Roch Plancoët lived in some modest rooms at the corner of the Rue Royer
Collard, but a few steps from the house occupied by Madame Verdon and
her daughter. He might have chosen more expensive quarters, for he
possessed a small fortune, honestly and laboriously acquired during his
long service as superintendent of the Verdon ironworks. But Roch was a
philosopher who scorned luxury and adored solitude. He led a quiet life,
and he devoted his time and attention almost exclusively to his friends,
Gabrielle and Albert--the children of his foster-brother and benefactor.
Gabrielle especially was the object of his almost fatherly solicitude.
He visited her every day, and her portrait hung in his sitting-room.
With her mother, strange to say, he was always very reserved, though he
willingly served her when she asked him to do so, which seldom happened,
however. The only favour he had ever asked of her, was permission to see
her daughter every day, and she had never dared to refuse that, perhaps
because she feared him. Roch had held the position of superintendent at
the ironworks when she married M. Verdon; and he was too well acquainted
with all the incidents of her life, for her to quarrel with him. When
she had informed him of her intention to marry M. Rochas, he had replied
that she was perfectly free to contract a second marriage if she
pleased, and that if she wished to leave her children he would take
charge of them. Then, however, had come the announcement of Gabrielle's
engagement to George Caumont. George had had the rare good fortune to
please Plancoët, and that was a good deal, for the old fellow was very
hard to please as far as his favourite's suitors were concerned.
However, although Roch had abundant cause for rejoicing at this good
news, at least apparently, he returned home thoughtful and preoccupied,
and for twenty-four hours merely set foot out of doors to take his meals
at a neighbouring restaurant. On the following afternoon, while he was
sitting at his window smoking a pipe, Albert Verdon rang at the door.
The young officer seemed to be in a state of great excitement, and Roch
anxiously asked him: "What is the matter?"
"Ah! my poor friend, you are the only person to whom I can tell the
truth," replied Albert. "You know all about my mother's conduct. Well, I
have just seen a letter written by her to a lover--"
"To Rochas?" asked Plancoët, eagerly.
"No, no--to that man Dargental whom I spoke to you about, and who was
killed in his rooms a fortnight ago." On hearing this Plancoët staggered
back to the-wall. "Yes," resumed Albert fiercely, "to a scamp who traded
on women! A professional black mailer! Ah! the truth is so horrible that
on making this discovery I at first thought of flinging myself into the
Seine."
"You haven't seen your mother since?" asked Plancoët.
"No, I lacked the courage; I wanted to ask your advice. Come, tell me,
did you ever know that my mother carried on an intrigue with that man
Dargental?"
"I know all that your mother has done since she became a widow," replied
Plancoët, gravely, and then after a little pressing from Albert he
proceeded to tell the poor fellow the story of Madame Verdon's
profligacy. She had been Dargental's mistress for a time, but he had
deserted her for Madame de Lescombat whom he hoped to marry, not,
however, without having extorted large sums of money from her, by
threatening her with the publication of her correspondence. In fact,
only shortly before his death, he had threatened to send her letters to
Gabrielle.
Albert was crushed by the sad narrative. At last, however, he mustered
strength enough to inform Plancoët of Puymirol's arrest, of the scene at
Blanche's house, and the attendant discovery, and of Caumont's present
willingness to confide the letters to his keeping. "You must take them,"
said the young fellow, "and go and see my mother--force her to leave
Paris in three days' time, and make her promise to marry M. Rochas
abroad, without delay. If she refuses, you may tell her that she will
certainly be implicated in the murder of M. Dargental."
"And if she consents?"
"Then you can burn the letters or keep them as you like. But come now,
George is waiting for us to hand you the notes."
Roch's face had abruptly assumed an expression of resolution. He did not
raise any objection but quietly followed Albert to the Luxembourg
Gardens where Caumont indeed was waiting. "My dear fellow," said young
Verdon to his future brother-in-law, without more ado, "we are all of
the same mind. You know my intentions, and my old friend Roch will see
that they are carried out. Will you therefore give him the envelope
containing the letters?"
George handed it to Plancoët, who accepted the trust without hesitation.
"Are they all here?" he inquired.
"Yes, all three of them," replied the lieutenant. "Break the seal and
see for yourself, if you like."
"That is unnecessary; your word is sufficient. But I should be greatly
obliged to Monsieur Caumont if he would tell me how his friend Monsieur
de Puymirol is getting on."
"His situation remains unchanged. He has been subjected to repeated
examinations, but the magistrate has so far come to no decision."
"And your friend has said nothing about the letters?" inquired Plancoët.
"No; and yet, I fancy they would be the only means of saving him."
"Then why doesn't he mention them?"
"Probably because he doesn't wish to compromise the Countess de
Lescombat. Perhaps, also, he doesn't want to mix me up in this
unfortunate affair. If he spoke of the letters the magistrate would
instantly suspect that he had intrusted them to me."
"And do you think that he will remain silent until the end?--that he
will let himself be sent before the assizes rather than speak out."
"I feel sure of it. He has many faults, but nothing can subjugate or
intimidate him. I know him so well that yesterday I made up my mind to
interfere and extricate him from his predicament despite himself; but
now I can do nothing for fear of involving Albert's mother in the
scandal. He is lost!"
Plancoët, visibly agitated, dropped his eyes. "I feel sure that although
Madame Verdon may be very guilty she did not instigate Dargental's
murder," he said after a short silence.
"Then who could have instigated it--Rochas?"
"I think not. He would not imperil his life to save a woman's honour.
But Albert has told you, I suppose, what he wishes me to do?"
"Yes, sir, and I thoroughly approve of his decision."
"And you are still determined to marry Mademoiselle Verdon?"
"More determined than ever, if she will have me."
"But you are aware that two other persons know that the pocket-book has
been found, and are acquainted with the contents of the letters
intrusted to you by your friend."
"Blanche Pornic will be silent. I can vouch for her," interrupted the
young officer. "And Madame de Lescombat also realizes that it is to her
interest to do the same."
"I can proceed to act, then," muttered Plancoët, as if talking to
himself.
"I trust you will do so without delay," replied Albert. "My mother is
now at home and so is Gabrielle, but you can say that you wish to see my
mother alone."
"If you have an opportunity of exchanging a few words in private with
Mademoiselle Verdon, pray tell her that my feelings are unchanged," said
George to Plancoët.
"I will readily promise you that; and now, as you are acquainted with
the habits of the investigating magistrate, will you tell me at what
hour I should be likely to find him in his office?"
"Oh! my friend Balmer assured me that he would be in his office all
day."
"But why do you wish to know that?" interrupted the lieutenant. "I
suppose you have no idea of requesting him to release Puymirol?"
"Certainly not," stammered Plancoët.
"Then hasten to my mother's without delay. Now's your time, but when and
where shall we see you again?"
"I am afraid the interview will prove a lengthy one."
"Ah, well, George and I will return here at five o'clock. So good-bye
for the present, old friend."
"Farewell," replied Plancoët, pressing the hands the two young men held
out to him.
With his head bowed down, the old overseer walked slowly towards Madame
Verdon's abode. Gabrielle was upon the balcony, and on seeing him she
hastened to the door and let him in. "What is happening?" she asked
anxiously. "Just now I received a letter from Albert who tells me he
shall come and fetch me at nine o'clock to-night to take me to his
colonel's sister, in the Rue de Tournon, for he won't let me stay here
any longer."
"Listen, my poor girl," replied Roch, "you must do as your brother
asks--besides, it is absolutely necessary, for your mother will leave
Paris to-morrow."
"To-morrow! but why? That's strange, she surely does not intend to
abscond like a criminal?"
"Some transgressions have the same consequence as crimes," said Roch
sadly; "believe me--don't try to guess the truth but believe me when I
tell you that you must not remain another day under your mother's roof.
I swear it by your poor father's memory, by your brother's honour and my
own--"
Gabrielle was beginning to understand and tears gathered in her eyes.
"Ah!" she murmured in a tone of deep grief.
"But Albert and your future husband will some day tell you more.
However, is your mother at home?"
"Yes, in her boudoir."
"Well, I wish to see her and am going there. But before we part let me
kiss you and promise me that you will be brave." Then having pressed the
poor girl to his heart and imprinted a paternal kiss on her brow he
proceeded to Madame Verdon's boudoir.
His interview with the guilty mother was a stormy one--but finally he
wrung from her an unwilling compliance with Albert's wishes, and
promised her that he would place her letter to Dargental in an envelope
and deposit it with his notary, who would hand it to her in exchange for
her written consent to Gabrielle's marriage with George Caumont. Then
he hastily left the house, returned home, placed Blanche's and Madame de
Lescombat's notes in one envelope addressed to George, and Madame
Verdon's in another, and after writing some instructions for his notary,
he forthwith repaired to the latter's office. When he left it he paused
for an instant, but instead of returning to the Luxembourg to acquaint
his young friends with the success of his mission, he finally crossed
the Pont St. Michel and proceeded towards the Palais de Justice.