Produced by David Widger and Pat Castevens
By Eugene Sue
XXVI. A Good Genius
XXVII. The First Last, And the Last First
XXVIII. The Stranger
XXIX. The Den
XXX. An Unexpected Visit
XXXI. Friendly Services
XXXII. The Advice
XXXIII. The Accuser
XXXIV. Father d'Aigrigny's Secretary
XXXV. Sympathy
XXXVI. Suspicions
XXXVII. Excuses
XXXVIII. Revelations
XXXIX. Pierre Simon
The first of the two, whose arrival had interrupted the answer of thenotary, was Faringhea. At sight of this man's forbidding countenance,Samuel approached, and said to him: "Who are you, sir?"
After casting a piercing glance at Rodin, who started but soon recoveredhis habitual coolness, Faringhea replied to Samuel: "Prince Djalmaarrived lately from India, in order to be present here this day, as itwas recommended to him by an inscription on a medal, which he wore abouthis neck."
"He, also!" cried Gabriel, who had been the shipmate of the Indian Princefrom the Azores, where the vessel in which he came from Alexandria hadbeen driven into port: "he also one of the heirs! In fact, the princetold me during the voyage that his mother was of French origin. But,doubtless, he thought it right to conceal from me the object of hisjourney. Oh! that Indian is a noble and courageous young man. Where ishe?"
The Strangler again looked at Rodin, and said, laying strong emphasisupon his words: "I left the prince yesterday evening. He informed methat, although he had a great interest to be here, he might possiblysacrifice that interest to other motives. I passed the night in the samehotel, and this morning, when I went to call on him, they told me he wasalready gone out. My friendship for him led me to come hither, hoping theinformation I should be able to give might be of use to the prince."
In making no mention of the snare into which he had fallen the daybefore, in concealing Rodin's machinations with regard to Djalma, and inattributing the absence of this latter to a voluntary cause, theStrangler evidently wished to serve the socius, trusting that Rodin wouldknow how to recompense his discretion. It is useless to observe, that allthis story was impudently false. Having succeeded that morning inescaping from his prison by a prodigious effort of cunning, audacity, andskill, he had run to the hotel where he had left Djalma; there he hadlearned that a man and woman, of an advanced age, and most respectableappearance, calling themselves relations of the young Indian, had askedto see him—and that, alarmed at the dangerous state of somnolency inwhich he seemed to be plunged, they had taken him home in their carriage,in order to pay him the necessary attention.
"It is unfortunate," said the notary, "that this heir also did not makehis appearance—but he has, unhappily, forfeited his right to the immenseinheritance that is in question."
"Oh! an immense inheritance is in question," said Faringhea, lookingfixedly at Rodin, who prudently turned away his eyes.
The second of the two personages we have mentioned entered at thismoment. It was the father of Marshal Simon, an old man of tall stature,still active and vigorous for his age. His hair was white and thin. Hiscountenance, rather fresh-colored, was expressive at once of quick