NightsetitsleadensealupontheplansmadebythesometimeattorneyofMantes,andaformidableschemesproutedup,aflourishingscheme,fertileinharvestsofgainandintrigue。LaCibotwasthehingeuponwhichthewholematterturned;andforthisreason,anyrebelliononthepartoftheinstrumentmustbeatonceputdown;suchactiononherpartwasquiteunexpected;butFraisierhadputforthallthestrengthofhisrancorousnature,andtheaudaciousportresslaytrampledunderhisfeet。
“Come,reassureyourself,mydearmadame,“heremarked,holdingouthishand。Thetouchofthecold,serpent-likeskinmadeaterribleimpressionupontheportress。Itbroughtaboutsomethinglikeaphysicalreaction,whichcheckedheremotion;Mme。Fontaine\'stoad,Astaroth,seemedtohertobelessdeadlythanthispoison-sacthatworeasandywigandspokeintoneslikethecreakingofahinge。
“DonotimaginethatIamfrighteningyoutonopurpose,“Fraisiercontinued。LaCibot\'sfeelingofrepulsionhadnotescapedhim。“TheaffairswhichmadeMme。laPresidente\'sdreadfulreputationaresowellknownatthelaw-courts,thatyoucanmakeinquiriesthereifyoulike。ThegreatpersonwhowasallbutsentintoalunaticasylumwastheMarquisd\'Espard。TheMarquisd\'Esgrignonwassavedfromthehulks。Thehandsomeyoungmanwithwealthandagreatfuturebeforehim,whowastohavemarriedadaughterofoneofthefirstfamiliesofFrance,andhangedhimselfinacelloftheConciergerie,wasthecelebratedLuciendeRubempre;theaffairmadeagreatdealofnoiseinParisatthetime。Thatwasaquestionofawill。Hismistress,thenotoriousEsther,diedandlefthimseveralmillions,andtheyaccusedtheyoungfellowofpoisoningher。HewasnoteveninParisatthetimeofherdeath,nordidhesomuchasknowthewomanhadleftthemoneytohim!——Onecannotwellbemoreinnocentthanthat!Well,afterM。Camusotexaminedhim,hehangedhimselfinhiscell。Law,likemedicine,hasitsvictims。Inthefirstcase,onemansuffersforthemany,andinthesecond,hediesforscience,“headded,andanuglysmilestoleoverhislips。“Well,Iknowtherisksmyself,yousee;
poorandobscurelittleattorneyasIam,thelawhasbeentheruinofme。Myexperiencewasdearlybought——itisallatyourservice。“
“Thankyou,no,“saidLaCibot;“Iwillhavenothingtodowithit,uponmyword!……Ishallhavenourishedingratitude,thatisall!I