“That is one explanation. I do not say no to it; but it is not the true
one yet. Murder is so dangerous an expedient, that even the boldest
criminals only resort to it in the last extremity, and generally very
much against their inclination. Could not Brevan have possessed himself
of M. Champcey’s property without a murder? Of course, he could.
“Then we must look for another motive. You may say, it was fear which
drove him to it. No; for at the time when he engaged Crochard, he could
not foresee the atrocious outrages of which he would have become guilty
during the succeeding year. Believe my experience; I discern in the
whole affair a hurry and an awkwardness which betray a passion, a
violent hatred, or, perhaps”--
He stopped suddenly, and seemed to reflect and deliberate, while he was
mechanically stroking his chin. Then all of a sudden, looking strangely
at Daniel, he asked him,--
“Could the Countess Sarah be in love with you, M. Champcey?”
Daniel’s face turned crimson. He had not forgotten that fatal evening,
when, in the house in Circus Street, he had held Sarah Brandon in his
arms; and the intoxicating delirium of that moment had left in his heart
a bitter and undying pang of remorse. He had never dared confess to
Henrietta that Sarah had actually come to his rooms alone. And even
to-night, while giving very fully all the details of his passage out,
and his residence in Saigon, he had not said a word of the letters which
had been addressed to him by the countess.
“Sarah Brandon in love with me?” he stammered. “What an idea!”
But he could not tell a falsehood; and Henrietta would not have been a
woman, if she had not noticed his embarrassment.
“Why not?” she asked.