"Well, then, in return for your story," continued Noirtier, "I will tell you another."
"My dear father, I think I already know what you are about to tell me."
"Ah, you have heard of the landing of the emperor?"
"Not so loud, father, I entreat of you—for your own sake as well as mine.
Yes, I heard this news, and knew it even before you could; for three days ago I posted from Marseilles to Paris with all possible speed, half-desperate at the enforced delay."
"Three days ago?
You are crazy.
Why, three days ago the emperor had not landed."
"No matter, I was aware of his intention."
"How did you know about it?"
"By a letter addressed to you from the Island of Elba."
"To me?"
"To you; and which I discovered in the pocket-book of the messenger.
Had that letter fallen into the hands of another, you, my dear father, would probably ere this have been shot."
Villefort's father laughed.
"Come, come," said he, "will the Restoration adopt imperial methods so promptly? Shot, my dear boy?
What an idea!
Where is the letter you speak of?
I know you too well to suppose you would allow such a thing to pass you."
"I burnt it, for fear that even a fragment should remain; for that letter must have led to your condemnation."
"And the destruction of your future prospects," replied Noirtier; "yes, I can easily comprehend that. But I have nothing to fear while I have you to protect me."
"I do better than that, sir—I save you."
"You do?
Why, really, the thing becomes more and more dramatic—explain yourself."
"I must refer again to the club in the Rue Saint-Jacques."
"It appears that this club is rather a bore to the police.
Why didn't they search more vigilantly? they would have found"—
"They have not found; but they are on the track."
"Yes, that the usual phrase; I am quite familiar with it. When the police is at fault, it declares that it is on the track; and the government patiently awaits the day when it comes to say, with a sneaking air, that the track is lost."
"Yes, but they have found a corpse; the general has been killed, and in all countries they call that a murder."
"A murder do you call it? why, there is nothing to prove that the general was murdered.
People are found every day in the Seine, having thrown themselves in, or having been drowned from not knowing how to swim."
"Father, you know very well that the general was not a man to drown himself in despair, and people do not bathe in the Seine in the month of January.
No, no, do not be deceived; this was murder in every sense of the word."
"And who thus designated it?"
"The king himself."
"The king!
I thought he was philosopher enough to allow that there was no murder in politics.
In politics, my dear fellow, you know, as well as I do, there are no men, but ideas—no feelings, but interests; in politics we do not kill a man, we only remove an obstacle, that is all.
Would you like to know how matters have progressed?
Well, I will tell you.
It was thought reliance might be placed in General Quesnel; he was recommended to us from the Island of Elba; one of us went to him, and invited him to the Rue Saint-Jacques, where he would find some friends. He came there, and the plan was unfolded to him for leaving Elba, the projected landing, etc. When he had heard and comprehended all to the fullest extent, he replied that he was a royalist. Then all looked at each other,—he was made to take an oath, and did so, but with such an ill grace that it was really tempting Providence to swear him, and yet, in spite of that, the general was allowed to depart free—perfectly free.
Yet he did not return home.
What could that mean? why, my dear fellow, that on leaving us he lost his way, that's all.
A murder? really, Villefort, you surprise me. You, a deputy procureur, to found an accusation on such bad premises!
Did I ever say to you, when you were fulfilling your character as a royalist, and cut off the head of one of my party,
'My son, you have committed a murder?'
No, I said,
'Very well, sir, you have gained the victory; to-morrow, perchance, it will be our turn.'"
"But, father, take care; when our turn comes, our revenge will be sweeping."