登陆注册
5216200000075

第75章

RINGING THE CHANGES.

Andre, who was gifted with plenty of intelligence, at once judged of the kind of business done by the Mutual Loan Society by the dinginess of the brass plate on the door and the generally dilapidated aspect of the house.

"I don't like the look of it at all," said he.

"It does not go in for show," answered Gaston, affecting an air of wisdom, "but it is deemed handy sometimes.It does all sorts of business that you would never think of.A real downy card is Verminet."Andre could easily believe this, for, of course, there could be but one opinion concerning the character of a man who could have induced a mere simpleton like Gaston to affix a forged signature to the bills which he had discounted.He made no remark, however, but entered the house, with the interior arrangements of which Gaston appeared to be perfectly familiar.They passed through a dirty, ill-smelling passage, went across a courtyard, cold and damp as a cell, and ascended a flight of stairs with a grimy balustrade.On the second floor Gaston made a halt before a door upon which several names were painted.They passed through into a large and lofty room.The paper on the walls of this delectable chamber was torn and spotted, and a light railing ran along it, behind which sat two or three clerks, whose chief occupation appeared to be consuming the breakfast which they had brought with them to the office.The heat of the stove, which was burning in one corner of the room, the general mouldiness of the atmosphere, and the smell of the coarse food, were sufficient to turn the stomach of any one coming in from the fresh air.

"Where is M.Verminet?" asked Gaston authoritatively.

"Engaged," replied one of the clerks, without pausing to empty his mouth before he replied.

"Don't you talk to me like that.What do I care whether he is engaged or not? Tell him that Gaston de Gandelu desires to see him at once."The clerk was evidently impressed by his visitor's manner, and, taking the card which was handed to him, made his exit through a door at the other end of the room.

Gaston was delighted at this first victory, and glanced at Andre with a triumphant smile.

The clerk came back almost at once."M.Verminet," cried he, "has a client with him just now.He begs that you will excuse him for a few minutes, when he will see you"; and evidently anxious to be civil to the gorgeously attired youths before him, he added, "My master is just now engaged with M.de Croisenois.""Aha," cried Gaston; "I will lay you ten to one that the dear Marquis will be delighted to see me."Andre started on hearing this name, and his cheek crimsoned.The man whom he most hated in this world; the wretch who, by his possession of some compromising secret, was forcing Sabine into a detested marriage;the villain whom he, M.de Breulh, and Madame de Bois Arden had sworn to overreach, was within a few paces of him, and that now he should see him face to face.Their eyes would meet, and he would hear the tones of the scoundrel's voice.His rage and agitation were so intense that it was with the utmost difficulty that he concealed it.Luckily for him, Gaston was not paying the slightest attention to his companion; for having, at the clerk's invitation, taken a chair, he assumed an imposing attitude, which struck the shabby young man behind the railing with the deepest admiration.

"I suppose," said he, in a loud voice, "that you know my dear friend, the Marquis?"Andre made some reply, which Gaston interpreted as a negative.

"Really," said he, "you know /no/ one, as I told you before.Where have you lived? But you must have heard of him? Henri de Croisenois is one of my most intimate friends.He owes me over fifty louis that Iwon of him one night at baccarat."

Andre was now certain that he had estimated Verminet's character correctly, and the relations of the Marquis de Croisenois with this very equivocal personage assumed a meaning of great significance to him.He felt now that he had gained a clue, a beacon blazed out before him, and he saw his way more clearly into the difficult windings of this labyrinth of iniquity which he knew that he must penetrate before he gained the secret he longed for.

He felt like a child playing the game called "Magic Music," when, as the seeker nears the hiding place of the article of which he is in search, the strains of the piano swell higher and higher.He now found that the boy whose master he had become, knew, or said he knew, a good deal of this marquis.Why should he not gain some information from him?

"Are you really intimate with the Marquis de Croisenois?" asked he.

"I should rather think I was," returned Gandelu the younger."You will see that precious sharp.I know all about him, and who the girl is that he is ruining himself for, but I mustn't talk about that; mum's the word, you know."At that moment the door opened, and the Marquis appeared, followed by Verminet.

Henri de Croisenois was attired in the most fashionable manner, and formed an utter contrast to the flashy dress of Gaston.He was smoking a cigar, and mechanically tapping his boots with an elegant walking cane.In a moment the features and figure of the Viscount were indelibly photographed upon Andre's brain.He particularly noticed his eyes, which had in them a half-concealed look of terror, and his face bore the haunted expression of a person who expects some terrible blow to fall upon him at any moment.

At a little distance the Marquis still seemed young, but a closer inspection showed that the man looked even older than he really was, so worn and haggard were his mouth and eyes.Nights at the gaming-table and the anxiety as to where the fresh supplies should come from to furnish the means to prolong his life of debauchery had told heavily upon him.To-day, however, he seemed to be in the best temper imaginable, and in the most cheerful manner he addressed a few words to Verminet, in conclusion of the conversation that had been going on in the inner office.

同类推荐
  • 叶选医衡

    叶选医衡

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 戒子通录

    戒子通录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 颜氏学记

    颜氏学记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说圣多罗菩萨经

    佛说圣多罗菩萨经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 战略辑佚

    战略辑佚

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 堕契

    堕契

    如果“生活”就像一张网,它会死紧地捆着你我,严丝密合而又脆弱无比,要挣脱轻而易举,却总能让人回心转意。就这样,她捆住了他,他也只能锁死了她;她饲养他,而他庇护她;她隐藏他,但他又一次次企图暴露她——到底是谁困住了谁,恐怕不可能有一个单向而准确的答案——但可以肯定的是,他们都必须保持谨慎,毕竟已不再是独立的生命,任何的失误都会是双方的生死问题。
  • 一桩事后张扬的凶杀

    一桩事后张扬的凶杀

    他们看见告示那天是礼拜天的早晨。它突然出现在石林县尾博邑乡浑水塘村委会所有的电线杆子上。它们统一使用A4纸打印,字体是仿宋3号字,由于有的地方特别加了黑体,因此整张告示看上去惊心动魄:是我杀了毕春。因为他贪赃枉法、徇私舞弊、行贿受贿、吃喝嫖赌、无恶不作,他死有余辜。他是靠贿选才当上村委会主任的。就是这样一个恶霸,把我逼上了不归路。我要告诉父老乡亲,杀死这种人不算什么,可是我却要为这样一个恶霸离开你们,离开我生长了40年的家乡故土……署名是江世兴。谁不知道江世兴呢?
  • 尸巫夜话:叫兽的墓地情人

    尸巫夜话:叫兽的墓地情人

    江流,女,D大历史系古代史专业二年级生。她来自坟墓,身份不明,人不人鬼不鬼,她究竟是什么?又有着怎样的灵力?风城接二连三离奇死亡事件?都跟她有关?所有矛头都指向她。大帅哥亲自出马查案,没想到他竟是驱鬼世家,好吧,为了盯着她,白天他成了她的老师,晚上……查案就查案呗,为嘛夜夜都要查到床上去呢?!
  • 三十年临证经验集

    三十年临证经验集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 恋上绝情总裁:替身新娘

    恋上绝情总裁:替身新娘

    他是她心中暗恋的男子,因为他那场体面而奢华的婚礼不见了新娘,担心他不好收场,她便委屈自己做了他的替身新娘。但绝情霸道的他只当她是利用的工具,还当着她的面和别的女人打的火热,视她如无物。直到有一天,另外一个男人在她的生命里出现,对她倍加呵护,他才开始慌了,而她已不再是原来那个逆来顺受的平凡小女人......
  • 重生毒妃惊华

    重生毒妃惊华

    哐当!精致的玉杯划过指尖,重重的摔在地板之上。那残留的滴滴酒水,如晶莹的泪珠,倒映着一张……
  • 修真之巨星天后

    修真之巨星天后

    莫小浮悲催地穿进了都市言情小说,成了原著恶毒花瓶女配,作为修真界一代天骄,她表示,踹掉黑心女主,逆天改命才是王道!修真本逆天,大道不公,我便毁天灭道!影视天后?歌坛王牌?没错,这都是她!大能陨落之地的剑法传承,异界神兽的契约助力,变异灵器的认主回归……揭开玉简的神秘面纱,当隐藏在都市中的人、妖、魔纷纷异动,群雄逐鹿,翻云覆雨,谁主沉浮!.◇◆娱乐圈大背景,修真主旋律、感情、事业、人性均有涉及◆◇【一句话】这是一个鬼才修真女夺舍重生到炮灰身上,从被人唾弃的花瓶艺人成功逆袭,在娱乐圈华丽转身、谱写传奇的故事。成长型腹黑女主,主角身心干净,尽请跳坑!.事业——传奇巨星2100年,当人们回忆绝色佳人莫小浮的时候,环球周刊发表了一篇评论文章:她是一个世纪的传奇,前无古人,在即将到来的新世纪,也绝无来者。她是影视神话,以饱受争议的花瓶出道,却连获三届环球影后;她是歌坛天后,以完美的声线和音律开启辉煌的夏国新生流派;她是娱乐教皇,星梦影视帝国缔造者,绝代风华的时尚引导者;她是璀璨流星,弹指十年,惊鸿一瞥,只留下一道绝美的剪影,历史,终将铭刻这位娱乐巨星!.等级说明:练气——筑基——金丹——元婴——出窍——分神——渡劫——反虚——大乘.作为潇湘特别小众的娱乐修真文,这条路很难,但我要坚持,我的阿莫,so……希望亲们点进来看几章,勾勾手指收藏吧!(看我真诚期待[谄媚]的大眼!)
  • 胭脂红

    胭脂红

    当明艳不可方物的少女姬晓娅,邂逅玉树临风的高干子弟秦爽,便产生了爱的化学反应。无疑,青春的风吹漾了粉红的爱情之花,但流年暗换,在珠泪坠落的瞬间,是否觉得自己无怨无悔?一颗晶莹玲珑的少女心,一段曲折幽怨的青春恋,诉说两段九曲回肠的爱情……为什么要回到那么遥远的过去呢?那么遥远的青春,与你我又有何干?但我无疑又爱着那青春,爱着那些人。
  • 纪录片

    纪录片

    你是雷双虎叔叔吗?一个怯怯的声音在我的背后响起。那时候我正准备开门,钥匙还插在锁孔里。我转头一看,是一个陌生的女孩,十八九岁的模样,背着一个式样陈旧的白色双肩包。我就是雷双虎,你是?我有些惊愕地问。女孩理了理被汗水沾住的那一绺头发,突然露出笑脸来,呀,雷叔,你认不出我来了?我是陆小萍啊,就是你拍的片子里的那个陆小萍。
  • 藏在妖尾里的恶魔

    藏在妖尾里的恶魔

    黑魔导士、阿库诺洛基亚。纳兹的最终命运会步向死亡,但是纳兹不想死,他想和同伴们一起生活,一起渡过。纳兹决定和同伴反抗命运,与妖精尾巴的同伴一起。纳兹“我不是E.N.D,我是纳兹.多拉格尼尔,妖精尾巴的成员!”格雷“我不会消灭E.N.D,你是我的朋友!”艾尔莎“我相信你,纳兹!”温蒂“纳兹哥就像我的哥哥!”露西“纳兹,我们永远是同伴!”