets his finger on
it he will have it out."
"The lie," said Nathalie, calmly, "says that my husband never repaid the
money."
M. Rodoin waited for the rattle of passing cabs to subside before he
replied.
"I do not know."