第253章

Notwithstanding his apparent calmness, Rodin could not behold, without some secret alarm, a wretch like Faringhea in possession of a long letter from Van Dael, wherein mention must necessarily have been made of Djalma.

Rodin believed, indeed, that he had rendered it impossible for the young Indian to be at Paris on the morrow, but not knowing what connection might have been formed, since the shipwreck, between the prince and the half-caste, he looked upon Faringhea as a man who might probably be very dangerous.But the more uneasy the socius felt in himself, the more he affected to appear calm and disdainful.He replied, therefore: " This comparison between Rome and Bowanee is no doubt very amusing; but what, sir, do you deduce from it?"

"I wish to show you, brother, what I am, and of what I am capable, to convince you that it is better to have me for a friend than an enemy."

"In other terms, sir," said Rodin, with contemptuous irony, "you belong to a murderous sect in India, and, you wish, by a transparent allegory, to lead me to reflect on the fate of the man from whom you have stolen the letter addressed to me.In my turn, I will take the freedom just to observe to you, in all humility, M.Faringhea, that here it is not permitted to strangle anybody, and that if you were to think fit to make any corpses for the love of Bowanee, your goddess, we should make you a head shorter, for the love of another divinity commonly called justice."

"And what would they do to me, if I tried to poison any one?"

"I will again humbly observe to you, M.Faringhea, that I have no time to give you a course of criminal jurisprudence; but, believe me, you had better resist the temptation to strangle or poison any one.One word more: will you deliver up to me the letters of M.Van Dael, or not?"

"The letters relative to Prince Djalma?" said the half-caste, looking fixedly at Rodin, who, notwithstanding a sharp and sudden twinge, remained impenetrable, and answered with the utmost simplicity: "Not knowing what the letters which you, sir, are pleased to keep from me, may contain, it is impossible for me to answer your question.I beg, and if necessary, I demand, that you will hand me those letters--or that you will retire."

"In a few minutes, brother, you will entreat me to remain."

"I doubt it."

"A few words will operate--this miracle.If just now I spoke to you about poisoning, brother, it was because you sent a doctor to Cardoville Castle, to poison (at least for a time) Prince Djalma."

In spite of himself, Rodin started almost imperceptibly, as he replied:

"I do not understand you."

"It is true, that I am a poor foreigner, and doubtless speak with an accent; I will try and explain myself better.I know, by Van Dael's letters, the interest you have that Prince Djalma should not be here to-

morrow, and all that you have done with this view.Do you understand me now?"

"I have no answer for you."

Two cautious taps at the door here interrupted the conversation."Come in," said Rodin.

"The letter has been taken to its address, sir," said the old servant, bowing, "and here is the answer."

Rodin took the paper, and, before he opened it, said courteously to Faringhea: "With your permission, sir?"

"Make no ceremonies," said the half-caste.

"You are very kind," replied Rodin, as, having read the letter he received, he wrote hastily some words at the bottom, saying: "Send this back to the same address."

The servant bowed respectfully, and withdrew.

"Now can I continue"' asked the half-caste, of Rodin.

"Certainly."

"I will continue, then," resumed Faringhea:

"The day before yesterday, just as the prince, all wounded as he was, was about, by my advice, to take his departure for Paris, a fine carriage arrived, with superb presents for Djalma, from an unknown friend.In this carriage were two men--one sent by the unknown friend--the other a doctor, sent by you to attend upon Djalma, and accompany him to Paris.

It was a charitable act, brother--was it not so?"

"Go on with your story, sir."

"Djalma set out yesterday.By declaring that the prince's wound would grow seriously worse, if he did not lie down in the carriage during all the journey, the doctor got rid of the envoy of the unknown friend, who went away by himself.The doctor wished to get rid of me too; but Djalma so strongly insisted upon it, that I accompanied the prince and doctor.

Yesterday evening, we had come about half the distance.The doctor proposed we should pass the night at an inn.`We have plenty of time,'

said he, `to reach Paris by to-morrow evening'--the prince having told him, that he must absolutely be in Paris by the evening of the 12th.The doctor had been very pressing to set out alone with the prince.I knew by Van Dael's letter, that it was of great importance to you for Djalma not to be here on the 13th; I had my suspicions, and I asked the doctor if he knew you; he answered with an embarrassed air, and then my suspicion became certainty.When we reached the inn, whilst the doctor was occupied with Djalma, I went up to the room of the former, and examined a box full of phials that he had brought with him.One of them contained opium--and then I guessed--"

"What did you guess, sir?"

"You shall know.The doctor said to Djalma, before he left him: `Your wound is doing well, but the fatigue of the journey might bring on inflammation; it will be good for you, in the course of to-morrow, to take a soothing potion, that I will make ready this evening, to have with us in the carriage.' The doctor's plan was a simple one," added Faringhea; "to-day the prince was to take the potion at four or five o'clock in the afternoon--and fall into a deep sleep--the doctor to grow uneasy, and stop the carriage--to declare that it would be dangerous to continue the journey -to pass the night at an inn, and keep close watch over the prince, whose stupor was only, to cease when it suited your purposes.That was your design--it was cleverly planned--I chose to make use of it myself, and I have succeeded."