"Oh, it is simple enough, madame; it inspires me with the idea that M. Danglars has left suspiciously."
"Certainly; but is this all you have to say to me?"
"I do not understand you," said Debray with freezing coldness.
"He is gone!
Gone, never to return!"
"Oh, madame, do not think that!"
"I tell you he will never return. I know his character; he is inflexible in any resolutions formed for his own interests.
If he could have made any use of me, he would have taken me with him; he leaves me in Paris, as our separation will conduce to his benefit;--therefore he has gone, and I am free forever," added Madame Danglars, in the same supplicating tone.
Debray, instead of answering, allowed her to remain in an attitude of nervous inquiry.
"Well?" she said at length, "do you not answer me?"
"I have but one question to ask you,--what do you intend to do?"
"I was going to ask you," replied the baroness with a beating heart.
"Ah, then, you wish to ask advice of me?"
"Yes; I do wish to ask your advice," said Madame Danglars with anxious expectation.
"Then if you wish to take my advice," said the young man coldly, "I would recommend you to travel."
"To travel!" she murmured.
"Certainly; as M. Danglars says, you are rich, and perfectly free.
In my opinion, a withdrawal from Paris is absolutely necessary after the double catastrophe of Mademoiselle Danglars' broken contract and M. Danglars' disappearance.
The world will think you abandoned and poor, for the wife of a bankrupt would never be forgiven, were she to keep up an appearance of opulence.
You have only to remain in Paris for about a fortnight, telling the world you are abandoned, and relating the details of this desertion to your best friends, who will soon spread the report.
Then you can quit your house, leaving your jewels and giving up your jointure, and every one's mouth will be filled with praises of your disinterestedness.
They will know you are deserted, and think you also poor, for I alone know your real financial position, and am quite ready to give up my accounts as an honest partner."
The dread with which the pale and motionless baroness listened to this, was equalled by the calm indifference with which Debray had spoken.
"Deserted?" she repeated; "ah, yes, I am, indeed, deserted!
You are right, sir, and no one can doubt my position."
These were the only words that this proud and violently enamoured woman could utter in response to Debray.
"But then you are rich,--very rich, indeed," continued Debray, taking out some papers from his pocket-book, which he spread upon the table.
Madame Danglars did not see them; she was engaged in stilling the beatings of her heart, and restraining the tears which were ready to gush forth.
At length a sense of dignity prevailed, and if she did not entirely master her agitation, she at least succeeded in preventing the fall of a single tear.
"Madame," said Debray, "it is nearly six months since we have been associated.
You furnished a principal of 100,000 francs.
Our partnership began in the month of April.
In May we commenced operations, and in the course of the month gained 450,000 francs.
In June the profit amounted to 900,000.
In July we added 1,700,000 francs,--it was, you know, the month of the Spanish bonds.
In August we lost 300,000 francs at the beginning of the month, but on the 13th we made up for it, and we now find that our accounts, reckoning from the first day of partnership up to yesterday, when I closed them, showed a capital of 2,400,000 francs, that is, 1,200,000 for each of us.
Now, madame," said Debray, delivering up his accounts in the methodical manner of a stockbroker, "there are still 80,000 francs, the interest of this money, in my hands."
"But," said the baroness, "I thought you never put the money out to interest."
"Excuse me, madame," said Debray coldly, "I had your permission to do so, and I have made use of it.
There are, then, 40,000 francs for your share, besides the 100,000 you furnished me to begin with, making in all 1,340,000 francs for your portion.
Now, madame, I took the precaution of drawing out your money the day before yesterday; it is not long ago, you see, and I was in continual expectation of being called on to deliver up my accounts.
There is your money,--half in bank-notes, the other half in checks payable to bearer.
I say there, for as I did not consider my house safe enough, or lawyers sufficiently discreet, and as landed property carries evidence with it, and moreover since you have no right to possess anything independent of your husband, I have kept this sum, now your whole fortune, in a chest concealed under that closet, and for greater security I myself concealed it there.
"Now, madame," continued Debray, first opening the closet, then the chest;--"now, madame, here are 800 notes of 1,000. francs each, resembling, as you see, a large book bound in iron; to this I add a certificate in the funds of 25,000. francs; then, for the odd cash, making I think about 110,000. francs, here is a check upon my banker, who, not being M. Danglars, will pay you the amount, you may rest assured."
Madame Danglars mechanically took the check, the bond, and the heap of bank-notes.
This enormous fortune made no great appearance on the table.
Madame Danglars, with tearless eyes, but with her breast heaving with concealed emotion, placed the bank-notes in her bag, put the certificate and check into her pocket-book, and then, standing pale and mute, awaited one kind word of consolation.
But she waited in vain.
"Now, madame," said Debray, "you have a splendid fortune, an income of about 60,000 livres a year, which is enormous for a woman who cannot keep an establishment here for a year, at least.
You will be able to indulge all your fancies; besides, should you find your income insufficient, you can, for the sake of the past, madame, make use of mine; and I am ready to offer you all I possess, on loan."