第79章

"We may not speak of it before Baron Bourlac," said Godefroid, "tell me now how your son got out of his trouble.""Well," said Vanda, "I told you, I think, that he is now employed by the attorney-general, who shows him the greatest kindness.Auguste was only forty-eight hours in the Conciergerie, where he was put into the governor's house.The good doctor, who did not receive a noble letter the boy wrote him till late at night, withdrew his complaint; and, through the influence of a former judge of the Royal Courts, whom my father has never been able to meet, the attorney-general was induced to annul the proceedings in the court.There is no trace left of the affair except in my heart and my son's conscience, and alas! in his grandfather's mind.From that day he has treated Auguste as almost a stranger.Only yesterday Halpersohn begged him to forgive the boy; but my father, who never before refused me anything--me, whom he loves so well!--replied: 'You are the person robbed; you can, and you ought to forgive; but I am responsible for the thief.When I was attorney-general I never pardoned.' 'You'll kill your daughter,' said Halpersohn.My father made no reply and turned away.""But who helped you in all this?"

"A gentleman, whom we think is employed to do the queen's benefits.""What is he like?"

"Well, he is of medium height; rather stout, but active; with a kindly, genial face.It was he who found my father ill of fever in the house where you knew us and had him brought to that in which we now live.And just fancy, as soon as my father recovered /I/ was installed there too, in my very own room, just as if I had never left it.

Halpersohn, whom the gentleman captivated, I am sure I don't know how, then told me all the sufferings my father had endured.Ah, when Ithink of it! my father and my son often without bread to eat, and when with me pretending to be rich! even the diamonds in the snuff box sold! Oh, Monsieur Godefroid! those two beings are martyrs.And so, what can I say to my father? Between him and my son I can take no part; I can only make return to them in kind by suffering with them, as they once suffered with me.""And you say you think that gentleman came from the queen?""Oh! I am sure you know him, I see it in your face," cried Vanda, now at the door of the house.

She seized Godefroid by the hand with the vigor of a nervous woman and dragged him into a salon, the door of which stood open.

"Papa!" she cried, "here is Monsieur Godefroid! and I am certain he knows our benefactors."Baron Bourlac, whom Godefroid now saw dressed in a manner suitable for a man of his rank and position, rose and came forward, holding out his hand to Godefroid, saying as he did so:--"I was sure of it."

Godefroid made a gesture denying that he shared in this noble vengeance, but the former attorney-general gave him no chance to speak.

"Ah! monsieur," he said, continuing, "Providence could not be more powerful, love more ingenious, motherhood more clear-sighted than your friends have been for us.I bless the chance that has brought you here to-day; for Monsieur Joseph has disappeared forever; he has evaded all the traps I set to discover his true name and residence.Here, read his last letter.But perhaps you already know it."Godefroid read as follows:--

Monsieur le Baron Bourlac,--The sums which we have spent for you, under the orders of a charitable lady, amount to fifteen thousand francs.Take note of this, so that you may return that sum either yourself, or through your descendants, whenever the prosperity of your family will admit of it,--for that money is the money of the poor.When you or your family are able to make this restitution, pay the sum you owe into the hands of Messrs.Mongenod and Company, bankers.

May God forgive you.

Five crosses formed the mysterious signature of this letter, which Godefroid returned to the baron.

"The five crosses are there," he said as if to himself.