"Instead of gathering so much useless information," he added, "why did you not post yourself as to the outlets of the house?"
He was "sold; " and yet he manifested neither spite nor anger. He seemed in no wise anxious to run after the fugitive. Upon the features of Maxence and of Mme. Gilberte, and more still in Mme.
Favoral's eyes, he had read that it would be useless for the present.
"Let us examine the papers, then," said he.
"My husband's papers are all in his study," replied Mme. Favoral.
"Please lead me to it, madame."
The room which M. Favoral called loftily his study was a small room with a tile floor, white-washed walls, and meanly lighted through a narrow transom.
It was furnished with an old desk, a small wardrobe with grated door, a few shelves upon which were piled some bandboxes and bundles of old newspapers, and two or three deal chairs.
"Where are the keys?" inquired the commissary of police.
"My father always carries them in his pocket, sir," replied Maxence.
"Then let some one go for a locksmith." Stronger than fear, curiosity had drawn all the guests of the cashier of the Mutual Credit Society, M. Desormeaux, M. Chapelain, M. Desclavettes himself; and, standing within the door-frame, they followed eagerly every motion of the commissary, who, pending the arrival of the locksmith, was making a flying examination of the bundles of papers left exposed upon the desk.
After a while, and unable to hold in any longer:
"Would it be indiscreet," timidly inquired the old bronze-merchant, "to ask the nature of the charges against that poor Favoral?"
"Embezzlement, sir."
"And is the amount large?"
"Had it been small, I should have said theft. Embezzling commences only when the sum has reached a round figure."
Annoyed at the sardonic tone of the commissary:
"The fact is," resumed M. Chapelain, "Favoral was our friend; and, if we could get him out of the scrape, we would all willingly contribute."
"It's a matter of ten or twelve millions, gentlemen." Was it possible? Was it even likely? Could any one imagine so many millions slipping through the fingers of M. de Thaller's methodic cashier?
"Ah, sir!" exclaimed Mme. Favoral, "if any thing could relieve my feelings, the enormity of that sum would. My husband was a man of simple and modest tastes."
The commissary shook his head.
"There are certain passions," he interrupted, "which nothing betrays externally. Gambling is more terrible than fire. After a fire, some charred remnants are found. What is there left after a lost game?
Fortunes may be thrown into the vortex of the bourse, without a trace of them being left."
The unfortunate woman was not convinced.
"I could swear, sir," she protested, "that I knew how my husband spent every hour of his life."
"Do not swear, madame."
"All our friends will tell you how parsimonious my husband was."
"Here, madame, towards yourself and your children, I have no doubt; for seeing is believing: but elsewhere -"
He was interrupted by the arrival of the locksmith, who, in less than five minutes, had picked all the locks of the old desk.
But in vain did the commissary search all the drawers. He found only those useless papers which are made relics of by people who have made order their religious faith, - uninteresting, letters, grocers' and butchers' bills running back twenty years.
"It is a waste of time to look for any thing here," he growled.
And in fact he was about to give up his perquisitions, when a bundle thinner than the rest attracted his attention. He cut the thread that bound it; and almost at once:
"I knew I was right he said. And holding out a paper to Mme. Favoral:
"Read, madame, if you please."
It was a bill. She read thus:
"Sold to M. Favoral an India Cashmere, fr.8,5oo.
Received payment, FORBE & Towler."
"Is it for you, madame," asked the commissary, "that this magnificent shawl was bought?"
Stupefied with astonishment, the poor woman still refused to admit the evidence.
"Madame de Thaller spends a great deal," she stammered. "My husband often made important purchases for her account."
"Often, indeed!" interrupted the commissary of police; " for here are many other receipted bills, - earrings, sixteen thousand francs; a bracelet, three thousand francs; a parlor set, a horse, two velvet dresses. Here is a part, at least, if not the whole, of the ten millions."