Celebrated Crimes (Complete) eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 2,204 pages of information about Celebrated Crimes (Complete).

Celebrated Crimes (Complete) eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 2,204 pages of information about Celebrated Crimes (Complete).

During this recital Derues’ calmness never gave way for a single moment, and the most skilful physiognomist could only have discovered an expression of incredulous curiosity on his countenance.

“Monsieur le cure’s story,” said he, “impressed me much; yours only brings back my uncertainty.  It is less possible than ever to deliver any opinion on this serious question of dreams, since the second instance contradicts the first.”

“It is true,” answered the cure, “no possible conclusion can be drawn from two facts which contradict each other, and the best thing we can do is to choose a less dismal subject of conversation.”

“Monsieur Derues;” asked Monsieur de Lamatte, “if you are not too tired with your journey, shall we go and look at the last improvements I have made?  It is now your affair to decide upon them, since I shall shortly be only your guest here.”

“Just as I have been yours for long enough, and I trust you will often give me the opportunity of exercising hospitality in my turn.  But you are ill, the day is cold and damp; if you do not care to go out, do not let me disturb you.  Had you not better stay by the fire with Monsieur le cure?  For me, Heaven be thanked!  I require no assistance.  I will look round the park, and come back presently to tell you what I think.  Besides, we shall have plenty of time to talk about it.  With your permission, I should like to stay two or three days.”

“I shall be pleased if you will do so.”

Derues went out, sufficiently uneasy in his mind, both on account of his reception of Monsieur de Lamotte’s fears and of the manner in which the latter had watched him during the conversation.  He walked quickly up and down the park—­

“I have been foolish, perhaps; I have lost twelve or fifteen days, and delayed stupidly from fear of not foreseeing everything.  But then, how was I to imagine that this simple, easily deceived man would all at once become suspicious?  What a strange dream!  If I had not been on my guard, I might have been disconcerted.  Come, come, I must try to disperse these ideas and give him something else to think about.”

He stopped, and after a few minutes consideration turned back towards the house.

As soon as he had left the room, Monsieur de Lamotte had bent over towards the cure, and had said—­

“He did not show any emotion, did—­he?”

“None whatever.”

“He did not start when I spoke of the man armed with those two daggers?”

“No.  But put aside these ideas; you must see they are mistaken.”

“I did not tell everything, my father:  this murderer whom I saw in my dream—­was Derues himself!  I know as well as you that it must be a delusion, I saw as well as you did that he remained quite calm, but, in spite of myself, this terrible dream haunts me . . . .There, do not listen to me, do not let me talk about it; it only makes me blush for myself.”

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Celebrated Crimes (Complete) from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.