“Knows nothing of this capture. She accuses M. de Cagliostro of having excited the cardinal to say what he did.”
“And what does M. de Cagliostro say?”
“He has promised to come to me this morning. He is a dangerous man, but a useful one, and attacked by Madame de la Motte, I am in hopes he will sting back again.”
“You hope for revelations?”
“I do.”
“How so, sir? Tell me everything which can reassure me.”
“These are my reasons, madame. Madame de la Motte lived in the Rue St. Claude, and M. de Cagliostro just opposite her. So I think her movements cannot have been unnoticed by him; but if your majesty will excuse me, it is close to the time he appointed to meet me.”
“Go, monsieur, go; and assure yourself of my gratitude.”
When he was gone the queen burst into tears. “My justification begins,” said she; “I shall soon read my triumph in all faces; but the one I most cared to know me innocent, him I shall not see.”
M. de Crosne drove back to Paris, where M. de Cagliostro waited for him. He knew all; for he had discovered Beausire’s retreat, and was on the road to see him, and induce him to leave France, when he met the carriage containing Beausire and Oliva. Beausire saw the count, and the idea crossed his mind that he might help them. He therefore accepted the offer of the police-agents, gave them the hundred louis, and made his escape, in spite of the tears shed by Oliva; saying, “I go to try and save you.” He ran after M. de Cagliostro’s carriage, which he soon overtook, as the count had stopped, it being useless to proceed. Beausire soon told his story; Cagliostro listened in silence, then said, “She is lost.”