"My second 'but,' " continued Hortebise, "is the idea of the mysterious protector of whom the young man spoke. His mother, he says, has reason to know that his father is dead, and I believe in the truth of the statement. In this case, what has become of the person who paid Madame Violaine her allowance?""You are right, quite right; these are the crevices in our armor; but I keep my eyes open, and nothing escapes me."The doctor was growing rather weary, but he still went on courageously. "My third 'but' " said he, "is perhaps the strongest. We must see the young fellow at once. It may be to-morrow, without even having prepared him or taught him his part. Suppose we found that he was honest! Imagine--if he returned a firm negative to all your dazzling offers!"Mascarin rose to his feet in his turn. "I do not think that there is any chance of that," said he.
"Why not, pray?"
"Because when Tantaine brought him to me, he had studied him carefully. He is as weak as a woman, and as vain as a journalist.
Besides, he is ashamed at being poor. No; I can mould him like wax into any shape I like. He will be just what we wish.""Are you sure," asked Hortebise, "that Flavia will have nothing to say in this matter?""I had rather, with your permission, say nothing on that head,"returned Mascarin. He broke off his speech and listened eagerly.
"There is some one listening," said he. "Hark!"The sound was repeated, and the doctor was about to seek refuge in the inner room, when Mascarin laid a detaining hand upon his arm.
"Stay," observed he, "it is only Beaumarchef;" and as he spoke, he struck a gilded bell that stood on his desk. In another instant Beaumarchef appeared, and with an air in which familiarity was mingled with respect, he saluted in military fashion.
"Ah," said the doctor pleasantly, "do you take your nips of brandy regularly?""Only occasionally, sir," stammered the man.
"Too often, too often, my good fellow. Do you think that your nose and eyelids are not real telltales?""But I assure you, sir--"
"Do you not remember I told you that you had asthmatic symptoms? Why, the movement of your pectoral muscles shows that your lungs are affected.""But I have been running, sir."
Mascarin broke in upon this conversation, which he considered frivolous. "If he is out of breath," remarked he, "it is because he has been endeavoring to repair a great act of carelessness that he has committed. Well, Beaumarchef, how did you get on?""All right, sir," returned he, with a look of triumph. "Good!""What are you talking about?" asked the doctor.
Mascarin gave his friend a meaning glance, and then, in a careless manner, replied, "Caroline Schimmel, a former servant of the Champdoce family, also patronizes our office. How did you find her, Beaumarchef?""Well, an idea occurred to me."
"Pooh! do you have ideas at your time of life?"Beaumarchef put on an air of importance. "My idea was this," he went on: "as I left the office with Toto Chupin, I said to myself, the woman would certainly drop in at some pub before she reached the boulevard.""A sound argument," remarked the doctor.
"Therefore Toto and I took a squint into every one we passed, and before we got to the Rue Carreau we saw her in one, sure enough.""And Toto is after her now?"
"Yes, sir; he said he would follow her like her shadow, and will bring in a report every day.""I am very pleased with you, Beaumarchef," said Mascarin, rubbing his hands joyously.
