It was solely on your account that M. Ferailleur
was attacked. And I can tell you the names of the scoundrels who
ruined him. The crime originated with the person who had the most
powerful interest in the matter--the Marquis de Valorsay. His
agent was a scoundrel who is generally known as the Viscount de
Coralth; but Chupin here can tell you his real name and his
shameful past. You preferred M. Ferailleur, hence it was
necessary to put him out of the way. M. de Chalusse had promised
your hand to the Marquis de Valorsay. This marriage was
Valorsay's only resource--the plank that might save the drowning
man. People fancy he is rich; but he is ruined. Yes, ruined
completely, irretrievably. He was in such desperate straits that
he had almost determined to blow his brains out before the hope of
marrying you entered his mind."
"Ah!" thought Chupin, "my employer is well under way."
This was indeed the case. The name of Valorsay was quite
sufficient to set all M. Fortunat's bile in motion. All thought
of his ex-client irritated him beyond endurance. Unfortunately
for him, however, his anger in the present instance had ruined his
plans. He had intended to take Mademoiselle Marguerite by
surprise, to work upon her imagination, to make her talk without
saying anything himself, and to remain master of the situation.
But on the contrary he had revealed everything; and he did not
discover this until it was too late to retrieve his blunder.
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