Wilkie, saying: "Monsieur believes me now, does
he not?"
As will be readily believed, it was not for his own pleasure that
M. de Coralth postponed his confidential disclosures for a couple
of days. He knew Wilkie perfectly well, and felt that it was
dangerous to let him roam about Paris with half of an important
secret. Postponement generally furnishes fate with weapons against
oneself. But it was impossible for the viscount to act otherwise.
He had not seen the Marquis de Valorsay since the Count de
Chalusse's death and he dared not conclude the contract with
Wilkie before he had conferred with him, for he was completely in
the marquis's power. At the least suspicion of treason, M. de
Valorsay would close his hand, and he, Coralth, would be crushed
like an egg-shell. It was to the house of his formidable
associate that he repaired on leaving M. Wilkie; and in a single
breath he told the marquis all that he knew, and the plans that he
had formed.
M. de Valorsay's astonishment must have been intense when he heard
that Lia d'Argeles was a Chalusse, but he knew how to maintain his
composure. He listened quietly, and when the viscount had
completed his story, he asked: "Why did you wait so long before
telling me all this?"
"I didn't see how it could interest you in the least."
The marquis looked at him keenly, and then calmly said: "In other
words, you were waiting to see whether it would be most
advantageous to you to be with me or against me.
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