Four days had passed since the events just narrated, when one morning
M. Lecoq--the official Lecoq, who resembled the dignified head of
a bureau--was walking up and down his private office, at each turn
nervously looking at the clock, which slowly ticked on the mantel, as
if it had no intention of striking any sooner than usual, to gratify the
man so anxiously watching its placid face.
At last, however, the clock did strike; and just then the faithful
Janouille opened the door, and ushered in Mme. Nina and Prosper Bertomy.
“Ah,” said M. Lecoq, “you are punctual; lovers are generally so.”
“We are not lovers, monsieur,” replied Mme. Gypsy. “M. Verduret gave
us express orders to meet here in your office this morning, and we have
obeyed.”
“Very good,” said the celebrated detective: “then be kind enough to wait
a few minutes; I will tell him you are here.”
During the quarter of an hour that Nina and Prosper remained alone
together, they did not exchange a word. Finally a door opened, and M.
Verduret appeared.
Nina and Prosper eagerly started toward him; but he checked them by one
of those peculiar looks which no one ever dared resist.
“You have come,” he said severely, “to hear the secret of my conduct.
I have promised, and will keep my word, however painful it may be to
my feelings. Listen, then. My best friend is a loyal, honest man,
named Caldas. Eighteen months ago this friend was the happiest of men.
Infatuated by a woman, he lived for her alone, and, fool that he was,
imagined that she felt the same love for him.”
“She did!” cried Gypsy, “yes, she always loved him.”
“She showed her love in a peculiar way. She loved him so much, that
one fine day she left him, and ran off with another man. In his first
moments of despair, Caldas wished to kill himself. Then he reflected
that it would be wiser to live, and avenge himself.”
“And then,” faltered Prosper.
“Then Caldas avenged himself in his own way. He made the woman who
deserted him recognize his immense superiority over his rival. Weak,
timid, and helpless, the rival was disgraced, and falling over the verge
of a precipice, when the powerful hand of Caldas reached forth and saved
him. You understand all now, do you not? The woman is Nina; the rival is
yourself; and Caldas is--”
With a quick, dexterous movement, he threw off his wig and whiskers, and
stood before them the real, intelligent, proud Lecoq.
“Caldas!” cried Nina.
“No, not Caldas, not Verduret any longer: but Lecoq, the detective!”
M. Lecoq broke the stupefied silence of his listeners by saying to
Prosper:
“It is not to me alone that you owe your salvation. A noble girl
confided to me the difficult task of clearing your reputation. I
promised her that M. Fauvel should never know the shameful secrets
concerning his domestic happiness. Your letter thwarted all my plans,
and made it impossible for me to keep my promise. I have nothing more to
say.”
He turned to leave the room, but Nina barred his exit.
“Caldas,” she murmured, “I implore you to have pity on me! I am _so_
miserable! Ah, if you only knew! Be forgiving to one who has always
loved you, Caldas! Listen.”
Prosper departed from M. Lecoq’s office alone.
On the 15th of last month, was celebrated, at the church of Notre Dame
de Lorette, the marriage of M. Prosper Bertomy and Mlle. Madeleine
Fauvel.
The banking-house is still on the Rue de Provence; but as M. Fauvel has
decided to retire from business, and live in the country, the name of
the firm has been changed, and is now--
“Prosper Bertomy & Co.”