“Ah! Perhaps you have no suspicion of the plans Baradier has been forming for you. He explained them to me this very morning. We are going to put Marcel at the head of the works as director. At the same time he shall be one of the managing directors of the Explosives Company we are about to completely reorganize. You see, Marcel, you are about to play a very important rôle in life at twenty-six years of age. And your father added, ‘If he will marry, I shall no longer have anything to wish for. He will have satisfied me in everything.’ What do you think of the idea? I believe he was thinking of Geneviève de Trémont. What will your reply be?”
Marcel replied quietly—
“Nothing whatever, Uncle Graff.”
The old man touched Marcel on the shoulder, and, looking attentively at him, said—
“I do not understand you, Marcel; there is something you are hiding from me. Have you seen the woman of Ars again?”
This time, the young man broke out—
“No, I have not seen her; but I know she is in Paris. I know where I shall see her this evening. Uncle Graff, I intend to have the key to this living enigma.”
“Ah! My child, there is no enigma; she is simply a villain, nothing more! How anxious you make me in still troubling yourself with this woman! Take care! You know how dangerous she and her companions are. Remember the poor General, and this brave fellow killed at Ars. Just inform the police, she will be arrested, and all will be over.”
“If I were certain she were as guilty as you suspect her to be, I would do so. Though it is not very gallant to give up a woman.”
“What! Chivalry with such people?”