“Very well, then. Now my mind is at rest. It is scarcely necessary for
me to add that if you break your faith you are a dead man. You know me.
You know how I handle a sword; and don’t forget it.” His manner was so
threatening that Wilkie shuddered. “You will certainly be questioned,”
continued M. de Coralth; “but you must reply that you received the
information through one of Mr. Patterson’s friends. Now let us sign our
formal contract in lieu of the temporary one you gave me the other day.”
It is needless to say that Wilkie signed it eagerly. Not so the
viscount; he read the document through carefully, before appending his
signature, and then exclaimed: “The estate that belongs to you is that
of the Count de Chalusse, your uncle. He leaves, I am informed, at least
eight or ten millions of property.”
By M. Wilkie’s excited gestures, by the glitter in his eyes, it might
have been supposed that this wonderful good fortune was too much for
him, and that he was going mad. “I knew that I belonged to a noble
family,” he began. “The Count de Chalusse my uncle! I shall have a
coronet on the corner of my visiting cards.”
But with a gesture M. de Coralth silenced him. “Wait a little before
you rejoice,” said he. “Yes, your mother is the sister of the Count
de Chalusse, and it is through her that you are an heir to the estate.
But--don’t grieve too much--there are similar misfortunes in many of our
most distinguished families--circumstances--the obstinacy of parents--a
love more powerful than reason----” The viscount paused, certainly he
had no prejudices; but at the moment of telling this interesting young
man who his mother really was, he hesitated.
“Go on,” insisted M. Wilkie.
“Well--when your mother was a young girl, about twenty, she fled from
her paternal home with a man she loved. Forsaken afterward, she found
herself in the depths of poverty. She was obliged to live. You
were starving. So she changed her name, and now she is known as Lia
d’Argeles.”
M. Wilkie sprang to his feet. “Lia d’Argeles!” he exclaimed. Then, with
a burst of laughter, he added: “Nevertheless, I think it a piece of
grand good luck!”