Each in turn, at a deferential nod of their respective father and
grandfather, first the count and then the vicomte proffered their
suggestions; and so long had I been listening to the shrill falsetto of
the marquis, that the sharp, low-pitched enunciation of the other two
almost made me start with surprise, paralyzed though I was.
“Monsieur,” said the count, addressing the Marquis Gaspard, “you are
right on every point; and especially in what you said of the danger
we incur from the presence of Monsieur le capitaine in this place--a
danger enhanced by the fact that Madame de X.... is likewise our guest
at the present moment. We cannot think of sending her away before this
evening, whether to Toulon or to Solliès. That would expose her too
soon to the fatigue of the return journey. She is still extremely weak,
and neither you nor I, in the very worst circumstances, would consent
to risking an innocent life. Now tomorrow morning, this neighborhood
will be full of soldiers--we can depend upon that. For, obviously,
Monsieur is very close to the governor: his absence will be noticed,
and a thorough search made. We have every reason to fear a visit
ourselves; and in such an unfortunate event we shall be compelled to
conceal two persons instead of one: a double danger, if you think as I
think.”
“I do,” said the marquis.
The count bowed and proceeded:
“The path of virtue is not the easiest to follow in a case like this:
no end of criminal or treacherous devices suggest themselves for
relieving us of our present embarrassment. To mention one: few people
in Toulon are unaware of the relations existing between Madame de X....
and Monsieur le capitaine. It would be a simple matter to account for
his disappearance by turning suspicion upon this estimable young lady.
Can there be any doubt of that? Tomorrow police and soldiery will be
searching this territory inch by inch. On the Mort de Gauthier, not
far from the carcass of Monsieur’s horse--that clue it is too late
to obliterate--they find the captain’s lover! Nothing more would be
necessary: of course--a “crime passionel,” served to the taste of the
metropolitan press! The work of a jealous woman! The eagerness of the
public to accept such an exciting hypothesis would divert all attention
from us without fail. And Madame de X...., mark you, would meanwhile
be unable to defend herself from a charge the very monstrousness of
which would quite confound her. That unfortunate girl could never
explain to herself, let alone to her judges, her incomprehensible
presence in such improbable surroundings.”
The Vicomte Antoine had raised his head: “Such barbarity, such
cowardice, would be worse than murder outright and stain our hands
darker than with blood: you would make us the vilest of cads, Monsieur.”
There was an abundance of heat in his tone. The count turned toward him
and bowed with a nod of approval:
“I agree with you, and no rational gentleman devoted to a life in
accord with Nature, would ever allow an innocent head to fall under
an unjust punishment. But observe, nevertheless: no court would ever
convict the lady on pure supposition; and all direct evidence of a
crime would be wanting....”
The vicomte interrupted: “I grant you that a court might acquit,
Monsieur; but the public never. And this woman, convicted through our
agency of having lived according to her heart, would be the victim of
general hostility and opprobrium. Her honor would be smirched forever,
and her life ruined.”
“That is true,” the count again admitted.
The squeaky laugh of the marquis took them both to task:
“Enough, gentlemen! Spare us your preciosities, I beg of you. There
you are, at it again, indulging your usual fatuities in behalf of the
widowed mother and her ten children! Will you gentlemen never tire of
sentimentalizing--playing with those soap-bubbles of yours: Humanity,
Fraternity, Love, Nature? Does neither of you see that the security
of our Secret is perhaps of more importance than the so-called good
name of a woman who has already, of her own accord, made herself the
talk of a county? The solution you have suggested, Sir, is by no means
unworthy of consideration. I do not, however, regard it as the best.
I think that before deciding on any course we should review all the
possibilities before us. It is your turn, Vicomte. Have you something
practicable to propose?”
The youngest of the three men hesitated. Finally he said:
“May it not be that the solution lies in the very magnetic forces
over which we have control? I am thinking of yours particularly,
Monsieur, so prodigiously powerful, when you choose to exert them. It
has occurred to me that we might send the captain home, free to all
appearances, but still retained under such an influence that every
word he uttered would be dictated by us. We could gain some days in
that way; and then....”
The smile on the lips of the marquis was almost a sneer:
“Then what?” he questioned.
The vicomte failed to find an answer, and the marquis supplied one for
him:
“Then ... nothing! Where could such a comedy end? How long do you think
we could stand the strain? It is no easy matter to keep our hold on an
old man ready for the grave. Could we, without a moment’s respite, and
till the end of the world, suppress the individuality of a man like
Monsieur le capitaine, youthful, robust of body, and strong of will?
Nonsense, Monsieur! Utter nonsense! Find something better than that,
Vicomte. Come, gentlemen, you have heads! Use them!”
But the count and the vicomte added not a word. The staccato laugh of
the marquis alone continued to grate through the silence of the hall.