"Yes!" cried Madame Cardinal, terrified; "some one is really coming."Then, fastening to a hope of safety, she added, "I dare say it is that insane girl; they say she walks at night."At any rate, the insane girl (if it were she) had a key to the room, for a moment later, this key was inserted in the lock. With a rapid glance Madame Cardinal measured the distance to the door; should she have time to push the bolt? No; certain that it was then too late, so she blew out the candle to give herself at least some chances in the darkness.
Useless effort! the intruder who now appeared had brought a candle with him.
When Madame Cerizet saw that she had to do with a small, old man of puny appearance, she flung herself before him with flaming eyes, like a lioness from whom the hunter is seeking to take her cubs.
"Be calm, my good woman," said the little man, in a jeering tone; "the police are sent for; they will be here in a moment."At the word "police" the Cardinal's legs gave way.
"But, monsieur," she said, "why the police? we are not robbers.""No matter for that; if I were in your place I shouldn't wait for them," said the little old man; "they make unfortunate mistakes sometimes.""Can I clear out?" asked the woman, incredulously.
"Yes, if you empty your pockets of anything which has, BY ACCIDENT, got into them.""Oh! my good monsieur, I haven't a thing in my hands or my pockets; Iwasn't here to harm any one,--only to nurse my poor dear uncle; you can search me.""Come, be off with you! that will do," said the old man.
Madame Cardinal did not oblige him to repeat the order, and she rapidly disappeared down the staircase.
Cerizet made as though he would take the same road.
"You, monsieur, are quite another thing," said the little old man.
"You and I must talk together; but if you are tractable, the affair between us can be settled amicably."Whether it was that the narcotic had ceased to operate, or that the noise going on about Toupillier put an end to his sleep, he now opened his eyes and cast around him the glance of a man who endeavors to remember where he is; then, seeing his precious cupboard open, he found in the emotion that sight produced the strength to cry out two or three times, "Help! help! robbers!" in a voice that was loud enough to rouse the house.
"No, Toupillier," said the little old man; "you have not been robbed;I came here in time to prevent it; nothing has been taken.""Why don't you arrest that villain?" shouted the old pauper, pointing to Cerizet.
"Monsieur is not a thief," replied the old man. "On the contrary, he came up with me to lend assistance." Then, turning to Cerizet, he added, in a low voice: "I think, my good friend, that we had better postpone the interview I desire to have with you until to-morrow. Come at ten o'clock to the adjoining house, and ask for Monsieur du Portail. After what has passed this evening, there will, I ought to warn you, be some danger to you in not accepting this conference. Ishall find you elsewhere, infallibly; for I have the honor to know who you are; you are the man whom the Opposition journals were accustomed to call 'the courageous Cerizet.'"In spite of the profound sarcasm of this remark, Cerizet, perceiving that he was not to be treated more rigorously than Madame Cardinal, felt so pleased with this conclusion that he promised, very readily, to keep the appointment, and then slipped away with all the haste he could.