It is better to have that done while we are here, and don't need a carriage, than to wait till we get back to Paris."Prudence came two days afterward, and confirmed what Marguerite had said. The two women went for a walk in the garden, and when Ijoined them they changed the conversation. That night, as she was going, Prudence complained of the cold and asked Marguerite to lend her a shawl.
So a month passed, and all the time Marguerite was more joyous and more affectionate than she ever had been. Nevertheless, the carriage did not return, the shawl had not been sent back, and Ibegan to be anxious in spite of myself, and as I knew in which drawer Marguerite put Prudence's letters, I took advantage of a moment when she was at the other end of the garden, went to the drawer, and tried to open it; in vain, for it was locked. When Iopened the drawer in which the trinkets and diamonds were usually kept, these opened without resistance, but the jewel cases had disappeared, along with their contents no doubt.
A sharp fear penetrated my heart. I might indeed ask Marguerite for the truth in regard to these disappearances, but it was certain that she would not confess it.
"My good Marguerite," I said to her, "I am going to ask your permission to go to Paris. They do not know my address, and Iexpect there are letters from my father waiting for me. I have no doubt he is concerned; I ought to answer him.""Go, my friend," she said; "but be back early." I went straight to Prudence.
"Come," said I, without beating about the bush, "tell me frankly, where are Marguerite's horses?""Sold."
"The shawl?"
"Sold."
"The diamonds?"
"Pawned."
"And who has sold and pawned them?"
"Why did you not tell me?"
"Because Marguerite made me promise not to.""And why did you not ask me for money?"
"Because she wouldn't let me."
"And where has this money gone?"
"In payments."
"Is she much in debt?"
"Thirty thousand francs, or thereabouts. Ah, my dear fellow, didn't I tell you? You wouldn't believe me; now you are convinced. The upholsterer whom the duke had agreed to settle with was shown out of the house when he presented himself, and the duke wrote next day to say that he would answer for nothing in regard to Mlle. Gautier. This man wanted his money; he was given part payment out of the few thousand francs that I got from you; then some kind souls warned him that his debtor had been abandoned by the duke and was living with a penniless young man;the other creditors were told the same; they asked for their money, and seized some of the goods. Marguerite wanted to sell everything, but it was too late, and besides I should have opposed it. But it was necessary to pay, and in order not to ask you for money, she sold her horses and her shawls, and pawned her jewels. Would you like to see the receipts and the pawn tickets?"And Prudence opened the drawer and showed me the papers.
