“Who is this Justin Chevassat?”
“One of my friends.”
“A friend richer than yourself, I should think?”
“As to that--why, yes; since he has always plenty of money in his
pockets, dresses in the last fashion, and drives his carriage.”
“What is he doing? What is his profession?”
“Ah! as to that, I know nothing about it. I never asked him, and
he never told me. I once said to him, ‘Do you know you look like a
prodigiously lucky fellow?’ And he replied, ‘Oh, not as much so as you
think;’ but that is all.”
“Where does he live?”
“In Paris, Rue Louis, 39.”
“Do you write to him there? For I dare say you have written to him since
you have been in Saigon.”
“I send my letters to M. X. O. X. 88.”
It became evident now, that, so far from endeavoring to save his
accomplices, Crochard, surnamed Bagnolet, would do all he could to
aid justice in discovering them. He began to show the system which the
wretch was about to adopt,--to throw all the responsibility and all the
odium of the crime on the man who had hired him, and to appear the poor
devil, succumbing to destitution when he was tempted and dazzled by such
magnificent promises, that he had not the strength to resist. The lawyer
continued,--
“Where and how did you make the acquaintance of this Justin Chevassat?”
“I made his acquaintance at the galleys.”
“Ah! that is becoming interesting. And do you know for what crime he had
been condemned?”
“For forgery, I believe, and also for theft.”
“And what was he doing before he was condemned?”
“He was employed by a banker, or perhaps as cashier in some large
establishment. At all events, he had money to handle; and it stuck to
his fingers.”
“I am surprised, as you are so well informed with regard to this man’s
antecedents, that you should know nothing of his present means of
existence.”
“He has money, plenty of money; that is all I know.”
“Have you lost sight of him?”
“Why, yes. Chevassat was set free long before I was. I believe he was
pardoned; and I had not met him for more than fifteen years.”
“How did you find him again?”
“Oh! by the merest chance, and a very bad chance for me; since, but for
him, I would not be here.”