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第45节

the lesser bourgeoisie-第45节

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〃You spoke just now;〃 replied du Portail; 〃of the cousin of Theodose;
Mademoiselle Lydie de la Peyrade。 This young woman; who is not in her
first youth; for she is nearly thirty; is the natural daughter of the
celebrated Mademoiselle Beaumesnil of the Theatre Francais and
Peyrade; the commissary…general of police under the Empire; and the
uncle of our friend。 Until his death; which occurred suddenly; leaving
his daughter; whom he loved tenderly; without means of support; I was
bound to that excellent man with the warmest friendship。〃

Glad to show that he had some knowledge of du Portail's interior life;
Cerizet hastened to remark:

〃And you have secretly fulfilled the duties of that friendship;
monsieur; for; in taking into your home that interesting orphan you
assumed a difficult guardianship。 Mademoiselle de la Peyrade's state
of health requires; I am told; a care not only affectionate; but
persevering。〃

〃Yes;〃 replied du Portail; 〃the poor girl; after the death of her
father; was so cruelly tried that her mind has been somewhat affected;
but a fortunate change has lately occurred in her condition; and only
yesterday I called in consultation Doctor Bianchon and the two
physicians…in…charge of Bicetre and the Salpetriere。 These gentlemen
unanimously declare that marriage and the birth of a first child would
undoubtedly restore her to perfect health。 You can readily understand
that the remedy is too easy and agreeable not to be attempted。〃

〃Then;〃 said Cerizet; 〃it is to Mademoiselle Lydie de la Peyrade; his
cousin; that you wish to marry Theodose。〃

〃You have said it;〃 returned du Portail; 〃and you must not think that
our young friend; if he accepts the marriage; will be called upon to
show a gratuitous devotion。 Lydie is very agreeable in person; she has
talents; a charming disposition; and she can bring to bear; in her
husband's interest; a strong influence in public life。 She has;
moreover; a pretty fortune; consisting of what her mother left her;
and of my entire property; which; having no heirs myself; I intend to
secure to her in the marriage contract。 Besides all this; she has this
very night acquired a not inconsiderable legacy。〃

〃What!〃 exclaimed Cerizet; 〃do you mean that old Toupillier〃

〃By a will in his own handwriting; which I have here; that old pauper
constitutes her his sole legatee。 You see; therefore; that I showed
some kindness in not proceeding against you and Madame Cardinal for
your little attempt last night; it was simply our property that you
were trying to pillage。〃

〃Heavens!〃 cried Cerizet; 〃I won't pretend to excuse Madame Cardinal's
misconduct; and yet; as one of the legal heirs; dispossessed by a
stranger; she had; it seems to me; some right to the indulgence which
you certainly showed to her。〃

〃In that you are mistaken;〃 said du Portail; 〃the apparent liberality
of the old beggar to Mademoiselle de la Peyrade happens to be only a
restitution。〃

〃A restitution!〃 exclaimed Cerizet; in a tone of curiosity。

〃A restitution;〃 repeated du Portail; 〃and nothing is easier than to
prove it。 Do you remember the robbery of some diamonds from one of our
dramatic celebrities about ten years ago?〃

〃Yes;〃 replied Cerizet。 〃I was manager of one of my newspapers at the
time; and I used to write the 'Paris items。' But stay; I remember; the
actress who lost them was Mademoiselle Beaumesnil。〃

〃Precisely; the mother of Mademoiselle de la Peyrade。〃

〃Consequently; this miserable old Toupillierno; I remember that the
thief was convicted; his name was Charles Crochard。 It was said; under
the rose; that he was the natural son of a great personage; the Comte
de Granville; attorney…general under the Restoration。〃 'See 〃A Double
Life。〃'

〃Well;〃 said du Portail; 〃this is how it happened。 The robbery was
committed in a house in the rue de Tournon; occupied by Mademoiselle
Beaumesnil。 Charles Crochard; who was a handsome fellow; was said to
have the run of it〃

〃Yes; yes;〃 cried Cerizet; 〃I remember Mademoiselle Beaumesnil's
embarrassment when she gave her testimonyand also the total
extinction of voice that attacked her when the judge asked her age。〃

〃The robbery;〃 continued du Portail; 〃was audaciously committed in the
daytime; and no sooner did Charles Crochard get possession of the
casket than he went to the church of Saint…Sulpice; where he had an
appointment with an accomplice; who; being supplied with a passport;
was to start immediately with the diamonds for foreign parts。 It so
chanced that on entering the church; instead of meeting the man he
expected; who was a trifle late; Charles Crochard came face to face
with a celebrated agent of the detective force; who was well known to
him; inasmuch as the young rascal was not at his first scrimmage with
the police。 The absence of his accomplice; this encounter with the
detective; and; lastly; a rapid movement made by the latter; by the
merest chance; toward the door; induced the robber to fancy he was
being watched。 Losing his head under this idea; he wanted; at any
cost; to put the casket out of his possession; knowing that if
arrested; as he expected; at the door of the church; it would be a
damning proof against him。 Catching sight at that moment of
Toupillier; who was then the giver of holy water; 'My man;' said he;
making sure that no one overheard their colloquy; 'will you take care
of this little package for me? It is a box of lace。 I am going near by
to a countess who is slow to pay her bill; and if I have the lace with
me she'll want to see it; for it is a new style; and she'll ask me to
leave it with her on credit; instead of paying the bill; therefore I
don't want to take it。 But;' he added; 'be sure not to touch the paper
that wraps the box; for there's nothing harder than to do up a package
in the same folds'〃

〃The booby!〃 cried Cerizet; naively; 〃why; that very caution would
make the man want to open it。〃

〃You are an able casuist;〃 said du Portail。 〃Well; an hour later;
Charles Crochard; finding that nothing happened to him; returned to
the church to obtain his deposit; but Toupillier was no longer there。
You can imagine the anxiety with which Charles Crochard attended early
mass the next day; and approached the giver of holy water; who was
there; sure enough; attending to his functions。 But night; they say;
brings counsel; the worthy beggar audaciously declared that he had
received no package; and did not know what his interlocutor meant。〃

〃And there was no possibility of arguing with him; for that would be
exposure;〃 remarked Cerizet; who was not far from sympathizing in a
trick so boldly played。

〃No doubt;〃 resumed du Portail; 〃the robbery was already noised about;
and Toupillier; who was a very able fellow; had calculated that
Charles Crochard would not dare to publicly accuse him; for that would
reveal the theft。 In fact; on his trial Charles Crochard never said a
word of his mishap; and during the six years he spent at the galleys
(he was condemned to ten; but four were remitted) he did not open his
lips to a single soul about the treachery of which he had been a
victim。〃

〃That was pretty plucky;〃 said Cerizet; the tale excited him; and he
showed openly that he saw the matter as an artist and a connoisseur。

〃In that interval;〃 continued du Portail; 〃Madame Beaumesnil died;
leaving her daughter a few fragments of a once great fortune; and the
diamonds which the will expressly stated Lydie was to receive 'in case
they were recovered。'〃

〃Ha! ha!〃 exclaimed Cerizet; 〃bad for Toupillier; because; having to
do with a man of your calibre〃

〃Charles Crochard's first object on being liberated was vengeance on
Toupillier; and his first step was to denounce him to the police as
receiver of the stolen property。 Taken in hand by the law; Toupillier
defended himself with such singular good…humor; being able to show
that no proof whatever existed against him; that the examining judge
let him off。 He lost his place; however; as giver of holy water;
obtaining; with great difficulty; permission to beg at the door of the
church。 For my part; I was certain of his guilt; and I managed to have
the closest watch kept upon him; though I relied far more upon myself。
Being a man of means and leisure; I stuck; as you may say; to the skin
of my thief; and did; in order to unmask him; one of the cleverest
things of my career。 He was living at that time in the rue du Coeur…
Volant。 I succeeded in becoming the tenant of the room adjoining his;
and one night; through a gimlet hole I had drilled in the partition; I
saw my man take the case of diamonds from a very cleverly contrived
hiding…place。 He sat for an hour gazing at them and fondling them; he
made them sparkle in the light; he pressed them passionately to his
lips。 The man actually loved those diamonds for themselves; and had
never thought of turning them to money。〃

〃I understand;〃 said Cerizet;〃a mania like that of Cardillac; the
jeweller; which has now been dramatized。〃

〃That is just it;〃 returned du Portail; 〃the poor wretch was in love
with that casket; so that when; shortly after; I entered his room and
told him I knew all; he proposed to me to l

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