The Thirteen

were two keen pangs. Desplein found Madame Jules very ill. Never was a violent emotion more untimely. He would say nothing definite, and postponed till t

otion, enabled Clemence to distinguish the scratching of a pen and the involuntary movements of a person engaged in writing. Those who are habitually up at night, and who observe the different acoustic effects produced in absolute silence, know that a slight echo can be readily perceived in the very places where louder but more equable and continued murmurs are not distinct. At four o'clock the sound ceased. Cle

open grave and kissed her hus

t him with eyes that blazed with fever and with love. "Your innocent wife asks only two. Leav

e, I gra

der the spell of that cry of innocence, took her in his arms and kissed her forehead, t

hrough a chink in the upper blind of a window fell across the face of the dejected woman. Already suffering had impaired her forehead and the freshness of her lips. A lover's eye could not fail to notice the appearan

Jules. "Poor Clemence

, saw her husband, and remembered all. Unable to sp

," she said, e

out to-day, will

too weak to

your mind, wait till

down to the p

rself to-day. I wish to know exactly who

oach, and was driven to the hotel de M

s ill," the

to see the vidame or the dowager. He waited some time in the salon, where Madame de Maul

ness from the letter you did me the ho

dowager, interrupting him. "I have written you no le

aulincour to-day, I thought it best to preserve the lett

es, and the moment she cast her eyes on

ll, it is true; but his reason has never for a moment been affected. We are the puppets of some evil-minded person or persons; and yet I cannot

affirmative answer. Jules went to the baron's room, where he found him in an arm-chair near the fire. Too feeble to

ave something to say which makes it d

r le vidame knows about this affair;

us should demand, or grant, reparation to the other, you are bound to help me in following the dark and mysterious path into which you have flung me. I have now come to ascertain from you th

him the for

ul maze I put my foot into when I meddled in this matter! Where am I going? I did wrong, monsieur," he continued, looking at Jules; "

must know it if it costs me all my fortune to penetrate this mys

ell you all," r

me fidgeted on his chai

!" cried the vidame, in a h

s must know where he is; send a man on horseback to fetch

was visibly

d the old man; "he is dead. I wanted

eur de Maulincour,-

dare say, was drunk; his friends-no doubt they were drunk, too-

e killed," said Auguste. "He has had less luck with

gloomy and

en justly punished. Did he not exceed your orders in calumniating Madame Desmarets to a

r I informed him about Ma

d the husband, k

my own conscience has not already told me. I am now expecting the most celebrated of all professors of toxicology, in

fied by the coolness with which the baron said t

d that there exist no means of discovering in wh

an belonging to both those countries. As for the convict, he is dead and buried. Your persecutor, whoever he is, seems to me so powerful that it would be well to take no decisive measures until

lices, no matter for what purpose. But he could not think of his personal dignity until the moment when he found himself thus suddenly degraded. What a triumph for the slave who could not raise himself to his master, to compel his master to come down to his level! Jules was harsh and hard to him. Another fault. But he suffered so deeply! His life till then so upright, so pure, was becoming crafty; he was to scheme and lie. Clemence was scheming and lying. This to him was a moment of horrible disgust. Lost in a flood of bitter feelings, Jules stood motionless at the door of

an answer? Will he not employ some other means more in keeping with his power? He may send his answer by some beggar; or in a carton brought by an honest man, who

Then, after floating for a time among a thousand contradictory ideas, he felt he was stronge

o see me. If any one calls to see madame, or brings her anything, ring twice.

estall the schemes of this Ferragus. If he sends some one to ask for me so as

iage to the Bourse with a letter to another broker, explaining his sales and purchases and requesting him to do his business for that day. He postponed his more delicate transactions t

full blast of reports, monthly settlements, premiums, etc.

sly one. She asked for monsieur, and seemed much annoyed when I told

pped into a chair, exhausted. The letter was mere nonsense

er than the sea below the plummet line! Ah! it must be love; love

himself a true friend. The extreme delicacy with which he had managed the susceptibilities of a man both poor and modest; the respect with which he had surrounded him; the ingenious clevernes

to that of the other subalterns. He lived obscurely, glad to feel that such obscurity sheltered him from reverses and disappointments, and was satisfied to humbly pay in the lowest coin his debt to the country. Thanks to Jules, his position had been much ameliorated by a worthy marriage. An unrecognized patriot, a minister in actual fact, he contented himself with groaning in his chimney-corner at the course of the government. In his own home, Jacquet was an easy-going king,-an umbrella-man,

methodically his green silk eye-shade, rubbed his hands, picked up his snuff-box, rose

Monsieur Desmarets? Wha

decipher a secret,-a s

t concern

ion," said Jules. "No, it is a family matter, ab

ion. Don't you know me by this time?" h

wed him t

this letter, add

xamining the letter as a usurer examines a note to be n

for a moment, but

n plan, used by the Portuguese minister under Monsieur de Cho

paper laces which confectioners wrap round their sugarplums; and Jules then read wit

dear Clemence; our ha

usband will soon lay

be, you must have th

ngth in your love fo

to a cruel operation,

ctual cautery applied

in a long time; you

ou, and I di

(who will not persec

ng roof of the embassy

e des Enfants-Rouges,

Gruget, mother of th

ome to-morrow, at nin

ached only by an inte

dieu; I kiss your f

, the sign of a true compassion, as he made his favo

uce! th

wife, and makes itself heard above the pangs of jealousy. I must endure the worst of all agony until to-morrow; but to

u, if you like, in the street. You may run some danger, and you ought to have near you some

p me in kill

epeating, as it were, the same musical

's hand and went away; b

he said. "But that's no

seal; however, it is still possible to restore it. Leave

hat t

-past

t to the porter and tell hi

ant me to

Adi

it. There, the mystery on which depended the fate of so many persons would be cleared up; there, at this moment, was Ferragus, and to Ferragus all the threads of this strange plot led. The

cy of the various proprietors who successively enlarge them; or else they are houses begun, left unfinished, again built upon, and completed,-unfortunate structures which have passed, like certain peoples, under many dynasties of capricious masters. Neither the floors nor the windows

?" asked Jules

cken coop, or wooden house on rollers, not unlike those sentry-boxes

, without laying down the

Parisian monster, is always in conformity with the neighborhood of which he is a part; in fact, he is often an epitome of it. The lazy porter of the faubourg Saint-Germain, with lace on every seam of his coat, dabbles in stocks; he of the Chaussee d'Antin ta

g her knitting in one hand, took a knife and stirred the

enne; do you mean Ma

ules, assumin

kes tri

es

him to the end of a long passage-way, vaulted like a cellar, "go up the second staircase at the end of

ame. Do you thi

she be alone?

ame and went. On the second floor he saw three doors but no signs of pinks. Fortunately, on one of the doors, the o

e place," t

e dog. By the way the sounds echoed from the interior he knew that the rooms were encumbered with articles which left no space f

fe. A ray of light falling from heaven as if by special favor on those puny flowers and the vigorous wheat-ear brought out in full relief the dust, the grease, and that nameless color, peculiar to Parisian squalor, made of dirt, which crusted and spotted the damp walls, the worm-eaten baluste

no? But perhaps you're his brother. Wha

of food or water for the dog and the cats, a wooden clock, bed-quilts, engravings of Eisen, heaps of old iron, all these things mingled and massed t

no attention to the widow's invitation when

monsieur, and

hither they were accompanied by the wheezy pug, a personage otherwise mute, who jumped upon a stool. Madame Gruget showed the assumption of semi-pauperism when she invited her visitor to warm himself. Her fire-pot contained, or rather concealed two bits of sticks, which lay apart: the grating was on the ground, its handle in the ashes.

dar, a bit of livery gold lace just begun, a greasy pack of cards, and two volumes of novels, all stuck into the hollow of the back. This article of furniture, in which the old creature was floating down the river of life, was not unlike the encyclopedic

ty cap, her still more rusty ruffles, her cotton petticoat full of holes, her worn-out slippers, her disabled fire-pot, her table heaped with dishes and silks and work begun or finis

ice. "I know," he continued, "that you have a lodger who has taken the name of Camuset." The old woman looked at him suddenly, but

afraid. There's no one here. But if I had any one

ll your affairs. Do not be uneasy; I am not a detective policeman, nor do I desire anything that can hurt your conscience. A young lady will come here to-morrow-morning at half-past nine o'clock, to talk with this lover of your daughter. I want to be where I can see all and hear all, without being seen or heard by them. If you will furnish me with the means o

nsieur?" she asked, casting a cat-like

hter does not treat you well. A girl who is loved by so rich a man

e. But, I will say, she might give me her old silk gowns,-I, who am so fond of wearing silk. But no! Monsieur, she dines at the Cadran-Bleu at fifty francs a head, and rolls in her carriage as if she were a princess, and despises her mother for a Colin-Lampon. Heavens and earth! what heedless young ones we've brought into the world; we have nothing to boast of there. A mother, monsieur, can't be anything else but a g

hat she does n

t my age,-and I'm fifty-two years old, with eyes that feel the strain at night,-ought I to be working in this way? Besides, why won't she have me to live with her? I sh

lottery ticket that dropped on the floor; but she hastily p

y of which the mother complained; and he was the more certai

," he said, "accept

ancs in ready money, and six

annuity. This way seems more to my own interests. But I will give you

e, yes,

and you can go to the Ambigu and F

ery advantageous for my child. I sha'n't be a drag on her any longer. Poor little thing! I'm glad she has her ple

ied Jules. "But now, h

for, just to get rid of a tic douleureux which troubles him once in two years. However, to come back to our business. I have my neighbor's key; her lodging is just above mine, and in it there's a room adjoining the one where Monsieur Ferragus is, with only a partition between them. My neighbor is

nsieur Desmaret's office; he's a notary, and here's his ad

s you say-silence! A

should know the truth on the morrow. As he entered the

d to his wife, in spite of th

swered in a coaxing voice, "

er the letter. "Here is someth

when she saw the letter, and that sudden

d, laughing, "or the

gs!" she said, ex

now for a f

ut the payment to the widow Gruget. When he returned, he found his dinner serv

oble heart, you were very kind and gracious to me just now. You did me more good by showing me such confidence than all the doctors on earth could do me with their prescriptions. That feminine d

man whom he was still tempted to think innocent. A sort of melancholy joy possessed him. A tender hope shone on her features in spite of their grieved ex

evening,

ot be humiliated; you are all forgiven now; you have done no wrong. Listen, Jules; yesterday you did crush me-harshly; but p

me," cried Jules; "you

an we, and I am not the accomplice

hour?" as

lf-pas

very precaution; consult Doc

othing but my hear

e; you will not see me

mpany this evening? I

d to his wife,-recalled by her invincible attra

ried to the rue des Enfants-Rouges, went upstairs,

hen she saw him. "I've made you a cup of coffee with cream," she added, when the door was

madame, nothing.

nsieur. Follow

made during the night, in a place, which, in each room, was above a wardrobe. In order to look through it, Jules was forced to

with him," she whis

unds on the shoulders of Ferragus, whose head he recognized

those wounds will h

"The doctors say those wounds will r

aid Ferragus, holding out his hand to th

ssing his hand cordially. "I wish I

se fatal marks which have cost us so dear no longer exist. I shall become once more a social being, a man among men, and more o

all, our beloved brother, the Benjami

p an eye on

st easy on

rquis," cried

t is

f into the river, I would not fish her out. She knows the secret of my name, and she'll

y we

ith a feverish shudder, the rustle of a silk gown, and

"my poor father, are you better

replied Ferragus, holdi

forehead to him

matter, my little girl? Wh

you must find a way to see my poor Jules to-day. If you knew how good he has been to me, in spite of all suspicions apparently so le

Ferragus. "I'd burn Paris down if I lost you, my daughter. Ha! you ma

Don't weigh such different feelings in the same scales.

rragus. "But don't feel frightened, Clemence, speak to me frankly. I love you enough to rejoice in the knowledge

re, though I seem to rob something from my Jules. But, my kind fa

e public promenades, or see you asleep in your little bed in your mother's home, during the night-time. Could such a father, to whom your innocent caresses give strength to live when a man of honor ought to have died to escape his infamy, could I, in short, I who breathe through your lips, and see with your eyes, and feel with your heart, could I fail to defend with the claws of a lion and the soul of a father, my only blessing, my life, my

ther! f

my place once more in social life. A few days hence, I shall be Monsieur de Funcal, a Portuguese count. Ah! my dear child, there are few men of my

y dear

My child, you must have a little patience where your father has had so much. But ah! what would I not do to reward y

ence, taking his han

the end is reached. Jules is not an ordinary man, I know; but are we sure that his

that. The very thought turns me to ice," she added, in a heart-rending to

he Portuguese embassy and see the Comte

him of Ferragus. Oh, father, what t

ll be able to expose me. Besides, Monsieur de Maulincour is beyond the f

y rang from the room in which

and Ferragus through the opening of t

t means, Clemence,

tment wide open, heard the cries which echoed from the upper floor, went up the stairs,

our horrid inventions,-you

his handkerchief on the mouth of the old woman

ntered, saw her husband, u

" cried the widow Gruget

ally, for he was horror-stru

giving him a letter. "Can money o

equeeth you what I ha

e last greef to which

ry, who I love more th

nd as he has drifen me

ng him, I am going to

hat they can't put me

more after I am ded, a

for him only, and t

t didn't consern me.

pore fellow! I shall

to burn his bak. Car

And pray God fo

d

o is upstairs," said Jules. "He alone can s

fe, and left it again with untold violence. Conflicting thoughts struggled in his mind, and yet one thought predominated,-he had not been loyal to the being he loved most. It was impossible

kes the proportions of a crime in certain unsullied souls. The slightest stain on the white garment of a virgin makes it a thing ignoble as the rags of a mendicant. Between the two the difference lies in the misfortune of the one, the wrong-doing of the other. God never measures repentance; he never appo

ng in spite of himself the joy his wife's innocence had given him. He entered her room all throbbing w

, when they were alon

what?" sh

ned motionless, keeping the secret of her sufferings that she might not frighten her husba

ing her asleep, went to question Jose

ad, monsieur. We sent at

me? What d

gave orders that no one should go near madame except

ch and bitterness,-a look which fell like a flame of fire upon the heart of that husband, nobly absolved and forever loved by the being whom he had killed. The presentiment of death struck both their minds with equal force. Their looks were blended in one anguish, as their hearts ha

Jules kissed her softly on the forehead; then after

may blot out my wrong by love and adoration. As a daughte

her eyes; they w

she said, in

sband to withdraw during his visit. When the doctor left the

hysician in whom you place

n bear it. Besides, I have the deepest interest

imprudence. To walk about barefooted at night! to go out when I forbade it! on foot yesterday in the rain, to-day in a carriage! She must have meant to kill herself. But still, my judgment is not final; she has you

e days of uncertainty, false hopes, now a little better, then a crisis,-in short, all the horrible mutations of death as it wavers, hesitates, and finally strikes. Madame Jules always found strength to smile at her husband. She pitied him, knowing that soon he would be alone. It was a double death,-that of life, that of love; but life grew feebler, and love

"that he may not know I

ent in the adjoining room, and did not hear the

med to come to her; she adorned herself, as the dying often do. Then she asked to be alone all day, and sent away her

without great difficulty that he succeeded in reaching the presence of the author of these misfortunes; but the vidame, when he learn

oked about him in sea

idame, motioning to a man who was si

said the dying man

ted, withered skin,-a corpse with white eyes motionless, mouth hideously gaping, like those of idiots or vicious men killed by excesses. No trace of intelligence remained upon that brow, nor in any feature; nor was there in that flabby flesh either color or the faintest appearance of circulating blood. Here was a shru

taken place,"

many," answered J

an. "His grandmother is dying; and I

d to give him, in a kiss, her last breath. He took it, and she died. Jules fell half-dead himself and was taken to his brother's house. There, as he deplored in tears his absence of the day before, his brother told him that th

nce was like a saint. She gathered strength to bid us all good-bye, and that voice, heard for the last time, rent our he

enough!"

the last words of the woman whom all had l

my last will. Why sho

our hearts, as for ou

rty, my all? I mean

fortune of your Clemen

dying. Jules, you lov

ay explain my death

ause. I shall tell it

annot carry with me,

not share, although

ced s

and brought up in the

he falsehoods of the

Society did justice

at pleases society; b

d cherish the mother

s, and I knew why I c

Yes, I loved her, I f

essed my heart, neith

r; she was all in al

a care, my soul, so

me, reflected only he

ugh her. I was scrupu

ocent before God. My

ecting sentiments i

Jules, that I now kno

I came to you v

olute solitude, when,

owned it with almond b

tin knots to my white

and which I was curi

oquetry was done for

first of all. Your fa

st; your person pleas

e with pleasant presen

me, the color on you

oment gave me memorie

s I now, for the last

the keenest of sympa

us and then, as spee

ve both equally felt

at moment my mother

urs, all yours. There

dear h

ains for me to tell y

's death, she reveale

t burning tears. I h

ed from the priest as

ns condemned by the w

ot be severe when the

my mother; only, that

nt. She loved much, J

daily for her, bu

the cause of her dee

hat there was in Pari

n me; that your fort

learned also that he

name; but that he was

elf. My mother was al

to take her place. W

had never been perve

the bitterness of my

to continue her work

. The first time tha

my mother had just ex

as to see in me a revi

tell a lie, but to k

woman could h

Jules,-a fault which

is so natural to a wom

that she may lose. I

med to me the death of

e I feared. I dared n

ve wounded him, and in

ut a word from me, he

d for my happiness as

not speak, obeying

les, I believed that

urignard as you loved

have kept back anyth

ery fold o

ous, unfortunate young

That day, for the sec

hat pain has steadily

with you for the last

? You know all. I co

my illness and borne

ice of doubt. Is it

the purity of your

ar nothing has been

cause of my death. I

you may never say,

elp it, I fear them.

nsola

e last three years, t

h moved the world to

on in life, they hav

e, so that a living

is for you, for us.

my death will save

or he will n

eart is all here. To s

t that bequeathing m

strength to speak to

confessed to God the s

ind with the King of

, for me, the whole o

his last sigh between

e? Farewell, my Jules

e without a cloud, to

s throne, united for

ges. This hope alone c

at once, I will foll

p you about, for you must stay here still

come to me. You can

gel's mission for the

to give to others tha

nhappy. Their smiles,

cannot be jealous. We

an we not live toget

ur Clemence-in

ave loved, there is n

never betrays. Adore h

up to him; comfort t

dear soul that I hav

again. I may die hap

y. Yes, my grave wil

e just related, has

d, you will never driv

ou will know me only

grets without disillu

y de

y understood me, may I

uest, perhaps, the f

a jealousy we all mus

ally belonged to us,

hat is a memory

-the last farewell! I

ing thought, my

ws are individual; their effects are not subjected to any fixed rule. Certain men will stop their ears to hear nothing; some women close their eyes hop