the liberty I hasten to restore to you. And here, madame, I must
add another word of explanation. So long as I hoped you were
working for the good of our house and for the fortune of our
daughter, I philosophically closed my eyes; but as you have
transformed that house into a vast ruin I will not be the
foundation of another man's fortune. You were rich when I married
you, but little respected. Excuse me for speaking so very candidly,
but as this is intended only for ourselves, I do not see why I
should weigh my words. I have augmented our fortune, and it has
continued to increase during the last fifteen years, till
extraordinary and unexpected catastrophes have suddenly overturned
it, — without any fault of mine, I can honestly declare. You,
madame, have only sought to increase your own, and I am convinced
that you have succeeded. I leave you, therefore, as I took you, —
rich, but little respected. Adieu! I also intend from this time to
work on my own account. Accept my acknowledgments for the example
you have set me, and which I intend following.
"Your very devoted husband,
"Baron Danglars."
The baroness had watched Debray while he read this long and
painful letter, and saw him, notwithstanding his self-control,
change color once or twice. When he had ended the perusal, he
folded the letter and resumed his pensive attitude. "Well?" asked
Madame Danglars, with an anxiety easy to be understood.
"Well, madame?" unhesitatingly repeated Debray.
"With what ideas does that letter inspire you?"
"Oh, it is simple enough, madame; it inspires me with the idea
that M. Danglars has left suspiciously."
"Certainly; but is this all you have to say to me?"
"I do not understand you," said Debray with freezing
coldness.
"He is gone! Gone, never to return!"
"Oh, madame, do not think that!"
"I tell you he will never return. I know his character; he is
inflexible in any resolutions formed for his own interests. If he
could have made any use of me, he would have taken me with him; hecould have made any use of me, he would have taken me with him; he
leaves me in Paris, as our separation will conduce to his benefit;
— therefore he has gone, and I am free forever," added Madame
Danglars, in the same supplicating tone. Debray, instead of
answering, allowed her to remain in an attitude of nervous inquiry.
"Well?" she said at length, "do you not answer me?"
"I have but one question to ask you, — what do you intend to
do?"
"I was going to ask you," replied the baroness with a beating
heart.
"Ah, then, you wish to ask advice of me?"
"Yes; I do wish to ask your advice," said Madame Danglars with
anxious expectation.
"Then if you wish to take my advice," said the young man coldly,
"I would recommend you to travel."
"To travel!" she murmured.
"Certainly; as M. Danglars says, you are rich, and perfectly
free. In my opinion, a withdrawal from Paris is absolutely
necessary after the double catastrophe of Mademoiselle Danglars'
broken contract and M. Danglars' disappearance. The world will
think you abandoned and poor, for the wife of a bankrupt would
never be forgiven, were she to keep up an appearance of opulence.
You have only to remain in Paris for about a fortnight, telling the
world you are abandoned, and relating the details of this desertion
to your best friends, who will soon spread the report. Then you can
quit your house, leaving your jewels and giving up your jointure,
and every one's mouth will be filled with praises of your
disinterestedness. They will know you are deserted, and think you
also poor, for I alone know your real financial position, and am
quite ready to give up my accounts as an honest partner." The dread
with which the pale and motionless baroness listened to this, was
equalled by the calm indifference with which Debray had spoken.
"Deserted?" she repeated; "ah, yes, I am, indeed, deserted! You are
right, sir, and no one can doubt my position." These were the only
words that this proud and violently enamoured woman could utter in
response to Debray.words that this proud and violently enamoured woman could utter in
response to Debray.
"But then you are rich, — very rich, indeed," continued Debray,
taking out some papers from his pocket-book, which he spread upon
the table. Madame Danglars did not see them; she was engaged in
stilling the beatings of her heart, and restraining the tears which
were ready to gush forth. At length a sense of dignity prevailed,
and if she did not entirely master her agitation, she at least
succeeded in preventing the fall of a single tear. "Madame," said
Debray, "it is nearly six months since we have been associated. You
furnished a principal of 100,000 francs. Our partnership began in
the month of April. In May we commenced operations, and in the
course of the month gained 450,000 francs. In June the profit
amounted to 900,000. In July we added 1,700,000 francs, — it was,
you know, the month of the Spanish bonds. In August we lost 300,000
francs at the beginning of the month, but on the 13th we made up
for it, and we now find that our accounts, reckoning from the first
day of partnership up to yesterday, when I closed them, showed a
capital of 2,400,000 francs, that is, 1,200,000 for each of us.
Now, madame," said Debray, delivering up his accounts in the
methodical manner of a stockbroker, "there are still 80,000 francs,
the interest of this money, in my hands."
"But," said the baroness, "I thought you never put the money out
to interest."
"Excuse me, madame," said Debray coldly, "I had your permission
to do so, and I have made use of it. There are, then, 40,000 francs
for your share, besides the 100,000 you furnished me to begin with,
making in all 1,340,000 francs for your portion. Now, madame, I
took the precaution of drawing out your money the day before
yesterday; it is not long ago, you see, and I was in continual
expectation of being called on to deliver up my accounts. There is
your money, — half in bank-notes, the other half in checks payable
to bearer. I say there, for as I did not consider my house safe