I will be there."
"But Monsieur de Maulincour has told him of Ferragus. Oh, father, what
torture, to deceive, deceive, deceive!"
"Need you say that to me? But only a few days more, and no living man
will be able to expose me. Besides, Monsieur de Maulincour is beyond
the faculty of remembering. Come, dry your tears, my silly child, and
think--"
At this instant a terrible cry rang from the room in which Jules
Desmarets was stationed.
The clamor was heard by Madame Jules and Ferragus through the opening
of the wall, and struck them with terror.
"Go and see what it means, Clemence," said her father.
Clemence ran rapidly down the little staircase, found the door into
Madame Gruget's apartment wide open, heard the cries which echoed from
the upper floor, went up the stairs, guided by the noise of sobs, and
caught these words before she entered the fatal chamber:--
"You, monsieur, you, with your horrid inventions,--you are the cause
of her death!"
"Hush, miserable woman!" replied Jules, putting his handkerchief on
the mouth of the old woman, who began at once to cry out, "Murder!
help!"
At this instant Clemence entered, saw her husband, uttered a cry, and
fled away.
"Who will save my child?" cried the widow Gruget. "You have murdered
her."
"How?" asked Jules, mechanically, for he was horror-struck at being
seen by his wife.
"Read that," said the old woman, giving him a letter. "Can money or
annuities console me for that?"
Farewell, mother! I bequeeth you what I have.
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