He had worked himself into such a state of excitement, that, when Raoul returned, he flew to him with ashy face and trembling all over, and could scarcely gasp out:
“Well?”
“The deed is done, uncle, thanks to you; and I am now the most miserable, abject villain on the face of the earth.”
He unbuttoned his vest, and, pulling out the four bundles of bank-notes, angrily dashed them upon the table, saying, in a tone of scorn and disgust:
“Now I hope you are satisfied. This is the price of the happiness, honor, and perhaps the life of three people.”
Clameran paid no attention to these angry words. With feverish eagerness he seized the notes, and rattled them in his hand as if to convince himself of the reality of success.
“Now Madeleine is mine!” he cried excitedly.
Raoul looked at Clameran in silent disgust. This exhibition of joy was a shocking contrast to the scene in which he had just been an actor. He was humiliated at being the tool of such a heartless scoundrel as he now knew Clameran to be.
Louis misinterpreted this silence, and said gayly:
“Did you have much difficulty?”