The Mystery of the Lost Dauphin Part 5

"This insignificant sum is not intended as payment for your labor but only as a reimburs.e.m.e.nt for expenses incidental to the mechanical part of your task. In two weeks I shall expect the ma.n.u.script, may I not?"

An authoritative gesture dismissed the Professor, who retired in an absorbed mental condition, for already he had begun framing his initiatory address on entering the Academy. Lecazes glanced, at the clock. The hands indicated twenty-five minutes of three.

"Volpetti has doubtless arrived," he said to himself and then rising, he took up the package of papers which had recently been collected and pressed a finger upon a hidden spring back of his chair, whereupon one of the panels swung open, revealing a dark, narrow pa.s.sageway, at the farther end of which there was an iron shutter. Entering, he touched this lightly with his knuckles and no sooner had it rolled upward than a man's voice hoa.r.s.ely whispered from the opened room:

"I am here, Excellency."

The chamber which the baron entered was furnished in mahogany, the walls painted to match, and the floor was covered with a cheap carpet. It lacked windows and was ventilated only by the stovepipe. A lantern was suspended from the ceiling and he quickly turned it upon the individual who had announced himself.

"Lower the shutter," ordered the baron, and the man obeyed, closing the chamber's only exit.

"Now bring cup and salver."

The man took from the cupboard a deep bronze cup with handles representing two sirens of protruding bosom. Unstopping a bottle, he emptied its contents into the cup and then, striking a flint, ignited a taper which he applied to the liquid. He then placed the cup on the stove. A blue flame arose, and in it the baron lighted, one by one, the doc.u.ments he had just been handling at his desk. He watched the burning sheets as they turned to black crumpled shapes and then to shapeless ashes upon the metal salver. The odor from the burning seals was wafted to his face and a slight shiver came over him. He was enjoying his power of obliterating history, cunningly causing past happenings to seem as though they had not been. Feeling relieved at the destruction of the papers, he said amiably to Volpetti:

"When you are again here, 'twill be because _that_ has been accomplished."

Chapter VI

THE BAILIFF

The man to whom those significant words A were addressed, and whom the baron called Volpetti, appeared to have just arrived after a long journey. Much dust whitened his clothes, his shoes and his abundant dark hair, which last was in a disorderly condition. He seemed somewhat over thirty, of a southern type, having tanned skin and a heavy beard which extended almost to his eyes. His answer was formal:

"_That_ shall be accomplished tonight."

"Are you certain?"

"Infallibly so. The fool is in clever hands. I am just from London, bringing two boxes of steel implements, scissors and knives, which have served to corroborate my commercial character. Beyond the Channel I was Albert Serra, a Catalan, making purchases in London to smuggle through Gibraltar. Not the devil himself could have spotted me."

"Come to the point," commanded the superintendent. "You are skillful in disguises. I myself hardly recognize you in that beard and mop of hair."

"I have taken these precautions, Excellency, because the Carbonari and the police are on my scent. They are making shrewd guesses and 'twould be very awkward for me to enter London in handcuffs, on the charge of being party to an a.s.sault upon that puzzling personage. One must be on the qui vive. I picked out two hardy fellows and gave them only such information as was required for the performance of their parts. Besides, the plan was as simple as sucking eggs. The personage lives in an obscure quarter and opposite his house is a park which is always deserted after nightfall. A Methodist church stands on one side of this park and a college on another. In the centre is a group of big trees which cast a deep shade; indeed, everything was arranged to suit us. The personage takes an evening stroll after his day's work, for he has been warned that failure to take the air will be bad for his eyes which he uses hard all day, looking at the fine mechanism of the watches and machines which he repairs. How have I found all this out? Therein lies my genius, Excellency. I can answer every question concerning that house. The personage, after wandering through certain streets, and visiting his friends, the Prussian mechanic, Hartzenbaume, returns home regularly at a given hour. He is very punctual in his habits and whoever pa.s.ses through the square at that time is almost sure to meet him."

The superintendent shook his head. The faint creases upon his brow deepened.

"And if they are captured?"

"If they are captured? but they will _not_ be captured. They know just what to do. If they are arrested, 'twill be for a.s.sault with intent to rob, something that occurs every day. And even though Albert Serra is named as accomplice, what of that? The English police will look for a Catalan smuggler--not for me. The fellows know only half the story and you may be certain that the net is well laid. Has your Excellency further orders for me?"

"Await me here and arrange a new make-up. I shall return."

The bailiff bowed and, at a signal, raised the iron shutter through which the autocrat pa.s.sed back to his private office. On reaching it, he felt in his pocket for the letter which he had placed there not long since, and said to the usher:

"Has not her Grace, the d.u.c.h.ess de Rousillon, arrived?"

"She has been waiting some time for your Excellency."

"Ask her to be good enough to enter."

The baron gallantly advanced to place a chair for the lady. She approached boldly, trying to smile, but her pale face and the reddened semi-circles beneath her blue eyes revealed acute suffering. The d.u.c.h.ess must have been beautiful in her prime and her style of dressing showed that she had not given up her claim to attractiveness. Her skirt was of taffeta silk ornamented with narrow lace ruffles. She wore an exquisite dulleta of rare green velvet, bordered with white embroidery mingled with gold and chenille, a large silk English bonnet of such shape as to permit the escape on each side of cl.u.s.ters of curls still golden. A parasol like that which had been last graced by the hand of the d.u.c.h.ess de Barri, of white satin embroidered in violets, completed her outfit.

From her left wrist hung a reticule of pearls over satin with a jeweled clasp. She made a court bow to Lecazes and seated herself in the proffered chair with somewhat more than her usual aristocratic manner.

"In what can I serve your Grace?"

"If you but knew what has happened," she began in an agonized voice. To his querulous look, she resumed: "You had appointed today for the conference which we were to hold regarding the Montereux mines, which form part of the ducal estate of Rousillon. The possession of this property is disputed by the munic.i.p.ality of Montereux on the pretext of prior occupation, and I desire to place my claim in your hands for enforcement, even though it be a matter that does not concern you officially. But if it were not for this engagement with you, I should have come today to earnestly solicit an audience."

The baron noted her agitation from the trembling of the rich jewels on her bosom.

"Compose yourself," he said almost affectionately, taking in his own one of her gloved hands "Your trouble may not be as serious as you imagine."

"You consider me capable of being afflicted over a trifle!" she exclaimed. "Listen; my son has escaped to England."

"To England!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Lecazes, starting in his seat.

"Ah! so you see my distraction is not over a small matter. Yes, to London and slyly, too, for he told me that he was going hunting on Picmort. But as I have eyes, I discovered that the clothes which he had taken were hardly appropriate to the chase and that the guns and bags which were left behind satirically grinned at each other. I then hurried to our bankers and indifferently inquired whether Rene had ordered money to be sent to him. On being told that a large credit had been placed for him in London, I concluded that my presentiments were well founded."

"When did the Marquis leave?"

"Four days ago. He should reach London tonight."

The baron was not in the habit of showing his feelings, and only a slight contraction of the mouth could be detected as the effect of his chagrin.

"You know well," proceeded the lady, "that the girl is there. When I revealed the truth to him and proved it by the doc.u.ments which you kindly procured for me--showing her father's criminal record--Rene seemed overwhelmed with sadness. After some grieving over his ruined hopes, he appeared to be cured of his absurd pa.s.sion. But now I realize that the chains are not broken."

The superintendent brusquely inquired:

"Why did you not notify me the moment that your son started on his trip?"

"I blundered," she mournfully admitted. "I did not realize that precautions are unavailing when one contends with intrigants of low breed. Why do you not have that monstrous impostor put in prison? He should be deprived of his mischief-making power. I trust to you, Baron, to dispel from his Majesty's mind any notion that I am implicated in this conspiracy. a.s.sure him of my loyalty, of my condemnation of Rene's perversity. How iniquitous so to exploit a resemblance, a freak of Nature! 'Tis truly an amazing likeness. On seeing the girl I was almost petrified. She has the air, the face, the eyes, the mouth and even the gait of the martyr-queen. Mountebanks of that stripe always attract followers. Adhemar, for one, believes in him to the death. I shall banish him from the mill for his treason! O Baron, rescue Rene! If my son were to become a partisan of this impostor, I could not endure his Majesty's displeasure. Were I treated coldly at court, I should die of mortification. Reverence for my liege is my chief sentiment. My beloved husband used often to say to me, 'Matilde, let your first care be to please the king!'"

"That is not the question at present," drily rejoined the superintendent. "Your fidelity is evident to me. But what a mistake you made in not keeping me better posted."

"Do you fear, as do I, a clandestine marriage--one of those entanglements--?"

"Like that of his Highness, Duke Ferdinand, with the sentimental Amy Brown?" interposed Lecazes.

"Mon Dieu, no!" protested the d.u.c.h.ess. "That was a vicious calumny."

"Well, your Grace, I shall try to nullify your mistakes. Compose yourself and depart. Pardon my abruptness. I require time to formulate plans and to prevent further trouble. Trust to me. The Marquis de Breze will not rush headlong into marriage with a culprit's daughter. Such acts are not perpetrated in real life, impromptu, as in Cimarosa's operas. We shall find preventives for such an awkward faux pas."

The lady rose, drawing across her eyes a perfumed lace handkerchief.

"You are my protector," she said, clasping the baron's hand. To herself she said, "Trickster! Newly manufactured n.o.ble! Renegade Bonapartist!"

As soon as the d.u.c.h.ess had departed, Lecazes clenched his fist and shook it vigorously in her direction. Then again placing a finger on the secret spring, he glided through the paneled door and pa.s.sageway into the room where he had burned the doc.u.ments. He called, in a low voice, to Volpetti.