You told me this morning that you once assisted a
man who was in a similar position. Will you help me? You can set
your own price on your services."
More easily overcome by joy than by sorrow, Pascal almost betrayed
himself. He had attained his object. Still, he succeeded in
conquering his emotion, and it was in a perfectly calm voice that
he replied: "I can promise nothing until I understand the
situation, Monsieur le Marquis. Will you explain it to me? I am
listening."
XIV.
It was nearly midnight when M. Wilkie left the Hotel d'Argeles
after the terrible scene in which he had revealed his true
character. On seeing him pass out with haggard eyes, colorless
lips, and disordered clothing, the servants gathered in the
vestibule took him at first for another of those ruined gamblers
who not unfrequently left the house with despair in their hearts.
"Another fellow who's had bad luck!" they remarked sneeringly to
one another.
"No doubt about that. He is pretty effectually used up, judging
from appearances," one of them remarked.
It was not until some moments later that they learned a portion of
the truth through the servants who had been on duty upstairs, and
who now ran down in great terror, crying that Madame d'Argeles was
dying, and that a physician must be summoned at once.
M. Wilkie was already far away, hastening up the boulevard with an
agile step.
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