登陆注册
5216200000097

第97章

"I can," thought he, "alter my appearance so much that I shall not be recognized.I need not return here to sleep.I can ask a bed from Vignol, who will help me in every possible way."This Vignol was the friend to whom, at Andre's request, M.Gandelu had given the superintendence of the works at his new house in the Champs Elysees.

"I shall," continued he, "by this means escape entirely from De Croisenois and his emissaries, and can watch their game without their having any suspicion of my doing so.For the time being, of course, Imust give up seeing those who have been helping me,--De Breulh, Gandelu, Madame de Bois Arden, and M.de Mussidan; that, however, cannot be avoided.I can use the post, and by it will inform them all of the step that I have taken."It was dark before he had finished his letters, and, of course, it was too late to try anything that day; consequently he went out, posted his letters, and dined at the nearest restaurant.

On his return home, he proceeded to arrange his disguise.He had it ready, among his clothes: a blue blouse, a pair of check trousers, well-worn shoes, and a shabby cap, were all that he required, and he then applied himself to the task of altering his face.He first shaved off his beard.Then he twisted down two locks of hair, which he managed to make rest on his forehead.Then he commenced applying some coloring to his face with a paint-brush; but this he found to be an extremely difficult business, and it was not for a long while that he was satisfied with the results that he had produced.He then knotted an old handkerchief round his neck, and clapped his cap on one side, with the peak slanting over one eye.Then he took a last glance in the glass, and felt that he had rendered himself absolutely unrecognizable.He was about to impart a few finishing touches, when a knock came at his door.He was not expecting any one at such an hour, nine o'clock; for the waiters from the restaurant had already removed the remains of the feast.

"Who is there?" cried he.

"It is I," replied a weak voice; "I, Gaston de Gandelu."Andre decided that he had no cause to distrust the lad, and so he opened his door.

"Has M.Andre gone out?" asked the poor boy faintly."I though I heard his voice."Gaston had not penetrated his disguise, and this was Andre's first triumph; but he saw now that he must alter his voice, as well as his face.

"Don't you know me?" asked he.

It was evident that young Gaston had received some terrible shock; for it could not have been the quarrel in the morning that had reduced him to this abject state of prostration.

"What has gone wrong with you?" asked Andre kindly.

"I have come to bid you farewell; I am going to shoot myself in half an hour.""Have you gone mad?"

"Not in the least," answered Gaston, passing his hand across his forehead in a distracted manner; "but those infernal bills have turned up.I was just leaving the dining-room, after having treated the governor to my company, when the butler whispered in my ear that there was a man outside who wanted to see me.I went out and found a dirty-looking old scamp, with his coat collar turned up round the nape of his neck.""Did he say that his name was Tantaine?" exclaimed Andre.

"Ah! was that his name? Well, it doesn't matter.He told me in the most friendly manner that the holder of my bills had determined to place them in the hands of the police to-morrow at twelve o'clock, but that there was still a way for me to escape.""And this was to take Rose out of France with you," said Andre quickly.

Gaston was overwhelmed with surprise.

"Who the deuce told you that?" asked he.

"No one; I guessed it; for it was only the conclusion of the plan which they had initiated when you were induced to forge Martin Rigal's signature.Well, what did you say?""That the idea was a ridiculous one, and that I would not stir a yard.

They shall find out that I can be obstinate, too; besides, I can see their little game.As soon as I am out of the way they will go to the governor and bleed him."But Andre was not listening to him.What was best to be done? To advise Gaston to go and take Rose with him was to deprive himself of a great element of success; and to permit him to kill himself was, of course, out of the question.

"Just attend to me," said he at last; "I have an idea which I will tell you as soon as we are out of this house; but for reasons which are too long to go into at present it is necessary for me to get into the street without going through the door.You will, therefore, go away, and as the clock strikes twelve you will ring at the gateway of 29, Rue de Laval.When it is opened, ask some trivial question of the porter; and when you leave, take care that you do not close the gate.

I shall be in the garden of the house and will slip out and join you."The plan succeeded admirably, and in ten minutes Gaston and Andre were walking along the boulevards.

同类推荐
  • 巴林纪程

    巴林纪程

    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。
  • 清微斋法

    清微斋法

    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。
  • 玉台新案

    玉台新案

    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 Story of a Pioneer

    The Story of a Pioneer

    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。
  • 太极祭炼内法

    太极祭炼内法

    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
  • 大宋风雨情

    大宋风雨情

    主人翁在一次意外中穿越到了北宋,上演了一幕跨越时空的爱恋,因看不惯官员贪污受贿、欺压百姓、国家积贫积弱、被周边小国欺辱的局面,利用自己的智慧与勇气,一步步走上权利的高峰,随后掀起了一场声势浩大的变法强国强军的序幕。疆土扩大导致与当时的欧洲强国所接壤,一场决定世界格局的对弈就此展开……
  • 思路决定出路

    思路决定出路

    该书对人们在人生定位、心态、思维模式、职业发展、人际关系、爱情婚姻、做人做事、能力培养、生活习惯等方面存在的重要问题进行剖析,并提出了针对很强的“思路突破”——谋求发展与成功的正确思路。
  • 小霸王难追妻

    小霸王难追妻

    听说,南海花城的二公子花千花要迎娶在江湖中籍籍无名的秋叶门朱掌门之女朱云云。先不说这个消息的来源,光这一说法,在江湖中就立时激起千层浪。南海花城这个名词,在大周国中,可说是无人不知无人不晓。不仅仅是因为南海花城的老城主在江湖中颇具地位,人人敬崇。更亦是他们的生意在大周国南部地区几乎处于垄断地位,钱庄、酒楼、船运、盐业……金银财富如雪球般越滚越大,除了朝廷和楼氏世家,天下再无比……
  • 车祸(中国好小说)

    车祸(中国好小说)

    一场突如其来的车祸,牵扯进形形色色的人,作者通过生动的文字描述,让读者了解不同性格的人,了解社会的现实……
  • 我的创业哲学:马云献给年轻人的12堂人生经营课

    我的创业哲学:马云献给年轻人的12堂人生经营课

    这是一本成功励志书,也是一本创业教辅书。本书将理论与实践相结合,从马云的创业经历出发,向人们讲述了他是如何从一个 名不见经传的大学老师摇身一变成为最具影响力的企业家。本书针对创业中的关键问题,如管理、经营、营销、融资、竞争、用人等,进行了深入细致的解析。读者可以从中体验最真实的领袖魅力、人生理想和处事技巧,而最重要的还是获取宝贵的创业经验。
  • 我家不能退货的系统

    我家不能退货的系统

    这是个随时想偷懒但始终无法彻底偷懒的人,为了早点实现自己的梦想生活~退休,奔向了连自己都不知道的远方~“小电视,说好的提前退休呢,变~为另外一个性别的人我已经忍了,但这个我实在忍不了了,你出来,我绝不打扁你,最多帮你把零件给拆了。”“这锅本系统不背,这不是你本人内心深处最渴望实现的愿望吗?!”系统变成淡蓝色淡定的说道
  • 武林天骄

    武林天骄

    本书讲述了“武林天骄”檀羽冲的传奇经历。原在书报上连载,但后来出版时因故删除了三分之二的内容,将连载时众多的重要人物和情节都删去。可以看做是《狂侠天骄魔女》的前传,但《武林天骄》中的檀羽冲跟《狂侠天骄魔女》中的檀羽冲有一定出入。
  • 宠婚成瘾

    宠婚成瘾

    年少时,总认为爱恋是蔷薇,热烈而又骄傲。成熟时,却认定了爱情如同狗尾巴草,坚韧而又平和。陆刑炽很庆幸,在苏芒如同蔷薇的时候爱上了她,又在她变成狗尾巴草的时候陪伴着她。纵使一开始她百般想逃,他都会眯着眼一脸宠爱的告诉她:“老婆,你勾引了我,就要对我负责……”
  • 《福建省企业集体协商和集体合同条例》释义

    《福建省企业集体协商和集体合同条例》释义

    《 福建省企业集体协商和集体合同条例》本释义主要由序言、释义正文和后记组成。同时,为了便于学习和运用,本书还收录了相关的法律、法规及说明。
  • 神域凰女

    神域凰女

    一朝重生,她从软弱无能到嚣张肆意,从病弱之躯变成天生灵体。废物?不好意思,我开挂一样晋级!丹药,我自己练!小弟,出门就收!兽兽,一来就两,还有一个正在孵化中…至于男人?不好意思,最强最帅的那个就是她的!神火在左,凤鸣在右,九天任我遨游。“盛世给你,九天大陆给你,你是我的!”她挑着那个男人的下巴嚣张霸气的宣布道。