登陆注册
5216200000096

第96章

"Who told me? Why, a great big flaming poster.Tafila Copper Mines;capital, four millions.And my esteemed friend, Henri, has not a five-franc piece to keep the devil out of his pocket."The face of the young artist expressed such blank surprise that Gaston burst into a loud laugh.

"You look just as I did when I read it.Henri de Croisenois, the chairman of a Company! Why, if you had been elected Pope, I should not have been more surprised.Tafila Copper Mines! What a joke! The shares are five hundred francs."The waiters had now retired, and Gaston urged his friends to take their places at the table, and all seemed merry as a marriage bell;but many a gay commencement has a stormy ending.

Gaston, whose shallow brain could not stand the copious draughts of wine with which he washed down his repast, began all at once to overwhelm Zora with bitter reproaches at her not being able to comprehend how a man like him, who was destined to play a serious part in society, could have been led away, as he had been, by a person like her.

Gaston had a tongue which was never at a loss either to praise or blame, and Zora was equally ready to retort, and defended herself with such acrimony that the lad, knowing himself to be in fault, entirely lost the small remnant of temper which he still possessed, and dashed out of the room, declaring that he never wished to set eyes upon Zora again, and that she might keep all the presents that he had lavished upon her for all he cared.

His departure was hailed with delight by Andre, who, now that he was left alone with Zora, hoped to derive some further information from her, and especially a distinct description of Paul, whom he felt that he must now reckon among his adversaries.But his hopes were destined to be frustrated, for Zora was so filled with anger and excitement that she refused to listen to another word; and putting on her hat and mantle, with scarcely a glance at the mirror, rushed out of the studio with the utmost speed, declaring that she would seek out Paul, and make him revenge the insults that Gaston had put on her.

All this passed so rapidly that the young painter felt as if a tornado had passed through his humble dwelling; but as peace and calm returned, he began to see that Providence had directly interposed in his favor, and had sent Rose and Gaston to his place to furnish him with fresh and important facts.All that Rose had said, incomplete as her statement was, had thrown a ray of light upon an intrigue which, up till now, had been shaded in the thickest gloom.The relations of Paul with Mascarin explained why Catenac had been so anxious to have Rose imprisoned, and also seemed to hint vaguely at the reason for the extraction of the forged signatures from the simple Gaston.What could be the meaning of the Company started by De Croisenois at the very moment when he was about to celebrate his union with Sabine?

Andre desired to see the advertisement of the Company for himself; and without stopping to change his blouse, ran downstairs to the corner of the street, where Gaston had told him that the announcement of the Company was placarded up.He found it there, in a most conspicuous position, with all its advantages most temptingly set forth.Nothing was wanting; and there was even a woodcut of Tafila, in Algiers, which represented the copper mines in full working operation; while at the top, the name of the chairman, the Marquis de Croisenois, stood out in letters some six inches in height.

Andre stood gazing at this wonderful production for fully five minutes, when all at once a gleam of prudence flashed across his mind.

"I am a fool," said he to himself."How do I know how many watchful eyes are now fixed on me, reading on my countenance my designs regarding this matter and its leading spirit?"Upon his return to his room, he sat for more than an hour, turning over the whole affair in his mind, and at length he flattered himself that he had hit upon an expedient.Behind the house in which he lodged was a large garden, belonging to some public institution, the front of which was in the Rue Laval.A wall of about seven feet in height divided these grounds from the premises in the Rue de la Tour d'Auvergne.Why should he not go out by the way of these ornamental grounds and so elude the vigilance of the spies who might be in waiting at the front of the house?

同类推荐
  • The Golden Fleece

    The Golden Fleece

    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。
  • 湖山叙游

    湖山叙游

    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。
  • The Daughter of an Empress

    The Daughter of an Empress

    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。
  • 修行道地经

    修行道地经

    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。
  • 柘轩集

    柘轩集

    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。
热门推荐
  • 我为传奇

    我为传奇

    “布鲁斯·杨,是个令人震惊的家伙,他每一次都可以在选秀大会中淘出南非美钻般的球员,尤其他在一系列的交易之中,我从来没有见过他赔本的时候,这是个全联盟最令人难以置信的家伙!!!”帕特·莱利一脸佩服的对TNT电视台的记者说道。波波维奇在接受《今日美国》的记者专访时,脸色铁青的说道:“这辈子我做过最愚蠢的事情,莫过于和布鲁斯做出了交易蒂姆·邓肯的决定!!”
  • 少东的绝色娇妻

    少东的绝色娇妻

    推荐新文《婚后的誘惑》冥堂耀和天梦的儿子故事(即总裁的绝色娇妻下代故事)作者名:小娇笑书名:我的滥情老公连接:《总裁的绝色娇妻》简介:那年她5岁,他8岁.她被母亲生前的好友阿姨收养,而他却是阿姨的儿子."帅帅哥哥,抱抱天梦"第一次见面的时候,她被眼前的小帅哥彻底的花痴了.而那时的他却连眼尾也不看她一眼,正直的走过.以后,只要她喜欢的东西他都会抢,只要她不喜欢的东西他都会强迫她去做,只要有她的地方就休想宁静.10岁那年,她指着自己的胸部,痛苦的看着他."哥哥,这里好痛.天梦好痛"他本来不想理会她的,但是她已经第63次向自己诉苦了."丫头,你到底有没有学过生理课的!那不是痛,是发育"他一点也不觉得害羞的看着她早已涨红了的脸.15岁那年,她和朋友一起去旅游,他却非要跟着来.说是以免她这路痴迷路了.后来,他根本就不看着她的,反而泡他自己的美女.再后来,他却趁着酒性竟然把她给吃了.吃掉后,他还嚣张的的对她说"丫头既然事到如今你就认了吧,别再给我学什么勾引男人去了,不然我就把这件事公开于世"她却为了这件事情生气得离家出走了!躲了他足足2个月.这世界简直没天理的!要她嫁给他,做梦去吧,她廷天梦是什么人!不过,那个是养育她的继母,她不能忘恩负义的.他就捉住她的小弱点,让她成了自己的小新娘.婚后却.她不仅不愿意和他同床,还说要去租房子住!他被她忍火了,看来这次要狠狠的教训下她才行了.不然看她以后还敢不敢任性呢!《我的滥情老公》简介:人前,她是美术系的校花;人后,她是他冷落的妻子…骄傲如他,商业界中的领纵之王;峻美如他,一个眼神迷倒全世界;滥情如他,万千花蕾为他而绽放…“记着,永远也不要爱上我……”他性感的唇片幽幽的吐出一句话。她的心疼得就像针刺般,可是她却讽刺的笑了“爱?……你以为我们之间还会有爱吗?…”一次酒醉,他推开了她的房门……从此以后,一切都似乎变质了,似乎心在沉沦,情在发萌…“如果,你爱上了我,那么就离婚吧…”她沉默了,转身而去,为什么越爱得深,心就越痛?“不会有那天,因为你不值得……”
  • 遇见·汪国真

    遇见·汪国真

    全书以汪国真一生为线索,以他对诗歌的狂热至成名后的众多细节故事来展现了一位诗人的成长历程。从中可见一代人的成长历程与社会的变迁。全书共用了21章的篇幅书写了他的一生,描述细腻、流畅,并巧妙地将诗作穿插全书,读来非常有味。其抒情的语言,对汪国真诗的合理引用,也是全书引人入胜之处。
  • 参加猜谜俱乐部(青少年挖掘大脑智商潜能训练集)

    参加猜谜俱乐部(青少年挖掘大脑智商潜能训练集)

    潜能是人类原本存在但尚未被开发与利用的能力,是潜在的能量。根据能量守恒定律,能量既不会消灭,也不会创生,它只会从一种形式转化为其他形式,或者从一个物体转移到另一个物体,而转化和转移过程中,能的总量保持不变。
  • 闪婚双宠:首席老公老搞错

    闪婚双宠:首席老公老搞错

    纪慕然做了一个梦,自己小心翼翼地用翡翠杯端给对面的男人。林大公子轻嗅赞道“老婆,你茶艺越来越精了。”仰头一饮而尽,哭着脸说:“你拿走了我的心,我该怎么办?”纪慕然惊道:“你是林二?”‘啪’地一声,四亿元的翡翠杯掉在地上,摔个粉碎。
  • Catherine de' Medici

    Catherine de' Medici

    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。
  • 夫妻一场II

    夫妻一场II

    她骄傲跋扈,笑靥明媚指着他鼻子,道:“你完了。赵钧默,你爱上我了,你永不能再爱他人了,因我不许。”经年流转,他却淡淡地道:“明晰,能不能有些肚量容下她。”当自己的丈夫和儿子站在了敌人的阵线上,当所有人都心存同情之情安抚从她手中偷去丈夫的女人,当所有人视她这个正妻为毒蛇猛兽嚣张狠毒时,她渐渐死寂了下去。他忍痛将她死死搂在怀:“是我对你不住。再看我一眼一眼便好,就一眼……”刻骨铭心的痛苦一世就够了,他用她给他的盾磨掉了她的矛,拔光了她身上所有的刺,仅有那一点点温暖是她用来爱自己的。情深不寿,莫要错待。
  • 未闻天子笑

    未闻天子笑

    来世若有君相伴,不羡鸳鸯不羡仙……(本文为穿越+架空+江湖文,作者虽然懒但文章并不懒!请看原文就知道了。。。)
  • 重生之七彩神体

    重生之七彩神体

    他被兄弟陷害被迫自爆同归于尽,一缕残魂飘落世俗界转世沐家废物三少爷沐风身上。从此废物少爷突飞猛进,一日千里,灭杀曾经欺压他的族人……七彩神体,天底下最强大的体魄,没有之一!携天神剑,带罗天戒,练绝世神诀,坐拥天下美女,成就至高神道。且看沐风如何征服修真界,大闹仙境,问鼎神界,揪出前世仇人,解开身世之谜!
  • 和我合租的女人

    和我合租的女人

    朴美丽,这个和孙正平若即若离、忽远忽近的神秘女人,身后究竟隐藏着什么秘密?迷茫、忧郁、无助的孙正平能否冲破自己的桎梏,找到属于自己的世界?